Lysander watched this moment with the same cold indifference as he had watched Zeven's entire life. His son had never shown his emotions so clearly as he had in just the few minutes that Chris had arrived. It could prove useful to him as long as he could control it. He needed Zeven to take over the Kingdom. Without that the last 27 years would have been for nothing, and he despised wasted time and potential.
His mind began to turn as he formed his plan, he leaned forward ever so slightly as he thought through his next action. He had seen that it was impossible to sever the tie on Chris's end, but his son was weak, weaker now than he had ever been. With just the right amount of knowledge and pressure he could make him crack.
"Zeven, my dear Zeven. I feel like something very important has been kept from you," he continued in an extremely casual manner, "Even if Chris was born a girl, she's now completely useless."
"Stop talking.
"She… well, that's not quite right. He… But that doesn't fit either. Ahh.. It will never be able to fulfill the role of your queen, at least not here in this country. And even if your heart was set on her, you'd have to take a mistress, and I'm sure that would break it's fragile little heart to see you with another. Think about how unfair that would be-"
"What are you talking about?" he turned his head back to look at her, "Chris?" his voice was desperate.
"It's nothing."
"Now, now, don't be shy. Go on and tell him why becoming queen suits you even less than becoming king."
"Shut up. This has nothing to do with you." Zeven's voice sounded garbled.
"I can't have children Zeven."
"That's fine, I don't want them."
She sighed, and smiled softly. Her eyes prickling with tears. "We both know that's a lie."
Lysander smirked from his seat on the throne, "I'm not surprised it didn't tell you. It's usually a woman's shame, but at least with Christopher it isn't a man or a woman at this point."
"How dare you. How fucking dare you." Zeven's gaze turned from Chris. He was seething, each word dripping with venom. "Yow will never be half the king she will be. More than that, she is a human being. She deserves all the same things that anyone else does. You do not get to take that away from her just because you view her as less than yourself. In my opinion she is greater than you will ever be."
Zeven's chest heaved as he spoke, but his father remained indifferent.
Lysander looked through his son, right to where Chris was standing. He could see this tactic had little effect on Zeven and in an effort to manipulate the decision he once more turned his attention to Chris specifically.
"What would your dear father do if he knew that his one and only child was still alive somewhere out there? As a father myself I can only imagine…"
"You don't have to imagine."
She redrew her sword. Waiting to see if anyone took her up on the challenge, before grabbing her braid. Her left arm couldn't come up to hold it in place so she held it between her teeth. In one swell movement she separated it from her head at the base of her neck.
She let the hair fall to the floor. "Now Christopher is dead. What are you going to threaten me with now?" Her eyes locked with Lysander.
Her reaction seemed to draw something out of him. His lips curled up in a pseudo smile. It was eerily similar to Zeven's, the corners of his lips turned up just the same, and a boyish charm was present, but it lacked any semblance of truth. It was a lie wrapped up in beautiful paper.
"I have to say, I can almost see why my son is so infatuated with you." The smile grew darker, "I think I could also come to like you."
"I can't return the sentiment."
Her comment seemed to amuse him. His face didn't drop its smile, instead it seemed to grow further side to side. Widening to an almost inhuman level.
"Have you noticed her left arm by chance?" Lysander didn't move an inch on his throne, "I do wonder how it got like that?"
Chris's eyes turned hostile as she snapped her head to him.
"It almost looks like she can't move it at all, poor dear. It must be agony." He laced his fingers under his chin and leaned forward. His smile dieing back down."Are you sure that you don't want to be King? I'm sure that having you on the throne will make things easier for her."
Lysander looked at his son, his stare piercing into his very soul. As hard as he tried to remain unreadable, Zeven was clearer than water to him. "If you are wanting to make peace between your countries, isn't important that you both become king. It's pointless if not." He looked at his son, but his words were meant for Chris as well.
He stood up very slowly from his throne for the first time since they had gotten there. Even his movements were threatening. The slow way he articulated as he stepped to the side, his arm slowly sweeping in an offering gesture as he stopped right above the now empty throne.
Zeven felt his heart sink into his stomach. It was very clear what he had to do, but he knew that it would cost him dearly. What would be good for him was to turn around and leave, but what would be good for his kingdom was for him to stay and pledge his eternal servitude. For the first time, he knew what he wanted and more importantly knew how to get it. But… as he realized sadly, he would never be enough to achieve it.
Chris knew what choice he was going to make at the same time Zeven did. He turned back to her. Tangling is hand in her now short hair, feeling as the stands slipped through his fingers. His other hand hovered over the small of her back, pulling her gently into his chest.
"Stay." he couldn't look at her when he asked. But he felt as Chris shook her head against him. This only prompted him to hold her tighter.
"Stay... please." his voice trembled ever so slightly.
"I can't."
"I know… but I just wanted to ask." He let go of her. His hands sliding all the way down her arms as he pulled away, anything to have just another second with her.
"I have had it for a while, I knew you'd need it." He produced a folded envelope from his pick and pressed it into her good hand. "Congratulations." his voice was soft, but it held no malice, just simple adoration.
He didn't reach for her again, instead slipping his fingers back through his hair. Turning from her he looked up to where his father stood. Drawing a deep breath his feet began to take him there. Up the steps and then right beside his father.
Even though they were the same height, Zeven still felt like he was being looked down on. It made him feel small, but it was too late to regret what he had set in motion with his own two hands. He gave a small nod to his father before sitting down on the throne.
It felt different than he had always imagined it would. It was a more hollow feeling, like something was missing.
His face didn't betray his thoughts as he raced to come up with any last minute solution that could fix things, but the only thing he could think of was something he never imagined himself doing.
He turned to Brennan, thinking of what he could do. From now on all the aid he could give would have to be hidden and discrete. His voice didn't sound as weak as he felt as he called out to his first and closest friend.
"You are a traitor to this Kingdom, you are removed from my services and stripped of your title as my servant. Leave now before I make your punishment any more severe."
His words were a gift, but that didn't mean they weren't hard to hear. Brennan bowed as low as he could, saying his goodbye to his best friend in the only way he could. It lasted only a moment before he righted himself. Stepping back he looked up at Zeven one last time before taking a deep breath and turning to walk out the door.
Brennan didn't look back as he left. He didn't need to, he had known Zeven long enough that he could picture his face clearly. And unlike in real life, the image in his mind showed Zeven smiling. It was easier that way.