A/N: And we've circled back to Ken. Honestly, the perspective aspect of this story is completely random, just trying to keep up continuity and all that xD

Enjoy!

I'm shaking so badly right now, I don't really know what to do with myself.

I wait as I hear Cartman's footsteps receding away from the door. As soon as I hear nothing but silence, I pull myself out from the mess of blankets and pillows and shake my blonde hair out of my eyes. I make my way over to the bed and stare down at Kyle, completely lost in the midst of my own confusion.

"Kyle?" I croak. No response. Nothing but an uneven breathing escaping from his chest.

I pull the sheet off of his form, feeling my dinner once again working its way back up my throat. I gaze at an array of purple and red splotches covering his body. I gingerly run my finger along a particularly large brown and blue abrasion along his hip.

"Gods, what happened to you?" I whisper, slowly shaking my head.

I sigh and pick him up in my arms, carrying him over to the water basin. I kick one of my hiding pillows over beside it and lower him down onto it carefully. I grab the rag and cautiously clean off his face and neck where Cartman decided to mark his final piece for the night. Dipping the rag back into the basin, I can't help but feel my mind overflowing with the events of this evening.

Kyle being held down and fucked by five guys? It just doesn't bode well. By the way he was protesting, this obviously wasn't his choice. And then that Token guy...he apparently knew more than I did. Just how many kingdoms had I come across that were aware of Kyle still being alive?

I inwardly growl at myself. I should have kept asking. That damn pact that me, Stan, Gary and Thomas made...it was foolish on our part. We never should have stopped. We should not have rested until we had found him.

But where was he when we were on that relentless search? And why would he come back after the fall of his parents by Cartman's hand of all people? Maybe he just didn't know that things had gone downhill.

Maybe.

I turn him onto his side and feel my stomach and heart simultaneously lurch as I find his back in just as bad of a condition as his front. Gods, he's been through a lot. Not all of these are new, in fact only a few are, and they've just barely formed as of yet. I see scars. Countless scars hidden in the forests of bruises and fingernail scrapings.

I take my rag and run it along his back before I dip near the curvature of his ass. I wipe it clean of all Cartman's residue and quickly swipe off his thighs before tossing the rag back into the basin. I flip him back onto his front and look down at his limp and reddened cock. Something behind it catches my eye and I raise my brow, pushing his thighs apart just slightly. I find a small burn mark, a brand. I don't have much time to observe before he groans and stirs once again.

I pull back and keep my eyes on his face as he slowly comes back to reality. His eyes are near-deadened as they flutter into view, gazing around the room before finally settling on my face. His face drops as he sits up, still in somewhat of a daze.

"Forgive me, Sir," he bows in front of me.

"For what?" I blink.

"I shouldn't have fallen asleep. Please. Tell me what to do."

"You can tell me what the fuck happened to you, Kyle," I narrow my eyes.

He looks up at me, his emerald iris' nothing but pale shells. Gods, Cartman did a number on him. He sighs and moves closer to me, sliding a hand up my thigh. I can't contain my shivers as he rests his palm on my manhood.

"Please, I'm yours," he states robotically. I blink at him before my eyes roll back as he lightly trails around my nether regions and down my thighs, only to trail back up under my chiton and tickle my cock. I let out a low mewl in the back of my throat and he leans up as he fondles me and kisses my neck.

"Kyle..." I moan, leaning down and kissing him back. He cups my testicles in his palm and lightly teases them and I can feel myself growing harder.

Yes...oh Gods, this feels so good....I moan again and pull him closer.

Wait...wait...oh...oh no! I quickly jump back and pull away from him. He blinks at me confusedly, recognition slowly flickering in his eyes.

"Do you not want me?" he asks with his head cocked cutely.

"No! Well...not like....no," I state firmly, swallowing heavily, trying to force my body to calm down.

"May I ask why?"

I sigh and stand, holding my hand out to him. He looks at it confusedly before grasping it back, getting to his feet with me as I lead him to the bed. He's still so lost. He's so vulnerable right now. I don't care what my body wants, even I have more decency than to go after him when he's like this.

We sit and I stroke back some stray curls in his face before cupping his chin in my palms. "Kyle. It's me."

That flicker is getting stronger.

"Remember? I came back...from Troy. Remember how we saw each other at dinner?"

"K-Ken?" he squints at me.

"Yes," I nod softly.

He blinks a few times before breaking into a small smile. He reaches up and strokes my cheek. "It wasn't a dream," he whispers.

I take his hand in mine and kiss it softly. "No. No, it wasn't, Kyle. I'm right here."

"Kenny...," he whispers, shaking his head. "If that wasn't a..." he trails off as his face drops into a horrified expression. He looks down, just noticing his naked form and beginning to blush uncontrollably. "Oh gods...I...you weren't supposed to...," he buries his face into his palms in embarrassment. I get off the bed and walk over to his robe that Cartman had made him discard. I bring it back and take his hands from off his face, sliding the silk up his arms and tying it with the band still lying on the bed.

"Ky, I saw everything," I say. Oh, brilliant speaking there, Ken. That'll make him feel good about himself right there.

"Why were you watching me?" he demands, his bottom lip quivering just slightly.

"I wanted to know what was going on," I explain. "You had to get up and run off when Cartman told you to 'get ready' and I wanted to know just what getting ready meant."

He looks away. "You should not have come in here, Ken. This is not something that I want for a prince to see."

"As it is something that I don't want a prince to have to do," I retort, cupping his chin and making him look back at me. "Kyle, I want you to explain. Now," I emphasize.

He looks towards the door nervously before sighing. "Just give me a moment." He stands from the bed and walks over to the entrance, placing a bar over the door and locking it into place. "Go wait on the balcony," he waves towards his large window. "I'd like to change if you don't mind."

I stand and nod, heading out onto the balcony tiredly. The scent of olives hit me and almost knock me off my feet. I'm so used to the sickly scent of the salty ocean outlying the shores of Troy nowadays. I can't believe that I ever got used to something other than the sweet scent of the fruit basking in the glow of Helios' domain. Even now, as Artemis draws Selene across the wide sky, I can't miss the pungent aroma. Coming back was supposed to be this: pure nostalgia. But now. Now I have come to find that Kyle is being held hostage in what is supposed to be his home.

So much for the memories. Here come the new waves of life.

I sit on a chair out side and stare up at the stars, finding the array that Zeus has laid out for us an absolute marvel. That man has a lot of time on his hands to be able to craft such a beautifully made sky.

Kyle steps out beside me, wearing a short green and ivory tunic. He sits down next to me and sighs. "It's lovely, isn't it?"

"Best view around," I nod. "You have the fields, the mountains, and that sky..."

"What is it like in Troy? What do you see from your window?"

"A wall," I reply simply.

"A wall? Have you no windows?" he raises his brow.

I lean forward and clasp my hands together. "I have one, yes. But Troy has a large wall built around it. We've secluded ourselves from the rest of the world."

"For what purpose?"

"We are not...skilled in the art of combat. We're doing all that we can to train troops, but honestly, we're too scared to actually fight."

"How skilled is your militia leader?" he questions.

I smile softly at him. "He could take on anybody. I just wish he'd stop throwing up at the sight of blood."

He freezes before his head whips towards me. "Stan?" he whispers. "He lives, too?"

"Gary and Thom as well," I nod. He gasps before breaking into a smile.

"That's wonderful!" he exclaims. "Are you all members of the palace?"

"Yeah. Gar and Thom rule. Me and Stan are under them."

"How?" he asks confusedly.

"No. I answered some, it's your turn," I frown.

He stares at me for a moment before nodding. "Alright. What is it you'd like to know?"

"Everything," I answer bluntly.

"Be more specific, please."

"Okay, why did you run off?" I demand, crossing my arms sternly. He looks from me to out into the olive grove and sighs.

"I didn't run."

"Then what happened?"

He flickers his eyes at me for a brief moment. "Eric happened."

"What'd he do?" I ask, utterly confused at this point, my arms dropping to my side.

He sighs heavily. "Do you by chance remember Calais?"

"Yeah," I nod. "He was your guard."

"Yes, well the night before I...disappeared," he said slowly, "he wasn't feeling well. I told him that should he need someone to switch shifts with him that night it would be fine because I trusted his judgement. He protected me for years."

"So...did he?"

He nodded. "He told Eric that he could watch me. He knew that he was strong enough to defend me if need be, so he gave him the sword and told him to just be careful."

"He put Cartman up as your guard?! He was a servant!"

"We didn't have many, remember," he said quietly. "And many of them were awfully sick that night with that horrid virus that circled around the palace."

"Oh yeah," I nod. "Well, what happened? Did you just tell Cartman to cover for you for running off?"

His face darkened. "No. He turned his sword on me."

I blink. "What?"

He looks back out towards the sky and sighs again. He's going to use all the air in his lungs if he keeps doing that. "He waited until the palace was sound asleep. Then he crept into my room since he had the access and came up over me. He woke me up and then stuffed one of my sashes into my mouth, holding the sword at my throat. He threw me onto the floor and told me that he was taking me."

My stomach drops. "W-what did you do?"

"What every sensible being would do," he shrugs. "I struggled. He tied my arms and legs with my belts and kept the sword held onto me, but I kept trying to fight him. Eventually I had to give up fighting because he was cutting my arm and I was losing too much blood."

"How did he get you out of the palace?"

"He used the hallway that we used to use to go out and play in the field as kids, remember?" he asks. "None of the elders knew of it and he knew that fact, so he took me through there."

"Where did he take you?"

He shook his head. "Your turn. How did you fall into power?"

Ugh. Damn him and his retaliations. "We worked under a very kind king and queen," I start. "But they were very old and their children were all dead. We were four of the six servants that they kept near them at all times. The king died, and we all stayed close to our queen because her health was fragile as well. She had an acute fondness for Thom and his unexplainable outbursts. He always made her laugh," I smile reminiscently. "That woman was our mother, almost as much as yours was," I grin at him, getting one back from him. "She said she wanted Thomas to take over as king when she passed. And she did about five years ago. Here we are today."

"Him and Gary, huh?"

"Yup, lovers till the end," I snicker.

"How's...how's Stan?" he asks softly.

My smile grows sadder. "He misses you, Kid. He doesn't talk about it, but he has nightmares often enough. He's...he's just goin' day by day now. He's a strong guy, still caring as anyone could be. It's like someone threw Ares and Persephone into a pot and out popped Stan."

He laughs softly. "Sounds like he hasn't changed much."

"I think the only one that's changed is you, Kyle," I say gently. "I've basically told you my last six years. It's your turn to spill to me. So...please. Where did Cartman take you?"

"A cave a few miles from here," he looked back out in a random direction towards the mountains. "He hid me in the dark and chained me far enough in that no one could hear me scream for help. He came a few times a week while he was supposedly searching for me with the kingdom to give me a bit of water and sometimes some food if I were lucky," he sighs.

"Why did he take you?" I shake my head.

"I think it started as a power thing above all. He felt he was better than me, so I didn't deserve to be in the throne. Then he told me that as he watched me to see how to get closer to me, he began to fall for me," he looks away with scarlet staining his cheeks. "He wanted me for himself, so he had more incentive to kidnap me for his own uses."

"Uses?"

"I was bait. I was ransom. And above all, I was his trinket. He could do as he wished to me and didn't have to fear the repercussions."

"What did he do to you?"

He pauses for a moment. "It wasn't long after he captured me...about a week or so. After I was too weak to really fight back...he raped me for the first time."

My heart sinks at this. "Why?"

"He wanted me. He took my first time, he completely robbed me of the dignity I had. He just wanted that power over me. After that first night, he kept coming back, sating his need whenever he felt the hunger strike. And you know how much of a glutton he is."

I can't help but snicker silently at that before my mood dispels once more. "The...the blood..."

"Pig's," he says simply. "He cut out its heart and carried its blood up to my room with some of my hair after I was secure and set the scene. All I could do was scream for help all I could from my gag," he shrugs. "I have to admit, he's devious."

"He's an asshole is what he is," I frown.

"That, too," he nods in agreement before sighing. "Well...he got a hold on me and everything apparently fell to Tartarus. You were sent away instead of killed apparently?"

"Your parents...they sent us away," I nod. "Didn't tell us why, though."

"I wouldn't know," he shrugs.

"When did you come back?"

"Eric let me go once he fell into power, however he did it....well, he let me out of the cave, but brought me back here in rags and chains. He sent me before the council of elders to decide what to do with me even though he already had his plans."

"What did the elders say?"

"They said to give me my throne and my rightful place as king. But Eric wouldn't have it. He convinced them that I was not loyal enough to stay in my room let alone run the country. But he told them that I would make a perfect offering of the flesh. So I became the palace's whore."

"And you stay as such even after all this time?"

"I have little choice in the matter, Ken..." he looked away then back. "Which reminds me...did you see Ike by any chance?"

I nod. "He's a stablehand, why?"

He lets out a heavy sigh of relief with a smile following. "One of my conditions of my duties is that if I wanted Ike to continue to live, I would be submissive to guests as they wished."

"You haven't seen him?" I ask.

"No," he shakes his head. "I haven't seen anyone outside of the walls I'm allowed to venture to in six years. I know all the inside workers and anyone who wanders into my allowances, but I've no clue of those working on the outside."

"Gods...," I shake my head back. "You're a complete prisoner."

"Yes," he nods. "I belong to Eric...," he sniffs lightly. "I...I don't know what to do anymore. I think I just keep going for Ike's sake. Otherwise, I would have thrown myself off this balcony long ago."

"I'm surprised that fatass hasn't killed you the way he was choking you," I scowl.

"He...he doesn't want me dead. He wants me here for business and pleasure. I'm an asset to him."

"Explain to me this business part," I raise my brow.

He leans back and crosses his arms and legs. "Essentially, I'm the final stamp on a deal. He makes deals with diplomats and tells them about me. I'm supposed to portray this...I dunno...his favorite toy. A toy still in it's original package if you catch me," he looks over.

"Yes," I nod.

"Well, he figures that if he tells these diplomats that I'm theirs for the taking and I'm his favorite, it establishes a strong bond in showing that he's willing to share."

"How...how many..."

"Too many to count," he responds sharply. "Six years have gone by, Ken. Six years...at least three a month...that's a lot of men."

"And you've slept with...all of them..."

"Yes."

"Are they all as...rough...as Cartman or those six?" I blink

He shakes his head. "Sometimes, but not usually. Actually, it's usually, as horrid as it sounds, not too bad. They're usually fairly old men, so they go once. They go slow. And I just have to...lay through it," he shrugs. "I had a bit of a panic when those men tied me up tonight. I'm only used to that kind of treatment by Eric's hand."

"Why is he so rough on you?" I demand. "You've been under him for six years, doesn't he understand that you're obviously not running?"

"Once again, it's a power thing. He likes establishing a very clear line between master and slave. If he was gentle, I'd get too comfortable and not be as willing to bend over for his guests. I don't know, Ken. I...I hate this so much."

"I can imagine."

"No, I mean...I was in line for king, Kenny," he looks at me with shining eyes. "Then Eric gets a hold of me and all of a sudden...I'm...this," he gestures to himself. "My best field of knowledge is how to arouse old men. I was supposed to...to lead a country. To fight for my followers and...and to settle down...have a good life...," his shoulders drop and he looks at me once more, smiling sadly. "And look at you. From a slave to a prince of a beautiful land...It's funny how different things turned out for us."

"You're still king, Kyle," I say firmly, placing my hand atop his.

"No," he shakes his head. "Eric took the throne. He had my parents executed. My family no longer sits in power...it's him."

"And what if he were to die?" I raise my brow. "Who then would take his place?"

"Not me," he rolls his eyes. "I...I think his advisor would."

I sigh and wrap my arms around him, pulling him into me. "Kyle...," I start. "I'm going to get you out of here."

"Ken, even if you could-"

"I can and I will," I state firmly. "I'm going to get you and Ike out. I'm going to take you back to Troy and I will protect you."

"For what purpose?" he asks softly. "I don't wish for you to put your country into such a position. Eric is a powerful man."

"Cartman's nothing but a sack of shit," I growl. "You heard that Token guy. He wants you safe just as badly as I do. As do many other lands."

"I can't do that," he sniffs. "I...I..."

"Need to be free," I finish, cupping his chin and looking him in the eye. "Kyle...I've missed you," I say softly, kissing his forehead. "I want you home with me. I want you safe."

"I am safe so long as I follow his laws."

"No, you're not," I shake my head. "He nearly choked you to death. He said you're not allowed food for three days."

"That's merely a way for me to be...uh...small," he winces.

"I know. And you're small enough," I wrap my hand around his tiny waist and squeeze. "He starves you and beats you and threatens you. He completely violates you and sells you to old men for amusement. Kyle. I'm going to get you out of here," I promise him.

He looks up at me with his eyes glimmering in the moonlight. "I've prayed...for years for someone to save me. My...my hope was for Apollo to come to my rescue. To be my light out of here...," he reaches his fragile hand up and strokes my cheek. "It appears that instead, I've been brought you...and I can't thank the gods enough...," he sniffs as a tear rolls down his cheek.

I wipe it off, leaning down and kissing his lips softly. "No more tears," I whisper, stroking his hair. "No more...," I'm cut off slightly as he reconnects us once more and our fingers intertwine. He breaks off slowly and our noses are still touching.

"You were supposed to be my first...," he whispers. "Now it seems I've been in the hands of everyone but you."

"I was waiting for you..." I mutter back, brushing his brow with my lips.

"I know," he says back. "You waited...for a long...while...," he pants as he trails kisses up my face.

"I missed you so...," I say, pulling him closer to me and slowly putting a leg up on the bench.

"And I you...," he sniffs, gazing at me with those beautiful eyes.

I pull him onto my lap and he straddles my legs cautiously. "I still...dream about us," I confess. "I wish still...that we had been together...like we promised."

He nods. "I have the same dreams...," he looks away slowly. "I...The only way I ever get through the nights in the arms of others...is to think that I could be in the arms of you at that time..." he looks back sadly.

"And now, you can be," I say gently. "You can come with me. To Troy. We can be together once more. No hiding from the kingdom as we did when you were prince and I was the dustboy. I will proclaim to my kingdom...to the world...straight to Eric Cartman's face...that Eros has struck us both. We are destined for each other, for we have found each other again after so long. It can be only fate."

He stares at me a long while before smiling softly. "I...I would like nothing better than to be by your side."

"Then I will free you," I promise, kissing his hand. "I will find the way to sneak you and your brother out of here."

"But how?" he asks.

I look up at Selene before dropping my gaze back to him. "I don't know exactly. I will plan it...and we will leave as soon as I can get it set up. Will you promise that you will come with me?"

"Yes," he nods. "I want to be with you, my prince."

"As I you...my king," I smile, kissing his hand again.

"No," he shakes his head. "I am not a king. Please...don't refer to me as such."

"I don't care what Cartman states. I don't care who wears the crown. You are the rightful owner to this kingdom. You are the heir."

"But I am leaving. It is best to leave the past behind."

I stare up at him and lean forward, pecking his lips once more. "No, my King. For the past is the only thing that's kept us both going for so very long."

A/N: Expositions for all?

Yesh. Next chappie will be a new day for all. Whoop.

Thanks for all you do!