I want to feel my heart pounding in my chest

[tenebrarius]

They'd made it sound like a scholarship at first, an honor earned from his intelligence and hard work.

Adam had thought that this was the ticket he'd worked so hard to earn, his entry to the capitol's university. He couldn't imagine what else would summon him--him, Adam Parrish, by name--to the palace.

The reality was baffling and frustrating. He'd spent the past hours being interviewed and tested by an array of officials and tutors who claimed that he was being considered for a position as the prince's companion. It wasn't a position Adam wanted, but everyone so far had emphasized what an honor it was, and Adam's polite, non-confrontational attitude toward authority was deeply ingrained. But he had his pride and his temper, too. He'd refused to open his mouth to let them check his teeth like he was a horse for sale.

After the fifth minister left, evidently satisfied with Adam's intelligence and ambition, Adam paced the room.

This had to stop. Adam didn't want to be here, and he didn't want to play babysitter to the spoiled prince of the kingdom. He had ambitions. He had his place in the university all but guaranteed, as soon as he could save up enough money for his entry. They could take their 'great honor' and stuff it up the prince's ass.

Diatribe ready, Adam whirled on the next person to open the door, ready to tell them just what he thought of their nonsense interviews. He wasn't anticipating a teenage boy his own age. Startled, Adam drew up short, dropping his eyes to the floor. This had to be the prince. And while the kingdom had advanced past the days of public executions, Adam knew that any of the royal family could ruin his prospects permanently if he displeased them.

Comments

[the_greywaren]

Being the middle child in a royal family was very different then being the eldest. He wasn't the heir to the thrown, he wasn't the curly haired baby to be fawned over. He was expected to be some kind of diplomat and what felt like a butler to his older brother, a good student, social. Ronan hated everything about it. He had no ambitions to be king. Or to involve himself in politics. And he despised every time he was stuffed into formal wear and forced to dance with girls at some ridiculous ball his father decided to throw.

To be honest he would rather spend his days wandering around the farms on the borders of the kingdom. Or following the path into the dark forest. His disdain for his position and what that demanded of him was starting to manifest in ways his parents would not ignore. The last time he got bored Ronan snuck out, stole a horse and rode into town. After sneaking into a pub he got very drunk and started a very big fight.

And now they think a friend will fix it all. That a companion will help temper his bad attitude and help him with his education. Not that he is stupid, he just hates his classes. Someone ambitious and studious is supposed to rub off on him. Regardless of his arguments Niall and Aurora had started interviews to find him a 'friend'. Feeling betrayed he had stormed off, shouting traitor at his beloved mother in his anger.

"None of the other kids have made it this far." He announced as he stepped through the door. Ronan didn't pause to wait for a bow or for the other boy to introduce himself. Broad in the shoulders and long legged Ronan looked the part of a prince. He wore black, embroidered in gold filigree patterns along the edges of the fitted jacket. The collar was high and stiff, on both sides a gold raven pin connected in the middle by a chain. Unlike his older brother he didn't look down his nose at the people around him.

Ronan looked the other boy over, sizing him up, his piercing blue eyes finding Adam's and staring directly at him. The first real thought Ronan had about him was that he had never seen a boy that looked like him.