The king was forced to his knees before the angry man in front of him. He was resigned to his fate, closing his eyes briefly before lifting his gaze to the tall man who now towered over him sword in hand. The audience was quiet for the most part. Only the slight shuffle of clothing as the servants shifted uneasily.

The guards watched in defeat as their king was bowed before this upstart lord from the west. They felt their failure keenly as the lord's soldiers stood over them with drawn swords in case one of them felt their heroism too keenly. They knew when they were beaten though. The servants were too afraid of the strange warriors in the hall to bother fighting back. They were still thinking of the battles in the corridors that they had witnessed.

They had yet to collect the casualties. They had yet to scrub the floors of blood. The whole city waited with bated breath to find out, what next? The tapping of the lord's footsteps on the marble floors ticked out the seconds. He looked around him at the concerned audience. The fearful people with their pleading eyes and wringing hands. For all this man had wronged the lord's people, he had been a saint to his own populace.

"Shame you bore none to seal this breach, Kaelan. I will have no choice but to take your throne and possibly your life. For the safety of my people, I see no other way." He sighed, realising that it would win him no love of these people by doing so. The king merely bowed his head, nodding in agreement.

"No! No please! Don't hurt him!" A young man tore away from the group of servants and flung himself in front of the king. The hood fell back from his matching golden hair and the king cried out.

"Stupid child! I told you to leave this morning! What in god's name are you still doing here?" He shook the boy and then clasped him to his breast in fear.

"I'm so sorry your majesty! I tried to make him go...." An old woman sobbed from the sidelines. Her floured dress and apron labeled her from the kitchens. The king had tried to hide his son but failed to gain his agreement on the matter. Now the room was tense. Not one life was on the line now, but two.

"Well now. What have we here?" He sheathed his sword and then yanked the cloak from the boy. His fine clothes were rumpled and slightly dusty from a scuffle. He grabbed the scruff of his neck and pulled the young man away from his father. The king sobbed, fearing the worst.

"It would seem the king is a liar as well as a murderer." The man at his lordship's shoulder muttered. The boy shot him a dirty look.

"My father is not a murderer; he has made mistakes in judgement. That simply makes him human." He argued. The older man sniffed in derision. The lord however, regarded him with interest.

"Brave of you. To defend your father in the face of death. Did you wish to die with him then? Is that why you have come forward? Will you offer me your head?" He spoke quietly, so only the two of them could hear. The boy paled and looked at him in surprise.

"If I do, will you spare him? Will you spare all of these people?" He bargained. The lord looked surprised. Was he seriously trying to barter for these people?

"If I say yes definitely, what say you?" He narrowed his eyes. Surely the boy wouldn't ask for death.

"I say yes. Take it. My life is yours." He gulped and held the lord's gaze bravely. The lord nodded once and snapped his fingers.

"Bring the priest." He watched the boy pale further, his skin now almost green in cast. He seemed to weaken and caught himself with a deep breath. The king couldn't hear what was going on and the audience watched in curiosity as well.

"How are you holding up, my son?" The old man asked the boy when he walked up. The gaze was gentle, loving and sympathetic. This child was adored by these people. The lord knew it in that moment. He had no chance of killing this innocent boy, not even for political reasons, and walking away unscathed. He very much feared that the death toll this day would become horrendous if he raised his sword.

"Alright father." The boy choked out. He thought he was getting his last rites. The lord quirked his mouth and prepared to shock them all.

"Begin the marriage rite, priest." He barked out. The priest stared at him dumbfounded. He snapped his fingers in irritation and pointed at the heavy tome in his hands. After fumbling for a moment, the book was opened. The young man started at the first line read and gasped in surprise.

"Marriage. The consecration of two souls joining for the rest of their lives in the light of the gods. We gather today to join these two souls as one future. Does any here object to their linking?" He paused as the room sucked in a breath. None dared speak. The boy turned to him slightly in confusion.

"What are you doing?" He hissed. It would seem he was resigned to dying but rather resistant to getting married.

"You gave your life to me. Living, dying, truly it does not matter to me. Look around you, prince. They want you living. I can see it in their eyes, on the tips of their lips, if we did not have swords to their necks they would be begging for your freedom. To save all these people all you need say is 'I do.' It is your choice, young prince." He whispered into the small shell of his ear. The prince shivered and blinked as the vows were read.

"Do you, Prince Colin, take this man, Lord Arthur of Blackburn, to be your sanctified husband?" The priest turned to him and all eyes bore into his soul as he made his decision.

"I... I do." He said firmly. A collective sigh was heard as the audience breathed out.

"And do you, Lord Arthur, take this man, Price Colin of Roadend, to be your sanctified husband?" The priest turned to the lord and now all eyes watched him. He grinned. He had won after all.

"I do." His voice was victorious. He saw the king's look of disbelief as he watched his only son wed his vanquisher.

"Then with the blessing of the gods, I pronounce you joined for life. Your souls connected for one future under the heavens. You may... uh... kiss to celebrate your holy vow." The priest looked awkwardly away and a murmur rose in the room. Lord Arthur turned to his new husband and grinned devilishly.

"Well? Are you going to kiss me then?" He teased. The boy looked up at the tall man in consternation. He looked around for a second, then scampered off to the side. Arthur frowned. Had he just run away from kissing him? Then the room groaned as a screech sounded. There was the boy, dragging a heavy golden chair across the marble floors, forcing everyone to raise their hands and cover their ears or suffer horribly.

"Sorry!" He huffed as the chair finally stood in front of Arthur. Colin climbed up onto the plush cushion with a fierce blush. He awkwardly pecked a soft kiss onto Lord Arthur's lips. Arthur's shock turned into laughter. He laughed so hard tears streamed from his eyes, breaking the tension in the room and loosening a whole crowd of relieved laughter.

"No boy, that was not a kiss." He pulled the shamefaced young man back and devoured his lips. A gasp allowed him access inside to lick and nip the young man's tongue in a deep, passionate kiss. When he drew back again, the boy stumbled and he caught him against him so he wouldn't fall. A hush had fallen over the room again. "That  is a kiss."

"Whoa." Prince Colin breathed. He felt boneless and let Lord Arthur help him to sit in the ornate chair before he fell off it. A few chuckles sounded at the stunned look on his face.

"All that is left is for you to abdicate, King Kaelan, and papers to be drawn. What say you?" He sauntered over to his pale-faced father-in-law. The king waved his arm in the direction of his secretary, and the man swooped forward with three others carrying a desk and chair. Furious scribbling and muttering between the men gave Colin time to recover.

He watched the boring parts of things rather listlessly: the abdication papers, the marriage documents, and the Blackburn border treaty documents that solved the problems that his father had created. That would settle the lords in the west down and restore peace once again. His father scrolled his signature. Lord Arthur signed his marriage documents first, and then had Prince Colin sign his name.

After that was complete he was able to sign the other document as Prince Arthur, accepting the passing of the crown as joint heir to the crown. Finally, signing the Blackburn Treaty as King Arthur and ending the years of hardship his people had endured. His relief was palpable, and the audience applauded in recognition of their hard work and good judgement. Lives had been lost, but many more deaths had been avoided. The former king removed his crown, staring at it with sadness.

"I had always hoped to give this to you, Colin." He muttered. Prince Colin smiled and jumped up. He moved in front of his father and held out his hands.

"Then do so if it will make you feel better. I will crown my husband." He smiled gently at his father. Kaelan looked up in relief. He handed the heavy gold circlet to his son. It was like a weight was lifted from his shoulders. He smiled and gave him a kiss on the cheek.

"May you find strength and courage in each other. Crown your king, my son." He bowed and watched as Colin turned with the circlet and approached his new husband and king. Arthur knelt this time, smiling at the young man encouragingly.

"King Arthur, I give you this crown as a symbol of your office. May all who see it rejoice in the strength and righteousness of their new king. Long live the King!" The prince placed the gold upon the dark curls of his husband firmly. Then he knelt low before him, along with every body in the room, and a chorus of "Long live the king!" rang out.

King Arthur rose and turned to a waiting servant. When he swung back around, he held the queen's crown. Colin had not seen it in years. It was last worn by his beloved mother, dead these five years past. The twisted leaves and roses encrusted with diamonds to look like dew might have seemed too feminine for some people, but in its beauty and memory Colin was happy to have it offered to him.

"King Colin, I give you this crown as a symbol of your office. May all who see it rejoice in the knowledge that I will be tempered with your kindness and intelligence. Arise husband, and let our people see their new kings." He placed the circlet on Colin's head as their people cheered. He took one hand in his and they walked to the waiting balcony for all to see.

A cheer rose from the crowd. Chanting through the streets began. Songs for blessings mingled with songs for the dead. It was a day to celebrate and a day to mourn. Families gathered, adjusted themselves to their new lives, and began the preparations to move on. The palace cleaned the halls, sorted the dead, prepared food for the living and planned for the future.

Loyalties were acknowledged. Living arrangements were sorted and moved to accommodate the new arrivals. Titles were traded, awarded to those who helped the new king and taken from those who no longer wished to serve their monarchs. The old made way for the new, with the exception of some wise council to help the new ruler. He may have been a new king, but he was not a wet-behind-the-ears leader.

Colin felt like he was in a whirlwind. Everyone around him was busy, moving, planning, or something. He watched. He waited. He had no idea what was expected of him exactly. He went back to his old routine, only his rooms were moved into the queen's suite instead. His furniture and drapery were all taken down and rebuilt in the bedroom.

He would have been fine with leaving his mother's carved bed in there, but his father had insisted he make the space his own. All of his clothes, his books and his boots were brought in chests and stored in drawers. When a week had passed of furious rearranging, the feast was finally announced. He was bathed and perfumed by the servants, then dressed in his absolute best.

His hair was arranged with the golden crown perched among his artistically arranged curls. He was draped in the long trailing cloak of velvet and fur his mother used to wear. The dark blue and black fur were making his pale features and white satin finery stand out like torchlight. Heavy gold necklaces and a wide gold belt finished the grandeur. He thought he looked ridiculous, but the staff were all in tears with joy so he just smiled and thanked them.

He walked carefully out to the top of the stairs, looking down upon the lords and ladies of the court silently. He felt another slide up next to him and turned slightly to see his husband looking just as magnificent as he. Colin drew in a shaky breath as he took in the sheer size and beauty of his husband, only accentuated by the clothes that had been forced upon him.

He recognized the matching cloak as the one his father once wore to grand affairs of state; only on rare occasions was it brought out. The rich black satin tunic and breeches he wore looked new, and perfectly fitted to his form. They had made him dark to Colin's light, black to Colin's white, and it worked so well for his dark locks and stunning blue eyes.

Arthur reached a hand out and took Colin's sweaty hand in his. He gave a reassuring smile before holding it up slightly and beginning the decent to the room below. All conversation stopped as they were announced. Colin kept his head held high and concentrated on not tripping over his own feet or embarrassing his husband. He usually walked in behind his father, so he wasn't used to all the stares.

"King Arthur and King Colin of Blackburn. Long live our kings!"

"Long live our kings!"  The whole assembly called back as they descended. They then had to greet each noble family on a raised platform with gilded chairs and draped banners that had the Blackburn crest on them. Some of the nobles seemed surprised at the change of livery since they wore the crowns and robes with Colin's family colours.

"Your majesty, why did you not keep your father's name? Was it not Arthur who married into your family for the crown?" A rather florid dressed noble with his nose in the air asked Colin. The boy could not help himself, he laughed. Arthur looked over with surprise, not having heard the man.

"Not that it is any of your business, but Arthur will be your king in office and I will be an advisor. My job will be to keep this palace running smoothly so he may do his job. I would suggest, if you value your position, that you treat him with the respect he deserves as your new ruler and my new husband." The young king raised his eyebrows at the man and dispassionately watched him blush and stutter.

"Thank you love. I must admit, I like hearing you defend me. Did you mean it? Will you help me?" He leaned over to murmur. Colin nodded and smiled gently to him. Some of the nobles' daughters sighed at the sight. They were sure it was love at first sight for the prince and his husband. They huddled in a corner gossiping about it when the introductions were done, imagining the Lord Arthur swooping in on a black steed and sweeping Prince Colin off to elope during the fighting.

The banquet began after a table was brought out and set between the two kings and servants brought out dishes of food for them to choose from. Colin told Arthur about his favorite foods and mentioned that they should go riding one morning if the king could get away. He promised to make time for his new husband, which in turn made Colin blush madly in front of everyone. Arthur grinned at how adorable his husband could be.

Arthur watched the graceful movements of his hands and the sensual way he nibbled at the foods he liked. He shifted in his heavy clothes and tried to take his mind off of his nether regions. Every laugh and smile sent his way made it harder and harder to do. He wanted his husband. As a man wanted another man in his bed. The boy was so young, barely eighteen if he remembered correctly, but that did not seem to matter to his other mind.

Especially not tonight, when he looked so delectably elegant and smelled like a summers day. Not when his curls shone in the candlelight and his smile lit up the room. He breathed carefully, slowing his rhythm down so to control himself. Courses of food were brought before him but he only wanted one dish. It was not until nearly dessert when his husband noticed something was up. He caught one of the heated stares sent his way and froze.

For an infinite minute, they stared into each others eyes. Then they looked away. Colin was blushing madly and Arthur was grinning. Colin shifted in his seat. Another dish was served. Arthur offered a piece to Colin with his fingers, held up as a lover might when wooing. Colin hesitated only a moment before accepting the piece into his mouth. His lips grazed the fingers holding it and they both nearly moaned.

It was the first contact they had since that passionate kiss on the first day. Their wedding day. Slowly it occurred to Arthur that he had not yet 'consummated' their vows. Although Colin would not have the same kind of proof of innocence, nor could he beget heirs, that did not exempt him from the last binding part of the marriage ceremony.

Arthur began to woo him in earnest right there in front of the nobles, so none could doubt that their vows and marriage would be legal, binding, and very real. Colin was nervous and flattered by this wondrous attention from his husband. They told each other about how handsome each looked. Arthur complimented him on his manners and poise. Colin thanked him for his hard work on the festivities and cleaning up the capitol city.

Arthur fed him bites of desserts and poured his wine. When the music was brought out, he took off his heavy cloak and begged Colin to open the dancing with him. He accepted and they danced their first as husbands and kings. Colin thought it might be hard to follow instead of lead, but it was not so bad. He only stepped on Arthur's toes a few times, and Arthur covered the blunders so well they were sure no one had noticed.

That was the best part of the night to Arthur. Having his husband in his arms in front of everyone. Nay, just having him in his arms. He rather wished to continue holding him well into the night. Duty however called them to preside over the evening a little longer, until the nobles were noisy from drink and less likely to notice if they wanted to slip away.

Then Arthur took his husband's hand in his and gently tugged him to the back doorway. Colin's father looked over in alarm and that alerted a few of Arthur's men. They came forward at a run with grins on their faces. Arthur took no chances to wait, grasped a worried Colin's hand firmly in his and pulled him out the door at a jog. The poor boy was having troubles keeping up and the rowdy crowd began to gain on them in the hall.

Arthur laughed like mad and scooped Colin into his arms so he could run full speed. Colin wasn't sure what was going on, but giggled at the group chasing them and the determined dash of his husband through the corridors. Some servants laughed as they passed, alternately encouraging the kings or the group in pursuit. Finally, they reached the servants' stairwell and they dashed up it. Once in Arthur's suite, he put Colin down and bolted the door just before the group began pounding and cheering.

"I'm sorry. I was trying to sneak us away but it seems I failed." He winced at the lewd comments from the drunks on the other side of the door. He looked over at his husband, who was adorable really with his crooked crown and fierce blush. He bit one lip as a rather ribald song began to filter through in various off-key tones.

"It's alright. It was my father's fault. If he hadn't looked so alarmed when we were leaving we might've gotten away." He sounded worried and rather faint from the whole ordeal. Arthur pulled him away from the noise and into the bedroom, shutting the door and stopping the annoying noise. He turned to Colin and watched him try to pull the crown from his now tousled hair. He chuckled and reached over to help him.

"You look pretty alarmed yourself, love. You know I would never hurt you intentionally, right?" He stroked the soft curls into some semblance of order as Colin looked up at him with his big amber eyes. His golden prince.

"Yes. I know. I am just nervous. I have never done this before." His husband whispered. Arthur couldn't help himself and leaned in for a sweet kiss. He coaxed Colin's tongue to tangle gently with his. He raked his fingers into the glorious gold locks and held him close. He felt the soft, tentative touch of his love as he put his hands upon his waist to hold him as well.

An unconscious growl came from his lips as he began tugging at the silken clothing separating him from the delectable body beneath. Soft gold broke and clattered to the floor in his haste to remove the chains and belts that constricted their movements. He did not slow, not even when Colin squeaked at the feel of warm hands lifting his tunic over his head.

He removed pieces of his own clothing as well, allowing Colin to see the muscular scarred warrior beneath the finery. The boy stroked his soft hands over the pale scars that crisscrossed his husband's skin. Arthur drew him against his firm chest so they were pressed together and resumed his exploration of Colin's mouth. It was warm, wet and tasted of sweets from dessert.

They were startled apart when they heard a loud bang. The voices came through the door again. This time they were slurring and shouting that they wanted to watch. Arthur scowled. He burst open the door to face the crowd. Everyone on the other side quieted for a moment while he glared them down. He pointed a finger to each of them in turn.

"If you are not gone in one notch, I will have you executed and banish your families forever." He slammed the door shut in the silence and bolted the second door shut. Colin was staring in shock at him, covering his chest in modesty or surprise. "What? I am joking. Actually maybe I'm not. Who knows." He took a couple strides and pulled Colin with him towards the bed.

He flopped onto the bed after dropping his trousers and motioned for Colin to do the same. The young man hesitated as he stared at the gorgeous nakedness of his husband in front of him. My goodness the man seemed to have muscles everywhere. His skill with swordsmanship and riding seemed to imprint themselves on his body with tight, firm muscles. Colin licked his lips and noted that a certain part of Arthur reacted strongly to the act.

"Quit teasing me and get over here." He grumbled to Colin, making a reach for him and grabbing him about the waist just as he was leaning down to remove the last of his garments. They were removed for him as he was laid out on the coverlet. He shivered at the silky fabric and the warm slide of Arthur's skin. The hot body was stretched out next to him and Arthur grabbed his hands to place on his chest. He was silently encouraging him to touch and explore as he wished.

In turn his own body was stroked from the crook of his neck to the backs of his knees and all the small nooks and crannies in between. Arthur tickled his soft spots and stroked his sensitive ones. He made Colin arch and moan, his c*ck standing hard and proud between them. Then his hands moved on the sensitive flesh, stroking and driving Colin to distraction with his skilled touch.

He cried out when he couldn't hold back any longer and spilled his seed onto his own stomach. Arthur tasted it, despite his protests. Then he took the slippery fluid onto his fingers and rubbed it over the puckered hole he soon planned on entering. He pushed his finger in, then pulled it out slowly. Over and over again he teased the small hole with the seed slicked fingers.

He bent down and slurped up the remaining fluid on Colin's stomach. Then he lifted the boy's legs high and set to spitting into the hole and working the fluids down inside to prepare him. He used his tongue to tease the muscles and stretched the opening gently with more digits. Colin panted from the strange sensations and tried not to flinch at the pulling.

Arthur turned him around to his stomach and propped his backside into the air with the fine feather pillows. He went to his drawers and took out some lotion to ease his passage. First he coated himself in the cool goop, then he smeared it into his husband's hole. Satisfied that he had done everything he could to make this easier on the young man, he positioned himself at the entrance.

"Are you ready, Colin? I am sorry, but this part may hurt some. I will go slowly and you may ask me to stop at any moment." He stroked the boy's back and waited for his nod. He pressed himself into the centre of the pucker and waited for Colin to take a deep breath. When he did, it relaxed the opening enough to slide his head in. The boy gasped beneath him and clutched the bed covers.

"Are you sure that is going to fit? It seemed awfully large to me." He trembled and shifted, making Arthur groan at the slide of skin. He kissed the back of his neck and whispered into his ear.

"I am sure. However, if you do not want it to hurt, please do not squirm around so. I may lose my head with your sweet body teasing me." Colin stilled and Arthur pressed forward further. The lotion made the slide easier but the girth was such that both felt the tight pinch of Colin's virginity keenly. Arthur slowed at the next ring. Waiting for the boy as he panted and tried not to clench or move to much.

"Maybe you should just shove it all in and get it over with." Colin said artlessly. Arthur laughed and shook his head.

"Nay child. That could tear you open. I'll not risk it. Be patient. It will adjust slowly and then I will make you feel so good this will all be forgotten." He slid in further as he spoke to his lover. When Colin was distracted, he relaxed his muscles. Now that Arthur knew this he used it to his advantage. He whispered dirty things into the boy's ear about how he would touch him and taste him.

Colin panted and unconsciously pushed back onto his rod. That had both of them hissing from the stretch and heat. Then Arthur pulled out nearly to his tip and thrust back in gently. They both cried out together at the sweet slide. Arthur braced over Colin's body and did it again. Each thrust allowing him greater depth and making them moan.

"Gods be praised. Arthur go faster." The guileless boy begged beneath him. Arthur leaned forward and bit his shoulder in punishment for the pain it caused him to ignore those orders. The surprised yelp beneath him made him smile and roll his hips a bit. That caused an even better reaction as Colin shivered and cried out louder.

"Did you like that boy? I'll do it again if you liked it." He growled into his ear. Colin began begging him to do it again. So he did it on each thrust in at the deepest point until Colin tensed beneath him and arched with another loud shout. The clamping down on his rod was near painful but the shuddering of the muscles clenching around his c*ck was heavenly.

He couldn't hold back any longer and shot his seed deep inside Colin's backside. He heard the boy sigh beneath him with content and chuckled. He pulled himself from inside and turned the young man onto his back. A bit of his seed leaked onto the coverlet near where Colin had shot his load. He stroked the boy's long lean legs and crawled up between them for a deep kiss.

"That was incredible." Colin purred after they broke apart.

"Whosaid it was over?" Arthur grinned at raised brows parted lips of his newhusband and dove in for more.