Deferto Neminem
Title: Deferto Neminem
Author:
yunho_ism
Pairing: Yunjae
Length: (3/10)
Rating: PG-13
Genre: Romance, Fantasy, Action, Drama, AU
Summary: When the moon fell in love with the sun, all was golden in the sky, all was golden when the day met the night.
A/N. This fic is heavily inspired by GRR Martin's A Song Of Ice and Fire. Certain elements like the setting, house sigils, and other terminologies are from the books and are therefore not owned by me. The plot however, is mine. Title is from Shakespeare's Hamlet and Kim Jaejoong's chest tattoo.
Chapter 3 - Gold Amongst The Snow
Perhaps it was from their late night campfire or simply from the ever present coldness of the north that Yunho ended up sick with a cold and a burning fever the following morning. Shivering even under layers of wool as he lay in bed, Yunho was confined in his quarters with only the maesters of Winterfell allowed inside to tend to him.
At the same time, a big storm had hit the north and none of the northmen had dared to take a step outside in the ferocious blizzard. Everyone huddled inside their homes for warmth and even the guards on the castle walls shortened their watch to escape the biting cold. The shivering southerners had taken to wine to keep themselves warm and were either drunk half the time or glued beside their fireplace.
It wasn't until the fifth day that the winds began to die down and Winterfell once again opened its gates even with the snow as high as a full man's height in most areas.
Being a true blooded northman, Jaejoong was used to these storms and braved the cold that starless night. Even when the snow were merely flakes swaying in the wind, the cold clawed at his skin the moment he unbarred the door of Winterfell's western tower. The soldiers walking the length of the castle wall bowed at him in recognition and gave him immediate access as well as the privacy he wanted. It was not the first time he had escaped here for some peace and solitude. The prince kindly said his thanks before he went on his way.
Jaejoong raised the hood of his coat and began his quiet walk, his boots leaving heavy footprints on the snow with his every step. The pathway at this part of the castle wall was narrow, allowing only four people at most to walk side by side at a time. The brick wall only came up to his waist so he had a good view of the ground below. Looking down on the castle grounds, all he could see was a blanket of white and the thin smoke from the chimneys of the nearby town houses. The streets and the courtyard were empty aside from the burning torch lights and the guards on patrol, and the distant noise of neighing horses were the only sounds he could hear against the howling of the wind.
As his eyes wandered around their snow coated kingdom, his thoughts drifted off to someplace warmer. A few thousand leagues away, just across the mountain of rocks and ice was a land of sun, color and summer. It would've been a lie if the prince said he had never dreamt of setting foot on the other kingdom when he was younger. The vast lands, the flowers, the ocean... they all called out to him... But now, he was a grown man and that distant dream was long gone. Thoughts of the southern kingdom were only brought about by his concern on when Yunho and his troops would give in to their desire to march back home. There would be no denying that it would take some getting used to when the southmen would be gone from Winterfell... especially their sun-kissed prince. The thought of Yunho leaving made his chest throb.
"He will not stay forever... And when the day he departs comes, it will break me... If I do not want that to happen, I must not act on how I feel." It was the conclusion he had come upon after days of staying clear of the other prince. Yunho's sudden illness had spared him of the worry of how to face the southerner the morning after their campfire. It was fortunate that he was a master at steeling his features that his face did not betray any of the fluster he was feeling with the other in such close proximity even with the effect of his drink. "It wasn't just the wine... I was so lost in his eyes that night... And I was caressing his cheeks too. I would not have acted that way even if I was drunk. It was something else entirely..." He sighed. "These are feelings I should not even dare to think about."
The first night of Yunho's confinement, Jaejoong had snuck in his room to check on the prince. “Seeing Yunho panting in bed, his face scrunched up in pain as the nightmares of his fever chased him... I ached to touch him, to hold his hand and to kiss him better. It pained me to see him suffering. These are not the sort of feelings I would have for a friend, or a rival, or a comrade... I am almost afraid of the effect he has on me. I've had my fair share of attraction to other people, but never with this sort of intensity of longing for the other person so badly." He stayed on the other's bedside the entire night and quickly left the moment Yunho showed signs of consciousness.
Jaejoong continued staring at the distance, losing track of time as his thoughts and his emotions battled. It wasn't until the prince's fingers started feeling numb when a shadow shifted behind him.
"Blood of my blood, the snow is starting to fall heavier. You should head inside."
Jaejoong turned to the direction of the voice but wasn't surprised at all of his bloodrider's presence. Changmin always knew where he was and was often never far. It was not something that had ever bothered him. On the other hand, the knowledge that the other man was always near was comforting.
"Is it already time for supper?" The prince asked as he approached the figure leaning against the wall. Changmin was fully clad in clothes as black as night.
"Your siblings had finished eating about an hour ago."
"Oh." Jaejoong replied in surprise, not realizing that he had been out too long. "And Yunho?"
The bloodrider straightened up. "Prince Yunho is in his quarters with his dinner... I believe he is waiting for you. He is now well enough to leave his bed."
"Despite my fear, I want to see him..." That was Jaejoong’s immediate thought as he walked past the other northman. Changmin followed behind him silently. It wasn't until the door to the tower was barred again behind them that Changmin began to voice out his thoughts.
"You have been avoiding him."
Jaejoong unfastened his damp cloak and swung it over his arm. Changmin did the same. "I am not obligated to be around him at all times just because he is an important guest."
The bloodrider snorted. "You were being too hospitable until the night of the campfire. It's as if something had happened between the two of you."
Jaejoong stumbled against the stairs and glared at the northman at his side, his forehead creasing. "I do not like what you are implying."
"I am not implying anything at all."
Jaejoong huffed. "Leave me be... You should be pleased of the distance between me and our temporary companion."
"Some distance between us would be nice too." Changmin sighed jokingly, earning him an immediate smack on his arm with the prince's cloak. "I would also like to spend time with my new nephew. The prince is growing stronger and livelier by the day. My sister said he doesn't even cry as often... On the day he learns to walk, I will teach him how to hold a sword. And when he grows older, I will take him riding with me every day."
"Hey!" Jaejoong exclaimed, his voice echoing along the empty hallway. "The prince is my nephew too! Leave me something to do. And besides, you cannot spend too much time with him. You are my bloodrider... He will have his own."
The bloodrider chuckled. "I have no choice. I am bound to you for life." This time, Jaejoong's cloak hit his face.
Changmin winced and wiped the melting snow off his face. "Prince Yunho is no longer sick... You can refocus your violent nature back on him."
The mention of the other prince's name caused Jaejoong to cease their playful banter. Changmin was quick to note of the sudden slump of his shoulders.
"Blood of my blood..." Changmin started as he made sure to match Jaejoong’s pace. "Although you are a prince, once in a while, you should go for the things that make you happy... There is no need for you to always be so selfless... You worry about the southmen too much. That should be my job... And if anything does happen, I will always have your back... Always."
"I know." Jaejoong smiled and continued walking until they were outside of Yunho's quarters. Light was visible from the crack beneath the door, indicating that Yunho was still waiting for him. Changmin gave him a slight shove. "Go. The poor guy's dinner must be cold by now."
This time, Jaejoong's decision came much easier. He gave a gentle knock on the wooden door and felt the anticipation of once again seeing Yunho’s face. "Thank you... I think I'll go see him after all... Uhm, will you send my dinner inside as well?"
"Now that is not my job." Changmin replied as he gave a quick wave before donning back his cloak and walking off.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Yunho was out cold when Jaejoong entered his quarters. With the windows shut tight and the fire crackling in the fireplace, the room was pleasantly warm. Yunho's right arm was dangling awkwardly off the edge of the bed and he still had his boots on. His cold dinner lay untouched by his bedside. "He must have fallen asleep waiting for me." Jaejoong pondered as he closed the door behind him and crossed the distance to the southerner's side soundlessly. He rearranged the covers around the slumbering prince, making sure Yunho was tucked beneath them before settling on a stool beside his bed. Jaejoong sighed of relief now that Yunho's skin was cool to the touch.
"I'm glad to see he had gotten back some of his color." Without thinking, he reached out to tuck the dark locks that had fallen on the handsome man's face. Instead of retracting his hand, he started petting Yunho's hair. Jaejoong held back a chuckle upon notice of the light shadow that was growing on the southerner's jaw. "He would still look fine even with a beard." The prince made full use of the opportunity to stare at Yunho's face unabashedly, tracing his dark lashes, his tall nose, the slope of the light scar on one side of his cheek and the fullness of his lips with his finger.
"Jae-ah." Yunho's sudden whisper broke the silence of the room, causing Jaejoong to halt his caress. Even in his sleep, the southerner leaned into the warmth of Jaejoong's hand. When Yunho muttered his name again, Jaejoong moved back as if he was burnt and got up to his feet.
"This should not make me feel so happy."
He spent a few more minutes watching the even breathing and the rise and fall of Yunho's chest, this time from a distance. Changmin's words echoed inside his head.
"But it's not as if I can stay away from him either."
Getting up and looking around the room, he found himself a quill and a parchment of paper and began writing in a neat penmanship.
"Meet me on the morrow at the back of the stables after breakfast. -J"
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
It was the fastest Yunho had ever finished a meal his entire life. Little Seohyun blinked in surprise as the prince hastily got up and excused himself from the table, almost knocking down his seat. The southerner quickly uttered an apology and patted her little cheeks before heading out the door.
"Is Prince Yunho alright?" The youngest princess asked as all eyes on the table followed the southerner's retreating back. Yunho was always cool and composed around them that their attentions were all taken away from breakfast by his obvious rush and excitement.
Yunho took the stairs two at a time, only stopping once to help a handmaid who had dropped her belongings along the hallway before running off again. He tried to slow down his pace when he passed by the ice sculptures of the previous kings of the north, his eyes lingering much longer on the one of Jaejoong's father but the moment he got outside the castle, he broke into a run. When he turned towards the stables, he passed by his men tending to their horses.
"My prince! What got you in such a hurry?" Yunho almost stumbled against the snow as he turned to grin and give a brief wave to his southmen, although not giving a reply.
"We all have an idea who he's running off to see. There was no need for you to ask, Donghae." Kangin and the men from his squadron laughed.
Yunho was panting when he got to their meeting place. The snow had covered the remnants of their campfire from a week ago, but the prince smiled at the pleasant memories that came to him. "It was worth getting sick for."
Jaejoong arrived a few minutes later, surprised that the southerner had gotten there ahead of him.
"You were avoiding me like the plague... I was worried that you didn't want to see me." Yunho started as a greeting. "Though I guess it was understandable considering how contagious my cold has been the first few days... I'm glad you left me that note though."
"And how are you feeling now? Maybe it was thoughtless of me to ask you to come out when you had just so recently recovered." Jaejoong asked as he looked at the southerner directly for the first time since he arrived.
Yunho immediately reassured him of his concern. "I'm much better. I'm up for a quick parry anytime you are."
Jaejoong shook his head. "There will be no duels until you regain your full strength… We are going somewhere else today..." Jaejoong looked up and smiled at the prince who was staring curiously at him before heading away from the castle to the direction he had come from earlier. Though confused, Yunho followed eagerly along.
They could have been walking for almost an hour now but Yunho couldn’t be too sure. Jaejoong was making a series of twists and turns against the winding trees east of the castle and they were now walking uphill.
"The trees aren't too dense here." Yunho contemplated as they made their way through the mere ankle-high snow. Even with the uneven slopes of the land, it was much easier to walk around here than in the valley below.
The southerner was about to ask where exactly they were headed when he heard the gentle sound of running water. "A stream? But that cannot be... Even the ponds and lakes near the castle had been frozen solid because of the snow."
Jaejoong noticed the confusion on his companion's face and spoke up with a grin. "We're here. Consider this a little get well present. I’m sure this is something that you have missed greatly."
The northerner held away the low branches blocking their pathway for Yunho to duck under and go through. When Yunho straightened up again, his eyes widened in disbelief at what he was seeing.
"Grass!" Yunho exclaimed as his boots stepped on the soft expanse of greenery that surrounded them. The second step he took brought a beam of welcoming warmth to his face. "And sunlight! I feel as if it’s been months since I last felt the sun on my skin!"
Jaejoong chuckled and sat down before lying on his back on the grass. Their little carpet of greenery was roughly the size of a small room, encircled by short tress around its perimeter. Looking around, Yunho could see that the weeds have been taken out and the grass has been tended recently.
"You come here often." Yunho pointed out as he took his place beside the northerner. Jaejoong was looking up and letting his face soak up the comforts of the sun. "Yes. This is my favorite place in the entire kingdom, my sanctuary and my hiding place... As you can see, the trees aren't as tall here and being uphill, the sun gets to shine down directly on the ground at this time of the day if the clouds are light."
Yunho laid on his back and soaked up his fair share of the sun as well. "It's beautiful here... You're right. I have missed the sun. Thank you."
"I'm glad I could enjoy this with you myself." Jaejoong replied, with his eyes still held shut. The moment he opened them, he found himself inches away from Yunho's face, with the other prince's eyes locked on him as he bent over Jaejoong to cross the distance between them.
The northerner gasped and tried to look away from the heated gaze. "What are you doing?!"
Totally unaware of the other's panic, Yunho reached out for Jaejoong’s soft locks, letting them tangle in his fingers. "I've always considered your hair beautiful... But looking at it now, it's as if it’s as golden as the sun... You look breath-taking under the sunlight."
Jaejoong stayed completely still, his heart hammering against his ribcage as Yunho moved even closer as if to plant a ghost of a kiss on the golden strands he held in his hand.
"Come with me to my kingdom."
Yunho’s gentle whisper fueled the pounding in Jaejoong’s chest.
"I... I can't." Even with shaking hands, he managed to push away Yunho's chest and the southerner's eyes saddened as Jaejoong moved away and got up to his feet.
When the northerner refused to look at him, Yunho settled with holding his warm hand. “Jaejoong… Please. You’ve shown me so much, taught me so much… I want to be able to do the same as well… There are so many things I want to share with you in the south… and it’s not just that… I want to be able to enjoy the world with you.”
The temptation was almost too much for Jaejoong to handle; he had to shut his eyes to regain his conviction. “We shouldn’t speak of such false fantasies, Yunho.” Gently, he broke away from Yunho’s hand. “I’m sorry… I could never go.”
Crest fallen, the southerner continued staring at Jaejoong’s back and sighed dejectedly. “A raven arrived for me earlier this morning.”
Jaejoong had already imagined what news the raven had brought but that did not lessen the blow of Yunho’s next words.
“My father is asking for the day of my return.”
The northerner was thankful he had his back turned and had seconds to keep the calm in his voice. “I can understand why your father is longing for you… He has been without his prince for so long.”
“I want you to come with me.” Yunho stubbornly insisted.
Jaejoong spun around, this time with anger in his eyes. “No. No matter how many times you will ask me, I will never go! I could never do something as selfish as leave my kingdom behind.”
Yunho’s face darkened. “So you think that by coming here, I was being selfish?”
“That’s not it… You came here for a different purpose.” Jaejoong reasoned and bit his lip to keep himself from saying more. “If I go now, it will only be to be with you.”
Yunho stood up and brushed the grass off his trousers before looking back at the sky. “I guess you have already made up your mind.”
The glare of the sun made it difficult for Jaejoong to read the expression on the southerner’s face but he knew he could never back out on what he said. “I’m sorry, Yunho but the north is my place.”
Not used to Yunho’s silence and not knowing what else to say, Jaejoong offered that they head back to the valley.
“I would like to stay here for a while, if that’s alright… You can go on ahead.” When Jaejoong refused to leave, Yunho offered him a sad smile. “I’ll be fine… I’ll find my own way down. I should start getting used to not being around you after all.”
Jaejoong walked down the path solemnly by himself, wondering if the choking ache in his chest was something that he would have to get used to as well.
← | MASTERLIST | →
A/N. I apologize for this update being long overdue, but I am now back. Thank you to those who are still being patient.
Author:
yunho_ism
Pairing: Yunjae
Length: (3/10)
Rating: PG-13
Genre: Romance, Fantasy, Action, Drama, AU
Summary: When the moon fell in love with the sun, all was golden in the sky, all was golden when the day met the night.
A/N. This fic is heavily inspired by GRR Martin's A Song Of Ice and Fire. Certain elements like the setting, house sigils, and other terminologies are from the books and are therefore not owned by me. The plot however, is mine. Title is from Shakespeare's Hamlet and Kim Jaejoong's chest tattoo.
Chapter 3 - Gold Amongst The Snow
Perhaps it was from their late night campfire or simply from the ever present coldness of the north that Yunho ended up sick with a cold and a burning fever the following morning. Shivering even under layers of wool as he lay in bed, Yunho was confined in his quarters with only the maesters of Winterfell allowed inside to tend to him.
At the same time, a big storm had hit the north and none of the northmen had dared to take a step outside in the ferocious blizzard. Everyone huddled inside their homes for warmth and even the guards on the castle walls shortened their watch to escape the biting cold. The shivering southerners had taken to wine to keep themselves warm and were either drunk half the time or glued beside their fireplace.
It wasn't until the fifth day that the winds began to die down and Winterfell once again opened its gates even with the snow as high as a full man's height in most areas.
Being a true blooded northman, Jaejoong was used to these storms and braved the cold that starless night. Even when the snow were merely flakes swaying in the wind, the cold clawed at his skin the moment he unbarred the door of Winterfell's western tower. The soldiers walking the length of the castle wall bowed at him in recognition and gave him immediate access as well as the privacy he wanted. It was not the first time he had escaped here for some peace and solitude. The prince kindly said his thanks before he went on his way.
Jaejoong raised the hood of his coat and began his quiet walk, his boots leaving heavy footprints on the snow with his every step. The pathway at this part of the castle wall was narrow, allowing only four people at most to walk side by side at a time. The brick wall only came up to his waist so he had a good view of the ground below. Looking down on the castle grounds, all he could see was a blanket of white and the thin smoke from the chimneys of the nearby town houses. The streets and the courtyard were empty aside from the burning torch lights and the guards on patrol, and the distant noise of neighing horses were the only sounds he could hear against the howling of the wind.
As his eyes wandered around their snow coated kingdom, his thoughts drifted off to someplace warmer. A few thousand leagues away, just across the mountain of rocks and ice was a land of sun, color and summer. It would've been a lie if the prince said he had never dreamt of setting foot on the other kingdom when he was younger. The vast lands, the flowers, the ocean... they all called out to him... But now, he was a grown man and that distant dream was long gone. Thoughts of the southern kingdom were only brought about by his concern on when Yunho and his troops would give in to their desire to march back home. There would be no denying that it would take some getting used to when the southmen would be gone from Winterfell... especially their sun-kissed prince. The thought of Yunho leaving made his chest throb.
"He will not stay forever... And when the day he departs comes, it will break me... If I do not want that to happen, I must not act on how I feel." It was the conclusion he had come upon after days of staying clear of the other prince. Yunho's sudden illness had spared him of the worry of how to face the southerner the morning after their campfire. It was fortunate that he was a master at steeling his features that his face did not betray any of the fluster he was feeling with the other in such close proximity even with the effect of his drink. "It wasn't just the wine... I was so lost in his eyes that night... And I was caressing his cheeks too. I would not have acted that way even if I was drunk. It was something else entirely..." He sighed. "These are feelings I should not even dare to think about."
The first night of Yunho's confinement, Jaejoong had snuck in his room to check on the prince. “Seeing Yunho panting in bed, his face scrunched up in pain as the nightmares of his fever chased him... I ached to touch him, to hold his hand and to kiss him better. It pained me to see him suffering. These are not the sort of feelings I would have for a friend, or a rival, or a comrade... I am almost afraid of the effect he has on me. I've had my fair share of attraction to other people, but never with this sort of intensity of longing for the other person so badly." He stayed on the other's bedside the entire night and quickly left the moment Yunho showed signs of consciousness.
Jaejoong continued staring at the distance, losing track of time as his thoughts and his emotions battled. It wasn't until the prince's fingers started feeling numb when a shadow shifted behind him.
"Blood of my blood, the snow is starting to fall heavier. You should head inside."
Jaejoong turned to the direction of the voice but wasn't surprised at all of his bloodrider's presence. Changmin always knew where he was and was often never far. It was not something that had ever bothered him. On the other hand, the knowledge that the other man was always near was comforting.
"Is it already time for supper?" The prince asked as he approached the figure leaning against the wall. Changmin was fully clad in clothes as black as night.
"Your siblings had finished eating about an hour ago."
"Oh." Jaejoong replied in surprise, not realizing that he had been out too long. "And Yunho?"
The bloodrider straightened up. "Prince Yunho is in his quarters with his dinner... I believe he is waiting for you. He is now well enough to leave his bed."
"Despite my fear, I want to see him..." That was Jaejoong’s immediate thought as he walked past the other northman. Changmin followed behind him silently. It wasn't until the door to the tower was barred again behind them that Changmin began to voice out his thoughts.
"You have been avoiding him."
Jaejoong unfastened his damp cloak and swung it over his arm. Changmin did the same. "I am not obligated to be around him at all times just because he is an important guest."
The bloodrider snorted. "You were being too hospitable until the night of the campfire. It's as if something had happened between the two of you."
Jaejoong stumbled against the stairs and glared at the northman at his side, his forehead creasing. "I do not like what you are implying."
"I am not implying anything at all."
Jaejoong huffed. "Leave me be... You should be pleased of the distance between me and our temporary companion."
"Some distance between us would be nice too." Changmin sighed jokingly, earning him an immediate smack on his arm with the prince's cloak. "I would also like to spend time with my new nephew. The prince is growing stronger and livelier by the day. My sister said he doesn't even cry as often... On the day he learns to walk, I will teach him how to hold a sword. And when he grows older, I will take him riding with me every day."
"Hey!" Jaejoong exclaimed, his voice echoing along the empty hallway. "The prince is my nephew too! Leave me something to do. And besides, you cannot spend too much time with him. You are my bloodrider... He will have his own."
The bloodrider chuckled. "I have no choice. I am bound to you for life." This time, Jaejoong's cloak hit his face.
Changmin winced and wiped the melting snow off his face. "Prince Yunho is no longer sick... You can refocus your violent nature back on him."
The mention of the other prince's name caused Jaejoong to cease their playful banter. Changmin was quick to note of the sudden slump of his shoulders.
"Blood of my blood..." Changmin started as he made sure to match Jaejoong’s pace. "Although you are a prince, once in a while, you should go for the things that make you happy... There is no need for you to always be so selfless... You worry about the southmen too much. That should be my job... And if anything does happen, I will always have your back... Always."
"I know." Jaejoong smiled and continued walking until they were outside of Yunho's quarters. Light was visible from the crack beneath the door, indicating that Yunho was still waiting for him. Changmin gave him a slight shove. "Go. The poor guy's dinner must be cold by now."
This time, Jaejoong's decision came much easier. He gave a gentle knock on the wooden door and felt the anticipation of once again seeing Yunho’s face. "Thank you... I think I'll go see him after all... Uhm, will you send my dinner inside as well?"
"Now that is not my job." Changmin replied as he gave a quick wave before donning back his cloak and walking off.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Yunho was out cold when Jaejoong entered his quarters. With the windows shut tight and the fire crackling in the fireplace, the room was pleasantly warm. Yunho's right arm was dangling awkwardly off the edge of the bed and he still had his boots on. His cold dinner lay untouched by his bedside. "He must have fallen asleep waiting for me." Jaejoong pondered as he closed the door behind him and crossed the distance to the southerner's side soundlessly. He rearranged the covers around the slumbering prince, making sure Yunho was tucked beneath them before settling on a stool beside his bed. Jaejoong sighed of relief now that Yunho's skin was cool to the touch.
"I'm glad to see he had gotten back some of his color." Without thinking, he reached out to tuck the dark locks that had fallen on the handsome man's face. Instead of retracting his hand, he started petting Yunho's hair. Jaejoong held back a chuckle upon notice of the light shadow that was growing on the southerner's jaw. "He would still look fine even with a beard." The prince made full use of the opportunity to stare at Yunho's face unabashedly, tracing his dark lashes, his tall nose, the slope of the light scar on one side of his cheek and the fullness of his lips with his finger.
"Jae-ah." Yunho's sudden whisper broke the silence of the room, causing Jaejoong to halt his caress. Even in his sleep, the southerner leaned into the warmth of Jaejoong's hand. When Yunho muttered his name again, Jaejoong moved back as if he was burnt and got up to his feet.
"This should not make me feel so happy."
He spent a few more minutes watching the even breathing and the rise and fall of Yunho's chest, this time from a distance. Changmin's words echoed inside his head.
"But it's not as if I can stay away from him either."
Getting up and looking around the room, he found himself a quill and a parchment of paper and began writing in a neat penmanship.
"Meet me on the morrow at the back of the stables after breakfast. -J"
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
It was the fastest Yunho had ever finished a meal his entire life. Little Seohyun blinked in surprise as the prince hastily got up and excused himself from the table, almost knocking down his seat. The southerner quickly uttered an apology and patted her little cheeks before heading out the door.
"Is Prince Yunho alright?" The youngest princess asked as all eyes on the table followed the southerner's retreating back. Yunho was always cool and composed around them that their attentions were all taken away from breakfast by his obvious rush and excitement.
Yunho took the stairs two at a time, only stopping once to help a handmaid who had dropped her belongings along the hallway before running off again. He tried to slow down his pace when he passed by the ice sculptures of the previous kings of the north, his eyes lingering much longer on the one of Jaejoong's father but the moment he got outside the castle, he broke into a run. When he turned towards the stables, he passed by his men tending to their horses.
"My prince! What got you in such a hurry?" Yunho almost stumbled against the snow as he turned to grin and give a brief wave to his southmen, although not giving a reply.
"We all have an idea who he's running off to see. There was no need for you to ask, Donghae." Kangin and the men from his squadron laughed.
Yunho was panting when he got to their meeting place. The snow had covered the remnants of their campfire from a week ago, but the prince smiled at the pleasant memories that came to him. "It was worth getting sick for."
Jaejoong arrived a few minutes later, surprised that the southerner had gotten there ahead of him.
"You were avoiding me like the plague... I was worried that you didn't want to see me." Yunho started as a greeting. "Though I guess it was understandable considering how contagious my cold has been the first few days... I'm glad you left me that note though."
"And how are you feeling now? Maybe it was thoughtless of me to ask you to come out when you had just so recently recovered." Jaejoong asked as he looked at the southerner directly for the first time since he arrived.
Yunho immediately reassured him of his concern. "I'm much better. I'm up for a quick parry anytime you are."
Jaejoong shook his head. "There will be no duels until you regain your full strength… We are going somewhere else today..." Jaejoong looked up and smiled at the prince who was staring curiously at him before heading away from the castle to the direction he had come from earlier. Though confused, Yunho followed eagerly along.
They could have been walking for almost an hour now but Yunho couldn’t be too sure. Jaejoong was making a series of twists and turns against the winding trees east of the castle and they were now walking uphill.
"The trees aren't too dense here." Yunho contemplated as they made their way through the mere ankle-high snow. Even with the uneven slopes of the land, it was much easier to walk around here than in the valley below.
The southerner was about to ask where exactly they were headed when he heard the gentle sound of running water. "A stream? But that cannot be... Even the ponds and lakes near the castle had been frozen solid because of the snow."
Jaejoong noticed the confusion on his companion's face and spoke up with a grin. "We're here. Consider this a little get well present. I’m sure this is something that you have missed greatly."
The northerner held away the low branches blocking their pathway for Yunho to duck under and go through. When Yunho straightened up again, his eyes widened in disbelief at what he was seeing.
"Grass!" Yunho exclaimed as his boots stepped on the soft expanse of greenery that surrounded them. The second step he took brought a beam of welcoming warmth to his face. "And sunlight! I feel as if it’s been months since I last felt the sun on my skin!"
Jaejoong chuckled and sat down before lying on his back on the grass. Their little carpet of greenery was roughly the size of a small room, encircled by short tress around its perimeter. Looking around, Yunho could see that the weeds have been taken out and the grass has been tended recently.
"You come here often." Yunho pointed out as he took his place beside the northerner. Jaejoong was looking up and letting his face soak up the comforts of the sun. "Yes. This is my favorite place in the entire kingdom, my sanctuary and my hiding place... As you can see, the trees aren't as tall here and being uphill, the sun gets to shine down directly on the ground at this time of the day if the clouds are light."
Yunho laid on his back and soaked up his fair share of the sun as well. "It's beautiful here... You're right. I have missed the sun. Thank you."
"I'm glad I could enjoy this with you myself." Jaejoong replied, with his eyes still held shut. The moment he opened them, he found himself inches away from Yunho's face, with the other prince's eyes locked on him as he bent over Jaejoong to cross the distance between them.
The northerner gasped and tried to look away from the heated gaze. "What are you doing?!"
Totally unaware of the other's panic, Yunho reached out for Jaejoong’s soft locks, letting them tangle in his fingers. "I've always considered your hair beautiful... But looking at it now, it's as if it’s as golden as the sun... You look breath-taking under the sunlight."
Jaejoong stayed completely still, his heart hammering against his ribcage as Yunho moved even closer as if to plant a ghost of a kiss on the golden strands he held in his hand.
"Come with me to my kingdom."
Yunho’s gentle whisper fueled the pounding in Jaejoong’s chest.
"I... I can't." Even with shaking hands, he managed to push away Yunho's chest and the southerner's eyes saddened as Jaejoong moved away and got up to his feet.
When the northerner refused to look at him, Yunho settled with holding his warm hand. “Jaejoong… Please. You’ve shown me so much, taught me so much… I want to be able to do the same as well… There are so many things I want to share with you in the south… and it’s not just that… I want to be able to enjoy the world with you.”
The temptation was almost too much for Jaejoong to handle; he had to shut his eyes to regain his conviction. “We shouldn’t speak of such false fantasies, Yunho.” Gently, he broke away from Yunho’s hand. “I’m sorry… I could never go.”
Crest fallen, the southerner continued staring at Jaejoong’s back and sighed dejectedly. “A raven arrived for me earlier this morning.”
Jaejoong had already imagined what news the raven had brought but that did not lessen the blow of Yunho’s next words.
“My father is asking for the day of my return.”
The northerner was thankful he had his back turned and had seconds to keep the calm in his voice. “I can understand why your father is longing for you… He has been without his prince for so long.”
“I want you to come with me.” Yunho stubbornly insisted.
Jaejoong spun around, this time with anger in his eyes. “No. No matter how many times you will ask me, I will never go! I could never do something as selfish as leave my kingdom behind.”
Yunho’s face darkened. “So you think that by coming here, I was being selfish?”
“That’s not it… You came here for a different purpose.” Jaejoong reasoned and bit his lip to keep himself from saying more. “If I go now, it will only be to be with you.”
Yunho stood up and brushed the grass off his trousers before looking back at the sky. “I guess you have already made up your mind.”
The glare of the sun made it difficult for Jaejoong to read the expression on the southerner’s face but he knew he could never back out on what he said. “I’m sorry, Yunho but the north is my place.”
Not used to Yunho’s silence and not knowing what else to say, Jaejoong offered that they head back to the valley.
“I would like to stay here for a while, if that’s alright… You can go on ahead.” When Jaejoong refused to leave, Yunho offered him a sad smile. “I’ll be fine… I’ll find my own way down. I should start getting used to not being around you after all.”
Jaejoong walked down the path solemnly by himself, wondering if the choking ache in his chest was something that he would have to get used to as well.
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A/N. I apologize for this update being long overdue, but I am now back. Thank you to those who are still being patient.