"Arabian Nights"
Part 36
by Beryll
Karl soundlessly closed the door behind the leaving guard, the puzzled expression on the man's face still clear in his mind. He was more than a little puzzled himself.
The part of him that was all duty and sensibility still maintained that he should be hurrying to his prince's side right now. After all Prince Viggo had specifically asked for him.
But for once his heart had overruled duty. Prince Viggo was quite able to take care of himself, Karl was sure of that. But Sean had asked Karl to say, had for the first time reached out seeking comfort, showing a sign of trust. And Karl did not want the other warrior to wake up alone, abandoned. Even if that meant defying his prince.
Tiredly rubbing his jaw he headed back to the bed chamber, sitting on the bed again, gazing down at the sleeping form of Sean.
The man had curled up under a thin blanket, his face hidden in the crook of his arm, blond hair fanned out over Karl's own pillow. How delicious this image would have been, hadn't Karl spend most of the night holding Sean in a tight embrace, running soothing circles with his hand on Sean's back when nightmare after nightmare held him in a choking grip.
Karl was pretty sure that so far Sean had not dreamt so much and some part of him feared that this was not a first sign of recovery. That instead Sean was finally breaking apart.
Over and over again he had firmly told himself to ban that thought from his mind. He would help the other man through this. Even if he had no idea how to.
His fists clenched at the thought what must have been done to Sean to bring such a strong and courageous man so close to destruction.
He had seen other slaves abused by their masters. But whatever had happened to Sean, it must have been more than simple beatings and occasional rape. Somebody had invested quite some effort into breaking the warrior. And whoever it had been, he had come damn close.
As soon as he could spare the time he would go down to the slave auctions and inquire about who had sold Sean. Not only because he had promised Viggo to do so. The time he had now spent with Sean in so close quarters had woken feelings in Karl's heart that were dangerously stronger than simple sympathy or the order of his prince to care for Sean.
In Sean Karl saw everything that he strove to be. Only there was a terrible crack running through that perfection, a crack that threatened to break Sean apart and leaving only a shattered being without purpose or joy in life.
But that was not what had made Karl's heart ache through all of the last night. He was not really ready to accept what was growing in his heart. But he knew now how Prince Viggo could say that he loved Sean.
With a low groan the reason for all his worries shifted on the bed and Karl moved closer to hold Sean again, should another nightmare torment him.
But this time Sean slowly opened his eyes, the green of them still cloudy with sleep. For a long moment they looked at each other, no real expression on either of their faces but a strange feeling of peaceful calm between the two of them.
Then a small frown appeared on Sean's brow.
"Captain?" he asked, the voice hoarse from all the screaming he had done this night and probably didn't remember. He glanced at the open doorway to the balcony and at the bright sunlight streaming through it. "Shouldn't you be on duty?"
Karl couldn't help but smile. That was probably the silliest question he had heard in a long time. And the same one he would have asked in Sean's position.
"You asked me to stay. So I stayed." Karl explained calmly.
Sean blinked at him in confusion. Then Karl could watch as a pained shadow seemed to settle on Sean's face, as he started to turn away in a mixture of shame and tired despair.
Without thinking Karl reached out and pulled Sean back into his arms. For a moment the other warrior seemed on the verge of struggling, of lashing out again but then he relaxed against Karl, sighing almost soundlessly.
"I'm sorry." Sean whispered.
"Don't be." Karl answered just as softly. "You have been wronged. There is nothing for you to be sorry for."
Then he felt his heart grow cold in horror as he heard Sean's next words.
"I have not been a good slave for you. If you still want me, take what you want."
Barely able to hold his rage in check, he pulled Sean back by the shoulders, looking into his face, noting the utter defeat there.
"NO!" the word burst forth from Karl and Sean flinched back. Karl violently shook the other man, now realizing how dangerous close to the edge Sean was. "SEAN! Look at me!" He grabbed the other man's chin, forcing him to look in his eyes. "You are strong! You are safe now! Don't give up now! Hit me, fight me, anything! But don't give up!!"
Karl's heart felt torn and ripped at the mixed fear and defeat still dominating Sean's face.
"No..." he repeated, much softer, realization dawning that he didn't know how to fight this foe. "Please..."
Not able to bare the look on the other man's face and not willing to show that tears where threatening to spill over he turned away. "Sean... Don't let them win..." he tried a last time, "breaking you was all they ever wanted. Don't let them win... please..."
They both remained motionless for what seemed like forever to Karl. He simply couldn't bring himself to look at Sean again.
Then Sean spoke and Karl's heart leaped at the hint of curiosity in his voice. "You care? Why do you care?"
Still not looking at Sean he answered. "Of course I care. I would be honored to call you my friend, honored to win your trust, honored to fight by your side."
Now there was pain in Sean's voice again but also some of the fire that Karl had loved in the other man from the first moment he saw him. "You would fight beside a whore? I am dirty... soiled... You don't want me..."
Karl turned back to Sean, fury making him careless, letting Sean see that his eyes were brimming with tears. "Of course I want you!" he said, his voice shaky. "I want you, soiled or not. I want you no matter what you are. I would do anything to see you restored. To see you proud and tall and strong again. I want you as I crave air to breath or a ground to walk on. I..."
He was interrupted as Sean suddenly leaned forward, pressing his lips to Karl's kissing him with the urge and longing of a drowning man begging for air. Kissing him hard any passionately, Sean's hand came up to grab Karl by his many braids, sucking the air from Karl's lungs, invading his mouth his tongue and breath, robbing Karl of any kind of control.
Leaving Karl gasping for air, his head swimming at this sudden turn of events, as Sean pulled back as violently as he had initiated their kiss, staring at Karl with huge eyes, their green the color of fresh leaves.
Karl was breathing hard, trying to find anything to say, trying to read what he now saw burning in Sean's eyes, feeling relief that it was definitely not defeat anymore, feeling a stirring of fear at the strength of his own emotions, his own longing.
Sean raised his hand to his mouth, touching his own lips, then blinked and exhaled slowly.
"You want me." he whispered. But this time it was not a question but a statement, filled with wonder.
And Karl didn't miss that it was the last word Sean emphasized. He did not dare say a word, afraid that he would break the fragile strength Sean seemed to draw from his realization.
Then a small smile showed on Sean's lips. The first smile Karl had seen on him that actually fully reached his eyes.
"Thank you." Sean said simply.
And Karl nodded, knowing that the first and most important step of Sean's recovery had finally been made.
If you enjoyed this story, please send feedback to: Beryll
go to PART 37