After being arrested for trying to steal a loaf of bread (not sure if that's more Aladdin or Les Miserables) Castiel was brought before King Dean for his punishment. This is what happened next. A million thanks and praises to the original author. To give the reader a bit of grounding, I'm adding the last page of the original story. Otherwise one would be so completely lost!
The
room Cas entered, was as big as the hut he and his sisters and
brothers lived in. The furniture inside was the same expensive
looking strong wood than the door was made of. There was a dresser on
one side, overlooking a window to the courtyard. The bed was in the
centre of the room with curtains on a rail around it, currently tied
back. The bed itself could probably have fit four grown men on it,
comfortably, It was draped with crimson coloured sheets and pillows
which made a small sigh escape Castiel’s mouth. When was the last
time he had laid a head on a soft surface? In the space between the
dresser on the far right side and the centre, where the bed was,
there was a recliner with a rug – also the same crimson colour.
Beyond the bed, Castiel’s eyes bugged upon seeing a stage where
sure enough King Dean was making his way to sit on the grandiose
throne. Castiel swallowed. Scared was an understatement. His mouth
was dry and he wished he would just melt into the floor. What had he
deserved to be punished by the King himself?
“So thief, what
were you trying to steal?”
Castiel’s heart galloped. The King
was speaking to him. He was speaking to him. Panic was setting in,
closing in and he thought he would die - but then a sharp command
sliced through the fog in his head.
“Come here, kneel.”
He
could do that. Castiel moved and found himself kneeling in front of
the stage, facing the King but looking at his feet. “I’ll ask you
again, and this time I require an answer.”
“Bread,” Cas
whispered.
“Speak up, thief!” The King’s voice came out
harsh, as if he was loosing patience. That was not good, the longer
the King kept talking to him the further away his punishment would
be. Castiel mustered as much courage as he could and spoke a decibel
louder.
“Bread,” he uttered and watched as the King’s frown
deepened. “I’m sorry,” he said, the apology tumbling out of his
mouth without his consent.
“Just bread?”
…
Dean
frowned, confused. Bread? Sure, stealing bread was a crime but people
stole bread all the time. They were whipped by someone in the royal
guard and that was the end of it. Why was he summoned to manage this
particular thief?
“Just bread?” he inquired, leaning forward
and watching the perplexity surround the boy.
“I-I-I, N-No, I
m-mean, y-yes,” the boy stammered.
Dean raised an eyebrow at the
boy and watched as once again the boy looked away. But now Dean was
getting annoyed. Sam only came to visit a few times in the year and
now this thief – whose only crime was to steal bread, probably
judging by his figure, because he was hungry – had interrupted him
and couldn’t even fess up without stammering. Dean decided a
different tack, one he hoped would elicit some response from the
boy.
“I’m going to punish you now, boy. Stealing won’t be
tolerated in this Kingdom.” As predicted, the boy’s head shot up
but instead of anger in his azure eyes, there were tears. But it was
the first time the boy had looked directly at him and in his entire
life, Dean had not felt so moved. A strangled sob shocked Dean out of
his gaze and he remembered who the little boy really was. A thief –
albeit just bread.
“No point in crying now. Take your punishment
and we can forget this incident.” The boy’s whole body seemed to
sag. That wasn’t acceptable. Punishment was a form of toughening up
and strangely he almost wished that the boy had been tough enough to
overthrow his captors and actually manage to steal the damn bread.
Time to start the toughening act now. “Address me properly when I
speak to you.” He barked out, and begin rising from his throne.
Hoping that the boy wouldn’t disobey, but blessedly he heard a
gasped ‘Yes, your majesty,’ in the space between him and the
kneeling boy.
“Good,” he said smoothly and went to stand
behind the boy. “I am glad that you are not a disobedient thief.
One crime is bad enough.”
“Yes, your majesty,” a slight
break in the voice.
“What is your name, thief”
“It is
Castiel, your majesty”
Castiel. Strange name for a strange
thief. Dean shook his head and resisted the sudden unsettling
urge he had to envelope the boy in a soothing embrace.
“Stand
up, Castiel. It is time for your punishment. A whipping should
suffice.”
Dean moved back as Castiel began standing, the shaking
of his limbs obvious and quite alarming.
In a manner very unlike
that of a King, Dean reached out an arm and steadied the shaking boy.
“Breathe. Easy now, its just a whipping. You’ve had worse, I’m
sure.”
At that Castiel’s eyes met his and for a moment neither
spoke. Then Castiel looked away, his shaking worsened as he replied,
“No, your majesty, I have not.”
Once again, wrong footed and
slightly unsettled, Dean replied in his normal authoritative
voice.
“Well, there’s always a first time for everything.
Without prompting
Castiel grabbed the edge of his tunic and pulled it over his head.
Now bare-chested, he waited for directions from the king.
“Over
the arms of the recliner, I suppose.”
Castiel nodded his head
deeply, grateful he hadn't had to ask aloud.
King Dean delivered
ten straight smooth strokes against the thief's back. No teasing, no
questions, no words. Then he stepped back.
Sensing his punishment
was over Castiel righted himself. He turned his head away, refusing
to look the king in the face. “Forgive me, I have failed you.”
“How
did you fail me? I'd say you bore that well.” The king replied
immediately. Castiel did not respond. Indeed he gave no sign he had
even heard the prince. He kept his sad eyes to the floor.
“Wait.”
King Dean began, realization blooming. “Who are you talking about?”
The thief shook his head in quick, jerking movements. Dean's sharp
voice returned, although a little softer. “Castiel I insist upon
being answered. Who are you apologizing to?”
“My sister,
Adorabelle.” He raised his head, looking near the top Dean's chest.
“She's sick. She is home. Alone. Sick.” Castiel applied force to
every word. It was such a stark contrast to the soft, weak tones he'd
used up tot hat point that for a moment the king stared at him,
completely dumbfounded. “She needs me. Everything I do is for her.
I can't help thinking it would have been kinder if you had thrown me
in shackles. At least then I wouldn't have to face her.”
“The
bread you were trying to steal, it was for her.”
Castiel did not
answer, not verbally. Instead he looked his king directly in the
eyes.
“Please you majesty, let me bring back *something* for
her. I don't care what the cost, you can *whip* me again if you wish.
How could I look her in the face knowing I had failed her?”
“Put
your shirt back on, and sit by the stage.” The king ordered. He all
but slammed a summoning bell with its hammer. When the servant rushed
in, eyes forward, head titled down, she barely had time to curtsy
before Dean barked his order. “A large, fine meal in 20 minutes.
And a launderer's basket. Or better, a of hunters bag.” The servant
girl bowed and withdrew.
Castiel sat beside the stage as
instructed by his king, who it seemed was making a concentrated
effort to ignore him. He was far too confused to speak.
The meal
was delivered on a serving cart and for the first time in what seemed
like hours, the King turned to look at his miscreant guest.
“Come
here. Come.” He commanded sharply. Castiel hurriedly obeyed. Choose
what you want.” Castiel pulled his hand over his mouth. Figuring he
couldn't fault the man for his reaction, Dean began selecting fruits,
various cuts of meat and at least 2 small loaves of bread from the
table. Placing them in the hunters sacks he pulled from the underside
of the cart.
“Here.” he held the sack full of food out to
Castiel. “Take this to your sister. Share it with her. And don't
let me catch you in the palace again unless it is as a
guest.”
Castiel threw himself to his knees. He pulled took the
king's hand and kissed it, three times. “Thank you your Majesty.”
He cried, tears of joy rather than sorrow flowing down his cheeks.
“By God thank you.”
Castiel knew the way
home. He did his best not to run every step. He knew running would
make him look like a thief. And who exactly could believe he hadn't
stolen the food he now carried slung over his shoulder? He imagined
his sisters face when he showed her what the prince had given them.
And wondered if he could bring himself to tell her it was from the
prince.
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