"Arabian Nights"
Part 38
by Beryll
Elijah sat on a large pillow in the sitting area of the central room, fuming silently. His knuckles hurt from hitting the assassin boy repeatedly and he was rubbing them absentmindedly. The feeling of his fists connecting with the other boys flesh had been quite satisfying and he vowed that he would practice his fighting skills further.
But now 'Dominic' was sitting nearby, allowing Orlando to take care of his bruises and of the burn mark that had swollen to an angry red.
Elijah gritted his teeth at the sight of Orlando fawning over the assassin.
Not ten minutes ago Dominic had made Orlando cry with his cruel words and obviously now all that was already forgotten and Orlando was his happy, chattering self again, telling Dominic how wonderful it was that they were reunited, how much fun they would have together, how great life in the palace was - completely ignoring Dominic's brooding.
This was boy would be nothing but trouble, Elijah was sure of that. And he would not keep that trouble to himself.
Silently Elijah cursed himself for speaking out in Dominic's favor, convincing the Prince to let the boy live. If he had kept his mouth shut the assassin would probably have lost his head by now. But he had been confused from the hit to his head and seeing Orlando's shocked face at the fact that his friend was going to die.
But he wouldn't have to worry about Orlando anymore it seemed. The former streetrat was delighted at the prospect of spending his time exploring the palace with his best friend. With Dominic.
The sting Elijah felt in his heart at that thought was much sharper than he would have anticipated. Somehow Orlando had managed to worm into Elijah's trust and affection without even consciously trying. But obviously his interest had been only fleeting. Of course he would keep to his older friend again now.
Furiously Elijah rubbed at his eyes. He would not cry. Not over something so trivial. He was quite capable of surviving on his own. He didn't need Orlando.
Soundlessly he rose from his pillow and slipped outside without either of the other two boys noticing.
He just made it outside before the first tear spilled over and ran down his cheek. It hurt so much. He did not want to be alone again.
Slowly he sank down the wall of the corridor, just outside the Prince's quarters, till he sat with his knees drawn up and his face firmly hidden against them.
He knew he should have run further away, to hide from curious eyes, but tears were running freely now, soundless sobs wracking his slender body.
His misery was so deep he didn't even notice the sound of steps closing in on him. Only when somebody knelt beside him and two strong arms pulled him into a protective hug did he realize that he was not alone anymore.
For a moment he panicked but then it was Sean's low, gentle voice who spoke to him.
"Little one, what happened? Are you hurt?"
Relief and a feeling of utter safety washed over Elijah then. He wrapped both arms around the neck of the older man, burying his face against Sean's broad chest, not trying to hold back anymore, crying with all the penned up grief and loneliness and fear that had gathered in his heart ever since his father had ordered the death of his beloved.
He didn't even notice he was picked up and carried away by this one man he for some reason knew he could trust completely never to hurt him.
He clung to Sean with all the despair of a lost child, crying till his tears had run dry and then still sobbing shakily.
When he at last calmed down to occasional sniffles, still hiding against Sean's chest, his chin was lifted by gentle fingers so he came to look into the worried green eyes of the warrior.
"What is it, little one?" Sean asked again, a hint of menace in his voice that was definitely not directed at Elijah but at whoever had hurt him.
Elijah drew in a deep breath and rubbed at his running nose with his sleeve, trying to calm himself. For a moment he tried to find some brave excuse, to tell Sean that he really was all right.
But the honest worry in the other man's eyes made even the thought seem ridiculous.
Before he could change his mind about it, he started to speak, telling Sean about his lover, how he had come to be the Prince's slave, about the fight this night, about his feelings for Orlando, how abandoned and lonely he felt - everything came out in one garbled string of words.
And Sean simply listened, still loosely holding Elijah in his arms.
Finally Elijah had exhausted his supply of words and came to a stop with a sorrowful "...and now... I just don't know...", his eyes again swimming with tears.
Sean gently brushed at his tears with his thumb, a gentle smile on his lips and a warmth in his eyes that set Elijah's heart aglow.
"Listen closely now, little one," he said firmly, "I promise, I will always be there to listen to you or comfort you. You won't be alone. I am your friend, whether you know it or not."
Elijah blinked at him with huge eyes, barely able to believe that this grown man would have the patience to put up with his whining. But Sean was here, wasn't he? And he had listened? And he hadn't laughed at Elijah's foolish fears either.
Impulsively Elijah again wrapped his arms around Sean's neck, hugging him fiercely, pressing his face against the warrior's neck.
"Thank you." he whispered, "thank you, thank you, thank you."
Sean rubbed his back gently. Elijah could hear the smile in his voice, could picture it perfectly as Sean spoke again.
"You are always welcome, little one. Never doubt it."
For a long moment Elijah clung to him, drawing strength from Sean's strong embrace, from the feeling of safety he felt, cocooned in Sean's arms.
Then he finally drew back, trying to put on a brace smile and managing reasonably well.
He was rewarded with a mirthful sparkle to Sean's eyes.
"That's better." Sean said approvingly.
Only now did Elijah notice where they were. Sean had brought him to a small secluded garden and they were sitting in the shade of an ancient orange tree, the sweet scents of the ripening fruits filling the air.
It was a lovely place and Elijah suddenly was very conscious of the fact how close Sean was to him. The realization made heat race through his body and a warm, fuzzy feeling settle in his heart.
Again acting on impulse he leaned forward, closing his eyes, and places a shy kiss on Sean's lips.
It took him quite a bit of courage to open his eyes again, as he realized what he had just done. He was indefinitely relieved when he only found gentle surprise on the warrior's face. Sean seemed on the verge of saying something but then he looked at Elijah and seemed to swallow the words, a gentle smile returning to his lips and his eyes softening.
"Thank you." he said, with so much true feeling and warmth in his voice that Elijah felt his own heart glow.
He would have loved to lean in again, to kiss Sean some more but somehow he knew that this would have been too much too quickly.
"Now... about your friend Orlando," Sean said thoughtfully, deliberately breaking the somewhat tense moment, "I think, you should not give up on him so quickly. I have seen you two together. I don't think the bond you share can be broken so easily. He may be happy to see his friend again. But I'd wager he is already looking for you right now, deeply worried. You should return to the Prince's quarters before the little rascal does something stupid again."
Now that Elijah had calmed down he had to admit that Sean's words made sense. And that there was a dangerous likelihood of Orlando getting in trouble while looking for Elijah.
And although he would have loved to stay in this little hideout a while longer, cuddled close to Sean, restlessness gripped him at the thought of Orlando. He had to make sure the streetrat was all right.
"I should go looking for him, shouldn't I?" he said reluctantly.
Sean nodded with yet another smile. "Yes." He brushed some last drying tears from Elijah's face. "And don't forget, little one, if you need me, come and find me, I will always be there for you."
Elijah nodded, grateful for the reassurance.
"I will." he said softly.
Then he slipped out of Sean's embrace and they both got up.
"Is the Prince in his quarters?" Sean asked. "I wanted to talk to him when I found you. Explain some things..."
Elijah shook his head. "No, he went to talk to the Captain of the guard."
Sean sighed softly. "Seems I missed him, then." Noting Elijah's worried expression he shrugged, "No worry, though, Karl will have talked to him by now."
Then he looked Elijah over and brushed a leaf from his shoulder. "Will you find you way back? I really should go looking for both of them."
Elijah nodded, wondering with more than a little curiosity what was going on between his master, the captain of the guard and Sean.
As they parted ways at the entrance to the garden he promised himself that he would go to Sean again soon. To seek some more consolation. And to ask some curios questions.
If you enjoyed this story, please send feedback to: Beryll
go to PART 39