Thanks so much for 1k everyone!

This book has been out literally 8 days, and we've already hit 1k which is awesome and crazy ;D

So once again, thanks, and enjoy the chapter <3

Warnings: None

~Lachlan's P.O.V.~

      Letting out what seems to be the millionth sigh today, I poke that the roasted chicken sitting in my plate, grumbling under my breath. Meanwhile everyone else seated at the table is chattering and laughing, filling the room with noise and overall giving me a throbbing headache. Most of the people here bear golden gems like myself, but there are also some purple and blue gems scattered here and there. Groaning quietly, I slump in the fancy velvet and gold throne seated to the left of my father, shutting my eyes as I rub small circles into my temple. Seated across from me, my mother casts me a disapproving look, setting her goblet down slowly.

      "Lachlan Power, what has gotten into you?" She scolds, the golden gem on her hand shining as she waves her hand around. "You are to eat your food like everyone else, and smarten up, this instant."

      Casting her a look none to friendly, I reluctantly sit up straight, plastering the best fake smile I can a mange onto my face as some other gold gem turns to me, attempting to converse. What's his name again? Sky? I ponder, all the while conversions with him. Yeah that's it. He's the King of that place near the Great Jungle. I recall.

      Eventually Sky turns away to pile more chicken into his mouth, slathered with a mildly concerning amount of butter, and then shifts to talk to someone else. Rolling my eyes, finding this entire banquet thing absolutely pointless, I bite down on a tiny sliver of chicken. Though admittedly it's delicious, I refuse to show it, instead nudging the plate away from me with my finger. Why am I even here? I complain inwardly, slouching in my chair yet again.

     "Because you're a Prince..." I mumble to myself, dragging a hand down my face.
      "What was that, son?" My dad asks, turning to me with a meaningful look.
      I shrug. "Nothing, Dad. Just... Go back to eating or whatever."
       He glares sternly at me. "That is no way to talk to your elder. Now obey your mother and straighten up. You've barely touched your food!" He demands, gesturing to my virtually untouched plate with notable irritation.
       "Why? I'd rather eat fish, anyway! But no, I'm stuck here, when I could be out hunting or exploring!" I snap back at him, causing everyone in the immediate area to stare at me with alarm.
       "Lachlan Power!" My mom exclaims, a hand over her heart. "I know you like to adventure, but this is too much!"
      "We've been having banquets, I kid you not, nearly every other day! I haven't had any time at all to myself, what with all the 'celebrations' and official Princely stuff I have to do!" I shout, quickly losing my temper.
      "To your room, NOW!" My father bellows, pointing to the door.
      "FINE!" I yell, jolting up to quickly that my throne energy falls over.

     Storming off, not giving a fudge about the judgmental stares following me, two guards follow behind me as I stomp through the halls. They're job is to make sure I don't leave my room. And all it does it annoy me more. Arriving at my bed room, I promptly tell the guards off, and then slam the door shut behind me so hard, a vase somewhere in the hall falls and smashes against the ground.

     "Stupid Dad thinking he can order me around." I rant under my breath, striding over to a chest and throwing it open. "I'm well over eighteen now, I can make my own choices."

     Fishing around in the chest for a moment, a sly grin creeps over my face, and I pull out some armour, food, a sword, and a handful of enderpearls. Acting mostly out of spite, I spare a glance at the door to make sure the guards won't be barging in. And confident they won't, I walk over to my window, and throw it open. Wrapping a strip of black cloth over my hand to conceal my gem, I thrown on my armour, and jump it o the windowsill.

     "I'll show em'."I declare quietly to myself, hurling the enderpearl into the courtyard.

     Popping up there a second later, I shake the dizzying pain away from teleporting, and start briskly towards the main gate. A few looks are cast my way, but I keep my head low, and with my gem concealed, I travel incognito all the way to the gate, and then out successfully into the dark oak forest.

Hopping across a small stream, I step into the forest, the air instantly becoming cooler and earthy smells penetrating my nostrils. Shaded by the endless thick trees, the canopy blocking out nearly the entire sun, I sigh in content rather than boredom and frustration. This is where I belong. Out in nature, exploring and hunting in the wilderness. Not cooped up in some stuffy castle, performing 'Princley duties' twenty-four seven. This is exciting, and who knows, maybe today I'll finally be successful in finding that woodland mansion! I've heard there was one in this area somewhere, but I haven't been able to find it yet, since my father forbids me the map of the dark oak forest bordering our kingdom. Setting off deeper into the forest, compass in one hand, I keep my sword at the ready in case any mobs get an urge to jump out from the shade. Here, mobs don't burn in the sunlight, and in some spots it's even dark enough for them to spawn. I learned that the hard way the first time I came here, and suffered a nasty broken arm when a creeper snuck up on me, and caught me off guard.

After a few minutes of walking, I hear a small rustle, and I instantly whirl around to face the shaking bush, drawing my sword as I go. As such, my heart rate speeds up rapidly, and I wait in anticipation for something to leap out of the shrub. But I breathe a breath of relief when I realize it's only the wind, which in the past few minutes has picked up a tad, and had caused the bush to rustle. Chuckling to myself, I sheath my sword once more, relying on my gut to lead me through the forest. Well, at least it's better paranoid than de-

Thump.

~~~