The Union

"She was frantic, you know" an old voice said. It was Bisham. "She personally st.i.tched your wound and put the medicine. She checked on you almost every minute, afraid that you will suddenly stop breathing. Every small grunt from you made her panic. She did not leave your side for three days, not eating and not sleeping. I even suspect that she cries whenever I"m not around. This is her first rest in three days."

Timothy was touched. Lucia really cared for him. He wanted to hold her in her arms, but she needs to rest. Also, his wound still hurts.

"What was that anyway? Why put yourself in danger?" Bisham"s said in a reprimanding voice "You should have stayed in the back. You shouldn"t have joined the fight. You are the banner and if you fall, your soldiers will rout. I thought you knew about that. I thought that the great Prince Timothy who defeated the Tulosans with minimal losses, the rooster prince who awed the ma.s.ses, knew about the basics of combat."

Timothy laughed. He must admit, personally joining the fight was stupid. "Disappointed?" he turned his head towards Bisham.

The Captain shook his head. "No. In fact I"m impressed by your sense of justice. I would have done the same if I was in your place. You are as gallant as they say"

"Thank you" Timothy smiled "And did we win?"

"We wouldn"t be talking like this if we didn"t"

"You know what I"m asking about" Timothy insisted for an answer. He was asking if their losses were minimal enough to justify their victory.

Bisham avoided his eyes. "I think so. We killed most of the Wismarines. Seven died from your guards and eight from the villagers."

"But he died, didn"t he?" Timothy guessed. Their losses were minimal so Bisham"s reaction meant that something else saddened him.

Bisham nodded.

"Did he die bravely?" Timothy asked

"He did. There was one time when the two of us were surrounded by five Wismarines. We fought with our backs behind each other. He took two down before dying himself. He was a great warrior."

Even though Samuel"s death saddened Timothy, he was still relieved knowing that Samuel died a hero. He died avenging Conrad.

"I will visit the grave" Timothy told Bisham. He then looked at Lucia "Can you remain here and guard her?"

"Your Highness, I"m still the Captain of her guards. I will guard her with my life. But I know your words had deeper meanings." Bisham paused and also looked at Lucia "Yes, I will stay by her side even if she decides to become a Castonian."

"That"s rea.s.suring then. She needs capable people around her" Timothy said as he tried to stand. But his legs were weaker than he thought. He almost fell until Bisham supported him.

"Here" Bisham offered him a cane. "Lucia prepared this for you. She said that it will still take a long time for your strength to come back to normal."

Timothy took the cane and used it to support his body while walking. Every single step was hard and painful. But he forced himself to walk.

"Tell her that I"m paying my respects to the dead" he said before opening the door.

It took a while and a lot of effort, but Timothy reached the graves. One of the graves was Samuel"s and beside it was Conrad"s. Even though their time together was short, Timothy had already considered Samuel a friend. He was an old man who just wanted to escape war, but it was war itself that chased Samuel.

"Prince Timothy" a voice called from behind.

Timothy turned around and saw that it was Jason. Behind him were the villagers.

"We are glad that you"re alright." Jason said

"Thank you" Timothy smiled. "And have you decided yet?"

"We have" Jason confirmed. "I"m sorry Prince Timothy but we can"t come with you to Solon. We will remain here in this village. Although life here will be full of hardships, we will endure. It"s not that we are running away. We are just tired Your Highness"

Timothy was disappointed. He didn"t want the villagers to stay in this barren place. Although it will not be impossible to live here, life will be hard for them.

But he understood their reason. They were not running away. They simply wanted to start anew.

Timothy put strength into his arms and straightened his body with the help of the cane. "I understand. It seems I can"t change your mind. Even though I want you to come with me, I will respect your decision. If you want to start anew, then who am I to stop you? My guards and I will be leaving tomorrow. I thank you for your hospitality and I"m sorry that our presence brought blood upon your village."

He then approached them and patted their shoulders one by one. This is goodbye, a farewell to the people who opened their doors to them. It was a short stay, but a part of Timothy wanted to stay in the village with Lucia. Even though food was scarce, at least it was peaceful.

But he had already decided. Running away from his responsibilities is not a trademark of the Rooster Prince. The people of Castonia need his guidance now more than ever. Castonia still needs him. Even though it will be hard, even though schemes, hardships and betrayals await him, he will not run away.

A new b.l.o.o.d.y chapter will engulf Castonia, one that will be of his doing. But like the villagers, Castonia needs a new start. A new beginning cannot be achieved without demolishing the old. He may fail and future historians will mock his name as the man who tried to ruin Castonia, but that"s okay. This is his duty, his responsibility and his resolve.

After saying goodbyes, the a.s.sembly was disbanded. Timothy wanted to talk to his guards to plan their journey for tomorrow, but he saw that two people remained. It was Mylene and Abraham.

"Your Highness we will come with you" Abraham said.

Timothy went closer to the two of them. "You want to come with me to Solon?"

Abraham nodded. "Yes. Although Jason accepted the responsibility of being Mylene"s new guardian, I don"t think that will be good for her. She"s the only child in the village."

Standing was too stressful so Timothy sat on the ground. He then gestured for Mylene to come nearer. The girl complied and shyly approached Timothy.

"You want to come with me to Solon?" he caressed the top of her hair.

"Yes, Your Highness. Without Conrad and Samuel, I don"t think living here will be fun. Abraham and I will find a place in the city"

Timothy smiled at the girl. "No need for that. Lucia needs a new handmaiden and I think you can become her new one. I"m not promising anything but I"ll talk to her about it"

Mylene"s eyes widened "Really!?"

"I told you, I"m not promising anything. But we"ll see. You will become the handmaiden of the third Princess of Vanadis. Will you accept the job?"

"Of course!" Mylene exclaimed "I can cook well and I can do ch.o.r.es. Thank you Your Highness" she bowed.

Timothy then turned his head towards Abraham "And you? What are your plans?"

"Your Highness, I.." Abraham scratched his head and looked away. "I want to apply in the army. I know I still have much to learn and my past actions deemed me a coward in your eyes, but I want to use my strength."

"You"re right. You still have much to learn. Your strength is terrifying but strength is not everything Abraham. A dwarf could easily kill a giant with the right weapon. Also, your courage is still unreliable."

Abraham looked down, clearly ashamed.

"But you are loyal. And you have the potential. Do you want to become one of my guards?"

Abraham was dumbfounded. His jaw dropped and his eyes were bulging. "Your Highness, I…"

"The answer is either yes or no, Abraham"

"Yes!" Abraham immediately declared "I will become one of your guards."

Timothy supported his body with the cane and stood up. "Kneel Abraham and say your oath"

Abraham knelt and bowed in front of Timothy

"Will you stay by my side until death?"

"I will"

"Will you defend me from harm even at the cost of your own life?"

"I will"

"Will you be my sword, my shield and my strength?"

"I will"

"Then Abraham, with the Omniscient as witness I proclaim you as one of my royal guards. May your sword be sharp and your will strong. Protect me against my enemies as I protect the Kingdom from its enemies. Rise Royal Guard Abraham."

Abraham stood up a new man. He still had so much to learn, but Timothy was certain that he will become a hardened soldier in time. If he doesn"t, then Timothy will make him. If the rooster prince can reform a whole garrison, he can make Abraham into a soldier.

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After a day of preparation, Timothy and Lucia left the village for Solon. The journey will take at least two days.

"If you feel pain in your wound, we can always rest. Don"t force yourself." Lucia looked at him.

Timothy sighed. "I"m not an old man you know"

"Tim" she said firmly.

"Fine, fine. I will. But we need to hurry. I"ve gone missing for too long. The people will think that I"ve turned into a hermit."

Lucia laughed "Well Hermit Prince sure has a nice ring to it"

"And will you still accept me even if I"m the hermit prince?" Timothy looked at her with puppy eyes. He remembered that night with the bonfire.

"No" she grinned and shook her head.

"Why?"

"Because being a hermit means living alone. Are you fine living alone without me Prince Timothy?"

Timothy chuckled. "Good point."

Timothy then looked forward. He was slightly anxious. After they reach Solon, a new war will start. A new chapter that will either hail him a as a hero or condemn him as a traitor.