forum "No matter how shattered the heart is, I will always cherish it." (Closed - OxO) (MATURE)

Started August 04, 2023 by @bleeding_hearts

tune

(Okay!! Finally finished with finals, and can focus my energy on writing lmao)

Lucien did not feel like a prince, nor did he feel like a future husband. Infact, he felt like a pawn for his father's ploys. The elven king, now ruler of the Seraphs and Elves alike, was now sending Lucien away to the Fae kingdom. King Kaillas Einar of Vaeril was to be his husband. A marriage arranged by his father, an idea of unity between the kingdoms. Strengthen them. After all, war was brewing in the south, and god forbid the two most powerful kingdoms in the land lacked more power.

Lucien woke the morning he was going to be sent off with a rock tied to the bottom of his stomach, dragging him down and preparing him for the worst. He slowly allowed himself to crawl of bed, his wings whispering against the floor as they drooped and trailed against the cold marble. Shedding his night robe, he went about his morning. Bathing, preening his wings, carefully pressing himself into the diplomat his father had created him to be after his mother died. He pulled his hair out of his face, styling it as he usually did before carefully picking out his jewelry for the day. Proper. Proper. Proper. He was so sick of it. He had wings yet so rarely did he get to use them when he pleased. He wished he could soar into the clouds and never came back.

But his sense of duty was stronger then that.

He finally slipped into a beautiful green and gold robe, the sleeves flowed off his shoulders and along his wrist, and hem of the robes trailed along the ground. Lucien allowed his wings to melt into his back and settled into the carriage. Usually, seraphs would simply fly to their destination, but the fae realm was too far. So they'd ride. It was two days more than to fly, but it was less of a concern energy wise.

Lucien felt the days passed too quickly. Sure enough, on the fourth day, they made it to the fae realm. Lucien was told to clean up, get dressed, and then they would fly to the palace. Simple enough really. He wore simple robes made for flying, the colors matching that of the robes he wore the first day.

Four days of his mind tormenting him. Four days of realizing that he would no longer be free and able to fly how he pleased. This marriage was his duty now. He was bound by that duty and he didn't know how to feel about it. All he could hope was that his husband would leave him alone for the most part. He carefully moved to the palace front doors, ready to meet his fate head on.

(You're good!)

War was brewing and Kaillas's kingdom would be the first to be hit. They were ready, as they always were. Kaillas was hard on his military and always kept a watchful eye on the kingdoms around him. He had spies in kingdoms listening for words of unrest. After the brutal murder of his parents and two older brothers, he never could be so trusting. He assumed that everyone was an enemy. Everyone had been part of the plot to kill his family. His family. They never had found their murderers, years later. And now Kaillas sat on the throne with a crown on his head. It was never supposed to be him. Not with tow older brothers. And yet here they were.

His kingdom was ready. He had the funds, the food. They were ready to take on whatever came their way. They had allies, yes, but none ready to take up arms at the border. Not yet anyways. But it didn't matter, not with their strength. And yet the council still didn't feel like it was enough. Despite the magic and weapons they possessed, despite the numbers and skill, the council didn't think it was enough. It was enough, but they refused to see reason. "We need allies!" They cried. "We need more soldiers, more cavalry, more infantry. Marriage is the only way." And now here he was, engaged to be married to a man he had never met. It had been his condition, if he were to marry, that he at least got to choose who.

A prince of the Astrean Empire. He had been brought portraits of all the children and ultimately chose the third son. He was the prettier of all the children. And he had always taken a liking to men more than women. He had younger sisters who could bear an heir for him. His eldest younger sister's firstborn would inherit the throne after him. This was the best solution. The council would be happy with the marriage alliance and the soldiers it would bring, and Kaillas didn't have to be married to someone he didn't choose and had no desire to be with. Not that he really desired to be with someone he had never met and had no emotional feelings for, but that was beside the point. \

Kaillas sat in the throne room, upon his throne with that wretched crown on his head as he awaited for the prince to arrive. It would be any minute not. He had received news of the carriage's whereabouts not long ago. It was only a matter of minutes before it would reach the courtyard and the prince would be brought to him. His betrothed. And they would be married in two days. Just wonderful.

Lucien never understood as to why the King chose him, his sister was much more fitting to be a queen, and Lucien never ached for power. Lucien enjoyed what his mother taught him when it came to battle, but his sister was more trained in the art of war. She was much more fearsome than he, but Lucien supposed that his sister being only interested in women… Well that marriage wouldn't go well. But she'd be a powerful ally if he ever asked for her advice. But why him? Perhaps it was the pretty face he put up. And either way, Ezra was in line for the throne, marriage did not suit him. The seraphs never followed the expectation that royalty had to marry royalty. Most marriages were out of love. Ezra had never shown interest in anyone. Estel… Well. She'd kill a man that came too close.

So that left Lucien.

But if the King was expecting a husband that would sit and be quiet, obedient and meek, well the king was in for a hell of a surprise. Not many spoke of Lucien, unless of course you went to one of the parties he threw. But as a family, the seraphs are not peaceful folk. Warriors. And Lucien's tattoos all over his skin could attest to that. These tattoos he earned. Perhaps that's what they were hoping for. A prince that could fight as well as offer diplomacy. A warrior. War was brewing after all. It made sense now at least. War was brewing, they needed powerful allies, his siblings were unavailable, so Lucien was the best choice.

Lucien stared long and hard at the palace in front of him as it appeared over the horizon. So that would be his new home. He could practically smell the war brewing not far from the border. It did not bode well. But that was a worry for later. He would be meeting his soon to be husband in just a few moments. His wings fluttered as he went to land, diving towards the courtyard. He allowed his wings to catch his fall and he made it to the ground, landing so hard the ground rumbled and cracked beneath him. His wings flared as he straighted, shaking his hair from his face. Regal in the fading sunlight, he bowed politely towards the guards. "I am Prince Lucien of the Astrean Empire."

He was welcomed, swept up to clean up and make himself presentable. He decided to wear a simple deep blue long sleeved flowing shirt that had an open back so that his wings wouldn't be confined to clothing, and a simple black skirt that swept along the floor. He wore a simple circlet crown that showed his status, with silver jewelry. Satisfied with his appearance, he made his way to the throne room.

The doors opened and he kept his head high, sizing up his new husband. His eyes swept the throne room, as if assessing the threat level before he walked forward, head high, steps long and confident. He made it to the throne, "King Kaillas, a pleasure to finally put a face to a name."

Kaillas had no actual plans for this to be a loving marriage. This was a political arrangement, that was all. He didn't intend to fall in love with his soon to be husband and have a wonderful life with him. He did this to get his council off of his back and secure a powerful ally. It wasn't as though he would be a terrible husband. He would be better than most in his position. Their marriage, of course, would have to be consummated, but after that, he had no expectations from his husband to be. He didn't care what Lucien did. He was more than willing to provide a house and an allowance if Lucien decided to live outside of the palace. Kaillas, perhaps, might even be overjoyed if that option was chosen. To be married and yet to never have to see him.

He had no expectations of Lucien. As long as he was sport and discrete about it, if Lucien took lovers, Kaillas would not stop him. He would do the same, given they were both on the same page. He wouldn't do a disservice to his husband, but if Lucien allowed it, then why not? He didn't want this. Lucien likely didn't want it either. There was no use in pretending that they were both happy with this. The best that Kaillas hoped for would be for them to be friends, but even he doubted that could happen. It wasn't always easy to make friends when they were shoved in these sorts of situations. If they could be cordial, at least, he would be satisfied.

A steward announced the arrival of the prince as soon as he landed. Lucien had flown to his palace. While Kaillas highly doubted he had flown the entire journey, he had still flown. He didn't quite like the thought of that but the damage was done now, nothing to do about it now other than damage control. There were perhaps a few too many of his people who didn't like the thought of intermixing races. While he wished for more open-minded people, he couldn't deny he wasn't too keen on having a half elf, half seraph in his life. or being married to one. But it was too late now. To deny Lucien now would be to make an enemy out of his father, and that was the last thing he wanted to do. He couldn't fight a war on both fronts. His army was strong but not that strong.

The crown on his head was heavy, today more so than ever. His neck ached from holding it up and he wanted so badly to rip it off and discord of it. This was not where he belonged. He belonged int he trenched, drenched in mud, and fighting for his home. Not sitting on the throne, wearing dainty clothes and crowns that were heavier than they should have been. He shouldn't have had to arrange his own marriage to satisfy politics and his council men.

He watched as Lucien entered his throne room, his face remaining expressionless. It was all but an effort to keep from curling his lip up. Whether it was disgust at what he stood for, their marriage, or the fact that he was worried Lucien would get feathers on his floor, he couldn't tell. "Prince Lucien, I hope the journey was an easy one."

He never had been one with words.

Even if Lucien wished for the quiet life of a simple home outside of the palace, where he could take lovers as he pleased, that was simply not a choice he had. Elves were calm creatures, non monogamy was common amongst the common folk, but seraphs… Seraphs looked down on such a thing. Lucien had grown under his mother's guidance. More seraph than elf. But he knew that this fae king would look down on him. Lucien, before arriving, had brushed up on knowledge about the kingdom he was swearing to protect and marry into. But he did not care. He would wear the fact that he was of mixed entities proudly. His people were stronger for it. He did not care if his future husband decided to take on lovers of all kinds… But as for Lucien, it would end in a life of solitude and loneliness. And if rumors escaped? He'd most likely never show himself again. A loveless marriage. His heart fell at the thought. But his mind soothed him, he was here for war. He was here for alliances. He could handle that, he was good at that. That's all he was. A creation for people's needs. He had hoped that his brothers and sister… Well. There was very little room for hope at this point. But he had hoped he would find someone that loved him. But alas, he had fallen into his father's expectations. And there was no escaping that.

So. He bore the crown on his head with grace and dignity. He had a feeling he would be grounded here in this kingdom. He knew it was likely the moment he flew above and witnessed the castle. The people. For a moment, the scars that cut deep into his skin seared for a moment, as if reminding him of earlier times when he was young and naive. He tried his best to keep those thoughts out of his mind as he faced his soon to be husband.

His wings slowly shrunk and disappeared, fading into his back thanks to the magic of his people. Never one for small talk unless it was an environment he knew, he got straight to the point. "You and I are basing this marriage solely for the sakes of our kingdom and our people. I expect the ceremony to be quick and to the point. If I must share a bed with you for the first night, so be it. But after, I expect my own room, and a place where I can train and plan. My soldiers will arrive as aid tomorrow morning. My father will not be coming. He has other business to attend to, as my brother's coronation is a week from today. He is, however, sending some of his best council members to aid yours." Lucien's words were simple and to the point. He did not want to press this more then he already had. "We can discuss other matters whenever you please, but that is the simple explanation for the current events." Lucien cleared his throat. "As for my journey it was fine. Long. But fine."

Vaeril had never been a kingdom that had loved outsiders. While they had always kept their alliances and their appearances, showing to that coronation and that wedding, they had never been truly open and accepting to outsiders. Vaeril preferred to stay in Vaeril, and preferred to keep all others out. Before, they had taken in refugees and travelers, though not without some discontent. After. After the death of his parents and his two brothers, their borders shut down completely. No one was allowed to come and go as they pleased. Any refugees were turned away and anyone coming on business had to have the papers to prove it. Those that did not were denied. It strained relationships with many of their allies but how could they not be so cautious? Someone had snuck into the palace and butchered the king and queen and the two oldest sons. And they likely would have killed Kaillas as well had he not been at a military camp since he was young. And they were never caught.

That was the biggest mystery of them all. The assailants were never caught. The was no evidence, nothing left behind to point them to who it could be. No one knows if it is an inside job or if it was an outsider. But no one has attempted it again, which leads many of Vaerilians to believe it was an outsiders doing. The people had loved their king and queen, as much as any kingdom could. There would always be discontent and unrest. No one could ever make everyone happy. It wasn't possible. But the kingdom was happy and well. Money flowed, poverty was at an all time low. There had been nothing that had warranted this. At least not from within their kingdom. This had to have been an outside job. But then the question remained, who was it and why did they do this?

Kaillas watched as the wing's disappeared from the male's back. It put him slightly at ease, though he wouldn't truly relax. Not when this was something he did not want. Not when he wasn't comfortable with Lucien and wondered if he ever would be. Friendship would take time, if their relationship could ever come to that. Kaillas was a tactical man and he didn't trust easily. How could he when this crown was only his because everyone else was dead? And he would make sure he kept the crown. He wouldn't let it befall either of his sisters because of his death. At least not by assassination. He wanted to keep them as far away from the crown as he could. They deserved a better life than this. And he planned to give them the best life he possibly could.

Lucien's words were straight and to the point, something Kaillas admired in a person. There was a hint of emotion passing across his face but it was gone in a blink of an eye. He straightened his back and nodded. All fair requests. "There is already a room being prepared for you. You may retire to it to refresher up for dinner. There will be a feast tonight in your honor. You may train at any of the facilities in the palace. We have several training yards by the barracks and a couple of facilities inside. Any of these will suit your needs. If you have any questions, you may ask my captain of the guard." Said captain of the guard was currently standing to his left, half hidden by the shadows. A constant thorn in his side, more like, but Kaillas couldn't get him to leave him alone. And he supposed he liked the captain's company every now and then. He was not quite so happy about more advisors coming to the palace. He already had more than enough here with him. He didn't need more mouths chattering in his ear about what he should and should not do. But he rightfully kept his mouth closed on those matters. "Emerson here will take you to your rooms. If you have any concerns, take them to him. He will be your head of household." Emerson stepped forward, dressed in the usual servant regalia. He bowed at the waist in respect to the prince and his king. "Your highness, if you will follow me."