The Prince and the Raven, Jared/Jensen, 6/8
¤ ¤ ¤
Master Post | Chapter 1 | Chapter 2 | Chapter 3 | Chapter 4 | Chapter 5 | Chapter 6 | Chapter 7 |
Chapter 8 | ART
Part Six - Jogansrule
He floated back to consciousness on a fluffy cloud. Blissfully comfortable, finally. Nothing ached, and the cloud was so lovely and warm. All he wanted was to float there forever.
“I think he juth moved,” a child’s soft voice whispered.
Another cloud must be close. He wasn’t alone. But Jared wanted to be alone and warm and quiet. He wriggled deeper into the fluffy softness and wondered, if he kept his eyes closed, whether they would float away and leave him in peace.
“I think he’s faking it!” Another child piped up.
“Hush now, leave the boy alone and scoot, you two. You know what I said about coming in here,” an older female voice chided as delicious aromas filled the air around Jared’s cloud. She must be one of the handmaidens in Jogansrule. She was probably very beautiful.
His tongue darted out of his mouth. The smell was so good. Maybe he could open his eyes. You could do that on a cloud, right?
“I have some lovely pumpkin squash soup here for you, young master Jared. Do you think you could eat? Would you like some water first?”
Jared blinked several times. And a beautiful blonde Valkyrie with an angel’s face came into focus, bathed in a warm light, just like all the tales of Jogansrule foretold.
“W-water…” Jared’s voice was scratchy from disuse. A cup was held to his lips.
“Here, drink. Slowly, though.”
Jared sipped at the icy cold water until he was full. “Mmm.” He turned his head away.
“Do you think you can sit up?”
Jared blinked again, not quite understanding the question.
“If you sit up, I can feed you some of the soup now.”
Jared’s stomach growled. He guessed even in Jogansrule, you still grew hungry. He pushed down on his cloud to try and leverage himself to sitting. The kind voice put smaller clouds behind him. Once upright, he was so tired, he simply lay back on them, his eyelids fluttering closed.
“Wait, don’t go just yet. Just a few bites, then you can go back to sleep.”
The people in Jogansrule were very kind. Jared forced his eyes open and watched as a tray was laid on his lap.
“Shall I feed you?” the soft voice asked.
Jared nodded wearily. He could hardly lift his head. A spoon was pressed against his lips, and he opened his mouth obediently. The warm soup slipped down his throat. He moaned at the taste. Food in Jogansrule was definitely better than earthly soup.
Another spoonful, Jared dutifully swallowed it. He managed eight more before he became too weary to eat any longer.
“M’sorry,” he mumbled, as he burrowed into his cloud.
“No worries, love. You go back to sleep.”
Extra cloud layers were wrapped over him, and Jared floated away.
¤ ¤ ¤
An unknown time later, more voices. “Is he going to be okay?” A young man.
“The doctor said he thinks he’ll make a full recovery, but he really did take a good bash on the head. He has a pretty serious concussion. It may take a while till he’s fully healed. He’s pretty loopy. Mumbles about clouds all the time.”
“That sounds like Jared.” He could hear the smile in the man’s voice.
The two left Jared’s cloud, which was good. He was tired. But he’d like more soup… tomorrow.
“He’s still asleep.” a young voice whispered, overloud. Jared remembered the voice from earlier.
“He’th very pretty. But he hath a funny spot on hith cheek,” a second voice with a slight lisp replied as a finger gently poked at his face. It tickled.
“It’s called a beauty mark, silly. No wonder Uncle Jensen likes him.” The first youth giggled.
“Don’t you think his hair is too long? He looks like a girl!” the first child exclaimed, clearly confused.
“Maybe he is a girl, silly.”
“You juth said he wath a boy.” The young girl pouted.
“Maybe he’s an angel?” the young boy replied.
Jared floated gently on his cloud as the children’s conversation flowed over him. Maybe they were cherubs sent to keep an eye on him. He cracked one weary eyelid open.
“He’th awake! He’th awake!” the girl cried, jumping up and running out of the room. “Uncle Jenthen! Uncle Jenthen! He’th awake!”
“Are you an angel?” The boy was standing by his cloud.
“I think so. I just arrived here at Jogansrule. Are you a cherub?”
“This isn’t Jogansrule. It’s the Ackles palace at Dragon’s Key.”
Jared wrinkled his brow. This was all too confusing. He let his eyelid slip closed. The name sounded like something on earth. But he was in Jogansrule.
“I don’t understand…” He scrunched his eyes closed and tried to concentrate.
“Hey now, it’s okay. You’re all right.” The voice from yesterday. The young man.
“You two, out. You were supposed to leave Jared alone.”
“We were juth watching him. To make sure he wath okay.”
“I know, Cherra, but he needs his rest. He’s still a little confused."
“He called us cherubs,” the boy piped up.
“He did, did he? Well, you two be good cherubs and fly away.”
“Okay. Bye, Uncle Jenthen.”
“Bye bye, you scamps.”
A cool, damp cloth was laid over Jared’s forehead. “There, does that feel better?”
“Mmmm, good,” Jared murmured without opening his eyes.
“You hit your head pretty hard when you fell from the cliff. It might be a few days before things make sense, but you’re safe now, Jared. Nothing can hurt you.”
“I know,” Jared said wearily. “I have my own cloud now.”
“Your own cloud, eh? Yes, you do.” The man from not-Jogansrule chuckled. “My sister Ayreny will be in with supper. Why don’t you have a quick nap in the meantime? You’ll feel better later.”
“Yesssss,” Jared muttered, turning his head into his cloud. It was so comfortable.
A hand rested gently on his head. His hair felt warm where it been touched. He wished he’d touch him other places. It felt so good. He smiled and snuggled deeper into his cloud. Angel’s touch, he realized.
“See you later, Jared.”
“Mmm-hmm.”
¤ ¤ ¤
Jared didn’t know how many days went by like that. Eventually, he woke, feeling more clear-headed. He was lying in a bed, not a cloud. He felt both crestfallen and embarrassed. He could feel himself blush when he realized how loopy he must have sounded to whoever was looking after him. But if he wasn’t actually in Jogansrule, this bed was a close second. Jared closed his eyes and relaxed into the blissful softness.
He wondered how he got here. He didn’t seem to be hurt anywhere, other than his head, which was still tender….He scratched his chest, only to discover he was in a loose cotton nightshirt, and not much of anything else. He pushed himself up. His head spun wildly.
He sat there panting, until the worst of the dizziness passed. He could feel the pounding of his heartbeat in his head. Okay, so no sudden moves for a while. He carefully looked around. A boy sat next to him, asleep in a chair. Jared’s first thought was what a handsome lad he was, a little older than Jared, spiky short brown hair with reddish-blond highlights. Long thick lashes fanned down over sunkissed cheeks with the most adorable spray of freckles across his face. Jared could even see freckles on the knuckles of his hands where they lay loose in his lap. Then he realized he knew this boy. A little older obviously, some of the softness of youth stripped away, but it was the same gorgeous boy he’d seen so long ago in the great hall…Jensen
He should still be angry with him for spying on him all this time. But the truth was, he simply didn’t have the energy. And something told him that Jensen-Jen-had more than a little to do with saving him.
He tried to remember what had happened. The bear had chased him, and he’d climbed the cliff, and then there were flames, and-Jared’s head started to hurt. He winced and rubbed at his forehead.
There was a light rap at the door and a young blonde woman came in with a tray, a delicious aroma wafting from it.
“Oh good, you’re awake!”
“How long was I out?”
“Three, four days. Your body must have needed it. You were in pretty rough shape when Jensen brought you here. I’m Ayreny, by the way. I hope you’re hungry?”
Jared’s stomach roared to life. “Yeah, a bit,” he admitted with a grin.
Just then Jensen yawned and stretched. “Oh. Hey.” He stared at Jared in surprise. “I-I….”
Jared stared into those beautiful eyes he knew so well. He opened his mouth to say something, but his mind blanked out.
“Wait, are you still on your cloud?” Jensen’s eyes narrowed in suspicioun, as if this might be a trick.
Jared winced. Gods knew what he had said or done this last while. “Ummm -” The blush returned full force. “No, I think I’m firmly on the ground now, or at least the bed.”
“Oh good. You had quite the knock on the head. We were all worried about you.”
“Umm.” Jared tugged on his bottom lip with his teeth. Jensen’s gaze was pinned to his lips, and he licked them self-consciously. “Um, how did I get here?”
“Oh no, you don’t.” Ayreny intervened. “Not right now. Jared’s still getting better. How about we get some healthy food in you and maybe another nap before we get into fifty questions?”
There was a tray with a bowl of steaming soup and a big, butter-slathered slice of bread. There was also a small cup of wine and a couple of cookies.
Jensen’s hand sneaked out to snag one, but Ayreny slapped it away.
“Ouch,” Jensen drawled dramatically, rubbing his injured hand.
“You, out! Nana has your lunch in the kitchen. You can come back this evening after supper.”
Jensen stood, stuffing his hands into his pockets, and rolled his eyes. “Sisters!” he said with a snort.
“Out! I mean it,” Ayreny ordered.
Jared grinned in commiseration. He didn’t know why he hadn’t spotted it sooner. Both had similar faces, with moss-green eyes and blondish hair.
As he left, Jensen saluted him with two fingers at his brow. “Until later, then.”
Ayreny was smiling when she turned back to Jared. “He’s sweet, really, and he’s been at your bedside watching over you for days. But you need to conserve your strength. Now, do you want to try to feed yourself, or should I?”
Jared reached out for the bread, surprised at how his hand shook. It took several tries for him to tear a piece off and lift it to his mouth. He sagged back on his pillows and glanced at Ayreny. “Maybe you should?”
She nodded and held a spoonful of the delicious broth to his lips.
As Ayreny had predicted, it took everything Jared had to simply stay awake for the meal. Halfway through, he was so sleepy and full, he couldn’t eat another mouthful if he tried.
“I’m so tired,” he whined.
“Well, you’re horribly underweight and have been through an ordeal and a half. Right now, you need to let your body rest and heal. You’ll be right as rain in no time.” She patted his shoulder companionably and then tidied everything onto the tray. Jared didn’t remember her leaving.
¤ ¤ ¤
He didn’t talk with Jensen that night or the next. All his body wanted to do was eat and sleep. Finally, on the afternoon of the third day, he was able to stay awake after his lunch. Jensen slipped in, lingering by the door as Jared finished up.
“He’s all yours. But don’t overdo it,” Ayreny whispered to Jensen as she left.
Jensen hovered nervously by the door.
“You can come in, you know. I’m not mad. I meant it when I said I was sorry about blowing up at you.”
Jensen rubbed at his neck guiltily.
He looked so cute as the tips of his ear turned red that all Jared wanted to do was smile, but he bit the inside of his mouth. He needed to stay focused. Jared remembered the dragon’s green eyes….
“I wanted to explain. I- I never meant to spy on you. My father left so fast, and I just wanted to give you something. That marble was all I had. Then, later…. I just wanted to see you again, so I sent one of my birds…I didn’t mean for it to become a regular thing. But I kind of liked checking in on you, seeing you were okay. So, I would send another, and another….”
“So you’re a spirit walker, but are you a dragon, too? I remember green eyes…”
Jensen gave him a lopsided smile, “I am. I’m both. Our bloodline, our gift, is that we can change into almost any creature we want. But there is another side to our power, one we don’t really tell foreigners about. I think your father was one of the few to know. Many of us are also spirit walkers. We can slip under the skin of any creature around us and control it for a short time. For millennia we could only do that with animals in our immediate vicinity. If we couldn’t sense the animal, we couldn’t inhabit it. But then one of our finest mages worked on a spell to change all that. He found that if he took a small token from a shapeshifter’s body, a tooth or a claw, and cast his spell on it that it extended that shapeshifter’s range of sight to wherever that token went. We could travel with any creature within range of the token.”
“I don’t want to know how that was discovered.” Jared shuddered, as he imagined a dragon’s arm cut off and carted back, and the stunned survivor being able to see their enemy displaying their trophy.
Jensen grinned, “Yeah, might have been gross, right? So, once we figured out that something simple like a piece of claw was sufficient, we ground that claw into a marble shape to keep our ability secret. These traveler stones have been a key strategic advantage for us for years now.”
Jared could just imagine. It would extend the Ackles ability to surveil or spy a millionfold.
Jensen shifted from one foot to the other. “That’s how I was able to reach out and take over birds in Padalonia to see if you were… okay You had the traveler stone on you. And when they took you.” Jensen started to pace back and forth. “I saw you leave the castle. I thought it was sudden. Then each time I checked, you were farther and farther away. I thought something was wrong. Only when I visited you in Omun’s castle and found you imprisoned, did I realize you’d been kidnapped.”
Jared stared at Jensen, his head starting to pound. “But you didn’t know where I was exactly. That’s why you didn’t send your people to come get me,” he whispered.
“Father sent regular patrols to look for the castle I described, but nobody ever came across anything like it.” Jensen nodded. “Each time I used a bird I spent hours looking for landmarks, to find where they were keeping you. But there was nothing. It was only when you were on the rock face, and I saw the Twin Sisters, that I finally knew where you were. I came as fast as I could. I was almost too late.”
Jensen stopped pacing and knelt beside Jared, his hand holding the edge of the bed in a death grip. “You have to believe me, Jared, it was killing me, seeing what they were doing to you. If I could have rescued you sooner, I would have.”
He reached out and covered Jensen’s hand with his own. “I know.”
¤ ¤ ¤
The next day Jensen arrived literally bouncing with energy. “I have a surprise,” he said by way of explanation.
Ayreny shook her head and chided him. “Remember, don’t overtire him. And don’t take him out of the family’s quarters. We’re trying to keep his presence here a secret, remember?”
Jared had wondered why a princess had been waiting on him hand and foot.
“Are you worried about Omundson?”
Jensen stared at him and started to laugh.
“W-What?” Jared didn’t think what he said was that funny.
“We’re not the least bit scared of Omundson. We just don’t want to tip our hand and have him find out you’re alive, yet. He’s made up a story that your carriage crashed on the way home from the Academy for the spring break. No bodies were recovered from the wreckage. He said you must have wandered off wounded into the woods and perished. Now he’s planning his coronation for next month. But we have other plans.”
“Plans for me?”
“Of course, Padalonia is one of our greatest allies. But enough shop talk. Don’t you want to see my surprise?”
Jared nodded, but his brain was in overdrive. Was his mother okay? Could he rescue her? Had Omundson hurt any of his people? He almost missed it when Jensen brought his ‘surprise’ into the room.
“Well?”
Jared’s head jerked up, his eyes widening as Jensen brought in a chair with two wheels attached.
“Omundson made one for you, too?” Jared stared at the wheelchair in puzzlement.
“What? No! This was made in a little village in the Vale, they’ve been making them for centuries. My father had it made for his father when he was hurt in an accident. I’ll be able to take you to the gardens with this. Get you out of this room for a change.”
“Omundson said he invented it. Made one for my father.” Jared’s mouth twisted in disgust. “Is there nothing the man won’t lie about?”
“Yet another reason why we don’t want him to get his grubby mitts on Padalonia. Enough about him. Don’t you want to get out of this room for a while?”
Jared brightened visibly. Although it was a comfortable room, he had to admit getting outside would be great.
“Awesome.”
Jensen helped him stand. His legs were as wobbly as a newborn calf’s. He huffed out a relieved breath once Jensen got him settled into the chair. “And we can’t forget this!” Jensen grinned as he went over to a trunk and retrieved something from inside. “Ayreny said this took a bit of work, but my mother, Queen Selena and her ladies in waiting have worked for days to get it almost as good as new.” And then Jensen was unfolding Jared’s mother’s quilt, newly washed and patched with loving care. Jensen wrapped it carefully around him as Jared stroked the material in wonder. His throat swelled, his emotions running high. Since when was he such a crybaby? But this quilt had literally saved his life. Jensen gave him a moment and then said, “You’d better grab onto the armrests.”
Jared was just about to ask why, when Jensen grabbed the handles on the back of the chair. “And we’re off!”
Jensen was a terrible driver. They almost crashed into two servants and later a wall as they sped through the halls. And Jared swore they were running on only one wheel as they rounded the turn into a large courtyard. Both were laughing like maniacs when they finally came to a halt in the middle of a green grassy area. It was perfect.
The Ackles courtyard was five times the size of the one at Castle Omun, with flowers and vegetable gardens. And it had a large pond at its center. There were spots to sit, trees to climb, and a grassy field near the pond. A meandering path traversed the entire length of the space, and Jensen gave him an animated tour of it, pointing out this or that historic fact along with anecdotes from his childhood. “That’s the tree I fell out of when I was six. Broke my arm and everything.” Jensen grinned, looking for all the world like that six year old boy.
Later, Jared pleasantly spent after his tour, they lay under the shade of a beautiful magnolia tree at the center of the family gardens, chomping leisurely on stolen apples, watching the clouds float by.
“Any of them look like yours?” Jensen asked innocently.
“Huh?”
“The clouds. Any look like yours?”
Jared barked out a laugh. “I was sick,” he said defensively.
“Uh huh.”
They lapsed into companionable silence until Jared suddenly spoke. “Where are you when you travel?”
“Oh, well, most of the time in my bed.”
“How long can you stay out of your body?”
Jensen pursed his lips, “Couple of hours for me. My father can stay longer, though. You get stronger the more you do it.”
“There was one time when your eyes went from green to black.”
“Oh, yeah, that was when my nephew and niece came in and shook me. I never like transitioning out near anyone. I always tried to take my birds away, so they wouldn’t hurt you when I slipped out. I can communicate with them a bit, tell them what I’m doing, but they’re still wild. And I can only spirit walk for so long.”
“So that’s why you never stayed…”
“Yeah.”
Jensen silently reached out and squeezed Jared’s hand. “I’m sorry.”
Jared licked his lips. “You were there for me when it counted,” he whispered and squeezed Jensen's hand back.
¤ ¤ ¤
“Ah, there you are!” A man’s voice woke Jared. He’d fallen asleep on the grass, deliciously warm and comfortable. He opened his eyes and found Jensen leaning on an elbow beside him, watching him sleep.
Jared blinked, disoriented, then remembered where he was. “Why didn’t you wake me?” he hissed.
“You needed the rest,” Jensen whispered softly.
“Yeah, I guess.” Jared rubbed the sleep out of his eyes and sat up. His mother’s quilt fell off his shoulders. Jensen must have covered him in his sleep.
“Good, because I forgot to tell you we’re meeting my father today.” Jensen grinned and sat up to wave his father over.
“Jensen, Jared.” The King nodded as he drew closer. In King Gothrick Jared could see the man that Jensen would become. His hair was blonder than Jensen’s and threaded with silver, but he had the same unruly spiked hair brushed back from his face, broad shoulders, and clear green eyes. Jared hadn’t really noticed him in the hall-he’d been too focused on Jensen-but he was as handsome as his son. King Gothrick gestured at Jared’s wheelchair as the two boys sat up. “Do you mind? These old knees aren’t so good at getting down on the grass anymore.”
“No, Sire, it’s fine.” Jared shook his head as he pushed up to sitting.
“First, I want to say how sorry I am about your father, Jared. He had been my friend and comrade for years. I was very sad to hear of his passing. Notice arrived so late that we could only attend using your ravens. Our mages used Jensen’s link to help us spirit walk there. I would have liked to have been there personally, but we did our best to honor him. I hope you can understand.” King Gothrick leaned forward to squeeze Jared’s shoulder.
Jared flashed on the large unkindness of ravens that had been at the funeral. This had been the Ackles retinue! He felt warm inside to think the King had thought so well of his Pappa to have come. He knew his father always considered Gothrick his best friend. Jared swallowed against the sudden tightness in his throat. He blinked away the sudden wetness in the corner of his eyes.
“But we’re glad to have you back. We sent out patrols across the kingdom looking for you, but didn’t have a break until Jensen here spotted the Twin Sisters. Lucky for you. You were still several hundred kilometers from anywhere.”
Jared’s eyes widened. He knew Omun Castle had been off the beaten track, but this was substantial. He’d never have made it on his own.
“Anyway, we have you now.” King Gothrick smiled gently. “I did want to ask- do you think Omundson had something to do with your father’s illness?”
Jared nodded. King Gothrick wasted no time. “I do, Sire. I tried to warn my father, but he didn’t believe me. I never saw anything, but I feel it in my bones that he was somehow involved. My father had been in excellent health before he came.”
“Jothbert always was so trusting. Start talking about inventions, and he’d be off dreaming before you knew it.” King Gothrick looked away for a moment, but not before Jared thought he saw a tear in the king’s eye.
“Anyway, I did some digging, discreetly, about our King Omundson. He’s not from the Vale originally. It turns out he is from an area far north of your borders. The area was hit with a wave of the Scarlet Phage some eighty years ago. It killed almost everyone and drove the few survivors out of the area.”
“The Mountain said ‘Welcome to Castle Omun, ancestral home of the Omundsons for over three hundred years’, when I first arrived. So maybe he was king there?”
“It makes for a good story.” King Gothrick shook his head. “But the truth of it is, he’s a huckster that took advantage of an abandoned castle and made up a false pedigree to worm his way into the nobility. We know he bought his way into a small earldom before inserting himself into the royal court in The Vale. I had always thought it mysterious how the roads cleared for Omundson’s sudden rise to the crown there.
“But now I know it was Dregnah gold and assassins that eased his way. Turns out he was a travelling magician, our Timothay Omundson, if that is his real name. He knew of tricks and potions and parlayed them into a deal with Chargon of Dregnah. I lost several good men acquiring this information, but I now have it on good authority that Chargon was going to allow Omundson to keep the Kingdom of the Vale if he could deliver Padalonia into his hands. He has lusted after Padalonian steel for as long as he has been alive.”
Jared felt sick. His gut twisted as things started to click into place. “He-he threatened my mother with the Dregnah.”
King Gothrick nodded wearily. “Padalonia would be the foothold for Dregnah to take the Nine Kingdoms. That’s why we need to stop the coronation. It won’t be easy, either. Dregnah will have many troops there, as well as Omundson’s own men from the Vale. But that won’t stop us. We’re going to retake your kingdom, young Jared, never you fear. I wasn’t there for your father when he needed me. The least I can do now is to see you on your rightful throne.”
Jared swallowed over the huge lump in his throat “Thank you, Sire. I know my father thought of you as his best friend. I don’t know how I can repay you.”
“Think nothing of it, Jared. It’s the right thing to do for all the Nine Kingdoms.”
Jared nodded. “D-Do you have any news of my mother, Sire?” He looked away, afraid of what King Gothrick would say. Jensen squeezed his hand in support.
“Only what our birds see-that she seems physically well, and her few handmaids are still there. She takes time on the balcony off her solar each day to sew. That’s where we hope to take her.”
Jared’s head shot up, “You’re going to rescue her?”
“Why, of course, son. That’s why I’m here to talk to you. We’re going to rescue your mother. Then we have a vermin problem we need to take care of before we can return you to your crown. Do you think you’re up for it?” King Gothrick smiled kindly.
Jared climbed, wobbly, to his feet and stretched out his arm to brace King Gothrick’s in thanks. “I will be, Sire. You can bet I will be.”
Gothrick’s plan was simple but daring. Steal away Jared’s mother and retake the castle. Then, once Omundson and his men were dealt with, Jared would announce to his people his intention to take his rightful place as king. It all sounded a bit terrifying, but at least all the Ackles dragons would be there to back him up.
He knew King Gothrick was looking forward to the fight, ridding himself once and for all of Omundson’s oily presence and cutting off the head of any planned Dregnah incursions. Jensen was looking forward to it as well, as a way to prove himself in battle to his father. All Jared was concerned about was that his mother and his friends in the palace didn’t get hurt in the process.
Jared made a mental note. There were thirty-four days before the coronation. Their plans required them to be in place the day before. If Jared wanted to take part in the fighting and not just show up to be handed his throne, he needed to get better, fast.
Starting the next morning he got out of bed first thing and tried to walk the length of his room a few times. Unfortunately, he underestimated how much his head hadn’t gotten with the program yet. He grew dizzy and ended up falling, not quite hitting the bed. As falls went it was pretty tame, but his concussion was definitely complicating things.
Ayreny breezed in with breakfast as he was hauling himself back up. “Oh no! Jared!” She set aside her tray and rushed over, helping get him back in bed. “You know, a concussion is nothing to be trifled with. Exercise won’t make it go away. You need to rest.”
“But I need to be ready…to help in the fight.”
“I know.”
Jared’s eyebrows shot up.
Ayreny laughed. “I’m a member of the dragon legion. I’ll be fighting with you on the day of the assault.”
“A woman fighting?”
“Yes, we’re not all so muscle-bound here, not to realize a dragon is a dragon of any sex. Do you discriminate on who wields the power of fire in your country?”
Jared thought about it a moment. “Well, no… but female Fire Lords are extremely rare. They tend to possess powers better suited to welding or mixing metals for alloys.”
“So their fire glows even hotter than a Fire Lord’s.”
Jared shrugged; he hadn’t really put much thought into it. “Yes, I guess that’s right.”
“So, would you not have them work, just because they are women?”
“Of course not.”
“See. We are in agreement.” Ayreny set up his breakfast tray. “Now as for you, I want you to give yourself till the end of the week before you start any strength training. By then, I hope your concussion symptoms will have died down. But if you start too early, you’ll only regret it, and it will drag out even longer.”
Reluctantly, Jared nodded.
“Don’t worry, there will be lots of time left to fight. My brother will see to that.”
She grinned as she left the room.
So instead of starting as intended with his new fitness program, Jared spent the day taking it easy. He had a nap after breakfast, and then after lunch Jensen took him to the garden again. Pushing the wheelchair at a possibly less insane pace than that first day.
Stretched out on the grass, Jared had just spotted his third running horse among the clouds. “So what do you do in the mornings when you’re not with me?” he asked, curious.
“Oh, I go to sword practice for part of the morning and then dragon training for the rest.”
“Dragon training? Sounds exciting!”
“Um, it is- and it isn’t.” Jensen lay on his side, looking at Jared. He looked at Jared a lot, he realized, especially when he thought Jared wouldn’t notice. Not sure what he saw, really- a too skinny kid with shaggy hair, slanted cheekbones, and tilted eyes. Chad called them fox eyes and complained they couldn’t make up their mind what color they wanted to be.
All the same, Jared had caught him staring several times while they lay like this on the grass, or sometimes when Jensen thought he was asleep. Jared would wake and not move, peeking through his lashes. Sure enough, Jensen would be quietly watching. His face would be soft then, vulnerable, not the cocky boy he was to the outside world. It made the heat pool in Jared’s gut and gave him that fluttery feeling in his chest he got when he was thinking of Jensen.
Right now, Jensen looked like a dork, twisting a blade of grass through his teeth. “Uhhh, we learn to fly in formation and how to move better, control our flame.”
“You really can breath fire?”
Jensen looked at him oddly. “Yeah, like I did with the bear. If I thought I had more time, I would have tried something less… lethal, but he was this close to chomping on you.”
Jared blinked. The flames… he could remember it now… sort of. The bear snapping at his heels, the dragon’s wings blotting out the sun, and then fire, fire everywhere.
“I-I hadn’t remembered until now.”
“I was surprised you weren’t hurt. I’m sure some of the flames reached you.”
Jared shook his head, and let out a shaky laugh. “I don’t remember, not much.”
“That’s okay, I can remember for both of us,” Jensen said confidently.
Jared chuckled and rolled onto his side to look at Jensen. “Have you always been so sure of everything?”
“Well no, not about everything,” Jensen admitted, the sun making his eyes glow brighter green.
“Name me one thing.”
“You.”
Jared looked at Jensen, his soft eyes, his sun-kissed freckles, his soft plum lips, which hung slightly open as if he were going to say more. “Well, you don’t have to worry about me,” he whispered. Jensen turned still, just looking at him. Then a look of determination came over his face, and without warning, Jensen leaned in and kissed him.
Jensen’s lips were cloud soft, tasting faintly of the dallion pollen in the air and the honey he’d had at lunch with Jared. All Jared wanted to do was lick all the sweet flavor away, until all he tasted was Jensen. Jensen started to pull back, but Jared grabbed him by the arms and pulled him in close. Jensen’s mouth opened on a sigh, and some instinct had Jared’s tongue delving in, laving over Jensen’s tongue and teeth as he tried to bury himself in Jensen’s mouth forever.
Jensen moaned and moved in closer, cradling Jared’s head in his hands as he licked and kissed at his mouth. Jared could feel his cock thickening in response and pushed in closer, only to have Jensen abruptly break it off and roll away with a gasp.
They both lay there panting. Jensen covered his eyes with his arm. And Jared was left to lie there, bewildered and embarrassed. What had he done? Had he done it wrong? Maybe Jensen didn’t even like him that way.
“Next time, maybe warn a guy,” Jensen eventually croaked out, voice shot.
Jared only nodded numbly. Jensen returned him to his room shortly after and didn’t mention the kiss. Jared lay in bed that night wondering how it all had gone so badly.
The next day was awkward for the first hour, each of them avoiding looking at the other, but then a squirrel stole one of their sandwiches and Jensen’s ensuing chase of said thief and Jared’s peals of laughter erased all that.
Jared would sleep in most mornings. Sometimes he’d read a little if his head was up to it, and then eat lunch, often chatting with Ayreny, who stayed to keep him company after bringing in his meal. Jared loved all the stories she had of growing up in the castle. It reminded him of his home.
When Jensen got out of training, they spent hours in the garden, sleeping or playing board games or simply watching the koi dart around in the pond. Jared grew strong enough not to need the wheelchair any longer and even started to put on weight. It was relaxing, but toward the end of the week, Jared had to admit to chafing a bit at the inactivity.
“I have a surprise,” Jensen announced as he burst into Jared’s room as Jared was finishing up his lunch.
Used to Jensen’s abrupt entrances by now, Jared only smiled. “Another one?”
“We’re going on a picnic! To one of my favorite places in the whole world. And we're going to have to fly to get there.”
“What?” Jared felt his eyes widen, his whole body thrumming in excitement at the thought of flying with Jensen in dragon form.
“Yeah, only this time you’ll have the catbird seat.” Jensen grinned and tossed Jared a small bundle.
Inside were fur-lined riding leathers. He’d seen Jensen in his a time or two.
“You’ve ridden a horse, right?” Jensen asked.
“Of course.” Jared side-eyed him, a little hurt. He wasn’t a kid, after all. He was almost sixteen.
“Well, I hear it’s just like that. There’s a saddle and pommel, and you hang onto that and my spikes, easy peasy. You get changed, and I’ll meet you in the garden.”
In a matter of minutes Jared was striding excitedly toward the courtyard, tugging at his riding leathers, which were not quite up to the task of covering his long frame, so that a slice of belly showed. He spied Jensen as he entered the garden.
Ayreny was there with a large saddle and an almost as large picnic basket. Jared’s eyebrows rose skyward. “Whoa.”
“Yeah, and we have to teach you how to put this on for the trip back.” Jensen grinned. “Okay, everyone close their eyes.”
Jared did as ordered and could hear the rustling of clothing as Jensen shucked down. Then the air popped, and he knew immediately that Jensen had shifted. He opened his eyes and, sure enough, had to look up and up and up at Jensen’s dragon self.
“Oh, don’t go all gah gah over him. He’s already cocky enough about his size.” Ayreny rolled her eyes. Jensen huffed in laughter, sending a warm ruffle of air over Jared’s hair.
It only took a few minutes to explain the saddle hook-ups which Jared found similar to his horse Midnight’s saddle back home. Then Ayreny did a dry run, before having Jared remove it by himself, while she gave him a few pointers. “Okay, now you saddle him.”
Jared glanced up at Jensen, who was looking at him with a bemused expression.
The saddle went on with no hiccups, and Ayreny announced him sky-worthy.
“Just take your time, and double-check everything. We don’t want you falling out of the saddle at 5,000 feet.” Ayreny grinned. “Oh, and did you bring your traveler stone? You’ll need it if you’re to hear Jensen on the journey. Don’t worry if you forgot it, it’ll probably be a nicer trip.” Ayreny smirked and slapped Jensen’s side. “He does like to rattle on.”
A jolt of shock ripped through him. “I’ll be able to hear him?”
“Yes, didn’t he tell you?” Ayreny looked back and forth between them. “What do you guys talk about all that time you’re out here?”
Jared felt himself blush guiltily. “I just. I never heard him when he was a raven.”
“No, you wouldn’t. When we’re spirit walking, it takes too much energy to also ‘talk’, but we can send suggestions. Help you guess what we’re thinking easier.”
“Oh.” Jared nodded, thinking how easily he had figured out Jensen’s name.
“Come on, you’re awfully quiet, Jensen. Say something to the boy.”
Something. A mischievous voice rumbled in his head. Jensen’s voice, but deeper somehow.
“Maybe more than one word. Come on, you idiot! He needs to practice talking to you, too. Otherwise you won’t be able to hear him on the flight.”
Maybe I want some peace and quiet, too, Jensen replied sulkily. I do not talk too much!
“Whatever.” Ayreny rolled her eyes. “You try, Jared, Just think to him instead of speaking. He’ll hear you as long as the traveler stone is near you.
Hello? Can you hear this? Jared felt like he was talking to himself. Weird.
Gotcha! Jensen swung his head around. Clear as a bell. Can we go now, Mother?
“Ugh. Boys.” Ayreny quickly packed Jensen’s clothing into the picnic basket and stepped back. “Okay, good to go. Remember you need to be back before dark. And don’t tire Jared out, he’s still recovering.”
Jared grabbed the pommel and swung himself up into the saddle.
Okay, got a good hold?
Yesss Jared responded as Jensen lifted off before the words were completely out of his mouth.
From the air he could see Ayreny chuckling. He had to know Jensen would pull something like this. Jensen kind of flew like he pushed a wheelchair.
I heard that!
You were meant to. Take it easy. My hands are going numb from the death grip I’ve got on the pommel.
Oh, sorry. It’s just so nice to escape the castle. You know?
I hear you. Hey, so why do we have to be home by dark? Jared asked, curious. It was not like they were kids.
So we don’t plow into a mountain or a castle wall in the dark. It’s not impossible, but it’s way harder to fly at night.
Ahh, makes sense.
They flew in silence for a while, which didn’t bother Jared. He was captivated by the stunning view as it flowed by.
Beautiful country.
Yeah, we’re lucky. We’ve got a bit of everything. Mountains, grassland, and even some tropical bits further south.
So where ARE you taking me? Is this another kidnapping?
Don’t even joke about that. Jensen cautioned. I found this place when I turned sixteen. I was out exploring after I shifted for the first time. I thought it was the most beautiful place I’d ever seen. We’re almost there.
The ground grew rockier, and Jensen was working hard to gain altitude. Immediately, Jared could see the reason Jensen had brought him here.
It’s amazingl!
Told ya.
Out of the forest rose a great mountain, the start of a winding range that went off into the distance. From the top of the closest mountain’s white peaks fell a perfect, crystal clear waterfall. It coursed down the side of the mountain in three long, perfect falls, each ending in a ledge which held a pool before spilling over that ledge onto the next, ending its cascade into one of the bluest pools Jared had ever seen.
“Why is it so blue?”
Kitchu deposits in the rock in these parts turn blue in water. Beautiful, right?
Jensen landed on the sandy shore surrounding that pool.
Lake Lalladeynaw. In the old tongue it means Surprise Lake.
I imagine it will be surprisingly cold from the look of those snowy peaks.
Hmmm, Jensen was noncommittal.
Jared tossed off his boots and let his toes curl in the sun-baked sand. “This is great.”
There was that funny popping sound, and he turned to see Jensen’s naked butt as he ran into the water.
“Are you nuts?” Jared laughed.
“Come on, join me!” Jensen waved, already chest deep in water.
“I’m gonna regret this,” Jared muttered as he stripped down and, bracing himself, ran headlong into the water.
“What!” He sputtered, water going everywhere as he flailed around in shock.
“I know. Awesome, right?”
Far from being cold, the waters of Lalladeynaw were wonderfully warm.
“What’s going on?” Jared cried out. “I can see the icicles hanging from the rocks above!”
“Lava-heated pool. If it weren’t for the falls, this water would be bubbling hot. Instead, it’s the perfect temperature year round. Surprise!”
“Oh man. This is fantastic.” Jared lay back and let himself float. Jensen did the same. The warm waters massaged away every ache and pain he ever had. “I can see why you like this place. I would love to celebrate my sixteenth birthday here, too.”
“Mmm.” Jensen had his eyes closed as they both floated spread-eagle in the clear waters.
They stayed in the water until they started to prune. Then finally Jensen said, “I’m hungry. Let’s go see what Ayreny put in the basket.”
On cue, Jared’s stomach started to rumble.
“Race you!” Jensen cried.
In the end, Jared let Jensen win. He just couldn’t seem to pull himself from this liquid heaven. Finally, Jensen called him. “Come on, I’m starving.”
Reluctantly, Jared dragged himself from the pool, wrapping himself in a towel Jensen had left out for him. It was a beautiful spread. Ayreny had supplied a big blanket that a towel-draped Jensen was already sprawled on. There were bowls of fruit and cheese and sliced meats, as well as fresh salad and crispy fried chicken, boiled eggs and fresh bread. More than enough to feed a small army- or two teenage boys.
“And the piece de résistance!“ Jensen grinned as he pulled a bottle of wine out of the basket.
“Ayreny so did not pack that!” Jared said accusingly. “How did you get that?”
Jensen blushed. “I have my ways.” He smirked as he popped the cork.
“I would like to propose a toast,” Jensen said after filling two cups with his ill-gotten wine. “To our success!” He tapped Jared’s mug with his own.
“To our success.” Jared repeated.
Full and pleasantly tired from their swim, the two packed everything away except the wine and sprawled on the blanket.
“What’s the first thing you want to do once you get your kingdom back?” Jensen asked.
Jared pursed his lips as he considered his options, He hadn’t thought about the ‘after’ so much. More the ‘winning back.’ “I guess I’d like to scrub every surface Omundson touched, to start.”
“Well, yeah-, but after that…”
“Assuming my kingdom isn’t falling apart, I almost think I’d like to go to the Vale Academy. I was kind of looking forward to it. The learning, meeting new people. Does that sound weird?”
“I might be a bit worried about Vale Academy specifically, with Omundson allies maybe there, but there are other academies. Siddeth had a wonderful one. Even better known than Vale’s.”
“Oh!!” Jared rolled that idea around.
“And after that?” Jensen nudged.
“Well, probably get married and live happily ever after. All the usual stuff.”
“Was there someone you had in mind?” Jensen looked over from where he had been staring out at the lake.
“N- not really.” There’s only ever been you. You’ve haunted my dreams since I first saw you. Jared’s eyelids sank to half-mast as he glanced guiltily away.
“You?” Jared replied, his voice falsely bright. He wasn’t sure if it was his imagination that Jensen looked sad when he glanced back at him. His expression brightened immediately when he saw Jared was watching.
“Oh, I’m slated to be leader of my father’s dragon brigade by next year. Life for me is going to be pretty busy. But I’m sure I’ll be able to fit some romance in.” Jensen winked at Jared.
It was then Jared noticed how red Jensen’s skin was getting.
“Um. I hate to break it to you, but I think you’re getting a sunburn. Do you have any sunscreen?” Jared reached out and touched Jensen’s cheek, where his freckles had almost disappeared in the red glow of his skin. Jared’s finger tingled where it touched Jensen’s skin.
Jensen grimaced and looked down at himself. “No, I forgot it. Damn. Every. Last. Time. Okay, I guess it’s home for me and a lazal herb bath before this gets too bad.”
Jared glanced at his own arms, but they had only turned a slightly deeper bronze as his normal tan returned.
Chuckling, Jared helped him fold the blanket and tuck the now empty wine bottle back into the basket.
“Thanks for bringing me here, even if you did get a sunburn.” Jared smiled.
“No worries. It was worth it to share my secret with you. Besides, the shift will help with the worst of it. I am such an idiot.”
¤ ¤ ¤
^^ Comments always appreciated | Chapter 5 | Chapter 7