Okay folks. I know this is the first time I've used characters from my original works and it's a trashy au voreish fic, but blame @nommy-thoughts for it. Them and their amazing freaking thoughts.
James was told he was supposed to dine with the King and his court, along with the royal family of the recently conquered nation. It was a big deal, he was told that he supposed to help keep everyone in line and he would occasionally be prompted to show off his strength.
He was a little nervous, but his handlers were coaching him through everything. Well, Diane was coaching him, Sam was currently inside his mouth, making sure his teeth were clean.
"Are you listening to me?" Diane crossed her arms, raising an eyebrow.
James flashed a thumbs up, resisting the urge to nod as Sam's back was against his tongue, she was pulling wads of sheep's wool out of his molars.
"Good. Now, you need to keep your composure during the meal, I know you're embarrassed about your eating, but you have a keep it together." She ran her hand through her short hair. "You're a political tool here. Listen to the conversation, if you're prompted to do something by the King, and only by the King, take it as an order, no matter how jokingly it's stated."
James gently slid Sam out of his mouth into his hands, trying to not gag. "Got it."
Sam flicked his spit she was covered in back at James. "You need to pick your own teeth."
"Sorry." He set her down next to her sister. "I tried to get it all out. It didn't go."
Diane took a shuffling step away from her spit covered sister and glanced back up at James. "C'mon, we need to finish getting you clean."
John was trailing a few steps behind the two Kings, taking in his surroundings while he had nothing better to do.
Outside the windows were an expansive stretch of land, dotted with forest land and several lakes varying in sizes. This was the compound they kept the giant in, far from civilian structures and anything else breakable.
Smart planning. If the giant decided it had enough of being a subject, the towns would have a little more time to get somewhere safe.
Part of him was hoping to catch more of a glimpse of the enormous creature than he had on the way in. He wanted to have seen it before dinner so he could brace himself mentally.
Being in a country that has recently won a war against your own was nerve wracking enough, he didn't want the first time he'd seen this living force of nature be when it would arrive in the hall, undoubtedly made to be intimidating.
He snapped out of his gaze to see the other King staring at him.
"Are you looking for the giant?"
Red creeped up the young man's face. "Yes, Your Majesty."
"Come, you cannot see him from this side yet." They followed him through several hallways to a large set of windows inside of the compound's library. "Look."
Within one of the fields, near one of the forests was the giant from the back. He was seated, yet still he loomed menacingly over everything.
"How far is that forest?" John's father nervously tugged at his own sleeve.
"Several kilometres." The other King looked smug as he casually watched the giant rip an entire tree out of the ground and toss it completely aside. "Why do you ask?"
John's mouth felt dry. He was enormous, and without any clothing covering his back, it showed that he was a fighter. There was one enormous scar across his back, the wound long healed, but the evidence of the fight prevalent. His sun-tanned skin and lean, muscular frame had John glancing down at his own pale skin and soft body, heat rising up his neck.
"A beautiful creature, no?" The other King scratched absently at his beard. "He's been extremely obedient to me, protecting my life and the life of my wife and unborn child on more than one occasion."
John's father was pale, and John was red in the face as they were ushered away.
It was getting close to the feast, and John was ushered away from the two rulers. He was apparently some guest of honor for this feast, and his heart was beating hard as he was separated from the only familiar thing here.
He was lead into the kitchens, full of bustling cooks, and instructed to wait there until further notice.
He was sitting on a creaky wooden stool, taking in the busy kitchen, full of a bunch of delicious smells. People hurried about, and there were many mutterings about having to prepare food for the giant as well, instead of simply slaughtering livestock and serving its carcass to it.
John had to force himself to unclench his fists in order to keep from cutting his palms with his painstakingly polished fingernails. He just simply would ignore the repeated insistence that the giant could consume raw meat, entire animals, there was no need to be cooking so much of this.
At some point, he watched someone come through with parchment and a charcoal stick, making marks as they inspected various dishes.
They glanced over where John was seated near two cooks stirring a large pot with a long spoon and made two marks on the paper.
A few minutes later, a guard carefully led him to a bath room, where his clothes were removed and he was instructed to bathe.
Mostly sure this was a part of the guest of honour, he bathed, and made a mental note that the water was fragrant as well as pleasantly warm.
Once he was dried, he was given short trousers to wear and his brown, curly hair was tightly tied back. Then, he was lead back through the kitchens onto a large, low, flat cart. The top was metal, cool under his legs as he sat down.
His heart pounded a little more while he waited, for something, anything.
"Excuse me." He caught attention of one of the four armed guards around the cart. "What's going on?"
"A great honor." One of them assured him. "A very great honor. No need to be afraid."
Eventually, he gave up, and as he noticed servants taking dishes out of the kitchen, he was approached by two cooks carrying a very large stew pot.
"Hold still." They warned him before they started to pour out a very thick sweet smelling sauce over him. John flinched, covering his face, fearing burns, but found it wasn't hot, just warm.
He had a feeling, in his gut, that reminded him disturbingly of when there was a public execution. His heart pounded frantically, and it took him a moment to find his voice.
"This is a very crucial step, Your Highness." One of the cooks assured him. "Then, you're ready for one of the greatest honours in the kingdom."
James fidgeted with his outfit as he waited to be called upon. He hated the layers, and was trying to not sweat.
Sam stood up on his shoulder and tucked a strand of his hair that had escaped his ponytail behind his ear. "You look handsome, don't worry."
"Don't worry." Sam sat back down, patting his neck. "You'll be just fine. Just do as you're told, and don't speak unless spoken to."
"I know, Diane told me everything." He glanced over as the doors opened and Diane hurried in, the skirt of her blue dress hiked up.
"Speak of a spirit..." Sam muttered in his ear.
"Hello, Diane." He gently laid his hand in front of her, and she stepped on.
"Hey there, big guy." Diane carefully gripped his thumb as he lifted her up to chest level.
"You look fancy." James could hear Sam's grin.
"You're jealous that I'm way better looking than you in dresses." Diane adjusted herself a little more before settling in his hand fully. "Did I miss anything?"
"Our baby brother's nervous." Sam gently patted his neck. "He doesn't want to embarrass himself."
"You're a giant." Diane shook her head, then carefully made sure she didn't mess up her hair. "If you do embarrass yourself, nobody would say a thing to your face."
James shifted his weight from foot to foot, careful not to upset his passengers. "Knowing they'll talk about it behind my back isn't any better."
A messenger burst out the door, panting. James picked the boy up in his free hand and brought him up. "Speak."
He took a second to gasp for breath. "They're ready for you."
He set the boy down and he took off. Sam slipped into his palm and was ferried to the ground. "Say hi to Jess for me." James whispered as he stood up. Once he'd smoothed his coat, he walked towards his little dining area where the feast had been set up.
It was a tight room for the giant, but he could stand and sit and turn and nobody would be in danger. The large wooden platform was set up with two large tables, one with chairs around it, one without.
At the first table, there was a very fancy chair at the head, where the King was sitting. His wife sat to his right, he could clearly see her belly, round with pregnancy. The rest of the table was scattered with various officials. The other King, however was recognizable in his much fancier robes than the other officials.
Two chairs were empty, the one closest to where James would be sitting and the one to the other King's immediate left. He let Diane climb off onto the platform and take her seat before sitting down himself, as carefully as he could manage. He could stretch his feet out under the platform, but he chose to keep them crossed for now.
"Ah, meet Diane Colt." The King introduced her. "The lead handler for James."
"It's a great honour to be here." She smiled. "Thank you for the opportunity, Your Majesty."
"Of course, who better suited to answer any of our guest's questions about our giant?" He made a hand motion to a servant in a doorway leading to the platform. "Let the feast commence."
James did his best to pay attention, but conversation wavered back and forth, and he would occasionally tune out.
The food was delicious, so he decided you couldn't blame him if he would occasionally focus on just that. He'd hardly ever had cooked food in such a copious amount since he came here.
He noticed the conversation turned towards him, so he paid much closer attention so he could perform if needed.
"Do you know how James got the scars across his back? My son and I were able to observe him as he was lounging near a forest"
Diane nodded. "Yes, he wandered too close to a drake nest as a boy and they weren't happy about it."
"And not a single burn scar?"
James spoke up. "Those two couldn't breathe fire, Your Majesty. They were purebred."
He looked up at him, eyes wide. He clearly hadn't expected to hear him speak. "Oh."
"He's a clever young man, isn't he?" The King was watching this, amused. "His other main handler taught him to speak in a civilized tongue."
Diane smiled nostalgically into her goblet.
"Yes, Diane's sister is the other primary handler." He informed the other King. "They've taught him everything he knows."
The King glanced at Diane. She didn't know, so she quickly glanced up at James.
James cleared his throat, having to roughly swallow his mouthful. "Roughly twenty years, Your Majesty."
"The same as my son." He glanced at the King. "Speaking of which, I last saw him being ushered away by a guard. Was he detained? Did he do something wrong that I didn't know about?"
The King waved it off. "He's not being detained, and he did nothing wrong. He's not been harmed. He's perfectly safe inside these walls, and he'll join us soon." He looked up at James, "While dessert is prepared, could you recount your solution to our pirate problem?"
John heard a signal, and the servants cycled used dishes into the kitchen, and platters out of the kitchen.
He'd long since lost the courage to ask questions as two servants started to move the cart he was seated on, the guards staying behind.
He was wheeled out onto a large platform, and his breath caught in his throat as he saw the giant. Enormous, with shaggy brown hair with white streaks tied back. Hungry red eyes stared down at him. His clothes were ornamental, but his focus could hardly stay any lower than his mouth, especially with his revelations falling into place.
He was his food. The honour was being his dinner. Well, part of it. Dessert, probably.
The Other King let out a quickly muffled shriek at the sight. His son, the one he had been assured was safe in the kingdom, was being offered up as a dessert to the giant.
He glanced at the King, silently demanding an explanation, but he was more horrified by how disinterested he looked at the execution of his only heir.
"This was his plan from all along." He thought, mortified. "Bring us here, kill my son. I have no wife, no queen. If he dies, I have no heir, my kingdom will have no ruler. It will be ripe for the conquering. That is, if he doesn't loose this beast upon it first to let it devour my people."
He glanced at Diane, eyes begging for an explanation, but she simply looked away, seemingly embarrassed.
He wanted to bellow with rage for this cruel plan, to rush over to the cart and drag his precious son away, get him away from the beast. But, he couldn't. He couldn't move. All he could do was watch with horror as his only child was picked up and stuffed, kicking and struggling, into the monster's mouth.
John was frozen, unable to move or scream, unable to process anything other than the fact he was going to be eaten by this giant.
Fingers as big or bigger than his body were pinched around his waist and he was lifted up.
He saw the mouth open, full of teeth that could crush him into nothing, a tongue, slick with saliva, moved over the bottom lip, welcoming him in. This would be the last thing he would ever see.
He was brought close, and he was aware of his legs kicking, and desperate attempts to pry his fingers apart, but it did no good and he was placed on that heavy tongue and brought into his mouth. Lips sealed behind him, and he was cast into a dark, wet, hot, humid hole.
Only then, could he find himself able to scream.
James inspected the young man as he prepared to place him in his mouth. Brown curly hair clung to his head, soaked with the delicious sauce he so enjoyed from the kitchens. Pale skin and a soft frame made him a very appetizing mouthful.
He licked his lips and put the young man in his mouth, trying to keep the squirming young man still.
Once he'd gotten him situated and out of danger, the young man started screaming and struggling inside his mouth.
Sure, James was a little eager to put the little person in his mouth, yes, but he didn't think it was any reason for them to scream like that. He wasn't actually going to hurt them, just lick at them.
He then realized it was probably a display of power. They'd brought him a prisoner or something so the visiting King would fear their King. He had to be all screamy and squirmy so they'd be afraid.
In that case, he gently licked the sauce from his fingers, keeping the young man in his mouth centered on his tongue. He didn't want to hurt him, even if it was a power play.
The visiting King looked mortified, like he had several strong words to say, but there was just no words he could physically speak.
Diane was promptly ignoring him, focusing on a piece of cake on her plate, but he understood, she hated the fact that they allowed him to have people in his mouth. She strongly protested, but they still let him.
The King and Queen were whispering to each other, she seemed a little upset, he seemed amused at the other King's reaction.
He saw the small pool of warm, soapy water nearby for when he was done, but he just wanted to keep the young man in his mouth a little longer.
He pinned him to the roof of his mouth with his tongue and swallowed his saliva. After a little while longer of making sure he'd gotten all that delicious and sweet sauce off, he reached in and pulled the young man out.
He gently set the young man in the pool, and he floundered over to the side, clinging to the rim.
"John!" The visiting King shouted, looking relieved and worried still.
"Father!" The young man shouted back.
James paused, his cup in hand. That young man he'd just put in his mouth was the visiting Prince.
He was here for that specifically. He was here to threaten the other royal family with his actions and presence.
He glanced over the table. Diane looked scandalized. She obviously had no idea the young man was the Prince either. The visiting King was nearly out of his seat as he watched his son, John, scrub himself clean, still clearly worried about his closeness to the same monster that nearly devoured him.
Their King, on the other hand, looked amused by their concern. The Queen looked concerned for the boy, but she knew he was in no danger.
James felt so embarrassed. He had just taken the only heir of a kingdom and put him in his mouth. He'd licked him. He'd licked him.
Spirits of the Earth, he was a brute.
He spent the rest of the meal mostly sipping his water, appetite gone. He'd answer the occasional question that Diane couldn't answer, but, he stayed silent and stared at his lap for the most part, especially as the Prince, now dressed, joined the table.
Spirits, he was dense. Of course of he was royalty. Nobody but the wealthy would be able to maintain such a healthy belly. He had the visiting King's strong jawline, and such beautiful curly hair.
Heat, which was noticeable with the sun near the horizon, crept up his face whenever he'd steal glances towards the Prince.
He desperately hoped he hadn't made a mistake.
John was touring the gardens as the horizon had started to explode into a day of colors. He could hear the breathing of the giant nearby.
Hearing it made the hairs on the back of his neck stand up, but he stubbornly kept his composure.
He found the giant laying on his back, four guards with him. One approached him the second he appeared from the trees. "I'm sorry, your Highness, but you have to leave, he needs to be alone."
"I'll only talk for a second."
"He insisted on solitude -"
The giant noticed them, causing a hitch in the steady gusts of wind that swept across the clearing. "No, no, it's okay." He turned on his side and pulled the guard away, setting him on his arm. "You can come in."
John came as close as he dared.
"Did you need something?"
"I simply wanted to ask a question, based on something your King said to attempt to soothe my father." The giant nodded as he pulled the other guards close and set them on his arm. "He said it was an honorific thing, our introduction to each other. That it was usually an enjoyable thing for both parties. Was he lying?"
His face became bright red. "Well, uhm, no, he wasn't. It is an honorific thing, the servants usually jump at the chance to, uhm, well, be in my mouth. There's been high ranking officials who've really enjoyed it, and the King.... " He trailed off. "I meant no disrespect by... by licking you. I didn't know who you were. "
"And if you had known?" He raised an eyebrow.
"I would have been far less... aggressive in my licking." He put his head down, face against the grass. "I swear upon the Spirits that I would never do that to anyone I thought was someone as high class as a Prince."
John stepped a little closer, a smile faintly pulling on his lips. He thought that the embarrassment was a clear indicator this giant wasn't as monstrous as previously thought. "Maybe we should start over?"
He pulled his head up, a hopeful look in his eyes. "Really?"
"I am John Merson, Prince of Chelor." He bowed slightly. "And you are?"
"James Colt." He dipped his head. "Monster of Daku. It's a pleasure."
"For a monster, you aren't very monstrous in personality." John sat in the grass. "And your surname, it's the same as your handler's. Why?"
"She's my sister." He shrugged. "They took me in when I needed help, and they raised me."
"Raised you? How long have you been away from your own kind?"
"Since my boyhood. I've only been directly involved with the King for a little more than a year and a half."
"Ever since our border war ended." He sat up straighter.
"I'm kinda glad I was found out and turned in to the King after the war. If you didn't figure it out, I'm not really a soldier."
John played with a piece of grass. "I should be going. It is late, and my father still isn't over our first meeting."
He got to his feet. "Farewell."
