Our Kingdom - Sonourge 8

Days turned into weeks, and weeks turned into months. The king rode his feisty dun steed out of the castle with his mate riding beside him on a black stallion.

"So...where are we going again?" Sonic asked.

"Just for a ride, I need to get out of the castle every once in a while."

"It's nice to finally have some time to ourselves again, isn't it?" his beloved uke and knight smiled.

"Sure is." Sonic lifted the face shield of his helmet and kissed his emerald mate. They spurred the horses towards the vast woods near the castle.They dismounted their horses to let the majestic beasts have a cooling drink in the babbling brook in front of them.

"It sure is beautiful out here," Sonic stated, taking in all the beautiful sights that nature had to offer. 'But not as beautiful as you.' He snaked his arms around the curved hips of cobalt fur.Sonic blushed bright red as he was pulled closer to his mate where their lips locked over a passionate kiss.

A resounding boom came from the west of the woods, both males thought it to be thunder. Only problem was that the sky was clearer than the purest of water.

"What was that?" Sonic asked as he broke away from his mate to gaze towards where the sound originated.

"Something's that going to ruin my day," Scourge groaned as he mounted his horse once more, Sonic doing the same, as both males went to check it out. And Sonic, being the knight that he was, made sure to keep his king behind him and close by in case anything happened.Another boom sent the birds flying in terror, then things got deathly quite. Only the wind rustling the leaves made any noise. Sonic was on full alert, ears twitching back and forth to catch the slightest of noises, all the while a tense hand had his bow at the ready.

"Anythi-"

"RAAAAAGH!" A soldier dressed in olive armor kept out of the trees with a double edge sword aimed for Scourge's head.Sonic gasped and with lightning speed, he drew his bow n arrow, pinning the soldier to the nearest tree with deadly accuracy.

"We need to get out of here, now!!"Scourge spurred the horse into a full out sprint as more soldiers approached. Right beside him Sonic more arrows fly, with poison dipped arrow heads. It the actual arrow didn't work, the incurable poison will. Soon riders appeared bearing spears and lances with an oddly familiar mark, but now was not the time to ponder on meager thoughts. The woods edge was slowly coming to view, free of the experienced killers.

"I can see the palace!!" Sonic shouted, hitting another rider head-on. "We're almost there!!" The sight of it was not a welcoming one, Scourge's soldiers dressed in silver/crimson armor faced their sparse foe. They spotted their king and quickly cut down the green soldiers to make a safe path for him. Giant oak doors opened for the males and closed as quickly shut as they opened.

"Sonic, I need you to guard the front gate." The cobalt male nodded without hesitation and used his namesake as the king watched in fear as this was an ill omen.

"Fetch my sword and armor!" he commanded.In no time at all, the king was beside his knight, both males clad in shining armor and both ready to fight to the death for the other.

"Release the oil!" In no time cauldrons of boiling oil were poured onto the enemy. Screams of eternal scars filled the air, making a good number of their comrades retreat in fear.

"Ready?" Sonic asked as the drawbridge was lowered, the knight and king backed up by countless soldiers, all willing to lay down their life for their king.

"Ready when you are, Blue," Scourge smirked as the dwindling army of the enemy was being cut down to size more n more by the minute.A wave of silver and red came down on the weakened attackers. Calvary, foot soldiers, archers, and honored knights brought all their fury down on them, easily driving them back to the outskirts of the castle and the town tht rested below it. Soon a victorious roar went up as Scourge slash down the last soldier left in the field, the rest fleeing into the woods.Sonic panted heavily as he came down from his battle-raged high. This was the most excitement that he'd had in years!! But, he was glad that it was over. Fighting a battle in a heavy suit of armor was exhausting.Then, a quick glint, followed by an anguished cry.

"This isn't over Scourge. I will get revenge for what you did." The old raspy voice came from the woods, and there stood a surprise. Old Maxilium Acron stood proud in his olive armor before dissapearing in this darkened woods. With the kingdom cleared of the Acorn soldiers, another knight of Scourge's searched for the source of the heart-wrenching cry.

He found it.

There on the ground laid the king, a spear lodged deep in his side. Cradling him was Sonic, tears falling down his face from behind the face-plate.

"Someone bring the doctor, hurry!!" the blue male shouted. He then whispered low enough for only his mate to hear as more tears fell, "Scourge...please don't leave me. I can't live without you...I love you, please don't leave me..."The other knights hurried the king inside, and soldiers started patrolling the town for survivors. Inside doctors and physicians alike s worked like angry bees to save their king. Just outside the door Sonjc fought to get to his mate, but the other knights held the surprisingly strong hedgehog back.

"I said let me go!! That's an order!!!" Sonic shouted since he'd moved up to captain of the guard in record time. Whether it had to do with his mate being the king, no one knew. Tears still flowed down his face behind his visor as he struggled; Scourge had given him the responsibility of protecting him and he'd failed. If his husband died...Sonic was certain that he would follow not too long after if from grief alone.The others did not budge seeing as their comrade was in extreme distress.

"Please Captain. I know the king is your mate, but you must not go in and disrupt the doctors." Sonic calmed, knowing the deep voiced knight was correct. They let go of him, leaving him to curl up in a weeping ball of silver and blue.Minutes quickly turned into hours. And the longer he waited, the more Sonic gave up in believing that Scourge would pull through. He hadn't eaten or moved from his spot since they'd brought the king in earlier that day. If....if they were going to give any bad news, he wanted to be the first to hear it.Another hour and still nothing, he was so focused on the infirmary doors he didn't notice the knight from earlier walking up to him.

"Captain?"

Pinned blue ears perked up slightly at the voice. Sonic turned his reddened eyes towards the echidna that stood before him.His visor was up to show the bright red fur and violet eyes that showed concern.Sonic sighed heavily as he gazed upon the same door that he's seen for the past 10 hours.

"What is it, cadet?" he asked quietly, his voice low with no emotion whatsoever. It was as if he'd given up all hope.

"Thought you needed some company." He took a seat next to the distraught hedgehog. There they sat, time slipping by as the afternoon turned to night, and night became the dawn.And the blue male was truly grateful for the company, although he never mentioned it. To have some sort of support at a time like this was exactly what he needed.As the sun peeked through the windows, a song barely pierced the castles walls. Sonic knew who it was, the nymphs playing their music. The melody was soft and gentle, with smooth flowing notes.A barely-seen smile managed to be seen on the azure's face. It was as if the nymphs were giving him their support in their own special way and for that, he was thankful.

Now, if only he could find out if his mate had survived the night or not.More waiting and he was sure that he would go insane if he didn't get any news soon, but then squeak of the door opening broke the silence. A doctor stepped out with his white apron slightly covered in blood stains.

"Sir Sonic?"Said male's breath hitched in his throat at the sight of the blood and he instantly thought the worst. But the doctor's voice managed to snap him out of his post-panic state.

"Y-yes?" he asked hesitantly as he managed to stand which was a hassle itself since he hadn't moved at all in a while.

"It was very dicey, but after a surprise find of poison, we got him stable. Removed the spear, and he's asking for you." The doctor stepped aside just in time to not be ran over by the blue blur.

"Scourge?" he whispered as he came into the room, his eyes watering instantly as he gazed upon his husband. It broke his heart to see him in such a state. He'd never seen his king so...weak and vulnerable. And it was all his fault.

"Hey..." he sniffled, tears already falling as he sat in a chair beside the bed, his hand gently holding his mate's in a loving grip.The emerald king weakly opened his eyes then brought a shaky hand to caress his mate's face.

"What's with the tears babe?"Sonic choked back a sob as he placed his hand on his.

"I thought I'd lost you..." he whispered.Scourge gave a soft smirk. "It take a lot more than a spear to take me down." He lifted himself up so steal a kiss,but his bandaged chest said something else.

"You can't move just yet, Scourge, you need to heal," Sonic said, helping him get back comfortable once more. So, he decided to take the initiative and leaned down and kissed his mate instead."The doctor said that they found traces of poison in you," Sonic frowned slightly with deep concern as he gently stroked his mate's head quills, earning a weak purr from his beloved king.

"Like I said babe, nothing can take me down." Scourge said groggily. The constant stroking soon lulled him to sleep.Sonic smiled lovingly down at his mate and placed a gentle kiss on his forehead. And there he sat for who knows how long, his king's hand held in his, as he pondered over who could've possibly managed to get close enough to the king to poison him without even Scourge noticing?A knock came at the door.

"Can I come in?" came Mephiles' voice. Sonic got up from his seat and let the dark advisor come in with a tray full of food.Sonic eyed the advisor warily from behind his visor as he watched Mephiles place down the tray.

'Could it possibly be him?' the blue male wondered. Mephiles could sense the cold gaze of emerald turned to venom green, but he didn't show it. He finished setting up, and presented the food to both the king and knight.

"I thought the two of you would like some lunch after this whole scenario." He handed a goblet of ale to the knight.

"Thank you..." Sonic took the cup, still glaring at the pale-blue streaked male from behind his visor. He still hadn't forgotten about what he did to him when he was still a slave. Why should his attitude differ towards him now?

"Please drink. I even put in a special something I got from the nymphs." Scourge slowly sipped from his goblet, and Sonic hesitantly drank from his.Sonic sipped his drink slowly as he tried his best to suppress a growl from coming up in his throat. He was entirely too close to Scourge and he didn't trust him. Not. One. Bit.

"Mephiles, thank you, but can you leave us." The advisor let with a confident smirk, then left with a bow.Sonic relaxed a bit as the advisor left, but he still felt uneasy.

"You okay, Blue?" Scourge asked weakly, having seen the distress on his mate's face once he'd removed his helmet once more.

"I'm fine." he reassured, giving a fake but convincing grin.Scourge sighed tiredly.

"I'm beat..." he muttered sleepily.He patted the spot beside him in the bed, the silent question being asked. Sonic answered by stripping his armor and carefully laying beside his injured lover.

"I love you, Scourge..." Sonic whispered to his mate.

"Love you too, babe." The lovers fell asleep into blissful dreams, not noticing the jealous eyes watching. Laughing in success.Sonic awoke later on that evening and gazed up to find his king awake and smiling down at him.

"Glad to see you're finally up," Scourge smirked.

"You could've woke me," Sonic yawned, rubbing the sleep from his eyes.

"Now, why would I do that, Blue?" Scourge chuckled. "You definitely needed the rest and you looked too cute to wake up."

At that the blue uke blushed.But his uke also had a duty to do, and he quickly adorned his armor. Bore his bow then stood guard outside of the room. No one got in without going through Sonic first.

"Captain?"

Sonic then turned to where someone called him, only to find the knight from last night who bowed to him in respect.

"Hello, Knuckles," Sonic nodded in acknowledgement.

"Good to you back on your feet sir." greeted the echidna.

"I agree," Sonic chuckled. "I've never been so worried and out of it before in my life."

"Atleast the worst has passed." He went on with his patrol with a relieved sense that everything was okay. The next few hours were nothing exciting, with the occasional visitor from either the court or village.And Sonic, being the loyal mate and knight that he is, made sure that everyone was given a total of 5 minutes to discuss whatever was on their mind with the wounded king, nothing more, nothing less. He didn't want Scourge to be overwhelmed with others' problems now that he was out of commission at the moment.Among the afternoon visitors was Mephiles, a few scrolls in hand.

"Hello Sir Sonic. I just a have few things to give. Nothing more." The knight glared at the advisor, every instinct screaming to keep him away.

"I'll need to take a look at scrolls first," Sonic replied, still wary of everything about the dark male.

"What could possibly be in those scrolls?" Mepiles joked, but he still handed them over to the knight for him to examine.Sonic looked over each one carefully, simply seeing financial matters pertaining to the kingdom in one, political matters in another, and a personal get well letter from a neighboring kingdom.

"Very well," the knight sighed before handing the papers back and letting Mephiles inside.Inside the room the advisor set the scrolls down and took a seat next to the bed.

"My king." The lime hedgehog gave him his attention. "I'm sorry to say this, but you have a betrayer in your inner circle." He mumbled a few words, just barely heard in the kings ears that twitched.

"What do you mean?" Scourge asked, frowning slightly.The king's eyes suddenly get cloudy, seeing only a victorious smirk from Mephiles.

"Your mate has betrayed you my lord. How do you think Max's army knew you were in the forest. He's in league with them."

"Sonic's the traitor?" the entranced male then asked, believing every word the advisor said."Yes my lord. He wishes to get rid of you, and take the throne for himself." The advisor couldn't but chuckle, his plan was going perfectly.

"But why?" asked the king.

"He wishes for revenge for a simple punishment that all slaves get. He holds no love in his heart for you. It was all a trick."

"Sonic would never do that to me," the king growled as his clouded eyes became filled with heartbroken tears. "He loves me!!"

"I know your heart is broken, but I can help you with getting rid of him. Together, we can make him sorry for betraying you, but you need to keep him in the dark." The door creaked open. "Act like nothing happened, and we'll talk later." Sonic opened the door showing the advisor out. Sonic raised a brow at Mephiles as he exited the room, but took nothing of it. So, he decided to check up on Scourge again to see how he was doing. So, he came back inside and smiled lovingly down at his mate, sitting on the bed beside him. He took his hand in his own before leaning down to kiss his husband on the forehead.

"How are you feeling, love?" the blue male asked.

"Feeling great babe. Mephiles just brought in the work I missed."

"Anything that I need to know about?" Sonic asked as he gently running his short claws through Scourge's head quills, knowing it was one of the king's favorite spots.Even though Scourge had pleasant tingles going down his spine, he knew it was a lie.

"Nothing important."Sonic then could see the distant look on his mate's face, which caused him to be concerned.

"Scourge, what's wrong?" he asked.A kiss was his reply with hesitation, but it was barely noticeable.

"Nothing babe, go back to your post."Sonic blinked at the abrupt order, but he reluctantly obeyed. He'd wanted to spend more time with his mate after the scare that he'd given him last night. He'd nearly lost him and now it seemed like he was pushing him away. So, the knight resigned to guarding the king's door, feeling somewhat disappointed.When the knight left the room, Scourge pushed aside the small pile scrolls and hid under the sheets. Trying as hard as he might to hold back the tears.