Chapter Text
In another life, Dunk had been born an alpha or even just a beta.
But in this life the gods are not kind. In this life he is just Dunk. An omega hedge knight stood before Lord Ashford and two princes of the realm. Begging the men to remember Ser Arlan and allow him to enter the lists.
Ser Duncan the tall. Dunk could’ve laughed at the irony. He’d never felt smaller under the sharp gaze of Prince Baelor. The man hadn’t stopped staring at Dunk since he’d entered the room. Dunk doubted he’d even blinked.
“My lords, I do apologise for the interruption-” Dunk's tongue felt heavy, the words hard to get out.
‘Get yourself together, boy.’ Ser Arlan's voice echoed in his head.
“I have asked Ser Manfred Dondarrion to vouch for me so that I might enter the lists, but he has refused to do so. He says he will not vouch for an omega.”
Baelor smirked, and looked the knight up and down.
“Come closer, Ser.” Baelor spoke softly.
Dunk stumbled further into the room, now standing only a few steps away from prince Baelor.
“What the-”
Baelor turned to his brother, cutting him off. “Do you not smell that brother? Smell him.”
“He smells like every other-” Maekar froze.
The omega smelt like dirt, grass - like hedge knight.
And then the smell hidden underneath the stench of dirt was something sweet. Sweet like the honey on the cakes he and Baelor shared together most evenings. A smell so familiar, yet so unique.
Mine.
Ours.
The omega smelt like his. His and Baelor’s.
“Our omega.” He spoke so quietly, he doubted Baelor even heard him.
Dunk shifted, his glance shifting between the two men in front of him. Every few seconds one would turn to face him, studying him almost. Then turn back towards their brother, and speak more words he didn’t understand.
“Leave us!” Maekar commanded.
“Not you!” Maekar's voice made him freeze. “Stay there omega.” Maekar's voice was soft; a sharp contract to how he’d just dismissed the room.
“Your grace, I -” Dunk dropped to his knees. “I apologise. I meant no disrespect.”
“Do not kneel for us, Ser Duncan.” Baelor spoke kindly. “There is nothing to apologise for.”
“To find our soulmate in some backwater castle,” Maekar laughed.
Soulmate.
Dunk went cold. He’d expected this day. The day that some alpha would smell him and lay a claim to him.
Dunk scrambled to his feet and took a step backwards. Trying to space between them.
Dunk knew this day would come, the day when some alpha would smell him and claim ownership. A childish part of him had hoped that the day would never come. It seemed like a cruel joke. He’d lost Ser Arlan only a week ago, and now he was about to lose himself too.
Be smart about this Dunk. These were princes, they already had heirs. They had no need for another omega. A common born one at that. Maybe they’d let him go? Swear him to silence. What use would a giant lumbering omega do at King’s Landing?
“No. I. I can't be. No,” He finally managed to mutter out.
“What the fuck do you mean no!” Dunk flinched.
“The gods must be mistaken.”
“The gods do not make mistakes boy. Do not be blasphemous.”
“Then the gods are cruel. I am a common born, you are nobles, royalty.”
The implications sat heavy in the room.
None of the men were ignorant to the way the world was. Not even princes' of the realm.
Dunk sounded more desperate now. “I can leave, please. I won’t tell a soul, we can pretend today never happened. Please, my grace.”
“Do you think us monsters, boy,” Maekar took a step towards him.
Every part of Dunk wanted to cower back, to bare his neck for the man in front of him. He wouldn’t.
“You’re an alpha, my grace,” He spoke steadily, ignoring the way his trembling hands. “I don’t need to think anything.”
Maekar stepped forwards, opening his mouth to speak.
“Calm,” Baelor interrupted, stepping between the two of them. “Both of you. Arguing is going to get us nowhere.”
Baelar placed a hand on his brother's chest before turning his attention to the knight in front of them.
“You wish to join the lists, ser Duncan?”
Dunk eyed the pair. Searching for some ulterior motive.
“Yes.”
“Then it will be done. I will speak with the game makers.”
“He will joust in the colours of house Targaryen,” Maekar interrupted. “As is befitting. Our mate, as much as he wishes to deny us. Will not present himself as some.” Maekar looked him up and down. “Some hedge knight.”
The words stung; Dunk tried to shake the hurt away. This man claims to be his mate, yet he speaks of him with such distaste.
“And if I refuse to wear your colours?” Dunk spoke quietly, all the fight from the past few minutes seemed to have left his body.
“Then you will not enter the lists,” Maekar was blunt.
Dunk glanced towards Baelor. A defence? Dunk was unsure as to what he was searching for.
Baelor nodded along with his brother. “It would be unbefitting otherwise.”
There would be another lord at the tourney who would vouch for him as a head knight. He’d made other friends.
He’d grown close with Lord Lyonel, surely he would vouch for him.
Dunk pulled himself away from Baelor's grasp. “There will be other tourneys, and more honourable lords that will vouch for me.” Dunk spoke. “I apologise for wasting your time.”
He turned towards the door and ran.
“Ser, Duncan, wait-” Baelor tried to reach for him again, but the knight had already fled.
He’d expected a chase, guards to block his exit, the princes to call after him. Neither alpha chased after him as he fled the room.
They’d allowed him to leave? Dunk would not dwell on such a blessing.
—
The silence was heavy in the room.
“You let him run!” Maekar shouted. “Let him leave just like that!”
Baelor still didn’t look at him, his gaze still locked on the door their mate had fled through.
“He was terrified, brother,” he finally replied. “You knew he was terrified, you smelt it,” he snapped. “The stench still lingers now.”
“He refused us. His soulmates.” The bite was gone from Maekar's words.
Baelor nodded, “What would you have had me do then, Maekar,” his tone was harsher this time. “Barricaded the door, called the guards, asked lord Ashford if we could borrow his dungeon.”
Maekar froze. “No..” He cut himself of, “Yes, if that's what was needed.”
Baelor reached for his brother pulling him close. “You’re hurt,” he said. “You don’t really mean that.”
“I don’t.”
Silence returned to the room.
“He smells like-” Baelor felt his brother tense, “The gods would give me another, us another. And he runs from us.”
“He will return to us,” Baelor replied.
He wasn’t sure who he was comforting more. Himself or his brother.
—
Dunk took the long way back to his camp, rushing through as many large crowds as he could find. A feeble attempt at hiding himself from anyone those alphas would send after him. He needed to get back to Egg. They had to leave.
He’d refused princes, ran from them. They wouldn't accept his refusal for long.
“I have to leave in the morning. I cannot enter the lists here.”
“Ser?”
“You can leave with me or-” Dunk’s chest hurt at the mere suggestion of the pup leaving him. But he would not hinder the boy’s dreams of becoming a knight. Especially not for some stupid omega instincts. “you can find another knight to squire for, you’re a good lad. Someone will take you.”
“I won't leave you Ser.”
“I’ve made such a big mess of things, Egg... the princes’ think I’m their mate.” Dunk's head fell into his hands.
Silence that seems to stretch for hours.
“Are you their mate, Ser.” Eggs voice was quiet.
Dunk sighed. “I think so...”
The confession felt heavy.
“Oh,”
—
Egg broke the silence, a few hours later. “My mother was an omega. She smelled like honey, kind of like you, ser,” Egg said. “I don’t remember much of my father.”
Egg stopped for a moment, considering his next words. “But I know he loved her a lot, he loved her properly, ser. Not like-”
“Not like what?” Dunk's words came out harsher than he wanted them to.
“He loved her like a person, not a possession Ser.”
Dunk inhaled sharply. “Your mother must’ve been lucky then.”
An awkward silence befell the camp. Neither of them know what to say.
“Can I offer you advice, Ser.” Egg broke the silence. Pulling himself up so he was looking down at Dunk.
“I imagine you’re going to give it to me anyway,” He replied.
“I think you should speak to them, Ser. Your soulmates.”
Dunk froze. Sitting upright. “Are you mad boy!”
Dunk grabbed the boy's shoulders, “Do you know what they’ll do to me? Do you know what they’ll do to you?”
“Ser...”
Dunk cut him off. “Alphas won't accept the pups of another alpha, I’ve seen babes ripped from their mothers, children shipped off the gods know where.”
“Prince Baelor is an honorable man, he wouldn’t,” Egg pleaded.
“They’re alphas,” Dunk snapped. “Princes on top of that. Do you know what that means boy?”
Egg didn’t flinch his tone, just stared defiantly.
“It means they can do whatever they like,” Dunk’s tone softened slightly.
“They let you leave, didn't they?”
Dunk paused.
Baelor had let him leave, he had pushed Maekar back when he got too close.
But. Baelor also hadn’t defended him when Maekar demanded he wear their colours, he’d just nodded his head. Agreed with his brother.
“This time they did,” he replied. “I won’t risk it again, I can’t.”
Dunk turned to lay back down, ready to be done with tonights events. Until Egg’s voice stopped him.
“I’m sorry, ser,” Egg’s voice was quiet, almost a whisper.
“No, you’ve nothing to apolgise for Egg.” He pulled the boy into his side. “Its me who owes you an apology.” Dunk looked down at the pup, his eyes were wet with unshed tears. “I shouldn’t have shouted. You were just trying to help.”
He knew it was a bad idea as soon as he’d suggested it. Walking right back into the dragon’s nest. “I heard there was a puppet show tonight,” Dunk said. A feeble attempt at cheering the boy up. “I’m sure
“Is that safe, ser. Won’t the princes be looking for you?”
“They’ve done a terrible job of it so far,” Egg let out an uneasy laugh.
Dunk grabbed a handful of ash from the fire, the flames having long since burnt themselves out. “Here.” He reached forwards and rubbed the ash on his neck. “Hide our scents, and keep our hoods up.”
Egg reached forward grabbing his own handfull of ash; quickly rubbing it over his own neck. Smiling up at the omega as he did.
Dunk ignored the unease in his stomach. He was doing this for Egg. He wasn’t sure how long they’d be on the path for. Before Egg would get to be a pup like this again.
“We can’t stay long, we’re leaving early.” He rubbed the boy's head. “Don’t need a grouchy squire who’s not had enough sleep.”
“I do not get grouchy,” Egg replied.
Dunk just laughed, Egg quickly joining in.