ooOoo
The Supernatural characters belong to Kripke Enterprises and the CW, not me. No money is being made from this story. It is for entertainment only.
I wish to thank Winter Gray for being my Beta on this story. Without her help there would be a lot of continuity holes in this thing. She also bails me out when I hit a wall. Thanks so much, Winter
The Fae Prince
Chapter 14
The Fae King's Decree
In the stormy east-wind straining,
The pale yellow woods were waning,
The broad stream in his banks complaining,
Heavily the low sky raining
Over tower'd Camelot;
Down she came and found a boat
Beneath a willow left afloat
And round about the prow she wrote
The Lady of Shalott
The Lady of Shalott by Alfred, Lord Tennyson 1809-1892
Gordon Walker trembled in his tree, shaking the leaves and frightening the night birds. The werewolf lounging at the base peered upward searching for his prey. The moon was just starting to sink below the hill crest when the pounding of horses' hooves, the rattle of bridles and creaking of saddles arrived on the wind.
The werewolf lifted his snout and smelled the air then got to his feet and paced before the tree. The noises of riders grew ever closer. The wolf left quietly and disappeared into the low lying scrub. Walker debated fleeing his perch but there was nowhere else to go. He remained silent and as still as possible.
The first of the horsemen trotted up the hill and stopped underneath Walker's tree. This was a creature somewhat similar to Winchester's lover but the differences were striking. Where the Seelie Fae was moonlight and gems, the Unseelie Huntsman was roiling dark clouds and lightening flares. Fangs rested lightly on full ripe lips and wild dark hair tumbled around his head.
His horse was onyx and caparisoned in black leather and glowing cold clear stars were embedded in patterns on the reins and bridles. The glow outlined the harshly pointed faces of the animals and their ebony eyes reflected the moonlight. Walker held his breath as more of the Huntsman troupe arrived.
Their horses circled nervously and a couple of Huntsmen beat the surrounding brush with long lances. They looked like they knew the way the wolf had gone.
They gave up their halfhearted search and retuned to stand under the tree with the other members of their band. It was the swift work of a moment and those two swarmed up Walker's tree. They reached for him and he lunged upward. They were much too fast and the dark pointed claws at the ends of their fingers fastened securely into his legs. They dropped back down the tree, dragging him with them. The wounds in his legs splash blood on the horses and one of the leaders threw him belly down over his saddle.
With a harsh clicking sound the Huntsmen spurred their horses forward and the troupe flowed back over the hills. Gordon Walker was taken by the Unseelie Huntsmen and was on his way to the Queen.
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From almost a quarter mile away the werewolf watched the Huntsmen leave. The natural blood lust of the wolf was tamed by fear. These riders had no smell. Their flesh was like fog in the air and the wolf's instincts told him to hide; told him to stay out of the way of those dark Huntsmen.
He backed under the concealing brush and his rump pushed against some hidden rocks. He felt a small opening and pushed his way back into the natural tiny cavern created by the tumbled stones. It was large enough for his entire body and for the first time since leaping at the sacrificed boy the wolf felt safe and protected. He pushed as far out of sight as the opening allowed and laid his head upon his paws. Exhausted, he fell asleep under the Fay moon.
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Samisfallen held Dean in his arms and bathed the teenager in the cold waters of the river's rapids. In a few minute Dean felt clean but also very cold and he climbed higher up his lover's body.
"Could we get out of this water?" he whispered to Samisfallen. "If we don't get out real soon I'm going to lose parts I think you want to use later."
Samisfallen laughed and threw his young lover higher up onto his shoulders and let the wet piece of red cloth float away on the water. He waded out of the river and placed Dean back on the bonding couch. Samisfallen wrapped Dean up in the red couch cover and went to find his own clothing.
"Hey," Dean cried out. "Where did my clothes go?"
Samisfallen shook his head. "The witnesses took them away. From now on it is my responsibility to clothe you and feed you and keep you safe. You belong to me now and no one will touch you unless they are looking to anger the king. I'll get you clothing when we get back to court."
Samisfallen dressed and then came over and picked Dean up to carry him like a bride. Without its covering the couch was revealed to be a piece of ancient rock, worn through the years to the smooth curves of a frequently used bed.
Samisfallen carried his lover through the wood back to the court of the Seelie King. Once back in the clearing Samisfallen summoned a few younger Seelie males and introduced them to Dean.
"Dean, these are the aides of my house. They have pledged their loyalty to me and currently are a little angry that I have left them here without protection. This is Raymond, a dark eyed curly hair charmer stepped forward… This is Carmel, a slim and delicate blonde waved his long graceful fingers.. . And this is my cousin Ethan." Ethan bowed. He was cool, calm and older than the others. His smooth dark hair was pinned with a silver broach at the back of his neck.
"These three will be the gentleman of our house when we return here in a year. Right now all I ask is that they find you some clothes." Samisfallen smiled and clasp hands with his aides.
Dean smiled at the three Fay and wondered if they would accept him. He would just be nice and pleasant and once he had Sam back he would find out what was expected of him.
He stood in the center of the court wrapped in his red blanket and almost felt like he was on display Samisfallen's father reappeared and slowly the throne and all the court reassembled out of the magic laden air. Dean dropped down and knelt, pulling the blanket firmly around him and keeping his eyes on the ground. Samisfallen came and stood next to him, laying his big hand on his head. Just to make sure that they all knew that he understood his position here, he leaned against his lover's leg.
"Samisfallen," the King spoke. "We will ride with you and your choice to the Rowan Tree Gate to keep you both safe. The Unseelie Queen has sent messages to thank us for our gift. Even though her message is built of honeyed words and flowery phrases we both know that if she were to catch you and your chosen alone and unprotected she would gladly add you to her collection."
Samisfallen nodded in agreement with the King and continued the submissive posture that flattered his father.
His father laughed. "You can stop trying to soften my resolve, young one. One year is still your sentence but now I crave a boon from you."
Samisfallen dared to look up and cocked his head to one side in inquiry
"I want to see what you decided was more appealing that the Princess Amelie. Tell your Dean to stand naked for the court. "
Dean blushed to the tips of his ears and Samisfallen looked as if he would object. Dean laid his hand against Samisfallen's leg. "It's alright. I'll do it for you." He kept his eyes on Samisfallen as he stood and dropped the red cover.
He could feel the Fae eyes tracing his body. Nothing was hidden and he showed himself off as Samisfallen's prize. His lover slid his hand from the top of his head to the back of his neck and pulled him into a dominating kiss while wrapping his other arm around Dean's waist and bending him backwards gently.
Dean swore he could feel other hands, other delicate fluttering touches against his skin. Samisfallen's eyes were closed or Dean felt there could have been trouble over the liberties being taken by various members of the court.
Finally Ethan stepped forward with clothes for Dean. They reminded Dean of the clothes Samisfallen had worn the first time Dean had seen him. There were leather pants in a soft grey with a matching vest that laced up in the front. There were two arm bands incised with cryptic symbols and a soft moleskin cape to hold back the night chill. The slim leather boots slid up under the pants legs smoothly and went almost up to his knee.
He stood and held on as Samisfallen dressed him. He had understood perfectly when Samisfallen had told him that from now on the Fae Prince would be responsible for everything for him and he was trying to demonstrate his cooperation. Perhaps out in the human world Dean would not be so cooperative but he had learned, watching Samisfallen quell his own personality in submission to the King. Now Dean was showing how he had learned the lesson in submitting to his Prince.
Once Dean was completely dressed Samisfallen's gentlemen of the house, Raymond and Carmel, led over Fae horses for The Prince and Dean to ride on their journey back to the Rowan Tree Door. Other members of the court also mounted up and it appeared there would quite a company making the trip
Samisfallen's horse was a paint specked in red with a grey mane and tail. Dean's was a creamy pale mare with a kindly eye. Both horses were resplendent in Fae tack of russet colored leather worked with green gems for leaves and multicolored gems for flowers. It all looked a little girly to Dean but he kept his mouth firmly shut.
The river of Fae riders cascaded out of the clearing on to a forest path, riding two or three abreast. As they passed various creatures stopped to watch the Fae and their semi sentient horses go by. As the horses eyed the other creatures of the wood Dean felt the intelligence of the animals. All the animals seemed to speak a language lost to men but still understood by the Fae.
Out in front of the line of horsemen peacocks strutted and spread their tails as if to contest the title of most beautiful. Antlered deer stood at attention. Here and there a true wolf lay in the tall grass watching the procession pass. Overhead birds wheeled and called and hunting hawks cruised in to land on gauntleted wrists, joining up with their Fae trainers, jesses jingling merrily as they took their perches.
They left the woods and rode out on softly rolling hills, dotted here and there with solitary trees. At the crest of the first of these hills were the Unseelie Queen and her Huntsmen. The King of the Fae rode to the front of the procession and approached the Queen. Her skin was starkly white and her lips and finger tips dipped in red were a startling contrast to her close fitting sable dress. Her crown was a tall conical hennin, with a floating spangled veil attached. The piece of black silk fluttered in the breeze.
"Good evening Lady Queen." The King greeted her.
"And good evening to you also, Sire," she replied. "I decided that a messenger could not possibly express how very pleased I am with your gift so I have come myself."
She twitched a lead wrapped around one hand and a pony drew up to her side. Seated on the pony was Gordon Walker, his hands bound to a pommelled saddle. He looked as if he had been beaten for days instead of hours and his skin bloomed in multi-colored bruises.
"You are very welcome", the King bowed his head. "I had long promised you a new pet for your throne."
"Yes," she smiled and displayed her white shiny pointed teeth, nipping at her lower lip and drawing a bead of blood. "I have been enjoying my time with Gordon, here." she leaned over and back handed the man. "I like to keep my new pets close until they learn to obey. Gordon is proving very resistant but I am sure I'll win in the end."
Dean reached out for Samisfallen's arm appalled at what had been done to Walker. The man was human after all and the Queen most definitely was not.
Samisfallen whispered "They will all learn not to touch what is mine both here and in your world. He deserves whatever is coming for having laid his hands on you."
The Prince patted Dean's hand and signaled for him to remain quiet. A careless word now could unleash the Court on the Huntsmen and the battle would be fierce. The King and the Queen held back the opposing tides but if battle broke out the Royals would be in the center of the fighting and if either were harmed or killed war would come to the land of the Fae.
The Queen handed the pony's lead to one of the Huntsmen and urged her horse forward to intersect with Dean's quiet mare.
"So this is the human your Prince has selected." She said and waved a hand indicating that Dean should lift his face. "Make him look at me Prince. A look can't hurt, can it?" She smiled at Samisfallen. "I want to take a very good look so I will know him if we should meet again."
She turned to Dean. "Speak, what is your name, human?"
Samisfallen now leaned into Dean and pulled the reins from his hand. The Prince whispered, "Remember, names are power in this land."
Dean looked into her bitter ebony eyes and turned his face into Samisfallen's arm. The Prince reached around and pulled Dean in closely.
"Ahh," the Queen cooed. "Isn't that cute? He's shy."
Samisfallen replied to her "Lady, you know I will not allow him to tell you his name. You only know mine due to that year I spent at your knee all those decades ago."
"I remember very well, Prince." She replied. "I still miss you and would be happy to welcome you back at any time."
Samisfallen laughed. "I am sorry I can't echo your sentiments, Lady. I am grown now; no longer a child and I have selected my chosen one and plot my own path through the world. "
"Speaking of paths, where do you travel, Prince?" she asked.
"We are bound for the Rowan Tree Door to re-enter the human world, Lady. Please let us pass in peace."
The Queen bowed and swept her hand out to the side. Her Huntsmen backed off the path. As the Seelie Court passed by the tension between the two groups was very high but nothing happened and the Seelie Horsemen rode by and left the Huntsmen and their Queen behind.
She already had a prize and no good would come of attacking the King and his court. There was no advantage to be gained. The only bit of intelligence she gleaned from the encounter was a very clear picture of the Prince's chosen one. She would know him if she saw him again and the Queen wondered how Dean's silken skin would feel on her fingertips.
The Unseelie could not follow through the Rowan Tree Door but there were other portals into the human world. She would retired to play with her new toy and consider the possibility of gaining another with bright green eyes.
XXXXXXX
They approached the Rowan Tree growing in a sheltered vale. The tree flourished and the Fae created door appeared to have somehow grown out of the tree's bole. It appeared as a deep cleft with raised edges covered in bark. Samisfallen and Dean dismounted and stood before the door.
Just as the King leaned forward to send the pair back to the human world the Court's attention was attracted by a rustling in the underbrush around the base of the tree. Moving the concealing shrubbery aside a courtier found a huddling, naked human lying on the ground.
"Who are you?" The Fae gentleman called Rudolph laughed, poking at the pitiful creature with his lance.
"Please, sir. I am here by accident. I fell through a door and landed here. I just want to go home again." The male clutched at the Rowan Tree.
Samisfallen stepped close and peered at the young man. He was pale and thin and perhaps no older than fifteen in human years, not really a man yet but not quite a child either.
"You are the wolf, aren't you?" Samisfallen asked. "Good job transforming into your human form here under a Fae moon. Not an easy thing to do."
Samisfallen turned to his father. "The Unseelie Queen has her gift, is it necessary to turn this innocent over to her? He has been cursed in the human world. Take him with you, father, in remembrance of me."
"You don't know when to stop, do you son?" his father laughed. "Fine, I will take this child with us and see what can be done for him. If we can teach him to control his curse you may have him as a gentleman of your house when you return."
The King these turned to the Fae Rudolph. "Take him up on your horse, Rudolph. We will carry him back to court and see what can be done."
Finally Samisfallen and Dean were tossed through the Rowen Tree Door with a wave of the King's hand and once again Samisfallen found himself on his knees in front of a Fae portal. This time, however, he was not alone.
XXXXXXX
Finally Sam reappeared as Samisfallen faded away in the yellow sun. Dean reached for his lover's hand and they looked out together over the woods behind Bobby's house. They walked downhill toward Bobby's yard, hand in hand.
Sam teased Dean for the teen's obedience in the Fae world and Dean answered back recalling some of Samisfallen's obvious groveling before the King.
Sam growled. "You might still be bait for your father's hunts if I didn't do what needed to be done in order to use the portals to snatch your rosy ass away from John and his friends."
Dean did not reply.
"Of course, I could be making a mistake." Sam went on. "Maybe it was the beatings that you miss. I can help you out there too."
Dean flinched and pulled his hand away.
"Now, now," Sam soothed. "I only want to make you happy. I'll do whatever you want."
They reached Bobby's porch and the older Hunter flung open the door.
"There you are," Bobby exclaimed. "You better get on in here, you idjits."