Forces of Nature Chapter 4 part 5/21
Errr... I was gonna post this yesterday... right? Well I got called away in the middle of checking my messages and stuff to make cookies... from scratch. I now have like a bajillion of them... and talk about lame excuses. Anywho, Horribly Familiar may or may not be posted tomorrow, got a study date type dealio (it's a group thing, but the guy hosting it is yummy)
Tonight I made fettichini alfredo from scratch and I even marinated the chicken last night. I feel like a Suzy Homemaker... (you can totally tell when I don't use spell check and type this crap up on my word doc... *winces*) anywho! On with the show!
Title - Forces of Nature
Author - wide_eyed_raven
Rating - Overall NC-17
Warnings: Slash
Summery -
Paraklee found a book in his father’s study that might put his life into perspective. All he needs is a little help.
Rai has had a tough life, and it’s made even worse by the beast within. But somehow, he’s been wrangled into helping Paraklee with his journey. For better, or worse.
Luriel is a scholar, he knows more about that book in Paraklee’s study than the man who wrote it. And he’s about to get the chance to see things first hand. He’s not going to miss it.
William is a prince that’s been sheltered from the world for obvious reasons. With help from his sister, he slips out and finds himself wrapped up in an adventure that just might change his life.
Chapter four - Sneaking Out
William frowned as he looked through the paperwork on his desk. He made a soft sound when he found the piece of parchment he had been looking for. It was the report from a ship called The Whisper, and the strange assortment of the crew had drawn his attention.
A nobleman from North Corduba and his man in waiting, that was perfectly logical but they had picked up a scholar as well, but from Zorgonza, and the ship itself made port in South Corduba. It was not unusual for the three races to mingle, but something about it did not add up.
He frowned and reread the logs. The speed in which they had got to Pinnacle was ridiculous. It should have taken several months for them to go from the port in the Junibar Sea to Mysteria Ocean, especially with how the currents were in that part of the ocean. The journey, however, had only taken two months.
William pursed his lips and stood, perhaps he would be able to speak with his parents about this.
The walls of the castle were built with stone, and it was terribly cold in the winter, but nice and cool in the summer months. It was good that it was just beginning the summer months.
He made his way through the corridors ignoring the paintings of his ancestors on the walls as he walked towards the throne room. Before he stepped through the doors, he checked to make sure his hair was still tied back neatly. He wished for a looking glass, suspecting that once again he had ink on his cheek. He sighed and pushed the door open, glad that his parents weren’t busy with anything.
His mothers blue eyes lit up when she seen him, “William! I see you’ve dragged yourself away from your logs.” She stood, her perfectly tailored skirts flowing around her as she walked towards him, perhaps a bit too fast for royalty.
He let his mother embrace him, hugging the petite woman to him. “Good afternoon, you look lovely, mother.”
She stepped back with a smile, her hand going up to the delicate knots that made up her dark hair, “Posh, I’ve been sitting for hours, I probably have another wrinkle.”
William laughed, “Never, you look more radiant than girls half your age.”
She swatted him playfully, “I can see you want something. Harry, dear, come here, your son is up to something.”
His father looked up from the document he had been reading and blinked slowly. With a long suffered sigh he stood, shooting a wink in William’s direction before walking over as slowly as he possibly could.
William got his height, and facial structure of his father, the rest though, was his mother. The delicate tilt to his lips were hers, along with the slender built that his brother liked to mistake him for being weak. He was undefeated when it came to fencing with Erik. His brother-in-law did not make the same mistake.
“What is he up to now, Elisabeth?”
His mother pouted at her husband, “I do not know, he hasn’t yet told me.”
William rolled his eyes, “I was wondering if I could look into a few things.”
His mother’s pouted lips pursed, “You’ve been following that boat again, haven’t you?”
He winced.
Harry gave him a sympathetic look before turning to his wife. “What’s wrong with his interests in ships.”
William took a step back.
Elisabeth snarled her hands on her hips and her aqua eyes narrowed. “They are dangerous, what with all of that water around, it is bad enough he can hardly leave the castle, if word gets out--and if they saw his hair!”
William huffed out a breath. He had heard this argument at least thrice over. An idea struck him, he cleared his throat. “Actually, I was wondering where Catherine was, I had something to ask her about.”
His mother stopped mid-rant to look at him. She deflated a little, “Oh. Well, she is out with Rebecca. They went for a walk in the gardens.”
“Thank you. I’ll just be out of your hair then.” He shot a wink towards his father and made a run for it. Quite literally. He ran through the halls barely avoiding servants as he dashed past.
The gardens were on the other side of the castle and it took him over ten minutes to get there. He stopped at the entrance to the maze panting and thinking that he needed to get out more often when he heard the tinkling of his sister’s laughter and that of his brother’s wife. He smiled when they rounded the corner, his sister looked the spitting image of his mother with her flowing black hair, and Rebecca with her golden curls.
He bowed, “Good afternoon ladies, I hope that I am not intruding?”
Catherine smacked him, “You are up to something, does father know?”
William smirked, “Of course he knows, mother on the other hand… well you know how she is.”
Catherine huffed and pulled her forest green skirts around her.
Rebecca chuckled, “You’ve been talking about that ship again, I think. Elisabeth hates the idea of you leaving.” She stopped speaking a frown gracing her features as she looked William up and down, she seen something and nodded to herself sharing a look with his sister. “You are leaving, aren’t you?”
William didn’t reply.
“Oh, William, it’s going to break mother’s heart.” She stopped to look around, and in a hushed whisper added, “I’ll dye your hair tonight, black like mine, you can sneak out afterwards, so make sure you have your things packed.”
He smiled at her and scooped her up, twirling her about before setting her on the ground with a kiss to the cheek. “You are an angel, you both are.” He kissed Rebecca’s cheek on the way out of the garden and made his way to his chambers with a bounce to his step.
***
William looked at the jar of goop his sister held, “Are you certain that will work?”
Catherine huffed, “Of course it will, though be careful when you wash, too much water and it’ll come out and they will be able to see your true color.”
He sat down in the chair with a towel around his neck waiting for Catherine to put the nasty stuff in. “What about hair growth?”
She chuckled before dropping some of the stuff into his hair. He winced as she began rubbing it in. “I’ll give you a few jars to take with you, be careful though, if it touches the air it starts to react. Something about the plants I used.”
“Rebecca helped you, didn’t she?”
Catherine nodded, “Yes, she also feels like you get cooped up way too much.” She pursed her lips, “Though I will certainly be sad to see your lovely blue hair such a boring color.”
William rolled his eyes, “Blue is hardly inconspicuous.”
She hummed and added another dollop to his hair. She massaged it in before stepping back with a triumphant sound. “Now, that should do, just don’t move for about a half an hour, the dye needs time to set.”
She went to go wash her hands and William was left alone with his thoughts.
He already had his things packed and plenty of coin to purchase passage on any ship with a bit left over for minor things. He had just finished plotting when his sister walked back in, drying her hands with a towel.
“You are lucky Gabriel is very understanding.”
He frowned, “What?”
“He just covered for you, you apparently have a stomach ache and are unable to come to dinner. I promised I would make sure you ate broth and I convinced mother to check on you in the morning.” She frowned at him, “Ok, I think we can rinse out the dye now, lean your head back.”
***
William blinked at the image in the mirror, he was as he should have been. Raven black hair with the best looks from both parents. Without the blue hair his aqua eyes looked downright normal in his face. He was pleased with the results and gave his sister a kiss on her cheek.
“Thank you, Catherine, it’s marvelous.”
She pursed her lips. “I like the blue hair better.”
He rolled his eyes and began tossing the rest of his clothing into various bags, he was packing lighter than he would have liked, but he was short on time.
“I’ll tell Rebecca and Gabriel you said goodbye.”
“Not Erik?”
She shrugged. Out of all of them Erik took their mother’s side more often than not. He was the one when they were younger who went and tattled when William and Catherine snuck out to play in the pond. It was a bit of a sore spot for both of them.
“Promise you’ll be careful. If you come back missing something, mother will have my head, and Erik will be insufferable.”
He smirked, it was a playful grin. “Of course, now, I must depart. Send your husband my regards, I am grateful that he covered for me.”
He ignored her startled scream as he jumped out of his window to the grass below, his luggage in hand. Her own room was in the floor above, and she often forgot that his was no longer. After her marriage to Gabriel he had moved to a different wing.
He looked back at the castle only once to see his sister wave before he hid himself in the shadows. He moved quickly across the sloping lawns, taking care to stick in the darkness. The guards didn’t even notice him as he snuck past their stations. He would have to do something about that once he got back home.
***
The village was quiet at this time of night and he ran into no problems on his way to the docks. Finding the ship, however, proved to be more difficult. When he did finally find it, it was hidden among the others, remarkably plain, but sturdy. The lamps were unlit with only a few people out on deck.
William felt his stomach sink, they were not on board. He turned and found himself running smack into another person.
“Magent‘s tits, I’ve got to stop running into richies.”
He couldn’t see the man in the dark, but he was about as tall as William, though broader. He stood up slowly, rubbing a sore spot where a stray rock had dug in. “I’m terribly sorry.”
“S’fine, you’re not the first one, and you won’t be the last.”
One of the men next to the one he’d run into shoved the man slightly, “Don’t be rude, Rai. Are you alright?”
William blinked, “I’m fine.” He bent down and grabbed his bags. The man who had shoved the one called Rai, stepped forward to help him with his bags. William could not tell much in the dark, but the man had nearly silver hair.
“Ignore Rai, he’s always plowing down nobles. I’m Paraklee, and you are?”
“Will. I am looking for a ship.”
Paraklee cocked his head to the side and shot a look towards Rai, “What kind of ship are you looking for, Will?”
“I’m looking for the captain of the ship over there.” He pointed to The Whisper.
Paraklee chuckled slightly. “Ah, our dear captain certainly has a talent for running down his potential customers.”
William frowned and looked over at Rai. “You are the captain of that ship?”
“I am. Now why’re you interested in traveling aboard it?”
William smiled a bit melancholy. “I am a minor lord in need of getting away from my life.”
He could see Rai purse his lips in the dark. “Oy, Luriel, what’d you think?”
A shorter man stepped forward, his seemed to look William over for a long time before nodding to the others. “If he can pay, let him on board, we’ve still got one room left.”
“I can pay, certainly.”
Rai nodded, “Well come on, we need to be getting aboard, my crew’s probably going crazy.” He began walking in the direction of the ship.
“Actually I believe that they are sleeping.”
Rai turned back, and while William couldn’t see in the dark, he was certain that his new captain was scowling at him. He turned back and didn’t say anything more, the other two following quickly behind him and muttering in quiet tones. William sighed and followed after them, wondering how long he had until the palace realized that he was missing.
AN: I like William. He is fun. ^_^ And no, not all water elementals have blue hair, they normally have black. Also, while I'm talking about it. Fire Elementals can have brown hair too, but Rai came from South Corduba, they are generally redheads and blondes there. :p
Tonight I made fettichini alfredo from scratch and I even marinated the chicken last night. I feel like a Suzy Homemaker... (you can totally tell when I don't use spell check and type this crap up on my word doc... *winces*) anywho! On with the show!
Title - Forces of Nature
Author - wide_eyed_raven
Rating - Overall NC-17
Warnings: Slash
Summery -
Paraklee found a book in his father’s study that might put his life into perspective. All he needs is a little help.
Rai has had a tough life, and it’s made even worse by the beast within. But somehow, he’s been wrangled into helping Paraklee with his journey. For better, or worse.
Luriel is a scholar, he knows more about that book in Paraklee’s study than the man who wrote it. And he’s about to get the chance to see things first hand. He’s not going to miss it.
William is a prince that’s been sheltered from the world for obvious reasons. With help from his sister, he slips out and finds himself wrapped up in an adventure that just might change his life.
Chapter four - Sneaking Out
William frowned as he looked through the paperwork on his desk. He made a soft sound when he found the piece of parchment he had been looking for. It was the report from a ship called The Whisper, and the strange assortment of the crew had drawn his attention.
A nobleman from North Corduba and his man in waiting, that was perfectly logical but they had picked up a scholar as well, but from Zorgonza, and the ship itself made port in South Corduba. It was not unusual for the three races to mingle, but something about it did not add up.
He frowned and reread the logs. The speed in which they had got to Pinnacle was ridiculous. It should have taken several months for them to go from the port in the Junibar Sea to Mysteria Ocean, especially with how the currents were in that part of the ocean. The journey, however, had only taken two months.
William pursed his lips and stood, perhaps he would be able to speak with his parents about this.
The walls of the castle were built with stone, and it was terribly cold in the winter, but nice and cool in the summer months. It was good that it was just beginning the summer months.
He made his way through the corridors ignoring the paintings of his ancestors on the walls as he walked towards the throne room. Before he stepped through the doors, he checked to make sure his hair was still tied back neatly. He wished for a looking glass, suspecting that once again he had ink on his cheek. He sighed and pushed the door open, glad that his parents weren’t busy with anything.
His mothers blue eyes lit up when she seen him, “William! I see you’ve dragged yourself away from your logs.” She stood, her perfectly tailored skirts flowing around her as she walked towards him, perhaps a bit too fast for royalty.
He let his mother embrace him, hugging the petite woman to him. “Good afternoon, you look lovely, mother.”
She stepped back with a smile, her hand going up to the delicate knots that made up her dark hair, “Posh, I’ve been sitting for hours, I probably have another wrinkle.”
William laughed, “Never, you look more radiant than girls half your age.”
She swatted him playfully, “I can see you want something. Harry, dear, come here, your son is up to something.”
His father looked up from the document he had been reading and blinked slowly. With a long suffered sigh he stood, shooting a wink in William’s direction before walking over as slowly as he possibly could.
William got his height, and facial structure of his father, the rest though, was his mother. The delicate tilt to his lips were hers, along with the slender built that his brother liked to mistake him for being weak. He was undefeated when it came to fencing with Erik. His brother-in-law did not make the same mistake.
“What is he up to now, Elisabeth?”
His mother pouted at her husband, “I do not know, he hasn’t yet told me.”
William rolled his eyes, “I was wondering if I could look into a few things.”
His mother’s pouted lips pursed, “You’ve been following that boat again, haven’t you?”
He winced.
Harry gave him a sympathetic look before turning to his wife. “What’s wrong with his interests in ships.”
William took a step back.
Elisabeth snarled her hands on her hips and her aqua eyes narrowed. “They are dangerous, what with all of that water around, it is bad enough he can hardly leave the castle, if word gets out--and if they saw his hair!”
William huffed out a breath. He had heard this argument at least thrice over. An idea struck him, he cleared his throat. “Actually, I was wondering where Catherine was, I had something to ask her about.”
His mother stopped mid-rant to look at him. She deflated a little, “Oh. Well, she is out with Rebecca. They went for a walk in the gardens.”
“Thank you. I’ll just be out of your hair then.” He shot a wink towards his father and made a run for it. Quite literally. He ran through the halls barely avoiding servants as he dashed past.
The gardens were on the other side of the castle and it took him over ten minutes to get there. He stopped at the entrance to the maze panting and thinking that he needed to get out more often when he heard the tinkling of his sister’s laughter and that of his brother’s wife. He smiled when they rounded the corner, his sister looked the spitting image of his mother with her flowing black hair, and Rebecca with her golden curls.
He bowed, “Good afternoon ladies, I hope that I am not intruding?”
Catherine smacked him, “You are up to something, does father know?”
William smirked, “Of course he knows, mother on the other hand… well you know how she is.”
Catherine huffed and pulled her forest green skirts around her.
Rebecca chuckled, “You’ve been talking about that ship again, I think. Elisabeth hates the idea of you leaving.” She stopped speaking a frown gracing her features as she looked William up and down, she seen something and nodded to herself sharing a look with his sister. “You are leaving, aren’t you?”
William didn’t reply.
“Oh, William, it’s going to break mother’s heart.” She stopped to look around, and in a hushed whisper added, “I’ll dye your hair tonight, black like mine, you can sneak out afterwards, so make sure you have your things packed.”
He smiled at her and scooped her up, twirling her about before setting her on the ground with a kiss to the cheek. “You are an angel, you both are.” He kissed Rebecca’s cheek on the way out of the garden and made his way to his chambers with a bounce to his step.
***
William looked at the jar of goop his sister held, “Are you certain that will work?”
Catherine huffed, “Of course it will, though be careful when you wash, too much water and it’ll come out and they will be able to see your true color.”
He sat down in the chair with a towel around his neck waiting for Catherine to put the nasty stuff in. “What about hair growth?”
She chuckled before dropping some of the stuff into his hair. He winced as she began rubbing it in. “I’ll give you a few jars to take with you, be careful though, if it touches the air it starts to react. Something about the plants I used.”
“Rebecca helped you, didn’t she?”
Catherine nodded, “Yes, she also feels like you get cooped up way too much.” She pursed her lips, “Though I will certainly be sad to see your lovely blue hair such a boring color.”
William rolled his eyes, “Blue is hardly inconspicuous.”
She hummed and added another dollop to his hair. She massaged it in before stepping back with a triumphant sound. “Now, that should do, just don’t move for about a half an hour, the dye needs time to set.”
She went to go wash her hands and William was left alone with his thoughts.
He already had his things packed and plenty of coin to purchase passage on any ship with a bit left over for minor things. He had just finished plotting when his sister walked back in, drying her hands with a towel.
“You are lucky Gabriel is very understanding.”
He frowned, “What?”
“He just covered for you, you apparently have a stomach ache and are unable to come to dinner. I promised I would make sure you ate broth and I convinced mother to check on you in the morning.” She frowned at him, “Ok, I think we can rinse out the dye now, lean your head back.”
***
William blinked at the image in the mirror, he was as he should have been. Raven black hair with the best looks from both parents. Without the blue hair his aqua eyes looked downright normal in his face. He was pleased with the results and gave his sister a kiss on her cheek.
“Thank you, Catherine, it’s marvelous.”
She pursed her lips. “I like the blue hair better.”
He rolled his eyes and began tossing the rest of his clothing into various bags, he was packing lighter than he would have liked, but he was short on time.
“I’ll tell Rebecca and Gabriel you said goodbye.”
“Not Erik?”
She shrugged. Out of all of them Erik took their mother’s side more often than not. He was the one when they were younger who went and tattled when William and Catherine snuck out to play in the pond. It was a bit of a sore spot for both of them.
“Promise you’ll be careful. If you come back missing something, mother will have my head, and Erik will be insufferable.”
He smirked, it was a playful grin. “Of course, now, I must depart. Send your husband my regards, I am grateful that he covered for me.”
He ignored her startled scream as he jumped out of his window to the grass below, his luggage in hand. Her own room was in the floor above, and she often forgot that his was no longer. After her marriage to Gabriel he had moved to a different wing.
He looked back at the castle only once to see his sister wave before he hid himself in the shadows. He moved quickly across the sloping lawns, taking care to stick in the darkness. The guards didn’t even notice him as he snuck past their stations. He would have to do something about that once he got back home.
***
The village was quiet at this time of night and he ran into no problems on his way to the docks. Finding the ship, however, proved to be more difficult. When he did finally find it, it was hidden among the others, remarkably plain, but sturdy. The lamps were unlit with only a few people out on deck.
William felt his stomach sink, they were not on board. He turned and found himself running smack into another person.
“Magent‘s tits, I’ve got to stop running into richies.”
He couldn’t see the man in the dark, but he was about as tall as William, though broader. He stood up slowly, rubbing a sore spot where a stray rock had dug in. “I’m terribly sorry.”
“S’fine, you’re not the first one, and you won’t be the last.”
One of the men next to the one he’d run into shoved the man slightly, “Don’t be rude, Rai. Are you alright?”
William blinked, “I’m fine.” He bent down and grabbed his bags. The man who had shoved the one called Rai, stepped forward to help him with his bags. William could not tell much in the dark, but the man had nearly silver hair.
“Ignore Rai, he’s always plowing down nobles. I’m Paraklee, and you are?”
“Will. I am looking for a ship.”
Paraklee cocked his head to the side and shot a look towards Rai, “What kind of ship are you looking for, Will?”
“I’m looking for the captain of the ship over there.” He pointed to The Whisper.
Paraklee chuckled slightly. “Ah, our dear captain certainly has a talent for running down his potential customers.”
William frowned and looked over at Rai. “You are the captain of that ship?”
“I am. Now why’re you interested in traveling aboard it?”
William smiled a bit melancholy. “I am a minor lord in need of getting away from my life.”
He could see Rai purse his lips in the dark. “Oy, Luriel, what’d you think?”
A shorter man stepped forward, his seemed to look William over for a long time before nodding to the others. “If he can pay, let him on board, we’ve still got one room left.”
“I can pay, certainly.”
Rai nodded, “Well come on, we need to be getting aboard, my crew’s probably going crazy.” He began walking in the direction of the ship.
“Actually I believe that they are sleeping.”
Rai turned back, and while William couldn’t see in the dark, he was certain that his new captain was scowling at him. He turned back and didn’t say anything more, the other two following quickly behind him and muttering in quiet tones. William sighed and followed after them, wondering how long he had until the palace realized that he was missing.
AN: I like William. He is fun. ^_^ And no, not all water elementals have blue hair, they normally have black. Also, while I'm talking about it. Fire Elementals can have brown hair too, but Rai came from South Corduba, they are generally redheads and blondes there. :p