It's Another Hermitcraft Oneshot Book

Please Take Me - Part 1- (Etho x Wels / Angsty)

AN- all rights to this song goes to Beth Crowley!

Etho's POV-

Icy particles hang in the air as the council panicky stares at me, waiting for my input. My breath froze as I sighed, adding to the icy haze. The map on the table, cracked from the chilling temperature, is covered in boats, and flags representing the war escalating on the southern border of the kingdom. The council stays quiet as I contemplate their ideas, the cool of the castle war room air beginning to seep into my skin as I reach a hand out and pick the flag representing our main troops, still stationed in the castle, awaiting my orders.

I know this enemy. At least I knew them. A long time ago before they were taken from the land of Hermitcraft. And here he was again.

I look up at the council, still surrounding the wooden table in the stone war room, pillars raising to either side of my seat, casting shadows into the edges of the room where I know ice has cracked the stone. Xisuma sitting on my right, his helmet visor lightly frosted over from his breath. Standing beside him is Iskall with his green hoodie flipped up over his head to ward of the chill as Keralis, who stands across from him shivers in a light, blue jacket while leaning over the map. Cub, across from me, is whispering to our tech expert, Mumbo about possible new contraptions for the war. I could see Beef standing just in the shadows, his arms folded as he leaned on the wall.

When I don't move again, still staring at the flagged piece in the hand, a frown hidden under my black scarf, Xisuma shifts, "my king. We need to act soon. What are the orders?"

I sigh at the title and place the piece down by the borders of our land. Xisuma nods without waiting for me to say anything and begins to stand but I grab his arm. He turns to look at me as I stand, "I'll lead the armies this time."

I can see the worry in the council's eyes but they don't object. I expected as such, they would never disobey the king, and they know of my reputation as the greatest fighter in the lands, most having fought at my side before I took my father's place as king.

I never wanted the throne, but as the eldest brother in the Slab family, it was my duty. In ascending to the throne, I had lost my best friends even though they stood around me in council. No more Etho, no more casual punches to the arm, no more battles together. They could call me that, do that, and trust me to a greater degree as the crowned prince, but now I'm their king.

And worst yet, I'm going to war against him. I trained with him many years ago, when we were boys. Prince vs noble. Strength vs talent. Lover vs lover.

We know all of each other's moves

Then he was gone. Taken prisoner in our teenage years in the war of Hermitcraft. Trained under King Bdubs, quickly becoming the armies second in command, next only to Doc. I knew I had lost him to that kingdom and now they were here to take our land. Our archenemy, if you wanted to be melodramatic, had returned to finish what they had done when I was young. But I was no longer immature, inexperienced, naive. I was not my father, and I would never let what happened to his home happen again.

As the council and I walk out of the war room into a hallway that is just as icy and cold, Beef walks up to me and places a hand on my shoulder. I turn to look at him and I know he can see the pain in my eyes. He knows who we are going against. Beef knows him and he is the only one to know of our secret.

Beef says nothing as I turn away and walk away.

In this twisted dance we do

I stand in my room as servants help me strap my armour to my arms and legs. A fire crackles nearby, fending off the cold air, but does nothing to warm my aching heart. My sword sheathed at my hip and a quiver tight against my back are a heavy reminder of what I am about to do. I can't stop thinking about him and I begin to feel... something? I had to control my emotions. I needed to be the stoic king I had become and ensure that our land is safe. That is my first and only priority but I can't ignore my heart.