#in case you were wondering the title is a song by Arkells (same title)

[heademptynothoughts]

My Heart’s Always Yours

A Willex Princess Bride AU

ch. 1

Chapter 2: New Beginnings

Five years later…

Alex was numb. He was betrothed to the Prince of Florin and he couldn’t care less. How could he bring himself to care about anything when his true love was gone? It didn’t matter how much time had passed, he would always be numb, always be yearning for the love he lost. It’s not like he could’ve said no to the Prince anyways. When His Highness Prince Caleb Covington picks you out of a crowd and proposes, what other answer is there but yes?

While his parents still didn’t approve of two men together, they were exceedingly happy with their family’s new found status and as such only occasionally muttered about the wrongness of it. But their son was soon to be a prince and so they kept the worst of their comments to themselves.

Caleb (His Highness had insisted that Alex just call him Caleb) had moved him into the castle shortly after their betrothal. He believed it would be best that Alex begin to learn the ins and outs of being royalty right away and also admitted to wanting to keep him close. When Alex told Caleb that his heart would never truly be his, that he would never love him, Caleb nodded in understanding and said that he hoped in time he would at least come to care for him, but that he didn’t expect anything of him.

As Alex prepared for his official introduction to the Florian people, his thoughts couldn’t help but drift to Willie and he prayed that he would be forgiven for this betrayal. Enough time had passed that to most it would have seemed fine, but Alex’s heart ached at the idea of being with anyone but Willie. His name was announced and Alex took a shaky breath before stepping through the doors and walking out onto the carpet laid for him in the crowd. The faces around him were blurry as he tried to keep his breathing steady. Everyone was bowing to him but Alex couldn’t bring himself to do anything but stand there frozen, all the while wishing he was back on the farm with Willie in his arms. An impossible wish.

Afterwards, Alex decided to go for a ride. Being on horseback was the only time that some of the numbness disappeared and he was able to clear his mind. A sort of serenity fell over him as he rode further away from the castle, but his peace was soon disturbed by a small group of travellers. They were in the middle of the trail and as he got closer Alex saw that the group was made up of a pretty blonde woman, a sleeveless man with a lute strapped to his back and rapier sheathed at his side, and a smiling giant.

The blonde seemed to be the leader of the group. As he stopped in front of them, she told him that they were circus performers on their way to the castle for the Prince’s wedding, but they’d gotten lost and were in need of directions. Before Alex could respond though, the world went black.

———

Alex regained consciousness to the sound of strange voices and it took him a moment to realize what had happened. He tried to keep his breathing even and himself as still as possible so his captors would think he was still knocked out.

“What are you doing over there?” a deep voice called out. Alex assumed it belonged to the giant.

“Putting the plan in motion, moron,” the woman responded, “This is the Guilder crest, sworn enemy of Florin, remember? When the Prince’s husband-to-be’s horse returns to the castle, they’ll assume that Guilder took him, and when his body is found on the Florin-Guilder border those suspicions will be confirmed. I hired you to help me start a war and this is how we do it.”

Alex tensed, his breathing starting to become shallow. He had thought that maybe he would just be held for ransom, but this? His death as the catalyst for war? He willed himself to be still once more and hoped no one had noticed the clues to his being awake.

“I just don’t think it’s right, killing an innocent boy,” the giant said.

The woman scoffed, “Well it’s a good thing I didn’t hire you for your brains then, isn’t it?”

The third member of the party spoke up, “I agree with Reggie.”

The woman’s voice drew nearer, “I’m sorry, did I ask for your opinion? Don’t you worry your pretty little heads about it, I’ll be the one to kill him,” there was a pause, “Oh, and boys? Never forget that I’m the one who raised you from the filth you’d been living in, I’m the one who gave you purpose when you had none, and I’m the one who’s kept your pockets lined and your bellies full. Do you really want to go back to your old lives? Hmm… didn’t think so.”

Alex heard the two men grumble to themselves as the ground beneath him began to sway. The sound of waves crashing filled his ears and Alex realized that he was on a boat.

———

Alex learned that the woman’s name was Carrie, the giant was Reggie, and the other man was Luke. After he had feigned waking up, Reggie had sat him up and bound his hands. It was late at night now, the sky dark but full of stars; if Alex had been out here under different circumstances he would have marvelled at the beauty of it.

Carrie sat across from him smirking. “We should be at the cliffs by dawn,” she said as she glanced at Luke who kept looking behind them, “What? What is it?” Carrie asked him.

“I think we’re being followed.”

“Well that’s completely inconceivable,” Carrie laughed, “There’s no way anyone from Florin could’ve caught up to us so quickly.” She leaned back, relaxing more against the boat.

Alex gulped, trying to put on a brave face, “This plan of yours will never work, you know. Caleb will find me and when he does you’ll be sorry you ever tried something like this.”

Carrie flicked her hair, “Whatever you say, little prince.”

Luke was still looking behind them worriedly though. Rolling her eyes at his paranoia, Carrie asked him what he kept looking at.

“We’re being followed,” Luke stated, “There’s a boat behind us.”

Reggie turned around to look and Carrie got up as well, “I already told you that would be inconceiv— oh.”

With his kidnappers distracted by the boat in the distance, Alex took the opportunity to attempt an escape, jumping off into the water. He wasn’t the strongest swimmer, but he hoped it would be enough to get away safely. The splash he made going into the water was rather loud though, which immediately alerted the group to his actions.

“Don’t be an idiot!” Carrie called out, “The water’s full of shrieking eels!”

And just like that, Alex heard them. His heartbeat sped up as he realized what a grave mistake he’d just made. The eels were so loud his ears began to ring. There was movement in the water around him, but he couldn’t see anything. Alex knew the eels had started circling and it was only a matter of time before one of them got him. He started thrashing, too panicked to swim properly. He hoped that his death would be quick, that he would soon be reunited with his lost love. An eel launched itself at him, jaws open, and Alex screamed. But the pain he was expecting never came. Reggie had grabbed him by the collar and pulled him back into the boat.

———

Dawn was breaking as the boat neared the Cliffs of Insanity, the other ship following close behind. There was a rope hanging off the cliffside. Luke put a harness onto Reggie, strapping Alex on Reggie’s back before strapping himself on his side. Reggie lifted Carrie to strap her to his front and started climbing.

A masked man dressed all in black began to climb as well, quickly gaining on them. Carrie yelled obscenities, urging Reggie to go faster. When Reggie pulled them all onto the top of the cliff, Carrie quickly got out of the harness and ran to cut the rope. Alex had been set on the ground, Reggie keeping an eye on him. As the rope fell off the cliff, they all looked down to see if the man following them had fallen. Somehow the man was still holding on, fingers gripping tightly to a small ledge in the cliffside.

“Inconceivable!” Carrie stomped her foot.

Luke glanced at her, “You keep using that word, I don’t think it means what you think it means.”

Carrie shot Luke a dirty look and began walking away, dragging Alex with her. She called out to Luke, “Stay behind. If he doesn’t fall to his death before making it to the top, use that blade of yours to stop him in his tracks. Meet back up with us when it’s done.”

“I’m really more of a musician than I am a fighter.”

Carrie and Luke exchanged a meaningful look. “We both know that’s not true,” she said and continued to walk away.

Reggie put a hand on Luke’s shoulder before turning to follow Carrie, “Be careful.”

Being pulled away, Alex looked back to see Luke fidgeting with the sword at his side. He wondered what would be the better outcome for him: Luke or the mystery man. Whatever the case, he hoped it would all be over soon.

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