The Present and the Danger

"Brother! Brother!" John rushed into the room, screaming his lungs out.

"Johnny?" Arthur stood from his bed, wondering why his brother was screaming about in his massive room.

"John, I'm here." He shouted to get his brother's attention, but little John was more preoccupied with looking for him than listening to his faint voice.

"Arthur, I have a present, an important one." John held it in front of his chest, giggling and blushing.

Arthur stood there, watching him with a smile. He was admiring the gift from God.

"Boy, I am over here." Arthur giggled.

"Oh! Ohhhh!" John ran to his brother, hugging his thighs. Arthur patted his head, relieved his brother was doing good.

"Where were you all day?" Arthur asked him gently.

"I was, mmm...." John backed away, hiding the mask behind his back. Although Arthur had already noticed, he kept quiet.

"Get on your knees!" John ran in place excitedly, watching his brother struggle to get on his knees.

"What is it?" Arthur asked him.

"This!" John shoved it in his face so happily.

"Woah!" Arthur was caught by surprise still. The mask was beautiful, and what made it even more stunning was the thought put into it.

"John..." He expressed emotion through his only eye that had never been made. His pure candied love shined into John's soul.

"Woah! Older brother, you're beautiful" John jumped into his arms.

"Ahah. Ahahaha!" Arthur laughed, tears in his eye. "I love you, John." He smiled.

"I love you too!" The brother hugged one another tightly and spent the night talking and horsing around.

Around the corner, the young maiden, Leslie, spied on the two, blushing. She was in love with Arthur. She began serving him when they were both twelve years old. She had always kept him in her heart, even as his beautiful features withered away.

In her heart, the smiley face of young Arthur was burnt into her memories.

Arthur had noticed her presence long ago but chose to say nothing. His fragile heart had always kept her in a warm spot. He loved her, but he believed she feared him.

So every time he speaks to her, he places his forearm in front of his face to hide his horror, the curse from God.

A man damaged due to human illness and a dreadful mother. Arthur, in his deepest spiritual core, never believed a woman could love him.

His love for Leslie had to be concealed till his death.

As a peasant, and at 25, Leslie was lined up to be married. She was beautiful. Her soft, plump limps, dark short hair, and small round face complemented her beautiful light green eyes, valued by her long eyelashes.

Leslie was five feet tall, and her curvaceous body and large chest were an attraction for many men, and due to the looks she had gotten, she began wrapping them tightly with a cloth to hide them from filth.

Arthur knew of her marriage plans, happy for her but despairing about losing her. He was conflicted, and no one, not even the closest people to him, knew.

From his point of view, she was made prettier. Leslie was like an unattainable jewel, one he could never hope to be able to hold.

He watched himself die, along with his dream of fathering kids with Leslie...

***

In the morning, King Arthur was awoken to urgent news from his guard.

"Slow down, speak clearly."

"Sire, the Nofims have achieved a new length of weaponry, called cannons, capable of launching steel orbs!" The guard was shaky, informed by the spies sent for various tasks.

"Damnit, gather the commanders." Arthur couldn't call for enough strength to make it out of bed. Fortunately, John was by his side.

"Brother, I will help."

John supported his brother to sit on the edge of the bed.

Arthur's condition had worsened today.

His breaths were rugged, and blood rushed out of his deformed nostrils.

Leslie's eyes widened with worry. She ran to him, falling to her knees, pinching his deformed nose tight with her handkerchief to stop the bleeding.

"Leslie..." His eyes had warmth in them, tears almost forming.

"My lord, are you okay?" She asked and quickly followed with another question.

"Should I call for the doctors?"

"Leslie, worry not. I am okay." He closed his eye in appreciation.

Was Arthur blushing? The Mighty King of Judep was indeed blushing.

Leslie couldn't help but worry. In her vision, she saw the young version of him bleed.

"Are you sure?" She asked again.

"Yes, you know, nosebleeds are a normal occurrence now." He placed his hand on her shoulder.

"King Arthur." A guard called from behind Leslie.

"I need to go now, please, Leslie." Arthur held her tiny hand, taking away the cloth with him.

"Take this." He stood by her as she was on her knees.

Leslie lifted her eyes to Arthur, holding his handkerchief out to her.

"Arthur..." She accepted it, murmuring his name under her breath.

Arthur picked his mask from the dresser and headed alongside his guard.

John was taken aback. He was in shock.

Witnessing Leslie's love and affection for his brother, he blushed and hid under the covers.

John wept.

The doors to the massive room shut close.

***

"My lord." An unknown voice spoke to the back of a man dressed in all-black robes.

"Speak." A deep voice spoke as he sipped on dark coffee.

"We've prepared to depart to the nearby water source. Shall we get a move on?" The man speaking appeared to be a general.

"Let us continue." The monarch of the Nofims instructed his right-hand general.

"Your wish is my command, my lord." The general left the tent.

"You wait, Arthur; I've come for my revenge and the holy land of Judep." His scarred forehead creased.

***

"My lord, the six commanders, and his holiness are present." A guard hollered, away from Arthur standing, watching from his window.

"My knights, I've urgent news," Arthur spoke to the knights facing his back. "The tension has increased." He informed them, turning to face them with his iron mask.