Topic: An Implied Promise

Ariana

Date: 2014-05-10 09:16 EST
Three days passed in relative comfort for Prince Adare and his squire, despite the knowledge that the Usurper and her daughter still remained in the citadel. Adare pleaded weakness lingering from his beating and injury on the training ground with gleeful delight, saving himself and Rory from having anything to do with Velasca or Valeyna for a good couple of days, during which the boys read and played, and generally just grew more comfortable in one another's company. But they couldn't avoid bidding the Usurper farewell and safe journey on the steps to the citadel on the day she left, however much they might have wanted to. So there they stood, beneath the baking hot summer sun, waiting as patiently as they could while Valeyna fussed and generally tested the patience of even her own mother before declaring herself ready to leave.

The Usurper and her daughter couldn't leave Phalion soon enough for Rory. He had tried to focus his attention on Adare, but as the day for Velasca's expected departure drew nearer, Rory found himself growing even more excited and impatient for the rebels' arrival at Phalion.

Phalion's guard were out in force, lining the square to keep back the people of the city itself, who looked on in quiet disapproval and hatred of the Usurper and her pets. Velasca herself was already seated on her horse, having taken her leave of Adare what seemed hours before. Now it was Valeyna's turn, and even she knew not to make a scene in a place where the loyal people outnumbered her mother's guards quite significantly.

She mounted the steps to stand before Adare, her eyes seething with fury still for the cut that had been laid upon her by the squire who stood at his side. "Farewell, Prince Adare," she managed, just barely managing to be civil. "I look forward to your coming to Loscar, and our marriage."

Adare smiled, somehow managing to make the expression seem totally genuine as he bowed to his hated betrothed. "It has been Phalion's honor to receive you, princess," he said, his voice carrying across the quiet square. "Allow me to present you with a small gift - a sign of my esteem for you. A memento, to remember me by until we meet again."

He glanced to Rory, who was holding the beautiful bouquet he had asked Mila to create that morning. As his eyes met those of his squire, absolute impish mischief sparkled there for a moment. The prince was up to something.

Rory gave Valeyna a half bow as he presented the bouquet in his gloved hands. As cordially polite as he was required to be in public, there was no smile on his face, no warmth of affection in his eyes for the queen's daughter. There was no secret the pair despised each other and as far as Rory was concerned, the sooner she left, the better. He inwardly scoffed at the pleasantries that were exchanged between Adare and Valeyna, secretly vowing to never let the marriage come to pass, if it killed him. "Safe journey to you, princess," Rory somehow managed, though he didn't mean it.

Valeyna, true to form, completely ignored Rory's pleasant farewell, choosing instead to make some vague attempt at building a bridge with Adare. Evidently someone had pointed out to her that she was going to have to stop trying to hurt the boy, or he'd never give her a daughter. She took the bouquet in her hands, offering a wide smile to Adare, and for a moment, her beauty was such that it could have taken his breath away. She seemed genuinely touched by such a feminine gift. "Thank you, my prince," she told him, in a voice very unlike the usual sullen aggression she normally employed, raising the bouquet to her face to inhale the scent.

Adare inclined his head, not trusting himself to speak as his lips tightened, trying not to laugh at the enthusiasm with which Valeyna had just inserted her face into a bouquet of poison ivy. "I expect to see you soon, princess," he managed finally, watching her walk down to her horse and mount up, the bouquet still in her hands. Even from here, he could see the redness beginning to make itself known on her nose and cheeks. "May the Nine guide you safely home."

It was taking all of Rory's self control not to utter an insult, gritting his teeth to keep his own mouth shut. Not even the rash that was already blooming on the princess' cheeks could make him smile. It was small retribution for everything Valeyna had put Adare through. He noticed how the princess ignored him, knowing her niceties were nothing more than an act for the sake of those watching. Adare would never marry her, would never give her a daughter - even if he wanted to, it was impossible, and if nothing else, that gave Rory a feeling of inner triumph.

"May They watch over you and your people." They were just ritual words, but from Velasca's mouth, they sounded even more false than usual. She gave the signal for her people to move off, every eye in Phalion fixed on them as soldiers, courtiers, and servants began the trek back to Loscar - a journey of at least a month with so many. Adare's last glimpse of Valeyna made him grin widely - the usurper princess was scratching feverishly at her face and hands, and still holding onto the "gift" he had given her.

When, at last, the city gates closed behind the company and the people were released to go about their business, he burst out laughing, sitting down on the steps of the citadel as tears of laughter leaked from his eyes. "A token of my esteem!" he howled, delighted with the prank. "And she fell for that!"

"You're lucky she won't realize what happened until she's too far away to do anything about it," Rory remarked, seeing the humor in it, but worried it might still come back to bite Adare in the ass somehow. He carefully pulled the gloves from his hands and handed them to a servant who had instructions to burn them. Despite his worries, he couldn't help but smile at Adare's infectious laughter, bowing to Adare in a mocking imitation of Valeyna and taking the other boy's hand. "I look forward to our marriage, my prince," he mimicked, raising the pitch of his voice to imitate Velasca.

The sight of their prince laughing like a drain now the oppression had been lifted seemed to be spreading smiles through the to and fro bustle of the city settling back into accustomed routine. Adare groaned, spluttering with yet more laughter as Rory mimicked his betrothed. "Oh gods, can you imagine what she looks like under that armor?" he declared, aghast by the very thought. Girls had never interested him much, if at all, but the prospect of having to be that interested in Valeyna was horrifying. "Like a bear mated with a fish, probably."

Ariana

Date: 2014-05-10 09:17 EST
As tempting as it was to tell Adare what was going to take place in the not-too-distant future, Rory had the wisdom to keep it to himself. The false queen and her daughter might have left the city, but he didn't trust her not to have spies planted in the city, and he couldn't risk them overhearing. Rory adjusted the sword at his hip and dropped down beside Adare, feeling a little relieved now that they'd left but still wary. "Now that they've gone, what would you like to do today, my prince?"

Adare leaned back on his elbows as he puffed, trying to regain control over his laughter before he really embarrassed himself. Rory's question, however, brought up an intention that had been lurking at the back of his mind since they had met. His expression sobered as he looked over at his squire. "How do you feel about riding out of the city a little way?" he asked curiously. "There's somewhere I'd like you to see."

"So long as it's not in the same direction they're going," Rory replied, agreeing whole-heartedly, so long as Adare was safe. After being cooped up for three days in wait for the queen's departure, he thought a ride and a little fresh air would do them both good.

"Oh, it isn't," Adare assured him. "We'll take the west gate. It isn't far." He moved to stand, offering his hand to pull Rory up before mounting the steps to enter the main courtyard of the citadel proper, turning toward the stables. "I should warn you, horses don't seem too comfortable around me. I hope you have a good seat."

Rory took the proffered hand and pulled himself to his feet. He was feeling more and more comfortable in Adare's presence every day, like they were old friends or maybe even brothers, though Rory knew nothing could be farther from the truth. He didn't want to think what might happen when the blood moon came, but it seemed to be forever looming somewhere in the back of his head. "It's the ghost, Adare," Rory explained, unsure if that was really the reason or not. Animals weren't so easily fooled by magic as humans were, or so Rory thought.

"Maybe," Adare shrugged, leading the way across the courtyard toward the stables. "He doesn't really show himself very often, though." With the departure of their unwelcome guests, the citadel had become a vibrant place, filled with the sound of people going about their business with chatter and laughter. A very different place to the somber, silent citadel it had been just a few hours ago. It was easier now to see the affection shared between Adare and his people, and of course, now Rory knew the prince for himself. It was plain to see just why no one wanted any harm to come to Adare at all.

Rory realized this was what the citadel would always be like if Velasca were not on the throne. It was a very different place, and he wondered what things were like before Adare's parents had been killed, before Velasca had seized power. He had been just a baby at the time and had no memory of it, but his father had told him a little. "My father told me what things were like before..." He trailed off a moment, not wanting to mention Adare's parents' deaths. "Before Velasca. He said the people loved your mother. I don't understand how everyone let this happen."

Adare was quiet for a moment, regretting never having known his parents in that instant before turning his thoughts to actually answering the question. "The wizards," he said simply. "I had to study it; Dalan said I should know how it had happened. The wizards are renegade priests who were taught by Skarran sorcerers. Their power is demonic, it doesn't come from the gods. They overwhelmed everyone. A soldier takes orders from his commander, and most soldiers just wanted to protect their families, so they obeyed. The old houses that stood against Velasca - most of them were destroyed, or they went into hiding with the rebels. The houses that supported her did so because she promised them riches, and they got them. Politics and power, and the ordinary people can't stand against that. And my mother was pregnant with me, so she couldn't rally an army to fight back. It's my fault, really."

"The First Blade told me a little," Rory admitted, though he did not share the details of what Shaye had told him or of the First Blade's plans. He frowned as the prince took the blame onto himself, just because his mother had been with child at the time. "It's not your fault, Adare. Your parents couldn't have known what would happen. Velasca must have been planning it for years." How ironic, that the rebels had been doing the same thing in their own right.

Adare shook his head, a brave little smile on his face suggesting that he didn't mind taking responsibility for the downfall of their country, believing it was all he could really do, anyway. He paused at the door of the stable, wincing as the horses began their familiar restless whickering at his presence. "It's done now," he said quietly. "All I can do is try and make things better, however I can."

Rory halted in the doorway, that frown still on his face. He wasn't sure how much he could or should tell his friend while they were still in the citadel. He had to assume Velasca's spies were everywhere, even if Velasca herself had left the citadel. "Adare, things will get better. You have to trust me on this," he told the young prince as they paused in the doorway.

"They already have," the young prince said quietly. "You're here." His grin was a little shy, his face was a little flushed, and a moment later, he'd ducked into the stable ahead of Rory, embarrassed by himself. He knew he was fonder of his friend than he should be, that boys didn't generally feel this strongly about each other. Truth was, he cared more about Rory than he had about any girl he'd ever been introduced to. Did that make him even more of a freak"

Was that a blush Rory had seen on Adare's face, and if so why, why was he blushing" Rory puzzled over that a moment as he followed the prince who was really a princess into the stable. As if his own feelings weren't confusing enough, now he was puzzled over Adare's. As he stepped into the stables, the horses seemed to react to his presence, just as they had to Adare's, but in a different way. They almost seemed to greet him as he stepped inside, but it was more a feeling than anything else, as if for his understanding alone.

The stablehands were already moving to saddle and bridle two of the horses for the prince and his squire, two beautiful mares who seemed the least affected by the prince's presence. Evidently, they had been trained extensively, but they were still uneasy. Adare kept his distance, not wanting to upset the process, though his eyes turned curiously toward Rory when the horses, as one, looked to the other boy.

Ariana

Date: 2014-05-10 09:18 EST
The horses' reaction to him wasn't anything unusual to Rory. He had always been good with animals, horses in particular, and it wasn't just because he was a farrier's son. His father had said it was because of his mother, but Rory wasn't really sure what was so different about him or how it all worked. He only knew that somehow he seemed to understand animals better than most people and could even sometimes make them understand him. "They're afraid of you a little," he told the other boy quietly, as if it was the most natural thing in the world for him to know this.

"I'm a little afraid of them," Adare admitted from where he remained lingering by the door, watching as his own mare was walked out of her stall and toward him. The horse got to within about six feet of the prince, and sudden reared up, releasing a wild, panicked whinny as she seemed to realize who was going to be riding her. Adare shrank back against the wall, looking as though he was regretting having suggested a ride at all.

More than a little, it seemed. Rory's eyes widened as the mare reared up, nearly breaking from the stablehand who was trying to keep a hold on her. Without much thought or regard for his own safety, he stepped between the horse and the prince, moving to take hold the reins. "Whoa, girl. Easy," he spoke to the mare in a gentle voice, careful not to get in her way so that he didn't get kicked.

She bounced once or twice on her hooves, skittish and unhappy, only to find herself caught by a boy she'd not encountered before, a boy who seemed to know what the problem was. The tone of Rory's voice caught the mare's attention, her rolling eyes turning away from the prince to look at the boy trying to calm her down as she shook her head awkwardly.

"It's all right," he told the mare gently, as he stroked her mane in an attempt to calm her, letting her look at him, feel his presence, focus on him instead of on Adare for a moment. Once she had calmed down a little and he was no longer worried about getting kicked, he came around in front of her and took hold of her head, one hand on her nose and one beneath her mouth so that he could look almost directly into her eyes. "Don't be afraid. No one is going to harm you."

Hot breath blasted against his chest beneath the gentle press of his hand above the mare's nostrils as she leaned her head down for him, focused entirely on this boy who somehow knew exactly how to touch her, exactly how to speak to her. This boy, whom she had never met before, who made her feel safe in the presence of something incredibly unnatural.

He could not explain to the horse directly in so many words what it was that was different about Adare, unsure if it was the ghost that was spooking her or the illusion that hid the princess' true form. The ghost of Adare's brother wasn't making himself known right now, and so Rory had to assume it was the spell, though he didn't know for sure. Looking into the horse's eyes, he opened his mind to the beast, seeking a connection without words but only with thoughts and images.

How possible is it for a simple creature to understand that what they see is only an illusion' Can they really be persuaded to pay attention only to their other senses, to their sense of smell, to their instincts" Caught up in a melee of images and thoughts Rory opened to her, the mare seemed to understand. The panic calmed, the sense of insecurity went away. She blinked, whickering softly as she nudged her head against Rory fondly. She understood.

"Adare," Rory called, once he seemed to have made a connection and gained both the mare's trust and understanding. "Come here. Let her smell you and see that you mean her no harm. She won't hurt you." He held out a hand to Adare to draw him over, as he stroked his fingers through the mare's mane. "Her name is Fara," he said without anyone having told him.

Adare, who had been watching all this with wide, disbelieving eyes from the wall, edged closer as Rory called to him, surprised when his friend named the mare without anyone sharing the name. "Yes," he said in amazement. "I-I named her for my father. She's never liked me much."

"It's not you she doesn't like," Rory said, though he didn't explain further. "Give me your hand," he said, still holding out a hand to Adare, hoping to make peace between the horse and the boy who wasn't really a boy.

"You'll get hurt when she rears up," Adare warned his friend, but there was enough trust there for him to move close enough that Rory could take his hand. He eyed Fara warily, shocked to find that the mare was actually looking right at him for the first time in his life.

"She won't rear up," Rory said, drawing Adare closer. "Hold out your hand to her. Let her look you over," he instructed, staying right there beside both horse and boy, just in case one or the other got spooked again. "Talk to her. Tell her your name."

Hesitantly, Adare raised his hand to the mare, who butted against his palm with her nose as she looked down at him. For a moment, her eyes rolled wildly once again, seeing a boy but smelling something quite different, before Rory's reasoning swept through her simple mind once again. "H-hello, Fara," Adare attempted, shy and worried he was going to upset the creature again. "We haven't really talked before. You don't like me very much, but I like you. I-I named you in honor of my father. He was a very good man."

And while Adare said the words, it was the images in Rory's mind that translated those words into something the mare might be able to understand, at least to a small degree. He closed his eyes, summoning up the image of the girl that he'd seen when he'd asked the gods for healing, mentally passing that image on to the horse in hopes she'd understand that this was Adare's true image, not the illusion she saw before her.

The prince jumped as the mare blew hot through her nose, ruffling his hair with her breath as she sniffed him curiously. And quite suddenly, she took a single step forward and gently bumped her head against Adare's shoulder. The young prince actually laughed softly, astonished, rubbing his hand up and down the straight nose that leaned into his hand. He looked to Rory in awe. "That is amazing," he said, genuinely impressed. "How did you do that?"

Ariana

Date: 2014-05-10 09:19 EST
Rory smiled upon seeing the horse finally accept and even greet the boy, able to sense the true form that was hidden beneath the illusion, even if Rory could not. "I don't know. It's just something I've always been able to do." He frowned a moment, knowing it had something to do with his mother, but this was not the time or the place to explain that, not with the stablehands looking on. "Do you still want to ride" I don't think she'll hurt you now."

For a moment, Adare was a child again, transported to a place where everyone could do magical things. He closed his eyes, leaning his forehead against the mare's nose as she leaned into him, affectionate even with a creature that had injured him on more than one occasion. At Rory's query, he opened his eyes with a faint smile. "Yes, I still want to ride," he nodded. "I still have something to show you."

Rory wasn't sure what the prince wanted to show him, but he was anxious to go for a ride, to get away from the hustle and bustle of the citadel for a little while. "You don't need an escort?" he asked curiously, not quite realizing that he was Adare's escort.

Adare tore his eyes from the mare who was nudging him still, looking over at Rory with amused confusion. "Well, yes, of course I do," he nodded, his smile lighting up his face. "You are coming with me, aren't you?"

"Yes, but..." Rory trailed off, flushing a little with embarrassment. Though he had risked his life for Adare at least once against Valeyna's cruelty, he didn't really think of himself as a soldier or a bodyguard or even a squire. He thought of himself as more of a friend. Then again, with Velasca away from Phalion, Rory thought there were few left in the citadel who might wish him harm.

The prince's smile was more encouraging than mocking as he reached out to clap Rory's arm in a robust manner. "We're not going far," he promised in a cheerful voice. "Besides, no one goes there any more. No one but me."

Rory would have asked where they were going, but the stablehands were still lingering about, and he wasn't sure Adare wanted to share that information with anyone but Rory. The mare reminded Rory with a nudge of her head that if they should get on with it, and he blinked out of his thoughts and back to Adare. "Let me help you up," he said, stepping forward to give the smaller boy a boost onto the mare's back, if he needed it.

As much as Adare might have wanted to prove he could do this, he was very small for his age. At least, very small for a boy of his age. With Rory's help, he swung his leg over the mare's back, taking up the reins with slightly shaky hands as she tossed her head, the nerves radiating from the young prince as he surveyed the world from horseback.

Rory remained close while Adare climbed up onto the mare's back and made himself comfortable, smoothing a hand against the mare's side and offering her a little comfort. "Take a few deep breaths and try to relax. She can sense your nervousness," he instructed the prince.

"Usually by now she's got at least one of the stablehands pinned against a wall while trying to buck me off," Adare tried to explain his uncertainty away, knowing he must seem even more cowardly than he had first admitted to being in the dark of that first night. "I am trying, Rory, really I am." And as though to prove it, he took in several deep breaths, the sound shaking as he breathed out.

Rory didn't berate the prince for his fears, especially since he knew there was a very good reason for them, but unless Adare conquered his fear, he would always be afraid. "You are in charge of the horse. You are the master, not the other way around." He could have suggested they ride together, but that wouldn't help Adare any, and the mare didn't to get over her fear, too.

Gradually, the tension bled out of Adare and the mare began to settle once again, both of them focused on Rory as he talked them down from their respective states of fear and unease. When, finally, Adare leaned forward to pat the mare's neck, it seemed that they had found a place of balance with one another. "We'll run when we're out of the city, Fara," he promised his mount, and she seemed to whinny in response to that.

Now that both the mare and the prince seemed to calm down a bit, Rory moved over to his own horse and climbed easily onto her back, obviously accustomed to horses.

Perhaps surprisingly, it turned out that Adare was actually quite an accomplished rider, though this could have had something to do with the fact that every horse he had ridden in his life had borne him only very reluctantly and required a lot of patience just to get him into the saddle. By contrast, Fara responded to the barest of touches on the reins, and it was only a matter of minutes before the two boys were outside the city, having passed through the streets without even a hint of trouble from anyone. Adare threw a wide grin over his shoulder to Rory. "Race you!" he called, and gave Fara her head. The mare broke easily into a long limbed gallop, turning north, toward the wooded hills that rose up to the mountains that made up the border of the country itself.

To say Rory was surprised by Adare's sudden burst of confidence was a bit of an understatement. "You're on!" he called back, a smile spreading across his face as he kicked his mare into a gallop, though he wasn't quite sure where they were headed. As young as he was, he was sure and confident on horseback, and the mare followed his direction with ease.

Away from the over-protection of just about everyone in the citadel, and the constant curiosity of everyone else in the city, Adare seemed to grow a little. It helped that Fara was comfortable with him for the first time, but they had grown used to these long gallops over the past few years. Nothing was so bad it couldn't be cured with an hour or so of freedom. The route they took was easy to follow, tracing the line of a well-trodden track for a mile or so before ducking onto a wide game trail once they reached the woods.

Adare slowed after another mile, allowing Rory to catch up as he listened to the sound of trickling water not so very far away. A sad smile touched his face. "We should leave the horses here," he said reluctantly, knowing what usually happened when he visited this place. "We don't want to spook them without cause."

Ariana

Date: 2014-05-10 09:20 EST
Rory kept up with the prince easily enough, though he was still unsure where they were going, the territory outside the city unfamiliar to him. He brought his mare to a halt and looked ahead into the woods, hearing the trickling water and wondering again where it was that they were. "Where are we going?" he asked, hopping down from his horse and winding the reins around a tree so that she wouldn't escape.

Adare slid down from Fara's back, winding her reins about a low branch loosely with a last pat to the mare's neck. He turned to Rory. "We're going to see my family," he said quietly. A gentle inclination of his head invited Rory to walk along with him as he moved toward the sound of running water, uncertain quite how his friend was going to react to this news.

His family' Rory arched a brow in surprise, unsure if they were going to visit graves or ghosts. Part of him was hoping for the latter; he had mixed feelings about the former. He'd already encountered the ghost of Adare's twin, and he hadn't seem very friendly. What he wouldn't give to see his own father again, and yet, if he could, what would he possibly say to him' Rory paled a little as he followed Adare into the woods. It seemed each boy had their own set of fears to overcome, but he made no protest, only followed along behind the other boy silently.

The sound of trickling water grew louder as they walked, until they stepped from the covering brush into a very small clearing, where a low waterfall trickled over mossy rocks into a shallow pool. Adare breathed in, slow and deep, and an odd sort of peace seemed to cover his expression as he relaxed. "They didn't want to be buried in the mausoleum," he explained quietly. "They chose this spot years before I was born. Apparently my mother liked the peace here." He looked around with a faint smile. "I can understand that."

Even as Adare seemed to relax, Rory seemed to grow more tense, unsure what it was exactly that Adare had brought him here to see. "It is peaceful here," Rory admitted, though the peace and quiet of the place only seemed to make him more tense for some reason, worrying he was about to encounter more ghosts who might not be be much friendlier than Adare's twin, but then, he trusted Adare and knew he would never purposely hurt him.

"He doesn't come here," Adare said very softly, sensing his friend's discomfort. "I used to come here a lot when I was little, because it was the only place that he wouldn't come and find me. There aren't any ghosts here, Rory." But he didn't offer any more comfort than that, turning to a shaded place at the side of the pool where, within the cradling boughs of two entwined trees, there stood a statue.

It had been rustically carved from wood, made with love rather than expertise, depicting the flowing forms of a pregnant woman wrapped in the arms of a man. Set atop a cairn of smooth stones, an inscription had been carved into the wood. Adare knelt, sudden tears rolling down his cheeks in silence as he reached out to clear the forest debris from the deeply cut words. May you always remember, when the shadows fall, you do not walk alone. And carved into the stones of the cairn itself was the prophecy that had been made when Thalan himself had blessed the ancient right of queens. So long as a daughter of Arlan's blood bestrides the throne of Arctra, this land will neither fail nor fall, and shall be forever blessed.

Rory relaxed a little at Adare's reassurance, wondering how the other boy had sensed his discomfort. Were they getting to know each other that well already that both could read the other's moods so easily' Rory watched quietly as Adare knelt down near the memorial, sensing the other's sadness with a frown and a heavy heart of his own. His eyes moved over the inscription that had been carved into the stone, knowing they were going to fulfill the words of that prophecy, so long as Velasca didn't find out and try to stop them. In that moment, Rory seemed to grasp just how important Adare's life really was and how dear he had become to him.

Rory knelt down beside Adare, his heart going out to the other boy - who was not really a boy at all - and almost on impulse slid an arm around the smaller boy's shoulder. "You're not alone, Adare," he reminded him gently. He said nothing of the prophecy just yet, afraid if he did, he'd give the secret away.

It seemed to take an age for Adare to speak, though he leaned just slightly into the comfort of his friend's arm about his shoulders. "I imagine what it might have been like, sometimes," he said quietly, roughly brushing the tears from his face. "Growing up with a mother and father, with my brother. Maybe we would have had a little sister." He was silent for a long moment once more, and when he spoke again, his voice shook with barely suppressed fury. "I hate her," he hissed vehemently. "Her and her stinking daughter. I should have taken the chance and killed them while they were here. Instead I let her use my father's citadel to play out her pretense. Everything she does makes me weaker and more laughable, and I'm running out of patience. I want to fight back. But I can't without condemning hundreds of people to death. What am I supposed to do?"

Rory frowned in silence as he listened to his friend, his heart aching for him, feeling his pain and grief and understanding his hatred. While he had lost his father, at least he had sixteen years of memories to hold onto while Adare had nothing. On the other hand, Adare had Dalan and Mila to take care of him, who loved and cared for him as if he was their own flesh and blood. He seemed to struggle with himself for a moment as he debated how much to tell the young prince. He wanted to give him hope, and yet, he knew it was dangerous to tell him too much. "If I tell you a secret, will you promise not to tell anyone?" he asked, as he seemed to come to a decision.

"Who would I tell?" the young prince tried to smile, but made a supreme effort to at least stop crying. He hated the fact that he must seem so weak to Rory, so pathetic. Maybe this was why he'd never had a friend his own age before, because he was a hopeless excuse for a boy. "I swear it, Rory. Not a word will pass my lips."

Realizing they were alone and no one could see them or judge them or misinterpret their fondness for the other, Rory reached over and very gently, brushed the tears from Adare's face in a gesture that might easily be taken for brotherly. "I don't think you're going to have much longer to wait," he started.

Ariana

Date: 2014-05-10 09:21 EST
Adare went very still as Rory gently brushed the tears from his cheeks, his face flushing deep red as something stirred in response to that gentle touch. Was he a freak for feeling this for his squire, his friend" Worse, what would Rory do if he ever found out' Pushing those frightening thoughts aside, he swallowed against the lump in his throat. "What do you mean?"

"Do you remember what your twin said about the blood moon?" Rory asked, having been warned twice by the ghost of Adare's brother about the change that was imminent. It wouldn't be long now - a few weeks at most - and Adare would no longer be able to hide behind the guise of a boy.

Adare sighed softly, settling back onto his heels as he sagged a little. "He's been telling me for years," he said a little resentfully. "It's always beware the blood moon. Or watch for the blood. Everything will change when the blood moon comes. But he never tells me anything more. He likes knowing something I don't, he likes holding it over me and taunting me with it."

"I don't think it's that at all, Adare," Rory replied, letting go of the prince's shoulder and settling back onto his heels, just as Adare had. He'd had time to think about the ghost's warning, and knowing what he knew now, it all seemed so clear. "He's not taunting you. He's warning you. He's your brother. In his own way, I think he's trying to protect you. Something is going to happen when the Blood Moon comes, and it's going to change everything."

"Yes, but just telling me something is going to happen doesn't help," Adare pointed out in quiet exasperation. "All it does is make me jumpy and worried. I have enough trouble trying to at least look as though I'm in control most of the time, but as it gets closer and closer to the blood moon, and my dreams get worse and worse, I'm losing part of myself. I'm frightened, Rory."

"What kind of dreams?" Rory asked, knowing Adare was often troubled by nightmares. He'd done his best to try and comfort him when he could, but he'd been sworn to secrecy for Adare's safety and could only tell him so much. "Do you trust me, Adare?" Rory asked, taking the other boy by the shoulders to look him squarely in the eye.

"It's the same dream," the prince said, shaking his head again. "The sky goes dark, and everyone around me stops seeing me. Except that witch. She's always looking right at me." He shuddered at the memory, deeply troubled by that recurring nightmare, but drawn from the recollection by Rory's very serious question. He looked into his friend's eyes, nothing but sincerity and open honesty in his own gaze. "Of course I do," he promised. "I'd trust you with my life."

"As I would you," Rory countered. It was true. There were few he trusted as much as he'd come to trust Adare. The fact of the matter was that this was his life now, Adare was his life now. No matter what happened, he belonged in Phalion now, at Adare's side, so long as he wanted him there. "Something is going to happen during the blood moon, Adare. Something wonderful. You just have to trust me on this."

Adare held his gaze for what seemed like an eternity, playing this through his mind. The implication was obvious - whatever was going to happen on the blood moon, Rory knew about it. He knew. And he wasn't going to share that information. But despite the quiet resentment that wanted to make itself known, Adare did trust Rory. He trusted him not to keep a secret that would do any of them harm. "And I can't know?" he asked quietly. "I can't know until it happens?"

Rory frowned at Adare's question, saddened that he couldn't share the secret with him, unsure how he might react to that secret. Would Adare be happy to know he was really a girl, that he would be the one to fulfill the prophecy, not a daughter of his and Valeyna's" Would he be happy to know that he was the rightful heir to the throne, not just because he was of Arlan's bloodline but because he was the rightful Queen of Arctra" Would things change between them once the truth was revealed or wouldn't it make any difference" "I wish I could tell you, but I can't. It's not safe for you to know yet. I'm sorry."

"Very well." And that was that. Rory couldn't tell him, and so Adare wouldn't push to be told. He trusted his friend - no, he loved his friend dearly. That would have to do until the truth was made known to him. He looked back to the carven statue, reaching up to lay his fingers against the rounded curve of the woman's gravid belly. "I made that," he said, his voice soft and matter of fact, not seeing the oddness in a prince of the bloodline who could carve an artistic image from wood that conveyed so much. "I wanted to give them something, but I didn't know how to carve a family that didn't have me as a part of it. So I chose a moment when I thought they must have been happy." His hand fell to the inscription in the base of the wood. "I never put these words here. I don't know who did."

Rory longed to share the secret with Adare, and even more so, to tell him everything that was in his heart. That he thought he was falling in love with the girl buried deep inside the boy - the girl with the golden hair; that when he looked at that wooden statue, he wondered what Adare's parents must have been like, what his own mother had been like, and if they might ever share that kind of love with each other. But he was only sixteen, nearly seventeen. What did he know of love" "You are part of it," Rory pointed out, reaching out to touch gentle fingers to the carved figure of a woman, round with child. "It doesn't matter. They're true words, good words."

"I know," Adare sighed softly. "I just wish I knew where they came from. Did my brother carve them' Did he want me to know that I'll never walk alone" Or was it my parents" Was it Dalan, or someone else who doesn't want me to give up" And then there's these." His hand fell to brush over the stone carved words of the Pythia's prophecy. "I'm not a daughter of Arlan's line. My mother was the last daughter of Arlan. Are they here in hope, or in sorrow?"

"It doesn't matter, Adare. You are of Arlan's line and from you will come the next queen of Arctra." At least, in a manner of speaking. "And it won't be by Valeyna. I can promise you that," Rory added vehemently.

The prince didn't meet his eyes for a long time, whirling thoughts hidden for the time being. How was he supposed to have a daughter when the thought of getting that close to a girl was genuinely terrifying" He had no interest in girls at all. Of course, he hadn't thought he was interested in boys either, not until he'd met Rory. But he couldn't father a child on Rory, nor would he ever tell his friend how he felt. He would rather hide those deeper feelings to preserve their friendship than risk losing his companionship. Letting his hand fall from the cairn, he sighed quietly once again, finally looking to his friend. "I wanted you to see them," he confessed. "I wanted you to see the place I feel safest."

Ariana

Date: 2014-05-10 09:22 EST
Rory was frowning again, wanting to promise to always keep Adare safe, but knowing he had already risked the prince's life once with his foolishness. He knew Adare had forgiven him, but he had not yet forgiven himself and he wasn't sure if he ever would. "I won't let anyone hurt you, Adare. I promise. I know I made a stupid mistake, but I couldn't stand seeing Valeyna hurt you anymore."

"Do you think I could have stood seeing her hurt you?" Adare asked him in his gentle way. "What she did to me would have been nothing to what she would have done to you for shedding her blood. And besides, we made her hurt me in front of her men, in front of our people. We made her draw my blood, and she couldn't hide how much she enjoyed it. Gossip and rumor travels very quickly through the land, you know. And right now, that gossip is focused on the squire who shed Valeyna's blood to protect his prince, and the prince who shed his blood to protect his friend. Let them try to spin that into a story about how touched in the head I am."

"You're not touched in the head!" Rory shot back heatedly. He'd heard the rumors, too, but he didn't believe them - at least, not anymore. "There is nothing wrong with you, Adare! Your brother's ghost stays around you because he wants to protect you. Nothing more." Rory sighed to calm himself, getting angry on Adare's account, but not at Adare. "I won't have you talking about yourself that way. It's not true."

"You don't believe it, but lots of people do," Adare said, aware of the way Velasca had been systematically destroying what little reputation he had over the past few years. "Phalion is long way from Loscar, and I have never been away from here. Why shouldn't they think there's something wrong with me" I'll have to prove I'm capable, one way or another."

"You won't be alone. You will have Dalan, and Mila, and me there to help you. And..." Rory hesitated, gnawing at his bottom lip a moment. "And you won't have to worry about Velasca or Valeyna." He couldn't say how he knew this to be true, but he suspected that as soon as everyone knew Adare was really a girl, they would embrace her and reject Velasca for the lie that she was. "Anyway, the people of Phalion love you, and so will the people of Loscar. They just have to get to know you first."

"You're so confident," the young prince said, marveling at the faith his friend had in him. "I wish I had even a little bit of that, you know" You don't seem to be scared of anything, and here I am, terrified of my own shadow. I just want my people to be safe and healthy, and to not have to worry about saying the wrong thing to the wrong people all the time. Is that really such a weedy thing to want for Arctra?"

"No, I'm not," Rory disagreed with a serious frown. "The truth is I'm just as scared as you are, Adare. I'm just....I don't know....more reckless, I guess." He shrugged his shoulders with a small resigned sigh. "You want the best for your people, and there's nothing wrong with that. It's a noble cause. That's what makes you special, Adare. You're-you're the most caring person I've ever known."

"You're one of my people, too, you know," Adare pointed out with a tiny quirk to his smile. "You don't need to look so worried when we talk about the future. I told you, there'll always be a place for you with me, as long as you want it." He smiled, moving to rise onto his feet. "We should get back to the citadel."

A small pout appeared on Rory's face at the suggestion that they return to the citadel where they would be watched by friend and foe alike. Here they were alone, to do as they liked, to say what was in their hearts without fear of anyone overhearing them, but Rory wasn't sure he was ready for that yet, nor was he sure what Adare might think of what he had to say. He moved reluctantly to his feet, turning to glance at the carved statue again, wondering if his own parents had ever been that much in love, wondering if he'd ever find that kind of love for himself. "What was your sister's name" The one that died?" he asked suddenly, on impulse.

Adare hesitated, turning confused eyes onto his friend. "I never had a sister, you know that," he said quietly. "Everyone else thinks I did, but you know better. You've met my brother. And he never had a name. He never lived."

"What do they say her name was?" Rory asked, correcting himself. What he really wanted to know was what Adare's true name was, but maybe he was asking the wrong person. "What would it have been if it had been a girl?"

"I haven't heard anyone speculate on what her name might have been," the prince said thoughtfully. "And I couldn't guess what my parents might have named us." He frowned a little, looking down into the rippling shallow water. "But I know what I'll name my daughter, if that helps."

"What's that?" Rory asked, relieved his curiosity hadn't raised Adare's suspicions too much. He thought maybe he should just try to think of Adare as a boy, as a friend or a younger brother, but he couldn't help thinking of the golden-haired girl he'd caught a glimpse of that was Adare's true form.

"Ariana," Adare told him with quiet confidence. "For my mother, and for the First Dynasty queen who had to restore the line the first time a usurper tried to take power." He shrugged lightly. It was the only way he knew to honor the princess who should have ruled but never did. "I hope she doesn't feel weighed down by the name."

"Ariana," Rory repeated, the name bringing a soft smile to his face. "I like that. It's pretty." As pretty as you, he thought to himself, with an ache in his heart. If Mila and Dalan were telling the truth, it wouldn't be long before the spell wore off, and Adare's true form became known. What would he say to her then" Would she think he only loved her because she was a girl? "Adare..." Rory started, trailing off with a frown.

"Rory -" The prince blushed as he inadvertently cut over whatever his friend had been about to say, laughing a little at the clumsy stumbling of words. Shaking his head, he sobered himself, meeting Rory's gaze with gentle honesty. "I want you to know that our friendship is incredibly precious to me," he said quietly. "I care about you a great deal." He hesitated, blushing once again. "I just thought you should know."

Ariana

Date: 2014-05-10 09:23 EST
From the look on Rory's face, he was just as uncomfortable with the words as Adare, maybe more. He'd only ever loved one person his entire life and that person had been his father. "I care about you, too," Rory replied, clumsily, feeling the heat creep into his cheeks. He had no doubt that Adare cared for him, but to Adare, Rory was just a friend, nothing more, and as far as Rory knew, he could never be anything more. It would simply have to be enough. "I-I never..." He trailed off again, unsure if he should complete his thought. "We should probably get back," he said, as he started back toward where they'd left the horses, pausing to turn back around, needing him to know something else. "Thank you for bringing me here today. It means a lot to me."

Whatever hope Adare might have been harboring for a more overt reciprocation of his own feelings was gently dashed by Rory's awkward blush, graciously not pressing the point. Rory probably had most of the servant girls in the citadel ready to leap into bed with him, anyway. It wouldn't be right to poison their friendship with declarations of anything more. He cleared his throat, nodding in agreement. "I wanted you to see it," he said softly. A small smile lifted his expression just barely. "Come along, then. Dalan will be getting antsy."

Rory frowned but nodded, feeling like an idiot for trying and failing to tell Adare how he felt, but what was he supposed to say' Was he supposed to tell him he loved him like a brother when nothing was farther from the truth' He almost wished he didn't know his secret, that they could just go back to being friends again, to being like brothers. He could love Adare then and no one would think anything of it. "Adare?" he started again, needing him to know something more.

"Yes?" The young prince turned, looking back at his friend with the warm smile that seemed oddly out of place on his face. But Rory had seen that smile on Adare's true face, and knew that there was a girl in there smiling at him affectionately. An odd position to be in, certainly.

"I-I want you to know that no matter what happens, I'm always going to be here for you. I'm always going to care about you. I'm always going to be your friend," Rory told him, needing him to know that, needing him to know that he did care for Adare, and that he would go on caring, no matter what happened in the future, near or far.

Very slowly, a wider smile made itself known on Adare's face. "Good," he said warmly, beckoning for his friend to join him on the path back to where they had left the horses. "Then we won't ever need to say goodbye."

"Did I ever tell you that when I was a boy, I dreamed of being a knight?" Rory asked, falling into step behind the other boy. "My father told me I should never stop dreaming. That if you stop dreaming, you might as well stop living. I wish he could see me now. I wish you could have met him."

"He sounds like a good man," Adare said in his quiet way, more confident now as they approached the horses. Fara looked up as the prince approached, but it seemed as though Rory's presence had calmed her fear of the unnatural boy. "I would have liked to have met him. But what do you dream about now" Still to be a knight?"

Rory frowned thoughtfully at the prince's question, unsure how to answer it. What did he dream about now" He dreamed of a golden-haired girl, but just how he fit into her life would remain to be seen. "I don't know," he replied quietly as they arrived back at the place where they'd left the horses. "I can't be a squire forever."

"Of course you can't," Adare agreed. "You'll be a knight someday." He heaved himself up into the saddle, smiling at the thought of making such a dear friend's wish come true. After all, if the rebels truly were going to take back the throne for his potential daughter, he'd have that power, wouldn't he"

"We'll always be friends, won't we, Adare?" Rory asked, uncertainly as he gave Adare a boost onto his horse before climbing up into his own saddle and taking hold of the horse's reins to steer her toward the city and the citadel that had become his home.

"Why wouldn't we be?" Adare asked, frowning deeply at the thought of losing his first and only friend. "Don't say things like that. I've lost a lot of things in my life, but I refuse to lose you as well. You mean a great deal to me, Rory. I'm not going to give up on that."

Rory wasn't so sure, despite their promises. He thought once the truth became known about Adare, the princess would have dozens of suitors from among the various noble families who'd want to add their bloodline to hers. While he might be able to become a squire or even a knight, he had a feeling there were plenty of others more worthy of a princess than he was. "No," he replied quietly. "Of course not."

Rory's sudden change in mood was distressing to his prince. Adare didn't know what was bothering him, why he seemed so suddenly despondent. Yet Rory didn't seem to have considered what the princess - the queen - would think about all this. He didn't seem to have realized that it would be the same person, deep down, and that no amount of bowing and scraping was ever going to turn that affection away from him. He was worthier than most, purely by dint of being a friend. But time would tell, in any case. They had a mountain to climb before that became their biggest concern.

((Poor boys, so confused! Never fear, lads, it'll start to be cleared up in just a little while! And many, many thanks to Rory's player!))