WBoS: Chapter Sixteen
Title: Within Boundaries of Stone (AU)
Author: _dh
Rating: NC-17
Pairing: DM/EW
Warnings: it’s an AU
Disclaimer: I don’t know anything about them, I’m not making anything off this, I made it all up.
Summary: Umm…I made up a time and a place and stuck Dom and Elijah in it. Think of it as a fantasy novel with familiar characters ;)
A/N: Again, apologies for the (really) late post...I live with my aunt and uncle and their new baby arrived just over two weeks ago so there's been lots of adjustment, and lots of stress (he's adopted and there's a long story with the birth mom and interefering busybodies postponing the court date) so i've been kinda distracted lately. So, here you go, hope it's enjoyed :)
Elijah woke to movement in front of him. It wasn’t Dom - he could feel him still pressed against his back along with his memories of the night before.
He pulled away from the comfort of Dom’s body as he realized who it was.
Shadow was still mostly asleep but his eyes were cracked open and he was moving slightly. Elijah sat up, saw the flask of water and reached for it. Shadow’s eyes opened a bit more, and his movements increased.
“Shadow, it’s all right, it’s me, Elijah.”
Shadow’s eyes focused a bit, but Elijah could *see* the haze of pain.
“Here,” he tilted Shadow’s head and placed the flask at his lips. “Drink this.” He tilted the flask, letting some of the water pour into Shadow’s mouth.
At first most of it just spilled out the sides of his mouth, but soon Shadow began to swallow some.
It was slow going, but Elijah got about a quarter of the water down Shadow’s throat.
He didn’t hear Dom get up, but when he turned to put the flask down Dom was sitting behind him.
“Is he awake?”
Elijah glanced back at Shadow’s face. His eyes were closed again and he had stopped moving.
“He was. I got him to drink some water before…” He trailed off at the look that flashed across Dom’s face before he focused on Shadow.
Elijah stared. He hadn’t seen Dom look at him like that since he found out Elijah wasn’t a girl.
Actually, he’d never seen Dom look at him quite like that before.
He couldn’t look away. Even as Dom turned back to him and reached out, leaning forward to slide his hand gently along Elijah’s face then through his hair to the back of his neck. Gentle pressure there and Elijah met him halfway.
It was a short kiss, which still left Elijah slightly off balance, then even more so as Dom licked his lips before focusing back on Shadow and speaking.
“We need to get him back to Thieves Alley, don’t we?”
Still off balance and feeling slightly guilty about the pleasure he felt, it took Elijah a moment to answer. “Are there people there who know how to treat him?”
Dom nodded.
“Then yes, he needs to get there.”
“That guard is probably still looking for us.” Dom paused, then seemed to come to some internal decision before continuing. “He’s just after you, but I suspect he’ll take me if that’s all he can get, no…” he stopped Elijah before he could say anything. “I know you’re not telling me something but right now I just want to get Shadow to safety. Just promise me you’ll tell me what’s going on once we get him back.”
He didn’t want to, but he knew he owed Dom that much so Elijah nodded. “I promise.”
The smile Dom gave him made it more than worth it.
They hadn’t talked about what was happening between them, and Elijah wasn’t sure they would, but right now he didn’t care. There was so much happening around them, and because of him, and now, what Dom seemed suddenly willing to offer was enough and it was giving him a warm feeling inside as well as courage.
And an idea.
“Dom, won’t there be other thieves in Merchant’s Village today?”
“Yes…” Dom sounded curious, but like he was seeing where Elijah’s question was going.
“What if we find a few, could they get Shadow out?”
“We would still be stuck here, then.” Dom warned.
“But Shadow would be safe.”
It wasn’t a question, but Dom nodded. “All right. I’ll see who I can find. Wait here,” he paused, then continued when Elijah didn’t protest. “If I’m not back by midday, look for anyone who seems to fit in too well. And look in crowds, you’re more likely to find us there.”
Elijah reached out and took Dom’s hand, stopping him when he would have kept talking. “I’ll wait with Shadow, just, come back as quick as you can.”
Dom squeezed his hand, then rose. “I will.” And he was gone.
Elijah stared after him for a minute, the events of the last day threatening to overwhelm him, along with the possibility that Dom might not make it back. He pushed it down, resolving not to think about it unless he had to and focused on Shadow.
Moving around to his other side, Elijah carefully lifted the edge of the blankets, then the wrappings around Shadow’s wound.
* * * *
Gabriel stayed on guard at the Sea Gate after the Watchguard arrived. He armed them with a physical description of the betrothed and those he was seen with, and sent them out in pairs to search Merchants’ Village.
He noted Isaiah’s presence as he left the city when the Gates opened at first light.
Then he settled in to wait, passing the time by trying to identify the thieves going into the Merchants’ Village.
* * * *
Aletta had sat awake all night. Too tired to move, she had sat on her bed, comfortable and warm, her mind too chaotic to let her rest. That thief, that boy - she didn’t even really know for sure if he was a thief - had been…her mind shied away from what had been done…because of her, because of what she’d done, because of her irresponsible rash actions. Oh, she knew he would have been caught eventually. He had been *in* the richborn’ gardens after all, but she also knew they only took a hand when thieves were caught.
The boy’s loss - and her own guilt - weighed heavily. Her actions had never had such serious repercussions before.
But this was how it was, she realized, this was what would happen every day when she was queen. People would live or die on her word…or her silence.
* * * *
It didn’t take Dom long to spot another thief. Actually, the only hard part was avoiding the teams of Watchguard patrolling the Village. Quite a few of the thieves he saw noticed the guards - out in unusual number - despite their attempts to blend in and found ways to exit the gates as quickly as they’d come.
Dom waited, nodding greeting to a few who recognized him, until he saw two he knew, two who were of his pride and strong enough for what he needed.
Catching their attention, he discretely led them out of the paths of the Watchguard, to somewhere private where they could talk.
* * * *
His slow progress through Thieves’ Alley frustrated Wolf, but he refused to let himself hurry. He wanted very much to get back to Merchants’ Village, help Gabriel find the betrothed, and get back to Justin at the palace.
It seemed to take hours to arrive at Resai’s room, and without a clear view of the sky, he couldn’t tell exactly how long it had taken. He was in luck, though, Resai was in his rooms, sleeping on the bed.
Wolf knew Resai well enough that he knew Resai was awake and just pretending to sleep. He had probably woken once he heard the light footfall outside his doorway.
“Resai.” He didn’t bother with pleasantries, or even an introduction. “A small boy, blond, doesn’t talk. Who is he?”
“Good morning to you, too, Isaiah.” Resai didn’t even open his eyes; just lay still on his mat. “I’m going to assume you have a very good reason for barging in on me and demanding information. Otherwise, I might have to get quite upset.”
“Who is he?”
Resai sighed, and opened his eyes, sitting up as he did so. “I’m going to need a little more than that to go on.”
“He might have been caught spying outside your quarters.”
“Ahh.” Resai smiled. “That would be Shadow. Dear little curious fellow. Has he done something other than be punished for your incompetence?’
Wolf’s eyebrow’s rose, his only concession to the surprise he felt at Resai’s knowledge of this. “Who would risk taking him off the block?”
“And why, pray tell, would you need to know this?”
“Whoever he is, he has taken something that doesn’t belong to him.”
“He’s a thief, Isaiah, what did you expect?”
Wolf could hear the intrigue behind the humor. Figuring that was probably the best way to get the information out of Resai, he lowered his voice. “He took something that is highly prized by me. If you tell me who he is, and where to find him, I will let him live.”
“Isaiah, dear Isaiah, there is no need for threats. His name is Dominic, though he goes by Puck on the streets. And as to where to find him, he has not returned here in days and I do not expect him back anytime soon. He is courting someone, you know.”
Wolf was out through the doorway before Resai finished talking. He knew Resai wouldn’t lie to him, he had too much interest in the Councilor to risk his standing.
So this ‘Puck’ was in the Merchants’ Village. He would be a lot easier to find there - and a lot less dangerous - than in Thieves’ Alley.
* * * *
Ryen and Dani agreed immediately when Dom filled them in on what happened. He told them where to meet him, then warned them that the Watchguard were looking for him and Shadow, but with just Shadow, they should be able to make it.
They acknowledged the warning, then disappeared off to get the supplies they would need.
Dom watched them disappear, then did the same.
Author: _dh
Rating: NC-17
Pairing: DM/EW
Warnings: it’s an AU
Disclaimer: I don’t know anything about them, I’m not making anything off this, I made it all up.
Summary: Umm…I made up a time and a place and stuck Dom and Elijah in it. Think of it as a fantasy novel with familiar characters ;)
A/N: Again, apologies for the (really) late post...I live with my aunt and uncle and their new baby arrived just over two weeks ago so there's been lots of adjustment, and lots of stress (he's adopted and there's a long story with the birth mom and interefering busybodies postponing the court date) so i've been kinda distracted lately. So, here you go, hope it's enjoyed :)
Elijah woke to movement in front of him. It wasn’t Dom - he could feel him still pressed against his back along with his memories of the night before.
He pulled away from the comfort of Dom’s body as he realized who it was.
Shadow was still mostly asleep but his eyes were cracked open and he was moving slightly. Elijah sat up, saw the flask of water and reached for it. Shadow’s eyes opened a bit more, and his movements increased.
“Shadow, it’s all right, it’s me, Elijah.”
Shadow’s eyes focused a bit, but Elijah could *see* the haze of pain.
“Here,” he tilted Shadow’s head and placed the flask at his lips. “Drink this.” He tilted the flask, letting some of the water pour into Shadow’s mouth.
At first most of it just spilled out the sides of his mouth, but soon Shadow began to swallow some.
It was slow going, but Elijah got about a quarter of the water down Shadow’s throat.
He didn’t hear Dom get up, but when he turned to put the flask down Dom was sitting behind him.
“Is he awake?”
Elijah glanced back at Shadow’s face. His eyes were closed again and he had stopped moving.
“He was. I got him to drink some water before…” He trailed off at the look that flashed across Dom’s face before he focused on Shadow.
Elijah stared. He hadn’t seen Dom look at him like that since he found out Elijah wasn’t a girl.
Actually, he’d never seen Dom look at him quite like that before.
He couldn’t look away. Even as Dom turned back to him and reached out, leaning forward to slide his hand gently along Elijah’s face then through his hair to the back of his neck. Gentle pressure there and Elijah met him halfway.
It was a short kiss, which still left Elijah slightly off balance, then even more so as Dom licked his lips before focusing back on Shadow and speaking.
“We need to get him back to Thieves Alley, don’t we?”
Still off balance and feeling slightly guilty about the pleasure he felt, it took Elijah a moment to answer. “Are there people there who know how to treat him?”
Dom nodded.
“Then yes, he needs to get there.”
“That guard is probably still looking for us.” Dom paused, then seemed to come to some internal decision before continuing. “He’s just after you, but I suspect he’ll take me if that’s all he can get, no…” he stopped Elijah before he could say anything. “I know you’re not telling me something but right now I just want to get Shadow to safety. Just promise me you’ll tell me what’s going on once we get him back.”
He didn’t want to, but he knew he owed Dom that much so Elijah nodded. “I promise.”
The smile Dom gave him made it more than worth it.
They hadn’t talked about what was happening between them, and Elijah wasn’t sure they would, but right now he didn’t care. There was so much happening around them, and because of him, and now, what Dom seemed suddenly willing to offer was enough and it was giving him a warm feeling inside as well as courage.
And an idea.
“Dom, won’t there be other thieves in Merchant’s Village today?”
“Yes…” Dom sounded curious, but like he was seeing where Elijah’s question was going.
“What if we find a few, could they get Shadow out?”
“We would still be stuck here, then.” Dom warned.
“But Shadow would be safe.”
It wasn’t a question, but Dom nodded. “All right. I’ll see who I can find. Wait here,” he paused, then continued when Elijah didn’t protest. “If I’m not back by midday, look for anyone who seems to fit in too well. And look in crowds, you’re more likely to find us there.”
Elijah reached out and took Dom’s hand, stopping him when he would have kept talking. “I’ll wait with Shadow, just, come back as quick as you can.”
Dom squeezed his hand, then rose. “I will.” And he was gone.
Elijah stared after him for a minute, the events of the last day threatening to overwhelm him, along with the possibility that Dom might not make it back. He pushed it down, resolving not to think about it unless he had to and focused on Shadow.
Moving around to his other side, Elijah carefully lifted the edge of the blankets, then the wrappings around Shadow’s wound.
* * * *
Gabriel stayed on guard at the Sea Gate after the Watchguard arrived. He armed them with a physical description of the betrothed and those he was seen with, and sent them out in pairs to search Merchants’ Village.
He noted Isaiah’s presence as he left the city when the Gates opened at first light.
Then he settled in to wait, passing the time by trying to identify the thieves going into the Merchants’ Village.
* * * *
Aletta had sat awake all night. Too tired to move, she had sat on her bed, comfortable and warm, her mind too chaotic to let her rest. That thief, that boy - she didn’t even really know for sure if he was a thief - had been…her mind shied away from what had been done…because of her, because of what she’d done, because of her irresponsible rash actions. Oh, she knew he would have been caught eventually. He had been *in* the richborn’ gardens after all, but she also knew they only took a hand when thieves were caught.
The boy’s loss - and her own guilt - weighed heavily. Her actions had never had such serious repercussions before.
But this was how it was, she realized, this was what would happen every day when she was queen. People would live or die on her word…or her silence.
* * * *
It didn’t take Dom long to spot another thief. Actually, the only hard part was avoiding the teams of Watchguard patrolling the Village. Quite a few of the thieves he saw noticed the guards - out in unusual number - despite their attempts to blend in and found ways to exit the gates as quickly as they’d come.
Dom waited, nodding greeting to a few who recognized him, until he saw two he knew, two who were of his pride and strong enough for what he needed.
Catching their attention, he discretely led them out of the paths of the Watchguard, to somewhere private where they could talk.
* * * *
His slow progress through Thieves’ Alley frustrated Wolf, but he refused to let himself hurry. He wanted very much to get back to Merchants’ Village, help Gabriel find the betrothed, and get back to Justin at the palace.
It seemed to take hours to arrive at Resai’s room, and without a clear view of the sky, he couldn’t tell exactly how long it had taken. He was in luck, though, Resai was in his rooms, sleeping on the bed.
Wolf knew Resai well enough that he knew Resai was awake and just pretending to sleep. He had probably woken once he heard the light footfall outside his doorway.
“Resai.” He didn’t bother with pleasantries, or even an introduction. “A small boy, blond, doesn’t talk. Who is he?”
“Good morning to you, too, Isaiah.” Resai didn’t even open his eyes; just lay still on his mat. “I’m going to assume you have a very good reason for barging in on me and demanding information. Otherwise, I might have to get quite upset.”
“Who is he?”
Resai sighed, and opened his eyes, sitting up as he did so. “I’m going to need a little more than that to go on.”
“He might have been caught spying outside your quarters.”
“Ahh.” Resai smiled. “That would be Shadow. Dear little curious fellow. Has he done something other than be punished for your incompetence?’
Wolf’s eyebrow’s rose, his only concession to the surprise he felt at Resai’s knowledge of this. “Who would risk taking him off the block?”
“And why, pray tell, would you need to know this?”
“Whoever he is, he has taken something that doesn’t belong to him.”
“He’s a thief, Isaiah, what did you expect?”
Wolf could hear the intrigue behind the humor. Figuring that was probably the best way to get the information out of Resai, he lowered his voice. “He took something that is highly prized by me. If you tell me who he is, and where to find him, I will let him live.”
“Isaiah, dear Isaiah, there is no need for threats. His name is Dominic, though he goes by Puck on the streets. And as to where to find him, he has not returned here in days and I do not expect him back anytime soon. He is courting someone, you know.”
Wolf was out through the doorway before Resai finished talking. He knew Resai wouldn’t lie to him, he had too much interest in the Councilor to risk his standing.
So this ‘Puck’ was in the Merchants’ Village. He would be a lot easier to find there - and a lot less dangerous - than in Thieves’ Alley.
* * * *
Ryen and Dani agreed immediately when Dom filled them in on what happened. He told them where to meet him, then warned them that the Watchguard were looking for him and Shadow, but with just Shadow, they should be able to make it.
They acknowledged the warning, then disappeared off to get the supplies they would need.
Dom watched them disappear, then did the same.