The sound of gun fire and clash of swords filled Alfred ears. All around him the cold winter air and snow chilled his body, making him shake as he fought on. His sword slashed through another victim. One after another as he tried to retreat. There was more for him to do, his family, his queen, the children he knew were waiting for him.
"Sire!" A man yelped as he fell to the ground, sacrificing his life to protect the King. It took one moment for Alfred to turn and cut the enemy's head off in retaliation.
"Damn it," he growled before he felt a hard strike on the back of his head. His knees buckled, falling into the snow before he landed on his side. Looking up the last thing he saw was a malicious grin before blacking out.
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"Daddy! Daddy!"
Alfred chuckled as he scooped the small toddler into his arms and spun around in a circle. "Hey baby boy. What are you getting all excited about?" He asked already knowing the answer to his question.
"Because it's Christmas tomorrow daddy! And that's when I'm getting my new baby sister," he squealed joyously before jumping out of Alfred arms and running down the grand hall towards his room. Shaking his head with a smile he followed his son Allen and finding him jumping on the large bed as he was being scolded by his husband.
"Now Allen you need to calm down and be careful," Arthur sighed as his hands closed the book he was reading and placed it on the nightstand. Their eyes met and Alfred shrugged seeing the accusing stare from his husband, knowing full well he had been spoiling their adopted son.
"He's right buddy," he said as he grabbed the boy in mid air and plopped down on the bed placing Allen between them and watched as Arthur ran his fingers through the boys messy hair trying to fix it. "We love you and want you to be safe."
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A soft groan left Alfred's lips as he woke up and felt pain shoot through his head and body. Trying to move he found himself tied to a chair and his glasses missing, making his head hurt even worse.
"Well well well. Good morning King Jones," a man snickered behind him and Alfred only rolled his eyes. Lifting his head up slowly as he fought off blacking out again, he turned to try and look at the man talking to him.
There was some sort of recognition that clicked in his head from looking at the man's face. He knew he had seen him somewhere before but couldn't quite place it. "What do you want? If it was my death then surely you would have killed me by now," he said with a scowl as he lowered his eyes trying to concentrate on figuring out who his captor was.
"Oh now don't be so glum. You have yet to remember me correct? I would love to have some fun with you before I make your world crumble around you." Alfred kept his eyes locked on the man as he paced around the room with a crooked smile on his lips. The smirk made him look like pure evil incarnate and it made shivers run throughout the kings body.
"How I will have so much fun with your husband. Arthur correct? I wonder how worried he is about you right now. Your marriage was arranged wasn't it? He'll be glad that you're gone and he can take over as king."
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"Are you ready son? I know you were never excited to marry a stranger but this is what's best for the kingdom," his father murmured with a gentle pat on Alfred shoulders. The encouragement wasn't needed. One late night he had sneaked out to meet the prince and found the other had sought to do the same thing. They accidently met under a bridge where guards didn't keep watch.
Staying there almost all night they got to know one another before the ceremony, which was a tradition that they broke, an oath to not meet anytime before. It was then Alfred knew they could make things work, even if it was just as friends. Arthur was no push over, not some figure head that sat and looked pretty.
Months later, after the wedding and moving into separate rooms in the castle Alfred realized that he had learned to love the prince. The anger in his voice when things didn't go his way or he was proved wrong. The way he smiled when he won the games they played for entertainment. And most of all how Arthur looked at Alfred, full of admiration and respect but there was something else, something more.
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A shiver ran down his back as he glared at the stranger. "You leave Arthur out of this. He's an innocent party to all of this madness," Alfred pleaded knowing he couldn't bare the thought of his husband being hurt.
The man snorted and shook his head before kneeling in front of Alfred with a grin plastered on his lips. "Oh but he plays a big part. As soon as I saw him I wanted him to be mine. But you stole his heart. So I intend to steal him from you."
Alfred was dumbstruck and in shock as he glared at the man. But any words he was going to say we're stopped as he heard a loud crash behind him. A moment later the strange man flew away from him and slammed into the wall, crumbling to the floor. Seconds later Arthur was in front of Alfred, unbinding the ropes that kept him still.
"Art-," he was stopped by a crushing kiss against his lips, arms wrapping tightly around his neck holding him close. Arthur eventually pulled away, slightly out of breath as his body shook from fear and relief.
"Thanks for saving me. What would I do without you," he teased with a soft chuckle before getting up and pulling Arthur against his chest. Alfred stared at the unconscious man on the floor and felt his brows furrow in confusion. "I still don't understand how this man knows me."
Arthur pulled away and looked at the man before staring at Alfred with understanding eyes. "He was our photographer last Christmas love."
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"I don't want to!" Mattie cried out with tears streaming down her face as she struggled in Arthurs arms. They were all standing in front of the large fireplace, Allen running around their legs wanting to hurry and get this photo over with, and little Mattie crying her eyes out in fear.
"But papa. Uncle Francis says that a picture could steal your soul," she whimpered out as she clung to her father's chest. Arthur cooed and rubbed her back as he held onto her carefully so the squirming wouldn't cause her to fall.
"Love that is an old legend. Look at your father and I. We've had many pictures taken of us and we seem fine don't we?" Arthur asked with a warm smile and Alfred stood behind him making funny faces, earing himself a giggle from his precious daughter. The camera man himself let out a soft laugh before composing himself and waiting patiently for the family.
"O-Okay. But only one," she sniffed with a small smile as Arthur wiped her tears. With a relieved grin Alfred turned to get Allen and tell him to settle down but found the boy was long gone, having run off.
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Alfred understood then how everything had happened. He quickly got out of the ransacked building and made it back to a camp full of his kingdoms soldiers and soon found himself back in the castle with his family. Arthur by his side as well as his beloved children that were crying hysterically as they jumped at him, hugging his body and telling him how much they loved him.
After everything was settled, having gotten a full stomach as well as a check up from the doctor, he had decided it was time for him to go to sleep. When he made it to his chambers he found Arthur waiting by the door. His love walked into his chest and gently wrapped his arms around him, seeking comfort that Alfred returned.
"Thank you my love. Without you I would be nothing."
Arthur was silent for a moment before pulling back with a playful grin. "Oh I know."
