"Arabian Nights"
Part 44
by Beryll

 

Orlando hadn't even realized how much he had grown accustomed to constantly having other people around him since he had come to the palace. When he had been living in the streets he had been a loner. Sure, there had been other street kids like Dominic who he called friends but he had only met them now and then, sometimes going for days without really talking to anybody. He had actually prided himself on his ability to survive all on his own.

Now that he sat in Prince Viggo's main chamber all alone he noticed how much he missed the presence of Elijah. For the last couple of weeks the other boy had always been with him. And always had there been something keeping both of them busy. Now for the first time since Prince Viggo had taken him in did he just sit on his own thinking.

And he wasn't at all sure he liked it.

He had never been someone to dwell on his future or worry overly. But now these thought crept in on him and he couldn't help but wonder.

Being a street rat had meant that he couldn't expect to grow very old or ever really achieve anything in his life. Now he was a slave and generally that would have meant that he had even less of a chance to ever become anything important. Only that he already was something important because he was not just any slave. He was slave to a Prince. And there was no use in denying that he loved that prince with all his heart.

Thinking of the fact that Dominic had tried to kill Viggo made his skin crawl and his hackles rise. Had he had the chance he would have defended his master with tooth and claw. Even against Dominic. And had it come down to the decision he would probably have killed Dominic to safe Viggo.

It was a thought that scared him. Never before had he felt as passionately about anything. And he didn't even know if Viggo felt even remotely the same. Thinking about it reasonably he had to admit to himself that the Prince couldn't ever love him as much or as passionately as Orlando loved him. He simply couldn't afford to grow that attached to a slave. Strangely that didn't change anything. That he was willing to settle for whatever love Viggo was able to give scared Orlando even more.

With a sigh he got up and started some stretching exercises. Now that the heat of passion had passed he was starting to feel a little sore. He wondered if it would always feel like that. Making love to the prince had been wonderful but the thought that he would always have to pay with an aching butt for that pleasure was sobering.

Well, he thought with a grin, at least there was a person he could ask about that. So far he and Elijah had always blushed violently and tried to avoid the subject when Master Ian's lessons turned to the fine art of pleasure. But now Orlando's curiosity was awakened and he was quite grateful that he had an experienced teacher to take all his questions to. There had to be a million things he could learn to make his prince relax. A million things to make their sex so great Viggo wouldn't ever feel the need to share his bed with anybody else. Though he had to admit the thought of sharing the prince with Elijah was exhilarating.

Where was he anyway?

Orlando had assumed that the other boy was just away on some errant but it had now been almost half an hour since he left Viggo asleep and still Elijah wasn't back. Hopefully he hadn't gotten in trouble again. And hopefully Dom was fine as well.

The Captain had looked anything but friendly when he had come to pick up Dominic. Orlando knew that grim expression. It spelled trouble with a capital T for whoever was on the receiving end of the Captain's wrath. Orlando knew that Dominic was quite good at dealing with trouble. But he also knew how stubborn his friend could be. To see them pitted against each other pained him. And all of that just because of him, because Dominic wanted to save him when he didn't need any saving at all. He really had to try to explain more clearly to Dom how happy he was, here in the palace.

And where the hell was Elijah?!

Orlando really needed to talk to the other boy right now, needed to share his experience with Viggo. Lij would understand. Dom would probably just make some mean comments again.

A soft chiming from the bead curtain that closed the main chamber off from the corridor outside of the prince's quarters caught Orlando's attention and when he looked over he saw Elijah slipping inside, almost like he had been conjured by Orli's thoughts.

There was something odd about the other boy. It took Orlando a moment of study to realize that it was the careful yet somehow more confident way he walked as well as the quiet happy smile plastered all over his face.

He looks like he has been fucked really well, Orli realized with a start, I bet I look the same.

A quick glance about the room assured Elijah that they were alone. He padded over to Orlando, asking: "Where's the Prince?"

"Asleep." Orlando answered, keeping his voice low not to wake their master. "After all the trouble I thought he deserved a rest."

In silent agreement they settled on the divan, Orlando leaning back against the pillows and Elijah getting comfortable with his head resting in Orli's lap. For a moment they both just sat, sorting their own thoughts. Then they looked at each other again.

"So how was it?" Lij asked, his smile somehow managing to look shy and cocky at the same time.

Orlando grinned down at him, affectionately ruffling the other boy's hair. "It was great. The prince is... well... as experienced as I thought he would be. But very caring and sweet and... sexy..." Orlando couldn't quite fight the blush that crept up his face.

He was relieved that it was mirrored in Lij's face. "I'm glad he didn't hurt you." Elijah said softly, taking Orlando's hand and pressing a kiss against his palm.

"I told you he wouldn't, silly." Orlando chided just as softly, caressing the other boy's face and then starting to stroke his hair.

Still the kinship he felt with Lij warmed his heart. This was something he'd never be able to share with Dominic. The young assassin was much more experienced and a lot more jaded than Orli when it came to the dirty side of life - that included sex and killing. With Elijah Orlando didn't feel stupid and awkward. Instead they seemed to be learning at the same pace.

"So where have you been?" Orli asked curiously.

Elijah grinned and stretched like a lazy cat. Then he smiled up at Orli, his whole face aglow with happiness. "With Sean." he answered.

The tone of his voice told Orlando a lot. He knew Elijah well enough by now to be able to tell the other boy's mood. And he had never heard Lij so happy and so relaxed. And so self-confident. There was only one question that was appropriate now.

"So how was it?" Orlando asked.

Lij reacted with snuggling closer against Orli. "It was... incredible... so close... so safe... he's so..." Elijah looked up at Orli, his blue eyes shinning. "Orli, I think I'm in love. I thought I'd never love again after everything that happened... but now. I just can't help myself."

"But that's great!" Orli exclaimed. "I'm so happy for you. For both of you, actually. I think you're very good for him."

Elijah sighed happily, closing his eyes. "To think that I'd find this here, when my father sent me here to punish me... ironic, isn't it?"

Orli didn't answer. He just smiled, leaning his head back against the pillows while his fingers continued playing with his friend's curls.

He noticed immediately when Elijah suddenly tensed. "Do you think the prince will be angry?" the other boy asked.

Confused Orli looked back down at him. "Why should he be angry?"

Now Elijah blushed. "Because... well... he wanted me... and I didn't. And now I did it with Sean... with another slave." He sighed softly, looking up at Orlando with is sadness in his blue eyes. "I know you say the prince is kind, Orli. But he IS a noble and... well... when I was still a prince myself I would have been angry if someone took something that belonged to me."

That gave Orlando pause. Elijah was probably right in so far as that Viggo would have preferred. if both of his kittens had trusted him with their first time. Orlando clearly remembered the prince's sadness when they had left Elijah behind. But it had been a sadness not born of possessiveness but of the wish to see all of them happy. And that very much included Sean.

"I don't think he sees Sean as a slave." he answered slowly. "They are very close and he loves Sean with all his heart. He would never begrudge Sean such happiness and I think he won't begrudge you either. He may be a bit miffed but more at himself than at you, because he failed to win your trust." Orli grinned at Elijah at that thought for it immediately felt right. "Yeah... I think he's a bit vain in that regard. He needs people to love him."

Elijah took his time thinking about his friend's words but after a while he nodded. "I hope you are right."

A bit shyly Orli took Lij's hand again to lay it against his own cheek. "So... are you still afraid of the prince?" he asked cautiously. "Or will you now... share his bed?"

"I guess when he asks me the next time I shall go." Elijah answered but there was a tense edge in his voice that Orli couldn't ignore.

"But you are still afraid?"

Lij nodded. "Would you... do you think there is a chance that you will be there as well...? So I can hang on to you when he... you know..."

The image Elijah's words conjured before Orli's eyes made heat race through his veins. "I will be there." he promised, meaning it for a whole host of reasons. "I swear it!"

"Thank you." Elijah caressed Orli's cheek, obviously with no idea how much he had just turned on his friend.

There moment of quiet closeness was then interrupted by another the chiming of the bead curtain at the entrance. They both looked up to find Liv pushing a reluctant Dominic in front of her. Liv smiled at the other two boys. "Here he is." she said. "Keep an eye on him, yes?"

They both nodded, keeping their mouth shut until Liv had left. Then they both quickly got up, Orli hurrying over to his friend and Lij assuming something that had to be called a fighting stance. Obviously he still didn't trust Dom at al, Orli thought.

"Dom, are you all right?" Orli asked, choosing to ignore Lij. Dominic certainly didn't look all right. In fact he looked more shaken that Orli had ever seen. Even more so than he had earlier when the prince had returned him - alive but marked as a slave.

For a moment Dominic looked back at him bleakly, as if he didn't really see or recognize Orlando. But then he suddenly grabbed Orli by the shoulder. "Orli... you don't really love the prince. You... you just pretend you do so it will be easier for us to escape don't you?" he asked, sounding despairing.

Orlando had no idea were this sudden question came from but in Dominic's eyes he could clearly see what the young assassin wanted - needed - to hear. Still it was the answer Orli couldn't give. Maybe he would have lied, hadn't he just considered these things a few minutes earlier. But now he had to come clean with Dominic.

"I'm sorry, Dom." he said softly. He wanted to say more, to explain, but all strength seemed to leave his friend in that moment and he sagged against Orlando.

"You love him." he whispered, sounding so defeated that it made Orlando's heart ache.

"He's a good man." Orlando tried to explain. "How can I not love him when he saved me and treats me well and... well... loves me back?"

But his words didn't seem to help at all. In fact they seemed to make things worse as Dom just shook his head. At a loss on how to help his friend Orli just held him, looking over to Elijah for assistance. Slowly the other boy relaxed out of his defensive posture and stepped closer.

"I'm so sorry, Orli." Dominic whispered against Orlando's shoulder. "For the things I've said. I... I never should have thought of you like that."

"What do you mean?" Orlando asked, still not sure what Dom was talking about.

"That I called you a toy, a whore... everything. I thought... I'm not sure what I thought... I was angry... I was stupid..."

"Ssh..." Orlando interrupted him. "I'm not angry at you." He looked at Elijah, pleading for help. "And Lij's not angry at you either, right?"

Orlando was grateful that Dominic was still leaning against him and didn't see the first expression that flitted across Elijah's face for it was not forgiving at all. But then Elijah visible pulled himself together and put on a credibly pleasant smile.

"No, I'm not angry." he lied quite convincingly.

Together they led Dominic over to the divan. After they had gotten him a cup of wine and made him take a few sips he seemed to slowly recover.

"What happened?" Orli asked, remembering now that it had been Karl who must have put Dom in this state. "Did Karl hurt you?"

He was answered with a strangled laugh. "Hurt me...? Oh boy... you could call it that... yes." Noticing the frown on Orli's brow he shook his head. "No... he didn't hurt me... he just... set a few things in perspective for me." Dominic sighed softly and rubbed his face. Then he looked at Orlando again. "You are not going to leave the prince." he said, his words not a question but a clear statement.

Orlando nodded.

"And I guess you won't even help me get out of here." Dominic added.

That thought hadn't crossed Orlando's mind before but now that Dominic brought it up there was only one answer to it. "Not until we know who hired you and wants Viggo dead. I will protect him in any way I can."

"Then I guess I must help you." Dominic answered, just as seriously.

Orlando wasn't quite sure if his decision was for the right reasons but he was sure that Dominic meant it. And he was quite relieved to know that his crafty friend was on his side.

For a while the three boys just sat quietly, each sorting through the various things that had happened to them in this long day. Only when dusk started to fall outside did Orlando finally move.

"We should prepare something for dinner for the prince." he said. "I think Viggo deserves a treat after all the hassle."

Elijah immediately nodded. "That's a good idea. Did he eat at all today?"

Orlando considered that for a moment and came to the frightening conclusion that there was a good chance the prince had gone the whole day without food. "I don't think so." he answered. "We really need to take better care of him."

"Why don't we ask Sean over as well? I'm sure the prince would be happy to see his friend." Elijah suggested, the glint in his eye not escaping Orli's notice.

"You really can't get enough of him, can you?" he asked the other boy and ruffled his hair affectionately.

Elijah managed to blush only slightly.

"If we ask Sean to come, Karl will have to be there as well." Orlando said with a questioning glance at Dominic.

The assassin sighed deeply and then visible drew up straighter. "I will have to face him again anyway. Better now than later." He said.

"Good!" Orli happily rubbed his hands. "Let's prepare dinner for the hard working men." He got up from the divan, assuming command easily. "Lij, you and Dom can go down to the kitchen and order the food. I will head over to our dear Captain and deliver the invitation." He grinned widely. "And then we can wake our master."

 

If you enjoyed this story, please send feedback to: Beryll

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