Your Grace part 87

[krystalkatz.livejournal.com]

“Low King? The High King said that you would like to talk with me…” Sho said looking at the boy who was now his king. He looked so much like his father it was sometimes eerie but there was something else about him that Yurrin had never possessed. A humility and a warmth. Yurrin seemed to distance himself from the clan from a very young age. He would act out and draw their attention in big ways but nothing in what mattered. The only one that had gotten through to the man had been the king. Nino on the other didn’t seem to realise that his actions even his small ones were affecting the clan in big ways that did matter. By playing with the younglings freely and sitting with the elders on nights he had made himself a part of the group the focus. He had not seen much since his love had returned but what he had observed made him think that given time Nino would become the focal point of most evenings spent by the fire.

Sho wondered sometimes if Yurrin had known from youth that he would not be among their number for long which was why he spent so much effort distancing himself from them while making sure he would be remembered. Elves lived such long lives that sometimes things became lost to time and he couldn’t imagine how sad that it would be to think that he would be forgotten by his friends, by his family.

“…Yes…I was told that I have to make a low council…” Nino whispered slowly playing around with the soft grey tunic he was wearing which offset his white hair perfectly to the point he looked like the child of the moon or the moon herself. Even though he appeared nervous his head was lifted proudly and his eyes were set into determination as he continued “To match the high council of three…”

“Yes, my low king…” Sho nodded in confusion wondering what this could have to do with him. “Do you want me to recommend…”

“I want you to be my second…”

“Excuse me? I’m sure you’re mistaken…I…Am nothing but a blacksmith…”

“…And I’m the boy from the kitchen…I used to sleep in the corner near the fire so I wouldn’t freeze at night...” Nino told him in a flat tone and Sho wished that Yurrin had brought the child and mother here before. Yes, she had been married to Draven and brought with her many complications but at least his child would never have known such harshness. “But I’m not asking you for sympathy! I’m just telling you that’s what I am…Or was…And then suddenly I am being made Low King of the elves and I have a family that cares about me…You know what that feeling’s like…His grace told me that you thought of yourself as an outsider…”

“Until marrying Masaki…I would not be a good choice for your second…I don’t have the wisdom to make choices for other people…”

“Neither do I…But…We…We can try and figure it out together…Please…” Nino asked and Sho looked into his face his mind on Yurrin again. The youngling had just brought a sword from him saying that he was training to train to be second. Yurrin had known then how short his time on the council would be, he realised now remembering the sad way in which he had said. I won’t achieve much as second but don’t try Satoshi won’t and then the whole clan would be in trouble…The greatest high and low king…You’ll be on the council yourself Sho...Don’t look at me like I’m crazy! One day, when somebody with the same eyes as me asks you…You won’t be able to refuse!

“If that is what you would really like, Low King…I will do my best to not fail you…”

TBC
A/N: I hope that this is okay ^_^