Chapter Text
England, 15th of August 1484.
The morning dew was slowly settling onto the ground, making its way throught the thick fog covering the sight in front of his eyes. A field, half illuminated by the shy pale sun, once full of joy and young souls playing childish games, filled with laughter and bliss, was now a graveyard for fathers, sons and brothers, who laid their faith in those they believed and trusted in.
Two figures stood upon the lifeless bodies, red and green armors outraged by blood, slumped shoulders and tiredness in their eyes, both feeling the weight of loss and death on their hands, both aware that the war was coming to its end, no more enemies to defeat if not each other. A war that wasn't theirs, a war that brought nothing but death and pain to each sides, a war that could have been stopped, but never did.
A decision had to be made by both sides, a silent agreement for what was about to come once they reached the council and faced the judge, the law creeping on both families, the weight of their royalty now resembling a bourdain, one they could never get rid of. Kal, from the House of El, was the first to cross the entrance of the council room, followed by Lex, from the House of Luthor, both with their heads down, ashamed of looking ahead in fear of being faced with their crime, passing faces of people whose family members laid on that forgotten field, never at peace, never rightfully buried.
"The council may begin", the judge stated.
What followed in the next two hours was a heated reminder of war crimes commited by both houses, crimes that had been happening since the beginning of it all, almost five years before, the reason seemingly forgotten, as if it didn't matter after all these years. The sun was slowly settling when the judge and his court announced that a decision has been made.
Kal-El and Lex faced the court, their heads held high in anticipation of what was coming.
"The court has decided, law 124 will be applied to this case, and it shall never be broken or the involved will pay with their own deaths."
A shaky breath left Kal-El's lips, the weight of the law now heavier than ever, while his opponent choked back a sob, both knowing what this implied, both already feeling their hearts sinking.
"Law 124 states: war crimes committed by two enemy factions should be payed with an union, the two families shall be united as one, what represented difference may now represent a new birth. Each House must present its youngest member, whom will be united in marriage until the end of their lives."
A loud gasp echoed through the room, everyone facing each other in desbelief.
A bittersweet taste of defeat in their mouths, a choked "yes, your majesty", before both knights were on their steeds, galloping back to their homes, carrying with them the knowledge and destiny of their loved ones, whose faiths were now interlaced in one.
The Castel of El, later that night.
It finally came into view, its high towers and imponent semblance, each side decored with their House coat-of-arms, a red rose interlaced with an S, the symbol of their family, a symbol of hope and love, "Stronger Together" imprinted in their hearts.
He crossed the high gates, his entrance followed by cheers and songs, his subjects bowing as he passed them, screams of happiness and tears, thousand of thank yous and blessings, none enough to make Kal-El's heart stay afloat. It sinked even lower when his eyes landed on the four figures waiting at the entrance, he looked at them, happiness in their features and so much pride radiating from them.
As he got off his horse, they were all running towards him, Kara being the first to circle him with her arms, followed by Alex, jumping and bumping their heads together, then Mon-El, patting his back and Eliza, who left a motherly kiss on his forehead and a whispered "welcome back home."
The night followed by a feast, the city chanting, eating and drinking together, the streets full of people dancing and enjoying themselves, united under the knowledge that the war was over.
Alcohol was running in the veins of almost every person sitting at their table, and it might have been the wrong moment, but Kal-El knew that the perfect moment would never come if we don't make it happen.
He slowly stood up, a glass of wine in his hand, and everyone at the table went silent in anticipation. His eyes locked with those of every present person until they settled on one in particular, big blue eyes, almost too big for her still so childish and rounded face, long curled blonde hair, falling softly over her shoulders and rosy cheeks, a lazy and smug smile painted on her features and, for a moment, he felt like perhaps, the right moment didn't exist.
"I.." no words seemed right in that moment.
"Did the cat eat your tongue?" was Alex's teasing respons at her cousin's loss of words. And Kal almost smiled.
"I have something important to tell you, and you should...just listen and try to understand, please." His features were tense now, jaw clenched and hand gripping the glass way too tightly.
Everyone's faces fell, replaced with seriousness.
"We didn't win this war " he could see that most wanted to speak and ask for explanation, but he spoke before them. "Due to crimes of war we commited in the past years, the judge...he took a decision." Kal could feel his eyes slowly filling with tears.
Mon-El's concerned eyes locked with his and he knew nothing good was coming. "What is it, Kal?" he pleaded.
He looked down before saying "the court came to a mutual agreement, both families will have to pay for what they did and...".
"Is it money? Kal we have enough of that, please don't look so-", Eliza tried to say before she was cut in.
"It's a marriage."
The sound of a shattered glass hitting the floor was the only thing heard in the room.
"We need to...present the youngest member of the family...she shall, unite with the youngest of the Luthors". He finally said, exhaling the weight off his shoulders.
A sob, a chair turning and falling on the floor, followed by steps running towards the highest level of the castle, a door slamming shut, leaving behind silence, a shattered glass and an even more shattered heart, completely sank by guilt.
He faced the people at the table again, those pair of blue eyes now the only ones missing.
The Castle of Luthors
Big white roses circled by a green serpent is all he could see, his family House coat-of-arms present in every corner of the city, on the castle, in the sky. Moving with the wind, as if it brought prideness instead of sadness and defeat.
He saw her before she saw him, long curled raven hair, big green pools full of admiration and love, the love he didn't deserve nor ever will after that night. But he let himself be selfish for once, embracing her as she filled his nostrils with her sweet flower scent, a faint "welcome back home, Lex", and the biggest smile he ever saw on her.
Lillian followed, with a warm hug and prideness, her beloved son was back home and victorious, everything she prayed for in the past years.
He guided them inside, the dining table waiting for them to join the guests in their happiness, dances and laughters, but the tugging at his heart could not be stopped, not even when sweet Lena interlaced their fingers and dragged him in the middle of the dances, swaying her shining green dress, daring him to follow her moves.
He did his best, he tried to make these last moments the happiest, the ones he will hold onto once she was gone from his side, once the love in her eyes turned into hatred, once he was no longer her beloved brother, but the cause of her unhappiness and misery.
Winn was fast to join them, moving between the bodies with clumsiness caused both by the alcohol and his everyday nature, Lena tugged him in the circle too, challenging his dancing skills (that he did not have) and laughing as he failed in each one.
Maggie joined them next, a glass of wine in each hand, a perfect full dimples display smile, a slight slur in her voice as she jumped on Lex and kissed his head, a "welcome back, baldy" falling from her lips, at which Lex faked offense and Lena laughed to tears.
The party went on for hours, until the morning lights started creeping into the windows, worn out bodies laying on the five couches in the feast room, some sleeping and others trying their best to get to the nearest restroom before emptying their guts in the hallway.
Some weren't so lucky, Maggie found herself laying against the cold wall of the hall, trying to make her head not spin as much as it was, and Lena was laying with her head in the other girl's lap, holding her forehead as if it would stop the trobbing of her brain.
Outside, on his own, was Lex, staring as the sunrise came into full view, knowing that the moment came, it was now or never.
He gathered them all, but Winn, who could not manage to get out of the restroom, at least not for now, stating that he had some "technical problems", so Lex let him be.
They were all now facing each other, grunts could be heard coming from each of them, annoyed and still tired, waiting impatiently for Lex to say his "after war" speech, to then run to their rooms and rest. But how wrong they were.
A single word, "marriage", left Lex's mouth, as if it would all make sense, as if there was no need for explanation. They all looked at each other, confusion in their faces and a silent question in their eyes.
"What law is it, Lex?", Maggie was the first who spoke, voice trembling, and hope in her eyes, "anything but that", almost chanting in her head.
Lex locked his eyes with hers, a single tear staining his left cheek, and it hit Maggie. A gasp.
Law 124.
The brunette closed her eyes, a single sob left her lips before she opened them again and looked and the raven haired girl sitting by her side. No words were needed, it all sinked into place, realization hitting every person sitting at the table.
Lena's head shoot up in disbelief, a teary smile tugging at her lips, almost begging for it to be a joke, but Lex's eyes met hers and in the span of a second she was standing, bloody eyes and rage in her features, tears threatening to fall but she was fast to wipe them away with the sleeves of her dress. Her green dress that became a blur, as she stormed out of the castle, leaving behind the one whom she called brother, but who now, more than ever, looked and felt nothing like it.