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Jensen pulled a flower off a nearby bush and inspected it. "You understand that Prince Jared is to return from school tomorrow?" He asked the gardner with a scowl. "And EVERYTHING needs to be perfect."
"It will be." The gardner trimmed the bushes idly while staring at the Queen's assistant. "Since when do you care what the brat thinks?"
Jensen smirked. "Since it became my job." He scratched at the back of his neck, then adjusted his tunic. "Her Highness is over the moon about her son coming home. The last four years have been difficult for her."
"It's been kinda soothing for me." The gardner sneered.
"Back to work. I'm due to meet the Queen." A grin stole his face, a glimmer of mischief in his green eyes. "Tomorrow, lunch time, the pain in the ass returns."
Jensen went about the rest of the day attending to all the castle's preparation for the return of the prodigal son. Jared finished schooling in a distant town, and was coming back to take his rightful place on the thrown. His father had passed many years before. His mother took over the kingdom until her oldest child became eighteen and well educated.
Many things had changed in the last four years. His mother had grown older and tired. The town hadn't actually thrived, but it also wasn't completely poor. They couldn't wait for the prince to return and turn the town back around. On a personal front, Jensen had gone from house boy to the Queen's personal assistant. He rarely thought about growing up in the castle with the constant snicker of the prince following him around. Prince Jared spent his younger years tormenting the castle with pranks and tricks. The young Jensen had been his favorite victim. To this day whenever Jensen sees a vat of molasses he cringes thanks to the bratty prince.
By evening Jensen crashed in his small room off the kitchen, blowing out his lantern earlier then usual.
Jensen's morning was full of last minute details. He was just finishing helping in the kitchen, taste testing some delightful chocolate glazed pastries. Clarabelle smiled as she watched the chocolate smear above Jensen's mouth. Jensen. . . " she began, before a tall man entered the kitchen, eyes settling on Jensen. His boyish face broke into a dimpled grin as long legs brought him to the young assistant in two short strides.
"You never could eat properly." The young man licked his thumb and began to clean Jensen's face.
"Excuse me?" Jensen batted at the long fingers that continued to try to wipe the offending stain off of Jensen's mouth.
"Jensen, there is no exuse for you man." A familiar twinkle shined in the hazel eyes.
Suddenly everyone in the room stood taller, the snickering stopped. "Your Majesty." Clarabelle bowed low.
"Clarabelle, the pastries look amazing, just like I remember." Prince Jared flashed his perfect white teeth.
Jensen swallowed noticabley, trying to figure out when the prince had grown from a bratty kid to this amazing wall of muscle before him. Never a short man, Jensen couldn't help but notice how tall the prince had become, towering over the assistant. "Prince Jared?" Jensen finally found his voice.
"I hear you are now Assistant Jensen." Jared punched a playful fist into Jensen's arm. "So you're the one running this joint now?"
Jensen tried to shake off the little pop of heat that rose in his cheeks under Jared's playful gaze. "Yes, your highness. You arrived early. We had festivities prepared."
"No worries, Jen." That smile lit up his face again and Jensen felt his knees wobble slightly. "Can't wait for the fun. I'm gonna go freshen up."
Jensen absentmindedly watched the gentle curve of the prince's ass sway out of the kitchen.
"Well." Clarabelle's voice broke the spell. "Someone grew up. Way up." She snickered as Jensen wiped the rest of the chocolate from his mouth.
"Back to preparation." Jensen snapped.
Lunch went exactly how Jensen had planned. He watched the Queen's radiant smile from his post at her side. If his eyes occasionally strayed to the prince and his beautiful hazel eyes and playful dimples, it was only part of his job to make sure the guest of honor was enjoying himself.
The day was long, filled with music and entertainment. Jensen had made sure all the town's most amazing talents were performing at the castle in celebration of the prince's return. The royal kitchen served all of the prince's favorite foods for dinner and again Jensen watched unassumingly from his post. Only the occasional blush caused by Jared throwing him a wink or a smile, broke his professional facade.
That night was fitful for the Queen's young assistant. Everytime his eyes closed the image of the tall muscle bound prince graced his mind. The easy smile flashed at him and even lieing in his bed he couldn't help but smile back.
He was just falling asleep, his dream self wrapped in the prince's strong arms. When a knock awoke him. "What? Yes? Your majesty?" He pulled the soft blanket around his naked form as he cracked the door open.
"Hey." Prince Jared grinned, eyes flashing down to Jensen's blanket clad form. "Wanna raid the leftovers like we did when we were kids?"
"We aren't kids." Jensen answered dryly, fondly remembering the nights stuffing their faces and laughing over Jared's pranks on the others in the castle.
"No, but we still eat. And I'm starving again. Come on." The beautiful show of teeth was more then Jensen could resist. He ran back in his room, tugging on a pair of pants. He turned just in time to see the prince still standing at the cracked door watching him. "Looking good Jensen." He snickered.
The tiny bedroom was only a few feet from the huge kitchen. It was quiet and dark tonight, a stark contrast to the bustle before dinner that Jensen oversaw. "I got the pies, you grab the ham." Jared gestured, eyes too bright in the dim glow of one small lantern.
They met at the island in the center of the kitchen, Jensen pouring ale from a large jug. He studied the prince for a moment over his cup. Jared devored a slice of pie quickly, licking in his large fingers to clean them of any offending cream. "Why did you come and get me?"
"What? What do you mean? We did this all the time as kids?" Jared's eyes squinted in confusion.
"Because I was the only other boy in the castle." Jensen dug into a chunk of ham. "But now, there are many people your age here. So, why me?"
Jared smiled, a small bit of cream dotting the corner of his mouth. "I didn't hang out with you cuz I had too. You were my best friend. I missed you."
Jensen washed down his ham with another swallow of ale, trying to take in what the prince had said. "You tormented me all the time."
Jared's face fell, he reached for his own ale but hesitated. "I. .I thought we were having fun. You didn't have fun?"
Jensen let his childhood play back in his head. He had to admit, although at times he felt like he was being tortured, other times he could see himself gasping for air in fits of laughter. "Yeah," He murmured softly. "I guess I had fun."
Jared beamed triumphantly. "Good. So, friends right?"
Jensen relaxed as he stabbed at a bite of pie. "Friends."
"Good. Now what have I missed around here. Oh, are you courting anyone? I bet she's gorgeous." Jared shoveled more pie into his eager mouth.
Jensen laughed nervously. "No. No, I'm too busy, here at the castle to . . . court anyone." He avoided the prince's hazel eyes. "But what about you? I mean, a prince has to be quite the catch right?"
The rumble of laughter left Jensen's insides melted. "You would think so. And there were a few. . . . interests. But nothing special."
Jensen's breath hitched as the prince's gaze lingered too long. The silence devored them for a moment. "Well, I'm sure the town is full of willing ladies. And I'm sure you'll find someone special."
Jared twiddled his thumbs for a moment before speaking very quietly. "I've been thinking about someone since I left."
Jensen couldn't help feel his heart drop in his stomach just a bit. "Really? I'm sure she will be delighted to hear she's caught the prince's attention."
"She's not. . . . . she's not a royal." Jared seemed to be holding back but Jensen didn't question.
"Oh don't worry about that. Your mother just wants you too be happy. A commoner is fine nowadays. As long as she's from a good family." Jensen hesitated. "She is from a good family right?"
"Yes, mother is very close to the family." Jared seemed to have lost his appetite, plates pushed aside and forgotten, ale gripped tightly in his large hands. "But what if. . . what if. . . .she doesn't feel the same about me."
"You're the prince. Any girl would fall all over herself at a chance with you." Jensen poured himself more ale.
"I wasn't always nice." Jared hung his head. "You said so yourself. I tortured you."
"Well, " Jensen stammered. "You. . you were young. You seem to have matured. School will do that. I'm sure now you are every woman's dream."
They ate in silence, Jared seeming to be mulling everything over in his head. Jensen started to feel sorry for the man. Of course, all the servants loved Jared, but as a boy he had been a handful. Even before he grew to such heights, his long arms and limbs were always flailing into a stack of whatever or a breakable what-not, causing damage and distruction wherever he went. Not that he did any of it on purpose. And then there were the pranks, nothing but good natured fun from a boy who loved laughter. Of course, in a castle with business and procedure, Jared became more of a nuisance to the staff, rather then a kid trying to have fun.
Then there was Jensen. Jensen's mother was one of the head cooks in the kitchen. She loved her job and was humbled when the Queen invited her and her young son to move in. From day one, Jensen's mother told him that a castle was no place for a child's whimsy. So Jensen became an adult. As much of an adult as an eleven year old boy who helped around the castle could be. Jared tried to pull him into trouble from the beginning. He had been eight, with wild hair and a permanant stain on what ever shirt he chose to wear. Jensen whistfully smiled at the memory of their first meeting.
"Hey you!" Jared had called across the courtyard. "Wanna play?"
"I can't play." Jensen answered with an air of importance, not knowing who the messy child running toward him was. "I have work to do. I'm delivering these papers to his majesty."
"Oh." A hint of disappointment colored the blue eyes. "Can I come?"
"I'm going to see the King. You can't see the king in torn knickers and dirt all over your face." Jensen wrinked his nose.
"Come on. I'm bored. We can go raid the kitchen afterwards." A light of excitement lit up the boys face.
Jensen didn't answer but the rag tag youth had followed him anyway. They entered the king's office with a quiet squeak of the door. Jensen laid the papers infront of his majesty and bowed slightly before turning to leave.
"Hi Father." The youngster at Jensen's side had grinned, two front teeth missing. "Look, I made a friend."
Before anything could register in Jensen's young mind the king had turned him around and shook his hand heartly. "Nice to meet you boy. Jared has been needing some companionship. You two run along and have fun. No more work for you today. Just enjoy the outdoors with my boy."
Jared cleared his throat and brought Jensen back to the kitchen and ale. "You okay?" Jared asked, the toothless little boy superimposed over the large muscle bound man.
"Yeah, just thinking." Jensen looked at the hazel eyes that were now turning that sad blue again. "What about you? You said you missed me. You had to have made friends at school?"
"Sure, I made friends." Jared smiled down at the table. "Lots of friends, but they just, just thought of me as Prince Jared ya know?"
"You are Prince Jared." Jensen felt confused.
"Yeah, and some of them had titles too. There was even a few other princes, but. . . . you never really. . . treated me different. Like, if I bugged you, you told me. If you didn't feel like hanging out, you didn't just do it cuz you had to." Jared's face went soft, almost sweet. "Lots of the guys there only wanted to be around me because it looked good. Not cuz they actually liked me."
"I'm sure they liked you. Although, sometimes you do come on a little strong." Jensen rose from the table to find more ale.
Jared's face changed, he watched Jensen walk across the room. "What if I wasn't thinking about a girl while I was at school?"
"I suppose that means you're not ready to settle down." Jensen returned to the table, pouring some wine in both of their empty cups. "But, I thought you said you had been thinking of someone?"
Jared circled the table, jaw set in a determined line. "I was. But. . . "He took Jensen's face in his hand, finger's grazing the light line of freckles across the assistance cheek. "It wasn't a girl."
Jensen may have stopped breathing, or Jared may have stole his breath when their lips met in a soft lingering kiss. Jensen's heart twisted in his chest as his head fumbled toward the solid mass of chest before him. The young servant stood, swaying into the prince. He steadied himself as his arms looped around Jared's neck.
The kiss broke, a soft haze making everything around Jensen seem to glow. "So. . . . " He hid beneath his long lashes as he felt Jared's warm gaze. "Who were you thinking about?" He teased.
Jared wrapped his arms tighter around Jensen, pulling him closer so he could bite at the sensetive neck before him. "You." He whispered, wet and soft. "Always you."
"It will be." The gardner trimmed the bushes idly while staring at the Queen's assistant. "Since when do you care what the brat thinks?"
Jensen smirked. "Since it became my job." He scratched at the back of his neck, then adjusted his tunic. "Her Highness is over the moon about her son coming home. The last four years have been difficult for her."
"It's been kinda soothing for me." The gardner sneered.
"Back to work. I'm due to meet the Queen." A grin stole his face, a glimmer of mischief in his green eyes. "Tomorrow, lunch time, the pain in the ass returns."
Jensen went about the rest of the day attending to all the castle's preparation for the return of the prodigal son. Jared finished schooling in a distant town, and was coming back to take his rightful place on the thrown. His father had passed many years before. His mother took over the kingdom until her oldest child became eighteen and well educated.
Many things had changed in the last four years. His mother had grown older and tired. The town hadn't actually thrived, but it also wasn't completely poor. They couldn't wait for the prince to return and turn the town back around. On a personal front, Jensen had gone from house boy to the Queen's personal assistant. He rarely thought about growing up in the castle with the constant snicker of the prince following him around. Prince Jared spent his younger years tormenting the castle with pranks and tricks. The young Jensen had been his favorite victim. To this day whenever Jensen sees a vat of molasses he cringes thanks to the bratty prince.
By evening Jensen crashed in his small room off the kitchen, blowing out his lantern earlier then usual.
Jensen's morning was full of last minute details. He was just finishing helping in the kitchen, taste testing some delightful chocolate glazed pastries. Clarabelle smiled as she watched the chocolate smear above Jensen's mouth. Jensen. . . " she began, before a tall man entered the kitchen, eyes settling on Jensen. His boyish face broke into a dimpled grin as long legs brought him to the young assistant in two short strides.
"You never could eat properly." The young man licked his thumb and began to clean Jensen's face.
"Excuse me?" Jensen batted at the long fingers that continued to try to wipe the offending stain off of Jensen's mouth.
"Jensen, there is no exuse for you man." A familiar twinkle shined in the hazel eyes.
Suddenly everyone in the room stood taller, the snickering stopped. "Your Majesty." Clarabelle bowed low.
"Clarabelle, the pastries look amazing, just like I remember." Prince Jared flashed his perfect white teeth.
Jensen swallowed noticabley, trying to figure out when the prince had grown from a bratty kid to this amazing wall of muscle before him. Never a short man, Jensen couldn't help but notice how tall the prince had become, towering over the assistant. "Prince Jared?" Jensen finally found his voice.
"I hear you are now Assistant Jensen." Jared punched a playful fist into Jensen's arm. "So you're the one running this joint now?"
Jensen tried to shake off the little pop of heat that rose in his cheeks under Jared's playful gaze. "Yes, your highness. You arrived early. We had festivities prepared."
"No worries, Jen." That smile lit up his face again and Jensen felt his knees wobble slightly. "Can't wait for the fun. I'm gonna go freshen up."
Jensen absentmindedly watched the gentle curve of the prince's ass sway out of the kitchen.
"Well." Clarabelle's voice broke the spell. "Someone grew up. Way up." She snickered as Jensen wiped the rest of the chocolate from his mouth.
"Back to preparation." Jensen snapped.
Lunch went exactly how Jensen had planned. He watched the Queen's radiant smile from his post at her side. If his eyes occasionally strayed to the prince and his beautiful hazel eyes and playful dimples, it was only part of his job to make sure the guest of honor was enjoying himself.
The day was long, filled with music and entertainment. Jensen had made sure all the town's most amazing talents were performing at the castle in celebration of the prince's return. The royal kitchen served all of the prince's favorite foods for dinner and again Jensen watched unassumingly from his post. Only the occasional blush caused by Jared throwing him a wink or a smile, broke his professional facade.
That night was fitful for the Queen's young assistant. Everytime his eyes closed the image of the tall muscle bound prince graced his mind. The easy smile flashed at him and even lieing in his bed he couldn't help but smile back.
He was just falling asleep, his dream self wrapped in the prince's strong arms. When a knock awoke him. "What? Yes? Your majesty?" He pulled the soft blanket around his naked form as he cracked the door open.
"Hey." Prince Jared grinned, eyes flashing down to Jensen's blanket clad form. "Wanna raid the leftovers like we did when we were kids?"
"We aren't kids." Jensen answered dryly, fondly remembering the nights stuffing their faces and laughing over Jared's pranks on the others in the castle.
"No, but we still eat. And I'm starving again. Come on." The beautiful show of teeth was more then Jensen could resist. He ran back in his room, tugging on a pair of pants. He turned just in time to see the prince still standing at the cracked door watching him. "Looking good Jensen." He snickered.
The tiny bedroom was only a few feet from the huge kitchen. It was quiet and dark tonight, a stark contrast to the bustle before dinner that Jensen oversaw. "I got the pies, you grab the ham." Jared gestured, eyes too bright in the dim glow of one small lantern.
They met at the island in the center of the kitchen, Jensen pouring ale from a large jug. He studied the prince for a moment over his cup. Jared devored a slice of pie quickly, licking in his large fingers to clean them of any offending cream. "Why did you come and get me?"
"What? What do you mean? We did this all the time as kids?" Jared's eyes squinted in confusion.
"Because I was the only other boy in the castle." Jensen dug into a chunk of ham. "But now, there are many people your age here. So, why me?"
Jared smiled, a small bit of cream dotting the corner of his mouth. "I didn't hang out with you cuz I had too. You were my best friend. I missed you."
Jensen washed down his ham with another swallow of ale, trying to take in what the prince had said. "You tormented me all the time."
Jared's face fell, he reached for his own ale but hesitated. "I. .I thought we were having fun. You didn't have fun?"
Jensen let his childhood play back in his head. He had to admit, although at times he felt like he was being tortured, other times he could see himself gasping for air in fits of laughter. "Yeah," He murmured softly. "I guess I had fun."
Jared beamed triumphantly. "Good. So, friends right?"
Jensen relaxed as he stabbed at a bite of pie. "Friends."
"Good. Now what have I missed around here. Oh, are you courting anyone? I bet she's gorgeous." Jared shoveled more pie into his eager mouth.
Jensen laughed nervously. "No. No, I'm too busy, here at the castle to . . . court anyone." He avoided the prince's hazel eyes. "But what about you? I mean, a prince has to be quite the catch right?"
The rumble of laughter left Jensen's insides melted. "You would think so. And there were a few. . . . interests. But nothing special."
Jensen's breath hitched as the prince's gaze lingered too long. The silence devored them for a moment. "Well, I'm sure the town is full of willing ladies. And I'm sure you'll find someone special."
Jared twiddled his thumbs for a moment before speaking very quietly. "I've been thinking about someone since I left."
Jensen couldn't help feel his heart drop in his stomach just a bit. "Really? I'm sure she will be delighted to hear she's caught the prince's attention."
"She's not. . . . . she's not a royal." Jared seemed to be holding back but Jensen didn't question.
"Oh don't worry about that. Your mother just wants you too be happy. A commoner is fine nowadays. As long as she's from a good family." Jensen hesitated. "She is from a good family right?"
"Yes, mother is very close to the family." Jared seemed to have lost his appetite, plates pushed aside and forgotten, ale gripped tightly in his large hands. "But what if. . . what if. . . .she doesn't feel the same about me."
"You're the prince. Any girl would fall all over herself at a chance with you." Jensen poured himself more ale.
"I wasn't always nice." Jared hung his head. "You said so yourself. I tortured you."
"Well, " Jensen stammered. "You. . you were young. You seem to have matured. School will do that. I'm sure now you are every woman's dream."
They ate in silence, Jared seeming to be mulling everything over in his head. Jensen started to feel sorry for the man. Of course, all the servants loved Jared, but as a boy he had been a handful. Even before he grew to such heights, his long arms and limbs were always flailing into a stack of whatever or a breakable what-not, causing damage and distruction wherever he went. Not that he did any of it on purpose. And then there were the pranks, nothing but good natured fun from a boy who loved laughter. Of course, in a castle with business and procedure, Jared became more of a nuisance to the staff, rather then a kid trying to have fun.
Then there was Jensen. Jensen's mother was one of the head cooks in the kitchen. She loved her job and was humbled when the Queen invited her and her young son to move in. From day one, Jensen's mother told him that a castle was no place for a child's whimsy. So Jensen became an adult. As much of an adult as an eleven year old boy who helped around the castle could be. Jared tried to pull him into trouble from the beginning. He had been eight, with wild hair and a permanant stain on what ever shirt he chose to wear. Jensen whistfully smiled at the memory of their first meeting.
"Hey you!" Jared had called across the courtyard. "Wanna play?"
"I can't play." Jensen answered with an air of importance, not knowing who the messy child running toward him was. "I have work to do. I'm delivering these papers to his majesty."
"Oh." A hint of disappointment colored the blue eyes. "Can I come?"
"I'm going to see the King. You can't see the king in torn knickers and dirt all over your face." Jensen wrinked his nose.
"Come on. I'm bored. We can go raid the kitchen afterwards." A light of excitement lit up the boys face.
Jensen didn't answer but the rag tag youth had followed him anyway. They entered the king's office with a quiet squeak of the door. Jensen laid the papers infront of his majesty and bowed slightly before turning to leave.
"Hi Father." The youngster at Jensen's side had grinned, two front teeth missing. "Look, I made a friend."
Before anything could register in Jensen's young mind the king had turned him around and shook his hand heartly. "Nice to meet you boy. Jared has been needing some companionship. You two run along and have fun. No more work for you today. Just enjoy the outdoors with my boy."
Jared cleared his throat and brought Jensen back to the kitchen and ale. "You okay?" Jared asked, the toothless little boy superimposed over the large muscle bound man.
"Yeah, just thinking." Jensen looked at the hazel eyes that were now turning that sad blue again. "What about you? You said you missed me. You had to have made friends at school?"
"Sure, I made friends." Jared smiled down at the table. "Lots of friends, but they just, just thought of me as Prince Jared ya know?"
"You are Prince Jared." Jensen felt confused.
"Yeah, and some of them had titles too. There was even a few other princes, but. . . . you never really. . . treated me different. Like, if I bugged you, you told me. If you didn't feel like hanging out, you didn't just do it cuz you had to." Jared's face went soft, almost sweet. "Lots of the guys there only wanted to be around me because it looked good. Not cuz they actually liked me."
"I'm sure they liked you. Although, sometimes you do come on a little strong." Jensen rose from the table to find more ale.
Jared's face changed, he watched Jensen walk across the room. "What if I wasn't thinking about a girl while I was at school?"
"I suppose that means you're not ready to settle down." Jensen returned to the table, pouring some wine in both of their empty cups. "But, I thought you said you had been thinking of someone?"
Jared circled the table, jaw set in a determined line. "I was. But. . . "He took Jensen's face in his hand, finger's grazing the light line of freckles across the assistance cheek. "It wasn't a girl."
Jensen may have stopped breathing, or Jared may have stole his breath when their lips met in a soft lingering kiss. Jensen's heart twisted in his chest as his head fumbled toward the solid mass of chest before him. The young servant stood, swaying into the prince. He steadied himself as his arms looped around Jared's neck.
The kiss broke, a soft haze making everything around Jensen seem to glow. "So. . . . " He hid beneath his long lashes as he felt Jared's warm gaze. "Who were you thinking about?" He teased.
Jared wrapped his arms tighter around Jensen, pulling him closer so he could bite at the sensetive neck before him. "You." He whispered, wet and soft. "Always you."