Warnings: HAU, M/M sex, rape, violence, vague non graphic mentions of het sex, swearing, angst, harsh themes, mild Sub/Dom. OOC, varying chapter lengths, Unbeta'd, blatant used of movie dialogue.
Rating: NC17 Throughout
Pairing: 100% S/X
Author: Naughty_Fae
Comments: Comment if you want to, though it would be nice to know someone is reading it.
Disclaimer: I own nothing, everything belongs to someone who is not me. I write for fun not profit.
Note1: This is Europe in 1501. Times and people were harsh. Life was cheap and plague rife. This is not a cuddly story and Spike is not a cuddly character. Some might find his treatment of Xander, questionable.
Note 2: My heartfelt thanks go out to my dear friend Bmblbee, for holding my hand through the writing and posting process. *Hugs*
Note 3: This is a plot driven story. What sex there is happens in the natural course of the plot and as part of Spike and Xander's relationship.
Note 4: This is a human/medieval Spike and Xander expect them to behave as such.
Summary: When Prince Rupert is usurped and ousted from his city, he lays siege. He decides to use a group of wandering mercenaries led by the charismatic but dangerous Spike to supplement his army. When he goes back on his word to allow the mercenaries 24 hours free hand to loot the City unopposed, Spike plots revenge. Unfortunately it is Rupert's 18 year old, scholarly son Xander who must pay the price.
Chapter 5/26 + Epilogue
Rating: NC17
Chapter: 5/26 + Epilogue
Rating NC17 Throughout
Xander watched from the window as the covered wagons formed up in the court yard. One contained fine silk, linens, leathers, velvets, suede and all manner of dresses, ribbons, gowns, night shifts, doublet and hose, jerkins, shirts, britches, shoes and boots. A second contained, plate of gold and sliver, candlesticks, fine goblets, Kegs of wine, beer and mead, cured meats, cheeses, spices and sweet honey cake, game birds and fruit. A third carried a small table, chairs, skins, colorful tents, a casket of jewelry, fine weapons and ornate saddles and bridles. All intended as gifts for Anya's parents and much of it he recognized as items looted by the mercenaries, no wonder his Father had wanted it back, Xander thought bitterly.
Of course it was nothing compared to what Xander would bring back with Anya.
The escort of armed soldiers formed up behind the wagons and he watched as his horse was brought from the stable. His Father looked up and gestured for him to go down, it was time to leave.
It was on the third day as they neared the boarder of his Father's lands that they encountered a group of pilgrims. The pilgrims made their way along the road a mixture of monks and peasants with their heads bowed and covered; they carried a painted, wooden statue of St Martin and chanted as they walked. Xander riding beside the lead wagon saw them first. "Pilgrims ahead, those of you who wish to give alms may do so," he shouted.
As they neared the pilgrims cleared the way and moved to he sides of the road, they held out wooden bowls and their chanting changed.
"Alms for the poor." "Remember the poor." "Alms for the love of God." "May God bless you Sir."
The soldiers gave generously and Xander rode back and forth making sure to deposit a gold coin in each bowl. As he dropped a gold coin into one bowl the monk spoke without looking up.
"Thank you Little Prince."
Xander's head snapped round at the words and voice he both recognized. As Spike tossed back his hood, Xander's eyes widened in horror and he shouted. "Ambush!" He wheeled his horse around. "Ambush!" He repeated.
Spike grinned. "Get him!" He yelled.
Mercenaries fell on the wagons and soldiers. Branches were pushed through the wheels and soldiers caught off guard pulled from their horses and their own weapons snatched and used against them. Xander reached for his sword but Spike's hand clamped down on his wrist and he hissed. "Don't be a fool Xander, you don't want to fight me." Spike yanked him roughly from his horse and wrested his sword from his hand and then shoved him at Forest and Lindsey . "Keep a tight hold of him lads." Spike ordered.
The fighting was over in just over five minutes. Drusilla and Darla went around finishing off the wounded soldiers, cutting their throats or running them through with swords. The rest along with the wagon drivers were rounded up and made to kneel. Forest and Lindsey dragged Xander forward, Forest had his fingers curled tightly in his hair and a knife at his throat, Lindsey held his arms.
Lindsey kicked away Xander's feet so he crashed painfully to his knees. "What do you want to do with Rupert's pup?" He growled.
Forest yanked back his head and pressed the knife into Xander's throat. "I vote we slit his throat," He snarled. "and send his head back to his Father on a pike!"
"Don't be fools," Xander rasped. "kill me and my father will hunt you down and kill you all and not just my father."
Forest growled and pressed the knife against the skin so that it split and began to dribble blood down his neck. Xander hissed.
"Wait!" Spike barked. "Whelp's right. We kill one of their own in cold blood and every Lord and petty Prince will turn against us. They'll not rest till they've hunted us down and there'll be no place to run."
"What then?" Lindsey snapped.
Spike looked thoughtful. " Word will have spread that bastard cheated us. They need us to fight their wars so right now he won't get a lot of sympathy or help. We hold the whelp ransom and make him pay through the nose."
Xander spoke defiantly. "That won't stop my father hunting you
down."
Spike stalked up to him. "He won't risk the life of his only child, he'll pay," he purred. "all we need is somewhere to wait, somewhere we can defend if we have to."
Gunn nodded. "Spike's right, send the soldiers back with our demands and wait for the bastard to pay up." There was a general murmur of agreement.
They took the soldier's boots and sent them back on foot with demands that Rupert find them and pay the ransom. They divided themselves up between the wagons and horses. Spike and Drusilla drove the first wagon and put Xander, gagged with a rough rag, hands tied behind him and ankles bound, in the back. Drusilla insisted that the wooden statue be tied to the wagon beside her, where she could watch and pet it. Spike issued orders to get off the road and travel in search of a suitable place to stay.
The wagons and riders veered off the road and began to move overland.
Xander was too angry and filled with the indignity of his situation to be scared or to realize the full peril he faced. The wagon bounced along and he struggled in the back, twisting and turning his wrists until they were raw from the biting of the rough rope and blood trickled down his hands; but Spike knew what he was doing and the knots held. Spit soaked into the rag until his mouth filled with the foul taste of it and he gagged and choked by turns. Now and then Spike glanced at him and smirked, the boy would learn his place soon enough.
They traveled until late afternoon and then found a clear place to make camp surrounded by trees to act as shelter. Spike crawled into the back of the wagon and used a dagger to cut the rope binding Xander's ankles. Xander lashed out at him with his boot and was rewarded when he connected solidly with Spike's ribs and there was a painful, "Oooomph" and grimace of pain, but his satisfaction was short-lived.
Spike grasped his jerkin and tossed him bodily from the wagon. Xander landed awkwardly on the ground his arm trapped beneath him, he gave a muffled yelp and his face contorted with pain. The mercenaries watched with amusement as Spike leapt from the wagon and landed cat-like by Xander. He tried to squirm away as Spike back-handed him hard across the face splitting his lip and then dragged him by the hair and collar to the side of the wagon.
Spike sat the dazed boy against the wagon wheel and untied his wrists and stretched up his arms and retied each wrist to the rim of the wheel between the spokes, so they formed a 'v' above his head. Xander shrieked behind the gag when his injured arm was touched, Spike smiled. He stood back and admired his work. Xander's cheek was red and starting to bruise, the rag reddened with blood from his split lip and the brown eyes filled with pain looked at him warily. Spike raised his hand and smirked as Xander flinched away, he grunted in satisfaction and kicked the boy's feet. "I don't want to hurt you Little Prince, doesn't mean won't," he hissed.