Arthur's father had called him once again but he was feeling uncomfortable as besides him was his own mother a traitor.
As he walked through the hallway he couldn't help but gaze at her every action. Her face expressed sadness because the perfect day she had imagined had been ruined.
While talking to other soldiers or maid her expression was still and just like a queen should behave balancing her every word even when before a trivial subject but when she was besides Arthur her face fell.
Both of them stood before the highest point of the palace at the verandah where under the bright moonlight his father was waiting. The entire world had fallen in the hands of the dark but the moonlight resisted it with its serene grace.
Arthur pleaded to his mother to leave them alone. But his mother back answered with concerned.
"What is up with you for thr past few days, this is not the way you talk with your mother." The Queens expression grew more and more rampant. Her eyes grew bigger and her breath even more frequent. She jumped from one thing to another.
" You still haven't explained why did you break your engagement with Roselina. It was a chance to get the Dutchy on your side and expand your political influence ".
Arthur said nothing as he removed his cloth and showed her the wound when Roselina plunged the dagger deep into Arthur's soldier literally backstabbing him. When his mother saw this she was horrified from the bandaged wound. Rage filled her mind and blinded her. She accidently touched the wound which caused pain in Arthur's body causing him to flinch and move slightly forward.
" For raising their hand on my son, I shall wipe out the dukedom before sunrise."
Before the queen could march on the path of destruction Arthur caught her by the shoulders and deeply started into her eyes brightly burning with anger.
"Mother, there is nothing anymore between us. Don't punish others because of us. What I received was just the price of my love and trust". Each word that Arthur spoke was heavy as with each word he spoke the more tightly he clenched his mother's shoulders until she gasped in pain. And Arthur was pushed back.
Arthur came to his senses and was haunted with his own doing. He spoke in a low voice " Mother, I'm sorry I didn't mean to". The queen grabbed Arthur's arms and with compassion she replied " Arthur I understand the wound Roselina has given you, but I can't stand to just watch you collapse and wither being eaten away by yourself".
The queen broke into tears. As she couldn't be of any help tk her own blood. This time his Father who was peeking from afar and deeply unsympathetic to the Queen stepped out of the verandah. And without even caring about her wife he asked Arthur " Arthur, your office now".
Arthur couldnt bear to leave her mother alone. Her mother encouraged her to follow his father.
"Arthur I will be fine, just go". And with this Arthur forced himself to move and he left his mother behind in the dark and empty hallways alone.
Arthur entered his office where his father sat not on the main chair but on the visitor's chair. It gave Arthur a sense of change and nostalgia about how his father used to sit on the other side. But now Arthur was supposed to be seated there. With slow steps Arthur walked over to the chair. It was just a simple chair just oriented in such a way that it reduced back pain. Arthur pulled the chair back and sat on the chair.
As he sat he felt immense comfort it was as if he let go he would go even deeper within the chair fabric. It felt like all the tensions in Arthur's life were released.
" This chair is so good and soothing. I understand why won't you let anyone sit on it."
But as always bliss only lies temporarily and once he got used to it the feeling was gone and all the emotions returned inbve again.
The former King placed a notebook and pen on the table and started scribbling on it. With every stroke he made Arthur's expectations increased. When he was done he tore the page and slid towards Arthur.
Arthur glanced over the page and recognized a few words. He took the page in his hand. And started reading while his father was busy drafting another response.
" Once you finish reading the page burn it. Once you do I will hand you the next page.".
His father passed him a bowl made of iron with a few pieces of wood placed in it. And a Firestarter placed in it. He took a flint and stone and lit the flame in a single spark. And the fire was lit. The fire was small but efficient. And because of the light it allowed him to see the words even better.
Arthur put the page in the fire and when it was charred his father handed him the next page. And once he had started reading he started to scribble once again.
" I will start speaking and console you about the coronation and then move on to trivial nonsense but we shall communicate through the pages "
When Arthur burned the page the King started talking.
" Arthur my son, I know it must be too hard on you. When I was your age... "
The former king while talking about his glorious past passed on another note.
" Arthur, I am sorry to be the bearer of the truth. But the assassination attempt carried out today the order was given by your mother the Former Queen "
When he saw the words he couldn't even believe the words. His pupils enlarged and his jaw dropped he couldn't believe his eyes. His hands started shaking as he started at the words and then at his father who was spilling an empty nonscencial tale about his own coronation and his own heroics.
The King moved his head towards the fire and Arthur while his hands were shaking and vibrating he slowly hovered the paper over the fire but somehow he couldn't let it go. He tried again and again but his hand wouldn't listen to him. As he had started gasping for air.
The King quietly and quickly snatched the paper and burned it while Arthur could only watch the paper burn to cinders. His father held his hands in order to calm him down. As Arthur wasn't doing his part and staring off into the distance. He was remembering his moments with his mother.
He knew that his mother was a traitor but somewhere in his own heart was a small feeling that trusted and deeply loved her mother.
It felt like tears were welling from his eyes but they wouldn't come out. To calm down he held Arthur's hand and within his ramblings he spoke to release some stress off Arthur
" Arthur always remember one thing. There will be many times that you will face great sadness and have to take the cruelest and harshest of the decisions. It is inevitable that you feel the sadness coursing through you. But remember I shall always stand by your side ".
It gave Arthur some time to calm down and hearing his father's words relieved him a little.
His father passed him another page and countuned his ramblings.
" Now where was I, in the great northern mountains, I lead a battalion... ".
Arthur his hands still shaking took the note in his hand and tried to read it the letters were shaky and he was not able to read it properly. But he tried his very best.
" There is only one way I can save you from your mother's influence. This is where we part our ways ".
Arthur looked at his father in shock as he participated in his ramblings as well.
" Father, I remember a story where you once beat a grandmaster of chess in his own game "
Arthur burned the note and once again. And his father took over the conversation.
" Yes Arthur he was an excellent opponent, he was demanding vast amounts of lands If I had lost and I was young back then so I accepted his challenge ".
Once his father finished writing he passed it on and once he did he closed the book and kept it on his desk. The book was entirely empty except for pages torn out of it.
He put to pen back in it's original place. And watched as Arthur read the final note.
" I will departing soon somewhere and take her with me. I loved her my entire life, even if she was backstabbing me at every waking moment. And you shall receive the word soon.
This is my way to ensure that only the King of Traitors will have the absolute reign".
Arthur burned to note and he was left entirely speechless.
While even his father also concluded.
" And it was how I turned the entire game of chess around his head and was victorious."
" Arthur I hope you shall also be a good king living for his people. No matter the decision you take I shall always be proud of you"
Arthur also played on his words "Thank you father for you King words. I will try to walk on the righteous path just as you did".
" It's late now, you should get some sleep". The former King advised Arthur as he opened the door and found his wife waiting in the hallway for their conversation to finish.
She spied trying to hear their conversation. It was clearly evident just from her presence. His mother's innocent smile had become overwhelming for Arthur since it was starting to affect him internally. More than his ignorance could permit.
Arthur looked at his father who had a straight and smiling face. He lovingly looked in her wife eyes
" I'm sorry you had to wait for long, dear" said the Former King addressing directly to the trespasser.
" What did you talk about, I was waiting for 20 minutes? the queen asked.
" Just about how a king should act and how how he might have to take harsh decision in the future" the King replied.
" I trust my boy, he will walk the same path as you. Noble, righteous, upstanding, compassionate after all he is our blood". The Queen laughed while covering her smile as she retorted the King.
With this small dialogue all of them went in their own rooms and slept through the night.