Thread: Aber     (WhiteTiger& position open)

RE Aber WhiteTiger WalrusesInMyKitchen The throne was quiet as Cai entered, there not being a single soul aside from his pale-faced father, the man's beady eyes following the young prince as he made his way inside. A slight chill ran through the body as he approached the opulent throne, an odd hint of hesitation causing him to freeze for a moment. The old man's gaze wasn't the friendly sort, and instead was nearly as cold as ice. Even from where he stood, Cai could sense the discontent swirling about in the king, with even a couple of hints of anger mixed in. He wasn't proud of his son's recent actions, Cai could tell with a bit of dread. His stomach was squirming as he kneeled before the king, a sharp, unexplainable, aching causing him to grimace. It was nervousness, he told himself. He had gone from Hell and back, all to win the man's favor. And yet, judging from the sour expression he wore, apparently even that was not enough. Boy, Muttered the king, not even bothering to act as though the young man kneeling before him bore the same blood as he. He tapped at the arm of the throne as he glanced over the prince, eying the bruises and scratches dotting his battered form, ...tell me, why did you make a fool out of me? You sneak out of the castle, take on the guise of a common man, and all for what? To garner a bit of glory? His frown grew as he leaned forward, eyes narrowing at the prince. Hands trembling in a silent rage, he slowly pulled his ailing body up from the throne, and approached his kneeling son, How am I supposed to trust one who does not even respect his own elders? Perhaps I truly was foolish, for believing that a sorry excuse such as you could even meet my expectations, The volume of his voice had raised by now, the man nearly shouting. Cai could feel himself recoiling at the barrage of cruel words, his own body trembling as his hopes at making amends with his father slowly crumbled. He didn't know what to do, what to say. He had tried everything to become loved by the king, and yet even now he found himself coming up short. Was this the way it was supposed to be...? Treated like trash by his own father? He felt like crumpling to the floor, to wallow in his own self-pity. And yet, something deep within the prince refused to give in, refused to allow himself to be treated like this by his very own kin. He had fought long and hard, had seen friends die, and had witnessed the horrors of war. He was not going to be treated in a such a manner, and by a man who probably hadn't experienced half the things he had at that! Father, I- And yet, the spark was quickly extinguished as the King struck him, the sudden pain causing Cai to cry out. He fell back, hitting the tile floor, silent tears running down his face. He could hear what sounded like almost laughter coming from the King, and before he had the chance to gather his bearings the man slammed the tip of his boot into Cai's side. His entire body exploded in pain, the wounds he had been bearing before the meeting only adding to intensity. Cai tried to bear it, tried to keep his mouth shut as his father continued the rabid attack. He didn't want to yell out anymore and look like even more of a fool, nor did he want the man to see him crying either. He had gone so far...and yet here he was, being beaten like a slave. Were all the trials beforehand meaningless? The lives he had ended during the war, the grisly scenes that had been etched into his mind...it really was all pointless, wasn't it? He wasn't going to get any higher, he wasn't going to gain his father's respect. Cai really was going to die as a sad excuse for a human. The pain was overwhelming, and through tear-filled eyes he could see his father still going at it. The laughter was nearly maniacal now, to the point of where it no longer even sounded like it was coming from the stony-faced man who was his father. That frown had quickly withered away as well, to be replaced by a grin that could only be called psychotic. Your worthless! Snarled the man, digging his boot deeper into the boy's side again and again, Worthless, worthless, worthless... ...worthless, worthless, worthless, Whispered Emyr as he paced back and forth, his gaze occasionally flickering towards the unconscious woman on the bed. Years before, her beauty had been spoken of across the country. A rose, people described her as. Lovely features, matched only by her sharp tongue. And yet, within days, both traits had shriveled up, and the only thing that remained was a withered flower slowly fading away. She had just given birth to a healthy girl, though the act itself had taken a toll on the woman's already fragile form. The only thing the King could do was just watch as his love slowly passed from his world. Turning his attention away from his wife for a moments being, the man looked towards towards the six-year old boy standing besides the bed. His bright eyes were staring the pale woman, a look of confusion crossing his timid features. He didn't understand what was happening, how the woman he knew as his mother was about to die. Emyr almost envied that kind of ignorance, the type that only a child could hold. Boy, The child turned about, looking towards his father with that same doe-eyed expression. He showed signs of trouble, disturbed at his mother's sickness, yet still failed to seemingly comprehend what was really at stake here. Leave us, Spoke the king, the boy slow nodding before making his way out of the room. Looking back towards his wife, the man approached her, and reaching out took hold of her delicate hand. He could feel the life beating within her still, though it was quickly disappearing. Getting quieter...and quieter...and quiet...until- ...ugh! Cai awoke with a start from the dream as a sharp pain swept through his gut, a feverish haze having descended upon his mind. And yet, even in his sad state, the boy was quick to realize that something was wrong. His bare skin had goosebumps running down it as he uneasily glanced back and forth through the strange surroundings, aware of how he had been stripped of both his cloths and weapons. The vulnerability weighed heavily on him, and if it hadn't been for the deep pain in his gut he would've tried to make an escape. ...hello? He whispered weakly, blinking a few times in an attempt to clear his vision.