All For One But Your Ass Is Mine (Part IV)
All For One But Your Ass Is Mine
The Dreamwalker sailed into port with no official notice or warning. They didn’t let anyone know they were coming in on the hopes that a busy crowded port would give them enough anonymity to be unnoticed by the watchful eyes of the Vice Minister.
Jared watched as Jeff and Misha walked down the plank, taking in the area and the people around them. No one jumped out at them or seemed to pay them any mind. When Jeff called the others out, Jensen moved in front of the Princess and Jared took his place behind her, protecting her from anyone that might come after her. Nothing happened. In fact, they were able to get a carriage away from the port without any trouble.
Jared still couldn’t breathe though and when he looked at Jensen he could tell his husband felt the same. Trouble was waiting for them somewhere along the line.
They weren’t half an hour outside of the port when the carriage lurched to a stop. They all tensed, looking at Jensen. He nodded to Misha. “See what’s happening.”
Misha was out of the carriage before Jared spoke. “We should only be ten, maybe fifteen minutes away from Christian’s manor house. If we can get her there she’ll be protected.”
“Hutton could have men there,” Jeff reminded them.
“Hutton’s got men here, that’s for certain.” Misha said as he came back. “The drivers have taken off. Hutton must have had the carriage waiting for us.”
Jensen turned to the Princess, giving her a humorless grin. “Princess, I’m afraid our little tour of the countryside is going to have to be a walking one.”
“Or running,” Jared interrupted.
“You expect me to run?” Danneel asked, her eyes wide. “What if someone saw me? A Queen does not run.”
“They’d think it far more dignified than if they caught me carrying you over my shoulder,” Jeff answered before Jared could.
Danneel opened her mouth to speak but there must have been something in her husband’s eyes that made her realize he wasn’t teasing. “I can run.”
Jared bit the inside of his lip to keep from laughing. He’d worried for a bit that someone like Danneel would be hard to handle, but Jeff was already taking care of her like a pro. He looked over to his own husband then. “Don’t think it will work with me.”
Jensen’s grin was brilliant. “Like I could carry your overgrown ass.”
“If all the newlyweds are done, can we take this discussion somewhere less likely to be attacked?” Misha asked.
“Probably not,” Jensen said. “Are we clear?”
“Probably not,” Misha mimicked back, “but it seems clear.”
Jared took a deep breath as he looked at his sister and then at the others. Misha was the first out of the carriage with Jeff right behind him. Danneel followed quickly but Jensen stopped Jared with a hand to the wrist. “Jared, no matter what happens our duty is to the Princess. You get her out of here.”
“And leave you?”
“If need be.” Jared took a deep breath to deny it but Jensen stopped him. “We all have a duty here, Jared,” he said and Jared could feel the sincerity of his words. He would rather die than to fail the Princess, no matter that days ago she’d just been a spoiled brat.
Jensen didn’t give him another chance to comment before he swept out of the carriage and he followed without hesitation. Jensen was right, but he didn’t have to like it. And it didn’t mean he wouldn’t leave Danneel and Jeff with Christian to come back for his husband if need be.
They moved away from the road and into the woods on the side. Hutton’s men could be watching the road or the woods, but it was quicker to cut through on foot than to go around the path the road took. They were moving quickly, not running but they all held their swords ready and Jared saw the fire in his sister’s eyes as she pulled out her bladed fan. She might have been taken the first time, but she’d accepted who she was now. Anyone that tried to stand in her way was going to get a fight on their hands.
They moved quietly, the four of them surrounding her. Jeff led the way with Jared on one side, Jensen and Jared on either side and Misha at the rear. They were about half way there before the first person stepped out. When they were done moving, there were six men surrounding them and noise to his right made Jared turn to see two men stepping out in front of him.
“Well now, it looks like we finally caught the men responsible for taking the Princess away from her civic duties,” Abel said with a sneer as he took a step closer to Jared. Jensen moved to his side as Hodge stepped up beside Abel.
“Step down King’s Guard,” Jared said firmly. “We’re taking the Princess to her cousin so she can be safe until the coronation.”
“You hear that everybody?” Hodge called out. “We can go home early tonight.”
Abel laughed and the other men joined in. “I think we’ll be taking the Princess from here. She’s not exactly looking her best these days. I hear she got in with a rough crowd and they really didn’t treat her well. The Vice Minister isn’t so sure she’s going to pull through.”
Jared could hear Jeff’s growl from where he was and couldn’t help but smile. He pulled out his second, shorter blade in anticipation of the fight. He looked over his shoulder, saw Danneel’s determined look and then back to his husband at his side.
Jensen smiled at him and it was wild and brilliant. “Well life in the royal family never seems to get boring.”
Jared laughed as he turned back to the Hodge and Abel. They didn’t waste time with more words. Abel moved with the efficiency of a trained killer, closing the distance between them and he swung wild, pushing Jared and Jensen apart.
Jared turned as Hodge followed him. His first swing was just as wild as Abel’s had been, as if he expected Jared to be too clumsy or ineffective to block it. His follow up was controlled though, his eyes assessing and calculating as Jared intercepted each swing of the sword with his own.
“I expected better of the King’s Guard,” Jared taunted as he swung up with the short blade, forcing Hodge back a step.
“I was expecting you to be dead already,” Hodge threw back. “A couple lucky swings doesn’t make you one of the Guard.”
Jared laughed as he opened up his stance and let Hodge have his run. The man came at him, swinging tight and controlled, and it was a dance that Jared knew well. As he spun, his eyes caught the movements of the others. There were three men down already, two at Jeff’s feet and one at Misha’s. On the other side of their circle, Jensen was fighting with Abel and another man, holding them back from the Princess. Two men were rushing Misha and another was coming up on Jeff.
“Dani!” He yelled as he watched one of the attackers trying to grab her as Jeff blocked his other attack. Danneel turned just in time to see him, her arms already bring the fan to bear. The Guard tried to reach her, but her blade caught him across the arm and she slashed out again without hesitation, a gash appearing across his face.
Jeff had a sword through his chest before he could move further and Jared was swinging back at Abel, ready to put it all to an end.
“Should have known you’d give her teeth,” Abel said to Jensen as they circled until Jensen and Jared were back to back. “She wasn’t so hard to catch the first time.”
“She didn’t have a big brother with her the first time,” Jared answered for Jensen.
Abel’s face dropped, surprise giving Jensen the moment he needed. He didn’t waste it as he blocked the last thrust and pressed in with his own, sliding his blade home.
“Jake!” Hodge screamed and Jared ducked under his weak left side and felt the force of his blade sinking in.
He let Hodge fall to the ground, moving with him. Hodge looked over at Abel and then back up at Jared. “He was my brother,” his words were barely a whisper and Jared closed his eyes, taking a deep breath.
“I know,” he answered honestly, “but you should have remembered that she was your sister.”
He pulled away then, standing to see how the others fared.
Jeff had Danneel wrapped in his arms, his eyes taking in their surroundings but holding her close to him. Jared more than approved as he looked over to see the alarm in his husband eyes. Jensen looked pale and Jared could feel his concern.
“There were rumors,” Misha said softly, “about Abel.”
“Truth, not rumors,” Jared said with a shake of his head. “It doesn’t change what he was fighting for.”
“Jared?” Jensen asked as he came forward.
“We need to get Danneel to Christian’s Manor.”
Jensen nodded but he gripped Jared’s arm forcing him to stand there for a moment while the others started walking. “I’m sorry.”
Jared nodded, keeping his thoughts to himself. He’d always known the truth of the matter. Even if Abel had been unaware of Jared’s existence, he hadn’t been. The king had never been anything more than a political alliance for Queen Samantha and when he’d done his duty by her and fathered a daughter, he’d left behind a pack of half-siblings for Jared and Danneel to deal with. He thought he’d been discreet where he’d sown his oats, and perhaps he had been, but not discreet enough to pass the notice of the dea’kin.
He suspected the King’s untimely healthy had been the Vice Minister’s doing. Left to his own devices Jared knew the King would have set one of his own brood on the throne. He didn’t know if the Vice Minister knew that Abel was the king’s first choice of heir or if he’d simply picked him up as a conspirator along the way. He did know that Hodge was set in Abel’s camp long before the Vice Minister made his plans. Maybe the king had put him there to support Abel, the way Queen Samantha had given Jared to Danneel, but he had his doubts. It made him feel a little better though, knowing they died side by side instead of at one another’s throats.
He nodded to Jensen, taking a moment to find strength in his lover’s presence, then he pulled away softly. “It’s time to finish this.”
They turned together and jogged up to the others, Danneel already regaling Misha on how she’d managed to thwart her own kidnapping with the flick of her wrist.
If anyone had doubted their opinion, the greeting Prince Christian gave his cousin settled them immediately. He threw his arms around her, pulling her close, completely unaware that Jeff was a second away from killing him. Jared’s arm on his sword hand stopped the movement and he knew the Guard was tense, waiting for the Prince to try to harm his new wife.
When they backed away, tears tracking down Christian’s face, they all relaxed.
“They said you’d gone off on your own but I wouldn’t believe it Danneel,” he said softly as he embraced her again. “No matter what front you gave the world, I knew you would never turn aside. You would never ruin Samantha’s name like that.”
Jared could see the tremor in Danneel as she pulled back. “It was a close thing, but I had help remembering. Please, can we retire someplace more private? I have a story to tell you.” She looked back at Misha and winked. “A true one.”
Christian was a good host, leading them back to his study and sending for drinks and warm, wet clothes to wash away the dirt of the road. When they were done, Danneel sat across from Christian on a couch with Jeff standing behind her. Misha watched the door and Jensen moved from one window to another, keeping an eye out just in case. Jared sat next to Danneel and he could see the way the Prince watched the two of them even as he waited to see what she would say.
Danneel took a long drink from her tea cup before setting it down, smiling softly at Christian. “I should begin with introductions cousin. I believe you already know the head of the Queen’s Guard, Jensen Ackles.”
Jensen stopped in his watch to come forward, bowing lightly to the Prince. “Your highness,” he said formally.
Danneel grinned as she leaned over, whispered in Jensen’s ear just loud enough for Jared to overhear, “Technically, you outrank him now.” Jensen looked down, a soft blush covering his skin and Jared couldn’t help but smile at his sister for causing it.
Christian cleared his throat, not having heard her words. “It is an honor to have you in my home.”
Jensen bowed again and turned back to the window as Danneel continued with the introductions. “Our guard standing watch by the door is Misha Collins.”
“Your highness.” He didn’t bow but it wasn’t the Ardacian way to lower themselves for others, but there was a swift nod of the head to acknowledge the Prince. Christian returned the gesture and Jared could see his mind working, trying to connect the Ardacian gesture with the Guard in front of him.
“The man behind me is Jeff Morgan,” she said as she let her fingers caress his hand where it lay on the back of the couch, “my husband.”
Christian stood immediately, “Your majesty,” he bowed.
Jeff turned three shades of red and looked lost. “Dani, I think you’ve had your fun,” Jared chided.
She glared at him for a second before giving in to the childish need to stick her tongue out at him. “You are no fun, Jared. Not a tiny bit whatsoever.”
Before he could say anything else though she let her other hand rest on Jared’s knee. “And this, dear Christian, is my dea’kin and my twin brother, Jared.”
Christian’s eyes grew wider with each word and he stared for a moment, turning to each of their party. “I’m not sure I know where to begin asking, Danneel.”
“Well then,” her smile was pleased. “Perhaps I should just make a go of it. But Jared, tell your husband to quit pacing before it throws me off my storytelling.”
It was a simple way of giving that last bit of information to Christian as well, explaining that the head of the Queen’s Guard was also his husband, and it gave the Prince a chance to digest that before moving on. Going from the second highest ranking person in the kingdom to the fourth in the room could have been staggering to some men. Christian took it was an easy grace though, proving he was the man Jared had always thought he was.
Jensen came up behind Jared then. He leaned on the back of the couch but his face was to the windows still. Jared gave his hand a small pat, catching his eyes for a minute and giving him a smile with a brief nod in thanks for his continued care of his sister and cousin. Jensen just rolled his eyes, the ‘and you’ of his gesture almost loud enough for Jared to hear.
“This story is about an evil Vice Minister, a stupid girl, and a brave group of men,” Danneel started. “And in the end I will have a question to ask of you. My King, the head of my dea’kin and my Queen’s Guard are above reproach, I would have it of my Vice Minister as well. Think on that, as you hear about our time apart.”
“You’re putting a lot on him,” Jensen said softly, his lips brushing over Jared’s shoulder.
Jared looked up at his husband, the sky outside just beginning to turn to light that shone through the bedroom window to catch in his emerald eyes. Jensen was sitting up on one elbow, his free hand trailing over Jared’s chest. It was going to be a long day and they were both taking what time they could together.
“Christian will be fine. You don’t doubt his loyalty, do you?”
“No,” Jensen said with a shake of his head. “I don’t doubt his loyalty, just his ability to get the confession we need.” Jensen leaned closer, brushing his lips over Jared’s bare neck. “We have an hour before we have to get up though and I have better uses for those lips.”
Jared’s laugh was muffled as Jensen’s lips pressed into his, taking any further thought of words from his mind. Jensen trailed kisses down his neck and moved over him, settling between his legs as he leaned with his elbows on either side of Jared’s head. He was still open from their night’s recreations and Jensen slid inside him with one long push.
Jared bit his lips to keep his voice lowered until Jensen’s mouth was there again, swallowing his moans. They came together like that, breathing the same breath, clinging to one another. When they were sated, Jensen pulled him into his arms and they took the rest of their leisure there.
When it was time, they cleaned up. Jared pulled his pants up, tying the fastenings as he looked out the window. He reached over for his shirt and found it missing. He was about to look on the floor when he felt the press of his husband against his back. “Looking for something?” Jensen asked.
Jared smiled as Jensen pulled one sleeve up his arm and then pulled the fabric tight across his back. He pulled the second sleeve up, kissing the nape of Jared’s neck as he moved around. He straightened the material over Jared’s chest and fastened it for him.
“You missed your calling as a personal dresser,” Jared teased.
“At least I would get to see you naked more often.”
“And I know how much you would hate that.”
Jensen smiled as he looked up at Jared. “Oh I would hate that,” he said, letting his eyes fall down the length of his body. “I would hate that my husband.”
Jared pressed into him, a strong kiss. “About as much as I hate hearing that word from your lips.”
“Which word is that?”
“Husband.”
“Speak if often enough and even an old soldier like me can learn new tricks.”
Jared laughed, but took a step back. “It’s time to join the others.”
“I hate letting this happen,” Jensen said one last time and this time Jared knew he meant the word. He nodded, but moved to the door to join their friends for the morning meal.
Their breakfast was well prepared and they ate their fill, taking what time was left to be together. Christian was not just a good host but laughed often and Jared found himself liking his cousin more than he thought was possible for a first meeting. It didn’t hurt that Christian and Jensen had worked up an easy friendship, the two men talking about music and sword forms, debating the best of each and arguing good naturedly about it.
When it came time, Christian took to his study again. Danneel was hidden in the rooms upstairs with Jeff at her side. Jared, Jensen, and Misha waited in the adjoining room. Christian turned on an intercom that would allow them to hear everything, but they were close to the door should he need their help.
And the stars bless his cousin; there was an actual peep hole for Jared to look through. Jensen and Misha had argued for all of fifteen minutes over who could look through it when Danneel smiled sweetly at them and reminded them of the dea’kin in their midst who was better trained at reading subtle human gestures and would therefore have a better chance at reading any violence against Christian before it happened. Jensen watched her for a moment before sighing. “You’re always going to take his side, aren’t you?”
Jensen was normally so formal with her that his question threw her off and it took a full minute before she was laughing delightedly. “Only when he’s right, Queen’s Guard. A sister has to keep her brother on her toes though, and who better to help than his husband?”
So Jared had a full view of the Vice Minister’s entry. Misha had already whispered over that the Vice Minister was with two guards but Hutton came through the door to Christian’s study by himself, striding in as if it were his own home.
“Christian,” the Vice Minister was smiling, but his voice was tight and controlled. “I know you had wanted a few minutes of time this morning but I only have a few to spare, with your coronation and all.”
“Yes, the coronation. Are you so sure that my cousin won’t show?” Christian asked. “I know Danneel. She loves her people. She might not have shown it in ways that they understand yet, but her whole life has been spent training for this moment.”
“We’ve had news that the Princess was seen in the outer rims.”
“Really?” Christian asked in surprise. “I’m surprised because I had word she was here just yesterday.” Christian didn’t wait for a reply and Jared watched the way Hutton tried to bite back a response to that. “You should probably have chosen your personal guard a little better Vice Minister. Abel wasn’t just your man, he was the king’s also. Did you know that?”
Jared watched Christian, reappraising him as he took on the Vice Minister. Whatever Hutton thought he was, Christian was more. “Jake Abel was my half cousin, and the king intended him to take the throne at his death. Of course, he thought that would be a few years off but you were getting too impatient for that sort of thing. Instead, you murdered the king. It would be too hard without him acknowledging Abel to the people so you chose me to take the throne instead. Sound familiar?”
“Your highness, you overestimate my importance.”
“No, just your ambition. But I won’t let you use me like that. I don’t know what you’ve done with my cousin, but I won’t take the throne. It’s hers. Tressia is meant to be ruled by a queen and I will not be the one to fail the throne.”
“You ignorant brat,” Hutton yelled. He moved closer to Christian and Jared held his hands up, stopping Jensen from moving in. They needed the confession and Christian was still relatively safe. “I’m going to make you a king, Christian, but you want to hide behind your cousin’s skirts instead!” The Vice Minister took another step forward but Jared could see him taking deep breaths as if to calm himself. “Today, you will take the throne. You will go to the coronation and you will accept the honor as the only living member of the royal family. I will be at your side and you will announce that I will continue to aid you, as I did your uncle, as Vice Minister to the king. And if you don’t I will have you locked up for conspiring to kill the Princess.”
“You know I didn’t,” Christian’s voice was hard, “you can’t prove anything.”
“I don’t have to prove it. Tell the world you did it and you won’t last a night. As soon as I have my men take you into a prison cell, the inmates would take care of it quick enough.”
“So if I don’t take Danneel’s crown, you’ll have me killed.”
“It’s good to see that you finally have a grasp of the situation.”
“And if my cousin shows up at the coronation?”
“My men have her,” the Vice Minister lied, “and she will most definitely not be making the ceremony. Now, about Abel and Hodge. If one crossed over to you I know they both did. Wherever you have them, you will give them up to me.”
“So you can kill them too?”
“If they betrayed the trust of his Vice Minister, why would I keep them around?”
It was all they needed, more than actually, and Jared moved away from the peep hole just in time to see his husband throw back the doors and walk into the room. Hutton was backpedaling towards the other doors but Misha was already moving to intercept him.
“I believe we have something to discuss, Vice Minister Hutton,” Misha said in a quiet voice. There was violence in his tone and the Vice Minister seemed to feel it as well. He backed away from Misha before he could speak again.
“Your men, if you’re speaking about the eight who were waiting for us at the port, are dead.” Jensen informed him with a smile. “The Princess Danneel will be taking the throne today. And you are under arrest for the murder of the king, abducting the Princess, and attempting to usurp the power of the throne.”
Jared tensed, waiting for Hutton to try something. There was a noise from outside the doors, fighting maybe from the two guards who were waiting outside for the Vice Minister. Misha spun when the doors opened, weapon at the ready, but it was Jeff and Danneel who walked in.
He could see the angry lines of Jeff’s face and he had no doubt his cousin had come down against his wishes. He didn’t blame her for needing to face Hutton, but she could have waited until they had him cuffed and his guards in custody. He could see their bodies now on the floor in the other room.
“You killed my father,” Danneel said, her voice flat and controlled. He doubted there was any love loss there. He knew more than he needed to about the King and his intentions. Although it didn’t look like his plans included killing his daughter, it was certain he meant to keep her away from people once he set his plans in motion and put Abel on the throne. Whatever sort of king he was, he was a poor father and Danneel’s lack of feeling towards him mirrored Jared’s own.
“You tried to abduct me and plant someone else on my throne so that you could wield its power.”
“I will have you destroyed,” Hutton hissed.
Danneel smiled at him then. “I’d like to see you try.”
He started to move but then Jeff was between them and Jared and Jensen had hold of him, cuffing his arms behind his back as Christian made the call that would bring the Queen’s Guard who, disbanded or not, were waiting to take him in.
They didn’t have to wait long before Hutton was gone, Misha going with them to make sure he arrived in the holding cell. Christian’s manor became a bevy of activity then as Danneel directed everything, preparing for the rest of the day. They might have captured Hutton and removed the threat he posed, but Danneel still had to get to the coronation and take her throne.
The crowd gathered in front of the palace and Jared watched from the polished alcove of a royal carriage. Not the one he should have been in, but the one that minor nobility rode. Princess Danneel was completely agreeable to the transportation though, once Jeff reminder just how much they all had at stake if she didn’t make it to her coronation, and while Hutton and his men had been taken care of it was always possible someone else might take it upon themselves to use the event to their own ends.
“Everything seems to be in order,” Jared said softly. Jeff nodded in agreement and as the carriage stopped, Jared took a deep breath, preparing to show himself to the world for the first time in his true place. Danneel took his hand and smiled. “We’ll show the world what we can do, Jared. Together, we’ll find a way to be who we are and still do our duty.”
He smiled at her fondly, nodding as he stood, stooping in the carriage. “First we need to get you a throne.”
“And then a taller carriage,” Danneel mock whispered to Jeff and he could feel the unnecessary edge leaking away. He stepped out, his fine tunic and pants catching in the light with gold and green thread that was only worn by the royal family. Gasps went up around him and he ignored it, his eyes seeking out trouble or possible allies. Jeff came after, still in the Queen’s Guard uniform, holding his hand up for the Princess Danneel. She straightened up out of the carriage and a scream broke through the masses, adoring the woman who had grown in their eyes from a babe to the beautiful woman she was. She gave one arm to Jeff but stopped next to Jared.
“Would you escort me brother?” She asked in a voice loud enough to carry to those close to them. Jared rolled his eyes at her but she had been determined to let that secret out of the bag today and he was interested to see how long that ‘rumor’ became something more. He took her hand though and walked with her up the steps to their family home, the great Castle Tressia.
“If I could give you anything to be happy Jared, what would it be?” she asked softly.
He understood that she wanted the truth, that if he asked for it she would give him his freedom, no matter what rumor she’d already started. He smiled as he brought her to the front of the assembly and kissed her forehead softly. “There is nothing you can give me that would make me happier than I am right now,” he said softly. When Jensen and Misha came out from behind the throne to stand at the Princess’s side for the coronation he smiled wide and looked at his husband. “I have him and I have you. There is nothing more I could want in this life.”
She looked sideways at Jeff and then back at Jared. “I agree big brother.”
When she took the throne it was with a love of her people and her family that got her through the words. It was with the love of her brother and of her guards.
And if the rest of the guard seemed a little surprised when she pulled out Jeff’s electric sword and screamed “All for one, and one for all!” into the crowd as the ceremony ended, they followed her lead and yelled the Queen’s Guard motto just the same.
All except for two.
Jared, who had only held the title of Queen’s Guard for a few days though he had long desired it, watched her with pride and reverence. He sat at her side, silent because he was her dea’kin.
Beside him, the head of her Guard smiled fondly at her, but his hand touched Jared’s shoulder and he leaned in softly and whispered into Jared’s ear. “Your sister is crazy, boy. I know how you feel about that all for one stuff, but just remember this. All for one, but your ass is mine.”
Jared let out a startled laugh and Jensen slid back into his place at the Queen’s side. The Queen saw Jared’s smile and then Jensen’s and she laughed back for no other reason that she could.
She was the Queen after all. And Jared could see it in her eyes that today, of all days; it was good to be the Queen.