Summary: (Grey Griffin series) Maximillian Sumner, human Prince of Light and Sun, is forced to wed Oberon The Shadow King, by his parents to stop the war and bring peace to Avalon. Can Max melt the black icy heart of the Evil King of Nightmares and Darkness? slash, eventual mpreg
Disclaimer: I do NOT own any of Susan Cooper's works or characters, except for ones that AREN'T written by her!
Chapter 1 Storm of the Sun
'' What?!'' Max exclaimed. '' ME. Marrying HIM?!'' Queen Annika frowned and his father sighed.
'' Max... I know you don't want to do this, but it's for the good of your country. Besides, I really don't think King Oberon is as bad as rumor says,'' The King said reassuring his skeptical son.
Max sighed and pursed his rosy lips. He knew it was for the best, but he had heard so many inhuman things about him. Anyone who had committed a crime in his territory were sentenced to death and torture.
It was said that when he was a mere child, and his maid had accidently cut his favorite shirt, he came into her room in the middle of the night and cut off most of her face with a knife. And another rumor was that when the servant accidently spilled wine on him, Oberon had stabbed him in the stomach with a fork and then smashed his glass goblet against his head.
'' Besides...'' Queen Annika began with a slight smirk of her ruby lips. '' I heard he was more beautiful than any immortal in all of Avalon. Oh, think of how lovely your children would be... I am still so surprised he had agreed to our bargain.
Oberon is immortal and he had supposedly perfered immortal brides, such as Titania. It's a wonder why they divorced. They seemed so perfect.''
'' But mother, what if the rumors ARE true. Oh, they are so awful!'' Max whined, crossing his arms defiantly.
The King raised an eyebrow, '' Oberon's evil IS as high as the heaven itself, but he will not harm you or your people.''
'' But he is fiercely strong, beautiful, and perhaps romantic. Moonlit Serenades, passion filled nights... Oooooohh! I cannot wait until you become pregnant with his heirs, I will be a grandmother! And you will be the bride of a powerful King!'' Annika gushed with stars in her eyes. Her son rolled his eyes.
'' She is having way too much fun with this...'' the King muttered to himself.
Max inwardly cringed. He couldn't imagine himself carrying any of his babies inside his body. There would be no doubt that he'll want heirs. Maximillian III sighed again and ran a slender hand through his corn silk hair as he looked up at his parents with his stormy grey eyes that changed color according to the weather.
'' So when am I supposed to meet him?''
The King and Queen turned to him and suddenly had a smile on their faces.
'' Tonight.''
Through a tunnel of dead trees, sinister eyes, and dark skies, a black carriage of thorns was pulled by malicious dark horses with red eyes and carnivorous teeth.
Inside seated in crimson cushion, was a beautiful man with ebony hair that fell down his hips, eyes as black as an abyss, skin as pale as winter. He was wearing a various amount of black silk robes that revealed a lithe body covered in satin.
The man rested his chin on top of his pale slender hair as he gazed out of the carriage window. Soon he would meet his future bride. Hopefully he was as beautiful as his parents say he is. Oberon smirked wickedly.
He would definately have fun breaking another bride. He had not broken Titania like he wanted to (stubborn cow...), but managed to drive her mad enough for her to leave him. Oberon grinned, showing off white, sharp teeth.
'' Maximillian... The Prince of Light, eh?''
Max checked himself in the mirror once more. His hair was softer than usual and had shown brightly, like golden feathers. The white formal suit hung against his slender form nicely. Oberon would be arriving any moment.
And whether he liked him or not, Max did not want to look bad onfront of the Fairy King in all of the Shadowlands. His future husband no less.
Max was scared senseless.
While he was busy brooding, the seven fairies who were helping him dress sensed his distress.
'' Oooh, you look absolutely beautiful prince!'' Dandelion, a yellow fairy, gushed. She was trying to lighten the mood. The others fairies gibbered in agreement. Max smiled slightly in appreciation for her efforts and blushed. The fairies squealed and giggled at how he cute he looked when he was embarressed.
What if his mother was wrong? What if the Shadow King was just as ugly as the creatures in his land? Or even more uglier! What if he was a saggy old man with thousands of wrinkles?!
Max squeaked at that particular thought. That would be most disturbing... He looked over at himself once more until he was satisfied with his attire. He moved out of his bedroom and into the entry hall.
But before he completely came inside, he halted. Pass the pillar, Max peeked in and saw his parents talking to a stranger cloaked in all black. He couldn't see the stranger's face since his father's head was in the way.
But the stranger was identified as tall, halfway between six feet and seven feet. Max looked down at himself, suddenly feeling concious. He was merely a little over five feet. While talking to the stranger, Annika spotted Max in the corner of her eye. She turned to him fully before Max could sneek away unnoticed.
'' Ah! King Oberon, I would like to introduce to you our son, Maximillian.'' She stated proudly. All eyes turned to Max and he froze.
The stranger was the Shadow King! Max's grey eyes caught sight of Oberon's black ones. They held so much hatred, wickedness, loathing, and... Sadness? They were so intent on his Max nearly collapsed.
He gulped and stood beside his mother, facing the dark king himself.
'' Y-Your Majesty...'' Max greeted softly, bowing a little.
Oberon smiled, obviously pleased by the bow and the hint of fear in his voice. Oh yes, this little bride is perfect. More beautiful than any other mortal he had ever seen. The prince had golden corn silk hair that framed a shapely face, rosy cheeks, golden peach skin, slender and petite body.
But what caught his attention the most were his eyes. They were soft, but the color was a fierce grey like a storm across the lands. And they were so clear and innocent. Any enemy could read him like an open book. And he had a small feminine figure, perfect for carrying his children to come. Oh yes, wonderful indeed and perfectly delicious...
'' So you are my future bride. Pleasure to make your aquaintance...'' Oberon held Max's delicate hand in his and kissed the top lovingly, caressing his fingers as well. Oberon smirked evilly as he heard a soft gasp escape the boy's mouth. The hand was warm against his own cold one and trembled in fear. He stopped and looked up to see the bridge above the prince's nose had turned rosy.
'He's blushing, how enchanting.' Oberon thought to himself, noting that Max looked very vulnerable when he blushed.
Max took a step back and leaned against his mother, awfully confused and frightened. Oberon was gorgeous! He was beautiful in a dark and cruel way. Max turned his view embarressingly and nervously wrapped a finger around a blond lock of hair, shivering when he felt those haunting black eyes burning into his skin.
'' So it is agreed, yes?'' King Grayson asked, almost oblivious to the fact that Oberon was still looking at Max. Almost.
'' Yes.'' Oberon stated, his eyes never leaving. Max was feeling unnerved by the piercing gaze. Unconciously, he twirled his finger around the strings of his white outfit nervously.
'' So you will be taking our son tonight and marrying him tommorrow? And then the war is off?'' Annika asked with hope, not oblivious to what was happening. The war had taken its toll on the Sumner Family with a sense of weariness. Oberon nodded.
'' Yes, as we agreed. I will not harm your son or your peope lest he give me a reason to. Now...'' Oberon pushed a curtain of black silk over his shoulder. '' We must be going, we have a lot of planning for the wedding now don't we?''
He placed his hand against Max's back. Shivers ran down Max's spine and Oberon grinned. For some reason, King Grayson found himself almost objecting that statement. Oberon is a deadly evil man.
He couldn't help but feel, protective? He glanced at Annika and saw a sad smile on her face, and sadness in her eyes. It almost hit Annika like a brick wall when she realized that her baby son was going to leave with a dangerous man.
Ones that she had told Max to stay away from when he was little. Annika couldn't put a finger on it. It felt like regret and fear balled into one troubling mess. Normally, they would have been overjoyed that their son was going to marry a powerful king. But the fact that they have no idea if they're leaving their only son into good hands was, disturbing to say the least.
Max was beginning to become frightened. He was going to leave the comfort of his parents and his home and live with a complete stranger who he will marry. An evil man no less. He was actually going to leave his parents...
Max felt a stinging sensation behind his eyes. He felt the sudden urge to hug his parents and cry his eyes out. Something Max thought he would never do.
King Grayson nodded with a regretful smile, '' Of course, your Majesty.''
Oberon turned with a swish of his black robes and held his arm out. Max tentively gripped his strong forearm, something his mother had taught him to do should he ever get married, and they both walked out.
Neither of the parents moved after the royal doors were closed by the guards. Queen Annika didn't realize that tears were pouring down her creamy face until her husband wiped them away.
She turned to him with a sad smile and sparkling eyes, '' Did we do the right thing, love?'' King Grayson, with sorrow in his eyes, opened his mouth to answer.
Only to find that he couldn't.
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Rebel-Angel6: Finally, I posted my second fanfic! -faints in exhaustion- This was longer than my first one... Anyway, please review! All flames will be used to burn Morgan LaFey.