@Aamyungv: "Kidnap her," Yoongi wipes his...

"Kidnap her," Yoongi wipes his forehead, "before the ceremony, kidnap her," his eyes flit over his men, "but make sure to keep her safe. No harm."

Jungkook nods, "yes, the baby did nothing wrong to us."

Yoongi hums, "we will return her as we take her. No harm done."

Namjoon nods, "of course. We just need the general to submit."

Yoongi nods, "tonight. Go to his house. He keeps guards but," the king snorts, "those are nothing for you two, right?"

Hoseok and Namjoon share a glance, "yes. We will be fine."

=== x ===

Seokjin gets the letter on his baby's empty cradle. A note that says to meet the person by the river the next day.

Seokjin goes alone, just as ordered in that letter, to see Namjoon and Hoseok, sitting on the steps of the riverbank.

He pauses, "Good afternoon?"

Hoseok turns with a snort, "good? Is it 'good,' still, general?"

Namjoon does not say a word, his eyes follow Seokjin as the general walks up to them. He has no weapons with him, not the ones Namjoon can see in the open.

Seokjin's eyes move over them, "what do you want?"

Hoseok shakes his head, "what you want. We are here to know that. If you want your daughter safe and sound, you will do what we say, otherwise-"

Namjoon tilts his head, "you can pray for her peace in heaven beside her mama."

Seokjin's eyes skim over them, "what do you want?"

Namjoon gets up, comes to stand beside Hoseok, "we want you to stay neutral when we tell you, so we can execute our plan."

"What is your plan?" Seokjin's jaw clenches.

Hoseok snorts, "we want to get rid of the king. How? We are not going to tell you now. So?"

Seokjin's eyes shift over them, "you took my baby for me to submit to you?"

Namjoon nods, "if you want your daughter back safely, you will do as we say."

Seokjin's lips curve upwards, "my daughter was born to a warrior, a warrior whose life is dedicated to this kingdom."

"We will kill her," Hoseok's jaw clenches, eyes burning into Seokjin's, "we will-"

"I will not betray the kingdom," Seokjin's face goes blank, the general's head held high, "I will stand between the royal family and you for as long as I can."

Namjoon hisses, "so you will lose your daughter-"

Seokjin's eyes are on Namjoon, "yes. She will be a sacrifice for the kingdom. She will be loved, and I will pray for her as you said."

Namjoon and Hoseok stare as the general stares back.

"She is your daughter," Namjoon steps forward, hisses the words out of his lips.

They both watch the general's eyes gloss over, those lips tremble for a second, "I know," Seokjin nods, "but I will not betray my kingdom. Not even for my daughter."

Seokjin steps back, "I don't know if she is already," his voice cracks, "I have no proof that you have not already killed her. Right? She can be-"

"She is safe," Hoseok murmurs.

Seokjin snorts, "and you want me to believe you? Really?"

Seokjin shakes his head, "I lost my family, I will not lose my two other kids," his eyes harden, "any harm to any one of the princes, I will have your head."

Namjoon grabs Seokjin's elbow, "and who told you we will let you go if you do not agree with us, huh?"

Hoseok pulls out his knife, the sunlight reflects against the blade, "pretty face did not think this through, did he?"

Namjoon's eyes sweep over Seokjin's face, "is this your final answer?"

Seokjin nods, "you will not have my obedience, sir. I refuse."

Namjoon pulls Hoseok away when he raises his knife, "no."

Hoseok frowns, "what?"

Namjoon's eyes are fixed on the general, a small smirk on his lips, "the moment we kill him, there will be attack on us. He is not a fool to come alone. That is the signal, right? Attack on you?"

Namjoon's dimples show as he smiles, eyes show none of the happiness, "you have people with you. They are all around us. Is not it?"

Seokjin's eyes are mirthful, "if I lose my family, you lose yourself. I don't like losing, sir. Not to that extent."

Seokjin snarls, "you two came here on your own, you will go when I say so. You can kill me all you want, but my darlings, you will not leave this place on your feet either."

The general's facade drops, the powerful knight emerges from within as Seokjin glares at them, "now-"

"Surrender," Seokjin hisses, "either kneel, so they know not to attack you. Or, go ahead. None of us leave this riverbank."

Hoseok grits his teeth, "I say we kill you, and then we see what happens."

Namjoon watches them, "that is an option. Risky, but an option."

Namjoon pushes off the boulder he was leaning against to come and stand right in front of Seokjin, "or," his breath tickles Seokjin's skin, "we can have it another way."

Seokjin watches the man, Namjoon's eyes drag over his face, leisurely, before the man smiles.

Namjoon unfastens the bandana he has wrapped around his forehead to keep his hair at bay, and with a swift motion he ties Seokjin's wrists together.

The first arrow comes slashing through the air, but before it can touch Namjoon, Hoseok cuts it down with his sword, "I got you!"

Namjoon shoves at Seokjin, "sorry, general, but you are coming with us."

The arrows are relentless but Hoseok dodges them with ease, "I am not sure how we will be able to escape because not to bruise my ego, this is too much for me even."

Namjoon laughs, "I know!"

Seokjin snorts, "you will be dead before you get to take more than two steps-"

Namjoon's lips are almost pressing against his ear, "who told you we are taking the steps?"

Namjoon shouts over his shoulder, "hobi, jump into the river!"

They dive right into the river, Namjoon holds a side of Seokjin and Hoseok holds the other as they swim under the water to get away from the riverbank as much as they can.

When they emerge for air, they are already too far away from the riverbank.

Namjoon looks back, "fools."

There are more than twenty people standing by the riverbank with their arrows pointed at the water.

Hoseok laughs, "they might see us, get down."

Namjoon looks at Seokjin who is glaring at him, "sorry, general. If you are not going to help us, we might as well lock you up."

They get out of the water when they are certain that they have left that particular spot miles away.

Namjoon drags Seokjin up and Hoseok jumps up to heave a long breath.

They all are gasping for air, trying to catch their breaths.

"Where are we?" Hoseok sighs, "it is cold!"

Namjoon shrugs, "we are still in the kingdom. Left the capital behind. Let's find somewhere to stay the night."

Hoseok nods, "let's go."

Namjoon grabs the general's elbow, "this way," his lips curve on a teasing smile, "pretty."

Seokjin glares, "shut up!"

Hoseok laughs, "he is into women, Namjoonah."

"I am not into him," Namjoon glares, "out of everyone, you are not saying this."

Hoseok giggles, following with his arm around Namjoon's and head resting against Namjoon's shoulder, "I am so tired. Forgive me, baby."

=== x ===

Jungkook hears the door cracking open. From the corner of his eyes, he can see Taehyung walking inside the room.

He is on the bed, watching the prince slowly walk towards him with a knife raised in his hand.

Jungkook wants to laugh, but he watches the prince, to humour him.

Taehyung's eyes are large, fear clear in them even for Jungkook to see.

His hand clutches the knife like his life depends on it.
The hand trembles with his each step.

Jungkook lets the prince come closer, ignores the noises his steps make or how his breathing is irregular, too.

The mattress dip when Taehyung gets his one knee on it before he crawls up.

Jungkook bites back a laugh when the prince sucks in a deep breath before hoisting the knife up into the air and swing it down on Jungkook's chest.

Jungkook grabs Taehyung's wrists with ease, laughing.

He gets up, easily flipping them over to press Taehyung into the mattress, with him straddling the prince.

The knife is held between Taehyung's hands and Jungkook tugs those arms up to lock over Taehyung's head before leaning down over Taehyung's face, "hello, my prince."

"Were you trying to kill your own husband?" Jungkook's voice drips with mockery, "how terrible of you!"

Taehyung's eyes are large, his breathing harsh, "let go!"

Jungkook does, let go of the prince and watches Taehyung scurry away, the knife raised, "you know how to use it?"

Taehyung holds onto it like his life depends on it, "I k-know how to use it! Yes!"

Jungkook kneels on the mattress, watches how terrified the prince looks.

There is a part of him that feels bad for the princes. They are not at fault but…

He snorts, "try then. I am here."

Taehyung holds the knife tightly in his grasp before hiking it up and bringing it down towards Jungkook.

Jungkook grabs that wrist with ease, with a snort he tugs Taehyung up on the mattress.

They sit nose to nose, eyes on each other.

Jungkook snatches the knife from Taehyung.

Taehyung flinches when the assassin presses the knife against Taehyung's jugular, the other arm grabbing the back of Taehyung's head so Taehyung cannot pull away.

"My prince," Jungkook murmurs against Taehyung's lips, "do you know how to beg? Beg for me to let you go then."