#63: Crossing swords (part 3)

[thegloryboys]

Act 5
Taemin dismounted. He heard the army mumble behind, scared of the trees that had been cursed into a maniacal life.
'I guess, when I said no bloodshed, I didn't count bleeding trees. So let's see if I still deserve the title of the Taragian Dragon.'
A sharp intake of air. He balled his fists. He put his left foot up front and as his body rebalanced itself on this new footing, he exhaled an inferno. Fire blazed from his mouth through the trees. Fire streamed from his fists, burning away the forestry before him. The army's mages seconded him, following his lead and burning down the wailing trees. Slowly, but steadily, the human army advanced through the ashen path that had been created. The magicians had spread throughout the army, suppressing the trees with more and more fire.
Taemin had carefully selected his forest, since this had the most direct way straight to the palace. As they had moved through the forest within a day, he mounted his horse again. He peered ahead and saw the palace's woods, where the battles of Yunho had taken place.
'I'll do better.' Taemin said and closed his eyes. He tried to detect the animals around, to see which ones lived where. And he smirked. 'Oh Taeyeon, you're not in luck today.'

'THE HUMANS!' An elf ran into the throne room. 'THE HUMANS HAVE BURNED THEIR WAY THROUGH THE WOODS AND…' The elf fainted.
Taeyeon got up quickly. 'They what?! How could they have burned through my curses?! Summon everyone! Everyone able to hold a sword! And get my son here! My colonels! And get me my armour!'
Soldiers ran from the throne room, into the palace and into the capital, announcing everything the queen had commanded them to. Jongin ran out of his room and hurried down the stairs. 'Mother?!'
'The humans are coming.' Taeyeon said. 'Arm yourself now and… Kill that wretched prince!'

'Knock, knock.' Taemin smirked and, after a stomp, lifted a boulder out of the ground. 'Someone's at the gate!' And he flung it at the gates. Creakingly, they budged slightly. The elves in the watched towers shot arrows and magic at him, but Taemin's personal guard protected the prince from all harm.
'It's impolite to leave your guests waiting at the door!' Taemin flung another boulder, and another, and another. But the gate was sturdier than it had seemed. 'Oh fuck it.' With one powerful sprint and leap, he kicked down the gate, which was made of stone. His guard quickly followed, making sure their prince would not be harmed by the soldiers at the other side. Two forces met, staring coldly at one another.
Except for Taemin. Having way too much fun in actually succeeding where his forefather had lacked, he laughed. 'Oh you silly elves, you should look into your pest problem.' He snapped his fingers and four wyrms burst from the ground, flapping their wings and breathing fire on the elves. The burrowing dragons had incited disarray among the elven soldiers, but when the actual dragons landed on the capital's rooftops, the panic was most certainly on.
'You shouldn't run!' Taemin yelled. 'Admire them! You don't see them often anymore!' And he laughed. The human forces flooded into the capital, taking it over street by street, neighbourhood by neighbourhood.

Taeyeon watched in disbelief as dragons descended from the sky and burrowed upwards from the ground. 'My kingdom…'
She noticed how elven youth took rocks into their hands and threw them at the Facian soldiers, hurting their own mothers and fathers probably. She saw the happy faces in the windows of the streets that were taken over by the Taragian soldiers.
Her people wanted to be liberated from her.
'Mother?'
'I'm sorry, Jongin, for what I will leave you.' Taeyeon said softly. 'I hoped I could do what is best, but I failed.'
'Mother?!' Jongin leapt forwards to stop his mother from jumping, but he was too late.
'NOT SO FAST!' Taemin jumped and caught the elven queen in mid-air. A dragon immediately flew to him, catching the human prince and the elven queen in the air. 'Trying to take away my fucking prize, aren't you? Deny me the fun of telling you I won?'
'I just want to be with my husband…'
Taemin bit his lip and looked upwards, to the window she jumped from, and met Jongin's eyes. 'I can't do that. I made a promise to make sure you are safe.'

Carried by his new friend, Dragon the dragon (Taemin wasn't very creative), he made his way to the palace's courtyard. He dropped the queen onto the ground as he dismounted his scaly friend and hummed contently. 'Well, that was that. Welcome to Taragi.'
Jongin ran up to them. 'Mother!'
'Oh out of my way!' Taemin yelled and, with a wave of his hand, whisked Jongin away and pinned him to the wall.
Colonel Choi came running but halted. 'He's got the queen. Stand down.'
'Taeyeon of Faciara, I, Prince Taemin the First of Taragi, Heir to the Throne, Royal General of the Taragian Forces, hereby declare you unworthy of the Facian throne and with that demand that you stand down.'
Taeyeon, gulping visibly and audibly, nodded. 'I have been defeated.'
The elves presented immediately kneeled for Taemin. He heard the doors of the palace crack and soon the courtyard filled with human soldiers.
'Men, take her away to her personal quarters and make sure she doesn't leave, yet she shouldn't be mistreated either. I'll take care of the rest of them.'

In the following days, the elves had picked up where they left off. Nobody had really complained about the Taragian coup yet and they were fixing what had been broken during the battle. Taragian soldiers and Facian soldiers together helped to clean up the damages they had caused.
And that was actually mostly the case throughout Faciara. It wasn't an oppression, an overlord telling you what to do, the Taragian soldiers and the Facian ones just tried to fix what had been broken. Money had been given back to the elves as well, allowing them to do buy what they needed most desperately, things like food and clothing.
Yet Taemin and Jongin had mostly been separated. Not because they wanted too, but because they didn't want Jongin to seem traitorous.
But today, Taemin and Jongin stepped onto the balcony of the palace, overlooking the capital. The people had gathered, waiting for Taemin to officially announce the annexation of Faciara into Taragi.
'Elves! Humans! We have gone through a period of battle, of strife, of loss… We've broken and built. We have been united in our actions, united in our ways and united in our thoughts! We have shown the world that there is no need for a separated country of Faciara and Taragi, where elves and humans live divided. We have shown the world, we have shown each other that together we stand so much stronger, so much more passionate and so much more powerful.'
Mumbles went through the crowd. Any minute now.
'For that, it is my pleasure to announce that Faciare will be a new region in the Tara…'
Jongin looked up. 'Taemin?'
'Father's hawk…' Taemin said and the animal landed on Taemin's shoulder, dropping a note in the prince's hand. Taemin read it swiftly.
Taemin. I have reconsidered my plans. I no longer wish to annex Faciara into Taragi. I wish it to remain an autonomous country under the Taragian flag. A vassal. Return swiftly. Taeyang.
Taemin stared at Jongin for a moment.
'But we humans and you elves, we differ.' Taemin announced. 'Humans won't make you happy. Elves should be ruled by elves. And that's why, fair elves of Faciara, the Taragian King has decided that Faciara shall live on under the Taragian flag as a vassal! Lead by His Royal Majesty the Prince of Faciara Kim Jongin.'
Jongin stared at Taemin with his mouth in a comical "O".
'While you will be ruled by your elven Prince, the Taragian Court will keep close watch on your local politics and you will be granted the best protection there is. United we stand, we stand strong!'
They turned and walked back in. Back inside, Jongin pushed Taemin down on the mattress. 'That was amazing.'
Taemin laughed. 'Prince Jongin, you need to address the people.'
'After I address your behind.'
'No, no, no!' Taemin chuckled. 'We have not signed any peace treaty! We're still at war.'
'The war over your breeches on your butt.' Jongin said huskily.
'No, no, no!' Taemin wiggled out of the cage Jongin formed. 'I have to report back anyway. Get my medals and my trophies and such. Have to deliver an ex-queen too.'
Jongin sighed as he turned on the bed. 'Which means you'll be gone for another month or two…'
'You do know I've got a pet dragon now, right?'
'… See you next week?'
Taemin laughed. 'We'll see. In the time that I'm gone, please have a stable constructed for my dragon. He likes big trees and goats. Alive, if possible.'
Jongin chuckled. 'I'll see to it as Prince of Faciara.'
'Great. Now address them. I've got a queen to deliver.' Taemin turned and walked away, but Jongin caught his hand.
'Taemin…' Jongin hugged him from behind tightly. 'Thank you.' He pressed a kiss on Taemin's ear and turned, back to the balcony, leaving Taemin behind in the room. Taemin smiled.
'You're welcome.'

The dragon had been renamed (Jongin was more creative) to Yong. Taemin had, with Taeyeon shackled to the dragon, ridden him home and had left a big impression on the Taragian capital, Unlac. The stable boys had trembled in fear as Taemin petted the scaly neck of Yong the dragon. 'He likes to heat up his water before he drinks it so stay clear, and he likes goats and sheep. Alive. Uh… Ah yes, and trees. He likes to sleep in them. Basically just let him roam around, won't hurt a fly except for goats. And sheep. Be a good boy.'
Taemin had led the elven monarch inside and presented her to his father. 'I offer you a gift.'
Yifan chuckled. 'What do you want to do with her, Taemin?'
'Ah! I wish to see her as a royal advisor on how to deal with the elves in Faciara.' Taemin smiled.
All of them, including Taeyeon, looked at him. 'Excuse me?' Taeyang said.
'I think that, with our new rule over the Facian lands, even though we basically gave it back to the elven prince, we need to have an advisor to see if certain policies we might not agree on with the elven prince are actually vitally important for the elves. Having her in Faciara is too dangerous, but having her here and on a short leash couldn't harm anyone. I mean it's that or off with her head.'
'I don't mind being an advisor if that is the best way to serve my people.' Taeyeon said softly.
Taeyang seemed to be considering his options. Yifan hummed. 'How did the elven prince react?'
Taemin blushed. 'He uh… Liked the idea a lot.'
'Just as much as he liked coming over here to your room?' Yifan smirked.
Taemin's eyes became bigger. 'Uh… What?'
'I saw an elven prince sneak out of your room after you returned from Faciara…'
Taemin sighed. 'Look, I conquered them okay?! Don't hold this against me now!'
'Far from it!' Yifan said. 'It inspired me to suggest the current political situation. The vassal state.'
'… Wait, that was your idea?!' Taemin asked. 'Why?'
'I'll tell you later. The only thing I can tell you is that I need to marry the elven prince to solidify this vassal relationship between our countries.'
And Taemin's heart dropped. 'You…?'
'Of course, if our crown prince marries him our countries would be united anyway.'
'Then I give up the crown!' Taemin said. 'You have it! I don't want it! Jongin gave up his own country for me, I give up my throne!'
'And that's how it shall be.' Taeyang said. 'Taemin, I command you to marry the elven prince.'
'As you wish, father.'
'Like you don't want it.'
'Shut up, Yifan.'

Some elves started to cheer when Yong landed in the palace's courtyard, Taemin sliding off his wing nimbly. The stable boys ran up to him, excited to see both Taemin and the dragon again. 'My lord! We have started on a place for the dragon to stay! Can we lead him to it?'
Taemin nodded and clicked his tongue. 'Be good, Yongie.'
The dragon huffed and curiously followed the two stable boys. Taemin walked inside and, met by the governess, he smiled. The Facian flags and banners were still present, but next to them hung the Taragian ones. Taemin passed the lady by completely, not interested in her flirting.
Taemin knocked on the door of Jongin's study. He waited a few moment and walked in when he heard an agreeing noise. Jongin looked up from his documents, a streak of ink on his cheek. Taemin chuckled. 'How majestically thou look.'
'Shut it.' Jongin got up and wrapped an arm around Taemin's waist. 'Glad you're back.'
'Peace treaty.' Taemin said and showed a roll of parchment. 'I need a signature and a Royal Signet.'
Jongin smiled and took the roll. He quickly put down his signature and placed his signet with a drip of wax and his ring. 'There… Wait, you didn't rip me off right?'
'There are a lot of things I off on a day, but I don't rip off.'
Jongin snickered. 'Oh? Like what?'
'Bath boys.'
Jongin growled. 'No, no, none of that!'
'Anyway.' Taemin chuckled and extended his hand. 'Peace.'
'Peace!' Jongin shook Taemin's hand. 'So… On the ladder of royalty, am I below you or above you now?'
'I think we're even.'
'Good.' Jongin smirked. 'Wasn't going to be formal with you anyway. How long will you be staying?'
Taemin turned and walked out the study. Right before he closed the door, he turned to smile sweetly. 'As long as you want me to.' And he closed the door to run away.
'WAIT! Wait for me!' Jongin ran out of his study and ran after the boy. 'I want to have fun with you! I can do that stuff tomorrow… Next week!'

Jongin had caught Taemin and taken him back to his own wing. After a bit of play fighting on the bed, they decided that a bath after Taemin's long travels was a good idea. And because Jongin knew Taemin liked romantic, he had the servants bring candles, fruits and chocolates.
Taemin rested against Jongin's chest as the boy offered him a cherry. The hot water around them swirled as Taemin's fingers twirled around. The candles lit the dim room, the small flames sparkling in the water. The bath itself wasn't Jongin's own bath. It was a more pristine bath on the lower floors of the palace and its main feature was that instead of a tub, it was sunk the floor. The soft tiles around it weren't cold and the circular shape made it easy for Taemin to swirl the water around.
Jongin smiled as the boy's soft lips touched his fingers as they took the cherry from him. Jongin enjoyed feeling every curve and muscle in Taemin's body against his own skin, how the water heated up their bodies even more. He placed his lips on Taemin's ear. 'I don't think I ever want you to leave though.'
'Oh shut it. Next week you'll be back to your bath boys.' Jongin could practically sense a smirk on Taemin's lips.
'No.' Jongin said. 'Only you.'
Taemin picked up a chocolate and turned, sitting on Jongin's lap now. 'Open up.'
Jongin's lips parted and he took the piece of chocolate between his teeth. His arms snuck around Taemin's waist, catching the boy on his lap. Slowly eating, he felt his stomach heat up as their members got pressed together between their bodies. 'Taemin…'
Taemin rested his head on the elf's shoulder, his lips against the boy's neck. 'Jongin…'
Jongin's hands shifted downwards slightly, holding the boy's behind. 'Taemin, I don't want any bath boys anymore…'
'Me neither…'
Jongin noticed how the water had stilled, how Taemin only relaxed against his shoulders now. Jongin stood up in the bath, Taemin clinging to his body, and laid the boy on the warm tiles of the floor. His legs still in the bath, Jongin hovered over him, his hips urging Taemin's legs apart. 'Why are humans so pretty?'
'Says the gorgeous elf.'
Jongin laughed softly. 'Don't say that.' He pressed his lips on the human ones, his tongue rolling out to meet with Taemin's. He felt the human prince's legs close around his waist, his hands on his behind. Jongin's hand reached out, a purple line shooting from the palm of his hand towards a small jar on a dresser in the bathroom. Tangled around the jar, the line shot back into Jongin's hand and the jar slid to a slow stop next to them.
But neither of them paid any attention to it, just focussing on the other's lips and body. Jongin's other hand had found Taemin's hair, caressing it softly as he took a hold of it. He felt Taemin's well-off erection pulse between their abs and he felt himself throb as his penis got pressed down between Taemin's buttocks. Jongin couldn't help but moan a bit when he felt Taemin's ring tense and relax at his presence down there.
Taemin's eyes opened and he smiled. 'Now you've got the right mood, you know.'
The elf chuckled. 'I do?'
'Yes.' Taemin's lips moved from the boy's lips to his cheek, to his ear, to the pointy tip of his ear. And Taemin bit softly, nibbling sensually. 'Don't you think so?'
Jongin had his eyes closed, enjoying Taemin's lips and teeth on his ear. 'I uh… Oh… Ooooh…'
Taemin laughed softly. 'Like that?'
'Yes…' Jongin groaned and pressed his lips in Taemin's neck, creating a small love mark. Taemin's fingers, still located on the boy's butt, dug into the soft skin of the elf.
'Jongin!'
'Taemin, I want to…'
'Please…'
Jongin reached to the side, took the small jar and let some oil drip over his tall erection. Smelling of almonds, the oil slicked the boy's erection fully and the elf made sure the oil was both well-spread along his member, but also around the entrance of the human prince. Putting the jar down, the elf gulped once. 'Ready?'
Taemin nodded.
Jongin placed his member at the prince's muscles and pressed himself inside. He gasped as the human prince was unlike anything he had ever felt. In all honesty, he had had sex with the bathing boys, as they had been handsome and willing at the time, but their insides felt cold and distant while Taemin felt hot, tight and infernal. Jongin let out a loud groan and hunched forwards as he pressed his member inside fully. He pressed his lips on the prince's shoulder and tried to control his lower body, since his knees felt like giving in.
Meanwhile, Taemin had the same sensation. Taemin was familiar with both parts of the trade, but in this instant it truly amazing. The bath boys back home were nice and all, some had a really nice curve on their members, but Jongin had just a straight and solid phallus right inside him, lodged and wedged tightly. It felt perfect. It felt like he was being branded by the boy from the inside. But as much as he loved Jongin's penis in his behind, the elf did have to move. 'Jongin… Move… This is too much like this…'
And Jongin, almost reluctantly, started to move. He heaved himself up a little, resting on his elbows now and his plump lips firmly placed on Taemin's. His slow thrusts sent shockwaves through the boy's body, his moans of bliss nectar for the elf's ears. He felt the boy's insides tighten a little, the walls lodging him in place.
Their lips separated to take in air. Jongin used his opportunity to peek between their bodies, to see how the entanglement of their limbs, of their odours, of their fluids, of their love looked. It looked marvellous. Pearly drops of sweat on Taemin's abs, unsure of who they were. Moans of bliss, their voices mixing.
But his thoughts were rudely interrupted when he felt Taemin's hands disappear from his behind. They had felt so warm and nice there, so comforting. 'Tae…' But then he noticed where they were going, to Taemin's own member. Jongin smirked as to what he made the boy do to himself. But also, he didn't want to have Taemin pleasure himself, he should do that for him. Now resting on only one elbow, he reached to the boy's member and took over from the body, rolling the foreskin up and down.
Taemin released a loud groan at the sensation and buried his face in the elf's neck. 'Jongin… I'm so close to…'
'Me too…' Jongin said softly, a whine escaping his lips as Taemin clenched down even more.
And they both released. Taemin groaned loudly and Jongin bit his own lip to keep his legs where they were supposed to be. Their bodies satisfied and recovering, Jongin picked Taemin back up and, with the boy on his lap, sat down in the water again.
They looked at each other.
'I love you.'
'I love you.'
Taemin took another cherry and placed it between Jongin's lips. And Jongin kissed him, sharing the cherry.

Their night had been filled with more and more loving, both Taemin as Jongin on top. Clinging to one another, they woke up in Jongin's (new and bigger) bedroom. Opening their eyes, they smiled as they saw one another.
'Good morning…' Taemin said softly.
And Jongin rolled on top of him. 'Good morning, Taeminnie…' He pecked the boy's lips.
'I forgot to tell you…' Taemin said. 'My father gave me another task.'
Jongin hummed, resting his head on Taemin's shoulder. 'Yeah?'
'Do you want to marry me?'
Jongin looked up. 'A political marriage?'
'… I wouldn't want to call it that…' Taemin said, blushing. 'To them it is but to us…'
'It would be a bit fast.' Jongin smiled.
'Yes, so at the start maybe but later I don't think it's political…'
'I don't think so either.' Jongin said and kissed Taemin. 'I want to marry you.' He reached to the small jar on the side, to his almond oil, but found it empty. 'Fuck.' He grabbed the bell and rang it, a servant coming in quickly. 'Yes, your Highness?'
'Water, breakfast and more oil, please.'
'Yes, your Highness.' The servant left again.
'You know, when I said I could all that work either today or next week, I can also do it next month and just sleep with you all day.'
'You silly elf.'

Epilogue
'Sit, sit, young ones! You too, Jongdae! Let me tell you about the Great Revolution! The moment when our great kingdom became part of Taragi and Prince Jongin, Prince Taemin and King Yifan ruled us both fairly and benevolently.'

Taemin smiled as he walked through the capital. The elves had gathered around him, following him to the park. While Jongin had meetings with his colonels, Taemin listened to some of the woes and worries of the people. Later that day, they would discuss them with the ministers.
Despite the fact that Taemin had conquered Faciara with violence, the people loved him. They saw his influence on their prince, who had remained as elven as possible (meaning a terrible slacker) but still did what he had to do greatly. Taragi's riches had flooded into Faciara, the people able to eat and drink, to make, sell and buy clothes, to spend time doing elven things. And Taragi's economy had bloomed even more with the elven products entering the market rather cheaply and sold to neighbouring countries kind of expensively.
Colonel Choi had become Taemin's personal guard, even though he was absent at this time though to consult with Jongin. Taemin had found his spot, under a few trees and sat down with the elves. It was a regular occurrence, so they needn't tell them how this was about to go down, they knew already. A first elf got up and smiled at Taemin.
'Your Highness, I just wanted to thank you for the fact that last week I could offer my firstborn a special dinner for his birthday. He never ate so much.'
'Your Highness, in the northwest a caravan of humans has fallen ill. They do not have the equipment to aid them there, would you be able to lend a hand?'
'Your Highness, the harvest in the south has been ruined by the heavy rain of the last few days, the crops have been washed away! Houses have been damaged too!'
Praise after praise, plea after plea, the elven continued. Taemin noted all of them and expressed his worry when he needed to, expressed his gratitude or selflessness when he needed to. Until he heard soft gasps.
Jongin sat down next to Taemin, looking at the notes Taemin had made. 'So human of you to make notes. You can just remember them.'
'The fact that I make notes is the reason stuff gets done around here.'
'… Shut up.'
Colonel Choi chuckled and saluted. 'Highness, I've returned to your side to protect you.'
'Great, now sit down and make notes.' Taemin gave his parchment to the colonel and his quill too. The elves laughed softly and the colonel grumbled.

The harvest in the south had been tended too, the caravan of humans had been looked after and many more dinners had been had that night, they were sure of that. Jongin finished his weekly report to King Yifan and pressed his royal signet to sign it appropriately. He walked to Taemin's hawk and gave it the note. 'Honeybuns, can you…?'
Taemin snapped his fingers and the hawk flew off into the night's sky. Jongin smiled and sat down next to him. 'What are you looking at?'
Taemin had been looking out the window all night. 'I'm wondering where he is.'
'He's fine! He went hunting! He has to have a few days off with his friends.'
'He's never worked a goddamned day in his life.'
'His tutoring though.'
'Only an elf would call that work.'
Jongin laughed and kissed the human's cheek. 'Just don't worry. He said he would be back tonight! Maybe we just missed him return. Shall we check his room?'
Taemin hummed and got up, walking out the study. Jongin quickly followed and, as if he heard them, Yixing ran around the corner.
'Father!... Both of you!' Yixing smiled. 'Can I sleep at Sehun's house tonight? We want to go fishing tomorrow and he lives near the lake so…'
Taemin opened his mouth to tell him he had his lessons tomorrow, but… 'Fine, go ahead, you elven idiot.'
Jongin laughed and ruffled Yixing's hair. 'Have fun tomorrow, but you've got your lessons the day after that!'
'Yes fathers!' Yixing ran down the stairs and they heard him yell to the stable boys.
Yixing had been an elven boy that they adopted after the war had cost him his parents. Approved by both King Yifan as King Taeyang, Yixing had been named crown prince of Faciara, ready to take over when Jongin decided the time had come to pass his duties along.
Jongin stared at Taemin for a moment. 'Taeminnie… Have you thought about it?'
'I have.'
'I understand that it might be a difficult decision, but I don't know what else to do now…'
'I know. You may make me an elf.'
'After that, your life will be with me for eternity.'
Taemin nodded. 'Why do you think you may make me an elf?'
Jongin smiled. 'That's an elven way of thinking.'
'And you haven't even started yet.'