Chapter Text
“She told me I should tell you the truth.” Despite the opportunity that the Queen had just provided for him to do so, Rook hesitated to say more. The silence hung heavy in the air between him and Malleus. This was it. Once he told Malleus how he really felt about him, there would be no going back. For better or worse, everything would change. Distantly, the hunter wondered if standing on the precipice of a cliff and knowing he had to jump would be less terrifying than what he was about to do. He knew that he would feel relieved once he’d done it…if he could just get the words out. The closing up of his throat made him certain they were trapped in his throat.
Meanwhile, Malleus was unsure of how he should respond to Rook’s announcement. ‘The truth’ could be so many things, some good and some bad. It could mean that he would once and for all learn that Rook only thought of him as an oddity to study out and nothing more. Or it could be the confession of love that he had dreamt about. The prince was tired of wondering and guessing at what the hunter was thinking. Thanking whatever powers that may be listening that Maleficia hadn’t locked them together in a tiny closet somewhere, Malleus decided that he would stop waiting for the perfect opportunity to just come along and simply take the one that had been presented to him.
“And what is this truth that you should tell me?” He asked, attempting to keep his voice level and calm. Surely his grandmother wouldn’t push Rook to break his heart? She was pragmatic even with impractical things like matters of the heart, but she was never cruel. Maleficia would probably use something more roundabout like this as a matchmaking tactic. Tricking the both of them into confessing to each other was definitely something that she would do.
“The truth of my sentiments for you.” Rook answered finally. He found it hard to look Malleus in the eye while he confessed, so he focused instead on the carpet at his feet. He wasn’t a coward by any means, but that didn’t mean he wasn’t scared of showing his vulnerabilities. It wasn’t an easy thing to do for anyone. “I…I fear that I have loved you since our school years. Your grand-mère seems to think you would want to know. I don’t know why, since you tried so hard in school to keep me away. I know that you found me too much to deal with, as much as I know that you don’t share my sentiments—”
“How do you know that I don’t ‘share your sentiments’? Or that I found your enviable delight at the world to be ‘too much’?” Malleus demanded, sharply enough that Rook’s eyes snapped up reflexively. He didn’t expect to see that kind of intensity staring back at him. Based on that, he would’ve guessed that Malleus was angry at what he’d said. That hadn’t been his intention, nor did he understand the reason for the prince’s reaction. Not that Malleus appeared angry at him, more like he was upset that Rook thought that. Had he been wrong? That wouldn’t surprise him in this instance. Fae were hard to read even when his senses weren’t compromised by his emotions.
“Pardonnez-moi, I was always under the impression that you didn’t much care for how I was before.” Rook admitted, a forlorn expression crossing his face. Those words threatened to break Malleus’ heart for a completely different reason. This was how his decision to stay away had come across to Rook? He thought that Malleus disliked him, when nothing could possibly be further from the truth? It was almost enough to make the prince do something reckless. Almost. It took a monumental amount of effort to collect himself before speaking once more.
“Rook…I stayed away from you because I knew that if I let myself get too close, I wouldn’t be able to stop myself from falling in love with you. And, as it is, it happened anyway.” Malleus told the hunter. Momentarily thrown by the fact that the prince had used his first name, something he’d never heard before, Rook didn’t immediately process what he’d just been told. Before he could say anything however, Malleus went on. “I’ve wished more times than I can count that you were the candidate that the Sunset Savanna sent. I would have chosen you the moment I saw you on that first night.”
“I was the candidate.” Rook blurted out, eyes wide. This felt like a dream. …Or maybe a nightmare depending on how things ended up playing out. “Mon Roi asked me if I would and, since I didn’t believe you would want that, I declined. The first night, you would have chosen moi? …You love me?” Not that he doubted Malleus, he just wasn’t sure that he had truly heard what he thought he had. It was beginning to sound like they had both misunderstood the other. But much like Malleus, he was done with guessing what the other was thinking. Best to just ask, no matter how terrifying that was.
“I do.” Malleus confirmed. “It would seem that we love each other. And based on the fact that my grandmother has been pushing us both towards this conversation, I would say that she approves of you. Does she know that you were the original candidate?” Rook nodded. This was not where he had thought this conversation would go. But he was thrilled nonetheless. Now he understood what the Queen had meant when she told him that he would be surprised by the results. He was certainly surprised to learn that the Prince of Briar Valley was in love with him. And who wouldn’t be? But they still had one major problem.
“Oui, that was the first thing she asked me about. But…I declined the position. I am not a candidate that you can choose. What are we going to do now?” He asked. Malleus thought for a moment before he stood and took the couple of short strides to where Rook was still seated. He reached out and pulled the hunter to his feet. Great Seven, he was beautiful. The prince had been used to watching him from a distance. Not that the view had been bad, however up close, he could see how deep those green eyes really were, as well as the freckles dotted across Rook’s face. He loved those little imperfections dearly and was looking forward to being able to kiss each and every one of them.
“Now? We do whatever we want and worry about the consequences later.” Malleus said. Cupping Rook’s face carefully in his hands, the fae did exactly that and leaned down to kiss the hunter. Though momentarily surprised by the action, Rook returned the kiss readily enough, reaching out and gripping the front of Malleus’ jacket to pull him closer as well. It started rather chaste, but was quickly getting more intense. This was how Maleficia found the pair when she returned to her sitting room. They hadn’t even reacted to the door opening, too focused on each other to hear anything else.
“Well, it’s about time.” The Queen said when it became clear that she would have to interrupt them. Better to do so before clothes started to be removed. The pair startled apart, though not far, and turned to find Maleficia smiling at them from the doorway of the sitting room. Before they could say anything, she continued speaking. “I know that there are officially still three months left of the Tournament, but I never said we wouldn’t end it early if we wanted to. We could announce your engagement at the end of the week! How would you like that?” Her question was met by confused silence from them both.
“Announce our engagement?” Malleus asked eventually. He hated to point it out, but despite finding out that Rook loved him back, he still didn’t see how they could be together. “How? He told me that he declined to be the Sunset Savanna’s candidate.” Maleficia gave her grandson that familiar look of faux innocence, eyes wide and face carefully neutral.
“Oh, did I forget to tell you? Rook Hunt is a candidate in the Tournament of Crowns, happily endorsed by his sovereign, and has been since the very beginning. We do sincerely apologize for any confusion. In fact, he was nominated before Lady Kamaria even was. And I have the papers to prove it.” Maleficia said. As she spoke, her expression shifted into a wicked grin. So, that’s what she had been up to. Suddenly so many things that had confused him for quite some time made sense to Malleus. She had been working behind the scenes to make sure that no one could question Rook’s appointment as a candidate. Well, it looked like he’d get through this Tournament with both his sanity and his heart intact after all. “Congratulations, Malleus. And to you as well, Rook. It seems we now have a wedding to plan!” She sounded downright delighted by the prospect.
“Thank you, grandmother.” Malleus said, once more pulling Rook close. The hunter felt light-headed with relief and wonder. He couldn’t believe this was really happening, to him of all people. If this was a dream, he never wanted to wake up.
“Oui, merci.”
“You’re welcome, my dears. Now, off you both go.” Maleficia said as she shooed them towards the door. “I have things to do and you have lost time to make up for.” She ushered them out and into the hallway. After the door closed behind them, Malleus and Rook stood there for a moment. Each unsure of what to do next, they lingered in the hallway. Then the prince suddenly had a realization. Grabbing Rook’s hand, Malleus began walking. Rook followed behind him willingly but his curiosity got the better of him.
“As happy as I am to follow you anywhere, may I ask where we are going, mon amour?” The hunter asked. Malleus smiled at the endearment. In the back of his mind, he wondered how long Rook had been wanting to use it. Likely just about as long as Malleus had been wanting to hear it.
“To the royal jeweler.” The prince replied readily. “I believe I owe you a ring…and a proper proposal.” Rook’s grip on Malleus’ hand tightened and his breath caught at those words. This was really happening. He was really going to marry Prince Malleus Draconia, the heir apparent of the Briar Valley throne and one of the most powerful mages in the world. Of course, none of those titles the world associated with him mattered to the hunter. He was just happy to be marrying Malleus, the one he had been in love with for years. But it was staggering to him that someone like Malleus was in love with him.
He probably shouldn’t have been surprised when the jeweler, an older fae who had worked for the crown for an age, already had a selection of rings prepared that he thought Rook may like, but Malleus hadn’t expected it. Maleficia certainly had been busy. The hunter didn’t want anything big or flashy, but the prince knew that he would need something more extravagant for royal functions. In the end, a simple band of black metal in the shape of an arrow was selected for Rook’s everyday use. Malleus chose, for those special events, a larger ring with a stunning Tsavorite stone set in a sturdy black metal band. His own special occasion ring looked similar to Rook’s while the one for his daily use looked like a loop of black vine with dull thorns on it.
Leaving with the promise that both sets of rings would be ready by the end of the week in time for the announcement, Malleus found he didn’t want to part from Rook. Unsurprising, considering mere hours before he had been so certain that he’d never get to experience this closeness. It was the same for the hunter. They’d spent so much time apart, why not get a head start on the rest of their lives? So lost in finally getting to know each other, neither realized that someone else had been watching them. Someone who had just seen her own happy future go up in flames in an instance.
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The rest of the week passed at an extraordinary speed. No longer lamenting his fate, Malleus spent the majority of his time with his fiancé. Every day, the prince tried to find something new to show the ever-inquisitive hunter. Rook eagerly took in all he could of what was soon to be his new home. There was so much to see and it was all so beautiful. To be able to spend that time with Malleus, Rook had largely abandoned what few duties he had as Lady Kamaria’s attendant. Though he had made sure to get express permission from Falena first. The acting ruler of the Sunset Savanna had been delighted when Rook reported to him what had happened. He confessed that it had been his hope for the hunter to find happiness when he went to Briar Valley. It was why he had allowed him to go at all. He happily relieved Rook of his position as an attendant. Like Maleficia, Falena made sure that as far as anyone knew, Rook had always been a candidate. His position was ironclad.
The candidates and nobles alike noticed the shift in the prince’s attention as well as Rook’s apparent elevation in position, but nothing had been officially announced yet. The only thing they knew was that there was to be an announcement in the upcoming days. But it was hardly a secret what that announcement would be. Pretty much everyone knew that the prince had chosen someone and that someone was Rook Hunt. Maleficia had intentionally not forbidden the couple from spending time together. She believed that the would-be assassin was going to try again in the short amount of time that they had left. The Queen was making it clear to everyone that she knew of Malleus’ choice of a mate and that she approved. Essentially, she was painting an even bigger target on her back. It was a gamble, but one that she hoped would pay off.
Since he had been the only one in the hallway when he’d overheard the assassination plot, Rook knew which candidate was involved and who the noble it was that was coercing them into it. Maleficia had not asked who they were, only confirming that Rook was certain of what he knew. She wanted to avoid any confirmation bias on her part. The Queen had however requested that Rook write a full report of what he had seen and heard. The report had been thoroughly reviewed by the captain of the guard and then sealed. Those who needed to know had been informed and the trap was effectively set, ready to be sprung when the time was right.
Considering that the Tournament of Crowns officially had three more months before it ended, people outside of Briar Valley were surprised to receive an invitation to a grand ball to be held in only a few days. It was not on the initial schedule that had been released at the beginning. Something had happened, something big, and the rumors were flying about what it was. Surprisingly, no one was leaking the information about Rook being recognized as a candidate. Those that had been so loose lipped earlier, were strangely silent now. The gossip talked about the whole Tournament being a fae trick, or the possibility of a child on the way that needed to be born legitimately to inherit the throne, and everything in between. One or two suggested that maybe the prince had made his choice and felt no need to continue the Tournament after that, but they only discussed the candidates as they had previously been known. No one was a clear favorite either.
A few people were made aware in advance that the Tournament was effectively over, Lady Kamaria being one of them. She had not acted as hurt or offended at Rook being chosen as the hunter thought she might. He had made his sincerest apologies in person, not wanting her to hear from anyone else, but she waved him off. She had taken the news in stride and wished them both luck. But she did start to avoid him after that. The only thing that took some of the joy out of his engagement was the sharp sting of envious eyes in him. It was understandable really. Each candidate was having to grapple with the fact that they had lost to someone they didn’t even know was in the competition. However it was readily apparent that Malleus was in love and that Rook loved him back. If anything, many wished they could find that for themselves.
Going from just Rook Hunt to Lord Rook, the future Royal Consort to Briar Valley’s heir apparent, had been quite an adjustment for the hunter. The servants, who had practically been his peers for three months, now treated him with a reverence that he knew he hadn’t earned. Luckily, largely thanks to his association with Vil, he was not unfamiliar with the rules of high society. He would need everything he had learned soon enough. The fae nobility was not going to so easily forget centuries of conflict with humanity. After the official announcement was made, Rook would be presented at court and the prime target of those that had opposed the Queen’s Tournament idea. This world of opulence and prestige was not the one he’d expected to end up in. However he would gladly brave this unfamiliar territory to be by Malleus’ side.
“I know you aren’t one for a flashy affair, however I will let you know, it is hard to avoid it with a royal wedding.” Maleficia said one day. Almost everything had been prepared for the ball, so the royals were relaxing as best they could. Rook and Malleus had been invited to have afternoon tea with the Queen, something she was hoping would become a tradition. “We can still try to keep it as understated as possible, if you prefer.”
“Oui, I would like that.” Rook loved that Maleficia had welcomed him so readily. He already felt like part of their family. It helped the loneliness. The one thing he would regret leaving behind was his own family. The Hunt clan had always been close and he knew he would miss being near them. But he’d always had an adventurous nature, so his mother had been surprised that he’d stayed so close to home for as long as he had.
“My own tastes are similar.” Malleus added. “I am used to the extravagance but I am not overly fond of it. I agree that something on the simpler side would be perfect.” The prince still couldn’t believe he was sitting with Rook next to him, discussing possible plans for their wedding. The next evening, they would be announcing their engagement at the ball. The royal jeweler had presented the rings earlier that day and they were everything the pair had ever wanted.
“That works out wonderfully then.” Maleficia said with a smile. Talk shifted to other topics as the three enjoyed their tea together. In the back of his mind, Rook was perfectly aware that the threat wasn’t over, but for now he would enjoy the moment.
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Who did that upstart think he was?! Sneaking in and ruining all her hard work?! This was supposed to be her ‘happily ever after’ and now it was gone. Taken from her. She had made a deal, one that she intended to see through. There was too much on the line now. That tricky noble had assured her that he could persuade the prince to marry her if the Queen was gone and he still held fast to that. She didn’t believe him. Frankly, she never had. He’d given her a dagger in a special sheath. It was very likely poisoned. The question she had to ask herself now was who should she really use the dagger on? The Queen, the prince, or the traitor?
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The grand ballroom was once again filled with the dull roar of conversations. Those that had traveled from outside of Briar Valley were attempting to find out what those that had been there the whole time knew. Some gave rather coy responses. “You’ll just have to wait and see!” While others were more clipped with their replies. “Why ask me? I know as much as you do.” Not a word was said about how much time Malleus had been spending with Rook. A few still harbored some faint hope that maybe Malleus would still pick someone else, maybe even them. But by now most were resigned that they had lost.
Malleus was enjoying this ball much more than he had enjoyed the previous one. The pressure he’d been under last time was gone and he was able to relax. Though it wasn’t really a secret that Rook would be his choice, they decided not to start the ball with the hunter already at Malleus’ side. Though after the announcement was officially made, no one was going to keep the prince from his fiancé. He had dreamt of this day for so long and to have it be a reality was overwhelming.
Rook meanwhile, was dealing with the pointed stares from the other candidates and the cold shoulder from Lady Kamaria. Like the first ball, there were not assigned tables and people were able to mingle as they pleased. But unlike that opening night, no one approached Rook to ask anything. Instead, they watched him from a distance. It could have been because they were bitter about Malleus choosing him or it could have been the fact that the acting ruler of the Sunset Savanna was standing next to him. Falena had come this time to support the hunter as well as to help guide the somewhat listless Lady Kamaria. She sat nearby, quiet and emotionless. If Falena asked her a question, she would quietly answer, but she ignored anything Rook said. Whereas he was sorry for being the cause of her despondence, he was still thrilled that Malleus and he would be officially engaged in mere hours. He couldn’t trade his happiness for her contentment and he wouldn’t even if he could.
There were quite a few more guards than there had been before. And the Queen also maintained more of a distance than she had previously, not stepping down from her throne to interact as she had the first night. So much so that it was noticeable. Rumors were circling about why, but no one had been made aware that there was an assassination plot that involved the fae nobility and a candidate. The only ones who even knew who to watch were Rook, the captain of the guard, and a few select members of the Queen’s guard. She was watching everyone intently. Since she didn’t know who she was looking for, she kept a sharp eye on everyone.
When the time came for the announcement of Malleus’ engagement to Rook, the shocked silence was nearly deafening for a moment. The visiting dignitaries looked around and realized that none of the candidates seemed to be surprised. Though a few were quietly fuming. Since Falena was standing right next to Rook and was actually a part of presenting him, no one could say anything against the hunter. If his King was endorsing him and the Queen accepted that endorsement, no one could argue. One person however, couldn’t take any more.
“You just couldn’t keep your head down and let me have this, could you?!” A shrill voice echoed across the ballroom. All eyes turned to see Lady Kamaria standing there, shaking with rage. It was the most emotion they had seen from her in nearly a week. Gripped tightly in her hand was a keen dagger that looked to be dripping some kind of cloudy liquid. “All I ever wanted was a place that was mine! That I didn’t have to share with someone else! I was promised a happily ever after! And if I can’t have that, no one else can either!”
Faster than anyone thought possible, Lady Kamaria darted forward. It wasn’t clear whether she was heading towards Malleus or Maleficia, but the guards quickly stepped in to intercept her. When they did, she grinned at them, a manic light in her eyes. She shifted mid-step and slashed out at who she could reach, the one that had been her real target. The one she considered to be the traitor. Had he had been even a second slower, the damage would have been far worse. But even he couldn’t completely evade the blade. Rook clutched at his left side, a thin trickle of blood escaping between his fingers. By then, the guards had rushed forward and Lady Kamaria had been subdued, still shrieking that he had stolen her future. Rook was afraid that she had now stolen his.
“Rook! Are you okay?!” Malleus was instantly at his side. Rook shook his head, tears already forming at the corners of his eyes and not just from the pain. He looked up at Malleus, dreading what he had to tell him.
“Non, it is poisoned.” He said. Time seemed to freeze for the fae as he processed those words. Looking into the deep green eyes that he loved so dearly and realizing he may lose him if he didn’t act fast, the prince steeled himself with a deep breath. Without another word, Malleus scooped the hunter up into his arms and vanished into sparkling fairy lights.