Chapter 2
The castle was dressed to the nines for this ball. The usual green decor was replaced with red banners and emblems for the army. Tables were filled with high candles and delicious food. Flowers and lanterns clung to the wall and the floor had been mopped so clean one could see their reflection in it. His friends had done a good job in dressing Regulus. He wore a green buttoned top with sheer arms showcasing the small familial tattoos he and Sirius shares. He wore black dress trousers and a pearl necklace. His hair was messy which was calmed down with a silver crown. Pandora did his makeup and smeared black kohl around his eyes and glitter all over his face. On his hands Regulus wore his family crest as well as a snake ring Sirius had given him when he was 14. Needless to say, he looked hot.
The palace was full of politicians, nobles, and soldiers. Barty and Evan were stationed at the door. Pandora was somewhere in the ballroom, dressed in a stunning purple and black lace dress, with gold accents. Dorcas in a silk dress kept nearby him in a corner. Dorcas was truly his best friend, even if it started off as her job, they grew up together Dorcas being his companion and all. They were as thick as thieves by age three. Regulus could see his mother in a traditional black and green dress taking to some nobles by the entrance and his brother, the king sat on his throne, looking board in his robes. Taking two flutes of champagne for Dorcas and himself, he turned to the halls entrance and saw two new faces arrive.
One was a blond girl not tall but not short, she wore the uniform of a general. A red cape swung from her shoulders, and she wore the family crest on her blouse. Her hair was messy and looked self-cut, yet she made it look neat, pulled into a low bun decorated with silver flowers.
“Oh my god Reg who is that?” he heard Dorcas ask from his shoulder.
“General Marlene McKinnon,”
“Mmm how I would love for her to take me to war,” Dorcas breathed out in a sultry tone.
“Dorcas Medows,” Regulus scolded.
Following the general came a taller larger built man. His hair was untamed, and his skin was gorgeously bronze. He wore circular specs and was dressed in a similar uniform with a crest and armour. Regulus swallowed whatever he was about to tell Dorcas off for after coming face to face with a godly looking man. Unfortunely, Dorcas was quick to pick up on this.
“Oh, what’s wrong your highness, cat got your tongue,”
“Shush their coming this way,” he said whacking his friend and turning away from them, “look busy, look busy,”
Dorcas indulged the princes wishes and begun a pretty convincing fake conversation, while the two soldiers made their way to them.
“Excuse me,” spoke the girl. Regulus and Dorcas turned to be met with four sets of eyes. Regulus’ breath hitched as he took the man in, he was even more gorgeous up close.
“Marlene McKinnon your highness,” she said bowing to Regulus. Regulus nodded his head in courtesy and waved her off to Dorcas, she now owed him. As Marlene went off to chat with his companion, he came eye to eye with the bronze boy. Almost instinctively Regulus bowed his head in a deep boy. The type of his mother taught him to do to nobles and kings. Regulus placed a hand behind his back and one to his front, leaning down to a low respectful bow for the man in front of him.
“You don’t have to be polite, your mother hired me to serve and protect you,”
Regulus raised up to meet his eyes, reaching his hand out, “I’m Regulus,”
The man took his hand, shaking it then bringing it to his mouth to softly kiss his knuckles, “I know my prince,” Regulus smiled pulling his hand back, as a soft blush appeared on his face.
“It’s nice to meet you, and who might you be?”
“Sir James Potter, your highness,” he said returning the bow.
“Sir,” Regulus teased quirking an eyebrow.
“Yea well I am now, this thing is sort of for me,” James said shyly gesturing to the hall.
“You are the guest of honour,” Regulus’ eyes widened.
“That surprising huh,”
“Oh no, not at all sir,” and no it really wasn’t, James was a big guy and clearly looked like he could handle himself in battle, “I had just not been told who the guest of honour was, so just my luck that he is the first person I speak to who isn’t a part of my court,”
“Luck,” James teased. Regulus smiled glancing to the floor then back up at James.
“You know James Potter,” he said eyeing James up and down, “where have I heard that name before,”
“Ah yes I trained with-“
“PRONGS!” Regulus turned to see his brother, the king come running down from his station, face blooming with a grin.
“Padfoot,” the grin on James’ face matched Sirius as he met him halfway crashing into a hug, “it’s been so long mate,”
“hasn’t it,” Sirius said still not letting go, “imagine the look on my face when I learn we’re throwing a ball for the James Prongs Potter himself,” pulling back Sirius kept his hands on James’ shoulders giving him a look only that could be describes, as pure love, “you did good James, really good,”
“Thanks pads means a lot coming from you,” James smiled going back into hug Sirius. At the side Regulus watched the whole interaction, slightly wide eyed.
“Ah Reg, you’ve met James,”
“Yes, brother I have,” Regulus said looking between James and his brother.
“Ah yes I trained with your brother, before,” James’ eyes trailed from the younger to the older Black, “the whole king thing. How’s it going mate,”
“Shit James, but this land is my home and it’s what needed to be done after the old bat went and died,”
“You’re doing great mate,”
“Thanks prongs,”
“Sirius,” he heard from the distance.
“Oh, fuck me,”
“Sirius Orion Black,”
Sirius sighed, “Prongs great seeing you we need to catch up as soon as possible. Reginald a prickly pleasure as always dear brother, now if you two don’t mind there’s a bitch of a women calling from me, I will see you two later,” he said clapping James on the back before going to tend to whatever his mother wants. As Sirius slips away, James turned his focus back to Regulus, he raised his arm as the music slowed to a waltz.
“Your highness,” he said lifting an eyebrow, gesturing to the dance floor. Regulus looked at James for a small moment until he understood what the soldier was getting at.
“Oh no, no James I can’t dance,”
“Don’t lie,” he teased taking Reg’s hand, “I know you’ve had dance training since you were five. Please Reg one dance,” by this point James had already taken Reg to the dance floor. Regulus took on look at the boys doe eyes before reluctantly giving in.
“Fine, just one,”
One, one became two, three, four, five. Until it was nearing one in the morning, and they were both incredibly tipsy, but still twirling. The band finished the last song as James and Regulus bowed to each other, finishing their dance. As James reached his hand out to help Regulus off the floor, Regulus tripped on his feet, nearly taking both of them to the floor.
“Your highness, I think you should take your leave for the night. You are very drunk,”
“mnot,” the prince slurred.
“Sure love, come on I’ll walk you to your room,”
“How dyou know where ma room be,” Regulus looked at James with a scrunched-up face, he was in fact quite pissed.
“I’m apart of the royal guard. It is my job to know the castle inside in out in case of a hostage or lockdown situation,” Regulus gave no verbal response. Just looked at James with his mouth in an “o” letting James escort him up to his room. As they approached his door Regulus turned to James, eyes barley open.
“Jam can I see thee tomorrow,”
James laughed slightly as the poet prince of the realm slurred and stuttered through his words, “Of course my prince, but for now you need some sleep,” kissing Regulus softly on the cheek his gave a small bow before taking his leave, “goodnight my prince, sleep well,”