Wherever The Road May Lead

by ashtraythief

Summary:

In the Republic of Nereya the dragons and their Riders keep the peace and protect the borders, while the Senate rules the lands. Jensen Ackles is the leader of the Black Wing, the most elite fighting squadron, until the day he and his two lieutenants are exiled.

With three of Nereya’s fiercest defenders banished, the men behind their downfall attempt to seize power. But they aren’t prepared for Jared Padalecki, a young Rider rising through the ranks, who’s never forgotten the principles and ideals Ackles stood for. When their country is under the rule of a corrupt dictatorship and on the brink of destruction, Jared leaves Nereya behind to find the only man who can restore the balance of power.

Notes:

Written for the dragonbigbang on LJ.

This story idea actually popped into my head two weeks before I saw the pimping post, so with that perfect timing, of course I had to sign up. Due to laptop problems, the muse taking a vacation and general procrastination, this was mainly written in late night sessions and only exists because I had amazing help by four incredible people.

Thanks to alezig and keep_waking_up for brainstorming, answering weird plot questions, handholding and being my personal name generators when my brain failed me. You guys are awesome. Ginormous thanks to my betas linvro21 and fiercelynormal, they made it all pretty and were endlessly patient with all my typos and weird German word concoctions. Thanks to all the guys for helping out with coding and italics and whatnot!

Thanks to our wonderful mod for hosting this challenge and being gracious enough to let us post late!

I also have to thank my non-fandom roommate Tangy, who is the love of my life. Not only is she very accepting of my kinkier hobbies, she also helped to plot this story and drew the wonderful map of this world (that I could only sketch out in the ugliest way possible). All my love for you, mein Herz.

Last but not least, thanks to my wonderful artist eosrose for picking my story and making wonderful art for it! She was incredibly patient understanding when it came to my lateness in posting and a pleasure to work with! Don’t forget to go to the Art Masterpost and leave her all the love she deserves!

Chapter 1: Prologue

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

In the year 425 of the Republic

 

“... and it is with great sorrow and a heavy heart that I announce this verdict. The council has discussed this matter intensely and thoroughly, since there is no precedent for anything of this sort ever happening in Nereya before. But after learning of what sacrilege they have committed, we have no choice but to sentence Captain Jensen Ackles, Lieutenant Danneel Harris, and Lieutenant Christian Kane to lifelong exile.”

Under no circumstances are you ever to set foot on our Republic's earth again, by penalty of death. You will be stripped of your titles, your assets will be seized, and you will not be allowed to carry more with you than the contents of one saddlebag.”

As they were accomplices, Tonayr, Shayleen, and Kahleya will be sentenced into exile with you.”

By the winds, so be it.”

 

The Great Hall of Law was shocked into silence. Even though some had expected it, no one had really believed it would happen. However, the word of the Council was law. In the over four hundred years of their Republic’s existence, the integrity of the Council had been sacrosanct. No one would ever dare to openly oppose a verdict passed by the council of judges and law-keepers, especially if it was reached in accordance with the High Priest.

The three convicts were still standing in front of the High Judge's podium, shoulders squared and heads held high. They had come dressed in their black parade uniforms, adorned with all their decorations and medals.

The three most valuable members of the Black Wing, exiled in one day.

It took the crowd a moment before the people voiced their disbelief, at first only a quiet murmuring, but the noise grew, rose up, and then shouting could be heard from high up the theater's ranks.

“Unjust!”

“Madness!”

“Outrageous!”

The First Judge angrily slammed the gavel. “Silence! This is a court of law, and you'll behave or be removed. This decision has not been made lightly. The chamber conferred extensively with the High Priest before reaching a decision. But one of our most ancient laws has been broken. The infraction has been great, and so the punishment must be as well.”

Five members of the Capital Guard stepped forward, but Kane shook his head. “No need, boys, we'll find the way out ourselves.”

“Yeah,” Harris added, almost casually, “but don't come running to us when the Republic falls apart and there's nothing left but burning ashes.”

The only one who didn't say anything was Ackles. He just turned around and fixed his eyes, green like his dragon's fire, on the crowd. His hard gaze swept over it once, and every single person in attendance would later swear that he'd looked straight at them.

Then he started walking, and the crowd parted before him. Kane and Harris followed, one step behind their leader, and in silence they crossed the floor. The people lowered their heads in deference and some were even crying. Only a few seemed satisfied with the verdict, but with the crowd's mood, they didn't dare to show it just yet. It would be a while before they'd be able to openly celebrate their victory.

For now, they would celebrate in secret. They would meet, in dark rooms and hidden corners, and congratulate themselves on a plan well executed. They would smile and drink and continue to scheme and to plot. And when the moment came in the near future to make their move, they would be able to do so unopposed. Their last hurdle, the last danger, had been Ackles and his confidants, now they could move forward.

They were standing spread out in the back and as they watched the angry and upset crowd linger and argue, not one of them saw stormy multi-colored eyes, just as ever-changing as a dragon's, fixed firmly on the great doors the exiled had just walked through.

Not one of them saw a wide mouth press into a thin line, saw large hands ball into tight fists or adolescent shoulders tense and hunch.

Not one of them saw it, and yet they should have.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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