"Arabian Nights"
Part 82
by Beryll
Sean winced when he heard the shriek from Viggo's bedroom. It was Orli and he was mighty angry. With Viggo not exactly in the best of moods it would get quite hot in there. The moment Viggo had sent Orli away from their talk with Karl Sean had known his prince was in a lot of trouble. But that was for the two of them to sort out. Sean just hoped Viggo would be bright enough to not antagonize Orli further. The Prince needed his kitten - more than either of them was aware, Sean was sure.
One of the guards posted at the entrance to Viggo's quarters stuck his head inside when another angry shout sounded but Sean silently shook his head at him. The poor guy really didn't need to get between the kitten's claws and an angry Prince.
Sean rubbed his face tiredly. The day was only half-over and already so much had happened. He should probably be thinking of the man they had so narrowly missed. Sean wasn't quite sure what would have happened if he had really had to face him. If he would have flown into a rage or would have curled up in despair again. He was almost glad it was postponed, that he would have more time to mentally prepare.
He was sitting under the tree in the yard, waiting for whatever the outcome would be of the talk between Karl and Jared taking place in Viggo's study. Sean couldn't really see Jared extracting a severe revenge from Karl but the kittens had surprised him before. But even is Jared decided to send Karl away for good - Sean needed to talk to him. Needed to tell him that he was willing to forgive the other man, try to mend the fragile friendship they had built. He owed Karl that for everything Karl had done for him.
Lost in his thoughts Sean only noticed that someone had entered the yard through the entrance when a soft yelp of pain drew his attention. When he looked up his heart stopped. It was Eric, supporting an obviously hurt Elijah. Dark bruises and cuts showed on his light skin wherever it was visible, one of his eyes was swollen shut, his lip split and just crusted over with dried blood.
In an instant Sean was on his feet and by his kitten's side, fear and rage gripping him, making his blood roar in his ears.
"Lij?! What on earth happened?? Who did this to you?!"
He was about to crush Lij in an embrace but then just checked himself, his arms moving helplessly unoccupied. Whoever was responsible for this would pay most dearly.
Elijah's reaction was not at all what he had expected. A small reassuring smile appeared on his face, followed by a wince at the split lip stretched uncomfortably. "I'm mostly all right." Lij said, though he looked anything but all right.
Sean glanced at Eric for any kind of explanation to discover that his childhood friend was grinning down at Lij quite proudly. Obviously Sean had missed something profoundly important. Before he could voice another question Lij continued.
"I ran into my brother in the hallway… we had… kind of a disagreement."
His brother? Through the haze of red rage Sean vaguely remembered that Lij had been sent to the Caliph's court as a gift by his own father.
"Where is that bastard?" he growled, bloody murder on his mind.
"I'm afraid he is quite dead." Eric now spoke up. "I… lost my temper… sorry…" He was still grinning widely and not sorry at all.
His words served like a bucket of cold water into Sean's face. He took a deep breath, trying to calm himself. Lij looked terrible, hurt, but now Sean noticed it was only bodily wounds, in his eyes he saw a steely satisfaction, a strength and - yes - maturity that had been absent when Lij had run away earlier. And his anger at Eric had obviously dissipated as well.
Now much calmed Sean reached out and drew Lij into a much gentler embrace, more to reassure himself than the boy. For a moment Lij resisted, his back stiff, but then he melted against Sean suddenly, sighing softly.
"He fought quite bravely." Eric explained and now Sean was starting to understand why his friend was grinning so proudly. Of course he would approve of the kitten growing claws.
Sean looked down at Lij, a smile forming on his face as well. "Is that so?" he asked.
Lij looked up at him, an impossible blush creeping into his bruised face. "I… tried…" Then he squared his shoulder. "I did not yield."
If he had not already loved Lij with all his heart he would have now. To see him grow so suddenly was not at all what Sean had expected. It somehow did not separate Lij from him, it made him feel even closer. He realized he was as proud of him as Eric.
"Well done, love." He said, leaning down and kissing the top of Lij's head.
It seemed those were the perfect words as whatever pain had lingered in Lij's eyes disappeared to be replaced by pure joy.
"I took him to see that Lady… what's her name… Liv… to take care of his wounds." Eric said, "But he needs to rest. I think this was enough adventure for one day, don't you think, little lion?"
"I'm not tired." Lij complained, but he was leaning heavily on Sean now.
"A warrior needs to rest and tend his wounds to be able to fight another day." Eric admonished sternly and Sean couldn't help but grin. He still remembered Eric saying the same thing to a 12 year old Viggo many years ago.
Sean resisted the urge to pick Lij up and carry him to bed. If his kitten was growing into a lion he ought to be treated like one. He led the boy over to his room, Eric trailing behind them. Lij let himself be tugged into bed without another complaint but when Sean was about to get up from his bedside he took hold of his hand. His blue eyes were more serious than Sean had ever seen them before when he spoke.
"I love you so much." He said softly, "I behaved like a stupid child. I'm sorry. I shouldn't have been jealous."
Sean smiled. "And I love you," he answered, somehow knowing that this was all the reassurance Lij needed.
The boy nodded quietly.
This time Sean made it to the doorway, before Lij spoke up again, his speech already jumbled with sleepiness.
"Sean…? Will you teach me how to fight…?"
"Of course I will, love, anytime."
With a satisfied "Hmpf." Lij snuggled against his pillow.
Sean let the curtain fall closed behind him, his attention now fully shifting to Eric. "Thank you for finding him." He said.
"Well you all seemed a little preoccupied with other matters and I thought the boy needed someone to look after him." Eric sighed, the smile slipping from his face. "Viggo was never the most observant person but I didn't expect you to not notice how distressed Lij was when he ran away."
The look Eric now turned on Sean was piercing. It held a clear message. 'Talk to me.' Sean bit his lip. Unable to look the other man in the eyes he looked at his feet, knowing full well that he presented the image of a boy caught with his hand in the cookie jar. If only that had been all. But obviously the waiting game was over. Eric would not relent, now that he had decided to force the issue.
He winced when Eric put a heavy hand on his shoulder that was meant to reassure, but he managed not to pull away. Eric didn't deserve this. He deserved to know. Still the words just wouldn't come. Sean felt like he was pushing against a boulder blocking the only exit from the cave he had locked himself into. Eric would not desert him, everything would be easier with him knowing, he tried to convince himself. Just opening his mouth seemed impossibly hard.
"I…"
Sean closed his eyes tightly, his hands balling into fists, fingernails cutting into flesh, knuckles turning white.
"When I followed Viggo into the desert I was captured by slave traders." He forced the words out, for the first time speaking out loud what had happened. "They raped me. I can't remembered. They tried to break me and they came very close. Then they sold me and Viggo found me."
There was so much more, so many horrible details, so much pain, so much despair, but Sean kept it locked tightly. He would not break down now. Still he could not look up at his best friend. He needed to know Eric still looked at him with respect, with love. But he just couldn't look up.
He didn't have to as bear-like arms wrapped around him tightly. And it was all right. There was no reason to flee this embrace, this was what he had longed for all this time, he realized, his head dropping against Eric's shoulder, all tension flowing out of him like water. This was safety.
Eric's brow came to rest on his shoulder. He did not speak. No gentle reassurance, no attempt at making him feel better, no words to sooth a pain so deep it could not be erased. Just a firm rock to cling to, unconditional love.
Silence spread inside Sean, the voices falling away at last. They could not reach him through the impenetrable shield that was Eric.
"Thank you." Sean whispered, not trusting his own voice but discovering that it was steady.
"Always, love."
If you enjoyed this story, please send feedback to: Beryll
go to PART 83