Alnwick Castle

Genre: Historical Romance

Band: Dir en grey + Others

Pairing: Ano... d x s & I'm making it up along the way ^^;

Setting: in the border of England + Scotland in the Medieval times

"What is most beautiful in virile men is something feminine; what is most beautiful in feminine women is something masculine."~Susan Sontag

Parchment one~Engagement

Once Upon a time........

"I WILL NOT MARRY ANYONE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!" Shinya shrieked on top of his lungs.

The servants and his family recoiled, for they have never seen the prince yell before. The King was not phased, however. He was so used to the noise from his loud-mouthed "wife", and he never was phased by anything anyway. "Now, now, my dear. You shan't be so hasty in making descisions." He patted his favorite son's hand gently with a goofy smile on his face. "I know this seems so sudden, but he is a good man. He'll take good care of you."

Shinya pouted and took deep breaths. His father was his father. He was a little off his head sometimes. "Father, why can't he be betrothed to Toshiya? He's the pretty one here! I'm just...I'm just so plain! He would surely not approve of me!"

King Hayashi laughed heartily. "Shinya, you're such a beauty, how can anyone refuse you?"

Shinya pouted deeper. //Of course you will say I am beautiful! I am your child!//

Suddenly, the doors opened and Queen Toshi jumped in. "WHAT IS THIS I HEAR THAT OUR SON REFUSES TO MARRY??" He said. He was always loud-mouthed, though no one knew why. Like the King, he was gentle-hearted and treated both the King's sons like his own. The problem is, he wanted daughters so badly, that he raised the two princes like girls. Thus, they grew up like well-bred ladies instead of knights in shining armour.

The King didn't mind though. He thought it was a blessing from God that he actually had children of his own. The King had two 'wives' that he loved. The first wife is the current queen, Queen Toshi, who miraculously got pregnant for reasons unknown ^^; and had Toshiya. Then, Yoshiki fell deeply in love with a country peasant of pure heart named hide. Hide became pregnant too ^^; by the grace of God and had Shinya. Unfortunately, hide died from childbirth. Since then, King Hayashi favored Shinya above anything else in the kingdom. Queen Toshi accepted Shinya under his care and loved him and Toshiya with equal passion.

Shinya shifted uncomfortably on his feet. He knew what was coming next---

Toshi suddenly bawled into tears. "YOSHIKIIIIIIIIIIII!!!!!!!! OUR SON DOESN'T WANT TO MARRY!!! *SOB SOB*! HE WILL BECOME LONELY AND DIE ALONE WITH NO ONE TO TAKE CARE OF HIM!!! *SOB*!"

Yoshiki embraced Toshi gently. "Now, now, dearest. Shinya's just got the wedding jitters, that's all."

"BUT IF WORD GETS AROUND, HIS BETROTHED WILL SURELY DISAPPROVE OF BEING REJECTED. tHEN WHAT? SHINYA WILL BE ALL ALONE! *BOOHOO SOB SOB* AND AFTER ALL THIS TIME, THEY'VE BEEN BETROTHED SINCE THEY WERE BORNE!!"

Yoshiki stroked Toshi's hair. "Just calm down, honey. Shinya hasn't given me his final answer." He turned to his son and smiled. "so what is your answer, Shinya?"

Shinya bit his lip. "But he's a Scot! A barbaric SCOT!! How can you---"

Toshi bawled louder. "BOOHOOHOO T_T!!!"

Shinya's opinions faltered. Always. This ALWAYS happens. He bunched his hands into fists. //Lord give me strength// "Please excuse me, Father, Mother. I shall give you my answer later tonight. I'm very sorry to worry you so, Mother."

Toshi cried. "OH, SHINYA, SHINYA! YOU'VE ALWAYS BEEN AS STUBBORN AS YOUR FATHER. *SOB SOB* WHERE DID I GO WRONG?"

Shinya sighed. Toshi was always overly-emotional. "I'm sorry Mother. I shall be resting in my quarters." He made a small curtsey and walked up the stairs. He closed the door to his room and leaned on it. He sighed. "Damn."

After resting for a few moments, he thought about his situation. He walked to his table and began to mix some herbs. He never participated in normal lady-like or knight-like activities. In fact, he was sort of an outcast amongst Castle Hayashi. He often never talked, and stayed in his room studying herbal medicine and alchemy. He didn't know why, but it was something that soothed and calmed him.

//What do I do? Father and Mother don't know how the Scots can be! If I marry a Scot, I will loose my freedom forever. Lord knows what that barbarian will do to me! Besides that, I am a MAN betrothed to another MAN! I am certain he will not approve! He will look upon me in disgust; he will not understand our ways here in Castle Hayashi, let alone England. All I want to do is stay here forever and never leave.... Oh Lord, what am I to do?//

He grounded up some herbs and mixed it with water. He was making a drink that will keep him warm during winter. He then put the bowl down and looked out his window. It was getting cold. Everyone was used to it, but for some reason, he never did get accustomed to the weather. His parents always worried about him frolicking outside the castle just because he was skinnier than most boys. No matter how much he ate, he never gained a pound.

The chilly wind blew outside, sending shivers down Shinya's spine. He stared off in the distant horizon, amazed at its natural beauty. He wondered what it would be like outside the castle walls..........

The idea hit him like a stone. Shinya suddenly knew the solution to his dilema. He smiled his rare, but dazzling smile. "Mayhap there is hope after all."

~~~~~~

Toshiya knocked on his younger sibling's door and waited.

"what is it?"

"It's me." Toshiya replied.

Shinya gave a deep sigh and let his older brother in. Toshiya frowned when he saw the boy's brushes out on the table. "Shinya, you shouldn't comb your hair too often. You'll grow bald quickly."

Shinya shrugged. "So what brings you here?"

"Mother insisted I talk to you about your betrothal." Toshiya smiled wearily. "You know how they get. Mother even said 'tis not ladylike to refuse that offer from such a well-respected man."

"I understand Mother's concern, but I do not have to follow ladies's rules. I'm neither ladylike nor masculine by nature. I'm not like you. You're so beautiful that all the men in the castle fall at your feet. Your manners are so flawless that men and women alike are charmed by your presense."

"Shin-shin, don't put me on the pedestal." Toshiya smiled. "I appreciate your flattery, but you have qualities that posses charm and beauty. I hope you don't look down on yourself so much---."

"It's not that." Shinya said. "I'm just.... I'm just not ready to be married. I'm only one and twenty this year! I still have much of life to experience. Furthermore, my betrothed is a man. He won't understand that our kingdom encourages love for who the person is, not love because of gender."

"You do know Father allowed this marriage because he needed peace at the border, do you not?" Toshiya stated.

Shinya sighed. "Aye. But i believe it would cause more havoc if my betrothed discovered I am also a man. I believe he would be insulted and declare war..."

"You know, I never thought that." Toshiya's eyebrows furrowed in worry. "And I understand how Father overlooked the possibility. Father is Father, after all. He would think your betrothed would be honored while your betrothed would see this as an insult."

Shinya nodded in agreement. King Hayashi was always oblivious to anything. The servants often gossiped that because the Queen's voice is so loud, it rattled the King's brain over the years....

"Toshiya, I need you to do a favor."

He stared. "What is it?"

"I need you to tell Mother and Father not to worry about me. I will come back once I've cleared up this mistake."

His brother blinked. "W-w-w-what?! Wait, Shinya. You can't be meaning to---!"

"I'm sorry, but in order to prevent a war, I have to do this."

Toshiya turned to stare at the brushes laid on the dresser, then at the satchel right next to it. No wonder all the brushes were out. He was packing to leave Castle Hayashi! "You are NOT leaving!!!"

The auburn head rubbed his temples. "Please, Toshiya. Be quiet."

"Nay! Do you even know WHO your betrothed is??"

"As a matter of fact, I do----sort of. I know he is the master of Alnwick Castle."

"But you do not know his NAME!"

"Hush, Toshiya..." Shinya said. Toshiya sometimes can be as loud and emotional as the Queen, a genetic trait, no doubt. "It's not difficult to find Alnwick Castle and it's not far from here. The travel should be a week or two, none more than that. And if i ask the guards and servants there, I will surely find the Master of the Castle."

"B-b-b-b-but!!!" Toshiya was ready to scream. "You know not what those Scots will do; and what about bandits! You will be an easy target, especially wince you are a prince alone on a journey to that barbaric country! Dear Lord, I hope Mother's rantings hasn't fried your brain."

"^^;; Toshiya, you needn't worry about that. I assure you Mother's voice doesn't bother me after 21 years of it." He picked up another satchel and opened it. " 'Ere it is." He held up an outfit to show his brother. " 'tis the key to a safe passage to Scotland."

Toshiya fingered the heavy fabric. "A...a NUN'S CLOTHES!!"

"Aye." the auburn head smiled. "I made it a while back, don't you remember? I wanted so badly to be a good 'girl' like Sister Sophia that I secretly made this ; and no one would dare trespass a nun during her 'missionary' to Scotland ^_-"

"Shinya, that is sacreligious! Impersonating a man of cloth is....is a sin! You will do penance for the rest of your life!"

"Toshiya, please lower your voice! There's no need to get riled up now. Everything will be fine, you will see."

"What about food? You'll starve."

"I packed enough food."

"Shelter then?"

"A poor, lonely Sister can surely get free lodging."

"What if you get sick?"

"You should know that I've dealt with herbs for years!"

"But...but..." Toshiya pursed his lips, those pretty lips that have tempted one too many. "But... I'M GOING WITH YOU!!!"

"WHAT!! OoO!!!!!!!!!!"

"If you decide to run away by yourself, then I'll tell on you."

"Don't do it, Toshiya! I've had this plan well thought of..."

"--of what? Of nothing but 2 measely hours since the news came about! You have no choice, Shin-shin. I shall be going with you. You never know, I might prove more useful than you think."

Shinya saw the determined look in his brother's face. "Fine." he sighed. "I shall write a note to leave here in my room about our situation. I'll also leave some herbs here for Mother, but I'm hoping he won't have a heart attack. I have extra nun's clothing in my other satchel. We leave by sundown on foot. Understand?"

Toshiya nodded and saluted him.

Shinya gave a deep breath and looked at the cold environment outside. //And he said I'M the stubborn one....// He muttered. //-_-*;;;//

~~~~~~~~

Shinya left the note on his bedroom pillow and slung his satchel over his shoulder. He quietly picked up hsi nun skirts and sneaked down the stairs. Toshiya was waiting for him on the bottom of the staircase, with the nun's clothing on. He fit in it nicely, except it was a little short for him.

"Shinya!" Toshiya whined in a low voice. "My outfit is too short."

"Then wear a cloak over it." Shinya said. "The guards on duty are asleep as usual. Let's go and be QUIET."

Both easily sneaked past the postern gate and ran out into the woods. Theyre lucky that the woods around the castle provided defense and didn't have a moat around it.

"Now WHY are we on foot?" Toshiya asked. "Why couldn't we get a horse?"

"Because it will make the escape more complicated. It's easy to rouse the guards when the horses are irritated. Also, we never know when the knights need them."

Toshya nodded. "Now what? 'tis night and there's no place for shelter."

"We follow the stars and hope no clouds will cover the moonlight and walk."

"walk?! WALK?!?"

"Hush, Toshiya! Aye, we'll walk until near dawn or if the Moon disappears behind clouds. Then, we'll camp out using the many layers of cloth I tied into a satchel. We need to move fast, so we naught have time to waste. Mother iwll probably send troops after us while father frolicks the castle smelling the roses."

"Alright, Shinshin." Toshiya sighed. "Where to?"

The auburn head pointed to the North Star. "Northward. To Alnwick Castle."

//End of Parchment One//

Contd ~ Parchment Two: Scotland

Yk2: Hope you enjoyed and um... CC's anyone?? ^^; And yeah. This fic will be lots of backward spellings and typing errors. But don't blame me. =+P I get ideas faster than I can type ><!