[Fic] Ballad of the Moon : 2
Title: Ballad of the Moon
Pairing: Jaemin, Yoomin
Length: Chapter 2/?
Genre: fantasy, adventure, angst,drama
Disclaimer: idea based on goose-girl fairy tale ~
Summary: Changmin has no control over his life as he's forced to leave his home to become the escort of the Crown Prince in a faraway land. Before he can even reach his destination, he's betrayed by his own guard and barely escapes death, finding himself alone and forgotten in a dark forsaken land where magic is real and even the moon has deserted the sky.
Previous Chapters: one
A/N: it may seem like a jumped and skipped a lot of time, but its better to keep the story moving faster :)
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A good month into their journey and Changmin knew for certain the feeling of separation and loneliness was no longer just the amplification of his mood, the weight of a life left behind. No, now it was something definitely more real, made all the worse when he could no longer rationalize nor brush off the way even Junsu seemed to be ignoring him more with each passing day.
Changmin had to admit that he had not been the friendliest nor the greatest of company for the first few weeks of their journey, riding quiet and brooding a small distance from the rest of the men. They had let him be, and he’d thought they had understood he was just going through mourning. Even so, Junsu would still join him night after night at the fire, small body warm and comforting beside him, whispering long into the night like an insect buzzing about his ears until the fire had sunk into glowing coals.
He wasn’t sure if it was due to his own moody silence, but he found that the dynamic of the group had formed a vibrant talkative circle around his friend, and Junsu seemed to welcome it, choosing to ride among the laughing soldiers than having a one sided conversation along Changmin’s side. He knew he shouldn’t resent Junsu’s choice, as he’d sort of forced him away, but he was too proud to ride into the group and join them, and too sorry to ask Junsu to stay with him.
The situation only grew worse, his confidence failing him, as time and time again Changmin ended up letting Junsu go. It was only a matter of time until Junsu was the one who left him first. Not just as his own personal servant since they were young, but even as the close friends he'd believed them to be, although the change in Junsu’s attitude hurt, Changmin found himself too uncertain and confused to do anything about it. He ended up deciding on nothing and just accepted it, furthering the now clear gap between the group and himself even more as he became more quiet and withdrawn.
For he knew it was all his fault. That none of these men wanted to come with him to some foreign country and never set foot home again. Of course they were bitter, resentful, even angry...but he was still shocked by their quick disregard of who he was. Their cold disrespect and not a single thought that perhaps he felt the same way, wanted nothing more than to just turn around and go back, that they were all in this together.
Though by now, after weeks spent under the monotonous green blanket of forest, he knew he would never be able to find the way back. He was tied to his fate and tied to these men. He was dependent upon and relying on them to not only bring him safely to his destination, but to be his support in the new world, to be his piece of home, to be his men.
But as the days slowly crawled by, and he still couldn’t bring himself to stand before them or raise his voice and gather them to his side, he began to feel that something really was not right. The heavy mood of the group seemed more deep and troubled than mere discontent, and Changmin realized later his first mistake was in ignoring and choosing not to believe the signs. A sabotaged saddle, his blanket trampled with mud, sand in his food, and various things mysteriously disappearing from his bag.
It had seemed harmless enough and he could even convince himself they were honest mistakes. He didn't expect royal treatment anymore anyway, but wished they'd at least treat him as an equal, as one of them. They way he had been with them out in sword practice or training horses.
But they had seemed to forget those days or pretend they didn't exist, and the day a sharp rock flew out of the trees and struck the side of his head painfully, knocking him half off his horse from the surprise, he felt a flicker of apprehension. He stubbornly refused to allow it anywhere near fear, even with the feeling that something bad was going to happen and he would be blinding himself too much to be able to see it.
His head throbbed where he'd been hit, blood trickling hot and itchy down his cheek, and if he were not so confused or so out of his element from days on end of uncomfortable, lonely travel, he'd realize he should have looked at the men, seen who was missing, seen who could have blatantly attacked their own Prince.
But he just righted himself back up in his saddle, clutching the side of his head with a faint moan, noticing the very obvious lack of concern from his men. Hell, if it had just been an arrow that had pierced his skull, would they even stop to look?
The thought chilled him, as the very possible idea that next time or any time it very well could be an arrow crowded his mind. And he looked around miserably, the forest quiet and serene around them. The soldiers were murmuring softly to each other, the distance separating them from him larger than ever before. Riding alone amidst people he thought he'd known, who should be on his side but now didn't want anything to do with him.
He didn't blame them. If anything, he'd also be more comfortable without them. He only needed one or two men, one of whom he needed in more ways than just as a guard and servant. And he sought out Junsu, needing reassurance of any kind, needing a friendly face and that beaming smile that was so readily given. He needed to know he wasn't going crazy, that he was just imagining this all.
Junsu had already been staring at him when Changmin's eyes found his. He looked surprised as Changmin caught his gaze, a faint ruddy pink creeping up his neck as obvious guilt crumpled his face. He looked quickly away, and Changmin's heart sank like a stone.
Why was Junsu joining their side? Letting them hurt him without a word. Abandoning him. He wanted to tell Junsu he was sorry for being a brat and shutting him out, to ask what else he had done wrong to offend the other so that he could apologize. Or he wanted to ask if it was merely pressure from the other men that Junsu in all his childlike goodness couldn't withstand.
Changmin could understand that, would even let Junsu go, but Junsu of anyone should know that Changmin could just as easily protect him. Junsu should know what Changmin was feeling, should know he needed him more now than ever. They had been through years together and Junsu knew most everything about him, knew Changmin would never let him down. Then, why?
He continued to watch Junsu the rest of the day, noticing now that he was actively looking for it, the way his men seemed to focus on Junsu and ride up to him discreetly, bowing their heads to him, speaking in low voices so he couldn't make out their words.
But that was definitely not how Junsu should be treated...as if he were Changmin.
Not that Changmin would begrudge Junsu anything, treated him like an equal himself, and he was positive that Junsu would never put up with something like that. It was nothing new for Changmin to get bullied or ignored, but now the situation was entirely different than back at the castle. He didn't know what the other men were playing at, but he expected Junsu to stop playing around and tell him whatever was bothering the soldiers.
Night fell quickly under the dark hanging boughs of the trees, and soon fires were lighting warm glowing circles of light beneath the quietly shifting ceiling.
Changmin had purposely called Junsu over, sitting beside him by one fire, wanting to have a slightly private conversation, or as private as it could get with the other camp fire merely on the other side of where they had tethered their horses.
He knew he wouldn't have long, Junsu always left him to go join the men at the other fire, engaging in soft conversation long into the night. He could hear them even now and felt cold and rejected despite the heat of the flames before him.
Junsu was only beside him because he'd asked, and it was awkward and horrible. He'd almost said no this time, Changmin could see it in his eyes, but then he'd glanced at the dried blood still on Changmin's face and that guilty look had crossed his face once more before he'd begrudgingly agreed.
So now they sat silently. Junsu was stiff and staring much too intently at the happily burning logs in the fire. Changmin simply waited, knowing Junsu would speak eventually, unable to keep quiet for long, especially with the way words hovered over them with beady anticipation.
"Stop looking at me like that." Junsu finally sighed tiredly, and feeling young and childish before this dark serious side of Junsu, Changmin turned his eyes back to the fire. Junsu hadn't even looked up when he spoke, obviously having felt Changmin's gaze lingering on him all day, the subtle shift from questioning to slightly accusing.
Changmin felt close to the last of his patience and couldn't keep himself as calm as he'd like. He was fighting with the rising anxiety, a fear that Junsu would really reject him openly once he finally got the courage to ask him, and he turned back to the unusually silent man.
"Junsu-" He broke the tense, uncomfortable silence. His tone was undeniably vulnerable, the unspoken plea obvious and laid out before them, so foreign and wrong between the two of them.
Another slow moment, the popping and crackling of flames. "My Prince..." Junsu whispered, and just like that he shut Changmin out.
Changmin had been begging for his friend to just look at him, but the other had denied him even that. Forcing them apart, and at this point it felt as if he were nearly mocking him. He didn't want to believe it.
Junsu stood abruptly, bowing slightly, and was turning to leave without so much as meeting his eyes once. Changmin's hand flashed out, catching hold of Junsu's and the other froze but didn't turn.
Changmin swallowed thickly. Why did he feel so helpless? Why did he feel like this was some stranger? Why was Junsu doing this to him?
"Junsu-hyung." A last attempt to bring back the person he knew. "Please just tell me what's going on. What do they have against me? Why are you doing this? You at least owe me that...then I'll leave you alone if that’s really what you want."
Junsu didn't move, his face still turned resolutely away from the fire and Changmin. Dark and unreadable.
"I'm...sorry." He said softly, and it finally sounded like the Junsu he knew, had lost, and Changmin was about to jump to his feet, to grab the smaller man in a hug he so rarely gave, because he felt this was his only chance to persuade the other, show him the place waiting and open at his side, but Junsu didn't even let him move.
He tugged his hand firmly away, the cold indifference returning to his voice as he turned his back completely. "Rest well, Your Highness. You'll need it..." he hesitated briefly, not more than a few seconds because just then a man from the other fire was suddenly calling for him and he swiftly walked away just like that.
Changmin watched him fade into darkness, could just make out some of the faces of his men illuminated and glowing, oddly bodiless from the light of the fire lit behind the horses. Eyes glittered as lips stretched into smirks, and he could clearly hear his name spoken on rough tongues and in between laughs. Something sharp sunk deep in his chest as the tinkling bubbles of Junsu's laugh soon intwined and blended with them.
And he was finally and truly alone.
Changmin huddled by the fire. It was only slightly chilly due to the dense cover of the trees, but the fire did nothing to warm him now, unable to battle the steady chill creeping through his body and clogging up his throat, unable to stop the way his heart seemed to become encased in ice.
Now he was sure that his new home would be just as horrible as he'd imagined it to be. Not only having to fit in with a foreign people and court, being judged and watched by everyone, but not even having the support of the men who had shared the same past as him.
He didn't know what to do, didn't seem to have a single shred of respect or care. He had been so shortsighted, a fool to think that they would support him now when they never had before. They mocked his title now that they were safely out of range of any of the court, of his father, of Yunho.
The thought of his brother now only made him feel even smaller. They'd never been separated before, and this had to be the worst way for it to happen. Yunho couldn't watch out for him forever, he'd always told him that, but neither of them had expected Changmin would ever have to leave to somewhere so far away.
He raised his face to look up at the canopy of trees above. Even through the dark shifting branches he should be able to see it...but for weeks now, there hadn't been any sign of the moon at all. As if it didn't exist here, as if even that comfort wouldn't be there for him now in this new life.
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"Hyung! Let's go together!" Changmin gasped and huffed, trying to catch up with the longer strides of Yunho ahead of him in the dark.
Winding, twisting stairs disappeared up and up before him, and his legs were seizing up. But he couldn't see Yunho anywhere.
"Hyung!" he called again, huffing to a stop by a gently flickering candle posted to the stone wall.
He closed his eyes as he regained his breath, and when he opened them his brother was standing before him, leaning against the wall nonchalantly as if he had all the time in the world, arms crossed and a smile on his face.
"Come on, Changmin-ah, we'll never get there at this rate."
Changmin couldn't even pout, too winded from their trek up and down various staircases throughout the castle ending with this one, the longest, up to the highest tower, complete with unevenly cut large stone steps that were too tall to climb comfortably.
But Yunho's smile was growing, he was reaching out a hand to grasp Changmin's in his own.
"Let's go." And tugged him up the next few steps. His lead was strong, confident, and sure, yet still gentle like always, and Changmin returned in full the goofy smile beamed in his direction. The one Yunho always reserved specially for him.
After circling for minutes on end they finally stepped out into the fresh night air, now atop one of the highest turrets towering over the whole castle.
Changmin instantly rushed to the wall to look down below at the bobbing specks that were torches held by guardsmen in their stations. So incredibly far below.
Yunho held his hand a little tighter as he leaned out over the wall. "Wow! We're so high!" A rush of what he liked to call freedom, and a rush of adrenaline for being on the edge of something so dangerous, and he squished and squeezed Yunho's hand in excitement. He loved the thrill of height, even more so as it was a place he hardly frequented as Yunho had long ago made him promise not to come up here alone or without him.
Yunho murmured a noncommittal sort of sound, and Changmin looked over at him curiously. His brother was staring not down at the grounds far below, but up at the sky. A bright white full moon was hanging gloriously in the darkness wrapped around the sky above them. It washed them both in silver and lit up the night with its unobstructed radiance.
A soft, entrancing almost dream-like light. And Yunho smiled although his eyes did not leave the sight.
"No matter how high we climb, we can still never reach the moon."
His voice sounded strangely sad, and Changmin didn't understand why, only feeling the natural response rising within him, the one telling him he had to cheer his brother up right away.
"Oh! I'll get it for you." Changmin chirped noisily. Reaching out a hand he jumped and made as if to grab the orb right from its bed in the heavens. He continued to hop and flail his arms until Yunho finally broke down and laughed lightly.
Ruffling Changmin's hair affectionately, he turned away from the moon at last to look him in the eyes. "Stop it, Min." But he was smiling. "I don't want the moon. No one can ever touch it because some day, later, when we're far apart," his smile faded as he spoke and Changmin just silently watched the change fade across his face, "then if I just look up at the moon, I'll know you're under the same sky looking at the same moon together with me. Just like now."
Changmin pursed his lips, not sure why Yunho was talking as if they'd be separated. They were brothers, they'd always be together.
"Hyung. Don't be stupid. We can look at it together just like this whenever you want."
And it was enough for him because Yunho's smile came back, bright and glowing like the moonlight, and then he couldn't hold his anticipation in any longer. Dragging the older along the wall he excitedly pointed out the little toy sized stables, the silver coin that was the duck pond across the meadow, the glowing ribbon that was the river winding and twisting amongst darkness.
Yunho followed by his side quietly listening to his rambling and never once dropped his hand. The moon had lit the way for them, warm guidance and protection, and Changmin thought he could never be happier.
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Changmin hid a little more deeply in the folds of his cloak, burying his face in its soft silky comfort. It didn't smell like home anymore, but it was the last gift Yunho had given him and he clung to it now as if it were the only proof all of his past life was real and important.
He didn't feel like crying, no, he just missed Yunho deeply, and felt so guilty and sorry that he couldn't even tell the moon to watch over Yunho in his stead, to tell him he was alright. To comfort himself with the thought that Yunho could be looking at the same thing as him in that moment. As if he were beside him once again.
But it really seemed like the last straw on this increasingly horrible journey. That they should take even the moon away, their last connection, his only protection no matter how childish and fanciful it was. It meant something to him and that conviction was stronger than anything real or concrete.
Nothing but the blackness of night surrounded him now, as the fire died down to ruby orange embers, and he finally managed to fall into a fitful sleep.
It would only be just a few hours later and he woke shivering and cold to find that his cloak had disappeared, stolen during the early hours of the morning. No matter how he searched, it was no where to be found, along with most of the few other clothes he'd brought in an extra saddle bag.
He didn't know what they meant to achieve by stealing even his clothes, pretending not to know when he asked them, but the excessive amounts of ash overflowing the bed of the other camp fire seemed to be staring at him, and his throat felt thick and clogged with the ash itself despite the clear crisp morning air.
They couldn't have known what that cloak meant to him, and he didn’t care how childish and stupid he was being in his own reluctance to leave their campsite. As if he was leaving Yunho behind with the coals of the fire. As if he could somehow get it back and find it if he lingered just a little longer.
Starting the day off with such a depressing note had left his head feeling heavy and clouded, distracted all morning with his own dark thoughts. But it wasn't until they took a break shortly after noon that things really started to go wrong.
It started with a pair of men disappearing without a word a short while before the captain called a halt. No one seemed to care or notice, and in his dejected state, even Changmin wouldn't have noticed unless he'd happened to catch sight of the men throwing amused looks at him before they slipped into the trees. As if daring him to tell the Captain about them and laughing because they already knew he wouldn't.
Then a while later his horse had somehow stumbled and stepped in a soft patch of dirt concealing a rather large hole across the path, deep enough for it to trip and twist an ankle, jarring and unsuspected before sending Changmin tumbling off its back and face first into the ground.
As if expecting the situation, two men that had been trailing farther behind him suddenly urged their horses right for him in a dash for where the rest of the group was dismounting ahead. And Changmin only had a few moments in which to register the thudding of iron shod hooves in the pine needles, before instinct took over and he scrambled blindly to the side.
The horses charged past, nearly trampling him where he lay on the ground. The riders neither looking back at him nor slowing down their pace, and Changmin was left rumpled and shaken in the dirt.
Had they really just tried to run him down? In broad daylight?
He couldn't believe it, wouldn't believe they'd actually make a move to physically harm him. Shakily he got to his feet, checking on his horse first which was now limping. Leading him on foot to where the men were dismounting and stretching ahead in a small clearing he tried to ignore the low laughs and jeers about him losing his seat and falling from a walking horse.
It didn't matter, and for the most part he was grateful for once of the way they generally ignored him. This time even Junsu ignored him as well, and Changmin clenched his jaw tightly, forcing down the flurry of mixed emotions bubbling in his chest, and turned instead to inspect his horse's injury more closely.
He could hear the sound of running water nearby and decided to get a wet cloth to at least help a little against any swelling, and turned away to make his way towards it. He knew later that he should have been more cautious about being alone, not that he had any one to accompany him anyway.
Kneeling down beside the cold stream among the rocks clustered on the bank, there was silence around him broken only by the gurgling of water. Then the snapping of twigs behind him. He tensed, hair on the back of his neck prickling, as he made out the undeniable sound of a blade being slid as quietly as possible from its sheath.
But it was the only warning he got before steps rushed behind him and he bolted to his feet, whipping out his own sword by reflex, swinging it up to clash with an ear splitting clang. His eyes locked with one of the guardsmen's before a movement of a second man on his right had him shoving the man away and turning to block a fierce down cut.
They attacked him relentlessly and as much as he'd even sparred with these very men during lazy afternoons of sword practice, this was something different entirely, serious and desperate. An attempt to kill.
And although he could see the intent in their eyes, their determination to actually harm him, once, twice, three times and he stopped his own swing just short of slicing through a man's neck or stabbing through a chest. He couldn't do it, couldn't believe they would go through with it either. But when his reluctance to lay a final blow left him wide open and unprotected, a quick slash to his torso had him stumbling back in surprise.
These two weren't really a match for his swordsmanship, but he was holding back even as the nasty light in their eyes only hardened with each defensive move he made. Finally he was able to knock his hilt against one man's head, sending him to the ground and turning to the second he lowered his sword point slightly as he looked directly into his eyes.
"Seojoon-ah, please just stop this-"
The sound of shouting broke the moment and the rest of the guard, already on horseback, poured through the trees. Their weapons were drawn and they cat called to Seojoon as he stood momentarily frozen before Changmin. Spurred on by their support and taking advantage of Changmin's surprise, Seojoon easily knocked his sword from his grip with a loud resounding clang, the vibrations running up his arm.
Then the man's weapon was raised to point directly at Changmin's neck, and Changmin stared from him to the approaching group in stupid disbelief. Outnumbered and helpless, and there was really no way he could get out of this. Talking seemed ruled out long ago, and he wouldn't let his trust, shaken as it was, earn him a sword in the gut.
So he did the only thing he could think of, turning on his heel to splash through the small stream and across to the far bank where he broke into a run.
Behind him the men shouted and Captain Lee's voice rose bellowing above the noise, "Let's go hunting, boys!"
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next chapter ~~
A/N: :S hope its coming along okay, this chapter doesn't seem that interesting, but jaejoongie's grand entrance comes up next! :P will update next weekend~~ <3
Pairing: Jaemin, Yoomin
Length: Chapter 2/?
Genre: fantasy, adventure, angst,drama
Disclaimer: idea based on goose-girl fairy tale ~
Summary: Changmin has no control over his life as he's forced to leave his home to become the escort of the Crown Prince in a faraway land. Before he can even reach his destination, he's betrayed by his own guard and barely escapes death, finding himself alone and forgotten in a dark forsaken land where magic is real and even the moon has deserted the sky.
Previous Chapters: one
A/N: it may seem like a jumped and skipped a lot of time, but its better to keep the story moving faster :)
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A good month into their journey and Changmin knew for certain the feeling of separation and loneliness was no longer just the amplification of his mood, the weight of a life left behind. No, now it was something definitely more real, made all the worse when he could no longer rationalize nor brush off the way even Junsu seemed to be ignoring him more with each passing day.
Changmin had to admit that he had not been the friendliest nor the greatest of company for the first few weeks of their journey, riding quiet and brooding a small distance from the rest of the men. They had let him be, and he’d thought they had understood he was just going through mourning. Even so, Junsu would still join him night after night at the fire, small body warm and comforting beside him, whispering long into the night like an insect buzzing about his ears until the fire had sunk into glowing coals.
He wasn’t sure if it was due to his own moody silence, but he found that the dynamic of the group had formed a vibrant talkative circle around his friend, and Junsu seemed to welcome it, choosing to ride among the laughing soldiers than having a one sided conversation along Changmin’s side. He knew he shouldn’t resent Junsu’s choice, as he’d sort of forced him away, but he was too proud to ride into the group and join them, and too sorry to ask Junsu to stay with him.
The situation only grew worse, his confidence failing him, as time and time again Changmin ended up letting Junsu go. It was only a matter of time until Junsu was the one who left him first. Not just as his own personal servant since they were young, but even as the close friends he'd believed them to be, although the change in Junsu’s attitude hurt, Changmin found himself too uncertain and confused to do anything about it. He ended up deciding on nothing and just accepted it, furthering the now clear gap between the group and himself even more as he became more quiet and withdrawn.
For he knew it was all his fault. That none of these men wanted to come with him to some foreign country and never set foot home again. Of course they were bitter, resentful, even angry...but he was still shocked by their quick disregard of who he was. Their cold disrespect and not a single thought that perhaps he felt the same way, wanted nothing more than to just turn around and go back, that they were all in this together.
Though by now, after weeks spent under the monotonous green blanket of forest, he knew he would never be able to find the way back. He was tied to his fate and tied to these men. He was dependent upon and relying on them to not only bring him safely to his destination, but to be his support in the new world, to be his piece of home, to be his men.
But as the days slowly crawled by, and he still couldn’t bring himself to stand before them or raise his voice and gather them to his side, he began to feel that something really was not right. The heavy mood of the group seemed more deep and troubled than mere discontent, and Changmin realized later his first mistake was in ignoring and choosing not to believe the signs. A sabotaged saddle, his blanket trampled with mud, sand in his food, and various things mysteriously disappearing from his bag.
It had seemed harmless enough and he could even convince himself they were honest mistakes. He didn't expect royal treatment anymore anyway, but wished they'd at least treat him as an equal, as one of them. They way he had been with them out in sword practice or training horses.
But they had seemed to forget those days or pretend they didn't exist, and the day a sharp rock flew out of the trees and struck the side of his head painfully, knocking him half off his horse from the surprise, he felt a flicker of apprehension. He stubbornly refused to allow it anywhere near fear, even with the feeling that something bad was going to happen and he would be blinding himself too much to be able to see it.
His head throbbed where he'd been hit, blood trickling hot and itchy down his cheek, and if he were not so confused or so out of his element from days on end of uncomfortable, lonely travel, he'd realize he should have looked at the men, seen who was missing, seen who could have blatantly attacked their own Prince.
But he just righted himself back up in his saddle, clutching the side of his head with a faint moan, noticing the very obvious lack of concern from his men. Hell, if it had just been an arrow that had pierced his skull, would they even stop to look?
The thought chilled him, as the very possible idea that next time or any time it very well could be an arrow crowded his mind. And he looked around miserably, the forest quiet and serene around them. The soldiers were murmuring softly to each other, the distance separating them from him larger than ever before. Riding alone amidst people he thought he'd known, who should be on his side but now didn't want anything to do with him.
He didn't blame them. If anything, he'd also be more comfortable without them. He only needed one or two men, one of whom he needed in more ways than just as a guard and servant. And he sought out Junsu, needing reassurance of any kind, needing a friendly face and that beaming smile that was so readily given. He needed to know he wasn't going crazy, that he was just imagining this all.
Junsu had already been staring at him when Changmin's eyes found his. He looked surprised as Changmin caught his gaze, a faint ruddy pink creeping up his neck as obvious guilt crumpled his face. He looked quickly away, and Changmin's heart sank like a stone.
Why was Junsu joining their side? Letting them hurt him without a word. Abandoning him. He wanted to tell Junsu he was sorry for being a brat and shutting him out, to ask what else he had done wrong to offend the other so that he could apologize. Or he wanted to ask if it was merely pressure from the other men that Junsu in all his childlike goodness couldn't withstand.
Changmin could understand that, would even let Junsu go, but Junsu of anyone should know that Changmin could just as easily protect him. Junsu should know what Changmin was feeling, should know he needed him more now than ever. They had been through years together and Junsu knew most everything about him, knew Changmin would never let him down. Then, why?
He continued to watch Junsu the rest of the day, noticing now that he was actively looking for it, the way his men seemed to focus on Junsu and ride up to him discreetly, bowing their heads to him, speaking in low voices so he couldn't make out their words.
But that was definitely not how Junsu should be treated...as if he were Changmin.
Not that Changmin would begrudge Junsu anything, treated him like an equal himself, and he was positive that Junsu would never put up with something like that. It was nothing new for Changmin to get bullied or ignored, but now the situation was entirely different than back at the castle. He didn't know what the other men were playing at, but he expected Junsu to stop playing around and tell him whatever was bothering the soldiers.
Night fell quickly under the dark hanging boughs of the trees, and soon fires were lighting warm glowing circles of light beneath the quietly shifting ceiling.
Changmin had purposely called Junsu over, sitting beside him by one fire, wanting to have a slightly private conversation, or as private as it could get with the other camp fire merely on the other side of where they had tethered their horses.
He knew he wouldn't have long, Junsu always left him to go join the men at the other fire, engaging in soft conversation long into the night. He could hear them even now and felt cold and rejected despite the heat of the flames before him.
Junsu was only beside him because he'd asked, and it was awkward and horrible. He'd almost said no this time, Changmin could see it in his eyes, but then he'd glanced at the dried blood still on Changmin's face and that guilty look had crossed his face once more before he'd begrudgingly agreed.
So now they sat silently. Junsu was stiff and staring much too intently at the happily burning logs in the fire. Changmin simply waited, knowing Junsu would speak eventually, unable to keep quiet for long, especially with the way words hovered over them with beady anticipation.
"Stop looking at me like that." Junsu finally sighed tiredly, and feeling young and childish before this dark serious side of Junsu, Changmin turned his eyes back to the fire. Junsu hadn't even looked up when he spoke, obviously having felt Changmin's gaze lingering on him all day, the subtle shift from questioning to slightly accusing.
Changmin felt close to the last of his patience and couldn't keep himself as calm as he'd like. He was fighting with the rising anxiety, a fear that Junsu would really reject him openly once he finally got the courage to ask him, and he turned back to the unusually silent man.
"Junsu-" He broke the tense, uncomfortable silence. His tone was undeniably vulnerable, the unspoken plea obvious and laid out before them, so foreign and wrong between the two of them.
Another slow moment, the popping and crackling of flames. "My Prince..." Junsu whispered, and just like that he shut Changmin out.
Changmin had been begging for his friend to just look at him, but the other had denied him even that. Forcing them apart, and at this point it felt as if he were nearly mocking him. He didn't want to believe it.
Junsu stood abruptly, bowing slightly, and was turning to leave without so much as meeting his eyes once. Changmin's hand flashed out, catching hold of Junsu's and the other froze but didn't turn.
Changmin swallowed thickly. Why did he feel so helpless? Why did he feel like this was some stranger? Why was Junsu doing this to him?
"Junsu-hyung." A last attempt to bring back the person he knew. "Please just tell me what's going on. What do they have against me? Why are you doing this? You at least owe me that...then I'll leave you alone if that’s really what you want."
Junsu didn't move, his face still turned resolutely away from the fire and Changmin. Dark and unreadable.
"I'm...sorry." He said softly, and it finally sounded like the Junsu he knew, had lost, and Changmin was about to jump to his feet, to grab the smaller man in a hug he so rarely gave, because he felt this was his only chance to persuade the other, show him the place waiting and open at his side, but Junsu didn't even let him move.
He tugged his hand firmly away, the cold indifference returning to his voice as he turned his back completely. "Rest well, Your Highness. You'll need it..." he hesitated briefly, not more than a few seconds because just then a man from the other fire was suddenly calling for him and he swiftly walked away just like that.
Changmin watched him fade into darkness, could just make out some of the faces of his men illuminated and glowing, oddly bodiless from the light of the fire lit behind the horses. Eyes glittered as lips stretched into smirks, and he could clearly hear his name spoken on rough tongues and in between laughs. Something sharp sunk deep in his chest as the tinkling bubbles of Junsu's laugh soon intwined and blended with them.
And he was finally and truly alone.
Changmin huddled by the fire. It was only slightly chilly due to the dense cover of the trees, but the fire did nothing to warm him now, unable to battle the steady chill creeping through his body and clogging up his throat, unable to stop the way his heart seemed to become encased in ice.
Now he was sure that his new home would be just as horrible as he'd imagined it to be. Not only having to fit in with a foreign people and court, being judged and watched by everyone, but not even having the support of the men who had shared the same past as him.
He didn't know what to do, didn't seem to have a single shred of respect or care. He had been so shortsighted, a fool to think that they would support him now when they never had before. They mocked his title now that they were safely out of range of any of the court, of his father, of Yunho.
The thought of his brother now only made him feel even smaller. They'd never been separated before, and this had to be the worst way for it to happen. Yunho couldn't watch out for him forever, he'd always told him that, but neither of them had expected Changmin would ever have to leave to somewhere so far away.
He raised his face to look up at the canopy of trees above. Even through the dark shifting branches he should be able to see it...but for weeks now, there hadn't been any sign of the moon at all. As if it didn't exist here, as if even that comfort wouldn't be there for him now in this new life.
~~
"Hyung! Let's go together!" Changmin gasped and huffed, trying to catch up with the longer strides of Yunho ahead of him in the dark.
Winding, twisting stairs disappeared up and up before him, and his legs were seizing up. But he couldn't see Yunho anywhere.
"Hyung!" he called again, huffing to a stop by a gently flickering candle posted to the stone wall.
He closed his eyes as he regained his breath, and when he opened them his brother was standing before him, leaning against the wall nonchalantly as if he had all the time in the world, arms crossed and a smile on his face.
"Come on, Changmin-ah, we'll never get there at this rate."
Changmin couldn't even pout, too winded from their trek up and down various staircases throughout the castle ending with this one, the longest, up to the highest tower, complete with unevenly cut large stone steps that were too tall to climb comfortably.
But Yunho's smile was growing, he was reaching out a hand to grasp Changmin's in his own.
"Let's go." And tugged him up the next few steps. His lead was strong, confident, and sure, yet still gentle like always, and Changmin returned in full the goofy smile beamed in his direction. The one Yunho always reserved specially for him.
After circling for minutes on end they finally stepped out into the fresh night air, now atop one of the highest turrets towering over the whole castle.
Changmin instantly rushed to the wall to look down below at the bobbing specks that were torches held by guardsmen in their stations. So incredibly far below.
Yunho held his hand a little tighter as he leaned out over the wall. "Wow! We're so high!" A rush of what he liked to call freedom, and a rush of adrenaline for being on the edge of something so dangerous, and he squished and squeezed Yunho's hand in excitement. He loved the thrill of height, even more so as it was a place he hardly frequented as Yunho had long ago made him promise not to come up here alone or without him.
Yunho murmured a noncommittal sort of sound, and Changmin looked over at him curiously. His brother was staring not down at the grounds far below, but up at the sky. A bright white full moon was hanging gloriously in the darkness wrapped around the sky above them. It washed them both in silver and lit up the night with its unobstructed radiance.
A soft, entrancing almost dream-like light. And Yunho smiled although his eyes did not leave the sight.
"No matter how high we climb, we can still never reach the moon."
His voice sounded strangely sad, and Changmin didn't understand why, only feeling the natural response rising within him, the one telling him he had to cheer his brother up right away.
"Oh! I'll get it for you." Changmin chirped noisily. Reaching out a hand he jumped and made as if to grab the orb right from its bed in the heavens. He continued to hop and flail his arms until Yunho finally broke down and laughed lightly.
Ruffling Changmin's hair affectionately, he turned away from the moon at last to look him in the eyes. "Stop it, Min." But he was smiling. "I don't want the moon. No one can ever touch it because some day, later, when we're far apart," his smile faded as he spoke and Changmin just silently watched the change fade across his face, "then if I just look up at the moon, I'll know you're under the same sky looking at the same moon together with me. Just like now."
Changmin pursed his lips, not sure why Yunho was talking as if they'd be separated. They were brothers, they'd always be together.
"Hyung. Don't be stupid. We can look at it together just like this whenever you want."
And it was enough for him because Yunho's smile came back, bright and glowing like the moonlight, and then he couldn't hold his anticipation in any longer. Dragging the older along the wall he excitedly pointed out the little toy sized stables, the silver coin that was the duck pond across the meadow, the glowing ribbon that was the river winding and twisting amongst darkness.
Yunho followed by his side quietly listening to his rambling and never once dropped his hand. The moon had lit the way for them, warm guidance and protection, and Changmin thought he could never be happier.
~~
Changmin hid a little more deeply in the folds of his cloak, burying his face in its soft silky comfort. It didn't smell like home anymore, but it was the last gift Yunho had given him and he clung to it now as if it were the only proof all of his past life was real and important.
He didn't feel like crying, no, he just missed Yunho deeply, and felt so guilty and sorry that he couldn't even tell the moon to watch over Yunho in his stead, to tell him he was alright. To comfort himself with the thought that Yunho could be looking at the same thing as him in that moment. As if he were beside him once again.
But it really seemed like the last straw on this increasingly horrible journey. That they should take even the moon away, their last connection, his only protection no matter how childish and fanciful it was. It meant something to him and that conviction was stronger than anything real or concrete.
Nothing but the blackness of night surrounded him now, as the fire died down to ruby orange embers, and he finally managed to fall into a fitful sleep.
It would only be just a few hours later and he woke shivering and cold to find that his cloak had disappeared, stolen during the early hours of the morning. No matter how he searched, it was no where to be found, along with most of the few other clothes he'd brought in an extra saddle bag.
He didn't know what they meant to achieve by stealing even his clothes, pretending not to know when he asked them, but the excessive amounts of ash overflowing the bed of the other camp fire seemed to be staring at him, and his throat felt thick and clogged with the ash itself despite the clear crisp morning air.
They couldn't have known what that cloak meant to him, and he didn’t care how childish and stupid he was being in his own reluctance to leave their campsite. As if he was leaving Yunho behind with the coals of the fire. As if he could somehow get it back and find it if he lingered just a little longer.
Starting the day off with such a depressing note had left his head feeling heavy and clouded, distracted all morning with his own dark thoughts. But it wasn't until they took a break shortly after noon that things really started to go wrong.
It started with a pair of men disappearing without a word a short while before the captain called a halt. No one seemed to care or notice, and in his dejected state, even Changmin wouldn't have noticed unless he'd happened to catch sight of the men throwing amused looks at him before they slipped into the trees. As if daring him to tell the Captain about them and laughing because they already knew he wouldn't.
Then a while later his horse had somehow stumbled and stepped in a soft patch of dirt concealing a rather large hole across the path, deep enough for it to trip and twist an ankle, jarring and unsuspected before sending Changmin tumbling off its back and face first into the ground.
As if expecting the situation, two men that had been trailing farther behind him suddenly urged their horses right for him in a dash for where the rest of the group was dismounting ahead. And Changmin only had a few moments in which to register the thudding of iron shod hooves in the pine needles, before instinct took over and he scrambled blindly to the side.
The horses charged past, nearly trampling him where he lay on the ground. The riders neither looking back at him nor slowing down their pace, and Changmin was left rumpled and shaken in the dirt.
Had they really just tried to run him down? In broad daylight?
He couldn't believe it, wouldn't believe they'd actually make a move to physically harm him. Shakily he got to his feet, checking on his horse first which was now limping. Leading him on foot to where the men were dismounting and stretching ahead in a small clearing he tried to ignore the low laughs and jeers about him losing his seat and falling from a walking horse.
It didn't matter, and for the most part he was grateful for once of the way they generally ignored him. This time even Junsu ignored him as well, and Changmin clenched his jaw tightly, forcing down the flurry of mixed emotions bubbling in his chest, and turned instead to inspect his horse's injury more closely.
He could hear the sound of running water nearby and decided to get a wet cloth to at least help a little against any swelling, and turned away to make his way towards it. He knew later that he should have been more cautious about being alone, not that he had any one to accompany him anyway.
Kneeling down beside the cold stream among the rocks clustered on the bank, there was silence around him broken only by the gurgling of water. Then the snapping of twigs behind him. He tensed, hair on the back of his neck prickling, as he made out the undeniable sound of a blade being slid as quietly as possible from its sheath.
But it was the only warning he got before steps rushed behind him and he bolted to his feet, whipping out his own sword by reflex, swinging it up to clash with an ear splitting clang. His eyes locked with one of the guardsmen's before a movement of a second man on his right had him shoving the man away and turning to block a fierce down cut.
They attacked him relentlessly and as much as he'd even sparred with these very men during lazy afternoons of sword practice, this was something different entirely, serious and desperate. An attempt to kill.
And although he could see the intent in their eyes, their determination to actually harm him, once, twice, three times and he stopped his own swing just short of slicing through a man's neck or stabbing through a chest. He couldn't do it, couldn't believe they would go through with it either. But when his reluctance to lay a final blow left him wide open and unprotected, a quick slash to his torso had him stumbling back in surprise.
These two weren't really a match for his swordsmanship, but he was holding back even as the nasty light in their eyes only hardened with each defensive move he made. Finally he was able to knock his hilt against one man's head, sending him to the ground and turning to the second he lowered his sword point slightly as he looked directly into his eyes.
"Seojoon-ah, please just stop this-"
The sound of shouting broke the moment and the rest of the guard, already on horseback, poured through the trees. Their weapons were drawn and they cat called to Seojoon as he stood momentarily frozen before Changmin. Spurred on by their support and taking advantage of Changmin's surprise, Seojoon easily knocked his sword from his grip with a loud resounding clang, the vibrations running up his arm.
Then the man's weapon was raised to point directly at Changmin's neck, and Changmin stared from him to the approaching group in stupid disbelief. Outnumbered and helpless, and there was really no way he could get out of this. Talking seemed ruled out long ago, and he wouldn't let his trust, shaken as it was, earn him a sword in the gut.
So he did the only thing he could think of, turning on his heel to splash through the small stream and across to the far bank where he broke into a run.
Behind him the men shouted and Captain Lee's voice rose bellowing above the noise, "Let's go hunting, boys!"
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next chapter ~~
A/N: :S hope its coming along okay, this chapter doesn't seem that interesting, but jaejoongie's grand entrance comes up next! :P will update next weekend~~ <3