Aelfric stood outside of the front of the prison. A crowd had gathered on either side of the street going all the way up to the palace, eager to see his humiliation. He had backed the entirely wrong horse in the battle for succession. Realising far too late the prince had been a mad monster and would never be a good king. He had been given one chance to save his life. To perform a shame walk, to march naked through the streets all the way to the feet of the throne and beg forgiveness from the queen.
He was wearing only a thin woolen tunic that would be stripped off him when his escort was ready to begin. He had been a general, tall and well built from years as a warrior. His long brown hair had been cut short, his blue eyes set into a handsome face that now had a scar running through his eyebrow from where he had been struck down and captured. He prepared himself, he was going to hold his head high while every peasant in the capital stared at his naked body. But he was not too proud to use this opportunity to save himself. He thought 'every maiden in the capital is about to see something memorable' and smirked internally.
The bells rang to signal they were to begin. His escort of guards stepped to his side and began to cut off his tunic. Ripping the rest of it off him. The crowd let out gasps as they saw him divested of his covering. While his muscles were impressive on their own, with his strong thighs, firm behind, defined stomach and chest with not an extra scrap of fat to be found. The crowd's attention was clearly on what hung between his legs. He had been thoroughly blessed and there were already some women in attendance whose faces implied they were having some less than pure thoughts about it.
He walked with his hands manacled behind his back, lest he resist or be tempted to cover his shame. He had to suppress his grin at that one, he had nothing to be ashamed with regards to his body. He kept walking, his cock bobbing as he stepped along the street, the cool breeze caressing his skin, hardening his nipples. He held in his amusement at the expressions on some of the men in the crowd. They had clearly been hoping he had something they could mock instead of what they saw. Anyone yelling 'is it cold today general?' would just look like an idiot. Instead he got many calls of 'traitor' 'treasoner' but that was the worst of it.
There was one pretty young woman who was throwing a sultry look at him while biting her lower lip. He gave her a saucy wink in return as he marched past. If he could get the queen to show him mercy, he wondered how many women were going to seek him out. Now it was common knowledge what he had. But he quickly buried the thought. As tantalising as that possibility was, becoming tumescent as he walked in full view of everyone would be embarrassing. But it would definitely show all these peasants exactly how much of a man he was. Each and every woman imagining it buried between her thighs.
Would they think of him as a commanding general on top of them or a bound prisoner beneath them. He enjoyed the fantasy either way, it had felt like eons since he last enjoyed the touch of a woman. Sunk himself into that warmth and wetness, pounding his hips until he felt them tighten, tremble and scream with joy. He slapped away that trail of thought again. Focusing on something less arousing, his thoughts of the queen.
She was a beauty, that could not be denied. With her raven hair and big eyes the colour of peridot, high cheekbones and full heart shaped lips. As striking as she was, she had demanded this punishment for him. To make him grovel, apologise and beg.
The imminent approach of the palace and knowing he had to prostrate himself before her was sobering. This wasn't going to be easy; she was going to make him squirm. She had more than enough motivation to do so.
With the hundreds of eyes still on him the palace came into view. Tension filling him, his muscles feeling tight. As he reached the palace steps the people watching changed from peasants to nobles and other people of influence. Most of them tittered as he walked past being led into the halls of the palace. Some had their gazes fixed on his cock, while others looked shocked. Their reactions helped to ease his tension, even if the queen wasn't happy with his apology. The day he was marched naked through the palace would be talked of for years to come.
He finally reached the throne room where the queen sat imperiously. Her eyes drinking him in with a smirk forming in the corner of her mouth. Her eyes widening a little as she saw what hung between his legs. He marched to the foot of her throne with a determined look on his face. Lowering himself to his knees before her, casting his eyes down as he began to plead for his life.
He spoke with his deep voice doing his best to sound contrite. "Your majesty, I present myself before you to plead for your mercy. I was led astray by your brother's false claims. I fully acknowledge them for the lies that they are. I beg that you spare my life and I will serve you dutifully, my sword will be yours."
She addressed the room, her tone rich and soothing. "Aelfric...how nice of you to present yourself before me, bare and concealing nothing." It got a chuckle from the crowd. "I appreciate your contrition. But you didn't just believe my brother's lies, you repeated them widely. It seems fitting you repeat them one last time whilst you formally denounce them in front of the audience gathered here today." She grinned imperiously.
He sighed, grimacing lightly before starting. "You lied about the king naming you heir and you forged his will. That is false, you are the true heir. You curried favour with the nobles who supported you by spreading your legs. A lie, they supported your claim because they knew the truth. You were plotting with a foreign nation to invade. A lie. You are in league with the devil, also a lie."
She smiled puckishly, cocking her head as he finished speaking. "Now that's not all of them, you need to go down the whole list of poison you helped spread."
He internally winced. "You take multiple men to bed each night because your appetite is insatiable. A foul lie. You suckle on the Devil's cock to gain the power to ensnare men's minds. A ridiculous lie." Heat was beginning to form on his cheeks as he repeated the lies in front of her. A bemused look on her face. "You dress like a man not to join in battles but to tempt men into homosexuality and sodomy. A disgusting lie. Your sex has teeth within it because you are an inhuman changeling. Again an absurd lie."
The crowd were openly laughing at him as he repeated back all the propaganda that had been spread to discredit her.
"I apologise to your majesty for knowingly spreading these blatant untruths. It was foul and unbecoming. I beg your forgiveness for besmirching your good name."
She seemed satisfied with his words. Then her expression became pensive. "You were given this chance to explain yourself for one reason only when all the other commanders of my brother's rebellion have been executed. Do you know why that is?"
"Because I killed the treasonous prince before the final battle." He answered, his eyes rising up to meet her gaze.
"Yes." She replied. "Why? You were sworn to him, spread his lies, followed him dutifully. What made you turn on him? Answer truthfully." She studied him intently.
