Chapter Text
It was the only window he had, the perfect moment of opportunity and he took it, he risked it all, for his warriors, for his people, for his king. He ran through the mass of people blocking each sword that swung his way and pushed forward until he came right up to his target. The tall husky man didn’t even see him coming and when he did it was too late, there was no time for him to react, because right after a mere blink of an eye he looked down to see the end of a sword sticking out of his chest. He went down, blood dripping out of his mouth and a deaf silence followed.
“The battle is over! Your leader is dead, surrender now and you will be taken as prisoners, oppose me and you will die.” Said the slim but well build, blond man, his words followed by cheers and screams. He turned around and took his sword out of the other man’s body to raise it up in the air with a smile on his face, encouraging his warriors to cheer louder.
He knew it was just a battle and the war will continue, there was still much to suffer and many to die before all the kingdoms unite. But right now he needs is to wash, the ride home will be a long one.
***
The war has been going on since longer before Sauli was born, the legend goes that at first there was just one king, who ruled over all the Merrian continent, but he had four sons, who all looked different and who all of the wanted the throne, so after his death the continent was split into four kingdoms, The South, The North, The West and The East. At the beginning the kingdoms lived in peace. In the South, the king only accepted man of light hair and blue eyes, the West were light of hair but brown of eyes and the East were brown of hair and brown of eyes, however the North had the most rare people, black of hair and blue of eyes, the northerners are said to be giants, there armies strong and high in numbers, so even to this day no man has tried to attack the Northern kingdom.
But these days the West has surrendered to the South and the East has an alliance with the North. No one ever dares to attack the North, the brutal landscapes and the polar weather makes it almost impossible to even reach the kingdom, fighting afterwards is not even an option. But the king of the South and West, Sauli’s king, started a war with the East, in hopes that if he wins it they will have enough people to finally attack the North.
***
“Lord Sauli Koskinen! You’ve proven yourself yet again! One of my best warriors, you’ve defeated more armies than any of my commanders. You sacrifice yourself for the sake of your people and for that I shall reward you any way you wish, you can have anything you want, just name it!” King Brura spoke. He wasn’t a bad king, but you did not want him as an enemy, he ruled the Kingdom on the South as well as the West after conquering it. He was a determinant king, he ruled with an iron fist. Sauli raised his head from where he was kneeled in front of the throne.
“Your majesty, it is my duty and I do it with honor, I do not ask for anything in return.” Sauli truly did not desire anything at the moment, he had a great house outside the city and more than enough servants.
“No, this time I wish to reward you with something.” The king spoke loudly and got off the throne. “Leave us!” He spoke to the guards and they all immediately left.
“Sauli, I understand you like the company of men.” The king said, it wasn’t a question but Sauli still answered.
“Yes, your majesty.” The king before Brura did not allow men to lay with men, but Brura changed that, rumor has it that he has male pleasure slaves even though he has a wife, but it’s wise not to talk about that.
“Well then I have a gift for you. A Western army was sent in the Northern regions and they managed to capture a true Northerner, I have not seen him yet, he is scheduled to arrive tomorrow, but my man say that he is a rare beauty. I will gift you this man to have as a pleasure slave.” Sauli was amazed, he had never seen a Northerner before, but he also never had a pleasure slave, he had lovers but never forced people to have sex with him, it seemed barbaric to him.
“I don’t use… pleasure slaves, your majesty.” Sauli spoke careful words.
“Doesn’t matter, they said he is also quite big, you could use him for work or anything else you might like, just don’t let him escape.” The king spoke and Sauli nodded his head, rejecting again would not be a wise choice. “All right then, you are dismissed, I’ll have this Northern man sent directly to you.” King Brura said and walked back into his chambers. Sauli let out a breath and headed outside for his horse.
“King Brura, don’t you think it might be wise to at least look at this Northerner before giving him away? Your majesty might find interest in him.” The king’s faithful servant said.
“Nonsense, big and well-built men are not of my taste.”
***
Nothing could compare to the pleasures of sleeping in your own bed after being away in the dessert for two moons. That and the real meal he had last right after his arrival, he ate then went straight to bed, asking his servants not to bother him with anything. But now the sun was shining in his face because the curtains were forgotten open and his brain was constantly reminding him that he needed to try out the new horses that he bought so he decided to truly wake up and get it over with.
He heard a knock on the door just as he finished drying off after a short bath.
“My lord? Sorry to disturb, but there are men here saying they need to deliver something to you personally.” Sauli didn’t realize what it was about at first, but then he remembered the kings words, that the Northerner will be delivered today.
“Tell them I’m coming.” Sauli said and put on his normal household clothes, but just before leaving he also grabbed the sword, just to have it at his hand.
“Lord Sauli Koskien we were sent by his majesty, king Brura to deliver you this prisoner.” There were three men, guards, one of them was the one sitting in front, the one who spoke and the other two were holding the man. He had a sack over his face, so it couldn’t be seen at all and there were shackles binding his arms and legs, but the most intriguing this about his was his stature, he was more than a head bigger than Sauli and Sauli was considered a tall man in this kingdom.
“Take the sack of his head.” Sauli spoke, still eyeing the man from head to toe. One of the men stepped behind him and undid the knot around his neck then took the sack off. Before Sauli could even look at his face he heard gasps in the room, from servants and probably from the guards as well. And they were right to be amazed; the hair was black, a glowing black and a slight drop of silver at the ends in the front, his skin was pale, paler than Sauli has ever seen, but it was decorated in millions of brown spots, he saw those before, he had some, yet never as many. But, probably, the most beautiful thing about him was his eyes, the blue wasn’t quite a blue, it looked green or gray, like you couldn’t really tell and they were circled by a black line that Sauli didn’t quite understand if it was drawn on or if it was natural. The man wasn’t the barbaric Northerner he heard about in stories, he was an exotic beauty.
Then as Sauli managed to close his open mouth and the whispers in the room deceased the prisoner smirked as he stared at Sauli, an empowering expression, even if he was a captive.
“This is what they call a warrior in these parts?” He finished off with one simple sarcastic laugh, turning his head from Sauli to the left, a disappointed move. The guard on the right immediately hit the prisoner over the head with his sword sheath, but he didn’t even flinch.
“You will show respect to lord Sauli!” A guard yelled at him, but he did not seem impressed, in fact he did not seemed bothered by this situation at all, he was miles away from home, held hostage by the enemy and yet he acted like he was king.
“Why? Blondy hasn’t asked for respect yet. He can’t seem to find his voice.” He spoke again, his voice clearer than crystal. One of the guards pulled out his sword.
“Stop!” Sauli yelled at him. “You’ve done your duties, now leave.” Sauli escorted the guards out of the room and got the key for the prisoner’s shackles from them before returning to him.
“You are hereby to respect me as you are now my slave, I will undo your leg restrains, however don’t even try to run, I have the best archers in all the South, guarding my walls. You are a big and easy target.” He figured after that insult earlier he might as well throw one in himself. He gave a key to a male servant who undid Adam’s leg shackles and the left the room, leaving them along.
“I want to know your name.” Sauli demanded and he was partly expecting another smart comeback from the prisoner’s expression.
“Adam Mitchel Lambert.” He spoke proudly.
“That is an odd name.” Sauli replied and then saw another spark in Adam’s eyes.
“Where I come from ‘Sauli’ is a maiden’s name.” He said narrowing his eyes and grinning his lips like he was asking for a punch. Sauli immediately felt insulted and took his sword out and in one swiff move the tip was against Adam’s neck.
“I told you to respect me! I could have you hanged if I wanted!” Sauli threatened, but again, Adam did not seem impressed.
“You do not scare me, I am a true warrior, I have no fear of death.” He said, leaning forward into the sword until a small cut appeared on his neck, blood trailing down.
“If you’re such a good warrior, then how come you got captured?” That seemed to finally get to Adam, as he leaned back from the sword and gave Sauli a death threat of a stare.
“I was not captured! I surrendered for the sake of my army. The promise was that they would be released and I would be killed, not taken as an unearned trophy to this burning rock.” Adam spoke his words spewing venom and Sauli only now noticed the sweat was pouring down the sides of his face; he clearly wasn’t used to this type of weather. Still, that seemed like something Sauli would to as well, surrender for his army.
“You will work in the stables, you were sent as a pleasure slave, but I do not use pleasure slaves.” Sauli added in hopes that the man would see he was not so bad.
“Why? Don’t you fuck? Do people as small as you even have a dick?” Adam asked with yet another smirk and Sauli was taken aback, how can say that and risk actually becoming a pleasure slaves? Sauli couldn’t think of anything else that was worse than being forced to have sex.
“Are you an imbecile of some sort? Do you wish to be a bed slave and lay with everyone?” Sauli screamed, finally losing his cool but Adam just laughed.
“Thing is…” Adam said moving in closer to Sauli, not caring about the sword he was holding. “You will fuck me sooner or later, you want me…” He said, tongue moving slowly to make the words more sensual and Sauli almost dropped the sword. Then swung his fist, connecting it with Adam’s jaw.