•The•Two•Kingdoms

[BlaqueCatt]

Raven swallowed, his mouth partially opening as if to reply, then closing. He lowered his head and his eyes flickered to the side, narrowing ever so slightly. He gave a small nod in response, but said nothing; he didn't trust the words to come out correctly. He took in a breath through his nose and forced the uneasy feelings down, working frantically to stop the tears and bring back his calm, blank expression. After a moment or two he managed to do just that That...no, forget it. Do not even think about it. Pretend that it never happened. He buried the thoughts deep into the back of his mind.

 

When he looked st Strauss again, his cool mask had slipped back onto his face; it was as if nothing had transpired between them; it was the way he looked before they had met. He brushed the bangs from his eyes and stood up, the effects of the concussion having faded for the time being. His stomach still felt knotted, but that was something he could deal with.

 

{It's not really that bad, actually. The, quote, "relapses", are just involuntarily jumping, yelling, frantically pulling away, stiffening, and feeling really violated afterwards. It's not as dramatic as it sounds, though, and it doesn't happen all the time. The ghost-touches are exactly how I described them. ^^'' I didn't mean to freak you out}

[Teesie]

Strauss stood to stare at the other as the shaking suddenly stopped. Well at least the kid wouldn't die over a panic attack or anything, that was the main worry that was flowing around in the naturally red head's body. One action that the Zelphia sire learned not to do was touch the other. From now on he would keep his hands to himself and try best to remember that the other would freak out if their skin came into contact. Raven was a already a pretty strange boy, therefor he wouldn't want to flare anymore different personalities.

 

"I really do apologize, I hope you believe that. I understand that you can't quite trust me, especially with us just meeting and all. I won't do it again, promise." The elder prince said as he turned his back to the other. Taking the necessary steps to be outside, he waits by the opening of the tent for Raven to exit. For how ever long the other needed.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

XD haha nonsense. You didn't freak me out. I'd just be really cautious about touching you, even if Raven is worse than you!

[BlaqueCatt]

The black-haired prince nodded silently, his icy blue gaze briefly dropping to the ground before rising again. He walked to the tent opening, taking long strides with his equally long legs, and slipped past the older male; their clothing brushed against each other slightly, and a small folded piece of paper fell out of the pale man's tunic; he seemed not to notice.

 

Raven squinted against the sudden brightness and looked around warily, partially relieved to find that they had not moved very far from the battlefield. Perhaps I should have waited for my wounds to properly heal... Already he had buried the feeling deep inside of his soul and the thoughts in his mind; his focus had drifted to other things, the intelligence taking over the emotions.

[Teesie]

Strauss stared to the piece of paper that fell from the other's clothing. The emerald green eyes didn't leave the small material as the wind slightly pushed it around the flowers on the ground. The red head didn't know whether he should inform the black haired male or not. His conscious was saying that he should, but his mind was saying a completely different thing. The small piece or paper could be a death sentence to the Zelphia Kingdom so he picked the folded material up into his palms and bawled it on his fist. He would read it later, slipping it into his pants pocket.

 

"Would you wish to go now, or are you properly rested? I wouldn't want to move to fast and have you get all light-headed on me and faint all of a sudden. Firstly, it would freak me out a secondly, I'd be worried. I can't have you to die." The naturally red head informed as he reached to the other before quickly pulling his hand back. No touching.

[BlaqueCatt]

The blue-eyed young man did not turn to look at the other, instead keeping his gaze on the land across from them. "I'm fine," he replied curtly, no emotion in his words. "We could leave now, if necessary." He was slightly worried about the statement Strauss had given after asking if he was well enough to travel. It did not make sense for the enemy prince to not want to kill him, and even less sense for the older man to be worried about him. They were part of opposing sides; it would have been normal for them to be at each others throats. Instead, the brunette had been cared for by the red-head.

 

Raven did not trust the other prince, and it was very possible that he was trying to put Raven into a false sense of security so it would be easier to get rid of him later. But then again, killing the prince of another kingdom would lead to a lengthened war, so that was not logical either. Ransom was a possible option, but he was sure that his father would not go along with it, and the Zelphians probably knew that as well. His eyes widened slightly when another idea struck him. Slavery, perhaps?The thought made him even more wary of the other young man.

[Teesie]

Strauss nodded before slowly bawling his finger more firmy around the piece of paper. Digging his hands into his pocket, the naturally red head planted the paper there before pulling his hand free of the material. There, the paper was safe and the older teen was ready to move on and away from the battlefield. The dark haired enemy was to be taken in to his kingdom to be held prisoner. That would most certainly stop the war.

 

"Let us go please." Strauss voiced, taking a hold of the others band before quickly releasing him. "I apologize. I am very well sorry and have to work on that." He said before quickly walking away from the brunette. The prince of Zelphia did not want the other to think he had done it intentionally, but he wasn't use to not having to touch another. It was strange and a little weird.

[BlaqueCatt]

Raven winced visibly at the touch and only rolled his eyes in slight irritation, rubbing his hand against his trousers as if to wipe it off. He glanced behind himself briefly, seemingly making sure that nothing was there, before following after the older man. He now had a good idea of what was going to be done to him, but he decided that he should ask anyway.

 

"I assume I am to be held captive?" he said calmly from his place at the back of Strauss, keeping his expression stoic and his blue eyes cold. "That will not end the war. King Alistair will continue to defend even if I am killed." He did not mention his mother, who was by now hysterical with worry.

[Teesie]

Strauss only sneered and shook his heads slightly to the other. "Well, I'd hate to say that your a prisoner, but I do plan on keeping you. I...actually was having you to stay so that your side of the kingdom would stop the war that they opposed. I don't want to hear the statement that we started this. Our kingdom wasn't even fully prepared for war. I doubt that my father would start something he knew we'd lose. Although I do have to say that what you said is really sad. You death wouldn't even stop the war, then that is horrible. Your family have no sort of love for one another. I will still try though, so if nothing happens, then I guess death is what we would oppose." The red head stated, glancing to the battlefield. The sire of Zelphia hoped that the other was kidding.

[BlaqueCatt]

Raven's eyes narrowed even further, and he reached up with a pale hand to brush the hair from his face, only to have it fall right back into place. "I have already told you that we did not start the war. We are defending, not attacking." A thought suddenly occurred to him. It did not appear that Strauss was lying about his kingdom's intentions. But if neither side started the war, then what did? Perhaps there is a third party in this conflict, he thought, his blue eyes lighting as the idea of a mysterious challenge came to mind.

 

"And I am not joking with you, as you are most likely wondering, if your tone is anything to go by. My parents would feel grief upon my death, but it would not be as big of a problem when compared to one of my other brothers' deaths. I am the youngest son, therefore the least important. If you wanted leverage to stop the war, you should have taken Daniel or Edmund instead of me."

[Teesie]

Strauss turned to briefly stare to the brunette and gave a smile before nodding at the other. "Well, the others didn't strike my interest. I wanted you. To be the least important should be bullshit. You have a lot to live for. Reasoning on how much your brother's look after you, I thought that maybe they would convince your father to stop the war. Anyways, besides that...if your kingdom didn't start the war, and neither did mine....who did?" Staring to the other in curiosity. The naturally red head male had been thinking that someone else had been involved. That was the another reason he asked the other to work with him.

 

"This is just too confusing. We should know that there isn't a third party, right?" He said, trying to deny what he knew was happening. Who exactly could the other troops be and why were they attacking so silently. "Once all our numbers are dropped significantly, we are in big trouble." Strauss voiced.

[BlaqueCatt]

The black-haired prince's icy blue eyes were thoughtful, and his mind was no longer focusing on what the older man was saying. "If there is a third party involved, there are two things it could be. An enemy kingdom that is attempting to get us to destroy each other in order to take our land, or people in one or both of our kingdoms who are planning some sort of revolution." He bit his lip, which he always did when he was nervous or thinking very hard. He ran his fingers through his messy hair, tugging lightly on the strands before pulling his hand away and repeating the process.

 

"If either of these options is the correct one, then I believe that this war was started by a member of the third party feeding each of our kingdoms false information. For example, he or she told my kingdom that you were attacking us, and told your kingdom that we were attacking you."

[Teesie]

Strauss nodded understanding exactly what the other was saying. Though, it was one problem. If there was a third party then how in the hell will the two of them; Firstly, to stop the war between their two kingdoms, and Secondly, find out who the third party was anyhow? The task wouldn't be easy to anyone at the least, but depending on how intelligent the other seemed; the naturally red head could tell that Raven would know how to do so. It would be difficult all the less though.

 

"I see. I understand all of what you have spoken, but how in the hell are we suppose to know who the third party is, yet alone where they come from? Either in both our castle walls or outside it. If it was caused in the castle walls then we would have to have someone from each our kingdom working together.

[BlaqueCatt]

Raven turned around to face the red-head, his lips curving up into a rather sinister smirk that caused his icy blue eyes to shine. "The solution has multiple steps," he said, taking a few steps toward him and gesturing to the Zelphian knights behind Strauss. "The first step is to find out who gave your father the information, and if that person is not a liable suspect, who informed them first. It may be a chain of people--actually, that is most likely the option because our third party seems to be quite smart. Once we find out who that is, we do the same for the king of my country, and if there is a connection, we hunt down the organization. But it will not be easy."

 

His gaze shifted from the older prince's face to the area behind him. "Though, of course, I am in no place to give you this information, as I am not here of my own free will." The smirk faded and he regarded the group of scattered knights blankly.

[Teesie]

Strauss nodded at the sentenced that was flowing out of the other's mouth. He knew of the one that always delivered messages to his father. The Zelphia kingdom had a messenger to deliver letters or messages to the king himself. The now black haired prince wasn't even able to do that himself. "Well I know who delivers messages to my father." Staring to the other.

 

Suddenly after the next statement, the naturally red head male frowned. "What do you mean you can't tell me the information *What information and why can't you tell me? Do you still not trust in me?" Raising his right brow to the smaller male.

[BlaqueCatt]

The younger male shrugged, raising both hands to shoulder height with his palms up as part of the gesture. "I have no authority here. With you I am no longer a prince. I am quite sure that someone such as yourself does not want advice given to you by a prisoner." He undid the clasp of his cloak and removed the garment, rubbing the back of his neck; the fabric there always irritated his skin if he left it on for too long. However, after he took it off he shivered despite the fact that it was at least sixty degrees outside. The cloak was quickly put back on again, and his eyes drifted to the side in slight embarrassment.

[Teesie]

The sire of the Zelphia Kingdom narrowed his eyes at the dark haired male before crossing his arms over his chest. He knew that the smaller male would pull something as so, but he couldn't just release the other. It was true that he thought the small, petit teen was being truthful, but that didn't mean that Raven wasn't the suspect himself. That would be a reason as to the other knowing there was a third party, or maybe it was just Strauss' paranoia.

 

"Ok, listen...how about you be my right hand man. Since you're the tactician in your kingdom...pull your men back from war and I'll do the same. I'll have you taken back to your brother's but you can't expect to leave my side. Tell them not to try and harm me and we could do this together." Staring into the blue eyes, even if the other wasn't looking back.

[BlaqueCatt]

The small smirk reappeared on the younger man's face, and he had to bite down on his bottom lip to keep it from growing. He lifted his head and once again their eyes met, cold blue against earthly green. "Are you suggesting that I serve you as an adviser?" He took a few steps toward him, and although he was shorter than the other, there was no fear in his stance; there was no aggression either. "No. I will not be your 'right-hand man'. We will be partners, and we will have equal authority. Whomever you order around, I can as well." The intense light had returned to his eyes, showing excitement beneath a steady calmness. "If you agree to these terms, then I will work with you."

[Teesie]

The naturally red head prince just stared to the other with emerald green eyes. There was no way that the sire of Zelphia would do something so dangerous. He didn't know if he could even trust the dark haired teen that much. The sparks that reigned through the blue hued eyes made Strauss narrow his. There was no telling what the other was up to, but...the prince was unsure as to what to pick. Raven seemed like a pretty trustworthy person, but looks could be very deceiving and sometimes first impressions as well.

 

"I don't know if I trust you enough for such a task. How would I know that you won't have your men to kill me. For all I know...your little devilish ass could be the leader of the third party." To be honest, the now black haired prince was feeling quite a sexual attraction to the smaller male. He just wished it would stop to be honest.

[BlaqueCatt]

For the first time since they had been together--for the first time in years--Raven laughed. His eyes closed as the sound came forth from his throat, and he turned his head away from the other, trying very hard to stop but unable to. The sound was as soft as his voice, and light at first, a bit like bells, but as he realized what he was doing it became darker, more serious. "And you think I trust you?" he asked when the fit was over, his chest heaving slightly from the exertion. "We will have to take a chance here, to save our people." His smirk widened and his expression became rather smug. "And what if I am one of the third party? I assume you would just have to kill me." He paused, seemingly hesitating, before adding on to his words. "I never wanted to be a prince, so it is very likely that I am part of the third party." He was, in a way, playing mind games with the red-head, studying his reactions.

[Teesie]

At the sound of laughter Strauss frown deepened as he crossed an arm over his chest. The other was really pissing him off, nothing he said was meant to be a joke. Though, at the light bell-like laughter, the older teen dropped the frown to stare at the other. For a second it looked as if the smaller of the two was enjoying himself, who was the red head to stop such a thing. Though, when the laughed deepened and the mocking tone was back, the sire of Zelphia frown returned. The other was laughing at him as if he was nothing.

 

"I don't care if you don't believe me, but you must know I don't have I'll intentions. If so I would have killed you a long time ago. An-" He was cut off at the other's statement.

 

"And what if I am one of the third party? I assume you would just have to kill me." ... "I never wanted to be a prince, so it is very likely that I am part of the third party."[/Quote]

 

The prince stared at the other as his fingers bawled into a fist. The other was only a second away from getting struck but Strauss wouldn't do it. "Shut the fuck up. I don't want to hurt you, but don't make me." Hands moving on thee own accord as they reached up to shake the other's small body.

[BlaqueCatt]

The smaller prince's blue eyes narrowed and he quickly backed away from the others hands, his movements long and fluid, though his body was tense with the oncoming threat. "I will not lie to you," he said flatly, speaking in complete monotone; a skill he had practiced all his life. "I did not wish to be a prince. But I would never harm innocents for the foolish task of gaining more land. As I told you before, my most drastic plans only take action when the situation is desperate--when I have no other choice in protecting my kingdom." His own eyes were full of controlled anger. "If you choose to hurt me, I will not stop you. It will only prove to me that I cannot trust you, and therefore cannot work with you." Suddenly the anger in his eyes died, and it was replaced by a terrifying emptiness; the emptiness of one who believes they have no choice. "I am not part of the third party. I said that to see how you would react." Now he sounded as if he was making a confession, and he turned his head away before the older man could see the pain that lingered on his face. "You may punish me for...speaking out of turn." It seemed as if whenever he spoke, whether it be to this stranger or to his father, he was ridiculed. He supposed that he should be used to it and not expect a change.

[Teesie]

Strauss stared to the smaller teen with different emotions. For once in his life, the naturally red head prince didn't know how he should feel. Whether he should be pissed at other for testing him. Whether he should feel sad from the dejected posture showing after such a sadly stated statement of 'speaking out if turn' ; or whether to feel powered and strike the other.

 

Signing, Strauss lowered his hands and crossed them over his chest. A roll of his eyes was given as he turned his back to the dark haired enemy prince. "I don't care for much of how another is feeling, but with you it's different. I don't wish to make you feel as lowly as a dog, but with you stating sentences as such...I just can't trust you. I know that the feeling is mutual, but I know my own intentions. If you really want to help the innocent from being hurt, why don't you just be my right hand man. You shouldn't care if we are equals or not, just as long as you help someone." Turning to once again face the other.

[BlaqueCatt]

"Is this a matter of trust, or a matter of pride?" he asked quietly, unsure of whether he was speaking to the other or to himself. "Never mind. We must stop the knights from fighting, even if only for a short time." When he looked up and saw the back of the older man instead of his face, he was very off-put; it seemed as though his fiery attitude had dissipated and become one that was quite melancholy. "Take me back to my brothers," he said, and this time both his voice and his eyes were tired; nothing more and nothing less. He was emotionally and physically drained, and he no longer wanted to focus on what had happened. It was clear to him now that the red-head wanted nothing more to do with him than use him to save his people; then again, here was nothing else he was good for. He had been stupid to think that he would be anything close to accepted with this man; he had enjoyed the rival intelligence that Strauss offered, and his testing had been his own socially-awkward way of trying to have fun. He should have known that it would not be taken correctly; it never was, and there was no going back. Once again, he had ruined everything.

[Teesie]

Strauss only stared to the other for a while before frowning slightly. The male didn't know whether or not he should take the other back to his brothers but decided that he should take a risk. Nodding slightly, the older male turned to walk to a horse, the same in which the two rode before. "Come then, I don't want to wait forever on something that could be solved so easily. Though, I do trust that you stay with me Raven." Staring into the beautiful blue eyes of the smaller prince. "I don't expect to be killed at this small reunion. Though, from the way you've been acting...I'm putting trust into you so you can do the same with me." He answered, now turning in the direction opposite the brunette and heaving himself onto the horse.

[BlaqueCatt]

There would be no real strategic purpose in killing you now, he was tempted to say, but managed to catch himself before the words escaped his throat, clamping his teeth down onto his lip, the sharp pain reminding him to stay silent. He trailed after the older prince, his eyes focused on the ground instead of in front of him, and he had the urge to wrap his arms around himself in order to feel safer, but knew that would only show weakness. Perhaps...perhaps I should help save the kingdoms, and then go off on my own...give up being a prince...I would not have to see my family or this man again, he thought. I would have to say good-bye to my mother, at least, so she does not search for me for the rest of her life. She has three much better sons than I, anyway.