Day 1: Protection
Using my own prompt list: here. You can also read this and every prompt as they come on AO3.
Summary:
Martyn stands guard at the doors of his King's home, believing him to be in danger. Ren just wants his Hand back inside.
Martyn paced outside the wide entrance of Ren's home, hand on the hilt of his sword. Ren had told him it wasn't necessary, that he could take very well care of himself, but he wasn't the one that had heard what the townsfolk had said.
They were calling for his head, like Ren had done anything worthy of such a thing.
Now, the hunting party coming after Ren was hardly the first. The great Red King of the Red Mountain Peaks had faced many foe over the years. Martyn being one of them. There was a bounty worth his weight in gold on Ren, one that Martyn had sought after at one point and learned to regret his attempt. A bounty which was completely unjustified. People just didn't like having something bigger than them nearby, too scared of what he could do to care that he hadn't done anything at all.
Martyn could feel every step of Ren coming to the door, despite the king's attempt to tread lightly. He didn't look up at him, pointedly scanning the horizon, even as Ren spoke, "Martyn, come inside. Everything is alright, man."
His hand tightened on the sword, "They're bringing a wizard. They're bringing an army. I will not stand idly while they threaten my king."
Ren huffed, and Martyn can hear him kneeling. No other king would even consider lowering themselves, especially to someone so small and insignificant as Martyn. It was something so unique to Ren, even if the other claimed it was nothing special. "I think you will find that I couldn't bear it if my hand was hurt for my own sake."
"I will not stand idly-"
"Neither will I," Ren cut him off. "Come here my hand, let me see you."
Martyn hesitated to look away from the woods. They had the high ground, and you could spot someone from a few miles away, but that was only if the trees gave way. With the new leaves and flowers of spring now in full bloom, you could barely make out the paths.
He turned and looked up at his King. The giant, the monster, the great dog of the peaks. He was enormous, his hand alone would have been able to smash apart his old cottage in a single sweep. Martyn had only ever seen those hands be used for a gentleness they didn't look made for. Now one of those hands was flat on the floor, fingers slightly curled in. Martyn climbed in it without a second thought.
Ren waited until he was steady to lift him up to his nose. The one flaw of his king, he was near blind, his light blue eyes took in too much light, leaving his vision spotty at best. "There we are. Dear Martyn, my precious little hand, so dashing," Ren purred, his other hand brushing against his back and a finger curling to rub his head gently. "Will you allow me to bring you back inside now? Night is approaching, there will be no crusade against me today. Everything is alright, dude."
He couldn't help but let the smile slip into place as he leaned into his king's touch, appreciating the words. Only his king.
"If I go in now, we won't see their torches," He insisted, glancing once more over the woods. He could just barely make out the little village at the base.
"We can watch from the windows," Ren compromised.
They wouldn't. The moment they reentered the Dogwarts Ren would find a million things to distract him with. He'd have to spend the whole morning trekking through the woods looking for signs of the hunting party coming to kill his king, just like he had every day since he had come back from his trip to town. He may again find nothing, or he may find something worse. He held his breath for the day he spotted the wizard the townsfolk had acquired.
"Alright. As you wish, my king," Martyn conceded, bowing his head.
Ren grinned, his mouth filled with sharp canines that Martyn could not find in him to fear. For how could he ever fear his king. Ren stood slowly, and Martyn's whole world swayed as he was brought far above the ground until he was securely held against Ren's chest. They stepped inside, the stone doors closing behind them.