…The Iron King…

/Warning/: This chapter contains, cursing, sadness, maybe blood and violence, a little fluff, and Steve being patient as a saint! And who knows what! All reviews are appreciated.

P.S: This is an Alpha/Beta/Omega dynamic story, it's also a Medieval story with Viking Tony ^o^

"Character talking"

"Character thinking"

…Flashbacks…

Chapter 7

It took another two days before Braes finally decided to let go of Steven, on the threat of him returning once a day so that the healer will check the stitches and give him the herbal ointment. In truth, the healer had wanted Steven to stay inside the hut for a fortnight, until the wound was closed and turn into nothing but a scar, but Steven, who was used to such treatment refused. Steven refused, because being inside the hut with nothing but his dark thoughts keeping him company was a waiting disaster; Steven knows that if he said something, Margaret or even his baby would keep his company as long as he likes, but even Steven value his alone time too much for him to let the two be imprisoned with him.

So after a lot of instruction from Braes (Who still doesn't know that Steven used to be a healer, he has to, or he would have died at the hands of Hydra king a long time ago), and glaring darkly ordering him to rest and not do anything (Mainly directing his glare at the foolish king, who looked sick and tired, not that Steven cared about him or anything). Steven was finally released to go home, or as much as you can call it home with it being your prison and the place of this idiot king.

Steven let out a sigh and follows the king, nearly raising his eyebrow at the way people flinch as they passed them, looking pale as they caught the sight of their king walking through the roads. Steven sympathizes with them, considering what he heard a week ago, but to be truthful, Steven doesn't care, not when they left him to fight alone and run with their lives or came to see Steven fight like it was entertainment.

His little babe seemed to share the same thought like him, for the small boy kept glaring at everyone they pass with a dark look on his face, probably promising them a punishment of some kind; not that Steven would let James do that because he will pull the boy's ears off if he does something as stupid as this. Something that his babe no doubt knew, especially after the many risky plans he nearly did in the Hydra household.

The walk was a long one, not because of the distance no, not one bit, but because Steven has to stop every five minutes or so, mainly to catch his breath. To Steven's surprise, the king stayed with him the whole time, looking more manic than ever with the dark look on his face that scared everyone passing; something that Steven knows was only a façade trying to hide his tiredness, it made Steven wonder what happens to the cocky and foolish king, only to roll his eyes and pull away from any of the king's affairs.

Finally reaching the king's house, Steven finally let out a relieved sigh, planning on going to his attic and resting as much as his heart content… after braving the stairs that will be his reason for death. The house was surprisingly clean when Steven entered it, it made the Omega wonder if he will once again clean it came the morning, but by the level of cleaning, he can state proudly that whoever did this, was an expert, for they managed to clean the house until it sparkled.

"From today, this will be your room." The king stated, leading him to a bedroom on the first floor; the action made Steven blink his eyes trying not to look confused, he knows that the rooms on the first floor were that of the king of his son, so it gave the king no reason to give him such a room.

"If I last recall, foolish king, I was nothing but a slave, giving me a room like this surely will make people talk." Steven stated, trying desperately not to yawn and inform the king how wound up from the short walk he was; if it continued like this, Steven would have to enter the forest to find his own medicine, one that doesn't cause him to sleep.

"Cut the acting, we both know that you are not a slave, just as the two of us knows that you will not break and go back on your deal; I am tired of this cat and mouse chase, so just… enough." The king groan, his words made Steven press his lips together tightly, making a pale line with his mouth; this was the closest that the foolish king came to admit that Steven was not a slave or a servant, or the king wouldn't have given him so many liberties.

"So what now, am I a guest? A friend? A bed warmer?" Steven narrowed his eyes at the last description, daring the king to say such a thing, which will gain him nothing but broken teeth. Injured or not, Steven refused to be lowered to such a thing, not after being forced to live like that for years because of the Hydra king.

The king rolled his eyes, which nearly made Steven bristle at the action, but he held his tongue, mainly because he was sure that his baby will do something stupid if Steven and the king start fighting in front of him. "You can call yourself whatever you want, I do not really care about it. The only thing I do care about is you always returning back here by the end of the day." Stated the king before turning around planning to leave Steven, which was something that did nothing but make the Omega frown.

"What about the rules you gave me months ago? Should I forget all about them now? Because of the way you are speaking informing me that I can do whatever I like, whenever I like without even a punishment. I do not need bribery if you think it will make me closer to forgiving you." Steven tensed when the king stopped in his advance, waiting for the man to come and strike him for his ungratefulness.

To Steven's surprise, he heard nothing but a snort of amusement coming from the king before he continued his way. "As I said before I do not care, besides, I never asked for forgiveness I never wanted in the first place." The king stated before he continued his way once more, leaving Steven standing in the hallway before shaking his head and entering his new room…

Something was going on with the foolish king…

"They are late; though I cannot say I am not happy, it would mean that I will have until next year to decide about the marriage…" Anton stated annoyance cleared in his voice, even with his face being the picture of calmness he was not feeling anything but annoyance and probably relieved. It was a week after the promised meeting with his supposed guests, a week of them not arriving to the village, and to say the truth Anton and his close friends were content with them not arriving to their homeland at all; if only the elders of the village thought the same as him.

Jamti though just rolled his eyes at Anton, letting out a sigh at the way his friend was acting like. It wasn't that Jamti didn't share the same sentiment as Anton; he knew what it would mean if their guests didn't show up, or worse show up. "Anton…" Jamti finally spoke clearing his throat when his friend turns his gaze from the metal he was forging toward him, making Jamti feel a little bit uncomfortable, especially with the news that Jamti was going to speak. "Anton… as much as I hate to say this, but the elders decided that this year will be your last." Jamti stated, trying not to wince at the dark look that took over Anton's face; it was promising death.

"They have no right to decide; it is my decision to mate whoever I want, I refuse to mate anyone from the Stone family." Anton hissed, nearly letting out a snarl at the thought of him being forced to mate with someone he doesn't even care about, let alone have children with them; worse of all, he will be forced to join houses with the Stone family, something that he was desperate not to do, even if it means fighting to stay in his position, things that Anton had told Jamti every year when he was wasted from drinking too much ale.

Jamti let out a tired sigh, looking around Anton's workshop, hoping that there weren't any weapons that Anton will be an idiot to use against the elders. "They have every right to choose, Anton, especially when you are an unmated Alpha at the age of 32 springs; not only that but your actions in the past years are out of control, what happened a while ago with Hamar, was the last straw." Jamti stressed his words, causing his friend to growl and return back to the metal he was working on, hammering it with all of his strength, making Jamti wince.

"I refuse to marry that harlot or that bastard of a brother she has! I am the king! I decide who I will mate and have children with! Everyone knows that my actions with Hamar were justified especially when I am the law!" Anton growled at the piece of metal he was working on; probably daring it to say otherwise, daring it to return Anton's words with mockery and refusal, and hoping secretly that his friends will have his side in this, which they all were, but there was no refusing the elders this time. Anton knew it was past his marriage time, everyone reminds him of that, that every year passes without marriage his judgment became doubtful in everyone's eyes; Anton knew that he should have married years ago with all of their friends when his age was twenty. Anton knew he shouldn't have waited for the Omega who ended up breaking his heart, because of that, Anton probably knew about everyone in the village being disappointed with him living a loner life with no Omega to care of him or his babe, to give him stability in life.

Jamti gave his friend a sad look, knowing the reason why his friend refused to marry and bear the whispers and sneer that sent his way all these years; as much as it broke Jamti's heart that he will give his friend the bad news, someone has to tell him that enough is enough, it was the time that Anton starts taking the threats of the elders seriously. "I know, Anton, I know, that is why Magna and I have spent the last few weeks fighting for your right to choose; you were granted the choice of who you mate." Jamti's soft tone caused Anton to look up at his friend, the fight leaving both Anton and Jamti when they saw the tiredness swimming in each other's eyes.

"What is the catch?" Anton stated with a resigned voice, already knowing that there was no fighting the elders when they made their orders known, especially if 'Fury of the Seven Seas' decided to stick his nose in Anton's business, and Jamti knew that Fury had returned from his voyage a week ago to do just that, but at least Fury was the only reason that Anton was given the chance to choose the person who Anton will share his life and wealth with.

"If came the next autumn solstice and you have not chosen a bride to wed, you will wed whomever the elders choose for you." Jamti stated, his heartbreaking when he saw the defeat in his friend's eyes; it made Jamti angry, it made him enrage, how an oath breaker of an Omega managed to cause his dearest friend so much pain. "You do not know, Anton, maybe you will find someone who will catch your fancy before the end of Winter!" Jamti gave his friend a weak grin, causing Anton to nod his head and return his attention toward the piece of metal that he was working on before Jamti came to tell him the news.

"Yeah, maybe I should give Goddess Frigga offerings in hope of finding someone I will not hate and end up killing by the end of the year." Grunt Anton, frowning at the metal that was of no use to him now that it has cool and took a strange shape. "I just have to bear the Stone clan staying here until the end of the Winter, after that I will try and search for someone." Anton start, throwing the metal far away in the workshop, planning to work something out with the metal later.

Jamti let out a breath as he followed his dear friend when Anton left his workshop, grumbling many insults under his breath, making Jamti's lips twitch in amusement when Anton cursed every elder by the name. Jamti paused in his place when he saw Anton's sight turning to gaze at his son; his son who was grinning mischievously and running around with the queen's babe, laughing freely and playing like any child his age should. Jamti couldn't help but bite his lips, happiness fills his heart; finally, Petrus was finally making friends and acting like someone's his age should.

The wistful smile that Jamti saw paint Anton's lips, made Jamti press his lips tightly, praying with all his heart that Goddess Frigga will gaze at Anton and give him someone who will stand by his side, loving him and caring for both the Alpha and his child. The smile left Anton's face, and a mischievous light entered his eyes, making Jamti tilt his head to the side with wonder; when Anton went toward his son and the queen's babe, realization painted Jamti's eyes when he saw the queen standing beside the children with a soft smile, a smile that turned into a competitive nature when the queen saw the king making his way toward him just to start arguing about something. The actions did nothing but make Jamti's eyes wide in wonder, and realization painted the Alpha's face…

Maybe Goddess Frigga did answer their prayer after all…

The babe was small, he was so small, so weak, that Steven knows he wouldn't survive the Winter; he was so small in Steven's arms, not like James who was bigger and healthier and has the chance to survive the cold Winter the twins were born in. It wouldn't matter though, because Steven was a healer, he will help his babe to survive, he will do anything so that his child will see the end of this cold Winter. A smile twitched on Steven's lips, a giggle nearly left him as content and happiness bubbled up inside of him, his child was beautiful. Children that were a part of the monster that took him away and killed his family; a part of him in look too, but they were Steven's in everything else. They had his eye color, his pale skin, and his nose; even have the same mark he was born with on their lower back… a mark in the shape of a star.

They were Steven's, they were his babes, his only family after his family was killed in front of him; Steven refused to allow anyone, not even the Hydra king to touch them, he refused for that wretch man to poison them with his touch. The babe gave a yawn snuggling in his breast, shivering at the coldness in the room even when Steven made sure to feed the hearth woods to give warmth to the room.

"I love you…" Steven whispered in his boy's ear, kissing his forehead and letting him lie to sleep beside his twin, giving a soft smile when he saw the twin drift near each other seeking each other's presence, his two loves were beautiful, the only reason that Steven has not lost his sanity yet; a part of Steven couldn't help but wonder what was his Anton doing now, what will he think about the children that Steven was forced to have but love dearly.

"My queen!" Margaret's voice cracked as she sneaked inside his nesting room, the terror and fear in her scent made Steven tense, and his babes to whine as the got a whiff of the distressing scent Margaret was letting out. "My… my…" A sob left the ten years old child as she ran to him, shivering from head to toe as big fat tears made their way down her face.

"What happens, Margaret? Who caused your tears?" Steven whispered, leaning down and pulling the sobbing girl in his embrace, trying to calm her down as best as he can, hoping that he won't end up having to calm three crying children if Margaret continued to cry.

"I… I… I saw the king, he was so angry when he learn of his loss and the twins; h-he said he will kill the weakest child he has tonight… he… he said…" Margaret let out a choked sob, shaking like a leaf as she hid her face in Steven's breast, unaware how shaking her words made Steven, unaware that the breath in Steven's lungs left him at the thought of losing one of his children, the king was threatening one of his children!

"Margaret…" Steven's voice cracked, fear taking hold of his heart and squeezed tightly, leaving the Omega frozen in his place; for the first time since his captivity, Steven felt fear. Fear for his babies that were sleeping soundlessly unaware of what was going around them, fear of losing his only family because of that wretched devil who snatched him away from his life and family, fear… the doors to the nursery were suddenly opened, causing Steven's heart to drop…

The sight that greeted him made him feel faint…

.

…

.

"Where is he?" Johann snarled as he thrust the door opened, ten of his soldiers behind him, causing Steven who was holding James's twin brother to growl in warning, promising death and pain if the king came near him and take the child from his arms like he dared and took James. The soldiers shifted uncomfortably, knowing that the queen was nothing short of a monster, knowing that if they had waited for the queen to recover from the birthing process, the queen would have killed them with a flicker of a finger if nothing restrained him.

"Step forward if you plan on dying, I promise to send you to Hel this instead!" Steven growled darkly, causing the soldiers to flinch and gaze at the king, fearing that he will force them to fight the crazy queen who gained the title of a monster after killing a hundred of their men when they captured him the first time.

"What are you waiting for? He was weakened from birthing, move!" The king snarled making the soldiers flinch and advance on Steven, causing the Omega to let out a roar. "I will not allow you to keep this bad omen in my kingdom any longer; the second child will die, even if you will die with him!" Johann screamed, getting angry by the second when his soldiers failed to do his bedding.

Snarls and growls were heard in the room as Steven fought tooth and nail to protect his child; hating that he was going to lose his child because he was considered a bad omen, just because he was a born a twin. Three Alphas left, the rest were lying dead on the floor, leaving an exhausted Steven with his child in his arm as he tried to defend him.

Everything was fine, Steve was going to make it, he was going to protect his babe, his babe will survive, Steven will make sure of it… that was until the king decided to stick his nose in the fight; he was never one to fight fair. His child was in his hand and the next instead he wasn't, and the three Alphas left were holding Steven down, ignoring his scream, ignoring his shrieks.

That night Steven saw his future burn…

.

…

.

Steven woke up with a choked gasp, his eyes wild and frighten as he darted from one place to another; trying to find the threat that will come toward his children and take them away from him. "James…" Steven's voice cracked as he sits up from his lying position, terror taking over him when he didn't see his son anywhere near him. Steven's heart nearly stopped beating; the fear of Johann returning back from beyond to take James from him to Hel is too much. "James!" Steven tried to call his son once again, hoping that his voice was loud enough to call his babe back, but unfortunately, his voice was faint.

The tears were hot in Steven's eyes, a pained whine was trapped behind his lips; the thought of him losing his child, losing his only family was too much. Standing from his bed, Steven gritted his teeth and bear the pain in his stomach, his first priority was to find James, his baby; Steven has to find him before Johann did! His James was in danger, just like his brother, he was not going to lose his James too!

Slowly, Steven walked toward the door, cursing his body for being too weak, cursing it and ordering it to walk faster, to move as Steven used to before losing another pup and making his body weak. Reaching the door, Steven all but throws the door open, nearly jumping when it slammed against the wall.

Harsh breaths left Steven's lips, his want to find his baby was stronger than any rational thought that wanted to make a presence in his mind. "James…" Steven mutters over and over under his breath, his body growing colder and colder every second that passed, the terror of losing his child dominating his mind.

Something, someone, Steven will never know, but someone took a hold of his left arm and pulled him back causing Steven to let out a snarl, fear and distress making itself known, the thoughts of Johann finishing his son and coming after him causing the Omega's heart to drop. "Calm down, foolish queen!" A harsh voice hissed, causing Steven to growl, his mind refusing to put where he had heard that voice before, all his thoughts returning back to his missing child.

"Where is he? Where did you take him?" Steven breathed harshly, his tongue feeling thick in his mouth; any rational thoughts had long since left him when he woke up missing his small babe. Steven tried to strike the person holding him back, tried to wiggle free from the harsh grip, but it was of no use, his body was too slow, too weak, working against him.

"Stop!" A dominating voice ordered him, causing Steven's body to freeze in terror, his Omega that was silent ever since he lost the babe in his belly shiver in terror; it had been years since Steven was affected by an Alpha growl, no Alpha was strong enough to control him. this voice though, this dominating voice that made terror crawl through Steven's spin made the Omega whine in Steven's mind, his breath stopping as he waited for the Alpha's next move. "Breath, calm down, breath…" The voice ordered more gently now than it was before, causing Steven to stutter as he took in his next breath.

It was a while before the walls of the Hydra's palace melted down, and in its place, there were the walls of the Iron King's house; the changes were so sudden that Steven nearly fainted, his mind refusing to be of use anymore. "James… where is my James?" Steven's ordered (Plea) when the person holding him melted from Johann's shadow to show him the Iron King, gazing at him with wide eyes.

"He is sleeping…" The king offered, finally letting go of Steven, his hand falling to his side as many different emotions played over his face. "He is with Petrus, the two fell asleep in Petrus's room after you have fallen into an exhausted sleep." The king stated, and deep down, Steven was grateful that the king didn't make a mockery of his terrified reaction not a moment ago, in fact, the king was acting like nothing strange happened, which was bliss in disguise.

"Petrus's room…" Steven muttered to himself before walking on shaky legs toward the small pup's room; ignoring the Alpha who followed him, too busy trying to reach his babe faster than his legs can take him. Reaching the boy's room, Steven opened the door and let out a choked sound when he found his baby sleeping beside Petrus, the content and sleepy scent of the children made Steven's muscle relax. After that everything happened fast, one second Steven took a step toward his babe, another second he was falling down, his vision going dark as he heard an alarming noise from behind him…

A few seconds later, darkness greeted him with its cold embrace…

So what do you think?

I know, I know, you hate me for not updating the past month; it's not my fault though, college is a pain! T^T

Now, did you know?

Viking women and men married young—as early as 12 years old. By the age of 20, virtually all men and women were married. Life expectancy was about 50 years, but most died long before reaching 50. Only a few lived to 60. That's why Tony has a rough life even being a king, an unmarried man at the age of 32 in the Viking age was a practical plea of insanity.

The superstitions of Medieval times hit badly on twins. So logically, giving birth to twins, was evidence of adultery. Either the mother lets one of the babies disappears, or gets punished for having sex with another man out of wedlock. The twins were also considered a bad omen, mainly the issue of who will be the heir and the head of the family. That's why Steve lost James's twin; if you reread through the last sentence of Steve losing his child once more, you will notice that he died by burning. Steve having twins was also a tightly kept secret that no one but a few knows about!

I hope this helps!

Read and Review

And tell me what you think…

Nazaki-Sama