Trumpets and horns blared. The steady taps of the drums and lutes brought everyone’s attention to the elaborately adorned stage surrounded by proud banners and silks bearing the colours of the House of Cronhe. A magnificent shade of deep red and glittering gold with the crest of the slain dragon and the beautiful youth who killed it. Bundles of sweet smelling flowers and herbs lined the royal viewing box where the king nobles were able to enjoy the performance without being offended by the smells and sights of the peasants below. 

Lord Rose had a separate box just beside the king, he was dressed head to toe in vibrant red, smelling richly of perfumes, dressed in silks and velvet. He was a strikingly handsome yet gaunt man, tall with toned arms and high cheekbones that were framed with thick chocolate curls and honey skin bespeckled with freckles. The young blonde man carried two glasses of wine and politely handed them to Rose who merely placed them aside to pull him down.

“Service me.” Lord Rose cooed and tucked a stray golden lock behind the young man who ghosts a smile and kneels down in front of Rose, unfastening his belts and slipping his hands into his trousers. “I’ve been told you’ve been very naughty.” The blonde paused and looked up at the noble with confusion, “You know I don’t want you to be ruined, you’re so special to me Jules…do I not satisfy you enough?”

“Y-yes Milord, you are so…gracious with your love.” Jules flirts and softly glides his fingers along the half hard length in his palm, the overwhelming scent of perfume was noxious but Jules kept the same pleasant smile. “I long for you but I know you’re so preoccupied.”

“Ah, it’s true,” Rose leans into the small motions from Jules and sighs, “This is why you need a friend. Someone to play with.” Jules follows Rose’s eyes as he eyes Ewen checked on the performers on the stage, laughed and slipped behind the curtain, “Someone sweet…not like those other buds that were plucked too early.”

Jules slips Rose’s flesh into his mouth, feeling his heavy hand on his head as he sucks and the rage boiling inside him. Something will need to be done about him.

“Fair citizens of Lir!” The announcer’s voice booms across the crowd as the people filled the lower rows, eager to watch the performance with anticipation and Ewen peeked through the curtain to the massive crowd. “We will now begin, please enjoy the show.” For years, he and Ludwig would watch the show, even if it was the same retelling year after year, Ewen always looked forward to it but he never imagined that he would be on stage doing his own retelling. It was a surreal feeling inside him, his mind was racing, practically overflowing with imagination and he was aching to write his thoughts down. 

“Places everyone, places.” Gwyndolin whispered and directed the players to their spots, she looked magnificent in her costume as the ‘Moon mother’ and turned to her daughter Elisse who was playing the ‘Moon maiden’, the one who will wed Prince Lir. Ewen has seen her perform in this role for years and she always looked so happy, this time her expression was more sullen. 

Gwyndolin tucked back her daughter’s hair and kissed her cheek, whispering something in her ear that restored some shine in her eyes. They both turned to Ewen and he couldn’t place their expressions, they looked blank or lost in a trance, it unnerved him. The caw of ravens snapped Ewen’s attention and he slapped his face gently. It was time for the show.

Ewen returned to the stage, cleared his throat and began to speak, he could see the small faces of the children from a few nights ago looking up at him with wonderment, the adults were enthralled as the story they’ve memorized was changing, at first they were concerned but Ewen made the performers interact with the crowd close to the stage to keep them invested. The light magic that Gwyndolin used created shooting stars and dancing candles as Ewen narrated the seduction of the King of Black Birds on the naive but noble Prince Lir, Cray emerged and stumbled a bit on the stage which brought a laugh but he fixed himself to perform by being the gallant knight who served by Prince Lir’s side. The dragons clashed into the sky and Cray began to sing a ballad while the magical flames burned around him. The story claims that Prince Lir was getting revenge for his friend’s sacrifice by the dragons who were sent by the evil Fae. 

“The world seems so bleak but when I’m with you dear Lune–the nights are never cold.” The actor who plays Lir smiles and dances with Elisse.

“O’ dearest, please return to me…” Elisse softly sobbed and spun in the moonlight, “I will wait for you for all eternity. Pledge your love to me forevermore and I will weave your dreams of our love.”

“I will my beautiful Lune, I shall slay the dragons and the King of Black Birds and with his blood…” The actor paused as the candles and torches went out. The fox and the sparrow listened quietly from under the stage, feeling the energy from the crowd as Ewen spoke, his words reached into them, restoring their human forms but only briefly.

“The envoys are here.” The sparrow whispers and the fox nods.

“Are you afraid?”

“A little.”

“We’ve seen this before,” The fox reminds his friend and curls his body to keep him warm. “This is no different.”

“Yeah, it’s still scary.” Says the sparrow and disappears in the fox’s fur as the sky begins to darken with black wings. Ewen felt a pain in his head and his vision blurred, he could see a vast clearing with thick black trees surrounding a crystal clear lake as branches spiral up to the sky, He could see two people clashing swords.

Will you love me…? Truly?

Yes, forever and forever more my king.

Ewen could hear the metal blades as they crashed together, the smell of blood and sweat. Something wasn’t right.

“The dragons…” Ewen whispered as the ravens perched along the ramparts, “The…ravens..” Ludwig leaned in as he stared at Ewen then turned to the ravens, this was it…the Unkindness had chosen him. He could do nothing now but watch it all unfold, “My beloved.” The actors paused and turned to Ewen as the cawing grew louder. 

A powerful gust of wind suddenly rushed through the grounds, sending objects and cloth everywhere as the audience panicked. Black feathers rained down from the sky and the sound of laughter resounded throughout the area. The king stayed within his concealed box and ordered his knights to restore order.

Suddenly a swirl of ravens converged on the ground before the stage and merged into a large dark pool of feathers as a figure emerged slowly, chains were fixed to the earth as the figure’s features were molding in the shadows. A large black shape that appeared human but a part of his face was hidden with a mask, impossibly long dark purple hair that flowed to the dark pool below. The glittering pieces of gold and gems peeked from the mass of feathers as the man became more defined and he extended his hand to take Ewen’s.

He was beautiful, the most beautiful man Ewen has ever seen.

The king pulled the veil and forced himself out of hiding, with rage in his eyes.

"Bastard King of Black Birds!" Cronhe shouted and Ewen was yanked back by Cray who stood in front of him. "Kill him!"