Return of the Heir Chapter 9
Optimus knew that if, nay, when they found out; Novaton's helm would roll, however, "I agree with you Novaton, it's my life and I decide when I am ready to bond myself off." Novaton only smiled and helped his smaller partner maneuver under the sheets and pulled him close as they waited for the knot to diminish as recharge claim both exhausted mechs unknowing of the trouble that lay around the corner.
In the early morning light of the coming dawn, Novaton awoke finding himself disengaged from Optimus and helped the red and blue mech clean up before putting their panels back on. When he couldn't fall back into recharge, he went out to the balcony to see the flame colored sunrise reflecting off the Manganese Mountains; turning the sky orange. He looked back to the sleeping form of Optimus on the berth; a law had been broken, he had slept and taken the prince's seals.
Novaton knew that if anyone found out then death would surly follow and the repercussions for Optimus, he wouldn't be there to protect him… 'Wait, what am I thinking, this is the Prince of Iacon; he has all his guards for that.' The white and blue mech didn't know where these thoughts were coming from but he didn't like where they were heading.
It had been two solar-cycles since the incident at the gala, and apparently Optimus did nothing wrong other than leaving without excusing himself. His sire told him that he did the right thing in taking his slave out of the gala before the white mech could retaliate and cause a bigger scene.
They interfaced every chance they got and Optimus loved every moment of it. The excuse they both came up with was Novaton was teaching him about the proper ways so the young prince was ready for his bonding night, and that he told Novaton not to take his seals. It was a perfectly sound excuse and both prayed that it would work.
"Novaton, have you finished cleaning the courtyard statues yet?"
"Of course, Optimus, I even made sure the crystals were still growing like they should and nothing was competing with them for energon."
Optimus was impressed; not many mechs and femmes knew how to grow crystals properly to the large state that was in the royal gardens, but these were still big in their own right. "Nicely done; where did you learn about crystal care?"
"Remember, I was a farm slave at one point and Coalfire taught me a few things, plus a few tricks her sire taught her."
"She seems like a nice femme?"
"She is and I would love to see them again sometime, just to see how they are doing now."
Optimus still remembered when the mech told him about the farm he grew up on and maybe he should ask his sire about moving Novaton's family to work and tend the royal gardens; it was always worth a try anyway.
Hadeen slowly stretched beyond the western sky, painting the sky in all colors. Soon the sun gave way to stars and Novaton and Optimus found themselves in post-overload bliss, tied together like before. "You know, I could get used to this Novaton; if only you where royalty, then I could be with you instead of Sentinel."
"I understand and while I agree with us being together, it doesn't mean that I have to be royalty."
The young prince was confused and concerned what his partner was suggesting; then everything clicked, "You are not think what I think you are?"
"Yes, I am thinking about us leaving here and starting over somewhere your sire won't control your life anymore."
"While I agree with you, I can't runaway right now." The look Novaton gave him was concerned but curious, "But, that doesn't mean that we can't try later, before I bond."
"How will that work?"
Optimus only smiled seductively and said "You, my dear mech have to earn the right to know that answer."
Novaton only grinned in return and replied "Oh, I'll definitely try."
The next morning neither mech gave the other any answers to their plan other than that Optimus would back out of his bond before the priest bound their wrists in the ceremony; only problem with that is the now known alliance between Rodion and Iacon would be cut off and leave the city open to attack from other armies. The words Optimus used were far more colorful, "In other words we are royally fragged."
A few more days past and the bonding day was finally here; Novaton wasn't to be allowed in the ceremony so he decided to clean the prince's private gardens while he waited for when his master would leave Iacon with his new bonded. The stars shown above and Novaton thought back to when Timegazer taught him about the stars and how they could guide him if he was lost.
It still disgusted the mech that the sweet Optimus would be changed by Sentinel and didn't know what the outcome would be. Then he heard it, the trumpets that sounded the beginning of the ceremony. He sent up a tiny prayer to Primus asking that one day he would be able to bond with Optimus instead of Sentinel, not knowing of danger in doing so.
Inside the royal Temple of Primus and the Thirteen, Optimus was led down the isle by his sire as they walked up to the alter to join Sentinel and the priest. The red and blur mech turned to look on last time at his sire and younger brother while the priest began. As the priest was saying the opening lines, Optimus thought back to happier times when he was teaching Novaton more than just the basics and the mech absorbing it all like a sponge; lost in thought he didn't hear the priest calling his name.
"I said; Do you take Sentinel Prime of Rodion to be your Conjunx Endura, to have and to hold, in sickness and in health, for the good and the bad, until death do you part?"
The red and blue mech froze at the line, his processor not knowing what to say other than "I need a moment." Optimus ran from the Temple and out into the gardens until he got to his carrier's statue. Looking up into the gentle face that was once someone before they built this place, he fell onto the base crying. "Carrier I can't do this, I'm not ready and I don't love him. What can I do?"
The wind blew into the garden and no answer came other than a fallen crystal branch snapping. Optimus whipped around only to see Novaton standing there, waiting to be invited in. "Sorry Novaton, I didn't know you were out here."
"It's alright, I was just admiring the beauty of the crystals and this statue is amazing, the architecture makes it look so realistic. Who is it supposed to be?"
Optimus wiped some tears away and turned to look at his slave, "It is my carrier, Queen Iceflare."
"She must have been very beautiful just like you, my dear Optimus Prime."
The young prince smiled at Novaton's statement and tried to hold back his laughter as the other's face became flushed with energon after he realized what he just said. Optimus got up and slowly walked over to the white and blue mech grabbing his hands, making the mech look at him. "You know, not even my previous slave had the bearings to say what you just did and never before has Sentinel treated me with such respect as you have. There is only one thing left to say…" Novaton slightly flinched when Optimus's dermas crashed against his own and soon the white and blue mech was kissing back.
Their glossa began a battle for dominance as they went unaware that Sentinel had walked out into the garden to find his future bonded only to find him kissing another mech and a slave none the less. Losing all self-restraint, the blue and orange mech walked over and pushed Novaton away, while shouting for the guards. "How dare you force yourself on the Prince of Iacon, and my bonded, slave. I should kill you right here and now as a present for my Endura, what do you say?"
Sentinel began to kick and beat Novaton until energon spilled from the other's intake, but before the final blow could be delivered the sound of running guards made him freeze, as did the below of King Ultra Magnus. "Sentinel Prime of Rodion, you will stand down immediately." The said mech lowered his lance and backed away from the prone form of Novaton, "Guards, haul him to his peds". Once Novaton was standing upright on his own, "Now then, mind telling me what happened?"
"It was all his fault, I came out here to find my intended and see if he was okay, but all I found was this slave forcing himself onto poor Optimus. He should be punished for this."
"Optimus, is this true?"
The red and blue prince froze under his sire's gaze, "Well you see I happened like… well sort of…"
"Optimus Prime, YES OR NO, I don't need your stories?"
The prince hung his helm in defeat, "…Yes, he did kiss me, but it is not what it seems."
"That is all I need to hear my son, Novaton you are here by charged with assault upon the royal family and the charge of assaulting my son the Prince of Iacon. The sentence for such crimes is, DEATH."