New Year's Promise
Title: New Year’s Promise
Word Count: 701
Characters: Gwendal, Wolfram, Conrart
Rating: G
Warnings: none
Timeline: set way pre-series
Note: Originally written for kkm_challenge's Round 27: Winter holdiay/festival and posted here on January 4, 2009. Voted second runner-up.
Disclaimer: I don't own the characters or recognizable elements of Kyou Kara Maou. No copyright infringement is intended and no profit is being made.
Gwendal sighed and marked his place in the book he was reading then joined Wolfram at the window. The little boy stared at the gate a moment longer before tipping his head back to look up at his brother. “He’s not here yet,” Wolfram said petulantly.
“He’ll come. Conrart wouldn’t miss this.”
“He’d better get here soon,” Wolfram muttered quietly as he resumed watching the gate. Gwendal watched the gate too, hoping to see his middle brother return.
After a few moments Gwendal forced himself to turn away from the window. “We should rest now, if we’re going to greet the dawn.” Wolfram’s expression soured, “I don’t need a nap.”
“Well, I do,” Gwendal smiled at his brother and Wolfram smiled back, turning away from the window and lifting his arms to be carried. Gwendal swung his brother up and Wolfram wrapped his arms around Gwendal’s neck.
“Read to me,” Wolfram demanded.
“What do you want to hear?” Gwendal stood near the bookshelf and Wolfram stretched his hand out to a well read book of fairy tales. “This one.”
Gwendal carried his brother and the book to the couch and started reading. Only a few pages into the first story Wolfram began snoring softly and Gwendal set the book aside.
He woke to strong afternoon sunlight and the sound of his mother’s voice. She smiled at him as she lifted a sleepy Wolfram to her shoulder. “Conrart?” he asked. Her smile faltered as she shook her head. Gwendal squeezed his mother’s shoulder, “He’ll be here. Conrart keeps his promises.” She smiled up at him, happy for his reassurance, before taking Wolfram to prepare him for that evening’s ball.
Gwendal spent another moment at the window, willing his absent brother to ride through the gate. “You’d better be here,” he growled before turning away.
As a rule, Gwendal disliked balls. Too many people laughing and chattering about nothing very loudly. He normally tried to dance as little as possible, preferring to find a comfortable place to observe from the sidelines. He disliked that the traditions surrounding the New Year’s Ball required the Maou’s entire family to participate actively in the ball and the dawn ceremony that followed to mark the passing of the old year.
Gwendal tried to focus on his dance partners and what they were saying, but he found his eyes wandering to the clock with increasing frequency as the hour grew later and wondering what could be keeping Conrart from his promise.
“You’re not paying me any attention,” a husky voice breathed across his ear. Gwendal blinked dragging his focus back to the face of his partner. “My apologies, Lord von Christ. I’m afraid I’m rather preoccupied.” The taller man smiled softly at him, “How many times must I ask you to call me by name?” Gwendal could feel the blush heating his face and he dropped his gaze. “I’ll try to remember.”
Almost an hour later Gwendal heard the clatter of horses' hooves on the paving stones outside the ballroom’s open windows. Gwendal hastily excused himself to his dance partner and hurried to the glass door. He smiled as Conrart barreled out of the darkness and wrapped his arms around his ribcage. The boy looked up at him with bright eyes, “Am I late?”
“You made it!” Wolfram cried wrapping his arms around Conrart’s waist. He stepped back quickly, “Go wash, you smell like wet horse.” Conrart laughed and headed into the castle with Wolfram trailing after him.
Gwendal turned his attention back to the darkness, “You might as well come inside too.” Dan Hiri stepped into the light spilling from the ballroom windows holding the reins of both horses. He stared at the oldest demon prince and Gwendal stared back. “Mother will be pleased to see you,” he said taking the reins from him. The human smiled his thanks and entered the ballroom. Gwendal called to the nearest guard, “Take these horses down to the stables and see that they’re properly cared for.” Gwendal remained outside for a moment breathing the cool night air before returning to the ball.
Conrart was home again. The three brothers would stand together in the first light of the New Year.
Author’s note: I’m not sure how Gunter got there, he just showed up -_-;;
Word Count: 701
Characters: Gwendal, Wolfram, Conrart
Rating: G
Warnings: none
Timeline: set way pre-series
Note: Originally written for kkm_challenge's Round 27: Winter holdiay/festival and posted here on January 4, 2009. Voted second runner-up.
Disclaimer: I don't own the characters or recognizable elements of Kyou Kara Maou. No copyright infringement is intended and no profit is being made.
Gwendal sighed and marked his place in the book he was reading then joined Wolfram at the window. The little boy stared at the gate a moment longer before tipping his head back to look up at his brother. “He’s not here yet,” Wolfram said petulantly.
“He’ll come. Conrart wouldn’t miss this.”
“He’d better get here soon,” Wolfram muttered quietly as he resumed watching the gate. Gwendal watched the gate too, hoping to see his middle brother return.
After a few moments Gwendal forced himself to turn away from the window. “We should rest now, if we’re going to greet the dawn.” Wolfram’s expression soured, “I don’t need a nap.”
“Well, I do,” Gwendal smiled at his brother and Wolfram smiled back, turning away from the window and lifting his arms to be carried. Gwendal swung his brother up and Wolfram wrapped his arms around Gwendal’s neck.
“Read to me,” Wolfram demanded.
“What do you want to hear?” Gwendal stood near the bookshelf and Wolfram stretched his hand out to a well read book of fairy tales. “This one.”
Gwendal carried his brother and the book to the couch and started reading. Only a few pages into the first story Wolfram began snoring softly and Gwendal set the book aside.
He woke to strong afternoon sunlight and the sound of his mother’s voice. She smiled at him as she lifted a sleepy Wolfram to her shoulder. “Conrart?” he asked. Her smile faltered as she shook her head. Gwendal squeezed his mother’s shoulder, “He’ll be here. Conrart keeps his promises.” She smiled up at him, happy for his reassurance, before taking Wolfram to prepare him for that evening’s ball.
Gwendal spent another moment at the window, willing his absent brother to ride through the gate. “You’d better be here,” he growled before turning away.
As a rule, Gwendal disliked balls. Too many people laughing and chattering about nothing very loudly. He normally tried to dance as little as possible, preferring to find a comfortable place to observe from the sidelines. He disliked that the traditions surrounding the New Year’s Ball required the Maou’s entire family to participate actively in the ball and the dawn ceremony that followed to mark the passing of the old year.
Gwendal tried to focus on his dance partners and what they were saying, but he found his eyes wandering to the clock with increasing frequency as the hour grew later and wondering what could be keeping Conrart from his promise.
“You’re not paying me any attention,” a husky voice breathed across his ear. Gwendal blinked dragging his focus back to the face of his partner. “My apologies, Lord von Christ. I’m afraid I’m rather preoccupied.” The taller man smiled softly at him, “How many times must I ask you to call me by name?” Gwendal could feel the blush heating his face and he dropped his gaze. “I’ll try to remember.”
Almost an hour later Gwendal heard the clatter of horses' hooves on the paving stones outside the ballroom’s open windows. Gwendal hastily excused himself to his dance partner and hurried to the glass door. He smiled as Conrart barreled out of the darkness and wrapped his arms around his ribcage. The boy looked up at him with bright eyes, “Am I late?”
“You made it!” Wolfram cried wrapping his arms around Conrart’s waist. He stepped back quickly, “Go wash, you smell like wet horse.” Conrart laughed and headed into the castle with Wolfram trailing after him.
Gwendal turned his attention back to the darkness, “You might as well come inside too.” Dan Hiri stepped into the light spilling from the ballroom windows holding the reins of both horses. He stared at the oldest demon prince and Gwendal stared back. “Mother will be pleased to see you,” he said taking the reins from him. The human smiled his thanks and entered the ballroom. Gwendal called to the nearest guard, “Take these horses down to the stables and see that they’re properly cared for.” Gwendal remained outside for a moment breathing the cool night air before returning to the ball.
Conrart was home again. The three brothers would stand together in the first light of the New Year.
Author’s note: I’m not sure how Gunter got there, he just showed up -_-;;