War has Come While Night Hath Fallen over our Faire Kingdom
Fantasy, dark ages au of Wayne fam and crossover tta and dc - universe in this.
The warrior and barbarian king to the country of Defencia, Slade, has taken over the kingdom belonging to the house of Wayne. However, the true king has simply vanished, leaving his sons and daughters within the keep to fend off the invaders. The king soon learns that the children all are adopted and not the true blood of Wayne, all but one child who is still in question...
The eldest, Prince Richard steps up and has made clear that he will not let his family and the kingdom his father has saved come to any harm.
For this promise to be kept, his hand must be given to the new king, whereas in this defense, many have objected to this union. In Defencia perhaps bedding minor royalty is not considered a crime to be suited by the gods, yet in the house of Wayne's book, there will be a rebellion if the king goes through with his plans to take over all of what the prior missing king has built. Yet Richard is only being kept until the real heir is revealed to all to bear witness.
Will the prince make sure that the tyrant in charge cannot harm his own kin, and spread his rule to any neighboring cities in the process?
Noted, this has some fantasy dark ages elements in it so be warned that the arrangement is not Slade screwing Dick but punishing him for keeping the Wayne kingdom under his pledge, to not hand over to Slade. If he has to use force to break the oldest heir then so be it…. dark ficlets.
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CHAPTER ONE: THE STOLEN PRINCE AND THE OVERLORD
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His father's kingdom stood on the verge of ruin as Prince Richard; eldest royal son to the throne Gotham and House of Wayne, was in factin the very worst of places to face a broadsword at his brothers' throats.
His many families were held against cold walls with knivesand grips so tight to catch them off guard.
It had started with a new policy to bring about trade and moreplentiful "connections" to the country. The honorable King Wayne was nownowhere to be found. Had he been taken by the ones responsible? Prince Richardheld his sword and panted out a labored sound. The slinging, destructivecharacters with their metaphorical scythes had in fact never been wanted, thecountry had welcomed the ones and cowards to join. The gates were too unkemptas in trickled an antagonist only found in fairy tales.
He was the Overlord to the west of an unnamed territory. Hewore furs in place of the proper gear for battle, yet had the true air of a tyrantand strategist among the rebellious blood he'd carried into the castle ofWayne. His enemy's sons were tested, their abilities exposed as weak, unworthy.While Richard was the last to stand before the menace in wolf's skin. Hisprey's beaded brow attracted the attention of the new king as he raised up hispalm, Richard's father's guards falling to their knees in surrender as thisbattle….had been won.
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"The king is not yet deceased, warlord." Richard sat on hisknees before his father's magnificent throne. The armored metal – guard to hisknees hurt, yet he passed it over, the pain of losing his family far worse athreat to his survival. Of the survival of Gotham under the hands of a conqueror.
"He'll be either found or killed on the spot once he is broughtbefore me. As acting prince, however…"The man looked over the beaten child. Seventeen. New enough in this age to bejust right as a puppet and figurehead, but the clause would not allow thiswarlord to take without a, confirmation.
"Here, your father made certain that none whatsoever mayhave the throne, unless…."
Richard raised his puffy lids to the static of this man'sdrabble.
" Oneof his eldest or existingheirs were tomarry. It seems unorthodox in your culture, Son of Wayne. Yet in my country,there are ways to beckon change by bending the traditional standards of one'sindependence. You do, understand this?"
"I…. I do not, I fear." Richard shuddered, hoping to stall,to take it all in. Was he saying….to marryhis daughter? Was that thereason? "Nay, for if father still lives –
"It matters not if you'll have the throne, only to hand itover with your signature."
"Never!" Richard bellowed aloud. "The king shall return withreinforcements. He shall see to the dismantling of your cowardly hoard. Thekingdom will only then see him as a –
"HEROES." The warlord took with a single sharp, icy blue eyeand a squint at the prince. "Do not run as rabbits. He holds no honor,your grace." The warlord seemed content in mocking the boy's father. To no oneend would he have had it any other way, yet Prince Richard changed the topicwith a tug of his binds. "My brothers then, my sisters as well must go free."
"Denied." The warlord king – to - be leaned his cheek to hisfist, looking bored with the teen's show of indecisive behavior. "I did not make my command here as clearas you may hath wished, young prince."
"I'm old enough to turn your court to be hung ."Threated the upset prince. He had every right to be. Damian was quite young,just a babe. Cassandra was only three years of age, while Stephanie was fourand Tim was the same age as his eldest sister. Jason was about two years apartfrom Richard, only months from his next birth date. While lastly, whom else wasthere to protect but his entire family? The Wayne household had supported manyof all walks, yet here this man was. Trampling across the time taken to buildup something better.
"They might expect a challenge." Smirked the wild king. "Iprefer my soldiers prepared at all times…your king wasn't so fortunate to havethe most competent of commanders to his battalion. His knights were no match.How could you bring a rebellion to this country? That same message allowed wevagabonds to take your kingdom by force." He stated, mocking again the previousking's strategies. "All by your father's intentions." Hissed the evil king. "Icould make your armies strong again. Aide the people, as my own respect theabilities of a true ruler –
"Then whereis your castle." Richard pried with asniff. " Where is your kingdom, when all you have ever HAD hasbeen pillaged by force…. you disturbed, menacingmon-
" MaybeI should toss you the dungeons to think aboutyour brother's last words." The man snipped and cut off the teen prince. "Howyour sisters would screamupon the cocks of my soldiers ascompensation for such foul treatment by your pacifist lordand hisloathsome last heir…"
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Richard's face was lost of its color as the moon was high,by tonight it would never come through his castle window. "No….no, don't youlay a finger on them!"
"What then will you do, troubled prince?" The new rulerleaned onto his hand, his eyes hotly scouring the younger man's flesh like adragon in its nest. A traveler having lost its way, Richard too felt at theloss for an easy answer. He was too noble, too good a prince. He relented, headbowed and shoulders shaking as he spoke in a low sound.
"I…. shall do as you wish, just….do not harm them…. please…."
"Call me, master."
Richard looked up; brow as disturbed as those blue orbs hepossessed to rival any princess. "M…. why? Am I not to be yours?" He asked in achoked voice, his chest not heaving long enough to give in for a second'sbreath.
"Of course, yet to be trulymine…. you'll give upeverything for them. Won't you, little heir? You and your many siblings." Hepurred contently by this mental feat.
Richard could not nod, for his body still trembled. Be thisman a mountain troll, or a wizard in the skin of some olden folklore character,Richard wanted only to find his father and hide in his arms once the fightinghad ceased.
"Then, doas I command. I amyour lord, your master and your keeper." The man declared as Richard's lips felt drier than atthe start of today. Their man - servant Pennyworth as Jason cruelly called him,had made the most delightful sweets that chilly afternoon…
Damian had cried froma sore tooth ache. Tim had read a book on the study of flora and fauna and haddrawn the most intricate of vines for the fun of it on fine parchment. Little Cassandrahad chased the castle hounds and they had played together since late, hourseven after their last meal. Young and boisterous Stephanie had played a prankon Jason, who had complained…to him…
Richard felt a tear slip past his cheek as he ignored it,yet the man at the throne shifted, he moved and rose. A step lower, each time asRichard sawjust who he had provoked in his state of longing.
"Weep not, you are forever held in my favor. If only youobey and grant me what is to be mine…" Richard felt a hand upon that moistenedcheek, the pad relaxing as he sniffed and tried not to feel so helpless.
That however, was an impossible feat.
"This kingdom is now granted, to me. Have pride that youhave been granted mercy, dear royal son. You shall have not that crown taken,but your thoughts…all you have been given by Wayne. For I know it to be so."Smiled the one-eyed king as Richard's chest rattled. "You are not his by blood,yet only one of your brothers, just one." The warlord removed his palmas Richard looked aimlessly in that eye for some sort of pity, some sort ofregret in all this man had done. "I will discover Wayne's true heir. Once Ihave, there will be no need to keep your family alive –
"I am still w- who my father wished! If…if you'll do as youwill, but not to torment us…I begyou, m – master…." Richard wept andlowered his eyes, raising them only for the warlord to cup his chin.
"Then by royal decree, my prince." The man took his glanceand kept it there, the pad of his thumb feeling over the salt and trickle ofthe boy's poison. "Will you be my one and only bride? To save your father'skingdom."
A bell sounded.
Sun – up, Richardswallowed thickly.
It was a new day as the gong let his thoughts melt andchange to a shroud of fog once more. "Give me your answer, my dear prince."
Dear…. oh, gods…this, was barbaric!
"I…. I…."
In the light of the moon, he didsay yes, only tosleep soon after, and in the same bed that his father had kept warm without atrue queen to share it with.
His day to be wedwould make it so he'd never have achance to leave, and yet…
He, this warlord had known of the rumor buriedin their records, that only oneWayne was born to the man by a distantqueen. And then, the young heir shot up.
"Yes, he's gone to see her…. yes…."
For if the truth was found all too soon, this castle wouldbe reduced to a dungeon of dead corpses to dispose of. While he…he'd hang offof the iron clad cock piece of a tyrant king, even after death. To his lastbreath, as the boy finally drifted well off into his slumber, he cried himselfto sleep and prayed for his original family to protect them all.