Horns sound in the distance as Seonghwa enters the village, everyone stares at him as he walks towards the castle containing his betrothed. Many of the commoners were happy for the wedding, excited to see that their prince was marrying off to someone as handsome as Seonghwa. Not to mention, Seonghwa was one of the best hunters in their whole village, he could easily hunt a bear or a sabercat for a small price.

However, most women who were hoping the king would choose them to be Mingi's bride weren't too pleased. Although Seonghwa can hunt, Seonghwa can't bear children. Mingi's children, the future of the kingdom. Unfortunately, the king stated this was an easy fix. If Mingi or Seonghwa were wanting a child, Mingi is to lay with Jennie while Seonghwa is to lay with Lisa. The princesses weren't too happy about the arrangement, but the same rule is applied to them if they were wanting children.

The girls turn their noses up at Seonghwa as he passed by, the male doesn't pay no mind to them. None of them caught his eye or were interesting enough to him, not even their beloved Mingi who he is being forced to marry. He arrived at the door of the castle where Mingi awaits, the guards open the door for him, bowing their heads respectfully, "My lord," one spoke as he kept his posture polite.

"Thank you," Seonghwa bows respectfully, entering the castle quickly so they could close the door and keep the cold out. He looks around the stone walls, seeing many paintings and banners that housed the symbol of Mingi's family heirloom on them.

A large black dragon, surrounded by fire on a red threaded banner.

"Seonghwa is it?" A large voice echoed in the stone halls and sent chills down Seonghwa's spine. The man turns to see the king coming towards him, a large smile on his face as he approached Seonghwa with his arms held wide open for a hug, "There he is!" The king wraps his arms around Seonghwa, the younger male couldn't help but awkwardly hug him back as he caught sight of Mingi watching the interaction behind the king's back. When the king pulled away from the hug, he pulls away to look over Seonghwa's attire and makes a face, "What are you wearing?"

Seonghwa looks down at his attire, arching his eyebrow slightly, "Why your majesty, I'm wearing my normal clothing-"

"Unacceptable. Gretel!" The king's loud voice booms down the hall again before he focuses on his future son in law once more, "Gretel will dress you in traditional Eorthian wedding attire. You won't be wearing farm rags to my son's wedding, I won't allow it."

"Father, it's his wedding too," Mingi pipes in behind his father, his tone had no hint of enthusiasm in it at all.

"No, this is YOUR wedding. You're the next king after all," The king huffs before turning to face his son with an eye roll, "Gretel! You busty cock sucking whore I am calling for you!!"

Seonghwa flinches at the king's harsh words, although he was used to his father's foul tongue and choice of words especially when he's drunk on mead. A smaller woman entered the room, her red hair in braids cascading down her back to her hips. She may be short, but she was very much a busty woman with full cheeks and freckles covering her nose, "I'm here your majesty. I was fitting your daughter in her dress for the wedding." Her voice reminded Seonghwa of one of the whores that live in the brothel that is south from the village.

"Ah, yes. Good thing Lisa is dressing nicely," The king gestures to Seonghwa, "Bathe him and dress him in something more appropriate for a wedding. I refuse to let my son's bride wear rags to a wedding. Not when they're going to be the face of the village."

Gretel curtsies and holds a hand out for Seonghwa, "Well, best not to make the king wait any longer, let's get yee ready."

Seonghwa takes her rough hand in his calloused one, she led him down the stone hallway and up the stairs to a secluded bedroom at the top. As soon as they enter, Seonghwa caught sight of a fire put with water boiling in a large cauldron. Gretel grabs a cloth to guard her hands as she grabs the handles of the hot cauldron, pouring the water into the stone tub in the middle of the room. When she was done, she sighed triumphantly, brushing her hands off before gesturing to the tub, "G'on, get in. It's going to get cold quick since it's a tad chilly in the castle 'ere."

Seonghwa swallows a lump in his throat as he shyly hides his body from the strange woman. She scoffs, "I've seen it all ya wee pussy, strip!"

Seonghwa grabs the bottom of his shirt, stripping it off all while fighting off the embarrassment flowing over him as the woman watched him. When he pulled down his trousers, her eyes widen before she turns away with a  blush to her cheeks. Seonghwa pushes his clothes to the side with his foot, stepping towards the tub and watches as steam slowly emmits into the air. She holds a hand out, "'Ere, let me help."

"I've got it," He jerks his hand away from her touching him, clearing his throat afterwards, "Thank you for drawing the bath, but I can bathe myself."

"Are you quite sure? The king wants you to be clean through and through-"

"Yes, I got it." Seonghwa cuts her off, nodding to the door, "Thank you."

She cursties to him, then takes her leave. Once she left, Seonghwa sighed and sunk his body into the hot water. He immediately felt his body relax from the goosebumps and cold, and didn't waste any time washing himself. The paint he drew on his body was still present, his house heirloom still painted on his arm to remind him where he comes from.

When he was done bathing, he removes himself reluctantly out of the water and dresses in clothes Gretel brought in when he was in the middle of bathing. It was a nice leather vest to wear over a black shirt, black leather trousers and black boots. To honor the Song household, there was a fur wolf pelt to wear over his outfit along with a chained headband that rested a red ruby stone in the middle of it. He placed the headband on his forehead perfectly, it fit like it was made just for him.

"I made that headband for you," A voice called from the doorway. Seonghwa looked over his shoulder to see Mingi watching him, letting his eyes rake up and down his body to take in his bride, "You look nice."

"Do I look like I fit the part to join your family?" Seonghwa asks, tilts his chin up as he poses for Mingi.

The prince chuckles, "You look perfect. Are you ready to do this?"

Seonghwa sighs, "As ready as I'll ever be."

<<~*~>>

Music played throughout the throne room as the couple entered slowly. They walked side by side together, Mingi leading Seonghwa to the foot of the king's throne. The king had a proud smile on his face while he watched his son make his way to him with his bride, he was more than ready to marry his son off so that he can be one proud king to have a daughter and son married and ready to take the throne.

When Seonghwa and Mingi reached the end of the throne, Namjoon who was the village's fortune seeker stood with his assistant Seokjin. He raises his arms up, the music stops suddenly as he began chanting in old Eorthian to the gods. From attending Lisa's marriage not too long ago, Seonghwa knew that he was praising the gods, and asking for their guidance to bless the newlyweds. He was also asking the gods to bless the newly weds with a bright and successful future, and for many sons to be born in the Song name.

But as Namjoon continued to chant, the ground beneath everyone began to rumble. Seonghwa and Mingi frown as they look around. Candlesticks fell from the walls, snuffing them out as soon as they hit the cold stoned floor. The paintings and banners rattled and fell to the floor as well with loud clanks, everyone in the throne room looks towards the ceiling. The large metal candlestick chandelier rattled and shook with force.

The ground began to shake more violently, the chain that contained the large metal death trap broke. Mingi pulls Seonghwa away while the king pulls Lisa and Jennie out of the way before they were crushed. It crashed onto the throne room marbled floor, shattering in the middle of everyone into pieces.

And then they heard it.

A loud roar cut through the air and shook the ground once more, right b efore the ceiling shook again and caved in. Screams were heard from the villagers, and bright orange and yellow light filled the throne room from the outside. The heat told Seonghwa that it was no doubt fire.

And the roar was no doubt a dragon attacking them.

Seonghwa dove out of the way from the falling stones, grabbing a knight's sword out of his sheath. He picks himself up on shakey legs, trying to balance himself on the ground that thundered and shook right underneath him. He heard his name called, but he didn't dare look back.

Not when one of those vermines were out there destroying his home, his kingdom.

He ran out of the door, gasping as he caught sight of the village under complete fire. Everything was ablaze, huts and houses were on fire and caving in quickly. A mother running with her small child screamed as she ran away from the fires, Seonghwa grabs her arm, "Find shelter! Quick!" He shouts to her, shoving her in the safest direction.

Villagers screamed and ran away from their burning homes, a giant shadow flew over them once more as Seonghwa looks up to the sky just in time to see a large white and black dragon circling their village and setting everything ablaze. Seonghwa snarls, seeing a guard with a crossbow and set of arrows readying his aim at the beasts, but Seonghwa roars, "Give me that bow!" He rips the bow out of the guard's hands, aiming the arrow with precision before releasing it.

The white dragon screeches and roars loudly as the arrow Seonghwa shot landed right in it's eyesocket, causing the dragon to turn away from the village in retreat. The black dragon however landed on the castle behind him and roared loudly, his stomach growled loudly before steam erupted from his nostrils and jaws.

Arrows were fired from off to the side, hitting the dragon in the neck and face. The dragon once more screeches, it's wings flap and hoist him off the castle before he too retreated. Seonghwa arches his bow, aiming again and shooting the dragon in the ribs. However, he seen his arrow bounce off of the scales as it flew further and further away rather quickly.

Seonghwa growls, wrapping the bow around his shoulder and taking the arrows off of the guard, "Make sure the king and the prince and princesses are alright."

"Sire, where are you going?"

Seonghwa grabs his dagger hanging from his belt, checking to see if it were in fact sharp as it glistened in the falling sunlight and fire from his village. He growls, "I'm going to claim their  heads as a prize for my mantle."

<<~*~>>

Written by JinJin0309