He was getting a headache sitting here. He didn’t know whether or not to be thankful for the sun going down. There was still plenty of light with the fire that was set to the town. He was still not huddled up with the rest of his family. Being a prisoner was nothing new to the prince. It had been about fourteen years now since his father banished him to his room.


Why was his only question even though it was explained many times before. You were only to be perfect and pure, god like even. Having a young Prince running around where there used to be a princess. It would always keep the family in question. ‘And they just couldn’t have that.’ Was always the response to the question.


In the first year there was questions as to where he went. Most of the servants got cut off from contact with the prince. Most of his meals taken to him from the younger two princesses. Soon after, all mentions of his existence got turned into myth. That was till the Rebel found him. Made him feel seen after all the years of him not existing.


It only took a decade of waiting for someone to notice. The Rebel did tell their mother about the Prince with his permission. They thought it would be a good explanation to get into the castle. It was a good way for them to be away from home for long hours. A way to get information was the excuse that the Rebel gave. No possible other reason they would want to spend time with a royal.


It worked well enough with the Rebel being able to spend at least half of their days there. Sleep overs were never questioned from their side either. The Prince would sell out about the defenses from around the city. In turn the Rebel would bring news of the plan while they both tried to find ways to stop it. How they got to the current plan went over so well.


◊◊◊


“There is no way. You need my help. I want to stay here and help.” The royal said standing across the room from the rebel.


“You won’t be any help if your in jail or hurt or-” The rebels voice broke saying what didn’t need to be said.


“You told your mother about me shouldn’t that affect the odds?”


“No, no it won’t. I don’t think you understand how much my mother hates you and your family more specifically. It won’t matter how different I tell her you are. You don’t exist outside of this castle. It would be so much easier to get you out of the way then find a way for you to stay.” The Rebel ran a hand through their hair trying to catch their breath.


“If I can just explain myself then I can prove that I helped with all this. Surely that would change things in my favor.”

“You can’t be sure of that.”

“We both can’t be but at least I could try.” The Rebel walked across the room opening up his arms. The royal took the invitation and curled into the hug. They both just needed to make sure the other one was there. “We need to keep our sights on our goal. Keeping the people safe from the majority of violence.


That is our top priority, doesn’t matter what we want. Please remember that.” The Prince reminded the Rebel who was doing their best not to cry holding onto the royal. “Can we work out what comes next if you don’t make it to the.” The word caught in his throat. Even if it was going to happen they didn’t have to say it yet.


The Rebel just hugged tighter trying to cut off the conversation. It was always hard to think of if they didn’t do this right. “I-”


“Don’t say it.” The Rebel cut him off pulling back enough to look at him.


“Just, not yet. Not till this is all over and we are both safe.” The Rebel brushed a hand through the Prince’s hair. As soon as they were both calm the Rebel left before bed. Something that became more common as the day got closer and they needed to be back at camp. They were both desperately for the physical connection they had as the day marked closer. So they could go back to falling asleep in each others arms.


◊◊◊


That was months ago when they started collecting names for people to help get out of the city. Thankfully, the nobles and royals were to busy planning a party. The self importance drowning out all the complaints coming from the common people. So far the day was going exactly to plan.


But they were still only doing the easy parts, it would all come down to the timing. If the Rebel were late or the Rebel Leader was early things could go wrong. That was what scared the Prince in the first place. There was too much if’s in the plan for the royal to be confident in it, but it was the only option they had.


The time ticked by as people moved in and out of the room. Every second made the princes blood pressure rise which was not helping is head. The invasion started as the sun set on the city. Now the bell was ringing for three in the morning. People started filling the room as they wrapped up whatever they were doing.


The audience was taking their seats at the show. As soon as all the seats had been filled, everything started quieting down. It seemed very final. They took a block, that was carved with the top curved, setting it where the thrones would sit. It was raised above the main floor making it the perfect stage for the show. They started taking a few boxes away from the enclosure they had royals in.


First was the king since he put in the laws. He was what everyone saw as a problem. He was the loud voice, a megaphone for the queen. He was led up to the block, his hands bound as they read off the charges. There was many of them brought against him by the people. The Prince didn’t feel a thing as the axe came down on his neck.


Next was the queen, the loud, fame chasing, intolerant of anything she deemed less. The charges against her were going to be less. Most of her transgressions were made behind closed doors. There a slight feeling if satisfaction with the crack that came with the strike. The same feeling for his eldest sister, Elizabeth.


The one in between, Charlotte, was nothing as the shock of it all wore off. Before they took Catherine up the Prince walked over to her and Annabelle. The only two of his family they treated him like a person even if he was still mostly ignored by them.


“This is it.” Catherine said trying to not show the affect. Annabelle was shedding tears but not making any sound.


“I guess it is. This was not how I pictured us going out.” The Prince said in a monotone voice they knew from him.


“Maybe if we were listened to all this could have been avoided.”


“I’m not sure it could have. This must have been years in the making. There is nothing we could have done.” The Prince really didn’t want his sisters to think he helped with any of this. These were the deaths that he would feel bad about.


“You may be right sister.” Catherine said pulling both her siblings into a hug. The Prince bit his tongue to keep from ruining the moment. They missed the execution of their older sister. Catherine had to be pulled apart from the other two. Annabelle was silent as they watched the axe fall.


 The crowd was cheering every time the axe came down. The Prince could not look at the box as it was Annabelle's turn. She helped him through all of it bring him books from the library when he read all of the ones in his room. When they were still young she would sit outside his door and talk to him. Now it was his turn.


The Rebel was still not here yet and he would be dead in a matter of minutes. They were going to read off charges but since he had never been in the public eye there would be nothing. One of the downsides of being nonexistent. Since he didn’t have anything against him; the Rebel Leader decided on a different method.


The odds were still stacked against him. He was pushed to kneel in front of the bloody wooden box. He was sure that his entire front would be covered with blood if he stood up. The Rebel Leader stepped in front a little as she addressed the audience.


“As penance for what your family has done to these dear people you have been sentenced to death. All in favor?” She said making sure everyone could hear the last part. The room exploded in cheers. The Rebel Leader motioned for the crowd to quiet down with her arms.


“All those opposed?” She asked. That was when you could hear running from the outside of the main door. It ended with a bang that echoed throughout the room. The door pulled open to show a slightly dazed Rebel walked into the room.


“Wait!” They yelled before running up to the throne platform. The Prince let out a little breath. Whether that was in amusement or relief he was too numb to tell. The rest of the room let out murmurs recognizing the young Rebel that burst through the door. They walked up to the block getting down on one knee taking the princes face in his hands.


“You ok love?” They looked into the royals eyes to find grief but no pain.


“What are you doing?” The Rebel Leader hissed down at them before the Rebel stood up to get on eye level with her.


“I’m here to make sure that you enforce your side of the deal.” They said in a hushed tone.


“This, this is the noble you want me to protect. One of the people who forced us to live in the wilderness?”


“I told you he’s different. You promised.” The Prince could see the look the Rebel Leaders eyes.


“Ace don’t.” The Prince tried to make sure they both didn’t go over the block.


“Quiet star.” They hissed back quickly. They were locked in a staring contest with their mother when the Rebel Leader clicked her fingers. The Prince was pulled to his feet; the front of his shirt as predicted got covered with blood.


“We will talk about this in the morning when we have everything else sorted out.” The Leader said to the Rebel before turning to the guard that was holding the Prince by his arm.


“Take this one to the dungeon until we find something to do with him.” He was pushed away muttering about how the Rebel was cutting it a little to close.