Oberon was half asleep when he heard a knock on his door. He slightly opened his eyes, "Hm?"
The knock ca in again.
He cleared his throat, "Who is it?" He asked gruffly.
"It is , Alpha Maverick."
"Co in."
The door knob turned, opening slightly, Maverick peeped, then finally ca in. He bowed, "He is here your majesty," he remarked, his head still bowed.
Oberon swallowed hard, "Let him in, and leave us alone."
"Yes your highness," he raised his head. He looks over How shoulders, "He wants you to co in."
Archi exhaled deeply, "Oh well."
Maverick fully opened the door, revealing Archi. Archi shrugged his shoulders, walking in slowly, his shoulders were held high. Maverick closed the door allowing them their privacy.
Oberon blinked, his heart racing. He knew he had wronged this young man in front of him, he wanted to set that straight.
Archi bowed, his hands still behind him, "Good day."
Oberon exhaled deeply, "How are you?"
"As I should be," he shrugged his shoulders, lifting his head.
"Please sit down," he gestured to chair at the far end of the room.
"I would rather stand, do not bother," he replied, an icy deanor in how voice.
"Are you sure about that?"
"Yes, thank you," he lowered his gaze.
Oberon coughed slightly, "I am sorry you had to be put in the Crimson den."
"I was being punished, why are you apologizing?"
Oberon looked worried, "Listen, I... It was my fault in the first place. Can we just talk about this please?"
Archi raised his eyes to et his. There were a lot of conflicting emotions in his eyes; pain, guilt, rage, hopelessness. Oberon’s heart shattered into a million pieces over, and over again looking into his eyes.
"I am sorry son," he looked away unable to bear the pain in his son’s eyes, "I was a horrible father to you."
"So I was a mistake? From the very start?"
Oberon whipped his head back to look at him, "Mistake? What? No, what do you an my that?"
"You slept with her many tis for pleasure, that is how she got pregnant."
His heart clenched, "Yes, I was blind then, I could not sll her scent. I still wonder why till today."
Archi arched his brows, "Why was that? She is your mate right?"
"She is, I- can not explain it."
Archi sighed deeply, "In that case you never loved then. Why did you not go for an.."
"Do not say it," Oberon cut him off sharply.
Archi tilted his head to the side, "Where is this conversation headed?" He had an inpatient expression on his face.
"Archi, we have to talk. I know I have not been with you in your teenage years, but I can make up for that. I really want us to have that father, and son relationship."
"I know you hate , but just give a chance."
Archi shifted his gaze to him, "I have a few questions," he rushed his words.
"Yes?"
"Mother had said that we left the palace because of an impending danger.. why did you not co to live with us back then, or at least visit us."
Oberon went mute for a while, before he finally spoke up, "I must really have a bad mory then. I did look for you both, I never just found you, even though I have been there before, I just could not rember," he clenched his fists.
"Hm, of course," he rolled his eyes.
"Archi, I am also hurt too. You are not the only one dealing with pain here. I lived without your mother, and you for thirteen years. In those years, I died countless tis."
"I really loved you, you should not have done that to us. Wanting , because of your throne."
"I guess I was just being too pressured. I should have just overridden that law. Looking back, I should have done what was right."
"I do not know what to think anymore," he tightened his lips, "I have turned into a monster because of all these."
"Stop holding unto those past events. You are here now, your mother is also here. We can just start afresh, all over again. We can make up for lost years. All I am asking for is a chance."
"Do you even love ?"
"I do. I really do."
He held his wobbling knees, "I was wrong. I just wanted to avenge her wrong so bad, I wanted to fill up that gap- I ended, I ended up even worse. I thought that ending you would give that sense of peace, I guess it did not."
"Co sit here," Oberon tapped the space behind him.
Archi hesitated for a while, "What?"
"Co, sit."
He felt jumpy on his insides, "I do not think that is a good idea."
"Why? Are you scared of ?"
He twisted his lips, "A little."
"Just co here, a little bonding will do the trick."
He reluctantly agreed, dragging himself to the side of the bed. He tucked his hands behind his robes, finally sitting down.
"So.."
"Tell everything. I want to hear it."
"What am I telling you?"
Oberon coughed, "How it has been with you, all these years. Did you make any friend? How have you been able to cope? I would like to hear everything."
Archi clasped his hands together, "Well, ever since we went back. Basically, I beca her man of the house. I had to learn how to hunt on my own, I helped her knit sweaters so we could take it to the big market for sale, I supported her in everything."
"I am listening, go on," he urged him on to continue.
"Every night she cried, I would sit by her side, consoling her. I was little then, of course I did not know why, or what she was crying about."
Oberon swallowed, his left eye twitching.
"All those nights did have a toll on . When I was a teenager, I was already going to the market myself, I would work very hard so we could keep ourselves together. I sold sweaters, nded broken chairs, and tables, fixed so broken pipes, hunt, then sell more than half of the catch."
"It was so hard for because I did not have a father to support . Mother did her best, but I knew I was making her worry too much. Hence I had to make her happy every day."
Oberon managed to slip his hands around his broad shoulders, "You really have grown, I am so proud of you."
"Hm."
"I will make up for all those years, I promise."
Archi faced him, "How?’
"Just give a chance."
Archi nodded, resting his head on his right shoulder, "You are covered in a lot of bandages! I did too much, I was..."
"I understand. Do not worry about it."
"So you are going to just accept ?"
"You are my child, I would not throw you away."
He drew his head backwards, "You just forgive ?"
"I do, I hold no grudges. It was my fault anyways, I should be the one asking for forgiveness."
"I- am ready to forgive you. I do."
His eyes brightened, "Thank you," tears sprang to his eyes.
"You are a king, do not even think of shedding those tears," he rolled his eyes.
"King or not, I am an old man."
"How old?"
"We can talk about that so other ti," he laughed nervously.
A genuine smile played at the corner of his lips. He felt so much better for the first ti in weeks, maybe harboring hatred was not the right path, forgiving was just better.
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