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"You were selfish and vain!"

"No, I was a father, who wanted his child's happiness."

"How can you voice those words. You failed to prepare your only son for his own future, he is defenseless against what this land must face. Many rulers have gone through political turmoils, and it has been through bondings that those have been overcome."

"From the first moment you have wanted him. I chose to have him make his own choice. I refused to impose on him a mate. Do not take it to heart, but my son would  find his soul from a comfortable porch. He was not to feel the pressures that come with power."

"You are foolish, a ruler does not have the freedom to be idealistic. I have you ever informed your son of my proposal?"

"No, I wanted to be sure of his own feelings, not the reflection of someone else's. He might have confused your feelings for him as his own."

"You claim wanting to give him a choice, and yet keep him ignorant of at least one of those choices. And now he is left with no alternative but to come with me. In time, as promised, I will claim him as my mate. Now, however, I am concerned for him, to be taken away without any explanation on your part will be difficult. Please consider?"

"I have thought of it. It stands, Carli is to leave with you this eve. I understand your intentions, and do not approve of you, but like Carli, I have no choice but to accept you as his future mate."

"You stubborn old man. You find it easier to cause your child hurt than to admit that you need help in protecting him. Tonight the young man standing outside will come to believe that you have deserted him, and are now withholding your love, do you wish to go forth with this?"

"Yes, he will be protected, for I do not doubt your love for him."

 

The conversation had been progressed to near shouts. Any who chose to walk through the halls of the palace could hear echos of the exchange. The child of Kenor, stood outside of the golden room, waiting to be called in.

He had been asleep not ten minutes ago, but upon hearing the loud banging that threatened to cave his door in, he came awake. His first thought was that the palace was under siege. He grabbed a vase that usually sat on one of the small tables in his rooms, and opened the door.

"In this thoughtless moment you put yourself at risk. You opened a door without asking who was present, and then come out with a vase as your only weapon. Your father will be displeased."

Kenor's heir looked a little ashamed, refusing eye contact, looking down at his own sleepers instead.

"Anyone intent in causing me harm would not announce their presence so loudly Hila"

replies the heir with a smirk as he looks up from contemplating his footwear.

"This isn't over, but now is not the time, for your father waits for you. Come."

The yells coming from the inside of the room insured that the six people standing on the other side, kept looking for any possible curious intruder. The heir was standing with those men, Hila by his side.

Finally, all voices from the inside ceased. The door opened a crack, and Kenor's voice  was heard.

"Carli, please come in."

At those words, Hila made to walk in with Carli, but the six men standing next to them stopped him. Carli stopped any movement towards the golden room, his gaze fixed on those men, and his voice cold.

"Release him. He is free to walk in with me."

As the two made it inside the room, the big doors are once again closed. For the first time that night, Carli gets a look at the man who had been speaking to his father.

"I know you. You were here two years ago, for about two months, but left without a word." 

The man seems very pleased to be remembered. He looks at Carli, and makes as if to move forward, but Hila is by Carli's side and steps in front of him as Rynon moves towards him.

"Son, Rynon is here for a specific reason and it concerns you. Tonight you are to leave with him. In time you are to become his mate and take up all responsibilities that come with the title."

"What?? please don't be playful father, it is late and I am in need of some rest."

"What your father said is true Carli, you are leaving with me within minutes, and will be living with me from now on." 

As those words are spoken, the heir seems to come to life, he makes for the door while yelling the word "no". All three males try to catch him before he leaves, but it is Rynon who had been standing closer to the door, who is able to reach an arm and wrap it around Carli's waist before he succeeds on his attempt to escape.

"Noo, I don't understand. I was never told."

Carli's fear is apparent, his eyes are wide in surprise and confusion. as he says those words, he looks at his father, who then looks away seeming in-deferent. At his father's reaction, Carli's eyes start to tear, but still hoping. 

"Say your farewells Carli."

Rynon pronounces as he makes for the door still holding Carli by his waist. Hila, at last realizes that the stranger is trying to leave and take Carli too.

Carli is starting to panic, he is calling to his father and Hila to help him. As for Rynon, he calls for his men, who he had standing outside the room in case of need. Since Carli is squirming trying to get free, and Hila is also trying to pray Carli from his side, Rynon, has no choice but to call for them.

"Here take him to the location, I will meet with you within minutes." As he says those words, Rynon transfers Carli from his side and hands him to the men. He then looks back at Heli, who is trying to get through him to get to Carli. 

"Listen to your ruler. Carli will be mated to me, but Kenor consents. I know of your pain, you love him as your own, but it must be done for his own protection, he was to be killed within the week. Be joyful that his life has been spared and he will live to share many moments in your presence. Farewell."

Rynon turns to leave while Carli's anguished cries still echo within the palace. Within the golden room, Kenor falls to his knees, his only witness crying silently.

"You gave your child away."

"I had no choice!"

"You had a choice many months ago, when asked to join your child with Rynon, and have them go through the usual courting, you refused in favor of your own arrogance. Rynon, would have won his heart. Now, Carli is lonely within life. He is to face a strange country. Nothing of what he knows will be there.  He is to be a lost soul. In time he will come to love Rynon, but until then...he will have to endure needless suffering, and the uncertainty of whether or not he will ever see his father"

"Watch yourself old friend."

"Do not try to intimidate me through your power, you need all the support you can get. You already lost your child, don't loose your only friend too."

 

********************************

Outside the trees are waving about, their branches moving madly as if wanting to commit acts of violence. Any light filtering through the night, comes from the two small planets visible from Dalir.

Carli was finally within his grasp, but at what price? To hear the anguish in your love's cries as he was pulled away from all he loved, was more than any good man could bare, even when justified.

He had wanted Carli for over two years. The first time he saw him he knew, Carli was so joyful about everything that people usually forgot their own misery. For two months the ruler of Pelantor observed the youth. His love increasing with every smile, caring action, and  mischeveous act.  At times it seemed a unrealistic dream, never to be fulfilled. But now, Carli was waiting for him, ready to go to his new home.

The dream was about to become.

Kenor's insistence that Carli never belonged to Rynon put his heir at risk. When it became apparent that Kenor, after voicing loudly, would not mate his only child for the benefit of the country, his enemies started plotting for a new ruler, one who would put the wealth and prosperity of the country ahead of everything else. Kenor's brother was the perfect choice. It seemed, he was willing to sacrifice a nephew he loved for the good of the said country.

The ruler can only be removed if he does not have any heirs. The death of Carli would see to that.

He is safe though...with me. My mate is finally with me, for me to cherish and love.

I am almost at transport forty eight, all seems quiet, but care is warranted these days, so I approach slowly, and quietly.

I open the door slowly gazing upon all within, and the first thing I see makes my blood boil with rage. Carli is on his back all limbs immobilized, his head is also strapped down, he can't even look from side to side. That in itself is cruel. All of my men are aware that the most terrifying is the unknown. Carli can't see anyone from that position. Tears are leaking from his eyes at a rapid pace, he is terrified.

"Unstrap him. Now"

"Antir, I am sorry, but he tried to escape several times. We did this to keep him here."

"there is six of you, all by far bigger than him, and you are telling me that you could not keep him within the transport unless you strapped him down?"

Those words are spoken in a mild tone, but the danger and anger within them is clearly present.

"Antir accept our apologies."

"When we arrive at the palace you will be replaced along with every man in this room. Another six will be elected to supervise for my safety. Consider yourself dismissed."

As I pronounce those words the two men unstrapping Carli finish. Carli slides from the long bed and moves away from every person in the room.

"Carli please come here?"

I voice it as a request, hoping that he won't feel intimidated. He is scared enough as it is. He looks up at me, uncertainty clear in his face. He obviously wants to approach me as much as he wants to walk through a river of snakes. He hesitates for long seconds, but finally he walks towards me.

He finally reaches me and looks into my eyes, his own are filled with fear. It will take me some time to make up for what just happened. Not only was he taken from his family, but he was restrained. His distrust is obvious as we make eye contact. I lift my right hand to touch his shoulder and he flinches away.

"Carli come here!!!"

I said those words a bit more forcefully than I intended and he glances at me uncertainly as he starts inching away from me."

One of the men grabs him by both arms and starts pulling Carli towards me. The scream we hear is filled with such terror, that at once the man holding him by the arms lets him go, and I move  towards Carli to comfort him.

"Shhh. It is ok. I won't cause you any harm, I just wanted to see you."

As I say those words I get my arms filled with Carli. He is shaking, but holding onto me tightly. Whatever fear he felt with my presence seems to have vanished, he is borrowing into my arms, in search of comfort. Some things must be addressed, but first I must calm him and settle him in for a nap.

"Carli...would you like to rest for a little while? you seem exhausted."

"I am wearing night pants...and a night shirt..."

Carli's words appear to be some confirmation as to what he should be doing. I start  to push him from me, and then turn him around guiding him gently with the palm of my hand towards the sleeping area.

As soon as Carli settled on one of the narrow beds, his eyes started closing fractionally, until he had to fight his body's demands for sleep.