This is a non-consensual gay erotic fantasy story, all characters are 18 or over.
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"Oh, Gareth, it's so beautiful."
Alaric gasped, one of his hands immediately raising to his chest in awe as he gazed down at the delicate necklace draped over Gareth's fingers, held up to the prince as if in offering.
It was beautiful, that was why Gareth had chosen it. It reminded him of Alaric, reminded him of his prince.
"You like it? I found it along the Morlen coastline-- a little village in Forath where the people still trade for their goods, rather than coin."
Alaric's face split into a wide smile, his cheeks tinging an adorable pink.
"It looks like the ocean."
He sighed wistfully, finally reaching forward to touch it, the softness of his fingertips grazing over Gareth's calloused palms and making the older knight draw in a slow breath.
"Aye, tis made of ocean-stone, it can only be found in Forath."
Gareth tried not to shift closer at the feel of Alaric's gentle fingers fluttering over his skin, inspecting the necklace with an endearing enthusiasm.
This was what Gareth looked forward to every time he was sent away on the king's buisness... coming home with his carefully selected souvenir to see that very expression on the pretty prince's face. And Alaric never disappointed.
Alaric was a rare soul-- especially so for one born of Royal blood. He was kind, he was just, and he was as beautiful on the outside as he was within.
He was the youngest child of the king, the second-born son-- with his brother, Eryc, being the prince destined for the throne.
Eryc took after his father; tall, brusque, even-tempered enough to make a fine ruler with a shock of dark brown hair just a little too light to call black-- but Alaric took after his late mother, with his slight and almost delicate build, kind smile and soft hair as pale as summer wheat.
Where Eryc was respected by their people, Alaric was adored. He was the kingdom's darling, and to Gareth he was... he was something more.
Not that Alaric would ever know.
Gareth dropped his eyes from the prince, looking instead to the necklace he held in his hands. It was a good find, something he had discovered when he had passed an old Farathian woman perched on a cloth in the sand by the water, weaving a brightly coloured basket that had caught his eye. She had other wares with her spread out on the cloth too; beautiful beaded bracelets, spectacular sea-shell earrings and ornaments... and the necklace.
As soon as Gareth's eyes set on the piece, he knew it was the one. The ocean-stone lived up to its name-- iridescent shades of blue flecked with molten silver streaks that mimicked the seafoam of a rolling wave... it was breathtaking... as was the person he would gift it to.
It was a perfect gift, better than all the others he had brought back from his journeys for Alaric-- especially with how much he knew the young prince loved the ocean.
Their kingdom, his kingdom, it was inland-- as most capitals often were. The land was gorgeous, of course, and he knew Alaric enjoyed the rolling green hills and sparkling running rivers that surrounded the great castle as much as anyone... but the prince had confessed to him long ago of how greatly he desired to see the sea.
Gareth wanted to gift him a piece of it.
"You are too kind to me, my friend."
Alaric said, flinging his slender arms around Gareth and pulling him into a soft embrace. Gareth didn't even get to sink into it before it was already over.
He could still smell him on his skin.
"Tis nothing, really."
Gareth grunted, almost missing Alaric's shy smile hidden behind his hand.
"Would you put it on me?"
The prince asked, a hand innocently resting on Gareth's right elbow. Gareth cleared his throat before he nodded, waiting for Alaric to turn around so that he could drape it around his slender neck and secure it with a single knot. The prince turned back after it was done, lips twisted in an infectious grin as his long fingers brushed over the ocean-stone necklace now held flush against his pale throat.
He was so painfully striking with it on-- the cerulean of the stone almost mirroring the majesty of the boy's own azure eyes.
"I'll wear it every day, thank you."
Gareth nodded, bowing his head low before stepping back.
"You honour me, your highness."
Alaric blushed and reached for him, stopping the knight's retreat before he could back away any further.
"Come, the cook has promised to teach me how to make sugared pear pastries and I want you to be my guinea pig."
Gareth stopped himself from protesting when the prince wound a small hand around his larger one and pulled him towards the door, Alaric's growing grin doing something strange to Gareth's insides.
"Yes, my prince."
***
"What do you think? Too sweet?"
Alaric asked, his nervousness betrayed by the way he nibbled at his plump bottom lip as he awaited an answer. Gareth shook his head as he swallowed the mouthful of pastry and dusted the crumbs from his beard.
"Not at all, highness, you are a very good cook."
Alaric's answering beam almost made Gareth choke on his food.
It wasn't the pastry that was too sweet...
"Don't tell my father. The king would tan my hide if he knew I was in the kitchen with the servants again."
Gareth nodded, but he knew Alaric was exaggerating. The king was just as enamoured with his youngest son as the rest of the kingdom. It was impossible not to be, the prince just exuded light... you felt warm in his presence.
"Would you take some to my father? Tell him the cook made them for his morning tea."
Gareth nodded again and bowed quickly, taking the wrapped bundle of pastries Alaric pressed into his hands before he bid his farewell.
He was due to meet with the king anyway after his long journey along the Morlen coastline-- he had made his way straight to Alaric as he always did to deliver his gift instead of doing so when he first arrived. The time he spent with the young prince in the kitchen was probably a little more than he really should have spent... but he just couldn't say no to the boy.
"Arasth-gar-ah-meld!"
Gareth's body stumbled to a sudden halt mid-thought, the bundle of pastries falling from his hands as his arms automatically dropped to his sides.
His entire body was frozen in place.
Just as panic started to sweep through his mind, a dark figure emerged from the shadows and limped before him.
"Greetings, loyal knight."
