Lyer & Aluraios | Discovery
Ferel held his eyes for a long moment, and he studied the dark green depths trying to pierce their forestlike secrecy. "I'll explain everything tonight." he said haltingly, swallowing as he closed his eyes, before fixing them fiercely again on Aluraios. "Come to my room around sunset."
"But, that'd mean going through Lord Dakram's rooms..."
"I know. He, he won't mind. Just fly up to his window and he'll let you pass. I swear."
"Wouldn't it be easier if I just went through the door?" Aluraios let a hint of teasing enter his voice, but it faded at the unwavering seriousness of the gaze.
"Please, 'Rios." Ferel's sigh was half exaspiration and half something bordering on almost fearful. "If I'm going to trust you, just please trust me. You mustn't let anyone see you in human form tonight. Or hawk if possible."
Aluraios looked puzzled, stepping towards the other, who shook his head stepping away from the outstretched hand. "Why? What's going on?"
"I'll explain tonight. Don't let anyone see you, hear you, or know where you're going. Please. It's for your safety as much as mine." With that almost panicked entreatment he stepped forward to hug his slimmer friend and almost ran out the door, nervousness pervading his every movement.
Aluraios sighed, watching his human friend slip out the door silently before falling back haphazardly on the bed, questions skittering across his mind. Why in darkness does he want to see me tonight? What's with the secrecy? A lady friend? He's not really a servant? He's not human? He dismissed the last one casually, Ferel definately wasn't a vampire or shapeshifter and there weren't any other humanoid species in the area. Maybe he's discovered something, or...
He let a small smile dance across his lips at his musings, Only one way to find out, he thought, twisting a strand of hair between his fingers as he rolled over to scan his clothes rail, debating what would be suitable for this occasion.
The Lord's rooms were dark, a single fire in the grate when Aluraios landed on the hard stone window sill. He'd seen Lord Dakram's rooms once or twice in the past, but that had been when he'd been with Ferel, and he'd felt the dark blue eyes of the mage-lord following his every movement.
Empty, his michievious mind was tempted to explore the shadowed boxes and cupboards that ranged along the edges. Slashes of dull colour lit the walls where fire light lit up wall hangings and brightly bound books, sparking off more temptation to go and search through the precious words and pages, to touch the hangings and compare them to his own folk's work.
He blinked his hawken eyes, fixing them resolutely on the flickering light and spreading his wings. As his body slipped into his human form, he belatedly heard murmurings from the next room, but they faded to almost nothing as his human senses took over. Smoothing his tunic, checking the silver chain at his waist hung neatly over the deep blue fabric, he looked around for the source of the noises and a slender eyebrow raised when he pinpointed Ferel's room.
With a shrug he moved to the thick wooden door, wondering who was with Ferel, no servants ever went in the manservant's room, he generally cleaned it himself, something he personally had never understood the concept of. Of course he'd cleaned up in the Cliffs, on the rare occassions someone else wasn't begging to do it for him, but, Ferel didn't actually have to. With a puzzled frown he sensed heavy shielding all around the room, pervading the stones of the suite but especially strong and active around Ferel's chamber. What in darkness is going on, Ferel? he thought silently, raising his hand to the door.
The knock sounded loud on his side, but it took a few seconds for Ferel's voice to call out almost too loudly, "Come in, 'Rios."
The door opened smoothly onto a sudden wash of brightness, candles dotting every surface. The small room was windowless, and the door the fireborn had just entered was the only exit or entrance, but instead of being claustrophobic the space was cosy and, for someone who'd lived for seventeen years in a cave, very homely. But it wasn't the decor that caught and held Aluraios's attention, the large bed that dominated a large corner of the room where two figures knelt on it, facing towards the wall did that instantly.
The familiar sandy blonde head turned with a welcoming smile, sweat shining on his boyish face, hands still resting tightly on the other body's shoulders, his frame blocking the sunperson's sight. "I was expecting you a little later, but I suppose visual aids are useful." Leaning down, he murmured into the other's ear, too low for even Aluraios's hearing, stroking black hair from the pink edge. The whispered conversation carried on for a few moments, Ferel's hand raking through the soft wet blackness, tugging lightly on the short strands.
Aluraios let his suprise fade into humour as movement beneath the covers proved his initial reaction, and the muscular body showing the other body's sex. "So, you do like men." he said smuggly, leaning back against the wall.
"Yes, I do." Ferel grinned back, his own amusement tinging his passion darkened eyes as he stroked his hands over the bare skin for a few moments before pulling back fully, his lover letting out a soft moan as he rolled over onto his back, stretching out against the pillows. The unnamed man stayed kneeling for a moment until Ferel touched his arm gently, then he slid under the sheets quickly before Aluraios could see his face. "I also have a permanent lover." He pressed up close to the other man, resting his head against him.
"Oh." Aluraios said softly, his mind throwing together little bits of information suddenly. "Is that why Lord Dakram was so angry, he didn't want to lose you just because of your preferences?"
The rich burst of laughter from beneath the covers was infectious and Ferel's soft chuckle filled the room for a few moments, "Something like that, but," the munour drained out of his eyes leaving the uncharacteristicly serious look of the morning, "Aluraious, I wouldn't ask this of you unless there was no other choice, but will you swear to me that nothing that is said in this room tonight will ever go outside the three of us?"
"Until the sun turns to dust, I will hold your secrets within my fire."
The sober vow made Ferel's eyes brighten again with relief and he let out a soft sigh, biting his lip nervously. "I, we, couldn't tell you before, it'd destroy everything he'd worked for if people knew he loved men. I had to know I could trust you. Had to know that you wouldn't want to destroy the lives of everyone..."
"You're exagerating, love, just tell him already."
Aluraios jumped at the semi-familiar tone and the glance of disapproval Ferel sent at the bedclothes. "He has to know how serious this is."
"He swore a very strong oath, Ferel, he wouldn't have if he hadn't known you were serious. Am I right, Lord Zephyr?"
"Thank you for spoiling my surprise." Ferel muttered, his hands busy under the covers and causing a mew of annoyance from his lover, quickly soothed by a whispered word.
"My lord?" Aluraios blinked, starting to move over to the bed, but stopped at his friend's look. "Lord Dakram?"
Ferel sighed, reluctantly letting go of his partner and sitting up against the backboard, crossing his arms as he pushed the covers off the other's head with his foot. "I take it you want to explain?"
"Not if you want to, love." Lord Dakram sat up in a rustle of cloth, sending a wry glance at the fireborn before kissing the manservant's cheek almost chastely. "Please, Lord Zephyr, Aluraios, use Dak, or if you must, Dakram, Ferel is obviously deeming this as private, so let's not stand on rank." The mage-lord chuckled softly, watching the shock dawn in Aluraios's golden eyes. Resting his head on his lover's chest, he closed his eyes contentedly, "Sorry, Ferel."
A slender arm snaked around Dakram's body and the mage-lord snuggled into it as Ferel looked up from a tender smile at his lover to meet Aluraios's eyes with an almost embarrassed grin, "Honestly, Dak. Well, now you know."
Aluraios blinked, sitting down on a chair and leaning forward shaking his head in amazement, "How long?"
Ferel shrugged, "Almost two years now, we knew each other before he took over the Holm, and I was the only person he knew here at first." His hands idly played in Dakram's hair as he spoke, causing the other to lean against him and flick his tongue out to carress Ferel's skin. "Dak, this is private, but not that private."
"He walked in on us in bed, I don't think he'd be shocked by much else. And you let him walk in on us."
"I didn't think you'd mind." Ferel murmured, closing his eyes as Dakram traced a light path with his lips over his chest.
"You had to stop, though." The quiet reply was husky.
Ferel's lips thinned slightly in annoyance, "Dakram, stop it now, I need to explain the situation to 'Rios."
"Oh, don't mind me," Aluraios's soft chuckle earned him an glare from both the lovers, and he shrugged casually, "You're right, you can't shock me any further." He clamped down on his sudden urge to pinch himself awake. Lord Dakram is Ferel's lover? No wonder he was upset... And why the hell is Lord Dakram obeying Ferel?
"I suppose I owe you an apology." The words were uncomfortable to say, he hated apologising, but for once guilt ran over natural arrogance, leaving it lying forgotten in the dust.
Ferel shook his head, "You weren't to know, 'Rios. No one else knows. You can imagine what'd happen if the priests ever found out about," his voice trailed off, the tableau saying everything. A smile quirked at his lips, "Especially if they found out about who's the Lord."
"Not that he has anything to do with running the lands or Holm." Dakram inserted before Aluraios could ask, "It's the one major rule we have, I am the Lord of the Holm," a slight blush tinged the masculine face, old against Ferel's sixteen years, "It's just Ferel's the lord of my heart."
The fireborn grinned at the answer to his unspoken question, hundreds of others bubbling up to take it's place. "So, any other interesting rules or habits you have?" A teasing note entered his voice, "For instance, weren't you in the middle of something when I walked in?"
"And you'll have to walk out before we finish it." Dakram muttered with a small smile, "There's some things I won't do with an audience."
"Not even if I asked it of you?" Ferel's voice was a soft carress as Dakram lifted his eyes to him, "Not even then, love?"
Dakram turned his face into his partner's shoulder. "Maybe then." The words were equally soft.
"I won't, don't worry, Dak." Ferel reassured the mage-lord, looking back up at Aluraios. "Sorry, 'Rios, no show today."
White hair covered Aluraios's face as he bowed his head in a pout, "And I was hoping I could join in." He lifted his head at their laughter with a grin which turned puzzled as he looked at the pair, something about them tugging at his memories of home.
The glance between them kicked it forward into his mind, and his eyes widened, the realisation making him feel stupid for not having noticed it in their embrace, their instinctive answering of the other as if they didn't need words, and easy comfort with each other. "You're lifemated aren't you?" he said flatly, his eyes dancing in amusement. "I didn't realise it happened outside sunfolk."
"It's rare, but it does happen." Dakram was almost apologetic as he lifted his head slightly to meet the fireborn's eyes. "Not in the same way as I believe sunfolk lifemate, but, yes, we're lifemated." The look of love on his face as he rested his head back on the slim shoulder only emphasized the now obvious fact. "Is it really that obvious?"
"I doubt anyone but a sunperson would notice it. And as I'm sure Ferel's told you, we're not exactly strict when it comes to sexual practices."
"I'd noticed." Dak replied wryly.
Ferel let out a deep breath, "Well, now you know." he repeated, biting his lip, "I hope you can understand..."
"Why you had to keep it from me?" Aluraios nodded, cutting his friend off, "Don't worry, I understand, though I'd like to know the whole story at some point. But I think Dakram has a certain point he'd like you to make first." He added lewdly, raising his eyebrows suggestively as he stood up, moving towards the door. "No wonder you said he wouldn't complain, Ferel."
"Ferel?"
"Never mind, Dak," Ferel stopped the question with a deep kiss, "I'll see you tomorrow, 'Rios."
Aluraios let himself out at the obvious dismissal, looking over his shoulder as the pair drew each other down to the bed with renewed enthusiam. Even without the oath I'd keep their secret, he thought with a minor surprise, turning towards the fire to transform back into his white hawk form. Nothing would be worth breaking their eggshell peace. With an unelegant flap of his wings he was airborn, wincing angrily at the darkness outside the window where the moon was just rising.
Although I could be tempted to kill Ferel for making me fly at night if his lover wasn't a mage-lord.
© Clare Selley 2009
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