Caging the Beast 2
First part here.
More of the Beauty and the Beast prequel. ^.^v Yay me!
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Sundance sidestepped and pranced, coquetting in place and generally trying to prove that she was a far more attractive horse than Sabin's mount, a black and white palfrey named Star. For her part, Star was oblivious, walking along without a care in the world. Aiden hoped Sundance would get over whatever her problem was soon, as he didn't think he could take another two weeks of it.
Scratch that. He knew he couldn't take another two weeks of it. Sundance had sidled up next to Star, trapping his and Sabin's legs together in a most awkward way. Aiden flashed an apologetic smile at the Enchanter before attempting to wrest Sundance away from Star and get her to behave as properly befitted a royal mount. Well, his royal mount, anyway. The nonsense she was pulling now was far more in keeping with one of those idiot things his mother had liked to ride. All looks, no brains.
Sabin chuckled once Aiden had Sundance under control again. "I take it she's not always like that?" he asked.
Aiden scowled. "No. Usually she's the most well-behaved horse in the stables. I don't know what's gotten into her."
"Hmm..." Sabin contemplated his own mount, then Aiden's, and flashed a grin. "I could spell her to behave," he offered.
Aiden shook his head. "No, I'd rather she had all her wits about her in case we get into any trouble."
Sabin raised a brow. "Trouble? I should hope I'm more capable of taking care of trouble than a horse..."
Aiden laughed. "Of that, I have no doubt, after seeing what your apprentice can do. But I trained Sundance to be able to fight with me, if it came to that, so..."
"Ah." Sabin chuckled quietly. "Yes, well, I doubt I'll be throwing lightning around. Generally spooks horses."
Aiden chuckled as well. "True." He considered. "I meant to ask, how is it that a child so young can control lightning with such obvious ease?"
This time, Sabin laughed aloud. "Beldon is... quite special," he said, pale eyes twinkling. "That particular spell he came up with on his own, about five months ago. I'd warned those silly boys that they'd better quit teasing him or he was going to retaliate..." He shrugged, grinning. "You'd think they'd have learned by now."
"Five months ago?" Aiden stared. "But she's only, what? Five? Six at the most?"
Sabin laughed again. "Not quite six, yes, but as I said, he is a very special little boy."
Frowning slightly, Aiden asked, "That brings up another question. Why does she think she's a boy?"
Sabin blinked, then a slow smile spread across his face before he doubled over in helpless laughter. Aiden watched for a moment, feeling rather cross as he had no doubt that he was about to be made to feel stupid again, crossing his arms at about the point when Sabin finally managed to catch his breath.
"Oh. Ohh dear," Sabin murmured faintly, eyes glittering with amusement. "It's a good thing he can't hear you, I think. Beldon has something of a temper, and if he knew you'd been attempting to humor him all this time..." The Enchanter laughed again.
Aiden scowled. "You can't seriously be insinuating that that adorable little girl is really a boy."
Sabin smiled, nudging Star closer to Sundance so he could reach out and tousle Aiden's hair. "Ask him to drop his pants when we get back," he suggested. "He will. Beldon is very much male."
"You're kidding," Aiden stated in disbelief, drawing yet another round of laughter from the Enchanter.
"No, no, I'm quite serious," Sabin replied cheerfully. "I think his appearance is a good part of the reason why he has such a volatile temper. I imagine I'd be quite testy too if everyone I met mistook me for a girl."
"But... but... she's... he's..." Aiden floundered helplessly.
"A very competent and capable Enchanter who is well on his way to making Master level by the time he's twenty," Sabin finished helpfully.
"But..." Aiden tried again, then blinked. "Wait, what? That's impossible."
Sabin laughed at the sheer disbelief on Aiden's face. "Oh no, it's quite possible," he returned. "I made Master at thirty-seven and was the youngest ever to make that rank. It's going to cause quite a stir when Beldon achieves it."
"But... that's... he can't... wait." Aiden blinked. "Thirty-seven? Aren't most Masters usually in their fifties?" He blinked again. "How old are you?"
Sabin's shoulders shook as he laughed. "Yes, they're usually in their late fifties before they achieve Master level, and as for my age... mmm..." He thought for several moments. "Let's see... add the six, carry the one... Hmm... Five-hundred and twenty-four, I think."
Aiden stared. "Oh," he managed.
Sabin grinned at him. "I only moved to Throne City about ten years ago. Spent most of my life wandering around rural areas and creating new spells. Even the vaulted Sorcerer's Council hadn't heard of me until I showed up in the city."
Aiden frowned. "Why aren't you on the Council?" he asked. "It seems to me that you're more than experienced enough..."
For the first time, a shadow of hurt appeared in Sabin's pale blue eyes. He looked away, breaths deliberately evening as he stared out at the road before them. "Those who follow a different path are often seen as lesser by those who follow the more established ways," he said quietly. "While I personally feel that differences between individuals should be celebrated, my view is not the common one."
Aiden's frown deepened as he puzzled out the specifics behind the vague statements. "So what you're saying is that the Council won't have you because you create your own spells rather than relying on the traditional methods?"
"Basically, yes," Sabin agreed softly.
"But that's..." Aiden felt incredibly helpless. He was the High King! He should be able to do something, anything, but even he couldn't force people to change their opinions. No matter how wrong they might be. "That's stupid," he said finally. "I think you're a wonderful Enchanter."
Sabin smiled, a slow smile that spread across his face and lit up his eyes with a breathtaking inner brilliance. "Thank you," he said softly.
Aiden felt the unmistakable burn in his cheeks as blood rushed to taint them crimson. He looked away, eyes fixed to Sundance's mane, though he didn't really see it. "No problem," he mumbled. "I mean, s'just the truth, you know. If people can't see that then that's their problem."
The smile on Sabin's face deepened, making him look quite handsome, Aiden thought, despite the fact that the Enchanter's hair was still sticking up in every direction known to mankind and then some. The Sorcerer's Council really were a bunch of idiots if they couldn't see how incredible this man was.
A little over a month into their journey saw Aiden and Sabin camping out in a small copse of trees as the nearest town was still two and a half days away. The first time they'd had to sleep on blankets beneath the stars Aiden had been rather put out, accustomed as he was to soft feathery mattresses and silken sheets. Since then, however, he'd actually come to look forward to such times.
Sabin was fascinating, there was no other way to put it. The Enchanter spent their evenings telling Aiden all about the incredible things he'd done in his long life, both the good and the bad, and occasionally the embarrassing as well. From defeating the dread giant Thornklops to getting chased out of Irenia for accidentally making all the sheep sing folk songs horribly off-key, it seemed as though there was nothing the man hadn't tried at some point or another.
By contrast, Aiden felt incredibly dull. His childhood had been fairly standard as royal childhoods went, with the usual lessons and politics and being sent off to visit vassal kingdoms so that everyone would be able to get a glimpse, however brief, of the Crown Prince. The only brief flurry of abnormality he'd encountered had been after his family was eliminated by Morgemeil and he'd been whisked home to become the new High King. Not exactly a memory he cared to revisit.
Fortunately, Sabin had more than enough positive memories to share. He was currently telling a story about when Aiden's grandfather had been a young Knight out to prove himself and ended up tangling with a rather feisty witch and her pet wyvern. It had only been sheer chance that Sabin had been in the area and was able to help.
They were both quiet a moment when he was done, Aiden sprawled out on the ground, staring up at the stars overhead, Sabin sitting with his back against a tree, watching him.
"So," Aiden said finally, "What are we going to do about Morgemeil?" The question had been bothering him for some time now, the closer they got to the Dark Enchanter's stronghold. It was all well and good to go riding off to save the day, but without some sort of plan they'd be dead the moment they stepped through the door.
"What indeed," Sabin murmured, fingers threading together as he thought. "We already know the man has a surfeit of power, that much he has proven. Additionally, his methods would seem to indicate that he is not a foolish man, and that he has at least some measure of skill. To defeat such a man will take power and skill, unquestionably, but more than that it will take the unexpected."
Aiden sat up a little, propping himself up on his elbows to be able to see Sabin better. "I'm not sure what you mean... can you design a new spell that will defeat him?"
Sabin shook his head regretfully. "I would not have the strength to battle a Dark Enchanter and win, no. Not directly. I think the only way to survive an encounter with Morgemeil will be to somehow use his own power against him. If I can fashion a cage which will become stronger the more power that Morgemeil throws at it..."
He trailed off, looking thoughtful, contemplating Aiden in silence for several minutes. Aiden regarded him quizzically, venturing at last, "Can you do that?"
Sabin smiled faintly. "Perhaps... Perhaps. The only way I can think of to do so would be to divert his power with something else first. Something very unique, not a part of any traditional magic." He looked pointedly at Aiden. "It would be very dangerous."
Confused at first, Aiden sat up straight as he figured out what Sabin was suggesting. "You're going to use me. The partial magical immunity that runs in my family..."
Sabin nodded solemnly, an odd tenseness in his pale eyes. "I believe I can augment your power enough to serve our purposes, but we will only get one chance. If we fail, we will both die."
Aiden smiled grimly. "If we don't try, I'll still die when Morgemeil takes over my kingdom," he pointed out. "So for me, even a slim chance is better than none. I'm more concerned about you. You didn't have to agree to help."
A hint of Sabin's customary smile appeared in his eyes, tugging at the corners of his lips. "Better to die with my King than to live under a tyrant's rule. My only regret would be not getting to finish Beldon's training... though, who can say, perhaps that boy would surprise me yet again and do it all on his own."
Aiden chuckled quietly. "If everything you attribute to that child is true, then it's a pity Morgemeil didn't wait fifteen or twenty years to make his attack. We could just send your temperamental apprentice after him."
Sabin blinked, then laughed. "Oh, I do not think I would choose to inflict an angry Beldon upon anyone, even Morgemeil," he said. "That would be just too cruel. I fear the day that someone makes him truly angry, for the punishment that child will devise..."
"Will be completely deserved, I do not doubt," Aiden finished with a smile. "But for now, we two adults will simply have to do the best that we can with our own small skills."
Sabin smiled and leaned closer, reaching out as though to tousle Aiden's hair again. He hesitated with his hand near Aiden's cheek, then instead simply brushed a lock of auburn curls behind Aiden's ear. "Yes," he agreed softly, "That we will."
"Okay, so, maybe that wasn't the brightest idea I've ever had, but it worked, didn't it?"
Sabin arched a brow and tied off the bandage a little harder than strictly necessary, garnering a small "ow" from Aiden.
"A simple deception spell would have worked just as well, my King, had you allowed me the opportunity to cast it, and you would not now be bleeding," the Enchanter pointed out dryly.
Aiden grinned. "No," he agreed, "But that idiot with the axe seemed pretty intent on removing your head. If a little nick on the arm is the price that must be paid to keep your head attached to your body, then I will cheerfully pay it."
Sabin rolled his eyes. "Just don't complain to me when that wound starts to hurt in a day or two. Your foolhardy antics will get no sympathy from this Enchanter."
"I don't expect any sympathy," Aiden said cheerfully. "A small healing spell or two, on the other hand... ack!" He ducked as Sabin threw a pillow at him.
After the 'minor incident' with a ragtag troupe of mountain bandits, the two had found themselves a small village and acquired a room at their lone inn. It wasn't the cleanest thing by far, as well as being small with a peculiar odor that Aiden thought might have been ale a very long time ago. Still, it was warm enough, and Sabin had been able to barter a few protective spells for ingredients to make a poultice.
Healing spells, he'd admitted in the midst of berating Aiden for his recklessness, were not one of his strong suits.
"So how long are you going to keep babying me, oh great and powerful Master of everything but healing spells?" Aiden asked, promptly ducking another flying pillow lobbed at his head.
"Until I am certain your wound will not become infected and hinder our progress," Sabin retorted, pale eyes glittering with amusement. "Remind me not to take long trips with foolish kings again."
Aiden smirked. "Ah, but you'll take road trips with un-foolish kings?" he quipped, laughing when Sabin discovered he was out of pillows to throw. A moment later he eeped as the Enchanter stalked over to grab one of the pillows from behind Aiden and hit him upside the head with it. "Ahh, no fair!" he exclaimed.
Sabin chucked and shoved him over backwards onto the sad little excuse for a bed, hitting him with the pillow again as he struggled to right himself.
"Picking on the wounded man is not at all considered fair play," Aiden informed him, stealthily creeping a hand out to retrieve the other pillow. Unfortunately the Enchanter was prepared for just such a tactic and trapped the questing hand with one of his own, yanking Aiden toward him and tickling him mercilessly.
Breathless, Aiden flailed rather helplessly as he attempted to get away from Sabin's evil fingers as they ran up and down his sides in far too skillful a manner. He managed to get a few protests out, which were of course calmly ignored.
The tickle war ended quite abruptly when Aiden's wild squirming caused him to fall off the edge of the bed. Sabin grabbed him, presumably with the intent of pulling him back up, forgetting that the far more muscular Aiden outweighed him by at least fifty pounds. The end result was that Aiden landed on his back on the floor with Sabin sprawled out atop him in an untidy heap.
Sitting up slightly, Sabin blew hair out of his eyes and smiled wryly. "Note to self. Next time, either start on the floor or use a bigger bed."
Aiden laughed, trying ineffectually to toss his own auburn curls out of his face and flashing Sabin a grateful smile when the Enchanter did it for him. "Bigger bed," he said decisively. "Floors are way too hard."
Chuckling and shaking his head, Sabin carefully got to his feet and helped Aiden up, only to nonchalantly shove him over again before the man had quite gained his feet. Aiden landed on the bed with a slight "Oof," much to Sabin's amusement.
"Now just be a good boy and stay there for a few minutes," the Enchanter ordered cheerfully, "While I go see about finding us some food."
Aiden grinned. "Yes, Mother."
The next pillow hit him square in the face.
"I almost wish we were still only a week out of Throne City," Aiden announced as he spread out their bedding on the ground. They'd just stopped for the night, nearly four months into the trip, and less than two weeks from the castle where Morgemeil was known to have established himself.
Sabin chuckled. "So now you get cold feet," he commented.
Aiden laughed. "No, that's not what I meant. I mean, yes, it will be good to finally deal with Morgemeil so that everyone can stop living in fear, but at the same time I sometimes wish this journey didn't have to end."
Sabin passed him two blankets and a quizzical look. Aiden chuckled quietly. "Right. So that made no sense. How to phrase this so I don't sound like an idiot..."
At the brief chuckle from Sabin, Aiden grinned. "Okay, too much like an idiot," he amended. Sabin spoke a few words to get the fire started while he thought, making certain the horses were secured properly before dropping down onto the ground next to the fire.
"I guess I don't like that soon enough we're going to have to part ways and go back to the lives we left behind," Aiden said slowly. "Me to being King, and you to your apprentices who are most decidedly not behaving, despite what you told them when you left." He grinned faintly up at Sabin before looking back down at the fire again. "But if we were only a week out, I'd get another several months of your company."
Sabin smiled softly, withdrawing foodstuffs from his bag and restoring them to proper size for cooking over the fire. "Ah," he said quietly. "The sentiment is shared, if it means anything. Your company is more than enjoyable, even if you get into trouble enough to rival my apprentices, and I find that I am equally loathe to allow this... friendship, if I may be so bold, to slip away."
"It doesn't have to," Aiden suggested, brushing his curls back out of his eyes. "I mean, once they figure out how I got out of the palace it'll probably be a lot harder to escape, but you could always come visit..." He brightened suddenly. "Oh! I know! You could be my Court Magician! Don't I need one of those?"
A quiet chuckle escaped Sabin's lips, threatening to turn into full-blown laughter if he didn't stifle it. "Technically, my King, you need several," he replied.
Aiden smiled brightly. "See? So, problem solved."
This time Sabin did laugh. "I would have to consult with my apprentices first, you know," he said, voice rich with amusement. "They might not appreciate being packed up and hauled away from home so that I can go play Royal Enchanter to a greedy King."
Aiden rolled his eyes. "I'm not greedy, I just don't want to lose you."
"I believe that would count as greedy," Sabin pointed out mirthfully.
"Fine then," Aiden muttered good-naturedly, "So I'm greedy. Is it so bad to want to hang onto the source of some of the best memories of my life?"
Sabin blinked, ice blue eyes widening slightly. "My King... Majesty... Aiden..." He started to reach out before hesitating, struggling visibly with himself to withdraw the hand and sit on it to keep it out of trouble. "I... I'm honored you place such a value upon our association. You... your friendship means much to me."
Aiden contemplated the Enchanter for several minutes, emerald eyes unreadable, then a faint, thoughtful frown creased his brow. "Sabin..."
"Yes?"
"In all the stories you've told me about your life, you've never once mentioned a lover. Is there no one that you care deeply for?" Aiden asked.
He'd never seen Sabin blush before. It was rather nice to be on the receiving end of it for once, Aiden thought, as he waited patiently for the answer.
"I..." Sabin's cheeks darkened further as he looked anywhere but at Aiden. "Magic is very demanding, especially when one is still learning. I have... had a number of lovers, over the years, but never any who lasted. Not like you mean, anyway..."
Aiden considered, then scooted around the fire so he was closer to Sabin, regarding him curiously. "Really?" he asked. "No one at all? No one you ever wished would stay?"
The contrast between Sabin's crimson cheeks and blond hair was rather fascinating in the firelight. It probably would have been even more fascinating if he'd been able to see Sabin's eyes, but the Enchanter was looking firmly away from him.
Sabin attempted several false starts before sighing quietly and looking down at his hands. "Perhaps," he admitted finally, "But it would never work."
"Why not?" Aiden asked.
Sabin smiled faintly. "Because the person that I lo... care for is a fraction of my age and very much out of reach for a lowly Enchanter of no standing."
Aiden snorted inelegantly. "Everyone is a fraction of your age," he pointed out, "And who cares about your standing. I think you're worth far more than you seem to think you are, and as I am the High King, I will publicly declare you the best Enchanter in the kingdom and then no one will be able to argue."
Sabin chuckled. "I don't think you are supposed to abuse your authority like that," he observed.
"If it gets me what I want, then I will feel no remorse whatsoever at abusing my authority," Aiden stated cheerfully.
From the corner of his eyes, Sabin watched him cautiously. "Majesty," he said slowly, "I do not... it is not proper to..."
Aiden scooted closer until their thighs were touching. "Maybe I don't want to be proper," he said quietly. "What is the point in being King if you cannot share your life with the person you love?"
"I... Majesty..." Sabin said helplessly.
"Aiden," Aiden corrected. "My name is Aiden."
"Aiden," Sabin breathed, and Aiden smiled at the way his name sounded in Sabin's warm voice, "I'm old..."
Aiden shifted so that he was straddling Sabin's thighs, letting him gaze down at the Enchanter who was still trying to avoid meeting his eyes. "So?" he said calmly, "Everyone is old some day. You'll just have to wait patiently for me to catch up, however long that takes." He smiled, emerald eyes gleaming. "You will give me the opportunity to do so, won't you?"
Rather than give Sabin the opportunity to protest again, Aiden leaned down, brushing his lips gently across Sabin's. The Enchanter shivered slightly, his hands clenching and unclenching at his sides as his heart and mind pulled him in two different directions. Slowly his head came up, pale blue eyes meeting Aiden's uncertainly.
"Please?" Aiden begged shamelessly, ever so gently nuzzling Sabin's cheek as he felt the tension slowly drain out of the Enchanter. A moment later Sabin's arms came up around him haltingly, one hand sliding high enough to tangle in the unruly curls of his shoulder-length hair. Taking that as an invitation, Aiden pressed his lips to Sabin's again, a little more firmly this time, feeling them soften and then part beneath him.
Delighted, and in no small part relieved, Aiden accepted the offering. Sabin tasted wonderful, as he'd known the man would. The faint taste of honey left over from the sweets the Enchanter liked to suck on, the slightly bitter tang of tea from their morning meal, and overlaying it all the delicious, dizzying, completely indescribable flavour of the man himself. He wanted more, deeper, tongue exploring every crevasse, twining with Sabin's as they explored each other's mouths, not quite able to get enough. Never enough. He felt he'd be able to kiss Sabin all day and it would never be as much as he needed.
It wasn't until he could feel his lungs burn with need for air that they parted, breathing heavily, each loosely encircled by one another's arms. Aiden rested his forehead against Sabin's, panting, wishing irrationally that he didn't need to breathe so that he could drown in Sabin's kiss forever.
"Aiden..." Sabin breathed, sending shivers down Aiden's spine at the sheer need in that chocolate voice, "I think... I think my legs are going numb..."
Aiden chuckled, pressing forward suddenly to knock Sabin off-balance, his hand between Sabin's head and the ground that it suddenly got up close and personal with. He shifted so that he was no longer pinning down Sabin's knees, wriggling instead just over the man's lap and eliciting a delicious gasp from his captive Enchanter.
"Better?" Aiden asked cheerfully, then yelped as Sabin's fingers tightened in his hair and dragged him down hard for another utterly breathless kiss.
To Part Three
More of the Beauty and the Beast prequel. ^.^v Yay me!
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Sundance sidestepped and pranced, coquetting in place and generally trying to prove that she was a far more attractive horse than Sabin's mount, a black and white palfrey named Star. For her part, Star was oblivious, walking along without a care in the world. Aiden hoped Sundance would get over whatever her problem was soon, as he didn't think he could take another two weeks of it.
Scratch that. He knew he couldn't take another two weeks of it. Sundance had sidled up next to Star, trapping his and Sabin's legs together in a most awkward way. Aiden flashed an apologetic smile at the Enchanter before attempting to wrest Sundance away from Star and get her to behave as properly befitted a royal mount. Well, his royal mount, anyway. The nonsense she was pulling now was far more in keeping with one of those idiot things his mother had liked to ride. All looks, no brains.
Sabin chuckled once Aiden had Sundance under control again. "I take it she's not always like that?" he asked.
Aiden scowled. "No. Usually she's the most well-behaved horse in the stables. I don't know what's gotten into her."
"Hmm..." Sabin contemplated his own mount, then Aiden's, and flashed a grin. "I could spell her to behave," he offered.
Aiden shook his head. "No, I'd rather she had all her wits about her in case we get into any trouble."
Sabin raised a brow. "Trouble? I should hope I'm more capable of taking care of trouble than a horse..."
Aiden laughed. "Of that, I have no doubt, after seeing what your apprentice can do. But I trained Sundance to be able to fight with me, if it came to that, so..."
"Ah." Sabin chuckled quietly. "Yes, well, I doubt I'll be throwing lightning around. Generally spooks horses."
Aiden chuckled as well. "True." He considered. "I meant to ask, how is it that a child so young can control lightning with such obvious ease?"
This time, Sabin laughed aloud. "Beldon is... quite special," he said, pale eyes twinkling. "That particular spell he came up with on his own, about five months ago. I'd warned those silly boys that they'd better quit teasing him or he was going to retaliate..." He shrugged, grinning. "You'd think they'd have learned by now."
"Five months ago?" Aiden stared. "But she's only, what? Five? Six at the most?"
Sabin laughed again. "Not quite six, yes, but as I said, he is a very special little boy."
Frowning slightly, Aiden asked, "That brings up another question. Why does she think she's a boy?"
Sabin blinked, then a slow smile spread across his face before he doubled over in helpless laughter. Aiden watched for a moment, feeling rather cross as he had no doubt that he was about to be made to feel stupid again, crossing his arms at about the point when Sabin finally managed to catch his breath.
"Oh. Ohh dear," Sabin murmured faintly, eyes glittering with amusement. "It's a good thing he can't hear you, I think. Beldon has something of a temper, and if he knew you'd been attempting to humor him all this time..." The Enchanter laughed again.
Aiden scowled. "You can't seriously be insinuating that that adorable little girl is really a boy."
Sabin smiled, nudging Star closer to Sundance so he could reach out and tousle Aiden's hair. "Ask him to drop his pants when we get back," he suggested. "He will. Beldon is very much male."
"You're kidding," Aiden stated in disbelief, drawing yet another round of laughter from the Enchanter.
"No, no, I'm quite serious," Sabin replied cheerfully. "I think his appearance is a good part of the reason why he has such a volatile temper. I imagine I'd be quite testy too if everyone I met mistook me for a girl."
"But... but... she's... he's..." Aiden floundered helplessly.
"A very competent and capable Enchanter who is well on his way to making Master level by the time he's twenty," Sabin finished helpfully.
"But..." Aiden tried again, then blinked. "Wait, what? That's impossible."
Sabin laughed at the sheer disbelief on Aiden's face. "Oh no, it's quite possible," he returned. "I made Master at thirty-seven and was the youngest ever to make that rank. It's going to cause quite a stir when Beldon achieves it."
"But... that's... he can't... wait." Aiden blinked. "Thirty-seven? Aren't most Masters usually in their fifties?" He blinked again. "How old are you?"
Sabin's shoulders shook as he laughed. "Yes, they're usually in their late fifties before they achieve Master level, and as for my age... mmm..." He thought for several moments. "Let's see... add the six, carry the one... Hmm... Five-hundred and twenty-four, I think."
Aiden stared. "Oh," he managed.
Sabin grinned at him. "I only moved to Throne City about ten years ago. Spent most of my life wandering around rural areas and creating new spells. Even the vaulted Sorcerer's Council hadn't heard of me until I showed up in the city."
Aiden frowned. "Why aren't you on the Council?" he asked. "It seems to me that you're more than experienced enough..."
For the first time, a shadow of hurt appeared in Sabin's pale blue eyes. He looked away, breaths deliberately evening as he stared out at the road before them. "Those who follow a different path are often seen as lesser by those who follow the more established ways," he said quietly. "While I personally feel that differences between individuals should be celebrated, my view is not the common one."
Aiden's frown deepened as he puzzled out the specifics behind the vague statements. "So what you're saying is that the Council won't have you because you create your own spells rather than relying on the traditional methods?"
"Basically, yes," Sabin agreed softly.
"But that's..." Aiden felt incredibly helpless. He was the High King! He should be able to do something, anything, but even he couldn't force people to change their opinions. No matter how wrong they might be. "That's stupid," he said finally. "I think you're a wonderful Enchanter."
Sabin smiled, a slow smile that spread across his face and lit up his eyes with a breathtaking inner brilliance. "Thank you," he said softly.
Aiden felt the unmistakable burn in his cheeks as blood rushed to taint them crimson. He looked away, eyes fixed to Sundance's mane, though he didn't really see it. "No problem," he mumbled. "I mean, s'just the truth, you know. If people can't see that then that's their problem."
The smile on Sabin's face deepened, making him look quite handsome, Aiden thought, despite the fact that the Enchanter's hair was still sticking up in every direction known to mankind and then some. The Sorcerer's Council really were a bunch of idiots if they couldn't see how incredible this man was.
A little over a month into their journey saw Aiden and Sabin camping out in a small copse of trees as the nearest town was still two and a half days away. The first time they'd had to sleep on blankets beneath the stars Aiden had been rather put out, accustomed as he was to soft feathery mattresses and silken sheets. Since then, however, he'd actually come to look forward to such times.
Sabin was fascinating, there was no other way to put it. The Enchanter spent their evenings telling Aiden all about the incredible things he'd done in his long life, both the good and the bad, and occasionally the embarrassing as well. From defeating the dread giant Thornklops to getting chased out of Irenia for accidentally making all the sheep sing folk songs horribly off-key, it seemed as though there was nothing the man hadn't tried at some point or another.
By contrast, Aiden felt incredibly dull. His childhood had been fairly standard as royal childhoods went, with the usual lessons and politics and being sent off to visit vassal kingdoms so that everyone would be able to get a glimpse, however brief, of the Crown Prince. The only brief flurry of abnormality he'd encountered had been after his family was eliminated by Morgemeil and he'd been whisked home to become the new High King. Not exactly a memory he cared to revisit.
Fortunately, Sabin had more than enough positive memories to share. He was currently telling a story about when Aiden's grandfather had been a young Knight out to prove himself and ended up tangling with a rather feisty witch and her pet wyvern. It had only been sheer chance that Sabin had been in the area and was able to help.
They were both quiet a moment when he was done, Aiden sprawled out on the ground, staring up at the stars overhead, Sabin sitting with his back against a tree, watching him.
"So," Aiden said finally, "What are we going to do about Morgemeil?" The question had been bothering him for some time now, the closer they got to the Dark Enchanter's stronghold. It was all well and good to go riding off to save the day, but without some sort of plan they'd be dead the moment they stepped through the door.
"What indeed," Sabin murmured, fingers threading together as he thought. "We already know the man has a surfeit of power, that much he has proven. Additionally, his methods would seem to indicate that he is not a foolish man, and that he has at least some measure of skill. To defeat such a man will take power and skill, unquestionably, but more than that it will take the unexpected."
Aiden sat up a little, propping himself up on his elbows to be able to see Sabin better. "I'm not sure what you mean... can you design a new spell that will defeat him?"
Sabin shook his head regretfully. "I would not have the strength to battle a Dark Enchanter and win, no. Not directly. I think the only way to survive an encounter with Morgemeil will be to somehow use his own power against him. If I can fashion a cage which will become stronger the more power that Morgemeil throws at it..."
He trailed off, looking thoughtful, contemplating Aiden in silence for several minutes. Aiden regarded him quizzically, venturing at last, "Can you do that?"
Sabin smiled faintly. "Perhaps... Perhaps. The only way I can think of to do so would be to divert his power with something else first. Something very unique, not a part of any traditional magic." He looked pointedly at Aiden. "It would be very dangerous."
Confused at first, Aiden sat up straight as he figured out what Sabin was suggesting. "You're going to use me. The partial magical immunity that runs in my family..."
Sabin nodded solemnly, an odd tenseness in his pale eyes. "I believe I can augment your power enough to serve our purposes, but we will only get one chance. If we fail, we will both die."
Aiden smiled grimly. "If we don't try, I'll still die when Morgemeil takes over my kingdom," he pointed out. "So for me, even a slim chance is better than none. I'm more concerned about you. You didn't have to agree to help."
A hint of Sabin's customary smile appeared in his eyes, tugging at the corners of his lips. "Better to die with my King than to live under a tyrant's rule. My only regret would be not getting to finish Beldon's training... though, who can say, perhaps that boy would surprise me yet again and do it all on his own."
Aiden chuckled quietly. "If everything you attribute to that child is true, then it's a pity Morgemeil didn't wait fifteen or twenty years to make his attack. We could just send your temperamental apprentice after him."
Sabin blinked, then laughed. "Oh, I do not think I would choose to inflict an angry Beldon upon anyone, even Morgemeil," he said. "That would be just too cruel. I fear the day that someone makes him truly angry, for the punishment that child will devise..."
"Will be completely deserved, I do not doubt," Aiden finished with a smile. "But for now, we two adults will simply have to do the best that we can with our own small skills."
Sabin smiled and leaned closer, reaching out as though to tousle Aiden's hair again. He hesitated with his hand near Aiden's cheek, then instead simply brushed a lock of auburn curls behind Aiden's ear. "Yes," he agreed softly, "That we will."
"Okay, so, maybe that wasn't the brightest idea I've ever had, but it worked, didn't it?"
Sabin arched a brow and tied off the bandage a little harder than strictly necessary, garnering a small "ow" from Aiden.
"A simple deception spell would have worked just as well, my King, had you allowed me the opportunity to cast it, and you would not now be bleeding," the Enchanter pointed out dryly.
Aiden grinned. "No," he agreed, "But that idiot with the axe seemed pretty intent on removing your head. If a little nick on the arm is the price that must be paid to keep your head attached to your body, then I will cheerfully pay it."
Sabin rolled his eyes. "Just don't complain to me when that wound starts to hurt in a day or two. Your foolhardy antics will get no sympathy from this Enchanter."
"I don't expect any sympathy," Aiden said cheerfully. "A small healing spell or two, on the other hand... ack!" He ducked as Sabin threw a pillow at him.
After the 'minor incident' with a ragtag troupe of mountain bandits, the two had found themselves a small village and acquired a room at their lone inn. It wasn't the cleanest thing by far, as well as being small with a peculiar odor that Aiden thought might have been ale a very long time ago. Still, it was warm enough, and Sabin had been able to barter a few protective spells for ingredients to make a poultice.
Healing spells, he'd admitted in the midst of berating Aiden for his recklessness, were not one of his strong suits.
"So how long are you going to keep babying me, oh great and powerful Master of everything but healing spells?" Aiden asked, promptly ducking another flying pillow lobbed at his head.
"Until I am certain your wound will not become infected and hinder our progress," Sabin retorted, pale eyes glittering with amusement. "Remind me not to take long trips with foolish kings again."
Aiden smirked. "Ah, but you'll take road trips with un-foolish kings?" he quipped, laughing when Sabin discovered he was out of pillows to throw. A moment later he eeped as the Enchanter stalked over to grab one of the pillows from behind Aiden and hit him upside the head with it. "Ahh, no fair!" he exclaimed.
Sabin chucked and shoved him over backwards onto the sad little excuse for a bed, hitting him with the pillow again as he struggled to right himself.
"Picking on the wounded man is not at all considered fair play," Aiden informed him, stealthily creeping a hand out to retrieve the other pillow. Unfortunately the Enchanter was prepared for just such a tactic and trapped the questing hand with one of his own, yanking Aiden toward him and tickling him mercilessly.
Breathless, Aiden flailed rather helplessly as he attempted to get away from Sabin's evil fingers as they ran up and down his sides in far too skillful a manner. He managed to get a few protests out, which were of course calmly ignored.
The tickle war ended quite abruptly when Aiden's wild squirming caused him to fall off the edge of the bed. Sabin grabbed him, presumably with the intent of pulling him back up, forgetting that the far more muscular Aiden outweighed him by at least fifty pounds. The end result was that Aiden landed on his back on the floor with Sabin sprawled out atop him in an untidy heap.
Sitting up slightly, Sabin blew hair out of his eyes and smiled wryly. "Note to self. Next time, either start on the floor or use a bigger bed."
Aiden laughed, trying ineffectually to toss his own auburn curls out of his face and flashing Sabin a grateful smile when the Enchanter did it for him. "Bigger bed," he said decisively. "Floors are way too hard."
Chuckling and shaking his head, Sabin carefully got to his feet and helped Aiden up, only to nonchalantly shove him over again before the man had quite gained his feet. Aiden landed on the bed with a slight "Oof," much to Sabin's amusement.
"Now just be a good boy and stay there for a few minutes," the Enchanter ordered cheerfully, "While I go see about finding us some food."
Aiden grinned. "Yes, Mother."
The next pillow hit him square in the face.
"I almost wish we were still only a week out of Throne City," Aiden announced as he spread out their bedding on the ground. They'd just stopped for the night, nearly four months into the trip, and less than two weeks from the castle where Morgemeil was known to have established himself.
Sabin chuckled. "So now you get cold feet," he commented.
Aiden laughed. "No, that's not what I meant. I mean, yes, it will be good to finally deal with Morgemeil so that everyone can stop living in fear, but at the same time I sometimes wish this journey didn't have to end."
Sabin passed him two blankets and a quizzical look. Aiden chuckled quietly. "Right. So that made no sense. How to phrase this so I don't sound like an idiot..."
At the brief chuckle from Sabin, Aiden grinned. "Okay, too much like an idiot," he amended. Sabin spoke a few words to get the fire started while he thought, making certain the horses were secured properly before dropping down onto the ground next to the fire.
"I guess I don't like that soon enough we're going to have to part ways and go back to the lives we left behind," Aiden said slowly. "Me to being King, and you to your apprentices who are most decidedly not behaving, despite what you told them when you left." He grinned faintly up at Sabin before looking back down at the fire again. "But if we were only a week out, I'd get another several months of your company."
Sabin smiled softly, withdrawing foodstuffs from his bag and restoring them to proper size for cooking over the fire. "Ah," he said quietly. "The sentiment is shared, if it means anything. Your company is more than enjoyable, even if you get into trouble enough to rival my apprentices, and I find that I am equally loathe to allow this... friendship, if I may be so bold, to slip away."
"It doesn't have to," Aiden suggested, brushing his curls back out of his eyes. "I mean, once they figure out how I got out of the palace it'll probably be a lot harder to escape, but you could always come visit..." He brightened suddenly. "Oh! I know! You could be my Court Magician! Don't I need one of those?"
A quiet chuckle escaped Sabin's lips, threatening to turn into full-blown laughter if he didn't stifle it. "Technically, my King, you need several," he replied.
Aiden smiled brightly. "See? So, problem solved."
This time Sabin did laugh. "I would have to consult with my apprentices first, you know," he said, voice rich with amusement. "They might not appreciate being packed up and hauled away from home so that I can go play Royal Enchanter to a greedy King."
Aiden rolled his eyes. "I'm not greedy, I just don't want to lose you."
"I believe that would count as greedy," Sabin pointed out mirthfully.
"Fine then," Aiden muttered good-naturedly, "So I'm greedy. Is it so bad to want to hang onto the source of some of the best memories of my life?"
Sabin blinked, ice blue eyes widening slightly. "My King... Majesty... Aiden..." He started to reach out before hesitating, struggling visibly with himself to withdraw the hand and sit on it to keep it out of trouble. "I... I'm honored you place such a value upon our association. You... your friendship means much to me."
Aiden contemplated the Enchanter for several minutes, emerald eyes unreadable, then a faint, thoughtful frown creased his brow. "Sabin..."
"Yes?"
"In all the stories you've told me about your life, you've never once mentioned a lover. Is there no one that you care deeply for?" Aiden asked.
He'd never seen Sabin blush before. It was rather nice to be on the receiving end of it for once, Aiden thought, as he waited patiently for the answer.
"I..." Sabin's cheeks darkened further as he looked anywhere but at Aiden. "Magic is very demanding, especially when one is still learning. I have... had a number of lovers, over the years, but never any who lasted. Not like you mean, anyway..."
Aiden considered, then scooted around the fire so he was closer to Sabin, regarding him curiously. "Really?" he asked. "No one at all? No one you ever wished would stay?"
The contrast between Sabin's crimson cheeks and blond hair was rather fascinating in the firelight. It probably would have been even more fascinating if he'd been able to see Sabin's eyes, but the Enchanter was looking firmly away from him.
Sabin attempted several false starts before sighing quietly and looking down at his hands. "Perhaps," he admitted finally, "But it would never work."
"Why not?" Aiden asked.
Sabin smiled faintly. "Because the person that I lo... care for is a fraction of my age and very much out of reach for a lowly Enchanter of no standing."
Aiden snorted inelegantly. "Everyone is a fraction of your age," he pointed out, "And who cares about your standing. I think you're worth far more than you seem to think you are, and as I am the High King, I will publicly declare you the best Enchanter in the kingdom and then no one will be able to argue."
Sabin chuckled. "I don't think you are supposed to abuse your authority like that," he observed.
"If it gets me what I want, then I will feel no remorse whatsoever at abusing my authority," Aiden stated cheerfully.
From the corner of his eyes, Sabin watched him cautiously. "Majesty," he said slowly, "I do not... it is not proper to..."
Aiden scooted closer until their thighs were touching. "Maybe I don't want to be proper," he said quietly. "What is the point in being King if you cannot share your life with the person you love?"
"I... Majesty..." Sabin said helplessly.
"Aiden," Aiden corrected. "My name is Aiden."
"Aiden," Sabin breathed, and Aiden smiled at the way his name sounded in Sabin's warm voice, "I'm old..."
Aiden shifted so that he was straddling Sabin's thighs, letting him gaze down at the Enchanter who was still trying to avoid meeting his eyes. "So?" he said calmly, "Everyone is old some day. You'll just have to wait patiently for me to catch up, however long that takes." He smiled, emerald eyes gleaming. "You will give me the opportunity to do so, won't you?"
Rather than give Sabin the opportunity to protest again, Aiden leaned down, brushing his lips gently across Sabin's. The Enchanter shivered slightly, his hands clenching and unclenching at his sides as his heart and mind pulled him in two different directions. Slowly his head came up, pale blue eyes meeting Aiden's uncertainly.
"Please?" Aiden begged shamelessly, ever so gently nuzzling Sabin's cheek as he felt the tension slowly drain out of the Enchanter. A moment later Sabin's arms came up around him haltingly, one hand sliding high enough to tangle in the unruly curls of his shoulder-length hair. Taking that as an invitation, Aiden pressed his lips to Sabin's again, a little more firmly this time, feeling them soften and then part beneath him.
Delighted, and in no small part relieved, Aiden accepted the offering. Sabin tasted wonderful, as he'd known the man would. The faint taste of honey left over from the sweets the Enchanter liked to suck on, the slightly bitter tang of tea from their morning meal, and overlaying it all the delicious, dizzying, completely indescribable flavour of the man himself. He wanted more, deeper, tongue exploring every crevasse, twining with Sabin's as they explored each other's mouths, not quite able to get enough. Never enough. He felt he'd be able to kiss Sabin all day and it would never be as much as he needed.
It wasn't until he could feel his lungs burn with need for air that they parted, breathing heavily, each loosely encircled by one another's arms. Aiden rested his forehead against Sabin's, panting, wishing irrationally that he didn't need to breathe so that he could drown in Sabin's kiss forever.
"Aiden..." Sabin breathed, sending shivers down Aiden's spine at the sheer need in that chocolate voice, "I think... I think my legs are going numb..."
Aiden chuckled, pressing forward suddenly to knock Sabin off-balance, his hand between Sabin's head and the ground that it suddenly got up close and personal with. He shifted so that he was no longer pinning down Sabin's knees, wriggling instead just over the man's lap and eliciting a delicious gasp from his captive Enchanter.
"Better?" Aiden asked cheerfully, then yelped as Sabin's fingers tightened in his hair and dragged him down hard for another utterly breathless kiss.
To Part Three