Chapter 2 (The Day it all Changed)

"Prince Edward! Time for lunch!" Nana, (Edwards and Alexios' motherly maid servant), called from downstairs. Edward had been in his room almost all day, thinking of a way to get back to his new friend. Today was the day that they promised to meet up again and Edward was having trouble finding a way to escape. Security around the borders had tripled since his last attempt and his mother and father refused to let him outside any longer than an hour. If Edward hadn't known that they were only doing this because it had a bad reputation, he would have felt happy that his parents cared so much for him. But, he would find a way to Jack no matter what. Jack had made him feel normal for the day and no one was gonna take that from him.

"Prince Edward?" Nana called again.

"Coming Nana!" He shouted and swung his feet off the bed. He swung around to grab the notebook he had been writing in. He closed the page with a heading that said, 'Ways to escape'. Conspicuous? I think so but what are you gonna do? The kid's 10. Edward finally swung off the bed, his pencil and notebook with him as he opened his door and walked down the steps. He tried his best to ignore the creepy looks of the portraits beside him as he descended the steps.

He could still hear his father's words to his older brother every time his feet took him down these steps, "One day," his father told Alexios, ignoring a baby Edward bounding after his father like a lost puppy, "your face will be placed among the other kings." He froze at a portrait of himself, "just as mine has." A small smile grew on the king's face.

"What about me?" Edward asked with enthusiasm. His father swung quickly and glared down at his bouncing infant.

"Only kings are placed up here, and you are certainly not one." Edward new what that meant despite him being only 4, his father didn't think he would be a good enough person to rule over the land. He wasn't worthy. Edward remembers his face falling and tears pooling into his eyes. His father groaned and flicked his wrist in Edward's direction before tumbling off. Edward remembers Alexios bending down and placing them both on a step, his hand rubbing soothing circles into his younger brothers back.

"It's okay," Alexios murmured, "I think you would be an awesome king." He said. This only made it worse. It made it worse because now Edward knew what made Alexios better than him.

Edward shook his head as he quickly walked past the looming portrait of his father, he didn't want to remember any of his past. Hell, he didn't even want to remember two weeks ago, when he still thought his parents loved him. He had matured recently, and that didn't scare him, it made him stronger.

Edward walked into his big kitchen and hopped onto a chair that connected to the kitchen isle. He puffed his black hair out of his face and glanced at his Nana with his wide, green eyes. His Nana smiled kindly at him and placed his lunch down; a small turkey sandwich with mustard and mayonnaise. She also put varies berries around the plate and placed a cup of milk down on the table. "Eat up!" She said cheerfully. Edward didn't hesitate to dig in, but froze when he saw only one plate.

"What about Alexios?" Edward asked and gave an apologetic smile when she turned to scold him for talking with his mouth full.

"He's... out with your father dear, he won't be back until later." Nana was hesitant to tell the little prince that since he always hated to not have his brother with him, especially when his brother was off doing duties to prepare to be king.

Edward huffed and ate even more quickly, now with the new knowledge that the king wasn't here, he wanted to find a plan to escape... That's it! Edward exclaimed in his head. Since his father and the future king were out, most of the guards would be gone off with them...

"What about mother?" Edward asked his Nana, whose gaze was questionable at the happy look on his face.

"Why, she went out with a few friends, isn't 'pose to be home 'till dinner..." Edward nodded happily to his Nana.

"So... I am alone?" he asked, "and don't have to worry about running into father?" he added quickly. He saw his Nana's eye soften. She knew that Edward wasn't particularly happy to be around his father and she understood why. She thought that Edward wouldn't want to walk around with his father's glare on him. Though, Edward knew she was wrong.

"Yes dear, you are the only Henry in this home," she laughed lightly at his happy smile. He ate quickly, ignoring the pain in his stomach before thanking his Nana with a kiss on the cheek as he dashed off to his room. He sent a quick apologetic sentence towards her in his head and hoped she wouldn't get caught in his trouble. He quickly slipped on his shoes and bounced around the room. He waited 30 minutes before walking outside. He dashed quickly through the trees, not a single guard on his heels. And not a single bad thought in his head about what was going to happen tonight.

***

"Do you have a brofer or sister?" Jack asked Edward as they hopped onto their rock.

"I have a brother," Edward teased Jack, making Jack blush. "His name is Alexios." Jack looked confused. He knew that name but he didn't know why. He chose to brush it off.

"My momma is havin' anofer... a-no-ther," Jack sounded out and Edward smiled and nodded. Jack smiled happily because he had be able to sound out the word, "ano-ther brofer or sister!" Jack bounced happily on his knees despite the hard surface. Edward smiled.

"I hope you have a brother! Then, we can best, best friends cause your brother can be friends with mine! And since they are best friends we can all be best friends!" Edward and Jack giggled. After that, Edward and Jack just had small conversations, too tired to do anything else from their constant playing earlier. Once Edward glanced up and noticed the sun was about to get, he hopped off the rock.

"Two weeks remember?" Edward asked and Jack nodded as he hopped off the rock. "Thanks for playing with me Jack, I only ever have fun with you." Jack was confused.

"Don't you play wif your brother and momma and papa? He asked and Edward shook his head.

"No they are always too busy..." he didn't want to tell him that they were too busy doing 'kingly' things since Jack may not treat him the same.

"That's okay!' Jack smiled which made Edward do the same. "That's why we're friends!" Edward nodded and moved in to hug Jack before he knew what was happening. Jack stood froze for a split second before hugging his new friend. If only they knew it may well be the last time any of this will happen.

***

"Prince Edward!" A guard shouted running up to Edward, a panicked look in his eyes making Edward be on edge. "Where have you been?" Edward opened his mouth to answer but a wail sounded and Edward ran, knowing it was his mothers. Edward's feet took him inside where he followed the wail to the top of the stairs and to his older brother's room. He didn't hesitate to push it open. There, he saw his mother sobbing next to Alexios bed, and his father glaring outside with a cup of whiskey in his hand. At the sound of the door opening, all heads turned toward him and Edward gasped at his older sibling. A bandage was wrapped around his stomach and his usual tan skin was pale with sickness. His hair was plastered to his face with sweat and his usually healthy green eyes were red with tiredness.

"Edward," Alexios smiled, coughing immediately afterward. Edward moved forward to consult his brother but was stopped by his father.

"Get out." His father said and Edward's eyes widened. "You've done this!" His father said pushing Edward down onto the ground, silencing his protest and towering over his cowering son. "If you had just listened and been where you were, boy! Then there would be more people here instead of off searching for a fucking -"

"Father, please!" Edward heard Alexios voice shout before he returned to another coughing fit. "Please, let me talk to him," Alexios begged weakly. Edward almost thought his father would argue but he stormed out angrily, his wife bounding after him, not casting a single glance at her problematic son on the floor in tears. Was it really Edwards fault? Just because he wanted to see Jack, that caused his brother to be in pain? "Ed?" Alexios whispered and Edward quickly stood up to look at his older brother. He sat next to him on the bed and held back tears as Alexios smiled at him. Edward tried to ignore the pain in his older brother's face as he grabbed his hand. "You've always been the best person you know that right?" Alexios said in a whisper and Edward couldn't hold back his tears anymore. He knew this was a good-bye.

His head collapsed on Alexios shoulders as he sobbed. "Don't leave me! I'm s -sorry! I'm so sorry!" Edward cried. Alexios shushed him, rubbing his hand up his younger brother's back.

"You'll be a better king than I will ever be; you know that, right?" Alexios said quietly. Despite Edward's doubts, Alexios knew that his statement was true. Alexios never wanted to be king, and his younger brother was perfect at the job. Edward knew when to defy his father, how to be like him, and when to stand up for himself despite his younger age. Edward would make a fine king.

"I w -want you to have this," Alexios whispered, knowing what was to happen. Edward lifted his head shakily and stared at his brother. Alexios reached into his pocket. Out he pulled one of his favorite necklaces. It was a silver ring that had his name plastered to it along with the image of a knights head armor. It was their family crest ring. His father had given it to Alexios when he was a child since all males of the royal family had got one. Edward had never got one but he had learned to live without it. He knew his father never gave him one because he was never fond of Edward and he didn't mind having one. But, when Alexios pulled out another one with Edward's name plastered on it, Edward sobbed. "I've had this for a month and was going to give it to you on your birthday but, well..." Alexios laughed out a cough. "I want you to have them both," Alexios unclasped the metal and dropped the ring next to his own before holding it out to Edward.

"No, no... no!" Edward sobbed, "You'll be fine and you can give it to me on my birthday and -and," Edward didn't finish it as Alexios slipped the necklace over his head.

"I love you, Edward. I'm so lucky to have a brother like you." Alexios said with tears in his eyes. He wasn't ready to go. He was only 12! He had so much more to live for!

"I love you too! Please! Please don't leave me! I love you! Please!" Edward sobbed and Alexios' tears ran down his face as his breathing become ragged. The door to his room opened to reveal their father who glared at Edward.

"I love you, Ed. And remember... everything happens for a reason." Edward's father glared at Edward and scooped him up, carrying him to the door.

"No! No! Alexios, please! I'm so sorry! I'll be good! I'll do what -whatever you want, I promise! I love you! I'm sorry!" Edward cried.

"Good luck, Ed. I love you." Alexios said as Edward was literally thrown out of his room. The back off Edward's head hit the wall, where he crumbled and blacked out. That wasn't just the last day Edward ever saw his brother or Jack, it was also the day Edward's childhood was ripped from him.

(PLEASE READ AUTHORS NOTE!)

Just a little heads up. These first two chapters are all about Edward and how he meets Jack and lost Alexios. The next chapter will start with Edward and age 17 so... don't be alarmed! Thank you all so much for reading and I hope you enjoy it! Please give me feed back because I love reading comments and thank you if you've voted or have shared this with other people! It means a lot! (2100 words)