Chapter Text
Sun struggled to open his eyes, the last thing he remembered was going to a hunting tournament with his father and sister. His mother had ‘fallen ill’ and couldn’t make it, but ended up showing just before Sun joined the other boys his age. She gave him a pin, as was customary for all females. He was confused as to why she would give her pin to him and not her husband but still accepted it.
Monty went with Sun and proudly wore Rose’s pin. Eloise wasn’t happy but because their father was there, she said nothing.
Sun was alone, having been separated from Monty at some point, when he was surrounded by six men. They said nothing when they attacked him, and Sun being outnumbered was quickly taken down.
He was stripped of his royal clothes and dressed in rags, his golden hair was smothered in dirt and mud was smeared over his face.
“He’ll still fetch a pretty good price boys. I know someone who likes pretty boys like this” Sun felt sick to his stomach. He wasn’t sure what would happen to him now. His shirt, with his mother’s pin, was ripped and soaked in pigs blood enchanted to resemble Sun’s. If anyone were to test the blood, they would fully believe it was Sun’s blood that covered the shirt.
He was then stuffed into a crate and hit with a sleeping powder.
“In here… slaves… two…” Voices could be heard outside but Sun’s head was still fuzzy. There was a blinding light when the crate he was in was opened, and rough hands grabbed him dragging him out.
“Add this one to the offering!” Sun was shoved into another pair of hands who pushed him into a line. As his head cleared, Sun realized he wasn’t in his home city anymore. The kingdom of Sol had white gleaming streets and golden trims. Wherever he was now had ebony streets with ruby trims.
“Are these the offerings for Moon?” Sun’s heart skipped, Eloise had told both him horrible stories about Moon. She claimed Rose was too innocent to hear such awful things and made him promise not to tell her. Over the years he had forgotten, but hearing Moon’s name brought back all those fears.
Walking through the town, he could immediately see some flaws in Eloise’s story. The houses were well cared for and brightly colored, a stark contrast to the roads. The people around them all looked happy, and even the children ran around laughing.
Nobody gave the line of slaves a second glance aside from those looking at Sun. Most turned away quickly and he quickly realized it was because Monty was behind him. He felt better having someone he knew and hoped they wouldn’t be separated.
The line, that Sun realized was all females aside from him and Monty, was led into the castle. They were all stripped and washed before being dressed in brightly colored clothes that were much lighter than his kingdoms clothing.
In the throne room, they were made to kneel with their heads down. Sun could hear a girl crying and felt pity for her. He heard footsteps walking down the line, stopping before him and walking away.
“Keep her, my sister needs a handmaiden, the others can go” The girl that was crying was led away by a kind looking servant while the rest of them were dragged to their feet. Sun risked a glance up and caught the sight of Ruby red eyes before he was turned around.
“Wait! The blond one, keep him” Sun was passed off to a servant but turned to see Monty being led away. He fought briefly but was still weak from the powder. Moon stopped them and asked Sun who he was looking at, Sun hesitated but answered.
“My friend Monty, I grew up with him” Moon nodded and sent someone to retrieve Monty. He waited with Sun until they arrived and led them both himself. When asked for his name Sun gave the name Celeste.
“Celeste huh? You will be mine, and your friend Monty will be your personal guard” Moon led them to a room and informed Sun that his room was connected to Moon’s, while Monty’s room was across the hall. They were free to roam but were not allowed outside unsupervised. He turned and left Sun with Monty, going down a hall and out of sight.
Sun spent the rest of the day in Monty’s room. Neither knew exactly how they ended up where they were. All either remembered was being surrounded by six thugs and hit with sleeping powder.
“This makes no sense, how could nobody notice the prince going missing?” Sun covered Monty’s mouth and shushed him. He didn’t want anyone knowing he was a prince here. He didn’t know what might happen if anyone found out he was the prince of a neighboring kingdom.
“Please Monty, don’t say a word. Promise me please?” Monty nodded, promising Sun he wouldn’t tell. He didn’t realize how bad things could go if anyone found out Sun’s true identity.
Someone knocked on the door around supper time to escort them. Monty stuck close to Sun and glared at anyone who tried to get close. At one point a silver haired male joined them, nobody got close after that. The silver haired one had bright blue eyes that sparkled like gemstones and pale skin that almost shone. If he didn’t know any better, Sun would swear he was a fairy.
The other said nothing as they walked, though Sun noted they smelled very floral. When they reached the dining hall, Sun was led to a chair near Moon. When someone tried to lead Monty away the silver haired male stopped them.
“He is the personal guard of Celeste. He will be seated beside him per Moon’s order” The servant nodded and backed away, letting Monty sit with Sun. The silver male, who Moon called Starlight, sat next to one called Eclipse.
Eclipse wore a faded red shirt that had what looked like oil stains on it. His wild red hair was pulled into a messy bun with bits framing his dark golden eyes. His skin was darkened from long hours spent in the sun and his hands looked like they could crush boulders. He held Starlight so gently and smiled the same smile Sun’s father had when looking at pictures of his mother.
“Eclipse, how many times have I asked you to clean up before meals?” Moon didn’t seem upset, in fact he looked amused, with a smirk on his face and a laugh in his voice. Eclipse’s voice was booming but soft as the same time and when he laughed Sun felt it. Starlight’s voice was softer and almost melodic, with a laugh that made you want to smile and join in.
“Starting without me again Moon?” The newcomer, Ai Starlight called him, had a blue robe with silver trim. Underneath he wore blue cloth pants with a silver shirt with patterns that Sun recognized as the wizard tower. Ai had golden eyes like Eclipse, but his were brighter and sharper, almost like they could look into your soul. His red hair was smooth and tied back with a blue ribbon.
Ai sat next to Starlight who leaned over to give him a kiss. Ai grumbled something under his breath but had a smile on his lips.
“So Moon, is this your concubine?” Sun hiccupped and covered his mouth out of embarrassment. Moon chuckled and, before anything could be said, the room was filled with more people.
A woman who Sun assumed was Moon’s mother walked over. She had long flowing ebony hair with the same ruby red eyes. She was followed by a younger girl with the slave girl from earlier. She had the same ebony hair but her eyes were orange like fire.
“Mother, Sarah hello. I hope your handmaiden is to your liking sister” The word sister sent a pang through Sun’s chest. In all the chaos he had forgotten about his sister. He tried not to cry but the tears fell anyway. He kept his head down and hoped nobody would see.
“Hey, are you not feeling well?” Starlight was kneeling near Sun’s chair, Moon hadn’t noticed him crying which Sun was grateful for. He just nodded and let Starlight lead him away with Monty back to their rooms. Sun ate his supper and took the medicine Starlight gave him.
Once he was finished, he laid down and cried himself to sleep.
He mourned the life he lost and the fact his little sister likely thought him dead.
