Kristof woke up from the unpleasant feeling of something nibbling on his leg. He could never get used to this; these painful stings of little teeth that tried to rip off pieces of his flesh.

He kicked the rats away, as he sat in the dark, not knowing how long he'd been imprisoned already. It could have been weeks, it could have been months. It felt like months.

Three times a day, he got a plate of gruesome porridge, and some water. He was still wearing the blue suit he wore at the ball. The navy color was now dirty, more of a shade of brown from all the filth. It also had holes where the rats had chewed through the silk.

Kristof sat alone in the tiny prison cell. He had no one to talk to and even though that seemed lonely, it was actually something considered fortunate. He could have shared a cell with twenty others, pissing and shitting in the same corner. So he had it good.

He'd cried his eyes out the first few days of his imprisonment. Not only because he ended up in this place and had to miss Armin, but also because a young man had died by his hands. He knew it was an accident, but it still felt so wrong.

When the police took him in, Armin screamed and cried. It was horrible! People assured both of them that Kristof would be released very soon, but he was still held prisoner. Kristof knew the noblemen were stalling time to think of a way to get rid of him. Maybe they were even trying to cut deals with the judges!

He didn't even know when his trial would be. That alone could take months. He wasn't allowed to see anyone. And, oh, how he missed his Armin! Every night, he dreamt he would lie in Armin's warm arms. And every time, he woke up in this cold moist place, without the comfort of Armin's soft hands around him. It was horrible.

"Oh Armin..." he whispered. He wished to know how his husband was doing.

All of a sudden, he heard footsteps. They stopped in front of his door. The lock opened. That had never happened before. Food and drinks were always shoved through a hatch, never had the door been opened.

Kristof stood up, waiting for what would come.

The jailer appeared. "You are free to go. King's order," the man said.

"W-what?" Kristof asked. Were his ears playing tricks on him?

"You can go. Orders from the King," the jailor said once more.

Kristof couldn't believe it. Why would the King let him go?

A frightening feeling crawled over his skin.

"Oh, Armin..."

What had he done to get Kristof out?

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Armin was desperate. His husband was being held for over three weeks already. He wasn't allowed to talk to him, or to see him. Not even to write him a letter!

"What should I do?" he cried in his room, sitting on the bed, his knees pulled against his chest.

His lawyer was stuck and waiting, nobody worked along. The mine was closed by police orders and it would remain closed until the trial was held. But the trial wasn't held because everything was going so slow. Too slow!

Armin couldn't take it anymore! Every day, that fateful day was haunting his mind. The day that his former lover lay dead on the floor in a puddle of blood, stabbed by his husband. By accident! Kristof went with the police officers that night and then never came back!

The last few weeks were hell. Armin had lost a lot of weight. He couldn't eat. He didn't sleep. He looked like a ghost, pale and sick. Everybody in the castle was depressed. Armin missed Kristof so much. They all missed the good master. And they were so afraid the man was suffering in prison.

"What can I do?" he asked himself again.

Then, out of nowhere, an idea popped into his head.

There was only one man who could help him now. Only one man, that held the power to free Kristof.

Armin jumped out of bed and quickly washed himself, put on his best clothes, and combed his hair. It was all tangled up because he hadn't paid any attention to it for weeks.

He left his room. Determined to get his husband out.

By all means.

On the way out, Adam asked what he was going to do. Armin lied. The man that was always honest, lied this time. He said he would go to his family because he didn't want anybody to stop him.

He stepped inside a carriage, drove a few hours, and stepped out in front of another castle. A bigger one than the one he lived in.

He was going to ask the King for help. He would beg him. He would crawl on his knees and lick his feet if the man requested it! He would do...anything, if necessary. He must help his beloved!

The King was always in for a little bit of playing, so he made Armin wait for five hours before he let him enter to talk to him.

Armin walked inside the King's royal hall with his heart beating in his throat. Although he was certain that he wanted to go to this length, he was still anxious. His feet dragged him to the place he needed to be. He halted his steps a few meters in front of the King.

"Oh, dearest Armin! To what do I owe the great pleasure of your visit?" the man asked with twinkles in his eyes. Like he didn't already know why Armin was there! He actually expected him sooner.

"Your highness. I have come to ask – no – I have come to beg you! Please, help my husband. Nobody wants to help me. I don't know what to do anymore," Armin said with trembling lips and watery eyes.

The King made a gesture for Armin to come closer, so Armin walked up to him and waited for further orders.

The King patted on the empty chair next to him that belonged to the Queen. "Sit, sit," he ordered. This was going to be a great joy for him! "Oh, you poor thing...You look all skinny and ill."

"I'm sorry, your Grace." Armin apologized, trying to be as polite as possible.

"Hmm, so you come here to beg me...Well, continue! Beg me then," the King said with a wide grin.

Armin swallowed. He just had to think about Kristof. He didn't care about his pride.

"Please, help me. Help my husband. I beg you. Please, your highness."

"Oh, but I don't know if I can help you..." the King replied.

"You are the mighty King. Please, your Grace is the only one who has the power to help me."

"Well, maybe I could. You are right about one thing. I am the mightiest man of this land."

"Yes! Yes, you are. The one man who can help me, the one with the most power!"

"Hmm..... And if I would decide to help you? What could you offer me in return?" the King asked, twirling his fingers around Armin's hair before he leaned in and smelled the raven-black strands.

Armin knew this question would come, so he'd thought about the offer during the carriage ride. "You can have the mine. It means nothing to me. Please take it!"

"Oh, I do want that mine!" The King answered as he sniffed before he leaned back again.

"It's yours! Please, save my husband. Have him released from prison. He has done nothing wrong. It was self-defense. It's not fair! Please, I beg you."

The King presented his ring. Armin quickly took his hand and kissed the shiny stone. However, after Armin placed a kiss on it, the King didn't withdraw his hand. Armin looked the man into his eyes and slowly gave another kiss. And then another one. He tried to read the King's face, but the man just sat there, smirking.

The young man that was always so fierce, was now as gentle as a little lamb. The King wondered if he liked it or not. Though, the begging part did please him.

"Okay, I will free your husband," he said as Armin continued to give little pecks against his hand.

"Oh thank you! Th–"

"But!" The King raised his finger.

Armin held his tongue.

The King came closer again.

"I want the mine, and...I want you. In my bed. As long as I please," the King spoke into Armin's ear. "When I'm done with you, you are free to go and can get your husband back."

Armin knew he would do anything it takes. "I will do anything..." he whispered.

The King raised Armin's face, his thumb pressing at his chin. "You really fell in love with that man, didn't you? I guess love truly is blind."

~~~

Armin waited in the King's royal chamber. He was washed up and wore a thick red velvet robe that smelled of roses.

Apparently, the King liked his lovers to be squeaky clean.

Armin hoped the man himself was a little clean as well. He got shivers down his spine when he recalled the King's bad breath. That sour fishy odor. It repulsed him, thinking about what he was about to do, but it was the only way.

The King entered the chamber, his eyes glistening with joy. He was so excited about what was to come. He waved the servants out of the room as he walked over to Armin, who quickly stood up for his King and bowed.

In front of the bed, stood a plate full of the nicest appetizers. Fresh fruits, cheese, nuts, slices of ham, and more delicatessen.

The King giggled when he bowed down to smell Armin's neck. "Ahhh," he sighed in satisfaction. "You smell divine," he then said while his fat sausage-like fingers grabbed and crawled inside of Armin's robe.

He touched his legs.

Armin felt disgusted.

"Are you hungry?" The King asked.

"N-not really," Armin answered.

The King took a grape and stuffed it in Armin's mouth anyway. "You look thinner than you did last time and it doesn't suit you. You need to gain some weight again," he ordered as he shoved another grape between Armin's lips.

Armin chewed and swallowed the grape, which was like clay in his mouth. He almost couldn't swallow it. He wished the King wouldn't drag this situation. He just wanted it to be done as quickly as possible.

"Would it please your Grace if I were to lie down?" Armin asked.

"No. Not yet. We are not in a rush," the King replied, smiling. "Feed me a piece of cheese, will you?" Armin did as ordered. "And a grape."

"Of course," Armin answered, finding the best grape of the bunch.

As the King took the grape between his lips, he sucked at Armin's finger. Armin quickly pulled his finger away.

"Oh, Armin. Don't look so sad. I promise we will have a good time. I can't wait to– AGGhh! .... Graffff... Hahhhh!" the King suddenly gasped, his face turning red as he choked on the little round piece of fruit.

Armin only stood there, watching the scene. A part of him wanted to stay still and just watch, but he knew he needed the King, so he took place behind the other and wrapped his arms around the fat belly before he squeezed into the stomach a few good times.

The King made the most horrible noises as his face was turning blue.

After three more squeezes, the grape shot out, and flew across the room. The King immediately gasped for breath.

"Hahhh...!"

"Yes, breathe, your highness! It's okay now," Armin cooed as he patted the King's back. "You will be alright."

~~~

After about half an hour, the King had finally caught all of his breath back and had adjusted to the shock. He was very startled about what had happened. He was horrified at the thought of what could have happened. Armin had comforted him these past thirty minutes and also stayed in his room, caressing his back as the King tried to pull himself together after this near-death experience.

The King doubted if he would have made it past the gates of heaven if his time would be up now. He surely would end up in hell if he'd died today. He couldn't believe he was almost killed by a mere grape! It was so frightening!

He suddenly realized that he needed to change his life to enter the gates of paradise. This occurrence had shown him that!

After a few more hours of Armin's comforting, the King spoke:

"Armin, you have saved my life. I feel I owe you one wish, so I will help you once without anything to gain in return."

The King wanted to do better from now on, wanted to become a better King for his people.

Armin didn't need to think about what kind of wish he wanted. That was crystal clear.

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Armin waited in front of the prison, searching for a glimpse of his husband to come out. Finally, he would be able to hold his dear Kristof again!

The gates opened and out came a weak-looking man, limping while walking, his eyes narrowed to slits because they couldn't look into the bright sunlight.

Kristof was all dirty but Armin didn't care. He ran towards the other and flew around his neck before he held him in a tight embrace while crying his eyes out.

"Oh, Kristof!" he sobbed.

Kristof cupped Armin's face and opened his eyes to see his husband for the first time in weeks.

"Oh, Armin. W-what have you done?" he asked while weeping. Armin kissed the other's face. "What d-did you do to get me out?" Kristof asked again.

"Nothing happened against my will, my love. In the end, I didn't do anything but save the King's life." Armin softly cried before kissing his lover with passion.

They pressed their foreheads together while crying tears of happiness.

"You have to tell me all about that later. But right now I just need to tell you I love you," Kristof said.

They cried and they laughed, and they kissed again.

"Let's go home, Kris. You can lean on me for support." Armin wrapped Kristof's hand around his shoulders. "From now on, you can always lean on me," Armin said. "I love you too. So much."

Next one is a small epilogue and then a special chapter. I'll post them all right now!