(The Singing Bone AU. My favorite Grimm fairytale! Tormund Giantsbane x male!prince!reader. Angst: death of a wild animal{I know this can be triggering for some}, betrayal, murder, execution, teeny fluff. POV switches.) 

Once there was a king who ruled over his kingdom with a kind and just hand. The king had two heirs, a son and a daughter, both of age for marriage. The king ensured his children and his people had everything they could ever need. So, when reports of a monstrous boar reached his ears, the king wasted neither time nor expense in finding someone to take care of the creature.

"Let it be known throughout our land that the person who manages to put an end to the boar and bring me the proof, will be rewarded handsomely in both gold and...in marriage to one of my heirs." Many people tried and failed on numerous occasions to kill the boar, but none succeeded. It wasn't until months later that the problem would be solved.

Tormund and another of his brothers-in-arms were visiting the castle when they too were told of the monster that lurked in the forest as well as the prize for killing such a thing. While Tormund didn't care much for gold, he did care for something else. The prince.

From the moment Tormund set foot in the castle, there was a spark between him and Prince Y/N. To Tormund, it didn't matter that they were both men. He wanted who he wanted. And Tormund wanted him. And Y/N, though he tried to keep it secret, wanted Tormund as well. To that end, Tormund decided to hunt the boar. He set out with his brother-in-arms , only separating when they reached the very edge of the woods. They would have a better chance of catching the boar by surprise if they split up.

Tormund entered the woods from the opposite side, hoping that he would come upon the boar first. While he wanted the best for his brother, Tormund wanted the prince's freedom more. If Tormund killed the boar, the king would have to keep his word and let the prince be with him and Y/N wouldn't leave without his father's consent.

Tormund had only traveled a little way when a strange person appeared before him. Tormund drew his weapon, but the stranger merely smiled and held up a hand. "You will never succeed with an ordinary weapon. Use this instead," he offered, showing Tormund a spear of black. Tormund could practically feel the magic radiating from it. "With it, you shall not miss your target." Tormund slowly reached for the spear, asking why the stranger was handing it to him.

"Your reasons for slaying the animal are pure. You are acting from the heart. The other...he is not. His motivation is greed. Such a person cannot be allowed to wed a royal heir. He would lead to our destruction." Tormund's brow furrowed, but he didn't reply. He knew the stranger was right. His brother had always been one to covet power and placed his ambitions before all else. "Stay true," the stranger whispered before disappearing in a cloud of smoke, leaving Tormund to try and sort out his confusion.

He didn't have long to contemplate what had happened though for, the very next moment, he saw the boar in his line of sight. The beast seemed to see him at the same time and the animal charged. Without waiting a beat, Tormund aimed the dark spear and threw it. It sailed through the air, sinking into the boar with ease. The animal didn't suffer, for which Tormund was thankful.

He approached the animal and nearly fell backward. This thing was MASSIVE! It was nearly the size of Tormund himself. It was no wonder the people feared the beast. With great effort, Tormund hoisted the giant boar up onto his back and began his trek back to the castle. He couldn't fight the smile on his face. He knew Y/N would be so pleased.

Halfway to the castle, Tormund stopped to catch his breath. The boar was heavy. He set the boar down next to him just before a bridge. The smile was still on his face when his brother-in-arms came out from the forest, a frown on his face. Tormund greeted him happily, but felt his brows draw together when he saw the look on his brother's face.

"You killed it?" Tormund gave him a look that said, "obviously" but didn't reply. Instead, he turned to look at the beast and breathed deeply. That would be a mistake. The moment he turned around, Tormund felt a stinging pain in his back. He glanced over to see his brother right behind him with his sword in Tormund's back. "In the back, Brother? You have less honor than a Crow." Tormund never heard his response.

Third Person POV

Once Tormund was no longer breathing, the older man took it upon himself to bury him at the bank of the creek underneath the bridge. Then, he grabbed the boar and began hoisting it up onto his own shoulders. He slowly made his way back to the castle with a devious smirk on his face. Finally, he'd get what he deserved. Wealth, power, and marriage to a beautiful princess. Everything he could have ever wanted.

*time skip*

Years passed. The elder brother married the princess while Prince Y/N fell into despair. He missed Tormund with ever fiber of his being. Tormund had been the love of his life and instead of a life together, he had been skewered by the very boar he'd been hunting. At least that's what everyone had been told. But our secrets always come to light eventually. And this was no different.

As it is made to do, the ground shifted over time, and one day, as he was walking home, a villager(a shepherd to be exact) noticed a white bone sticking out of the ground. Thinking it was an animal bone, he picked it up. Smiling to himself as he thought of what a good mouthpiece the bone would make for his horn, the villager began carving the bone.

Once he finished, he smiled at his handiwork. What he didn't expect was for the bone to begin singing. It was not a beautiful song by any means, but it sang nevertheless. It sang a tale of betrayal and of deceit and of treachery. A tale of murder. And the murderer was none other than the man who would be crowned king should something happen to the prince or princess. Without waiting a moment, the villager ran to the castle to inform the king.

When the king heard the bone sing, his heart broke for his son. The man he had loved was not dead by the boar's tusk, but by the hand of his own brother. In order to see the truth, the king ordered the ground around the bridge be dug up. He would know before the day was out. And sure enough, upon digging up the ground, the rest of the remains of Tormund were found.

The king told his son. To say the prince was upset would be an understatement. He was enraged. The proof was there and it could not be denied. He ordered the elder brother be thrown into the dungeons to await execution. Once Y/N had given Tormund a proper final resting place, he would demand justice.

As Y/N was deciding where to bury his love, he was approached by a strange man. He looked to be a wise man. "My prince, wait. What if I told you that your love could be returned to you?" Y/N merely stared for a moment before laughing in disbelief. "Do not give me false hope, old man." The man quirked a brow, but did not respond to the comment. Instead, he said, "The man, Tormund, was pure of heart in his pursuit of the boar. If he had not been, I would not have allowed him to find it at all. And because such a pure soul was struck down by deceit and betrayal, I can bring him back. But you must let him decide upon the justice to brought on his brother. It is only right."

Y/N agreed instantly. If this man was right and he could truly bring Tormund back, Y/N knew he had to try. "Do it if you can." The man, or rather, mage nodded and raised his hands above his head. Only then did Prince Y/N noticed the black spear. He stared at the weapon, hardly hearing the words the mage cried. Although, quiet a crowd of the palace's inhabitants had gathered, including the king himself.

Y/N and the others watched in horror and amazement as the bones began forming human tissue, muscles, organs, and skin. After a moment, Tormund stood before them, alive and well once more. Prince Y/N threw all propriety out the window as he lunged into Tormund's arms, catching the large man by surprise.

Once Tormund had been caught up on that had happened, he was shown to the dungeons where his brother waited. The man in question shook in his boots when he saw what he thought was the apparition of the brother he had slain. "It is true what they say, Brother. Our secrets, particularly murder, have a way of coming back to haunt us."

"What should we do with him?" Y/N asked. He had refused to leave Tormund's side for fear he would disappear again. "He left me on the creek bank with the hopes of washing his sins away. I think he should receive the same treatment. It is only fair."

At Tormund's command, the elder brother was sewn up in a sack and tossed in the nearest river to drown. The king was true to his word and granted his blessing for Tormund and Y/N to marry. The two spent the rest of their lives side-by-side. When death came for them in old age, they were buried the same way. Side-by-side, together for all eternity.