Among the guests is STEFFAN KINGSON who hails from THE LOWLANDS. He is EIGHTEEN years old and is known as the privileged one. He is TAKEN by Wolfie.
"Being a king entails more than gold and power— a nation and a people have been set on your shoulders."
no one man should have all that power
He was born and raised to be king, the golden son who would take on a nation of millions someday. Even from day one, the amount of responsibility resting on Steffan’s shoulders was like the weight of the sky. Instead of playing with toys as other noble children did, he was made to organize toy soldiers as if preparing them for battle; instead of reading fairytales and hearing of the great Aelosian legends, private tutors read from the history books of the Great Kingdoms and the young prince memorized tales of past kings— their faults and their victories. (He was never supposed to commit any of the things on the ‘faults’ list.) Despite having everything he wanted, from prize stallions to the finest swords available in Aelos; Steffan didn’t quite remember being a child. Friends were not forbidden to him, but only those of high enough rank could dare to befriend their children with those of the king, and the boys who were pushed towards their crown prince were too afraid and cautious to be of any fun. Therefore, in Steffan’s free time, there were no games of tag or moments of horseplay…his companions were his tutors, his fencing and riding masters, the king, and the advisors who seemed to be everywhere and anywhere, always whispering about him and to him Loneliness was a great and terrible thing, but in time, he got used to it. Steffan knew that he was destined for greatness and that everything being done for him was for the good of the future generation; if not for his own good. With war looming closer and closer as tensions increased on the borders, the Aelosians needed a strong and wise king— and so he pored over the textbooks, memorizing, absorbing, becoming the prince whom everyone expected him to be. “History of the Great Kings: page 1456: Aelos has not traded with Olis since the year of the fifth moon due to the slaughtering of the Aelosian king by a Olisian assassin.” Although he kept to himself most times when he was not needed in court, Steffan’s life was constantly in danger, and even while in his study; there were guards at the doors, watching. He was never alone…and yet always lonely. It wasn’t until he was twelve years old that he made his first true friend, and even she was stripped away in time.
It was on his eighteenth birthday that the priests rang the city bells and called upon the court to hear to their proclamation— and it was the worst luck possible for a nameday. Though the king had always been strict and more of a commander than a father to him, Steffan had expected the great man to live forever. The day he would take the throne had seemed so far away…and yet now it was here, looming before him, a mere year’s time and he would be king and his father would be dead. The king is dead, long live the king was a thing of the historybooks, not of reality. Steffan didn’t quite know what to make of it, his mind was so overwhelmed with the suddenness of it all. He would be forced to choose a wife from strangers, Highlanders whom he had never seen or known before that day when he went to meet them. How could he determine his wife, his best friend, his companion for the rest of his life—not to mention, the next queen of Aelos in one day’s time? How?! He could not understand the thinking behind it, and thus after heated discussion with the magistrates, priests, and the king himself (one of few times in which he had ever raised his voice against his elders); he made his decision. He would go to the academy along with the Lowland entourage— under disguise. He was not Steffan Kingson, crown prince and heir to the throne of Aelos; but Erik Carison, one of the kingsguard. Or, he would pretend to be; and all the Lowlanders would treat him as such. He had always put his people first. He gave up his childhood for them, adopted the mindset of a king when he was just a boy; shouldered all that was piled upon him with dignity and grace…but not this time. He would choose his queen from the Highlanders, yes, but he would get to know her first; without his title hanging over their heads. He wanted to know her for who she was, not who she would become in order to impress a prince. And so, despite the vehement warnings that it would be ridiculous for him to live among commoners, Steffan persisted, donning his fine linens for coarse armour to be not a prince, but a guard among guards. Announcements were made, that the crown prince was studying abroad, traveling the seven kingdoms to broker peace in stead of his father, and beneath the cover of the lie, he slipped into the academy walls, to be for the next year.
with these responsibilities that they entrusted me
+ dignified, loyal, sincere, incorruptable
- impassive, cryptic, enigmatic, serious
FARAH TARENDAUGHTER - He loved her and hated her all at once, because though she was his best friend and the only person outside of the Kings whom he was so close to; there was something about her that drove him mad— something unattainable and too bright for him to truly have. They often were at odds, but they were also often inseparable, and the years he knew her were the best in his life. When the Tarens were killed; Steffan hated himself for following the example of his father and turning Farah away. Every day he has regretted it, and now as he travels to the academy, he can’t help but wonder if she will be there.
PARIS KINGSON/AMBROSE KINGDAUGHTER- He knows what they think of him. The envious stares of his sister, the wall that was always in place when Paris spoke to him…and now they think him mad to disguise himself as a kingsguard. Paris and Ambrose had always been closer to each other than to him; but then again, they did not have a kingdom resting on their shoulders. Only fur capes and golden gowns. As the eldest of them, Steffan doesn’t truly care what they think, but he is afraid that with their mischievous natures, they might give him away.
JAIME PARTHASSON - He was contracted as Steffan’s personal guard a few years ago, and despite the other man’s duty to keep him safe; Steffan has always felt on edge when it was Jaime watching over him; as if something was hidden between them. He couldn’t quite figure it out, but his efforts to hire another guard were shot down by his father, who called Jaime the best of the best. On the other hand, Loras Adarsson also gives him chills…something strange about the way he stared so intently, as if Steffan owed him something. He doesn’t feel quite so safe with those two accompanying them on the journey, but there’s nothing to be done about it.
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