A/N: thank you to Monster of Cookies for being my beta this time.
Today's title has been attributed to both Christopher Stone and Ian Fleming, and I've heard it here and there, so there might be other people involved too… ;)
I'm still really bad at answering reviews… but I'm falling behind on writing so I won't be getting much better right now, sorry!
By Royal Command
Chapter 28: Horses are Uncomfortable in the Middle and Dangerous at Both Ends
"That story about the mine-ghost was rather frightening…" Robin said as they rode home from their day of freedom. It was beginning to get dark. They had stayed by the stream for almost three hours and then ridden on, stopping for another small meal late in the afternoon, but the cheeses, cuts of cold chicken, fruit and bread were nothing compared to the trout, Robin thought. Not even the wine helped.
"It's not a ghost per se, more of a… spirit… although it takes many shapes," the king told him. They were riding slowly, side by side, after finally making the horses a bit tired. Robin was sure Slayer could still run for miles if he had to, though.
"But that knocking… is it true?"
"Grant claims he heard it in the mines once, just before a small cave-in… the knocking is a warning, like the story says, but… I don't know. Mountains make many strange sounds."
"Well, at least it's a good spirit," the prince went on. "That horse that drowns people wasn't that nice. If it was real I'd be walking around with a silver pin on me all the time, so I could tame it."
The man made a derisive sound. "You would rather let yourself be drowned than jam a needle into a horse."
"I would not! Besides, it wouldn't be a big needle," the young man claimed.
They rode back along the coast, having traveled in a wide circle, and now enjoyed a splendid sunset over the water. It wouldn't be long before they would see the city of Gotham in the distance. Robin wanted to ride even slower than they were.
He glanced at the man beside him. He knew he must annoy the king at times, and if he was truthful to himself, most of the jibes against the man, most of the claims that he was an indecent barbarian, were just for show. Just to… keep the distance. Make it clear to the king that there was a barrier between them, that he wasn't forgiven. But when it was just the two of them, that barrier seemed to crumble. In fact, Robin had been a little annoyed that the man hadn't claimed more of his kisses today. He still owed the king two. Not that the young man wouldn't object if the man wanted one, of course he would… it wasn't proper not to, was it? The king might think that he wanted to be kissed, after all. Which he didn't. Did he? It would be another thing after the wedding, naturally, it would be expected of him then, wouldn't it? Not in public, of course, but when they were wed, the man could pull him close at any time. Kiss, caress… do other things… The prince squirmed a little in the saddle.
"Getting sore?"
Robin jumped, even making Slayer startle a little. "What? No! No."
"The riding trousers are comfortable, aren't they? I'm sure your inner thighs won't feel chafed tonight."
The prince groaned inwardly. Did the man have to say 'inner thighs' like that?! It sounded practically lewd. Especially as he could practically feel one of his calloused hands sliding up-
The two highwaymen stepping onto the road in front of them were almost a welcome distraction.
"Get off those horses, Blüdhaven scum!" One of them yelled, brandishing a long-shafted ax. Those other man held a spear which looked to be quite badly made, but that didn't mean it couldn't kill you.
"You are two men on foot, we are on horseback and are both armed," Slade snorted. "Step aside and we'll let you live."
"Yes, well… there ain't just two of us," the man with the ax leered and from all around them men suddenly appeared from behind bushes and rocks. Some had even hidden in the ditch. "Now get off those horses."
"Do you have any idea who you're-" Robin began.
"Shut your mouth, boy!" Slade snapped. "This is not the time." He drew his sword and the prince, looking angry and embarrassed at being snapped at, still followed suit. "Hold on to the saddle very hard," the king told him. Robin had no idea what the man meant by that, but then he barked out a command. The prince didn't understand the word… but the horses did.
Robin gasped in surprise as Slayer threw himself toward the armed men and lashed out with his huge hoofs, only to spin half way around and kick out with his hind legs at the men closing in from that direction. Ore, Slade's horse, did the same, but his rider was also helping out with his sword. It took all he had for the prince to be able to even hold on, much less swing his blade.
The horses were almost transformed, as if they had suddenly turned into carnivores. Kicking, biting, trampling… Robin heard the sound of a skull being crushed and made sure not to look down. He knew from experience that most horses did their best not to trample humans, but these two were out to kill. And kill they did.
As the horse twisted around again Robin lost one of the stirrups and slid precariously to one side. His arm was grabbed and he was yanked upright gain. He gasped at the pain in his shoulder from the harsh tug, but found the support for his foot once more.
"I told you to hold on!" the king all but snarled at him. Robin merely nodded grimly, his teeth clenched because he realized that if he fell off now, he'd be trampled. He'd die, just like the men were dying around him.
Suddenly Slade barked out another guttural order and the horses both stilled. A few of the robbers had survived but none without injury, all of them serious enough so that the men couldn't get up and run. The horse's hoofs were bloody, as was the king's sword. Even Robin's was tinted in red, but he couldn't quite remember how it had come to be that way. It had all happened so quickly, and frankly he hoped he hadn't stabbed one of the horses, the king, or even himself…
"Come. We'll ride back at once and send out men for these scum," Slade ordered and, after making sure the prince had heard him, added, "you're not injured, are you?"
"No, is Slayer alright?" Robin asked, trying to look down the horse's sides.
"He's fine, nothing even touched him."
"Ore seems fine too," the prince nodded after studying the dark gray animal.
"Then come."
The king set off and this time it was not even close to a leisurely pace or a soft gallop. Slayer seemed to feel the urgency too, and Robin didn't think he would have been able to hold the steed back even if he had wanted to.
They took the quickest route back, right through the city. It was fully dark by now, but thankfully they kept to the main street leading directly to the castle, and that was one of the few that were properly lit with oil lanterns. Even so, Robin hoped people would hear them coming, because at this speed there was no chance of stopping in time and anyone in their way would be ridden down.
They reached the castle's gates without any problems, however, and yet again Robin got a front row seat to a show of the king's leadership skills. Within fifteen minutes ten soldiers left with instructions to deal with the survivors and the bodies. After questioning, the prince doubted there would be any survivors left, considering the state of the men. He couldn't pity them, though, and he couldn't find it in himself to do more than watch as the orders were given, still on horseback. He could have sent out the men as well, of course, but right now he was glad that he didn't have to. He wasn't even annoyed that no one was turning to him for instructions; all eyes were on the king… as it should be. It wouldn't be any different if it had been Bruce… although if it had been only him and Bruce out there today, on their normal horses, Robin doubted that they would still be alive.
A hand was suddenly on his thigh.
"Let me help you down." The request was a thinly veiled order, but it was said softly. Robin sighed as he swung his leg over Slayer's back. The king's hands closing around his hips were completely unnecessary, but the prince wasn't going to tell him off. Not after a day like this.
After dismounting he caught a glimpse of the horse's hoofs, which weren't a pretty sight. Even though they, like most of the animal, were black, he could see how wet they looked… and the roads had all been nice and dry today. There was also a tuft of blond hair stuck to one of the front hoofs… Robin turned away quickly, bile rising at the back of his throat. When he was younger he had sometimes wished to be a stable boy instead of a prince, but not today. He wouldn't want to be the one who had to clean the horses off…
Without anything being said the king escorted Robin back to his chambers and only there, in private behind closed doors, did the prince let some of his feelings show through a deep, ragged sigh.
"Are you all right?" The king's voice was soft, slightly worried.
"I'm… yes, I'm fine. It was quite the ending to our day, wasn't it?" the young man said wryly.
"It was. Not exactly what I had hoped for, though," the older man admitted.
"I would hope not!" Robin gave the man a little grin and then his eyes widened. "I had no idea they could do that! The horses, I mean!"
"They are not called 'war horses' for nothing." There was pride in the man's voice now and Robin liked that, because those animals surely deserved it.
"That command you shouted… do you think you could… teach me?" he asked.
"Of course. Once you have a horse of your own, you will need to know how to handle it, after all. They don't normally listen to anyone else but their own riders, though, but since Slayer is mine I hoped he would obey as well, and he did. He's a smart horse… I think he wanted to protect you."
"I can't wait… can't we just send Wintergreen to get my horses right now? Do you really need him here?" Robin's voice was joking, but there was no mistaking that the longing was real.
"Well, we won't have time for much training until everything has calmed down anyway," the king shrugged.
"I know."
"It's late, but I know you'll want a bath, maybe something to eat?" the king said next. When the boy nodded he pulled on the bell cord summoning the valet to the prince's rooms. "Have you had enough of me for one day or may I join you for the meal?"
The corner of Robin's lips twitched in amusement. "You may join me. But you should go clean up as well."
"I wouldn't mind bathing with you, but I know what the answer will be," the man smirked. "I'll be back in an hour, then."
"One and a half."
"One and a half," the man agreed with a chuckle. He should have known just one wouldn't be enough by now…
He was back earlier, however, and was spreading creamy, rich butter on a piece of bread as the prince emerged from his bedroom with his valet in tow. Unusually enough, the boy wasn't fully dressed; he was merely wearing his nightshirt and a long robe by the looks of it, and was quite irresistible with his damp, slightly curly, hair. Even that was untied, hanging loose over his shoulders.
"When we are married I will hide all your hair ribbons," Slade suddenly heard himself say.
"Excuse me?"
"I just happen to find you absolutely mouth-watering with your hair down like that," he grinned.
"Yes, well, if you want to make an even bigger fool of me at court, then go ahead," the prince sniffed, but there was no edge to his voice and he even grinned back a little as he sat down at the table. "Alfred, you may leave for the night."
"Thank you, Sir. Sleep well."
"You too."
Once the valet had left, Slade spoke again. "I will also make sure that your valets will always be wizened old men. That, or I will dress and bathe you myself."
"Would you really be jealous of a servant?" Robin snorted, completely forgetting a certain kitchen maid. Slade hadn't, but was wise enough not to remind the prince of that episode.
"Is it so wrong to want to keep you all to myself?" he asked instead.
The prince snorted and muttered something inaudible as he reached for a piece of chicken.
Slade let him fill his plate before speaking again.
"I've heard back from the soldiers; those men won't bother anyone again."
"Good. Why would they attack people, though? Were they poor? Starving?"
"We have highwaymen in Blüdhaven too, ours are actually small clans… there will always be people who want to reap the benefits of others, and now they will try to take advantage of the uncertainty in the country, like those 'tax collectors'."
"Don't they understand that they are making things worse?" the prince growled.
"They don't care. Either they are too stupid or too self-centered. All we can do is strike back and make sure to send a message to others who might otherwise be inclined to follow in their footsteps."
"I guess." Robin took a big bite of his chicken and when he had swallowed he was obviously ready to change the subject. "It was a very nice day, though. I wish we hadn't had to come back."
"Why?" Slade asked curiously.
"Well… it's just…" the boy hesitated. "It's just easier when it's just you and me, you know?"
"It will get better, even here and in public," the man promised. "I'm almost afraid to ask… but do you still hate me?"
Robin didn't answer for a long time, he just looked at the man thoughtfully until the king could just barely hold back an overwhelming need to squirm in his seat.
"I think… I think perhaps that you didn't pretend as much with me as I first thought. I thought it was all lies, everything about you, every word you said… that you were only pretending the whole time. I'm starting to think that it wasn't like that… which makes it… easier."
"Easier?"
"To be around you… to accept that I'm not going to get rid of you." Robin's mouth quirked a little.
"That sounds like a good start," the king had to admit.
"I'm not sure I'll be happy… I don't want to marry you, I'm still hoping there's another way, but I no longer think you'll make me miserable… or that you want to hurt me," Robin mumbled.
"You are alive because I didn't want to hurt you," Slade pointed out. "You still don't really believe that my fascination with you was the only reason I kept you alive, do you? You still think I had an ulterior motive?"
"Well, it is rather hard to trust you after all that!" Robin snorted. "But I know that me being alive is causing you trouble, so…"
"I wish you would say that with less glee in your voice," the man muttered as he wiped his hands and mouth on a napkin.
"Well it's the only proof I have," the boy snorted.
"Really? And here I was trying to give you plenty more…" the man half sighed, half chuckled.
Again the prince only muttered something in reply.
Slade decided that, all in all, the day had brought plenty of progress. He should end it now, on a somewhat good note. He wouldn't even demand a kiss from the prince, he'd refrained from it all day, not wanting to taint the frail friendship they were beginning to build up. He wished the boy a good night's sleep, asking to see him in the throne room after breakfast the next morning, and turned toward the door.
"You're not going to kiss me?"
The question was as unexpected as the tone was hard to decipher. Did he sound disappointed? Relieved? Demanding?
"Do you want me to?" The wrong question. Slade knew it the moment it was out of his mouth.
"Of course not." This time the words were predictable. Robin would never admit to something like that, he'd even see it as an insult.
"No, of course not. But you feel I've been neglecting my duties, perhaps? Or forgotten about our game?"
"I'm afraid you'll save your last kisses for public places again, that's all," the prince sniffed.
"So… in a way… it would make you happy if I kissed you now? Here, in private?"
"Damn you. Yes." the young man hadn't seen the trap before it was too late.
"Then you do want me to kiss you?" Slade smirked.
The prince growled. He had had enough of being toyed with. It was no longer up to the man whether or not to kiss him, he felt, so he grabbed the king's shirt and pulled the man toward him.
"You have one left," Robin snapped as they separated almost a minute later.
"No, I have two."
"Didn't they teach you to count in the mountains?"
"They did, but you kissed me."
"But-"
"Fair is fair," the king grinned. "Goodnight, Robin," he added and walked out the door, leaving a frustrated young man behind. Frustrated in several ways, because that night the prince played with one of the candles…
Robin was, for lack of another word, grumpy the next day. Even after a very nice and satisfying conclusion to the day, his night had been filled with nightmares and he had slept in very late this morning. In fact, it was close to lunch now, as he headed toward the throne room with his guards. No one had insisted that he had to rise any earlier, though, maybe thinking he needed his rest after the previous day's events.
It turned out the king wasn't in the throne room at all, he was socializing in the ball room at what seemed to be some kind of get-together Robin hadn't been told about. At least the prince was dressed for the occasion. After the linen and leather the day before, he had decided to wear some very nice clothes today. The lace around his cuffs was so fine it could have been made by spiders, and his dark green silk waistcoat glimmered with gold embroidery. His jacket was a lighter green with gold trim. Green was his favorite color after red, and he also enjoyed the gold. If he could get away with it, he would wear all three colors at once, but that might be a bit too loud, even for the Gotham court. An accent or two was alright, though, and his waistcoat had one or two flowers picked out in red silk thread, blossoming on golden vines.
All in all, Robin thought he looked very good, but then he entered the room and barely en eye was drawn to him. Instead everyone was focused on the king and the guests he was presently entertaining. He was speaking to a beautiful blond man and, by the looks of it, having the time of his life. The blond was smiling adoringly at the king, green eyes glittering, hands gesturing enthusiastically as he spoke. As Robin approached, the king placed a hand on the younger man's shoulder in a very intimate gesture. How dare he? Didn't he understand how it would look?! He had said it himself; people needed to believe their devotion to each other was real, how were they going to do that if he stood here flirting with someone else?
"Am I interrupting something?" the prince asked coldly as he reached his betrothed.
"Ah, finally awake, are you?" the man smiled teasingly.
"I see I haven't been missed. Should I go?"
"No, you should stay, and meet my son, Joseph," the king said proudly and squeezed the blond man's shoulder.
"Y-Your son?" Robin gaped. The blond, he now discovered, has some of Slade in him, but he must be taking after his mother quite a bit with those eyes and more slender body. He wasn't thin and willowy by any means, but compared to the king's more stocky build he appeared slimmer than he actually was. Robin realized that he himself must look like a twig in comparison. After finding his footing again he put on a polite smile and reached out with his hand. "Your Highness, pleased to meet you."
"Am I expected to shake it or kiss it?" the blond grinned, but then took the hand in a firm hold. "Prince Robin. I'm looking forward to getting to know you."
It sounded almost like a threat and the Gotham prince suddenly realized the king's side of the family might provide him with some more enemies. He almost wanted to give up then and there; he didn't want more drama in his life, it was quite enough as it was.
"Why don't you start right now, I have some proceedings I need to see to," the king let them know.
Don't leave me! was Robin's initial thought, but of course that was nothing he could say out loud.
"I'll take good care of your bride, father," the blond grinned.
"Now be good, Joey, he is a young man, not a woman," the mountain prince was reprimanded, to Robin's relief.
"But he has such pretty clothes!" Joseph then exclaimed and snickered.
Robin frowned. He did not like this man. "I'm dressed according to our fashion, as you are after yours," he replied dryly.
"Well said, Robin," Slade told him, looking surprised. Maybe he had expected a somewhat more… violent reaction, but they were in public, after all. "Why don't you show Joey around? Just take the guards."
"Yes, Your Majesty," the prince nodded. He would do his duty as a host, after all.
"So when did you arrive, Your Highness?" Robin asked politely as they walked through one of the many galleries depicting Gotham's history. This was the route he normally took when he had to entertain foreign guests, as the art was exquisite and the architecture was equally impressive. It was not open for anyone who wasn't a guest of the castle, though, so they were less likely to be overheard.
"Late last night… and call me Joey, we are to be family, after all."
"But we're not family yet, Sir." Maybe it was small of him, but Robin wasn't ready to go from being made fun of to 'let's be friends' quite so quickly. "How was your trip?"
"Ah, so we're having that kind of conversation, are we, Your Highness?" the blond snorted. "My journey was quite uneventful and swift, thank you."
The dark haired prince glanced at his equal from the corner of his eye. Was the man trying to be funny, and if so, to what purpose? He decided to give him the benefit of the doubt, for now, and sighed.
"This must seem very… strange to you?" he said, abstaining from any titles for now.
"To get a new mother, younger than me, and a boy to boot? Yes, somewhat."
"It wasn't exactly my idea."
"So I've been told. I've also been told you will be practically stripped of any power."
"In favor of you, yes." Robin hoped he didn't sound bitter.
"That's something I didn't ask for, just so we're clear. I understand the reasoning behind it, however… Father secured this country for us, for his future grandchildren… you were just… something extra."
"Yes, it's nice to have your life reduced to an inconvenience," Robin muttered, and bitterness was certainly present this time.
"Our fates can be cruel," the blond nodded, but then hurriedly switched subjects. "Father tells me you are a great rider, would you show me your horses? I've had enough of staring faces for now."
Robin almost looked around, expecting a crowd, before he realized that the prince meant the paintings. He agreed to the request, but reluctantly. Normally he would have jumped at the chance, but what were his horses compared to the ones Joseph had grown up with? Robin felt terribly guilty for that thought, because he knew that he had completely neglected his animals in favor of Slayer. They were still well cared for by the grooms, of course, but he had barely spared them a thought lately.
"What a beauty! This is a wild one, isn't he?" Joseph asked.
"Yes, Dax can be a bit of a handful," Robin smiled. The other young man's enthusiasm, whether it was real or merely polite, had warmed him up a little bit and awakened his one pride in his steeds. "This one is Rain, we're hoping she's carrying Slayer's foal."
"Slayer? Oh, Father's black one?"
Robin looked at the other man like he was crazy. How couldn't he instantly know who Slayer was, and even worse; how could he sound so dismissive when speaking of him? Joseph seemed to interpret the prince's look correctly and chuckled.
"Ore is my favorite when it comes to father's horses, Slayer barely lets anyone else ride him."
"He doesn't?"
"No. Father says he's a big softie but I've seen him throw his grooms at least thirty times. Father always claims that they just aren't good enough riders so Slayer doesn't have any respect for them, but I'm not getting up on that horse and neither should you."
"But… I've ridden him since the first time I saw him! And that time it was bareback!"
It was Joseph's turn to stare. "I'll be damned… like owner like horse, I guess…"
"What do you mean?" Robin blinked.
"That- oh, nothing… maybe he has calmed down a bit by now… it's been a while since I've seen him in action."
Robin suspected that that wasn't what the young man had really meant, but he didn't want to press the matter. Knowing the prince's father it would probably be something lewd.
Slade watched his son and intended leave together and prayed to a higher power that they would find some common ground, if not become friends. There wasn't many years separating them, Robin was soon eighteen and Joseph was twenty. They should find things to talk about, even with the cultural differences. He had suggested to Joey that going to the stables might be a good idea, knowing he wouldn't mind. His son liked animals and Slade hoped that Robin's enthusiasm for them would bring out the prince's… less uptight side.
"Your Majesty, about the complaints from the southern landowners…?"
The king took notice of his surroundings and his valet once more.
"Yes, let's go hear those, shall we?" he nodded, hoping for the best.
After leaving the stables Robin took the blond back to the ballroom and introduced him to some of the guests there, particularly the DiMaggio women. It was partly out of spite –he had a feeling it would annoy Slade to have his son in their hands- but also because he hoped that the young man would find someone else to talk to. The king couldn't possibly have meant that they should spend the whole day together, could he?
Unfortunately the northern prince dealt with the ladies perfectly; being polite but aloof. He also excused himself from the group quickly to 'spend time with his new family'. At least he had the good taste not to jokingly call Robin 'mother'. Someone else in the room might not have, though, and Robin watched with dread as young Lord Blackgate and his following sailed up to them.
"My name is Lord Bryant Blackgate, the eldest son of Duke Blackgate, you have heard of us, I'm sure."
"Yes?" the blond man's voice was somewhat reserved, which seemed to make the Lord a bit rattled. Still, he recovered quickly and gave Joseph the fakest smile Robin had ever seen.
"Well, I would like the honor of introducing you to some very influential people."
"Prince Robin already has that 'honor'," Joey snorted.
"Yes, and I was just taking you to meet some of my friends," Robin smirked. "If you would excuse us, Bryant?"
"No offence," the Lord answered, refusing to step aside. "Prince Robin will soon be prince in name only. He'll practically be a woman. Literally, even. He will have no real influence here, as it should be… females should know their place, after all, even queens."
"My mother was a queen, you know," the blond said silkily.
"Well… yes… yes, of course, and I'm sure she had her duties, but-" Bryant began.
"She led the attack of the Iron Clan at Avalon Hill and she then negotiated a treaty with them which has been honored to this day. For her funeral they sent a thousand emeralds to adorn her casket. She killed more men than you ever dueled, and she was loved by more people than you'll ever meet. Robin won't be a queen, but he will rule with my father and the King wouldn't have chosen him if he wasn't worthy. You, traitor's son, would have done well to stay on his good side. And mine."
Robin had to try very hard not to gape like Blackgate and his crowd. The blond then turned to him.
"Shall we go see your friends now? I'm looking forward to meeting them, and I'm sure they will be very helpful to me when I rule this place."
"Yes, of course," Robin said, forcing himself not to stutter.
As they were out of earshot he leaned in close to the man and whispered.
"I don't think your father has had time to inform you… but we are not supposed to aggravate the Blackgates… at least not yet."
"Oh, I know," the prince shrugged.
"You… you do?"
"Yes, and I had every intention to be civil… but then he opened his mouth."
To Be Continued…
A/N: And now you got to meet Joseph… he might be a little different from what you might expect, a bit "rougher around the edges", maybe… oh, and he can TALK… ;) remember that this is an AU, though, so it might not be that surprising, hm? ;) He's 'softer' (I don't like that word, but I hope you know what I mean… not WEAKER) than Grant and Slade, though, but that will be described further later, I should think…
