Chapter Text
When James first heard that he was to wed the Jewel of the Northern Kingdom, he was…torn between being impressed an intimidated. And thinking it all a farce.
The ambassador before him, however, did not seem to be joking. “The Northern Kingdom offers the hand of their precious Jewel in exchange for uniting the realms.” He repeated. “It is the highest treasure they can offer.”
James was no fool, he had heard plenty of stories about the treasure hidden in the Northern Kingdom. Tales of the young prince born of such beauty, many thought there was magic involved. Because of his beauty, the prince had been kept away from the flaws of the outside world.
Kept pure in every way. The royal family had even decreed that the prince not even be given a name that might taint him.
He was called the Jewel of the Northern Kingdom, though some of James’s men (after a few too many drinks) had another title for him.
Dragon bait.
And soon, he would be James’s consort, after a wedding to unite the realms.
When James and his entourage arrived in the Northern Kingdom arrived shortly before the wedding was to take place, he wasn’t quite sure what to expect of his new groom.
It was announced that the Jewel would be joining them for the engagement banquet, and James couldn’t help but be a bit nervous. It wasn’t every day that one met a being of ethereal beauty, now was it?
All of James’s entourage eagerly awaited the arrival of the prince, even as the king of the Northern Kingdom had them sit and begin their feast.
It was a noticeable entrance, when the Jewel finally arrived. Or rather, when his attendants arrived. Four servants were holding up a white canopy, with panels of white silk reaching the floor, while another servant rolled out a long stretch of white satin leading to the head table.
There were several murmurs to be heard as the servants made their way through the banquet hall, and it was only when the torchlight illuminated the white silk that James saw a slender silhouette concealed by the canopy.
“Well that’s one way to avoid seeing the bride before the wedding.” Alec muttered from his seat to James’s side, looking into his ale.
If anything, the secrecy was all the more intimidating to James. Was no one allowed to look upon the precious Jewel?
Even when the prince sat next to James, he was still concealed behind panels of white silk. Food and water (never anything fermented) were given to him by a servant, who would fill a plate with requested food, then hold the plate inside the canopy while the prince ate.
The ritual was odd, but it did have one advantage. While James couldn’t see the prince, he definitely heard him. And the voice he heard was most definitely one of the most demure and gentle voices he had heard.
As James finished a drink of his wine, something moved in the corner of his eye.
The white silk hiding the prince had been moved, ever slightly, by an ivory hand and revealed a green eye peering at him curiously.
Green was perhaps not the best descriptor, though James was no poet. He had seen several emeralds though, and the eye peering at him was far brighter than any of them.
There was a moment when the prince noticed that James was watching him, and hid once more behind his screen. It was only for a moment, though, as curiosity seemed to get the better of the precious Jewel, and he opened the curtain once more, watching James.
“Are you my intended?” The prince spoke slowly, unsure.
James blinked, not expecting the question, “I am indeed, your highness.” He said calmly. Then, deciding to make a bold move (that was what James was known for, after all), he gently grasped the hand that was peeking out of the curtain. He brought the pale and slender hand to his lips, kissing the knuckles gently, “King James of the Southern Realm, at your service.”
A gasp came from the prince, and through the small window between the curtains, James could see a blush creeping across the prince’s cheeks. But then James felt the prince’s fingers move in his hand.
“Your hand.” The prince asked, “Why is the skin coarse?”
James blinked, looking at his hand. It was true, his hands were covered in calluses from wielding his sword and the reins of his horse. In comparison to the prince’s pale and soft hand, his own was ruddy and rough, “The skin becomes rough when you work with your hands a lot.”
The prince nodded slowly, exploring the calluses of James’s hand before looking back at him, “Do you ride a horse?”
“Of course.” James nodded, “Though I’m afraid I left my steed Aston back at my castle.”
There was a curious look in the prince’s eye, “I’ve never ridden one, but I’ve read about them. And all sorts of things that can be found outside.”
Outside. Did James mean what he thought he meant? Had the prince never set foot outside? Pure in every way indeed.
“Well,” James started, taking the prince’s hand, “when we are wed, you can tell me all the things you want to do outside, and we’ll do them.”
There was a moment when the prince didn’t say anything. But then a small laugh came from behind the folds of while silk, a light and melodious laugh.
“I’d like that very much…James.”