Royal Engagement (Part 2)
(Gale/Madge)
(Prompt)

Gale has been visiting Capitola a lot more lately than ever before (which isn't hard to beat considering a few months ago was the first time he ever stepped foot in Capitola). Madge couldn't say she hated having to wear all those pretty, heavy dresses because it wasn't like she was in them for very long anyways. Gale made sure of that. They never went too far, but she loved the feel of his bare skin underneath her hands. His scar scattered skin was soft, it would glide under her hands like water passing through her fingers.

They spent a lot of time in her room (obviously), and perks of having your soon-to-be-husband over was no one bothered you. It was bonding time. Even Thom was ordered to stand at the bottom of the stairwell to give them some privacy. He wasn't happy about it, but Madge was. He was far enough away that he wouldn't hear the deep groans she emitted from Gale as she presses teasing kisses over his skin, or the way the bed creaked when they were getting carried away.

They kissed a lot. But that didn't take away the sentimental, intelligent part of their budding relationship. Gale was a lot like his packages, like the night – you never knew what to expect from him and yet you knew exactly what to expect. Madge was a tidal wave, fast paced and strong. She tackles things head on. He took care of things under the radar.

Gale was accounting one of the many embarrassing stories about his brother Rory at the moment, while Madge presses delicate kisses to his chest and collarbones. Every so often, his breathing would hitch and his hands would start roaming on their own accord, but his story never stopped.

He laughs, "Yeah, Rory was swinging on the swing set in our backyard and out of nowhere a thunderstorm hit us pretty hard. He was swinging so high up that the wind just threw him everywhere. A clap of thunder came and he freaked out and flew off the swing. However, his underwear stayed with the swing." He had a giant smile gracing his face and Madge couldn't help but smile too. Just thinking about the stoic Rory she met a month ago running around in the rain with no underwear on was hilarious. But Madge knew that deep down Rory was a goofball that laughed at everything. He always found the humor in everything. It was never a dull moment in the presence of Rory Hawthorne.

"What did he do!?"

"The only thing he could do! He ran straight into the kitchen, scaring Delly half to death at the sight of him half naked!" The two curl into each other, laughing until they couldn't breathe. Their morning consists of stories from their childhood – like in Gale's story – a heavy storm claps and cracks outside Madge's window. The sound of rain droning outside drowns out the noises around them except their voices. The more it rained, the colder the room got. By noon, the sun was shining through the window and the birds were fluttering out, chirping.

"Come on!" Gale tugs on Madge's hand. "Come on!" he slips out of bed, scurrying around for his clothing. Madge could just lie in bed and have him model for her all day, but he seemed excited.

She groans, throwing her arm over her face, "Where are we going?" She lazily peaks out from under her arm, a sexy smile on her face as she watches him slowly pull his pants up his lean, strong legs. She could get used to this.

The bed creaks under his weight. His cool fingers wrap around her tiny wrists, sending a shiver down her spine. When she opens her eyes, she finds him kneeling over her with his jeans on with the button undone and still (marvelously, might she add) shirtless. A brilliant smile that the sun would be jealous of painted on his face.

She raises an eyebrow at him, her ocean blue eyes sparkling with curiosity and delight, "The woods." He whispers. Her own lips refused to remain neutral when he whispers those two simple words. She had been waiting for this, quietly wishing he would want to go.

"Let me get dressed." She leans up and pecks on the lips before shoving off her. He laughs and watches much like she watched him. It was an odd experience – changing in front of someone that wasn't one of her maids for her aunt or mother. It was especially odd that he wasn't even a girl. And yet she felt alive, she knew what she could do to him and she wasn't afraid to tease him.

She walks over to her dresser, her hips swinging. Gracefully, she lets her fingertips trail down her sides. A smirk tightens her lips when she heard him clear his throat and the covers ruffling. She could imagine his flushed cheeks and the way he would always shallow thickly like he was embarrassed. First, she hooks her bra, then leaning down to pull on a pair of pale pink panties that she knew made her butt look good.

She jumps when his cool hands were on her again as she slipped on her dress. Damn him and his silent footsteps. His chilly fingers quickly begin working on the ties in the back of the dress slowly. His usual quick precision gone in that moment of quiet intimacy. He presses a soft kiss to each shoulder before lacing up the last tie and tying it in a tiny bow. It was tighter than she usually liked but she didn't complain.

"Ready to go?" she asks him through the mirror. He nods once, taking her warm hand in his icy one and tugging her out the door. "Wait! I can't possibly go to the woods in heels!"

"I supposed not, Princess." He chuckles low under his breath, playfulness sparkling in his eyes. She quickly goes to her closet and pulls on the dark brown hiking boots May and her bought so long ago on his first visit. When she re-exits, he says, "Ready now?" she nods, harboring the image of his smile when he saw her boots.

They chat idly about mindless things as they walk hand in hand down the stairwell, coming to a stop when they reach Thom's shoulder. He greets them with a warm smile, even tipping his head in Gale's direction. Thom and Gale had gotten to know each other lately, especially a few nights ago when Gale couldn't sleep.

"Morning Princess…Crown Prince." Gale tips his head back at Thom, muttering a morning back, "And what are you two up to?" Thom winks in Madge's direction, causing her cheeks to flare up like a cherry.

"We are going to the woods."

Thom's eyebrows quirk up instantly, a flare of horror flickers in his eyes that he quickly covers up, his eyes becoming neutral. Madge didn't notice it, but Gale did. He had seen it countless of times in the guards in Seamlyn, he had even seen it in his own father's eyes. It wasn't a look you forget quickly, and around here in Capitola, Gale wouldn't be surprised if he didn't see it often. Capitola wasn't like Seamlyn, they had a better military and better alliances then Seamlyn did. Seamlyn was a poor country with little too its name besides the Victory of Victories so long ago. And because of that Victory is why Seamlyn is attacked much more often than any other country surrounding them. Capitola had even attacked them, not that Madge knew of this.

Gale tried so hard, he did, but he still found a hate resigning in his stomach every time he looked at King Undersee. Here that man was, marrying his daughter off to a man that he didn't care if his country lived or died. And for whatever reason, whether his gut be right or wrong, Gale had a feeling this marriage that was made so long ago, now had other reasons behind it. Gale couldn't help but think that King Undersee was looking to "expand" his terriority…right into Seamlyn's land.

"I don't think that is very wise, Princess." Thom muttered low under his breath, his eyes searching every inch of open space that he could see.

Madge looked appalled, "And why would that be?" she snaps. Gale feels like Thom dropped a two hundred pound brick on his stomach, the more he looked at Thom the more Gale felt like he was about to throw up. Either Capitola was about to get attacked, or Gale wasn't supposed to know about the attack about to be made against Seamlyn. Gale didn't want either to happen. Seamlyn couldn't take much more, but he also didn't want Madge endangered. Another brick slammed into his stomach when a pregnant pause settled between the three of them. Thom's eyes grew darker with worry and his full lips thinned out. Gale was about to throw up, and Thom didn't look too far behind him.

Thom's eyes bounced off everything once again before he leans forward, his hands settling in a knot behind his back and his voice low, barely above a whisper, "Mobilization." was all he said. Gale's eyes widen instantly, his hands becoming sweaty. Madge noticed that way Gale stiffens and his hand become slick in hers.

"What is this about?" Gale whispers, he was trying with all his might not to keel over and throw up. He sure felt like he was seconds away of doing this, though.

"They are preparing for…" Thom looks like he was being pulled two different ways, his angel and his devil telling him two different things, "I – I – I cannot say, I am under o-orders, sir. I've already said too much." Madge has never seen Thom like this, he was scared shitless. She glances over at Gale, or at least she meant too, but the look on his face gave her pause. He, too, was scared shitless. He face had been drained of all color and there was a slight tremor in his hands.

His voice came out harsh and direct as he spits them out, "Do you have a safe place for the Royal Family? You have too! Where is it!?" Thom stayed silent, too still to be human. Gale's hands slam against Thom's chest, startling Madge, "Damn it, Thom! Answer me! Where is it?"

"They're here." was all his whispers.

Gale's hands are quickly knotting themselves in Thom's uniform, his body shielding Thom from her view. "Damn it, Thom. Please," he voice lowers, "I have to keep Madge safe. Don't you understand?" The two men stare at each other, a small moment passing between them.

The castle comes eerily quiet.

"We have to get Madge to safety." Gale says quietly. "It won't turn out –" Chaos drowns out the rest of his words. Barbaric yells and grunts and clangs of metal against metal could be heard from just around the corner, the pungent smell of blood following it in its wake.

Finnick, Gale's bodyguard, comes around the corner with his back facing them. He risks a glance over his shoulder, seeing the three of them.

"Get the Princess to safety!" he yells, causing a domino effect between the two men in the hall besides Finnick. Thom suddenly jumps right too it, grabbing Madge's arm harshly and dragging her down the hall, thank god she wasn't wearing heels, it would have only slowed them down. "Here!" Finnick yells, throwing a shield which Gale catches swiftly.

Gale covers all three of the backs the best he can, arrows clanking against its metal. Thom leads them upstairs, quite to Gale's despair. His heart thudded loudly in his chest at the possibility of Thom being a traitor. Gale swoops down, keeping the shield at a steady height, gripping his emergency knife in his boot. He glances at Thom, who glances at him. Thom nods and somehow that calms all the thoughts of a Traitorous Thom from his mind.

Gale looks behind him and sees that one man has fallen out of the pack and has gotten ahead of Finnick. Gale throws the knife. The knife lands expertly in the chest, piercing his heart. The man falls ungracefully and unforgivingly to the ground, his deep red blood soaking into the lavish red of the carpet. Gale keeps his eyes peeled for more attackers.

"This way!" Thom yells over the noise, jerking his head to the right.

Madge screams through her teeth when she hears Gale grunt. A big gaping hole splits in his pants; a waterfall of red can be seen behind it.

"I'm okay." He whispers in her ear. But she knew he wasn't, she could hear it in his voice – the strain.

"We're almost there." Thom says. Even he looked a little worried about Gale. It was only a flesh wound, a rookie's mistake, only meant to slow him down. Gale throws one last glance over his shoulder as they round a corner and slip into a room with an ivory colored tone and big glass windows. Gale locks the door and leans against it, urging Madge towards Thom, who is currently pulling out a dresser. From the distance that Gale is at, he can see is a medium sized, metal interior crawlspace.

"Come on." Thom says lowly, pushing Madge through and ushering Gale towards it. "We have to hurry; one man can only hold off that many people for so long."

"No, you go. I'll go help, Finnick." Gale leans over and grabs the hilt of Thom's sword, the Undersee's crest craved into the handle. Thom's hand grips Gale tightly.

"You're hurt, get in the shoot."

Gale shakes his head no, "I can't leave my one man out there. Finnick has always had my back, it's about time I have his."

"Gale, no!" Madge screams, silent tears already streaming down her face, "Please, Gale, I can't lose you!"

"You won't." he states softly, and then he's out the door as silent as a wolf.

"No!" Madge screams again, "No," she whispers, heartbroken. Madge stares at the door in disbelief; she couldn't believe he left her! After all they've been through; he just left her crying in a crawlspace with only worry to occupy her time.

"Come on, m'lady, we must get you to safety."

"Why would he do that, Thom, why would he leave like that?" she asks as he forced her into the space, shoving her through. He pulls the dresser back into its place behind him and nudges her forward.

"He's a noble man, Madge. He was taught to protect the ones he loves, especially the ones that save his life countless of times during battle. Now, be quiet, we don't need our voices echoing off of this for them to hear."

Madge sniffles one, worry heavy in her heart, before becoming silent.

They crawl through the small space as quickly as possible. It's so dark in there that Madge doesn't even realize they found the shoot door until she runs right into it.

She holds her head, "Ow." She rubs the sore spot, laying on her side to give Thom space to blindly search for the keyhole.

"Damn keyhole, they really just need to a button, so much easier." The only noise after that is the scraping of metal on metal as Thom searches for the keyhole. Suddenly, there's a click and a lock slides open, "Finally!" Thom cheers. "Now be careful, there's about a one foot drop down."

"Oomph," Madge huffs out as her elbows find the cool concrete ground roughly. "Little too late," she groans.

"Sorry."

…

It could've been days! It could've been hours! It could've been weeks! And Gale still wasn't back, nor have her parents arrived. She stalked the ten by ten space nervously. Thom had turned on the lights and was currently snacking on a bag of dehydrated cranberries.

"Who do you think decided one day 'I'm gonna dehydrate fruits and see what happens?'" Thom wonders aloud.

Throwing her hands up, "Thom, we don't have time for this! No one cares about your damn fruit! No one! Where are they? What's taking them so long? Are they okay? That, that would be the proper thinking path, not dehydrated fruits!" in the rage of her anger, she tears the bag of dehydrated cranberries from Thom's hands and throws in across the room like a drama queen.

"Well that was unnecessary, Princess."

"I don't care!" she yells, going to back to stalking.

Suddenly, a loud banged sounded in the room from the main entrance, "Open up! Open up!"

Thom and Madge share a look. Madge slowly removes her hand from her mouth that she had covered when the bang happened, mouthing, "What do we do?" Terror was the only thing you could describe the look in Madge's eyes, she held nothing but terror.

"God damn it, Thom, opening up!"

"Who goes there?" Thom yells.

"Screw you dude – " Someone begins to say before another cuts him off, "Thomas Grayland, you have a birthmark on your ass that is shaped like a pineapple! You showed me two days ago and it doesn't look anything like a pineapple at all!" the second person's voice was strained with exhaustion and pain.

Madge didn't even need to know that Thom had a pineapple shaped birthmark on his butt, all she needed was to hear that voice before it had her running to the door.

"Princess!" Thom shrieks automatically. She shouldn't be answering the door. But it was too late.

A man with dark hair flopped down in the entrance way, blood everywhere. Even Finnick was covered in it.

"He was shot, I don't know if he'll make it." Everyone freezes, the words hanging in the air like a death sentence. He was shot, I don't know if he'll make it…

A/N: So I'm in love with this universe and I was wondering if you would like this to become a full fledged story? I sure would! What are your thoughts?