Ten

"I have to what?" Dean snapped.

His father smirked at him, clearly taunting him. "You heard me. Get yourself a queen."

"But why?"

"Boy, our bloodline needs to continue. You need a queen to do that."

Need a queen; but that would mean… "I'm not marrying some broad. I'm already married to Roman."

Mark burst out laughing. "You? Marrying out of free will? Now I've heard everything."

That was the problem with Mark; he knew almost everything about Dean having acted as his MMA coach since he was a kid. "Look here, Dad, I refuse to marry someone I don't love. I don't do marriage for anyone… except Roman."

"I'll do marriage," Jon quipped. "I'll do whatever it takes for my kingdom."

"It's not your kingdom!" Dean snapped at the older man.

"I think you're not fit to be a king, Dean. You're not willing to make sacrifices."

Oh so his brother wanted to go there? Dean felt anger burning through him. "What's the point of being king if I can't make my own rules? Isn't that the point?"

Jon rolled his eyes. "Sure, Dean. Make your own rules. See how far you'll go with your new illogical-"

"Dean, you have a point," Mark interrupted Jon. "What is the point of being king if you can't make your own rules? And whilst you're right about that, fact is you still need an heir. And I know you don't know anyone suitable but I have someone in mind for you."

"Who?"

"When we get back to the castle, I'll summon for her to meet you."

"Who dares come to these palace grounds?"

Roman slowly turned around and found himself staring a seven foot tall monster whose body was broad and muscled time, skin pale green with grey eyes that were scrutinizing him from head to toe, a snarl on its face.

"What are you?" the creature questioned further. "A dark lord?"

"No, I'm not," Roman answered. "I'm just a… normal guy." Telling the truth would probably land him in boiling water-

The creature threw its head back laughing. "Sure. And I'm not an ogre."

Ogre!

With that, it effortlessly swung Roman over its right shoulder and stormed inside. Not that the Samoan man would have stopped it. Perhaps this was the ogre they had been looking for; what luck to have stumbled upon it.

The great hall of the castle was medieval with a huge chandelier with candles hanging in the middle.

"Who is our guest?" the voice of a man called out.

Wait a minute…

The ogre placed Roman down on his feet, a hand on the Samoan man's right shoulder to hold him in place. An old man dressed in a long royal blue trenchcoat and buckled shoes was heading towards them. "I found him outside the palace."

At the mention of that, the old man cocked his head. His eyes squinted hard at Roman before smiling at him. "Oh Rocko," he said. "This isn't just any man. This is the sword."

The what?

"My apologies, young warrior. I seek your forgiveness for having the wrong impression."

"I'd forgive you if I knew what was going on. Are you holding the witch's son?"

"My dear boy, I am the witch's son except I am no warlock. I am a sorcerer."

Roman couldn't wrap his head then with what the man had just revealed to him; he certainly didn't dress like a sorcerer. "Sorcerer?"

"Yes. Mother is a witch, father is a dark lord."

"Look, if this is another trick-"

"It is a trick but not one meant for you… merely as a form of diversion if you will for the rest of your traveling companions. You see, I did not want anyone to know what my father and my grandfather - God bless them - have revealed to me."

"Reveal what?"

"Young warrior, what do you know of the sword?"

Shaking his head, Roman crossed his arms. "I'm not telling anything."

"Perhaps you were told that it can destroy your beloved. Perhaps you've also been told that it can wreck havoc in the underworld. We planted all kinds of tales to stop people from coming after you especially once they know of your purpose. Dark lords can be dangerous; tis in their nature to be vile, greedy and power crazy. Even the mild ones have their moments. Did you honestly think that I would stay still in the castle, waiting for them to come find me? Roman, there is no sword. Not a physical one anyway. You are the sword metaphorically."

"Metaphorically? You knew that there'd be someone for Dean-"

"Was foretold long ago by my grandfather, young warrior. A sword is symbolised as purification. You can bring peace to the underworld, Roman. You are Dean's right and left… you are the reason why he's never turned evil all this while. That is exactly where most of them want him; to manipulate him. Something big is about to happen."

"You've seen this?"

The sorcerer nodded grimly. "I have."

"What did you said earlier? About a grandfather and father… Surely you don't mean-"

"My father was Paul Wright and my grandfather, King Oswald Wright. Two of the most trustworthy men I have ever had the good fortune to know."

"But what about Mark? He wanted to stop Dean from-"

"Mark," the sorcerer scoffed. "Mark is just part of the problem. Or was. I'm not sure. I'm not trusting anyone from the midlands. This is all a game to them, Roman. These men will stop at nothing to get power and control over all."

"Which men?"

"The Helmsleys and the Cornettes. Here in the highlands, we are aware of Dean's purpose as well: he is the true king of the underworld once Mark steps down."

"Does Mark know that? Surely word like that can get out."

"I wouldn't know about that one."

"Well he did had something against Dean-"

"Why?"

"Dean killed him. I used my blood to bring Mark back because he was concerned about all the wars that Dean had made. He gave the impression that Dean would mess things up on the throne."

"Perhaps he has a change of heart; only time will tell. The only saving grace is that no one knows who you truly are. Haven't you wondered why some people from the underworld want you gone and why your family and their other ties want him gone?"

"Mine knew who he really was and as for the rest of the underworld… well I'm not too sure. They said our love was a threat to them."

"So long as Dean loves you, he'll not step up to take his rightful place on that throne."

"He does want that place on that throne; he wants to be king. And I can't stand in his way or he'll resent me."

"Whatever happened to doing the right thing, Roman?"

The right thing. The right thing made Dean feel suffocated, Roman thought. There was no way he could do this without his boyfriend feeling the same way again. "I'm not sure anymore. The only way I can help him is to advise him… that is if he even wants it."

Dean was not in a good mood at all; no one had the right to tell him what to do. "I'm not marrying whomever you wish to introduce me to. I don't give a damn how pretty or nice she is. My heart belongs to one person and one person alone and that's Roman."

Speaking of Roman, where was his darling, Dean wondered. He was taking an awfully long time collecting those fruits. Perhaps he was kidnapped or-

"I don't care of your opinions, Dean," Mark replied. "You marry this girl or-"

"Or what?" Dean challenged his father, taking an inch forward. "A king shouldn't worry over trivial things like this; a lion never loses sleep over the opinions of sheep. Emma would make a fine queen and she'll rule over the underworld just fine on her own one day. You should be more concerned over how we're going to merge the underworld as one instead of this scattered mess it is."

Jon shook his head. "Father, I-"

"Spoken like a true king," Mark said. "Doing what is needed or changing it for the benefit of the people, not worrying about others."

"I shouldn't have to," Dean informed him tersely. "If I want something, I go after it. I want this throne. It's mine for the taking."

"And it is. The throne, the crown is yours, Dean. Rule over the underworld wisely."

Jon made an unidentifiable sound, storming away from them towards Leakee who was talking to Drew.

Dean ignored him; if Jon had wanted the kingdom, he should have stayed or at least tried to appeal to his father before the auburn haired man showed up.

"So what's your first order of business?"

"Finding Roman."

"You may roam about this palace until the rain stops," the ogre instructed as they walked down the hallway. "We have a huge library - well I have a huge library - that you can read from. Otwrick tells me that you're an English teacher."

Roman smiled. "Yeah, I am."

"And does the English teacher have a favorite book?"

"Sounds cliche but I loved It… well anything by Stephen King really. I'm a huge horror buff. Dean doesn't do horror; he hides behind me every time I play a horror movie." They entered the library where to Roman's amazement, the bookshelves filled up the entire room with a huge map in the middle. "Wow. This is something. Look at all these books."

"I've read most of it," the ogre revealed. "I enjoy reading. It is a luxury to me."

"Books tend to make one feel richer."

The ogre had a huge interest in almost every genre there was including romance. Roman's fingers ran across the spines of the books arranged on his eye level, titles being read silently. He smiled when he saw It on the shelf. "You have It too."

"That clown has nothing on me."

"When I was young, I used to look at the sewers during the rain in fear. Dean thought I was nuts and kept repeating to me how it was only a book. Then one day, he gripped me by the shoulders and told me that if there was any clown or monster lurking in the sewers, under my bed or in the closet, he'd fight them for me. He said he'd get rid of all my demons."

"When you say horror, it reminds me of how the dark lords see me."

Roman raised an eyebrow. "See you? What do you mean by see you? There's nothing wrong with you."

"I know what people see when they look at me!" the ogre growled.

"What?" Roman asked. "What do they see?"

"A monster!"

Beneath the creature's characteristic features, he was obviously hurting by society's prejudiced views on him... on what a person should be. "You're not a monster."

"You're deluded."

"Or maybe I'm seeing you for who you are... not what you are. You've built up these walls because of the shunning and become convinced that this is who you truly are but you're not. You know you're not. You're so much more than this and it's evident in these books and paintings you've kept. You have a world in you; you just want to share it and there's nothing wrong with that."

The ogre was staring at him. "You just met me."

"I know but you give off such a good vibe and… I apologise if I've crossed lines-"

"You're the first person who has said this, dark lord or mortal."

Roman's heart ached for him. "Well it's the truth." Then he laughed softly. "Truth. Truth. That's hard to find down here. So what is the truth? I mean I've got Mark telling me that he's changed-"

A voice filled in the void for him. "Mark is more powerful than Hunter; he just doesn't want to exert his powers. But Hunter... people followed him because they feared him. They knew how messed up he truly was. This place isn't what it used to be all thanks to King Hunter."

Roman found Otwrick walking into the library, a knowing smile on his face. "Hunter. I've had the privilege to know the man," the grey eyed man revealed.

"King Hunter was a mad man and so was his wife. His parents though were saints. Mark and his wife well... they're angels compared to the Helmsleys. Merging their kingdom together would have been sort of a monopoly for them as to seeing how most of the other kingdoms were all separate. Divide and conquer if you will."

"And because Jon had ran away, the alliance fell through."

"Quite right. They thought Dean could take Jon's place to marry Seth once they knew of his existence. Unfortunately Dean had you, a child from people they loathed with their every being."

Roman sat down on the floral armchair by the window.

Otwrick sat beside him. "Some of these kingdoms are scrambling quietly to be the ultimate ruler though they would never admit to that out loud. This silent war has been going on for generations. So far no one has been bold enough to take a step forward to declare such though."

Dean seemed to bold enough, Roman thought. He had declared wars with one kingdom so far. But not his neighbors in the underworld so far. Seth didn't count as to seeing how Dean himself wanted revenge for all the brunette had put them through long before this.

"The underworld has its own system, completely different from the one you're used to up there. You may be Dean's true love but even a king needs a queen to produce his heir."

"Dean needs to find a wife."

"Yes. To continue their bloodline."

That meant that Roman would have to share him. Dean getting married… with a family of his own. "Okay."

"You're not upset?"

Upset was not the word he would have chosen. Shock was probably it but as to seeing how much having the crown meant to Dean, he answered, "I just want Dean to be happy."

"Understandable. Just be cautious, young warrior. A dark lord will always be a dark lord, no matter who he's with. It's just that you're a good man and I would hate for your heart to be broken."

"Dean's a good person too."

"Because he has you. You're his sword, Roman. If he doesn't have you there, who knows what will happen. You should be afraid of demons and monsters, young warrior because that's what dark lords are."

"What has you brooding so much?" Leakee asked the moment Jon joined his side; the dark lord was simmering on the inside at the turn of affairs. "Something your father said?"

Jon glanced at Drew; he did not want his father's most trusted man to overhear him. "Would you excuse us, Drew?"

Drew bowed his head before choosing to stand next to Byron a few feet from them.

Turning his attention back to Leakee, Jon huffed. "My brother is the new king of our kingdom; my father has made his decision."

"Why are you so upset then?" Leakee queried. "Did you want the throne?"

"Did I want… did I want… of course I wanted the throne! I could have power and finally prove to my father that I am not the whiny son who left the castle all those years ago." He turned his head and noticed his half brother talking to their father who was nodding his head. Dean. He was the bane of Jon's existence; Roman too. Ever since they came into his life, misery befell him. He'd have to find some way to get rid of both of them. "I want the crown, Lea. And I need your help."

Leakee looked distressed. "Jon, I don't want to hurt anyone."

"But we won't be hurting anyone, Lea." At least not in front of him. There were so many hurdles and obstacles were placed in front; Jon had to overcome them. He, too, was Mark's son. His younger brother had no inkling of how things worked in the underworld.

"Still-" Leakee tried but was cut off.

"Please," Jon implored. "I need this. It's my only chance to do this and I need to make this right with my father and especially you; I want to give you the things you deserve. There is… there is no one I would rather do this with. I trust your judgement. I trust you. When I am king, I will rule justly. Dean wouldn't. He's power hungry; he doesn't care for the people."

That bent truth seemed to have hit the spot with the Samoan. "But how do you propose to snatch the throne from him?"

Smiling, Jon sighed with relief inwardly; finally a step forward. "I believe a visit to my jilted betrothed is long overdue."

Dean was talking to Mark when Roman finally found his way back to their spot.

There was so much he wanted to relate to Dean later; as much as he believed that his sweetheart would believe him, a part of him wondered if it would sound far fetched to him too.

"Where were you?" Dean queried the moment he joined their group. "You were gone for almost two hours. I went to the forest-"

"I got lost," Roman quickly cut him off, not wanting to discuss anything in front of Mark yet. He needed to gather his thoughts first. "I stumbled upon a river and I started to walk along it hoping to find my way back."

His boyfriend was staring at him, possibly knowing his lie. "Well. As long as you're safe."

Inwardly the raven haired man sighed with relief. "No scratches whatsoever."

"We need to talk."

"Alright. When-"

"Now."

Roman found Dean dragging him away from the gang to a few trees away. "What's… what's wrong?"

"Where were you… really?"

"I found the witch's son."

Dean frowned, clearly displeased with him. "So you fought the ogre by yourself?"

"I didn't have to; they were both hospitable-"

"Didn't I say to wait for me?"

"It wasn't as if I did it on intention; I promise. I stumbled upon the castle. It's far away from the orchard and-"

"So the path you found was completely off our course."

"Yeah."

"I saw no castle."

"But it was there. I know what I saw."

Dean sighed. "I was worried something happened to you when I couldn't find you."

Roman hugged him before giving him a quick peck. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to make you worry."

"It's fine. At least you're safe with no wounds. What did you mean by they were both hospitable? Who is they? The witch's son and the ogre?"

"Yeah. The both of them. The son is fine; he's actually a sorcerer... Case closed."

"Well with the witch's cause out of the way, we can worry about the sword now."

Oh no. Roman hadn't thought about this entirely through; he'd have a long explanation to give his darling. "M-must we?"

"Yeah. Why do you think we're down here?"

"For a tour."

"Roman." Dean was frowning now. "What is with you?"

"N-nothing."

"You're stammering."

"I am?"

"For fuck's sakes, Roman-"

"Dean, I don't want to do this anymore."

To say that Dean was confused was an understatement. "What do you mean? Like you and me?"

"No!" Roman quickly crushed that thought. "I mean retrieving the sword."

"But why? We've come so far…"

"I just…" Roman found himself wondering how to approach this. "I just want to have a normal life with Emma and you. That's all."

"And we can. I already told you that I'll send you up once we retrieve the sword."

"But you've already retrieved it, Dean… me."

Dean's brows furrowed. "What do you mean by you?"

"Me, Dean. I'm the sword metaphorically speaking. A sword symbolises purification and the sorcerer said that his family had been throwing everyone off guard with tales of it. It was foretold long ago about us and… haven't you noticed how both our families wanted to get rid of us? You being king is no coincidence, Dean. They need you-"

"What's taking you both so long?"

The two lovers found Mark waiting impatiently a few feet from them. "Give us five more minutes," Dean growled.

His father conceded, bowing his head slightly before striding off.

Blue eyes met his grey ones again. "Continue."

Roman related to him what he had learnt earlier in the castle without wasting a moment. "Don't you get it? Everything here is just a big game to them. I know I said I wouldn't stop you but I hope you'll reconsider and come up with Emma, my mum and me."

"I don't know, Roman. This is what I want; you know this."

"But this is a dangerous game you're playing, Dean. I came back for you so that you wouldn't get hurt."

"And I won't get hurt; don't worry your pretty head over that." Dean exhaled. "I can't believe that we've been led on a wild goose chase for nothing. Actually at this stage, nothing should surprise me anymore. No matter. My plans for destroying Seth haven't changed. When I sit on that throne, he and all those who oppose me will crumble in my hands. If it's a game they want, well it's a game they'll have a hard time winning."

Roman could see Dean was trying to keep it together despite his fury. "You said that once the war was over, you'll come home for good."

"And I meant it," Dean confirmed. "The war's just started, Roman. And you're looking at its victor. I have been treated badly since I was young, been lied to my whole life by people I trusted… this is my revenge, Roman. This is how it'll end. I was destined to rule the underworld; the time for it has come. And I'll start with my so called brother. Besides, I won't be alone in doing this."

"You won't?"

"Roman Joseph Reigns, I'm appointing you as my hand; the hand of the King. Together, you and I will watch our enemies burn and the rest of the underworld thrive. We better get to work fast."

A/N My apologies for the delay; depression made it hard. The ball's in Dean and Roman's court now; let the games begin. As before, if you don't like it, that's fine. Just spare me your nasty anons. Thank you.