The tension in the room was so thick that it was suffocating. The emperor, and the future emperor in a standoff where neither monarch was willing to concede defeat. Arjuna and Palm looked at their brother, then to their father, and back to Alder. They always looked up to their sibling, just as he had always looked out for them. He was the eldest. He was their protector, even more so than their parents. If Alder was there, everything would be alright, because Alder would never allow something to pass that was not to their benefit. But, seeing him so incredibly defiant and exerting the authority he had to usurp that of their father, was something they had never seen. It was effective, however, as the security man that had been given orders to depart and locate the princess, had stopped his advance, heeding the orders of their prince over their emperor.

Likewise, Avalon looked on at her husband and her son, unsure of what to do. Alder, of course, was correct; Artemis was making a decision in anger without applying any thought to his actions. Still, he was the emperor and his word was supposed to be absolute…except now, it wasn’t. His authority was being challenged by the one that was next to become the ruler of their kingdom, the Crowned Prince.

Among the monarchs, the emperor and the empress were the most powerful, but closely behind them were the Crowned Prince or Princesses. Alder’s power was very nearly as great as hers and her mate and for the first time, he was exerting it to override an order given from the emperor. Apart from herself, Alder was the only one that could even dare to make such a brazen act of defiance and he was not backing down.

“It’s not that I am taking sides,” Palm said, his voice abruptly breaking the silence that had ensued amongst them, “but, Alder is correct. It is apparent that you did not give much thought to your actions, Father.”

The bristling look of fury that Artemis turned on his youngest son was foreboding enough to make the young man unconsciously step nearer to his brother, the protector. Arjuna continued to remain silent, but watched his younger brother move closer to Alder and absently thought how much safer he must have felt standing there at his side. Without thinking, he, too, stepped closer to his sibling and was immediately pulled to his side. He felt Alder place his hand on his back and took great comfort in it. It was so simple a gesture and yet it had the power to set the little prince completely at ease.

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