Author's POV....
The grand horns echoed across the palace grounds, announcing the opening of the annual royal hunt.
Silken banners fluttered in the cold morning air, embroidered with the sigils of the royal family. Nobles gathered on the marble terraces, dressed in fine riding attire, excitement shining in their eyes. For most of the princes and princesses, today wasn't about the hunt itself—it was about recognition. Praise from the King. A smile from the Queen. Proof of worth.
At the center of it all, seated beside the King and Queen on the elevated dais, was Maelis Ravencourt.
He looked bored.
His chin rested lightly against his gloved hand, golden eyes half-lidded as he watched servants distribute bows and arrows. Below, the princes and princesses paired off eagerly, already arguing and boasting about who would bring down the largest prey.
"Such barbaric enthusiasm," Maelis muttered under his breath.
The Queen leaned slightly toward him. "You seem uninterested, Maelis."
"I am," he replied politely, offering a practiced smile. "But I'll participate. Traditions must be respected, after all."
In truth, the idea of killing animals for sport made his stomach twist.
As partners were chosen, laughter and chatter filled the courtyard—until one figure remained standing alone.
Riven Solcaire.
He stood at the edge of the gathering, hands clenched at his sides, eyes lowered. One by one, the others had walked past him as if he didn't exist. Some didn't even bother hiding their disdain. A few smirked. Others whispered.
Riven watched as pairs rode off toward the forest, their horses kicking up snow and dirt, leaving him behind in the widening silence.
Maelis noticed immediately.
His expression hardened—not with anger, but with resolve.
He rose from his seat.
The King glanced at him. "Where are you going?"
"To choose my partner," Maelis replied calmly.
Murmurs rippled through the crowd as he descended the steps and walked straight toward Riven.
Riven stiffened when he sensed someone approaching. Slowly, hesitantly, he looked up.
Their eyes met.
"Riven," Maelis said evenly, his voice carrying just enough authority to silence nearby whispers. "Will you be my partner?"
Shock flickered across Riven's face. For a heartbeat, he seemed unsure whether he'd heard correctly.
Then he nodded. "Y-Yes… Crown Prince."
A royal guard hurried forward, handing them both bows and quivers. The moment felt unreal to Riven—as if the ground beneath him might vanish at any second.
Together, they mounted their horses and rode toward the forest.
The deeper they went, the quieter the world became. Snow clung to branches. Sunlight filtered through tall trees, painting the forest in pale gold and white. For a while, neither of them spoke.
Then Maelis broke the silence.
"Riven," he said, eyes forward, voice low, "I want your help today."
Riven straightened instantly. "Anything you command."
Maelis slowed his horse and turned to him. "I want you to help me stop the others from hunting."
Riven's reins slipped slightly in his hands.
"…Stop them?"
Maelis nodded. "I don't want any animals harmed today."
Confusion crossed Riven's face, quickly followed by hesitation. He looked like he wanted to ask a dozen questions—but fear sealed his lips.
Maelis noticed.
"I don't enjoy killing," he explained gently. "Animals don't choose to be part of our games. They just live. That deserves respect."
Riven studied him quietly.
Then, slowly, he nodded. "I understand."
They moved deeper into the forest, dismounting and tying their horses near a cluster of trees. Soon enough, voices echoed nearby.
A group of princes and princesses stood poised, arrows drawn, targeting a deer grazing peacefully near a frozen stream.
Before they could release—
....THWACK....
Maelis's arrow struck a tree trunk inches above the deer's head.
Startled, the animal bolted, disappearing into the forest in a blur of white and brown.
"What the—?" one prince cursed.
Maelis and Riven ducked behind thick bushes, barely holding back their laughter.
And so their quiet rebellion began.
They snapped branches. Whistled sharply. Fired arrows into trees and rocks. Every time a bow was drawn, some sudden disturbance sent the animals fleeing.
Hours passed like this.
The forest grew louder with frustrated voices.
"Why is there nothing left?!" "I swear I saw a fox here!" "This makes no sense!"
Meanwhile, Maelis and Riven moved like shadows—breathing hard, faces flushed, exhilarated by their secret mission.
As the sun dipped toward the horizon, painting the sky in shades of amber and violet, exhaustion finally caught up to them.
They collapsed against a massive rock, snow crunching beneath them.
"We did it," Maelis said between breaths, laughing softly.
Riven nodded, chest rising and falling rapidly. "I've… never done anything like this before."
Maelis scanned the forest one last time—and then spotted something.
A small white rabbit sat frozen near a tree, ears twitching.
Maelis gently approached, moving slowly, carefully. With surprising ease, he scooped the rabbit up and returned to Riven.
"For you," he said, placing it in Riven's arms. "Your reward."
Riven's eyes widened as the soft creature nestled against his chest.
"It's… alive," he whispered.
"That's the point."
Riven smiled—truly smiled. A small, genuine curve of his lips that made something warm bloom in Maelis's chest.
"Thank you," Riven said quietly.
They returned to the palace just as the horns announced the end of the hunt.
Elric Vaelor and Caleb Reed were declared the winners, presenting their kill proudly. The King applauded. The Queen smiled. Applause followed.
A royal dinner was announced in celebration.
Excitement buzzed through the palace halls as everyone rushed to prepare.
Maelis and Riven walked back to Maelis's palace together.
Snow crunched beneath their boots.
"Riven," Maelis said as they reached the doors, "today… you did well."
Riven lowered his head slightly. "Because you trusted me."
Maelis smiled.
And for the first time, Riven felt like he truly belonged somewhere.