"Arabian Nights"
Part 70
by Beryll
"...so Orli tried to put him in proper attire and being a nice guy Billy didn't resist. Dominic and I were rolling on the floor with laughter by the time Orli was done painting him and weaving pretty gold clips into his hair. He just looked hilarious."
Elijah's animated voice conjured a vivid image before Sean's mind's eye. He wasn't able to spend as much time at Viggo' quarters at the moment as he would have liked but to come home every evening to find Elijah in his own room, waiting with dinner and tales of what the kittens had been up to during the day made up for it.
More and more the hard times Elijah had been through lost their grasp on the boy and sometimes Sean noticed with a silent happy grin that Elijah was chattering nearly as lively as Orli. There were other times when he just needed a quiet cuddle but Sean enjoyed those just as much. He knew he was growing more than fond of the boy but he couldn't bring himself to mind. It was good to feel his heart open this way, to realize that he was still capable of loving.
He was rather sure that Elijah would grow out of his infatuation with him sooner later when his own pain lessened. Then he would probably look for someone closer to his own age but up until then Sean was happy to share his sparse free time with his favourite kitten.
"So I hope you put poor Billy back to his normal self?" Sean asked and took another bite from the peach that served as his dessert this evening.
Elijah nodded. "Yes. I find it amazing that some foreigners seem to fit in with our style of clothing seamlessly, like the Prince, and that others just look too odd, like you or Billy."
Sean shrugged. "I think it comes with the hair colour and with what feels comfortable. If I were to wear robes or those loose pantaloons I think I would look strange simply because I would feel strange." he explained.
Thoughtfully chewing on his lower lip Elijah regarded him for a moment. Then he shrugged. "I can't imagine how you can be comfortable in such tight pants but I guess it's all a matter of tradition and what you are used to." he said. "And of course you look great in them." he then added with a wink that Sean was very sure he had picked up from Jared.
With a fond smile he reached over to caress the cheek of the boy sitting across from him on the bed. "Thanks, kitten." he said, taking the compliment more seriously than Elijah had intended on purpose, making the boy blush.
Before he had a chance to grow even more embarrassed Sean leaned forward and kissed him softly. He delighted in the tiny, mewling noise Elijah made when their lips met and in the fact that Elijah didn't hesitate more than a split second before he met Sean's kiss with the hunger of youth. Quickly their mouth opened to each other's taste. Sean smiled into their kiss as he realized that Elijah was sucking the last traces of the peach's juice from his lips and tongue.
When they came up for air they were both flushed and grinning, rather sure what they would do with the rest their evening.
But then the voice of Prince Viggo broke their intimate encounter. "Sean? Where are you?" the Prince called with obvious excitement. "You won't believe who I have brought!"
The cute frown on Elijah's face probably mirrored Sean's but he quickly schooled his features to polite interest as he answered. "In my room, my lord."
He had no idea who Viggo could possibly have met that would make him sound so happy but his questions were answered quickly as he heard a second voice he hadn't expected ever to hear again.
"This is all yours? Good Freia, Viggo you have fallen on your feet again, haven't you?"
Within a second Sean was on his feet and out the door to find out if his ears were playing tricks on him. Still he even distrusted his eyes when he saw the man standing right next to the peach tree. Tall and broad just like Sean remembered him, wearing the traditional garb of a northerner, complete with a fur cloak that had to be despicably hot in Aqaba's heat. But of course Eric wouldn't leave that cloak behind. After all he had hunted down the bear who had given its life for it himself.
"Eric?" Sean asked, his voice filled with obvious disbelief.
When the huge man turned around there was no way Sean could possibly doubt his identity any longer and his easy smile simply couldn't be imitated. "Sean!" With a few strides the other man came over to Sean and moments later he was wrapped in a hug that was known to have crippled lesser men.
Sean couldn't help but hug Eric back, his heart feeling as if it would burst with the sheer amount of varying emotions. Eric was one of his oldest friends. More than a friend, in fact. He had given up any hope of ever seeing him again when he had left Europe to follow Viggo. He had reconciled himself with the fact that he would have to find new friends and new love. To suddenly be back in this man's arms was confusing, to say the least. He was happy and scared at the same time.
He was still trying to sort his thoughts when Eric was already holding him at arms length studying him.
"Are they not feeding you well, Sean? You look starved!" he announced, sounding none too pleased about it.
"He has been through some hard times." Viggo explained before Sean could come up with an answer that would satisfy Eric and still keep secret what exactly had happened to him during his time as a slave. He certainly wasn't ready to tell Eric about that yet.
He wanted t believe that Eric would not be disgusted when he learned how Sean had been used, that he would not blame Sean but the angry voices of his memory calling him by all the names his tormentors had used were still strong.
"We've all had our share of trouble lately." Viggo continued, referring to his own close brush with death and thoroughly diverting Eric's attention.
"That sounds as if you have some interesting tales of your adventures in this strange land." Eric said, grinning at Viggo. "Tales I definitely want to hear!"
"What are you doing here?" Sean managed a sensible question at last. He already knew the answer before Eric said it, though.
"I'm here as an ambassador for my king to bring the Caliph greeting for his birthday." Eric explained. "My king is looking for a direct trade agreement that will circumvent all the extra fees that the Italian traders charge." Again he looked at Sean and this time the tenderness that Sean knew was reserved for a very few people entered Eric's eyes. "I certainly didn't expect to find you or Viggo here. But I am glad I have."
That tenderness touched and scared Sean at the same time. To trust Elijah who was just a boy and needed protection was easy. But suddenly Eric was too close to him, his hands on Sean's shoulders too confining. His step backwards was to quick and he could see the worry and questions ignite in Eric's eyes before he turned away, unable to bear that look.
"Why don't we show Eric the city?" he asked Viggo, desperately needing something to occupy all of them.
Back north they had spent nights at taverns drinking and sharing tales of past battles. Now one of Aqaba's terrace cafes would have to serve as a substitute for a proper tavern, iced wine would replace cold beer and the tales to share would feature treachery and murder.
Silently Sean vowed that he would take care to stay sober enough to remain silent on his own 'adventures'.
Viggo seemed to pick up on Sean's thoughts as he came over to Sean and Eric, putting one arm around Eric's shoulders, pulling him further away from Sean. "Excellent idea. I haven't really explored the night life of Aqaba yet but I couldn't think of anybody I would rather do it with then the two of you."
"Just like in the old times, eh?" Eric asked, grinning at Viggo and the Prince nodded.
Still the questioning, worried glance that Eric directed at Sean when the three of them left the Prince's quarters did not escape Sean and he knew that sooner or later he would have to answer questions he didn't want to hear.
If you enjoyed this story, please send feedback to: Beryll
go to PART 71