fromfryingpantofire | Can I sail through the changing ocean tides? Can I handle the seasons of my life? (ABO)

Can I sail through the changing ocean tides? Can I handle the seasons of my life? (ABO)

Sam had always known that his life would never properly be his own. As a prince of the Winchester kingdom, his life belonged to the people. Every bit of his strength, every ounce of intelligence, everything that he was needed to be bent toward the best for those that he would lead.

Just because Sam was the second son didn't mean for a moment that his service would be less called upon. Something that became more clear as he grew up and it became clear that Sam would always be the most diplomatic of King John's three sons, someone that Dean would need very much as they both grew older.

As such, Sam had also always known that he would never marry for love. He was a highly eligible Alpha and he would be matched with a suitable Omega from a nearby kingdom. All for the good of the kingdom.

The news that it had already been decided, however, still takes Sam by surprise. It came only a few months after John's death, when the Celestial kingdom sent a new ambassador to take up the recently vacated post, along with the news that the wedding preparations were to start as soon as possible.

It still took nearly a year to set up and now Sam stands at the altar, nervous and waiting to set eyes on the Omega he's to marry for the first time in either of their lives.

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If he DID look up, Gadreel wouldn't see disappointment in the face of his Alpha. Surprise, certainly, but no disappointment.

Sam watched the Omega come to stand beside him, head bent. He felt Dean step up behind him and bent his head a bit so that his brother could speak to him. "I didn't realize they made them that tall in the Celestial Kingdom."

Which prompts Sam to elbow his brother in the stomach. Even if he's been thinking it as well. Everybody said that the royal family of Winchester was taller than average, something that Gabriel remarks on constantly. From what other he's seen of the Celestial Kingdom, they all seem to run to about as tall as Castiel, who is still a touch shorter than Dean. But this man, the Omega to be his mate? He's nearly of a height with Sam and he finds that to be pretty impressive.

It's also a relief, in some ways. Sam has always worried he might cause great harm to an Omega that was much smaller than him.

Shaking his head, Sam turns his attention to the Beta presiding over the wedding, shelving his curiosity for the moment. There will be plenty of time to find out more about his Omega soon.

The comment from the elder Winchester only makes Gadreel swallow hard, not realizing that the comment came from any sort of ill will. But this is his life now and such comments are no different than some of the cutting words he'd grown up around.

Gadreel repeats the words, offers out his hand to be bound to the Alpha's but there's no feeling in them, only a sense of dull finality. In time he will learn to swallow his misery, to keep to himself and hopefully avoid his Alpha and his disappointment at being given such a lout for a husband.

It takes a prod from Gabriel to prompt the Omega to bear his neck. A hard swallow as Gadreel does as expected, closing his eyes and waiting for the bite to come.

It's a bit shocking that the first time Sam hears his mate's name is from the mouth of the priest. Gadreel. An unusual name in Winchester, certainly, but not that strange for one of the Celestial Kingdom. He rolls it around in his mind before deciding that, yes, Prince Gadreel has a certain ring to it.

The rest of it, though, are very much things that Sam is somewhat expecting. It's long been known that the Celestial Kingdom is very traditional when it comes to its treatment of Omegas, especially among the nobility. But until now, Sam hasn't ever seen how deeply things might go. But the misery is fairly pouring off of Gadreel and Sam hurts for his mate.

The look on his face when he bares his neck is one that makes Sam's hand tighten on Gadreel's for a moment before casting a glance to Dean. His brother's face is carefully impassive but a moment of silent conversation passes between the two before Sam turns back and leans in, pressing his lips to the mating gland. He opens his mouth to drag his teeth across it, but only enough to be felt. He doesn't dig his teeth in, as that's not the way that things are done in Winchester.

Still, the cheers that go up from those gathered is enough to make him smile, at least a little bit before he raises his head, turning with Gadreel and placing his hand protectively at the other man's lower back.

Sam Winchester. He'd at least heard the name from Gabriel before the ceremony. The grip to his hand is a surprise but even more of a shock is that the Alpha doesn't bite down, doesn't even attempt to break the skin. The shock is plain on Gadreel's face as Sam pulls back and he takes a moment to really look at the Alpha. His Alpha. His eyes are kind and his hand warm and solid at the small of his back. He didn't force him to kneel, didn't force him to walk behind him as they left the altar.

This wasn't like any mating ceremony he had ever witnessed back home and Gadreel is feeling a bit adrift as they are led into a small reception room typically reserved for the mated pair to spend a bit of time together before the real celebrations began.

Honestly, Sam's just glad to get out of the crowd for a little while. While he is always happy to do what he can for the kingdom, he's never been a big fan of crowds. Sam positions himself between Gadreel and the crowd of well-wishers as they're led to the reception room.

Only once the door is shut does Sam breathe a sigh of relief.

He doesn't stop, though, pressing his hand into Gadreel's back to show him to one of the couches. "Please, sit," he says, smiling at his mate. "Are you thirsty? They'll have stocked the room with water and juice, but I'm sure they'll have left a bottle of wine if you'd rather."

Sam moves between him and the crowd, shielding the Omega from the well wishers. A noble and kind gesture. But it doesn't stop there, no he ushers him inside and urges him to sit rather than serve him.

"Wine. Please," he says after a moment, finding his voice again.

They're alone which means Gadreel can watch his new mate a bit more openly. He seems at ease, pouring the wine with casual grace.

"You.. you are not disappointed." He's not sure if it's a statement or a question.

Wine is a good choice. Sam pours them both a glass of red wine, bringing them over and offering one to Gadreel before he sits down at the other end of the two-seater couch. It meant that Gadreel got a bit of space without feeling like he was being rejected by the amount of space between them.

He is the diplomatic prince. It meant he's gotten good at reading people.

"Is there a reason I should be disappointed?" Sam asks, not unkindly, offering his free hand to the other man.

The Omega is still a bit confused, but the easy and calm confidence of the, no, of his Alpha is starting to soothe his badly jangled nerves. Gadreel accepts the wine, using a small sip to help him collect his thoughts. His hand slips to rest in Sam's almost without him noticing.

"Because I am not an ideal Omega." Because while he's tall he's not slender or graceful, he doesn't move with grace as much as he moves with power. Things he's heard his entire life and grown up believing. That he was inadequate.

"Because I was sent here because no Alpha in the Celestial Kingdom would have me."

The face that Sam makes is very definitely a grimace, though he tries to cover it with his wine glass. He sets the glass aside after a moment, reaching out to gently take Gadreel's free hand and sandwich it between his own.

"Gadreel. You'll find that there are very, very few Omegas who fit the idea of the 'ideal' Omega." He's not going to say that the ideal doesn't exist or that Gadreel isn't it. The man knows both of those to be untrue. "And while there are some in Winchester who cling to that particular idea, they aren't as prevalent as I have heard they are in the Celestial Kingdom. There are many who would be happy to have you here."

He raises the hand between his to his lips, pressing a kiss to Gadreel's knuckles. "Personally, I think those Alphas in your home kingdom are very narrow minded and cannot see the beauty that is before them."

Happy to have him. He was happy to have him and it takes Gadreel's stunned brain a moment to register both the words and the truth behind them. He has no reason to doubt Sam nor the earnest tone of his voice. "I have been told since the day I presented that I was an inferior Omega, that I would never have a suitable mate who would accept me for what I was."

The kiss draws a small shiver, but not an unhappy one. Gadreel has known little to no affectionate touch since being sequestered away with the Omegas as one of them.

"That I would never have an Alpha like you." One that Gadreel hoped he would be.

The fact that he's had so little affection tears at Sam's heart. He watches the other man as he speaks, hands rubbing gently over Gadreel's. "I've never been the kind of guy who goes for 'ideal' Omegas, anyway. When I saw you walking down the aisle, I was relieved."

He's always been a large, strong Alpha. He knew for a fact that it was something that scared some Omegas.

He hums softly, considering. "If you want. There is a tradition that those newly married in the nobility of Winchester sometimes use. Our celebrations last for several days, especially for royalty. So, in an arranged marriage such as ours, the couple may slip away from the festivities and spend the night getting to know each other without the pressure of so many people around them."

"Relieved."

Maybe he'd been wrong in his anger with Gabriel. Maybe.. maybe he'd arranged this to save Gadreel a lifetime of misery. Sam was a gentle Alpha, considerate of what he needed.

Like a night without a huge celebration in order to get to know his new mate.

A faint smile. "Yes. I think.. I think I would like that very much."

"Well. A lot more Omegas would be a bit...worried about my size." Something that he thought Gadreel might bypass because he's only an inch or so shorter. "Also, there's a lot of intelligence in your eyes, even as scared as I could see you were." He reaches up, brushing his thumb against the apple of Gadreel's cheek, just below his eye. "That's always been important to me."

The faint smile gets a stronger one from Sam. "When we finish our wine, then, I'll send a page to my brother. I'm pretty sure that Dean is expecting us to duck out on tonight, but he'll be expecting me to confirm that." He reaches out for his wine again. "It will allow us time to get to know each other and I can show you some of the secrets of our wing of the castle while we're both awake enough to actually be interested in them."

He tips his head into Sam's careful touch. Gentle and comforting without making any demands of him. Acting the way a true Alpha should, the way none of the Alphas would dare back home.

"I hated Gabriel when he told me he had arranged this, that I was to be married off far from home," he admits slowly. "But I think.. that I was wrong. You are like no Alpha I have ever known and I believe that was his intent all along."

"He brought me to you for a reason, and I am grateful to him for that."

Sam smiles at that, squeezing Gadreel's hand. "No, I think you had every right to be angry. It was a lot to be dropped on you at one time. Especially considering some of the things I've heard about the Alphas in your home country."

There are, of course, some Alphas in Winchester that act much the same way, but they are quieter about it because they know that it's not accepted in the kingdom. Unless an Alpha was overt about it, nothing could be done.

"I will do my best to keep to your high standards." Acting like no Alpha he'd ever known was a high standard to meet, after all. Especially at certain times of the year. "Tell me more about yourself. About your family. What interests you. What's your education been like?"

Considering the way the Alphas acted in his home country, it won't be difficult for Sam to meet those standards. Simple kindnesses are more than a good enough start for the Omega. The realization that he might be treated with consideration and not just shut away until he's needed.

"I have little memory of my family. When I presented as Omega I was taken away, to one of the houses where the others were trained and educated on how to be an appropriate mate." And Gadreel had been far bigger than most of them, smart in his studies, but never quite graceful enough, never quite appearing right. "I hated it."

A faint smile, his gaze distant at the memory. "Until Gabriel. The brother to the king has access that few others do. So he taught me, let me learn how to fight and how to ride, how to shoot and how to hunt." Those were some of his happiest memories, far removed from the house and disapproving eyes. Gabriel's laughter in the trees when Gadreel brought down his first deer. The feeling of accomplishment.

"I speak five languages, trained by the house tutors in history and the old ways." But it was outside with a blade in his hand or running free in the forest that Gadreel had been at his happiest.

There ARE special schools for the education of Omegas in Winchester, but they aren't the type that take a child away from their family. And certainly not ones that specialized in training one how to be a 'proper mate'. Sam grimaces at the very thought, shifting his hand slightly to lace his fingers with Gadreel in a more supportive gesture.

"I can imagine why you would hate it. I doubt very many would." Being locked away like that couldn't be good for a person, after all. "I am glad that Gabriel found you and took you under his wing, so to speak." His smile widened slightly. "And, now, I have an idea of what to get you as a mating gift."

After all, his husband would need a horse. His own horse, not just whatever was available in the stables.

Of course, Gabriel might beat him to it. The other prince had obviously taken an interest in this young man. Which meant that Sam would have to corner him and ask what HE knew about Gadreel. He has a feeling his husband might be a bit further up the societal ladder than one might expect.

He finishes his wine with a nod. "All of which will hold you in good stead here. I am my brother's voice in a great many things, including a lot of diplomatic meetings. Sadly, I'm not as well versed as you are in languages, though I try my best."

To be quite honest, Gadreel hadn't expected a proper mating gift and he looks up, surprised. "I am.. sure it will be wonderful." Never mind that Sam has already given him a gift, allowing him to express himself freely.

Gabriel might already have a couple of extra horses added to the Winchester stables, but he's never going to just own up to it. Where's the fun in that? He also bribes the stable hands well enough to hold their tongues on where such a fine pair of matching horses came from aside from 'a benefactor who wishes to remain anonymous'.

"If it is permitted, I could help? I can serve as interpreter, or perhaps your eyes and ears." Omegas can be easily disregarded, seen as invisible, a skill that has served Gadreel well over the years.

Which would be a lovely mating gift from Gabriel (and Sam would probably figure out where the horses had come from). But it would make things difficult for Sam, trying to figure out a different gift for Gadreel.

"There is still some time, though. Mating gifts in Winchester aren't given until after the first heat, when mating properly happens and is considered the consummation of the marriage." Which is another reason why he hadn't bitten Gadreel in the ceremony. The bite wouldn't have taken and would only have caused Gadreel unnecessary pain.

He smiles again, raising Gadreel's hand to his lips a second time. "I would appreciate it, honestly. Most countries bring their own interpreters, but it would be good to have somebody else there who knows the language and can be certain that's what's being said." And also, yes, many countries dismissed Omegas out of hand. "Never anything that would put you in danger, but another pair of eyes and ears would never go amiss."

It wouldn't be a gift from Gabriel if it didn't come without some manner of complication to make Sam's life interesting. While he considered it a compliment, it simply made most people believe the Prince to be a pain in the ass.

First heat. Gadreel swallows. They had timed the ceremony to give him only a few short weeks before it would come and he would have to submit to the Alpha completely. But perhaps with Sam it wouldn't be quite as bad as he'd initially feared?

A small smile. "Gabriel made certain I was trained in riding, hunting and in combat. I would be able to defend myself." It would help, to be of some use to Sam and his people rather than simply an Omega to be bred and then shut away when his duty was done.

Though he hasn't known the ambassador from the Celestial Kingdom for long, Sam likes him. He's become a good friend and Sam enjoys his company. But he can certainly be a pain in the ass and this would only be proof of it.

"All very good things to be trained in," Sam agrees, rubbing his thumb over Gadreel's knuckles. "Though I can hope that you will never have occasion to use your combat training. Riding and hunting, of course, will happen. Probably sooner rather than later. I believe Dean has a hunt planned for this coming weekend, as part of the wedding celebrations." His brother enjoyed hunting more than Sam did, maybe, but it would be a good way to get out of the castle.

He finishes his wine, setting the glass on the table once more. "Shall we adjourn to our wing, then? A little more quiet before the storm."

A chance to ride and hunt outside the walls. It would be heaven to be able to ride freely rather than having to hide what he loved to do from prying eyes.

A small smile, a flicker of humor as he stands with Sam. "You make the celebration sound almost as ominous as the ceremony itself." In time there would be more glimpses of humor as Gadreel dares to show more of himself to his mate.

There is real delight in Sam's eyes at that flicker of humor, along with a wide smile. "At least at the ceremony, they tell you the right things to say." He lifts they're joined hands, pressing another kiss to his husband's hand before leading him to the door.

As he expected, Dean has sent a page to wait for him. So he lets the girl know that he and Gadreel will be adjourning to their rooms for the night and will join the celebrants for lunch the next day. Then he tucks Gadreel's hand into his arm and leads him to the wing of the castle that was Sam's alone. Adam had his own wing and Dean had his rooms as well. So they would have their space, at least while they resided in the castle. Technically, Sam had lands and a home of his own on them, but they were something he didn't currently take advantage of. Something that might change.

He opens the door to his suite, ushering Gadreel in. The room is spartanly decorated, mostly filled with bookshelves and tapestries to keep in the heat from the large fireplace. A set of doors lead out onto a balcony with a large, plush chair nearby. Something Sam could drag out with him if he was in the mood to work outside. The room is dominated on one side by a large desk, currently clear of paperwork as it's meant to be his wedding night. On the other side, in front of the fireplace, are two more large, comfortable looking chairs with ottomans. A nice place to put one's feet up at the end of the day. Beyond that, an open door leads into the bedroom, filled with dark wood furniture, including a massive four poster bed, much longer than most that would be found in the kingdom. But, given the prince's height, that probably isn't that surprising. Another balcony can be found on the other side of the bedroom.

He smiles, letting go of Gadreel's hand so that he can explore. "You have your own rooms that are connected, but I hope that you'll feel free to find comfort in here, if you so desire. After the celebrations, we'll find you an Omega-in-waiting and a designer to help you make any changes that you would like to them."

The delight in Sam's expression warms him in ways that he would not have anticipated and Gadreel keeps easy pace with his new husband as he's led into his chambers. The room is utilitarian, few signs of warmth or anything beyond an Alpha who was clearly dedicated to his work. He moves through the room freely, pausing to examine the spine of a book or gently run his hand along the back of a chair. Yes. He could find solace and contentment in rooms like this with Sam if things continue the way that they have.

"I am sure Gabriel could assist with that. My sense of style, according to him, can be a bit lacking." The small smile that follows seems to speak to the fact that his cousin favors far more colorful language. "But thank you."

Possibly the thing that will stand out in the room is that there aren't any floor pillows. No place where an Omega would be expected to kneel. Which is something they should talk about. Eventually.

For now, Sam can't help but laugh. "No, I'm not much better, I'm afraid. I think the only things I chose for my room are the books and the desk. Anything beyond that is the work of our chatelaine, Ellen. According to her, Dean and I are both completely hopeless."

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