"Arabian Nights"
Part 83
by Mel
The morning saw the many wounds along Elijah's body making themselves known in the most violent of ways. It was happy to remind him of every punch and kick his brother had landed on it, making him moan desperately trying not too move in anyway to aggravate it.
"Elijah?"
Knowing perfectly well that he must look a right mess, Elijah cracked open his eye. Jared's blue eyes watched him gently, smiling as he woke.
"Orli will wake up soon, you should drink this, Liv dropped it off a little while ago."
Elijah eyed the drink in distrust, Liv seemed to have a perchance of giving him things that made him want to sleep even more. Jared read the look correctly, moving it a little out of the way.
"If you want to brave Orli without it..."
Scowling as much as he could Elijah reached out, someone grabbing his arm and helping him into a seated position. Billy was standing beside him, looking sympathetic, even more so as Elijah grimaced on the fowl tasting liquid. After a few minutes he was able to collect himself enough to speak.
"Where were you two yesterday?"
Billy shrugged, "napping. By the time I woke up Eric said there would be no more guests till today and that we were to let you sleep."
"I was with Karl." Jared grinned, his words mysterious enough to make Elijah wonder what had happened.
"The real question is; what happened to you?" Dominic came into the room, followed by the Lion cub who was chasing the tassels on his belt. He carried a shallow bowl and cloth. "Don't look at me as if I'm not capable of caring for you and answer the question." Sitting on the bed beside him he took up the cloth, moving his arm with care to wipe the blood from around his wounds. Elijah could hear Dave growling as he caught his prize.
"I met with my brother, and we had a disagreement."
"A disagreement that involved his fist meeting your eye?" Billy tipped his head up a little, moving the hair out of the way of his blackened eye. "Where is this brother now?" The words weren't loud or hard, spoken in Billy's ridiculously kind manner, but there was an edge of steel to it.
"He is dead, Eric found him after he'd done this and killed him," it was easy enough to say in the end, it was true. The look that Jared and Billy shared though was more then a subtle hint that Elijah needed to piece things together.
"There are rumours," Dominic said slowly from beside him, confirming Elijah's guess, "that there was more then a disagreement involved. The servants say he tried to rape you and that Eric became an enraged beast to protect you."
"Is it true," even Jared looked upset and more then a little angry. Elijah had no doubt the other boy knew what it was like to have no other option then to roll over and take the abuse dished out. It just reaffirmed Elijah's want to strengthen his body. He wanted to help protect them, or least to help. "Did your brother try to rape you?"
Not able to say it out loud, Elijah nodded. The faces of his friends all showed the same fury, even Dom's fingers tightened on his arm a little.
"If Eric hadn't come when he did, I would have killed him."
The stunned looks on Billy and Jared's face were hardly surprising. Even he was shocked at the strength in his words. He was the youngest of the kittens, and by far the most delicate. He hardly looked able to fend someone off, let alone kill. But Elijah knew even as he said the words that they were true. He would have continued to fight, he would have not just have given Leo what he had assumed he had the right to take.
"Good." Dominic moved behind him, being just as gentle with the marks on his back. "If you hadn't I would have had to have some of my own words to say to him. It is a pity he died so quickly though."
Jared and Billy's grim faces echoed much the same sentiments as Dom stated. Dave purred loudly, bringing the chewed tassel over for Elijah, dropping it proudly in his lap.
"Lij? By Allah, what-?"
Orli had entered the room, a stricken look coursing across his features. He was across the room in three strides, uncertain when he reached Elijah. He looked as if he wanted to hug him with all his might, but the shear volume of the injuries made him pause. Elijah smiled a little, opening his arms.
Orli was gentle but it didn't stop it from hurting a little. Elijah, held onto him, it was something that he'd missed, Orli being all tactile, needing him. His first friend, who needed more comfort, more protection then anyone else, but gave it back in spades. When he pulled back his fingers were everywhere, touching in gentle strokes, as if cataloguing them all inside his mind. He fired off a hundred questions, the most difficult of which Jared and Billy filled in the silence when Elijah couldn't find his tongue.
In the doorway Viggo stood, watching them, his brow furrowed in worry which gave way to the same pride Elijah had seen in Sean and Eric's faces. The Prince even seemed a little pleased upon hearing his declaration of learning to fight. He didn't intrude, but he made sure to catch Elijah's eyes, a proud nod before leaving the Kittens to themselves until it was time for the next dignitary to arrive.
***
"They're growing up aren't they?"
Sean tipped his head back as Viggo came into the bath, looking a little bemused. He stripped out of his robe, joining San in the water, wincing a little as it hit certain parts. It made Sean grin as the Prince sat gingerly.
"It certainly sounded like it yesterday afternoon, how was Orli?"
Viggo gave him a withering look. "he just had to... remind me of a few things."
"And you're sufficiently reminded now?" Sean asked with a small laugh.
"More then sufficiently," Viggo muttered dryly. He sobered quickly, "you know about Elijah's brother then."
A solemn nod. "He returned yesterday afternoon, looking like someone had ripped him to shreds. If Eric hadn't been there, things could have been so much worse."
"You doubt Elijah?"
"No, just the amount of pain his brother would have inflicted. Eric appearing and initiating his own form of justice smothered things over very nicely. Things wouldn't have been nearly as neat if Elijah had killed his brother," still Sean thought, easy back, it possibly would have been better for Elijah. The thought of his own hands wrapping around the neck of his faceless tormentor seemed to still his troubled mind a little.
"I was not awake to hear of how Jared faired with Karl, what punishment did he decide?"
Sean could hear the stress in Viggo's voice dissipate. It was always there, it was simply that he worried about everyone constantly. Back home he was much the same, there were ample family members, friends, favourite horses and troops to worry over. When it seemed to get too much Sean and Eric would put their permanently thinking best friend into the bath, letting his mind dissolve in the liquid, forgetting most, if not all of his troubles.
"Actually, you can ask him that now."
"Hmmm?" Viggo opened one eye, stiffening slightly as he noticed Karl had entered the bath. His eyes were resolutely fixed to the tiles on the wall behind the two naked men and his hands loosely behind his back. Sean had seen him enter, but hadn't directed any attention to him, but whatever he had to say mustn't have been important enough to interrupt their conversation. In the end Sean had taken pity on the other man obviously so uncomfortable at being there.
"Yes Captain?" Viggo asked, his voice cold, making Karl's stance tighten.
"My Lord, his Highness the Caliph requests dinner with his son at the end of the birthday celebrations." Karl didn't stumble over his delivery of the request, but it certainly sounded a little strained on his lips. Sean guessed he was so used to talking to them as friends or not at all.
"Very well Captain, let my father know it will be a pleasure to have dinner with him. That will be-"
"What punishment did Jared decide on, Karl?" In contrast to Viggo's coldness Sean sounded remarkably warm. Karl looked a little baffled at the question, shooting a decidedly worried glance in Viggo's direction before schooling his features.
"Jared said he would call on me for a night to inflict my punishment," Karl said quietly. Sean smiled, when he had seen the Mouse earlier, he looked decidedly happy, if not mischievous. Karl didn't know it, but he would have an incredibly interesting night when Jared called on him.
"If that's all-"
"It's not." Sean swam through the bath, stopping in front of the Captain. "Look at me Karl."
It was a severe fight but Karl's eyes met his. Sean wanted to erase the sorry that was in them, but it was something Karl would have to do in time.
"I know why you raped Jared. I know why you couldn't say you were sorry for it. And I'm sure Jared has already said he forgives you for it, though you won't have forgiven yourself." Karl opened his mouth to speak but with a firm shake of his head Sean ceased the sounds. "I want you to know that I forgive you as well, and that I hope we can be brothers in arms again, when you're ready."
Silence reigned for sometime as Karl goggled down at him.
"What you have done will take time to heal our relationship," Viggo's words were still cold, but not so much as before. "But as Jared and Sean have forgiven you there is no reason to keep you from them. There is a going away dinner for Eric organised a few nights from now, you may join us."
"I can't-"
"Your presence is requested Captain, will you really refuse?"
For a moment Karl looked as if he would, but shook his head. "Of course I will be there, my Lord."
"Good," Viggo's tone grew decidedly warmer. "I believe Orli would have more then my hide if you were not there."
If you enjoyed this story, please send feedback to: Mel
go to PART 84