My Prince - 12. Chapter 12

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The door opened with a groan and prince Noah took a deep breath before following the two pirates into the throne room. An entourage of pirates and villagers followed, his once lost lover only one step behind. The captain and what was left of the royal guard were bound and gagged like prisoners. Noah made sure to keep his head high and hoped this would work without further blood shed. His father sat upon his throne with dark eyes. Noah wished he was surprised to find his father holed up in the throne room while his men fought to defend the castle. When the King saw his son leading a procession of thugs with his men bound he rose to his feet.

“What is the meaning of this!”

His feet carried him swiftly off the dais and towards his son, voice booming in the empty hall. He surged forward in anger until the sharp blade of Phoenix’s sword stopped him.

“Please, take a step closer, I would love an excuse to run you through.”

The King swallowed and took a step back.

“What is the meaning of this Noah! You arranged this invasion? Did you invite these barbarians into my castle and court to stage a coup!”

“I did no such thing. They came of their own accord. They all did.”

The thrown room began to fill with villagers and merchants brandishing pitchforks and torches. Men and women of all ages and occupations filed in, faces full of anger and fear.

“This village was once proud, peaceful and prosperous. But now our people live in fear and poverty! You have become a tyrant! Our prisons and full of minor criminals and the streets are full of filth. We have watched too many of our people lose themselves to poverty and everyone in this room has lost someone to your banishments!”

A cheer went up in the room. When Noah raised his hand the hush returned.

“You have held this village and even your own son prisoner for too long! We are taking back our kingdom.”

The people broke out in yells and cheers again. The captive guards began to squirm even as they were held in place before their king by the conquering pirates.

When quite came again the King only smitked,

“What is your plan, son? Do you plan to kill your own father? Or will you give the job to your hired thugs? These lawless pirates, from the wild lands beyond our borders?”

“You call them lawless, wild pirates. I call them men and women who were thrown from their homes for no reason but the whim of a corrupt guard and his puppet king!”

“Puppet King! Who are you calling a puppet! How dare you insult me! You, who is nothing but a disgrace to the crown! An uphill gardener slag who humiliated this family by running around submitting to a commoner blacksmith!”

“Two years ago your scorn and hatred would have hurt, but today it just makes you look pathetic. An old man with a chair, throwing a temper tantrum. I pity you.”

“I am a King!”

“A King without people is just a man, it is your people that give you power through their loyalty. We will no long bow to you, you have forsaken and therefore lost the loyalty of everyone before you. You have nothing left.”

“You will kill your own father?”

“No, there will be no more blood lost on my account. No more violence, no more death. But there will be change.”

Phoenix stepped forward and addressed the guardsmen first, “You will vow your loyalty to the crown Prince or face banishment. Those who refuse to comply will be dealt with, severely.”

“You can not banish me from my own kingdom! It’s mine! You can’t take it!”

“I don’t have to. The people will follow me, you can do as you wish. As I said, you are just an old man in a chair.”

As the once king let out a screech and knocked a nearby pedestal to the ground. Phoenix smirked and turned his attention away from the man child to face his guardsmen.

“You have heard the terms of your release. You may choose to swear fealty to the Prince and be released. You will loose your positions but will face no punishment from us. Or you can leave the kingdom peacefully.”

“Those are the options?” One of the guardsmen asked.

“Yes.”

“The King never truly had my loyalty anyways, if you allow me to stay you will find no resistance of your takeover. I will kneel to you, King Noah, my liege.” The guardsmen dropped to one knee and lowered his head. One by one the rest of the guardsmen followed until the only one left standing was Landon.

Noah studied his ex-fiance. The man was obviously unhappy, his face twisted into a sneer. “And you? Do you accept these terms?”

Landon stepped to the front of the crowd his face melting away to an emotionless mask. He huffed a deep sigh and his shoulder slumped before he dropped his head, “I suppose I don’t have much of a choice.”

Phoenix turned to his young love with a wide grin, proud the plan worked without blood shed. His Prince, or rather now King, had managed to save his kingdom. Noah smiled back, a slight blush dusting his face at the sight of Phoenix’s adoration.

“What now, my Lord?”

“Well…”

It was only a heartbeat, a blink of an eye. Phoenix felt his body stiffen as Noah’s face turned to horror as he leerched towards him. Out of the corner of his eye he registered movement. It wasn't until he felt the full weight of his true love fall into his body he realized that the movement was Landon thrusting a hidden blade towards them. Narrowly missing the pirate and instead landing directly into the stomach of the man who had thrown himself between him and the ex-Captain. Phoenix pulled his blade with one hand and thrust it deep into the attacking man before releasing it and falling to the ground under the weight of his lover.

“No, no no no no no. Noah, please, no.”

Phoenix gripped the man close to his body as his clothes became drenched in blood. He paid no attention to the men around him rushing to contain the sudden attack.

“Talk to me my Prince, please, say something.”

“Take care of my people Phoenix.” His voice was low and horse.

“Don’t you say that. You’re going to be fine. You’re going to… please Noah, hang in there. Don't leave me, my love, please don’t leave me.”

“I love you, Phoenix.”

“Noah? No, no no. NO! NOAH!”