#slave!niall

Liam sighed as he watched more peasants being dragging before him in his throne room. They were crying and begging, the guards holding them gripping their arms relentlessly.

"For what have you been brought to me?" Liam asked the peasants.

"Sir, they-"

"I was asking them," Liam interrupted the guard, who looked down at the floor in shame. "What are your names?" he asked the two prisoners.

"Ingrid, your majesty," the woman spoke up, her voice trembling. "And this is my husband, Lawrence."

"For what have you been brought here?"

Ingrid's eyes dropped. "For stealing, your majesty."

"What did you steal?" Liam asked.

"Two loaves of bread and three apples, your majesty."

Liam sighed and looked to his guards. "Who summoned you for their arrest?"

"Richard the Merchant, your majesty," one of the guards answered obediently.

"Richard's prices are disgustingly high," Liam scoffed. "Let these two go and bring me Richard." As the guards were about to leave, Liam changed his mind. "Wait. Take me to Richard later. A little public shame is good for the morale of a community living with someone so lowly."

"Thank you, Majesty," Ingrid whispered wholeheartedly, tears shining in her eyes as the guards took her and her husband away.

"Next?" Liam asked the guard at the door.

"A representative from the kingdom of Localis, Majesty," the guard announced as he opened the door to a man in fine clothing.

The man approached the throne, then bowed respectfully. "Your majesty," he spoke up. "I am Lord Peter Fay, here to represent Queen Sophia of Localis."

Liam nodded for the man to continue.

"My queen begs your assistance, your majesty. The armies of King Benjamin are but two days' march from our city. We haven't the resources, nor the men, to defend ourselves, majesty. In exchange for your assistance, my queen offers you anything you desire from our city. To display our true desperation, your majesty, my queen offers even her daughter, who will do whatever she is able-."

"Lord Peter," Liam interrupted with a raised hand. "Enough. There is no need for you to embarrass yourself and stoop to grovelling. I shall assist your queen. Take ten thousand men, and offer my greetings to Queen Sophia."

"Thank you, your majesty." Lord Peter bowed, then hurried off with one of Liam's guards to organise the men.

Once the room was quiet again, Liam's guard announced, "That is all for this day, your majesty."

Liam heaved a sigh and rose to his feet. "Fetch Captain Styles," he ordered. "He and you two will be my escort into the village of Richard the Merchant," he explained, pointing to the guards either side of the doors.

"Yes, Majesty."

 xXx

"Are you sure this is the way to deal with him?"

Liam looked to his old friend and smiled. "Harry, he needs the humiliation. He's been humiliating his whole village with his prices, and then sending thieves up to me."

"I understand that," Harry sighed as they made their way through the streets. "It just seems a bit… extreme."

"I've let him get away with this for too long," Liam told his friend. "Time to deal with him." Liam spotted the stall he was after, approaching it with a call of, "Richard the Merchant!"

The merchant's bald head popped up from behind the stall, his eyes popping open in shock. "Y-your majesty…"

Liam levelled the man with a steady stare. "I have come to recognise that the prices for which you charge your community are unacceptable."

"W-what do you mean, Majesty?" Richard asked with a confused frown.

"The price of your wares is disgraceful. As your king, I command you to lower them, or be gone from these walls by sundown tomorrow." Liam watched the merchant, waiting for an answer.

"Y-yes, Majesty…" Richard gave a pathetic bow. "My apologies, Majesty."

Liam gave a satisfied nod. "I shall expect no more reports of thieves from you, as your wares will be affordable for your community to access without the need for stealing."

"Yes, Majesty."

With another nod, Liam turned on his heel and walked away.

"I must admit," Harry whispered, "that would've taught him a lesson."

"I know," Liam smirked. He jumped a little at a sudden, furious voice.

"Stupid boy!" hollered one of the salesmen, his glare fixed on a small blonde boy. "Why do you never do anything right?!"

The salesman hit his slave hard in the head with one of the many lumps of firewood scattered at their feet, presumably dropped by the boy. The boy collapsed after the blow, fear in his eyes and blood oozing from a gash in his temple.

"Get up!" the salesman demanded. "Get up!" He grabbed the boy by his hair and yanked him to his feet, bringing his fist back.

"Stop!" Liam roared.

The whole area fell into complete silence. The salesman's eyes flicked around until they landed on Liam. "Your majesty…"

"Let him go," Liam enunciated slowly.

The salesman dropped the boy, who whimpered when he hit the ground again.

Looking over his shoulder, Liam ordered his guards, "Take the man. I want him out of my kingdom." Ignoring the man's yells and protests, Liam turned to Harry. "Fetch the boy."

Harry nodded obediently, striding over to the crumpled blonde and helping him to his feet.

"You can't do this!" wailed the salesman as the guards dragged him away.

"I can do whatever I please," Liam replied. "That goes for all of you," he announced, looking slowly around at the observing salespeople. "You do not treat your slaves in such a malicious manner. You may have paid for them, but their mothers did not birth them for you to abuse. Anyone reported to commit such behaviour will be removed from this kingdom, and as such, my protection. I will take no responsibility for the lives of those who will treat others so cruelly." With that, he started back towards the castle.

 xXx

Upon arriving back in the throne room, Liam took his place on his throne. "Captain," he addressed Harry, "leave the boy with me and fetch the court healer."

"Yes, your majesty," Harry nodded, leaving the boy in the middle of the throne room before disappearing through the doors.

Observing the blonde for a moment, Liam beckoned him closer. "You have no need to fear me," he assured him.

The boy limped up to the steps before the throne. He bowed his head in respect. "Majesty," he whispered.

"What's your name?" Liam asked.

"Niall," the boy croaked.

"Come closer, Niall," Liam encouraged.

Niall slowly climbed the steps up to the throne, standing right in front of Liam. "Majesty?"

"You may speak," Liam permitted.

"Thank you for saving me," Niall sniffled, wrapping his arms around his thin body.

Giving Niall a comforting smile, Liam told him, "As your king, it is my duty to ensure your safety."

"You didn't have to bring me here," Niall said quietly. "One of the other salesmen would have taken me."

"I did not want one of the other salesmen to take you." Liam held out his hand, watching as Niall carefully placed his own worn one in his. "You have nothing to fear, now," Liam assured him, holding Niall's hand between both of his own.

A few tears tumbled down Niall's cheeks and he hiccupped. "Thank you."

"How old are you, Niall?" Liam asked.

"S-seventeen," Niall sniffled.

"At what age were you sold as a slave?"

"When I was eight," Niall whispered, "after my mother died."

Squeezing Niall's hand, Liam smiled, "I would think nine years is long enough for one as fragile as you."

Niall nodded his head once with a watery smile.

"Your majesty, the court healer," Harry announced as he opened the doors, leading in a tanned man with dark hair.

"Thank you, Captain," Liam nodded. "Zayn, could you address this boy's wounds?"

"Of course, Majesty." Zayn, the healer, beckoned Niall towards him, leading him away from the king to clean and patch his wounds.

"Well," Harry hummed, standing beside the throne. "That looked… friendly."

"Harry, hush," Liam whispered, giving his friend a warning look. "I do not wish for him to hear us."

Harry rolled his eyes. "You just brought a slave back to the castle, and you were holding his hand. Your intentions are fairly obvious."

"Not to him," Liam replied, watching Zayn tending to the gash on Niall's temple. "He has been extremely grateful that I saved him.

"Of course he is," Harry snickered. "Saved by the King of Paradime? I bet he feels he's the luckiest boy alive."

Liam subtly elbowed his friend in the ribs. "Enough," he hissed.

With another roll of his eyes, Harry stayed silent.

 xXx

After treating Niall to a bath, clean clothes and dinner, Liam took the blonde out into the palace gardens. "How are you feeling?" he asked.

Gazing around himself, Niall breathed out, "Overwhelmed."

"Understandable," Liam smiled.

"It's unbelievable," Niall half-laughed. "Not that I don't appreciate your kindness and generosity, Majesty, because I'll be forever thankful for it, but why would you bring a filthy, useless slave into your castle?"

Liam shrugged one shoulder. "Because I have a weakness for protecting those in need." Smiling to himself, he added, "And a weakness for pretty things."

"But how…?" Niall's eyes widened and he blushed profusely, quickly lowering his eyes to the ground. "Majesty."

"Do you not think you look pretty?" Liam asked curiously. "Even after your bath?"

"Possibly after my bath, Majesty," Niall nearly giggled. "You should have seen the colour of the water when I got out…"

"I can imagine," Liam chuckled.

Watching Liam from the corner of his eye, Niall continued to walk with his head down. "It had been a long time since I last took a bath."

Liam nodded in understanding. "What do you know of Localis?"

Niall looked to the king beside him as they came to a stop at a small lookout. "Only that it is our nearest neighbour and ruled over by Queen Sophia."

"Very good," Liam praised, earning a blush. "That is Localis," he explained, pointing to the city and castle a mere few miles away. "I have sent men there to help Queen Sophia defend Localis from the armies of King Benjamin of Slace. His men should arrive in little more than a day, and will be given quite a surprise by my ten thousand man support."

"Ten thousand men…" Niall whispered in amazement, gazing out at the neighbouring city. "My brother always wished to be a soldier. To be one of the thousands that protected the kingdom."

With the raise of a curious eyebrow, Liam asked, "Your brother?"

Niall nodded his head. "Greg. But he and my father are a long way from here. Across the water."

"I had noticed your accent," Liam commented. "From where do you hail?"

"Ireland." Niall's gaze dropped to the smooth stone railing he had his hand resting on.

Standing a little closer to the blonde, Liam asked gently, "How did you come to be here?"

"I was sold as a slave in Ireland," Niall explained, eyes down and voice soft. "My father needed the money, and Greg was needed to help him work the farm, so he sold me at the local flea market. I was sold between a few masters in Ireland before I was bought by a man wanting to travel the sea. So I was brought to England, where I was sold again and again until I ended up here."

"I always thought slaves were valued," Liam murmured. "Why were you sold on so often?"

"Because I'm so weak," Niall shrugged. "I'm not strong enough to work farms, and I can't carry heavy loads… I wasn't even any use of the boat that brought me over, other than serving food and wine." Gazing sadly out at the horizon, Niall whispered, "That was the only job I was ever any good at."

Liam wrapped his arm around Niall's waist, startling him a little. "You need never worry what work you are good for," Liam whispered, his lips brushing the shell of Niall's ear. "I would like for you to stay with me. You are not required to, but I am offering this to you. Stay with me. Allow me to care for you."

Blinking as his mouth opened in surprise, Niall stammered, "M-Majesty-"

"Ssh…" Liam cooed, stroking Niall's cheek. "My name is Liam."

"I-I know…" Chewing his lip nervously, Niall checked, "Stay with… with you, or just in the castle?"

"With me," Liam clarified, pulling Niall a little closer. "Will you?"

Niall carefully placed his hand on Liam's hip, glancing up at him to check that was okay. "I'd love to stay," he whispered.

With a smile, Liam brought one hand up to hold the back of Niall's head, then leaned closer and kissed him softly on the lips. "Will you still stay with me?" he asked.

"I… I have even more reason to stay," Niall replied, blushing and biting back a smile when Liam beamed at him. "But, will it negatively affect the people's view of you?" he suddenly asked. "A king kissing a slave…"

"You are not a slave," Liam reminded him. "And I will be doing much more than kissing you in future, if you would permit."

"Yes," Niall breathed out, his cheeks darkening.

"And what does it matter how people perceive me? I am their king; they bow to me or leave my protection." Kissing Niall's cheek, Liam murmured, "Would you allow me to bring you to my chambers?"

Tucking his head under Liam's chin, Niall whispered, "Yes, your majesty."

"You may use my name, Niall," Liam reminded him.

Niall pulled back enough to see Liam's face and repeated, "Yes, your majesty."

A small shiver raced down Liam's spine. "Come with me, my darling," he instructed softly, a slightly smirk on his face.