Forgotten Regality

[Azure Wolfe]

Asbel was.. a little surprised, to be truthful, when a guard poked his head into the room to inform the teen that the king requested his presence in his chambers. He had half expected Richard to storm in, all guns blazing -so to speak - or at least send somebody to physically drag him back. And so the quiet request put the teen.. probably a little more ill at ease than it should.

Still, he had vowed to face Richard, and that was what he would do. Quietly making his way across the corridor, Asbel slipped into the room, holding the door slightly open with his foot as he lingered in the doorway, silently and cautiously watching Richard.

This.. this was very much the Richard that he knew and loved, the one that he had known since childhood.. not the - the thing that frequently paraded around these days wearing the king's face. But still Asbel was wary; he had seen first hand how easily the mood could switch. After what had happened earlier.. he did not wish to take any chances.

Still, the fear that shone in Richard's eyes.. that, if nothing else, proved how much he truly regretted his actions, how much he was reaching out to Asbel for help, right? Could he.. could he truly turn his back on Richard from such a solemn, heartfelt request for help?

He could not, it seemed, as Asbel found himself almost mechanically approaching. perching on the edge of the bed, beside Richard yet still with some distance between them, Asbel watched the other carefully for any small sign that he could turn on him. Still, he found none.. nothing at all beyond the remorse in his tone.

Still, Richard's comment about opinions made the teen look away, pulling his hand back from the teen's grip. "It did not seem that way earlier, Richard. I was merely voicing what many believe; and it did not seem that any opinion mattered other than your own," he responded quietly. "Not that this is the first time you have ignored my wishes," he added callously, before catching himself.

This .. this was no time to be getting angry; Richard said that he regretted what he had said and done, right? It was.. time to work things out, and hopefully set things right. Not just between them, but for the whole kingdom. Or so he hoped. "At any rate, I stand by my words, Richard. You are going to run this kingdom to ruins. The people are afraid of you..they fear their own king. Is that... is that truly what you want?"

[Rydia]

Richard barely hide a nasty flare of bad humour at Asbel's words. How...how dare the teen challenge him like this? He was the king, and if he wanted to run the country into ruins, or marry whomever he liked, or anything...well, he was damn well going to. He did not have to say any of that, though. In fact, it was in his best interest to let none of that be known just yet.

Frowning sadly as the auburn-haired knight pulled his hand away, Richard shifted back a short way, giving Asbel the space he wanted for the moment. He would leave it up to Asbel to approach him, then, and he knew...Asbel would, with the right coaxing.

"I know," he replied instead, his voice low and pained. "I know that. The last thing I want is to harm my people, truly Asbel. I just...I keep asking myself if I cannot be strong enough to better Windol. I do not feel like...like I have the respect my father had, and that terrifies me, Asbel. I do not want to let anyone down. Perhaps...perhaps I am trying too hard...

"Could you...would you be willing to help me remedy this, Asbel? As my partner..." he swallowed, "As my...husband? This is your country too, no matter how little we act the part of a married couple. That is my fault, I fear...and I wish to remedy that, also." Holding out one hand, he gazed pleadingly at the teen. "Can we start over?"

[Azure Wolfe]

Asbel shook his head sadly. "Truly, Richard; you have that respect. Or atleast.. you had. You just.. don't see how much your people love you. But the rash decisions you are making are causing them nothing but pain and suffering. I-I know that you are under a lot of stress, but.. you don't need to do this alone, Richard. There are plenty of people willing to help.. if only you would let them. Just.. let us in," he pleaded with the teen, shuffling forward a little to tentatively take Richard's hands in his own.

Offering Richard a gentle smile, Asbel met the young king's gaze lovingly. "I cannot lie, Richard. I was not ready to marry - not without first at least attaining some of my memories, and.. at the time i was not even sure how i felt about you. But.. since then, i have regained some of my fonder memories although many are still lost, and i know how much i love you."

Squeezing Richard's hands gently, Asbel moved a little closer before continuing. "I al always here for you, Richard. Regardless of what happens. I admit that sometimes your... shall we say darker moods can be rather scary, but.. i would never leave you. No matter how much i suggest it. Not unless.." he swallowed, thickly. " Not unless you did not wish me around any longer."

".. I would be more than happy to.. to start over with you, Richard. If we could just.. put all of this behind us?" he asked, softly.

[Rydia]

Aw, isn't that cute? He loves you. Maybe you two should get mar--oh, wait.

Richard ignored it, focusing instead on keeping his expression open and...fond. Leaning back against the pillows, the blond king used Asbel's grip on his hand to pull the teen in toward him. Releasing his grip on his friend's hand, Richard shifted both of his arms to wrap around the boy's waist, pulling him in even closer, Asbel's legs straddling Richard's own outstretched ones.

"I know you were not...truly, I probably was not either, but...I do not know, perhaps I was just afraid of losing you? Either way...while I regret the circumstances, I do not regret the outcome. I would happily marry you again.

"...I am glad you would not leave me, Asbel. I fear I am going to need you more than ever in the days to come. So yes...can we put this all behind us? Let us do our best from now on...as a couple."

Leaning in, he captured Asbel's lips in a soft kiss. shifting his hands, he slipped them under the other's top, resting them lightly on his friend's hips. He made no further move, however, just enjoying the long, slow kiss.

[Azure Wolfe]

Asbel found himself being pulled further onto the bed, and onto Ricahrd as the king spoke, feeling.. rather more at ease than he had felt when he had walked through the door mere minutes ago. It was rather difficult, really, to believe that this was.. the very same Richard that had lashed out at him, both physically and verbally just hours before.

..The same Richard that had single-handedly made an entire kingdom question his ability to lead his people fairly?

Asbel found it rather confusing, really, how.. different he could be. Had his actions truly been the force of anger, brought on by his own desire to prove himself worthy to his disbelievers? Of which.. Asbel himself must have seemed earlier that day, when he had so publically berated Richard's actions in front of the entire council..

"Richard.. I- I really do apologise for this morning. I did not mean to undermine you before the council, i just..I could not help but to think that you were going much too far in this.. this revenge plot of yours," he explained, feeling rather contrite for what Richard must have viewed as a personal betrayal. Afterall, was it not the role of the spouse to support all actions and judgements regardless of whether or not they deemed them valid? No wonder Richard had reacted so strongly in that regard. "I-I will not question you before others again, I promise."

Nodding a little in confirmation of Richard's request, Asbel closed his eyes, leaning into the kiss even as he shivered a little at the feel of Richard's cold hands upon his bare hips. Regardless of the little alarm bell ringing in the back of his head, Asbel returned the gesture with equal force. It was.. just nerves, afterall, he believed. All of this was still.. kind of new to him.