"Arabian Nights"
Part 32
by Beryll
Orlando was so eager to get back to the prince's quarters at last, that he nearly lost Elijah on his way there. He only noticed that his friend was dragging his feet down almost the whole length of a corridor behind Orlando, when he turned to talk to him.
Elijah tried to put on a brave smile and caught up to him when he noticed Orlando was waiting for him.
"Don't tell me you're still scared." Orlando admonished.
Elijah shrugged sheepishly, scratching on one of his naked feet with the other. "Can't help it." he muttered.
"He's not gonna eat you, you know." Orlando said impatiently. "Come on," he took Elijah's hand and dragged him behind, "it'll all turn out fine. You'll see."
"Why don't you just go ahead on your own?" Elijah asked unhappily. "I'll follow you. You'll have him all to yourself to celebrate your reunion."
"And explain how I lost you on the way there? Very funny. Stop behaving like a girl and act like a prince for a change. Face your foe!"
Orlando was quite surprised when Elijah drew up straighter.
"I'm NOT a girl." Elijah grumbled. "And I'm not THAT scared."
Orlando just nodded but inwardly he was smiling. Maybe he had finally found an argument that would get Elijah to conquer his fear of the prince. And maybe when he spend some time with their master he would at last find out that there had never been anything to be afraid of.
A few minutes later they reached the prince's quarters. The central room was empty and there was no obvious sound to indicate where the prince was, either.
"Maybe he's not here?" Elijah asked hopefully. "Maybe he had urgent stuff to take care off?"
Orlando snorted. "He better not. I thought he was looking forward to us returning. At least Sean said so." Then he caught the sound of slight snoring from the bedchamber. "You hear that?" he said to Elijah, grinning. "He's still asleep. Come on, let's wake him up."
This time not waiting for more excuses from Elijah, Orlando slipped through the heavy curtains, separating the central room from the bedchamber. His eyes needed a few moments to adjust to the low light but then he stopped in his tracks and gasped softly.
"Lijh," he called quietly, not to wake the prince on the large bed, "come, you gotta see this."
After another moment of hesitation Elijah hesitantly entered the room as well. He stopped just as surprised, staring at the bed. There their master lay, naked and uncovered, arms wrapped around a pillow, snoring peacefully. That alone would have been a sight to stop at, but he was slightly flushed all over, his hair tangled, his skin covered with a sheen of sweat where it hadn't rubbed off on the bed and his ass showing traces of something else.
Neither of the two boys was entirely sure on how to react to this.
Finally Orlando started giggling softly. "Seems somebody kept him company while we were gone." he whispered.
Elijah shot him an outraged look. "How can you joke about this?" he asked. "We were surely not meant to see him like this."
That made Orlando snicker again. "Well, he shouldn't just have fallen asleep then." he commented without pity. "And I guess we're going to get to see him like this again in the future." he added with an evil glint to his eye.
At that Elijah couldn't decide whether to snicker too or look scared. The expression on his face was quite comical. Orlando quickly covered his mouth with his hands, not to laugh out loud.
"So what do we do now?" Elijah asked, trying hard to keep a least a shred of dignity.
"Wake him?" Orlando suggested.
Elijah blushed violently. "I... uhm... I... you..."
"How about I wake him and you get him some iced fruit?" Orlando amended. "And maybe have a cool bath prepared for him. He looks like he needs one."
Elijah nodded, his grateful smile showing how much he appreciated Orlando taking over the duty of waking their very naked master.
While Elijah slipped outside, Orlando stepped up to the bed and sat on its edge, fondly gazing down at prince Viggo. He looked so peaceful and happy asleep, the perpetual frown that was normally etched into his brow eased away. He also looked just as noble and graceful as Orlando remembered, his skin pale compared to that of a native.
Without thinking Orlando leaned forward and softly kissed his master's brow, feeling his heart swell with love for this man who had quite possibly saved his life.
Prince Viggo stirred in his sleep then, mumbling something, then slowly opening his eyes to blink at his kitten.
Orlando smiled at him openly, then remembered Master Ian's lessons and coyly lowered his long lashes, still keeping his gaze on his master.
"Orli?" Viggo asked, rubbing his eyes, wakefulness returning slowly. Then he suddenly remembered in what state he had fallen asleep and grabbed a blanket to cover himself, blushing violently, just as Elijah had done only moments before.
Orlando fought hard but a bright grin spread on his face. "Yes, master?" he asked, unable to keep the note of mirth out of his voice.
"Oh, Orli!" Viggo exclaimed in a mix of exasperation at his own embarrassment and joy at the return of his slave.
Moments later Orlando found himself wrapped in prince Viggo's arms, hugged fiercely against the slightly sweaty chest.
"I was so worried about you." Viggo whispered into his hair.
Orlando deeply breathed in the scent of his master. And that of sex and sweat. With a slight grin Orlando wondered why this scent was only alluring when you had yourself been involved in the act. Gently he separated from the prince.
"I was fine. Master Ian took good care of us and we've learned quite a lot." He wrinkled his nose. "You need a bath, master. Elijah is taking care of preparing one for you."
Again Viggo blushed slightly. "Don't tell me he saw me, too..." he muttered but one look at Orlando confirmed it. "And stop calling me 'master'. Viggo will do."
"As you wish." Orlando said, managing a slight bow even sitting, just like Ian had taught him.
Viggo raised an eyebrow. "Your manners do have improved. Remind me to thank Master Ian." he commented, grinning.
Orlando snorted, looking his prince over, noticing all the tiny signs of neglect. "Well, you need some taking care of." he announced. "And we are now entirely prepared to do so."
---
Viggo was happy. For the first time since he had come to this alien country he was entirely happy and content.
He was sitting on the large divan in the central room of his quarters. The room was illuminated warmly by oil lamps hanging from the low arcs leading off to the other rooms. The sun had already set and he had consumed an extensive dinner with Orlando and Elijah.
Orli was now curled up in his lap, dozing off, and Viggo was idly playing with his locks, while Elijah animatedly told of a training session with Master Ian and Sean that involved Orli spilling large amounts of hot tea over Sean repeatedly.
Viggo was rather sure that Orli would have contradicted had he been more awake. He had done so before, when both had told about their time with Master Ian. First Orli had done all the talking with Elijah sitting by shyly. But when his stories had gotten more and more exaggerating Elijah had started correcting him politely till they had both him chattering noisily, making the rooms Viggo had been living in for quite some time finally feel like a home filled with life.
He was immeasurably happy to have them back and silently vowed, that he would earn Elijah's trust, no matter how long it would take him. The body didn't just have a pretty face, he had a quick mind as well. And Viggo was very sure he wouldn't only prove an asset, he would also be able to talk about art and politics to him to relax his own mind from the tasks heaped on him by the caliph.
Orlando yawned and then stretched in Viggo's lap and the prince looked down at him, smiling fondly. He really was a big kitten in many ways. But he had claws as well, Viggo reminded himself, that was something better not forgotten.
"Bedtime, love?" he asked softly.
Orli blinked at his prince sleepily. "Hmm... wanna stay with you." he grumbled.
Viggo smiled and looked over at Elijah, who had fallen silent and was watching, some insecurity having returned to his eyes.
"I guess you wouldn't want to join us, would you?" he asked politely.
Elijah was swallowing visibly, then lowered his eyes to look down at his hands. "If you wish so, master." he said in a small voice.
Viggo's heart constricted at the pain and fear he could hear in Elijah's voice. He longed to take the boy in his arms and soothe his fears. But that hadn't worked when he had tried this morning with Sean. He'd do better to give the boy room and time to breath.
"Only if you wish so, Elijah." he said. "And I don't think you do." He pushed Orlando from his lap gently, got up and then picked up Orli to carry him off to the bedchamber.
Pausing for a moment in the doorway he looked back at Elijah. "You can always come and join us." he said softly. "You will be welcome even if you just want a place to sleep where you won't be lonely."
Then he quickly turned to give Elijah the privacy to make his own decision.
He had put Orlando down on the bed and was just removing the boy's shoes, when he heard the curtain move behind him.
"Just sleep?" Elijah's voice asked shyly.
"Just sleep." Viggo confirmed and felt his heart glow with joy, when Elijah climbed onto the bed as well, snuggling against Orli.
He got in as well on Orlando's other side, spreading the large blanket over all of them.
If you enjoyed this story, please send feedback to: Beryll
go to PART 33