Hey there! I'm Ki (Key)! Welcome to my Fanfiction Tumblr! *cue my theme music*
☾ Millennial Baby, I'm old
☾ Taurus- May 16th
☾ This is my side-blog, mostly for Stray Kids and all of my stories (NCT INCLUDED)
☾ Christopher Biased, but you might also catch me loosing my mind over Hyunjin, Lee Know, and Changbin. HYUNG LINE
☾ I've been a k-pop fan for almost two decades (this year). I'm a multi-stan. (Nct, Stray Kids, got7, and a bunch of other groups as well)
☾ Nets: @neverendingdreams-net & @mirohs-aurora-society & @ksmutsociety
☾ WRITING STORIES FOR SKZ SINCE OCT 2023
☾ WRITING FOR NCT SINCE OCT 2017
MY WORKS ARE ALL NSFW UNLESS OTHERWISE STATED. READER DISCRESSION IS ADVISED. MINORS DO NOT INTERACT
🔺HAN:
― ☀ ONE SHOTS:
⬤THE PERFECT STORM:
⟶GENRE: FLUFF, SFW
PAIRING: HAN ✖ READER [F]
WORDS: 1K+
⬤LOSER: 🔑
⟶GENRE: HIGHSCHOOL, ROCKSTAR, FRIENDS TO LOVERS, FLUFF, ANGST, SMUT
PAIRING: HAN ✖ READER [F]
WORDS: 19.7k
🔺FELIX:
― ☀ ONE SHOTS:
⬤CLICK,CLICK,CLICK:
⟶GENRE: SMUT
PAIRING: FELIX ✖ READER [F]
WORDS: 3K+
🔺MULTI MEMBER
― ☀ ONE SHOTS:
⬤TWO'S A PAIR, THREE'S A PARTY:
⟶GENRE: ANGST, SMUT
PAIRING: BANG CHAN ✖ ROOMMATE READER [F] ✖ CHANGBIN
WORDS: 6K+
⬤ONE WISH:
⟶GENRE: SMUT, THREESOME
PAIRING: BANG CHAN [BF] ✖ READER [F] ✖ LEE KNOW
WORDS: 3K+
▶ BY MEMBER
🔺JOHNNY:
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⬤HELPFUL HANDS:
⟶GENRE: SMUT
PAIRING: JOHNNY [ROOMMATE] ✖ READER [F]
WORDS: 3K+
🔺YUTA:
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⬤JACKPOT:
⟶GENRE: SMUT
PAIRING: YUTA [CEO] ✖ READER [F]
WORDS: 4K+
🔺JAEHYUN:
― ☁ SERIES:
♦IGNIS FATUUS:
⟶GENRE: SUPERNATURAL, SMUT [EVENTUAL], ANGST
PAIRING: BANG CHAN ✖ READER[F] ✖JAEHYUN
WORDS: [ONGOING] WORD COUNT IS ON EACH CHAPTER
Everyone at KSS would like to wish the following (May) member(s):
Jessi ☆ @gyuhanniescarat
Ki ☆ @channieskies
…a very happy birthday! May your day be as outstanding as you are! Wishing you another year filled with joy, laughter, and all the best smut in the world!
This May, we also celebrate the Stars who shine a little brighter on their birthdays! Happy Birthday to:
Louis — May 1, ‘10 ☆ Ingshot
Harua — May 1, ‘05 ☆ &team
Sungjae — May 2, ‘95 ☆ BTOB
BamBam — May 2, ‘97 ☆ GOT7
Z.Tao — May 2, ‘93 ☆ Soloist
Crush — May 3, ‘92 ☆ Soloist
Bain — May 4, ‘01 ☆ JustB
Taki — May 4, ‘05 ☆ &Team
Baekhyun — May 6, ‘92 ☆ EXO
Yedam — May 7, ‘02 ☆ Soloist
Jinyoung — May 10, ‘00 ☆ Soloist
Sion — May 11, ‘02 ☆ NCT
Hyui — May 11, ‘07 ☆ NEXZ
Hwiyoung — May 11, ‘99 ☆ SF9
Seyoon — May 15, ‘93 ☆ ACE
Yoshi — May 15, ‘00 ☆ Treasure
Taeyang — May 18, ‘98 ☆ BigBang/Soloist
Ricky — May 20, ‘04 ☆ ZeroBaseOne
Jinhyuk — May 21, ‘04 ☆ NOWZ
Jimin — May 22, ‘01 ☆ JustB
Junmyeon — May 22, ‘91 ☆ EXO
Junon — May 23, ‘98 ☆ Be:First
Junmin — May 24, ‘03 ☆ Xikers
Matthew — May 28, ‘02 ☆ ZeroBaseOne
Ungjae — May 28, ‘98 ☆ Imfact
Jacob — May 30, ‘97 ☆ the Boyz
Youngjae — May 31, ‘05 ☆ tws
Sometimes writer’s block is fear. Sometimes you are just scared.
Because it’s been a while. Because putting your thoughts on paper makes it more real. Because you are afraid of what others might think. Because you are afraid of what you might think. Because you are afraid of not living up to certain expectations. Because you are scared of failure after putting lots of work into something.
But you don’t have to be perfect, you just have to be brave.
Pairing: Prince Hyunjin x Reader (AFAB)
Summary: The war is upon them, the children of the first men have descended on the castle town of Solaris. It's up to the prince and his father's army to fight to save the Kingdom of Volantis.
Word Count: 8.1k+ [Reading Time: 35+ Mins]
Genre: Historical, Fantasy, Strangers to Lovers, Royalty, Angst, any NSFW tags are below.
AU: Prince, Royal, Supernatural
NETS: @neverendingdreams-net
Synopsis: The kingdom of Volantis is in disarray; the monarch rules with an iron fist. The times of hope, harmony, and kindness were buried with the queen who passed many years ago. The people are praying for a savior, but who will be their light at the end of this dark tunnel?
Authors Note: Please reblog or leave a comment to let me know how you feel. I'd love a little feedback. Thanks for reading, and I hope you enjoyed it. As per usual, this hasn't been proofread. Special thanks to @saradika-graphics for some of the dividers. HAPPY TWO YEAR ANNIVERSARY TO KINGDOM OF HOPE!
Warnings: Mentions of war, abuse, grief, poverty, death, blood, weapon use, violence, dead bodies, combat, minor & major injury
Disclaimer: This story does not reflect the real lives or personalities of Stray Kids. I do not know them personally. This is purely a work of fiction.
Looking for another chapter?
Chapter Index: HERE
Days had passed. Word of the prince returning to Solaris had spread quickly. Thanks to Justinier, a few rumors about his origins had started to spread as well, despite the councilors trying their best to put out the little fires that the ex Right State Minister had ignited. They were fighting an eternal war while an impending one was slowly coming to fruition. Ermias had sent a few of his own men to watch the border around Solaris. He knew as a formal general, the best strategy for them would be to strike when the Kingdom least expected it. The coronation was tonight. What time would be better than the changing of sovereignty?
He’d met with you in the dead of night, afraid that if the king knew who you were, the blowback might be astronomical. So he sent for you and Minho, sending one of his most trusted allies to get the two of you. Waking you both out of your sleep. Hyunjin had spent the day with the king, afraid to leave his fathers side, despite their past situation. Ermias commended him for that. Not a lot of people would be willing to forgive someone who had threatened their lives or hated them so vehemently. But with the way that you and Venia talked about the prince, he had to think that maybe he would be good for the kingdom. Someone who could set the future of Volantis in the right direction.
If the boy was anything like they said, or anything like his mother, the Kingdom would be fine. But there was still this constant thought gnawing at the back of his mind, messing with his thoughts. What if Aeri was wrong? What if his old friend got it wrong? Even the children of the first men couldn’t save the rest of Volantis from their brethren. Things weren’t at all like there were when the outsiders first came to take the land. No, they had generations to study men, to understand them fundamentally, all in preparation to defeat them. Either all of their efforts would work, or everything would end on the battlefield. He’d told his wife and other daughter that he’d loved them before he left, in hopes that just in case this was the last time he saw them that they knew his true feelings. He knew too many who didn’t get to say goodbye to their loved ones before they went on to glory.
“Father, I sense your worry, I do. I feel the same. But your pacing is making Minho nervous.” You lied on your older brother-like figure as he glared from his place across the room by the window. “Though we are not as prepared as we could be, I think that our planning will secure us a victory in this manner.” You were optimistic, he’d give you that. You probably get that from your mother, because after years at war, he had no room for optimism. He couldn’t afford it. He’d lost too much.
‘Dear daughter, I wish to have just an ounce of your optimism.” He sighed, the situation was grave, at least in his eyes. An untrained prince at the helm of a whole army? Sounded down right disastrous. But he knew Aeri, and he knew her predictions were never wrong. All he could do was pray to the old gods that this would have a favorable outcome for all of them. Ermias contemplated his next words, he’d been thinking about this since the day you left home with Minho. “When the war happens…” He paused, looking down at the schematic maps he had taken from the library. “I don’t want you anywhere near it.” Both sets of eyes snapped up at him at his words. “I mean it, you go with the women and children. I know that I’ve put a lot on you, that I’ve asked too much in the absence of your brother…” You opened your mouth to protest, only to be silenced with a hand. “I can’t lose you.” It came out nearly choked. “If you need Minho to stay behind with you, so be it. But I can’t have you in this fight… not when I lost your brother that way.”
“No.” The words were simple, to the point. “I refuse to cower in the face of danger. I’ve fought them before and we won!” Your eyes shifted to Minho for confirmation, to which he nodded. “I’ve been traveling for months, father. We have grown with the prince, learned with the prince. I will stand by the prince and die for the prince if need be.” You lifted your head high as you spoke. Despite your fathers intimidating stature, he was both tall and buff, you still stood your ground. You didn’t come this far to take shelter with the women and children, especially not when you were fully capable of fighting. “I learned a few things about our dispositions while in Efranor. I’ve learned how to control my powers! I know how to heal now and how to control my abilities from your side.” He stood a bit taller.
He had been the last in his family to even get the ancestral gift. Nikolas, his son, only seemed to receive traits from the Hyat, Emrias’ side of the family, but nothing significant, nothing he could use in battle. To find that his first born daughter instead received the gift, made his heart ache a little. This was his little girl telling him that she was going to fight no matter the consequences and outcome. Damn it if she wasn’t just like him. Stubborn to a fault. “You.. got the gift?” She nodded. Nikolas didn’t have immense strength nor could he heal, but you could do both. Taken from both the Orev and Hyat sides of your family. He couldn’t be more proud, but the feeling was muddied with the fear of him losing both you and Minho.
“Father, please trust me. Trust us.” He pointed between her and Minho, who sat quietly watching things unfold in the way he always did when he wasn’t pushing her buttons. “We have trained for this very moment. And honestly father, it would bring me much joy to fight alongside you and Minho. Fight for something I believe in. Fight for this Kingdom to become on and not this fractured mess we are right now. I think the prince can do that. It’s been foretold.” Ermias sighed, he hated this. But he knew that your stubbornness, much like his, knew no bounds. Even if he locked you away, you’d still find your way to that battlefield.
“Fine. But if something happens to you, the prince, or Minho. Take the other and get out of there. I can’t risk losing any of you.” You nodded, turning to Minho who gave you a nod of approval.
“Deal.”
Hyunjin stirred, awake, but not, as the frayed edges of his dreams started pulling at his consciousness. He’d been asleep for hours after reconciling with his father and talking with the new general over the royal army, he’d been exhausted. As soon as his head hit the silky, feather down pillow, he drifted off into a deep sleep. He was still here in the kingdom, somewhere along the southern border. He’d drifted out that way, able to control his dreams a little more now that he’s had more practice with people who’ve had the gift since before his lifetime. It was still dark, the morning light was just upon the horizon, but it had yet to break. There was a dense fog that built this haze around the tall spruce and firs that outlined the border of the castle town. The mist was the thickest at the base, making the ground look like clouds instead of something solid.
He scanned for any anomaly, he’d done the same the day before, looking a few hours into the future as he slept. Keeping up with the happening around the border. He wanted to make sure all of his people were safe, especially the ones who lived just on the outskirts of town. There were no gates or patrolling officers to keep things in check just in case they went left. They would be the first to see the war if it happened there. Hyunjin scanned the treeline, searching for any weird movements or things that were not there when he looked the day before. That's when he saw it. A brief glimmer of something shiny. It seemed to come and go, with the blink of an eye, something someone could easily miss if they weren’t paying attention. Be he was. He followed the glimmer, steadily getting closer and closer to it until he saw it. A knight's chain link armor.
They were meant for protection, but there was little to nothing that could protect them from such a beastly assault. He’d been mangled. Sharp claws seemed to have cut through him, from the top of his head to the center of his chest. The links had been decimated, offering little to no safe guard from the monsters they would all soon face. His corpse was being dragged through the dense fog and mud, held simply by his leg, which seemed to have been snapped. The poor knight seemed to have no chance against the child of the first men who attacked him. Hyunjin could only assume that there were more of them outside the city, ready and waiting to wage war against the unsuspecting citizens of Solaris.
Hyunjin forced himself awake, noting where he saw the man had been attacked, so that he could relay it to the general. The room was still dark, moonlight was the only light that filtered into the chamber. Longingly, he reached out only to find the other side of his large canopy bed to be not only empty, but cold. He quickly sat up, rubbing the sleep from his eyes. His dreams were becoming more and more frequent and more and more real, each time he closed his eyes. The fear was beginning to settle deep into his chest. He climbed out of bed and padded to the window, in his dream they attacked the guard in the dead of night while the kingdom slept. He guessed that was the smartest thing to do, catch the people off guard, so that you had a higher chance of winning. He clenched his fists, he couldn’t let that happen. Grabbing his newly acquired robes, he quickly dressed himself and headed out, only to be stopped by a guard nearly two heads taller than him.
“Is there something you need, your highness?” Hyunjin huffed, trying to step around him only to be side stepped.
“Yes, I need to speak to the general.” The royal knight stood there for a second, looking into the prince's eyes, as if trying to decipher if he should believe him or not. If he should let him pass. “Now! This pertains to the lives of the people!” Hyunjin didn’t often raise his voice, but in this dire moment, he had to. He had respect for the people who worked and lived in the castle, understanding that everything they did was vital to the system that made this kingdom run. But right now, with lives in danger, he knew he couldn’t hold his tongue.
“Follow me, your highness.” He bowed his head and led the way through the winding corridors. He led him to a study that was nearly on the other side of the castle. The guard took his large hand and rapped on the door. The silence stretched for a few minutes before a voice finally told them they could come in. The guard pushed the door open for the prince. “Prince Hyunjin has arrived.” The room was bustling with people, you and Minho included. Everyone surrounded the war table, planning out their line of defense against the oncoming attack.
“It happens tonight.” Hyunjin spoke, causing everyone to stop in their tracks. “They have killed a guard near the treeline, towards the south east entrance of the castle. Send a few well trained men to his post, you will see the drag marks where they took his body.” It felt like all of the tension in the room was sucked out then spit back in like venom. “This ends with us. We have to protect this kingdom. We have an obligation to its people, all of its people. So rally your men together. Get the women and children to safety as discreetly as possible. We don’t want them to know that we are ready for them. We want them to think that they are attacking unprepared people. This is a do or die, now or never situation we find ourselves in, we want the odds to lean in our favor.” The prince stepped further into the room, stepping near the war table where people made room for him. “What's the plan, general?”
Hyunjin hadn’t been on a horse like this since his childhood. It felt foreign. He sat on the front lines with the generals, much to their protest. Even Ermias tried to talk the young man down, but he insisted that if his people were fighting, so should he. At that moment, the men around couldn’t help but admire him. His father had selfishly started a war that he himself did not fight in, leaving thousands of families without husbands, fathers, or sons. He saw what sacrifices people made for his fathers wars, how it impacted them. All while he sat in his fortress of thick bricks, atop the capital city. Hyunjin refused to be like that. He would fight and die with these men if need be. He could hear the chatter of hushed whispers and someone pushed through the crowd. How their hushed words turned into nothingness the closer that person got to the front.
“Your highness,” Your voice broke through the space around him, landing on his ears just as clear as if you were sitting right next to him. Ermias had sent you to take care of the women and children, in hopes that the particularly busy work would keep you occupied and far away from the front lines. Hyunjin glanced over at the man who stood tall on his shire horse, making him tower over nearly everything and everyone. Your father was terrifying to look at. Tan skin, long dark wavy hair, tattoos dotted all over his skin, with eyes so dark they could only be described as obsidian in color. Hyunjin would willingly admit that the man intimidated him to no end. But that still didn’t stop him from hoping that one day, with his permission, he’d be able to take your hand in marriage. But that all hinged on them winning this war.
“The women and children have been hidden and should be safe from any damage that may occur to the castle.” Your horse finally settles beside his, taking up the space he felt was so rightfully yours. “Would you grant me the honor of letting me fight beside you?” He knew you still felt a sense of duty when it came to him. You were sent on a mission to retrieve and get him safely into Solaris. Most would consider it a job well done, but here you were asking to fight with him, while the other women and children were hidden away by your very hand. He hid his smile, proud knowing that no matter what, you’d be by his side.
“Yes.” He nodded, “I’d have it no other way, my lady.”
__
An eerie calm settled over the east entrance. It felt like he could hear everything and nothing at all as a strong gust of wind blew past them all. “Prepare yourselves.” He could feel the tension rising, the hairs on his body standing on end. He looked to Minho, then to you with a nod that signified good luck. A hard knock resounded at the door. Once. Twice. Then with the third the doors flew open, breaking the large wooden latch that kept it closed. Wood splintered everywhere, scaring a few of the horses that hadn’t been hardened by the wars of the past. From the debris and rubble, people and creatures alike, started to emerge, running into the courtyard. “HOLD!” Hyunjin drew his sword and prepared for battle.
He straightened his back, his dark, matte black, scaled armor caught the light. His hair was pulled back, but some still fell at his nape and some at the front that just wasn’t long enough. His white mantel matched the hilt of his sword, which was wrapped in gold and black intricate details, signifying it belonged to a royal. He looked the part, even if his nerves didn’t match the confidence he was exuding. He was terrified. There were snarling monsters coming his way fast and he was expected to command this army, keep his people safe. There was a lot weighing on his success. Failure was not an option. Failure meant losing you, losing the people, losing the crown. Losing meant all Volantians and people who considered themselves as such would perish.
He waited, taking deep breaths to keep himself calm. They crossed over the line in which the generals set for the King’s army to charge, “CHARGE!” The words rang through the courtyard. Foot soldiers came from the sides to flank the opposing army as the front line gathered spears to push the monsters back and out of the castle. The few that broke the line were swiftly met with force. Hyunjin gave the archers on the enceinte the signal to light and fire their arrows, to hopefully hit some of their army before they could defend against it. But the light from the fire only illuminated their worst fears, the bright blazing arrows hit some of the smaller children of the first men, but they seemed to slide off the giants that had made their way through the treeline. With a swing of one of their large clubs, most of the archers were taken out. Their bodies falling backwards off the enceinte and landing on top of a few of the fighting foot soldiers.
They needed to make a big push, get them past the gate and out into the open. He needed to keep the kingdom and its civilians safe by any means necessary. He looked over at Ermias, who seemed to be itching for a fight. No words were necessary, he whistled for his men and made the push to get the monsters out of the castle. He pushed forward with his small team, his horse alone trampling over most of their front line. He swung his khopesh, cutting down twice as many more. That gave the rest of them time and space to follow. The sun lifted above the trees, painting the landscape in its soft morning glow. Once the king’s army was past the gate, what was left of the guards in the tower, let it down.
The real battle ensued. Hyunjin charged in, swinging his fathers sword, taking down as many as he could, and fighting off the ones who attacked him. Minho has gone with Ermias’ men, to help lead the front line, while you stayed close to the prince, intercepting anyone who came from behind. The clash of swords and the smell of blood filled the air. Children of first men and Volantian’s were dying, their blood soaking the earth. Hyunjin hated this, he was supposed to be the hope of Volantis, he was supposed to unite the people, be the bridge between both sides of his lineage. But here he was, causing harm to the people who may have looked different, but weren’t that different from him at the same time.
He stopped, closing his eyes, using his sight to see what his next move should be. A face flashed in his mind. His eyes flew open and he scanned the area for the face he saw. He found it and closed in on the target. His horse maneuvered through the chaos, as you struggled to keep up behind him. “Your highness?” You called after him after getting stuck. You quickly hopped down off of your horse, slashing your way through monsters to continue to follow him, to no avail. You were cornered, once again facing off with someone who looked just like the creature that nearly killed you on your trip to retrieve the prince from the isle of Arcta. You could feel the fear creeping up your spine. You narrowly escaped one of these things the last time you had an encounter with one.
“Se’aus as iyais se’asze’as huhrsan, Volantis. Se’aus sa iyai u’sass” His voice was like a growl from within a deep cavern, it was almost hard to understand him at all. He picked up his large axe, swinging it right for your head, you barely had time to react before he was swinging again. Adrenaline pumped through your veins, kicking your fight or flight response into high gear. You chose to fight. You pulled out your claymore and countered his next few moves. When you saw the opportunity you swung for its knee, only for your blade to slide across it like it was metal. Your eyes widened. What was this creature? The first one you’d encountered was hard enough to kill, was it possible this one would be harder? You narrowly missed the woosh of his axe as it swung down towards your head. You put your sword up to stop it, almost getting split down the middle. You struggled as he pushed down, your knees sunk into the wet, blood soaked, mud. Your arms shook as you tried to fight him off. You prayed to the goddess of war and Victory that your story wouldn’t end here and that she would give you strength to fight and finish this war.
__
Fear surged through Minho’s system. He could see the danger you were in, from a mile away. A blade clashed with his own, sending him flying back, but he quickly regained his composure. Swords clashing with the offender hard, nearly making sparks fly. He didn’t have time for this, if he didn’t get to you soon, you were going to die. He always carried the weight of not being able to save his mother. He’d been so thankful to Ermias for taking him in, teaching him to fight, and giving him the family life he didn’t think he would ever have again with his parents being gone. Now he was grown and able to fight back, he couldn’t let what happened long ago to his mother happen to you as well.
He dogged an attack before using his quickness to turn his own blade on his opponent just as quickly. A sick crunching sound was made as the sharp end pierced through his chest. Minho watched as the man who didn’t look to be that much older than him, stopped dead in his tracks, eyes wide with shock. “ Se’aus sa Volantis…” His words died on his tongue as he expired. Minho ripped his sword out of chest cavity and darted off in your direction. He’d stopped using his words after his time being with the bandits. They did unspeakable things to him, battered him mentally and physically, he hadn’t spoken since. He needed his voice now more than ever. Your name felt foreign on his lips as the breathy whisper of it passed them. He could barely hear it, he knew you couldn’t.
Panic filled him as the damn near giant of a monster stepped over your body, axe still pushing your sword closer and closer to your head. He couldn’t run fast enough, he wasn’t going to get there in time. He pulled in as much air as he could, filling his strained lungs with it. He prayed to whomever could hear and grant him the strength that the words would come. They did. His voice carried over the battlefield, your name first, “GET UP! RUN!!” He screamed. He was still trying to get over to you, but feeling like the mud was pulling him down as he stumbled across the battlefield. You heard him loud and clear, head snapping towards the sound of Minho’s voice. You didn’t have time to properly react to hearing Minho’s voice for the first time, in this moment reacting meant losing your life.
You put all your strength into getting out of the bind the two of you were locked in. You called on your fathers ancestors to give you the strength to push and they did. You pushed the man three times your height and size off and rolled away from him. Minho joined you at your side, helping you up from the mud. You gave him a signal, hoping that all the training you’d done in the past would finally amount to something in this moment, you needed it. “NOW!” You both charged the beast at the same time, Minho taking the top and you the bottom. You knew his knees were useless, but his achilles was free, as well as the backs of his knees. Minho went for his chest while you slid between the beast's legs and took out his achilles in one foul swoop. He fell forward onto Minho’s awaiting blade, impaling himself. While you had so many things you wanted to say, you had no chance, the battle was still ensuing. Anything on your mind would have to wait until the battle was a success.
__
Hyunjin was face to face with the commander of the Children of the first men’s army. The shoulders of Hyunjin's armor caught the light, the ornate dragons gave away exactly who he was, despite all of the other people on the battlefield. “Klado as Volantis.” He had a forked tongue, giving him a lisp as he spoke. “You can end this, your people will live to see another day. This kingdom is rightfully ours, you know that, rilf 'qlir.” They circled each other, the tension could be felt mounting in the air. “Ewae os seshf iheth lae ehrae ealaed eahr laeth aviv slaaed seaef tahoe eaahrtah pahean haehrae thea e'ase'asruhsiy.” Hyunjin didn’t have to speak the language of Elfranor to understand that whatever was said was a threat. He readied his sword. “Prepare to die, half blood.”
The reptilian creature lunged at him, pushing him back, but the prince quickly recovered. All of his training was for this moment. All the tireless days and nights spent sparring with you and Minho. All the discussions of strategy he’d had with the generals of this very army. All of it mattered at this moment. If this would have been in the past, he would have been dead on the ground already. But thanks to you and Minho he knew how to fight, how to defend himself with and without a sword. He didn’t use weapons. His claws dripped with some substance Hyunjin could only think was poison. The reptoid man smiled. “Scared, rilf 'qlir?” The prince said nothing, focused on his opponent completely. His stance was low, knees bent as he watched the reptile. “Iyaiss woush mi himir.” The words fell from his mouth and before Hyunjin could react, the reptile's claws were between the scales of his armor, pressing their venom into his chest.
“Die you worthless half breed!” He laughed maniacally, pressing his fingers even deeper as Hyunjin screamed. Without a thought, Hyunjin swung his sword, slicing the arm off of the reptile, but the hand remained in his chest. The venom felt like it was searing its way through his veins. The pain spread from his chest like a wildfire, licking up his spine, settling around his neck, suffocating him. He gasped for air, unable to catch even the smallest of breaths. Was he going to die on this battlefield? He stumbled back, falling to one knee. He tried to use his sword to keep his balance, but to no avail. The edges of the world were starting to blur, color was draining from it, vision becoming black.
“Fire!”Ermias’ booming voice was the only thing to keep the prince from slipping into the everlasting darkness. Hyunjin was pulled to his feet with little to no effort. He could feel his grip on reality slipping through his fingertips. “You have to finish this, your highness. You have to fulfill the prophecy.” Hyunjin could hardly stand on his own, the pain was nearly too much to bear. He was tired. If he closed his eyes for a bit, would that be okay? Ermias breathed fire onto the prince’s sword, lighting it ablaze. “Finish this!” Hyunjin was thrust forward, his claymore now on fire. The reptile had already thought he won. The prince grit his teeth, fixing his stance, lifting his swords. He was ready to finish this, so that he could nap like he deserved.
“Insolent fool. You think you can beat me? The poison in your veins is more potent than any poison there is out there. You have less than a few minutes to try and kill me. But with the amount of pain you are in, you’ll never get to lay a hand on me.” Hyunjin took a deep breath, closing his eyes. He focused on the reptilian man in front of him. He focused on the way he breathed to the sound of his scales rubbing together. To the sound of his heartbeat. There was no one else on this battlefield but the two of them, in Hyunjin's mind.
When the reptile sprang forward, Hyunjin waited, eyes still closed. His hand had already grown back, his regeneration skills being more pronounced than a regular lizard. The prince dodged, his fire sword raised in defense. The same arm that had grown back was split right down the middle in two. The reptile let out a shrill scream. He’d learned a phrase while reading his family’s tome and the words meant everything to the prince.
Volantis was his home. The people who inhabited the land were by all means, his people. He’d give his last breath to protect it and them. “Lar Volantis! Rhou qa’nqdan al rhabou!” Hyunjin wasted no time, turning around and swinging his sword hard, plunging it right in the same spot on the reptile that he himself was hit. Right between the ribs, right at his left lung. The reptile stilled, “Se’aus sa Volantis.” Were his last words as his body erupted in flames before turning into embers and ash and floating away with the wind.
Everything seemed to cease. He briefly heard the cheers of his people, before the world tilted on its axis and everything became black.
The prince felt warm. Impossibly so. Warmer than a hug after soup made by Venia. Warmer than he felt when your bodies became one. Warmer than he’d ever been before. Warm like he’d been cold his whole existence and never knew. “My dearest, Hyunjin.” His eyes fluttered open as the soft voice caressed his ears. They opened just to land on the women he’d only seen through his aunt's visions and the large paintings in the castle. He took a chance to look around, unaware of his surroundings. Everything was white, minus the sunlight that poured in through the open windows. He was in a room with a singular bed, with plush white bedsheets he was lying in. Why was he here? How did he come to arrive here in this ethereal land where his mother resided?
She reached out, hand pressing into his cheek. “I- we don’t have long.” She spoke softly. “You have some place you need to be.” She smiled brighter than the sun. Her words had meaning, he just couldn’t figure out what that meaning was. He felt confused, but at the same time there was this overwhelming sense of happiness that he couldn’t shake. His face had to be a mix of both emotions playing tug of war. “You have people that you are not ready to leave behind, a life to live.” He sat up, the pain that was in his chest was now gone. Pain? His memory of what happened before all of this swiftly came back to him. He was poisoned by the claws of that reptile commander of the opposing army. He looked down, he was shirtless, but there was no wound. Was he in the afterlife? Had he died on the battlefield?
“You are not dead, my child. You have many years of life ahead of you.” She lovingly stroked his hair. “This is Elysium. It’s the border between life and the afterlife for the descendants of the first men. You are here momentarily while you are being healed-” He words were cut off by her son enveloping her in his arms. He let out a choked sob, never in a million years did he think he’d be able to see his mother, not even on the brink of death. She chuckled, hugged him back. “I’m so glad to finally meet you, my child.” He didn’t pull away, afraid that if he did, she’d disappear again. “I wanted you to know that I am proud of who you have become. And that I am sorry that I didn’t get the chance to be in your life like you needed. I'm thankful to Venia and to Ermias for all they have done to keep you safe.” She smiled sadly, “I just wish I could have been a part of that.” She finally pulled back.
“I brought you here to tell you that dying was my choice. I knew what consequences I faced by going into labor. I’d known for a long time. But you, you were worth the risk, my prince.” She pressed her forehead to his. “I know our meeting was brief, but we have run out of time.” He shook his head, worry etched on his brows. “Yes, my love. There are people you’ve left behind that are more than a little worried about you right now.” She grabbed his face again. “I love you so much. More than you can ever know.” She pressed her lips to his forehead and pulled him back into a brief hug before letting go for good. “We will see each other again.”
“I will wait for that day.” He spoke with conviction. This wasn’t enough for him. This wasn’t even close to enough time, he’d just met her after years of being apart. He sighed and pulled away knowing this would be for good.
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The room was silent as they waited for Hyunjin to come to. Venia, Ermias, and Minho were all in various places, scattered over the room, waiting. Ermias had gotten to the prince first, witnessing what unfolded with his very own eyes. He’d gained a brand new respect for the future king and how he took charge and led his people into battle with his head held high. He knew of the prophecy, and Aeri had told him herself that she thought that the baby growing in her tummy might be the promise that was prophesied all those generations before by her ancestor. He was never one to really hold on to the old ideas and beliefs that had failed him before, but he really regretted the fact that he didn’t believe his oldest friend.
Maybe things would have been different if he would have stepped in sooner. He could have let the boy and Venia live on their land, helped to raise him, taught him the same things he’d taught his own children. But there was also a part of him that believed that maybe things were supposed to go this way. That he was supposed to grow up without the love of his mother or his father.
He wasn't supposed to grow up under the care of someone unrelated to him. Grow up without the knowledge or understanding of his powers or that he had any at all. Ermias was there for him, but not in any way he thought was significant. Maybe if he at least would have been there to teach the boy to fight, he wouldn’t have nearly died on the battlefield. Ermias shook his head, burying his face in his hands. The prince didn’t nearly die, he died.
“If it’s like the last time she was gravely injured, she will recover in no time.” Venia spoke up from Hyunjin’s bedside. “Shes strong, just like her parents.” Ermias sat up, hearing that you’d been gravely injured once before. “Calm down, papa bear. She and Minho were attacked by bandits on their way to Arcta. It took her some time, but she eventually healed herself.” Venia sighed. “I don’t think you know how thankful I am that she and Minho were by my-” She paused, “The prince’s side. I don’t think he would have made it this far if it wasn’t for them.”
Ermias rose to his feet. “I think you had a big hand in all of this as well, Venia. Don’t count yourself out. The prince is a well adjusted man, once willing to sacrifice himself for the people of this kingdom. Not many would be willing to do that, not many are willing to stare death itself in the face and fight back. So, you aren’t the only one that's thankful. Thank you for raising him, for taking him in when you didn’t have to. He is the hope, the future of this Kingdom. I'm looking forward to seeing the kingdom of Volantis under his rule.”
Hyunjin began to stir, eyes slowly fluttering open. His first inclination was to sit up, but Venia, with both hands on his shoulder, softly stopped him. “Don’t get up. It’s best for you to continue to rest.” He focused on her, lips curling into a tender smile .
“Venia.” His words came out as almost as a whisper. “I’ve missed you.” He knew what her instructions were. She wanted him to rest, but rest could come later. He hadn’t seen or hugged the woman that was like a mother to him in nearly two months. He sat up faster than she could react and hugged her. She chuckled softly, hugging him back just as tight.
“I’ve missed you two, my prince.” They settled into the hug, he was almost on the verge of tears, him brimming with joy. He truly thought he’d never see her again, especially at the end. That's when the realization hit him, he didn’t know what happened. Was it all over?
“The war-” Venia stopped him as she pulled back.
“We won.” She smiled with the pride of a mother, because by all intents and purposes, she was. “You did it, Hyunjin.”
“They partially retreated. More than likely licking their wounds until they can regroup, somewhere deep in the caves of Caerdydd.” His heavy footsteps resounded as he neared the end of Hyunji’s fourpost bed. “At your command, scouts can be sent out to track their movements. The generals and their men are at the ready for you, whatever decision you make, your highness.” The tall man bowed his head to the prince.
“My father-” He stopped taking a moment to look around. Minho leaned against the wardrobe, looking as bored as ever. Venia was seated on the side of his bed, right next to him. Ermias was standing at the foot of the bed. He frowned. “Where is she?” He directed his question at your father. Ermias sighed, not making the effort to immediately answer. He was in a precarious situation. His daughter was also ill from making a sacrifice for this kingdom.
“Where is she?” Hyunjin was starting to panic.
“Your aunt came to help her heal.” The prince's head snapped in the direction of the wardrobe. The confusion hit him like a ton of bricks. Had Minho just spoken? It was low and very raspy, but he was sure he’d just heard words come from his mouth.
“When you…” Ermias searched for the right words in order to not alarm the prince. “Passed out after taking out their commander, the children of the first men retreated. So, we declared victory, even if it's temporary.” He mumbled the last part, the pessimist in him couldn’t let him see the good for the bad. “She ran to you as you collapsed into my arms. You were unresponsive… We couldn’t get a pulse.. You weren’t breathing.” Hyunjin looked from the former general to Venia, who gave him a small, sad smile.
“She was tired from the fight, we all were. But she said she’d give her last breath before she’d let you die…” He sighed, turning his back to the prince. “She healed you, but it cost her. I don’t know how much.. That's something she got from her mothers side of the family. But it cost her, nonetheless. She’s with-” He couldn’t finish the words before Hyunjin was flying out of bed.
“Your highness, you need rest!” Venia said, quickly following after him as he threw on his robes and pushed out of the room. His stride was quick as he headed to the room you were occupying. “She won’t get better if you don’t.” He needed to see, needed to feel. In his mind, he’d never get better if he didn’t get to see you, to check if you were okay.
__
Efranor doctors were working their magic, making sure that you got the best care possible. As soon as the war ended, the people of the Jade mountain descended to help the injured. You were on your knees in the mod, hovering over the prince’s body, giving him some of your life energy to give him a fighting chance at surviving this. “Please, please…” Your voice cracked as you started to sob. “Don’t leave me..” You were desperately trying to fight back the tears while still pouring what was left of your energy into saving the prince. You were tired from fighting and being up all night, you didn’t have much left to give. But that didn’t stop you. You held your hands on him until your energy was completely depleted. The last thing you saw was his aunt running towards where you all were with a few others you barely recognized as the med staff from Efranor. Knowing they were there to take over where you left off, made you feel comfortable enough to go ahead and close your eyes.
When you finally came to, you were surrounded by Prince Yongbok, a doctor and the queen consort, Nari. They relayed everything that happened while you were asleep. How the sick and injured were treated. And how the king had called a council meeting saying that as soon as the prince awoke, the prince would do his coronation. He’d heard of the prince’s heroics and planned to reward him by making him kim of the kingdom he valiantly fought for. How much to your dismay, the prince was still out cold, still recovering. They also let it be known that it had been days since the battle, shocking you greatly. You couldn’t imagine how worried everyone must be for the prince. You carefully climbed out of bed, not bothering to change or find a robe, you were still fully clothed. Prince Yongbok, Queen Nari, and the doctor didn’t try to stop you. Probably knowing that you were too stubborn to be stopped. You slowly twisted your way through the halls of the castle, trying to make your way to his room.
You turned the corner towards the royal chambers and stopped dead in your tracks as you came face to face with the very man your worries had been sequestered for. Your eyes met and an unknowing sigh of relief escaped your mouth. No words were spoken as the two of you silently walked to one another, taking each other into a hug. He wrapped his arms around you, pulling you in and hugging you tightly. Your head was pressed right where his injury was, the realization making you pull away. Only for your head to be pressed back to his chest. “I'm fine.” He spoke softly, “Thanks to you.” He hugged you tighter, happy that he didn’t lose you. Just the mere thought was unimaginable. For the longest time he could never understand how his father could start wars and build monuments to mourn the love that he’d lost. He understood now, how love could make you crazy. How love could make you lose yourself and leave behind everything you knew and held near. He’d scorch the earth for you.
Hyunjin missed how you fit in his arms and you missed feeling safe and loved in his. Time felt as if it was slipping away, like the two of you were suspended in these moments. That was until a throat cleared. Your father stood a few feet behind Hyunjin with an appraising look on his face. There was no anger or disbelief, just once of pure bewilderment. Hyujin finally let you go, turning around to face the audience you two had been unwittingly providing the entertainment for. Hyunjin cleared his throat, “General Ermias, Venia, Minho.” He turned looking behind him at his aunt and cousin. “Prince Yongbo, queen consort, Nari. Please bear witness.” He took in a shaky breath, then grabbed your hand, lacing your fingers with his. “I am coming before you now, asking General Ermias for his daughter's hand in marriage. I know this is usually done in a different manner, but after dying on that battlefield… then waking up without knowing where she was or if she was okay, I am led to do this now. I..” He looked at you before setting his eyes back on the general. “I can’t live without her. I don’t want to imagine a day of my life without her in it. So, please, will you allow me to marry her?”
The silence was palpable. Everyone’s eyes settled on Ermias as he stroked his beard. “This is a decision I should probably wait for my wife to make.” He sighed, “But I know, I’ve seen what you’ve gone through. I saw how desperate my daughter was just to get your breathing again, and one thing as a father that I hate the most, is seeing my girls cry.” He crossed his arms over his chest. “You have my permission. It would be an honor to call you my son-in-law, your highness.” He bowed slightly. Venia jumped up and down, clapping from excitement as everyone else congratulated the two of you on your engagement.
Hyunjin turned to you, keeping your hand in his. “I don’t have a ring yet, but I-”
He was interrupted by Venia, “I always dreamed this day would come.” He approached with apprehensive steps. “Aeri would have wanted you to have this.” She undid her necklace and pulled the white gold banded ring, with a large jade in the center, with tiny diamonds encrusting it. “This ring represents all that you are. It’s the ring that your father gave your mother, the ring he commissioned some people from the Jade mountains to do. It was something to remind her of the home she’d left behind to become queen.” She grabbed your intertwined hands. “I know more than anyone else, that she would love for you to give this to the woman you love.” Hyujin tried his best not to cry, taking the ring from her with shaky hands.
“Thank you, Mom.” Venia quickly covered her mouth and stepped away, afraid she’d sob if she didn’t. Hyunjin adjusted his knee on the floor, “As I was saying..” He chuckled and so did you. “I guess I’ll make an amendment; I have a ring now. And I would love for you to accept it, and become my wife. Because I can’t see my life without you in it. Will you marry me?” You bit your lip to hold back the tears. You couldn’t see your life without him either.
“Yes.” His face dropped, eyes widening as if he didn’t hear you correctly. “Yes, I’ll marry you.” He jumped up, picking you up off your feet and spinning around. Nearly forgetting to even put the ring on your finger.
“Oh- right.” He chuckled, finally making things official by slipping the ring on your finger. You were officially engaged to the prince that was once sent away as a burden, but came back as the hope for your beloved kingdom. Your Kingdom of Hope.
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There will be a bonus chapter for the coronation and wedding of the mc and prince Hyunjin. Stay tuned and thank you so much for reading this! It took two years, but….. We did it!!
THANK YOU FOR READING!
Translations:
*"Se’aus as iyais se’asze’as huhrsan, Volantis. Se’aus sa iyai u’ass" - Death to your wretched kingdom, Volantis. Death to you all.
*"Se’aus sa Volantis...." - Death to Volantis....
“Klado as Volantis.” - Prince of Volantis
*"rilf 'qlir." - Half Blood
“Ewae os seshf iheth lae ehrae ealaed eahr laeth aviv slaaed seaef tahoe eaahrtah pahean haehrae thea e'ase'asruhsiy.” - Give us back what we are owed or let your blood soak the earth from here to eternity.
"Lar Volantis! Rhou qa’nqdan al rhabou!” - "For Volantis! The kingdom of hope!"
“Iyaiss woush mi himir.” - You'll die with no honor.
Happy Birthday, Pretty Dumpling 🥟💕
may you always find a reason to laugh.
may you always be loved.
may you always stay happy and healthy.
may you always be able to do what you love.
Pairing: Prince Hyunjin x Reader (AFAB)
Summary: The war is upon them, the children of the first men have descended on the castle town of Solaris. It's up to the prince and his father's army to fight to save the Kingdom of Volantis.
Word Count: 8.1k+ [Reading Time: 35+ Mins]
Genre: Historical, Fantasy, Strangers to Lovers, Royalty, Angst, any NSFW tags are below.
AU: Prince, Royal, Supernatural
NETS: @neverendingdreams-net
Synopsis: The kingdom of Volantis is in disarray; the monarch rules with an iron fist. The times of hope, harmony, and kindness were buried with the queen who passed many years ago. The people are praying for a savior, but who will be their light at the end of this dark tunnel?
Authors Note: Please reblog or leave a comment to let me know how you feel. I'd love a little feedback. Thanks for reading, and I hope you enjoyed it. As per usual, this hasn't been proofread. Special thanks to @saradika-graphics for some of the dividers. HAPPY TWO YEAR ANNIVERSARY TO KINGDOM OF HOPE!
Warnings: Mentions of war, abuse, grief, poverty, death, blood, weapon use, violence, dead bodies, combat, minor & major injury
Disclaimer: This story does not reflect the real lives or personalities of Stray Kids. I do not know them personally. This is purely a work of fiction.
Looking for another chapter?
Chapter Index: HERE
Days had passed. Word of the prince returning to Solaris had spread quickly. Thanks to Justinier, a few rumors about his origins had started to spread as well, despite the councilors trying their best to put out the little fires that the ex Right State Minister had ignited. They were fighting an eternal war while an impending one was slowly coming to fruition. Ermias had sent a few of his own men to watch the border around Solaris. He knew as a formal general, the best strategy for them would be to strike when the Kingdom least expected it. The coronation was tonight. What time would be better than the changing of sovereignty?
He’d met with you in the dead of night, afraid that if the king knew who you were, the blowback might be astronomical. So he sent for you and Minho, sending one of his most trusted allies to get the two of you. Waking you both out of your sleep. Hyunjin had spent the day with the king, afraid to leave his fathers side, despite their past situation. Ermias commended him for that. Not a lot of people would be willing to forgive someone who had threatened their lives or hated them so vehemently. But with the way that you and Venia talked about the prince, he had to think that maybe he would be good for the kingdom. Someone who could set the future of Volantis in the right direction.
If the boy was anything like they said, or anything like his mother, the Kingdom would be fine. But there was still this constant thought gnawing at the back of his mind, messing with his thoughts. What if Aeri was wrong? What if his old friend got it wrong? Even the children of the first men couldn’t save the rest of Volantis from their brethren. Things weren’t at all like there were when the outsiders first came to take the land. No, they had generations to study men, to understand them fundamentally, all in preparation to defeat them. Either all of their efforts would work, or everything would end on the battlefield. He’d told his wife and other daughter that he’d loved them before he left, in hopes that just in case this was the last time he saw them that they knew his true feelings. He knew too many who didn’t get to say goodbye to their loved ones before they went on to glory.
“Father, I sense your worry, I do. I feel the same. But your pacing is making Minho nervous.” You lied on your older brother-like figure as he glared from his place across the room by the window. “Though we are not as prepared as we could be, I think that our planning will secure us a victory in this manner.” You were optimistic, he’d give you that. You probably get that from your mother, because after years at war, he had no room for optimism. He couldn’t afford it. He’d lost too much.
‘Dear daughter, I wish to have just an ounce of your optimism.” He sighed, the situation was grave, at least in his eyes. An untrained prince at the helm of a whole army? Sounded down right disastrous. But he knew Aeri, and he knew her predictions were never wrong. All he could do was pray to the old gods that this would have a favorable outcome for all of them. Ermias contemplated his next words, he’d been thinking about this since the day you left home with Minho. “When the war happens…” He paused, looking down at the schematic maps he had taken from the library. “I don’t want you anywhere near it.” Both sets of eyes snapped up at him at his words. “I mean it, you go with the women and children. I know that I’ve put a lot on you, that I’ve asked too much in the absence of your brother…” You opened your mouth to protest, only to be silenced with a hand. “I can’t lose you.” It came out nearly choked. “If you need Minho to stay behind with you, so be it. But I can’t have you in this fight… not when I lost your brother that way.”
“No.” The words were simple, to the point. “I refuse to cower in the face of danger. I’ve fought them before and we won!” Your eyes shifted to Minho for confirmation, to which he nodded. “I’ve been traveling for months, father. We have grown with the prince, learned with the prince. I will stand by the prince and die for the prince if need be.” You lifted your head high as you spoke. Despite your fathers intimidating stature, he was both tall and buff, you still stood your ground. You didn’t come this far to take shelter with the women and children, especially not when you were fully capable of fighting. “I learned a few things about our dispositions while in Efranor. I’ve learned how to control my powers! I know how to heal now and how to control my abilities from your side.” He stood a bit taller.
He had been the last in his family to even get the ancestral gift. Nikolas, his son, only seemed to receive traits from the Hyat, Emrias’ side of the family, but nothing significant, nothing he could use in battle. To find that his first born daughter instead received the gift, made his heart ache a little. This was his little girl telling him that she was going to fight no matter the consequences and outcome. Damn it if she wasn’t just like him. Stubborn to a fault. “You.. got the gift?” She nodded. Nikolas didn’t have immense strength nor could he heal, but you could do both. Taken from both the Orev and Hyat sides of your family. He couldn’t be more proud, but the feeling was muddied with the fear of him losing both you and Minho.
“Father, please trust me. Trust us.” He pointed between her and Minho, who sat quietly watching things unfold in the way he always did when he wasn’t pushing her buttons. “We have trained for this very moment. And honestly father, it would bring me much joy to fight alongside you and Minho. Fight for something I believe in. Fight for this Kingdom to become on and not this fractured mess we are right now. I think the prince can do that. It’s been foretold.” Ermias sighed, he hated this. But he knew that your stubbornness, much like his, knew no bounds. Even if he locked you away, you’d still find your way to that battlefield.
“Fine. But if something happens to you, the prince, or Minho. Take the other and get out of there. I can’t risk losing any of you.” You nodded, turning to Minho who gave you a nod of approval.
“Deal.”
Hyunjin stirred, awake, but not, as the frayed edges of his dreams started pulling at his consciousness. He’d been asleep for hours after reconciling with his father and talking with the new general over the royal army, he’d been exhausted. As soon as his head hit the silky, feather down pillow, he drifted off into a deep sleep. He was still here in the kingdom, somewhere along the southern border. He’d drifted out that way, able to control his dreams a little more now that he’s had more practice with people who’ve had the gift since before his lifetime. It was still dark, the morning light was just upon the horizon, but it had yet to break. There was a dense fog that built this haze around the tall spruce and firs that outlined the border of the castle town. The mist was the thickest at the base, making the ground look like clouds instead of something solid.
He scanned for any anomaly, he’d done the same the day before, looking a few hours into the future as he slept. Keeping up with the happening around the border. He wanted to make sure all of his people were safe, especially the ones who lived just on the outskirts of town. There were no gates or patrolling officers to keep things in check just in case they went left. They would be the first to see the war if it happened there. Hyunjin scanned the treeline, searching for any weird movements or things that were not there when he looked the day before. That's when he saw it. A brief glimmer of something shiny. It seemed to come and go, with the blink of an eye, something someone could easily miss if they weren’t paying attention. Be he was. He followed the glimmer, steadily getting closer and closer to it until he saw it. A knight's chain link armor.
They were meant for protection, but there was little to nothing that could protect them from such a beastly assault. He’d been mangled. Sharp claws seemed to have cut through him, from the top of his head to the center of his chest. The links had been decimated, offering little to no safe guard from the monsters they would all soon face. His corpse was being dragged through the dense fog and mud, held simply by his leg, which seemed to have been snapped. The poor knight seemed to have no chance against the child of the first men who attacked him. Hyunjin could only assume that there were more of them outside the city, ready and waiting to wage war against the unsuspecting citizens of Solaris.
Hyunjin forced himself awake, noting where he saw the man had been attacked, so that he could relay it to the general. The room was still dark, moonlight was the only light that filtered into the chamber. Longingly, he reached out only to find the other side of his large canopy bed to be not only empty, but cold. He quickly sat up, rubbing the sleep from his eyes. His dreams were becoming more and more frequent and more and more real, each time he closed his eyes. The fear was beginning to settle deep into his chest. He climbed out of bed and padded to the window, in his dream they attacked the guard in the dead of night while the kingdom slept. He guessed that was the smartest thing to do, catch the people off guard, so that you had a higher chance of winning. He clenched his fists, he couldn’t let that happen. Grabbing his newly acquired robes, he quickly dressed himself and headed out, only to be stopped by a guard nearly two heads taller than him.
“Is there something you need, your highness?” Hyunjin huffed, trying to step around him only to be side stepped.
“Yes, I need to speak to the general.” The royal knight stood there for a second, looking into the prince's eyes, as if trying to decipher if he should believe him or not. If he should let him pass. “Now! This pertains to the lives of the people!” Hyunjin didn’t often raise his voice, but in this dire moment, he had to. He had respect for the people who worked and lived in the castle, understanding that everything they did was vital to the system that made this kingdom run. But right now, with lives in danger, he knew he couldn’t hold his tongue.
“Follow me, your highness.” He bowed his head and led the way through the winding corridors. He led him to a study that was nearly on the other side of the castle. The guard took his large hand and rapped on the door. The silence stretched for a few minutes before a voice finally told them they could come in. The guard pushed the door open for the prince. “Prince Hyunjin has arrived.” The room was bustling with people, you and Minho included. Everyone surrounded the war table, planning out their line of defense against the oncoming attack.
“It happens tonight.” Hyunjin spoke, causing everyone to stop in their tracks. “They have killed a guard near the treeline, towards the south east entrance of the castle. Send a few well trained men to his post, you will see the drag marks where they took his body.” It felt like all of the tension in the room was sucked out then spit back in like venom. “This ends with us. We have to protect this kingdom. We have an obligation to its people, all of its people. So rally your men together. Get the women and children to safety as discreetly as possible. We don’t want them to know that we are ready for them. We want them to think that they are attacking unprepared people. This is a do or die, now or never situation we find ourselves in, we want the odds to lean in our favor.” The prince stepped further into the room, stepping near the war table where people made room for him. “What's the plan, general?”
Hyunjin hadn’t been on a horse like this since his childhood. It felt foreign. He sat on the front lines with the generals, much to their protest. Even Ermias tried to talk the young man down, but he insisted that if his people were fighting, so should he. At that moment, the men around couldn’t help but admire him. His father had selfishly started a war that he himself did not fight in, leaving thousands of families without husbands, fathers, or sons. He saw what sacrifices people made for his fathers wars, how it impacted them. All while he sat in his fortress of thick bricks, atop the capital city. Hyunjin refused to be like that. He would fight and die with these men if need be. He could hear the chatter of hushed whispers and someone pushed through the crowd. How their hushed words turned into nothingness the closer that person got to the front.
“Your highness,” Your voice broke through the space around him, landing on his ears just as clear as if you were sitting right next to him. Ermias had sent you to take care of the women and children, in hopes that the particularly busy work would keep you occupied and far away from the front lines. Hyunjin glanced over at the man who stood tall on his shire horse, making him tower over nearly everything and everyone. Your father was terrifying to look at. Tan skin, long dark wavy hair, tattoos dotted all over his skin, with eyes so dark they could only be described as obsidian in color. Hyunjin would willingly admit that the man intimidated him to no end. But that still didn’t stop him from hoping that one day, with his permission, he’d be able to take your hand in marriage. But that all hinged on them winning this war.
“The women and children have been hidden and should be safe from any damage that may occur to the castle.” Your horse finally settles beside his, taking up the space he felt was so rightfully yours. “Would you grant me the honor of letting me fight beside you?” He knew you still felt a sense of duty when it came to him. You were sent on a mission to retrieve and get him safely into Solaris. Most would consider it a job well done, but here you were asking to fight with him, while the other women and children were hidden away by your very hand. He hid his smile, proud knowing that no matter what, you’d be by his side.
“Yes.” He nodded, “I’d have it no other way, my lady.”
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An eerie calm settled over the east entrance. It felt like he could hear everything and nothing at all as a strong gust of wind blew past them all. “Prepare yourselves.” He could feel the tension rising, the hairs on his body standing on end. He looked to Minho, then to you with a nod that signified good luck. A hard knock resounded at the door. Once. Twice. Then with the third the doors flew open, breaking the large wooden latch that kept it closed. Wood splintered everywhere, scaring a few of the horses that hadn’t been hardened by the wars of the past. From the debris and rubble, people and creatures alike, started to emerge, running into the courtyard. “HOLD!” Hyunjin drew his sword and prepared for battle.
He straightened his back, his dark, matte black, scaled armor caught the light. His hair was pulled back, but some still fell at his nape and some at the front that just wasn’t long enough. His white mantel matched the hilt of his sword, which was wrapped in gold and black intricate details, signifying it belonged to a royal. He looked the part, even if his nerves didn’t match the confidence he was exuding. He was terrified. There were snarling monsters coming his way fast and he was expected to command this army, keep his people safe. There was a lot weighing on his success. Failure was not an option. Failure meant losing you, losing the people, losing the crown. Losing meant all Volantians and people who considered themselves as such would perish.
He waited, taking deep breaths to keep himself calm. They crossed over the line in which the generals set for the King’s army to charge, “CHARGE!” The words rang through the courtyard. Foot soldiers came from the sides to flank the opposing army as the front line gathered spears to push the monsters back and out of the castle. The few that broke the line were swiftly met with force. Hyunjin gave the archers on the enceinte the signal to light and fire their arrows, to hopefully hit some of their army before they could defend against it. But the light from the fire only illuminated their worst fears, the bright blazing arrows hit some of the smaller children of the first men, but they seemed to slide off the giants that had made their way through the treeline. With a swing of one of their large clubs, most of the archers were taken out. Their bodies falling backwards off the enceinte and landing on top of a few of the fighting foot soldiers.
They needed to make a big push, get them past the gate and out into the open. He needed to keep the kingdom and its civilians safe by any means necessary. He looked over at Ermias, who seemed to be itching for a fight. No words were necessary, he whistled for his men and made the push to get the monsters out of the castle. He pushed forward with his small team, his horse alone trampling over most of their front line. He swung his khopesh, cutting down twice as many more. That gave the rest of them time and space to follow. The sun lifted above the trees, painting the landscape in its soft morning glow. Once the king’s army was past the gate, what was left of the guards in the tower, let it down.
The real battle ensued. Hyunjin charged in, swinging his fathers sword, taking down as many as he could, and fighting off the ones who attacked him. Minho has gone with Ermias’ men, to help lead the front line, while you stayed close to the prince, intercepting anyone who came from behind. The clash of swords and the smell of blood filled the air. Children of first men and Volantian’s were dying, their blood soaking the earth. Hyunjin hated this, he was supposed to be the hope of Volantis, he was supposed to unite the people, be the bridge between both sides of his lineage. But here he was, causing harm to the people who may have looked different, but weren’t that different from him at the same time.
He stopped, closing his eyes, using his sight to see what his next move should be. A face flashed in his mind. His eyes flew open and he scanned the area for the face he saw. He found it and closed in on the target. His horse maneuvered through the chaos, as you struggled to keep up behind him. “Your highness?” You called after him after getting stuck. You quickly hopped down off of your horse, slashing your way through monsters to continue to follow him, to no avail. You were cornered, once again facing off with someone who looked just like the creature that nearly killed you on your trip to retrieve the prince from the isle of Arcta. You could feel the fear creeping up your spine. You narrowly escaped one of these things the last time you had an encounter with one.
“Se’aus as iyais se’asze’as huhrsan, Volantis. Se’aus sa iyai u’sass” His voice was like a growl from within a deep cavern, it was almost hard to understand him at all. He picked up his large axe, swinging it right for your head, you barely had time to react before he was swinging again. Adrenaline pumped through your veins, kicking your fight or flight response into high gear. You chose to fight. You pulled out your claymore and countered his next few moves. When you saw the opportunity you swung for its knee, only for your blade to slide across it like it was metal. Your eyes widened. What was this creature? The first one you’d encountered was hard enough to kill, was it possible this one would be harder? You narrowly missed the woosh of his axe as it swung down towards your head. You put your sword up to stop it, almost getting split down the middle. You struggled as he pushed down, your knees sunk into the wet, blood soaked, mud. Your arms shook as you tried to fight him off. You prayed to the goddess of war and Victory that your story wouldn’t end here and that she would give you strength to fight and finish this war.
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Fear surged through Minho’s system. He could see the danger you were in, from a mile away. A blade clashed with his own, sending him flying back, but he quickly regained his composure. Swords clashing with the offender hard, nearly making sparks fly. He didn’t have time for this, if he didn’t get to you soon, you were going to die. He always carried the weight of not being able to save his mother. He’d been so thankful to Ermias for taking him in, teaching him to fight, and giving him the family life he didn’t think he would ever have again with his parents being gone. Now he was grown and able to fight back, he couldn’t let what happened long ago to his mother happen to you as well.
He dogged an attack before using his quickness to turn his own blade on his opponent just as quickly. A sick crunching sound was made as the sharp end pierced through his chest. Minho watched as the man who didn’t look to be that much older than him, stopped dead in his tracks, eyes wide with shock. “ Se’aus sa Volantis…” His words died on his tongue as he expired. Minho ripped his sword out of chest cavity and darted off in your direction. He’d stopped using his words after his time being with the bandits. They did unspeakable things to him, battered him mentally and physically, he hadn’t spoken since. He needed his voice now more than ever. Your name felt foreign on his lips as the breathy whisper of it passed them. He could barely hear it, he knew you couldn’t.
Panic filled him as the damn near giant of a monster stepped over your body, axe still pushing your sword closer and closer to your head. He couldn’t run fast enough, he wasn’t going to get there in time. He pulled in as much air as he could, filling his strained lungs with it. He prayed to whomever could hear and grant him the strength that the words would come. They did. His voice carried over the battlefield, your name first, “GET UP! RUN!!” He screamed. He was still trying to get over to you, but feeling like the mud was pulling him down as he stumbled across the battlefield. You heard him loud and clear, head snapping towards the sound of Minho’s voice. You didn’t have time to properly react to hearing Minho’s voice for the first time, in this moment reacting meant losing your life.
You put all your strength into getting out of the bind the two of you were locked in. You called on your fathers ancestors to give you the strength to push and they did. You pushed the man three times your height and size off and rolled away from him. Minho joined you at your side, helping you up from the mud. You gave him a signal, hoping that all the training you’d done in the past would finally amount to something in this moment, you needed it. “NOW!” You both charged the beast at the same time, Minho taking the top and you the bottom. You knew his knees were useless, but his achilles was free, as well as the backs of his knees. Minho went for his chest while you slid between the beast's legs and took out his achilles in one foul swoop. He fell forward onto Minho’s awaiting blade, impaling himself. While you had so many things you wanted to say, you had no chance, the battle was still ensuing. Anything on your mind would have to wait until the battle was a success.
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Hyunjin was face to face with the commander of the Children of the first men’s army. The shoulders of Hyunjin's armor caught the light, the ornate dragons gave away exactly who he was, despite all of the other people on the battlefield. “Klado as Volantis.” He had a forked tongue, giving him a lisp as he spoke. “You can end this, your people will live to see another day. This kingdom is rightfully ours, you know that, rilf 'qlir.” They circled each other, the tension could be felt mounting in the air. “Ewae os seshf iheth lae ehrae ealaed eahr laeth aviv slaaed seaef tahoe eaahrtah pahean haehrae thea e'ase'asruhsiy.” Hyunjin didn’t have to speak the language of Elfranor to understand that whatever was said was a threat. He readied his sword. “Prepare to die, half blood.”
The reptilian creature lunged at him, pushing him back, but the prince quickly recovered. All of his training was for this moment. All the tireless days and nights spent sparring with you and Minho. All the discussions of strategy he’d had with the generals of this very army. All of it mattered at this moment. If this would have been in the past, he would have been dead on the ground already. But thanks to you and Minho he knew how to fight, how to defend himself with and without a sword. He didn’t use weapons. His claws dripped with some substance Hyunjin could only think was poison. The reptoid man smiled. “Scared, rilf 'qlir?” The prince said nothing, focused on his opponent completely. His stance was low, knees bent as he watched the reptile. “Iyaiss woush mi himir.” The words fell from his mouth and before Hyunjin could react, the reptile's claws were between the scales of his armor, pressing their venom into his chest.
“Die you worthless half breed!” He laughed maniacally, pressing his fingers even deeper as Hyunjin screamed. Without a thought, Hyunjin swung his sword, slicing the arm off of the reptile, but the hand remained in his chest. The venom felt like it was searing its way through his veins. The pain spread from his chest like a wildfire, licking up his spine, settling around his neck, suffocating him. He gasped for air, unable to catch even the smallest of breaths. Was he going to die on this battlefield? He stumbled back, falling to one knee. He tried to use his sword to keep his balance, but to no avail. The edges of the world were starting to blur, color was draining from it, vision becoming black.
“Fire!”Ermias’ booming voice was the only thing to keep the prince from slipping into the everlasting darkness. Hyunjin was pulled to his feet with little to no effort. He could feel his grip on reality slipping through his fingertips. “You have to finish this, your highness. You have to fulfill the prophecy.” Hyunjin could hardly stand on his own, the pain was nearly too much to bear. He was tired. If he closed his eyes for a bit, would that be okay? Ermias breathed fire onto the prince’s sword, lighting it ablaze. “Finish this!” Hyunjin was thrust forward, his claymore now on fire. The reptile had already thought he won. The prince grit his teeth, fixing his stance, lifting his swords. He was ready to finish this, so that he could nap like he deserved.
“Insolent fool. You think you can beat me? The poison in your veins is more potent than any poison there is out there. You have less than a few minutes to try and kill me. But with the amount of pain you are in, you’ll never get to lay a hand on me.” Hyunjin took a deep breath, closing his eyes. He focused on the reptilian man in front of him. He focused on the way he breathed to the sound of his scales rubbing together. To the sound of his heartbeat. There was no one else on this battlefield but the two of them, in Hyunjin's mind.
When the reptile sprang forward, Hyunjin waited, eyes still closed. His hand had already grown back, his regeneration skills being more pronounced than a regular lizard. The prince dodged, his fire sword raised in defense. The same arm that had grown back was split right down the middle in two. The reptile let out a shrill scream. He’d learned a phrase while reading his family’s tome and the words meant everything to the prince.
Volantis was his home. The people who inhabited the land were by all means, his people. He’d give his last breath to protect it and them. “Lar Volantis! Rhou qa’nqdan al rhabou!” Hyunjin wasted no time, turning around and swinging his sword hard, plunging it right in the same spot on the reptile that he himself was hit. Right between the ribs, right at his left lung. The reptile stilled, “Se’aus sa Volantis.” Were his last words as his body erupted in flames before turning into embers and ash and floating away with the wind.
Everything seemed to cease. He briefly heard the cheers of his people, before the world tilted on its axis and everything became black.
The prince felt warm. Impossibly so. Warmer than a hug after soup made by Venia. Warmer than he felt when your bodies became one. Warmer than he’d ever been before. Warm like he’d been cold his whole existence and never knew. “My dearest, Hyunjin.” His eyes fluttered open as the soft voice caressed his ears. They opened just to land on the women he’d only seen through his aunt's visions and the large paintings in the castle. He took a chance to look around, unaware of his surroundings. Everything was white, minus the sunlight that poured in through the open windows. He was in a room with a singular bed, with plush white bedsheets he was lying in. Why was he here? How did he come to arrive here in this ethereal land where his mother resided?
She reached out, hand pressing into his cheek. “I- we don’t have long.” She spoke softly. “You have some place you need to be.” She smiled brighter than the sun. Her words had meaning, he just couldn’t figure out what that meaning was. He felt confused, but at the same time there was this overwhelming sense of happiness that he couldn’t shake. His face had to be a mix of both emotions playing tug of war. “You have people that you are not ready to leave behind, a life to live.” He sat up, the pain that was in his chest was now gone. Pain? His memory of what happened before all of this swiftly came back to him. He was poisoned by the claws of that reptile commander of the opposing army. He looked down, he was shirtless, but there was no wound. Was he in the afterlife? Had he died on the battlefield?
“You are not dead, my child. You have many years of life ahead of you.” She lovingly stroked his hair. “This is Elysium. It’s the border between life and the afterlife for the descendants of the first men. You are here momentarily while you are being healed-” He words were cut off by her son enveloping her in his arms. He let out a choked sob, never in a million years did he think he’d be able to see his mother, not even on the brink of death. She chuckled, hugged him back. “I’m so glad to finally meet you, my child.” He didn’t pull away, afraid that if he did, she’d disappear again. “I wanted you to know that I am proud of who you have become. And that I am sorry that I didn’t get the chance to be in your life like you needed. I'm thankful to Venia and to Ermias for all they have done to keep you safe.” She smiled sadly, “I just wish I could have been a part of that.” She finally pulled back.
“I brought you here to tell you that dying was my choice. I knew what consequences I faced by going into labor. I’d known for a long time. But you, you were worth the risk, my prince.” She pressed her forehead to his. “I know our meeting was brief, but we have run out of time.” He shook his head, worry etched on his brows. “Yes, my love. There are people you’ve left behind that are more than a little worried about you right now.” She grabbed his face again. “I love you so much. More than you can ever know.” She pressed her lips to his forehead and pulled him back into a brief hug before letting go for good. “We will see each other again.”
“I will wait for that day.” He spoke with conviction. This wasn’t enough for him. This wasn’t even close to enough time, he’d just met her after years of being apart. He sighed and pulled away knowing this would be for good.
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The room was silent as they waited for Hyunjin to come to. Venia, Ermias, and Minho were all in various places, scattered over the room, waiting. Ermias had gotten to the prince first, witnessing what unfolded with his very own eyes. He’d gained a brand new respect for the future king and how he took charge and led his people into battle with his head held high. He knew of the prophecy, and Aeri had told him herself that she thought that the baby growing in her tummy might be the promise that was prophesied all those generations before by her ancestor. He was never one to really hold on to the old ideas and beliefs that had failed him before, but he really regretted the fact that he didn’t believe his oldest friend.
Maybe things would have been different if he would have stepped in sooner. He could have let the boy and Venia live on their land, helped to raise him, taught him the same things he’d taught his own children. But there was also a part of him that believed that maybe things were supposed to go this way. That he was supposed to grow up without the love of his mother or his father.
He wasn't supposed to grow up under the care of someone unrelated to him. Grow up without the knowledge or understanding of his powers or that he had any at all. Ermias was there for him, but not in any way he thought was significant. Maybe if he at least would have been there to teach the boy to fight, he wouldn’t have nearly died on the battlefield. Ermias shook his head, burying his face in his hands. The prince didn’t nearly die, he died.
“If it’s like the last time she was gravely injured, she will recover in no time.” Venia spoke up from Hyunjin’s bedside. “Shes strong, just like her parents.” Ermias sat up, hearing that you’d been gravely injured once before. “Calm down, papa bear. She and Minho were attacked by bandits on their way to Arcta. It took her some time, but she eventually healed herself.” Venia sighed. “I don’t think you know how thankful I am that she and Minho were by my-” She paused, “The prince’s side. I don’t think he would have made it this far if it wasn’t for them.”
Ermias rose to his feet. “I think you had a big hand in all of this as well, Venia. Don’t count yourself out. The prince is a well adjusted man, once willing to sacrifice himself for the people of this kingdom. Not many would be willing to do that, not many are willing to stare death itself in the face and fight back. So, you aren’t the only one that's thankful. Thank you for raising him, for taking him in when you didn’t have to. He is the hope, the future of this Kingdom. I'm looking forward to seeing the kingdom of Volantis under his rule.”
Hyunjin began to stir, eyes slowly fluttering open. His first inclination was to sit up, but Venia, with both hands on his shoulder, softly stopped him. “Don’t get up. It’s best for you to continue to rest.” He focused on her, lips curling into a tender smile .
“Venia.” His words came out as almost as a whisper. “I’ve missed you.” He knew what her instructions were. She wanted him to rest, but rest could come later. He hadn’t seen or hugged the woman that was like a mother to him in nearly two months. He sat up faster than she could react and hugged her. She chuckled softly, hugging him back just as tight.
“I’ve missed you two, my prince.” They settled into the hug, he was almost on the verge of tears, him brimming with joy. He truly thought he’d never see her again, especially at the end. That's when the realization hit him, he didn’t know what happened. Was it all over?
“The war-” Venia stopped him as she pulled back.
“We won.” She smiled with the pride of a mother, because by all intents and purposes, she was. “You did it, Hyunjin.”
“They partially retreated. More than likely licking their wounds until they can regroup, somewhere deep in the caves of Caerdydd.” His heavy footsteps resounded as he neared the end of Hyunji’s fourpost bed. “At your command, scouts can be sent out to track their movements. The generals and their men are at the ready for you, whatever decision you make, your highness.” The tall man bowed his head to the prince.
“My father-” He stopped taking a moment to look around. Minho leaned against the wardrobe, looking as bored as ever. Venia was seated on the side of his bed, right next to him. Ermias was standing at the foot of the bed. He frowned. “Where is she?” He directed his question at your father. Ermias sighed, not making the effort to immediately answer. He was in a precarious situation. His daughter was also ill from making a sacrifice for this kingdom.
“Where is she?” Hyunjin was starting to panic.
“Your aunt came to help her heal.” The prince's head snapped in the direction of the wardrobe. The confusion hit him like a ton of bricks. Had Minho just spoken? It was low and very raspy, but he was sure he’d just heard words come from his mouth.
“When you…” Ermias searched for the right words in order to not alarm the prince. “Passed out after taking out their commander, the children of the first men retreated. So, we declared victory, even if it's temporary.” He mumbled the last part, the pessimist in him couldn’t let him see the good for the bad. “She ran to you as you collapsed into my arms. You were unresponsive… We couldn’t get a pulse.. You weren’t breathing.” Hyunjin looked from the former general to Venia, who gave him a small, sad smile.
“She was tired from the fight, we all were. But she said she’d give her last breath before she’d let you die…” He sighed, turning his back to the prince. “She healed you, but it cost her. I don’t know how much.. That's something she got from her mothers side of the family. But it cost her, nonetheless. She’s with-” He couldn’t finish the words before Hyunjin was flying out of bed.
“Your highness, you need rest!” Venia said, quickly following after him as he threw on his robes and pushed out of the room. His stride was quick as he headed to the room you were occupying. “She won’t get better if you don’t.” He needed to see, needed to feel. In his mind, he’d never get better if he didn’t get to see you, to check if you were okay.
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Efranor doctors were working their magic, making sure that you got the best care possible. As soon as the war ended, the people of the Jade mountain descended to help the injured. You were on your knees in the mod, hovering over the prince’s body, giving him some of your life energy to give him a fighting chance at surviving this. “Please, please…” Your voice cracked as you started to sob. “Don’t leave me..” You were desperately trying to fight back the tears while still pouring what was left of your energy into saving the prince. You were tired from fighting and being up all night, you didn’t have much left to give. But that didn’t stop you. You held your hands on him until your energy was completely depleted. The last thing you saw was his aunt running towards where you all were with a few others you barely recognized as the med staff from Efranor. Knowing they were there to take over where you left off, made you feel comfortable enough to go ahead and close your eyes.
When you finally came to, you were surrounded by Prince Yongbok, a doctor and the queen consort, Nari. They relayed everything that happened while you were asleep. How the sick and injured were treated. And how the king had called a council meeting saying that as soon as the prince awoke, the prince would do his coronation. He’d heard of the prince’s heroics and planned to reward him by making him kim of the kingdom he valiantly fought for. How much to your dismay, the prince was still out cold, still recovering. They also let it be known that it had been days since the battle, shocking you greatly. You couldn’t imagine how worried everyone must be for the prince. You carefully climbed out of bed, not bothering to change or find a robe, you were still fully clothed. Prince Yongbok, Queen Nari, and the doctor didn’t try to stop you. Probably knowing that you were too stubborn to be stopped. You slowly twisted your way through the halls of the castle, trying to make your way to his room.
You turned the corner towards the royal chambers and stopped dead in your tracks as you came face to face with the very man your worries had been sequestered for. Your eyes met and an unknowing sigh of relief escaped your mouth. No words were spoken as the two of you silently walked to one another, taking each other into a hug. He wrapped his arms around you, pulling you in and hugging you tightly. Your head was pressed right where his injury was, the realization making you pull away. Only for your head to be pressed back to his chest. “I'm fine.” He spoke softly, “Thanks to you.” He hugged you tighter, happy that he didn’t lose you. Just the mere thought was unimaginable. For the longest time he could never understand how his father could start wars and build monuments to mourn the love that he’d lost. He understood now, how love could make you crazy. How love could make you lose yourself and leave behind everything you knew and held near. He’d scorch the earth for you.
Hyunjin missed how you fit in his arms and you missed feeling safe and loved in his. Time felt as if it was slipping away, like the two of you were suspended in these moments. That was until a throat cleared. Your father stood a few feet behind Hyunjin with an appraising look on his face. There was no anger or disbelief, just once of pure bewilderment. Hyujin finally let you go, turning around to face the audience you two had been unwittingly providing the entertainment for. Hyunjin cleared his throat, “General Ermias, Venia, Minho.” He turned looking behind him at his aunt and cousin. “Prince Yongbo, queen consort, Nari. Please bear witness.” He took in a shaky breath, then grabbed your hand, lacing your fingers with his. “I am coming before you now, asking General Ermias for his daughter's hand in marriage. I know this is usually done in a different manner, but after dying on that battlefield… then waking up without knowing where she was or if she was okay, I am led to do this now. I..” He looked at you before setting his eyes back on the general. “I can’t live without her. I don’t want to imagine a day of my life without her in it. So, please, will you allow me to marry her?”
The silence was palpable. Everyone’s eyes settled on Ermias as he stroked his beard. “This is a decision I should probably wait for my wife to make.” He sighed, “But I know, I’ve seen what you’ve gone through. I saw how desperate my daughter was just to get your breathing again, and one thing as a father that I hate the most, is seeing my girls cry.” He crossed his arms over his chest. “You have my permission. It would be an honor to call you my son-in-law, your highness.” He bowed slightly. Venia jumped up and down, clapping from excitement as everyone else congratulated the two of you on your engagement.
Hyunjin turned to you, keeping your hand in his. “I don’t have a ring yet, but I-”
He was interrupted by Venia, “I always dreamed this day would come.” He approached with apprehensive steps. “Aeri would have wanted you to have this.” She undid her necklace and pulled the white gold banded ring, with a large jade in the center, with tiny diamonds encrusting it. “This ring represents all that you are. It’s the ring that your father gave your mother, the ring he commissioned some people from the Jade mountains to do. It was something to remind her of the home she’d left behind to become queen.” She grabbed your intertwined hands. “I know more than anyone else, that she would love for you to give this to the woman you love.” Hyujin tried his best not to cry, taking the ring from her with shaky hands.
“Thank you, Mom.” Venia quickly covered her mouth and stepped away, afraid she’d sob if she didn’t. Hyunjin adjusted his knee on the floor, “As I was saying..” He chuckled and so did you. “I guess I’ll make an amendment; I have a ring now. And I would love for you to accept it, and become my wife. Because I can’t see my life without you in it. Will you marry me?” You bit your lip to hold back the tears. You couldn’t see your life without him either.
“Yes.” His face dropped, eyes widening as if he didn’t hear you correctly. “Yes, I’ll marry you.” He jumped up, picking you up off your feet and spinning around. Nearly forgetting to even put the ring on your finger.
“Oh- right.” He chuckled, finally making things official by slipping the ring on your finger. You were officially engaged to the prince that was once sent away as a burden, but came back as the hope for your beloved kingdom. Your Kingdom of Hope.
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There will be a bonus chapter for the coronation and wedding of the mc and prince Hyunjin. Stay tuned and thank you so much for reading this! It took two years, but….. We did it!!
THANK YOU FOR READING!
Translations:
*"Se’aus as iyais se’asze’as huhrsan, Volantis. Se’aus sa iyai u’ass" - Death to your wretched kingdom, Volantis. Death to you all.
*"Se’aus sa Volantis...." - Death to Volantis....
“Klado as Volantis.” - Prince of Volantis
*"rilf 'qlir." - Half Blood
“Ewae os seshf iheth lae ehrae ealaed eahr laeth aviv slaaed seaef tahoe eaahrtah pahean haehrae thea e'ase'asruhsiy.” - Give us back what we are owed or let your blood soak the earth from here to eternity.
"Lar Volantis! Rhou qa’nqdan al rhabou!” - "For Volantis! The kingdom of hope!"
“Iyaiss woush mi himir.” - You'll die with no honor.
Pairing: Prince Hyunjin x Reader (AFAB)
Summary: The party finally arrives in Solaris. Hyunjin has to come face to face with his past.
Word Count: 6k+ [Reading Time: 25+ Mins]
Genre: Historical, Fantasy, Strangers to Lovers, Royalty, Angst, any NSFW tags are below.
AU: Prince, Royal, Supernatural
NETS: @neverendingdreams-net & @mirohs-aurora-society & @ksmutsociety
Synopsis:
Authors Note: Please reblog or leave a comment to let me know how you feel. I'd love a little feedback. Thanks for reading, and I hope you enjoyed it. As per usual, this hasn't been proofread. Special thanks to @saradika-graphics for some of the dividers.
Warnings: Mentions of war, abuse, grief, poverty, death
Disclaimer: This story does not reflect the real lives or personalities of Stray Kids. I do not know them personally. This is purely a work of fiction.
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Chapter Index: HERE
Your father had described the situation the kingdom was in, many times before in your conversations. He frequently traveled to and from, so he had a different perspective of what devastation had hit the capitol, unlike someone who was constantly in the middle of the destruction. You couldn’t see the damage that the king had caused in your little town that was far away from the capital city, but you could most definitely see it now as you passed through it. The people had taken a hit in the fallout after the war. Consequences the King seemingly couldn’t see and clearly didn’t care about. According to your father, the king was still living lavishly off of the overly taxed people he was supposed to govern. He was living off of their dime while they suffered in squalor. Despicable. This Kingdom needed their king, but he was holded up in his gilded tower, surrounded by a plethora of food and meade.
Though it had been a while since the last time you’d been to Solaris, you knew exactly where your father wanted you to go. There was a servant who’d been loyal to your family for generations. That included your maternal grandfather and so on and so forth. You turned off the main thoroughfare, with your direction, remembering every turn as if it hadn’t been years since you’d been here. The trip was short and you recognized the brightly painted home from a distance. Though the indigo paint was worn, it still invited you in. Zuwi, one of your mothers oldest companions, lived in this humble abode. Her father, Mitra, worked as a stableman for your maternal grandfather. Zuwi grew up alongside your mother.
You settled in at Zuwi’s, her place wasn’t huge but it provided shelter for the three of you as well as good warm food. She’d informed you that the guard your father knew would be there before daybreak to escort you all through the secret passageways of the castle. There were less than a handful of people who knew how to navigate them. One wrong turn and you could end up trapped, or worse. “Are you ready for tomorrow?” Minho was fast asleep, with a bellyful of home cooked food. Hyunjin was on his stomach, doodling in his sketch book. His hands ceased at your question.
“Ready to confront my father that I haven’t seen in over a decade, that hates my entire being?” He asked with a sarcastic air to his voice. “Sure.” He chuckled humorously. “I know what the prophecy says, I know what my dreams have foretold…”He paused, closing his sketch book as placing it back in his satchel. “But am I ready for the possibility of losing everything I hold dear to fulfill that prophecy?” His eyes connected with yours, you could see the seeds of doubt and the insecurity swirling in them. “No, I'm not.” He sat up, tossing his long legs over the side of the makeshift cot Zuwi had provided. “I don’t know what I’ll do if I lose you.” You sighed, reaching a hand over to comfort him.
“You won’t lose me, Hyunjin. I’ll be right by your side. No matter what.” He sighed again, even his breaths sounded unsure. “Minho and I will be by your side as long as you’ll have us.” He looked at Minho with his brow raised, making you chuckle. “He has no choice, he goes where I go.” He chuckled along with you. “This journey has been one that has changed all of us for the better. There is no one closer to Minho and I than you. You’ve become an integral part of our party. And when you become who you are destined to be, we will be by your side in whatever capacity you want us to be.” Your hand grabbed his, caressing the back of it with your thumb.
You could still sense he was apprehensive. “You’ve trained long and hard for this, both mentally and physically. You are ready for whatever is thrown your way.” Your words seemed to finally ease the tension that the prince was feeling. You wouldn’t admit it, but you were feeling the same anxiety he was. This long road that the three of you had traveled together all converged here. Just before dawn, the three of you would be sneaking into the castle to finally confront the king. But the scariest part of that all, was that it could all end, no real confrontation or solution to be had. You were once again reminded of the fact that if this went left, that meant that your family would suffer the blow back of it all.
You could tell that Hyunjin was still anxious, as were you if you were being totally honest with yourself. “I know it’s a weird time to ask this… but do you want to sleep with-” Before the full question fell from your lips he was on your cot, tugging you with him to lie down. You couldn’t help the chuckle that slipped out. “I guess I will take that as a yes.” He hugged you tight, like you might slip away and disappear if he didn’t. You couldn’t imagine how things had changed for the sheltered prince. From being unhappy in the palace, to being exiled to a far away isle, to then being told that he was needed back in the capital because his father was sick. He had no reason to trust in people with all that he had endured, but he did anyway. He put his trust in the words of your father. He put his trust in Venia, and believed that he could impact a world of change for the kingdom.
Then he put his trust in you and Minho. That was something you couldn’t understand, even down to this very moment. Minho had experience, since he was by your fathers side during a lot of the war. But trusting you with all of your inexperience, was something you truly couldn’t wrap your head around. You’d fought in no wars, held no title or position besides lady. You couldn’t trust yourself, how was it that so many people put their faith in you of all people to aid the prince in anything? “Hey, what's going on up there?” His fingers traced the frown lines that you’d unknowingly knit between your brows.
“I’m just worried…” You relaxed a little at the feeling of his touch. “Hyunjin, I don’t mean any harm, nor do I want to sow the seeds of doubt into your mind. I meant every word I said when I told you I’d always be by your side.” His hand paused, moving to your arm, then traveling down until his fingers were intertwined with your own. “But.. Why did you trust me?” His lips curled up into a smile before he laughed.
“It seems you have forgotten how we met.” His body shifted, laying on his back. He moved your head from his arm to his chest. A calm immediately fell over you as you listened to his steady heartbeat. “You didn’t know who I was. You didn’t know that I was the prince you were sent to retrieve, or that you just so happened to be at the right place at the right time. But you decided to step in anyway and help someone you saw as the victim of a crime. You saved my life. How could I not trust you after that?” He had a point. He didn’t know him from Adam, but you still stepped in and tried your best to help someone you saw in need.
Just as you were about to speak, a small throw pillow hit the back of your head. You turned around quickly, mostly from shock. Only to be greeted by the frostiest glare from Minho. You guessed all the talking woke him up from his peaceful slumber. “Ah- sorry.” You quickly apologized, you didn’t want to face the wrath of a grumpy sleep deprived Minho, no one did. “We should sleep-” You looked up at Hyunjin whose eyes were already closed as he pretended to be fast asleep. You lightly hit his shoulder before snuggling up to the man your heart had grown so fond of in such a short amount of time. You all needed to get some sleep if you wanted a chance at anything remotely successful tomorrow.
Before the dawn's glow painted the yellow tinted bricks of Solaris, several pairs of feet shuffled through the shadows of early morning. You could feel the adrenaline pumping through your veins, hear your fast beating heart loudly in your ears. You and Minho flank Hyunjin, him in the back, you in the front, as you are led through the long forgotten servant chambers located towards the back of the castle. They used to use this entrance for prostitutes and concubines of former kings, to keep speculations at bay. But they closed it off after a King was caught red handed with a prostitute from one of the local brothels. One of her patrons was a jealous man who followed her and found that she was servicing more than just the regular towns folk. He killed her near the back entrance and then told the bar keep at a nearby tavern what both he and the King had been doing. Showing her head as proof. It was a brutal way to go, for anyone.
The entrance was steeped in darkness, shrouded by trees and overgrown foliage. You went through first, volunteering to do so since you had an easier time healing. You cut away at as much as you could, and shielded the prince, despite his protests. The door was hard to pull, stuck from years of inactivity. The creaking noise of it finally opening, was sure to alert someone nearby. But your group would be long gone by the time they got there. “There is a staircase that leads to the alcove behind the kitchen fireplace. Be careful not to wake, Elma, she will surely rat you out to the king's guard.” She pointed the three of you in the right direction. “This is as far as I go. Be well, my children.” She grabbed Hyunjin's hand with love. “Avai ulo dho didilo hako as ail karkkan. Ka urk ko xoror, ail reyaf klado as Volantis.” Zuwi gave each of you a hug before heading out the way she’d come, leaving the three of you to execute your plans.
You nodded your head towards the slightly obstructed stairs, taking your time to carefully ascend them. The door behind the fireplace was cracked, you could hear the movements of the early morning cooks and waitstaff, getting food ready for the royals who lived in the castle. The three of you crouched and waited until the coast was clear. It nearly took a whole hour, before you could move through the kitchen without being seen. You ducked behind the table in the middle of it all, the one that was used to prep a lot of the food as well as storage to keep a lot of the pots and pans that didn't fit in the cabinets. Once out of the kitchen, you made your way to the kitchen court, trying your best to avoid the great hall, where you were sure the staff was waiting on most of the royals.
The kitchen court housed a lot of the goods that came from other lands, such as fruit, meats, and grains. There wasn’t anyone attending to this room and the moment, so it made it even easier for the three of you to pass through. You took the back stairs up to the staff chambers, being careful to not be seen, as the dawn broke over the horizon, illuminating the castle with its warm amber glow. “I know the way…” Hyunjin whispered softly in your ear. Though apprehensive, you let him lead the party, but kept your hand on your sword as you followed, as a precaution. The three of you halted at the end of a long hallway, hearing the heavy footsteps of a guard who was making his rounds. Minho pulled you two into a tight alcove, hidden by a tapestry, waiting for the large man to make his pass.
Seconds felt like hours as you waited for the steps to dissipate. You let out a breath you didn’t know you were holding as you all sprinted down the hall and towards the royal chambers. Hyunjin really did remember his time in the castle, even down to the layout, despite how long ago it’d been since he’d last been there. You were finally out of the maze that was the staff chambers, now came the hard part; getting through the border atrium that led to the Royal chambers. There were beautiful exotic flowers, some from the Kingdom of Perth and others from the Neunigan Islands, where your fathers family was from. These were Aeri’s, you were sure of it. His father had the grounds people keep her garden up. As beautiful as a sentiment as that should have been, this man clearly didn’t love her. He had an obsession. It’s been over twenty years since she’d passed and he’d done everything in his power to keep her name alive, even though he was committing atrocities to his people while down it.
Many people were displaced due to their homes or businesses being destroyed during the war. Many more could no longer afford to live or have shelter because of the negative impacts the war had on their families. Many people lost their husbands and sons, which made the financial burdens fall solely on them. It wasn’t fair that the people suffered for an unnecessary war. Nor was it fair that the Monarchy as well as most of the nobel’s of this Kingdom seemed to give fuck all bout anyone but themselves. Your mind always drifted back to how Minho ended up all alone. The war took his father, the fall out and the chaos that ensued after, took his mother and everything his family had worked hard for. How was that fair? It wasn’t. You knew that, but most people who were afforded the same privilege as you were, didn’t.
Crossing through the atrium was not without its issues. You were almost spotted by a gardener, but thankfully they didn’t see you fully. The royal chambers were finally in sight. “My fathers room will be heavily guarded.” Hyunjin spoke as the three of you hid in the shadows of another alcove. “But thanks to Vinia, I know the way in” He sighed, “My old room.” He shifted uncomfortably. You could see the demons of his past play across his eyes like shadows. “My father didn’t want everyone to know that the king hated his only child, so he used the passageway, at first. Soon enough though, he stopped caring what people felt or thought about his clear dislike for me. That was just before he sent me away.” He spoke softly, eyes not connecting with anyone or anything.
“My room probably isn’t my room anymore. They cleared it out the day we were forced to leave for Arcta.” He peaked down the hall, watching a guard make his rounds. “I wouldn’t be shocked if it was one of my sister's rooms now.” He mumbled the last part to himself. It wouldn’t be a shock to him or anyone in the party if the king had tried his best to rid himself of every memory and trace of the prince. “If we can get-” Before he could finish the words, Minho silently bolted out, sneaking up behind the guard. He was quick, stealthy. He took him out, putting him to sleep before the guard even had time to react. You pulled Hyunjin with you as you helped catch the large man before his body hit the floor. “Follow me.” You and Minho drug the body as you followed Hyunjin into one of the rooms.
It was grand, but somehow that felt like an understatement. Everything about this castle had been ornate, but the rooms seemed to take the cake. Gold leaf and carved structures were everywhere. Along with the almost floor to ceiling portraits. Hyunjin stopped in his tracks at the sight of eight year old him, standing tall in the portrait above the mantel. “They replace the portrait when rooms change residents.” The three of you looked at one another. That meant this was still considered the prince’s room. “Besides the things I took with me, nothing has changed.” What did that mean for him? Did his father somehow regret sending his only son away? Or was there something else? Something far more insidious at play?
“It doesn’t matter. We came all this way for a reason, I refuse to be distracted by petty sentiments.” Hyunjin headed to where the large wardrobe sat near the wall. There was a dark corner next to it, almost covered by the large, dark, heavy curtains that draped the windows. With a few pulls and pushes, he opened the door. A small gust of wind wooshed past the three of you, pushing Hyunjin’s hood off his head. You went in first, despite Hyunjin knowing the way, a dark tunnel like this was too much to stake his life on. The path was lit, meaning someone still used this route. You grabbed a torch and headed down the long pathway. It wasn’t long before you reached the end. You placed the torch in an empty sconce and pressed your ear to the door. It was silent on the other end.
“I’ll go in first. If I don’t come back within a few minutes, run.” Hyujin opened his mouth to speak while Minho glared, his eyes speaking in place of words. “I mean it.” You pulled your id card from your person, handing it to Minho. “If it comes down to it.. Give this to dad. Okay?” You didn’t let go until he nodded. You knew that if he didn’t agree, he’d charge into the room to come get you himself, and that wasn’t something you wanted. You needed him to protect the prince. At all costs. You gave them both a small smile before pushing the door open as softly as you could. You stepped into the room, the curtains were drawn. Any source of light seemed to have been snuffed out with some sort of covering. The room was slightly frigid, the massive fireplace had not been started, despite any of the others you’d passed roaring brightly to push out the cold morning air. There was something wrong here.
Your nerves were on edge. It felt like at any moment the royal guard would rush the room to arrest you, but as time passed, nothing happened. You got closer to the tall canopy bed, hearing slight labored breathing from it. You carefully peeked in, and that's when you saw it. Saw him. The king was in the center of the bed, tucked in tight. He was frail, he was literally on his death bed. His hair was long, but lacked any sort of healthiness. It was thin, stringy, and white from root to tip. How could that be? You parents were the same age as the king, how could they look so youthful when the King looked so senescent? His cheeks and eyes were sunken in, face wrinkled with age and brash decisions.
No wonder the kingdom was in such disarray, the king was on his death bed, suffering. You sighed, going to open the door to let the guys in, stopping Hyunjin before he could fully enter. “He…” You paused, placing your hand on his shoulder. “He isn’t what you remember. I know it might be a hard task, but be gentle.” He nodded. There was determination in his eyes. He was set on his goal of confronting his father in the calmest way possible. You nodded to Minho for him to take the front door, while you stood in front of the secret entrance, keeping guard. You couldn’t leave the room, but at least this gave the kingdom's monarchs some semblance of privacy.
Eleven years. It’d been the last time he’d seen his father. Years since he’d heard angry words spewed towards or about him. Eleven years since his father told him he never wanted to see him again. Eleven years of exile. There was a shadow cast around the bed, it felt akin to looming dread or even worse, death. The closer he got the heavier he felt, almost as if he was trudging through mud to get to him. His long, shaky fingers wrapped around the drawn curtains to the right of the king’s bed, pulling them open and letting the morning light flood in. His father stirred, even if his body barely moved. “Kheryi?” His voice sounded just as frail as he looked. Gone were the days of his father's booming voice that seemed to carry itself through the castle halls.
“No, father. It’s me.” Hyunjin stepped towards the bed, revealing his face to the bed ridden man who was now struggling to sit up. The king's complexion looked a little sallow. The face that used to be full is now sunken in. His frail body is an image that is hard to swallow for poor Hyunjin, who hasn’t seen his father in over a decade. The man gasped as the boy's face came into view. “I’ve come to claim what is rightfully mine.” He spoke with an air of grace as he paced his father's bedside. “You’ve yet to produce another male heir. The council sees that as an issue. They are looking to replace you.” The King looked around, as if he would call for help, but he didn’t.
“Replace me?” He laughed humorlessly, but it slowly morphed into a cough. “They have no right!” But even Hyunjin could tell that he knew they were justified in doing so, just by the look in his eyes.
“You have two choices, father. Let them replace you with whatever puppet they see fit, or let me go through with my coronation, as the crown prince.” The man's eyes widened, mouth opening as if to say something, just to close again. “That way, you can keep your family in this castle together. Your daughters and your wife.” Hyunjin moved to the end of the bed, arms behind his back as he stared at his frail father. “But you stay out of my way. You had your chance to run this Kingdom and you ran it in the ground with your wars and your useless monuments.
“You think you will do better? That you won’t start wars or have monuments built in your name? Every king does these things. To expand their lands, to have the people remember them. I couldn’t let people forget me…. Or Aeri. Because they often forget people like my father who strived to have peace just to have his throat slit by his top advisor. Ruling the way I have has kept this Kingdom afloat-”
Hyunjin cut him off by raising a hand. “The kingdom needs hope, father. They have lost it all, and few are still clinging to something, hoping to be saved. These are our people that are out in the streets starving and dying. While you sit here bathed in silks and jewels, sleeping peacefully well into the morning light.” His father scoffed, shaking his head.
“And what? You think you can be their savior? Like you saved your mother? My Aeri? You killed her!” He screamed, eyes bulging with anger and sadness. “I have nothing left without her.” He choked out, “You took everything from me. She was my everything! The reason I woke up in the morning, the reason I made it through the day, and the reason I had no trouble going to sleep, knowing I’d be able to see her with the oncoming day. Now you want to take my Kingdom?”
“You stand to lose so much more if you don’t, father.” Hyunjin looked him squarely in the eyes. “There is a war coming, one that even your best men are not prepared to fight.” The king's eyes widened.
“The war with sons of the first men….” The words came out the king's mouth on an exasperated breath. Aeri always had fitful sleep. One night, after sharing his time with her, he watched her sleep. Her dreams seemed to be cold and chaotic, not offering the same warmth the love of his life seemed to project each day. Her words were fragmented, but he pieced it together as best he could. Her dreams were a warning. She thought he didn’t know of her abilities, but he did. He loved her regardless.
“Yes. They are coming.” The king sat up a little too quickly, his strength seemed to be zapped from his body. Hyunjin didn’t hesitate to move to help him. “They are tired of living in the shadows of their own Kingdom. My party has had a run in with them and one nearly died fighting what she described as a beast. Your armies, no matter how plentiful, will fall at their hands. Your Kingdom will cease to exist. Volanits will be wiped from the map. Your monuments, the blood you’ve spilled, the name you built, will all be for naught.” He could see the realization in his fathers eyes.
The man sighed, he knew this day would come. But that didn’t mean it felt like anything less than a shock. Somehow his son had turned out alright, despite him being such a shit father. Though he could still see a little bit of himself in Hyunjin, he still saw more of his beloved Aeri. She loved this kingdom and the people in it, and often advocated for the people who couldn’t do it themselves. “I-” He paused, sighing once again, this time with a bit of melancholy. “I’m sorry, son.” He looked at the prince, before looking up at the ceiling. “In my hurt and anger, I caused you more pain than I could ever imagine. I realized that by hurting you, I was hurting your mother. I guess in a way, I was upset that she left me. I know she didn’t have a choice, but my hard heart wouldn’t let me have the capacity to love the one person that I should have loved the most. You are the only thing on this earth that mattered more than life to my beloved, and I did my best to destroy it.” It took him a while, but he stood, slowly making his way to the window with the curtains open.
“I know she had the sight.” He spoke matter of factly. “Looking back, there were signs that she knew she wouldn’t make it past childbirth. Saying things like, “When he’s old enough, take him to see the night blooming flowers near the passageway of diamonds.” Or when she told me to let Nari teach you about her side of the family, that you had a lot to gain in knowledge from them.” He chuckled lightly. “It took the absence of you in this castle to realize all of the mistakes I’d made. How I’d failed you as a father. But I’m thankful for Venia refusing to return you to your rightful place.” Hyunjin looked up at that, he’d been focusing on the dust motes floating in the sunlight.
“You asked for me back?” He sighed and nodded.
“I could have decreed that she bring the prince back, or have her head for treason. But, I knew she was only looking out for your best interests. She seems to have done a good job with you, son.” The man turned to face him, “We will set your coronation as soon as possible.” The frail man grabbed the wall as he swayed. Hyunjin quickly got to his feet, calling for Minho who rushed over to help. The King chuckled, “Of course you aren’t alone. I can imagine getting into the castle alone would be an impossible feat.” They helped the man back to bed and Hyunjin tucked him in. “I hope that one day you can find a way to forgive me. It’s probably easier said than done, considering how wrong I’ve been towards you. But-” Hyunjin topped him once again.
“Though things can be said about how you executed your actions, I still never bore any ill will towards you, father.” Minho moved back to the door while Hyunjin continued to talk. “I wouldn’t wish the circumstances around how I turned out as well as I did, on anyone. But heat forges steel, as you often said to me as a child. I’m thankful that Venia was able to mold me in a way that I wasn’t resentful towards you. I owe that all to her.” His father nodded, understanding exactly where his son was coming from.
Soon thereafter, the king called for his right hand, Justinier. The man was shocked to see the long lost prince standing in the king's bed chamber. He was nearly as white as a ghost upon entering the room. “Inform the nobles and high court that there will be a coronation for the prince in two nights. Give them time to plan.” The man's eyes bulged. He stepped closer, whispering so only the king could hear.
“Are we sure this is the real prince? He could be-” The king silenced the man with a glare. “As you wish for your majesty.” Justinier gave Hyunjin a look of suspicion before turning to leave. Just to get the wind knocked out of him as Minho stepped from the shadows with the most menacing look on his face. “Dear gods!” The name screamed, grabbing his chest before his heart flew out of it.
“Stand down, Minho.” He stood there for a brief second, before moving back into the shadows. Justinier scurried away like the rat he was, closing the door behind him.
“He is going to the council, to inform them that I’ve lost my mind and a fake prince is trying to make his way to power.” The king spoke after taking a sip of the water that had been left on his bedside table. “But I know the truth. There is no mistaking my son for anyone. You look so much like my beloved.” He sighed wistfully, all of the pain he’d inflicted on Hyunjin and the people of this Kingdom, were all unfortunately stemming from him not knowing how to process his grief. “Your sisters, they are away with the Queen, visiting family. I can send-” Hyunjin shook his head.
“No need. Until this war is over, it’s best they stay where they are for their own safety.” His father huffed proudly. Realizing that his son, whom he neglected, would make a great king. He cared about the people, regardless of who they were. His legacy would be remembered forever and looked upon fondly. He might be able to right the wrongs of his father and really bring an era of peace and hope. That was if they made it through the war Aeri had predicted years ago.
Justinier stewed as council members gathered one by one to talk about their new prince issue. “Gathering us here in the middle of the night is outrageous, Justinier! What is the meaning of this?” The men were all still in the pajamas, after being woken out of their slumber. He’d sat on the information all day, trying his best to gather enough facts to face the council with. He looked as everyone took their seats, happy to see the seat of the duke of state left open. He hated Ermias and his views. He knew something was off with that man but could never garner enough support to have him investigated or removed from this council.
“The King wants a coronation for the prince.” They all looked at once another, shock etched on each of their faces. “But I have reason to believe he is a fake, using the memory of the King’s son to infiltrate the palace and put himself on the throne!” Several of the men groaned, they knew the reason he was throwing a fit was because he wanted the throne for himself and his bumbling idiot of a son.
“State minister, are you insinuating what I think you are?” The men grumbled amongst themselves, just whispering the thoughts of deposing the King was treason. “Because if you are, I think it’s time I excuse myself.” He cleared his throat as he stood. “I suggest anyone else that wouldn't like to be made an example out of should do the same.” He and several other councilmen stood just as the door opened. Ermias emerged, holding the golden id of the prince.
“Now gentlemen, this wouldn’t be what I think it is, would it?” Ermias passed by all of the standing councilmen, including Justinier who was red in the face from a mix of embarrassment and anger. “Because the prince has been confirmed by both his father and his childhood nanny. Plus-” He lifted his royal identification. “I’m sure this proves without a doubt he is who he says he is.”
“Duke of state, we were just leaving.” The standing councilman spoke. “It is clear to us that this councilman has treasonous thoughts about the King and Prince, we were not about to participate in his shenanigans.” Ermias smiled. He’d only gotten here an hour ago. He didn’t have time to settle in before Minho had found his way to him. He honestly didn’t know how the boy did it, he felt like maybe he had a little of the fae magic in him. Because that was the only way to explain how he just knew when and where to show up.
He gave him a letter from his daughter, detailing how the prince was with the king and how the King was suspicious of Justinier. Low and behold, the king had every reason to feel distrustful. Here Justinier was, trying to stage a coupe without calling it that. They had bigger issues at hand. Ermias had come to the capital with Venia, after meeting up a few towns over. He knew of the impending war and after passing through the Jade mountains, he knew it was coming sooner than later. Ermias would never admit that he had trained for this, trained his army for this. Teaching them things that at the time might have seemed unorthodox at the time, but would prove beneficial in the long run.
“I, second left minister of state, Aimilios of Slystorm, hereby set into motion the removal of Right state minister, Justinier. For acts of treason.” Justinier gasped and so did his co-conspirators. Ermias leaned back in his seat, a small, smug smile tugged at the corners of his lips. This all started with Justinier trying to replace the monarchy with someone he could easily control. Someone he could marry his son or daughter off to that would help further his political aspirations. “All in favor say ‘aye’.” All but the few who backed him were in agreement.
“Wha- what? This can’t be! Do you know who I am? I’m the king's closest confidant! He won’t stand for this!” Guards came for him, pulling the rotund man out the room as she yelled and berated them. “You will pay for this Ermias!! I’ll make sure of it!” He screeched from down the hall as the doors closed behind them.
It took them a while to gather themselves, but they eventually did. They made plans for the coronation, while Ermias worked on getting them to bring the military back from the borders. He made it seem like it was for celebration purposes and not because the war was coming, because the last thing he wanted to do was alarm anyone or have them ask too many questions. They needed to focus on conforming the prince and getting his ceremony in order. The impending war was left for him to think about.
Translations:
*“Avai ulo dho didilo hako as ail karkkan. Ka urk ko xoror, ail reyaf klado as Volantis.”
- “You are the future hope of our kingdom. Go and be well, our dead prince of Volantis.”
Pairing: Prince Hyunjin x Reader (AFAB)
Summary: The party finally arrives in Solaris. Hyunjin has to come face to face with his past.
Word Count: 6k+ [Reading Time: 25+ Mins]
Genre: Historical, Fantasy, Strangers to Lovers, Royalty, Angst, any NSFW tags are below.
AU: Prince, Royal, Supernatural
NETS: @neverendingdreams-net & @mirohs-aurora-society & @ksmutsociety
Synopsis:
Authors Note: Please reblog or leave a comment to let me know how you feel. I'd love a little feedback. Thanks for reading, and I hope you enjoyed it. As per usual, this hasn't been proofread. Special thanks to @saradika-graphics for some of the dividers.
Warnings: Mentions of war, abuse, grief, poverty, death
Disclaimer: This story does not reflect the real lives or personalities of Stray Kids. I do not know them personally. This is purely a work of fiction.
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Chapter Index: HERE
Your father had described the situation the kingdom was in, many times before in your conversations. He frequently traveled to and from, so he had a different perspective of what devastation had hit the capitol, unlike someone who was constantly in the middle of the destruction. You couldn’t see the damage that the king had caused in your little town that was far away from the capital city, but you could most definitely see it now as you passed through it. The people had taken a hit in the fallout after the war. Consequences the King seemingly couldn’t see and clearly didn’t care about. According to your father, the king was still living lavishly off of the overly taxed people he was supposed to govern. He was living off of their dime while they suffered in squalor. Despicable. This Kingdom needed their king, but he was holded up in his gilded tower, surrounded by a plethora of food and meade.
Though it had been a while since the last time you’d been to Solaris, you knew exactly where your father wanted you to go. There was a servant who’d been loyal to your family for generations. That included your maternal grandfather and so on and so forth. You turned off the main thoroughfare, with your direction, remembering every turn as if it hadn’t been years since you’d been here. The trip was short and you recognized the brightly painted home from a distance. Though the indigo paint was worn, it still invited you in. Zuwi, one of your mothers oldest companions, lived in this humble abode. Her father, Mitra, worked as a stableman for your maternal grandfather. Zuwi grew up alongside your mother.
You settled in at Zuwi’s, her place wasn’t huge but it provided shelter for the three of you as well as good warm food. She’d informed you that the guard your father knew would be there before daybreak to escort you all through the secret passageways of the castle. There were less than a handful of people who knew how to navigate them. One wrong turn and you could end up trapped, or worse. “Are you ready for tomorrow?” Minho was fast asleep, with a bellyful of home cooked food. Hyunjin was on his stomach, doodling in his sketch book. His hands ceased at your question.
“Ready to confront my father that I haven’t seen in over a decade, that hates my entire being?” He asked with a sarcastic air to his voice. “Sure.” He chuckled humorously. “I know what the prophecy says, I know what my dreams have foretold…”He paused, closing his sketch book as placing it back in his satchel. “But am I ready for the possibility of losing everything I hold dear to fulfill that prophecy?” His eyes connected with yours, you could see the seeds of doubt and the insecurity swirling in them. “No, I'm not.” He sat up, tossing his long legs over the side of the makeshift cot Zuwi had provided. “I don’t know what I’ll do if I lose you.” You sighed, reaching a hand over to comfort him.
“You won’t lose me, Hyunjin. I’ll be right by your side. No matter what.” He sighed again, even his breaths sounded unsure. “Minho and I will be by your side as long as you’ll have us.” He looked at Minho with his brow raised, making you chuckle. “He has no choice, he goes where I go.” He chuckled along with you. “This journey has been one that has changed all of us for the better. There is no one closer to Minho and I than you. You’ve become an integral part of our party. And when you become who you are destined to be, we will be by your side in whatever capacity you want us to be.” Your hand grabbed his, caressing the back of it with your thumb.
You could still sense he was apprehensive. “You’ve trained long and hard for this, both mentally and physically. You are ready for whatever is thrown your way.” Your words seemed to finally ease the tension that the prince was feeling. You wouldn’t admit it, but you were feeling the same anxiety he was. This long road that the three of you had traveled together all converged here. Just before dawn, the three of you would be sneaking into the castle to finally confront the king. But the scariest part of that all, was that it could all end, no real confrontation or solution to be had. You were once again reminded of the fact that if this went left, that meant that your family would suffer the blow back of it all.
You could tell that Hyunjin was still anxious, as were you if you were being totally honest with yourself. “I know it’s a weird time to ask this… but do you want to sleep with-” Before the full question fell from your lips he was on your cot, tugging you with him to lie down. You couldn’t help the chuckle that slipped out. “I guess I will take that as a yes.” He hugged you tight, like you might slip away and disappear if he didn’t. You couldn’t imagine how things had changed for the sheltered prince. From being unhappy in the palace, to being exiled to a far away isle, to then being told that he was needed back in the capital because his father was sick. He had no reason to trust in people with all that he had endured, but he did anyway. He put his trust in the words of your father. He put his trust in Venia, and believed that he could impact a world of change for the kingdom.
Then he put his trust in you and Minho. That was something you couldn’t understand, even down to this very moment. Minho had experience, since he was by your fathers side during a lot of the war. But trusting you with all of your inexperience, was something you truly couldn’t wrap your head around. You’d fought in no wars, held no title or position besides lady. You couldn’t trust yourself, how was it that so many people put their faith in you of all people to aid the prince in anything? “Hey, what's going on up there?” His fingers traced the frown lines that you’d unknowingly knit between your brows.
“I’m just worried…” You relaxed a little at the feeling of his touch. “Hyunjin, I don’t mean any harm, nor do I want to sow the seeds of doubt into your mind. I meant every word I said when I told you I’d always be by your side.” His hand paused, moving to your arm, then traveling down until his fingers were intertwined with your own. “But.. Why did you trust me?” His lips curled up into a smile before he laughed.
“It seems you have forgotten how we met.” His body shifted, laying on his back. He moved your head from his arm to his chest. A calm immediately fell over you as you listened to his steady heartbeat. “You didn’t know who I was. You didn’t know that I was the prince you were sent to retrieve, or that you just so happened to be at the right place at the right time. But you decided to step in anyway and help someone you saw as the victim of a crime. You saved my life. How could I not trust you after that?” He had a point. He didn’t know him from Adam, but you still stepped in and tried your best to help someone you saw in need.
Just as you were about to speak, a small throw pillow hit the back of your head. You turned around quickly, mostly from shock. Only to be greeted by the frostiest glare from Minho. You guessed all the talking woke him up from his peaceful slumber. “Ah- sorry.” You quickly apologized, you didn’t want to face the wrath of a grumpy sleep deprived Minho, no one did. “We should sleep-” You looked up at Hyunjin whose eyes were already closed as he pretended to be fast asleep. You lightly hit his shoulder before snuggling up to the man your heart had grown so fond of in such a short amount of time. You all needed to get some sleep if you wanted a chance at anything remotely successful tomorrow.
Before the dawn's glow painted the yellow tinted bricks of Solaris, several pairs of feet shuffled through the shadows of early morning. You could feel the adrenaline pumping through your veins, hear your fast beating heart loudly in your ears. You and Minho flank Hyunjin, him in the back, you in the front, as you are led through the long forgotten servant chambers located towards the back of the castle. They used to use this entrance for prostitutes and concubines of former kings, to keep speculations at bay. But they closed it off after a King was caught red handed with a prostitute from one of the local brothels. One of her patrons was a jealous man who followed her and found that she was servicing more than just the regular towns folk. He killed her near the back entrance and then told the bar keep at a nearby tavern what both he and the King had been doing. Showing her head as proof. It was a brutal way to go, for anyone.
The entrance was steeped in darkness, shrouded by trees and overgrown foliage. You went through first, volunteering to do so since you had an easier time healing. You cut away at as much as you could, and shielded the prince, despite his protests. The door was hard to pull, stuck from years of inactivity. The creaking noise of it finally opening, was sure to alert someone nearby. But your group would be long gone by the time they got there. “There is a staircase that leads to the alcove behind the kitchen fireplace. Be careful not to wake, Elma, she will surely rat you out to the king's guard.” She pointed the three of you in the right direction. “This is as far as I go. Be well, my children.” She grabbed Hyunjin's hand with love. “Avai ulo dho didilo hako as ail karkkan. Ka urk ko xoror, ail reyaf klado as Volantis.” Zuwi gave each of you a hug before heading out the way she’d come, leaving the three of you to execute your plans.
You nodded your head towards the slightly obstructed stairs, taking your time to carefully ascend them. The door behind the fireplace was cracked, you could hear the movements of the early morning cooks and waitstaff, getting food ready for the royals who lived in the castle. The three of you crouched and waited until the coast was clear. It nearly took a whole hour, before you could move through the kitchen without being seen. You ducked behind the table in the middle of it all, the one that was used to prep a lot of the food as well as storage to keep a lot of the pots and pans that didn't fit in the cabinets. Once out of the kitchen, you made your way to the kitchen court, trying your best to avoid the great hall, where you were sure the staff was waiting on most of the royals.
The kitchen court housed a lot of the goods that came from other lands, such as fruit, meats, and grains. There wasn’t anyone attending to this room and the moment, so it made it even easier for the three of you to pass through. You took the back stairs up to the staff chambers, being careful to not be seen, as the dawn broke over the horizon, illuminating the castle with its warm amber glow. “I know the way…” Hyunjin whispered softly in your ear. Though apprehensive, you let him lead the party, but kept your hand on your sword as you followed, as a precaution. The three of you halted at the end of a long hallway, hearing the heavy footsteps of a guard who was making his rounds. Minho pulled you two into a tight alcove, hidden by a tapestry, waiting for the large man to make his pass.
Seconds felt like hours as you waited for the steps to dissipate. You let out a breath you didn’t know you were holding as you all sprinted down the hall and towards the royal chambers. Hyunjin really did remember his time in the castle, even down to the layout, despite how long ago it’d been since he’d last been there. You were finally out of the maze that was the staff chambers, now came the hard part; getting through the border atrium that led to the Royal chambers. There were beautiful exotic flowers, some from the Kingdom of Perth and others from the Neunigan Islands, where your fathers family was from. These were Aeri’s, you were sure of it. His father had the grounds people keep her garden up. As beautiful as a sentiment as that should have been, this man clearly didn’t love her. He had an obsession. It’s been over twenty years since she’d passed and he’d done everything in his power to keep her name alive, even though he was committing atrocities to his people while down it.
Many people were displaced due to their homes or businesses being destroyed during the war. Many more could no longer afford to live or have shelter because of the negative impacts the war had on their families. Many people lost their husbands and sons, which made the financial burdens fall solely on them. It wasn’t fair that the people suffered for an unnecessary war. Nor was it fair that the Monarchy as well as most of the nobel’s of this Kingdom seemed to give fuck all bout anyone but themselves. Your mind always drifted back to how Minho ended up all alone. The war took his father, the fall out and the chaos that ensued after, took his mother and everything his family had worked hard for. How was that fair? It wasn’t. You knew that, but most people who were afforded the same privilege as you were, didn’t.
Crossing through the atrium was not without its issues. You were almost spotted by a gardener, but thankfully they didn’t see you fully. The royal chambers were finally in sight. “My fathers room will be heavily guarded.” Hyunjin spoke as the three of you hid in the shadows of another alcove. “But thanks to Vinia, I know the way in” He sighed, “My old room.” He shifted uncomfortably. You could see the demons of his past play across his eyes like shadows. “My father didn’t want everyone to know that the king hated his only child, so he used the passageway, at first. Soon enough though, he stopped caring what people felt or thought about his clear dislike for me. That was just before he sent me away.” He spoke softly, eyes not connecting with anyone or anything.
“My room probably isn’t my room anymore. They cleared it out the day we were forced to leave for Arcta.” He peaked down the hall, watching a guard make his rounds. “I wouldn’t be shocked if it was one of my sister's rooms now.” He mumbled the last part to himself. It wouldn’t be a shock to him or anyone in the party if the king had tried his best to rid himself of every memory and trace of the prince. “If we can get-” Before he could finish the words, Minho silently bolted out, sneaking up behind the guard. He was quick, stealthy. He took him out, putting him to sleep before the guard even had time to react. You pulled Hyunjin with you as you helped catch the large man before his body hit the floor. “Follow me.” You and Minho drug the body as you followed Hyunjin into one of the rooms.
It was grand, but somehow that felt like an understatement. Everything about this castle had been ornate, but the rooms seemed to take the cake. Gold leaf and carved structures were everywhere. Along with the almost floor to ceiling portraits. Hyunjin stopped in his tracks at the sight of eight year old him, standing tall in the portrait above the mantel. “They replace the portrait when rooms change residents.” The three of you looked at one another. That meant this was still considered the prince’s room. “Besides the things I took with me, nothing has changed.” What did that mean for him? Did his father somehow regret sending his only son away? Or was there something else? Something far more insidious at play?
“It doesn’t matter. We came all this way for a reason, I refuse to be distracted by petty sentiments.” Hyunjin headed to where the large wardrobe sat near the wall. There was a dark corner next to it, almost covered by the large, dark, heavy curtains that draped the windows. With a few pulls and pushes, he opened the door. A small gust of wind wooshed past the three of you, pushing Hyunjin’s hood off his head. You went in first, despite Hyunjin knowing the way, a dark tunnel like this was too much to stake his life on. The path was lit, meaning someone still used this route. You grabbed a torch and headed down the long pathway. It wasn’t long before you reached the end. You placed the torch in an empty sconce and pressed your ear to the door. It was silent on the other end.
“I’ll go in first. If I don’t come back within a few minutes, run.” Hyujin opened his mouth to speak while Minho glared, his eyes speaking in place of words. “I mean it.” You pulled your id card from your person, handing it to Minho. “If it comes down to it.. Give this to dad. Okay?” You didn’t let go until he nodded. You knew that if he didn’t agree, he’d charge into the room to come get you himself, and that wasn’t something you wanted. You needed him to protect the prince. At all costs. You gave them both a small smile before pushing the door open as softly as you could. You stepped into the room, the curtains were drawn. Any source of light seemed to have been snuffed out with some sort of covering. The room was slightly frigid, the massive fireplace had not been started, despite any of the others you’d passed roaring brightly to push out the cold morning air. There was something wrong here.
Your nerves were on edge. It felt like at any moment the royal guard would rush the room to arrest you, but as time passed, nothing happened. You got closer to the tall canopy bed, hearing slight labored breathing from it. You carefully peeked in, and that's when you saw it. Saw him. The king was in the center of the bed, tucked in tight. He was frail, he was literally on his death bed. His hair was long, but lacked any sort of healthiness. It was thin, stringy, and white from root to tip. How could that be? You parents were the same age as the king, how could they look so youthful when the King looked so senescent? His cheeks and eyes were sunken in, face wrinkled with age and brash decisions.
No wonder the kingdom was in such disarray, the king was on his death bed, suffering. You sighed, going to open the door to let the guys in, stopping Hyunjin before he could fully enter. “He…” You paused, placing your hand on his shoulder. “He isn’t what you remember. I know it might be a hard task, but be gentle.” He nodded. There was determination in his eyes. He was set on his goal of confronting his father in the calmest way possible. You nodded to Minho for him to take the front door, while you stood in front of the secret entrance, keeping guard. You couldn’t leave the room, but at least this gave the kingdom's monarchs some semblance of privacy.
Eleven years. It’d been the last time he’d seen his father. Years since he’d heard angry words spewed towards or about him. Eleven years since his father told him he never wanted to see him again. Eleven years of exile. There was a shadow cast around the bed, it felt akin to looming dread or even worse, death. The closer he got the heavier he felt, almost as if he was trudging through mud to get to him. His long, shaky fingers wrapped around the drawn curtains to the right of the king’s bed, pulling them open and letting the morning light flood in. His father stirred, even if his body barely moved. “Kheryi?” His voice sounded just as frail as he looked. Gone were the days of his father's booming voice that seemed to carry itself through the castle halls.
“No, father. It’s me.” Hyunjin stepped towards the bed, revealing his face to the bed ridden man who was now struggling to sit up. The king's complexion looked a little sallow. The face that used to be full is now sunken in. His frail body is an image that is hard to swallow for poor Hyunjin, who hasn’t seen his father in over a decade. The man gasped as the boy's face came into view. “I’ve come to claim what is rightfully mine.” He spoke with an air of grace as he paced his father's bedside. “You’ve yet to produce another male heir. The council sees that as an issue. They are looking to replace you.” The King looked around, as if he would call for help, but he didn’t.
“Replace me?” He laughed humorlessly, but it slowly morphed into a cough. “They have no right!” But even Hyunjin could tell that he knew they were justified in doing so, just by the look in his eyes.
“You have two choices, father. Let them replace you with whatever puppet they see fit, or let me go through with my coronation, as the crown prince.” The man's eyes widened, mouth opening as if to say something, just to close again. “That way, you can keep your family in this castle together. Your daughters and your wife.” Hyunjin moved to the end of the bed, arms behind his back as he stared at his frail father. “But you stay out of my way. You had your chance to run this Kingdom and you ran it in the ground with your wars and your useless monuments.
“You think you will do better? That you won’t start wars or have monuments built in your name? Every king does these things. To expand their lands, to have the people remember them. I couldn’t let people forget me…. Or Aeri. Because they often forget people like my father who strived to have peace just to have his throat slit by his top advisor. Ruling the way I have has kept this Kingdom afloat-”
Hyunjin cut him off by raising a hand. “The kingdom needs hope, father. They have lost it all, and few are still clinging to something, hoping to be saved. These are our people that are out in the streets starving and dying. While you sit here bathed in silks and jewels, sleeping peacefully well into the morning light.” His father scoffed, shaking his head.
“And what? You think you can be their savior? Like you saved your mother? My Aeri? You killed her!” He screamed, eyes bulging with anger and sadness. “I have nothing left without her.” He choked out, “You took everything from me. She was my everything! The reason I woke up in the morning, the reason I made it through the day, and the reason I had no trouble going to sleep, knowing I’d be able to see her with the oncoming day. Now you want to take my Kingdom?”
“You stand to lose so much more if you don’t, father.” Hyunjin looked him squarely in the eyes. “There is a war coming, one that even your best men are not prepared to fight.” The king's eyes widened.
“The war with sons of the first men….” The words came out the king's mouth on an exasperated breath. Aeri always had fitful sleep. One night, after sharing his time with her, he watched her sleep. Her dreams seemed to be cold and chaotic, not offering the same warmth the love of his life seemed to project each day. Her words were fragmented, but he pieced it together as best he could. Her dreams were a warning. She thought he didn’t know of her abilities, but he did. He loved her regardless.
“Yes. They are coming.” The king sat up a little too quickly, his strength seemed to be zapped from his body. Hyunjin didn’t hesitate to move to help him. “They are tired of living in the shadows of their own Kingdom. My party has had a run in with them and one nearly died fighting what she described as a beast. Your armies, no matter how plentiful, will fall at their hands. Your Kingdom will cease to exist. Volanits will be wiped from the map. Your monuments, the blood you’ve spilled, the name you built, will all be for naught.” He could see the realization in his fathers eyes.
The man sighed, he knew this day would come. But that didn’t mean it felt like anything less than a shock. Somehow his son had turned out alright, despite him being such a shit father. Though he could still see a little bit of himself in Hyunjin, he still saw more of his beloved Aeri. She loved this kingdom and the people in it, and often advocated for the people who couldn’t do it themselves. “I-” He paused, sighing once again, this time with a bit of melancholy. “I’m sorry, son.” He looked at the prince, before looking up at the ceiling. “In my hurt and anger, I caused you more pain than I could ever imagine. I realized that by hurting you, I was hurting your mother. I guess in a way, I was upset that she left me. I know she didn’t have a choice, but my hard heart wouldn’t let me have the capacity to love the one person that I should have loved the most. You are the only thing on this earth that mattered more than life to my beloved, and I did my best to destroy it.” It took him a while, but he stood, slowly making his way to the window with the curtains open.
“I know she had the sight.” He spoke matter of factly. “Looking back, there were signs that she knew she wouldn’t make it past childbirth. Saying things like, “When he’s old enough, take him to see the night blooming flowers near the passageway of diamonds.” Or when she told me to let Nari teach you about her side of the family, that you had a lot to gain in knowledge from them.” He chuckled lightly. “It took the absence of you in this castle to realize all of the mistakes I’d made. How I’d failed you as a father. But I’m thankful for Venia refusing to return you to your rightful place.” Hyunjin looked up at that, he’d been focusing on the dust motes floating in the sunlight.
“You asked for me back?” He sighed and nodded.
“I could have decreed that she bring the prince back, or have her head for treason. But, I knew she was only looking out for your best interests. She seems to have done a good job with you, son.” The man turned to face him, “We will set your coronation as soon as possible.” The frail man grabbed the wall as he swayed. Hyunjin quickly got to his feet, calling for Minho who rushed over to help. The King chuckled, “Of course you aren’t alone. I can imagine getting into the castle alone would be an impossible feat.” They helped the man back to bed and Hyunjin tucked him in. “I hope that one day you can find a way to forgive me. It’s probably easier said than done, considering how wrong I’ve been towards you. But-” Hyunjin topped him once again.
“Though things can be said about how you executed your actions, I still never bore any ill will towards you, father.” Minho moved back to the door while Hyunjin continued to talk. “I wouldn’t wish the circumstances around how I turned out as well as I did, on anyone. But heat forges steel, as you often said to me as a child. I’m thankful that Venia was able to mold me in a way that I wasn’t resentful towards you. I owe that all to her.” His father nodded, understanding exactly where his son was coming from.
Soon thereafter, the king called for his right hand, Justinier. The man was shocked to see the long lost prince standing in the king's bed chamber. He was nearly as white as a ghost upon entering the room. “Inform the nobles and high court that there will be a coronation for the prince in two nights. Give them time to plan.” The man's eyes bulged. He stepped closer, whispering so only the king could hear.
“Are we sure this is the real prince? He could be-” The king silenced the man with a glare. “As you wish for your majesty.” Justinier gave Hyunjin a look of suspicion before turning to leave. Just to get the wind knocked out of him as Minho stepped from the shadows with the most menacing look on his face. “Dear gods!” The name screamed, grabbing his chest before his heart flew out of it.
“Stand down, Minho.” He stood there for a brief second, before moving back into the shadows. Justinier scurried away like the rat he was, closing the door behind him.
“He is going to the council, to inform them that I’ve lost my mind and a fake prince is trying to make his way to power.” The king spoke after taking a sip of the water that had been left on his bedside table. “But I know the truth. There is no mistaking my son for anyone. You look so much like my beloved.” He sighed wistfully, all of the pain he’d inflicted on Hyunjin and the people of this Kingdom, were all unfortunately stemming from him not knowing how to process his grief. “Your sisters, they are away with the Queen, visiting family. I can send-” Hyunjin shook his head.
“No need. Until this war is over, it’s best they stay where they are for their own safety.” His father huffed proudly. Realizing that his son, whom he neglected, would make a great king. He cared about the people, regardless of who they were. His legacy would be remembered forever and looked upon fondly. He might be able to right the wrongs of his father and really bring an era of peace and hope. That was if they made it through the war Aeri had predicted years ago.
Justinier stewed as council members gathered one by one to talk about their new prince issue. “Gathering us here in the middle of the night is outrageous, Justinier! What is the meaning of this?” The men were all still in the pajamas, after being woken out of their slumber. He’d sat on the information all day, trying his best to gather enough facts to face the council with. He looked as everyone took their seats, happy to see the seat of the duke of state left open. He hated Ermias and his views. He knew something was off with that man but could never garner enough support to have him investigated or removed from this council.
“The King wants a coronation for the prince.” They all looked at once another, shock etched on each of their faces. “But I have reason to believe he is a fake, using the memory of the King’s son to infiltrate the palace and put himself on the throne!” Several of the men groaned, they knew the reason he was throwing a fit was because he wanted the throne for himself and his bumbling idiot of a son.
“State minister, are you insinuating what I think you are?” The men grumbled amongst themselves, just whispering the thoughts of deposing the King was treason. “Because if you are, I think it’s time I excuse myself.” He cleared his throat as he stood. “I suggest anyone else that wouldn't like to be made an example out of should do the same.” He and several other councilmen stood just as the door opened. Ermias emerged, holding the golden id of the prince.
“Now gentlemen, this wouldn’t be what I think it is, would it?” Ermias passed by all of the standing councilmen, including Justinier who was red in the face from a mix of embarrassment and anger. “Because the prince has been confirmed by both his father and his childhood nanny. Plus-” He lifted his royal identification. “I’m sure this proves without a doubt he is who he says he is.”
“Duke of state, we were just leaving.” The standing councilman spoke. “It is clear to us that this councilman has treasonous thoughts about the King and Prince, we were not about to participate in his shenanigans.” Ermias smiled. He’d only gotten here an hour ago. He didn’t have time to settle in before Minho had found his way to him. He honestly didn’t know how the boy did it, he felt like maybe he had a little of the fae magic in him. Because that was the only way to explain how he just knew when and where to show up.
He gave him a letter from his daughter, detailing how the prince was with the king and how the King was suspicious of Justinier. Low and behold, the king had every reason to feel distrustful. Here Justinier was, trying to stage a coupe without calling it that. They had bigger issues at hand. Ermias had come to the capital with Venia, after meeting up a few towns over. He knew of the impending war and after passing through the Jade mountains, he knew it was coming sooner than later. Ermias would never admit that he had trained for this, trained his army for this. Teaching them things that at the time might have seemed unorthodox at the time, but would prove beneficial in the long run.
“I, second left minister of state, Aimilios of Slystorm, hereby set into motion the removal of Right state minister, Justinier. For acts of treason.” Justinier gasped and so did his co-conspirators. Ermias leaned back in his seat, a small, smug smile tugged at the corners of his lips. This all started with Justinier trying to replace the monarchy with someone he could easily control. Someone he could marry his son or daughter off to that would help further his political aspirations. “All in favor say ‘aye’.” All but the few who backed him were in agreement.
“Wha- what? This can’t be! Do you know who I am? I’m the king's closest confidant! He won’t stand for this!” Guards came for him, pulling the rotund man out the room as she yelled and berated them. “You will pay for this Ermias!! I’ll make sure of it!” He screeched from down the hall as the doors closed behind them.
It took them a while to gather themselves, but they eventually did. They made plans for the coronation, while Ermias worked on getting them to bring the military back from the borders. He made it seem like it was for celebration purposes and not because the war was coming, because the last thing he wanted to do was alarm anyone or have them ask too many questions. They needed to focus on conforming the prince and getting his ceremony in order. The impending war was left for him to think about.
Translations:
*“Avai ulo dho didilo hako as ail karkkan. Ka urk ko xoror, ail reyaf klado as Volantis.”
- “You are the future hope of our kingdom. Go and be well, our dead prince of Volantis.”
Pairing: Prince Hyunjin x Reader (AFAB)
Summary: The party finally arrives in Solaris. Hyunjin has to come face to face with his past.
Word Count: 6k+ [Reading Time: 25+ Mins]
Genre: Historical, Fantasy, Strangers to Lovers, Royalty, Angst, any NSFW tags are below.
AU: Prince, Royal, Supernatural
NETS: @neverendingdreams-net & @mirohs-aurora-society & @ksmutsociety
Synopsis: The kingdom of Volantis is in disarray; the monarch rules with an iron fist. The times of hope, harmony, and kindness were buried with the queen who passed many years ago. The people are praying for a savior, but who will be their light at the end of this dark tunnel?
Authors Note: Please reblog or leave a comment to let me know how you feel. I'd love a little feedback. Thanks for reading, and I hope you enjoyed it. As per usual, this hasn't been proofread. Special thanks to @saradika-graphics for some of the dividers.
Warnings: Mentions of war, abuse, grief, poverty, death
Disclaimer: This story does not reflect the real lives or personalities of Stray Kids. I do not know them personally. This is purely a work of fiction.
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Chapter Index: HERE
Your father had described the situation the kingdom was in, many times before in your conversations. He frequently traveled to and from, so he had a different perspective of what devastation had hit the capitol, unlike someone who was constantly in the middle of the destruction. You couldn’t see the damage that the king had caused in your little town that was far away from the capital city, but you could most definitely see it now as you passed through it. The people had taken a hit in the fallout after the war. Consequences the King seemingly couldn’t see and clearly didn’t care about. According to your father, the king was still living lavishly off of the overly taxed people he was supposed to govern. He was living off of their dime while they suffered in squalor. Despicable. This Kingdom needed their king, but he was holded up in his gilded tower, surrounded by a plethora of food and meade.
Though it had been a while since the last time you’d been to Solaris, you knew exactly where your father wanted you to go. There was a servant who’d been loyal to your family for generations. That included your maternal grandfather and so on and so forth. You turned off the main thoroughfare, with your direction, remembering every turn as if it hadn’t been years since you’d been here. The trip was short and you recognized the brightly painted home from a distance. Though the indigo paint was worn, it still invited you in. Zuwi, one of your mothers oldest companions, lived in this humble abode. Her father, Mitra, worked as a stableman for your maternal grandfather. Zuwi grew up alongside your mother.
You settled in at Zuwi’s, her place wasn’t huge but it provided shelter for the three of you as well as good warm food. She’d informed you that the guard your father knew would be there before daybreak to escort you all through the secret passageways of the castle. There were less than a handful of people who knew how to navigate them. One wrong turn and you could end up trapped, or worse. “Are you ready for tomorrow?” Minho was fast asleep, with a bellyful of home cooked food. Hyunjin was on his stomach, doodling in his sketch book. His hands ceased at your question.
“Ready to confront my father that I haven’t seen in over a decade, that hates my entire being?” He asked with a sarcastic air to his voice. “Sure.” He chuckled humorously. “I know what the prophecy says, I know what my dreams have foretold…”He paused, closing his sketch book as placing it back in his satchel. “But am I ready for the possibility of losing everything I hold dear to fulfill that prophecy?” His eyes connected with yours, you could see the seeds of doubt and the insecurity swirling in them. “No, I'm not.” He sat up, tossing his long legs over the side of the makeshift cot Zuwi had provided. “I don’t know what I’ll do if I lose you.” You sighed, reaching a hand over to comfort him.
“You won’t lose me, Hyunjin. I’ll be right by your side. No matter what.” He sighed again, even his breaths sounded unsure. “Minho and I will be by your side as long as you’ll have us.” He looked at Minho with his brow raised, making you chuckle. “He has no choice, he goes where I go.” He chuckled along with you. “This journey has been one that has changed all of us for the better. There is no one closer to Minho and I than you. You’ve become an integral part of our party. And when you become who you are destined to be, we will be by your side in whatever capacity you want us to be.” Your hand grabbed his, caressing the back of it with your thumb.
You could still sense he was apprehensive. “You’ve trained long and hard for this, both mentally and physically. You are ready for whatever is thrown your way.” Your words seemed to finally ease the tension that the prince was feeling. You wouldn’t admit it, but you were feeling the same anxiety he was. This long road that the three of you had traveled together all converged here. Just before dawn, the three of you would be sneaking into the castle to finally confront the king. But the scariest part of that all, was that it could all end, no real confrontation or solution to be had. You were once again reminded of the fact that if this went left, that meant that your family would suffer the blow back of it all.
You could tell that Hyunjin was still anxious, as were you if you were being totally honest with yourself. “I know it’s a weird time to ask this… but do you want to sleep with-” Before the full question fell from your lips he was on your cot, tugging you with him to lie down. You couldn’t help the chuckle that slipped out. “I guess I will take that as a yes.” He hugged you tight, like you might slip away and disappear if he didn’t. You couldn’t imagine how things had changed for the sheltered prince. From being unhappy in the palace, to being exiled to a far away isle, to then being told that he was needed back in the capital because his father was sick. He had no reason to trust in people with all that he had endured, but he did anyway. He put his trust in the words of your father. He put his trust in Venia, and believed that he could impact a world of change for the kingdom.
Then he put his trust in you and Minho. That was something you couldn’t understand, even down to this very moment. Minho had experience, since he was by your fathers side during a lot of the war. But trusting you with all of your inexperience, was something you truly couldn’t wrap your head around. You’d fought in no wars, held no title or position besides lady. You couldn’t trust yourself, how was it that so many people put their faith in you of all people to aid the prince in anything? “Hey, what's going on up there?” His fingers traced the frown lines that you’d unknowingly knit between your brows.
“I’m just worried…” You relaxed a little at the feeling of his touch. “Hyunjin, I don’t mean any harm, nor do I want to sow the seeds of doubt into your mind. I meant every word I said when I told you I’d always be by your side.” His hand paused, moving to your arm, then traveling down until his fingers were intertwined with your own. “But.. Why did you trust me?” His lips curled up into a smile before he laughed.
“It seems you have forgotten how we met.” His body shifted, laying on his back. He moved your head from his arm to his chest. A calm immediately fell over you as you listened to his steady heartbeat. “You didn’t know who I was. You didn’t know that I was the prince you were sent to retrieve, or that you just so happened to be at the right place at the right time. But you decided to step in anyway and help someone you saw as the victim of a crime. You saved my life. How could I not trust you after that?” He had a point. He didn’t know him from Adam, but you still stepped in and tried your best to help someone you saw in need.
Just as you were about to speak, a small throw pillow hit the back of your head. You turned around quickly, mostly from shock. Only to be greeted by the frostiest glare from Minho. You guessed all the talking woke him up from his peaceful slumber. “Ah- sorry.” You quickly apologized, you didn’t want to face the wrath of a grumpy sleep deprived Minho, no one did. “We should sleep-” You looked up at Hyunjin whose eyes were already closed as he pretended to be fast asleep. You lightly hit his shoulder before snuggling up to the man your heart had grown so fond of in such a short amount of time. You all needed to get some sleep if you wanted a chance at anything remotely successful tomorrow.
Before the dawn's glow painted the yellow tinted bricks of Solaris, several pairs of feet shuffled through the shadows of early morning. You could feel the adrenaline pumping through your veins, hear your fast beating heart loudly in your ears. You and Minho flank Hyunjin, him in the back, you in the front, as you are led through the long forgotten servant chambers located towards the back of the castle. They used to use this entrance for prostitutes and concubines of former kings, to keep speculations at bay. But they closed it off after a King was caught red handed with a prostitute from one of the local brothels. One of her patrons was a jealous man who followed her and found that she was servicing more than just the regular towns folk. He killed her near the back entrance and then told the bar keep at a nearby tavern what both he and the King had been doing. Showing her head as proof. It was a brutal way to go, for anyone.
The entrance was steeped in darkness, shrouded by trees and overgrown foliage. You went through first, volunteering to do so since you had an easier time healing. You cut away at as much as you could, and shielded the prince, despite his protests. The door was hard to pull, stuck from years of inactivity. The creaking noise of it finally opening, was sure to alert someone nearby. But your group would be long gone by the time they got there. “There is a staircase that leads to the alcove behind the kitchen fireplace. Be careful not to wake, Elma, she will surely rat you out to the king's guard.” She pointed the three of you in the right direction. “This is as far as I go. Be well, my children.” She grabbed Hyunjin's hand with love. “Avai ulo dho didilo hako as ail karkkan. Ka urk ko xoror, ail reyaf klado as Volantis.” Zuwi gave each of you a hug before heading out the way she’d come, leaving the three of you to execute your plans.
You nodded your head towards the slightly obstructed stairs, taking your time to carefully ascend them. The door behind the fireplace was cracked, you could hear the movements of the early morning cooks and waitstaff, getting food ready for the royals who lived in the castle. The three of you crouched and waited until the coast was clear. It nearly took a whole hour, before you could move through the kitchen without being seen. You ducked behind the table in the middle of it all, the one that was used to prep a lot of the food as well as storage to keep a lot of the pots and pans that didn't fit in the cabinets. Once out of the kitchen, you made your way to the kitchen court, trying your best to avoid the great hall, where you were sure the staff was waiting on most of the royals.
The kitchen court housed a lot of the goods that came from other lands, such as fruit, meats, and grains. There wasn’t anyone attending to this room and the moment, so it made it even easier for the three of you to pass through. You took the back stairs up to the staff chambers, being careful to not be seen, as the dawn broke over the horizon, illuminating the castle with its warm amber glow. “I know the way…” Hyunjin whispered softly in your ear. Though apprehensive, you let him lead the party, but kept your hand on your sword as you followed, as a precaution. The three of you halted at the end of a long hallway, hearing the heavy footsteps of a guard who was making his rounds. Minho pulled you two into a tight alcove, hidden by a tapestry, waiting for the large man to make his pass.
Seconds felt like hours as you waited for the steps to dissipate. You let out a breath you didn’t know you were holding as you all sprinted down the hall and towards the royal chambers. Hyunjin really did remember his time in the castle, even down to the layout, despite how long ago it’d been since he’d last been there. You were finally out of the maze that was the staff chambers, now came the hard part; getting through the border atrium that led to the Royal chambers. There were beautiful exotic flowers, some from the Kingdom of Perth and others from the Neunigan Islands, where your fathers family was from. These were Aeri’s, you were sure of it. His father had the grounds people keep her garden up. As beautiful as a sentiment as that should have been, this man clearly didn’t love her. He had an obsession. It’s been over twenty years since she’d passed and he’d done everything in his power to keep her name alive, even though he was committing atrocities to his people while down it.
Many people were displaced due to their homes or businesses being destroyed during the war. Many more could no longer afford to live or have shelter because of the negative impacts the war had on their families. Many people lost their husbands and sons, which made the financial burdens fall solely on them. It wasn’t fair that the people suffered for an unnecessary war. Nor was it fair that the Monarchy as well as most of the nobel’s of this Kingdom seemed to give fuck all bout anyone but themselves. Your mind always drifted back to how Minho ended up all alone. The war took his father, the fall out and the chaos that ensued after, took his mother and everything his family had worked hard for. How was that fair? It wasn’t. You knew that, but most people who were afforded the same privilege as you were, didn’t.
Crossing through the atrium was not without its issues. You were almost spotted by a gardener, but thankfully they didn’t see you fully. The royal chambers were finally in sight. “My fathers room will be heavily guarded.” Hyunjin spoke as the three of you hid in the shadows of another alcove. “But thanks to Vinia, I know the way in” He sighed, “My old room.” He shifted uncomfortably. You could see the demons of his past play across his eyes like shadows. “My father didn’t want everyone to know that the king hated his only child, so he used the passageway, at first. Soon enough though, he stopped caring what people felt or thought about his clear dislike for me. That was just before he sent me away.” He spoke softly, eyes not connecting with anyone or anything.
“My room probably isn’t my room anymore. They cleared it out the day we were forced to leave for Arcta.” He peaked down the hall, watching a guard make his rounds. “I wouldn’t be shocked if it was one of my sister's rooms now.” He mumbled the last part to himself. It wouldn’t be a shock to him or anyone in the party if the king had tried his best to rid himself of every memory and trace of the prince. “If we can get-” Before he could finish the words, Minho silently bolted out, sneaking up behind the guard. He was quick, stealthy. He took him out, putting him to sleep before the guard even had time to react. You pulled Hyunjin with you as you helped catch the large man before his body hit the floor. “Follow me.” You and Minho drug the body as you followed Hyunjin into one of the rooms.
It was grand, but somehow that felt like an understatement. Everything about this castle had been ornate, but the rooms seemed to take the cake. Gold leaf and carved structures were everywhere. Along with the almost floor to ceiling portraits. Hyunjin stopped in his tracks at the sight of eight year old him, standing tall in the portrait above the mantel. “They replace the portrait when rooms change residents.” The three of you looked at one another. That meant this was still considered the prince’s room. “Besides the things I took with me, nothing has changed.” What did that mean for him? Did his father somehow regret sending his only son away? Or was there something else? Something far more insidious at play?
“It doesn’t matter. We came all this way for a reason, I refuse to be distracted by petty sentiments.” Hyunjin headed to where the large wardrobe sat near the wall. There was a dark corner next to it, almost covered by the large, dark, heavy curtains that draped the windows. With a few pulls and pushes, he opened the door. A small gust of wind wooshed past the three of you, pushing Hyunjin’s hood off his head. You went in first, despite Hyunjin knowing the way, a dark tunnel like this was too much to stake his life on. The path was lit, meaning someone still used this route. You grabbed a torch and headed down the long pathway. It wasn’t long before you reached the end. You placed the torch in an empty sconce and pressed your ear to the door. It was silent on the other end.
“I’ll go in first. If I don’t come back within a few minutes, run.” Hyujin opened his mouth to speak while Minho glared, his eyes speaking in place of words. “I mean it.” You pulled your id card from your person, handing it to Minho. “If it comes down to it.. Give this to dad. Okay?” You didn’t let go until he nodded. You knew that if he didn’t agree, he’d charge into the room to come get you himself, and that wasn’t something you wanted. You needed him to protect the prince. At all costs. You gave them both a small smile before pushing the door open as softly as you could. You stepped into the room, the curtains were drawn. Any source of light seemed to have been snuffed out with some sort of covering. The room was slightly frigid, the massive fireplace had not been started, despite any of the others you’d passed roaring brightly to push out the cold morning air. There was something wrong here.
Your nerves were on edge. It felt like at any moment the royal guard would rush the room to arrest you, but as time passed, nothing happened. You got closer to the tall canopy bed, hearing slight labored breathing from it. You carefully peeked in, and that's when you saw it. Saw him. The king was in the center of the bed, tucked in tight. He was frail, he was literally on his death bed. His hair was long, but lacked any sort of healthiness. It was thin, stringy, and white from root to tip. How could that be? You parents were the same age as the king, how could they look so youthful when the King looked so senescent? His cheeks and eyes were sunken in, face wrinkled with age and brash decisions.
No wonder the kingdom was in such disarray, the king was on his death bed, suffering. You sighed, going to open the door to let the guys in, stopping Hyunjin before he could fully enter. “He…” You paused, placing your hand on his shoulder. “He isn’t what you remember. I know it might be a hard task, but be gentle.” He nodded. There was determination in his eyes. He was set on his goal of confronting his father in the calmest way possible. You nodded to Minho for him to take the front door, while you stood in front of the secret entrance, keeping guard. You couldn’t leave the room, but at least this gave the kingdom's monarchs some semblance of privacy.
Eleven years. It’d been the last time he’d seen his father. Years since he’d heard angry words spewed towards or about him. Eleven years since his father told him he never wanted to see him again. Eleven years of exile. There was a shadow cast around the bed, it felt akin to looming dread or even worse, death. The closer he got the heavier he felt, almost as if he was trudging through mud to get to him. His long, shaky fingers wrapped around the drawn curtains to the right of the king’s bed, pulling them open and letting the morning light flood in. His father stirred, even if his body barely moved. “Kheryi?” His voice sounded just as frail as he looked. Gone were the days of his father's booming voice that seemed to carry itself through the castle halls.
“No, father. It’s me.” Hyunjin stepped towards the bed, revealing his face to the bed ridden man who was now struggling to sit up. The king's complexion looked a little sallow. The face that used to be full is now sunken in. His frail body is an image that is hard to swallow for poor Hyunjin, who hasn’t seen his father in over a decade. The man gasped as the boy's face came into view. “I’ve come to claim what is rightfully mine.” He spoke with an air of grace as he paced his father's bedside. “You’ve yet to produce another male heir. The council sees that as an issue. They are looking to replace you.” The King looked around, as if he would call for help, but he didn’t.
“Replace me?” He laughed humorlessly, but it slowly morphed into a cough. “They have no right!” But even Hyunjin could tell that he knew they were justified in doing so, just by the look in his eyes.
“You have two choices, father. Let them replace you with whatever puppet they see fit, or let me go through with my coronation, as the crown prince.” The man's eyes widened, mouth opening as if to say something, just to close again. “That way, you can keep your family in this castle together. Your daughters and your wife.” Hyunjin moved to the end of the bed, arms behind his back as he stared at his frail father. “But you stay out of my way. You had your chance to run this Kingdom and you ran it in the ground with your wars and your useless monuments.
“You think you will do better? That you won’t start wars or have monuments built in your name? Every king does these things. To expand their lands, to have the people remember them. I couldn’t let people forget me…. Or Aeri. Because they often forget people like my father who strived to have peace just to have his throat slit by his top advisor. Ruling the way I have has kept this Kingdom afloat-”
Hyunjin cut him off by raising a hand. “The kingdom needs hope, father. They have lost it all, and few are still clinging to something, hoping to be saved. These are our people that are out in the streets starving and dying. While you sit here bathed in silks and jewels, sleeping peacefully well into the morning light.” His father scoffed, shaking his head.
“And what? You think you can be their savior? Like you saved your mother? My Aeri? You killed her!” He screamed, eyes bulging with anger and sadness. “I have nothing left without her.” He choked out, “You took everything from me. She was my everything! The reason I woke up in the morning, the reason I made it through the day, and the reason I had no trouble going to sleep, knowing I’d be able to see her with the oncoming day. Now you want to take my Kingdom?”
“You stand to lose so much more if you don’t, father.” Hyunjin looked him squarely in the eyes. “There is a war coming, one that even your best men are not prepared to fight.” The king's eyes widened.
“The war with sons of the first men….” The words came out the king's mouth on an exasperated breath. Aeri always had fitful sleep. One night, after sharing his time with her, he watched her sleep. Her dreams seemed to be cold and chaotic, not offering the same warmth the love of his life seemed to project each day. Her words were fragmented, but he pieced it together as best he could. Her dreams were a warning. She thought he didn’t know of her abilities, but he did. He loved her regardless.
“Yes. They are coming.” The king sat up a little too quickly, his strength seemed to be zapped from his body. Hyunjin didn’t hesitate to move to help him. “They are tired of living in the shadows of their own Kingdom. My party has had a run in with them and one nearly died fighting what she described as a beast. Your armies, no matter how plentiful, will fall at their hands. Your Kingdom will cease to exist. Volanits will be wiped from the map. Your monuments, the blood you’ve spilled, the name you built, will all be for naught.” He could see the realization in his fathers eyes.
The man sighed, he knew this day would come. But that didn’t mean it felt like anything less than a shock. Somehow his son had turned out alright, despite him being such a shit father. Though he could still see a little bit of himself in Hyunjin, he still saw more of his beloved Aeri. She loved this kingdom and the people in it, and often advocated for the people who couldn’t do it themselves. “I-” He paused, sighing once again, this time with a bit of melancholy. “I’m sorry, son.” He looked at the prince, before looking up at the ceiling. “In my hurt and anger, I caused you more pain than I could ever imagine. I realized that by hurting you, I was hurting your mother. I guess in a way, I was upset that she left me. I know she didn’t have a choice, but my hard heart wouldn’t let me have the capacity to love the one person that I should have loved the most. You are the only thing on this earth that mattered more than life to my beloved, and I did my best to destroy it.” It took him a while, but he stood, slowly making his way to the window with the curtains open.
“I know she had the sight.” He spoke matter of factly. “Looking back, there were signs that she knew she wouldn’t make it past childbirth. Saying things like, “When he’s old enough, take him to see the night blooming flowers near the passageway of diamonds.” Or when she told me to let Nari teach you about her side of the family, that you had a lot to gain in knowledge from them.” He chuckled lightly. “It took the absence of you in this castle to realize all of the mistakes I’d made. How I’d failed you as a father. But I’m thankful for Venia refusing to return you to your rightful place.” Hyunjin looked up at that, he’d been focusing on the dust motes floating in the sunlight.
“You asked for me back?” He sighed and nodded.
“I could have decreed that she bring the prince back, or have her head for treason. But, I knew she was only looking out for your best interests. She seems to have done a good job with you, son.” The man turned to face him, “We will set your coronation as soon as possible.” The frail man grabbed the wall as he swayed. Hyunjin quickly got to his feet, calling for Minho who rushed over to help. The King chuckled, “Of course you aren’t alone. I can imagine getting into the castle alone would be an impossible feat.” They helped the man back to bed and Hyunjin tucked him in. “I hope that one day you can find a way to forgive me. It’s probably easier said than done, considering how wrong I’ve been towards you. But-” Hyunjin topped him once again.
“Though things can be said about how you executed your actions, I still never bore any ill will towards you, father.” Minho moved back to the door while Hyunjin continued to talk. “I wouldn’t wish the circumstances around how I turned out as well as I did, on anyone. But heat forges steel, as you often said to me as a child. I’m thankful that Venia was able to mold me in a way that I wasn’t resentful towards you. I owe that all to her.” His father nodded, understanding exactly where his son was coming from.
Soon thereafter, the king called for his right hand, Justinier. The man was shocked to see the long lost prince standing in the king's bed chamber. He was nearly as white as a ghost upon entering the room. “Inform the nobles and high court that there will be a coronation for the prince in two nights. Give them time to plan.” The man's eyes bulged. He stepped closer, whispering so only the king could hear.
“Are we sure this is the real prince? He could be-” The king silenced the man with a glare. “As you wish for your majesty.” Justinier gave Hyunjin a look of suspicion before turning to leave. Just to get the wind knocked out of him as Minho stepped from the shadows with the most menacing look on his face. “Dear gods!” The name screamed, grabbing his chest before his heart flew out of it.
“Stand down, Minho.” He stood there for a brief second, before moving back into the shadows. Justinier scurried away like the rat he was, closing the door behind him.
“He is going to the council, to inform them that I’ve lost my mind and a fake prince is trying to make his way to power.” The king spoke after taking a sip of the water that had been left on his bedside table. “But I know the truth. There is no mistaking my son for anyone. You look so much like my beloved.” He sighed wistfully, all of the pain he’d inflicted on Hyunjin and the people of this Kingdom, were all unfortunately stemming from him not knowing how to process his grief. “Your sisters, they are away with the Queen, visiting family. I can send-” Hyunjin shook his head.
“No need. Until this war is over, it’s best they stay where they are for their own safety.” His father huffed proudly. Realizing that his son, whom he neglected, would make a great king. He cared about the people, regardless of who they were. His legacy would be remembered forever and looked upon fondly. He might be able to right the wrongs of his father and really bring an era of peace and hope. That was if they made it through the war Aeri had predicted years ago.
Justinier stewed as council members gathered one by one to talk about their new prince issue. “Gathering us here in the middle of the night is outrageous, Justinier! What is the meaning of this?” The men were all still in the pajamas, after being woken out of their slumber. He’d sat on the information all day, trying his best to gather enough facts to face the council with. He looked as everyone took their seats, happy to see the seat of the duke of state left open. He hated Ermias and his views. He knew something was off with that man but could never garner enough support to have him investigated or removed from this council.
“The King wants a coronation for the prince.” They all looked at once another, shock etched on each of their faces. “But I have reason to believe he is a fake, using the memory of the King’s son to infiltrate the palace and put himself on the throne!” Several of the men groaned, they knew the reason he was throwing a fit was because he wanted the throne for himself and his bumbling idiot of a son.
“State minister, are you insinuating what I think you are?” The men grumbled amongst themselves, just whispering the thoughts of deposing the King was treason. “Because if you are, I think it’s time I excuse myself.” He cleared his throat as he stood. “I suggest anyone else that wouldn't like to be made an example out of should do the same.” He and several other councilmen stood just as the door opened. Ermias emerged, holding the golden id of the prince.
“Now gentlemen, this wouldn’t be what I think it is, would it?” Ermias passed by all of the standing councilmen, including Justinier who was red in the face from a mix of embarrassment and anger. “Because the prince has been confirmed by both his father and his childhood nanny. Plus-” He lifted his royal identification. “I’m sure this proves without a doubt he is who he says he is.”
“Duke of state, we were just leaving.” The standing councilman spoke. “It is clear to us that this councilman has treasonous thoughts about the King and Prince, we were not about to participate in his shenanigans.” Ermias smiled. He’d only gotten here an hour ago. He didn’t have time to settle in before Minho had found his way to him. He honestly didn’t know how the boy did it, he felt like maybe he had a little of the fae magic in him. Because that was the only way to explain how he just knew when and where to show up.
He gave him a letter from his daughter, detailing how the prince was with the king and how the King was suspicious of Justinier. Low and behold, the king had every reason to feel distrustful. Here Justinier was, trying to stage a coupe without calling it that. They had bigger issues at hand. Ermias had come to the capital with Venia, after meeting up a few towns over. He knew of the impending war and after passing through the Jade mountains, he knew it was coming sooner than later. Ermias would never admit that he had trained for this, trained his army for this. Teaching them things that at the time might have seemed unorthodox at the time, but would prove beneficial in the long run.
“I, second left minister of state, Aimilios of Slystorm, hereby set into motion the removal of Right state minister, Justinier. For acts of treason.” Justinier gasped and so did his co-conspirators. Ermias leaned back in his seat, a small, smug smile tugged at the corners of his lips. This all started with Justinier trying to replace the monarchy with someone he could easily control. Someone he could marry his son or daughter off to that would help further his political aspirations. “All in favor say ‘aye’.” All but the few who backed him were in agreement.
“Wha- what? This can’t be! Do you know who I am? I’m the king's closest confidant! He won’t stand for this!” Guards came for him, pulling the rotund man out the room as she yelled and berated them. “You will pay for this Ermias!! I’ll make sure of it!” He screeched from down the hall as the doors closed behind them.
It took them a while to gather themselves, but they eventually did. They made plans for the coronation, while Ermias worked on getting them to bring the military back from the borders. He made it seem like it was for celebration purposes and not because the war was coming, because the last thing he wanted to do was alarm anyone or have them ask too many questions. They needed to focus on conforming the prince and getting his ceremony in order. The impending war was left for him to think about.
Translations:
*“Avai ulo dho didilo hako as ail karkkan. Ka urk ko xoror, ail reyaf klado as Volantis.”
- “You are the future hope of our kingdom. Go and be well, our dear prince of Volantis.”
Pairing: Prince Hyunjin x Reader (AFAB)
Summary: Hyunjin is faced with visions of his mothers past. A heartfelt goodbye is shared between the people of Efranor and the Hyunjin's travel party.
Word Count: 5,400+ [Reading Time: 20+ Mins]
Genre: Historical, Fantasy, Strangers to Lovers, Royalty, Angst, Smut (Eventual), NSFW tags are below.
AU: Prince, Royal, Supernatural
NETS: @neverendingdreams-net & @mirohs-aurora-society
Synopsis:
Authors Note: Please reblog or leave a comment to let me know how you feel. I'd love a little feedback. Thanks for reading, and I hope you enjoyed it. As per usual, this hasn't been proofread. Special thanks to @therhythmafterthesummer for helping with with this chapter and @saradika-graphics for some of the dividers.
Mentions: Mentions of death, and details of child birth.
Disclaimer: This story does not reflect the real lives or personalities of Stray Kids. I do not know them personally. This is purely a work of fiction.
Into the night, after you were fast asleep in his arms, Hyunjin lay awake, mind filled with thoughts of things to come. He’d been having the same dreams every night for a few weeks. Dreams of war and death, the collective loss of hope for the whole of Volantis. Both for Volantians and some of the First Men. He felt as if the closer they got to the impending conflict, the more vivid these dreams were becoming. “Head towards the east, or your fate is sealed. Or death will be dealt upon a forested hill.” That line had been repeating in his dreams since the day he left the icy isle of Arcta, the day he left the comfort of what he had known to be home for most of his life. He always woke to goose bumps littering his skin, with the tiny hairs on his arm and neck standing on edge. There was always this suffocating feeling, like someone had their hands wrapped around his neck, slowly choking the air from his system.
He was afraid. Afraid that if he didn’t proceed with caution he’d lose you, Minho, and everything he’d gained over this last month in your stead. Trying his best not to wake the beautiful woman sleeping in his arms, Hyunjin wiggled his way from the bed. Finding his discarded clothing and quietly washing himself in the basin before making his exit. He needed to discuss his dreams with someone before he left his mother’s homeland. This might be one of the only opportunities he had to talk to anyone about this. He grabbed a lantern from outside of his room and began roaming the halls of the castle. The stone floors were cool beneath his bare feet as he navigated the winding corridor. He’d only been through here twice during the day time, at night it was a different beast. Every corner looked the same as the last. “Whom is it you seek?”
Hyunjin stopped in his tracks as the words wrapped around him, they sounded soft and feminine, but pointed. “I seek guidance from my cousin, the prince.” He stood square in the spot he stopped in, afraid to face whatever direction the voice was coming from. “About my dreams.” He tried his best to keep his voice steady. The last thing he wanted was to anger whomever was speaking. He knew the risks of roaming a castle at night, he did live in one for part of his life. His father would have pitched a fit if the guards ever caught Hyunjin roaming the halls. A day of punishment would have been all the guidance he would have received if this was in his old home.
“Aeri..” The voice that once sounded like smoke in the wind, slowly started to take a shape, sounding a little more grounded and whole than before. “Son of Aeri?” It sounded closer, like it was right behind him in the dark. As much as he was sure he should be afraid, there was the sense of calm that filled him, telling him not to be afraid, that whatever this was, it wouldn’t hurt him. “May I see your face, dear boy?” Hyunjin’s legs moved before he had any better judgement. He turned, facing the voice. He was met with the snow white skin of a woman who looked like he could be his mother. There were faint wrinkles around her eyes and mouth, her hair was as dark as night and her frame was so small it was bordering on frail. Her face softened as she reached to touch him. Her hands moved slowly as if asking for permission.
There was no reasoning behind it, but he felt at ease in her presence. His hands were soft and warm as she cupped his cheeks. “You look so much like her.” She smiled as tears welled up in her eyes. “Just like our Aeri.” She released him, turning her back to him as the hallway turned into a thick wall of smoke before dissipating completely. He had somehow ended up in a large open room, the walls were lined with books and dried flowers and herbs. “Your mother.. is” She trailed off as she walked a few paces in front of him, shaking her head as she realized her mistake. “Was my younger sister.” She stopped in front of a large window with billowing curtains, looking out into the night sky over the Jade mountains. Her hands were clasped together behind her back as she stood there, poised.
“My mothers sister?” Venia had spoken of his other family before, but only briefly. He hadn’t read very far in the family history book, so he hadn’t gotten to his mothers history yet. He’d longed for this, for years now. He wanted a family, not of just his own, but one that tied him to his roots. Family from his mothers side, ones that would tell him stories about the woman he never got a chance to meet. He didn’t know what came over him, he didn’t even know he’d moved from the spot he thought he was rooted in. But his feet quickly shuffled him from his spot to where his aunt was. Before he knew it, his arms were wrapping around her in a tight hug. His feelings were overwhelming him, but she was gentle in her comfort towards him. Like a loving mother would be.
“Oh- sweet boy.” She lightly chuckled, stroking his dark tresses. “I have so many things to share with you.” She softly pushed him away to gently wipe his tears. “Is Venia here?” Hyunjin’s heart swelled at the thought of being told about his mother and this side of his family, just to deflate at the mention of the mother figure he’d left behind to go on this journey. He shook his head, eyes traveling down to the floor.
“She thought it’d be best if I was escorted to the King’s land by someone other than her. So I’m traveling with the daughter of the Orev family and her knight of sorts..” Is that how he could describe Minho? He sure as hell didn’t like how he described you. “I-” He shook his head, “Let me rephrase.” He nodded as she gestured for him to take a seat at her stone dining table. “The daughter of the Orev family as well as the adopted son, have been on this journey with me. Trying their best to prepare me for what’s to come…”
“The change in life as we know it.” She sighed and he nodded. “I’m not as clairvoyant as your mother was. I see bits and pieces of both the past and the present, but my gift is to shift a person's visual perception. I can make you think you have walked a million miles, when you’ve just been pacing in the same spot for hours. Prince Felix and I share the same gifts.” She smiled fondly talking about him. “He told me that you’d arrived, that the prophecy was slowly coming true…..” She paused, reaching across the table to squeeze his hand. “There is danger ahead, my child. Your path…” She flipped his hand over, making his palm face upwards. “There is a fork in your life path. When the time comes, you must make the right decision, or it will spell disaster for us all.” Her warm palms enveloped his, as she held his one hand with both of her own.
“I know that is a lot to take in and an even heavier burden to carry, but if you are anything like your mother, it is something you will see through.” She smiled wistfully. “Would you like me to tell you about her?” His eyes lit up with eagerness at just the thought. He nodded, squeezing his aunt's hand lightly. “Better yet, I’ll show you.” She took a deep breath, time seemed to slow then stop around them. “Remember, this is only an illusion.” Hyunjin didn’t care, he needed this. He needed to see his mother. Oh the luck he had finding someone who knew her through all of her transitions in life. THe room faded into darkness, the blurred smokey edges melted into nothingness. He could hear soft singing in the distance, it sounded familiar. He hummed in tune with the voice, only for it to dawn on him where he’d heard it. His father. He’d hum this very tune when he reminisced over his mother.
He followed the voice, knowing it had to be her. He stepped out of the darkness into the light of an enchanted forest. The thick canopy of trees covered the moss blanketed floors. Colorful flowers dotted the ground, balls of light, fireflies and butterflies commingled and danced around the beautiful foliage. He could hear a babbling brook as he carefully stepped through the shrubbage. The closer he got to the voice, the stronger his heart beat in his ears. He knew this was all an illusion, but something about being here felt so real to him. Like he’d been here before. Maybe in a dream, maybe in his past life, he didn’t know but there was something that called to him here. Through a curtain of willow branches, he could see the silhouette of a girl. His heart swelled as he pushed back the branches to reveal her face. She looked up, her face nearly the same as his. Her jet black hair flowed past her shoulders to just under her rear.
She smiled at him brightly, looking almost ethereal in her white hanbok. “Sister.” She lifted a flower crown in his direction and to his dismay he reached for it, taking it from her. “Do you think he would be amused by my creation, or would he frown upon me for being childish?” His brows knit together, was the ‘he’ she was referring to, his father?
“He’d be a fool to not love any gift you present him with.” Hyunjin’s aunt pushed past him, taking a seat next to her sister. “He should be grateful that we are willing to part with you, sister. With all that his people have done to ours…” She frowned and shook away the thoughts that were now clouding her head. “Those people, their kingdom, they are undeserving of your kindness, sister.” His aunt bunched up her skirt in her fisted hands. “It should have been me. I should be the one suffering at the hands of that terrible prince.” His mother shook her head, giving her sister a soft smile as her tiny hand reached for the others.
“The prophecy says it must be me. For the betterment of our people, so that we no longer have to live in the shadows, I am willing….” She touched her stomach, “To bring forth the savior of this realm. The one to unite us all.” She knew of the sacrifice she was going to have to make before she even married him or left her kingdom. “The realm will know peace, sister. Our people will be able to once again walk the lands of our foremothers. That will truly be a blessed day.” SHe squeezed her hand, giving her older sister a little bit of her hope. “I can only hope that you are right, Aeri.” She sighed again, the thought of her sister being sent off to an unknown kingdom was truly weighing on her. “Because that awful prince does not want to incur my wrath.” She started to tickle her, pushing Aeri into a fit of uncontrollable laughter.
Her laughter faded like smoke, the once warm scene was replaced with the gray castle walls of the King’s home. Aeri looked out amongst the sprawling land of Solaris, the castle town of the King. She was draped in the finest of fabrics and jewels, hair pinned high on her head that was adorned with a crown. The once young girl from Efranor was now a queen, once you carefully watched over her kingdom. “I know you are here, Nari.” She turned, revealing the massive baby bump she cradled. Hyunjin stood looking at his mother, belly full, pregnant with him. He slowly approached, quivering hand stretched out. He apprehensively touched her stomach and for a brief moment, he felt like she’d seen him. Her eyes looked right into his, her hand moving right over his as she softly smiled.
He could feel her warmth, though he knew this was just an illusion. Could she see him? Feel him? Did she somehow sense that he was there, that he meant no harm, intruding in on the memories filled with her. “The boy, how is he?” Nari was now crowned, her belly also full, just not nearly as pronounced. Prince Yongbok. “You are due any moment now, sister.” She reached out and grabbed her hand, “Our boys, do you think they will be close? Like brothers?” Aeri’s smile slipped before widening. She knew. She knew what would come with his birth. Hyunjin backed away, unable to understand why she’d give up her life for him. Why would she leave him alone in this place if she knew both of their fates.
“I know they will.” She smiled wistfully. But the way his smile didn’t reach her eyes made it all the more tragic. He felt as if he was spiraling. She was still young, no older than he was now. “Nari, I already love him more than life itself, my Hyunjin. I know what the prophecy entails, but I hope that he grows to be everything and more than that. He and Yongbok will have a bond that will last a lifetime.” She smiled for real this time. “I can’t wait for you to meet him.” She rubbed her stomach once again, looking down at the bump.
“And you for Yongbok.” Nari grabbed her sister's hand, pulling her back inside the chamber. Once again, the edges of the illusion faded to pillars of smoke before transforming into another scene. It was the royal birthing chamber. Aeri was in labor, her hand coiled around a cloth as she pulled tightly. She bit down on a piece of soft wood to keep her from biting her tongue from agony. The royal doctor told her to push as the king held tightly onto her hands. He looked down at his wife with pride swelling in his chest, something he’d never shown to Hyunjin. Nari paced the room, too anxious to stay still. It was funny to him how his father never mentioned his mothers sister. Maybe it was in a way to further isolate him from who he was or maybe it was out of some sort of guilt. He shook his head, not wasting his time on thinking about his fathers reasons for hating him.
“The prince is crowning. Keep pushing your highness.” The doctor spoke kindly, giving her a nod. His mother looked drained, her already pale face was
Ashen, devoid of all color. Her chest was rising and falling rapidly as she took shallow breaths. Once again, it was like she knew he was there. Her eyes connected with his again as she gave him a soft smile before pushing hard. Silence filled the room as the doctor pulled the prince from his mothers womb before handing him to the nurse. The grip Aeri had on the king’s hand loosened before falling slack to the bed. Her eyes slid closed, a happy smile plastered on her face as she fell unconscious. The King, once preoccupied with the heir his queen just gave him, quickly turned his back on the newborn when his queen said nothing to him saying her name.
He shook her softly, hoping to awake her from the tiredness she surely felt after giving birth. But she didn’t stir, not even a little bit. He screamed for the doctor to do something and he and the nurses scrambled, handing the baby off to Venia as they rushed to the aid of the queen. Nari stood frozen, her world seemingly flashing before her eyes as her sister slipped away from this realm. Her eyes peeled away from her sister's body to the wailing baby in Venia’s arms. She took shaky steps towards them, pressing her shaking hands to her forehead before doing the same to the new prince. “*Fom sei olsoms gei sys moo, ssalis flymqei. Irsuhs se’a suiy iyai suhe’a iyaus u’lakgir rapus ux se’a rashruxa ug Volantis.” She spoke through tears at the loss of her sister and the birth of her nephew. Without another word, she turned on her heels and left the birthing chamber.
Once again, the scene faded into wisps of smoke, before the warm light of her chambers filled his vision once again. She sat with her eyes downcast, ashamed of meeting his eyes. “I was afraid, hurt. My sister's clairvoyance was unlike anyone else in our kingdom, how could she have not known that giving birth would…” She trailed off, choking out a sob.
“She knew.” He spoke softly. Her eyes lifted to his, meeting him for the first time since she cast that illusion around him. “She knew, but she went through with it anyway.” He took a deep breath before sighing. “She made the sacrifice to save the kingdom.” Hyunjin stood to his feet. “She believed that I could fulfill the prophecy. Bring our kingdoms together in harmony.” He lifted his head regally, casting his eyes at his aunt. “I will not fail my mother, she gave her life for me. I will be everything she hoped for and more.” He was resolute in his decision to push forward for his mothers sake. A new found sense of pride and determination flowing through his system.
His aunt sighed. Hyunjin was the only thing tying her sister to this world, the very spitting image of her lost Aeri. “We don’t have much time.” She stood, grabbing his hand and pulling him with her. “We must prepare you for what's to come. I must….” She held back a sob, at the thought of losing what was left of her sister. She knew she’d made a grave error leaving him behind with his tyrant of a father. But she had no claim to the child other than the fact that he was her nephew. She left Solaris the day of Aeri’s death and was never allowed back. Even her constant correspondence with Venia came to a screeching halt after a few years. The King shut her out, despite her trying to keep the lines of communication open. Though she couldn’t stay to watch the discard of her sister's body, the pain she felt from the loss of her sister overruled the love she felt for her nephew. Plus there was the inexplicable feeling that if she tried to take him with her, war would ensue.
Hyunjin was conflicted, he knew that his aunt wanted what was best for him deep down, but he couldn’t help but feel slightly betrayed by her actions. Though he followed her through the dimly lit corridors of the castle, he still felt a bit of stinging melancholy at the thought of growing up here instead of in exile. Carted off and discarded like last week's trash. He knew he would have enjoyed his time here, growing and learning to use his powers alongside his cousin. He pushed down the thoughts of sadness as he thought about how his father would scorch the earth if he didn’t get to control every little thing that happened in his life. He wanted him to be as miserable as he was. She led him out of that wing of the castle across a bridge wrapped in glowing lights that looked like they were breathing. He touched them, just for them to fly away. Fireflies, just like in his aunt's visions. There was a building carved into the side of the mountain with vines with tiny pink flowers all over it. Amber lights sparkled in the windows of it, he could see the shadow of a few people bustling around in there. What was this place?
“My guards will call your travel companions, because you will need them just as much as they will need you in the impending battles.” She led him inside, the warm atmosphere immediately. It smelled of sage and lavender with a few other herbs mixed in. “This is where our scholars and healers reside. I can only hope that they will be able to help you get in tune with your powers in time. Regrettably, you didn’t grow up here, which I am in part to blame. But I hope that you are strong enough by the time you leave this place, to be able to go forth and be safe.” She cubbed his cheek, her thumb caressing the soft unmarred skin there. He leaned into it. This was probably the closest he’d ever get to feeling the touch of his mother, minus the illusion.
She gathered the top scholars and healers and told them what she needed from them for Hyunjin and his party of friends. They understood and quickly started to gather their books and scrolls to teach them what they needed to know for the upcoming war. They wanted just as much as anyone, for the prophecy to be complete. They wanted to be free once again, not trapped in the confines of a mountain when all of Volantis was once their land. You and Minho joined Hyunjin in the Scholar hall, shaken from your sleep. You hadn’t even noticed Hyunjin was gone until the knock on your door came.
It took nearly all night, well into the evening of the next day for you all to learn techniques of your foremothers and fathers. You and Hyunjin learn how to use your powers to your benefit, while Minho trained with the head of the king's guard in hand to hand, swordsmanship, and small magical protection spells that even Volantian’s could manage. By the end of the day, you were exhausted but well learned. “You’ve done well.” His aunt placed her hand on both you and Hyunjin’s shoulders. She gave a soft smile to Minho who had joined you all in the scholars hall once again, after spending his time on the training grounds. “Your journey ahead will be treacherous. But as children of Efranor, you will always have our support.” She turned her attention to you.
“Lady of the Orev clan, if you need our people, send a raven. We will be there as soon as we can with reinforcements. Your mother and father have imbedded you with every bit of their power, you now know how to wield it. I know that you will do so responsibly. Thank you so much for caring for our prince, Hyunjin. We could never thank you enough.” Bowing, she gave you her well wishes and respect. She moved to Minho, “You may believe that you are far removed from the land of these people, but there is a little bit of magic that flows through your veins.” She looked at him with sad eyes. “Your mother put her last breath into your protection, the land listened to her plea.” She put a hand over his heart. “Believe in yourself, dear Minho. You are mightier than you know.” She tried her best not to cry as she stood in front of her nephew.
“My prince.” She cupped his face, a habit he was growing to love. “I’m so sorry that I have failed you.” She sadly smiled, “That is something you will never have to worry about again. I will be there-” She was interrupted by someone clearing their throat as they entered the hall. She chuckled at her son's intrusion. “We, that means all of this kingdom, will be there for you. All you need is ask.” She sighed, “Aeri could see things I couldn’t, and she saw the great things you’d accomplish well before you were born.” She stepped back. “Rest now. Then join us in the banquet hall for a farewell feast. It’s a celebration for the return of our prince.”
The festivities were more vibrant than they were the night before, more people from deeper in the mountains came to celebrate the return of the long lost prince of Efranor. A third throne joined the two that were already placed. Music and laughter were shared, and for once, Hyunjin felt a sense of comradery. Something that he’d never gotten the chance to experience before you and Minho waltzed into his life. He knew of the impending dangers that lay before his party, but in this moment he was content in being in the moment.
After he laid down, you tucked in his arms. Hyunjin realized all that he had to fight for. He had you, Minho, Venia, his aunt, his cousin, and the numerous people of this kingdom. He also had to fight for the memory of his mother. He needed to keep her name alive, but not in the same way his father did. His eyes slid closed with the thoughts of her hand on his as she sensed him in that memory. For once in his life, he felt loved. While Venia had given him all the love he could ever need, familial love was something he’d never known. He didn’t even know that there were others in his family that were out there. His dreams that night were for once, calm, still, and warm. There were no bloody visions of the future, no war, or no visions of him losing the people that meant the most to him. He slept soundly for once in his twenty years of life, and that was something he was more than grateful for.
The next morning, right before the earliest light, the three of you were out in the courtyard in front of the castle. As a partial gift to you, the Kingdom of Efranor had supplied you with weapons, food and plenty of food for the day journey back into Solaris. “Cousin.” Yongbok spoke, placing an arm around his taller cousin's shoulder. “Know that I am always here for you.” He smiled brightly, his eyes shiny like diamonds in a warm pool of dark honey. His smile was contagious, making the slightly older man break out into one as well.” Hyunjin never thought he’d receive such a heartfelt goodbye, minus when he parted from Venia. Now he had more family than he knew what to do with. The three boarded their carriage, Hyunjin in the wagon box, the other two in the front. They were refreshed and ready for their day-long trip into Solaris.
They were given new clothes, so that they could blend in with the common folk in town, as to not raise suspicions. They bid the people of Efranor goodbye, and headed down the back side of the mountain. The whole trip down, Minho was tense. These were the very lands him and his mother delt with torture and abuse in. The very lands where his happy childhood had been snatched away from him. He held the reins tightly. Gritting his teeth harshly. His breathing was shallow, so much so that even Hyunjin could hear it in the carriage box. He had the window ajar, so that he could keep the communication lines open, but the amount of tense silence that was coming from the coach was bordering on uncomfortable. “Min, maybe you should join Hyunjin in the back.” It wasn’t a suggestion, even though you said it with an air of politeness.
He sighed, pulling the reins, effectively stopping the horses. Even Hyunjin could tell he wanted to argue, but thought better of it immediately. He hopped in the back and you took control of the drivers box, sitting directly in front of the window, blocking both of the view from the road. If they couldn’t see, they couldn’t give unnecessary commentary. The ride continued to be quiet as they made their way into Lumen, the first town outside of the Jade mountain pass. You were nervous, Minho was anxious, and Hyunjin was concerned for the both of you. There was this overwhelming sense of looming dread as you slowly made it through the canopy of trees at the bottom of the base of the mountain.
“Head towards the east, or your fate is sealed. Or death will be dealt upon a forested hill.”
“STOP!” Hyunjin commanded from the back. “We can’t go this way.” You pulled on the rein, stopping the cart. “I… my vision…” The visions of his friends dying filled his head once again. The putrid smell of death filled his nose, almost making him gag. This whole trip would all be for naught if they continued the path forward. “I know it will take us longer, but we can not go East.” She could see the spires of the palace in the near distance, this way would take a few hours off of the trip, this was the only way you’d get to the capital city before nightfall. “If we continue forward, we die. All of us.” Minho snapped his wide eyes towards Hyunjin. “I’ve…. Seen it. The seers from Efranor confirmed my visions last night.” You nodded.
“We will take the southern passage into town.” Minho nodded in agreement. The cart started off towards the southern passage towards Solaris. It was a long way around and you probably wouldn't reach the city until late tomorrow morning, but it was better to be safe than sorry.
The party traveled as far as they could, traveling well into the night before setting up camp in the forest on the back end of Solaris. By first light they were back on the road again, Minho back at the helm, taking them into the city. They got into the caravan entering the kingdom gates. Hyunjin peeked through the window, taking in all the sights he had long forgotten about. Each one sparks a distant memory from his time spent in Solaris. Him clinging to Venia’s hip as she perused the shops, receiving little gifts from the vendors who were unaware he was the King’s son. He missed this place. The closer they got to the gate, the more he could smell the smells of home. The freshly baked bread from the shopping district. The fresh scent of flowers lined the tall vines that snaked around all of the feldspar stones that were the walls of this kingdom.
But the closer they got to the gate, the more anxious he got. They seemed to be checking id’s and his was most certainly one that would alert them to him being the prince. Late last night before he and Minho drifted off to sleep like you were, he gave him something Venia had given him to keep safe. It was a wooden name tag, one without his full name, and sans the very noble last name he shared with his father. Aetos, Hyun. She’d given him this name plate with her last name. She was claiming him as her own. He nearly sobbed at the generous gift she’d given him. Minho nudged him, making him straighten up. They drew closer to the front of the line, until it was finally their turn. The guards interrogated them, asking what they were here for, who was their passenger. But all the questions ceased when they heard your last name. They all bowed, knowing that the passenger was their former general's eldest daughter. They let you in without incident.
The city was packed. People bustling to and fro. But it was alive, much to Hyunjin’s dismay. He knew how much damage his father had done since he’d been exiled. How his father no longer cared about the well being of the people. He was letting them starve, famine and disease was spreading from corner to corner in Volantis. Something desperately needed to be done. But it was like he spoke too soon. Once they were far past the gate, far past the small shopping district, he got to see just how destructive his father had been with the kingdom. The servant's town was very evident of what his father had done. He couldn’t imagine what the small town that Minho hailed from looked like. The people here were emaciated, skin and bones. People lay near the edge of the street, unconcerned about getting run over. But too concerned with getting a sheeling or two for food, or whatever scraps they could get. Hyunjin’s heart ached. He needed to fix this. If his people needed hope, he’d be the hope they so desperately needed. Even if it was the last thing he did.
Translations:
*Fom sei olsoms gei sys moo, ssalis flymqei. Irsuhs se’a suiy iyai suhe’a iyaus u’lakgir rapus ux se’a rashruxa ug Volantis.
"May she always be with you, sweet child. May you live on and prosper, prince of Volantis."
Pairing: Prince Hyunjin x Reader (AFAB)
Summary: Hyunjin is faced with visions of his mothers past. A heartfelt goodbye is shared between the people of Efranor and the Hyunjin's travel party.
Word Count: 5,400+ [Reading Time: 20+ Mins]
Genre: Historical, Fantasy, Strangers to Lovers, Royalty, Angst, Smut (Eventual), NSFW tags are below.
AU: Prince, Royal, Supernatural
NETS: @neverendingdreams-net & @mirohs-aurora-society
Synopsis:
Authors Note: Please reblog or leave a comment to let me know how you feel. I'd love a little feedback. Thanks for reading, and I hope you enjoyed it. As per usual, this hasn't been proofread. Special thanks to @therhythmafterthesummer for helping with with this chapter and @saradika-graphics for some of the dividers.
Mentions: Mentions of death, and details of child birth.
Disclaimer: This story does not reflect the real lives or personalities of Stray Kids. I do not know them personally. This is purely a work of fiction.
Into the night, after you were fast asleep in his arms, Hyunjin lay awake, mind filled with thoughts of things to come. He’d been having the same dreams every night for a few weeks. Dreams of war and death, the collective loss of hope for the whole of Volantis. Both for Volantians and some of the First Men. He felt as if the closer they got to the impending conflict, the more vivid these dreams were becoming. “Head towards the east, or your fate is sealed. Or death will be dealt upon a forested hill.” That line had been repeating in his dreams since the day he left the icy isle of Arcta, the day he left the comfort of what he had known to be home for most of his life. He always woke to goose bumps littering his skin, with the tiny hairs on his arm and neck standing on edge. There was always this suffocating feeling, like someone had their hands wrapped around his neck, slowly choking the air from his system.
He was afraid. Afraid that if he didn’t proceed with caution he’d lose you, Minho, and everything he’d gained over this last month in your stead. Trying his best not to wake the beautiful woman sleeping in his arms, Hyunjin wiggled his way from the bed. Finding his discarded clothing and quietly washing himself in the basin before making his exit. He needed to discuss his dreams with someone before he left his mother’s homeland. This might be one of the only opportunities he had to talk to anyone about this. He grabbed a lantern from outside of his room and began roaming the halls of the castle. The stone floors were cool beneath his bare feet as he navigated the winding corridor. He’d only been through here twice during the day time, at night it was a different beast. Every corner looked the same as the last. “Whom is it you seek?”
Hyunjin stopped in his tracks as the words wrapped around him, they sounded soft and feminine, but pointed. “I seek guidance from my cousin, the prince.” He stood square in the spot he stopped in, afraid to face whatever direction the voice was coming from. “About my dreams.” He tried his best to keep his voice steady. The last thing he wanted was to anger whomever was speaking. He knew the risks of roaming a castle at night, he did live in one for part of his life. His father would have pitched a fit if the guards ever caught Hyunjin roaming the halls. A day of punishment would have been all the guidance he would have received if this was in his old home.
“Aeri..” The voice that once sounded like smoke in the wind, slowly started to take a shape, sounding a little more grounded and whole than before. “Son of Aeri?” It sounded closer, like it was right behind him in the dark. As much as he was sure he should be afraid, there was the sense of calm that filled him, telling him not to be afraid, that whatever this was, it wouldn’t hurt him. “May I see your face, dear boy?” Hyunjin’s legs moved before he had any better judgement. He turned, facing the voice. He was met with the snow white skin of a woman who looked like he could be his mother. There were faint wrinkles around her eyes and mouth, her hair was as dark as night and her frame was so small it was bordering on frail. Her face softened as she reached to touch him. Her hands moved slowly as if asking for permission.
There was no reasoning behind it, but he felt at ease in her presence. His hands were soft and warm as she cupped his cheeks. “You look so much like her.” She smiled as tears welled up in her eyes. “Just like our Aeri.” She released him, turning her back to him as the hallway turned into a thick wall of smoke before dissipating completely. He had somehow ended up in a large open room, the walls were lined with books and dried flowers and herbs. “Your mother.. is” She trailed off as she walked a few paces in front of him, shaking her head as she realized her mistake. “Was my younger sister.” She stopped in front of a large window with billowing curtains, looking out into the night sky over the Jade mountains. Her hands were clasped together behind her back as she stood there, poised.
“My mothers sister?” Venia had spoken of his other family before, but only briefly. He hadn’t read very far in the family history book, so he hadn’t gotten to his mothers history yet. He’d longed for this, for years now. He wanted a family, not of just his own, but one that tied him to his roots. Family from his mothers side, ones that would tell him stories about the woman he never got a chance to meet. He didn’t know what came over him, he didn’t even know he’d moved from the spot he thought he was rooted in. But his feet quickly shuffled him from his spot to where his aunt was. Before he knew it, his arms were wrapping around her in a tight hug. His feelings were overwhelming him, but she was gentle in her comfort towards him. Like a loving mother would be.
“Oh- sweet boy.” She lightly chuckled, stroking his dark tresses. “I have so many things to share with you.” She softly pushed him away to gently wipe his tears. “Is Venia here?” Hyunjin’s heart swelled at the thought of being told about his mother and this side of his family, just to deflate at the mention of the mother figure he’d left behind to go on this journey. He shook his head, eyes traveling down to the floor.
“She thought it’d be best if I was escorted to the King’s land by someone other than her. So I’m traveling with the daughter of the Orev family and her knight of sorts..” Is that how he could describe Minho? He sure as hell didn’t like how he described you. “I-” He shook his head, “Let me rephrase.” He nodded as she gestured for him to take a seat at her stone dining table. “The daughter of the Orev family as well as the adopted son, have been on this journey with me. Trying their best to prepare me for what’s to come…”
“The change in life as we know it.” She sighed and he nodded. “I’m not as clairvoyant as your mother was. I see bits and pieces of both the past and the present, but my gift is to shift a person's visual perception. I can make you think you have walked a million miles, when you’ve just been pacing in the same spot for hours. Prince Felix and I share the same gifts.” She smiled fondly talking about him. “He told me that you’d arrived, that the prophecy was slowly coming true…..” She paused, reaching across the table to squeeze his hand. “There is danger ahead, my child. Your path…” She flipped his hand over, making his palm face upwards. “There is a fork in your life path. When the time comes, you must make the right decision, or it will spell disaster for us all.” Her warm palms enveloped his, as she held his one hand with both of her own.
“I know that is a lot to take in and an even heavier burden to carry, but if you are anything like your mother, it is something you will see through.” She smiled wistfully. “Would you like me to tell you about her?” His eyes lit up with eagerness at just the thought. He nodded, squeezing his aunt's hand lightly. “Better yet, I’ll show you.” She took a deep breath, time seemed to slow then stop around them. “Remember, this is only an illusion.” Hyunjin didn’t care, he needed this. He needed to see his mother. Oh the luck he had finding someone who knew her through all of her transitions in life. THe room faded into darkness, the blurred smokey edges melted into nothingness. He could hear soft singing in the distance, it sounded familiar. He hummed in tune with the voice, only for it to dawn on him where he’d heard it. His father. He’d hum this very tune when he reminisced over his mother.
He followed the voice, knowing it had to be her. He stepped out of the darkness into the light of an enchanted forest. The thick canopy of trees covered the moss blanketed floors. Colorful flowers dotted the ground, balls of light, fireflies and butterflies commingled and danced around the beautiful foliage. He could hear a babbling brook as he carefully stepped through the shrubbage. The closer he got to the voice, the stronger his heart beat in his ears. He knew this was all an illusion, but something about being here felt so real to him. Like he’d been here before. Maybe in a dream, maybe in his past life, he didn’t know but there was something that called to him here. Through a curtain of willow branches, he could see the silhouette of a girl. His heart swelled as he pushed back the branches to reveal her face. She looked up, her face nearly the same as his. Her jet black hair flowed past her shoulders to just under her rear.
She smiled at him brightly, looking almost ethereal in her white hanbok. “Sister.” She lifted a flower crown in his direction and to his dismay he reached for it, taking it from her. “Do you think he would be amused by my creation, or would he frown upon me for being childish?” His brows knit together, was the ‘he’ she was referring to, his father?
“He’d be a fool to not love any gift you present him with.” Hyunjin’s aunt pushed past him, taking a seat next to her sister. “He should be grateful that we are willing to part with you, sister. With all that his people have done to ours…” She frowned and shook away the thoughts that were now clouding her head. “Those people, their kingdom, they are undeserving of your kindness, sister.” His aunt bunched up her skirt in her fisted hands. “It should have been me. I should be the one suffering at the hands of that terrible prince.” His mother shook her head, giving her sister a soft smile as her tiny hand reached for the others.
“The prophecy says it must be me. For the betterment of our people, so that we no longer have to live in the shadows, I am willing….” She touched her stomach, “To bring forth the savior of this realm. The one to unite us all.” She knew of the sacrifice she was going to have to make before she even married him or left her kingdom. “The realm will know peace, sister. Our people will be able to once again walk the lands of our foremothers. That will truly be a blessed day.” SHe squeezed her hand, giving her older sister a little bit of her hope. “I can only hope that you are right, Aeri.” She sighed again, the thought of her sister being sent off to an unknown kingdom was truly weighing on her. “Because that awful prince does not want to incur my wrath.” She started to tickle her, pushing Aeri into a fit of uncontrollable laughter.
Her laughter faded like smoke, the once warm scene was replaced with the gray castle walls of the King’s home. Aeri looked out amongst the sprawling land of Solaris, the castle town of the King. She was draped in the finest of fabrics and jewels, hair pinned high on her head that was adorned with a crown. The once young girl from Efranor was now a queen, once you carefully watched over her kingdom. “I know you are here, Nari.” She turned, revealing the massive baby bump she cradled. Hyunjin stood looking at his mother, belly full, pregnant with him. He slowly approached, quivering hand stretched out. He apprehensively touched her stomach and for a brief moment, he felt like she’d seen him. Her eyes looked right into his, her hand moving right over his as she softly smiled.
He could feel her warmth, though he knew this was just an illusion. Could she see him? Feel him? Did she somehow sense that he was there, that he meant no harm, intruding in on the memories filled with her. “The boy, how is he?” Nari was now crowned, her belly also full, just not nearly as pronounced. Prince Yongbok. “You are due any moment now, sister.” She reached out and grabbed her hand, “Our boys, do you think they will be close? Like brothers?” Aeri’s smile slipped before widening. She knew. She knew what would come with his birth. Hyunjin backed away, unable to understand why she’d give up her life for him. Why would she leave him alone in this place if she knew both of their fates.
“I know they will.” She smiled wistfully. But the way his smile didn’t reach her eyes made it all the more tragic. He felt as if he was spiraling. She was still young, no older than he was now. “Nari, I already love him more than life itself, my Hyunjin. I know what the prophecy entails, but I hope that he grows to be everything and more than that. He and Yongbok will have a bond that will last a lifetime.” She smiled for real this time. “I can’t wait for you to meet him.” She rubbed her stomach once again, looking down at the bump.
“And you for Yongbok.” Nari grabbed her sister's hand, pulling her back inside the chamber. Once again, the edges of the illusion faded to pillars of smoke before transforming into another scene. It was the royal birthing chamber. Aeri was in labor, her hand coiled around a cloth as she pulled tightly. She bit down on a piece of soft wood to keep her from biting her tongue from agony. The royal doctor told her to push as the king held tightly onto her hands. He looked down at his wife with pride swelling in his chest, something he’d never shown to Hyunjin. Nari paced the room, too anxious to stay still. It was funny to him how his father never mentioned his mothers sister. Maybe it was in a way to further isolate him from who he was or maybe it was out of some sort of guilt. He shook his head, not wasting his time on thinking about his fathers reasons for hating him.
“The prince is crowning. Keep pushing your highness.” The doctor spoke kindly, giving her a nod. His mother looked drained, her already pale face was
Ashen, devoid of all color. Her chest was rising and falling rapidly as she took shallow breaths. Once again, it was like she knew he was there. Her eyes connected with his again as she gave him a soft smile before pushing hard. Silence filled the room as the doctor pulled the prince from his mothers womb before handing him to the nurse. The grip Aeri had on the king’s hand loosened before falling slack to the bed. Her eyes slid closed, a happy smile plastered on her face as she fell unconscious. The King, once preoccupied with the heir his queen just gave him, quickly turned his back on the newborn when his queen said nothing to him saying her name.
He shook her softly, hoping to awake her from the tiredness she surely felt after giving birth. But she didn’t stir, not even a little bit. He screamed for the doctor to do something and he and the nurses scrambled, handing the baby off to Venia as they rushed to the aid of the queen. Nari stood frozen, her world seemingly flashing before her eyes as her sister slipped away from this realm. Her eyes peeled away from her sister's body to the wailing baby in Venia’s arms. She took shaky steps towards them, pressing her shaking hands to her forehead before doing the same to the new prince. “*Fom sei olsoms gei sys moo, ssalis flymqei. Irsuhs se’a suiy iyai suhe’a iyaus u’lakgir rapus ux se’a rashruxa ug Volantis.” She spoke through tears at the loss of her sister and the birth of her nephew. Without another word, she turned on her heels and left the birthing chamber.
Once again, the scene faded into wisps of smoke, before the warm light of her chambers filled his vision once again. She sat with her eyes downcast, ashamed of meeting his eyes. “I was afraid, hurt. My sister's clairvoyance was unlike anyone else in our kingdom, how could she have not known that giving birth would…” She trailed off, choking out a sob.
“She knew.” He spoke softly. Her eyes lifted to his, meeting him for the first time since she cast that illusion around him. “She knew, but she went through with it anyway.” He took a deep breath before sighing. “She made the sacrifice to save the kingdom.” Hyunjin stood to his feet. “She believed that I could fulfill the prophecy. Bring our kingdoms together in harmony.” He lifted his head regally, casting his eyes at his aunt. “I will not fail my mother, she gave her life for me. I will be everything she hoped for and more.” He was resolute in his decision to push forward for his mothers sake. A new found sense of pride and determination flowing through his system.
His aunt sighed. Hyunjin was the only thing tying her sister to this world, the very spitting image of her lost Aeri. “We don’t have much time.” She stood, grabbing his hand and pulling him with her. “We must prepare you for what's to come. I must….” She held back a sob, at the thought of losing what was left of her sister. She knew she’d made a grave error leaving him behind with his tyrant of a father. But she had no claim to the child other than the fact that he was her nephew. She left Solaris the day of Aeri’s death and was never allowed back. Even her constant correspondence with Venia came to a screeching halt after a few years. The King shut her out, despite her trying to keep the lines of communication open. Though she couldn’t stay to watch the discard of her sister's body, the pain she felt from the loss of her sister overruled the love she felt for her nephew. Plus there was the inexplicable feeling that if she tried to take him with her, war would ensue.
Hyunjin was conflicted, he knew that his aunt wanted what was best for him deep down, but he couldn’t help but feel slightly betrayed by her actions. Though he followed her through the dimly lit corridors of the castle, he still felt a bit of stinging melancholy at the thought of growing up here instead of in exile. Carted off and discarded like last week's trash. He knew he would have enjoyed his time here, growing and learning to use his powers alongside his cousin. He pushed down the thoughts of sadness as he thought about how his father would scorch the earth if he didn’t get to control every little thing that happened in his life. He wanted him to be as miserable as he was. She led him out of that wing of the castle across a bridge wrapped in glowing lights that looked like they were breathing. He touched them, just for them to fly away. Fireflies, just like in his aunt's visions. There was a building carved into the side of the mountain with vines with tiny pink flowers all over it. Amber lights sparkled in the windows of it, he could see the shadow of a few people bustling around in there. What was this place?
“My guards will call your travel companions, because you will need them just as much as they will need you in the impending battles.” She led him inside, the warm atmosphere immediately. It smelled of sage and lavender with a few other herbs mixed in. “This is where our scholars and healers reside. I can only hope that they will be able to help you get in tune with your powers in time. Regrettably, you didn’t grow up here, which I am in part to blame. But I hope that you are strong enough by the time you leave this place, to be able to go forth and be safe.” She cubbed his cheek, her thumb caressing the soft unmarred skin there. He leaned into it. This was probably the closest he’d ever get to feeling the touch of his mother, minus the illusion.
She gathered the top scholars and healers and told them what she needed from them for Hyunjin and his party of friends. They understood and quickly started to gather their books and scrolls to teach them what they needed to know for the upcoming war. They wanted just as much as anyone, for the prophecy to be complete. They wanted to be free once again, not trapped in the confines of a mountain when all of Volantis was once their land. You and Minho joined Hyunjin in the Scholar hall, shaken from your sleep. You hadn’t even noticed Hyunjin was gone until the knock on your door came.
It took nearly all night, well into the evening of the next day for you all to learn techniques of your foremothers and fathers. You and Hyunjin learn how to use your powers to your benefit, while Minho trained with the head of the king's guard in hand to hand, swordsmanship, and small magical protection spells that even Volantian’s could manage. By the end of the day, you were exhausted but well learned. “You’ve done well.” His aunt placed her hand on both you and Hyunjin’s shoulders. She gave a soft smile to Minho who had joined you all in the scholars hall once again, after spending his time on the training grounds. “Your journey ahead will be treacherous. But as children of Efranor, you will always have our support.” She turned her attention to you.
“Lady of the Orev clan, if you need our people, send a raven. We will be there as soon as we can with reinforcements. Your mother and father have imbedded you with every bit of their power, you now know how to wield it. I know that you will do so responsibly. Thank you so much for caring for our prince, Hyunjin. We could never thank you enough.” Bowing, she gave you her well wishes and respect. She moved to Minho, “You may believe that you are far removed from the land of these people, but there is a little bit of magic that flows through your veins.” She looked at him with sad eyes. “Your mother put her last breath into your protection, the land listened to her plea.” She put a hand over his heart. “Believe in yourself, dear Minho. You are mightier than you know.” She tried her best not to cry as she stood in front of her nephew.
“My prince.” She cupped his face, a habit he was growing to love. “I’m so sorry that I have failed you.” She sadly smiled, “That is something you will never have to worry about again. I will be there-” She was interrupted by someone clearing their throat as they entered the hall. She chuckled at her son's intrusion. “We, that means all of this kingdom, will be there for you. All you need is ask.” She sighed, “Aeri could see things I couldn’t, and she saw the great things you’d accomplish well before you were born.” She stepped back. “Rest now. Then join us in the banquet hall for a farewell feast. It’s a celebration for the return of our prince.”
The festivities were more vibrant than they were the night before, more people from deeper in the mountains came to celebrate the return of the long lost prince of Efranor. A third throne joined the two that were already placed. Music and laughter were shared, and for once, Hyunjin felt a sense of comradery. Something that he’d never gotten the chance to experience before you and Minho waltzed into his life. He knew of the impending dangers that lay before his party, but in this moment he was content in being in the moment.
After he laid down, you tucked in his arms. Hyunjin realized all that he had to fight for. He had you, Minho, Venia, his aunt, his cousin, and the numerous people of this kingdom. He also had to fight for the memory of his mother. He needed to keep her name alive, but not in the same way his father did. His eyes slid closed with the thoughts of her hand on his as she sensed him in that memory. For once in his life, he felt loved. While Venia had given him all the love he could ever need, familial love was something he’d never known. He didn’t even know that there were others in his family that were out there. His dreams that night were for once, calm, still, and warm. There were no bloody visions of the future, no war, or no visions of him losing the people that meant the most to him. He slept soundly for once in his twenty years of life, and that was something he was more than grateful for.
The next morning, right before the earliest light, the three of you were out in the courtyard in front of the castle. As a partial gift to you, the Kingdom of Efranor had supplied you with weapons, food and plenty of food for the day journey back into Solaris. “Cousin.” Yongbok spoke, placing an arm around his taller cousin's shoulder. “Know that I am always here for you.” He smiled brightly, his eyes shiny like diamonds in a warm pool of dark honey. His smile was contagious, making the slightly older man break out into one as well.” Hyunjin never thought he’d receive such a heartfelt goodbye, minus when he parted from Venia. Now he had more family than he knew what to do with. The three boarded their carriage, Hyunjin in the wagon box, the other two in the front. They were refreshed and ready for their day-long trip into Solaris.
They were given new clothes, so that they could blend in with the common folk in town, as to not raise suspicions. They bid the people of Efranor goodbye, and headed down the back side of the mountain. The whole trip down, Minho was tense. These were the very lands him and his mother delt with torture and abuse in. The very lands where his happy childhood had been snatched away from him. He held the reins tightly. Gritting his teeth harshly. His breathing was shallow, so much so that even Hyunjin could hear it in the carriage box. He had the window ajar, so that he could keep the communication lines open, but the amount of tense silence that was coming from the coach was bordering on uncomfortable. “Min, maybe you should join Hyunjin in the back.” It wasn’t a suggestion, even though you said it with an air of politeness.
He sighed, pulling the reins, effectively stopping the horses. Even Hyunjin could tell he wanted to argue, but thought better of it immediately. He hopped in the back and you took control of the drivers box, sitting directly in front of the window, blocking both of the view from the road. If they couldn’t see, they couldn’t give unnecessary commentary. The ride continued to be quiet as they made their way into Lumen, the first town outside of the Jade mountain pass. You were nervous, Minho was anxious, and Hyunjin was concerned for the both of you. There was this overwhelming sense of looming dread as you slowly made it through the canopy of trees at the bottom of the base of the mountain.
“Head towards the east, or your fate is sealed. Or death will be dealt upon a forested hill.”
“STOP!” Hyunjin commanded from the back. “We can’t go this way.” You pulled on the rein, stopping the cart. “I… my vision…” The visions of his friends dying filled his head once again. The putrid smell of death filled his nose, almost making him gag. This whole trip would all be for naught if they continued the path forward. “I know it will take us longer, but we can not go East.” She could see the spires of the palace in the near distance, this way would take a few hours off of the trip, this was the only way you’d get to the capital city before nightfall. “If we continue forward, we die. All of us.” Minho snapped his wide eyes towards Hyunjin. “I’ve…. Seen it. The seers from Efranor confirmed my visions last night.” You nodded.
“We will take the southern passage into town.” Minho nodded in agreement. The cart started off towards the southern passage towards Solaris. It was a long way around and you probably wouldn't reach the city until late tomorrow morning, but it was better to be safe than sorry.
The party traveled as far as they could, traveling well into the night before setting up camp in the forest on the back end of Solaris. By first light they were back on the road again, Minho back at the helm, taking them into the city. They got into the caravan entering the kingdom gates. Hyunjin peeked through the window, taking in all the sights he had long forgotten about. Each one sparks a distant memory from his time spent in Solaris. Him clinging to Venia’s hip as she perused the shops, receiving little gifts from the vendors who were unaware he was the King’s son. He missed this place. The closer they got to the gate, the more he could smell the smells of home. The freshly baked bread from the shopping district. The fresh scent of flowers lined the tall vines that snaked around all of the feldspar stones that were the walls of this kingdom.
But the closer they got to the gate, the more anxious he got. They seemed to be checking id’s and his was most certainly one that would alert them to him being the prince. Late last night before he and Minho drifted off to sleep like you were, he gave him something Venia had given him to keep safe. It was a wooden name tag, one without his full name, and sans the very noble last name he shared with his father. Aetos, Hyun. She’d given him this name plate with her last name. She was claiming him as her own. He nearly sobbed at the generous gift she’d given him. Minho nudged him, making him straighten up. They drew closer to the front of the line, until it was finally their turn. The guards interrogated them, asking what they were here for, who was their passenger. But all the questions ceased when they heard your last name. They all bowed, knowing that the passenger was their former general's eldest daughter. They let you in without incident.
The city was packed. People bustling to and fro. But it was alive, much to Hyunjin’s dismay. He knew how much damage his father had done since he’d been exiled. How his father no longer cared about the well being of the people. He was letting them starve, famine and disease was spreading from corner to corner in Volantis. Something desperately needed to be done. But it was like he spoke too soon. Once they were far past the gate, far past the small shopping district, he got to see just how destructive his father had been with the kingdom. The servant's town was very evident of what his father had done. He couldn’t imagine what the small town that Minho hailed from looked like. The people here were emaciated, skin and bones. People lay near the edge of the street, unconcerned about getting run over. But too concerned with getting a sheeling or two for food, or whatever scraps they could get. Hyunjin’s heart ached. He needed to fix this. If his people needed hope, he’d be the hope they so desperately needed. Even if it was the last thing he did.
Translations:
*Fom sei olsoms gei sys moo, ssalis flymqei. Irsuhs se’a suiy iyai suhe’a iyaus u’lakgir rapus ux se’a rashruxa ug Volantis.
"May she always be with you, sweet child. May you live on and prosper, prince of Volantis."
Pairing: Prince Hyunjin x Reader (AFAB)
Summary: Hyunjin is faced with visions of his mothers past. A heartfelt goodbye is shared between the people of Efranor and the Hyunjin's travel party.
Word Count: 5,400+ [Reading Time: 20+ Mins]
Genre: Historical, Fantasy, Strangers to Lovers, Royalty, Angst, Smut (Eventual), NSFW tags are below.
AU: Prince, Royal, Supernatural
NETS: @neverendingdreams-net & @mirohs-aurora-society
Synopsis: The kingdom of Volantis is in disarray; the monarch rules with an iron fist. The times of hope, harmony, and kindness were buried with the queen who passed many years ago. The people are praying for a savior, but who will be their light at the end of this dark tunnel?
Authors Note: Please reblog or leave a comment to let me know how you feel. I'd love a little feedback. Thanks for reading, and I hope you enjoyed it. As per usual, this hasn't been proofread. Special thanks to @therhythmafterthesummer for helping with with this chapter and @saradika-graphics for some of the dividers.
Mentions: Mentions of death, and details of child birth.
Disclaimer: This story does not reflect the real lives or personalities of Stray Kids. I do not know them personally. This is purely a work of fiction.
Into the night, after you were fast asleep in his arms, Hyunjin lay awake, mind filled with thoughts of things to come. He’d been having the same dreams every night for a few weeks. Dreams of war and death, the collective loss of hope for the whole of Volantis. Both for Volantians and some of the First Men. He felt as if the closer they got to the impending conflict, the more vivid these dreams were becoming. “Head towards the east, or your fate is sealed. Or death will be dealt upon a forested hill.” That line had been repeating in his dreams since the day he left the icy isle of Arcta, the day he left the comfort of what he had known to be home for most of his life. He always woke to goose bumps littering his skin, with the tiny hairs on his arm and neck standing on edge. There was always this suffocating feeling, like someone had their hands wrapped around his neck, slowly choking the air from his system.
He was afraid. Afraid that if he didn’t proceed with caution he’d lose you, Minho, and everything he’d gained over this last month in your stead. Trying his best not to wake the beautiful woman sleeping in his arms, Hyunjin wiggled his way from the bed. Finding his discarded clothing and quietly washing himself in the basin before making his exit. He needed to discuss his dreams with someone before he left his mother’s homeland. This might be one of the only opportunities he had to talk to anyone about this. He grabbed a lantern from outside of his room and began roaming the halls of the castle. The stone floors were cool beneath his bare feet as he navigated the winding corridor. He’d only been through here twice during the day time, at night it was a different beast. Every corner looked the same as the last. “Whom is it you seek?”
Hyunjin stopped in his tracks as the words wrapped around him, they sounded soft and feminine, but pointed. “I seek guidance from my cousin, the prince.” He stood square in the spot he stopped in, afraid to face whatever direction the voice was coming from. “About my dreams.” He tried his best to keep his voice steady. The last thing he wanted was to anger whomever was speaking. He knew the risks of roaming a castle at night, he did live in one for part of his life. His father would have pitched a fit if the guards ever caught Hyunjin roaming the halls. A day of punishment would have been all the guidance he would have received if this was in his old home.
“Aeri..” The voice that once sounded like smoke in the wind, slowly started to take a shape, sounding a little more grounded and whole than before. “Son of Aeri?” It sounded closer, like it was right behind him in the dark. As much as he was sure he should be afraid, there was the sense of calm that filled him, telling him not to be afraid, that whatever this was, it wouldn’t hurt him. “May I see your face, dear boy?” Hyunjin’s legs moved before he had any better judgement. He turned, facing the voice. He was met with the snow white skin of a woman who looked like he could be his mother. There were faint wrinkles around her eyes and mouth, her hair was as dark as night and her frame was so small it was bordering on frail. Her face softened as she reached to touch him. Her hands moved slowly as if asking for permission.
There was no reasoning behind it, but he felt at ease in her presence. His hands were soft and warm as she cupped his cheeks. “You look so much like her.” She smiled as tears welled up in her eyes. “Just like our Aeri.” She released him, turning her back to him as the hallway turned into a thick wall of smoke before dissipating completely. He had somehow ended up in a large open room, the walls were lined with books and dried flowers and herbs. “Your mother.. is” She trailed off as she walked a few paces in front of him, shaking her head as she realized her mistake. “Was my younger sister.” She stopped in front of a large window with billowing curtains, looking out into the night sky over the Jade mountains. Her hands were clasped together behind her back as she stood there, poised.
“My mothers sister?” Venia had spoken of his other family before, but only briefly. He hadn’t read very far in the family history book, so he hadn’t gotten to his mothers history yet. He’d longed for this, for years now. He wanted a family, not of just his own, but one that tied him to his roots. Family from his mothers side, ones that would tell him stories about the woman he never got a chance to meet. He didn’t know what came over him, he didn’t even know he’d moved from the spot he thought he was rooted in. But his feet quickly shuffled him from his spot to where his aunt was. Before he knew it, his arms were wrapping around her in a tight hug. His feelings were overwhelming him, but she was gentle in her comfort towards him. Like a loving mother would be.
“Oh- sweet boy.” She lightly chuckled, stroking his dark tresses. “I have so many things to share with you.” She softly pushed him away to gently wipe his tears. “Is Venia here?” Hyunjin’s heart swelled at the thought of being told about his mother and this side of his family, just to deflate at the mention of the mother figure he’d left behind to go on this journey. He shook his head, eyes traveling down to the floor.
“She thought it’d be best if I was escorted to the King’s land by someone other than her. So I’m traveling with the daughter of the Orev family and her knight of sorts..” Is that how he could describe Minho? He sure as hell didn’t like how he described you. “I-” He shook his head, “Let me rephrase.” He nodded as she gestured for him to take a seat at her stone dining table. “The daughter of the Orev family as well as the adopted son, have been on this journey with me. Trying their best to prepare me for what’s to come…”
“The change in life as we know it.” She sighed and he nodded. “I’m not as clairvoyant as your mother was. I see bits and pieces of both the past and the present, but my gift is to shift a person's visual perception. I can make you think you have walked a million miles, when you’ve just been pacing in the same spot for hours. Prince Felix and I share the same gifts.” She smiled fondly talking about him. “He told me that you’d arrived, that the prophecy was slowly coming true…..” She paused, reaching across the table to squeeze his hand. “There is danger ahead, my child. Your path…” She flipped his hand over, making his palm face upwards. “There is a fork in your life path. When the time comes, you must make the right decision, or it will spell disaster for us all.” Her warm palms enveloped his, as she held his one hand with both of her own.
“I know that is a lot to take in and an even heavier burden to carry, but if you are anything like your mother, it is something you will see through.” She smiled wistfully. “Would you like me to tell you about her?” His eyes lit up with eagerness at just the thought. He nodded, squeezing his aunt's hand lightly. “Better yet, I’ll show you.” She took a deep breath, time seemed to slow then stop around them. “Remember, this is only an illusion.” Hyunjin didn’t care, he needed this. He needed to see his mother. Oh the luck he had finding someone who knew her through all of her transitions in life. THe room faded into darkness, the blurred smokey edges melted into nothingness. He could hear soft singing in the distance, it sounded familiar. He hummed in tune with the voice, only for it to dawn on him where he’d heard it. His father. He’d hum this very tune when he reminisced over his mother.
He followed the voice, knowing it had to be her. He stepped out of the darkness into the light of an enchanted forest. The thick canopy of trees covered the moss blanketed floors. Colorful flowers dotted the ground, balls of light, fireflies and butterflies commingled and danced around the beautiful foliage. He could hear a babbling brook as he carefully stepped through the shrubbage. The closer he got to the voice, the stronger his heart beat in his ears. He knew this was all an illusion, but something about being here felt so real to him. Like he’d been here before. Maybe in a dream, maybe in his past life, he didn’t know but there was something that called to him here. Through a curtain of willow branches, he could see the silhouette of a girl. His heart swelled as he pushed back the branches to reveal her face. She looked up, her face nearly the same as his. Her jet black hair flowed past her shoulders to just under her rear.
She smiled at him brightly, looking almost ethereal in her white hanbok. “Sister.” She lifted a flower crown in his direction and to his dismay he reached for it, taking it from her. “Do you think he would be amused by my creation, or would he frown upon me for being childish?” His brows knit together, was the ‘he’ she was referring to, his father?
“He’d be a fool to not love any gift you present him with.” Hyunjin’s aunt pushed past him, taking a seat next to her sister. “He should be grateful that we are willing to part with you, sister. With all that his people have done to ours…” She frowned and shook away the thoughts that were now clouding her head. “Those people, their kingdom, they are undeserving of your kindness, sister.” His aunt bunched up her skirt in her fisted hands. “It should have been me. I should be the one suffering at the hands of that terrible prince.” His mother shook her head, giving her sister a soft smile as her tiny hand reached for the others.
“The prophecy says it must be me. For the betterment of our people, so that we no longer have to live in the shadows, I am willing….” She touched her stomach, “To bring forth the savior of this realm. The one to unite us all.” She knew of the sacrifice she was going to have to make before she even married him or left her kingdom. “The realm will know peace, sister. Our people will be able to once again walk the lands of our foremothers. That will truly be a blessed day.” SHe squeezed her hand, giving her older sister a little bit of her hope. “I can only hope that you are right, Aeri.” She sighed again, the thought of her sister being sent off to an unknown kingdom was truly weighing on her. “Because that awful prince does not want to incur my wrath.” She started to tickle her, pushing Aeri into a fit of uncontrollable laughter.
Her laughter faded like smoke, the once warm scene was replaced with the gray castle walls of the King’s home. Aeri looked out amongst the sprawling land of Solaris, the castle town of the King. She was draped in the finest of fabrics and jewels, hair pinned high on her head that was adorned with a crown. The once young girl from Efranor was now a queen, once you carefully watched over her kingdom. “I know you are here, Nari.” She turned, revealing the massive baby bump she cradled. Hyunjin stood looking at his mother, belly full, pregnant with him. He slowly approached, quivering hand stretched out. He apprehensively touched her stomach and for a brief moment, he felt like she’d seen him. Her eyes looked right into his, her hand moving right over his as she softly smiled.
He could feel her warmth, though he knew this was just an illusion. Could she see him? Feel him? Did she somehow sense that he was there, that he meant no harm, intruding in on the memories filled with her. “The boy, how is he?” Nari was now crowned, her belly also full, just not nearly as pronounced. Prince Yongbok. “You are due any moment now, sister.” She reached out and grabbed her hand, “Our boys, do you think they will be close? Like brothers?” Aeri’s smile slipped before widening. She knew. She knew what would come with his birth. Hyunjin backed away, unable to understand why she’d give up her life for him. Why would she leave him alone in this place if she knew both of their fates.
“I know they will.” She smiled wistfully. But the way his smile didn’t reach her eyes made it all the more tragic. He felt as if he was spiraling. She was still young, no older than he was now. “Nari, I already love him more than life itself, my Hyunjin. I know what the prophecy entails, but I hope that he grows to be everything and more than that. He and Yongbok will have a bond that will last a lifetime.” She smiled for real this time. “I can’t wait for you to meet him.” She rubbed her stomach once again, looking down at the bump.
“And you for Yongbok.” Nari grabbed her sister's hand, pulling her back inside the chamber. Once again, the edges of the illusion faded to pillars of smoke before transforming into another scene. It was the royal birthing chamber. Aeri was in labor, her hand coiled around a cloth as she pulled tightly. She bit down on a piece of soft wood to keep her from biting her tongue from agony. The royal doctor told her to push as the king held tightly onto her hands. He looked down at his wife with pride swelling in his chest, something he’d never shown to Hyunjin. Nari paced the room, too anxious to stay still. It was funny to him how his father never mentioned his mothers sister. Maybe it was in a way to further isolate him from who he was or maybe it was out of some sort of guilt. He shook his head, not wasting his time on thinking about his fathers reasons for hating him.
“The prince is crowning. Keep pushing your highness.” The doctor spoke kindly, giving her a nod. His mother looked drained, her already pale face was
Ashen, devoid of all color. Her chest was rising and falling rapidly as she took shallow breaths. Once again, it was like she knew he was there. Her eyes connected with his again as she gave him a soft smile before pushing hard. Silence filled the room as the doctor pulled the prince from his mothers womb before handing him to the nurse. The grip Aeri had on the king’s hand loosened before falling slack to the bed. Her eyes slid closed, a happy smile plastered on her face as she fell unconscious. The King, once preoccupied with the heir his queen just gave him, quickly turned his back on the newborn when his queen said nothing to him saying her name.
He shook her softly, hoping to awake her from the tiredness she surely felt after giving birth. But she didn’t stir, not even a little bit. He screamed for the doctor to do something and he and the nurses scrambled, handing the baby off to Venia as they rushed to the aid of the queen. Nari stood frozen, her world seemingly flashing before her eyes as her sister slipped away from this realm. Her eyes peeled away from her sister's body to the wailing baby in Venia’s arms. She took shaky steps towards them, pressing her shaking hands to her forehead before doing the same to the new prince. “*Fom sei olsoms gei sys moo, ssalis flymqei. Irsuhs se’a suiy iyai suhe’a iyaus u’lakgir rapus ux se’a rashruxa ug Volantis.” She spoke through tears at the loss of her sister and the birth of her nephew. Without another word, she turned on her heels and left the birthing chamber.
Once again, the scene faded into wisps of smoke, before the warm light of her chambers filled his vision once again. She sat with her eyes downcast, ashamed of meeting his eyes. “I was afraid, hurt. My sister's clairvoyance was unlike anyone else in our kingdom, how could she have not known that giving birth would…” She trailed off, choking out a sob.
“She knew.” He spoke softly. Her eyes lifted to his, meeting him for the first time since she cast that illusion around him. “She knew, but she went through with it anyway.” He took a deep breath before sighing. “She made the sacrifice to save the kingdom.” Hyunjin stood to his feet. “She believed that I could fulfill the prophecy. Bring our kingdoms together in harmony.” He lifted his head regally, casting his eyes at his aunt. “I will not fail my mother, she gave her life for me. I will be everything she hoped for and more.” He was resolute in his decision to push forward for his mothers sake. A new found sense of pride and determination flowing through his system.
His aunt sighed. Hyunjin was the only thing tying her sister to this world, the very spitting image of her lost Aeri. “We don’t have much time.” She stood, grabbing his hand and pulling him with her. “We must prepare you for what's to come. I must….” She held back a sob, at the thought of losing what was left of her sister. She knew she’d made a grave error leaving him behind with his tyrant of a father. But she had no claim to the child other than the fact that he was her nephew. She left Solaris the day of Aeri’s death and was never allowed back. Even her constant correspondence with Venia came to a screeching halt after a few years. The King shut her out, despite her trying to keep the lines of communication open. Though she couldn’t stay to watch the discard of her sister's body, the pain she felt from the loss of her sister overruled the love she felt for her nephew. Plus there was the inexplicable feeling that if she tried to take him with her, war would ensue.
Hyunjin was conflicted, he knew that his aunt wanted what was best for him deep down, but he couldn’t help but feel slightly betrayed by her actions. Though he followed her through the dimly lit corridors of the castle, he still felt a bit of stinging melancholy at the thought of growing up here instead of in exile. Carted off and discarded like last week's trash. He knew he would have enjoyed his time here, growing and learning to use his powers alongside his cousin. He pushed down the thoughts of sadness as he thought about how his father would scorch the earth if he didn’t get to control every little thing that happened in his life. He wanted him to be as miserable as he was. She led him out of that wing of the castle across a bridge wrapped in glowing lights that looked like they were breathing. He touched them, just for them to fly away. Fireflies, just like in his aunt's visions. There was a building carved into the side of the mountain with vines with tiny pink flowers all over it. Amber lights sparkled in the windows of it, he could see the shadow of a few people bustling around in there. What was this place?
“My guards will call your travel companions, because you will need them just as much as they will need you in the impending battles.” She led him inside, the warm atmosphere immediately. It smelled of sage and lavender with a few other herbs mixed in. “This is where our scholars and healers reside. I can only hope that they will be able to help you get in tune with your powers in time. Regrettably, you didn’t grow up here, which I am in part to blame. But I hope that you are strong enough by the time you leave this place, to be able to go forth and be safe.” She cubbed his cheek, her thumb caressing the soft unmarred skin there. He leaned into it. This was probably the closest he’d ever get to feeling the touch of his mother, minus the illusion.
She gathered the top scholars and healers and told them what she needed from them for Hyunjin and his party of friends. They understood and quickly started to gather their books and scrolls to teach them what they needed to know for the upcoming war. They wanted just as much as anyone, for the prophecy to be complete. They wanted to be free once again, not trapped in the confines of a mountain when all of Volantis was once their land. You and Minho joined Hyunjin in the Scholar hall, shaken from your sleep. You hadn’t even noticed Hyunjin was gone until the knock on your door came.
It took nearly all night, well into the evening of the next day for you all to learn techniques of your foremothers and fathers. You and Hyunjin learn how to use your powers to your benefit, while Minho trained with the head of the king's guard in hand to hand, swordsmanship, and small magical protection spells that even Volantian’s could manage. By the end of the day, you were exhausted but well learned. “You’ve done well.” His aunt placed her hand on both you and Hyunjin’s shoulders. She gave a soft smile to Minho who had joined you all in the scholars hall once again, after spending his time on the training grounds. “Your journey ahead will be treacherous. But as children of Efranor, you will always have our support.” She turned her attention to you.
“Lady of the Orev clan, if you need our people, send a raven. We will be there as soon as we can with reinforcements. Your mother and father have imbedded you with every bit of their power, you now know how to wield it. I know that you will do so responsibly. Thank you so much for caring for our prince, Hyunjin. We could never thank you enough.” Bowing, she gave you her well wishes and respect. She moved to Minho, “You may believe that you are far removed from the land of these people, but there is a little bit of magic that flows through your veins.” She looked at him with sad eyes. “Your mother put her last breath into your protection, the land listened to her plea.” She put a hand over his heart. “Believe in yourself, dear Minho. You are mightier than you know.” She tried her best not to cry as she stood in front of her nephew.
“My prince.” She cupped his face, a habit he was growing to love. “I’m so sorry that I have failed you.” She sadly smiled, “That is something you will never have to worry about again. I will be there-” She was interrupted by someone clearing their throat as they entered the hall. She chuckled at her son's intrusion. “We, that means all of this kingdom, will be there for you. All you need is ask.” She sighed, “Aeri could see things I couldn’t, and she saw the great things you’d accomplish well before you were born.” She stepped back. “Rest now. Then join us in the banquet hall for a farewell feast. It’s a celebration for the return of our prince.”
The festivities were more vibrant than they were the night before, more people from deeper in the mountains came to celebrate the return of the long lost prince of Efranor. A third throne joined the two that were already placed. Music and laughter were shared, and for once, Hyunjin felt a sense of comradery. Something that he’d never gotten the chance to experience before you and Minho waltzed into his life. He knew of the impending dangers that lay before his party, but in this moment he was content in being in the moment.
After he laid down, you tucked in his arms. Hyunjin realized all that he had to fight for. He had you, Minho, Venia, his aunt, his cousin, and the numerous people of this kingdom. He also had to fight for the memory of his mother. He needed to keep her name alive, but not in the same way his father did. His eyes slid closed with the thoughts of her hand on his as she sensed him in that memory. For once in his life, he felt loved. While Venia had given him all the love he could ever need, familial love was something he’d never known. He didn’t even know that there were others in his family that were out there. His dreams that night were for once, calm, still, and warm. There were no bloody visions of the future, no war, or no visions of him losing the people that meant the most to him. He slept soundly for once in his twenty years of life, and that was something he was more than grateful for.
The next morning, right before the earliest light, the three of you were out in the courtyard in front of the castle. As a partial gift to you, the Kingdom of Efranor had supplied you with weapons, food and plenty of food for the day journey back into Solaris. “Cousin.” Yongbok spoke, placing an arm around his taller cousin's shoulder. “Know that I am always here for you.” He smiled brightly, his eyes shiny like diamonds in a warm pool of dark honey. His smile was contagious, making the slightly older man break out into one as well.” Hyunjin never thought he’d receive such a heartfelt goodbye, minus when he parted from Venia. Now he had more family than he knew what to do with. The three boarded their carriage, Hyunjin in the wagon box, the other two in the front. They were refreshed and ready for their day-long trip into Solaris.
They were given new clothes, so that they could blend in with the common folk in town, as to not raise suspicions. They bid the people of Efranor goodbye, and headed down the back side of the mountain. The whole trip down, Minho was tense. These were the very lands him and his mother delt with torture and abuse in. The very lands where his happy childhood had been snatched away from him. He held the reins tightly. Gritting his teeth harshly. His breathing was shallow, so much so that even Hyunjin could hear it in the carriage box. He had the window ajar, so that he could keep the communication lines open, but the amount of tense silence that was coming from the coach was bordering on uncomfortable. “Min, maybe you should join Hyunjin in the back.” It wasn’t a suggestion, even though you said it with an air of politeness.
He sighed, pulling the reins, effectively stopping the horses. Even Hyunjin could tell he wanted to argue, but thought better of it immediately. He hopped in the back and you took control of the drivers box, sitting directly in front of the window, blocking both of the view from the road. If they couldn’t see, they couldn’t give unnecessary commentary. The ride continued to be quiet as they made their way into Lumen, the first town outside of the Jade mountain pass. You were nervous, Minho was anxious, and Hyunjin was concerned for the both of you. There was this overwhelming sense of looming dread as you slowly made it through the canopy of trees at the bottom of the base of the mountain.
“Head towards the east, or your fate is sealed. Or death will be dealt upon a forested hill.”
“STOP!” Hyunjin commanded from the back. “We can’t go this way.” You pulled on the rein, stopping the cart. “I… my vision…” The visions of his friends dying filled his head once again. The putrid smell of death filled his nose, almost making him gag. This whole trip would all be for naught if they continued the path forward. “I know it will take us longer, but we can not go East.” She could see the spires of the palace in the near distance, this way would take a few hours off of the trip, this was the only way you’d get to the capital city before nightfall. “If we continue forward, we die. All of us.” Minho snapped his wide eyes towards Hyunjin. “I’ve…. Seen it. The seers from Efranor confirmed my visions last night.” You nodded.
“We will take the southern passage into town.” Minho nodded in agreement. The cart started off towards the southern passage towards Solaris. It was a long way around and you probably wouldn't reach the city until late tomorrow morning, but it was better to be safe than sorry.
The party traveled as far as they could, traveling well into the night before setting up camp in the forest on the back end of Solaris. By first light they were back on the road again, Minho back at the helm, taking them into the city. They got into the caravan entering the kingdom gates. Hyunjin peeked through the window, taking in all the sights he had long forgotten about. Each one sparks a distant memory from his time spent in Solaris. Him clinging to Venia’s hip as she perused the shops, receiving little gifts from the vendors who were unaware he was the King’s son. He missed this place. The closer they got to the gate, the more he could smell the smells of home. The freshly baked bread from the shopping district. The fresh scent of flowers lined the tall vines that snaked around all of the feldspar stones that were the walls of this kingdom.
But the closer they got to the gate, the more anxious he got. They seemed to be checking id’s and his was most certainly one that would alert them to him being the prince. Late last night before he and Minho drifted off to sleep like you were, he gave him something Venia had given him to keep safe. It was a wooden name tag, one without his full name, and sans the very noble last name he shared with his father. Aetos, Hyun. She’d given him this name plate with her last name. She was claiming him as her own. He nearly sobbed at the generous gift she’d given him. Minho nudged him, making him straighten up. They drew closer to the front of the line, until it was finally their turn. The guards interrogated them, asking what they were here for, who was their passenger. But all the questions ceased when they heard your last name. They all bowed, knowing that the passenger was their former general's eldest daughter. They let you in without incident.
The city was packed. People bustling to and fro. But it was alive, much to Hyunjin’s dismay. He knew how much damage his father had done since he’d been exiled. How his father no longer cared about the well being of the people. He was letting them starve, famine and disease was spreading from corner to corner in Volantis. Something desperately needed to be done. But it was like he spoke too soon. Once they were far past the gate, far past the small shopping district, he got to see just how destructive his father had been with the kingdom. The servant's town was very evident of what his father had done. He couldn’t imagine what the small town that Minho hailed from looked like. The people here were emaciated, skin and bones. People lay near the edge of the street, unconcerned about getting run over. But too concerned with getting a sheeling or two for food, or whatever scraps they could get. Hyunjin’s heart ached. He needed to fix this. If his people needed hope, he’d be the hope they so desperately needed. Even if it was the last thing he did.
Translations:
*Fom sei olsoms gei sys moo, ssalis flymqei. Irsuhs se’a suiy iyai suhe’a iyaus u’lakgir rapus ux se’a rashruxa ug Volantis.
"May she always be with you, sweet child. May you live on and prosper, prince of Volantis."