an: this is a fic that was supposed to be like ~maybe~ 2k words at most... and has spiralled into 20k words

whoops

hope you all enjoy! thank you pokypup49 for the prompt on tumblr 3

"get the hell out"

"You did this?"

His Highness' voice was low. She'd gone against his wishes, but it was for his own good. He couldn't see that now, maybe he never would, but it would mean he'd be safe. That was all that mattered right now to his First Knight.

"I did, Your Highness." Her tone was unapologetic, and rightly so, she thought.

"I explicitly told you not to carry out this request." His tone was dangerous now.

King Mustang was angry, and Knight Hawkeye could understand that. She knew he'd be offended that she went behind his back, knew he'd feel betrayed, but she still did it.

"I told you I could handle it."

The Knight didn't doubt it, but she wouldn't let him walk to his death. She couldn't.

Her King was stubborn but had always heeded her warnings. This time, he hadn't, and it was concerning. Riza Hawkeye had done some digging and discovered just how dangerous this venture may become. She had a bad feeling in general about the whole operation, and her gut had never failed her before. Only this time, her King had dismissed her concerns. He was dead set on following through with it. It both baffled and irritated her, as the head of his security.

If he wouldn't listen to her as she tried to protect him, she'd have to step in to make sure that happened. She was protecting him from himself.

"I understand that, Your Highness, however given the evidence, I made an executive decision to call the meeting off."

"What evidence?" he exploded, standing from his throne. "There's no evidence to indicate this situation would threaten my life."

"Your Highness, I've had a very bad feeling about this from day one," Riza explained herself.

"I don't work on bad feelings," he interrupted.

Riza felt her irritation spike. "Yes, Your Highness, however, it's saved my life, and yours, more often than I can count –"

"You disobeyed my orders and went against my wishes based on a "gut feeling"." His expression was hard, his eyes unforgiving. This wasn't how she anticipated this conversation going. It was derailing very quickly, but she was just doing her job. "That's something I cannot have, and will not tolerate, in my court. Is that understood?"

"Of course, Your Highness." She had to swallow past the lump in her throat to get the words out, but Riza managed.

"You no longer hold the status as my First Knight."

That felt like a knife in her heart, but Riza had expected it. Harsh, but she knew the consequences of her actions and would accept them wholeheartedly, because it was for the King's own safety.

"You're no longer a part of my court. Get the hell out."

"Yes, Your Highness."

Riza bowed as was etiquette, then removed the seal from the front of her armour. It was King Mustang's personal seal and showed the title she held as his First Knight. She'd been his closest advisor, his confidant, and his protector. He felt betrayed by her actions, Riza knew this. She could see it in his eyes. It had hurt like hell to go against him, but she was simply doing her job.

Riza approached and placed the seal on the table at the bottom of the dais leading up to his throne. She patted it once, unable to help herself as she bid farewell to her old friend. It hurt. This seal had been a part of her for years and just like that, it was gone. It was him who'd taken it from her. It hurt like hell.

Turning, Riza left the throne room, her movements controlled. There was no argument because she knew he wouldn't listen. It frustrated her completely. Irritated her, even. How could he be so blind and stubborn? He may have felt betrayed by her actions, but the feeling was mutual. She'd advised him for so long and suddenly, he brushed her aside? Dismissed her warning and concerns? That was a betrayal in itself.

However, she'd done her part to ensure his safety. Riza had done all she could – even went behind his back and against his wishes. There wasn't much else she could do. The knight just hoped it was enough.

As she turned, her mask cracked, and she let out a shaky breath. It was silent, so he wouldn't hear her, and her movements never faltered as she walked away from the man she loved. Tears crept up to her eyes and threatened to fall, but she held them at bay.

All her life she'd dedicated herself to King Roy Mustang and his family. They'd taken her in after her father passed away. Berthold had been Roy's father's advisor, and Riza had been accepted into the family with open arms. The last thing she'd wanted to do was betray him like this, but Riza felt she had no choice. She was doing the right thing, she believed. She'd prevented him from attending a meeting which would threaten his life. Roy had told her he was going regardless of warnings from the rest of the court, because he was determined to make things right and to create a peace treaty with the neighbouring kingdom.

The letter she'd given him tonight had been forged – by a friend of hers – to explain the meeting had been called off. The "sender" – a mutual friend and messenger between the two kingdoms – advised the King not to travel because of safety concerns brought forth by the First Knight. It named her because it was the only way the King would believe it was true.

Riza exited the castle and walked across the courtyard. Her horse was waiting for her, held in place by the stable hand for her arrival. Expressing her thanks, she mounted the horse and set out through the castle town. The roads were quiet. It was almost midnight, so not many people would be milling about, but the streets were almost eerie as she rode away from the only life she'd ever known.

Her future now was completely uncertain. However, she did have one last thing to do as the King's First Knight. She had a plan and it was time to set it in motion.

After exiting the town gates Riza entered the forest and rode to a clearing. It was well used by her throughout the years as it was off the beaten path and far enough from the road that no one could eavesdrop.

"Knight Hawkeye?" a voice called out, unsure.

Riza dismounted her horse and approached the sound. A young man exited the cover of the trees and stepped into the moonlight.

"It's just Hawkeye from now on, Alphonse," Riza stated gently.

"Ah. Right. So, it's done?"

Riza nodded, ignoring the pain in her chest. The wind from the ride had dried her tears. There would be time for that once this was all over and the King's safety was secured. Until then, she would need to be level-headed and focussed. Even though she was no longer his First Knight, she still had a duty to her King, and a personal vow to protect him at all costs, no matter what her status was.

"It's done. Step one is complete."

"… Now it's time for step two," Alphonse finished for her.

Taking a deep breath and letting it out, Riza nodded.

"Right."

She would attend the meeting in the King's stead and try to bring about peace to the regions.

The threat on King Mustang's life was very real, so there was no way Riza would let him go ahead with it. However, peace was still important. Riza believed that. So, she would go first to beat him there, and if they threatened her life… Well, she was better dying than the King. The kingdom needed him. He was a good and just King. Everyone loved him and it was the most successful ruling the kingdom had had in centuries. Riza wouldn't jeopardize that.

Plus, then the King would have his damn evidence if she ended up dead. Hopefully that would penetrate his thick skull.

"When do we leave?" Alphonse asked.

"I leave tonight. You go home to your brother."

His eyes flashed with indignation. "I'm not leaving you to do this alone," he argued.

"Alphonse –" Riza knew there would be an argument, but she was too drained to start it with him.

"No," he shook his head. "I've come too far to drop it now. This plan was my suggestion, and it's the reason you've lost your place in the King's Court." The reminder was harsh, and there was another stabbing pain in her heart. "The least I can do is see it through."

"Al –"

"No, Riza." His tone was firm and unyielding.

Riza looked into his eyes and saw a fire in them. His determination and loyalty to her may end up being the death of him and that's why she was so hesitant to bring him along. However, there would be no stopping Alphonse, Riza knew that much.

"I have so many more magic abilities and I'll be able to get you out of there if things get too dicey. I can help."

"You're a teenager –"

"Who has, on more than one occasion, proved my skill and my loyalty to you," he reminded her. Then, his expression turned hurt. "You still don't think I can do it?"

Riza stared at him for another moment, then gave in. She'd lost her fight.

"No," she replied. She approached him and placed a hand on his shoulder, softening her knees so she was eye level with him. He'd sprouted a few inches over the past few months and was almost catching up with her. "I don't doubt your loyalty or abilities," she reassured him. "It's never been about that."

"Then why won't you let me help?" he pleaded.

"Because if anything was to happen to you, and you were hurt, or worse, you died, that's something I wouldn't be able to live with." Her gaze was steady as she willed him to understand, her tone resolute. She gripped his shoulder tighter. "I would never forgive myself," she whispered. "And I can't bear the thought of it."

They'd both worked closely over the last year. He was an advisor for the outskirts of the kingdom for her, and that was where he lived with his brother and his family. Alphonse was a bright and skilled mage, who'd learned the art from his father. He must have had a hell of a teacher, because at the age of nineteen, he was more skilled than most mages she'd been able to work with throughout her career.

It was also Alphonse who'd helped her come up with ideas to postpone the meeting, or avoid the King attending it completely, if they could. King Mustang was an immovable object though and would not heed her warnings. Alphonse lived near the neighbouring kingdom and had seen first-hand the affect the ruler had on their people. A kingdom where innocent traders and townspeople were left for dead on the road was not somewhere Riza wanted her King to go.

Too bad Roy is too stubborn to realise it.

Alphonse gripped the wrist of the hand on his shoulder tightly, his determination returning. "I won't allow that to happen. I can get us out of there if things go south. I've got so many healing and protection spells because my father was paranoid about me and my brother getting hurt by the soldiers from the neighbouring kingdom. I'm well prepared." His eyes flashed with the same fire that hadn't wavered over the last few months. "I can make this happen, Riza."

"All right," she relented. There was no pleased look in Alphonse's eyes, just determination.

"Let's get to work."