Father and Son talk, but they aren't left in peace for long

When the tears finally stopped, Marcus raised his head slowly from his Father's chest. The King stared back with a pained grimace. There was a dull, helpless sadness in his eyes that made the young prince's heart ache. His Father must hate seeing him like this, he knew, but try as he might he couldn't find the strength to stop sniffling. Why was he so weak and helpless? If he'd been a little stronger...Irena would never have been able to do all those things to him! He could have fought back and stopped her, or at least he wouldn't have meekly submitted to everything she wanted just because he was so scared of getting his butt smacked. Then he wouldn't have had to face the awful truth that he'd let himself enjoy some of it, enjoy being toyed with and treated like an animal. The guilt and anguish made his stomach twist painfully. Even the King's hands stroking his bare back just made him feel worse. Would his Father even be trying to comfort him at all if he knew the truth?

"I'm sorry, Father." Marcus whispered, forcing the words up a sore, tight throat.

"What for?" The King asked.

"I couldn't stop her." The young prince sobbed, crying hot, painful tears again. Always crying, like the weak, pathetic little boy he was. "I was too scared..." The King's callused hands dug into his skin, holding him even tighter, and suddenly he knew his Father was mad at him. What else could it be? The King must be so very disappointed in him!

"Marcus...listen to me." His Father snapped, and the young prince stiffened up. His tear-filled eyes flickered to the King's face. There was anger there, tensing his jaw and burning in his eyes, but also a fierce sadness that furrowed his brow and what looked almost like guilt dulling his gaze. Marcus froze even through his misery. He'd never seen his Father look so strained before. "Whatever she did to you, it's not your fault! She's insane and dangerous. There's nothing you could have done, or she would have hurt you the way her daughter did me!" The young prince whimpered hoarsely. He so desperately wanted to believe his Father, cling tightly to those kind words and let the King soothe his anguish, but...he just couldn't stop blaming himself.

"I know I'm not strong like you, Father. I know I'm weak and scared, but I...should have fought anyway." Marcus sniffled. "I should have done something, but I didn't!"

"No, son." The King shook his head, his big, strong hand stroking the young prince's back. "I just want you to make it through this safe. I've already made Irena promise to hurt you once because I couldn't control my temper. I'm sorry for that Marcus, and for so much more. We've both got to do as she says for now, just wait for Gaius and the army he's bringing. She has to think we're going along with this insanity. It's the only way to keep you safe."

"Father..." Marcus gasped. "You think it was okay...that I did as she said?" His voice trembled, hardly able to believe it. Even his Father, the bravest, strongest man he knew...thought it was okay somehow?

"Yes, I'm afraid it's the only way. You were smarter than me to realize that quickly instead of ending up beaten bloody like I was." The King sighed hoarsely. "But from now on, I'm going to be looking out for you, the way I always should have been. It's just the two of us together. I'll not let her hurt you again, son." He hugged Marcus tighter, and the young prince felt his heart tremble in his chest. The aching edge of guilt and misery faded to something small he could handle. Even his tears finally stopped. "You've got nothing to feel guilty for, Marcus." The King continued. "I'm the one to blame for all this. I thought Irena was a friend. I invited her into my home, feasted with her, and left our borders unwatched and unguarded just because of her promises. We were even talking about marrying you to that vicious cunt daughter of hers, forming an alliance through blood between our houses, though I doubt now she was ever serious about the whole affair."

"I was...going to marry that girl?" Marcus gasped in horror at the thought. Horrible Felicia as his blushing bride, he couldn't imagine anything much worse than that. Aside from the sorry position he was in now of course.

"Your Mother was very much against it, but she was the same with any talk of a marriage for you." The King sighed. "If I'd ever met the girl I'd never have even considered it, but at the time I thought Irena's daughter might be a good match. A strong huntress wife, one who might be able to draw you out of your shell. Irena even kept telling me how sweet and gentle her daughter would be with you, and I believed her. Fuck, shows what I know." He let out a sharp, barking laugh that sounded so hollow.

"Father...thank you." Marcus whispered, hoping he could make his Father feel better. Like the King had said, it was just the two of them. They had to watch out for each other, even if the young prince knew there wasn't very much he could do. "I know you were just trying to help."

"Quiet now, look." The King hissed suddenly, nodding his head towards the back of the wagon. Marcus peeked there anxiously, and saw a pair of huntresses stalking round the side of their cage. Both of them were staring at him, hungry gazes darting over his bare legs and butt where that horrible fluffy tail still peeked out from between his cheeks.

The young prince pursed his lips shut and tore his gaze away, not wanting to look at them ogling him any longer. No doubt Irena had sent them to make sure they weren't talking again, but his Father had already said enough to make him feel better. The King was right. They just had to get through this! Do what Irena said and wait to get rescued!

The cart rumbled down the road, the huntresses easily keeping pace with the horses. Marcus turned to stare at the empty horizon again, waiting for the moment he was longing for, when Gaius and his knights would ride over those hills and come save them, with his Mother too! They'd take him and his Father back to the Castle, where he'd have a long, hot bath and try to forget this ever happened to him. Maybe he'd be able to talk to his Father more too...now they'd got closer like this. That would be nice.