Fic: Desire's Thrall (Or, Romance Novel Nightmare), Chapter 4
Title: Desire's Thrall (Or, Romance Novel Nightmare)
Chapter 4
Author: she_burns1
Pairing: Bret/Jemaine, Bret/Jemayn, Bretta/Jemayn (...it'll make sense when you read it)
Rating: PG-13
Word Count: 4,269
Summary: Bret gets transported into a romance novel. No, really.
Disclaimer: All recognizable characters, settings, etc. are the property of their respective owners. The plot is all mine. No copyright infringement is intended.
Author’s Note: Crack!Fic. This chapter is much longer than previous ones. I thought of breaking it up, but it all flowed so well. Eh, hopefully you'll just eat it up! :D
Previous Chapters: 1, 2, 3
Bret was not sure how long they sailed but it did not seem that long at all.
Granted, a lot of this was largely due to the fact that he spent most of it sleeping in one of the private quarters. Taika had, unfortunately, been correct about his right eye, which did end up swelling up and closing.
Bret had never had a black eye before, and it was an unpleasant experience. Greg - or Gregori, as he was known here - did his best to treat him with some herb poultice that he rested over his face. Bret didn't know if it was doing any good, but the smell of rose and lavender that wafted from it was nice.
Nice enough that it lulled him into a deep sleep that he did not awaken from until they reached the shore, the large commotion accompanying the men as they prepared to disembark awakening him.
Bret was relieved when he found he could see from both eyes but found his head was still a tad sore. He got to his feet unsteadily and was startled when the door burst open.
Jemayn stood there, clearing his throat, and Bret regarded him with an uncomfortable little smile. Bret wished it wasn't so awkward. Jemayn walked closer, inspecting him, "Ah, I see again Gregori does good work. While I had not the chance to see your eye swell close, he did describe it to me. Seems it is much better now, though your eye is still slightly ringed purple."
"Oh, um, good?"
"Hmm, yes, I really will have to do something for the man. Perhaps you can pick out a good mare for him."
"A...mayor?" Bret asked, confused.
Jemayn disregarded this, "I...well, Taika, really...suggested that I should...help you. That...perhaps together we can...coax your memory to return."
Bret blinked then nodded. What else could he do?
"The men are making for shore, after they are gone, you and I shall depart and return to our...my-my home," Jemayn shifted about his feet, "Not that it is...it is your home too."
He grunted abruptly, obviously annoyed at being so uncomfortable and changed subjects, "My father shall no doubt be in wait. He visits from time to time and, after a hearty feast, he will most likely depart and we can begin trying to recapture your memory. I expect this will be sufficient?"
Bret nodded once more and wondered why Jemayn seemed so unnerved. But then, he imagined it couldn't be easy for the other man. After all, he probably never had to explain such things to 'Bretta'. Honestly. Bret would much rather return to his own time than to go along with a farce in which he tried to get back his 'memory'.
Then again...
Bret scratched at the back of his head as a new, and wholly creative, thought came to him. Maybe he had lost his memory. Maybe this was the real world and the real world was the fake one...or something.
Could he have imagined all that? Dreamed up New York with its tall skyscrapers and bastard girls? Jemaine with his glasses and...less confidence-ness?
No, no, he couldn't have...his imagination was good, but not that good. New York was real. Jemaine with glasses was real. All of this was just...just some sort of weird time warp.
Once movement about the ship grew quiet, Jemayn and Bret exited themselves. They found Taika down by the shore, a pair of horses with him, he smiled, "Your good father is in residence, Jemayn. He knew of your return and sent a camp to shore to wait for you. They offered up these fine rides back home."
"Ah, excellent, anyone else about?"
"Nay, just us three, I thought it best if I wait for you," Taika said and Jemayn mumbled his thanks.
Bret looked at the horses with awe. He had certainly spent plenty of time around sheep when he had been a Shepard, but horses...he hardly ever got the pleasure. Taika was all ready mounted and Jemayn looked at Bret with some trepidation, "There is only one animal for us to share, so what would you have, the front or the back?"
Bret's eyes widened, "What? We're...we're both going to ride the horse?!"
"This is what I said."
"Oh! I...it won't...won't hurt him, will it?" Bret asked, reaching out a hand. The horse brought forth his muzzle and Bret rubbed at it gently, his hand gliding upwards along the horse's face and then down its' neck.
Jemayn looked at him with interest, then shook his head, "No. He can managed us both."
Bret continued to pet the horse and he had to admit to finding pleasure in it. In fact, this was the first good thing to happen to him in quite a while. The horse too, seem pleased, and tossed its head a little, stamping one hoof. Bret laughed, smiling, "He's a beauty."
Jemayn's lips twitched, "You always were good with them. But, now that I think of it, I do not recall ever having seen you hold the reins, so-"
Jemayn eased Bret from the front of the horse by his elbow and took him towards the side, "Come then, a hand up, well, two actually. Put your left hand on the saddle horn, right there, good, and your left foot in my hands."
"But what about your wound?" Bret objected, even as he did as Jemayn asked.
"Up you go." Was Jemayn's answer as he boosted the other man up into the saddle smoothly, "Keep your feet out of the stirrups for now."
Bret managed to follow this instruction easily, as he wasn't quite sure what a 'stirrup' was. Jemayn's voice was low, "I'm going to reach around you and get up behind the saddle. Ready?"
Reach around-? Behind-? What?! Bret's thoughts tripped over one another in their shock and before they could settle he realized that Jemayn was sort of curved behind him.
It was all very disconcerting.
Not only how smoothly Jemayn mounted the horse (to which Bret was jealous) but also the way Jemayn felt behind him. Honestly. Bret felt as if a wall of heat surrounded him. Jemaine had always been the bigger of the pair, but this just seemed to nail the fact home.
Is this how it would feel if he snuggled back against Jemaine on the couch? Not that he had ever even entertained such a thought, but...
Jemayn's hands came around him and Bret shivered. God, he wished this didn't feel so intimate. Jemayn's voice seemed to almost purr from behind him, "Can you ride without stirrups?"
Bret was scared of how his voice might sound if he talked so he just nodded.
"Good, 'twill make my riding a bit easier," Jemayn murmured, "Now," he handed Bret the reigns, "Just pull gently and direct him as to where you would like him to go."
Bret took the reigns reluctantly. He still wasn't sure this wasn't going to hurt the animal beneath him. He gave the minimalist of tugs and was relieved that the horse responded, moving forward.
Jemayn chuckled, "Amazing..."
Bret licked his lips, "Wh-what?"
"The barest touch from you and he gets the message...you have always had a way with animals..."
Bret didn't know why he felt his face heating from the comment but he did. Even more so, when Jemayn whispered near his ear, "Perhaps that is why you have always had such a way with me."
Bret felt something shoot through him, hot and tingling, right down his spine. He shifted slightly in the saddle. No, no, no...he refused to get...excited by that. Just words...Jemaine...animal...ridiculous...
Straight, straight, straight...
Straight as a road.
Straight as a ruler.
It would help if Jemayn wasn't so...huddled up behind him. He felt Jemayn's chest bump up against his back as they rode and that...just...oh this was so wrong, so very, very wrong.
Bret decided to try and focus his mind on anything else. Anything.
He looked around him. The land began to slant upwards slightly as they got farther away from the water. A dense forest began to rise up around them and Bret looked at the tall trees with wonder.
They were like the sky scrappers in New York but much more majestic. Melting snow laden their tops and the ground too was dusted a mild white. The winter was obviously giving way to spring and while it was cold, it was not completely inhospitable.
In fact, Bret thought he spied a few tender tendrils of green sprouting up from the earth. Bret had hardly seen this much nature since he had been back in New Zealand. It was...refreshing. Certainly a tad bit better than concrete streets and yellow taxi cabs. That was a different forest all together.
They rode for quite a ways and right about the time Bret got tired of riding the horse and wanted to get off, a building came into view. Bret couldn't contain the gasp that left him when he first laid eyes on the house.
House might not be the appropriate word, as what sprawled out before him seemed more like a manor or a castle. It was built of stone and with many windows. It had chimneys though which smoke could escape and a second floor to live in. Bret could just make out a stretching field behind it and as they approached he could hear music filling the air.
And for some reason...it made Bret think of...something...it seemed so familiar. As if he had seen this image before. How was that possible. And why did he keep thinking of the color purple? And books?
Bret didn't have long to puzzle over this as Jemayn took the reigns from him and eased the horse to a stop. Again, to Bret's jealousy, he dismounted easily and then, to add insult to injury, practically lifted Bret off the horse as if he weighed nothing.
Bret tried not to pout but it was hard not to. Did this man need to rub in how strong he was? At least Jemaine wasn't that strong. No way Jemaine could just carry him around like that. He took an almost savage pleasure in the difference.
Jemayn set him on his feet and released him swiftly, his face an interesting mask. Bret wondered what exactly was going on in the other man's head when suddenly Dave (no, wait, Davion) approached, a large tankard in one hand, two girls on either arm, "There you are, you lazy wenches! Thought you'd never get here!"
"Ah, Davion, I see my father also brought his fine ale."
"Aye! I've all ready...how many have I had?" Davion mumbled then shrugged and turned to one girl, nuzzling her neck and then to the other girl to do the same. Bret almost felt bad that the real Dave couldn't see this.
Jemayn shook his head and patted Davion's shoulder, before charging ahead of the others, "Good, good...I should see my father."
"Come on, little thing," Taika said playfully, winking at Bret as he ushered him forward into the manor.
They did not get far before a beautiful woman appeared, hands on hips, "So. The mighty heroes return."
"Loren..." Taika started and she marched over to him. She slapped him fiercely across the face and Bret gasped, shocked, though no one else seemed to be. In fact, everyone around them seemed to be smiling, making Bret even more confused as she cried, "And where be my husband but taking his time down by the shore! Davion got here before you! Gregori, even! I had to wait!"
Taika rubbed his cheek, smirking, "You were always the flirt."
Loren looked at him impishly, eyes flashing, "Did I hurt you?"
"Not even a little."
She raised her hand again and Taika caught her wrist, "You are wicked, aren't you? You wish to be punished?"
"Ha! You think you have the power in you to do so?" She asked silkily and suddenly Bret felt like he was peeking in someone's bedroom window. She looked at him then, her face soft, "So...you found him."
"Indeed."
Loren left Taika momentarily and walked over to him. She hugged him fiercely and Bret stood there, arms at his sides, unsure if he should hug back or not. Loren breathed deep as she rubbed at his back, "I feared for you. I am glad to see you safe."
She drew back and kissed his cheek.
Bret rubbed at the spot, blushing and Taika took Loren close, whispering, "There are things I must tell you-"
"Oh?"
"Mmm, they are most pressing-"
Loren's eyebrows rose, "Oh really."
"I'm serious."
Loren's playful attitude died immediately at the look on Taika's face, "Truly?"
Taika nodded, but then smiled evilly, "'Till...can wait," he flashed Bret a meaningful look, "Go onward, Bret. You will find Jemayn yonder in the main hall, no doubt in talks with his father. Just...be mindful."
Bret translated 'mindful' into 'silent' and he was surprised Taika felt the need to mention it. Since this had started Bret had barely talked. He couldn't think for the life of him what to say. And part of him was afraid if he opened his mouth he'd just start screaming.
After all, what was one to do when they found themselves trapped in an alternate dimension or what have you? And he was trapped, as it certainly did not seem he would be waking up anytime soon or finding a portal out or whatever. So he just went with the motions.
Loren, however, gasped in a mocking way, "Why would you be sending him away? Do you have nefarious plans in mind?"
"Indeed, I plan on taking you."
"What? Right here? Right now? With all these eyes upon us? Are you such a lustful creature?"
Taika nodded, "Aye, as are you," He kissed her hungrily then and Bret looked away, face flaming because, okay, Taika's hands were...places. Touching and grabbing and all ready Loren was making...noises.
Then he heard Loren purr, "Bretta could stay. I don't mind him offering a...helping hand."
"Saucy wench," Taika growled and, really, Bret had had enough.
He liked both Taika and Loren but he wasn't quite ready for a man-man-lady three way. He felt enough out of his depth as it was. He walked through the manor, rubbing at one arm, looking this way and that. This place was so entirely unfamiliar that he couldn't help walking slowly, timidly peeking his head around a corner before entering what he could only assume was the main hall.
A group of musicians played their instruments boisterously and Bret bobbed his head a little. Not too bad. The sound was far too medieval for his tastes, but it wasn't terrible. Several of the men he had seen on the boat walked about looking much as Davion had, with tankard in hand and women fawning all over them.
Bret spied Jemayn through a throng of people and he realized then, that Jemayn was actually a lot taller than most of the men here. Was Jemaine very tall? Not that Bret could recall, but then Jemaine did have a tendency to walk a bit stooped, shoulders sort of down.
Jemaine had once told him he did this because it was 'artsy' and that was something ladies were into, but Bret had always gotten the feeling he walked this way because he just wasn't all that confidant. Jemayn, obviously, did not have this problem, and therefore stood tall.
Bret wondered if he could get Jemaine to stand like that when he got home. If he got home.
Flip.
Bret tried his best not to pout again as he weaseled his way through the crowd towards Jemayn. As he got closer, he thought he recognized the voice of the person he was talking to, "...so then, all went well?"
"Yes, Father. 'Twas a shame you were not there to take part in it."
"And of Lord Marcus and Lady Sarah?"
"We befitted them with proper punishment. Both have been taken capture and are, more like than not, to be sold into service."
"Ah! Appropriate! I like it, Jemayn! Steal a servant, become a servant! I shall have to take note of it!"
Bret managed to finally see who Jemayn was talking to and his eyes widened considerably, words leaving him before he could help himself, "Murray?!"
Both men turned and looked at Bret. Jemayn looked horrified, but Murray merely laughed, "Moo-ray?! What a hilarious name! Nay, thrall, 'tis I! Muiredach! Muiredach the Ginger, on account of this," he said and ruffled a few fingers along his orange beard and Bret blinked at that.
Yes, Murray had a full blown beard.
And Murray was...he was...
Bret couldn't help but laugh, "You're...you're Jemayn's...dad?"
Muiredach looked confused, "Dad?"
Gregori seemed to come out of thin air, offering quietly, "I think he means 'father', m'lord."
Muiredach blinked, "Well, yes! 'Course I am! Who should say otherwise?!"
Bret tried to stop chuckling but it seemed an impossible task as he shook his head. Murray as Jemaine's dad! Priceless! He tried to compose himself, "Aren't...aren't you a bit...young to be his Dad. Mean...you're old, but...not-not that old," Bret's words got quieter and quieter as he noticed the suddenly vicious look on Jemayn's face.
Muiredach, however, seemed not to mind, instead looking more and more confused, "Such strange talk from you, thrall," he turned to Jemayn, "Has he become deranged? I can always give you a new-"
"No, no," Jemayn said hastily, "He is just tired from the journey," Jemayn stalked over to Bret, glaring down at him, "Are you not, thrall?"
Bret gulped, suddenly remembering axes and the fact that Jemayn apparently liked to collect teeth as trophies, "Um, yeah, yes, yes."
"Then he should retire! And Jemayn! First, you shall tell me more of your battles! I would like to have them well recounted and then, mayhap, we can discuss our plans for the spring. Profits to be made from the fields and what have you. I shall have Gregori grab one of my ledgers, Gregori?"
Gregori left the group to find Muiredach's ledger and Jemayn eased closer, "Father, if I may-"
"Oh! Oh! Wait, wait, I must introduce you!" Muiredach said excitedly as the musicians from earlier walked over, "These are my latest acquirements! One of my men bought them from the Celts. This one here is Tod and the other is Demetrio and they have the most fine skills in instruments. I plan to have them play at all my affairs, they'll say 'That's Muiredach the Ginger for you, always having his Mad Dach's playing', see, I was thinking I'd call the pair of them that, instead of my musicians or-"
"Yes, yes, Father, I see, I just," Jemayn cleared his throat, "I would retire upstairs for a moment."
Jemayn nodded his head off in one direction and Bret followed his eyes. A lovely young serving girl offered a plate of roasted...animal...to one of the men and, seeing her, Muiredach threw back his head and laughed, nudging Jemayn knowingly, "Yes, yes, I see. Fine choice, my son! Go then, take care of business of state and then we'll," he slowed down talking, obviously unsure as to how to finish his speech, "...take care of...business of..."
Jemayn cut him off with a muttered affirmative and turned to leave, taking Bret by the elbow, hissing down at him, "What a fine mess you almost got yourself into!"
Bret wanted to defend himself but could think of nothing to say. They both moved over to the girl Jemayn had pointed out earlier and as they got closer Bret recognized her as well, breathing out quietly, "Coco?"
Jemayn ignored him, "Socorra, I would have need of you."
She nodded mutely and followed the duo into the next room. Jemayn practically pushed Bret from him as he released his grip on the other man's elbow, "Take Bret to his room. See that he stays out of trouble...if such a thing is possible..."
Jemayn stormed off and Bret stuck his tongue out at his retreating back. He didn't know why Jemayn was so angry, but right there he had been classic Jemaine, a real dickhead.
Socorra offered Bret a tentative smile, "This way, Bretta..."
He trailed behind her, happy to see her again, even if she was this realities version of the girl he had once dated, "It's nice to see you again, Coco."
Socorra turned to him, surprise in her eyes, "Coco? No one has called me that in years. My father used to, before he," she trailed off, shaking her head sadly, "It has been years."
Bret scratched at his neck, "And now your a...what, slave?"
She smiled, shaking her head, "Not so much. True, I, in essence, belong to Jemayn - I am in debt to him, as are you, but, in many ways we are lucky to have him as our Master. He does not offer us up freely as some others would. I have heard of households where men have their pick of the servants...they can rut with them right in the great hall if they like. Not so with Jemayn. He treats us proper."
"So...you are free to leave?"
She shrugged, "I did not say that."
"Have you...ever left before?"
"No. But I have no wish to. The same goes for the others here. This is our home. Not many of us still have family or anywhere else to go, so, really, we are more than happy to stay here. But then, you know this."
"Yes, I know this," Bret said numbly, then, "Coco-"
"So strange you should call me that now, you never called me that before-"
"I know, I...you must have heard, my-my capture-"
"Oh yes! We did so fear for you! 'Tis strange...no others were taken. And why Lord Marcus would steal you-"
"Yes, well, um, since it happened my...mind has been...troubled. Tell me...how-how was I...before?"
"Before?"
"Yeah, before...just...tell me what you remember of me."
"'Tis an odd request," she murmured, "You were...kind. Sort of quiet. You used to talk to me a lot...there was a time," she blushed, "We kissed once. It was...nice. I liked it."
"Me too," He tossed in quickly.
Socorra sighed, "It was nice, but...I was not...I didn't feel...you are more like a beloved friend to me than," she tossed her head from side to side, smiling, "Still...we stayed fast. Talked often. And then I don't know...after your injury-"
"I was injured?"
"Oh my, yes. Quite seriously. I hope you will forgive me for saying this, but...between that and your capture...you can be quite accident prone."
Bret's face flushed and Socorra tried to stifle giggles.
Once she got a hold of herself, she continued, "Anyway, you were injured and confined to bed and we did not know whether or not you would live. Jemayn was beside himself. I don't think he would know what to do if someone in his household died...he never took the death of his mother well and then, after he left his father's home and got this fine manor...he's always been so attached to the people here...mayhap this is why he treats us so well..."
She shrugged, "Regardless, I know not much of what caused your injury, but I stayed by your bedside for a time, cooling your fevers and when you got well...you and Jemayn became quite inseparable and you became distant with me. I do not know why on your part, but for Jemayn's, my guess was that he wanted to keep an eye on you. I think this may be why he took Marcus' abduction of you so seriously."
"I was...distant with you?"
"It was odd, but nothing to worry over. I just concluded that Jemayn was keeping you busy. Like I said, you two became very close. See, here be your room," she indicated one of the doors and then, with a wave to the other across from it, "And here be his."
Bret swallowed, "We...we sleep across the hall from one another?"
Again she shrugged, "'Twas thought your list of duties were soon to be changed. When first you came, you worked solely in the stables, but most of us believed you would soon become Jemayn's personal thrall. Most men have one to help them. Muiredach actually has two himself, he has Gregori, who he loaned to Jemayn for the raid to free you and the other, Jamison, stills keeps watch on his lands while he is away."
Bret nodded and walked into his room, studying it. It was rather threadbare. Just a bed and a few other odds and ends here and there. He turned to say more to Socorra but she was gone and he sighed. Coco. Flip.
He ran a hand through his hair. He would much rather be trapped in a nightmarish romance novel with her as the main focus than Jemayn.
Bret's eyes widened.
Romance novel!
That was it!
He had been at the bookstore and he had left to go home. He had been given a romance novel. The purple cover! The house illustrated on it! It was this house! This place!
Bret slapped a hand to his eyes. Oh god! He was trapped in a romance novel!
Chapter 4
Author: she_burns1
Pairing: Bret/Jemaine, Bret/Jemayn, Bretta/Jemayn (...it'll make sense when you read it)
Rating: PG-13
Word Count: 4,269
Summary: Bret gets transported into a romance novel. No, really.
Disclaimer: All recognizable characters, settings, etc. are the property of their respective owners. The plot is all mine. No copyright infringement is intended.
Author’s Note: Crack!Fic. This chapter is much longer than previous ones. I thought of breaking it up, but it all flowed so well. Eh, hopefully you'll just eat it up! :D
Previous Chapters: 1, 2, 3
Bret was not sure how long they sailed but it did not seem that long at all.
Granted, a lot of this was largely due to the fact that he spent most of it sleeping in one of the private quarters. Taika had, unfortunately, been correct about his right eye, which did end up swelling up and closing.
Bret had never had a black eye before, and it was an unpleasant experience. Greg - or Gregori, as he was known here - did his best to treat him with some herb poultice that he rested over his face. Bret didn't know if it was doing any good, but the smell of rose and lavender that wafted from it was nice.
Nice enough that it lulled him into a deep sleep that he did not awaken from until they reached the shore, the large commotion accompanying the men as they prepared to disembark awakening him.
Bret was relieved when he found he could see from both eyes but found his head was still a tad sore. He got to his feet unsteadily and was startled when the door burst open.
Jemayn stood there, clearing his throat, and Bret regarded him with an uncomfortable little smile. Bret wished it wasn't so awkward. Jemayn walked closer, inspecting him, "Ah, I see again Gregori does good work. While I had not the chance to see your eye swell close, he did describe it to me. Seems it is much better now, though your eye is still slightly ringed purple."
"Oh, um, good?"
"Hmm, yes, I really will have to do something for the man. Perhaps you can pick out a good mare for him."
"A...mayor?" Bret asked, confused.
Jemayn disregarded this, "I...well, Taika, really...suggested that I should...help you. That...perhaps together we can...coax your memory to return."
Bret blinked then nodded. What else could he do?
"The men are making for shore, after they are gone, you and I shall depart and return to our...my-my home," Jemayn shifted about his feet, "Not that it is...it is your home too."
He grunted abruptly, obviously annoyed at being so uncomfortable and changed subjects, "My father shall no doubt be in wait. He visits from time to time and, after a hearty feast, he will most likely depart and we can begin trying to recapture your memory. I expect this will be sufficient?"
Bret nodded once more and wondered why Jemayn seemed so unnerved. But then, he imagined it couldn't be easy for the other man. After all, he probably never had to explain such things to 'Bretta'. Honestly. Bret would much rather return to his own time than to go along with a farce in which he tried to get back his 'memory'.
Then again...
Bret scratched at the back of his head as a new, and wholly creative, thought came to him. Maybe he had lost his memory. Maybe this was the real world and the real world was the fake one...or something.
Could he have imagined all that? Dreamed up New York with its tall skyscrapers and bastard girls? Jemaine with his glasses and...less confidence-ness?
No, no, he couldn't have...his imagination was good, but not that good. New York was real. Jemaine with glasses was real. All of this was just...just some sort of weird time warp.
Once movement about the ship grew quiet, Jemayn and Bret exited themselves. They found Taika down by the shore, a pair of horses with him, he smiled, "Your good father is in residence, Jemayn. He knew of your return and sent a camp to shore to wait for you. They offered up these fine rides back home."
"Ah, excellent, anyone else about?"
"Nay, just us three, I thought it best if I wait for you," Taika said and Jemayn mumbled his thanks.
Bret looked at the horses with awe. He had certainly spent plenty of time around sheep when he had been a Shepard, but horses...he hardly ever got the pleasure. Taika was all ready mounted and Jemayn looked at Bret with some trepidation, "There is only one animal for us to share, so what would you have, the front or the back?"
Bret's eyes widened, "What? We're...we're both going to ride the horse?!"
"This is what I said."
"Oh! I...it won't...won't hurt him, will it?" Bret asked, reaching out a hand. The horse brought forth his muzzle and Bret rubbed at it gently, his hand gliding upwards along the horse's face and then down its' neck.
Jemayn looked at him with interest, then shook his head, "No. He can managed us both."
Bret continued to pet the horse and he had to admit to finding pleasure in it. In fact, this was the first good thing to happen to him in quite a while. The horse too, seem pleased, and tossed its head a little, stamping one hoof. Bret laughed, smiling, "He's a beauty."
Jemayn's lips twitched, "You always were good with them. But, now that I think of it, I do not recall ever having seen you hold the reins, so-"
Jemayn eased Bret from the front of the horse by his elbow and took him towards the side, "Come then, a hand up, well, two actually. Put your left hand on the saddle horn, right there, good, and your left foot in my hands."
"But what about your wound?" Bret objected, even as he did as Jemayn asked.
"Up you go." Was Jemayn's answer as he boosted the other man up into the saddle smoothly, "Keep your feet out of the stirrups for now."
Bret managed to follow this instruction easily, as he wasn't quite sure what a 'stirrup' was. Jemayn's voice was low, "I'm going to reach around you and get up behind the saddle. Ready?"
Reach around-? Behind-? What?! Bret's thoughts tripped over one another in their shock and before they could settle he realized that Jemayn was sort of curved behind him.
It was all very disconcerting.
Not only how smoothly Jemayn mounted the horse (to which Bret was jealous) but also the way Jemayn felt behind him. Honestly. Bret felt as if a wall of heat surrounded him. Jemaine had always been the bigger of the pair, but this just seemed to nail the fact home.
Is this how it would feel if he snuggled back against Jemaine on the couch? Not that he had ever even entertained such a thought, but...
Jemayn's hands came around him and Bret shivered. God, he wished this didn't feel so intimate. Jemayn's voice seemed to almost purr from behind him, "Can you ride without stirrups?"
Bret was scared of how his voice might sound if he talked so he just nodded.
"Good, 'twill make my riding a bit easier," Jemayn murmured, "Now," he handed Bret the reigns, "Just pull gently and direct him as to where you would like him to go."
Bret took the reigns reluctantly. He still wasn't sure this wasn't going to hurt the animal beneath him. He gave the minimalist of tugs and was relieved that the horse responded, moving forward.
Jemayn chuckled, "Amazing..."
Bret licked his lips, "Wh-what?"
"The barest touch from you and he gets the message...you have always had a way with animals..."
Bret didn't know why he felt his face heating from the comment but he did. Even more so, when Jemayn whispered near his ear, "Perhaps that is why you have always had such a way with me."
Bret felt something shoot through him, hot and tingling, right down his spine. He shifted slightly in the saddle. No, no, no...he refused to get...excited by that. Just words...Jemaine...animal...ridiculous...
Straight, straight, straight...
Straight as a road.
Straight as a ruler.
It would help if Jemayn wasn't so...huddled up behind him. He felt Jemayn's chest bump up against his back as they rode and that...just...oh this was so wrong, so very, very wrong.
Bret decided to try and focus his mind on anything else. Anything.
He looked around him. The land began to slant upwards slightly as they got farther away from the water. A dense forest began to rise up around them and Bret looked at the tall trees with wonder.
They were like the sky scrappers in New York but much more majestic. Melting snow laden their tops and the ground too was dusted a mild white. The winter was obviously giving way to spring and while it was cold, it was not completely inhospitable.
In fact, Bret thought he spied a few tender tendrils of green sprouting up from the earth. Bret had hardly seen this much nature since he had been back in New Zealand. It was...refreshing. Certainly a tad bit better than concrete streets and yellow taxi cabs. That was a different forest all together.
They rode for quite a ways and right about the time Bret got tired of riding the horse and wanted to get off, a building came into view. Bret couldn't contain the gasp that left him when he first laid eyes on the house.
House might not be the appropriate word, as what sprawled out before him seemed more like a manor or a castle. It was built of stone and with many windows. It had chimneys though which smoke could escape and a second floor to live in. Bret could just make out a stretching field behind it and as they approached he could hear music filling the air.
And for some reason...it made Bret think of...something...it seemed so familiar. As if he had seen this image before. How was that possible. And why did he keep thinking of the color purple? And books?
Bret didn't have long to puzzle over this as Jemayn took the reigns from him and eased the horse to a stop. Again, to Bret's jealousy, he dismounted easily and then, to add insult to injury, practically lifted Bret off the horse as if he weighed nothing.
Bret tried not to pout but it was hard not to. Did this man need to rub in how strong he was? At least Jemaine wasn't that strong. No way Jemaine could just carry him around like that. He took an almost savage pleasure in the difference.
Jemayn set him on his feet and released him swiftly, his face an interesting mask. Bret wondered what exactly was going on in the other man's head when suddenly Dave (no, wait, Davion) approached, a large tankard in one hand, two girls on either arm, "There you are, you lazy wenches! Thought you'd never get here!"
"Ah, Davion, I see my father also brought his fine ale."
"Aye! I've all ready...how many have I had?" Davion mumbled then shrugged and turned to one girl, nuzzling her neck and then to the other girl to do the same. Bret almost felt bad that the real Dave couldn't see this.
Jemayn shook his head and patted Davion's shoulder, before charging ahead of the others, "Good, good...I should see my father."
"Come on, little thing," Taika said playfully, winking at Bret as he ushered him forward into the manor.
They did not get far before a beautiful woman appeared, hands on hips, "So. The mighty heroes return."
"Loren..." Taika started and she marched over to him. She slapped him fiercely across the face and Bret gasped, shocked, though no one else seemed to be. In fact, everyone around them seemed to be smiling, making Bret even more confused as she cried, "And where be my husband but taking his time down by the shore! Davion got here before you! Gregori, even! I had to wait!"
Taika rubbed his cheek, smirking, "You were always the flirt."
Loren looked at him impishly, eyes flashing, "Did I hurt you?"
"Not even a little."
She raised her hand again and Taika caught her wrist, "You are wicked, aren't you? You wish to be punished?"
"Ha! You think you have the power in you to do so?" She asked silkily and suddenly Bret felt like he was peeking in someone's bedroom window. She looked at him then, her face soft, "So...you found him."
"Indeed."
Loren left Taika momentarily and walked over to him. She hugged him fiercely and Bret stood there, arms at his sides, unsure if he should hug back or not. Loren breathed deep as she rubbed at his back, "I feared for you. I am glad to see you safe."
She drew back and kissed his cheek.
Bret rubbed at the spot, blushing and Taika took Loren close, whispering, "There are things I must tell you-"
"Oh?"
"Mmm, they are most pressing-"
Loren's eyebrows rose, "Oh really."
"I'm serious."
Loren's playful attitude died immediately at the look on Taika's face, "Truly?"
Taika nodded, but then smiled evilly, "'Till...can wait," he flashed Bret a meaningful look, "Go onward, Bret. You will find Jemayn yonder in the main hall, no doubt in talks with his father. Just...be mindful."
Bret translated 'mindful' into 'silent' and he was surprised Taika felt the need to mention it. Since this had started Bret had barely talked. He couldn't think for the life of him what to say. And part of him was afraid if he opened his mouth he'd just start screaming.
After all, what was one to do when they found themselves trapped in an alternate dimension or what have you? And he was trapped, as it certainly did not seem he would be waking up anytime soon or finding a portal out or whatever. So he just went with the motions.
Loren, however, gasped in a mocking way, "Why would you be sending him away? Do you have nefarious plans in mind?"
"Indeed, I plan on taking you."
"What? Right here? Right now? With all these eyes upon us? Are you such a lustful creature?"
Taika nodded, "Aye, as are you," He kissed her hungrily then and Bret looked away, face flaming because, okay, Taika's hands were...places. Touching and grabbing and all ready Loren was making...noises.
Then he heard Loren purr, "Bretta could stay. I don't mind him offering a...helping hand."
"Saucy wench," Taika growled and, really, Bret had had enough.
He liked both Taika and Loren but he wasn't quite ready for a man-man-lady three way. He felt enough out of his depth as it was. He walked through the manor, rubbing at one arm, looking this way and that. This place was so entirely unfamiliar that he couldn't help walking slowly, timidly peeking his head around a corner before entering what he could only assume was the main hall.
A group of musicians played their instruments boisterously and Bret bobbed his head a little. Not too bad. The sound was far too medieval for his tastes, but it wasn't terrible. Several of the men he had seen on the boat walked about looking much as Davion had, with tankard in hand and women fawning all over them.
Bret spied Jemayn through a throng of people and he realized then, that Jemayn was actually a lot taller than most of the men here. Was Jemaine very tall? Not that Bret could recall, but then Jemaine did have a tendency to walk a bit stooped, shoulders sort of down.
Jemaine had once told him he did this because it was 'artsy' and that was something ladies were into, but Bret had always gotten the feeling he walked this way because he just wasn't all that confidant. Jemayn, obviously, did not have this problem, and therefore stood tall.
Bret wondered if he could get Jemaine to stand like that when he got home. If he got home.
Flip.
Bret tried his best not to pout again as he weaseled his way through the crowd towards Jemayn. As he got closer, he thought he recognized the voice of the person he was talking to, "...so then, all went well?"
"Yes, Father. 'Twas a shame you were not there to take part in it."
"And of Lord Marcus and Lady Sarah?"
"We befitted them with proper punishment. Both have been taken capture and are, more like than not, to be sold into service."
"Ah! Appropriate! I like it, Jemayn! Steal a servant, become a servant! I shall have to take note of it!"
Bret managed to finally see who Jemayn was talking to and his eyes widened considerably, words leaving him before he could help himself, "Murray?!"
Both men turned and looked at Bret. Jemayn looked horrified, but Murray merely laughed, "Moo-ray?! What a hilarious name! Nay, thrall, 'tis I! Muiredach! Muiredach the Ginger, on account of this," he said and ruffled a few fingers along his orange beard and Bret blinked at that.
Yes, Murray had a full blown beard.
And Murray was...he was...
Bret couldn't help but laugh, "You're...you're Jemayn's...dad?"
Muiredach looked confused, "Dad?"
Gregori seemed to come out of thin air, offering quietly, "I think he means 'father', m'lord."
Muiredach blinked, "Well, yes! 'Course I am! Who should say otherwise?!"
Bret tried to stop chuckling but it seemed an impossible task as he shook his head. Murray as Jemaine's dad! Priceless! He tried to compose himself, "Aren't...aren't you a bit...young to be his Dad. Mean...you're old, but...not-not that old," Bret's words got quieter and quieter as he noticed the suddenly vicious look on Jemayn's face.
Muiredach, however, seemed not to mind, instead looking more and more confused, "Such strange talk from you, thrall," he turned to Jemayn, "Has he become deranged? I can always give you a new-"
"No, no," Jemayn said hastily, "He is just tired from the journey," Jemayn stalked over to Bret, glaring down at him, "Are you not, thrall?"
Bret gulped, suddenly remembering axes and the fact that Jemayn apparently liked to collect teeth as trophies, "Um, yeah, yes, yes."
"Then he should retire! And Jemayn! First, you shall tell me more of your battles! I would like to have them well recounted and then, mayhap, we can discuss our plans for the spring. Profits to be made from the fields and what have you. I shall have Gregori grab one of my ledgers, Gregori?"
Gregori left the group to find Muiredach's ledger and Jemayn eased closer, "Father, if I may-"
"Oh! Oh! Wait, wait, I must introduce you!" Muiredach said excitedly as the musicians from earlier walked over, "These are my latest acquirements! One of my men bought them from the Celts. This one here is Tod and the other is Demetrio and they have the most fine skills in instruments. I plan to have them play at all my affairs, they'll say 'That's Muiredach the Ginger for you, always having his Mad Dach's playing', see, I was thinking I'd call the pair of them that, instead of my musicians or-"
"Yes, yes, Father, I see, I just," Jemayn cleared his throat, "I would retire upstairs for a moment."
Jemayn nodded his head off in one direction and Bret followed his eyes. A lovely young serving girl offered a plate of roasted...animal...to one of the men and, seeing her, Muiredach threw back his head and laughed, nudging Jemayn knowingly, "Yes, yes, I see. Fine choice, my son! Go then, take care of business of state and then we'll," he slowed down talking, obviously unsure as to how to finish his speech, "...take care of...business of..."
Jemayn cut him off with a muttered affirmative and turned to leave, taking Bret by the elbow, hissing down at him, "What a fine mess you almost got yourself into!"
Bret wanted to defend himself but could think of nothing to say. They both moved over to the girl Jemayn had pointed out earlier and as they got closer Bret recognized her as well, breathing out quietly, "Coco?"
Jemayn ignored him, "Socorra, I would have need of you."
She nodded mutely and followed the duo into the next room. Jemayn practically pushed Bret from him as he released his grip on the other man's elbow, "Take Bret to his room. See that he stays out of trouble...if such a thing is possible..."
Jemayn stormed off and Bret stuck his tongue out at his retreating back. He didn't know why Jemayn was so angry, but right there he had been classic Jemaine, a real dickhead.
Socorra offered Bret a tentative smile, "This way, Bretta..."
He trailed behind her, happy to see her again, even if she was this realities version of the girl he had once dated, "It's nice to see you again, Coco."
Socorra turned to him, surprise in her eyes, "Coco? No one has called me that in years. My father used to, before he," she trailed off, shaking her head sadly, "It has been years."
Bret scratched at his neck, "And now your a...what, slave?"
She smiled, shaking her head, "Not so much. True, I, in essence, belong to Jemayn - I am in debt to him, as are you, but, in many ways we are lucky to have him as our Master. He does not offer us up freely as some others would. I have heard of households where men have their pick of the servants...they can rut with them right in the great hall if they like. Not so with Jemayn. He treats us proper."
"So...you are free to leave?"
She shrugged, "I did not say that."
"Have you...ever left before?"
"No. But I have no wish to. The same goes for the others here. This is our home. Not many of us still have family or anywhere else to go, so, really, we are more than happy to stay here. But then, you know this."
"Yes, I know this," Bret said numbly, then, "Coco-"
"So strange you should call me that now, you never called me that before-"
"I know, I...you must have heard, my-my capture-"
"Oh yes! We did so fear for you! 'Tis strange...no others were taken. And why Lord Marcus would steal you-"
"Yes, well, um, since it happened my...mind has been...troubled. Tell me...how-how was I...before?"
"Before?"
"Yeah, before...just...tell me what you remember of me."
"'Tis an odd request," she murmured, "You were...kind. Sort of quiet. You used to talk to me a lot...there was a time," she blushed, "We kissed once. It was...nice. I liked it."
"Me too," He tossed in quickly.
Socorra sighed, "It was nice, but...I was not...I didn't feel...you are more like a beloved friend to me than," she tossed her head from side to side, smiling, "Still...we stayed fast. Talked often. And then I don't know...after your injury-"
"I was injured?"
"Oh my, yes. Quite seriously. I hope you will forgive me for saying this, but...between that and your capture...you can be quite accident prone."
Bret's face flushed and Socorra tried to stifle giggles.
Once she got a hold of herself, she continued, "Anyway, you were injured and confined to bed and we did not know whether or not you would live. Jemayn was beside himself. I don't think he would know what to do if someone in his household died...he never took the death of his mother well and then, after he left his father's home and got this fine manor...he's always been so attached to the people here...mayhap this is why he treats us so well..."
She shrugged, "Regardless, I know not much of what caused your injury, but I stayed by your bedside for a time, cooling your fevers and when you got well...you and Jemayn became quite inseparable and you became distant with me. I do not know why on your part, but for Jemayn's, my guess was that he wanted to keep an eye on you. I think this may be why he took Marcus' abduction of you so seriously."
"I was...distant with you?"
"It was odd, but nothing to worry over. I just concluded that Jemayn was keeping you busy. Like I said, you two became very close. See, here be your room," she indicated one of the doors and then, with a wave to the other across from it, "And here be his."
Bret swallowed, "We...we sleep across the hall from one another?"
Again she shrugged, "'Twas thought your list of duties were soon to be changed. When first you came, you worked solely in the stables, but most of us believed you would soon become Jemayn's personal thrall. Most men have one to help them. Muiredach actually has two himself, he has Gregori, who he loaned to Jemayn for the raid to free you and the other, Jamison, stills keeps watch on his lands while he is away."
Bret nodded and walked into his room, studying it. It was rather threadbare. Just a bed and a few other odds and ends here and there. He turned to say more to Socorra but she was gone and he sighed. Coco. Flip.
He ran a hand through his hair. He would much rather be trapped in a nightmarish romance novel with her as the main focus than Jemayn.
Bret's eyes widened.
Romance novel!
That was it!
He had been at the bookstore and he had left to go home. He had been given a romance novel. The purple cover! The house illustrated on it! It was this house! This place!
Bret slapped a hand to his eyes. Oh god! He was trapped in a romance novel!