Disclaimer: My characters. My story. My stuff. Me own everyt'ing! Yay!
A/N: This story was an assignment from Ladybug Oblivion. She wanted a shonen-ai original. This is it.
Only one small group was kept apart of the festivities. The Royal Family was confined to a small dais a full story above the crowd and yet above them, perched atop a wooden platform affixed to the very top of six one-hundred-fifty foot glass poles, sat the cause of the celebration.
Prince Crimson tried his very hardest not to look down and to sip from his glass goblet without choking. The water was tepid from a long day in the sun and did nothing to ease his dry throat. Or his fear.
This wasn't the way he'd intended to spend any day of his life, not to mention his eighteenth birthday. Teetering a full thirteen stories above an adoring crowd may have seemed a dream come true to some, but even without adding in the eighteen hours of baking sun and only one moderate-sized glass of water, it certainly wasn't to the acrophobic son of the current queen of Tears.
Tears. How appropriate the name of his kingdom was. Tears, the symbol of pain, sadness and fear. Okay and joy, but that just didn't seem relevant at the moment. Fear and pain... Yes, that's what a tear represents.
Crimson looked down at the setting sun. Dear God, he prayed, squeezing his eyes painfully shut and not for the first time that long day. Please, God, let me live through the next hour. Please, allow my feet to grace the Earth one more time. And then, if you feel the need to strike me down for such a petty request I'll harbor no ill will or regret. Feet on ground, please. He peeped an eye open for a split second. Pleasepleasepleasepleaseplease. Thank you.
"That's not empathy," whispered back the body builder like aide standing at attention just outside the window. "Those glass beams are shaking like a sapling in a whirlwind. That kid is terrified."
"It's nearly sundown. When they bring him down for his 'Fate' maybe I can convince them to allow his feet to remain firmly planted on the ground."
The aide smiled, but said in a serious tone, "Don't deviate from the plan. This family has used the Seer for more generations than I can count on both your and my fingers and toes. You see that old skeleton at the foot of the table? That's great, great, great grandpa. He's seen this routine a few times before."
"I won't mess up."
"You'd better not, Aura, or I'll sic Rondol on you."
"Rondol One or Rondol Two?"
"Keep this up and it'll be both."
A chuckle, then, "You are a mean one, aren't you?"
Crimson clutched at the arms of the psuedo throne as he fell. He force calmed his breathing, resolutely telling his mind that he would not crash into the earth in a bloody, spectacular mess. Years of training kicked in at once, pushing his panic to the farthest recesses of his psyche as it could manage. It was the old adage, "Never let them see you sweat," that finally settled his expression. By the time he rejoined his mother planet, his outward appearance was of a completely calm individual. The facts that he was sunburned to a crisp, dehydrated beyond what was humane and still scared out of his rightful mind, were unapparent in the noble, charismatic prince that stood before his Lady Mother.
The Queen of Tears smiled at her eldest child. "Crimson, son of my blood," her voice was pitched to carry to the edges of the crowd. "Tonight you become a man. Tonight you learn of your Fate as your father did before you and his father did before him." She turned her azure gaze to the center of the gathering. "Tonight your destiny will be spoken aloud for the entire kingdom to hear. Welcome your guest."
Crimson stepped in front of his Queen, symbolically replacing her authority. "I, Prince Crimson, son of Tears, welcome You, Seer of Fate."
At just that moment a silver and diamond-studded palanquin parted from the crowd, halting in a patch of green below the stairs leading up to the Royal dais.
One impossibly pale bare foot emerged from the folds of the palanquin's white silk draperies. It was followed by another of those impossibly pale feet, then legs, arms and at the last possible moment a pair of eyes the color of the finest amethyst. It was as if the Seer was born of the snowy silk. The illusion was enhanced by the Seer's dress. She was clothed in more of the flowing white silk. Though the silk billowed in a slight breeze it was clasped at her throat and hips by thin bands of silver and a veil concealed her face, save the glowing jewel-tone eyes.
With as much silk as there was flowering around the Seer, Crimson couldn't imagine how it was possible to reveal so much skin, but then the Seer's eyes entrapped his own.
"I am welcome," came the scripted response with a musical quality far exceeding the finest vocalist to ever perform in the palace. "You, Prince Crimson Tears, ask for a fortune?"
"No." Crimson had practiced these lines until his voice nearly bled with overuse. "I am destined for 'Fate.' I ask only that you give me a glimpse into my destiny."
"It is the Seer of Fate's duty to give you this glimpse," she sang and then held out a hand. "Come. Join me on the soil of our lives. Stand with me in the grass."
This was not part of the ritual. Crimson froze with the next line of the ceremony in his mouth, unable to look away.
She beckoned again. "Come. Join me and learn of your 'Fate'."
Crimson drifted down the stairs, as if guided by an invisible rope. As soon as the seer was near enough to touch, she spoke up.
"This is your 'Fate.' Crimson, son of Alora, son of Dannon, you will be blinded by a star of the east. It's light will burn so bright you will look at no other and sing so loudly you will hear no other. Your lungs will not accept air that is not bathed in the light of the star. The Star of the East. This is your 'Fate.'"
She slowly faded back into her silken prison. Her eyes were last to dissolve. After a moment of absolute silence, Crimson let out a breath he didn't know he had been holding.
Silence, then very quietly, "What in the living hell did I say, Cende?"
"Tell me you're joking. Please, God, tell me you're joking."
"Everything after, 'I am welcome,' is a total blank."
"That's not funny."
"No, it isn't."
"Shit."
"You said it."
Cende considered his options for a brief moment. "Were staying at the temple, instead of the palace tonight. Act sick."
"You got it, boss."
To the prince, it was nonsense. A star of the east would blind him? And tonight the toothfairy would visit his triple-great grandfather and replace all his missing teeth with those she rightfully purchased from small children. It was codswallop.
Okay, the Fate was codswallop, but he couldn't find fault in the Seer. She could lie to him all day and all night, if he was allowed to gaze into her eyes. She could spout blatant balderdash about him for all the world to hear as long as he got to hear it as well. He couldn't wipe the image of her eyes, or the sound of her graceful voice from his mind and, honestly, he didn't want to. She was perfect.
The Rondols, however, had taken the entire night in stride. The twins had managed to snag enough noble purses on both trips through the crowd to set themselves up nicely for the rest of their lives even after they ponied up the cash for the fake palanquin. Even Cende managed to lift a couple of pregnant purses, though the main goal of the con was to get the king's ransom in tribute. Strictly speaking, pocket picking was listed as a no-no on that particular night.
When all was well and done, Aura thought Cende took it rather well. Months of planning and preparing for a once in a lifetime opportunity to be sent screaming into the depths of space, all because Aura blacked out.
"Once in a lifetime. Cende really should have freaked out more," Aura muttered.
"Cende's not one to freak out." Aura jumped at the voice, but settled when Rondol One stepped into the dim lamplight. "He's already working on a replacement plan. Give him a month and goal and that man will give you gold."
"How can you replace an opportunity like that?"
"By just nibbing the original plan a little and relying on a bit of luck."
Aura was confused. "Could you be more cryptic?"
"The Royals are asking for clarification."
"And?"
"And," One began, grinning at Aura maniacally, "It looks like the beautiful Seer will get a second chance to woo some tribute out of the handsome prince."
Oh! Oooooh. "Like hell."
"You're just so purty, Miss Fate Seer."
"You've got no choice, Aura." Cende made his appearance. "The plan's on for tomorrow night. And don't blank out this time. We're counting on you."
What the hell am I doing? Why am I comparing this skinny little brat to the most perfect woman to ever live?
Why is he staring at me with that slack jaw expression? Wait a minute. What's he doing here anyway and is that really any way to treat the heir to the throne?
"Oi, kid?" Crimson snapped his fingers. "What are you doing here?"
Those beautiful amethyst eyes focused on Crimson. "Uh... Well, I..."
"Whatever it is you're planning, I suggest you take it to another kingdom before I call the guard."
The kid started. "The guard? Uh, no. That isn't necessary."
"Really?" Crimson knew he should have summoned the guard, regardless, but this kid had trouble putting an entire three-word sentence together and he was a skinny little brat. He hardly seemed a threat.
"Really." The kid seemed to be coming out of his torpor. "I could use some help, though. I'm looking for someone in charge."
Oh, really? "At midnight?"
"It's urgent."
This was getting interesting. "If it's a matter of life and death, I could probably hook you up with the prince."
"The prince? Uh, no... Wait!" The kid stepped back. "You're making fun of me, aren't you?"
Crimson allowed himself a one-sided smirk. "Don't give me stories of grave peril and all that crap. You broke into the palace. That's a capital offense. I'm calling the guard now. I suggest you run." Crimson trumpeted his hands around his mouth and took a deliberate, deep breath.
His arms were pulled down. "No, wait, please. I have some information about the Seer of Fate."
Crimson froze. The kid was still talking, but Crimson's mind couldn't comprehend anything other than the Seer of Fate. Very quietly he asked, "What happened to the Seer of Fate?"
"Happened to her?" He looked confused for a moment before continuing. "Nothing. Well, nothing's wrong with the real Seer. Haven't you been listening?"
Crimson didn't reply.
"All right. I'll start over. An imposter has replaced the Seer of Fate. The woman who is coming tomorrow night is not who she says she is."
The Seer wasn't coming back? She was replaced? "Where's the real Seer?"
"She's still on the road to her temple."
"And how, exactly, was she replaced?"
"The messenger carrying the Royal request for clarification of the Fate was tricked by a gang of thieves into believing they were the Seer's entourage. After that it is a simple matter of returning here with the Royal request."
It seemed possible. "And you? Who are you to have come across this information?"
"I'm... My name is Aura Sol and I'm a thief. The leader of the thieves who replaced the Seer tried to recruit me. I turned them down and came to warn someone at the palace about the deception."
Now, the story was beginning to be less likely. "You don't look like much, Mr. Sol, was it? Why you?"
Aura waved a hand toward his face. "My eyes are the same color as the Seer's. They wanted me to pretend to be her. With the veil and everything, they figured only her eyes would've been remembered."
"So, with only a burning sense of loyalty to the crown, you decided to do your patriotic duty and warn the Royals? Even at risk of life and limb? God, favors the righteous and all that?"
Aura's eyes fell to the floor and Crimson felt an unusual pang of disappointment over loosing the gaze. "I hadn't really thought about it that hard. Well, not the 'life and limb' part, anyway. I just thought, maybe if I could get someone to listen..."
"So, what? You want to talk to the Queen?" It came out nastier than Crimson had intended, but yielded the result he subconsciously longed for. Aura shot him a look of surprise.
"Yeah," he said sarcastically. "I want to talk to the Queen. And the Heir for that matter. In fact, rouse the whole friggin' palace."
"Fine," said Crimson. "Done."
And speaking of stupid, Cende was gonna kill Aura when he found out that Aura had gone scatterbrained at first sight of the prince. Again. Thank God the prince wasn't paranoid or Aura would have found himself in a smelly cell, clapped in chains. Or dead. There was that, too.
As it was, Aura was in a little, windowless room that smelled like it had just been scrubbed clean. He wasn't in irons, but the door was locked and he was alone.
The prince was true to his word, arousing the entire palace, including his mother, the captain of her guard, the chamberlain, and his brothers and sister. His sister was only four, but Prince Crimson did promise to rouse the entire castle.
Aura had told his story at least a million times already but he had been warned that that would be typical. They were looking for inconsistencies in his story that they wouldn't find. Cende and the twins were too good to let something like that stop their plan. Aura was given very little detail. Less detail actually made the story more plausible. Anyone who's grown up on the streets, or had to deal with street trash on a regular basis, knew the saying, "Don't witness nothin'. You live longer."
Now, Aura was awaiting his fate. Would they believe him or would they decide to give him a cozy little room for all his troubles? After all, there was the capital matter of him breaking into the palace.
The door opened on silent hinges. It was the prince. "What no brutish guard to haul me away to my death?" It was only half a joke.
The prince grinned, but it wasn't reassuring. "The messenger was questioned. From his testimony it seems your story may have some shred of truth."
"But, you don't believe me?"
"No, I don't."
"Fair enough, I guess."
The prince stepped in closer. Much closer. "Look me in the eye and tell me you're not lying."
"What?" Being ordered to look the prince in the eye made Aura very nervous, so he fixed his focus on the planks of the floor.
"Just look at me and say you're not lying and I'll believe you."
If it was possible, Aura's nerves kicked in even harder. "Why do you want me to look at you?"
Prince Crimson took a slow breath. "It didn't occur to me until just before I called the guard, even though you had already flaunted the fact. You counted on flaunting the fact. It was integral to your plan."
Aura wasn't sure where the prince was going, but it couldn't be good. His hands began to sweat. "What are you talking about?"
"I've seen your eyes before. Not eyes the same color as yours. Not eyes similar to yours. Yours. Your eyes." He took another slow breath. This one like the calm before a revelation. "And since then I've wanted nothing more than to see them again."
Aura felt himself fall and he looked up without thinking. The prince snatched up Aura's gaze, and his hands, like a treasure. "You were right," the prince began very, very quietly. "I was blinded by a star. I was blinded to everything but thoughts of you, but you are a fraud and so is the star. Why couldn't you look me in the eye and tell me you weren't lying?" He paused, waiting for a reply.
Aura swallowed hard, unsure of what the prince was getting at. He had no idea how he was supposed to respond; what the prince wanted to hear.
"It didn't matter if it was a lie. I would've believed you." With that the prince looked away, severing the connection and disappeared through the door.
Aura was released with a stern warning about what would happen to him if he were ever located on the palace grounds again. The threat involved a block of wood and a really sharp ax. Crimson watched him leave, though he couldn't shake the feeling that he was suffocating. He just clung to the windowsill, gasping for air and watching Aura dissolve into the crowd.
Cende was less than entirely calm over Aura's second failure. "Tell me again," he said from behind splayed fingers, "What happened?"
"The prince identified him. No use whining over it, boss." Rondol Two crossed his arms and turned to Aura. "I, for one, am very glad you made it out alive, Ra. I'm sorry. I should have known Prince Crimson was prone insomnia and tended to wander that hallway at night. Don't let it get to you. I told you, One and I are willing to split our stash with you. I don't care what the boss' rules are in that regard." He glared at Cende, daring him to quote his famous, "You don't lift it. You don't spend it." Cende opened his mouth to say just that, but bit down on the old familiar line and just let it lie.
"The boss is right," said Aura lightly. "I didn't earn it."
"The hell you didn't!" This from One. "Without you we wouldn't have gotten within a hundred meters of the heart of the Trinity. You were the distraction or did you forget?"
Aura waved a hand. "It's not the same. I screwed up both times. I'm willing to accept that and any consequences that go along with the fault. Keep your swag. You've earned it."
Rondol Two shot Cende a rather nasty look, but nodded at Aura. "Fine. I won't offer again, but promise me you won't do anything stupid to make up for your supposed mistakes."
"All right. I won't." Aura managed a smile. "But who deems what's stupid?"
Two hooked a finger at his brother. "Him. One's the epitome of stupid. If he says it's okay, I'm with him."
The boss of the group finally spoke up. "Don't I get a say in the matter?"
"No!" shouted the Rondols in unison, before One turned to his brother with a grin. "What do you mean I'm the epilogue of stupid?"
So, Crimson found himself in the old council meeting chamber, seated on one of the stone benches left over from the days of the room's glory. The old council chamber was in a subbasement of the palace and only had one set of thick oak doors as an exit. And it was freezing. And the Seer was late.
"Mama, I'm cold." Scarlet clung to her mother's skirts, as the queen ruffled her daughter's raven black hair. Crimson's baby sister was the sweetest, cutest little girl to have ever been born.
The queen smiled down at her only daughter. "I know, sweetheart, but this shouldn't take too much longer."
Scarlet shivered. "But, I'm reeeally, reeeally cold."
"Hey, princess," Crimson called using the endearment, rather than a title, "C'mere." She trotted over, to be scooped onto her eldest brother's lap. He peeled off his outer jacket, wrapping it around the small girl's shoulders. "It is cold, but remember, there's hot chocolate waiting upstairs and you can have as much as you like when we're done down here."
"Then hurry! Hurry! Want chocolate!"
Crimson just grinned. "Y'know, she's got a point. I'm freezing and I can't feel my feet anymore. It's midsummer. How does it get so cold down here?"
"It's the river," Rouge spoke up. At only ten years of age, Rouge was the second youngest, but he was quite the scholar. "Did you ever notice that the river is ice cold, even in the hottest of summers? This room is literally right under the river. The near freezing temperatures of the water cool the stones of the walls."
"Doesn't matter," said Vermillion as he breathed into his cupped hands. "Someone's coming down the hall. This should be the Seer."
The family turned as one to the oak door. It opened with a creak and a young woman stepped into the room. She was wearing a simple blue cotton dress and a pair of sandals. Her white hair was pulled up into a high ponytail and she was tall with an athlete's build. She looked as if she'd just assume wrestle you as look you in the eye.
The Seer grinned and when she did her lavender eyes lit up. "First of all, I'd like to say that I'm my father's daughter, not my mother's. You expect fanfare, you can walk out of this room right now."
No one moved. They were too shocked. This woman, no girl, wasn't anything like the Seer was supposed to be. How could a seer be so brash... and so... common?
"All still here, I see. Well, then, let's get on with it." She turned to Crimson. "Hello, Your Highness."
"Uh... hello," he managed.
"Hello, Princess Scarlet," she said reaching a hand out to the little girl.
"'lo," replied the princess.
"Do you mind if I steal your brother away for a few moments? I need to put him in his place, if you know what I mean?"
The princess giggled at some inside joke and nodded at the Seer. "Okay."
"Good girl," she said, picking up the child and handing her off to Vermillion. "All right. I know Ilicia could only get this little gathering down to you guys, but I'd really like to have this discussion with just Prince Crimson. Is that at all possible?"
The queen blanched. "No. I will not allow that. We are already being much too trusting coming down here without our usual bodyguards. I can not allow you and my son to be completely alone."
"Oh," the seer said, clearly disappointed. "I guess I'll have to do this the hard way, then." She took a deep breath. "I'll begin by repeating what has already been said: You, Crimson, will be blinded by a star of the east. It's light will burn so bright you will look at no other and sing so loudly you will hear no other. Your lungs will not accept air that is not bathed in the light of the star. The Star of the East. This is your 'Fate.'"
She gestured for him to approach. Puzzled, Crimson obeyed. "How's your breathing been since this morning, your highness?" she whispered.
His mouth worked, but nothing was coming out.
"You are a fool," she continued in the same whisper before stepping back from him and addressing his family. "Here is the rest of my prediction. Crimson will not rule the Kingdom of Tears. His brother Vermillion is much more suited to the task. Hell, his brother Rouge, no offense Prince Rouge, is more suited."
"How can you say such a thing?" the queen demanded, abandoning her bench.
"I come from a long line of matchmakers. That's what the Seer of Fate is. She can predict the most suitable match for any person in the entire world. We've done a very good job of this in the past. With this power comes a certain degree of cockiness that my ancestors refused to shake. We cannot tell you if a particular person will be a great ruler. We cannot tell you how long someone will live. What we can tell you is who the person is that you cannot survive without. These are all our powers do for us."
She paused a moment to let it sink in. "But my head on the other hand, is quite capable of telling me that Prince Crimson is a lousy decision maker. He does not realize how his actions affect other people. He can't even stand on a balcony to deliver a speech without becoming dizzy." The last she put in with a light tone.
"I'm not telling you to disown him, Majesty. I'm not saying that Prince Crimson is a bad person, but he isn't any good for the crown. And I think if you ask him, he'll agree."
Crimson had come out of his shocked stupor somewhere around the time the Seer had said Rouge was better for the crown than he was, but he listened in silence. He wasn't even angry over her words. She was insulting his abilities and even made fun of his fears. He should have been angry.
But he wasn't. She was right. He was a fool.
The Seer stepped in close again. "I stayed back so that you would meet," she murmured. "And now, you have no excuse to ignore your star. Prove to me you are not a fool. And make my dear brother happy."
Crimson glared at her until she turned and left. He stared at the closed door in her wake, his brain too jumbled for coherent thought. Someone pulled his sleeve.
"Crimsee, chocolate now?"
"Then why did he let you go?" Cende sat with his fingers interlaced on the tabletop. His outwardly calm appearance betrayed by the anger screaming in his eyes.
What kind of stupid question was that? "Why would he let me go if I had told him?"
Cende unlaced his fingers and, very calmly, placed his hands palm down. "Why did the prince let you go?"
"I don't know," Aura ground out, his anger beginning to surface as well. "He started spurting some nonsense about stars and wanted me to tell him I wasn't lying. The best answer I've come up with is that he's insane."
The older man jumped. "What was that about stars?"
"Excuse me?"
"What did the prince say about stars?" His hands began to tremble against the tabletop.
"Why do you want to know about that? Is it important?" Something started to nibble at Aura's sense of safety.
"Of course it's important!" Cende slapped the table with both hands. In a liquid movement, Aura did a reverse leapfrog over the back of his chair, landing on both feet. "What did he say?!"
Aura fell into a guard position. "Stop or this conversation is over." The statement was quiet, but held a dangerous warning.
Cende blinked and then shivered, shaking off at least some of his fury. He took a couple of soothing breaths and asked again, "What did the prince say about stars?" It came out as innocent as the last had been venomous.
Aura didn't let his guard up, but he answered. "He said he was blinded by a star, but the star was a fraud and so was I."
Cende ceased trembling. In fact, he became still as stone. "And then what?"
Though it seemed the danger was over, the warning bells in Aura's head were still ringing. "He told me he would have believed me if I had lied to him and then he left. About two hours later, I was released."
The room went still all at once and the older man stood up slowly, a predator positioning himself to better mark his prey. "But that wasn't all that happened, was it?"
The bells wailed and Aura took a step back. "Yes, it was."
"What color are his eyes?" He took a step forward.
The subject change threw Aura. "What?"
"The prince's eyes. What color are they?" Another step.
The prince's eyes? "Blue, but what does-"
"How did you get close enough to him to notice his eye color?" Cende's voice rose as he moved. "How did he get close enough to notice that your eyes were the same as the Seer's? What were you doing?"
"I'm leaving, now," said Aura, backing toward the door.
"Has he kissed you?" Cende asked reaching out. "Or did you kiss him?"
Aura bolted out the door and slipped into the late morning street.
This was what the Seer had meant when she said Crimson had no excuse now to ignore his star, and so the prince found himself standing outside the quarters of visiting dignitaries.
"I'm sorry, your highness, but the Seer wishes not to be disturbed." High Priestess Ilicia frowned in either irritation or sadness. Crimson couldn't really distinguish which. "I really am sorry. Perhaps you could come back at another time."
Crimson nodded. "She's leaving tomorrow, Sister. When would be a better time?"
"In about ten years," she muttered almost unintelligibly, but then, "Try back in about an hour."
The door swung open, a grinning, gasping Fate Seer holding the door. Ilicia groaned, hiding her face in her hands. The Seer's hair was falling out of its ponytail and she had a wide smudge of dirt dividing one cheek. Her face was flushed, but her eyes sparkled with mischief. "C'mon in, your highness. What can I do you for?"
The prince looked at the High Priestess, but when she just shrugged, he entered the Seer's room.
"Please, take a seat." She waved at a pile of multipatterened pillows piled in the center of the room. "Coffee? Tea?"
He held up a hand. "Uh, no."
"Right." She plopped onto the cushions in front of him. "You have questions." It was a statement but Crimson nodded anyway. "How 'bout I make you a deal? You honestly tell me what question you want answered most and I'll tell you everything you want to know."
Crimson nodded. He hadn't intended to be quite so direct, but if she wanted honesty. "There's only one thing I want to ask." He took a couple of short breaths. "Where is Aura?"
The Seer giggled. "Aw, see, you do love my brother."
Crimson hadn't expected that and his stomach churned. "Yes," he admitted, crawling to his knees and bowing his head. "Please, could you tell me where to find him?"
She was silent for a full minute before Crimson looked up. She was still smiling. "You've already been told where to find him. Now, you only have to look."
"A star of the east will blind you," he quoted. "But, how far east?" His voice began to rise in panic. "Where in the east? East tells me nothing!"
"Try the Eastern Star Tavern." She giggled again. "But that's practically cheating, don't you think?"
"The Eastern Star Tavern?" He paused for a moment, thinking. "You've been working with him, haven't you? You told him what to say at the Trinity."
Her smile faded. "No. That, he did all on his own. He is my mother's son, after all."
Crimson nodded and climbed to his feet, but was halted by a hand on his arm. "Don't mention anything about me to Aura. He doesn't know I'm his sister and I'd like to keep it that way."
"But, why?"
A terrible sadness filled the young woman. "Maybe, I'll tell you some day. But not now." She gave him a gentle shove. "Get out of here before you die of suffocation. Breathe the air my brother has blessed."
Crimson didn't need another invitation.
"So what, pray tell, was it?"
The seer turned to her most trusted advisor. "That's simple, Ilicia. The question was, 'Does he love me?'"
"And the answer?"
"I think you can figure that one out on your own."
"Alright, then," Ilicia agreed with a glint in her eye. "But do you really need to go skulking about, climbing in and out of windows at all hours of the night and day."
The seer grimaced and made a warding gesture. "I told you before, if I had half the power of my father, I wouldn't have to skulk about. And if I had half the power of my mother, I wouldn't feel the need. Blame my parents, not me."
The High Priestess softened and then used her sleeve to rub the dirt off of the seer's cheek. "Just don't accept guests when you look like a street urchin."
"Yes, mama."
"Excuse me mister but are you lost?" The question held enough concern behind it that Crimson was willing to forgive the incredulity that had slipped in. That was, until he located the speaker. The speaker was, for lack of a better word, a giant. He topped the prince's height by at least a head and a half and the prince was no shorty.
"Thanks but, no. I'm just looking for someplace that I can't find."
The giant gave a bark of laughter. "Sounds like you're lost to me, but what do I know, eh?"
Crimson really, really hated asking for directions but there was no time like the present. "You wouldn't happen to know where the Eastern Star Tavern is located?"
"Sure. That's where I 'happen' to be headed. Name's Rondol, but you can call me Two."
"I'm Red. Nice to meet you... Uh... Two?"
"Long story," the giant explained as he motioned for Crimson to follow, "And it's not far to the bar. Meeting someone, are you?"
Crimson shrugged. "Sort of... Are you always so interested in other people's business?"
This time the giant shrugged. "Not much to talk about in these parts. A nobleman meeting someone in a sketchy dive is big news."
"And I tried so hard to disguise my lineage," replied Crimson with a touch of sarcasm and then with a calculated amount of worry, "Is it really that sketchy?"
"This isn't called Shadyside, because the sun gives us nothing but shade by two o'clock. But, no, it's not that bad." Rondol spared Crimson a glance. "Who you meeting?"
"That won't work. It's none of your business."
"Can't blame a guy for trying." Crimson had to agree with that. "And this, my new friend, is The Eastern Star." He opened the door with a flourish. "Welcome."
The place was small, with a couple of long communal tables and heavy wooden benches. The lamps along the walls were already lit, though it was only just afternoon and there were a few patrons nursing mugs of distinctly foul-looking liquor. All in all it wasn't much worse than some of the places Crimson visited in the northern and western districts and was much better than a few he'd graced in the southern. "Not bad," he commented, taking a seat at the opposite end of the early drinker's table.
"Hey, One," called Rondol. "Paying guest! Not like these bums out here!" There were a couple of raised mugs and a grunt or two at the last comment from said bums, but no protest.
Crimson had a sneaking suspicion that he was about to find out why Rondol was called Two and that he wasn't going to like the answer much. When a second giant, this one identical to the first, emerged from the kitchen, his suspicions were confirmed.
"Mr. Red, this is my brother Rondol. Rondol, this is Mr. Red."
The new Rondol wiped his hands on a towel and beamed down at his new customer. "Just call me One, Mr. Red. What can I get ya?"
"Do you know anyone by the name of Aura Sol?"
The brothers paused, faces going rigid. "Anyone that can't pay their full tab right now, out," ordered Two. The drinkers grumbled, but finished their beers in a gulp and got up to leave. "And take your crap with you, Samm. I ain't your mother." Samm, a skinny young man who looked too young to be drinking at three in the afternoon, snatched his pile of belongings and hit the door on the way out. Rondol One threw the lock behind the boy and turned on Crimson.
"What do you want with Au, Prince Crimson?" This was from One.
Crimson was pole axed. Not only did they identify him but, from the nickname One used it was obvious they also knew Aura personally.
"Don't look so surprised," offered Two. "'Red' doesn't make a good alias for someone whose name is Crimson. And One got a pretty good look at you at the Trinity."
Crimson closed his mouth, straightening his shoulders. "Do you know where he is?"
One crossed his arms. It was just as menacing as he meant it to be. "What do you want with him? You pissed he lost you the crown?"
Crimson decided that in this situation, standing might be a tad more efficient than sitting and climbed off the bench. "That's not it at all. I just need to talk to him."
Two cracked his knuckles and then joined his brother in the bouncer arm cross. Double the menace, double the fun. "You pissed the charges were dropped against him?"
"No."
In unison, the twins took a step forward. "Then what?" One's voice was rising.
"What do you want with him?" So was his brother's.
"I just want to talk."
Another step, another decibel. "About what?"
"It's not your concern." Crimson's tone was being driven up in response.
"It is our concern." One more step put them in Crimson's face. "You're not getting near our little Ra, unless we allow it."
Our little Ra? So, that was it. "I mean him no harm," he said quietly. "He was so close. So close and I drove him away. I need to... talk to him. To apologize." Crimson knew he was saying too much, but he couldn't get his mouth to close.
"Apologize for what? What did you do to him?"
"You were there, the night of the Trinity?"
The brothers looked at each other and then to Crimson and nodded. Crimson couldn't look them in the eyes, so he picked a spot on Rondol One's shoe. "To me he was like a shining star. I could not look away. I could hear nothing but his lyrical voice. When he spoke of the Star of the East, he spoke of himself. Aura is my Eastern Star."
Yep. He said too much. Damn it.
"You see the thing with little Au is," began one of the twins.
"He can't seem to stop talking about you, either," finished the other.
Crimson looked up. The brothers were grinning. "Keeps acting like he's all pissed off."
"But then he just keeps yakking."
"Crimson, Crimson, Crimson," they finished together, giving Crimson some breathing space.
He never dreamed that the one person he trusted most would turn on him in such a fashion. It was obvious now, even if it wasn't that morning, that Cende thought of Aura as more than a friend. The older man had never mentioned anything of the sort before and Aura would have preferred to learn about his friend's feelings in a manner other than the scene of unadulterated jealousy he'd just been forced to experience.
Cende really was jealous. Why was that?
It wasn't like the prince was any threat. He's a prince, for goddsake. Aura would never mean anything more to a guy like that than a particularly disgusting roach.
Why was that thought so painful? Why was it that every time Aura closed his eyes he remembered the look of desperation turned anger in Prince Crimson's cerulean eyes and why could he still feel the warmth of Crimson's hands.
"Cende's right," Aura mumbled grasping his hands to his chest. "Why do I know what color your eyes are? Why did you remember mine? What did you want to hear me say?" It all came down to what was said on the night of the Trinity. Aura knew this, and yet the words were still a mystery. No one had told him what he had said.
Aura's mind ceased its meandering. Though the sky still had an orange glow the sun was down. It was Saturday and he was late for his shift at the Star. Rondol was gonna kill him.
When he tried to protest, one of them pounded on the door. "Stay in there. We'll come get you when Ra gets here." Pound. Pound. "And be quiet."
That was it. There were no honest threats, no promises of what would happen to him if he didn't listen. There was also no way out. The door was too thick and the lock too well made for Crimson to hope he'd find a way out, so finally he faced his prison. It was someone's bedroom. The tidy room was too well kept for it to be a spare and though it was stark there were a few too many personal items lying about for it to not belong to someone. The bed was nothing more than a straw stuffed mattress with a heavy-woven blanket as a spread. There was a single lamp sitting on the top of a small wooden chest and leaning next to the chest was some sort of instrument case.
The instrument reminded Crimson of Aura's voice at the Trinity.
"I get it," he muttered. "So you are a musician. Nice room." He chuckled.
"Au,
2 'n' I are taking the night off. Thought we'd celebrate after last week's haul so the place is all yours for the night.
Rond1"
Aura shrugged and let himself in. He couldn't recall the last time the twins had taken a night off or the last time the Star had been so quiet. There was usually someone drinking at any given hour and the twins were always around making a racket. Tonight the bar was empty, silent and dark. Actually, it kind of fit his mood.
He made his way up to his room. Light seeping under the door indicated that the lamp inside was lit. Aura crouched down, pissed off. The Rondols were known to play a prank or two, but this was the first time they invaded his room. That was crossing the line. He seethed. Today had just been one long fucked up charade. First, with Cende and now with this.
That was all he could take. If the Rondols wanted a surprise, they would get a surprise. His foot up both of their overgrown asses.
Aura threw the door open and barged in. And was stunned into near stupidity.
On the floor next to Aura's bed slept Prince Crimson. He was leaning on the clothing chest, using his arm as a pillow. It looked extremely uncomfortable.
The shock wore off enough for Aura to close the two steps between the prince and him. He fell to his knees.
Why are you here? He reached a hand out, only to pull it back when he noticed it quaking. How did you get here?
In his sleep, the prince took a deep breath and then snuggled into his arm. Is it really you?
Something splashed on Aura's legs. He put his fingers to his face and they came back wet. "What is this?" he whispered.
"What is this?" asked a distressed, melodic voice.
That was everything Crimson needed to remind him of where he was. He opened his eyes.
Aura sat just inches away, crying and examining his fingers. The tears knocked everything Crimson had planned on saying out of his head. Instead he grabbed hold of his star and kissed him. Aura stiffened at the embrace, but after a moment leaned into it.
After another moment, Aura pushed himself harshly away. "What are you doing?"
Crimson fell back, only then realizing what he had done. Aura pulled away. "Wait! I'm sorry!"
They were both on their feet and Aura had his back pressed into the corner of the room furthest from the prince. "What do you want from me?"
Crimson thought quickly. If he said that what he wanted was Aura, he knew it would get misinterpreted in some grossly obscene way, so he chose his words carefully. "Just then, I only wanted you to stop crying."
"And the best way to stop me from crying was to- was to-" He covered his mouth with one hand while he shook a pointed finger at Crimson frantically.
"I'm sorry." Crimson wanted to go to Aura, wanted to hold him, but he restrained himself. "That was an accident."
Aura let his arm drop and paused for a few seconds. "And before..." There was a deject sadness in his tone. "In the palace... What did you want from me then? What did you want me to say?"
Crimson caught Aura's gaze. "On the first night I met you, you gave me a message. You told me that the only person I would ever love, I would love so exclusively that aside from them I would ignore the entire world; that I would have no choice but to ignore the world, because I would be able to think of no one else. My devotion would be so great I wouldn't even be able to breathe without this person in the same room as me.
"My life was altered the night I met you, the night I looked into your eyes and fell in love with the star within them. What I wanted you to say that night in the palace was that you would stay with me." Tears glazed over Crimson's vision, but he refused to blink them back. Breaking the sought after contact would have been unforgivable. "I think only of you. I breathe only for you. I love you."
Aura was quiet for a long minute. "Is that really what I said?" he asked through both hands.
Crimson could read the need for reassurance in Aura's posture. "Well, not in so many words. And you referred to my true love as a star from the east, but yeah, that's what you told me."
"I couldn't remember," he explained, eyes filling up again. "I couldn't remember and I knew it was important." He slid down the wall. "A star from the east? Not very clever, am I?"
"I think you're perfect." Crimson squatted down and softly wiped the tears from Aura's cheeks.
"You say you fell in love with me at the Trinity. You love a fantasy, a psychic woman who doesn't exist." Aura pasted his lips together as if he'd said too much.
Crimson smiled, gently taking Aura's hand. "I told you, I fell in love with what was inside you. The package was outstanding, don't get me wrong on that, but I love you. You, the beautiful prophet that changed my life. You, the thief who, against all odds, managed to break into the palace. You, the con artist that swindled me not out of money but out of my heart. I love you, Aura Sol."
"You can't love me. You're the prince."
"Your ears must not be working too well," Crimson said with a light-hearted chuckle. "I don't care about anything but you. My title means nothing. Don't you understand that you are the very air that I breathe?"
Aura's grip contracted. "You really do love me? When I stepped through the door and saw you I thought I was dreaming or that I'd gone mad. I haven't been able to stop thinking about you and it made me so angry."
Crimson's heart thumped hard enough to make it crack. Did Aura hate him? "Thinking about me made you angry?"
"Yeah, because I couldn't stop and I couldn't figure out why I couldn't stop. I just kept seeing your cold expression casting me out, tossing me aside and I felt so lonely. Feeling lonely pisses me off. Can't help it. Bad character trait."
"I'm sorry. I shouldn't have treated you that way. That time I was feeling rejected and I get pissed off when I don't get my way. Spoiled rotten prince. Comes with the territory."
"Spoiled rotten," Aura echoed with amusement, a smile brightening his already beautiful face. "Maybe you need to be rejected more often."
"Maybe I could be less selfish in other areas?" the prince offered, happiness lending a breathless tone to his words.
"Maybe you could prove to me that you aren't lying?"
"How do you suggest I do that?"
Aura closed his eyes. "Kiss me again."
Crimson leaned in next to Aura's lips. "Tell me you love me and I will."
Aura cracked an eye open. "You are a spoiled brat." And then he bridged the slight gap, giving Crimson a light kiss. "I love you."
"Thank you," he replied taking Aura into his arms at last.
The End