Bring Him
“BRING HIM!” The Queen shouts to her guards. She had found him. Fuck she finally found out about him and the King. And now he was to be punished in front of the entire court. Shit shit shit!
Adam is dragged out and thrown to the middle of the open circular room where the King and Queen’s court sits and waits for the show to begin. Adam knows it’s useless to try and struggle or argue his way out; the guards were too strong and the Queen was too angry with him.
“Adam Lambert! For having illicit and illegal relations with the King, my husband, you shall be given 60 lashes! And trust me, I’m going easy on you, peasant. From here on out, you are not allowed inside these castle walls nor are you allowed to speak to or see the King in any manner! After today you shall be banned from this kingdom never to return again under penalty of death. GUARDS! You may begin.”
Adam is roughly shoved over the lone table and his clothes are torn from his body. He is naked from the waist up, and his back bears marks from previous whippings. Although none of them would compare to this. Little disobediences are nothing compared to having relations with the King, and Adam knows it. He’s mentally prepared himself for excruciating pain, but nonetheless; the first crack of the whip and subsequent blossom of pain across his back always comes as a surprise.
The court jeers and looks on in amusement as the count becomes higher and higher. The Queen counts them out herself, the notes of accomplishment and enjoyment obvious in her voice. The King, well, he just hides his head in shame for being caught with a man. If it had been a female attendant, she probably would have just been made to leave the castle or bear the red mark for a year. But no, because lying with another man is such an offense, Adam is the one to be punished. Harshly.
crack “57!” crack “58!” crack “59! Oh, how I wish we could continue. This has been such a nice event, watching this disgusting whore be punished. But, all good things must come to an end, yes? 60!” Crack goes the whip for the last time. Adam prays for the pain to become too much, for it to force him to pass out so he can slip into a blissful, pain free sleep. But no, his body refuses to grant him such pity.
“RATLIFF! Take this whore and see to it that he leaves the palace immediately. Then check on him tomorrow and make sure he has left the kingdom. Away with you.”
A thin, frail looking boy comes into Adam’s view. This kid is supposed to help carry me out of here? Adam thinks to himself. The boy is much smaller than Adam, with a shock of blond hair so very rare in their kingdom. No wonder the Queen keeps him close at hand; probably to fawn over such beauty.
The boy--Ratliff?--Carefully takes Adam’s arm and lifts it up so Adam’s arm is slung over his shoulder. Adam hisses, the gashes on his back wailing their protests at moving at all. Adam wishes he could just collapse, and not move ever again, but he can feel the disdainful eyes of the Queen watching him, watching his pain and reveling in it, and he simply can’t give her the satisfaction. Adam removes his arm from the servant boy’s shoulder and stands up straight, even though it brings a wave of agonizing pain and nausea. “I can walk on my own. Thank you.”
Ratliff nods, as if he knows exactly what is going through Adam’s mind, and leads him out of the room down a long hallway Adam’s never seen before. Adam takes the time to think about how he got here. He had been performing one of Shakespeare’s new plays-that guy, seriously. Who the fuck does he think he is, anyways? Says he’s going to be famous one day or some shit-and the King and Queen had come for a night out at the theatre. As such an uncommon occurrence, the cast was allowed to meet the King and Queen and kneel at their feet; something regular peasants don’t usually get to do. The King had immediately been smitten with Adam, and had asked that Adam give him private lessons in acting, as it was one of the King’s secret hobbies. Adam had immediately agreed, being so star stuck as to not hear the innuendo in the King’s voice. How could he have been so stupid.
But the King was so nice to him. They had such a connection. When the King first made a move, Adam had initially declined, saying that sodomy was against the law and besides that-what would a King want with a lowly performing peasant? But the King would not let up. Each lesson the advances got more and more sexual until finally Adam gave in. How could one not be attracted to the King? He was decent looking, and rich and powerful. No one would give up a chance to sleep with the King. So Adam did, and they started a love affair. Each lesson became less and less about acting and more and more about finding places to hide and make love. The King would tell him how beautiful he was, how he loved his singing voice and admired Adam’s acting skills, and how the King would long for Adam when he wasn’t around. Adam knew it was stupid to get into such a relationship with the King of all people, but he loved the attention and the gifts. And yes, maybe he had a bit of a soft spot for the old King; he was overshadowed by the mighty Queen and bent to her every will.
They started to get careless. They became louder (the servants could hear!) and the sessions became longer until finally the Queen went looking for her husband. She found them in the music room in a very compromising position. She gave Adam 24 hours in the dungeon until she could make a nice show of it for her court. Adam doesn’t even want to know what she’ll do to the King in private.
Finally, the blond servant leads him into a small room away from the main part of the castle. A large tub is in the middle, filled with steaming hot water. How long has it been since I bathed? That water looks like it would feel fantastic. Surely it’s not for him, though. Why would he be given such niceties? And by whom? The servant takes Adam to a chair near the bath and directs him to sit. Well, as gently as possible, that is. Finally, he speaks.
“My name is Tommy. I’m a direct servant to the Queen. I saw her rage after she found you. She nearly took it out on me, but unfortunately to save myself I said she should save it for you.” Tommy gives him an apologetic look and continues, “That’s why I’m here to help you. I want to make sure your wounds will heal properly and I want to know that you’ll be ok wherever you decide to go. I’m so sorry for turning her on you. I didn’t realize she would do something like this.”
“It’s not your fault. I’m sure I would have done the same thing. Anyone would have. And besides, if I hadn’t had this punishment today it would have been a different one tomorrow. At least it’s out of the way. Now my only problem is leaving the kingdom in 24 hours with all these open wounds.”
“This is the servants’ bath. We generally share this area but I’ve asked everyone to let us have it for a few hours. I want to clean your wounds and dress them, if you’ll let me?”
Adam nods and is helped by Tommy into the hot water. The heat feels amazing on his wounds, even if they sting a lot at first. The rest of his muscles relax and he allowed himself to just float on his stomach, turning his head for air when he needs it. Tommy cleans his wounds as gently as he can, leaving the water pink from the blood.
when they’re finished. Tommy adds some balm to Adam’s back and then applies the bandages.
“I have some food here for you, too, if you’re hungry at all.”
“No, no. Thank you, though. Perhaps later….if I have a later.” Adam sighs. He has lived his whole life in this kingdom, in his little village where everyone knows him as The Actor. He’s made a decent living, surviving off coins people throw onto the stage or the hospitality of his friends or admirers. Being good looking has helped, of course. “Might I ask…why are you doing this for me? If the Queen finds out you’ll get the same punishment you were trying to avoid.” Adam means it to come out humorously, but Tommy just pales and lowers his head.
“Tommy, it’s alright. This day and age we have to all fend for ourselves, right? I’d forgive you, but there’s nothing to forgive. Now, how exactly do you expect to help me leave the village? I suppose for me it could be easy, since I have no home and very few belongings. But where would I go? What would I eat or where would I sleep?”
“I want you to stay with my family for a little while. They know what’s happening and they’re prepared to stow you away until we can maybe get you another acting job in another kingdom. My cousin owns a theatre about 200 miles West of here in Borham. Perhaps she could help.”
“You would be willing to put your entire family at risk for me? Why?”
“Because I love my King. You made him so happy, whereas the Queen makes him (and everyone else) so miserable. I want to see you succeed so I can bring back good news to him. He fears for your well-being. As do I.”
Adam’s heart swells. So the King cares for him, eh? Well, that sentiment will have to carry him through whatever he has to do in the next few days. And this beautiful creature, Tommy, to risk his own family’s safety for him? Adam wishes there were some way to repay him. Simply having Tommy near his side and having someone sooth his pains was helping tremendously. Adam agrees to go along with Tommy’s plans, and so they quietly make their way out of the castle and onto the servants’ grounds. Adam is surprised no guards come after them, given how many servants have seen them just waltzing through. Surely someone must have tipped off the Queen that Adam is still inside the castle?
Tommy can feel Adam’s apprehension and says, “Don’t worry. All the servants despise the Queen for what she’s made of the King. He used to be so grand and powerful, and after they were married he seemed to just…whither away into a useless shell of a man. He treated the servants so well, but her reign has brought us more sorrow than we thought was possible. He fought tooth and nail to let us remain on our own land here rather than reside in the castle, under her watch 24/7. We are grateful to him for that. We want to see him be happy again, like you made him happy.”
Adam didn’t believe that just making love with the King could affect so many people. He was thinking only of himself, and what would happen to him, that he didn’t even think of all the people under the King’s power. Suddenly, he’s very humbled.
Tommy brings Adam to a shack with the name “Ratliff” on it. An older woman opens the door and immediately envelopes Tommy in a bone-crushing hug. She starts to do the same to Adam, but stops herself when Adam flinches.
“Oh, yes, sorry dear. I almost forgot about what you’ve been through today. Please, come in, come in!”
Inside Adam is introduced to Tommy’s sister, a bright-looking girl in her twenties. Tommy’s mother tells Adam that they don’t have much to spare, but they will give him what they can. Adam is almost moved to tears by this family’s generosity. Tommy lets him sleep on the little cot, careful to disturb his wounds as little as possible. Sleep overtakes Adam almost immediately.
=^_^=
“Is that whore out of my kingdom yet, Ratliff?”
“Yes, my Queen. We got him on the very next carriage and he is as far away from your King as can be right now.”
“Good. If he ever returns you are to let me know immediately, understood?”
“Yes, my Queen.”
“Good. You are dismissed.”
Tommy bows and leaves as quickly as he can, making sure to give no indication that his insides are boiling at the thought of this wretched woman being in charge of their entire Kingdom. He doesn’t want to imagine what she would do to him if she figured out he was lying. Oh, what has she done to their beloved King? He used to be such a great man, and now, because of her and her constant pressure he is weakened and despairing.
=^_^=
The Ratliffs are able to hide Adam fairly well. He never leaves the confines of their small shack, and with Tommy’s mother being a cook it is easy for her to bring him food. Tommy’s sister works as a governess to some of the Aristocrat’s children, so she brings him some books to read every now and then. He tries to help Tommy’s mother with the chores, but she always tells him to rest so he doesn’t reopen the wounds, which have been healing quite well due to Tommy’s constant application of balm and fresh bandages. Adam always makes a point of thank Tommy when he’s finished dressing Adam, but Tommy shrugs and says that it’s the least he can do for Adam given what he’s done for the King. Adam makes a point to thank him anyways.
He and Tommy talk a lot about music and the theatre. Tommy’s always been too busy at the castle to go and see an actual live play.
“The King would have let me go in a heartbeat, but the Queen-she disdains the arts. She thinks their frivolous and unnecessary. She gives me meaningless tasks on the nights of the plays just to keep me from sneaking out.”
When Adam is well enough to move around a bit more, he puts on a little one-man play for Tommy and his family. They love it so much they insist Adam give the rest of the servants a show as well. They wait until nightfall, when most servants are available after the Queen has gone to bed. They bring out every candle and lantern they can spare so everyone can see. Adam takes a breath to begin his first line when he sees none other than his King walking towards them. A moment of panic grips his heart. Oh no, they’ve found out! Tommy and his family will be punished, I’ll be dead! What will happen to the rest of the slaves!? Adam is frozen in shock as the crowd parts and bows as the King walks towards him.
“Adam. I see…uh…I see you are doing well. Good. I overheard a few of the servants talking today and, well. I had to come see your little play for myself. Is that all right?”
Not one jaw is closed. The King wants to join the servants? Unheard of! And the Queen! What about her?
“What about the Queen, my Lord?”
“Well…I may be a broken down man but I still don’t have to tell her everything I do, right?” the King says with a wink and a smile. So he’s not here to punish them. He’s here…to enjoy Adam’s play. To their shock, the King takes a seat on the ground in the very front row. Many people offer him things to sit on, but he declines, saying that whatever seat he has for Adam is the best seat in the house.
And so Adam begins his play.
=^_^=
The next day the King gives Tommy the day off from his duties. Tommy hesitates, thinking about if the Queen needs him, but he’s feeling rebellious. He’s the Queen best servant; she wouldn’t harm him for taking an order from the King. Well, not too harshly, anyways.
Tommy decides that he will play his lute for Adam. They bonded so well over music that Tommy felt confident enough to play something he had written. It was originally to be for the King, but since the Queen hated the arts so much he buried the thought of performing for them.
When Tommy finishes his song, Adam is staring at him raptly from his sitting position on the crude wooden stools they have for chairs.
“Tommy…that was beautiful. Please. Play me another?”
Tommy had to search his memory a bit, but he plays a cute little tune he heard a street beggar play not too long ago. Adam is rapt the whole time Tommy plays. Adam begins to lean forward towards Tommy, but the motion pulls on his not-quite-healed wounds and he hisses in pain. Tommy is immediately at his side, reaching for the balm to help soothe the stretch. Adam breathes a sigh of relief as the balm cools his heated and aching back. He turns to Tommy to thank him, once again, for all the pains he’s taken to sooth Adam’s pains, but Tommy ends up kissing him.
Adam is so surprised that at first he doesn’t even respond. Tommy never gave any indication that he would fancy men. Adam never specifically stated it, but given the fact that he was caught with the King he didn’t feel the need to mention it. He finally starts to return Tommy’s kiss but Tommy turns away.
“We…we shouldn’t do this. It’s against the Queen’s law. It’s. I. We. Ohh….fuck it” Tommy stutters but then gives up and just goes with his intuition. He kisses Adam, and this time Adam gets to kiss back. They exchange shallow, chaste kisses for a few minutes before Adam decides this isn’t a dream and that he’s not going to ruin it by waking up if he moves. He slips his tongue out to run over Tommy’s full bottom lip. The kiss deepens, Tommy allowing Adam into his mouth, but then it plateaus. Tommy seems nervous and unsure, enough so to make Adam stop.
“What’s wrong, Tommy?”
Tommy hesitates. It’s like he’s fighting with himself on whether to say something or not.
“It’s ok, you can say something if you need to.” That seems to break the flood gates. Tommy’s in near hysterics.
“I’ve been a servant in the castle since I was born! What do I know about sex? Our little community, this little family we’ve built among ourselves has this strange unspoken agreement to have as few children as possible so they won’t be brought into this life. I’ve never even touched another person in such a way. I’ve never wanted to!” His eyes are pleading with Adam to take control, to show him just what it means to lie with another man.
“Oh, Tommy, let me show you…”
=^_^= (fade-to-black cop-out is corny, sorry)
“Thomas!” Mrs. Ratliff cried, “Thomas, my child! You must leave immediately! I overheard in the kitchen that the Queen knows you’re hiding Adam and she plans to execute you both! Tonight! You have to leave as soon as possible!”
Adam and Tommy exchange frightened glances and then frantically pack up as much as they can carry. Food, some extra clothes, some treasured belongings, and bandages for Adam’s back. Tommy reaches for his lute, but leaves it at the last second. It’s too much extra weight to carry, so he hands it to his mother and says “Keep it. Maybe, one day, I can play it for you again.”
Then they run.
=^;_;^= (sad!kitty is sad)
They run as far as they can as fast as they can. Luckily Adam’s wounds have been healing nicely so they don’t have to worry about the bandages as much. They get a few villages over before they finally take a break and find shelter for the night.
They try and sleep, but sleep never comes. Finally, to break the silence, Tommy says,
“I heard that there’s a kingdom hundreds of miles away from here. One of the sea Captains had come to present his treasure to the Queen, and he said that there was a kingdom he visited in the West that allowed two men to be together. Well, at least they weren’t executed or banished. We can…try and find out more. Maybe…we could go there.”
“Yeah. You could bring me. We could go. Together.”
Finally, they sleep.