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Eren drinks another two pitchers of ale. He leaves the pantry stinking of old ale. He staggers to his chamber, his eyes unfocused and his cheeks flushed. Eren was drowning himself in alcohol to drown his sorrows. Like the unforgiving rain from the ominous sky. Eren hopes that rain will delay the arrival of the other realm's dwellers.
The source of his concerns was a MAJOR ONE!
Carla and Grisha had called him earlier that day to inform him of his marriage. Arranged marriage. With some unknown bald old man. ALL FOR THE SAKE OF FORTIFYING THEIR KINGDOM!
In reality, he was strolling in the corner of the west wing, not in his private quarters. Bravo to his ale's ramifications. He moves through the corridors that are lit by candles. Rain continues to fall heavily. He feels a chilly breeze sweep over him. He is acutely aware of his lack of appropriate attire. He was in his nightwear, in his thin and questionable underclothes. And another chill breeze starts to billow. His thin linen tunic holds no chance against the merciless coldness of the night. He should’ve worn something warmer. But alas.
His legs slide as he stumbles. The anticipated discomfort and fall do not occur. He is instead securely engulfed by two large hands. He was being held by a powerful stranger who smelled good. Musk and forest. Eren takes a deep breath; although his chest feels warm, his heartbeat is sporadic.
Eren pushes the tall man, “I can handle it!” As he stumbles more and collides with the stranger, his body betrays his assertions. His face bumps up against the firm, warm chest.
“Allow me to assist you, my prince.” The tall man's voice was raspy and he had strong arms. Eren ponders whether he served in his brother's army as a knight. Well, engaging in such affairs serves no purpose. He will be bound and married by dusk tomorrow. After that, tall knights with seductive scents would be irrelevant.
“Aye. But take me elsewhere, I do not wish to retire so early.” Eren broods, and he was carried to his garden instead. Eren snuggled up to get a whiff of the seductive earthiness. He wanted to stay engulfed in it.
Eren looks at him more closely. He had attractive features and cool grey eyes. He had an undercut and his dark hair was neatly styled. Oh, how he wishes he could wed him instead of that old bald his parents are marrying him off to tomorrow.
“Sit with me, knight.” He offers, unwilling to spend the cold night alone. The downpour had ended. However, the air was brisk and chilly. The tall man raises an eyebrow at the word “knight,” but sits down on the chilly, wet stone bench anyhow.
Eren senses a warm rug enveloping his trembling form. He notices the outer robe of the knight covering his body when he turns to look. He thanks him with a toothy grin. “Your name, sire?”
The knight responds, “Levi, your majesty,” his cool grey eyes flashing with mirth. Eren doesn't ask him any more questions; instead, he just sits there and looks at his garden's wet roses.
“I should have drunk two more mugs of ale,” Eren says after a long silence.
“Drink my body’s weight and forget about tomorrow,” Eren rambles, as he notices a sudden flash of forlornness flash across Levi’s countenance. Perhaps his ale-induced fuzzy mind was messing with his head.
“Why?” Levi probes gently.
“I don’t know anything about my husband! What if he doesn’t like me?”
“You look lovely, your majesty. I’m sure your betrothed would enjoy your company.” Levi says, consoling the second prince.
“Why can’t my older brother Zeke marry him instead?” Eren pouts. His lips were rosy and plump. It shoots a thrilling wanton spark into Levi’s heart.
“He is the crown prince, he will have to bear heirs for your realm.” Levi reminds him. Eren was too beautiful. Does he not see it? Any man in every realm would want to marry a beauty like him.
“Lucky him.” Eren grumbles and sags.
“Maybe, give your betrothed a chance. I may be speaking out of turn right now. Your Majesty, please pardon me.” Levi suggests and bows his head.
When Eren does not answer, Levi turns to see him half asleep, his lips parted. Levi shakes his head, fond exasperation overwhelming his emotions.
“My prince,” he coos gently.
“Levi, I don’t want to marry him.” Eren’s words pierced his heart like a double-edged sword. He exhales deeply.
“You should retire to your chambers, my prince,” Levi says as he leans closer. Eren’s long lashes cast shadows on his freckled cheeks. Levi traces them with the pad of his finger, enjoying the softness.
“Levi, what are you doing?” Eren asks, leaning into the gentle touch for more.
“Waking you up?”
“By caressing my cheeks?” Eren grins lazily, his eyes wide open now. Levi smirks in reply.
Levi sits and listens to Eren prattle about his woes. He pays attention to every word and doesn't interject. Humming and providing the appropriate responses. Two hours later, exhaustion pounds Eren’s body. He wishes to retire, “Levi.” Eren looks at him. His arms leap into the knight's grasp.
Levi carries the young prince back to his bed chambers. He covers him with a coverlet, Eren opens his eyes and stares at him.
“You’re regal.” Eren susurrates, grabbing the knight’s calloused hand. “Why can’t I marry you instead?”
“This was not how I wanted our first meeting to be, Eren. You’re so beautiful, but you reek of old ale,” says his knight. The second prince was not going to recall their conversation the following day, he knew that. He leans in closer to stroke the shiny brown hair. Even in his chamber, which is merely dimly lit by a candle, Eren's eyes are sparkling.
“Why do you want to marry me Eren?”
“You’re exquisite? Strong? And you listen to me? Most of all you smell good.” Eren emphasizes and presses his nose closer to the knight’s throat to inhale his earthy scent.
“What about your betrothed?” He plays along, waiting for Eren’s response.
“I don’t want to marry some old bald man! I deserve better!” Eren yaps and grab’s his knight’s shirt.
“Old and bald?” the tall man snorts. Little prince does have a wild imagination.
“Yeah, he must already have five other wives in his realm too.” Eren cooks up more stories, glaring at the canopy.
“I assure you, he has not wedded anyone before.” Levi chuckles, gazing at Eren’s sleepy form. Eren ignores his words and closes his eyes.
“I will let you sleep. I have some errands to take care of.” His knight informs and tucks Eren into his bed. Eren wonders how Levi became aware of Eren’s private chambers. This knight must have been close to his brother Zeke to know the castle well. Eren dreams of Levi as sleep drags him into a pit of darkness.
Eren suited up to meet his betrothed the following day. Oh! He longs for his last night's knight to come to his rescue. He walks into the great hall, and the music begins. Playing his harp and singing joyfully is their royal bard.
Eren walks with his head lowered, unwilling to display his melancholy features to his people. He smells the familiar musk he had dreamed of all night as he draws closer to the elderly man he was supposed to marry. His eyes grow more intense as his head snaps up. The place of his betrothed was taken by his knight. Was he dreaming still? As they say, it's too good to be true. Eren yelps in pain as he pinches his arm to verify.
“Eren, this is Levi Ackerman. Your betrothed.” Grisha announces proudly. Levi gazes at him, his thin lips tugging into a knowing smirk. Eren's eyes widen further and he continues to stare at the tall handsome man.
Levi, his knight, his husband. He was not an old bald man. Levi stood there, tall, valiant, and handsome. He gives an amused smile. Levi knew who Eren was last night! Eren wants to cry and laugh.
Eren throws himself into Levi’s arms. “Levi.” He calls gently, over and over again. Levi hums each time in response, grabbing Eren by his waist and holding him closer.
“If this is all just a dream, don't wake me up.” Eren bemoans.
“My Eren.” Levi gives a deep chuckle, tightening his hold around the young prince. Eren cups Levi’s face in his hands.
“You’re not bald.”
“Aye.”
“You’re not old.”
“Aye.”
“You’re not a knight.”
“Aye. Mayhap. I can be your knight in shining armour.” Levi flashes him with a smug smile.
“Do you have five wives at home?”
“Nay, only one betrothed, clumsy sweeting prince.”
“You mean a beautiful young prince.”
“Aye.” Levi agrees easily. Amused by their exchange.
Grisha and Carla stare dumbfounded. Eren was rather pretty upset at the prospect of marrying a stranger. But it seems like things worked out.
“King Levi wanted to meet up with Eren last night. They must’ve met and talked,” Zeke supplies, equally bewildered by their sudden closeness.
“Are you still unwilling to marry me, my sweeting?” Levi asks, as they right themselves for the ceremony.
“I do, not the knight or king. But you. I want to marry you, Levi.” Eren states firmly.
Levi takes the ring from the velvet bijou box.
“Why didn’t you tell me last night? I spoke ill of you.” Eren frowns and offers an apology for unknowingly hurting Levi’s feelings.
“You were not sombre, my prince.” Levi offers his hand for Eren to take. “Now that you are, Eren Yeager, I will be with you in sickness and death. In wealth and poverty. Through trials and tribulations. Please be my beloved and husband.” Eren places his hand on Levi’s large ones. Levi inserts the large diamond ring into Eren’s finger.
“I want to be your husband and beloved, Levi Ackerman,” Eren inserts the gold band into Levi’s finger. “I want to be with you till death do us part.” Eren leans forward and grabs Levi’s nape, kissing him for the very first time as a married man.
“You still taste like ale,” Levi reminds him, as he deepens their kiss, laughing when he feels Eren's indignant huffs.
“You don’t want to kiss me then?”
“I will kiss you, even if you taste like ale daily.”
“I do not see the reason to drink ale anymore. I have a handsome husband to take care of me.”
Levi laughs and kisses Eren a few more times. He will offer Eren sweet wine instead.