Tainted Chapter 2 & 3
Prologue:: http://illithrien.livejournal.com/592.html
Chapter 1:: http://illithrien.livejournal.com/958.html
A/N: yea... they're combined... i managed to do two chapters while bludging at school so yea.. lol i decided to post them at the same time
Chapter 2
“Ville return here this instant!” his mother cried.
“Ville, if you do not turn around and march back here, there’ll be hell to pay” his father added.
Ville ignored them, tossing the saddle bags upon the horse before swinging his legs onto his brown steed’s back and racing off. He didn’t have the patience to hear his parent’s complaints. He needed time away, from all their shit and formalities.
He sped his horse away from the castle, heading for the forest not far from his home.
Bam awoke with the pleasant feeling of warmth slowly making its way through his body. He groaned and snuggled into the blankets surrounding him. The crackling of a fire resounded through his ears and he was just about to surrender to sleep once more when he froze. When he had surrendered into sleep’s sweet embrace, there were no warm blankets, nor roaring fire. His breath caught in his throat, they must have found him. They found him and were going to kill him. He was certain of it. A whimper escaped his lips and he instantly regretted it.
He felt a hand touch his forehead lightly and wipe back hair, “It’s ok little one,” a deep voice whispered, “You’re safe, you can open your eyes”
Bam didn’t recognise the soothing voice, so he cautiously opened his bright blue eyes. Contrary to what he thought, two warm green eyes that were framed by long dark lashes watched over him, not red ones. Bam studied the stranger’s face, the ivory skin, the long dark hair and the features that seemed like the angels themselves had designed. To put it simply, the man was beautiful.
“Who are you?” he whispered.
The man smiled softly and replied, “My name is Ville”
“Ville” Bam whispered, liking the way it rolled off his tongue.
“And you are…?” Ville asked him.
“Brendan, but everyone calls me Bam” Bam told him, instantly regretting giving this Ville his proper information.
“A pleasure to meet you, Bam” Ville said softly, studying Bam’s features - bright blue eyes that seemed full of life, tanned skin, and soft, child like features.
“Tell me Bam, what is a person of your age and beauty doing out in the snow, with no shoes or proper attire no less”
“I was travelling and I was robbed” Bam said, announcing the first lie that came to mind, “I am actually a lord from far away, I was coming to visit… family”
“Oh dear,” the man said, “How long ago was this?”
Bam sat up and clutched his head, which throbbed under his touch, “I… I don’t know. When did you find me?”
“Not very long ago. Although your lucky I did, when I found you, you were almost completely covered in snow and frozen half to death”
Death would be the better option than what will happen when I’m found, Bam thought to himself.
The man smiled his warm smile that Bam was already starting to love, “No matter, you recovered in the end. Now then, dinner is almost ready. I fear I don’t have much, I wasn’t expecting to find anyone else here. But we can make do”
Bam was handed a bowl of soup and a large hunk of bread, which he sank his teeth into gratefully.
Ville watched Bam for some time before starting on his own food, eating it slowly and gracefully, as was required for his role in life.
Bam finished his soup in record time, closing his eyes and delighting in the feel of warmth running down his throat and warming his belly. He placed his bowl on the ground and watched Ville with his head slightly cocked. Each of the movements Ville made was slow and graceful. Bam imagined it would look somewhat similar to the movements in a dance.
Ville set his bowl aside Bam’s and sighed, “That’s better isn’t it?” he said, smiling.
Bam nodded dumbly, unable to tear his eyes away from the beautiful sight before him. He yawned and suddenly wished he was back at the main house, if only for the warm bed.
“Tired?” Ville asked.
Bam just nodded again.
Ville smiled, “Well, if you help me set up my tent you are more than welcome to join me in there, it will be much better than remaining out in this dreadful cold”.
Bam smiled, “I would appreciate it”
Ville’s smile seemed to brighten after Bam spoke, getting up at once and fetching the tent from his horse’s back. They both set to erecting it immediately, both desperate to escape the cold.
Within no time the tent was standing tall and proud, the men collected the blankets Bam had been wrapped in and crawled into the warm interior.
Bam was puzzled, there were only two blankets, not enough for them to be warm enough with if they only got one each.
“I know this will sound strange,” Ville said, “But if we slept huddled up together would be much warmer”
“Ok…” Bam said nervously.
Ville chuckled, “Don’t worry, I wont do anything to make you uncomfortable”
Bam nodded, lying down next to Ville on the blanket. Ville pulled the other blanket over the pair of them, coming slightly closer to Bam.
Bam could feel Ville’s warmth beside him and tensed, he wasn’t used to this…
Ville chucked again, “Calm down Bammie, its ok”
Bam took a deep breath and relaxed before drifting off to sleep.
Chapter 3
Both Bam and Ville woke to the sounds of snow crunching underneath boots. Low voices could be heard outside the tent. Bam cringed, he recognised those voices, and they belonged to the mercenaries of the house.
Ville motioned for Bam to stay in the tent and went out to investigate.
Bam crept closer to the tent opening to hear the conversation.
“Can I help you gentlemen?” Ville asked.
“Prince Ville!” they cried in union, next Bam heard movement, which he guessed was from the soldiers bowing when he heard Ville say, “Please rise”
Prince Ville? Bam thought in horror, PRINCE Ville?
The leader of the mercenaries, a man nicknamed Brutus from his pure brutality, said “Forgive us for the intrusion your highness, but we have lost a servant from the main house and we are searching for him”
“Oh?” Ville asked with interest, “What does this servant look like?”
“He’s about so tall… Blue eyes, brown hair, tanned and quite muscular”
“Really?”
Oh fuck, oh god, that’s it, my life is over. I’m going to die.
“Yes my lord, have you seen anyone matching that description?”
“I’m sorry, I have not. Although if I do where shall I return him to?”
“The residence is just on the borderline of the forest my lord”
“Then I shall return him if I find him at once”
“Thank you, your highness” judging by the sound of movement, the soldiers bowed and left.
Bam heard Ville returning to the tent and quickly moved back from the opening. He was reduced to hiding in the corner of the tent in fear of what would happen to him.
Ville entered the tent and stared at him, “A lord eh?”
Bam lowered his gaze, fully aware that one of his rank was not permitted to look at the heir to the throne, “Forgive me Prince Ville, I knew not else to say”
Ville sighed and knelt before Bam, lifting his face with pale fingers that were a stark contrast to Bam’s colour, “Tell me Bam, why should I not turn you into the family you serve?”
“Because…” Bam’s fists curled into balls, “I need to find my family. I need to find if they loved me at all or whether I was always destined to be a way to bring in more money so they wouldn’t have to give up any luxuries”
Ville reached up and cupped Bam’s cheek, and to Bam’s surprise he felt tears running down his face, “I need to find if they ever wanted me or if I was just a thorn in their side”
Ville took Bam into his arms and held the younger man’s head to his own chest, “I’ll make a pact with you Bam, I will help you find your family, but it will be up to them to get you out of slavery”
Bam nodded against the toned chest.
“I don’t try to be mean by denying you freedom from slavery, but that is something your family needs to do, a test if you may. Do you understand?”
Bam nodded against his chest again, “Thank you” he murmured