forum Cinderella AU // OxO // Closed

Started April 17, 2020 by @ElderGod-Icefire

tune

Lloyd was stalled for a few seconds. He hadn't really been hugged by anyone but Nathaniel in years. His tears stung his eyes and he soon returned the hug.

Ellis held onto him gently, hoping that this wasn't inappropriate of him.

"I'm s-sorry…" Lloyd whispered weakly, tightening his grip on Ellis. "I… I-I'm being stupid, aren't I?"

Ellis held onto him. "No, you aren't." he said softly. "You're just reacting the way anyone else would."

"But I'm not supposed to react the way anyone else would…" Lloyd's voice broke and he drew in a wavering breath, a couple tears rolling down his pale cheeks.

"Sshh, your highness, it'll be alright." Ellis replied. "You're just reacting normally, fuck everyone else who doesn't like that."

"I-I… it's just… the guards are my f-friends, you know? T… to me, it's… it's not just a random person dying… it's a friend dying for my sake… I c-can't just… be okay with that…"

"I know." Ellis said softly, trying to soothe Lloyd. "I know."

"I-I really shouldn't be so shaken up about this…" He whispered weakly. "I've been at war, for god's sake… it's just… somehow this is different…"

"Lloyd. Please. It's okay, I promise." he replied softly.

Lloyd sighed and rested his head on Ellis's shoulder weakly. "Why do people want to kill me…?" He asked.

Ellis shrugged a little bit. "I don't know."

"What did I ever do? I feel like I've been good to them… I try to make sure they're happy to the best of my ability, I protected the kingdom in war, I've never done anything to them, I-I just… I don't know what to do…"

"Lloyd, I…I don't know." he said softly, holding onto the prince.

"I can't let them keep hurting the guards, my… my friends. What kind of ruler would I be if I discarded them like pawns?"

"Lloyd. Calm down." he said gently. "You aren't thinking straight right now."

"I'll kill these damn assassins!" He growled, trying to pull away from Ellis. "Where's my sword? I'm ending this right now."

Ellis held onto Lloyd, keeping him from moving. "Lloyd." he said firmly. "Stop this."

"I'm not gonna continue letting them die for my sake. I… I c-can't… I need to deal with this myself. It's my duty." Lloyd drew in another harsh breath, his light trembling returning as he spoke.

Ellis rubbed his back gently. "Lloyd, your highness, you're still healing." he said gently.

"I know, I know, I-I… but… I need to end this now…" He whispered. "I don't want this to happen again, Ellis…"

"No. You need to go to your room for a while and calm down. I know that this is hard, but people are dealing with it." he murmured soothingly.

"People are getting hurt, Ellis… for my sake. I can't allow that to continue. Injured or not, I need to deal with this."

"Lloyd, if you try right now, you'll just get hurt, or killed." Ellis said.

Lloyd sighed. "The assassin could be anywhere by now… what if they try to hurt someone else?"

"They won't. Come on." Ellis replied.

"But how do you know, Ellis? They've already hurt me, and Philip… who's to say they won't hurt anyone else?"

"They hurt him by accident, Lloyd. Please just come to your room."

Lloyd sighed, reluctantly allowing Ellis to pull him along again. "B-But they could hurt Nathaniel, or… or my parents. What would I do then?"

Ellis led him towards his room. "Don't worry about that. They have guards too."