War Kings Beloved

Pov Prince

The Prince was sitting atop his horse as they were approaching the castle. His men riding around him. Six soldiers accompanied him home. They were among the best and had been through many battles with him.

They were about to enter the main street where an ungodly parade of people would be making their way to the palace.

This was a festival for the people. A chance for them to come to the palace, participate in games and join meetings with the King.

The king started this tradition before the Prince was born. This was also a chance for the King to show off his three sons. And one of the few times a year when all three Princes were required to visit the palace.

He hated this festival. Always had. Especially since his mother had died and the King started using this as a time to pit his three sons against each other to earn a place as King.

If he hadn't received a direct order from his father, the King, to attend, he would have remained at the border lands with his army. This direct order had come with the threat of marriage. Something the Prince has no desire for.

His father is no doubt going to throw women at him the entire time he is here as usual.

He'd been away for almost a year this time, which had infuriated his father who wanted him to be at the palace more. The king was getting older and was looking to one of his sons to take over the throne. He has two other brothers, but the King has always favored him, the middle born Prince.

"Stop and lower yourselves!" yelled his guard up ahead.

As he was rounding the corner he heard a cry of pain as a guard struck a young girl in the face and she crumpled to the ground.

Without thinking, he turned his horse to ride over.

"Stay here," the Prince told his men as he started over

"What are you doing?" he asked the old man who was grabbing her by the hair.

"My Lord, this lowly servant dared to disobey and I am simply putting her in her place." the man replied.

He didn't dare look up at the Prince. Keeping his gaze lower, he held tight to Mias hair.

"Give her to me." The Prince didn't know why he needed to take her. As he looked at her, she was covered in filth and blood.

He stared at this man while he let go of her hair and she dropped back to the ground. The Guard lifted her up to the Prince and he placed her in front of him.

Without a word to the man before him, he turned away and started to move his horse back towards his men.

As the prince moved away, the fourth master lifted his eyes to watch. The Prince was a terrifying man. Large and imposing, with dark eyes that will show you your death. He was undefeated in battle and could strike a man down so quickly.

"Pick up a stray, my Lord?" said James, one of the six soldiers accompanying the Prince to the palace.

"Shut it" replied the Prince.

The soldiers around him chuckling. The Prince was truly tired of James's mouth at this point in their journey.

Riding slightly ahead, the Prince cuts the rope on the girl's hands and feet. He could feel her cold skin and shifted his cloak to allow her inside.

Slowly, her shivering subsided and he felt her fall asleep against him. He used this chance to look at her. He had one hand on her hip and could feel how thin she was. Every part of exposed skin was covered in dirt, cuts, and bruises. She had dark hair pulled up on her head.

As they made their way into the Palace, he turned towards his private entrance to his quarters.

Turning to his men, "You're relieved for the night. Get your horses settled and meet me in the morning".

The moment he stopped, a stable hand was at his side.

"My Lord, it's good to see you back," the young boy said.

He reached up to take the girl from the Prince, and for the briefest moment, the Prince hesitated before handing her down.

She never woke as he took her back into his arms.

"I'll be leaving the moment the festival is over, so have my horse ready with supplies," the Prince told the stablehand and then started walking away.

"Yes, my Lord," the boy said as he watched the Prince walk away. He'd never seen the Prince with a woman and was wondering who she was.