The race against Treason
The beginning of the End
Warnings: None for this chapter.
A/N: This took long I am sorry but life does things and ya know?
"Alfred, which guards are coming with you to the south?" Arthur asked his husband as he watched Kiku and his own Page Yao work to pack his hopeless husbands things for the trip.
"Oh it'll be Francis Gilbert and Antonio!" Alfred grinned from his seat "They are the best of the best you know and so easy cause there already in a set of three"
Arthur's lip pursed somewhat and he gave his husband a blank look. He didn't trust the trio so easily, unlike his husband, and one of those three were on the top of his suspicions list.
"I know what you're thinking" Alfred interrupted his queen's thoughts, knowing his husband to long and to well to know what that face meant "Their best of the best Arthur! With them in tow I'll be safe there and back and they've been working here for nearly eight years!?"
"Yes quite..." Arthur grumbled "Though you tend to forget that Francis was one of my suitors before you came along-"
"And swept you off your adorable feet and whisked you away to the palace!"
"Yes. Before you 'swept me off my feet' " Arthur rolled his eyes for the thousandth time today "Francis was one of my suitors, one of my most persistence suitors and he may hold animosity..."
"Animosity!" Alfred laughed standing "Francis himself told me that he was happy that you were happy so," Alfred walked around the desk grabbing his husband's hands swinging them back and forth "your worrying is a waste!"
Reluctantly the green eyed man nodded and held his mates hand gently "Alright love"
Honestly Francis was Arthur's main concern. The two grew up together, working in the same lane in the village before Alfred took the crown. Arthur knew him well enough to be worried what he could do.
Despite his silly disposition and seemingly innocence ways, Francis had the scary ability to manipulate and control others so well that it bordered witch craft
And though he and Francis fought like cats and dogs, the fair haired blonde never sugarcoated the fact that he wanted the green eyed man, badly. Arthur still remembered how harsh he was to others who attempted to approach the young cobbler
But then Alfred came along and wooed Arthur so quickly and sufficiently that Francis quickly stopped becoming an option. After all, how do you out do a king?
'Like the frog was even considered in the first place' Arthur scoffed in his thoughts
"Fine I trust your judgment but nothing will make me trust them fully..." Arthur mumbled taking his hand away from his husbands childish swinging to put his hands on his hips "I know him better than anyone, he does not let go of grudges"
As the day slowly melted into night, Alfred had dedicated the last few hours of the day to spend time with his small family of three.
"Why must you always go away on such long trips?" Alice asked, her big blue eyes swimming with unshed tears "I miss you terribly, and mummy does too!"
"Oh my little sugar star," Alfred cooed softly, collecting the child from the floor "what did I tell you before? Daddy is the king just like he is daddy and-"
"He has to take care of us all..." Alice mumbled the last part with remorse wrapping her arms around her father's neck "But sometimes I wish daddy was just daddy and not king daddy"
"I understand pet" Arthur smiled sadness glinting pass green eyes. At times, he wished that his husband was just that and not the ruler of over a thousand people however he loved his husband despite his own selfish wants at times.
When Alfred was just an unruly prince coming to court him in his father's bookstore Arthur already understood what it would mean to be married to a royal and yet he couldn't resist those bright eyes and gorgeous smile.
"Come now! No sadness before I go or I shall be sad on my trip as well!" Alfred exclaimed spinning his daughter in his arms happily. The small frown that the princess had moments before was gone with a huge smile and squeal of delight as they twirled around the room. Arthur watched on with a soft gaze, setting his knitting aside so he could stand
"Come now you two stop before you get dizzy"
"But Mummy its fun!" Alice cheered as they slowed down to a sluggish stop, the two blonde's collapsing on the soft rug in front of the fire laughing loudly
"There are 3 daddies!" Alice giggled madly
"I see 4 mummies" Alfred chuckled himself looking up at his Queen who stood over the two shaking his head. Holding out a hand to Arthur, Alfred smiled (that devilish smile of his) "come lay down with us mummy"
"Don't call me that idiot..." Arthur flustered instantly taking the blue eyed man's hand none the less allowing himself to be pulled onto his husband's loving embrace with little Alice crawling on her mother's back, laying her head on his shoulders with a happy sigh.
"No matter how much time passes, you still fit perfectly here" Alfred smiled softly meeting eyes with forest green
"Of course I do" Arthur defended a small smile breaking his stern features "I told you that you're stuck with me for life"
"I would have it no other way"
The royal family enjoyed the rest of their evening with conversation and sleep cuddled in a happy bundle before the grand fireplace that stayed lit all night long
The morning brought along a very solemn mood for the royal family. Alfred found himself extremely reluctant to get ready for his trip come sunrise. The journey itself wasn't he hassle but it was just how long he would be away from the two things he loved the most.
"Get up you lazy king, you have a schedule to keep" a voice muttered from beside him.
"I wish you two could come with me, it would be less lonely" Alfred replied, sitting up slowly stretching out his arms "Though I do not lack company, it is a certain company I enjoy keeping the most"
Arthur smiled softly at his husbands words and shook his head, kissing his cheek softly "The sooner you depart the sooner you return, lazy king. Just know me and Alice will be here and keep your horse moving"
Alfred smiled and shifted to face Arthur, his hand cupping his cheek gently "Then in that case I'll be home before the pheasants leave to take my sugar star hunting and to love my queen properly"
The two shared a soft, loving kiss before Alfred got out of bed and yawned preparing for the journey ahead.
And third chapter is done, yay, I have to keep moving!
Gotta go fast
ME
WA