by: gamorasquill

"This is...rather ornate for a hunting lodge." Madara observed, inspecting the luxurious furniture and other beautiful decorations. 

 "Lodge must have belonged to a wealthy family." Izuna retorted as he plopped down on one of the couches and stretched his limbs. "A very wealthy family. I wonder why it was abandoned...it still looks like it's in pretty good shape." 

 "It is in good shape." Sakumo added as he walked into the room, holding a dead rabbit by the ears. "All the rooms are in tact and so is the furniture. There is absolutely nothing wrong with the place...except for the cobwebs of course." 

 "Oh, for god's sake." Madara replied, clearly sickened by the sight of the dead animal. He never was a huge fan of hunting. "Why must you torment those poor little things?" 

 "All due respect Majesty but we need to eat something and I for one have had enough of dried and salted meat." The nobleman replied simply, heading towards the kitchen. He stopped just before he reached the door and turned to the monarch with a smile. "Care for a bite?" 

 Almost instantly the Uchiha recoiled, his face scrunching up with obvious disgust. "No, thank you...I'm not very hungry. I'm just a bit tired. Have we decided on any sleeping arrangements for the night?" 

 "Not yet but I assume that we will all be sleeping together in the den." Sakumo replied. "Though naturally Tsume, Hiashi and I will sleep in shifts while you and his Highness rest." 

 Madara nodded. "Thank you Sakumo, it is greatly appreciated...and I am sure everyone will love what you plan to do with that rabbit." 

 A grin spread across the white haired man's face. "You sure you don't want any? It's going to be delicious and you shouldn't go without supper." 

 "No, I don't want--" 

 "Yes he does." Izuna intercepted, leaving no room for argument. "Just...make sure the meat isn't too red Sakumo." 

 The nobleman bowed with a small smile. "Of course My Prince."As the white haired noble disappeared into the kitchen, Madara fixed a glare on his younger brother. "Izuna!" 

 "You have been going on all evening about how famished you are and now that you saw a dead animal you aren't going to eat? I don't think so, stop being such a child." 

 The King grabbed a pillow and threw it, hitting his brother square in the face. "You are the only child here! I'm not going to eat it." 

 "Yes you are." 

 "Or what?" 

 "I'll put you over my knee." The younger Uchiha mused teasingly, throwing the pillow back. 

 Madara caught it with ease, a smile tugging at his lips. "You wouldn't dare."

 ................ 

 Hashirama sighed as his horse stopped, giving her snout a gentle pat before hopping off her. "Good girl." He praised, looking around his dark and wet surroundings. 

 The rain had calmed down and fell in a light drizzle, making it easier for him to stop and take a moment to breathe. Thunder still rumbled in the distance and he still feared that the storm was still not finished. He needed to find shelter but he had a very strong feeling that the lodge was somewhere nearby. 

 "Just a little further." He whispered to himself before snapping Mai's reigns and holding on tighter as she took off. "Please just let it be a little further."

................. 

 Tobirama stared at his brother's bedroom door, shuffling his feet awkwardly. His hand was frozen in midair as he contemplated knocking. He knew that his elder brother was hurting and he needed to fix it. It was always so easy to hurt Hashirama but he feared that this time he had gone a little too far. 

 They had had a nasty argument a few hours before and no one had seen the King since. After a few hours of trying to convince himself that his sensitive brother would show up sooner or later the Prince began to panic. He searched all over for him: the gardens, the attic and even the stables. They were all places he was known to go when he was upset but he was nowhere to be found so that left Tobirama with one last place to look. 

 His bedroom. 

 Shoving aside his nervousness the Prince knocked only to be met with silence afterwards. With a sigh he decided to stop being so polite and just barge in. "Brother, I know you're upset but..." 

 His voice trailed off as he realized the reason it was so quiet was because the room was empty. Tobirama felt a sinking feeling in his stomach and swallowed bile before turning and charging down the corridor. 

 "Hashirama...where the hell did you go!?" 

 His rushed steps carried him to the library, where Mito and Hiruzen sat quietly in opposite sides of the room. Both looked up when the door was thrown open and Mito rose to her feet at the sight of the Prince's fearful and anxious expression. 

 "Your Highness?" She said, obvious worry in her voice. "You look quite frightened are you alright What is wro--" 

 "Sound the alarm! My brother...the King is missing! I cannot find him anywhere!" Tobirama demanded, his voice urgent and clearly frightened. 

 "Now, now..." Hiruzen began, rising to his feet and walking over to the Prince, "perhaps he is just out strolling somewhere. You know how our dear King loves to wander. We don't want to blow things out of proportion." 

 "No, I have searched everywhere for him! He is nowhere to be found! I think he may have even left the palace! We cannot leave him outside the walls with no protection, something could happen to him! We must go out and search for him now!" Tobirama demanded, refusing to let his fears be shrugged off and disregarded. 

 Mito and Hiruzen shared a look but nodded before turning back to their Prince. "Alright. I shall go and round up a search party. Mito, you will stay and wait here in case the King should return." Hiruzen replied. 

 The redheaded woman nodded. "Yes, of course. Please make haste." 

 "Come quickly!" Tobirama urged to Hiruzen, turning and making his way out of the room, knowing the nobleman would follow after him. 

 ................... 

 Hashirama sighed in relief at the sight of his father's old lodge and hopped off his horse. Mai whinnied and brushed her snout up against his shoulder. With a grin, he reached into the satchel around his waist and pulled out an apple. He chuckled when she nuzzled him and turned to feed it to her. 

 "Good girl." He praised, stroking her snout. 

 He led her over to the stables which were pretty run down but still very much suitable for an animal to stay in. To his immense surprise...there were already four horses inside. Each had a beautiful black coat with big amber eyes. Mai whinnied softly and Hashirama tugged her into the stable. 

 "It's alright...I know they're strangers but they won't hurt you." He assured her, turning and running his hand over her snout. 

 The King led her into an empty stall and closed the door behind her. She stepped up to the door, resting her head on his shoulder. With a smile he ran his fingers through her long pretty mane.

 "Now, you rest up okay? I'm going to go and see who our visitors are." 

 With that he made his way out of the stables, petting one of the unfamiliar horses on his way out. He made his way to the door and pushed it open, wincing when it made a rather loud creak. Slowly he stepped inside and blinked at the smell of fire and something else...something like meat. Was someone cooking?

 "Hello?" He called out, stepping further into the house. 

 It was warm inside and the deeper he went into the house the stronger the smell of food got. He was embarrassed at how loud his stomach rumbled but he had been riding for a few hours and he didn't eat anything before he left. Food had been the last of his worries then but now he was famished. He could only hope that whoever was here was friendly and willing to share. 

 "Anyone her--" 

 His call was interrupted by a long blade being pressed against his throat and he resisted the sudden urge to swallow. His heart quickened in his chest and he slowly raised his hands. 

 "Who are you?" A voice, female and sharp, growled. It was feral...almost like she was more of a wild animal than she was human. 

 "Please...I mean you no harm." Hashirama replied, a little quicker than he intended."That is not what I asked you." She snarled in reply, pressing the blade a bit closer and drawing a tiny bead of blood. "Who are you and how did you find us? I won't ask a third time." 

 Before the Senju could respond another figure stepped into his line of view. A man with surprisingly beautiful features. Long dark hair that flowed like a river of fine silk down his back and big round onyx eyes. He was dressed in a blood red tunic with black pants and hunting boots. There was a sheath strapped to his waist but no sword and Hashirama found himself a bit grateful for that fact. 

 "Tsume?" He called out, looking over his shoulder at the woman holding him hostage. "What is going on? Who is this?" 

 "That is what I'm trying to determine Your Majesty." 

 That certainly caught the Senju King's attention and his eyes widened. "Majesty?" He repeated, looking at the raven haired man with shocked eyes. "Are you...King Madara!?" 

 The man immediately backed away, looking at him as if he had suddenly grown a third eye and the blade at his throat inched even closer. 

 "How do you know his Majesty!?" The woman he assumed was Tsume growled. "Who sent you?!" 

 "No one!" Hashirama cried out. "I know your King because I am the one he gave his hand to in marriage!" 

 "Liar!" Tsume exclaimed, ready to slash his throat. 

 "Wait!" The other man cried, extending his hand. "Tsume stop!" 

 The sword slowly eased itself away from Hashirama's flesh and he sighed in relief. He looked towards the man he knew now was his future spouse, King Madara of the Uchiha himself. A smile tugged at his lips but he feared he was still not quite out of the woods yet. 

 Madara walked up to him with cautious eyes. "You claim to be Hashirama, King of the Senju." 

 "I am." 

 "Do Senju Kings always travel through the woods without their entourage or no supervision at all present to protect them?" He asked, letting his eyes rake over Hashirama, who felt naked under his harsh black gaze. 

 "Not always...only when we are in emotional distress and not thinking clearly." 

 "You understand that your story is not at all convincing...and that we cannot trust a word you say." 

 Hashirama gave him an incredulous look. "What on Earth do you mean? No one knows of our betrothal except you, myself, my court and perhaps your own court if you have chosen to tell them!" 

 "And you could very well be a spy for your King or a traitor of his court. Unless you have sparkling crown or a scepter of power in your satchel...your claims of being King fall on deaf ears." The man explained rather coldly. 

 Hashirama sighed and shook his head, cursing himself quietly in his thoughts. Now he truly wished that in his haste to escape and be alone that he had left his royal garb and circlet on before he rushed out of the palace. Instead he exchanged them for casual rider's clothing and so now any stranger would never even think to guess his royal status. 

 "So what will you do with me?" He asked, tearing his gaze from the other man. 

 "We shall keep you here and keep you tied up perhaps. Our journey to your lands will be completed tomorrow and we will take you with us. When we reach your kingdom then we shall see if your claims ring true. Tsume!" 

 "Yes, your Majesty?" 

 "Bind his hands...and bring him into the den. Do not harm him anymore than you already have either. After all your hands may be touching the Senju King...and my future husband." 

 Hashirama looked up at his choice of words, a light blush tinting his cheeks. Their eyes connected for just a split second before Madara turned and vanished from his sight, the only proof of his presence being his soft footsteps growing further and further away. 

 ................ 

 Tobirama tried to steady his breathing as he rode, forcing himself not to panic. With each moment that passed he grew more and more certain that this was his fault. If only he hadn't been so cruel to his brother... If he could only learn to be more patient and accepting than none of this would be happening. His brother would have never left the safety of the palace and he wouldn't be out searching for him. 

 Please be alright... He thought to himself. Please, please be alright. 

 "My Prince!" Hiruzen called out. 

 The Prince turned and found the rest of the search party halted behind him. He stopped his horse and glared at them. "What is the meaning of this!?" He demanded, his face reddened with sheer fury. "Why have you stopped!?" 

 "The storm My Prince." Hiruzen explained, looking up at the sky which was grey with storm clouds. "Soon we shall be overwhelmed...we must turn back." 

 "NO! If my brother could ride alone through a violent storm than certainly we can! Grow a pair for god's sake and let's go! That is an order!" He shouted before turning and riding further, not even concerned with whether or not they followed after him. He had one priority and it was to find his brother. 

 Even if he had to do it alone...