03 May 2008 @ 10:54 pm
“Stay right here, boys. We should be safe for the moment. I’ll fetch some water.” The General walked off in the direction in which he had come.
“Hey there. You’re the Prince, aren’t you?” The red-haired boy said, walking towards Marth. The boy seemed to be only slightly younger than Marth. By 2 years, maybe, thought the Prince. Roy slowly walked around Marth, inspecting him from every angle.
“Are you really the Prince?” The boy’s clear blue eyes gazed into Marth’s own, as if searching for some innate sign of royalty. Marth backed away, suddenly intimidated by this inquisitive child and his curiosity. It felt weird having someone examine you like an endangered species of animal.
“Yes, I am the Prince. What are you doing?”
Marth knew not what had hit him. All of a sudden, Roy dashed forward and grabbed the Prince by the throat, shaking and strangling him.
“What kind of Prince are you? You’re supposed to protect the people, not stand around here acting pathetic! Prince, my ass! You’re powerless to protect the ones you love!”
Marth struggled to breathe and the tears fell freely now. He tried to loosen the boy’s grip around his neck, but he found no strength to do so. Roy was right. His father was still imprisoned, in very bad physical condition, and his sister was nowhere to be found. The townsfolk, the friendly people who greeted him with friendly smiles every time they saw the Prince, the soldiers who died protecting the castle… Everyone was gone, due to his weakness and inability.
“Thanks to you, I lost my loved ones, and I was left to fend for myself while the soldiers came to destroy everything! You’re useless! You don’t deserve to be saved! You should just –”
The hands loosened their grip and Marth fell to the floor in a heap, choking and trying to catch his breath. The General had returned. His son was now the one struggling in his father’s strong hold. Marth saw Roy screaming all sorts of insults at him as his father tried to control the boy.
“It is true. I am useless.”
Roy became silent at once, and his father released his son. Both kept quiet as the Prince spoke.
“It is my fault that all this happened, so you shouldn’t be too harsh on your son, General, for what he says is not wrong. I don’t deserve to be saved. I’ve let my loved ones suffer, and as I speak, my father… He… He…”
Marth rested his face in his hands, unable to go on. His sadness and remorse turned to anger. How could I have been so powerless? Why was I unable to protect my loved ones? Why…? Why! I should have learnt to fight or something, instead of tending to that potted plant which did me no good at all!
“It’s not too late to start, you know.” The General said, as if he had read the Prince’s mind. “If, no, I mean when, we regain control of the castle and the town, you will be the ruler of the people. I can still prepare you for that.” He helped the Prince to his feet.
“You mean… you will teach me to fight? Really?”
“Of course, my Prince, I shall teach you to master the ways of the sword, if that is what you wish.”
“Then please, General. I will try my best at it. No, I will succeed at it. Please teach me to fight!”
The General nodded. “I will train you both together,” he said, gesturing to Roy, who gave his father the most obnoxious stare he could manage. “Well, first, I have to find you boys swords. There should be a few in the village blacksmith’s shop. We’ll go there tomorrow.”
“Thank you, General.”
Turning to the boy who stood behind his father with his arms crossed, Marth smiled.
“Thank you, Roy.”
But the red-haired boy simply turned away.
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