"Three Nuts For Orlando"
Part 4
by Beryll & Osiris Brackhaus

 

- David -

I slowly took off my motorcycle helmet and looked at the tall mansion before me. I was pretty sure I had been here only a couple of days before, when I had been doing the rounds with father on his fund raising tour, but I couldn't recall who had greeted us at the door. One thing I knew for sure, though, my mysterious pretty skater had not been among them.

"You sure it's this place?" Billy asked sullenly. He looked like death warmed over and probably felt like it as well.

Serves him right for getting drunk every single night, I thought and then had to grin. Had one morning of skating changed me so much that I already looked down on my drinking buddies? Shouldn't I feel at least a bit of compassion.

"My mom said so." I answered him and thought back on the strange conversation I had had with my mother only an hour ago.

I had come home from the country club to find the house in an uproar. My father had concluded from absence, that I had made a run for it and had threatened to call the police to bring me back. After torturing Dom and Billy - who had just come back from their nightly tour of the local clubs- for information of my whereabouts.

They had all been rather surprised and more than a bit embarrassed at their own behavior, when I walked in. It had been a sight to remember, to see my father retreating to his smoking room, mumbling something about important business. Maybe it was not so bad to stay sober and bright after all.

Now if I could only find my mysterious skating partner. Suddenly the whole party/wedding problem had receded to insignificance compared to the problem of finding this boy who had completely enchanted me. All I could concentrate on was seeing that sad smile again and maybe this time making him laugh.

At had taken my mom only a couple of moments to realize what was going on. She had quickly ushered everybody out of the living room and sat me down next to her.

"So? Who is it?" she asked, curiously looking at the single skate I still clutched as if it was the greatest treasure in all the world.

"I don't know." I answered her, feeling like clinging to her and crying. "He wouldn't even tell me his name."

If she reacted in any way to the fact, that it was a 'he' not a 'she' I was referring to I didn't notice.

"Oh dear..." She drew me against her breast and cuddled me just long enough to make me feel squirmish.

"He lost this skate." I told her. Now that really sounded foolish. Like I was the prince in Cinderella. What was I supposed to do now? Go around the neighborhood, asking all the boys the right age to try on a skate? Ridiculous! And I knew what he looked like so I wouldn't need to have him pull on the blasted thing anyway. But he had run away from me. So the chances were good he wouldn't want to see me, right? Then why had he been flirting with my all the time? What the hell was wrong with the kid?!

"Didn't he tell you anything about himself?" mother asked sensibly.

"Well..." There was something he had mentioned. "He said he lives at the house of ' Delphine de Lancré'. Do you know who that is?"

The eyebrows of mom rose to meet her hairline. "Yes, she was a good friend of mine. But that was very long ago."

"Was?"

"She died almost twenty years ago."

I felt icy cold close around my heart. So my only lead was useless. But why had he told me that name then?

"She used to live close to here. Maybe your mysterious boy was just talking about the house." my mother suggested and I kissed her.

"Mom, I love you!" I exclaimed and jumped up.

"Where are you going, dear?" she asked, laughing.

"You said I should keep my eyes open and I did just that! Now I'll not let my luck slip away. Father can scream and scratch all he wants. I think, I'm in love!" And with that I ran to find Billy and Dom to drag them along on my expedition.

And now I was here at the house, wondering how exactly I was going to find my cute-footed dreamboy. And if this even was the right place.

Before I could worry anymore the front door flew open and two women raced down the steps. I didn't recognize the older one but the young girl made my stomach churn. I did remember that little minx!

"Oh Davie! What a wonderful surprise!" she shouted, only halfway over to where we had stopped our bikes. "What brings you here this morning?"

I forced another friendly smile to my face. She certainly wouldn't like my reason for being here.

"Ma'am." I greeted the older woman politely. "I am looked for a boy who seems to live here. I don't know what his name is, but he has short curly black hair, is about as tall as me, slim, with pretty small feet..."

The lady's face darkened immediately. To a truly frightening extend. And the girl looked as if I had hit here with a fish. "And what would you want with this boy?" the lady asked icily.

"Well... I met him skating this morning and he forgot one of his skates and I would like to give it back." I answered carefully, taking the skate out of one of my bike-bags.

Both women stared at it as if it was a snake. "That is hardly possible." the lady said. "He is at school in Europe so you can hardly have met him this morning."

What?! What was this charade supposed to mean? I mean, I had his skate as proof so what the hell was she talking about?

"Of course he was there!" I exclaimed angrily.

"Do you call me a liar?!"

"No... I..." I was feeling really confused now. Maybe he didn't want to see me now and had told them so? I tried to breath deeply.

"Look, please just tell him that I really enjoyed this morning and am looking very forward to seeing him tonight, okay?" I tried again more politely.

If possible at all her features darkened even more. She looked like she would spit venom any moment and tried to grab the skate from me but I quickly pulled it out of reach.

"If he wants it back, he'll have to come get it." I told her, grinning now and tugged the back into the bag. I decided quickly that I had had enough of these weird people for one afternoon. I would see them again at the party anyway. So I didn't give her a chance to say more and instead pulled the helmet back on.

"See you later!" I shouted in the direction of the house in hope that he WOULD show up. And if not, I would come again and find him. No matter what anybody thought of that. As long as he didn't himself tell me to get lost, he wouldn't be rid of me.

----

- Orlando -

I had been just about to walk over to the main building from the stables, a bag full of Cate's golf-clubs in my arms, as I saw him arrive. David came here, on his motorbike, with his friends, and not for a single moment I wondered what he was doing here.

He was looking for me.

And of course, was running directly into the arms of my cursed stepmother. Why did he come here? Hadn't I been explicit enough in telling him that I did NOT want him to come to my place, that it would just only end up in trouble if he knew anything about me?

Sure, I thought to myself, that was why you did give him your late mother's name in the first place.

Fuck!

Without thinking, I hid back into the stables, clinging to the golf clubs as if my life depended on them. I was lost. He would talk to Cate, she would tell him that I'm just some penniless sucker showing off as her late husband's son, and he would be jolly amused, perhaps even angered, and be off for good. Even if I showed up at the party tonight, there was still a good chance I would be thrown out, beaten or whatever.

Why, of all the things in the world, did he have to come here?

I peeped through one of the dirty windows of the stable to see what happened, and was rewarded with the sight of my incredible stepsister harassing my David, Cate watching the scenery in calm concentration.

Oh gods, she would kill me, if she noticed I had been at the country club! And of course she would learn of it, for right now David took a bright, white skate out of one of his bags, presenting it as if this would explain everything.
If Cate understood anything of the things David told her, she didn't show a sign, but the flashing look of Liv in the direction of the stable were more than I needed to tell me that I was in the deepest shit of my life.

Without any further reflection, I was off to my room in the attic of the stables, a low, narrow thing, but all I could call home these days. On the stairs, I dropped the golf-clubs I was still carrying, cursing softly, stumbling to my only drawer and grabbed whatever stuff I could.
I had to leave, had to get away from here, had to get Nicholas into safety, had to...

But then again, why was I running?

All the chaotic thoughts I had been captured in came to a slow, gliding halt.

It's not as if I had committed any crime, had I?

I had done all my work, had not been speaking ill of her, and who could forbid me to go out and have some fun on a frozen lake?

No one could. But if I had enough money to spend on skates and the club's membership, where did I get that from? And where did I hide it?

It was all so sick, so unfair!
It had all started out so perfectly, so lovely, and as if for once the universe had conspired to make me happy. And now all my dreams came crashing down on me like a burning building.

I sat down on the edge of my bed, suddenly overwhelmed by the wave of hopelessness and sadness that washed over me.
I had never demanded anything great of life. I had only tried to save the life of my horse and to keep me from freezing in winter - and now I had been tempted to believe life could hold just a fucking little more for me, and I was suddenly in deeper trouble than I was ever before.
Why had my life been forced to meet with David's if we hadn't had a chance to be together in the first place?

The bitter cruelty of that would have made the story one of Cate's all-time party favorites, had she ever known all of this. But I for sure would never tell her.

A sound on the yard brought me out of my self-pity, but before I could really identify the noise as three motorbikes leaving the place in all hurry, I heard someone rush up the stairs to my room.
Only the blink of an eye later, Cate was standing in front of me, fuming as I had never seen her before.

"What have you been thinking?", she hissed, her voice unsteady with anger.

"I don't kno-", I started in reflex, but she cut me off, spitting:

"Don't you dare to play those games with me, you ungrateful bastard! How could you dare to do this to your sister? How could you DARE?!"

Hold it - my sister?
Somehow I was sure someone in the room had missed some important part of the story. And I wasn't absolutely sure that it hadn't been me.

As having been waiting for her line to appear, Liv stomped up the wooden stairs to my room, wielding a heavy golf-club in her hands, insanely furious even without shrieking at me.

"You pervert!", she screamed, exuding more physical menace than I had ever imagined she possibly could. And it was quite impressive.
"You fucking pervert! How could you do this to my Davie?"

"Excuse me? YOUR Davie?"

"He was going to marry me!", she squealed, tears of rage in her eyes.

Completely dumbfounded, I stared at her, trying to grasp the enormity of her delusion, failing flamboyantly at the first few attempts.

"I could hardly believe what David told us", Cate intervened. "I would have never thought that even you were capable to contrive such a conniving, jealous plan against you own family!"

Oh, suddenly we were a family? Now tell me, dear, when did you notice?

"You were fucking trying to steal my husband!", Liv screeched at me.

"Heavens, he's gay!!", I shouted back, trying to get her at least partially to her senses. "He will never marry you!"

Liv just wailed unintelligibly in response, carefully backed up by her mother, who added:

"He's just trying to be a bit rebellious. But he likes my Liv, and all know that."

"You're all fucking mad, you know that?"

"Watch your language, young man!", Cate hissed, and Liv filled her lungs for an other, earsplitting:

"YOU'RE TRYING TO STEAL MY HUSBAND!!!"

"He is NOT your husband", I said as calmly and pronounced as the situation allowed, and was surprised as my stepsister's eyes suddenly turned all cold and menacing.

"No. He's not. But he will be when you wake up."

----

- David -

The first guests were starting to arrive and I realized the problem with a costume party, when you are looking for a specific person you have seen only once before. There were half a million ways to wear a costume that would make it impossible to recognize my mysterious, lovely boy.

Also it did not make my mission easier that my father kept introducing me to all the girls who all had the hunter's gleam in their eyes and seemed to be looking for the best way to gain my attention when I was not interested in the slightest.

I really tried to be polite, tried to dance with those girls who were not completely disgusting - and some were! Father watched in benevolent satisfaction, thinking that I had finally given in but really I used the dancing to scan the crowd for the one face I really wanted to see.

The only amusing distraction were Billy and Dom, wrestling with their costume. They had fought over who would take which end of the horse and come up with the decision, that they would change regularly. That made it rather difficult to have a decent conversation with them, as you could never be sure who you were talking to.

The girls I had flat out refused to dance with tried their luck with my two friends, surrounding the 'horse' like a pack of hungry wolves. But as they were both rather fond of the attention they all seemed to enjoy themselves. Although the girls were locked in a constant catfight about who would win which one of the boys hidden in the horse.

The girls fighting for my attention were even worse. They actually resorted to supple force once or twice, tripping each other or shoving a rival out of the way. It would have been funny had I been allowed to watch from the sidelines. But I was right in the middle of it.

At least my mother seemed remotely sympathetic. She saved me for a couple of minutes, dancing with me.

"Well, where is your 'new love'?" she asked, after I had led her back to her seat.

I shrugged unhappily. "He wouldn't come out to talk to me, when I went to his place." I answered. "Maybe he doesn't want to see me?"

Her brows furrowed. "I can hardly imagine anybody resisting your charms, my dear son. I'm sure he will show up."

"And then what?" I looked over at father. "He won't like that."

She patted my hand. "Don't you worry, dear. Let your father be my concern. If your boy does show up and is interested... I promise I will get you out of your wedding deal."

----

- Orlando -

Probably, I just couldn't decide if I were to die of a split skull or of suffocation, so I merely opted for waking up.
Wish I hadn't.

Groaning with the throbbing pain in the back of my head, I tried to turn around, for I was lying face-down on my bed and could hardly breathe. But most unpleasantly, I found my wrists and ankles bound with some slick kind of rope.

Damn, first that fucking bitch knocks me out with a fucking golf-club, and then they have the bloody audacity to leave me here without any comment except those ropes around my wrists. If ever I had had any doubts about my stepmother being completely mad, I now had proof.

'stealing her husband'! Pah.
David wouldn't marry my bloody stepsister in a million years, not even if she were the last woman on earth. Or the last human being. Mad bitch.

I can't believe they did that! Fucking crazy bitches!

Making another attempt to turn around, I managed this time, only to be rewarded by an increased pain in my head and the experience that lying on your hands tied together behind your back is all but comfortable. But my eyes cleared, and in the low light that fell up the stairway from the stables I could see the rope around my ankles glistening softly.

Cables! Those fucking bitches must have ripped apart the two only lamps I owned to tie me up! My eyes fell on the alarm-clock on my desk, and I groaned as I saw that it already was well past ten in the evening. Fuck! Whatever David thought of me after all the shit Cate had told him about me by now, he definitely would be convinced I was trying to let him down tonight.

Fuck!

But I was surely not going to give him up like this. My life was fucked up completely by now, and all I could do was at least to safe my self-esteem in facing David one last time and hear what he said about all this.
And then I would go and be lost in the barren wasteland of my broken heart.
Or work at Joey's for the rest of my life.

Grimly, I turned to the side, beginning to press my wrists apart, relaxing them again, repeating the procedure. Maybe you girls know a lot about haircare, but you have fucking no idea of how to tie up someone, I thought to myself. But I shouldn't complain, this time your stupidity works in my favor, for a change.
Widening the slick restraints bit by bit with my movements, I lay on the bed, staring into darkness, pondering bloody murder.

But that wouldn't help anything, would it? I could walk up at the party, beat my fucking relatives to pulp and probably be clubbed down by security, charged with assault and what not, and end in jail up alone, with neither David nor Nicholas.
But all I really wanted was to know for sure if I had lost any chances with David. I knew it was completely delusional to think we might have a chance, considering my gender, my financial situation and his status. But I had to know for sure, or I would never be rid of this.
If you do not at least reach out, you'll never know if you're able to catch a star, my mother always said. Well, when she died I was too young to remember much of her, but I liked the thought of this being one of her favorite sayings.

I can't sink any deeper than I have already, I silently stated to myself. But I could lose the last chance at the love of my life, and I'm not going to let this pass me by.

So when I finally slipped my hands out of their restraints, I was decided to go to that bloody ball, walk up straight to my David, and see if I had any chance left. And if not, well, at least I knew for sure.

"Nicholas!", I yelled while I freed my feet. "Nicholas, can you hear me?"

A soft neighing answered me, and I has relieved to hear that they hadn't clubbed him down as well. Fucking bitches!

"Nicholas, we're going out for a ball", I said when I was finally standing next to my horse, gently patting it's flank. "But first, we'll have to pay a visit to Rosalie, and pick up one fucking sharp outfit for me. I've already wasted almost all that had been left of my life on that David, so he could just as well have everything, don't you agree?"

Instead of an answer, Nicholas just pressed his giant face against my shoulder, gently rubbing his nose against my chest.

"Oh, my dear Nicholas", I added so softly even I could hardly hear it. "Do you think he loves me as well?"

But my horse didn't answer.

----

- David -

What had been bearable when the party had just started quickly turned into unnerving and then into just horrible. To have all those girls looking at me, like I was a juicy piece of meat was bad enough, but to watch their mothers and fathers talk to my Dad in hushed tones, discussing 'wedding arrangements' was plain simply too much. By now I could very well imaging how a prize bull at an auction must feel.

Was I imagining things or was my father really trying to sell me for political favors? But that was the senator of Texas he was talking to right now, wasn't it. And he was winking at his god damned, cowboy-hat-wearing daughter too!

I freed myself from the circle of 'admirers' around me and walked over to my father.

He watched me approach, several stern lines forming on his brow. "Can I talk to you for a second?" I asked smilingly, all pleasant and polite.

We put a bit of distance between 'Mr. Texas' and us and then I turned on him like a hawk. "Dad, you don't really actually expect me to choose a wife like this, do you? Hasn't this joke run far enough by now? This is not the middle ages anymore!"

My father dropped any kind of pretense just as suddenly. "I am dead serious on this, David." he said. "Either you get married or you find yourself a job and work for your own living!"

So that was his real plan. He wanted me to work for myself. Couldn't he have said so in the first place without putting up this stupid game first?

"You really want to be rid of me, don't you?!" I hissed, anger making my voice louder and drawing stares from nearby party guests. "Well, you get your wish. I don't give a fuck about your plans or your money. Maybe I'll rot in the street but I'll not get married to one of these bitches!"

My father stared at me in shock and I enjoyed it tremendously. I looked at the big clock over the main entrance to the ball room and realized it was almost midnight. I had really played along with this long enough. I would go and look for my mysterious skater in his own home, as he clearly didn't wish to show up here. Couldn't really blame him either. The company was anything but desirable. And then I would run away with him to some unknown fate in love and poverty.

An utterly stupid idea of course but some part of me counted on my mother keeping me alive, whatever I did. So I spun on my heel and stalked off out of the room, hundreds of eyes following my retreat, quite some of them filled with unbelieving tears.

I had just reached the doors leading out onto the porch, when a soft voice stopped me.

"Are you leaving already?"

The only reason I turned around to look was that it was for once not a female voice. But I stopped dead in my tracks when I spotted the owner of that voice.

Most of the party guests had arrived in costumes fitting the 'prince and princess' theme. There were some exotic costumes like japanese geishas and arabian beauties, but this one stuck out like a razor blade among sticks.

The young man was dressed in an outfit consisting of shining black leather and silver chains and clasps that could only be called 'cyberpunk' in the coolest sense of the word. His hair was a spiky, dark mass that would have intimidated any manga character and his face was hidden behind a mask of elaborate neon face-paint. And his outfit also did nothing do conceal his shapely body.

If I had not been so intend on finding the boy that would hopefully turn out to be the love of my life I would certainly have noticed him immediately and given him more than a long appraising stare. But as it was, I was about to turn away again when he said: "Will you at least grant me one dance before you hurry off?"

There was a strange bit of deep sadness in his voice, that tugged on my heart. It would not hurt to give him one dance, would it? One last gesture of defiance for my father, before I ran away forever.

So I smiled at him, bowing slightly. "It will be my honor." I said, taking the hand he offered.

----

- Orlando -

Watching the mist of my breath dissipate in the crisp air of this fateful New Year's Eve, I stood at the flight of stairs that went up to the main entrance of the senator's mansion.
Entering the grounds had proven far less difficult than I had thought, for even if David had not deposited an invitation at the gate, another one had come with my outfit.

And what an outfit that was!
I was dressed up like some... well, I have never seen anyone wearing anything like it. Shining black leathers, tight, with more straps and buckles than could ever be necessary. Heavy boots, gloves, all together looking more like a futuristic armor than anything else.
But no mask.

Whoever had equipped this nut had forgotten to add any kind of mask, and it was supposed to be a masked ball! But it would have been a bit hypocritical to go and ask for a refund, now, wouldn't it?

So the only thing I could think of was to paint my face, and all I could find to do the job was that garishly neon-orange paste the forest warden had used to mark the trees that were supposed to be cut down next. I had used that stuff when I was a kid to paint one of father's horses to make it look like a motor-bike, and apart from a very confused horse, it had been harmless. OK, it had taken some time until we found out that the way to remove this stuff was to use quite massive amounts of margarine, but once we knew, it got clean quite nicely.

Also, I thought it a rather dark but very fitting thing to mark me as being ready for execution, considering that was quite the way I felt.

But it wouldn't have done to appear without any kind of mask, with my luck, I would have run into Cate and Liv first of all, and this way I had at least a chance to pass them unrecognized.

"Nicholas", I said, still a bit afraid of my own courage. "Wish me luck, will you?"

Neighing softly, my tall companion nudged me on towards the entrance, as if he was trying to push me on.

"You're sure about this, hm? Wish I was..."

But I turned around and stepped up the stairs to the mansion, one by one, listening to the snow crunch underneath my feet, trying to think of any intelligent line to start with once I faced David.
But, as to be expected, I found none.

Then, far sooner than I would have liked, I faced the entrance of the mansion. But I couldn't make myself go close enough for the staff in livery open the doors, instead I kept myself outside the building, walking along the path that lead away from the door to the large windows of the central banquet hall. I tried to stay unnoticed, to move from shadow to shadow, until I had found a place where I could have a look into the hall without likely to be seen.

Heavens, what a crowd! Princes and princesses, from all countries and ages of the earth were assembled here, and all were swirling around the most dashing young prince at the center of all attention. David.
My David, hopefully.
He was wearing the most ridiculous outfit, in a way, tight white trousers, a blue blouse and a dark-blue doublet. And a bonnet. A feathered bonnet! I had to bite my knuckles not to squeal in amusement.
He looked SOO sweet. His blond hair and sharp features just fit the role perfectly, and he would have been so dashing, so ultimately dazzling if only he had smiled. But he didn't.
I could see it even on the distance, his face was smiling, but his eyes were not. Maybe, just maybe, there was still a chance for us.

So I braced myself, a hopeful smile trying to steal itself onto my face most shyly. Maybe.

Turning around, I went back to the main entrance, this time not at all caring if I was noticed or not, stepping up in front of the huge glassen, double-winged entrance door with a self-consciousness and confidence I had hardly known I possessed.

The two servants inside took a moment to register that there was someone outside, waiting for them to open, but I hardly noticed. For in the shining glass of the doors, I could see myself, and suddenly all my confidence seemed to waver.
I looked... well, fierce, to put it politely. Dangerous, at least.
That was a costume for a New York Halloween party, somewhere on an abandoned industrial site, but teeth-splittingly off-topic for such a august event as I was about to enter. And my glaringly painted face didn't do anything to smoothen my appearance. In contrary. I would stick out among those frilly, faked-period peopled like... whatever.
Too late, anyway.

The door was opening, and the warm and humid air welcomed me with all the smells and noises of so many people partying together.

Taking in a deep last breath of cool winter's air, I forced myself to make the important first step forward. Once I had managed to move my foot off the ground where it had apparently been glued to the paving-stones, it was surprisingly easy.
So I entered the lion's den with less confidence than a fierce determination to end all of this as soon as possible, but I entered. And apparently, made quite an entrance.

Not only did the boys at the door forget to close it behind me, also one by one, the conversations among the groups in the hallway I had entered slowed down and died. Only when a current of frosty air from outside whisked a few very confused snow-flakes around my ankles, the door was closed again.

So I strode on, more guessing my way than anything else, the harsh sound of my boots clearly audible even through the surrounding clamor of the party. It felt to me as if my heart was beating in my throat, so loud everybody around just had to notice how nervous I was, but all just stared at me in slack-jawed disbelief.
I just hoped they were staring at me in awe, if not, it was only a matter of seconds until one of these morons gathered enough of his little wits to call security. And that would end my show rather quickly.

Turning around left into a huge hall, I knew I got closer to where I wanted to be. Lots of people, every single one dressed in exclusively expensive costumes, all standing around the dance-floor, chatting, sipping of their crystal glasses. And all of them staring at me.

For a moment, I had to stop, and suddenly was VERY aware of how far I had ventured into territory I by all rights didn't belong. Virtually everybody stared at me, at my outfit, at my face. Thank heavens I had thought of wearing some kind of mask, if not everybody would have seen how crimson I turned underneath my neon-orange paint.

Yet, contrary to all my fears, no-one called security, no-one suspected a pizza-boy in leathers coming to their show and trying to sort out one very endangered relationship. Lucky me.

Instead, they stared on, a mute wall of silk and velvet, gems sparkling in colliers, crowns and tiaras. And then, they parted in front of me, the human barrier splitting open as if on silent command, giving way to more people, more stares.
Heavens, this must be what old Moses had felt like when God parted the seas in front of him. This is fucking cool, man, he must have thought, but couldn't you have done it a little less boastful? Just a little?

The old man might have gotten an answer, I did not. So I just tried to stay cool, and did the necessary thing: I marched on as if this happened to me every day. I just hoped no-one noticed how much my knees trembled, for that surely would have ruined my entrance. And to top it all of, the band now had noticed something they had not rehearsed for was happening, and one by one, the musicians stopped playing. How unprofessional. How exceedingly, dangerously centering all attention to my person, how incredibly embarrassing.

Dear God, if you listen, please let me survive this with my honor intact, will you? Please let Cate and Liv be at the other side of the building right now.

In the sudden silence of the ballroom, the angered voice of David arose, clearly audible across the few people that were still standing between him and my nervous self:

"Well, you get your wish. I don't give a fuck about your plans or your money. Maybe I'll rot in the street but I'll not get married to one of these bitches!"

That definitely sounded as if he was talking to his father. And as if he was talking straight, at the most inopportune point in time I could have wished for.

The last people in front of me finally noticed that their current position was in the way of events far greater than their idle chatter, and scuttled away like roaches once you lift the fridge. Behind them, I could see David, still in his costume, facing a stately elder man, probably his father, both men clearly enraged. So I stopped some meters away from them, and before I could think of anything to say, David turned around and marched along the empty aisle that had formed in the middle of the room to let me pass; completely oblivious of all around him, passing me just by a few inches; his doublet and bonnet's pheasant's feather flying most dashingly.

How could he leave now?
Fuck!

I had come here to talk to him, why on earth had he had to break up with his father right NOW?
But I had to act.
NOW.

"Are you already leaving, your Highness?", I asked, the anger I felt for him spoiling what little plans I had making my voice louder and chiller than I had intended to.

David stopped dead in his tracks, turned around and stared at me for a long, long moment. So that was what they called a deafening silence. Why'd he look so sad? Heavens, shouldn't he be happy to see me here? Shouldn't he take me in his arms and dance with me all night long?

Maybe not, this wasn't a fairy-tale, after all; and so he just gave me a sad half-smile and began to turn away from me.

NO!

"Will you at least grant me one dance before you hurry off?", I heard myself say, happy to find that I could still improvise a bit, even if my heart had completely overruled my mind quite some time ago.

This time, he stared at me a bit longer, while all around us not a single word was spoken, nothing was to be heard except the rustling of cloth or the breathing of so many people.

Suddenly, David smiled, not as perfectly as he had done this morning on the lake, but credible enough to make my heart jump.

"It will be my honor", he answered, bowing lightly, and offered his hand.

This was a bumpy start, but we're getting somewhere, I thought.

"Music!", David ordered loudly. "A waltz!"

A waltz? Eeep! And of course he was leading...

"Sir?", David asked softly as the first tunes pearled across the room, and I just nodded, silently praying that I would not shame both of us if I fucked up now. But it was easier than I had thought, actually quite easy. And dancing with David was... heaven.

Soon, we danced across the room, oblivious of the people around us, who probably were mostly experiencing the exasperation of their lives over two young men waltzing together. I saw David's father rushing at us with fury in his face, red as a lobster. But then, I had to turn away again, and when I could look his direction next time, I only saw an elegant Lady in a midnight-blue gown ushering him off the dance-floor.
Whatever.

Now I could fully concentrate on my sweet prince, watch him closely, his lovely face the only clear thing in a world that apparently had dissolved into one horizontal blur. And music.
I hadn't paid any notice when I had entered the room, but the band must have been exceptionally good. And quite huge, for the music filled the whole place, and if I hadn't been so terribly in love with him already, I surely would have fallen for him at least now.

But then, this politely smiling idiot opened his mouth, asking:

"Tell me Sir, who are you?"

I could have fainted, or laughed, or cried. Your choice. It was so hilarious. He still didn't recognize me. I didn't believe it.

"You still don't recognize me, do you?", I said, my voice probably expressing amused disbelief, maybe annoyance.

David stared at me for a long, long moment, then his eyes widened and he almost missed a step.

"You...?", he asked voicelessly, and I couldn't help but smile. He was soo sweet.

"So, your Highness", I said in a voice that clearly betrayed my amusement, watching a slight blush creep up David's cheeks with great satisfaction. "Have you found an answer to my riddle?"

This time, he laughed, and it was a real laugh. Abundant mirth shone in his eyes, and I continued:

"Wearing a blue uniform with red marks,
running through the forest like a squirrel in search of food,
but the pizza-boy,
he is not."

He still stared at me without comprehension for a while, and only as I wiggled my eyebrows suggestively, it clicked.

"That was YOU?", he asked, truly surprised. I just nodded, and went on:

"A shining suit as white as snow,
fencing like a musketeer,
but a student,
he is not."

"I don't believe it - you again?" David now really seemed to be impressed. "You're not only the cutest man I know, you're also a man of surprisingly many talents."
And, with a wink, he added:
"Dancing being one of them."

Now it was my time to bite down a blush, but I think I managed quite well and instead continued:

"A pullover as soft as a duckling's feathers,
skating like a love-sick fool,
but a member of the country-club,
he is not.
Now who could that be?"

Gently shaking his head, David pulled me closer to him, smiling fondly, answering my silly riddle in the most lovely way I could ever have imagined:

"My mysterious, cute-footed little stranger. I have no idea at all of your name, but I still know who you are: the only person I would like to marry. If you agree, that is..."

----

- David -

He was looking at me in wide-eyed wonder but he did not look like he disagreed with the idea in general. Just like he couldn't believe I had actually asked him that. Smiling reassuringly I pulled him even closer as the last of the waltz hung in the air.

"I have fallen in love three times in the course of the last week and every time it was you. That is more than enough to assure me that I want you. Now please tell me you want me too?"

A little smile formed on his lips, this time true and full of happiness and his eyes shone with joy. "Well, I..."

"YOU!" The ear-splitting shriek almost made me drop my hands from his hips to cover my ears. "You misbegotten bastard son of a whore! I AM GOING TO KILL YOU!"

I turned to face this unexpected threat, protectively pulling my new found love behind me. It was that girl that had met me outside his home and she looked murderous, her face crimson red, her eyes wide with fury, her small fists clenched. And she was heading right for me. What had I done to enrage her like that? Except of course choosing somebody else but her...

But she didn't stop in front of me and instead tried to get around me. It dawned on me that her rage was not directed at me but at my cute boy.

"HOW DARE YOU?!" Her voice had not dropped in volume and up close it was even more painful.

My lovely tried to make himself as small as possible behind me. He actually looked afraid, a pleading look entering his eyes, when I met his gaze.

"Who is this girl?" I asked him, more than a little confused.

"She is..." he started to answer but was interrupted by another voice, this time the older woman from his place.

"Don't listen to this little shit!" she exclaimed, somehow having appeared right next to me. "He is just the stable boy. He shouldn't even be here. I have no idea how he got in here. I'm so sorry he disturbed you. But he is such a cocky little liar! I will make sure he gets punished properly..."

She in turn was interrupted by my boy who was now suddenly looking murderous himself. "Stable boy?! I am your stepson, you evil old witch! You have stolen all that should be mine and now you dare to..."

He wasn't allowed to finish his sentence either. "What the hell do you think you're doing!" My father grabbed me by the shoulder and turned me around to face him.

To be quite frank I had now idea what I was doing so I just looked at him in mute confusion but he didn't notice that. He drew breath for another angry shout when the girl launched herself at my love with the clear intent to hurt him. I reacted completely out of instinct, plugged her out of the air and then complete silence descended over the ball room, when my fist impacted with her temple and she crumbled to the ground.

I was shaking with rage. To have all of these people standing around me shouting at each other all but ignoring me had just been too much.

"Enough! I don't give a fuck who this boy is, I love him and I am not going to argue about it. And if anybody dares attack him again I will do much more than hit that person." I turned to my father, fighting hard to remain calm. "Father, I mean it. You told me to find someone to marry, I have. Even if I have to go to Europe to do it..."

Again I turned to my mysterious stranger, taking both of his hands in mine. "If you want to that is?" I finished softly.

There were tears of joy in his eyes now. "You still want me? Even if I am just some nobody, who..."

"Oh shut up, silly." I grinned and then just kissed him.

I clearly heard father starting to sputter behind me but then I heard the voice of my mother gently murmuring something and he quieted down rather quickly. It's wonderful to have a mother like that. And then reality receded as I lost myself in that first kiss.

----

- Orlando -

I wouldn't go back.
Not tonight, and probably never again.

It was already quite late in the morning when finally David and I went into his room, closing the door behind us, shutting out so much noise and chatter of all these people.
Most wondrously, David's father had shown up after a while, not really happy with the situation, but apparently trying to cope. His mother had actually embraced me in front of all the guests and welcomed me into the family. Which some of said guests had taken as their clue that there was no more senator's son on the market and disappeared. But still more than enough remained to make the first hours of the new year a remarkable occasion.
I was quite giddy from all this, and frankly couldn't believe even now what had happened. I was together with my David, in his house, and welcome and accepted by his parents. Nicholas had found a nice, cozy place in the senator's stables, and all seemed like a fairy-tale come true to me.

"I'm so glad you're here", David whispered in my ear, pulling me into a close embrace, making me so conscious of his wonderful body hidden underneath that frilly costume.

"You're telling me?"

"Well, love", he replied while moving to the door without ever leaving our embrace, switching off the lights. "I'm sure it's been no less magical for me than for you. We'll both need some time to get to terms with what has happened here tonight."

Too happy and too tired to haggle with him about who has had the more strange things happening lately, and fiercely convinced I would win anyway, I just shut up and snuggled closer into his arms, leaning my face against his warm chest, listening for a moment to his beating heart.

The silence and darkness were soothing after the chaos and clamor of the last hours, and for quite a while we just stood there, holding each other, wondering about our sudden luck. Then, with a sigh, I said softly:

"I'm just sorry that I do have nothing to bring into your family except a horse you'll have to feed..."

"Oh, don't worry about that. Dad has got more money than we could probably ever spend."

Looking up at my lovers face, I could see him grin in what little light came in through the windows.

"No, really; I know what you mean. But I think I got good news for you in that regard."

Questioning, I raised my eyebrows, truly intrigued.

"Well, the same lawyers that have helped your stepmother in, well, 'securing her status', are working for my father as well."

"And that's supposed to be good news?", I asked, pushing David away from me. But he didn't let me go, instead added with a fiendish grin:

"Well, he's paying them far better..."

"Oh, you -", I started, but David cut off my insults with a kiss, sweet and passionate, and still clinging together we dropped onto his bed; ready to explore at great length what each of us hid underneath those costumes...

And they lived happily ever after...

- The End -

 

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

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