The Kingmaker's Crown

The twins don't have class again until Monday, Regulus spends the weekend waiting to hear from the Prince. He searches the library for any books about espionage, although unsurprisingly he doesn't find any in Alphards books, just the same ones on strategy that he does re-read for old times sake. Regulus finds the old, tattered copy of ‘Secrets of Chess Training by Mark Dvoretsky’ still balanced where he had last left it. Regulus was obsessed with it the year he turned 10. Re-reading it feels like drinking a perfect cup of tea and he loses all of Saturday reminiscing. 

As the rest of the household sleeps, Regulus explores the dark crevices of the house’s library. Eventually, he catches sight of some covers hidden behind others. Pulling out the first layer of books Regulus finds a stash of mortal paperback. In the collection of romance books he finds a copy of Spy Sinker by Len Deighton, the inside page tells him it's the last in a trilogy and after a moment, Regulus locates the first book. He cannot find the middle one though. On the inside cover is a hand inked message;

Wally, 

Happy birthday! 

I know how much you miss the mortal realm and how much you love these books so I took myself across the sea to track this down for you. You have to let me borrow it once you're done!

Yours, 

Lily

Regulus doesn't recognise the name, there are so many folk here and his mother’s time in this world ended years before he was even born. But here is her book. Regulus lost nearly all of their mother’s things when they left the mortal realm, he hadn’t even been able to take solace in the home. His mother had burned down the original mansion in her attempt to escape. But here, where he never expected it; something that his mother owned. Had held. 

Regulus sinks to the floor, carefully thumbing through the pages, unsure what to look for but greedy for more. Another scrap of paper lies in the centrefold and Regulus pulls it out. 

W,

I must ask a favour of you. As Alphard’s wife you have more power and respect than I currently do. The High King has personally asked me to attend the revel this full moon. I suspect he plans to ask me to be his consort at last, but I am nervous. I wish for my friend to be at my side. Will Alphard allow you to accompany me? I know you are worried for the baby, so I won't cross if you cannot. 

Lily cannot attend as she is pursuing some new male since she ended things with Fleamont, although why anyone would choose to end their position as consort I will never know! Look at Druella, she’s been dying to crawl into the king's bed for years now, he will never make someone like her a consort of course, she’s too crass. 

Should the king make me his consort I will remain by his side for life, even if he moves on. Much like Merope has since the birth of Prince Thomas. My dedication to the High King will not dim as our love does. 

Respond as soon as you are able, I miss you.

Cissa. 

Regulus’ skin goes cold. Cissa. Narcissa. His step mother. 

The world seems to wobble around him, his sense of understanding shifting. 

‘There is history you do not understand. Heed me, I beg of you’ she had told him. Narcissa had been warning Regulus away from becoming a consort, seemingly because of her own experiences. Lily referenced again, how close had these girls been? Narcissa has never once mentioned Regulus’ mother to him. He had no idea they had even met. The reference to a child means this must have been while his mother was pregnant with Andromeda, months before she burned her home to the ground and ran away with Orion. Two years before Regulus and Sirius had been born. 

It was only two years after they had been brought to fairy that Alphard had brought Narcissa home, declaring her to be his wife. Draco was born only months later, a sickly child no one had been allowed to see him for months. Not unusual in Elfhame, where the folk struggle to bear children, the cost of their extended lives. Draco had come early and needed expert medical care and isolation. Regulus and Sirius had prayed the child wouldn't make it, they had become convinced that with the addition of a real heir for Alphard, they would be tossed aside. Some kind of changeling children abandoned to the wilds of Elfhame. 

They had been eight at the time. 

Obviously that had not happened and once Draco joined the home they quickly fell in love with their new brother, his chubby cheeks and adorable hooves. 

He isn't aware of the choice to get up off the floor and go looking for Narcissa but he isn't surprised when he finds her curled up on a chair in Draco’s room. Regulus doesn’t think she will ever trust that he is safe. She looks up as the door creaks open slightly and upon seeing him, rises from her chair, beckoning him out onto the balcony. 

The air is cool around them and Regulus breathes it in for a moment before he turns to her; 

“You warned me against a relationship with Prince Tom. Is that because you were a consort?”

She exhales tiredly and looks out over Alphard’s grounds.

“Yes, I became a consort to the King shortly before Andromeda was born. I attended her naming ceremony as consort to the High King,” Narcissa admits. “Fleamont is a wonderful king and not unkind. I remained with him until-” 

She cuts off for a moment. 

“Until I met Alphard. I had to marry him and that’s exactly what I told Fleamont. Alphard is a handsome, brave man who can provide me with the security and life I need. He wishes to marry me and I must agree." The last part seems to be a parrot, the exact phrasing she used to leave the High King. Odd to him that she remembers that exactly. “We were married within the week.” 

“Did you love him?” Regulus asks and she tuts. He knows how she detests his blunt questions. The folk are artful in the way they speak, careful to find loopholes and ways to mislead without lying. He finds it exhausting, she finds it rude he won't give her the opportunity to avoid answering. 

“Did I love who?” she asks instead and he hesitates. Does he think she loves Alphard? She certainly is loyal to him. Does he care?

“The King,” he clarifies and she chuckles. 

“I thought I did, Fleamont does love his consorts in his own way, he dotes on them. Before me was The Duchess and after me was Xenophilius. Like most consorts I resided in his bed, at his side, in his court. It was heady, intoxicating to enjoy a life like that.” 

“Are you still loyal to him? Did he hurt you to make you leave? Is that why you’re so adamant about Thomas?”

“No, that’s not - Regulus,” she sighs “You’re being rude.” 

“I don't care, you've been withholding things from me,” he snaps, edging free of his control and slipping into petulance, she scoffs at him.

“You’re not entitled to any of this information, boy!”  Boy. 

“I am when it’s about my mother,” he demands, brandishing the letter at her. She takes it and reads it, her face becoming softer. 

“I did love your mother. I wept for her when she… When I thought she- I didn't know about Orion. I… I didn’t want to believe it when I heard what she had done. I knew she was unhappy here but… After the first three months of her pregnancy she seemed to cheer up. In hindsight I know it was Orion. At the time I thought she was happy to be with child, finally feeling at home with us, alas…” She trails off. 

Regulus had known, of course, that his mother hated it here. Clearly, you don’t fake your own death if you love your life. It seems so alien to him. That’s the thing he hates the most, that he loves it here. The people seem to hate him, but the land? The lakes and the grass. It all feels like home to him. He hates them all the more for ruining this place for him. He feels further from his mother than ever before. 

“I knew that Prince James’ mother hadn't been a consort but I hadn't really questioned why,” he murmurs and Narcissa’s lip curls. 

“James’ mother was Lady Druella. Although I’ve never seen someone fit the title less,” she sneers with real vitriol. Regulus doesn't see that from her often. It suits her. 

“Druella was a callous and greedy woman, only the fates know how she managed to get pregnant with Fleamont’s child after one night, almost unheard of.” She shakes her head.

“Maybe he’s not-” 

“He is.” She sounds sure and as he looks at her in question, she continues. “He was presented to the Royal Astrologer a week after his birth. It was… I was disgusted. As Fleamont’s consort I was there of course, she forbade him from seeing the babe for the first week. The High King, forbidden from his own child. She used that boy like a pawn for power. How that backfired. The prophecy was not a good one. Foretold to be the last of Fleamont’s children, it was said that only from his spilled blood would a great ruler rise. Fleamont… It did perturb me, I won't hide it from you now, he rejected the child. Handed him back to his mother to raise as she saw fit and well. Once she could no longer use the babe for control, he was no longer important to him.”

“He lives with her now?” Regulus asks, aware suddenly of how little he actually knows about the youngest prince.

“No, he lives with Prince Lucius at his manor, Fleamont won’t allow him to live in the palace and his mother… Well, she used up all the good will.” 

They stand in silence for a long moment while Regulus processes all of this. 

“Wait, The Duchess?” He turns to her and watches the way her entire body goes rigid, she's closed off to him again. 

“Duchess Liliana, she died a few years ago now.” 

“Is that.. The Duke’s mother?” Narcissa relaxes now with a fond smile. 

“Yes, a charming boy, isn't he? Lily and I were close. As with your mother… Before.” 

“But… I mean, are you sure that The Duke isn’t the King’s child?” She hesitates before answering. 

“I know he is not, his father was a wild fae and Lily disappeared from court for a few years, following him around like a puppy. He isn't dead, he just never planned to stick around. Nomadic.” She shrugs and Regulus nods slowly.  

“She really hated it here?” he asks softly and Narcissa smiles at him.

“Yes, but she would be proud you found a way to thrive here.” She lifts the letter again. “Where did you find this?” 

“In the library with some books.” She laughs and it sounds like bells, he isn't sure he’s ever heard that before. 

“When I learned she had faked her death, it made so much sense. The only part of the house the fire did not touch was the library and the staff quarters, they're both in the left wing and the flames died out before they reached that far. Even as she fled for her life she couldn't bring herself to destroy the books.” Perhaps his mother isn’t so unlike him. 

************ AN TW FOR THE FOLLOWING SCENE SEE AN AT TOP FOR INFO ***********

He spends the Sunday reading the novels his mother left. Allowing himself to pretend like he can learn more about her from the stories she hid away. The small escape she had in this place she despised. 

The revenge from the Prince was not the subtle event Regulus had hoped for. Sirius had already left for classes by the time Regulus woke up Monday morning. He didn't bother to eat, simply following the path to their classes. 

Everything ran smoothly until lunch. 

Regulus had felt the glares, but no worse than he’d been expecting. He hadn't seen it coming, Peter moving up behind him with the sweet flesh in his hand. Hadn’t been prepared when the hand slammed into his mouth, fingers sliding the wet apple into his mouth, crushing against his closed teeth, the juices seeping through and down his tongue. Regulus’ body is being held firm against a larger body. His hands fly up scraping at the skin of the arm forcing fruit into his mouth, his nose is smothering and he can’t breathe. His attempts to pry himself free taper off as he begins to lose consciousness, and then other hands are on him. 

“You’re going to suffocate him.” Prince James pulls Regulus free of his captor and Regulus sways, the juice of the fruit has trickled down his throat and his vision has begun to blur as the poisonous effects of fairy fruit begin to take effect. 

“Spit it out,” The Prince commands, still holding him up. Following the instruction easily, Regulus leans over and coughs out the chunks of apple still mushed into his mouth. Once his mouth is empty of all but the cloying flavour rotting his mind, Regulus stands up to meet James’ eyes again. He smiles softly as he studies the freckles and thick brown doe lashes framing James’ face. 

“Pretty,” Regulus mumbles. James’ mouth drops open slightly and his fingers tighten on Regulus.

“You don’t mean that.” It isn't a question but it feels wrong to Regulus, he does mean it. Opening his mouth he begins to clarify;

“Well, I do mean it, you’re b-” A shrill laugh cuts him off as Regulus turns to find Marlene watching him with a wide grin on her face as she hangs off Pete’s arm behind them. The larger male is watching him with hatred so strong that Regulus subconsciously shies away from him, closer into James’ arms. 

“Stop,” The Prince states, it's quiet but firm. Regulus looks at his face again, feeling warmth as he indulges in the rich chocolate colour of his eyes. How could he say no.

“Okay,” he tells James earnestly. Hesitation passes over The Prince’s face before Marlene begins to coo;

“Not so powerful now, are you, Human?” James’ face sets and he pushes Regulus away from him, hard enough that Regulus lands in the dirt. Marlene leans over him with a harsh smile.

“You have a nice smile,” Regulus tells her and she laughs in his face. He frowns slightly, he thought it was a nice thing to say. 

“Sorry,” he says. 

Her lip curls for a second before she looks up at James. Regulus follows her gaze and finds the other boy to have a set jaw, arms crossed and caution in his eyes. He doesn’t seem to see Marlene watching him, too busy studying Regulus. Until she speaks again.

“You want to make it up to me, Reggie? Take your shirt off.” 

James’ eyes leave Regulus to look at Marlene, opening his mouth to speak. Regulus looks back at Marlene, she’s glaring at James with anger in her eyes. Well, he doesn't want to offend her. Without hesitation, Regulus begins to untie his shirt. He shifts to his knees to untuck his shirt and realises James is watching him again, he seems to have inched closer to Regulus. He must take too long because a large hand grips him by his hair, tilting his head round. Regulus knows from the scent around him that it’s Pete controlling him now. Some distant part of him is screaming but he can just hear the fairy fruit’s song. 

From this new angle, Regulus can see his brother. He's clutching onto The Duke’s arm, whispering furiously at him as The Duke watches the scene with cunning eyes. They’re slightly out of the circle but behind them Regulus can see more of his classmates watching. He hopes they’re having a good time, he is. 

“Your brother won’t even help you now. You are powerless. You are alone. No one, not even your twin cares about you.” Regulus would argue that it seems Peter cares a great deal but the male is fae. He cannot lie. Even in this state, Regulus remembers he cannot be lied to by these people. No one will save him. He is alone. Peter’s hot breath spreads into his ear and he recoils as much as he can, flicking his eyes to James again, desperate to get free of Peter’s hold. The Prince is watching him and when their eyes meet he swallows before stepping forwards abruptly. 

“That’s enough, Pete.” A grunt from behind him and the fingers in his hair relax, before a force shoves him forward. His hands fly out to catch himself and he looks up to find James looming over him. The Prince sneers at him and Regulus frowns. Is he not doing what they want well enough? His shirt, he forgot. Hurriedly, he resumes removing the garment. The fabric falling off his shoulder as the ties come loose, he watches James’ face and could swear the beginning of a blush starts to spread as the fabric slips lower. James opens his mouth but another voice interrupts from behind him;

“That’s enough, Jamie, wouldn't want The General to get upset with us before the coronation, would we?” The Duke’s hand brushes his shoulder from where he’s stood behind Regulus and James snarls slightly. The hand lifts away. A long moment passes where The Prince and The Duke stare each other down.

“I won’t tell him,” Regulus offers. James instantly breaks his gaze, regarding Regulus again, something like disappointment on his face. He leans closer to whisper viciously at Regulus;

“You disgust me. Dirty, mortal, liar.” The last word carries such vitriol that Regulus has to blink a few times. Then James laughs harshly. 

“You’re too compliant, it’s not fun when you don’t fight back,” he spits. Faster than his addled mind can follow, James has plucked Regulus’ hand up and slashed a dagger across the flesh of Regulus’ finger. Regulus doesn’t flinch, not from the pain and not as James twists his hands, forcing the fingers into Regulus’ mouth. 

************ END OF SCENE  ***********

For a moment, he remains in the dirt on his knees, his own fingers in his mouth, James holding them there and watching him intently. Then the salt in his blood hits him, washing away the spell of the fairy fruit and grounding Regulus in the moment. Watching The Prince so closely, Regulus sees the moment James sees him come back. He instantly pulls away from Regulus, stepping back before giving him one last, nasty look;

“Come on, he’s enough of a mess. We have better things to do.” Marlene laughs again before following him. Peter lingers for a moment. Regulus doesn't dare move. Not even as The Duke shoves Peter to follow Marlene. Not as the students around them disperse. Regulus is rooted to the spot, cold air burning his exposed skin. 

It’s only when his brother is on his knees in front of him, quiet tears dripping down the face they share. Part of him wonders if he was stronger, would he be crying? He doesn't have the capacity to grieve that way. Sirius reaches for Regulus’ shirt with shaking fingers. He looks more upset than Regulus. 

It takes a second for his anger to burn through his shellshock and then Regulus recoils, preferring to scramble away in the dirt than let the stranger touch him. 

“Reggie,” Sirius pleads. 

“You let them,” Regulus’ accuses, his voice scraping out his throat painfully.  Sirius shakes his head. 

“Reggie, you don't understand, I couldn’t,” Sirius begs. Regulus rises to his shaking feet. 

“Leave me alone. I’m done. You find your husband, make yourself the whore. I truly hope he is everything you deserve.” Regulus walks away on iron legs, refusing to let himself forget the joy he finds in Sirius’ sobbing. 

He runs to the nearest lake. He strips off his clothes like they're on fire and plunges under the surface. There, he screams every ounce of air from his lungs. His throat and lungs burn as he swims back up. Coughing and spluttering his way back up the bank. 

He lets himself cry then, in his stupid human boxer shorts and a pointless necklace of berries. Wet to the bone and trembling from something other than cold, Regulus Black sobs his battered heart out.

The summer air is warm enough to allow Regulus the luxury of leaving the tainted shirt by the water. He begins to walk a new path through the forest, reluctant to return to a house haunted by the shell of his twin, meandering aimlessly. It doesn't take long for trouble to find him. 

“You look like you need a distraction.” A familiar voice rings through the trees. “Why don't you come to my estate? I heard a rumour that you like books. I have an entire library, desperate to be.. Touched.” 

The Duke is leaning against a tree. When Regulus turns to him he pushes off, unslinging his jacket and offering it to Regulus, who takes it with a small smile. 

“I’ve been watching you,” he tells Regulus who nods.

“I know.” 

The Duke hesitates and then smiles again with an awkward laugh. “You did?” 

Regulus frowns at him, beginning to walk again. The Duke falls into step beside him.

“You aren’t subtle,” Regulus tells him and The Duke’s smile falters for a second again.

“Well, you’re fascinating to me. You’re captivating and entertaining. I want to get to know you.” Regulus hates how he blushes. So foolish to blush at the first form of flattery. He scoffs instead and The Duke changes the topic. 

“Your brother asked me to help you, you know? He knows about my… Obsession, you see.” Regulus stops walking and looks at The Duke.

“What?” 

The Duke seems taken aback, like Regulus was more than he bargained for. Regulus is done with the games today.

“Your brother… He asked me to save you from Jamie, he can get carried away.” Regulus doesn’t think James got carried away. He thinks James knew exactly what he was doing. 

“Why would he ask you? Why not help himself?” The Duke hesitates a beat too long, the way the folk do when they're trying to mislead you. 

“I think he needed permission to step in.” Regulus watches him without an expression for a second and The Duke continues, “He knows how I feel about you.”

“That you want to get to know me better,” Regulus parrots and The Duke grins. 

“Exactly, what an other worldly beauty the pair of you are. Captivating.” As he speaks The Duke uses the time to slide closer to Regulus, reaching out to tuck a still damp hair behind his ear. Regulus hates how butterflies erupt in his tummy. Some hardy spy he’ll turn out to be, one look from a handsome male and he melts to mush. Ridiculous. 

Only… he isn't a spy yet, is he? Not until his first mission. Regulus has already been manipulated, abused and embarrassed, he would like to feel good for a while. He chews his lip and studies Gilderoy’s face for a moment, the male revelling in his attention.  

“You live alone on your estate?” Regulus asks, he knows the answer and The Duke’s face clouds for a moment.

“Did your brother tell you that?” Unusual. Regulus narrows his eyes.

“How would my brother know that?” The Duke chuckles, ease flooding into his posture again.

“How do you?” There's a pause, Regulus has nothing else to add. He raises a brow and The Duke continues. 

“I do, I'm having a party. Will you come with me?” A party. Exactly what he needs. Just one more thing.

“Will you swear to protect me from harm, humiliation and embarrassment while at your home as your guest?” Regulus asks and The Duke bows;

“It would be my pleasure.”