•Crowns And Arrows• [Klance]

Lost In The Woods

Keith was lost. Lost in his mind, lost in his heart. Lance's words echoed in his ears as the door closed behind his love.

He didn't understand, and hated the feeling. Lance had every right to be upset, angry even. An injustice had been done to him and his family, something they were not even responsible for. Whoever started the fire should have checked to see if there was anyone still inside, and Keith found it difficult to reason why this Lord had never been confronted about his mistakes.

But Keith would also never question his father's decisions. How could he? The king was always right, even if Keith didn't understand. It would be rude to argue against his word, and especially for him, the Prince. He had to keep quiet, accept whatever his father decided. The king was always right, and Keith would be punished for thinking anything else. He had been, many times.

Lance was being ridiculous, he wasn't brainwashed, but even the thought of openly disagreeing with his father sent shivers down his spine, made him tense and nervous. No, he couldn't bear more pain for speaking his mind, not when he turned out to be wrong each time.

Why didn't Lance understand that? He didn't disagree, but even if he did, there was nothing he could do or say. Royal life trapped him here, forever alone and unloved, forever forced to live by other's rules.

Him and Lance being together was a fantasy, nothing more. They could never have lasted, and now Lance would never speak to him again, the boy absolutely hated him.

That expression on Lance's face wouldn't leave him, even as he took a bath and dressed, making his way down the halls for lessons. He didn't want breakfast, and wasn't hungry. A persistent feeling of nausea followed him around wherever he went, but he didn't cry. No, this was his own fault. Everytime you break a rule, you end up hurting yourself, Keith. Stop being so stupid. He hates you. He hates your whole family.

He'd never felt this lonely, not before he met Lance or even Shiro. There had never been an option for them to be together. What did Lance want him to do? Fight against his father for his lover's honour? Did he just want him to feel really sorry for his whole family? Of course Keith felt his blood boil everytime he thought of the fire, of the scar it had left Lance, but there was nothing he could do. Nothing.

Time waits for no one. Lance tried to climb down the tallest tower as fast as he could as if running away from the merciless sun chasing him, warning for the next patrol to walk by any time now. He'd gotten too caught up with trying to reason with the prince, which was of no use in the end.

The brunette felt they were back to the beginning, when they didn't understand each other, when they were nothing but a prince and his humble servant, where social classes acted like an entire ocean between them and they were unable to reach each other.

Except  he did try to understand. Keith was doing nothing to try and understand him, but Lance did understand the hard position he was in. He, however, didn't consider it as an excuse to not think for himself, or else that would mean the king would control him entirely, even his thoughts, forever.

Hadn't they grown past this? How could he defend him even after knowing the wicked reality his people were facing? What about his own inhuman punishments?

Keith really hadn't spoken like himself. And for a moment... it even sounded like he didn't believe in both of them, that he would put no effort in their relationship, that he didn't want to fight anymore.

Had he ever wanted to, though? After all, it was the hunter who constantly faced danger for him and risked his life over and over.  But besides fighting for his people's rights, what had Keith done to really fight for them as a couple?