Etherin at war part 11
Jul. 29th, 2014 09:50 am![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
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krystalkatzficzOhno sat on the edge of the broken fountain waiting for the sculptor to come and get his impression for the new piece. He had been hiding in the garden since that morning when Nino had once again left for the frontlines. He had told him that he would be going last night but he hadn’t expected it to be the very next day. He could understand the reasons why, he wasn’t a fool, but that didn’t mean that he wanted to accept it. There had been little time for sweet goodbyes or promises they only words that had been exchanged were those to tell him to keep his guard up around Quintin and to make sure that he never went anywhere alone. He hadn’t Toma was keeping watch by the only entrance to the garden and so far nobody else was here. He held his head in his hands letting out a long heavy sigh surprised when it was over shot by the sound of a sob. In surprise he turned staring first at the statue hoping that it wasn’t going to start crying again. But the old queen was still, her gentle smile caught by the light her sightless eyes watching over him and the garden. The sob started again and Ohno frowned his eyes scanning the garden until he saw a small figure huddled against the wall.
Getting to his feet he slowly made his way over to the figure doubting if the boy wanted to be disturbed, most people that came to the garden alone didn’t but he couldn’t leave it. There was something heart wrenching about the tears giving him a hopeless feeling deep inside of his stomach and he felt that if he didn’t act the next time he came to the garden it wouldn’t be somebody crying that he found. As he got closer to the figure he realised that it was Ceolwulf, he had helped in the garden a few times when he had first arrived at the castle but had quickly moved to the stables when the old stable hand had left to be a squire. The boy was tall for ten, with a mop of deep black hair and a face that reminded him a little of Nino.
“Ceolwulf?” Ohno whispered softly reaching out and touching his shoulder “…Are…You…”
“Ah…” The boy screamed jumping away from him his face wild and blotchy of white and red stained with muck and tears. The boy blinked wildly a few times gulping audibly before trying to recollect himself “I beg your pardon milord…”
“Ceolwulf, has something happened?” Ohno asked pulling a scrap of a handkerchief out of his pocket and using it to dab and his eyes.
“No!” The boy screamed confirming that something had indeed happened and Ohno frowned chewing on the inside of his cheek wondering if he could get him to talk. He wasn’t the best person for this job, Toma, Yamapi or even Aiba would be better.
“Okay…” He breathed letting out a sigh and sitting down beside him bringing his knees up to his chest and looking around the garden “The king has gone away again…So I am upset…”
“Milord?” Ceolwulf whispered seemingly shocked that he was being talked to so honestly and Ohno nodded giving him a smile as he rubbed his chin over his legs and staring out over the garden looking at the soft strands of light playing over the flowers.
“That’s why I’m here…” He told the boy “I think that this garden is magical…No matter how bad things seem I always feel better in here…”
“Me too, milord! It’s beautiful!” Ceolwulf shouted before frowning his lips twitching a little as he continued in a whisper “But…”
“But what?” Ohno prompted when it seemed that the boy wasn’t going to speak any more and Ceolwulf flushed brightly before launching into a speech;
“Um you should have a pond! There was a beautiful pond in my old village milord! Ducks and fish! Even swans! Flowers are pretty but I bet the king would like to look at the swans!”
“Swans?” Ohno asked congratulating himself on getting the boy to speak and Ceolwulf nodded his head frantically happy to give him an explanation of what a swan looked like.
“Yup they are like big ducks but all white Milord!”
“I see…” Ohno hummed thoughtfully looking around at the garden. There wasn’t much space left for a pond but he supposed that they could squeeze one in guessing that Nino would like to look at them “And where in the garden would you want a pond for ducks, fish and swans?”
“Here…It would be nice here!” the boy said patting the earth that they were sitting on and Ohno gave another long hum and a nod getting to his feet and brushing away the dirt from his clothes before holding out his hand to the boy.
“Okay! Let’s make one…You and me”
*~**~*~*~*~*~*
“Nino…Are you sure that you’re ready?” Jun asked when they had paused in their ride back towards Airith his eyes fixed on his king. Yamapi had confirmed that the wound in his stomach was healing but it still wasn’t long enough for it to have completely healed.
>Yes…< The king wrote leaning against a tree stump flashing him a smile >The men at the front must think I’m dead…And this war is going on for too long…<
“Ryuu will be more fortified in his own country…But…His people are turning against him…” Jun told him running his fingers over his chin before taking the deerskin bottle of water and gulping it down as Nino motioned for him to continue “There are reports from our men that just last week 20 of Airith’s soldiers came to our side and more have come since then too…The madness of Ryuu grows my king…More so since the Holy Father came to visit you…”
>My cousin would fear that< Nino sighed his face becoming pinched >His madness will not make him weaker but more unpredictable and more dangerous…<
“I agree my king, the tales that the defecting soldier tell say that he is punishing his own men for their failings…” Jun said nodding when he saw Nino’s grimace of disapproval.
“If we’re lucky one of his own guards will kill him before we have the chance!” Masaki said cheerfully before dropping down to the floor with as much grace as a stone. Jun rolled his eyes but felt his mouth twitch a little at his lover’s antics. It was strange that he would fall in love with somebody like Masaki, he had loved Nino for so long that he had always imagined that any partner that he got would at least be similar but that wasn’t the case. It had started out slowly, his irritation at being the one forced to babysit the traveller’s brat. He had heard of Sir Aiba Yuuki, there were few nobles who hadn’t, he had disgraced himself and his family by choosing to marry a penniless cook. That wasn’t the reason for his scars though…His scars were there because he had been trying to defend the honour of his wife against the advances of the king who believed that it was his right to bed any woman that he chose.
The temple master had refused to allow the man to be executed, even if it was a serious crime to punch the king, and instead he had been branded and cast out of the castle his lands and title forfeit. It seemed that the punishment had been more of a blessing though, if the stories Masaki told were true, the life of a traveller suited the old knight completely. Masaki was an unexpected pleasure though and he would be forever thankful that it was him that had been asked to train him. He reached out and brushed the fingers of his lover loving the way that his face went red and he gave a giggle shifting closer to him. Jun looked up when he felt eyes on him and his cheeks burned when he saw his king laughing a little thankfully Nino didn’t say anything about their actions as he wrote;
>As much as I wish that that would happen I doubt we’re that fortunate…<
“I agree…The soldiers that are fleeing are just regular men, those that are beside the king are still loyal…” Jun sighed continuing to stroke the fingers of his lover while setting aside his drink in favour of some of the food that was set out before him “It takes a lot for people to change their minds and his knights are loyal and their men with them…”
>…Loyalty is a dangerous thing…If I ever go insane I would want you to stop me…< Nino wrote looking completely serious about what he was saying >Insanity clearly runs through my family…<
“No, it doesn’t Ryuu’s insanity is based on his desire to rule…” Jun told him quickly reaching out and squeezing his hand knowing that Nino was worried about his own mind “Your father promised him Etherin and he died before he had time to deliver…”
>I am positive that Ryuu killed my father…I made investigations and it was the only opportunity…> Nino sighed and Jun nodded, he had made his own inquiries when they had first arrived at the palace and found that the old king had begun to fear for his life and had only trusted his young nephew to serve him his drinks believing that the promise of the crown would keep him safe. Ryuu had obviously not been willing to wait but in his haste had forgotten to make sure that the king had made it legal. He hadn’t in fact it seemed that he had made no move at all to disinherit his son. The old king was still a monster and death was the best thing that he could ever have done but at least he had gotten something right.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Quintin strode through the castle, angry that the little king had left without either accepting his offer of aid or saying goodbye. He was the Holy Father the gods chosen messenger he deserved some respect from a silly little boy playing at being king, a king that he would get to break beneath him. The stable boy had done little to quench his lust for Nino, if anything it had made him feel more hunger to have the actual thing there in front of him pleading to him, those proud and defiant eyes filled with tears and his mouth open in a silent scream. He had met few people that he desired as much as he wanted the king.
He was about to head into the throne room when movement in the gardens caught his eyes. For a moment dread flowed through him as he saw the stable boy standing with the king’s pet looking happier then when he had last seen him. His face was alight and the farmer was smiling gently almost like a father would and Quintin wondered if the boy had told. No, he told himself quickly, if he had told the trained pet of the king then they would have already had a confrontation the farmer was not the type to sit on his emotions. He was a fine looking beast with tanned arms and a taut well trained body. His hair looked as soft as feathers and his eyes give a sleepy air when they wanted but radiated a deep unflinching loyalty to his king. He looked like the third god standing there in the glow of the sunlight with the boy at his side and several more around him. The third god, the protector of children and creator of life, a statue that the Holy Father had studied for many years.
“Holy Father…” A voice called and Quintin turned to see a man dressed almost as a brother but in robes styled with the emblem of Ninomiya. He had had about the defecting brother, there were many that thought he should be punished for leaving the calling.
“Brother…Ah…Former brother…A good day to you…” He said bowing his head and stalking away uncomfortable by the hard look that he was receiving.
~**~~*~*~*
Yamapi hummed out a breath of relief as the Holy Father stalked off down the hall and then looked out of the window seeing the sight that must have given the man pause for thought. The boy at Ohno’s side who had an uncanny resemblance to their king. He clicked his tongue against the roof of his mouth and then went to find Toma knowing that they had to protect Nino’s subjects from within.
TBC
A/N: I’m sorry if this is boring…>.<
Getting to his feet he slowly made his way over to the figure doubting if the boy wanted to be disturbed, most people that came to the garden alone didn’t but he couldn’t leave it. There was something heart wrenching about the tears giving him a hopeless feeling deep inside of his stomach and he felt that if he didn’t act the next time he came to the garden it wouldn’t be somebody crying that he found. As he got closer to the figure he realised that it was Ceolwulf, he had helped in the garden a few times when he had first arrived at the castle but had quickly moved to the stables when the old stable hand had left to be a squire. The boy was tall for ten, with a mop of deep black hair and a face that reminded him a little of Nino.
“Ceolwulf?” Ohno whispered softly reaching out and touching his shoulder “…Are…You…”
“Ah…” The boy screamed jumping away from him his face wild and blotchy of white and red stained with muck and tears. The boy blinked wildly a few times gulping audibly before trying to recollect himself “I beg your pardon milord…”
“Ceolwulf, has something happened?” Ohno asked pulling a scrap of a handkerchief out of his pocket and using it to dab and his eyes.
“No!” The boy screamed confirming that something had indeed happened and Ohno frowned chewing on the inside of his cheek wondering if he could get him to talk. He wasn’t the best person for this job, Toma, Yamapi or even Aiba would be better.
“Okay…” He breathed letting out a sigh and sitting down beside him bringing his knees up to his chest and looking around the garden “The king has gone away again…So I am upset…”
“Milord?” Ceolwulf whispered seemingly shocked that he was being talked to so honestly and Ohno nodded giving him a smile as he rubbed his chin over his legs and staring out over the garden looking at the soft strands of light playing over the flowers.
“That’s why I’m here…” He told the boy “I think that this garden is magical…No matter how bad things seem I always feel better in here…”
“Me too, milord! It’s beautiful!” Ceolwulf shouted before frowning his lips twitching a little as he continued in a whisper “But…”
“But what?” Ohno prompted when it seemed that the boy wasn’t going to speak any more and Ceolwulf flushed brightly before launching into a speech;
“Um you should have a pond! There was a beautiful pond in my old village milord! Ducks and fish! Even swans! Flowers are pretty but I bet the king would like to look at the swans!”
“Swans?” Ohno asked congratulating himself on getting the boy to speak and Ceolwulf nodded his head frantically happy to give him an explanation of what a swan looked like.
“Yup they are like big ducks but all white Milord!”
“I see…” Ohno hummed thoughtfully looking around at the garden. There wasn’t much space left for a pond but he supposed that they could squeeze one in guessing that Nino would like to look at them “And where in the garden would you want a pond for ducks, fish and swans?”
“Here…It would be nice here!” the boy said patting the earth that they were sitting on and Ohno gave another long hum and a nod getting to his feet and brushing away the dirt from his clothes before holding out his hand to the boy.
“Okay! Let’s make one…You and me”
*~**~*~*~*~*~*
“Nino…Are you sure that you’re ready?” Jun asked when they had paused in their ride back towards Airith his eyes fixed on his king. Yamapi had confirmed that the wound in his stomach was healing but it still wasn’t long enough for it to have completely healed.
>Yes…< The king wrote leaning against a tree stump flashing him a smile >The men at the front must think I’m dead…And this war is going on for too long…<
“Ryuu will be more fortified in his own country…But…His people are turning against him…” Jun told him running his fingers over his chin before taking the deerskin bottle of water and gulping it down as Nino motioned for him to continue “There are reports from our men that just last week 20 of Airith’s soldiers came to our side and more have come since then too…The madness of Ryuu grows my king…More so since the Holy Father came to visit you…”
>My cousin would fear that< Nino sighed his face becoming pinched >His madness will not make him weaker but more unpredictable and more dangerous…<
“I agree my king, the tales that the defecting soldier tell say that he is punishing his own men for their failings…” Jun said nodding when he saw Nino’s grimace of disapproval.
“If we’re lucky one of his own guards will kill him before we have the chance!” Masaki said cheerfully before dropping down to the floor with as much grace as a stone. Jun rolled his eyes but felt his mouth twitch a little at his lover’s antics. It was strange that he would fall in love with somebody like Masaki, he had loved Nino for so long that he had always imagined that any partner that he got would at least be similar but that wasn’t the case. It had started out slowly, his irritation at being the one forced to babysit the traveller’s brat. He had heard of Sir Aiba Yuuki, there were few nobles who hadn’t, he had disgraced himself and his family by choosing to marry a penniless cook. That wasn’t the reason for his scars though…His scars were there because he had been trying to defend the honour of his wife against the advances of the king who believed that it was his right to bed any woman that he chose.
The temple master had refused to allow the man to be executed, even if it was a serious crime to punch the king, and instead he had been branded and cast out of the castle his lands and title forfeit. It seemed that the punishment had been more of a blessing though, if the stories Masaki told were true, the life of a traveller suited the old knight completely. Masaki was an unexpected pleasure though and he would be forever thankful that it was him that had been asked to train him. He reached out and brushed the fingers of his lover loving the way that his face went red and he gave a giggle shifting closer to him. Jun looked up when he felt eyes on him and his cheeks burned when he saw his king laughing a little thankfully Nino didn’t say anything about their actions as he wrote;
>As much as I wish that that would happen I doubt we’re that fortunate…<
“I agree…The soldiers that are fleeing are just regular men, those that are beside the king are still loyal…” Jun sighed continuing to stroke the fingers of his lover while setting aside his drink in favour of some of the food that was set out before him “It takes a lot for people to change their minds and his knights are loyal and their men with them…”
>…Loyalty is a dangerous thing…If I ever go insane I would want you to stop me…< Nino wrote looking completely serious about what he was saying >Insanity clearly runs through my family…<
“No, it doesn’t Ryuu’s insanity is based on his desire to rule…” Jun told him quickly reaching out and squeezing his hand knowing that Nino was worried about his own mind “Your father promised him Etherin and he died before he had time to deliver…”
>I am positive that Ryuu killed my father…I made investigations and it was the only opportunity…> Nino sighed and Jun nodded, he had made his own inquiries when they had first arrived at the palace and found that the old king had begun to fear for his life and had only trusted his young nephew to serve him his drinks believing that the promise of the crown would keep him safe. Ryuu had obviously not been willing to wait but in his haste had forgotten to make sure that the king had made it legal. He hadn’t in fact it seemed that he had made no move at all to disinherit his son. The old king was still a monster and death was the best thing that he could ever have done but at least he had gotten something right.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Quintin strode through the castle, angry that the little king had left without either accepting his offer of aid or saying goodbye. He was the Holy Father the gods chosen messenger he deserved some respect from a silly little boy playing at being king, a king that he would get to break beneath him. The stable boy had done little to quench his lust for Nino, if anything it had made him feel more hunger to have the actual thing there in front of him pleading to him, those proud and defiant eyes filled with tears and his mouth open in a silent scream. He had met few people that he desired as much as he wanted the king.
He was about to head into the throne room when movement in the gardens caught his eyes. For a moment dread flowed through him as he saw the stable boy standing with the king’s pet looking happier then when he had last seen him. His face was alight and the farmer was smiling gently almost like a father would and Quintin wondered if the boy had told. No, he told himself quickly, if he had told the trained pet of the king then they would have already had a confrontation the farmer was not the type to sit on his emotions. He was a fine looking beast with tanned arms and a taut well trained body. His hair looked as soft as feathers and his eyes give a sleepy air when they wanted but radiated a deep unflinching loyalty to his king. He looked like the third god standing there in the glow of the sunlight with the boy at his side and several more around him. The third god, the protector of children and creator of life, a statue that the Holy Father had studied for many years.
“Holy Father…” A voice called and Quintin turned to see a man dressed almost as a brother but in robes styled with the emblem of Ninomiya. He had had about the defecting brother, there were many that thought he should be punished for leaving the calling.
“Brother…Ah…Former brother…A good day to you…” He said bowing his head and stalking away uncomfortable by the hard look that he was receiving.
~**~~*~*~*
Yamapi hummed out a breath of relief as the Holy Father stalked off down the hall and then looked out of the window seeing the sight that must have given the man pause for thought. The boy at Ohno’s side who had an uncanny resemblance to their king. He clicked his tongue against the roof of his mouth and then went to find Toma knowing that they had to protect Nino’s subjects from within.
TBC
A/N: I’m sorry if this is boring…>.<
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no subject
Date: 2014-07-29 10:56 am (UTC)Ohno is so sensitive, he can read people like no one!
It's a good thing he's well protected, it would be a crime to harm such an angel!
no subject
Date: 2014-07-29 11:42 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2014-07-29 12:10 pm (UTC)But.. Their protection will be enough ? ;__;
Thank you for sharing, have a nice day ~
XOXO
no subject
Date: 2014-07-29 02:51 pm (UTC)oh-chan! get the boy talk and help him! and then do something with that nasty "farther" damn it >X(
IT'S NOT BORING!! how can you even think that way!! xS
thank you for writing! ^~^
no subject
Date: 2014-07-29 05:10 pm (UTC)thank you for update!
no subject
Date: 2014-07-29 05:23 pm (UTC)I love how Ohno tried to console Ceolwulf. I do hope he will told someone about this Holy father but I know how hard for him to tell people about it since people might choose to believe what Holy Father said and also he might be ashame about what happened.