The room was dark only for a moment until Ali snapped his fingers, sending sparks of light into the air. They took the shape of his favored dragonflies like earlier that afternoon and fluttered about, lighting lanterns and torches in the chamber.
The princes exhaled. Snow leaned back against the door and Ali pressed himself into him. "That's a different side of you, Snow," he remarked as he patted the door beside Snow's face. Another hand reached down and around his partner's waist and pulled him close. "I would have thought you'd allow them to separate us tonight. It was rather enriching to see you give a cold shoulder."
Snow kept taking deep breaths before he pushed himself off the door and held himself close to Ali. "I wouldn't let that happen. No one can tell a king what to do, can they?" he whispered before giving a swift kiss. Hands began to slowly slide down his lover's sides and slip between the folds of his robes until skin found skin, causing him to give a relieving sigh. "I missed your warmth," he said softly.
The two began to disrobe one another as they exchanged sweet kisses to whichever body part their lips found, whether it be face, neck, or shoulder until they were both stripped of all but their undergarments. Snow pushed Ali back onto his large bed that was dressed in the finest, heaviest furs, and climbed on top of him and straddled his hips. He eyed Ali with a hungry stare, taking in every detail of him..
"See something you like?" the other said with a cocky smirk and a raised eyebrow. He reached both hands out to gently take hold of Snow's, stroking the topside of each with his thumb before jerking him forward. He pulled Snow on top of him and quickly embraced him. "Seems I've bundled a snowball together," he teased as he rolled over, flipping their positions. "You know, I'm going to miss us like this, running up to your tower and huddling up together in this bed."
"Who on earth said it's going to end? We're not leaving Stone Roll anytime soon," Snow laughed as he shifted himself awkwardly to pull back the bed furs. "We'll be living here for a while until we have a castle of our own, you know. Our parents have yet to even begin building it.
"Is that what your father wants, now? Here I thought you'd be coming home with me to the sands."
"Not this again."
"So it isn't decided, then? My father is adamant about you coming to rule with me over Nayzaria meanwhile your father wishes for us to stay here in Stone Roll. A shame our kingdoms aren't closer, otherwise, surely we could just move somewhere between them. You know it'll be one of the first things they ask us to settle on before our union is finalized, don't you?" Ali groaned for the moment until finally, they were comfortable underneath the furs, arms back around each other and his chest pressing against Snow's backside, lips tasting the nape of the neck.
Snow didn't respond, save for slowly reaching his hand to feel along Ali's arm and lace his fingers between the other's. He sighed deeply, sending a puff of faint fog against the surface of his pillow. As Ali shivered behind him, Snow shook his head.
Another kiss was given. "If you want to stay here, I won't object to it," he whispered, the tone of his voice shifting. "I know how important Stone Roll is to you. You need only say so and we can begin the arrangements right away."
Still, Snow remained silent.
It was a conflict of feelings, wanting to stay for the good of his kingdom, yet also secretly wanting to turn tail and flee from his responsibilities. He was at odds with what he wanted and what was expected of him. More so, he had to think about what was best for Ali, for all of Stone Roll, and also Nayzaria. Nobility could only act like they were immune from reality for so long until serious choices had to be made.
Despite his father's rally earlier at dinner Snow couldn't permanently shake off all his doubt. He had heard the commoner's whispers during his teenage years when he'd go into the city market disguised, the gossip of the castle maids, and the drunken banter from the guards. Only a few wanted him to ascend to the throne. Even less wanted to see Ali taken as his partner. Many were against the union with Nayzaria, even if it had been his father's policy.
Now Snow was inheriting all the ugliness of the situation.
Maybe Arthur had been an overall well-liked king, but he was not always the best father. Yet Snow understood everything that had led the situation to where they were, now.
Even those accepting of Nayzaria still detested Snow, commonly dismissing him as soft and weak-willed. The prince indeed had inherited his heart from his mother, being one to pardon those for petty crimes, charitable to even the most infamous black-hearted of crooks, banishing or only jailing those who would arguably be better given to Death, and so on. Snow had not once even slain a boar or an elk during a single hunt, oftentimes his arrows only hitting nearby trees. He even refused to partake in fox hunts that his father's court so proudly enjoyed.
Despite all this, Snow still had every hope to stay in Stone Roll for his family. The thought of leaving Arthur and Ophelia for the sands was unthinkable to him. He wanted nothing more than to keep his loved ones close. Arthur himself had been one of the first to learn of his and Ali's passion for each other. He could still vividly remember the confused and horrified look on his father's face when he walked in on them naked in Snow's tower the same night they had shown their feelings for each other on Snow's twentieth birthday.
Snow had never drunk at breakfast until that following morning.
He shifted until he faced Ali. "No more talk, please. It'll ruin the moment," he whispered. Snow reached one hand around Ali's neck and pulled his face close into a tender kiss. The other hand snaked its way down Ali's body until he found what would rile his lover. He smirked through the kiss. "Found a hot spot," he teased as he curled his fingers, earning an exciting shudder. Snow had hardly regained composure before wincing, feeling both of Ali's hands toying with his body.
"Felt a cold front," he snickered.
The lantern lights began to dim, flickered, and in a flash, they were out.
The castle's clock tower tolled for the end of the evening. Paribanu had long since retired for the night, as had Jafar. The grand hall was nearly empty and being cleaned for tomorrow. King Arthur sat alongside Queen Ophelia and Sultan Huran at a near-empty table, laughing drunkenly with them. Snow and Ali finally decided to make their escape from the party. There was a tired look in either of the boy's eyes, each in need of more time alone.
They walked hand in hand together, making their way through the main corridor and around the bend towards the stairwell leading up to Snow's tower. They were just about to make it when they were halted, the path blocked by a set of guards. "Your Highness. If I may, we'll be glad to escort Prince Ali to his bed-chamber ourselves. Traditionally, it's considered bad luck to be with your… "companion" until after you are married," one of them said before turning their attention towards the Nayzarian. "Prince Ali, you'll find the guest accommodations arranged for you to be most comfortable."
The two princes looked at each other out of the corners of their eyes and then back at the guards, each annoyed and a little confused about what to say at first. Ali gave Snow's hand a small squeeze. Fire wormed in Snow's chest. He felt stronger, like sparks were lighting up underneath him. Snow cleared his throat and spoke. "Erh~ That's quite alright, gentleman. Ali and I will be more than comfortable. Together! After all, we're entering new times. Let this be the time for new practices and traditions."
Without a moment further, Snow stepped past them both, pulling Ali alongside him up the spiral stairs. He held his breath, choosing to walk slowly, briskly until they were out of sight from the guards. With a sharp exhale, he tugged Ali onward, almost racing up the stone steps, out into the next hallway, and so on. They didn't stop running together and refused to let go until finally they reached Snow's chamber and the door shut behind them.
The room was dark only for a moment until Ali snapped his fingers, sending sparks of light into the air. They took the shape of his favored dragonflies like earlier that afternoon and fluttered about, lighting lanterns and torches in the chamber.
The princes exhaled. Snow leaned back against the door and Ali pressed himself into him. "That's a different side of you, Snow," he remarked as he patted the door beside Snow's face. Another hand reached down and around his partner's waist and pulled him close. "I would have thought you'd allow them to separate us tonight. It was rather enriching to see you give a cold shoulder."
Snow kept taking deep breaths before he pushed himself off the door and held himself close to Ali. "I wouldn't let that happen. No one can tell a king what to do, can they?" he whispered before giving a swift kiss. Hands began to slowly slide down his lover's sides and slip between the folds of his robes until skin found skin, causing him to give a relieving sigh. "I missed your warmth," he said softly.
The two began to disrobe one another as they exchanged sweet kisses to whichever body part their lips found, whether it be face, neck, or shoulder until they were both stripped of all but their undergarments. Snow pushed Ali back onto his large bed that was dressed in the finest, heaviest furs, and climbed on top of him and straddled his hips. He eyed Ali with a hungry stare, taking in every detail of him..
"See something you like?" the other said with a cocky smirk and a raised eyebrow. He reached both hands out to gently take hold of Snow's, stroking the topside of each with his thumb before jerking him forward. He pulled Snow on top of him and quickly embraced him. "Seems I've bundled a snowball together," he teased as he rolled over, flipping their positions. "You know, I'm going to miss us like this, running up to your tower and huddling up together in this bed."
"Who on earth said it's going to end? We're not leaving Stone Roll anytime soon," Snow laughed as he shifted himself awkwardly to pull back the bed furs. "We'll be living here for a while until we have a castle of our own, you know. Our parents have yet to even begin building it.
"Is that what your father wants, now? Here I thought you'd be coming home with me to the sands."
"Not this again."
"So it isn't decided, then? My father is adamant about you coming to rule with me over Nayzaria meanwhile your father wishes for us to stay here in Stone Roll. A shame our kingdoms aren't closer, otherwise, surely we could just move somewhere between them. You know it'll be one of the first things they ask us to settle on before our union is finalized, don't you?" Ali groaned for the moment until finally, they were comfortable underneath the furs, arms back around each other and his chest pressing against Snow's backside, lips tasting the nape of the neck.
Snow didn't respond, save for slowly reaching his hand to feel along Ali's arm and lace his fingers between the other's. He sighed deeply, sending a puff of faint fog against the surface of his pillow. As Ali shivered behind him, Snow shook his head.
Another kiss was given. "If you want to stay here, I won't object to it," he whispered, the tone of his voice shifting. "I know how important Stone Roll is to you. You need only say so and we can begin the arrangements right away."
Still, Snow remained silent.
It was a conflict of feelings, wanting to stay for the good of his kingdom, yet also secretly wanting to turn tail and flee from his responsibilities. He was at odds with what he wanted and what was expected of him. More so, he had to think about what was best for Ali, for all of Stone Roll, and also Nayzaria. Nobility could only act like they were immune from reality for so long until serious choices had to be made.
Despite his father's rally earlier at dinner Snow couldn't permanently shake off all his doubt. He had heard the commoner's whispers during his teenage years when he'd go into the city market disguised, the gossip of the castle maids, and the drunken banter from the guards. Only a few wanted him to ascend to the throne. Even less wanted to see Ali taken as his partner. Many were against the union with Nayzaria, even if it had been his father's policy.
Now Snow was inheriting all the ugliness of the situation.
Maybe Arthur had been an overall well-liked king, but he was not always the best father. Yet Snow understood everything that had led the situation to where they were, now.
Even those accepting of Nayzaria still detested Snow, commonly dismissing him as soft and weak-willed. The prince indeed had inherited his heart from his mother, being one to pardon those for petty crimes, charitable to even the most infamous black-hearted of crooks, banishing or only jailing those who would arguably be better given to Death, and so on. Snow had not once even slain a boar or an elk during a single hunt, oftentimes his arrows only hitting nearby trees. He even refused to partake in fox hunts that his father's court so proudly enjoyed.
Despite all this, Snow still had every hope to stay in Stone Roll for his family. The thought of leaving Arthur and Ophelia for the sands was unthinkable to him. He wanted nothing more than to keep his loved ones close. Arthur himself had been one of the first to learn of his and Ali's passion for each other. He could still vividly remember the confused and horrified look on his father's face when he walked in on them naked in Snow's tower the same night they had shown their feelings for each other on Snow's twentieth birthday.
Snow had never drunk at breakfast until that following morning.
He shifted until he faced Ali. "No more talk, please. It'll ruin the moment," he whispered. Snow reached one hand around Ali's neck and pulled his face close into a tender kiss. The other hand snaked its way down Ali's body until he found what would rile his lover. He smirked through the kiss. "Found a hot spot," he teased as he curled his fingers, earning an exciting shudder. Snow had hardly regained composure before wincing, feeling both of Ali's hands toying with his body.
"Felt a cold front," he snickered.
The lantern lights began to dim, flickered, and in a flash, they were out.