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It's the day after your fourteenth birthday. You're absolutely freezing, bundled up in a robe, sitting down on a fur rug by the fireplace, trying to warm up. The warmth of the robe and the fire feels lovely. You also happen to be absolutely starving, but no one will let you eat. No one being Morgan and anyone else in the castle but you know better than to ask for breakfast. You rub your hands in front of the fireplace, the room slightly chill. Being November, there's only so much one can do.

"Hmmm, this feels good," You say, rubbing your hands together in front of the fire and smoothing short bedridden hair. "What's next?"

The older blonde man, Morgan, pokes and the fire, setting it more ablaze. "First of all, your bath. They should be about ready for you. And I'll send your wardrobers in to help you dress as soon as they arrive."

You stop abruptly, hating what was about to happen, what had to happen and what it meant. You always knew you were going to be king. One day. You just didn't think it would be so soon. And to have all those people....fussing over you. It was positively distasteful. And there was absolutely no escaping it. Or was there? All the maturity you'd displayed over the last few weeks disintegrated in one last act as a prince. As just a boy. With no one elses responsibility resting on your shoulders but your own.

"Devil take it, I can dress myself!" You try hopefully. It doesn't work. Morgan laughs, taking you by the arm and pulling you to your feet.

"A king must have dressers on his coronation day. It's tradition. Besides, you aren't meant to clutter up your mind with the mechanics of putting on strange robes when you should be contemplating the responsibilities of kingship." He propels you toward the dressing room where undoubtedly a gaggle of servants and a tub full of hot water await. Not just that. The first step.

You pause, a boyish playfulness playing about, and you eye the other man. "Oh I'm meant to have dressers, eh? How many?"

"Oh, six or so I should imagine." The man raises and eyebrow, playing innocent.

"SIX!" You cry out considering the high number. " Morgan, I don't need six dressers!"

"Is this a rebellion?" The other man grins, playing along good naturedly.

You start through the door and then turn in a look of complete mock indignation and playfulness. Just the thing someone wants in a king, right? " I still think that you planned all this deliberately." You hate personal servants after all.

"I've been planning deliberately to make you a king. Now, get in there!" The other man's playfulness and patience wore a little thin. It was a special day after all and you were kind of being a pain, especially considering just how mature you'd been up until now. He made a motion as if to chase you through the door and you duck through it, but not before poking your head back out a final time.

And sticking your tongue out. All maturity completely and utterly gone. One last romp before the inevitable.

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Perhaps not no worries, but certainly less than you had.

From what you've told me so far, it sounds as if your reign has been fraught with nothing but hardship.

Sadly, that sounds about right. My coronation brought most things to the surface. As hard as it was then and is now, it's better to deal with them than be stuck with people and ideas you cannot change.

How do you deal with them?

Most of the ones with power couldn't help themselves. I tried to reason with them or imprison them when they rose against me. Eventually I had to execute most of them.

There are still those around, although I hope it's more ignorance than hate that drives them. Ignorance can be helped. I want to build a school, so those that do have magic know how to use it, and those that don't know it's limitations.

[Let's... just... ignore that part about executions. Alec's sure it couldn't be helped.]

That's very sensible! I've known magic to be dangerous, if not properly harnessed. You'd be doing them quite a favor. And yourself, I'm sure.

[It most definitely couldn't. Kelson's lamented he wished he executed some sooner, but, leading a kingdom comes with a bit of a learning curve.]

I hope. It didn't always used to be like this. There was a respect between those who used magic and those who couldn't, a mutual understanding. But fear is a powerful motivator. Other kingdoms and no doubt other worlds here live in relative harmony with those who use magic. It doesn't have to be like this.

No, it doesn't. That's perfectly reasonable.

What will you do after the school is established? Have you got other plans?

I have a feeling that will take a while. But besides that? Eventually the boy living in my court will become of age and go back to his kingdom. I hope he keeps what I have taught him and does not succumb to the ....whims of his homeland.

[Why yes, Kelson was keeping a young boy hostage in his kingdom.]

I'm trying to stabilize my own people as well as the region in general. It would help if said kingdom didn't keep trying to invade.

Other than all that? I'll probably be forced to be married again eventually.

[Wow did he sound bitter about that?]

Edited 2019-08-24 02:05 (UTC)

Married? [There's laughter in his tone.] Is that so bad? You make it sound like such a chore.

[Kelson's voice softens despite himself.]

I know it doesn't have to be. My uncle has a lovely marriage, I believe my mother and father were quite fond of each other. I simply...have not had their luck. Or rather. I tried. I did try. It didn't. Work out.

[Yes. Let's call it 'working out' instead of 'my first bride was brutally murdered and my cousin married my intended.' That sounds much better.

Although, it might help in general if Kelson actually talked to women instead of waving awkwardly and running away.]

Why didn't it work out? All things are possible with love.

[This is a man who has literally died for his husband. He's still stuck in idealism.]

[Kelson meanwhile is stuck on stalking, because pestering the object of your affections is obviously the way to go.]

It's complicated. She was a novice nun, but relinquished her vows in order to marry me. I was...assumed dead and she married my cousin instead. When I returned, she felt she was no longer 'worthy'.

I know she loves me. She still cares. It's just.....stubbornness for why she says no.

Sorry, could you explain 'nun' please?

In any case, that's... quite an unfortunate circumstance. Wedding vows are nothing to take lightly, but it doesn't seem fair. Any of that.

Oh. Apologies! It's a kind of religious order. They don't marry.

And no. It doesn't. I have not had good luck with marriage.

I hope you will, someday. Everyone deserves to know happiness and love.

Even kings? Eventually I'll have to do my duty and marry. again

But I doubt it will be for love.

Why should royalty make any difference? Are you somehow less entitled to love?

No, the stakes are simply higher I think. I need an heir. Simple. Whether I'm in love with the other makes no difference in the long run, does it?

[Did he sound bitter?]

You can't marry someone you love and produce an heir with them?

[This is incredibly confusing.]

[Kelson wished it was as simple as Alec thought it was.That the world he lived in and duties he had to attend to simply did not exist.]

Unfortunately, no. Time is not on my side, and I married Gwynedd long before I shall ever marry another. Besides, I'm king. I can't just marry.....anyone I want.

[One would think as king he could do what he wanted. If only.]

It sounds to me as if you're limiting yourself. Or perhaps your customs are doing that for you.

What would happen if you just married anyone? Namely, someone you love?

[Alec was so sweet. Such a romantic. Kelson wished it was so simply. Or that life would let it be that simple.]

Oh probably a diplomatic incident at the very least, war at the worst. People in high places would be insulted, there'd be discussions about how I'm polluting the blood line if I married someone who wasn't nobility, or what I'm doing to advance or decline Gwynedd with any diplomatic ties a bride from a neighboring kingdom or duchy would bring.

My council is already talking about me as if they're breeding prized horses. I'm a king first, unfortunately. If I happen to get to love, or grow to love who ever I marry, that's a boon. I still hope it might be....someone specific.

[Namely the nun that said no. Many, many, many times.]

[That's... not sitting well with Alec at all.]

Why are you so limited? You're the king.

[This is just... WEIRD.]

Our queens are permitted to marry or not marry whomsoever they wish. And they sometimes take consorts besides, in order to produce an heir. Perhaps out political circumstances are different, but...

[REALLY, it doesn't have to be this difficult.]

It's strange isn't it? Having so much power and yet being so limited. There are times I can't even go to the privy by myself.

[Unfortunately for Alec, Kelson was catholic. Everything was more difficult. If it wasn't politics, it was religion, or something else.Imagine the conversation he'd have if he married another who didn't understand why he couldn't have sex on a wednesday.]

Your queens must be very...free. I can't even imagine.

Free is a word for it, I suppose. But--

[Really, not visiting the privy yourself? That's a little beyond limited freedom.]

I know you're trying to maintain a delicate balance. I'll trust you to know better than my assumptions.

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