Tine, Prince, Musician, Beloved
Tine didn't know what to do.
"Tine?" Prae called. "Tine, are you okay?"
"I...I have to leave," he said wildly. Prae looked at him, shocked.
"What happened?" she asked gently. "Let me come with you."
"No, I'm sorry Prae," he brought her hands off him. "I have to go."
"Be safe, Tine," she said, eyes teary. "Please be safe."
He smiled and kissed her on the cheek. Prae released her clutches on him. Tine went to the stable and grabbed Charlotte.
"Hi, girl," he brushed his forehead against Charlotte's. "I'm sorry, but I need you to take me somewhere."
He couldn't go home. He went somewhere he knows he's safe.
The forest is dark and haunting at night.
Charlotte is hesitant, but sweet-natured as she is, she kept going for him.
A flurry of wings.
"Tine?"
Tine turned sharply. Maleficent stood there in all her glory. She looked at him worriedly, gliding down towards him.
"Tine, what are you doing here?" she had her hands on him, checking him over anxiously. "Tine, are you okay?"
Tine couldn't help it. He rested his head on her shoulder and cried.
"My baby," Mal shushed him. "Tine, what's wrong?"
He couldn't help it. Warm tears streamed down his face, and he couldn't stop sobbing. He brought his arms around Maleficent, and she gently stroked his back. He, in all honesty had always been weary of the Dark Fairy, but not today.
Because he doesn't care if he dies today.
He hates Pam, and his parents, and Sarawat.
And first and foremost, he hates himself.
"Mal," he wept. "Mal, why? Why did you do that to Pam?"
Because it all started from there. The curse.
Her hand stopped.
"I..."
"I need to know," he brushed his hand furiously. "No more lies. No more hiding things. Why?"
She brought her forehead against his. "Please forgive me, Tine," she begged. "Promise me that you'll forgive me."
He didn't say anything.
"I was angry," she murmured. "At Henry." She stood up and walked around. Tine continued staring at her. "He was in love with me. I knew that. And I loved him. But he left me."
"You love him," he murmured. "You love my father."
"Loved him," she corrected. "And I was angry. And the fastest way for me to get him was with someone that he loved. I didn't regret it. Until now?"
Tine looked at her. "Why?"
She cupped his face with her hands. "Because it hurts you," her eyes were teary. "I'm selfish, Tine. I wanted to hurt Henry and I'm glad I did so. I didn't care about Ariana and Pam. But I care about you, Tine."
"Can you...take it away?"
"I can't, Tine," she brushed her eyes. "I tried ever since I met you. But I can't. I promised a sacrifice, and I have to serve it."
"But if Sarawat kissed her..."
"I promise she will wake up," she said reverently.
"What if he doesn't love her?" he asked.
She kept quiet. "I can't force love, Tine," she said softly.
"She wants to marry him. She loves him."
"And so I've heard," she brushed his hair again.
Tine brushed his eyes. "I love you, Mal," he said softly. "But you can't do this. Promise me that you won't do anything like this again. You can't be selfish. You can't hurt people."
Maleficent smiled and hugged him again. "I promise."
Tine nodded. He's tired. "You have to take care of everyone, Mal," he murmured. "Promise me."
"I promise."
"Prae, Dim, Phuak, Ohm, Fong, Green, Charlotte, Sarawat, Man, Boss, Earn and Phukong..." he yawned. "And Pam, and father and mother."
"I promise."
"You promise..." he drifted off to sleep. "You promised."
Tine was back at the palace by dawn. He went to his room and showered. He would have happily stayed inside, but Green told him that he has been summoned for breakfast.
"You look terrible," his mother frowned when he came in. It was a small party. His father, his mother, Pam...and Sarawat.
"Good morning to you too, Mother," he said, sitting beside Sarawat.
"We have important news," his mother took Pam's hand and smiled. "Sarawat, your parents are thrilled for a possible union between you and Pam."
Sarawat stiffened beside him. Tine was more interested with the scrambled egg in front of him.
"We can have a spring wedding," Pam said excitedly.
"My Grace," Sarawat said.
"Hush now," Queen Ariana smiled. "Don't worry, Sarawat. We will handle everything. You only need to go home with a bride."
Tine sipped his tea.
"And of course," Pam threw him a look. "I want the best for it. And Tine," she smiled sweetly. "You are the best violinist the country has to offer. Will you play at my wedding?"
Tine looked at his sister and smiled.
"Gladly," he ate. Pam looked baffled, but she didn't say anything. "Green?"
"Prince Tine?" the other man asked him awkwardly.
"Can you help me get my violin?" he said between mouthfuls. "It should be under the bed."
Green bowed and left. It was awkward. The only sound was from Tine eating.
"That's very nice, Tine," the Queen said. "I'm proud of you."
"Thank you, Mother."
Green came, with his violin in hand. Tine wiped his hand with the tissue and grabbed his mug. Sarawat looked at him worriedly.
Tine stood up, and he slammed the mug on the table until it crashed.
Sarawat stood up and grabbed his hand, but he pushed the other man away.
"TINE!" Queen Ariana stood up. Pam stared at him, open-mouthed. Hands bleeding, he walked over to the table, right across his father. His hand was trembling from the pain, but his mind was set.
"The title here is It's My Life," he said, ignoring the stares. He played.
There was a certain madness in his play, but he wasn't surprised.
He was done with sad songs and pain. He thinks he's going mad, and its liberating. He could feel and smell the blood, but the pain is keeping him alive.
He feels like he's on the surface after being underwater for so long, and he can finally breathe.
When he was done, he bowed and threw the violin on the ground.
"And I thank you for being a most wonderful audience."
He walked out, despite his parents screaming for him to stop. Pam was yelling, but he couldn't hear her. Sarawat tried to grab him but he yelled and clawed him off.
"Tine, stop," Green called, his voice breaking. "Tine, please."
"Take care, Green. You have been a most wonderful friend," he hugged the taller guy. "But I need to go."
He went to the stable and took Charlotte. He's not worried. He knew what he had to do.
He'd known from yesterday, to be honest.
"Mal!" he yelled. "Maleficent!"
"Tine?" Maleficent appeared. "You're bleeding!"
"Mal," he looked at her straight in the eyes. "You promised the curse a sacrifice, right?"
"Y...yes."
"And there has to be a sacrifice. But..."
"Tine, I'm afraid," she looked back at him. "What are you doing?"
"Mal, I want you to change the curse from Pam to me." He said calmly. "And I don't want to fall asleep for a hundred years. I want to die."