MINISTORY: The Royal Trials

Chapter 8

Caspian’s ears were ringing, his heartbeat so loud that he couldn’t hear anything else, not even Cole and Jett as they yammared away beside him. His feet were numb, his entire body was numb, as they moved him through the hallways. He had no idea where Malcolm was. Honestly, everything just sort of went black after the words Caspian and next King.

The next thing Caspian knew, he was being shoved into his mother’s office and violently shoved into a chair. Seconds later, Malcolm was fuming red in the chair beside him and Queen Lydia was perched in her seat behind the desk. No one spoke a word.

Then, the panel of judges came spilling into the room. They gathered around the Queen and stared down the princes, the wayward brothers.

“I demand an explanation!” Malcolm slammed his fist into the arm of the chair.

Caspian didn’t even blink.

“Malcolm. Control yourself.” Queen Lydia’s voice was firm.

“We will give you an explanation as is your right to hear one.” Kassidy Hayes replied smoothly.

“You said that becoming King was my birthright.” Malcolm said in a calmer voice. Deadly calm.

“Yes and we believe that you believe that, which is why you were not the right person for the job.” Lousie Landry said,

“That makes no sense.” Malcolm snapped.

“You have never prepared yourself for any other role. You thought you were entitled to the role of King, you thought it was yours, that you deserve it.” Cali Landry explained.

“Prince Caspian never did. He thought the opposite, that much was clear. He thought that he wasn’t worthy of becoming King and that he had other roles to fill. He spent his time learning other roles, learning how to contribute in different ways to the realm. He learned how to become a part of the realm.” Lousie continued.

“Prince Caspian will be a King of the people, leading the realm into harmony and peace. You would have been a King of action and war, leading to more isolation and fear.” Kassidy concluded.

Constance Oxford was noticeably quiet in the background.

“The realm needs strength and security! Under Caspian’s thumb we will be overwhelmed by the rogues he so adores.” Malcolm nearly growled.

Still, Caspian said nothing. He remained unmoving and unresponsive. Cole and Jett were beginning to worry that their friend was in a shock induced coma. Or possibly dead.

“Enough, Malcolm. I agree with the judges decision, even though my opinion doesn’t matter in this instance. Caspian is more well rounded, he’s the better choice. You can serve the new King and the realm better as a warrior or a general in our army's ranks.” Queen Lydia was taking none of her elder son’s attitude.

Malcolm turned his fury on the frozen Caspian.

“You told them about Clarissa, didn’t you? You used her against me. That’s why this is happening.” He nearly screamed in Caspian’s face.

“Who is Clarrisa?” Queen Lydia interjected.

Malcolm slowly turned back towards his mother, and looked between her and Caspian. He noticed her confused expression and realized that he was wrong.

“Caspian didn’t tell you about her?” He said in a much smaller voice.

“No, he did not.” Queen Lydia shook her head with a prominent scowl on her face, “Who is she?” She demanded.

“My mate.” Malcolm grumbled.

“Excuse me?” Queen Lydia rose from her chair and slammed her hands down on the desk, “You met your mate and didn’t inform me?”

“It’s none of your business, mother.” Malcolm sneered.

“To hell it isn’t! Everyone out, now!” She snarled and the judges scrambled from the room.

Cole and Jett moved towards Caspian to help him from the room, but Queen Lydia shook her head and shooed them out, leaving her alone with her sons.

“Speak. Now.” There was no room for argument.

“Her name is Clarissa Greene and she’s a rogue, a member of the Redemption pack. I intend to reject her. At least I did when I thought I would become King, now she might actually be useful.” Malcolm huffed.

“Malcolm Storm, I raised you better than this.”

Before Queen Lydia could continue with her lecture, Malcolm let out a horrific howl and fell off the chair, dropping to his knees. This seemed to unfreeze Caspian as he looked down at his brother in shock.

“What’s wrong?” Caspian said, shaking Malcolm’s shoulder.

Malcolm was clutching his chest, his face white with pain.

“Clarissa.” He forced out between clenched teeth.

“Is she hurt?” Caspian asked in a panic.

“Rejection.” He spat.

That’s when Caspian realized what was happening. He sat back in the chair and shook his head.

“Serves you right.” He mumbled under his breath.

“She’s rejecting you?” Queen Lydia gasped.

“Malcolm had her hidden in his room using her as his plaything with no intentions of accepting her as his mate, publicly at least. She deserves better.” Caspian said,

“What’s better than a future king!” Malcolm cried out.

“Well you’re not one, are you?” Queen Lydia replied harshly.

She was saddened by her son’s reaction towards the loss and his behavior towards his mate. She couldn’t help but wonder where she had gone wrong, what she had done to encourage this behavior from him, for him to ever think it was acceptable to treat his mate in such a manner.

Just then, the door to the office flung open and two guards stepped inside.

“Our apologies for the interruption, your highness, my Queen,” The guard bowed, “But, there is someone demanding to be seen. She claims to be the prince’s mate.”

Queen Lydia looked a bit smug and Malcolm looked horrified. She motioned for the guards to move aside and let the newcomer in.

Clarissa strolled into the office with a distraight yet proud look on her face.

“Your highness,” She bowed towards the Queen, “I apologize deeply for interrupting you, but I had to make myself known.”

“Clarissa, I presume?” Queen Lydia said, studying the girl.

“Yes, your grace. Prince Caspian, congratulations on your victory and I pledge my loyalty to you as my King.” Clarissa said, directing her placentaires towards Caspian.

“Thank you, Clarissa.” Caspian nodded politely.

“I’m sorry to do this today, but I was afraid if I didn’t I would never be brave enough again. Prince Malcolm has not treated me with the respect that I deserve as a woman, as a person of the realm, nor as his Goddess given mate. I was afraid to reject him, to leave him, for if he became the King I knew I would never be safe. However, with a just and kind King such as Prince Caspian, I knew I would be safe in speaking my mind. Therefore,” She took a deep breath, “I, Clarissa Greene, hereby reject Prince Malcolm Storm as my mate.”

Malcolm cried out again and dropped to the floor once more. Clarissa looked at him, seeming satisfied, before bowing once again and leaving the room.

“You may go, Malcolm, and think about where your choices have led you.” Queen Lydia dismissed her son without so much as a backwards glance. The guards helped him out of the room.

She turned towards Caspian and smiled softly at him.

“I’m proud of you, Caspian. I’m sorry that your day was shadowed by your brother’s behavior, but it is your day. You have earned this, a hundred times over.” She said proudly.

“Thank you mother, I’ll make you proud everyday of my life, I promise you that. I don’t think I deserve this title, but I will never stop trying to be worthy of it.” Caspian said truthfully.

“Which is why you were chosen to be King, CAspian.” Queen Lydia replied smartly.

“I’m afraid Malcolm and I will never be the same.” Caspian whispered sadly.

“You probably won’t be. None of your relationships will be the same, now. You’ll have to create new ones, reshape the ones that you already have. This is the burden of being the leader. Malcolm will come around, I’m sure of it.” Queen Lydia said, laying a comforting hand on Caspian’s arm.