Young King of Senad

It was a very frightened crown prince that waited in the library of St.Sebastian's. He had been sent here on his 16th birthday, as custom decreed, to learn the ways of governing wisely, as had his mother and grandfather and all that came before him.

After ten years he was happy here, and had begun to hope that the call might never come. That his beloved mother, the revered queen Naomi, would outlive him and leave him to this quiet life among the books and silences of the monks.

But when he had woken this morning there had been a rider on the horizon. A man who carried his mother's personal banner. A man who was taken to Father Jeremy as soon as he arrived.

That had been hours ago. Unable to concentrate, even the calming of chatter of his mentor Brother Marcus failing to soothe him, Prince Blair had taken refuge here, among the towering stacks, the accumulated knowledge of the ages stored and protected for the generations to come.

"Brother Blair?" the serene, sure voice of Brother Michael. "Father Jeremy would like to see you now."

Looking up from his contemplation of his hands, Prince Blair took a deep breath, reminding himself of the breathing exercises he had been taught. Standing slowly, his hands automatically twitched his robes into neat folds that hung to the floor before he began walking, hands clasped before him, eyes down.

He was silent as Michael led him across the grounds. The greyness of the day seemed to ooze from the stones of the abby, spreading to his soul, until he could no longer keep quiet.

"What's happening, Brother Michael? What's going to happen to me?"

With a gentle hand on his shoulder Michael shook his head.

"I do not know, Brother Blair. But you are strong and you will meet any challenge."

Knowing he wasn't going to get any more from the sedate monk, the prince kept his own council, repeating to himself from the Gies of Gila, which he knew by heart.

Everything happens for a reason. Everything happens for a reason.

Perhaps if he said it enough times he would believe it again.

Michael showed him to Father Jeremy's door and left without another word. Prince Blair hesitated for a moment, and then the door opened before him.

He started, looking up and up, into the brilliant blue eyes of a man he remembered clearly.

Sir James Ellis. The Blessed Protector of the Kingdom, and the Kingdom's ruler. He had received his mantle from Sir Kirk, after Prince Blair had left the court for the monastery. James was the name given to a child who showed promise as an infant when tested by the Healer and the High Priestess, and all Blessed protectors were known by that name, male and female.

He must have heard the prince's heartbeat from down the hall.

The prince knew well the abilities of the Blessed Protector. Chosen for an advantage over other men, he had been rigorously trained and strenuously tested before taking the position.

But Prince Blair remembered him more as the kind young man who had always had a moment to teach a small boy with no man in his life.

He had not been given permission to speak in Father Jeremy's presence and would never have forgotten that, but he could and did give Sir James a grateful smile, and was saddened when the man did not return it.

My mother is dead.

The thought shook him and he stumbled as he walked across the large empty room. James' hand on his arm kept him upright and helped him gently to a chair and he felt a second flash of gratitude for the man.

"Prince Blair." Father Jeremy started and the prince caught his breath on a sob, then clamped down on it. He had not been called 'Prince' since he arrived. For Father Jeremy to use it now could only mean one thing - that his mother was no longer Queen. "It saddens me deeply to be the bearer of such harsh news.Your mother, our beloved Queen Naomi, was taken ill in the night and passed on despite the best efforts of the Healer Legion. We would have sent you to her had there been time, but Sir James rode straight through for two days and nights just to get to you in time for her memorial.

Trying to be brave, the prince simply stared at the Father, his eyes filling with stinging tears that soon spilled over to burn their way down his cheeks and drip onto his clenched hands. Sir James tightened his hand on the prince's shoulder, offering support.

"You must return to the world of men and take your place at the head of the high table alongside the Queen Royal, Her Highness Kim, with the blessings of Gila."

Crumpling forward into himself the prince fought to breathe through the pain that enveloped him. Queen Kim had been the ruler of a neighboring kingdom and negotiated a peace between them, combining the two into the one that stood today. His mother's closest friend, she had spent her time seeing to the education of the people and cared little for the day-to-day effort of ruling, an arrangement that had suited them both well.

A strong hand rested on his head and he was vaguely aware of Sir James' voice above him.

"We must leave soon. The roads are dangerous at these times and there are many who would wish to take the prince from us and throw the kingdom into chaos. It is my duty to prevent that."

"You brought no entourage? No squadron to protect him?" Jeremy sounded doubtful. As the initial shock faded the prince managed to find his voice.

I don't have to wait for permission to speak now. I'm no longer one of them. The thought frightened him as much as it freed him.

"One Blessed Protector is equal to thirty men, father. I will be safe beside Sir James."

The hand on his head stroked tenderly before moving away. Irrationally he missed that contact as soon as it was gone.

"You have only a few moments to say your goodbyes." Sir James spoke kindly. "The others should have gathered your belongings by now."

Nodding, wiping his face with his hands, Prince Blair stood. He went to Father Jeremy and leaned to kiss his ring one last time.

"I will call you when I need you." he said, affirming his right to do so as King.

"I will come when you call." with those words father Jeremy erased their previous relationship.

Feeling numbness settle over him like a heavy cloak, the prince turned and left the room, going to his cell, where he found his things packed neatly in two small bags. Most of what he owned was books, with a few pieces of clothing for feastdays, and two pieces of sentimental art. The first was a figurine his mother had brought back from a journey to a distant land when she was younger, before she took the throne. Small and heavy, carved from some stone so black that it absorbed light, it was the representation of an animal he had never seen, a large cat-like creature called a panther. The statue had glittering green eyes made from chips of a stone that sparkled.

The second item was more ambiguous. he often wondered why he kept it, but it meant something to him. He just wasn't sure what.

It was a piece of thick vellum paper with a few lines of poetry written in a man's broad hand. When he had found it among his mother's books one day just before coming here, he had asked her about it, and her avoidance of the subject was all the answer he had needed.

It had been written by the father he'd never known.

Queen Naomi had taken many consorts in her years, but this one had been special. A traveler from another far-off land, he had only stayed a few days. His departure had broken the young Queen's heart, but he had had other responsibilities. Prince Blair had always known that his mother meant for him to take the throne after her, she had been careful to conceive no more children to assure this, and her love for this unknown man was a part of that.

After checking to be sure that his treasure were safely stored Prince Blair shook out the one set of sturdy everyday court clothes that he owned and changed into them. It felt very strange to have his legs encased in the fitted breeches after so long in flowing robes, and the sensation of tightness across his groin was disturbing. Deciding to ignore it, he went to the common ground, where the others had gathered. He shook their hands and hugged Brother Marcus with tears in his eyes, promising to write as often as he could. The mail service had been improved greatly in the last ten years, as the Queen tried to stay in touch with her only child.

He was just finishing the last of his goodbyes when Sir James appeared again, now leading his charger, a great monster of a beast, with hooves and single horn glowing silver against his inky black coat.

The prince had often felt small, but beside this man and this beast he felt dwarfed. His fear must have shown in his eyes because James took his hand and laid it on the animal's thick neck.

"Feel the warmth of his skin. He is as mortal as you or I." he smiled and Blair's heart thawed slightly. James' smile was as rare as rain before dawn. "His name is Goliath and he will carry us safely."

Nodding, his throat too thick to speak, the prince watched as James secured his belongings to the saddle and then swung up into place.

Looking down, still smiling encouragement, Sir James offered a hand.

Taking it, the prince knew that his own trembled and hoped that his protector did not take this as a sign of weakness.

He was settled firmly behind the large man, his arms wrapped around his waist.

"Hold tight, little prince." James whispered kindly. "We ride hard tonight."

Nodding against his broad back Blair gripped him more firmly and closed his eyes. He didn't look back as they rode away from the place that had been his home for the last ten years, into an unknown future.

 

The wind began rising after they had ridden for many hours. Prince Blair was struggling to remain awake. He kept dozing, only to be wakened by a change of direction that threatened his position behind the saddle. Twice he felt Sir James' hand come around and steady him.

It was getting colder, but he restrained himself when he would have spoken of it. If it was going to snow the Blessed Protector would know long before he did and take appropriate action. Predicting the weather was only one of his many talents.

Thus the prince was not surprised when Sir James slowed Goliath to a walk and turned slightly in the saddle to speak to him.

"A storm is coming. I know of a cave nearby where we will be safe for the day."

Unsure what response was expected the prince nodded. Sir James was not looking for his approval, Blessed Protectors were above that. They needed approval from no one and answered only to the Captain of the Guard and the Prime Minister, and could reject their advice if they felt it was warranted.

"I know you are tired, my prince. You will have time to rest." the knight gave the clasped hands on his chest a gentle squeeze and the prince felt his eyes fill with tears again. Such tenderness from such a powerful man.

Clucking Goliath into a smooth trot, Sir James wove them through the thick trees of the forest. It was pitch dark, Prince Blair couldn't even see the ground beneath them, the sky above hidden by the twined branches of the ancient oaks, but he knew that Sir James could see as well as if it were full daylight and trusted that knowledge.

He dozed off again, the slower pace allowing him to rest his head against James' strong back and close his eyes without fear of falling. The next thing he knew was James pulling him from Goliath's back and into his arms, to carry him into a dark crevice in a cliff face.

"Wait here. I'll gather wood for the fire." James said, setting him gently on the cold dirt floor and dropping a pack beside him before disappearing into the blackness outside.

Prince Blair could hear Goliath moving restlessly, and there were soft forest sounds as well that comforted him. Opening the pack in the dark, using his hands, he retrieved several blankets and spread them across the dirt, forming a comfortable space, then dug for the tinder box he knew he would find at the bottom. When he pulled it out he heard the noise from outside, Goliath making a friendly snuffling sound and knew that Sir James' had returned.

"You've gotten started. Good." the man sat beside him and began building a fire in the circle of rocks already in place. As soon as he had light the prince began pulling out food and preparing to cook.

"You don't have to do that, your highness." the knight objected.

"I'm not the king yet." Blair smiled sadly. "I must still pass the tests."

James nodded and allowed Blair to continue what he was doing. He left for a few minutes to tend to Goliath and by the time he returned the prince had a hot stew made of dried meat and vegetables ready, with hard travel bread to sop up the juices.

"One of many things I will never excel at." James voiced his appreciation of the food cheerfully. When it was gone he cleaned up over the prince's protests, urging the younger man to lie down and sleep.

"We will rest here during the day and travel in the evening. Prime Minister Yvonne has scheduled your mother's service for four days hence. If we travel hard we will make it on time."

At the mention of his mother Prince Blair's eyes filled with tears. Stifling a sob, he turned away from the fire and wrapped himself in a blanket, suddenly overcome with a chill that the fire did nothing to dispel. Tears fell freely and he struggled to remain quiet in his anguish.

The large hand on his back startled him, but not as much as the gentle voice in his ear or the arms that came around him.

"Your sorrow is a tribute to her love." Sir James whispered, pulling the sobbing prince into his strong arms and cradling him to his chest. "Allow me share this pain with you."

Letting himself to be held and comforted, the young prince cried himself to sleep in the shielding embrace of his Blessed Protector.

 

The sky had just began to darken with dusk when they mounted up and set off again. Still numb and now sore as well, unaccustomed to riding, the prince clung to Sir James and silently endured the inner and outer pains.

Coming to the road hours later the prince perked up. He vaguely recognized the area from his first trip, when he had left for the monastery. The deep ruts of the road, formed by many years of wagon wheels, kept them to the side.

"Is it safe to be on the road?" he knew that he had enemies in the kingdom, people who, for one reason or another, would rather he not make it to the throne. As soon as he said it he regretted it, it sounded like he was doubting the knight's abilities, but Sir James only answered him seriously.

"I will hear any threat before it reaches us, my prince."

Blair nodded, reassured.

"Prime Minister Yvonne suggested that I take a few minutes to discuss the challenges with you. Since you are rested now, would you like to do that?"

"I suppose." he said it in an 'if I have to' tone that the knight picked up on.

"Your mother spoke of you often in my presence." he began slowly. "She was very proud of you and your achievements. But occasionally she worried that you were growing too headstrong to fulfill your duties when the time came."

Prince Blair straightened, leaning slightly away from Sir James. He had never heard that from his mother.

"She was relieved that you seemed to be settling down this last year and accepting the advice of your elders."

"I am glad that I made my mother proud." Blair answered carefully.

"The three challenges of the King are not to be mocked, Prince Blair. Unless you wish to return to St.Sebastian's and live out your years there as one of them."

"I loved my life there...but it is not what I am meant to do."

"Then we will discuss the challenges."

"Yes." this time the prince kept his tone positive.

"The first challenge, as you know, is one of intelligence. A King who knows nothing can rule nothing."

"I'm not worried about that one." the prince grinned slightly and knew the knight heard it in his voice.

"And I do not think you should be." James agreed and Blair could hear him smile as well. "But the second challenge, the test of heart, that may present a difficulty. Your childhood fear of heights is well known. If you have not outgrown that then you know you will have to face it."

The prince thought about it. He knew that anything he said to Sir James would probably be relayed to the court. He couldn't forbid that as he wasn't King yet. But he didn't want to begin his reign with a lie.

"I'm still afraid." he said it softly. "It will be a challenge indeed. But even that doesn't frighten me as much as the third challenge."

"The test of body? Most welcome it. I admit, it must be a little intimidating to have the high court watching you, but there is no harm in that."

"I went to St.Sebastian's much younger than boys usually do." the prince sighed. "Most of the others had already achieved that experience before they got there...but I was always caught up in my studies..."

Sir James reined up the horse, who protested with a snort and a stomp. The knight turned all the way around in the saddle to face his charge.

"You're saying that you haven't."

Blair shook his head.

"Not ever."

He shook it again. His long curly hair, which had started the day tied neatly back, was slipping from the tie and curling around his face.

"This is a revelation." the knight seemed concerned.

"Will it be counted against me?"

Starting the horse again James thought briefly, then shook his head.

"If I remember my history correctly, Queen Jane came to the throne a virgin as well. She was very young and had not developed an interest in such things."

"But she passed the challenge?" the prince leaned against him, closing his eyes again.

"She had difficulty making the choice, but in the end she chose her Blessed Protector for the night. To all accounts it was a successful challenge and she went on to have many children."

"How am I supposed to choose?" Blair sounded worried. "I don't want my first child to come from a forced anonymous mating."

"You do not have to choose a woman, Prince Blair." Sir James said soothingly. "You had many friends as a child. Perhaps you would feel more at ease with one of them."

"I don't know." with a heavy sigh the prince relaxed again, but then felt the muscles beneath his cheek stiffen. "What is it?"

"A party, five or more. We must get off the road." James quickly turned Goliath off and kicked him into a canter, the fastest they could safely go while weaving among through trees.

An arrow whizzed past Blair's head and he bit back an oath, clinging to James and ducking lower in the saddle. It was followed by several more and James cursed as he drove Goliath faster.

"Some traitor must have told them I was sent to get you! When I find him they will pay with their head!"

The pounding of another set of hooves grew behind them. The prince risked a glance backwards and what he saw frightened him further.

"He's on a Dragon-mount!" he shouted at James. "Even Goliath can't outrun that!"

"Then we will have to find a place to fight!" James acknowledged his words, pushing Goliath dangerously fast.

More arrows flew at them. Even as he clung to his protector and prayed to Gila the prince began to believe that he wasn't going to make it out of here alive. Who would that leave? He had no cousins or other relatives. Probably one of Queen Kim's only relative's children, Lady Kennedy had several.

"Behind the tree!" Sir James yanked Goliath around and shoved at the prince, who slid down with little grace, but landed on his feet and ducked for cover while the knight went back around to face their attackers. Drawing his dagger the prince watched the fight with his heart in his throat.

James quickly dispatched the first mercenary to cross his path and then two attacked him from either side. His sword flashed, sparking silver where it met their's, and soon he had driven another to the ground, where the man's own mount turned on him, holding him down with it's terrible many-toed feet and almost daintily ripping out his flesh. Blair shivered as the man screamed - no one should die like that. But that was the price you paid for the speed and strength of a dragon-mount. If you failed them they would turn on you.

He heard the noise behind him at the last instant and managed to turn in time to avoid the blade that whistled past his ear, grazing his cheek,pressing himself back to the huge old tree, long-bladed dagger held defensively.

"So you're the prince!" his attacker, a boy younger than himself, cackled. The gleam in his eyes made it clear to Blair that he was a caffeine abuser. The drug had been outlawed in Senad for decades but those that wanted it always managed to find it somehow.

Knowing it would make the boy faster but careless the prince launched a counter-attack, barely coming away without a more serious wound but landing a good cut across his side. He wanted to look back, to check on James, but all of his attention had to go to the battle at hand.

There is no honor in dying, he told himself, leaning quickly to grab a handful of dirt and fling it into the boy's eyes, earning a howl of pain as he stepped in to finish him off. At the last minute he turned his blow aside and slammed into the side of his head with the heavy silver hilt of his weapon instead of slitting his throat as he wanted to do.

By the time he hit the ground Sir James was by his side, looking worried.

"Are you injured, Prince Blair?" he demanded, one hand going to the cut that oozed blood on his cheek.

"Only that." Blair stared, shaken, not registering what he saw.

"Let me check you..." Sir James' hands shook slightly as he ignored Blair's protests and ran them over his head and face, then up and under his tunic to skim his ribs, belly and chest, looking for broken bones or other dangers.

"You're bleeding!" the prince exclaimed as he realized what he saw. An long, deep gash was soaking blood through the shoulder of the knight's baldric.

"It's nothing. Stand still." James continued his examination of the prince. Only when he was finished did he let Blair set him down and tend to his wound, carefully washing and bandaging it.

"That should hold it until we get to Legion." Blair sat back, looking unhappy. "What are we going to do with him?"

"He's the only one left alive. I think we should question him."

Blair nodded.

"Shall we go ahead and make camp here?"

"If we do we will have to ride straight through starting in the morning." James warned.

"Then we will. You need to rest and give that a chance to close." the prince stood and began making camp. He started the fire, unsaddled Goliath and cooked dinner, ignoring James' insistence that he should do something, insisting that the knight sit and rest.

They had eaten and were preparing to sleep when the boy woke from the blow he'd received.

He took one look at Sir James' scowl and spilled his guts.

"It was Lady Peg, m'lord! She hired us, told us that if we didn't take the job she would have us sent to Highlander and never let us back into Senad! I couldn't face that!"

"What do you want to do with him?" Sir James asked the prince quietly.

"Is he telling the truth?"

James nodded.

"I could have killed him earlier. It seems a shame to do it now." Blair shrugged. Let him go. He's the only one left, I don't think he'll come after me on his own."

The softening of James' features told Blair that he had made the right choice.

They released the boy and James listened for an hour, until he was out of range, determining that he had indeed left the area.

They didn't get much sleep, but packed up early and were on their way by dawn. James' injury stiffened his arm but he continued like it wasn't there, barely letting Blair take a minute to check and clean it.

 

"The gates of the city loomed closer and closer. Blair cling to James, fear rising in him. Fear and sadness and pain. The closer they got the more real it became. His mother was dead and he had had no last words with her. No touch of her hand, no last embrace. He fought down the tears that tried to overwhelm him again. He would not arrive in his kingdom crying like a child.

James' hand on his calmed him, gave him strength. As they approached he saw that the gates were open and a crowd was gathering just inside them.

"They will welcome you." James murmured. "Just meet their eyes and they will know you for who you are."

Nodding silently Blair straightened as James slowed Goliath's gait to a stately walk. As much as the prince might want to hurry through this, everyone needed to get a good look at him, to match their memories of him as a boy with his reality as a man.

He stopped the horse at the gate, waiting. A group of women, representatives of the court, stepped out, hands linked, and blocked his path.

"Sir James. Blessed protector of the ruler of Senad. You have returned." Prime Minister Yvonne spoke first.

"Do you bring our prince?" Queen Kim added.

"Is he prepared for the challenges?" High Priestess Cyn finished.

"I bring Prince Blair. He is prepared." James answered. Blair just stared. He remembered these women fondly, but they were not his mother's friends now. They were The Court and they would judge him.

"Enter, Prince Blair. Join us in our sorrow." Blair placed the woman who spoke so kindly now. Margie, the seneschal of the kingdom.

"I enter with a heavy heart." the words were out before he could censor them, but several people seemed to understand the sentiment.

"We will proceed with the service at dusk tonight." Cyn informed him as they broke ranks and let Goliath pass.

The crowd lined both sides of the wide street. Flower petals were being thrown before them and many young women were dressed in their best, vying for Blair's attention, but he refused to meet their eyes, uncomfortable with this adulation.

James kept up a steady commentary, discreetly pointing out people he should remember and be aware of.

"There's Simon, Lord Banks, I'm sure you remember him well." Blair nodded at the Captain of the Guard, at attention before the ranks of his men, his trusted lieutenant Taggart beside him. "And your Almoners: Jackie and Sherry and Desiree and Merlyn. And the Anarchist, Leah. See that woman there? She's the fantasy wrangler, Carla."

Blair listened to him, nodding and answering quietly, as they proceeded to the castle at the other rend of the city.

On the steps that led to the main entrance - that led to his mother's audience chamber - prince Blair was startled to see the Kingdom Saint, Sharon Lady Garinger.

"Did she come out just for this?" he whispered to James as Goliath was halted and Jim handed him to the ground.

"She will take you to your mother." Sir James answered. "Go with her. I will be beside you tonight at the ceremony."

Hesitantly the prince placed his hand in that of the saint's and allowed himself to be led inside, the high court following.

Queen Naomi looked peaceful and beautiful, laid out on the litter that would carry her on her last journey. Prince Blair sat beside her for a long time, running through his memories in his mind, talking silently to her, holding her cold hand. The Poser of Limbs, Merlyn, had done an excellent job, she looked only asleep as she lay there. But the prince knew better.

I'm sorry, mother. If I had been less wild, if I had not run so hard and so fast...perhaps then you wouldn't have had to send me away so soon. We could've had more years together.

He felt a hand on his shoulder and turned to find the High Priestess Cyn standing over him.

"It is Gila's will. Everything must return to what it comes from, Prince Blair. Your mother was happy with her life."

Blair nodded and stood.

"It's time?" he asked.

She nodded. The women of the court came forward to lead him out.

The ceremony itself didn't take long. Prince Blair lit the bonfire while the Apothecary Deb gave the sacred herbs to Cyn and Kim and Sharon to fling into the flames. The minstrel and bard sang her on her journey, Lisa and R'rain finding harmony. Through it all the prince was aware of the Scribe, sitting off to one side, her hands always moving, recording the event for future generations.

Then it was done and he was led to his rooms to bathe and change for the feats.

In the baths Kathi waited for him and then waited upon him. the wardrobe mistress, Lady Scarlet and her assistant Lisa hurried in with the seamstress, Wanda and fitted him to new court clothes, rich fabrics with simple, unadorned styles that made him more comfortable.

Tired from his long ride and the exhausting emotional storm the prince chose to rest before the feast. In his chamber he found his bedwarmer, Jackie Cee, had anticipated his wishes, and was even now curled deeply in his blankets, eagerly giving up her spot to him.

His bodyguard, Laura a woman he had known well as a boy, took her place at his door, with orders to let no one in save the Blessed Protector himself.

It was very dark before Sir James came to him and woke him with a gentle touch. having slept nude to preserve his clothes, Prince Blair was mildly embarrassed to rise before him, but did so and his valet, Kathleen, rushed in to help him dress. Then Jim and Laura escorted him to the main hall.

Filled with people, his people, there was music and merriment as they celebrated Queen Naomi's life. The High Punstress, Lady Mysti, outdid herself, while the Jester, Lady Vyola and the Village Idiot Linda provided more basic entertainment.

The cook, Denise, brought the prince's dishes from the kitchen herself, and scolded the taster, Lord Shawn, for taking too-big bites. A childhood friend of Blair's, this was his first day on the job and he was nervous. Michelle kept to her assigned place, barely eating as she tried to get everything down, The royal artist Lady Tacs right beside her.

Many women, and several men came to greet the prince. He could tell from their smiles and their walks that they wanted him to consider them for the third challenge, but he was too worried about passing the first two to consider it.

At the end of the meal Queen Kim stood and made a sweet speech, speaking of Naomi's love of her people, her love of travel and new places, her ability to make friends wherever she went, and her dedication to her son. Then she called for the Bearer of Godiva, Lady Dallas, to close the meal in a manner Naomi would have approved of.

By the end of it Prince Blair was stumbling with exhaustion. He was lifted from his feet by Sir James,w ho carried him to his chamber and stayed while he was out to bed by Jackie Cee. His assigned courtesan came into the room soon after.

"I am prepared to fulfill my duties, my prince." she smiled sweetly at him.

Blair shook his head.

"Not tonight, Lady Felice. I would ask that you do not come to me until I have passed the challenges."

Disappointed, but trusting in his word, Felice bowed to him and left the room, leaving only the prince and his protector.

Blair looked over at James, who was leaning against the wall with a concerned look on his handsome face.

"Are you sure that's what you want to do?" he asked quietly.

"I don't want the first time...my first time...to be with someone I do not know. I will avail myself of her services once I know her better."

"You're aware that she volunteered for the position." James said slowly.

"Yes." Blair turned over and stared at him in the firelight. "Tell me, Blessed Protector. How close were you to my mother? Did you sleep on the floor beside her bed..or in her bed?"

"I slept before her door, Prince Blair." James answered softly. "I never became that to my queen."

"Then will you sleep here beside me tonight?" the prince's voice was hesitant and shy. "You're the only one I know here and I don't want to sleep alone this night."

"AS you wish." swiftly Sir James stripped to his hose. Laying his sword at the side of the great bed, he slid in beside the frightened prince. "Laura keeps watch at the door. You are safe here." he soothed, gathering the younger man into a comforting embrace.

"I wanted to see her, James. Just one more time..." the sobs he had held in through the ceremony and the feast after broke free now and the crown prince once again cried himself to sleep in his protector's arms.

 

"Lady Arete will administer the first challenge."

The audience chamber was silent as the prince greeted this new lady. She had not been here when he left, he had never met her before. When she stepped out into the light of the giant picture window he couldn't restrain a gasp. No one had told him that she was an Amazon as well as the scholar she must be to challenge him.

He glanced around the hall. Sir James had left him for the morning, he could have attend the challenge but had decided to spend the morning with Legion and his trainer, Lady Kathy Eff. The prince wondered if it was to put him at ease or to make him concentrate.

Lady Arete presented a serious challenge and the prince was sweating by the time he finished, But he knew he was successful when she came and knelt before him with a smile.

That night there was a second feast, this one with a dance as well. The women were beginning to make their approaches more obvious, vying to be his for the third challenge, have the chance of having the royal firstborn. Tiring of it took refuge in the kitchen where Lord Shawn and Denise entertained him with a cooking lesson until the Chatelaine, Lady Katrina, discovered them and shooed him back out to the party.

He was careful to divide his time between the ladies, never paying too much attention to one or another, though he did dance twice with Lady Felice to ease the sting of his rejection and make it clear that she was not out of favor. He was mildly surprised when Lady Arete proved to posses yet another talent when she joined Lisa and R'rain in entertaining the crowd.

A soft rub on his ankle made him jump and then he was squatting down to pet the feline beauty that purred at him. He remembered the first court cat, his mother's beloved pet Aphrodite, named for a goddess Naomi had discovered on her travels. This one wore band of unusual golden material around it's neck with a name stitched into it; Keeker. He thought he saw a second cat slinking in the shadows but it vanished before he could be sure it was real.

The party was disrupted slightly when a woman in white robes entered. The crowd feel away before her, several bowing, a few covering their eyes, and the prince stood as she made her way to him.

He was instantly aware of Sir James' presence behind him, and then felt the warmth of his bodyguard on the other side as Laura joined Sir James.

He started at the approaching woman in fascination. The Seer was a rare sight within the city, he had only seen her twice before he had left.

"Lady Janette." he greeted her quietly, calmly. "I am honored by your visit."

Her eyes were warm and she was staring at him. Then she looked significantly at Sir James for another long moment before letting her gaze slide back to Blair.

"Do you have a message for me?" the prince asked, hope in his voice.

"Your mother sends her love. She tells you; make your choice carefully. That which you need is beside you now."

Blair staggered at the words. His mother's love, carried through the unearthly powers of the Seer. James' hands caught and steadied him.

"My thanks are too deep for words." the prince whispered. He pressed her hand between his. She would not accept payment, he knew that. She never did. But she would ask a favor in return. "When you know what you need come to me and it shall be yours." he said the words the way he had been taught them.

Her nod was his only reply and then she was leaving.

Blair let James lead him to the table to rest and drink a mug of warmed wine. His heart was beating too fast, but he was smiling.

"My mother knows." he whispered to James. "She knows."

"Of course she does."

After a while he let James lead him upstairs and put him to bed, chasing away his attendants and caring for him alone.

But sleep would not come to him. After a long hour James stirred from his place on the floor, taken this night, and went to fetch the one person who could help the prince this night.

A visit from the Lady High Insomniac, Merry, and Prince Blair was soon drifting off to the rest he needed.

 

"Oh Gila." breathing the words almost silently, prince Blair fought the urge to turn and look beneath him.

Clinging to the side of the cliff, hands dug firmly into the crack that ran up the side of it, he looked only up, at the bright blue sky.

It had still been grey with dawn when they had brought him here this morning. The second challenge was as bad as he had feared.

This was a climb often undertaken by young men, said to bring luck to one who completed it in less than a day. The prince needed only to complete it. But the knew that he would lose status of it took him too long, and he'd gotten a very slow start battling his fear.

Now he hung, muscles quivering, stomach rolling, trying desperately to find the courage to move again.

A small shower of rocks slipped from beneath his booted foot and he tightened his grip, turning his head up again, searching the sky for inspiration.

Suddenly a cloud -- only a dark spot on his horizon, really -- rose at the top and his eyes could just make out the form of his Blessed Protector.

Sir James was waiting for him. Encouraging him with his presence.

Locking his eyes on that shape the prince began to climb again, determinedly.

When he reached the top and thrust his hand upwards it was Sir James who took it and pulled him easily over the edge, held him until he stopped trembling and then presented him to the court proudly.

"I don't know what I'm going to do." the prince slumped into a chair in the kitchen, noticing that it was a new one, large and padded and comfortable. Having noticed his habit of hiding in the kitchen Lady Katrina had made certain that he had a comfortable chair to do it in.

"It's not that bad. All those women throwing themselves at you." Shawn teased from his place at the table.

"But I don't know any of them, not that well. And I want this time...the first time...to be special."

"I think having the entire court watching will make it special enough." Shawn smirked and Blair glared, but then grinned. He liked having someone who remembered him as a troublemaking child. Shawn would never take him too seriously, not after he'd pushed the young prince into the duckpond and then howled with laughter when Blair had climbed out liberally smeared with duck shit and chased him down. Blair had beat the snot out of him, but only because Shawn had been laughing too hard to defend himself.

His mother had laughed, too. He remembered.

"It doesn't have to be a woman, Prince Blair." Despite the rebirth of their easy friendship Shawn refused to drop the title.

Now Blair caught his eye, wondering if Shawn was offering. But, no, he knew that Shawn had a life partner. Catching his expression Shawn grinned wider. "No, my prince, I wasn't suggesting myself. But there are others that were your friends in childhood who would gladly bare their souls for you this night."

Blair just shook his head, slender hands delicately shredding a piece of bread into crumbs.

"I only have a little while left to decide." he sighed. "If I don't choose they will choose for me. Maybe that would be better."

"Think Lady Peg." Shawn said sternly.

Blair grimaced.

The investigation into Peg's involvement into his attempted assassination was going, albeit slowly. The court assassin herself was assisting Captain Lord Banks and his men while Sir James went about it his own way. Blair was assured that they would have the true culprit in the dungeon soon. And in the meantime he was safe within the castle.

By the time the feast began he still hadn't made a decision. After the first courses were served and the toasts made he became anxious. He was aware of the concerned glances Sir James kept throwing him from his place across the room, stationed to one side of the door, Laura on the other.

When he didn't stand and speak, as custom dictated, Queen Kim and the others began giving him the same looks. He saw her say something to Cyn and Cyn nodded, started gathering up her skirts to stand.

He had to say something. Make this decision for himself.

"That which you need is beside you now." he heard Janette's voice in his head and looked around, just a little frantically. No one was near him now, he was alone at the head of the table.

Who had been beside him when she spoke those words?

Sir James and Laura.

*Sir James*.

Just as Cyn gained her feet he stood, his cup held high. He heard the sigh of relief that ran through the crowd and managed a small smile himself.

"Yesterday -" he wasn't a speech-maker but he was going to try "- I passed the first challenge. My mind is sound and well trained. Today the second challenge was met. My heart beats strongly even in fear." he paused and took a deep gulp from his cup. Every eye was on him.

"Tonight I will prove my body. With the court as witness I will take a lover to myself and demonstrate that I am fully functional." Another deep gulp. His voice wavered when he spoke again.

"And now I must choose. A body and a mind that I can share this with. A person who can give themselves to me as I give myself to them."

A third gulp and his cup was empty. He brought it down and held it tightly between both hands, pressed to his chest as his eyes sought out the bright blue ones he was only beginning to realize he knew so well.

"With the approval of the court I ask the Blessed Protector, Sir James Ellis, to join me this night."

A gasp rose from the assembled crowd. This choice was unexpected, even shocking.

Prince Blair ignored that, he didn't care for their reaction. All he cared about was the small nod that Sir James gave him. Acceptance.

He turned his eyes back to the high court members, most of whom looked pleased.

"Is this choice acceptable to you?"

"We believe you have chosen wisely." Cyn answered for them all. "Go and prepare yourself."

He left the hall as quickly as he could, aware that Laura and Kathi and others were following him, not caring.

Sir James had said yes. He was going to get through this after all.

 

He was carefully bathed by Kathi. Then Brandy came in to soothe him and help him prepare for the night ahead. He knew that she would go to James next.

When it was time to leave his chamber and go to the *room* he was startled by a knock at the door.

A young man he didn't know was standing there, his hand behind his back.

"I am Paul, Valet to Sir James." he spoke softly. 'My master regrets that he is not allowed to see you before the night begins, but he bade me bring you this with his esteem." he brought forth a single blue rose.

"Ohhh." with a soft sigh the prince took the flower and held it to his nose, the enticing fragrance tickling it as he scented deeply. "Tell Sir James that I only hope to be worthy of him."

Accepting that as his reply Paul turned and left. And then it was time to go.

The *room* had no official name. It was simply a large bedchamber much like any other -- except that it had a large glass window on one side and many small ledges for candles scattered over the wall. With the viewing room darkened and the candles lit nothing could be seen on the other side of the glass but all who entered here knew what was there.

The high court. Anyone of importance, anyone who could claim a right to be there. Prince Blair knew that when his mother had come to this room she had been very young, only seventeen. Her choice of that night was undoubtedly watching him now. Lord Banks had given the young queen a night to remember.

But now it was his turn. And although she had been young Naomi had been no virgin when she entered here.

Laying back on the tremendous four-poster bed, covered in thick blankets and topped with a sinfully soft fur, the prince took a moment to send a prayer to Gila, asking for her blessing. Or at least a decent performance from himself.

He didn't know if Sir James had ever been here before. the room was also used on wedding nights, to verify the sanctity of a union. Then it would be a priest or priestess and family who watched. If he ever married -- and he would be encouraged to, he knew -- he would come here again.

I wish I had done it already. Just once, so I would know what to expect. He was thinking these thoughts when the door opened and Sir James entered.

They both heard the bolt slide home on the other side. No matter what happened now they would not be released until morning.

Prince Blair sat up and leaned forward. His long hair, left free, fell around his face.

James sat in the armchair before the fire and watched him for several long minutes.

Blair began to speak. So quietly, so softly, that he knew the only one who would hear him was the man in the chair.

"I'm very frightened, James. I don't know what I'm supposed to do. I don't know how I'm supposed to act." he paused and his voice grew even softer. "I don't know if you really want to be here or if I'm forcing you to do something against your nature."

He stopped speaking and the silence stretched. He wondered briefly if this was normal or if the viewers would object.

Finally James picked up the bottle of wine that had been left on the fireplace mantle to warm, and poured it into the single goblet on the table beside the chair.

"Come here, my prince." he said gently.

Trembling, Blair climbed from the bed and approached him. He was wearing only a pair of short pants, loose and soft, that tied at the waist.

James lifted the goblet and held out his arms, inviting Blair into them. Shivering now with something besides cold, the young prince sat carefully in his lap, stiffly, awkward.

"Drink this." James held the goblet to his lips. Blair remembered that only one bottle of wine was allowed in the room. This was not supposed to be a drunken mating. He parted his lips and sipped obediently, the warmth spilling through him, easing his shivers as he finished the goblet, James feeding it to him so sweetly.

With a small smile James poured another. This time he sipped himself before pressing it to Blair's trembling lips.

As he fed Blair the second time his free hand slipped around and rested in the younger man's hair. Soon his fingers were stroking and caressing and the prince sighed and leaned back, relaxing against him.

"Do you mind that I picked you?" he whispered, allowing his eyes to close, afraid to look at James when he answered.

"I am honored, my prince." James touched his lips to the top of Blair's head. "Grateful."

"I was afraid you would be angry." Blair sighed and unconsciously snuggled closer to the big man's chest. His arm went around him instinctively.

"I was hoping you would choose me." the quiet words brought Blair's eyes open again, the dark blue wide.

"I wish you had said something. You could have saved me days of worry."

"I didn't want to be presumptuous." James gave a tiny shrug.

Blair looked up to meet his eyes. The movement brought their lips very close.

It was so easy to close that distance and press his mouth to James' for a long moment, feeling the heat, the pressure the softness.

When Blair drew away James sat the goblet down and brought both hands to cradle the prince's face.

"Shall I teach you this?"

"Teach me everything." Blair breathed.

James' mouth covered his, hot and soft. His tongue traced the outline of the younger man's lips and then teased between them until, with a soft sigh, they parted and it dipped inside.

Tasting his mouth, exploring it until Blair felt the need to respond in kind, offering his tongue to James, feeling the shock that ran through his body when the older man took it into his mouth and sucked gently on it. Startled, Blair pulled away, and saw the gentle humor in James' eyes.

"Do you like that?"

Unable to speak Blair simply nodded and leaned back, offering himself up again, this time participating in the kiss fully, his arms creeping around James' neck, his body pressing closer to the large one cradling him.

They kissed for hours, until Blair was dizzy from the lack of air and his body was remembering what it had been like before he went to St. Sebastian's and learned to sublimate those urges.

"I want..." he didn't know how to say it. "More, James. I want more."

"All in good time, my prince." James pulled him close again, his hands leaving Blair's face to stroke the soft fur of his chest, fingers seeking out and teasing the dark nubs hidden there. Blair gasped and shuddered.

"Call me...call me Blair,please, James." he gasped.

"As you wish." James took his mouth again, hungrier this time, plundering the sweetness there as Blair gave it up to him willingly.

He stood without breaking the kiss and carried the prince to the bed, laying him across it and lowering himself beside him, hands molding their bodies together. Blair was suddenly, graphically aware of the hardness pressed to his stomach. He whimpered and wriggled and them n felt his own aching erection settle against the firmness of James' thigh. He sighed into the bigger man's mouth and moved again, his hips setting a rhythm all their own, new to him.

James let him move until it got to be too much for him, then he pulled away and sat up, staring down at the beautiful man in his arms.

"When you were younger, I was just waiting for you to grow up." he crooned, hands running down the slender sides. "But you left before I could tell you so."

"I've come back now." eyes darkened with passion, lips swollen from their kisses, Blair reached for him, urging James to lay on him, to let him take his weight and feel him. "Thank Gila." he breathed, and felt James' grin against his neck as the older man tasted and teased him there.

As James moved lower with his tongue and hands, teasing, tasting, testing, the prince shivered and quivered and moaned softly, the sensations so new but so right that he felt his mind slipping away. He caught James by his shoulders and tugged, his hands slipping through the short hair that felt like silk.

"Wait..!" he gasped. "Give me a minute...to get my bearings..."

"Are you sure you want them?" the words were muffled by the skin of Blair's stomach.

"I need to know...what to...expect." the prince panted out.

James rose at that, leaning over him on his elbows.

"I only know one way to do this, Blair." he said steadily. "But I will do whatever you want me to."

"I want to take everything you can give." the prince answered firmly, with conviction. Feeling brave, he reached for the ceramic pot on the table beside the bed and handed it to James. "Just...tell me what you're going to do, okay? Don't surprise me."

Taking it with a kiss to the hand that offered it, James nodded seriously.

"As you wish."

Blair relaxed again and let James go back to exploring his body. Soon his hands were doing some exploring of his own. When James loosed a deep moan he jumped and stopped petting him, but James reached up and very firmly replaced Blair's hands at on his chest.

"You don't have to be so gentle." he whispered. "Pinch them...like that, harder, uuunh." he moaned again as Blair followed his instructions, then dropped his head to nuzzle at the waistband of Blair's pants. The erection within bounced eagerly and he took that as an invitation, untying and pulling them off, leaving the prince naked beneath him.

Trying to catch his breath, Blair shivered, exposed. Then James' hands circled him and his hips came off the bed as he moaned in surprise.

"That feels so good...I never knew it would feel this good..." he panted, suddenly breathing like a racehorse.

"It will feel better." James whispered, nuzzling down into the thick curly hair that surrounded him, tongue teasing the heavy sac that seemed to swell beneath his mouth.

Blair panted, writhing, twisting in a desperate effort tot ease the pressure in his body. He had never felt anything like this, never *dreamed* of anything like this. Was this why his mother had taken so many lovers? Searching for this feeling, this overwhelming need?

James was holding his hands at his sides. He'd put them there after the prince had yanked his ears once too often, trying to get his mouth back where the younger man wanted it.

"James...." he moaned louder now, the sound taking an edge of desperation. "James, *do* something...."

Busy between his prince's widely splayed legs, the knight smiled at the sound. It was what he had been waiting for. Abandoning his ass, he crawled back up the twisting body and settled himself over it. Blair began thrusting against him immediately, but James held him still with his greater weight.

"Please....please,please,pleasepleasepleaseplease...." the words were bordering on hysteria and that was farther than James wanted him to go.

Taking Blair in his arms he rolled to his side and snuggled the smaller man close, stroking him with long, deliberately firm movements, gentling him, bringing him down from the edge he had walked. When the prince was again breathing only quickly and had stopped moving so frantically he spoke to him, in a quiet, tender voice.

"You know how we must finish this, my prince."

Blair didn't even object to the title. He drew in a quick breath and held it, then let it out slowly before nodding.

"I will be as gentle as I can."

Again Blair nodded. He was still while James searched the bed with a hand, locating the ceramic pot Blair had given him earlier. It contained a salve that Apothecary Deb prepared just for these situations. Slick and smooth and sweet-smelling, it was far superior to any other form.

The hand on his smooth ass startled the prince, who jerked away. Carefully, with words and hands and mouth James soothed him back into his arms, against his chest, one hand playing with the younger mans' chest hair, the other continuing it's exploration of this most private part of his body.

His fingers, slick with the salve that warmed quickly on his skin, sought and found the entrance that the prince guarded. Tiny, vulnerable, so hot and tight. Sir James played around it for a long time, just teasing and stroking while his mouth seduced the neck before him and his other hand brought Blair's erection back to full hardness.

Tightening it sharply he pumped several times feeling Blair thrust into the movement, and sank a finger deep into his body at the same time. Caught unawares Blair tensed and shook, then relaxed as he realized that it didn't hurt.

"Not...so bad." he panted, letting his body move against it, feeling the dual stimulation, wondering if he was going to survive this. "Think..I like...it."

"Good boy." James crooned into the back of his neck, licking the sweat that gathered there. "There's more."

He searched with the single finger until he found the place that made Blair shout and arch into him and then slid in a second finger, moving the harder, stretching and loosening the ring of muscle that guarded him. Blair moaned deeply, torn between he pain and pleasure.

"Alright?" Jim panted. Just the feel of him was almost too much, he wanted to take him now.

"More..." Blair moaned. "Something..."

Hearing the need in his voice James pumped him harder, keeping careful watch of his reactions. He didn't want the prince to reach orgasm too soon, because then they would have to finish without that stimulation and it would hurt far worse when James took him.

"Please, James. Don't stop." Blair pleaded when his hand slowed. He pumped again while trying to fit a third finger in. Blair was small and tight and it was close...he moaned and shook and James' arms, no longer thrusting, but still and tense.

"Easy, my love. Rest easy, almost done." he soothed as the third finger found entry and he reached for the hotspot that would make him forget the pain. As soon as he hit it he rubbed gently, rewarded by a howl of pleasure and renewed thrusting both forward and back.

He kept the motion up, bringing Blair to the brink and drawing back again time and again, until Blair was incapable of speaking, could only gasp and moan breathless pleas for release.

He was too close himself. Time to finish this.

When he removed his fingers Blair bucked and sobbed a protest. One hand firmly gripping his hip, digging in for purchase through the coating of sweat, he spoke to his future king firmly.

"Going to do this - now." he panted. "Whenever you're ready..."

"Now, now, *now*....!" Blair chanted, thrusting mindlessly, body taking over. James took him at his word. Spreading salve thickly, clumsily over his cock he pulled Blair's ass tight to him and squeezed his erection hard, then released it and lunged.

The prince screamed and came half off the bed, only James' greater strength keeping him from pulling away completely. Murmuring words of love, stroking and soothing and petting him James gradually brought him back to his place and could begin encouraging his failing erection, which soon recovered from the shock and begged for release it had been denied so many times this night.

It took a long time, during which James felt as if he'd explode, but eventually the prince began to welcome him again, to move with him, to make those noises deep in his throat that meant he was reaching that pinnacle.

When he began begging again James knew that he had him, that everything was going to be fine. He stroked Blair's cock in time with his thrusts and Blair returned each pump frantically, until a red haze dropped over James' mind and he sped up his movements. He was only vaguely aware of the prince's scream of fulfillment a second before he shoved himself as deeply into him as he could get and clung there as waves of pleasure pounded him fiercely.

When he opened his eyes again the prince was soundly asleep in his arms. With shaking hands he pulled the blankets high and gave a glance at the dark window, wondering what the court had thought of their performance, but not really caring just now.

He woke hours later. Blair had turned in his arms, separating from him, and was cuddled close to his chest, a warm, trusting weight. There were no real windows in the room, but he knew instinctively that dawn was long past.

The footsteps in the hall that had woken him stopped and he heard the bolt slid back and the hesitant knock.

"Come." he said as quietly as he could and still be heard, not wanting to wake the sleeping king he held so close. It had been a difficult, confusing time for Blair, he needed to rest now that it was over.

Several servants entered, carrying trays and buckets.They moved so silently that he knew a normal person would not have been woken by them. They set a large wooden tub by the fire, a heavy tray laden with food on the table, a long row of buckets, filled with rainwater, before the fire. Then Queen Kim stepped and stared at him, a gentle smile on her face.

"When the king awakens tell him that he has nothing on the agenda today and is to rest and recuperate."

James nodded, his arms tightening around the body he held.

"You did a splendid job, Sir James." her smile widened. "Some of us had even begun to believe that you hadn't been waiting ten years to do that."

He felt the heat of a blush rise in his face as she chuckled and left the room, closing the door behind her.

Closing his eyes he nuzzled his face back into his king's soft hair.

He'd got what he'd wanted. Now he had to find a way to keep it.

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