Hi Friends!

Thanks for the reviews, follows, and favorites! Sorry the last chapter was so mushy...I couldn't help myself.

Please forgive any mistakes!

Enjoy!

6 Months Later

It was well past midnight when Tobias picked up his black bishop and moved it. A small smile erupted on his face as he knocked over the other player's king. "Checkmate." This was the first game that Tobias had won all night and he reveled in the triumphant feeling that flooded his body.

It was common for the two young men to be cloistered away in King Charles's bedchambers the whole night enjoying each other's company. For the king had no use for his slave that night and whenever he wasn't needed Spencer was confined to the monarch's rooms. So for the past few months the prince had made a point to join his new friend on evenings such as these and enjoyed himself with the one person that didn't treat him like a leper. Often, they would while away the hours playing multiple games of chess, most of which Reed had won.

"Finally," Tobias added to his winning declaration. "See? You are not unbeatable. I knew if I put my mind to it that I would win eventually." The prince lifted his eyes from the board in order to see the slave's reaction. Immediately, his victorious feelings dissipated at the sight of his companion.

Spencer wasn't even paying attention to the board at all. Instead his gaze was steadied on the night sky that was visible through the window over Tobias's shoulder. His gaunt face had a faraway look on it as if he was lost in a memory.

"Reed?"

Tobias felt a twinge of concern when the slave did not stir from his thoughts. So he reached out his hand and laid it on the skinny one that was resting on the table. His fingers easily encircled Spencer's forearm. He gripped his friend and tried to shake him out of his daze.

The vigorous movement succeeded in pulling the young man away from his daydream. He blinked his big brown eyes a few times than steadied his clear gaze on his only friend. "I-I'm sorry. Did you say something?"

Tobias sighed and released his hold on the boy's arm. He sat back in his chair and said, "You were thinking about him again. Weren't you?"

A pained look flitted across the captive king's face. "Yeah…uh-yes. I-I was."

The two young men sat in silence. This wasn't the first time that Spencer had lost himself in memories of Derek. Sometime he would purposefully bring them to the surface to help himself through harrowing moments and at other times he would just accidently slip away into his happy memories.

Tobias was the only one in the castle that knew about Spencer's late lover. He didn't know very many details but he knew that the slave had been deeply in love with his now deceased companion.

"Tell me more about him," the prince requested.

Surprised, Spencer looked at the other young man and his facial features softened a bit. "I-uh-I don't know where to start."

"Well, tell me what you liked the most about him," Tobias suggested.

The boy's umber eyes broke away from his friend's and stared out the window again. The prince could see that the slave was trying to decide what to reveal.

It almost seemed as if he wasn't going to get any answer but then the young man's sorrowful voice started sounding.

"Do you know what a telescope is?"

"Yeah, sure. Father's scientist has one up in the east tower. He showed it to me once. I was pretty amazed at how close to the moon it made me feel. Oh, and the stars…I almost thought I could reach my hand out and touch them," Tobias remembered. "Why?"

Reed smiled at the question, "Well, I always thought of Der-uh…my lover as my own personal telescope."

The prince wrinkled his brow at his friend's explanation. "I don't understand."

"Well, telescopes are something scientists use to discover things out in the universe that nobody has ever seen before. And that's what my beloved did with me…he saw things in me that no one else ever did. He looked past my slave status and saw the person that was underneath. He made me feel like I was worth something and showed me who I really am…was."

"Was?"

Spencer sighed, "All those wonderful things he discovered in me…the way he made me feel…that's all gone now. It died with him." The boy looked down at his wrists and plucked at the chains, "All I am is a slave again. No more, no less."

"You say 'again' as though you weren't a slave when my father took you," Tobias pried.

Blinking his owlish eyes, Reed look up at his friend with a slightly startled expression, "I-I…well…he made me feel free. I-I was still a slave but when I was with him I didn't feel like it. And the-the members of the royal family that I worked for treated me with love and respect. They never used me and humiliated me like your father does."

The prince could hear the slave's sincere love for his former masters in his voice but he couldn't help but to continue to pry. For while the two young men had developed a pseudo friendship since the attack on Quantico they had never delved into Reed's past as deeply as they were now. "What about the collar?"

Immediately, the captive king's hand grasped the metal circlet and pulled at it awkwardly. "This wasn't their fault. This was King William's idea. He was a hateful man that looked down on anyone of slave status. He thought that forcing slaves to wear collars would be another way to control them. He came up with the bright idea to fuse the lock closed and decided to use me as a trial run. Luckily I was the only one that had to endure such treatment."

"Luckily? I'd say that's hardly lucky. I can see the scarring around your neck from here."

"Yes…but no one else had to be put through that. No one else has to wear the symbol of their former status forever cemented around their neck. And since King Derek abolished slavery when he took the throne no one can tell who used to be a slave and who wasn't. They are all free to live their lives however they choose and they won't be discriminated against for what they used to be. So no…while I may not have been dealt the "lucky" hand, I'm glad that no one else had to endure what I went through," Spencer explained honestly.

Tobias shook his head, "You're too nice. I would have been furious that I was the only one. And on top of all that you were the only person in the whole realm that had to maintain their slave status. How was that fair? Why didn't King Derek set you free too?"

"He did…," Reed murmured looking down at his lap.

"What?"

"Oh-uh-I…I said that he did," Spencer gulp down a breath of air hoping that Tobias would buy the lie he had cooked up a long time ago in case someone asked him that very question. "Essentially I was the queen's slave and the king didn't want to upset his mother by taking me away. So he sat me down one night and asked me if I would continue on in my current position until the queen had no more use for me. He told me that I would be secretly receiving payment for my services and that the queen would never be the wiser. I agreed because the queen mother had never been a cruel mistress to me; I really enjoyed working for her. So in all actuality, I was a free man playing a slave."

Tobias blinked his eyes slowly and winced, "So my father didn't take a slave as one of his spoils of war but a free man that used to be a slave? God, Reed. I'm so sorry. You waited all your life to be liberated from the tyrannical rule of King William, you lived a few years of happiness under King Derek, and then my father came along and ruined it all. He-he took you away from your home, enslaved you again…and he-he killed your lover – your telescope. I-I just can't apologize for his actions enough."

"It's not your fault," the captive said. "Your father is responsible for his own deeds." Spencer opened his mouth as if to say more but must have thought better of it.

Tobias knew what his friend had wanted to say though, "I-I know that I could help you…uh could have helped you escape. But like I told you before my father is just too powerful. Trust me…it's better this way."

The slave refused to meet the prince's eyes as he spouted out the same excuse he had given before. Instead, he purposefully rattled his chains as he stood up from the chess table, putting his scantily clad body on display. He wrapped his arms as best he could around his waist and wandered over to the fire. As he stood in front of the blaze his body glowed with a golden hue, the light of the flames catching on the various jewels that adorned his pale skin.

The prince knew that his words were a disappointment to the young man but there was no way he could go against his father and win. Surely his friend understood that.

Tobias stood up from his seat and walked over to his father's captive. He put his hands on Reed's shoulders and squeezed them tightly, "I do hope that I've made your time here a bit more bearable though."

Spencer cocked his head sideways and furrowed his brow.

"I-I mean…I hope you see me as someone you can lean on – someone you can depend on. I know that my father can be…harsh…but I'll always be here to talk to. Believe me…I like having you around. You're my only friend. I was so scared when I found out that you had tried to kill yourself a few weeks ago. I'm so glad your…your suicide attempt wasn't successful," Tobias confessed.

The slave cringed at the verbal reminder of his epic failure.

Naturally, the captive king had spiraled down into an extreme depressive state over the past six months. Every day that he woke up next to Charles only served to push him deeper into the dark depths of his mind. Spencer, who had decided at the very beginning of his captivity that he didn't want to live like this, had always been on the lookout for any opportunity to escape.

A few weeks ago it finally dawned on him; the solution to his problem had been within his reach all along – his chains. The amount of links in between his wrists were long enough to wrap around his throat. So, one time when he had been left alone in the king's chambers he managed to encircle his neck with the restraints. He positioned the metal links beneath his collar and then climbed up on the bed. He was in the middle of trying to fasten his manacles to a hook embedded in one of the posts when the head groomsman came in the room and caught him.

Charles had been furious when he found out what Spencer had tried to do. As a result, he severely beat his slave to where he could barely move for the next week. During the young man's recovery time the blacksmith forged another set of fetters but this time he only included six chain-links in between each wrist, making it impossible for him to try his idea again.

Now, Spencer was diligently watching out for any means to bring about his end. Unfortunately, the king was now wary of his slave trying to eliminate himself. So in order to keep his prize alive he had the boy under constant surveillance.

Spencer banished the memories of his failed attempt from his mind and looked down at the rug underneath his feet. "I-I don't want you to take this the wrong way…but…while I do appreciate you being here for me…it-it just isn't enough."

Tobias sighed; deep down he knew that his friendship would never sufficiently fill the void in Reed's soul. He had watched as day by day the spark had left the young slave's eyes; his mind shutting off in an effort to protect him from this new world devoid of his lover. Before him stood just a hollow shell of a man and try as hard as he might, Tobias couldn't get even a hint of life to come back into those amber orbs.

The captive king shifted on his feet, uncomfortable with the prince's silence. "I-I'm sorry…I-I –"

Tobias hushed his friend right before he enveloped the slave into a hug. He wrapped his arms around the kid's skinny body and squeezed him tightly. "Don't. I understand."

Their friendly embrace was broken up suddenly by the chamber doors thundering open.

King Charles had finally decided to retire after a long night of drinking and gaming. His walk was unsteady due to his fifth mug of ale and his pupils were blown wide open.

"What the fuck?" he grumbled at the sight of the two boys standing so closely together. "Are you trying to enjoy my prize, you worthless piece of shit?"

The prince winced at his father's cruel words and took a step back from the slave. "N-no, Y-Your Highness. W-we were just talking," he explained, bowing low to show his respect. Beside him, Spencer dropped to his knees and ducked his head, clasping his hands together and resting them on his lap.

Charles staggered forward and grabbed onto the back of one of the chairs to stabilize himself. He squinted his eyes as his pupils slowly adjusted to the bright firelight. "Eh…right. Just get the fuck out, boy. I have no need for you now…not that I ever do…"

Tobias knew better than to respond to the demeaning remark. He just bowed again and beat a hasty retreat toward the door.

The king didn't bother to watch as his son left the room. His eyes were already trained on his slave, drinking in his submissiveness.

"S-stand up, boy!"

Spencer quickly did as instructed but kept his head bowed.

"Get on the bed. Now."

Knowing that Charles would lash out at him if he didn't follow the instructions, the slave shuffled over to the massive bed and laid on his back. He closed his eyes tight and listened as the king lurched toward him.

The slave felt the bed dip beside him and firm fingers grasped his chin. "Open your eyes."

The boy cracked them open slowly and looked at the brocade canopy above him.

"Look at me," Charles ordered, tightening his grip.

Spencer trained his gaze on the monarch's smoldering eyes reluctantly.

The king smirked as he started unfastening the stays on his codpiece. "I've got a big surprise for you tomorrow."

The youth felt his eyebrows rise in surprise. Charles had never given him anything since he'd captured him.

The sovereign laughed at the boy's stunned look, "Ha. Surprised?"

Spencer tried to nod his head but the man's grip was preventing him.

"Well, there is a first time for everything. Bah – anyways, if I'm giving you a gift tomorrow than you've gotta show me your appreciation tonight," Charles informed him. The larger man moved his hand away from Spencer's pointy chin to the back of his neck. He used the new placement to push the boy up before guiding his head down toward his now exposed crotch.

The next morning started with the crow of the cock out in the courtyard at sunup. Spencer slowly opened his eyes and saw the early morning light painting the sky pink outside the window. He didn't bother trying to get up because Charles's arm was draped across his waist, pinning him in place.

Luckily, a knock at the door disrupted what could have been a long morning wait. The king grumbled out for whomever was on the other side to come in and released his slave from his embrace.

Spencer quickly scooted off the bed and made his way to the water closet, glad that the king's room had a private chamber in which he could relieve himself. When he finished his business and emerged from the room he found Charles already out of bed and giving orders.

"Eh – there you are boy. Get over here," he groused before turning to the head groomsmen. "I want us both in our finest today. Today we finally get to celebrate our ultimate victory over Quantico and I want to look my best."

The youth's head snapped up at the king's statement.

Charles laughed loudly at the slave's wide eyes, "I told you I had a gift for you. Didn't I?"

Spencer nodded.

"Well, today is the day that I declare myself King of Quantico. Or should I say Emperor? And my gift to you is the fact that you're going to get to watch as the last few soldiers from your pitiful former country come into my throne room and surrender. The contingent is on their way now. My men spotted them last night; a group of about twenty soldiers flying the Quantico flag at half-staff. Soon I'll be the most powerful man on the continent," he gloated gleefully as his servants scurried around to gather various parts of his outfit.

The captive king didn't have much time to process the information as an usher came over and grabbed his bicep, pulling him over to the wardrobe. "Stand there," the man ordered as he rummaged through the drawers, pulling out a few different lengths of colored cloth. He held them up high for the king to see and waited for the monarch to choose one.

"That one! The red one with the gold trim. That's the one I want him to wear. Get out his armbands and headband too. When you're done with all of that make sure to attach the golden leash. I'm showing off my prize today," Charles commanded before turning back to his men.

As the words finally permeated his brain, Spencer struggled to fight off a panic attack.

Would the soldiers recognize him? Would they blow his cover? What would happen if Charles found out who he really was? Would the king kill him or just force him to endure years of torture? If he killed him than he would be doing Spencer a favor, but knowing the spiteful man like he did now the slave knew he wouldn't get off that easy.

The young man's anxiety was written all over his face as he stood there getting prepped for the momentous occasion. And little did he or anyone else in the room know that today's events were the spark that was need to light the fire of change.

Spencer was settled on the floor beside the throne. He was sitting back on his heels with his loincloth spread out over his pale legs. The golden chain that was attached to his collar trailed up to Charles's right hand which was resting on the armrest of the throne. His wrists and ankles still had their golden bonds affixed to them, completing the king's favorite ensemble for his slave.

On Charles's left stood Raphael and Tobias, each one positioned on the steps leading up to the dais. Tobias was on the top step due to his princely rank which meant that Raphael was beneath him. They both stood ramrod straight, facing the doors through which the Quantico soldiers were soon enter.

The trumpets started blaring King Charles's signature tune, proclaiming to all that could hear that the monarch's moment of triumph was about to commence.

Charles sat a little straighter at the sound and he yanked on the leash three times. Spencer automatically looked up at the man, having learned over the course of six months what each type of tug meant.

"Are you ready to see your former kingdom officially dissolved before your very eyes?" Charles asked with delight.

Spencer frowned deeply, devastated that his homeland was about to be destroyed and all of its citizens would soon suffer under Charles's ironclad rule.

The doors at the front of the room rumbled open and a hush settled over the room. From his position on the throne the king called out to his "guests."

"Enter."

Cautiously five men dressed in Quantico's colors started walking down the cleared aisle. There were two men out front, followed by one man in the middle, and another two behind him. Spencer didn't recognize the two in the lead but that didn't mean anything since everyone in Quantico knew who he was. He then tried to move from side to side to see who was positioned behind them but Charles jerked his chain as a way to tell him to sit still.

The boy let out a frustrated breath of air and stilled his movements. He was just going to have to be patient.

Soon enough the march halted in front of the steps that led up to the king's platform and all the men bowed simultaneously. Though he couldn't see it, Spencer knew that Charles probably had a smug look on his face. When the soldiers stood erect once again the youth searched the expressions of the men in front and luckily he didn't see a flicker of recognition in their faces.

Were they really ignorant as to who he was? Had they just not looked too closely at him yet?

"State your business," Charles's voice boomed through the room.

"With pleasure," answered an all too familiar voice from the middle of the pack.

With his heart beating a mile a minute at the sound of his friend's voice, Spencer watched with agonizing anticipation as the soldiers in front stepped to the side and revealed the man standing behind them.

It was none other than Lord David Rossi.