The Betrayal

I woke up this morning after the most delightful dream about my dear Lovine. Though, I guess I should introduce who I am, first. My name is Protag Anist, and I'm heir to the Kingdom of Plot'Vice. Well, I guess I'm ONE of the heirs; I have an older brother named Antag that might very well inherit the throne instead of me. But, let's talk about my dream, instead. It was about my amazing Lovine Terest, the one whom I'd give my life for, the one that I want for the rest of my life. She is the heir to the Kingdom of Climaxia, which is just past our neighbouring Kingdom of En'Mee. She is beautiful, with long, flowing hair the color of sunflowers, and amazing sapphire eyes that shine brighter than a crystal clear lake. She has such grace that a swan would feel clumsy beside her. I have repeated those thoughts to my brother before, but he doesn't seem to really care for my words. Ah, well, to each their own, he'll never understand the feelings that Lovine and I share for each other.

Speaking of my brother, I should probably get out of bed and go find him before he comes in to get me himself, he's rather rude about waking me. So I climb out of bed lazily, get my clothes for the day and get changed, going about my normal morning routine and finally head downstairs to the dining hall, knowing that my brother would already be there waiting. And I was right,

"Antag! Good morning! How did you sleep?" I say cheerfully. I could only see the back of his medium-length black hair before he turned around to look at me with those sharp green eyes of his. He then smiled in return.

"Good morning, Protag, I slept well, and you?" he asked, turning to face me fully and crossing his arms.

"I slept brilliantly! I had another dream about my dear Lovine!" I beamed. Antag then frowned and sighed, obviously not amused at the sudden topic change.

"Really, Protag, must you speak of her at all hours of the day? She's much older than you! Are you even certain that she reciprocates he feelings you have?!" He exclaims, an annoyed look apparent on his face. My face fell and I looked at him with a rather down-trodden look.

"But Antag, I am sure that she reciprocates the feelings!" I drone, "She's told me she does!" 

It was a small white lie, but it was just so he wouldn't argue with me on this topic any more. He raised an eyebrow at what I said, before sighing and shaking his head in resignation. 

"Let's just eat breakfast and train, alright? I'm not too fond of talking about this," he says. I shrug.

"If that is what you wish," I say simply. And we do just that. After we eat breakfast, we go and train with our swords, and horseback riding, and archery. Though, right before dinner was started, a courier arrived bearing grim news. 

"En'Mee is attacking our borders?!" I exclaimed incredulously. Antag, however, was calm and collected. 

"I shall leave at once, leading a party of our best warriors," he says, standing abruptly from the table and walking off without another word. I sat there in a state of shock. He just left, without another word? Well, he has been known to rush into things, but I would've thought he'd at least say good-bye...

-----

It's been almost a month since Antag had left. We haven't heard a word from the party yet, and it worries me greatly. Suddenly, though, one of the pages bursts into the room where I was reading,

"Sire! Grave news from En'Mee's border!" He exclaims. I look to him in worried confusion,

"What is it?" I ask.

"Antag is dead!" He cries. I froze, I am stunned, and horrified. I dismissed the page with a simple hand gesture, and when he was finally gone, I sat there in wide-eyes silence, taking everything in. My brother is... Dead? How... How could this be? He was one of three best fighters I've ever known! He wouldn't be able to be taken down by a border skirmish! But... Evidently he was...

This was grave news indeed...

-----

When news of Antag's death reached the Kingdom of Climaxia, I received news that Lovine was coming with a party of guards to my Kingdom, and that practically immediately alleviated the pain I was in by the knowledge that my lady was coming to comfort me. She was to reach here in a week's time.

-----

It has been over a week's time, almost double it! Where could my lady be? Maybe her party was intercepted, maybe she was captured! I have to go find her! I take my finest horse and my armor, and my sword, and I ride out, leaving my advisor in charge until I returned. I must find my lady!

-----

It was difficult to find it, but finally I found the scene of the event; there were at least ten dead warriors, one or two of their mounts gone with them, but no sign of my lady. That left me both relieved and worried; that meant she was still alive, but she was also captured! I must go find her! Thankfully, I see tracks leading away from the scene, into the forest. How convenient! I decide to follow them.

-----

I'd been travelling all day before I finally saw the ones I had been following; there was my lovely lady Lovine, following a masked villain. How dare he take my lady from me?! I had my horse go at a full gallop, running swiftly to the two. 

"Fiend! Stop at once and leave my lady be!" I roar, rage obvious on my face. They both turned to look at me, Lovine in shock and the villain in calm silence. Once I had arrived I dismounted and pulled out my blade, glaring at the heinous man. He appeared to resign himself to the fact that he'd have to fight and pulled out his blade as well. Odd, the blade looks quite familiar... 

Before I could ponder that thought anymore he was upon me, slashing and swiping with grace and skill. I matched each sword stroke, not allowing him to get an advantage. Then, I started getting the upper hand. After several minutes of intense fighting, I finally knocked the sword out of his hand and forced him to the ground. I decided that it would be best to reveal his identity, and knocking the mask off with my sword revealed a horrifyingly shocking truth.

It was Antag.

"Antag?! How are you alive?! Why are you doing this?!" I spluttered in shock and horror. My brother was alive! He was capturing my lady?! Why?! My rage flared and I raised the blade to end the mongrel that dared try to steal my lady from me, but I was stopped by a shrill cry.

"Protag, stop!" Lovine cried, running to stand in front of my blade. I looked at her in confusion.

"Lovine..?" I asked tentatively. There were tears running down her face. She glared at me, attempting to look intimidating.

"Stop! Why would you kill your brother?!" She asks.

"Because he was trying to capture you! Trying to take you from me!" I exclaimed.

"To take me from you?! What, do you honestly still think that I like you as more than a brother?! You're insane! I love Antag, not you! We planned this entire thing, we were running away together!" She explains. I blanched; what...?

"It's true, Protag," Antag said, standing up slowly and looking at me in exasperation, "Why else wouldn't I want to talk to you about a girl that you have a crush on?" He sighs. I look between them both in horror, before tears build up in my eyes and I turn swiftly, walking away with my head bowed, ignoring them calling for me to come back.

It's funny how deep betrayal can make you hate the ones you love.