Hi Friends.
Welcome back to the Kingdom of Quantico. If you couldn't tell from the summary my favorite character, Reid, is getting into some trouble again. Oh how I do love "damsel in distress" Reid...with few kickass/BAMF moments sprinkled on top. For those of you who wondered where Tobias, Charles, and Raphael were in the first story...well...this was my plan all along. I felt I would need a whole new storyline to tackle that can of worms...and here we are :)
For those of you just joining me, I would advise you to read "The Whipping Boy" first so that you understand the background/groundwork that was laid before this story.
Reminders:
1. This is slash! I love me some Morgan and Reid!
2. While I will try to keep the character's personalities as accurate as possible there will be times that people may act OOC.
3. I am not going to follow the whole "Revelations" storyline from the show. I am using the characters from that episode in my own way and I may draw inspiration from scenes but this will not be a medieval retelling of that episode.
4. I make up the rankings, addresses, titles, etc... of all the characters. I draw my inspiration from years of reading countless stories about Anne Boleyn and Henry VIII. I will not promise or hold myself to historical accuracy since I have made up a land of my own...hence AU.
5. A big thank you to Gothina234 suggesting the title to this story!
Alrighty, here we go!
Enjoy!
The crisp cool air incited an outbreak of goose bumps all over the boy's exposed forearms as he stepped out onto the ornate balcony. There wasn't a cloud in the sky to block out the shimmering of thousands of stars high above his head. Off in the distance a full moon shined its pale light down on the kingdom that lay sprawled at the foot of the castle. The soft glow played over hundreds of buildings, creating a contrasting patchwork of shadows and light over the city.
He approached the metal railing and laid his hands against the cold surface. A chill ran through his body as the temperature of the object transferred up his spine. He quickly brought his hands up to wrap them about his body but found them stopped short of their destination. He curiously inspected each of his wrists and found golden manacles attached by a matching chain encasing each one. The distance between the metal links was roughly a foot in length, which sufficiently prevented him from hugging his own body.
He tried to pull at the chain with all his strength but the metal links held steady. He stopped trying to free himself and with hollow eyes he turned his gaze out to the landscape that was stretched out before him. He stood there for what felt like an eternity, silently longing for whatever was hidden over the horizon.
It was the pitter-patter of water pellets that roused him out of the aching yearning he had for the unknown. He looked down and saw that there were tear sized droplets moistening his hands and the rail. Mystified as to the source of the rain, he lifted his hand up and rubbed it across his face. When he brought it back into view he was surprised to find that his own eyes were the originators of the liquid.
A small sob escaped his lips as he felt the overwhelming anguish that had been buried just beneath the surface of his mind burst forth. He dropped to his knees and brought his hands up to his face in an effort to muffle his keening. He wailed his displeasure till his chest ached from the taxing exertion. When he could produce no more tears he tilted his head up and allowed the moon's pale radiance to light the shadows on his face. In a cracked voice that was barely above a whisper he murmured, "Derek, where are you?"
Suddenly a sharp tug on his neck pulled him backwards from the edge and down onto the ground. His hand flew to his collar and he felt a leash locked to the ring in the back. Against his will a force started to drag him toward the room behind him. He jerked his body around in desperation and started thrashing back and forth trying to thwart the powerful force at the other end on the chain. His struggles were in vain as inch by inch he was pulled forth into a formidable man's grasp.
"Let me go," he gritted through clenched teeth as he looked up at the towering figure above him.
The man let out a loud sardonic laugh at his demand.
Undeterred by the man's mocking chortle he gathered up all the saliva he could and spat it out right into the other's smug face.
An enraged snarl tore from the monsterous man's mouth as he wrapped his meaty hands around the boy's neck. "You will never be free," he roared as he squeezed the tender flesh exposed below the metallic collar.
He started gasping for air as he felt his precious airway become constricted. He clawed and scratched at the man's grizzled flesh in desperation. As the worlds started to darken he pulled the last bit of air into his lungs and let out a tormented howl.
"Spencer!"
"Spencer, wake up!" Derek's voice cried, piercing the fog that dominated the boy's brain.
His big brown eyes flew open as he gulped in a large amount of air. It took him a moment to realize that the shadow on his face was caused by his husband. "Derek?"
"Yeah, it's me. Are you alright? You were scaring me."
Spencer inhaled a few more deep breaths in an effort to calm his rapidly beating heart, "It was…I was…I guess I was just having a bad dream."
"More like a nightmare," the king said wryly.
The waifish boy winced as he reached for his throat, and nodded slowly, "Yeah…I guess."
"What was it about?" Derek asked softly, seeing how his love was still being effected by the dream.
"I-I was all alone out on a balcony. It was cold and dark. I-I had chains on my wrists…and…I was really upset about something. I remember calling your name out, asking where you were. Then I was pulled backwards by my neck, someone had put another leash on me," Spencer halted his retelling there for a moment, flushing at the memory.
"It's okay, you don't have to tell me anymore," his husband said compassionately as he gently caressed his thumb across the boy's reddening cheek.
"No-no…it's alright. I'm alright," he insisted. "I fought against whomever it was that was pulling me back inside. I wasn't strong enough though and before I knew it this large man was standing above me laughing. I told him to let me go but he still laughed. So, I spat in his face."
"That's my boy." Derek praised.
Spencer gave him a weak smile, "It wasn't over though. The guy got angry and told me I would never be free…and then…then he started choking me with his bare hands." The co-king shuddered at the memory, "And then, thankfully, you woke me up…"
The enamored monarch wrapped his love into his welcoming arms and said, "Sounds awful sweetie. But it was just a dream, and you're safe now."
Spencer squeezed his lover back and planted a passionate kiss on his husband's plump lips, "Thanks to you waking me up."
"Well, if that's the thanks I'll get for waking you up I'll be sure to do it more often," Derek said with a flirtatious smile.
"Don't you dare! You know how much I enjoy sleeping in!" the boy said playfully, giving Derek a spirited smack on the cheek.
The king laughed and grabbed his lover's bony wrist before forcing it down onto the bed, "So that's how you want to play this?"
Spencer squirmed a little in his grasp and wriggled his hips in a silent response.
The next thing the couple knew they were laying on the soft silk sheets sweaty and spent after a half hour of erotic exertions.
The king was first to stir from his post-coital daze. He gently fingered the key that was hanging from the chain around his lover's neck before he got up and pushed himself over to the side of the bed. His retreat was met with a small whine from the prone body still sprawled out on the comfortable covers.
Spencer, missing the warmth of Derek's embrace, lifted his head and peered through his beautiful brown curls. "What's the rush? The sun has barely risen."
Derek heaved a heavy sigh and broke his lover's gaze. "You know why…," Derek said reluctantly as he reached down and started pulling on his previously discarded clothes.
Spencer saw his husband pulling on a white jerkin and leather breeches before he stood up to retrieve a set of chainmail that had been laid out the night before. Guilt surged through the boy at the realization that his nightmare had caused him to forget that Derek was leaving today.
For over the past four years the realm to the south, the Kingdom of Georgia, had been expanding its boarders and going to war with its neighboring countries. The king of the realm, Charles, was a deeply fanatical man believing himself to have been ordained by God and meant to rule the world as a whole. He sent out his proclamation to all of the lands that bordered his and declared that he would overtake them in God's name.
Slowly over the years Charles started making good on his promises. He captured and absorbed all the lands to the west of his kingdom and now he was focusing his forces on the north, namely Quantico. After months consulting with the countries smartest advisors Derek and Spencer decided that their only option was to gather their army and defend their kingdom. Derek was to lead the forces while Spencer would run the kingdom in his absence.
"You have to go already?"
The muscular man dropped his chin and pulled the heavy mail over his head, "Already? I should have been gone by now. I was supposed to be out in the courtyard at the crack of dawn. Someone distracted me…"
The lithe young man started to get up in order to get dressed when he was pushed back down onto the bed.
"No, don't get up. Stay in bed and enjoy your last morning sleeping in for a long while," Derek encouraged before he continued getting ready.
"You're crazy. I'm not staying here. I'm going to see you off," Spencer said shrilly.
"No, you're not."
A hurt look crossed Spencer's face, "You don't want me there to say goodbye?"
"No."
"Oh," he said in a quiet voice.
The king, fully dressed and ready to go, made his way over to the bed and sat down next to his best friend. "Look, I could be gone for six months to a year if this doesn't go our way. It kills me that I have to leave you here to watch over the castle and run the country while I'm away. So I don't want the last image I have of you to be one where you're standing in the courtyard a sad look on your face as I lead the army away. I want to remember you like you are now, strong, beautiful, happy, and hopelessly in love with me; not worried, scared, longing for me to turn around and come home."
An understanding smile broke out on Spencer's pink rosebud lips. He reached his arms up and wrapped them around Derek's neck, fingering his lover's collar. "Do you want me to unlock this so it doesn't hamper you in battle?"
Derek pulled back with a jerk, "Of course not! It's going to remind me every day of what I'm fighting for and what I could lose if I do not succeed."
Spencer blushed and grabbed the key hanging from the platinum chain.
Derek grinned at the boy's reaction and used his finger to lift the genius's angular face. As Spencer's wispy eyelashes swooped up to meet the king's brown orbs, Derek rushed down and locked their lips in a fiery kiss.
A minute later the king pulled back and got up from the bed. "I have to go."
He grabbed his sword from where it was hanging on the wall and sheathed it in its scabbard. "Just remember that I love you and that I will come back to you. I promise."
Spencer put on a brave face as he watched his lover walk out of their chambers. When the giant doors began to close he called out, "I love you too."
As the oaken barrier swooshed close he heard a deep chuckle followed by, "I love you three."
So, are you with me?