Less light hearted chapter, just a little warning to those of you who don't like things that pertain to TW:: abuse. Thank you my wonderful readers, I cannot wait to read your comments! 

Alistar continued to sob over his bed, Raven and Devery stood outside his door listening to him sob.

"He is strong." Devery commented listening to his chocked cry.

"Strong? How is this... outburst strong? Isn't this weak Devery?"

Devery chuckled, he eyed Raven curiously. "You really do not understand emotions do you? As the prince showing his emotions like this would bring him more ridicule, as well as another beating from his father. Men are often told not to cry, not to show emotion. But that boy in there - no that man. That man sobbing over his pillow accepts he has emotions. Accepts that he is like everyone else even with his status. He knows status doesn't make him who he is."

Raven lowered her eyes, she understood enough to get Devery's point. She had never had many emotions, she had been taught at a young age as a girl everyone would see her weaker, and that meant she needed to prove to everyone, in every aspect of her life that she was strong. She rarely shed a tear, her only emotion was anger. At least she liked to think it was. She listened to his sobs slowly come to an end. She peaked in through the crack in the door and saw Alistar was running his hand along the picture of his mother.

"He misses her."

"We all do."

"He never met her."

"I know, but we were only children when she was queen. Even younger, or not even born when she was our queen." Devery said placing his hand on her shoulder. She nodded narrowing her eyes as footsteps were heard clunking towards them.

"My lord." Devery said seeing the king stalk towards them. He quickly bowed, Raven turned her face to the side and curtsied.

"Cut the pleasantries." He retorted, his scowl aging him. "Is he still in there?"

"Yes my lord, he is.... recuperating." He was trying to read the King, trying to understand what he wanted in all of this. Wha the wanted from his son.

"Let me through, or I will have you sent to the gallows for tampering with a royal." He snarled pushing pass both of them. Devery stepped back in surprise, he held onto Raven seeing her blood was boiling.

He pulled her close, his lips nearly touching her ear. "We must take this slowly Raven, do not attack too early, do not kill him before we have all the information we need. He holds the key to our survival." She nodded clenching her fists, her nails cutting crescent moons into her palms.

The door slammed shut behind them and they heard a crashing. Raven tried to push passed Devery but he held her in his arm as they heard Alistar yelling for his father to stop. "Let me help him Devery! Let me help him! Please Devery!" Devery let her go after there was some silence, the door was thrown open and the King walked away in a huff.

Alistar was laying against the wall, his desk chair was destroyed, he seemed to have a welt across his face. Raven dropped to the floor and ran her hand along his cheek. "Did he hit you?"

"He broke my chair." Alistar said looking to his desk, the floor covered in splinters.

"Your chair doesn't matter, look at your face." Raven chocked out as she turned his chin upward tilting his head to the side. He flinched away from her and pulled back hitting his head on the wall. "Alistar please."

"Raven..I.. I don't want you to see me like this..."

Raven looked to Devery. "You are strong, showing emotion makes you strong. Did..did he hit you?" Raven asked with concern.

"Yes" He lunged forwards throwing his arms around Raven holding her tightly. He sobbed into her neck. Raven's eyes grew wide. She slowly wrapped her arms around him and allowed him to cry. She smiled holding him closely, she had never felt this way before. She heard Devery leave the room. "Im still upset about my chair."

Raven couldn't help but laugh, he was still worried about that damn chair.