Etherin at War part 8

[krystalkatz.livejournal.com]

“Your majesty…How delighted I am to see for myself that you are well…” Quintin said as he sweeping into the room with a bellowing of white and gold robes. His eyes fixed on the figure of the king in the bed. Unfortunately he was covered up with a thick blanket but he suspected that underneath that he was nude and he really wished that he could see for himself if that was the case.

>Your holiness…What are you doing here?< The kind asked his hands moving as skilfully as ever his eyes just as delightfully defiant as before causing a happily delighted shiver to run down the older man’s spine. He would love to wipe that away, to see the thin narrow face twisted in pleasure. The Holy Father allowed his eyes to move around the room and he quickly picked out the person that was able to see those sights. The swarthy man in the corner, dressed in a simple brown tunic that showed off a delightfully toned body, his eyes were just as focused on him in defiance but there was something else…Shame, a deep almost consuming shame, and Quintin wondered how far he could push the man before it snapped over and he left the kings side.

“I came because I heard that you were injured…Gravely, so the reports said…” Quintin answered turning his attention back to the bed and kneeling down beside the king making to take his hand and was almost amused when Nino pulled away writing quickly;

>They exaggerated…As you can see I am fine and well on the way to recovery…My healer is skilled…<

“Perhaps there was more than your healer at work here…” Quintin whispered his eyes going purposely back to the figure in the corner delighted that he was already being made uncomfortable and was wiggling around like a fish caught on the line. “I cannot pretend that I have not heard the rumours of you, your majesty…Of your sinful nature…”

>I have committed no sin…< Nino wrote calmly and the expression on his face was so honest that for a moment Quintin believed that Ryuu really had been just spewing poison around but then he realised that it was because he honestly believed that he wasn’t doing anything wrong. His lips twitched just slightly with a half-smile as he cleared his throat saying softly;

“Then you deny the rumours of a…Love affair, your majesty?”

>I do not deny them…But I have committed no sin…< The little king wrote steadily and Quintin hummed having to admire the confidence of the little brat to say such things. The man that was hovering beside the bed jolted in surprise his whole body moving forward before he stopped himself and just whispered;

“Kazu…”

“I see then this is your sodomite?” Quintin snapped harshly when he realised that there wasn’t fear or worry in the man’s voice but just a very slight touch of panic and…Fondness. It would be harder for him to come between them if the man was just as secure in the relationship as the king. He could punish them both take the tanned lover and have him both tortured and killed but if he did that the young king would never come to him willingly and he never had to work for what he wanted “An act such as that will be punished…”

>Then let the gods do so themselves…If that were true they would have cut my cousin down…< Nino wrote before stopping his hand trembling a little on the page almost tearing it. For a second Quintin thought that the king was going to break down but his sodomite in the corner let out a soft hum and he reined himself in. Quintin smiled with amusement not surprised that the mad king had taken his cousin, the boy was too desirable for his own good but as always Ryuu had no class.

*~*~*~*~*~*

Ohno watched the Holy Father fearfully keeping his back to the wall terrified that the man would be able to see his scars through the tunic that had been quickly given him to wear. There was something very wrong feeling about the man that was supposed to be the representative of the Gods on earth. He could see the expressions that were floating through his face and he knew what they meant. He desired his Nino in the same way that he did. The same way they were told that it was wrong and were punished for it. Nino hadn’t cowed down though and his head was telling him that this was wrong and that if they were careful the Holy Father would have them dragged away before they could blink. It was his right after all even if he was feeling the same corruption as them.

“I…You are right, your majesty” Quintin whispered and Ohno had to admit that if it wasn’t for the fact everything inside of him was telling him not to trust the man he would have been relieved at the words. “Perhaps we have been too heavy handed in our punishments thus far…”

>Perhaps…< Nino wrote and for a second Ohno was worried that Nino had fallen for it but the look that he gave the older man said quite clearly that he hadn’t and it wasn’t long before the king was writing again >Excuse me…But I am tired now…And tonight I wish to reassure my people that I am alive and well…<

“Then we should leave you…” The man said bringing himself up to his full height his eyes going to Ohno who opened and closed his mouth wanting to protest but not daring to speak.

>Satoshi can stay…< Nino wrote before beckoning him over. His feet obeyed willingly and quickly moving over to the bed before he could stop them and it wasn’t long before he was sitting beside his lover again staring nervously at the Holy Father. Quintin continued to show no other emotion than amusement on his face and Ohno had to admit that he was growing very tired and irritated by the smile that was on his almost handsome face so he was glad when the man gave a jerk of the head and then left the room as swiftly as he had entered it. As soon as the door had closed Nino sagged his face pale and his body breaking out into little shakes as he shuffled over to him the best that he could and rested his head on his shoulder. His hand came up and pushed aside his tunic and quickly began writing on his stomach >I hate that man…Almost as much as I do Ryuu…<

“I do as well there is something very unholy about him…” Ohno grumbled picturing the way the man had been staring at his lover. He felt Nino gave a laugh and he hugged him tightly his lips landing at the top of his head.

>I’m sorry…Not for not denying our relationship…But because I didn’t tell you first…I decided that I wasn’t going to hide it anymore…I love you…I don’t care if anybody knows it…< Nino wrote his head turning back to him a fixed look of determination in his face that had Ohno heart jumping against his ribs, not with fear but with happiness, and he kissed his lover’s nose before whispering;

“We could be killed…”

>I almost was…< Nino wrote and Ohno growled remembering his lover’s wound and he hugged him tighter, as tightly as he dared, not wanting experience that again >But it’s scarier that you don’t trust my feelings for you…<

“I do…I would never doubt them not now…”

>Good…You know that I only…Will only love you right?< Nino asked and Ohno nodded kissing him again >Now will you summon Mizuki for me? I wish to have all of the refugees at dinner with us in the great hall when I reassure them that I’m alive…I am not leaving this room because of the Holy Father he can sit as far away from me as possible…<

“There’s 100’s of them…” Ohno half chuckled wondering if he could love his lover any more than he already did and Nino smiled writing quickly;

>It’s lucky that I have a large table then…<

*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Nino walked slowly into the dining room swallowing down the lump from his throat when he saw just how many people were there looking at them. There were more than any of his father’s parties and none of them dressed in anything more than the clothes that they were wearing when they arrived. They looked just as nervous as he was and it took him a long time to manage a warm and welcoming smile writing on his pad and having Toma read it out for him.

>Thank-you for all of your well wishes, they were gratefully received and…As you can see they have helped my recovery greatly…I know that now is not the time for parties or celebrations…But I wished to thank you all…< He wrote studying each of their faces his heart so loud in his ears that he was sure that people would be able to hear it >You are all here because your homes were taken destroyed by a mad man that wants to prove a point…I cannot apologise for the actions of my cousin enough…I thought my father crazy when he had this castle built…A display of his wealth…But now finally it has served a purpose that it was never meant but has been made brighter for I hope that for the rest of your time here that you will continue to treat this castle as your own...<

A small pocket of applause started at first it was just a steady clap from one of the soldiers nearest to him. There was a bandage wrapped securely around his face and Nino guessed that he had lost an eye in the battle. Moving forward he took his hand shaking it tightly as the man said;

“I am happy you are well again…Your majesty…”

‘Thank-you…’ Nino mouthed having no hands free to write. Next to the solider was a boy who stared up at him with a wide eyed expression on his face and he blushed brightly rubbing his hands on his face when Nino held out his hand to him. Nino laughed silently at the action not caring that the hand was still slightly sticky as he shook it. Next to the boy was obviously his mouth and she gave a giggle dropping into a curtsy that almost knocked the person next to her over.

Around the room he moved shaking hands with every single person there, even the Holy Father though wanted to wash his hand after doing so, his knights and Ohno did the same thing, his gardener blushing brightly as he did so, before they took their places. If he was honest he didn’t feel much hunger and his side was already starting to throb painfully but he had proved his point. The king of Etherin was alive and still king to his people. It was a great distance away but he could see the expression on the Holy Father’s face and it was enough to cause a shiver to run down his spine and he quickly looked away listening to a littler girl that appeared to be very attached to Ohno talk about a worm that she had caught and tried to eat.

*~*~*~*~*~*

“You should stay as far away from him as possible…” Yamapi whispered as he changed his bandages that night and Nino nodded knowing who he meant before he whispered “The holy father I mean…”

>He’s like a snake…< Nino agreed slowly >I don’t like or trust him…But we can’t have a war with the church too…<

“No…But…There were rumours when I was in the temple…He enjoys life more than he should for a holy father…”

>Corruption is everywhere…< Nino sighed deeply >Its always one rule for one and one for another…If I could I would cut all ties with the temple but…Many of my people, good honest people, follow the ways…More I think than those that use the ways as justification for their own evil…You for example…<

“I joined the temple to escape…” Yamapi laughed a little his cheeks flushing “Honestly it was more of a punishment for falling in love with Toma…”

>But you still believe…< Nino pointed out remembering that he had seen his healer praying many times since he had left the temple and joined him here and Yamapi nodded before whispering;

“It grows harder every day the war lasts to believe…More and more displaced people and disfigured soldiers…What kind of gods would let that happen?”

>You can’t blame it on the gods…They gave us free will this is what we did with it…< Nino wrote thoughtfully he did still believe in some of the ideals of the gods but the way that the laws were carried out were wrong. He believed that in the very core of his soul. >Thanks for the warning though…I…I wonder if there will ever be a time for peace?<

“There will…You won’t let there not be…” Yamapi told him confidently and Nino smiled giving a nod. That was right they would be peace and he and Ohno could be together properly.

TBC
A/N: I hope that this is okay…^_^