𝓒𝓱𝓪𝓹𝓽𝓮𝓻 𝓣𝔀𝓸 - 𝓦𝓱𝓮𝓻𝓮 𝓨𝓸𝓾 𝓓𝓸𝓷’𝓽 𝓑𝓮𝓵𝓸𝓷𝓰
Eyes blinking open and light shining through. Theoden didn’t know what to do. Because when he woke up all he could see was me, staring at him, smiling with such glee.
Brought to a world he doesn’t belong, but that doesn’t matter, because I’m the one who makes this song.
Theoden’s eyes shoot open and he’s in a bed. And not a hospital bed. And not his bed either.
Light pouring through windows and he’s covered by woolen blankets. He hates wool. Why would someone make blankets from it?
The room was small, quaint, and boring. A wooden wardrobe in the corner of the room and a tall mirror next to it. Outside could be heard the sound of sheep, which he hated because that was really annoying.
He climbed out of bed and he sees he’s not wearing his clothes. Instead, he’s wearing a cotton tunic and a pair of slacks. He looks like he’s from some stupid historical era as a peasant boy.
He walks over to the mirror and looks at himself. He looks the same, black hair that hung in his face, gray eyes, unshaken face, no scars. If he looks the same and feels no pain, then what the hell was going on?
There was a knock at the door, followed by an older man’s voice. “Theo. Up and at ‘em. I let you sleep in because I wanted you to rest, but it's past midday.”
He scoffs a bit, but then it hits him. Who the hell was that?
He quickly throws the door open, ready to fight whoever the hell was outside.
Standing in front of him is an elderly stand, short and large, but he does have strong legs. He’s rather red in the face though.
“Where the hell am I, old man?” he snarls.
The man’s eyes go a bit wide. “My, my, Theo, what’s got you all worked up?”
Theo grabs his shirt. “I’ve got no time for games! Where the hell am I? Who are you? What am I doing here?”
“Theo, Theo, calm down. My, I didn’t think that fall would affect you this badly.”
“Yesterday, you fell off the boardwalk and into the river. You didn’t seem to get too hurt, but I guess it messed with your head.”
Theoden’s head was buzzing as he tried to understand what this old geezer was spouting.
“You’re in Omivell. A village on the outskirts of the Hoteiven Kingdom. I’m your caretaker, Cecil. I’ve been taking care of you since you were a baby.”
“I don’t.. Omivell? Hoteiven?” This sounds like it came straight from a bad fantasy novel.
“Geez, did you really lose all of your memory? It didn’t look like you hit your head,” he says, reaching a concerned hand out to Theo, who promptly smacks it away.
“I.. this cannot be real.”
“I know this is a lot to take in.”
“So… Omivell. Some small village? Why’s there so many sheep?”
“Because we’re shepherds.”
“We’re what?!” What a horrid fate! And he thought being a college student was a miserable existence. A shepherd?! This was way beneath him!
“Cmon, Theo. Let’s go outside and I’ll refresh you on everything,” Cecil says, placing a hand on Theoden’s shoulder, who quickly shrugs it off with a look of disgust.
The two step out and walk through a small kitchen with a circular dining table with 2 chairs. On the counters was some bread and cheese and a glass bottle of milk. There’s a pair of lace up boots at the front door that Cecil says are his. They’re rather ragged and falling apart. He deserved better than this. They step outside and he’s hit with a smell worse than polluted air. Animal droppings.
He gags and uses his shirt to cover his nose. Cecil chuckles.
“You always did hate the smell.”
“Nah, I think it’s nice.”
Theoden narrows his eyes. What a disgusting man. The two walk out into the fields of green grass, where birds flew overhead and tall oak trees lined in the distance. The grass was itchy and the birds were annoying.
“The sheep are over here,” Cecil says, leading Theoden to a part in the field that was blocked off by a long fence. On the other side were a flock of sheep. They all turned to Cecil and Theoden and happily approached.
Cecil laughs heartily. “Looks like they’re happy to see you as always.”
Theoden scoffs at this and turns back to the sheep, who paused when his eyes landed on them. He crosses his arms and suddenly, they’re backing away.
“That’s weird…” Cecil says. “They’ve never done that.”
Theoden’s lips tighten as he stares at the animals, who stared right back at him.
“Um…” Cecil murmurs. “Let’s.. let’s give the sheep some space. They seem to be stressed.”
Theoden nods and the two walk out to the fields in the distance, a few paces away from Cecil’s home.
“These are Mr. Winston’s crops. He lets us have some of the vegetables, since we trade him wool.”
“Wow. Economics. So fascinating,” Theoden says sarcastically.
Cecil looks at him sadly. “Yes, well..” He clears his throat and shakes his head a little. “Come help me with collecting these carrots.”
Theoden groans as he gets to his knees in the dirt. He hates dirt!
They pick some carrots and it was hot outside and the ground was gross and the air smelled awful and the sheep were annoying and everything was just miserable.
“These will be good for dinner tonight,” Cecil says happily. “Some lamb chops and carrots.”
Theoden grumbles under his breath. Whatever. He couldn’t bring himself to care. This was probably some weird coma dream and he’s actually in the hospital. He shudders at the thought of paying that hospital bill. Maybe this dream was better than dealing with that.
The two stand back up and return to the house, Cecil quickly getting to washing the carrots.
“I’m not gonna work you too hard today, Theo. I want you to recover. So you can just sit and rest.”
Theoden looks at him suspiciously, but happily sits and rests, letting Cecil cook him dinner. This is the way things should be always. Except, in a fancier home, not this hovel. He lies on the couch and stares at the ceiling. He thinks of the last moments he remembers.
That girl. That horrifying, beautiful girl. She did something to him. Something to his brain. He would never do something so irrational. What did she do? Who was she? What was she?
Theoden's fists clutch tightly and he closes his eyes as he remembered her face. Sharp features, blue eyes with gold, platinum blonde hair, and that smile... His heart rate dropped as he remembered it. Curled up all the way to her eyes, too many teeth. Just remembering her smile makes him want to claw his eyes out. What was wrong with that girl?
"Theo," Cecil calls out. "Dinner is ready."
Theoden groans and slowly gets up, walking to the kitchen reluctantly and sitting himself at the seat across from Cecil, his plate already prepared for him at the table.
"Theo," Cecil says. "I do hope your memory finds you. But, I am happy you were ok after that fall."
"Mhm," he says boredly as he took a bite of his food.
Cecil gives him a concerned look. "W.. Well, either way, it's always nice having you around. Even if you're not actually my son, you are like the son I've always had and-"
The man kept talking and talking, and Theoden wished he would just shut up. Theoden kept eating as he spoke, just responding with, "Mhm." What a boring old man.
"That's all to say," Cecil says, wiping his eyes with a napkin. "You are perhaps the best thing that's ever happened to me, Theo."
"Well, that's nice. I'm done eating." Theoden gets up, leaving his empty plate at the table with a dumbstruck and hurt looking Cecil. He walks up to his room and closes the door, letting out a sigh of frustration.
This can't be real. It can't. It just can't. He runs his hand through his hair, frustrated at everything. The whole world. Just a dream. This was just a dream. He had to keep telling himself that.
He walks to the window of his room and looks out at the fields, the trees, the road in the distance, the crops, the annoying sheep. This place was so empty. The only entertainment he could probably find would be paint drying. He rests his head against the windowsill. He doesn't deserve this. He deserves better.
There was a knock at the door and he hisses under his breath as he gets up to open it. "What?"
Cecil looks at him, his eyes sad. "Theo, son. I understand you're going through a lot in that head of yours, but please.. tell me what you are so angry about."
Theoden grits his teeth. "Wanna know what I'm so angry about? Well, I'll tell you, old man. This place stinks! Literally and metaphorically! And you're boring and this place is boring! Like, what? Farming? Tending to sheep? What a pathetic life!"
Cecil looks shocked, distraught, but then his face hardened. "I don't know what's making you say all this Theo, but you've only lost your memory for a day. You can't be so angry and hateful so quick."
"Well, I am! I hate you! And this stupid place!"
Cecil clenches his fists. "I don't know what's gotten into you, but you better snap outta it, son."
"Don't call me son, you old fart!"
Cecil's brow furrows, but before he could say another word, they were interrupted by the distant sounds of horse hooves fast approaching.
"What in the world-?" Cecil murmurs, walking past Theoden to get to the window. "Those're people who work for the castle. Why're they here?"
Theoden also looks out the window, an eyebrow raised. What was going on here? The two leave the room and then head outside as the carriage comes off of the road and next to the house.
Out steps a man. An Theoden could swear he's seem him somewhere.
The palest blonde hair he's ever seen, a sharp face, eye-catching blue eyes with... with...
The man walks over, an air of authority surrounding him as guards stayed behind him. He smiles and it's unnatural, the top lip curling up, revealing his gums and the ends too high up to his eyes. Like a creature disguising itself as human.
Cecil looks at the man cautiously. "That is my son.."
The man laughs darkly and steps past him. "He is not your son."
Theoden takes a step back as the man approaches him. "Theoden, apologies I took so long. I meant to come earlier in the day." His voice lowers threateningly. "Though, it was fun knowing you suffered so much. Did you bring misery to the shepherd too?"
Theoden takes in a shaky breath and his brain is screaming at him to run. That this man is dangerous. It was the same feeling he had at the convenience store.
He then claps his hands happily. "Well! I think it's time we should go!"
Cecil jumps. "Go? Go where?"
"I dear! I suppose I should provide context. I am Tristien! I am, or, well, was the closest confidant of King Azim. But, he’s recently passed away.”
Cecil’s eyes widened and Tristien smirks. “Yes, I think you know what that means, Cecil.”
“What?” Theoden asks. “What does it mean?”
Tristien places a hand on Theoden’s shoulder. “You’re adopted, Theoden! And you’ve gotta think, where did you come from? I’m sure you’ve heard all those stories of kings hearing something awful about their heir is going to do, blah blah, blah, so they abandon them or something, but the baby lives and is raised in a humbling environment? Well, happy to say you’re that heir!!”
Theoden is very confused and he looks at Cecil, who has gone still with fear.
“Cecil was supposed to be the one to kill you. But he couldn’t do it. Sad, tragic, tears, yadayada.” He smirks and says darkly, “Thought I doubt you’re the type to get so attached.”
Theoden face is stiff as he tries to understand the man’s words.
“But..” Cecil says. “The king has another son. Please. Let Theo stay here and let the other son become king.”
Theoden’s eyes widen. “Wait. So, I’m meant to be king?”
Cecil shakes his head in frustration. “But you have a home here, Theo. I-I’ve raised you and-“
“Shut it,” Theoden says quickly. “I can be king!” A smile spreads across his face. “King,” he repeats. This was it. This was the life he deserved. The role he deserved. The power he deserved. He was above everyone and he knows it.
He turns to Tristien, and suddenly the man wasn’t so terrifying. The two looked at each other with an equal look of excitement.
“Get me out of this place.”
Tristien smiles. “Anything you ask… King.”
