The Prince Bride.

A/N: Religious/cultural drug use in this chapter. It won’t be a regular thing.

Thanks for all the reviews. :D It really keeps me going. I still don’t have a proper spell check so I’m sorry if there are any mistakes. I try to read it over a few times before I post but I’m only human.

This was much longer than usual since I was trying to get to the end of the wedding day so the next chapter can just be pure smut :D. Then we’ll spend time with each husband doing character development and so everyone can have time admiring their favourite hubby.

Do you guys have favourites? I think its clear that no one loves Henri but I’m a little surprised I don’t have any idea if you guys root for anyone in particular. (Though I guess you don’t have to, since they’re all gunna get Monroe).

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The prince felt strange as he prepared for the wedding. He had bathed again that morning and they had spent hours carefully cutting and arranging his hair. Monroe’s servants had put him into white pants and white robes with a large hood, but some of his smooth chest was exposed to the air, making him flush.

It felt surreal, so he just let things happen, barely reacting as they started to pack up his belongings around him and they cleaned under his nails.

It was nearly eleven when they started to leave the castle, but the procession was slow going. They did not want to risk him getting dirty so he was carried out on a golden chair, then placed in a white carriage. Twelve knights and thirty squires rode out alongside him, guarding him as they entered the main street. He glanced out of his windows, surprised to see a loud, happy crowd lining the road, cheering his name.

They did a short tour around the town square, the Prince being overwhelmed by the noise. The temple grounds were filled with lords and ladies and he felt warm and faint as he stepped out into the hot sun. Slowly, he made his way into the temple, where two priestesses took his arms and led him deep down into the inner sanctum of water.

The room was large and dark, the only light coming from the open doorway and from a glowing stone set on the statue of the goddess. The statue was set against the wall just beyond a pool, which you had to step down into. It looked like it would be over six feet at its deepest and there was a ledge hanging over there for the priestess to kneel on, so that she could bless those in the water without getting wet.

There was no one there, because it was meant to be a private event, with the public only getting to see the ensuing feast. A head priestess stepped up to him, dressed in pure black, and the other two left, leaving them alone.

“You are to marry four others today.” She said softly. “And the goddess has blessed this union. She does not blame you for the hubris of your family and after this day, you will be allowed to live in peace.”

He wasn’t sure if he was relieved or annoyed, so he settled on just nodding. “When will the ceremony start?”

“Now.” She started to walk along the outside of the pool. She signaled, and two giant fires started on the left and right of the room, filling it with a strange smoke. “Enter the water.” She started a chant in the ancient tongue, speaking to the goddess.

He climbed in slowly, his robes billowing up to float at the surface. The water tingled at first, and then settled into a steady warm hum, going right through to his bones. It felt like it should hurt, but instead it just made him feel lethargic. He started when he heard more footsteps, then turned to see his five fiances stepping in.

They were all dressed in the same plain robes as him. They looked handsome and attractive, but each in a different way. Zale was stability and normality, Rowan was passion and life, Alston was beauty and mystery, and Nicodemus was danger and protection. It felt like they were all finally fitting together like puzzle pieces as the other men climbed into the water with him, surrounding him with their bodies.

The smoke had filled the room and he felt hands on him, lips on him. He vaguely knew the priestess was leaving, but a mouth claimed his and he soon forgot all about her.

The room was darkening, and the doors had closed, until soon he was unable to see, even if he wanted to. He reached out, finding bare skin beneath his fingers, but someone pinned his arms back. Suddenly, he could only focus on the touches, and they were growing frenzied and daring. There was a mouth on his neck, another on his lips and suddenly his pants were being lowered, so that a shy mouth could press kisses to the length. He wondered where the last mouth was, until it found his chest. It trailed kisses around, until it finally found a hardened nipple and started to suckle and play with the nub.

He gasped, then deepened the kiss. He felt a soft breathy moan against his, and distantly he realized it was Alston. There was a movement near his thigh and he felt knuckles brush his skin, obviously pumping, but he wasn’t sure if they were touching themselves or if they were touching each other.

Then suddenly they were all gasping, the frenzied touches ending as it suddenly was too much. Monroe released, his whole world exploding with light and pleasure, before it turned dark and warm again.

The doors had opened, letting the smoke seep out into the hallways, and the stone on the statue was glowing again. The dim light let him see his four fiances…. No his four husbands all recovering around him. He flushed, tugging his pants back up, wondering if that was supposed to have happened. He felt a little weak as he started to try and climb out, and suddenly Zale was wrapping an arm about him to support him. “Easy.”

Zale was the only one with his hair wet, a fact which Monroe’s mind supplied with glee, and he flushed. He didn’t protest the soft touches, and instead, he just felt like it was natural. Zale didn’t even blink as Rowan took Monroe’s other side. They paused at the door, helping each other get fixed up before they would step out. Nicodemus was practically carrying Alston, and the petite fairy looked flushed and ravaged. He had probably been the least experienced of them all before that, though Monroe was almost certain he was older than he looked.

The group made their way out to the front entrance alone, and Monroe realized it was probably to avoid angering Nicodemus. They all climbed into a carriage, with Monroe sat in the center between Alston and Rowan, and they headed for their new home.

An old mansion had been destroyed so they could use a plot of land near the center of town and there was a new house there, big enough for all five men. It was surrounded by a thick gate, protecting the soft flowers and shrubs that had been planted around the stone walls. He didn’t have the time or energy to admire it, but Monroe smiled at the sight. The five of them slipped out of the carriage, headed for their bedrooms.

The prince just felt happiness, slipping out of his damp robes. He finally pulled out his outfit for the feast, finally looking at his wedding clothes.

His pants were black, but his long robes made up for it. They were pure white and fitted, tying together in the back. His whole body was covered, hiding the little love marks on his neck. A golden belt went around his waist, covered in diamonds. He glanced in the mirror, flushing as he saw the effect.

Rowan slipped in, and he smiled as he saw the man’s robes. He was wearing a white jacket and white tunic, but it was made out of cotton and more traditionally masculine.

The tiger grinned, stroking up his back where his tunic was still undone. “You look beautiful.”

“Thank you.” He said, flushing. “You look very handsome.”

Rowan leaned down to kiss the back of his neck before he started to fasten up the tunic. He pressed up against him when it was done up, just holding him. “Are you ready for the feast?”

He nodded, unconsciously leaning into his warmth. He barely heard the door open, but soon Alston was stepping in. “You two need to get ready, not cuddle.”

Monroe flushed, pulling away, but his words died in his throat when he saw the fae. Alston was in white lace and  silk, looking demure and soft. A complicated silver circlet was on his head, with little chains hanging off it. A diamond sat in the center of his forehead. Silver chains and diamonds were on his ears and neck and his tunic.

“Alston, you look beautiful.” The prince said softly.

“I know.” He said, pulling him away from Rowan and getting him to sit on the bed. “Let me fix your hair.”

Rowan chuckled, kissing Alston’s cheek and pulling him back. “His hair is fine.”

Alston seemed to flutter nervously, but shook his head. “He is the main groom of the night. He has to look perfect.”

Rowan gave in, sitting off to the side to watch in amusement. Monroe had also given in, letting the fairy use oils to fix his curls to make them perfect. Alston’s hands were soft and light, fingers occasionally brushing his skin. After the third time, Monroe caught them. “Its alright, Alston, I’ve got to put a circlet on again anyways.”

The fae flushed, then nodded, leaning in to kiss him gently. “Are you sure?”

“Yes.” He kissed the hands, then let them go, smiling as he saw the effect it had on the tiny fae.

Soon they were all going back out, finding the white carriage waiting for them again. They all wore white, though Nicodemus wore it as a white fur coat over a black suit. They put him between Nicodemus and Zale, making him a little nervous. Zale was a little less open then he had been in the temple, though he had taken Monroe’s hand, and Nicodemus was tense, half glaring at the crowds as they passed them.

“Do you automatically hate every stranger?” He asked after a minute.

Nicodemus, shook his head. “I don’t hate blood.”

“You’re going to have to explain that word to me.” He frowned, “What is ‘blood’?”

“I will explain later.” He promised as they entered the castle gates. “For now we should focus on the celebration.

The feasting hall was already full of people, though most of the food hadn’t been served yet. There was space left for them at the head table, but they would have to cross the whole room to reach it. As they stepped through, the other tables stood out of respect for the new husbands.

It was a little tense, making the walk, and it seemed like no one spoke for a second before the crowds rose up in a cheer. The five husbands managed to get past the crowds and reach the royal table. Normally, the king would be in the center, but out of deference to it being their feast he had sat to the side slightly.

Monroe was surprised when Nicodemus took the seat beside Henri, but he supposed it made a little more sense for the bride to sit surrounded by his grooms. Rowan sat next to Nicodemus so that Monroe sat between the tiger and the fey.

The others sat, but they didn’t quiet just growing more excited as the feast was brought out. Dozens of meats on dozens of trays were being passed around, and there was several barrels of alcohol beside the walls. The head table drank wine however, and Monroe was not surprised to see the table of bottles behind them, ready to be drank.

It became more apparent why Rowan and Alston sat next to him as the food reached their table. Both men seemed to want to take care of him and the result was that whenever food came from one side of the table or the other, they would instantly load it onto his plate first. The result was his plate being covered in everything and he wondered how they expected him to eat it all. He reached for his goblet, but when he sipped it, he realized the taste was strange. A second later he realized that Alston was drinking white and Rowan was drinking red. They both had poured him wine.

He chuckled, drinking the mixed wine.

The prince has surprisingly gotten through his plate by the end of the feast, the wine helping his hunger. He was aware of Rowan and Nicodemus talking of battles to his right and Alston talking to Zale about plant medicine.

It felt like a family. He felt right in the middle of the men.

The King stood, and for a second, Monroe was afraid the man would do something else to throw him through a loop.

“We are here today to celebrate the wedding of my brother. Today, the four kingdoms are united again by marriage and we will rise up to squash down the threat of the west.” He raised his goblet. “I would like to thank the goddess for giving her blessings to my brother on this day and I wish for him to have a long, prosperous life. I know he will be a valuable asset to my council. I would also like to thank his grooms for ensuring peace and for swearing to represent their people in the new council. To prosperity!”

The whole room drank to the toast, but it was a surprise when the Queen stood as well.

“I would also like to raise a toast. I would like to toast Prince Monroe and his husbands for their bravery.” The room fell a little silent, and Monroe flushed. He was the opposite of brave, he was sheltered. “They have chosen to marry today for the sake of all of us, and for the sake of balance. They have chosen this unconventional marriage as a way to protect us all, despite the fact that they are strangers to each other. I propose a toast to them, and for hopes that they learn to love each other as all spouses should.” Did he imagine Henri flinch. Were they fighting? “To the new family!”

The crowd drank again, then settled back into the happy murmur.

The plates were cleared before the deserts were brought out, Monroe flushing as he paused to whisper to his husbands. “I don’t want a lot of sweets.”

Thankfully, they listened, though he still ended up with a slice of apple pie and a slice of chocolate cake. He ate half of both, but had to stop, feeling full. He was a little surprised when two hands reached for his place, both tugging before Rowan decided to just take the pie in his hand while Alston dumped the rest of the cake onto his plate. He raised an eyebrow at the two, Alston flushing, while Rowan winking as he ate the bit of pie. The tiger began to lick his fingers clean and Monroe had to flush and turn away.

Alston was intently eating his pie, but Zale’s eyes caught his. The mer smiled at him gently, looking happy. It made the brunette’s heart skip a beat.

It seemed like it was forever and yet it seemed like it was no time at all before the clocks stuck four, and suddenly they were all standing again. Nicodemus barely waited for them, still seeming stressed about the crowds, and Monroe could barely keep up as they fell into step behind him. The crowd still cheered, seemingly thinking they were eager to get into bed, and the implications took a few minutes to hit Monroe’s tipsy mind.

It struck him as they all sat in the carriage, heading back home.

They were going to go consummate their marriage.

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