More mild shounen-ai or does this loose the ‘mild’ rating towards the end…

Finally a sequel to “A Walk in the Gardens”.  Set perhaps a few months after the events in that fic.  I didn’t intend to write this but the idea just suddenly struck one evening and demanded to be expanded upon.

I owe thanks to Lionna’s fic, Chapter one - Language of Flowers and the Heart, for the suggestion of an order of flowers for courting, also to Ella for giving “A Walk in the Gardens” a nice home.

            Narsus looked at the flowers.  He looked up at the servant’s face then looked back at the flowers again.  The old servant, one of his father’s most trusted retainers, was practically bouncing up and down with joy.  He was definitely missing something here.  Narsus looked at the servant again, the old man was grinning.

“Isn’t it wonderful!” he gushed.

“It’s just some plants.” Narsus replied, in the usual tone of voice he used for such things.

“Oh, not just some plants, young master…”

“Looks like some plants to me and not very impressive ones at that.”

“It’s not what they look like but what they mean that’s important, master.  Lord Daryoon sent those this morning.”

Narsus frowned, he didn’t much like plants of any description but since Daryoon had sent them he figured that he could make an exception.

“Umm, do something with them then.” He said absently to the servant.

The only response was a shocked look.  Narsus held the servant’s stare until the old man was forced to look away.

“Oh, young master, how your education has suffered.”

“I’m sure… Very well, what exactly are these flowers supposed to mean then?”

“Why, that Lord Daryoon’s intentions are honourable.”

“WHAT?!”

            A few hours later Narsus made his way slowly towards the main courtyard of the palace.  He’d agreed to go riding with Daryoon that afternoon and had been looking forward to spending time with the young commander.  At least that was how he’d felt before this morning and the bunch of flowers.  Now after spending the last few hours being instructed in the forms of courtship by the old servant, he was despairing.  The servant had done his best but it was a hopeless cause from the start.  Narsus had tried to remember everything that he was told but it all got mixed up, he couldn’t remember how he was supposed to act or what he was supposed to say.  With each step towards the courtyard he got more distressed because he couldn’t remember anything correctly, until finally he arrived more confused and upset than ever.

            Daryoon was already standing in the courtyard holding their horses’ bridles.  Narsus smiled at him, it was a fake smile but he hoped that it would cover how he was feeling.

            The ride into the countryside should have been exhilarating, the conversation as they slowed their mounts welcome, unfortunately the ride from the city had been simply putting of the inevitable and the conversation was getting rather one-sided.

“…I didn’t think much of it.  Not that I know all that much about music anyway.”  Daryoon shrugged and laughed.

“Mmm, yes.”

“Narsus?”

“Yes?”

“We can go back to the palace if you like.”

“Oh, I don’t mind, what ever you want to do.”

Daryoon’s expression didn’t change.  “Alright, we’ll go back.” He said softly.

            They parted company in the courtyard.  Daryoon excusing himself to deal with some military matters.  Narsus watched his retreating figure while he silently fought the urge to burst into tears.

            Late that night Narsus wandered through the palace gardens.  He was alternately angry with Daryoon, for putting him in this situation, and himself, for not being able to remember how he was supposed to react.  Narsus cursed as he stood in the darkness, at the stupid courtship formalities, at himself for not being able to remember them, at Daryoon…  He sank down onto a stone bench and, clenching his fists slammed them again the seat.  He wasn’t going to cry.  He hadn’t cried in years and he certainly wasn’t going to start now, especially over something like this.  If he’d messed up, if Daryoon had lost interest in him then… then, he’d just learn to live with it.

            The next morning Narsus woke early and headed to the palace library.  He smiled, a smile filled with grim determination, at the old servant on his way past.  If this was the way that Daryoon wanted to do things then fine.  Narsus had decided upon wakening that he wasn’t going to loose Daryoon to some ‘bit of fluff’ (as he regarded the competition) just because he didn’t know how to conduct a formal courtship.

            The palace library was silent, due to the early hour even the designated scribes were not present.  In keeping with the mood, Narsus picked his way silently along the rows of books searching for something of use in his latest campaign.  He smiled at the analogy, when he though about it like this everything seemed clearer.  Just as in warfare one had to learn to anticipate the opponent as well as have mastery over one’s self to triumph.  Learn his plan of attack and the appropriate responses.  He sighed, at least the predictability of courtship was pleasant, unlike the inevitable outcome of war.  It was something he contemplated often, while he never wished to become a soldier or bureaucrat, his natural inclinations were already beginning to pull him towards two of the most destructive facets of the life of a nobleman, war and politics.  Already his minor manipulation of certain court situations had paid off in his father’s favour…

“Oh, Narsus.”  It was Daryoon there to immediately draw him out of his dark contemplation.

“Good morning, Daryoon.  What are you doing here so early?”

“Uh…”

“What’s that you’re reading?” Narsus made to snatch the book from Daryoon’s hand only to have the warrior quickly move the book out of his reach.

“Nothing, nothing of interest.”  That said a little too quickly.

“Oh, really.  Then you won’t mind me looking.”  He made a dive for the book.  Daryoon reacted with the speed of trained warrior reflexes, by first trying to catch Narsus of balance by hooking an arm round his waist and pulling him close, then in a sudden movement hurling the book away from them so it skidded across the floor, and ended it’s journey under a shelf.

Narsus responded after the initial shock by pulling back and sweep-kicking Daryoon.  He quickly crossed the floor to where the book was sitting under a shelf and was about to bend down to pick it up when he was suddenly spun round and inexplicably found himself flat on his back with the rather solid weigh of Daryoon’s body pinning him to the floor.

“Oh…” Narsus began.

Then, without warning, Daryoon was kissing him.  A hard, rough kiss which stole his breath, which demanded he submit.  Narsus could do nothing to fight it, even if he had wanted to, and after a while he even forgot that Daryoon had his wrists pined above his head…

“Lord Daryoon!  Stop that this instant!”

Daryoon was quickly on his feet and staring at an outraged old servant, who looked vaguely familiar.  Narsus stood up slowly, checking if his legs would hold him.  He looked from the old servant to Daryoon and back again.  The servant was furious and his anger was being added to by the fact that Daryoon was looking deeply ashamed, which did nothing to detract from the servant’s obviously drawn conclusion that Lord Daryoon had taken advantage of his young master.

“Narsus, please forgive me, I didn’t mean to…” Daryoon’s voice trailed of under Narsus’ stare, the same one that Narsus had used on the servant only the other day.  It was a stare that, unbeknownst to either Daryoon or the servant, could make the wild cats on Mount Devermant turn tail and run.  To his credit Daryoon held Narsus’ gaze and said softly “I’m sorry.”

“Really?”

“Um, maybe not.”

There was a shocked sound from the servant as Narsus grabbed Daryoon by the front of his uniform and kissed him, hard.

Daryoon turned a bright red as Narsus let him go.  He could only watch as Narsus bent to retrieve the fallen book then swiftly exited the library.

            The next morning, Narsus smiled as he sat up in bed and watched the servant bring in his breakfast.  There was a single flower accompanying his meal.

“What’s this flower called?” he asked picking it up.

“It’s a Heliotrope, young master.” The servant paused “Lord Daryoon’s intentions are still honourable by all indication.”

The servant paused again but Narsus waived him away.  Once the old servant was out of the room Narsus reached for the book he’d taken from the library and after flicking through a few pages, smiled.  Apparently the Heliotrope signified devotion.

Well, this might prove to be most interesting, especially if Daryoon intended to do everything ‘by the book’.  Narsus lay back against the pillows smiling, he’d spend the next few days learning the forms and then… and then this game of courtship would get a whole lot more interesting.

This got a little bit more drawn out that I’d expected and I’ve borrowed the flower meaning from Lionna’s site… I don’t even know what a heliotrope looks like!

I’ll blame the frequent change of pace in this on the music I’m listening to, alternately Placebo, Offspring and something called “Last Impression” from Gundam Wing, it was La Califfa earlier when this idea struck, go figure.

I guess I’ll pass this off as artistic revenge on all those dinner parties when I’ve been expected to just sit and say the right thing to the right person at the right time.

Narsus (21/3/01)