My Prince

Title: My Prince
Author: Fyre Faerie
Pairing: Javey, Adam/Hunter
Summary: In the ancient world two princes come together.
Archive: Sure, just drop me a note and tell me where it is.
Rating: R
Status: complete
Disclaimer: I don't own anything other than the OCs.
Warnings: AU (severely an AU), MPREG
Authors notes: Don't really know where this came from but I wrote it in about eight hours. Hope you enjoy it.

Prologue
Davey looked out over the lands that could be viewed from the back of his caravan. They were pretty and so different from his own land in the sands of northern Egypt.
Sighing he rested his chin on his knees as he relaxed into the rocking of the elephant that carried his enclosure. Beside him his best friend and official companion, Adam, gave him a brief smile. "It'll be okay, Davey... I mean, King Argas is known for his wealth. You'll be covered in jewels and silk for the rest of your life."
"And it's well known that he's killed his last four mates. I might be covered in diamonds and silks for the rest of my life, but what does it matter when that life will have been ended before the wet season comes." Davey snapped out bitterly then sighed and leaned into Adam. "I'm sorry, my friend... I'm just scared."
"I know... And I will do my best to protect you.... There's nothing to say that you will go the same way as the other four... maybe they were unfaithful... or they tried to kill him... or something like that." Adam insisted trying to find some kind of out for his friend.
"Or maybe they just can't produce what he wants... a male heir to take the place of his dead sons... Maybe I will be able to... Though the thought of having... relations with a man older than my own father is slightly revolting." Davey shuttered as he remembered the man his father had all but sold him to.
Adam patted him on the back, knowing there was nothing he could say or do to help matters.

***** Part 1
"There's the caravan, lovely... Will you see what it is my father is receiving this time?" the soft words were spoke right into the head feathers of a graceful falcon. The bird chirped slightly before hopping a little, as if showing his own desire for hurry.
"Good... go see what it is, lovely." With an easy pitch of his arm he sent the bird into the air and watched as the falcon circled for a moment before heading directly for the caravan the was entering the Helios Kingdom.
"What do you think it is this time? Gold, jewels, slaves?" the voice beside him made him turn and smile at his friend and companion. "I don't know, Hunter. But what ever it is, it will not reach my father."
Hunter nodded and watched Jade's falcon swooping down on the caravan with deadly precision.

*****
Davey let out a little shriek as a feathered *something* landed on the edge of cloth covering of his enclosure. Adam started to pull his daggers only to stop when Davey laughed and allowed the silver falcon to enter the enclosed carrier on top of the elephant. "Hello, pretty boy... What are you doing up here?" Davey giggled as the bird preened sweetly for him while hopping around and looking at everything.
"Are you thirsty?" Davey asked as he drew out a pretty silver cup and poured a little water into it. The falcon hopped closer and inspected the contents of the cup before lowering his head to it.
The bird drank from the cup for a moment before tilting his head to look Davey over with interest.
"I wonder who's he is. I don't know any of the men who have a falcon such as this." Adam said a he looked the bird over for some kind of ownership markings.
Slowly the falcon hopped some more and then quickly snipped off the end of a lock of Davey's hair with his sharp beak before taking to the air again.
Davey gasped half in amusement and half in outrage as he and Adam watched the bird fly away. "Strange creature... I wonder if my soon-to-be-mate could find me a falcon such as that?"
"If anyone could." Adam said as he wondered what the bird could have wanted the lock of hair for.

*****
Jade held his arm out from the top of his stallion as Arod slowly came down and then landed on the outstretched arm. "So, what was inside of that caravan, lovely?"
Arod didn't want to relinquish his treasure but finally Jade fought it from him and frowned at the dark curl. "Shit." Quickly Jade tucked the hair away and swung his mount around to ride pel-mel for his encampment. "HUNTER! Gather the men! He's to take another mate!"
Hunter, upon hearing Jade's words started yelling orders at the men in the camp and slowly they mobilized to prevent another person from dying at the hands of Jade's father.
Within minutes Jade and Hunter were leading a raid on the caravan, hoping they could at least save this one.

*****
When they elephant they were riding suddenly came to a halt Adam stuck his head out to see what it could be that had halted them.
Upon seeing the guards rallying around their large mount Adam cursed and pulled his head back in to turn to Davey. "Bandits! Come on, Davey. Get out of those clothes!" Adam was already pulling out some of his more beat up and servant style things, as well as getting out of his own satin courtly garb.
Davey knew he had never changed clothes so fast on his own. Soon he was wearing clothes that made him appear to be nothing more than a high ranking servant. Then they felt the elephant being drawn to the ground.
"Okay. As soon as the elephant is down we're going to crawl out that side and move as quick as we can away from it. I can only hope that they don't have a description of you... Shit that hair..." Adam cursed when he glanced at the memorable dark curls.
With ease Davey pulled them away from his face and fixed them under a turban style wrapping. With a nod to one another they waited until they felt that the elephant was close to the ground and then dove from the opposite side as Adam had witnessed the bandits coming.
Once on the ground they found there were men fighting everywhere.
Adam hurriedly pulled Davey towards were the servants were huddled together away from the fighting and together they stood waiting for some kind of outcome.

*****
Jade smiled a little as Hunter gently called the elephant to kneel and show what kind of mate his father was trying to take. Hunter eased open the curtain and they frowned when they found it empty but for a set of expensive clothes.
Wheeling his stallion Jade road through out where his men were securing the last of the other guards, trying to find the one who Arod had stolen the dark curl from.
Once all of the other caravan had been secured Jade road among the survivors and frowned when he found none with the type of hair that Arod had brought him.
"I am Prince Jade of Helios... I mean you no harm, but I must speak with the one who is the purpose of this caravan." he called out as he looked out over the servants and the guards who had been disarmed and put with the others.
Hunter came riding up on his own blood mare and smiled grimly, "Five dead, none of them ours. Twenty hurt. Eight of them are our's."
"Okay... Please, it is of grave importance I speak with the one my father is to claim." Jade tried not sound desperate, but he didn't want anyone to suffer the same fate as his mother and the others after her who had fallen to his father's madness.
Slowly a single person came forward. His pale eyes glared into Jade's with hate. "What do you want with him?"
"I would say it to him... Are you his companion?" Jade inspected him quickly and then nodded to Hunter who leapt off his horse and grabbed the pale eyed one by the arm and swung him around to hold a dagger at his throat.
A gasp from the middle of the group made Jade gesture for his men to push through the servants until they came to a heavily bound and covered male... with a thick turban covering his head. "Are you the one I'm looking for?" Jade asked half kindly.
The male's head lowered even farther and then a pleasant voice filled his ears. "Yes... I am Prince David of Eresate."
The man Hunter had been holding suddenly broke free and drew a set of daggers before rushing in front of the prince. "You won't harm him."
Jade chuckled and shook his head. "No *I* won't. But my father on the other hand... Come, we will take you back to our camp and explain to you why we have captured your caravan."
"We have no choice but to obey." Jade was caught by the dark eyes of the other prince as he looked up and the Heliosian prince couldn't help but draw a half breath in wonder. He had never seen eyes such as that... they were so soft and warm...
Jade shook himself as he rode closer and offered his arm to the other prince. "Prince David... ride with me, won't you?"
The lovely brown eyes looked out from the full facial coverings and nodded as he held up his hand. With a feat of strength Jade gave the other prince a gentle pull and the other male was soon seated side ways in front of him on the large stallion. "To the camps! Gather anything you think can be used; everything else, leave it for the carrion eaters!" Jade ordered as he drew the reigns up and sent the black stallion back the way they had charged from.
Adam watched them leave, biting his lip, wondering if Davey would be okay.
"Would you care to ride with me?" a voice from his left asked making Adam turn and look at the man who had held him captive only a few moments before.
"I would understand if you didn't... And I wouldn't have really hurt you... Jade was just bluffing to get the other man to come out." Hunter had a light blush across his cheeks as he rubbed the back of his neck.
Adam couldn't help but chuckle. "It's okay... I'm Adam." He held out his hand in a familiar gesture of peace and the other man accepted it with a rye grin.
"I'm called Hunter. Come on... Jade's already ahead of us. Ahh! I don't know how I put up with him sometimes. Being a royal companion isn't as great as I thought it would be." Hunter groused as he mounted his blood mare and left a stirrup for Adam to get on.
With an easy move Adam mounted behind the other companion and wrapped his arms around him. "I understand completely. Davey runs me up a wall most of the time."
Hunter chuckled and then set his spurs to his horse, sending them off after their royal companions.

***** Part 2
Davey allowed himself to be carried on the back of the horse, silently wondering what was going to happen to him. He knew that something was wrong... Because he had heard that Prince Jade and Prince Smith had been killed in a raid on the royal palace of Helios... But if the man who held him spoke the truth...
Well, he would just worry about it when he had more information. And it wasn't like there was anything he could do now any way.

*****
Jade rode as hard as he dared with the other prince in his arms. Upon feeling the lightness of the other prince he couldn't help but wonder if all of the people from his kingdom were so slight or if it were just Prince Davey.
As the miles flew under the hooves of Marduk, Jade felt Davey slowly relax in his arms and with a quick glance down found that his riding companion was sound asleep. Laughing softly, he glanced over his shoulder and gave a gesture to Hunter, who nodded and turned to give a set of gestures to the others.
Adam, after seeing a limp Davey was about to have a fit and knock Hunter out and steal his horse when the other man turned and looked at him. "Your prince has gone to sleep. But we will continue on to our strong hold. You and Prince Davey will be safe there."
"Okay... but is it safe for Davey to be riding asleep?" Adam watched as Prince Jade sped his stallion up again and the black beast kicked up sand as he went running.
Hunter let out a soft laugh. "Prince Jade is the best horseman in *any* kingdom. He could be no safer."
Adam nodded and got his grip back onto Hunter's sides and allowed him to take off after their princes again.

*****
Davey half woke when he felt himself being handed off of the horse and then carried somewhere. But once he was settled back onto something soft and furry he curled up and went right back to sleep.
Jade, having been with Karid as the other man carried Davey into the Heliosian prince's tent, settled a light blanket over the long haired prince and smiled at the picture he presented.
With easy movements, Jade settled on his side of the bedding furs and was quickly asleep.

*****
At the tent beside the princes' Adam was half-wake when Hunter helped him down off of the mare and then into the slightly smaller tent. "You'll rest here, with me." Hunter told him softly and then went out to tend his horse and Jade's.
Adam glanced around through bleary eyes, before pulling off his sweaty tunic and laying down on the bedding furs set up in one corner. He was so tired he didn't care if was sharing a bed with an all but total stranger.
A few minutes later Hunter came in and chuckled when noticed the other royal companion was already asleep. "Least I didn't have to fight with him." Hunter muttered as he stripped down to a light under tunic and then crawled beside his bed companion for the night and was quickly asleep.

***** Part 3*
When next Davey woke it was to something gently poking him in the foot. Opening his eyes slowly he found himself looking into the biggest eyes he'd ever seen. The small girl giggled as she poked him again.
"Hello." Davey said softly, to not frighten her. She giggled again and poked his foot again while wrinkling her nose sweetly.
A moment later Jade came running in, looking for urchin that had escaped her mother. He was amazed when he opened his tent to find the missing youngster sitting on the lap of their 'visiting' prince laughing and pulling on one of his curls.
"Oh... Prince Jade... I had an early morning visitor." Davey said as he held her carefully and stood up. Jade sighed in relief as he took the tiny child from him.
"Her mother has had the entire camp searching for her for hours... Thank you for keeping her occupied. I'll send Hunter in with some food in a short while." Jade turned and carried the little girl out of the tent and back to her mother.
Davey watched him go with question. "Well... that at least lets me know that he isn't a bad person. But why is he out here in the wilds and his father saying he was killed in a raid?"

*****
With nothing better to do Davey began looking through his host's things, just to occupy himself until he had eaten. He found everything in the tent well ordered and obviously of high enough quality to signify royalty.
Just as he was about to run out of things to do and things to look in, the tent flap opened and Adam walked in with who he assumed was Hunter.
"Adam!" Davey grabbed his friend and hugged him close before pulling back. "You have any idea what's going on?"
Adam was about to speak when Hunter interrupted. "Prince Davey, why don't you break your fast before you go into such imposing matters?" Hunter held out a covered dish and Davey latched on with joy.
Hunter nodded to Adam before slipping out to check on his men.
"So?" Davey asked as he nibbled on a dried date.
"King Argas is mad. He has not only killed his last four mates, but he has tried to kill his sons. He thinks that everyone is trying to steal his throne from him. We can't go on to Helios. It's just not safe." Adam went on to tell him a few heavily edited stories he had heard from some of the refugees in Prince Jade and Prince Smith's main encampment.
"What are we going to do? I can't go home... It would disgrace my family." Davey finished a few more dates before looking to Adam as the one person he trusted to advise him.
"I don't know. Maybe we can go to your mother's sister's kingdom." Adam suggested and Davey thought it over.
"It is my only option... Do you think Prince Jade will be kind enough to help us on our way?" Davey asked as he glanced out the now open door of the tent.
"I think he will if he can... but I think we should stay and help as much as we can... There are a lot of wounded from various skirmishes with the King's men." Adam said as he thought of the large tent with all of it's wounded.
Davey nodded quickly before standing up and pulling on his boots. "Show me."
"Yes, your highness." Adam said jokingly.
Davey gave him a playful shove and then allowed Adam to lead him out to where the injured were housed.

*****
Jade walked into his tent a greeting on his lips, which died when he saw that the other prince was not there. After a quick inspection he called for his guards and demanded that Prince David be found. Quickly.

***** Part 4

"Here, just one more sip." Davey whispered soothingly to the wounded man as he held his head up just enough to drip a potion down his throat. Once he was satisfied with the amount of the potion the man had taken Davey laid his head back down with a kind smile before moving to the next pallet.
Before he could see to the thigh wound a rough hand yanked him to his feet and forced him around. "What do you think you're doing?" Jade growled as held onto Davey by the arm.
When he had found the other prince gone, he had thought the worst, that there had been a traitor among his men and they had taken the hapless prince onto King Argas. Now that Jade had found him, and Prince Davey wasn't injured or kidnaped his relief was making him a little rough.
"I'm trying to save your mens' lives!" Davey said, outrage in his every word and move as he pulled his arm free. "They are hurt and have not had a proper healer to see to them. My companion and I are trying to save as many of them as we can."
Jade looked around at his wounded soldiers and then at the ones Prince Davey and his aid had already seen to. The Heliosian prince's shoulders dropped for a second before he nodded with a relieved look. "Then I owe you an apology and my thanks. Our last true healer was killed in the last attack. Please continue to aid them... If you need anything ask one of the guards by the door... They will try to get it for you. Thank you." With that Prince Jade turned and walked away, leaving a very confused Davey.
Shaking his confusion off Davey turned back to the man he had been about to treat.

*****
"Slick one, Jade." Hunter said as he joined up with his friend outside of the healing tent.
Jade just grunted at him as he stormed through the camp towards the horse paddock.
Hunter was still laughing as Jade began to brush down Marduk a few moments later. "The Eresatian prince has gotten to you, hasn't he?"
Jade grunted again as he began to ruthlessly comb out Marduk's mane.
Hunter's roar of laughter brought a few looks their way, but then no one thought anything more of the prince and his companion.
"You, my fine prince, have been caught."
"What?" Jade turned a grave questioning look on Hunter.
"You've been caught." Hunter laughed as he leaned against one of the posts at the edge of the paddock.
"By what?" Jade set the comb aside to turn fully to look at his friend.
"Love... or at the very least lust... I say give into it, my friend. He's very pretty... Though his companion is more to my taste." Hunter grinned at the thought of the pretty foreign royal companion and couldn't help but lick his lips a little.
Jade groaned and threw his hands to the sky. "Is that all you think about, you rutting slut?"
"No... There's the war, the raids, and then bed sport." Hunter smirked at his prince before going on. "And you could do with less of the first two and a whole lot more of the last."
With that Hunter walked away, leaving a very confused Jade.

*****
Davey was just finishing with the last of the wounded men as dusk set. Standing slowly the long haired man stretched out all of the kinks in his back and going over to where Adam was putting the last bandage onto an arm injury of a man who had just come into the tent when he heard about the visitors being healers.
"Ready to go see if we can find something to eat?" Davey asked as Adam turned to him.
"Yeah..." Adam yawned around his word and blushed slightly as they went out of the tent. The guards posted there directed them to the main cooking fire for the evening meal.
After getting a dish of some type of vegetable soup and a hunk of stone bread {1} Davey and Adam sat just at the edge of the fire light as they ate and spoke softly about some of the men they had treated.
A ways behind them, just out of their hearing Jade and Hunter sat watching them.
"They saved a lot of the men." Hunter told Jade softly as they both watched the other prince laugh at something Adam had said.
"I know... I will aid them any way Smith and I can." Jade said just as softly before rising and glancing down at his companion. "Instruct Prince David that he is to share my tent... It's safer for him. I'll see you in the morning, Hunter."
Hunter chuckled and went back to watching the two men who had struck himself and his prince so closely.

***** Part 5
The next day Davey was approached by a guard and told that Prince Jade had asked to see him. Following the guard Davey got his first good view of the camp. It was large and made up of not only soldiers, but women children, and the elderly as well.
Inside of the main tent in the center of the encampment Davey was presented to Jade and a man he introduced as his brother, Smith.
"It's a pleasure, Prince Smith..." Davey bowed low and then smiled a greeting at Jade who smiled warmly back.
"We owe you our thanks for all of the lives you saved yesterday. If there is anything my brother or I could do to repay you, just tell me." Smith smiled gently at the prince that had captivated his brother. And should he have fancied males himself, he would have been drawn to the dark eyed beauty in front of him.
"My aunt is queen to a kingdom to the north of here... On the coast... I would like a set of good horses and the supplies to get myself and my companion to that kingdom." Davey said carefully, not wanting to ask too much of these kind people.
Smith raised an eye brow at this and Jade looked like he had swallowed a coconut whole. "Why don't you wish to return to your own kingdom?"
Davey hung his head and sighed. "If I were to return it would be a disgrace on my father... I can not do that to him."
Smith nodded at the other prince's wise words, then spoke. "It will be done... But we can not spare anyone to escort you for four or five moons... And I can not allow you to go without some type of protection. If you can stay here and help heal our men for that time, it would be ideal."
"Thank you, Prince Smith." Davey bowed once more and left them to go explore the rest of the camp and find Adam to tell him about the plan.
"Brother, you should do something about him." Smith told Jade as he sat and started looking over the maps and reports that needed his attention.
"What do you mean?" Jade looked at his brother in question as he too started working, only for him it was the details of the next raid.
"You haven't lain with another since Father ran us out of the palace... And you could do far worse for a match." Smith looked up at him with an arched eyebrow.
"Who I have or have not taken to my bed is none of your business, Smith! And if I want to take him to bed I will, the same for if I don't and won't!" Jade stomped out leaving Smith to chuckle to himself at how well he knew his brother.

*****
"You need some help with that?" Adam looked up from where he had been rolling some more bandages. Hunter was standing a few feet from him smiling in question.
"Sure. Thank you." Adam pointed to the basket of strips of cloth and the other man settled beside him to roll more of them into bandages.
"You've heard you'll be here for a few moons?" Hunter asked conversationally.
"Yes. I don't mind though... I like helping where I can." Adam shrugged as he tucked away the bandage he was working on.
"And you are helping... I hope you know that." Hunter blushed slightly and stuttered on the last few words.
"Thank you." Adam couldn't help but think how sweet the other man was. Hunter was a soldier and obviously well versed in the worldly arts, but he stuttered like a young boy when he tried to pay a simple complement.

***** Part 6
A week passed quietly and the visiting prince and his companion fell into life with the others that followed banished princes.
However at the end of that week the men went out under the lead of Prince Jade to raid one of the king's supply lines. Davey chewed on his lip in worry until two nights later when the men returned, with their hard won supplies.
The first thing Davey did was to get all of the wounded into the healing tent and with Adam, went to work on patching them up. That night after Davey and Adam had delt with the few wounded, they relaxed and watched the others celebrate.
"It was a good raid." a voice direct behind Davey said, startling him.
Jumping, Davey whirled to find Jade standing there smiling softly at his men and then at the other prince.
"They're just happy because of the rum that was taken." Adam said with a curse as he stood and waded out through the celebrants to grab a very drunk Hunter, who had almost fallen into the fire.
Davey and Jade laughed as Adam haled Hunter out of the party and then back to the tent they shared.
"Why aren't you out there celebrating with your men, Prince Jade?" Davey asked as he glanced at the other prince.
"Not up to it... And please drop the title if I may call you Davey as your friend does." Jade shifted and flinched at the pain in his side.
Davey noticed and frowned. "Of course.... are you wounded?"
"It's nothing... Just a slight wound." Jade brushed it off, but Davey was having none of it.
"Come back to the tent. Let me make certain." Davey gently pulled him into their tent and settled him before turning up the lanterns. "Off with the shirt."
Jade tried to argue, but Davey just stripped the shirt off of him and started checking out the wound any way.
"This needs stitches." Davey tisked as he hurried out and then back in a few minutes later his arms full of supplies.
"Drink this." he handed a bottle of rum he had managed to get from the men outside and started arranging his supplies.
"I don't like liquor." Jade started but Davey's frown stopped him.
"Then I'll have to do it without anything to numb the pain... It's your choice." Davey told him with a shrug as he threaded the needle he held.
Seeing the needle presented to him, Jade lifted the bottle and took a large draft of the fiery liquid.
After a few more drinks Davey took the bottle from him and started stitching up the wound on Jade's side.
Though he still flinched every time the needle passed through his skin, Jade didn't really feel anything.
"All done." Davey announced a short time later as he picked up the bottle and doused the wound liberally with it, making Jade hiss.
Davey bandaged the stitches and rose with the extra supplies. "You just stay right there. I'll be back in a few moments."
Jade nodded drunkly as he watched two Daveys walking out of the tent opening.
When Davey got back he laughed at the picture a drunken Jade presented. It appeared that while Davey was gone, Jade had tried to undress, but had only gotten half way done, before he had been caught in a trap of his own clothing.
Laughing softly, Davey unwound and then finished undressing the drunken prince. Just as he was about to go to his own part of the bedding to get some rest, Jade's arms looped around him and pulled him chest to chest with a very aroused Jade.
"Stay." Jade murmured as he brushed his lips over Davey's ear and pressed a kiss to the delicate skin of his jaw.
Davey sputtered and tried to rise only to have Jade tighten his hold. "Please stay with me, Davey."
The Eresatian prince looked down into the hazel eyes of the man who held him then nodded solemnly.
"Thank you... need you." Jade rolled him over and pressed him into the bed furs.
"I've never-" Davey's words were cut off by Jade's mouth sealing over his, telling of a promise for the night to come.

***** Part 7
The next morning Jade woke up to something brushing the end of his nose. He twitched his nose a little and then moved his head when that something still brushed him. Finally he waved his hand and heard a soft giggle.
Cracking one eye open he found a softly smiling Davey holding one dark curl between his fingers. "Morning, sleepy."
Jade opened his mouth to speak only to yawn so hard his jaw popped.
Davey chuckled again as he released the curl and snuggled back again Jade's chest to prop his chin so that he was looking up at him.
"Morning." Jade finally managed. He remembered the night before, and he was also happy to recall that Davey had been more than willing, if a little unknowing.
"How is your wound after our... umm..." Davey left off with a blush as he reached to uncover Jade's bandaged side.
"It aches a little, but nothing too serious. I think our night healed me as much as your healer lore." Jade lifted Davey's fingers to his lips and gave each on a soft kiss.
"My thanks for your kind words and your kisses." Davey leaned up and gently tasted Jade's lips with a smile on his own.
A few moments later Jade broke the kiss and traced Davey's lips with the pad of his thumb. "I would promise myself to you."
Davey's eyes were wide with shock and then amusement. "But you've only known me for a short time."
"My heart recognized my soul instantly." Jade said as he first put his hand over his heart and then over Davey's.
The long haired prince fought the tears in his eyes and then nodded. "I promise myself to you as well. Where you go, I go. Where you rest, I will guard. Where you fall I will shelter you. Where you are, I am for you are the other half of myself." Davey repeated the traditional marriage troth as he laced his fingers with Jade's and laid his head over Jade's heart.
Jade's felt his heart constrict at the words and tightened his fingers with Davey's. "Where ever your journey takes you, I will follow. Through valley and mountain. Where you have felt cold before, I will shelter you from it. Where you were alone, I will fill the void. Where you are, I am... for you are the other half of myself... for all the times of this world and beyond."
Davey felt a tear run down his cheek as Jade's words bound them together.
A few quiet moments later Jade started to chuckle, making Davey lift his head in question.
"Davey, do you realize we just got married?"
"Yes... are you upset?" Davey wondered if he had misjudged what had happened during the night.
"No..." Jade traced his cheek with a knuckle. "Just the opposite in fact. I'm quite happy. I've fallen in love with you."
"I love you too." Davey ducked his head and blushed making Jade chuckle even more.

*****
The entire camp celebrated for the second night in a row as Jade announced his marriage to Davey as soon as they had made it out of their tent.
Smith oversaw an official marriage ceremony and the few in the camp with any musical talent drew out their instruments and played joyfully for the happy couple.
Davey surprised his new husband by laughingly going to the musicians and requesting a specific song. Jade listened in wonder as Davey lifted his voice in a traditional song.
"He is a perfect mate, my brother. I am happy for you." Smith whispered as the entire crowd hushed to listen to Davey's song.
Jade could only nod and stare in wonder at the perfect man in front of him.
A short time later the couple retreat to their tent to celebrate their first official night together.

***** Part 8
Three moons passed much the same as the first weeks Davey and Adam spent with Jade and Hunter. There would a week or two where Jade and Hunter would stay close and be back every night. Then for a few nights they would go on a raid or to attack a branch of the king's army. After that they would return and Davey and Adam were there to patch up the wounded and then comfort their respective partners.
However at the end of the third moon Davey fought the worry deep within him. Something was terribly wrong. Jade and Hunter had lead the men out over a week before and they had not returned. Not even a messenger had been sent to explain their delay.
Just as Davey was set to ride out and find his husband an alarm startled him and Adam from where they had been preparing some herbs for drying.
Running to the door of the healing tent they were startled to see the green and gold flag of King Argas' troops riding ride for the encampment.
"Run! Get everybody to the caves!" Davey screamed as he started helping the various men from the healing tent get as up right as they could and make for the sandstone caves that could be defended easily.
Adam, having been closest to the children, grabbed as many as he could carry and lead the rest toward the caves, praying Davey made it to them as well.

*****
Jade and Hunter rode as fast as they could drive the men back to the camp. The caravan they had been set to raid had been a trap and as soon as they were upon it, the King's guards had jumped them.
It had taken days to secure them all and once they had the captain, he had been all to happy to tell them it had been a trick to get them away from their camp.
Now, they were just hoping they made it back in time.
As they road over the final ridge they were faced with the burning remains of the place that had been their home.
"Davey!" Jade whispered as he pushed Marduk to run again and headed straight for the cave praying his husband had made it to the safety there before the carnage.
The survivors were just coming out as the prince lept from his horse. "Davey?" Jade demanded of different people as he passed, but then he was stopped by a hand on his arm.
Turning he found Adam supporting his brother. "Jade... I am so sorry... We didn't have time to stop them."
"What is it, Smith? Where is my husband?" Jade's voice was quietly deadly as he stared at his brother.
"The king's soldiers took him before we could do anything." Adam's voice was choked with tears.
"We can't leave him with them... He won't have to worry about Father... Father's soldier's are known for their treatment of prisoners." Jade's eyes were wide and a little wild as he started to run back for his horse.
A hand on his arm stopped him. Hunter turned his friend and shook his head. "The men are in no condition to travel any more, let alone fight some of the king's best... Jade I don't want to say this but-"
Hunter was stopped by Jade punching him in the mouth. "Don't you dare say it... I will get him back... I will find him... Even if I have to do it on my own."
Smith was the one who stopped him. "Jade, you can't... you have to worry about your people."
Jade looked at him like he was the one who had lost it. "They are your people dear brother... I'm just the second son."
"No... you are the crown prince now." Smith lifted his hand from his middle and showed the gapping wound there.
Jade whispered a horrified "No," as Adam fought to keep his brother up and then again after they had laid Smith down. "Brother, if you find him alive he is your consort... if not you have to take another mate... our family must rule Helios... Take care, Jade... And if I see your mate on the other side of the fields of eternity I will guard him until you join us there... Fare well."
Adam gently closed the dead crown prince's eyes and then looked up to Jade who was now their leader.
Jade stared down at his brother and then looked at the people who had gathered around. His people.
"We will gather our strength..." he said slowly as he looked from one face to another. "We will find any who can fight and we will go to my father's palace and we will put an end to this madness... We will not let this stop our fight... This can only strengthen us..."
Turning to a group of reasonably fit looking men he spoke to them, "Go to the nearest village and send out the call... The king has killed the crown prince... Ask for any who are willing to fight. Promise them that I will put an end to the insanity... And..." Jade trailed off then picked back up. "And give them a description of my husband. Tell them that he is the prince consort and is to be protected if he is found alive... Go, hurry, ride out... then have the village send the word on... Gather every person you can... We will end this before the rainy season is upon us."
The crowd gave a loud yell of encouragement as they watched their prince forcing behind him all of the pain that he had to be feeling and pull himself together to lead them.

*****
The people of Helios were angered by the death of their crown prince at the hands of their king and rose up under the command of their remaining prince to over throw him.
King Argas didn't go down without a fight and in the end it was Jade who took his insane father's life. But before he did he demanded what the old man had done with his husband.
Having been stabbed already through the chest the old man laughed insanely with blood running from the side of his mouth. "That pretty one my soldiers brought... Hah... He was mine... should have been mine... hah... but a king doesn't take used goods..." King Argas looked at his son with a strange kind of insane peace. "I sold him to the pleasure slavers."
With those words the insane King of Helios died and Jade was left to put back together what was left.

***** Part 9
King Jade sat atop his stallion and looked out over the lands that were his. It had been four months since he was crowned and five since Davey had disappeared.
The entire kingdom had searched for their sovereign's consort, but nothing could be found of him. It was as though he had disappeared from the face of the earth.
Jade had even gone so far as to contact Davey's father in the hopes that maybe King Ferris had heard from his son. But the other king had only sent a no and offered to send one of his other children to replace Davey. Jade had, of course, declined.
Now, Jade was almost out of hope. There was no where else left to look. If Davey were alive he was far outside of Jade's reach. And if he were dead he was even farther.
"Jade!" the yell from behind him had him turning in his saddle to where his most trusted advisor and general Hunter was riding up on him at a full canter.
"Jade...." Hunter gasped for his breath as he gathered his thoughts. "Visitors... royal... demanded... see you... now."
Sighing softly Jade cast one last look over the lands and then allowed Hunter to lead him back to his duties.

*****
Jade walked into the room that held his unexpected guests after changing from his riding clothes.
The kind looking older woman smiled beautifully at him and dipped a curtsy and Jade returned it with a bow. "Allow me to introduce myself, I am Queen Ionia of Malkland. I hear you are in search of your missing consort, David formerly of Eresate?"
Jade knew his eyes widened with shocked pleasure. "You know where he is?"
"Yes... My dear nephew gave me quiet a shock when I was touring my capital's market and heard him call to me from the slaver's block... It has been too dangerous for me to return him to you any sooner. I take it you did not receive any of my messengers?" the older queen seated herself, but Jade remained standing.
"No... please, my lady... where is my husband?" Jade could feel the tears in his eyes as he begged the other royal for his beloved mate.
"I believe your man took him to your private rooms. He needed the rest after such a trip." Queen Ionia smiled as Jade tipped a quick bow and made an even quicker excuse before running out of the room.
Chuckling Ionia lifted a glass of wine from the table beside her and raised it to the ceiling. "Blessing on this royal family, for their line will prove interesting indeed." she chuckled at her private joke and sipped at her wine.

***** Part 10
Jade ran in a very undignified manner as he made his way to where his mate was waiting on him. Jade gave a shove on the doors to his bed chamber and ran in with out any thoughts farther than getting to Davey.
He could see a lump of cover in his bed and smiled internally. A small part of his mind loved that Davey was in his bed. The rest was more interested in getting to his beloved.
As quietly as he could Jade walked to the bed side and stared at the precious face of his husband. Davey was sound sleep as lay curled among the pillows and blankets. One of his hands were curled up by his face drawing Jade's attention to the dark circles under his eyes.
Gently, Jade sat down beside his mate and put his hand out to touch his sleeping face, just to reassure himself that Davey was truly there.
Davey grumbled slightly before rolling his cheek into Jade's palm and sleeping on unaware. Jade couldn't help the tears of relief that rolled down his cheeks as he studied Davey peaceful face.
Jade pulled his hand down and started to pull the covers away, so that he could look Davey over, and make certain that he was okay, when a bump in the covers made him stop. Frowning, Jade pulled the covers back and stared at the rather large pregnancy that was pressing up from Davey's middle.
His first thoughts were ones of shock. Davey was with child... And then the thoughts grew dark. The child could not be his. But then the thoughts took a sad turn. His Davey had been in the hands of pleasure slavers, possibly for months.
Jade shook his head. It didn't matter. Though the child could never inherit, he would still love it because it was a part of Davey. So sadly Jade settled to stroke Davey's hair until he woke.

*****
Jade was still petting Davey's beloved curls when his consort came awake. Davey blinked open his large brown eyes and smiled lovingly at Jade before reaching up and pulling him down for a long kiss.
"I have missed you so much." Davey whispered through his happy tears.
"And I you." Jade pressed his forehead to Davey's and for a while they held one another.
"I should go... see about preparing for your aunt's stay... You should stay and rest... the baby needs it." Jade clamped down on the need to be bitter when he said it. Jade then rose and walked to the door, fighting the need to go crawl back in beside his husband.
Davey blushed softly and put his hands to his stomach. "Are you angry... about the baby?"
Jade turned from the door way and shook his head sadly. "No, Davey... I'm not. I... just wish it were mine." Turning he walked out the door leaving a very shocked Davey laying on the bed.
With a mighty heave Davey got himself to his feet and stormed to the door way.
In the hall way Jade was just about turn a corner when Davey stormed out of the door of the bedroom and stood there staring at him. "JADE! Stop this instant!"
Jade did stop and turned, looking sadly at Davey with question.
"How dare you insinuate that this child is anyone's other than your own!" Davey screamed as he put his arms around his belly. "I was pregnant before I got captured! Ask Adam, I had spoken with him the morning..." Davey's scream left off as the already fair complected man paled farther. "Oh.... no..."
Jade watched in horror as Davey fell to the floor and didn't move. He went running back just as various guards came to see what the shouting had been about.
"Davey? Love?" Jade called to him as he rolled him over and found his mate strangely peaceful... something like Smith when he... "ADAM!" Jade's scream echoed through the entire castle, bring everyone to attention at the sound of their king in so much pain.

***** Part 11
Jade sat in his study wonder what deity he had offended. Or if it were just his curse to lose everything that really mattered.
"I'm sorry I didn't tell you earlier, Jade... He had been certain and I knew that if you got him back the chances of him still being pregnant..." Adam shrugged as he allowed Hunter to hold him tightly.
"I insulted him the very hour he was returned to me. I thought the child was not mine... He did not appear large enough for it to have been from our time together... But I was wrong... so very wrong." Jade cursed silently under his breath and leaned to rest his face in his palms as he bent over his knees.
Adam and Hunter knew there was nothing they could say as they continued to hold one another and hope for the consort and the baby.

*****
The palace healer sighed with exhaustion as he walked into the king's study.
Jade looked up just as the door opened and was on his feet instantly. "Well?"
"Your consort will recover with rest and care..." the healer stopped and shook his head sadly. "But I do not think your son will live through the night. He was too early."
Jade cursed so violently even Hunter drew back, not knowing how the emotional king would react.
"My thanks, healer. May I go see them?" Jade asked softly as his shoulders drooped.
"Of course. You will need to be there for your mate... when the time comes." the healer bowed lowly as the king exited the room quickly.

*****
Jade slowly let himself into the royal bed chambers and walked slowly to the bed. Davey lay propped on the pillows, looking pale and drawn. Davey slowly lifted his head from where he had been staring at the baby in his arms and looked at Jade with sad eyes. "I don't blame you."
Jade came closer and looked at the baby in his arms. The tiny boy was unnaturally quiet as he lay there fighting for his every breath. "But I blame myself... I did this to our child... I killed him... I am no better than my father... Though at least my brother and I stood a fighting chance against him, but I attacked a child not even out of the womb."
Davey shook his head as he wiped his tears. "No... it was a reasonable thought... All you knew was that I had been sold to a pleasure slaver... You had no way of knowing that I ended up getting bought by a woman who was kind enough to not make me work as a common pleasure slave because I was pregnant. I worked as a healer for her other workers and then she put me up for sale when I was too big to do that work any more.... That was when I was found by my aunt... There was never anyone else."
Jade let out an anguished cry as his tears fell freely. As easily as he could, Jade moved to rest beside Davey on the bed and cradled both him and their tiny son, determined to spend what ever time the baby had in this life, as a family.
"Had you thought of any names?" Jade asked softly enough they could still hear the baby's shallow breaths.
"I was going to call him Onyx... Another rare and precious stone." Davey whispered back as he shifted the little boy higher against his chest, making it a little easier for the baby to breath.
"I will tell our kingdom of our baby prince, who rode out a war before he was even born... They will always remember the name of Prince Onyx, the warrior even before birth." Jade's hushed voice was thick with tears as he cradled the hand Davey had on the back of Onyx's head with his own.
And though they didn't want to miss even a moment with their son, Davey and Jade were soon overcome and fell into deep sleep.

***** Part 12*
Jade woke with a start at the strange noise that he couldn't place. His first instinct was to reach for a sword he wasn't carrying and his second was to look for the source of the foreign noise.
A quick inspection made him look down and found a set of tiny, angry dark eyes looking at him with disgust from where the little baby was resting on Davey's chest.
"Onyx?" Jade whispered softly, not believing what he was seeing.
Davey rose at the next set of wails and he too looked down in shock.
Jade started calling for the healer and soon the man who had delivered such bad news was checking over the baby prince.
"I don't understand... He was having so much trouble last night... hmm." the healer shook his head and gently handed the baby back to Davey. "Your highnesses, other than a small bit of wheezing, you son seems perfectly fine... I think we might have given up on him too soon. Congratulations. Do you want to send out the news now that we know that he will live?"
Davey was too busy cradling his son to pay attention to anything other than the 'perfectly fine' part. But Jade nodded. "Yes, tell them that Crown Prince Onyx has been born and is doing fine."
"Onyx... fine name, strong... I'll make the announcement." the healer left knowing that the royal family would need time together after the difficulty of the night.
"He's okay..." Davey murmured in awe as he held Onyx closer to his chest and ran a gentle finger over his features, memorizing them.
Jade could only hum an okay as he too focused on their son. A moment later Jade looked up to Davey and smiled softly. "I love you... and one day I will forgive myself for what almost happened."
"Promise me something, Jade?" Davey asked his voice only slightly above a whisper as Onyx had fallen into a light doze.
"Anything." Jade would have swore it upon his crown had it have been within reaching distance.
"That before this little boy has a brother or sister, you will have forgiven yourself." Davey looked up through his lashes as Jade slowly nodded.
"By then... So I swear upon our people." Jade swore with a nod of his head and Davey smiled beautifully at him before both of the new parents went back to studying their tiny son.

****** Epilogue
Jade and Davey chuckled as Onyx pushed himself up for the third time in the last few minutes and tried to take a few steps, only to fall onto his chubby little butt.
Not far away Adam and Hunter were watching with humor in their eyes and their hands resting on Adam's growing pregnancy.
Davey gently leaned back into Jade and his mate wrapped his arms around him. "Jade? Have you forgiven yourself yet?"
"Not quite yet... but maybe soon." Jade answered honestly as he watched Onyx try to get to his feet again, without much luck.
"You had better work on it... Remember your promise." Davey whispered in his ear as he got up and moved over to help Onyx onto his feet and take a few steps with the support of Davey holding his hands.
"My promise?" Jade frowned and thought about it for a moment before looking carefully at Davey who smiled beautifully back. "Already?"
"Already. You're a little too virile for my own good, my king." Davey told him with a sly grin before he went back to helping Onyx with his steps.
All Jade could do was sit there and watch his husband and son and wonder at how lucky he was.

THE END