King Him, Not Me

“Hold still,” Winston says before his palms touch the cut on Barin’s leg, a soft green light shining from beneath his fingers and palm. Barin, “How do you know this?”

Winston, “A Fairy owed my aunt a favor. She also gave me the scroll I have in my bag.”

Barin, “Why do you need me to protect you when you have that? You can have any weapon you want.”

Winston slowly moves his hands away, “I’m not a fighter and I’m not very skilled with weapons. If the mime didn’t jump back where he did then that arrow probably would’ve missed.”

Barin, “… you suck.”

Winston, “I know.”

Barin sighs, “How long do you need to rest for?”

Winston, “I don’t know. This isn’t my first time healing an animal, but it’s very draining. I don’t want to slow you down.”

The taller blinks before he presses his index finger against the shorter’s forehead, pushing him on his back.

“Rest,” Barin commands as he stands up, “you’d slow me down if you passed out.”

Winston huffs as he watches the taller leave the hut, thinking for a moment before he finally decides to sleep. This home belongs to the family of the boy that lost his dog.

~

Ten days pass before Winston opens his eyes again. Instead of seeing the inside of a hut, he sees a dirt road and the side of someone’s head. Their hair is curly and blonde.

“You awake,” Barin asks as he feels movement against his back. Winston, “Why are you carrying me? How long have you been carrying me?”

Barin, “Five days; I got tired of staying in the village.”

Winston, “You can let me down now.”

The taller bends his knees a little as the shorter moves his feet to the ground, the two soon walking in silence. The silence was broken by Barin, “Did you and your aunt suffer during the rebellion? Your last name’s Free, right?”

Winston nods, “People from the capital would come and ridicule us from time to time. We also were told things that only the royal Frees were supposed to hear. That’s the ‘research’ I meant when you asked me how I knew about this place and about Cornelius Free’s secrets.”

Barin, “Ah.”

Winston, “I don’t want to seem rude, but why do you want to become king? Your family’s rich.”

Barin, “I’m not becoming king for myself,” his expression saddens a little, “I’m doing it for my sister.”

Winston, “You have a sister?”

Barin, “Had… she passed away a couple of months ago. The reason no one knew about her is because she was on bed rest since she was born; never once was she allowed to leave the house. Not that it mattered, she didn’t have the strength to.”

Winston, “I’m… sorry.”

Barin, “My sister dreamed of seeing the capital and going into the castle. She wanted to wear princess gowns and have a tiara of her very own. This ribbon in my hair,” he gestures to his ponytail, “this belongs to her… the only thing I have left of her.”

Winston, “How… old was she when she died?”

Barin, “Eight.”

The two fall silent. Winston slowly looks to the taller then smiles sweetly, “You’re going to make a great king, Barin.”

“Thank you, Winnie.”