Chapter Text
Char pursed his lips, eyes squinted in concentration. On the one hand, a well-made olive tunic with pockets on both sides and a decent leather belt—a bit expensive but not unreasonably so, given the war and all—but it was clearly a boy’s tunic. On the other, a simple white tunic, much more affordable and made for a girl. Char pursed his lips further.
He would’ve picked the olive tunic—it was clearly the best garment—but considering the whole incident earlier, Char was uncertain if, perhaps, Ella would appreciate girl’s clothing more?
Damn it. Does it really matter?
The fact those two tunics were the only ones which could fit a child Ella’s size wasn’t helping matters.
“M-May I help you, sir?” a shy voice said behind him and Char turned around to see a young girl standing there, eyes barely meeting his, and cheeks as red as tomatoes.
Char let out his most affable smile.
“Yes, perhaps. If you had to pick between these two tunics for yourself—Char pointed at the two in question—which one would you choose?”
“For your daughter, I take it?” the girl said, her cheeks turning even redder as Char made eye contact with her.
“Indeed.”
The girl didn’t hesitate, she chose the olive one. “It’s a boy’s tunic, but it’s far prettier.”
Huh. “I’ll take it, then. Oh, and a bonnet, if you have one?”
The girl smiled coyly and nodded. Char paid for the garments—including two newer ones for himself and One Eye, and some undergarments—and winked at girl as she handed him the change, pleased to see the blush of his cheeks spread all over to her nose and neck.
He didn’t consider himself a flirt, or particularly vain, but the girl’s attention had lifted his spirits. He knew people—men and women alike—had found him attractive before. It was nice to know he could still draw some looks his way…despite of his current state.
And feeling better than he had in days, Char made his way back to the inn. It was nearly sundown and the market had died down. The merchants were already gathering their goods and packing up. Perhaps this is why the crowd gathered at the main square drew his attention as he passed.
It seemed like a big commotion was taking place as Char approached them. The babble of their agitated voices was getting louder and clearer the closer he got, until he was also able to distinguish the words being spoken.
“…three long years…”
“…so it has finally happen’d?”
“…that’s what they said…”
“…the Prince’s army surrendered.” A woman said, her face full of chagrin.
Char came to a sudden halt and stopped breathing.
“But what of Prince Charmont?” asked another.
“Dead. None has seen ‘im in weeks, that’s whot the Regent’s men say,” added an old man.
“If ya ask me, the Regent did it. He had Prince Charmont killed,” said another voice.
“‘Course ‘e did! Bloody coward!”
“Well I say good riddance,” declared a middle-aged man, whose finer garments spoke of a wealthier villager, “It would’ve been Charmont’s royal ass on the throne but Sir Robert the voice speaking on his ear.”
The crowd erupted in protests at the brazen statement.
“Better Sir Robert than the Regent, if ya ask me!” replied a burly man.
“At least Sir Edgar has royal blood, unlike that Robert.. And wasn’t the Regent actually the first—”
“Are you daft? The Regent banned magic! That bodes ill for us all!”
Char couldn’t keep listening. He turned around and quickly walked away, the voices fading once more to an undistinguishable murmur behind him.
*|*|*
Char paused at the door of their rented room at the inn. He could feel his heart hammering wildly in his chest as he turned the doorknob and stepped inside. He was greeted by the sight of Ella still asleep on one of the beds and One Eye sitting on the edge of the opposite one, towelling his damp hair—bare as the day he was born. Char dropped the things he’d purchased on the floor.
At the sound of Char’s return, One Eye raised his head to acknowledge him. With a lightning speed Char hadn’t known he’d possessed, he reached the other man in a matter of seconds and practically jumped him, knocking him back on the bed and kissing him as if his life depended on it.
For a couple of confusing seconds, One Eye remained unresponsive yet Char kept kissing him undeterred, alternating between sucking and nibbling on One Eye’s lower lip, as he buried his fingers in that rich mane of greying brown hair. Between one kiss and the next, however, Char heard One Eye draw a sharp breath and found himself being kissed back, calloused hands roaming across the expanse of his back and sides.
One Eye’s hands were all over his tunic, fervently pulling and tugging in an uncoordinated attempt to disrobe him. Char laughed as he saw One Eye give him an exasperated look. Taking pity on him, Char got rid of the offending garment. No sooner had the tunic moved past his nose, Char found himself pinned against the bed, their positions reversed, and a pair of strong hands digging roughly at his hipbones. Char let out a hiss against the lips which were now parting for him so they could deepen their kiss.
Char grunted as he finally, finally, got that delicious friction of skin against skin; he could feel the scrape of the other man’s chest hair against his nipples, the wetness of One Eye’s hair on his fingers…and the rasp of his damned undergarments against his legs and lower belly. Char sneaked a hand between their bodies with the intention of undoing the laces of his breeches to pull them down and off him, but his hand accidentally brushed a much more interesting part of One Eye’s anatomy and Char got sidetracked.
“Fuck yes!” Char gasped as he shot a hand down to stroke One Eye’s hardness. Despite his young years, Char considered he had seen his fair number of cocks and in his humble opinion, One Eye’s was just the right size in both length and girth.
One Eye huffed and squished his eyes shut. Char smirked as he continued his ministrations until he felt a hand on his wrist and a second later found it pinned above his head in One Eye’s unrelenting grip.
Char let out a moan and lifted his hips, wrapping his right leg around One Eye’s back, causing their crotches to align. He began to canter his hips, trying to get some friction between them. The marked man seemed to catch on and shifted them a bit, sliding one of his legs between Char’s own to better accomplish the task.
“Fuck…” Char muttered as he held onto One Eye’s lower back, making sure to drag as much of his blunt nails across the expanse of skin he could reach.
One Eye grunted and bit Char’s chin before rubbing his forehead and nose on his cheek, panting hotly on his ear. Char dug his nails harder on the small of the other man’s back, making him hiss. Suddenly, One Eye began to trail kisses and bites al along Char’s jaw.
“Yes!” Char hissed as soon as he felt One Eye sucking at the skin on his throat. Just before the pain became too much, however, the marked man began lapping at the bruised skin, soothing it immediately.
“Yes! Come on, come on! Get on with it!” Char whispered breathily with certain desperation, and all of the sudden, One Eye stopped moving. Char’s eyes snapped open. “What’s wrong?”
One Eye was looking at him, as if deliberating what to do next.
“Is this your first time with a man?” Char asked, trying to quell the anxiety building behind his ribs at the sudden rejection, “It’s okay. I know what to do. Just, come back here and — ” as Char tried to pull One Eye back against him, the marked man closed his eye, let out an exasperated sigh, and proceeded to fully lift himself from Char, sitting instead at the farthest edge of the bed.
“What’s the matter?” Char inquired, sitting up and crawling towards One Eye, “You want this, I want this, why not let it happen?!” Char demanded, his voice raising higher, anxiety turning into irritation.
One Eye put a finger to his lips, shushing him, and then stood up from the bed, making his way to the bathroom but Char launched himself at the other man and grabbed his hand, a sudden panic gripping him.
“Don’t go!” Char heard himself plead. “Don’t go. I…” Char didn’t know what to say, his mind was a jumble between lingering arousal, embarrassment, anger, guilt, and confusion. “Just…stay here. Stay with me. Please?”
One Eye turned his head to look at Char and Char patted a spot in the bed, next to him. “Please.” He repeated. One Eye squinted his eyes, seemingly deep in thought, and then returned to bed to sit beside him.
Char was still holding One Eye’s hand when the other man sat back down on the bed — a tense silence between them, neither looking at each other. Then Char lay down on the mattress, tugging lightly at the other man’s hand — a request One Eye seemed to understand, for he lay down next to Char and held him, to Char’s surprise.
One Eye’s warm breath tickled the back of Char’s neck and Char brought a hand to caress the firm forearm holding him tight. Char was hit by a waft of sandalwood from the soaps and allowed himself to relax. He didn’t fall asleep, and neither did One Eye. They just lay on the bed, holding each other. Cuddling, Char’s mind supplied, and Char felt his cheeks redden. He’d never cuddled. It wasn’t the sort of indulgence he could afford with his previous lovers; the risk of being discovered outside the castle walls grew higher the closer morning came upon him, so he’d always left as soon as the fun was over.
So it was with a certain giddiness that Char discovered cuddling felt nice. And somehow, with One Eye’s arms around him and his head resting on the man’s shoulder, it felt like the most intimate thing he’d ever done.
“I’m sorry,” he mumbled, caressing the hairs covering One Eye’s marked arm. One Eye gave him a tight squeeze.
Char sat up, reluctantly, and looked at One Eye. In the dying light of the fireplace, his skin was glowing in beautiful shades of orange. And for the first time, Char took in the startling lack of facial hair in the other man. He let out a huff and ran his fingers across the smooth expanse of One Eye’s cheeks, trailing the sharp cheekbones with fascination. “You shaved and I hadn’t even noticed.”
Char’s fingers ended their journey on One Eye’s lips, whose peculiar shape Char was now able to study in more detail.
“You have very pouty lips,” he said lowly as he bent down and kissed them, “I like that.” Char said against the other’s lips and kissed them again.
Char still wasn’t sure how much One Eye understood of what he was saying, and how much was intuition, but he didn’t dwell on it. Because right then, the atmosphere between them was pleasant and relaxed.
There had just been so much in his mind and sex had seemed the best alternative to let off some of the tension. Yet One Eye wasn’t like the men and women he’d gone to bed with after a few drinks at disreputable taverns, following an argument with his uncle. One Eye was…more. And he deserved better. They both did.
Char kissed One Eye again. “You were right to stop. I…I wasn’t thinking clearly. I want you, I really do…but when we next do this, it’ll be for the right reasons.” He whispered against the other man’s lips.
The sun began to set as both men traded gentle kisses and caresses, so it was with much reluctance that Char allowed his lower lip to roll out of One Eye’s teeth and pulled back.
“I have an appointment to keep but I’ll be back as soon as I’m done.” Char said, cupping the marked man’s face and forced some distance between them. One Eye gave him one last kiss and Char stood up. He retrieved the things he’d left on the floor and handed One Eye the clothes he’d purchased for them. Then he left.
*|*|*
Char looked around the tavern, trying to find Sir Mallory amongst the other patrons but when it was clear his guardsman wasn’t there, he ordered a pint of beer and sat at one of the tables at the back. And waited.
He was chugging his third pint when he spotted a clocked figure walking towards him. When Sir Mallory sat opposite to him, Char could see he was fidgeting, and he had a strong hunch why. Better to get it over and done with then.
“I know.” Char stated and the color drain from Sir Mallory’s skin. It was as if he’d even forgotten how to breathe. “I heard some of the villagers speaking of Sir Robert’s surrendering.” Char continued, setting his pint back on the table. Sir Mallory somehow seemed relieved? Well, perhaps at having been spared to be messenger of such bad news. Still, he refused to look Char in the eye and began scratching the back of his neck.
“Your—" Sir Mallory cleared his throat and tried again, “The Regent met with Sir Robert earlier this week, at the Mountain Fortress in Emir. He accused Sir Robert of covering the news of your, ehm, your death. It all went downhill from there. He sent letters to all the noble families. Many withdrew their support, as you can imagine. And, well, um, Sir Robert was forced to surrender.”
“So they all think I’m dead?”
“Y-yes.”
“Even Sir Robert?”
Sir Mallory scratched an itch from his arm, then his neck again, before replying “He…he thinks Edgar has you kidnapped. That you’re rotting in one of the Fortress’s dungeons,” Sir Mallory swallowed audibly, “He says that if you’re still alive, you won’t be for much longer. That Edgar isn’t the sort to make the same mistake twice,” the man finally made eye contact with Char at that, but lowered his gaze quickly afterwards.
Char knew the words were true. If Edgar had killed him instead of simply imprisoning him in Frell Castle when he came of age, there would’ve been none to contest the throne. Char often wondered why his uncle hadn't done so in the first place. Affection? Char shook his head. No, that didn’t matter anymore. Not when Edgar had forced his hand, when he’d plunged their kingdom into a civil war…no. Edgar’s mistake would be his undoing, Char would make sure of that.
“So he isn’t planning a daring rescue this time, I take it.” Char asked, trying for a bit of humour.
“N-no.”
“Good thing I’m not rotting at some dank dungeon then,” Char grabbed his pint and gulped down the rest of it. “I need to contact Sir Robert. Where is he?”
“Here.”
Char balked at that. “Really?” He couldn’t fight down the smile on his face. For once, it seemed like he had good fortune on his side. “Why?”
Sir Mallory ran a hand across his face. “Edgar had him exiled. Like the rest of the men loyal to you.”
“What?!” Char let out, causing a few heads to turn in their direction.
“Yeah, to the Cursed Land.” Sir Mallory replied, voice even lower than before “ Sir Edgar sent—I mean, rumour has it, that your uncle sent messages to Ayortha and Navarre, threatening to raise taxes on seafaring goods if they gave your men shelter.”
“Uncle always did know how to drive a hard bargain.” Char reflected. Ayortha was their only neighbouring country — aside from Vinland — and given that Ayortha was inland, with no access to the sea, they were highly dependant on the trading routes crossing Kyrria to get their merchandise to Navarre, a country across the Gleaming Sea.
“Is Sir Robert at the outpost?” Char asked.
“Just until tonight. They—I mean—we, are preparing to march into the Forlorn Forest at dawn tomorrow.”
“How many?”
“1,500 men.”
Char nodded, taking in all the information. A little over a thousand men was not an army that could take on Edgar’s soldiers. Fuck. “Tell Sir Robert I’m alive. Tell him to buy as much time as he can tomorrow, for I will come meet him at the outpost.” Char stared at the foam of his beer, watched it trickling down, down to the bottom of the chapped wooden mug.
“Why don’t you disappear, Sir?” Sir Mallory asked instead and Char felt his neck snap with how fast he raised his head.
“What?”
“It’s not too late, y-you know? Have a life, far from here. Take a wife, have children…start over.”
Char smiled at that. “I often thought about it. Back when I was a boy…probably more in these last couple of days.” The fantasy came to him again as he spoke: a cozy cabin, far away from court and politics. Yet this time, instead of some faceless maiden there was One Eye with baked pies on the kitchen windowsill and nights of hot sex by the fireplace, trying to keep quiet in order not to wake Ella up — never mind probably neither of them could bake.
“Then why not?” Sir Mallory asked, genuinely curious.
“Because I have a responsibility to this people.”
“But that responsibility falls on your uncle now.”
“Yes, and look what he’s done!” Char’s voice rose again, attracting the attention of the people closest to them once more. Char shook his head. “My life…my cozy-cabin life would be ruined for me, knowing I didn’t do my best to fight for what was right.”
Sir Mallory sat back on his chair, arms crossed over his chest, as he pondered on the answer.
“What if the fight costs you your life, Your Highness?”
“Then I’ll die with a clear conscience.” It amazed Char how true the statement was.
Sir Mallory fell silent again and then, he lurched forward, elbows on the table and his face hidden in his hands.
“Your Highness I…I’m sorry. I f-failed you, back in the forest, and—”
Char placed a resign hand on one of the man’s arms.
“There’s nothing to be sorry for. This morning I counted you among the dead. It’s a relief to see you’re still of this world.”
Sir Mallory removed his hands. “Had more men the courage to uphold their principles, Your Highness. Yet many of us are weak.”
Char didn’t know what could be an appropriate reply to that. Sir Mallory hadn't failed him. “Just inform Sir Robert of my arrival. I still think our cause can be saved but we need to act quickly.”
Sir Mallory nodded. “I’ll let him know you live. Meet us at the campsite before dawn. It’ll be safest.”
“Thank you, Sir Mallory.”
“N-No, sir. No need to thank me yet.”
Char paid his tab and retired once more to their room, where he found Ella and One Eye sitting on the floor, near the fireplace. The girl was chatting lively with One Eye in Vin while she happily tied One Eye’s hair in its customary bun. Char saw with no small amount of delight that she was wearing the tunic and bonnet he’d purchased for her.
“Hey, what’s going on?” Char said, making his presence known.
Ella turned to look at him. “I was telling One Eye about this dream I had, of when I first met him.”
“Oh, okay.” Char exchanged a look with One Eye, who seemed content to have his ear talked off by Ella.
“And thank you. For the clothes.” Ella said with a genuine smile.
“Don’t mention it.” Char added with feigned nonchalance. He then sat with them, close enough to One Eye to feel the heat radiating from the other man. Ella continued talking but Char's thoughts immediately drowned her voice out. He wanted to touch One Eye — lean into him, intertwine their fingers, rub shoulders…just, something. Like this, it was difficult not to remember the earlier events, the feel of those rugged hands on his—
“So, did you meet the man from the market?” Ella asked suddenly, blissfully unaware of the thoughts she’d just pulled Char from.
“Ye-Yes,” Char cleared his throat, earning a curious glance from One Eye, “He’ll arrange for us to meet with Sir Robert tomorrow.”
“So you’ll be a prince again.”
“Yes. I suppose in a way I will.”
“Don’t you like being a prince?” Ell asked, turning from One Eye to him.
“The royalty has many responsibilities.”
“But you get to live in a castle and have thousands of nice clothes, and horses, and all the food you want.”
If only that were all, Char thought sadly. “True, but a king or queen has the responsibility to look after his people, and that’s a very difficult task. You think you’re doing what’s best for them, but you can’t please them all. It’s like trying to be friends with everybody; it’s impossible.”
“But I think you’ll make a good king. Many people like you. And when you make people mad at you, you find a way to make them happy again.”
“Glad to know I have at least one ardent supporter,” Char replied sarcastically.
“I’m not the only one, silly. One Eye is your friend too. Even if you didn’t like him at first.”
Char looked at One Eye and, upon finding him staring back, he let out a soft smile.
“Well, he did try to kill me,” Char retorted as ways of an explanation, “but he’s proven to be a very reliable partner.” Char held One Eye’s gaze even as he felt warmth spreading to his cheeks.
Ella stood up and sat closer to One Eye and said something to him in Vin. One Eye gave her a nod and Ella turned to Char.
“He says he likes you too.”
“Oh, I know.” Char replied smugly, the urge to touch the other man getting stronger.
Ella ran her hands across One Eye’s cheeks. “He looks better without the beard doesn’t he?” Ella asked but it was as if she wasn’t expecting an answer, since she continued talking in a flurry of Vin, making One Eye smile. For his part, Char wholeheartedly agreed, although he was fond of the scruffy look too. He liked the feeling of a scratchy stubble.
Suddenly, Char felt a fingers brushing his thigh and felt his body shiver. Discretely, he moved his hand and placed it atop of One Eye's. It was good, knowing both of them wanted this. All they had to do now was wait for Ella to fall asleep again...which was totally possible, right?
*|*|*
The hour grew late and while Ella still seemed awake enough to keep talking, both him and One Eye were clearly struggling to keep their eyes open.
“Ella, I think it’s gotten a bit late and we should really get some rest.”
“I’m not tired.”
No, of course not, you slept all afternoon. “Indeed, but that’s youth for you. We, however, do require some sleep.”
“I’ll get bored.”
“Ella, just go to bed now.” The child rose to her feet and crawled beneath the covers despite her loud protests that she wasn't tired.
Char patted One Eye on the shoulder and tilted his head towards the bed. One Eye nodded and stood up.
“Aren’t we all sleeping together?” Ella asked as soon as she saw the two men climb onto the remaining bed together.
Fuck, no. “Wouldn’t you rather get to have that bed all for yourself?” Char asked, trying to mask his irritation.
“I’ll get lonely.”
“How come this wasn’t an issue all those nights in Vinland?”
“We all slept together.”
“Well, all three of us won’t fit in just one bed.” Char replied, getting exasperated.
“Then can One Eye sleep with me?”
Char closed his eyes and winced. Fuck his luck. He was so tired he doubted anything would happen between them, anyway, but still, he’d thought at least they’d get to share a bed. Apparently not.
“Ask him, then.”
Ella did. One Eye sighed and Char took comfort in their shared frustration. Then One Eye leaned down, gave Char a quick peck on the lips, and went to sleep with Ella, who gladly scooted over to make room for him.
Char’s mind took a second to recover from that quick kiss but once he processed it, he tried not to feel too disappointed at losing against a nine-year-old.
*|*|*
It was the dip on the mattress what roused Char. For a moment, he blinked blearily at the darkness as his eyes focused on what was happening. As soon as his brain made out One Eye’s face, Char was definitely awake.
“Wha—” He muttered but One Eye clamped his hand over his mouth. With the agility of a snake, he slithered on top of him and Char wasn’t exactly certain why this was happening but found he couldn’t care less.
One Eye placed a finger on his lips in a shushing gesture and Char nodded eagerly. Yes, they had to keep quiet lest they wake Ella up. Char immediately opened his legs wide to accommodate the other man’s body between his thighs and bit back a sigh, already feeling aroused.
One Eye looked at him with a very puzzled look and…and that wasn’t quite the reaction Char had been aiming for. Yet before he could say or do anything else he heard a creak on the wooden floor and his body tensed. Someone was outside their room.
The doorknob rattled a few times before the door opened with a faint creek. One Eye moved his hand slowly underneath Char’s pillow and retrieved a dagger Char had no idea had even been there in the first place.
The footfalls stopped by Ella’s bed — which was the closest one to the door — before moving on to the next one. Char only had a second to catch the glint of a blade before One Eye turned and in a quick swish slit the man’s throat. The stranger gurgled as the blade he held in his hand clattered loudly on the floor, followed by the thud of the body itself. The noises awoke Ella with a gasp and both men were quickly up, Char rushing to Ella’s side while One Eye ran to the door to inspect the hallway.
“What’s going on?” Ella asked, fear and confusion clear on her voice.
“Nothing.” Was Char’s immediate answer but, upon reflection, he elaborated, “An intruder.” Ella must have seen the corpse because he felt her stiffen. “It’s fine, One Eye killed him.”
Satisfied that there were no others, One Eye returned to the room and locked the door behind him.
“Stay here.” Char instructed Ella as he set to light a candle. Blood quickly spread across the wooden floor from the clean cut on the man’s throat. The innkeeper was sure to make a fuss about that in the morning.
Char kneeled down and turned the body over. The man himself was a stranger, clad only in a very nondescript tunic and a hood. The blade itself was equally unremarkable – no coat of arms, no fancy materials. It was a blade any farmer could purchase from any regular blacksmith. Char began to pat the pockets of the man and felt something small and hard in the trousers. He fumbled for it, and after a few attempts he managed to retrieve a gold ring from an inside pocket. Char brought the ring closer to the candlelight and saw the inlaid of a snake curled on a staff — Edgar’s coat of arms.
It shouldn’t have felt like a blow but it did. His uncle knew he was alive and had sent an assassin after him. Char should have expected it. After all, hadn’t he just agreed that Edgar wouldn’t make the same mistake twice? Char curled his fingers around the ring, feeling the edges push against his sweaty palms.
He had to find Sir Robert.
Char pocketed the ring in the pouch of coins Sir Mallory had given him and stood up. First things first. They had to deal with the assassin’s body. Char lit a candle in the bathroom to get some light, away from the window, and then undid the bed. He placed the sheets on the bathroom floor and bent over to grab the dead man by the armpits. One Eye quickly moved to grab the feet and together they moved the corpse and rolled it in the bed sheets. Then, with their used towels and a bucket of water, Char and One Eye wiped away the trail of blood they had left behind and emptied the bloodied water on the tub once they were done.
Wordlessly, both men began to pack their belongings. Not that they had much, but Char was definitely taking the toiletries. Improvising a sack from their discarded clothes, Char put everything they had to carry and tied a knot at the top.
Once they were ready, Char pointed to the corpse. One Eye nodded and slung it over his shoulder. They couldn’t just leave a dead man there to be found by the chambermaid, could they? Moreover, it was possible one of his men could recognise him.
Char grabbed Ella by the hand and left the inn as silently as they could. Char only stopped at the innkeeper’s desk to leave the key and an extra gold coin—for the blood-stained towels.
It was certainly past midnight but still dark enough outside to safely scurry around the streets of Malpast with One Eye carrying a dead body rolled in sheets over his shoulders.
This was it. Soon, Ella, One Eye, and him would be standing before the encampment of the 1,500 men still loyal to Prince Charmont. With a certain amount of trepidation, Char kept on walking. At their current pace, they should be arriving at the camp during the early hours of the morning and Char had much to discuss with Sir Robert.
/*|*|*\