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 use 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 12/26 + Epilogue
Rating: NC17
Chapter: 12/26 + Epilogue
Rating NC17 Throughout
A/N: The Fae does not subscribe to the theory that Xander would form an attachment to Spike simply because it's Spike, nor that it is logical for Xander to fall in love with his rapist/captor. However Stockholm Syndrome is very real and it is offered as an initial reason for Xander's emotional shift toward Spike:
'The Stockholm Syndrome is a psychological shift that occurs in captives when they are threatened gravely but shown acts of kindness by their captors. Captives who exhibit the syndrome tend to sympathize with and think highly of their captors, at times believing that the captors are showing them favor stemming from inherent kindness. Such captives fail to recognize that their captors' choices are essentially self-serving. When subjected to captivity, these captives can develop a strong bond with their captors, in some cases including a sexual interest.'
The castle was the private home of a wealthy family, it's garrison small and quickly overwhelmed by the vicious tactics of the mercenaries, as a precaution every guard was killed. The mercenaries scouted throughout the castle and rounded up all the servants and herded them into the great hall, terrified they cowered as the mercenaries surrounded them. Spike watched impassively sat on the corner of the huge banqueting table. Gunn turned to him. "What shall we do with them?"
"Finish them off." Forest growled, Xander stepped forward. "No!" All eyes turned to him. Spike's head turned and fixed him with glare and raised eyebrow. Xander's eyes flickered over the tense faces of the mercenaries and the frightened faces of the servants and he swallowed. "I, I only mean," he stammered. "who will serve us if we kill them?"
"Us!" Lindsey snapped stepping forward. "Us? You're not one of us, you belong in the kitchens with them," he roughly shoved Xander toward the huddled servants. "Leave the boy alone." Spike scowled, leisurely getting to his feet. "If it wasn't for his help we never would have gotten in here."
"He's right." Gunn hurriedly supported, there were mumbles and nodding of heads and Spike relaxed as Lindsey backed off. He stepped up to the servants. "Your Lord is dead and your Lady chose to throw herself from the battlements," he shrugged. "her choice." One or two of the maids broke down and sobbed, male servants muttered. "Now you also have a choice, you can serve us or.." He left the rest unsaid. "Anyone who doesn't want to serve us, step out." No-one moved, he grinned. "Good, I think we understand each other." The servants nodded. "Right then, I'm hungry so hurry along to the kitchen and prepare a banquet." The servants dispersed to carry out their duties, Spike caught the arm of one maid and whispered to her. She nodded, curtsied and hurried away.
Spike ordered some of the mercenaries to begin the grim task of loading the corpses onto a cart and driving to the bottom of the hill and tipping them out for the crows and wild animals to dispose of, leaving them in the castle would raise a stink and invite disease. Their grim task completed, they returned to the castle and it was Xander under Spike's stern gaze who showed them how to raise and secure the drawbridge.
Drusliia watched as Gunn carried out her wishes and tied the statue in place in the great hall. Behind her servants scurried back and fourth laying the huge, oak table and producing jugs of ale and wine and plate after plate of fine, rich food, game birds, swan, roast boar, venison, trout and salmon and all manner of fruits, cheese, bread and pie. Mercenaries carried in chairs and set them at the table. Xander went with Spike to fetch candelabra and set them at intervals along the table, Willow went round lighting the candles and when it was done Andrew and Jonathan shouted everyone to come and eat.
Spike chose his spot and sat down, Xander went to sit beside him but was roughly pulled away by Darla. "Get your ass out of there, that's where I'm sitting." She growled, Gunn and Drusilla were already seated at Spike's other side. Xander cast a look at Spike who seemed oblivious and was surprised when his hand was taken by Willow. "Come sit by us." She smiled and led him round the table to sit opposite Spike, she sat beside him and Andrew sat to her left. Jonathan went to take Xander's other side, but was pulled away by Forest. "I'm sitting there, it's time the boy and I got to know each other better," he smirked as Jonathan scowled but took the next chair as Forest sat down. Xander looked across at Spike who just shrugged and showed no inclination to interfere.
Forest grabbed at Xander and began nuzzling his neck, his other hand palming his crotch. Xander started to struggle. Spike saw what was going on, scowled and stood up. "A toast!" Everyone looked at him. "To the one who led us here," he turned to the statue. "Saint Martin." Everyone stood including Forest. "Saint Martin." They echoed. No one noticed Xander remaining seated. Forest sat down and as he reached for him again Xander leapt hurriedly to his feet. "Another toast, to us!" Everyone stood. "To us," Forest echoed. "we're noblemen now, we've got riches, we've got a castle." Goblets clinked, wine sloshed and they drank.
They fell on the food like starving wolves tearing off lumps of meat with their bare hands and loading their plates and then shoveling it in their mouths with their fingers. Spike tore off a lump of venison and began to gnaw on it. His eyes narrowed as he watched Xander cut off some boar and load it on his plate and then spear some fruit with a fork and add it and then use the knife and two pronged fork to eat. He scowled, Xander felt his eyes on him and looked up. He watched Spike pick up his knife and fork, Xander showed him how to hold them, cut the meat, spear it with the fork and take it to his mouth. Spike mimicked him, grinning when he was successful.
"Will you look at Spike playing the fucking lord." Darla laughed. Everyone looked and laughed, Spike scowled. "Knives and forks are part of out lives now, and anyone who can't use them is a fucking asshole!" He snapped.
Xander watched as the mercenaries tried to master using knives and forks. Food flew off plates in all directions, somehow Drusilla managed to throw hers over her shoulder until Gunn helped her. Darla almost poked out her eye, which made him splutter with amusement and general good humored chaos ensued.
The maid appeared. "M'lord, M'Lord," she called to Spike. "the bath you ordered is ready."