The Red String Of Faith

This chapter beta by Kylee.

Chapter 27

Three months had gone by like the blink of an eye. He still remembered that horrible night that Conor forced himself on him. When Conor showed up in his room the next morning, acting like he had done nothing wrong, he was so angry with him that he stabbed Conor with the fork, and ordered the man to never show his face to him again. That very day, Conor left Anders’ castle following Anders’ order to return to Ran’s side.

“Eli, you haven't touched your food," Caelane interrupted Eli’s thoughts while stuffing his mouth with food.

“I'm not hungry,” replied Eli with a small smile for the boy. He couldn't eat a damn thing. His stomach just didn't seem to agree with the food. He put the utensils down and watched the boy eating everything in plain sight.

“Eli, you must eat even if you are not hungry,” remarked Caelane. He picked up a delicious red apple and handed it to Eli with a wide smile.

“Alright,” Eli said right before he took the apple from Caelane’s hand. He bit into it and once more watched Caelane eat. “You know Caelane, right now you remind me of Jamie. When Jamie became pregnant, he ate everything in plain sight. He ate from morning till late at night. The only time he was not eating was when he was sleeping.” Eli recalled all of this with a bright smile on his face. Oh how he missed Jamie. He wondered how big Jamie’s stomach was now. He would love more than anything to be by Jamie’s side to help him when he went into labor.

Caelane let out a soft laugh. “Well, we are brothers after all Eli,” he commented.

That comment got to Eli. “How did you know that Jamie was your brother Caelane?” he asked.

“My dad told me on the first day that we were brought here," replied Caelane.

“That bastard! I bet he wanted to hurt you when he told you that,” remarked Eli.

“Well, Dad did want to hurt me but I was actually very happy to learn that my guardian angel was my brother. I wasn't hurt like he wanted me to be. The only part that hurt me was that he and Anders did the same thing that I did with Anders,” said Caelane.

“Oh Caleane,” said Eli as he reached out and patted the boy’s hand gently, "Next time I see that bastard dad of yours, I am going to plunge a dagger through his black heart. Plus you Caelane deserve someone better than that bastard Anders. I can't believe that he slept with your dad and then he slept with you. Really just thinking of it makes my blood boil!” said Eli, his face contorted in anger.

Caelane chuckled and finished his food. They changed their conversation to something else. By the time the maid came in to take the empty tray away, the sun had set and Caelane let out a yawn as he walked Eli to the door.

“I will see you tomorrow, same time of the day unless that bastard Anders decides that he won't let you have any more company,” said Eli.

“If he won't let you come see me, then I should be able to visit you, and if he doesn't agree to that then the only option left for us both is to escape to Zhanthia,” said Caelane. He wasn't joking about it either. No matter how much he liked being with Anders, he still missed his father and brothers.

Eli’s face turned serious right away. “We will escape from here Caelane, have no doubt in your mind. As soon as they let their guard down, we will be out of here,” said Eli, then he left.

Caelane was about to shut the door to his room when he caught a man watching him with surprised eyes. It took him a moment to remember who the man was. The man walked up to him and looked him up and down.

"You, where have I seen you before?" said the man.

"Umm... who are you?" Caelane asked.

“I'm Prince Felix. My father is the king of this castle and who might you be boy? You look like you are no more older then me. Why are you in this chamber? Don't you know that this chamber is only for my father’s mistress?” said Felix as he eyed the boy up and down, scratching his head and trying to recall where he had seen the boy before.

"Mistress? Whats that?" Caelane asked.

"You’re twenty years old and you don't know what a mistress is?”

Caelane shook his head. Felix sighed and told the boy what a mistress was. He saw the horrified look in the boy eyes, and was about to ask the boy why he had that look on his face, when a beautiful young man walked up towards him.

“Felix?” the young man called out as he walked toward them.

Caelane came out of his shock and wondered who the young man might be. He got his answer when Felix addressed the man as his father’s second consort. The man turned to Caelane and smiled warmly at him. “Who might you be boy? You look about the same age as my stepson Felix.”

Caelane was about to reply to the man’s question, when Anders roared out loud and came forward. “Caelane get into your room. You are not allowed to talk to anyone else besides me,” said Anders. He pushed Caelane inside and shut the door in Caelane’s face.

“What are you two doing here?” Anders roared out at the two before him.

“I should be asking you that Anders. Who is that boy and why is he here?” asked his consort.

“Who he is and why he is here is none of your concern. This place is off limits! I am the only one allowed in here do you understand? Now get out!”

“Is that boy your mistress Father?” Felix asked angrily, mad at his stepfather for talking in such a way to his step dad.

Anders didn't bother to answer that accusation. He just went right ahead and ordered the boy and his second consort to leave. Felix grabbed his shocked stepdad and led him away from his stepfather.

“Shit!” Anders said out loud right before opening the door to Caelane’s room.

As soon as he entered Caelane’s chamber, a bowl came flying across the room right at Anders. It missed him by an inch. He glared furiously at the boy. "What do you think you’re doing Caelane?" he asked as he walked towards the boy with a furious look on his face.

"I want you out, out, out!" Caelane screamed with both hands covering his ears. When Anders reached for him, he dodged away and raced out of the room, screaming for Eli.

Eli’s door swung open just as the boy went by his room. He shouted for Caelane to stop, and instantly Caelane ran up to him and hugged him tight. Caelane blurted everything he just learned a moment ago to Eli. He stared up at Anders when he approached them. “Don't you dare touch him, you have done enough damage already Anders.”

Anders ran his hands through his hair. This was the fourth time already that Caelane acted like this. He didn't understand what was wrong with the boy. One moment he was happy, the next he was crying. "Fine but I will be back for him tonight, and you Eli are in no condition to stop me." With that warning he left Caelane alone with Eli.

"I want to go home to Jamie and Father and Kade! Take me home Eli please!" pleaded Caelane.

"I wish I could Caelane, but there is no way we can escape from here. Not right now anyway.”

"If I help you then you two would be able to escape," the voice belonged to Felix.

"You are that guy who wanted to buy the sparrow!" said Eli, surprised to see the man here.

"Yes I am that guy. I will help you escape from here tonight, but you must promise to take me along with you,” said Felix.

"Why would you want to escape with us?" Eli asked the boy, his voice full of suspicion.

"I have my reasons," said Felix.

After a moment of hesitation, Eli agree. For Caelane’s sake he would have to take the risk and trust the man. That night Eli woke up to see Caelane curled into a ball next to him murmuring that his stomach hurt.

"Caelane whats wrong?” he asked with worry.

“My stomach it hurts! It hurts really badly!”

“Let me see,” Eli said before he lifted Caelane’s night robe up. His eyes widened in shock. Just to be sure, he gently nudged the boy’s legs apart and took a closer look between the boy’s thigh. Oh God! Oh God, this couldn't be happening! Then he recalled that Caelane and him were raped on the first day that they arrived. How ironic that they are both...

“Eli what is wrong with me? Why is my stomach hurting so bad?” asked Caelane softly, interrupting Eli’s thoughts.

“It’s alright Caelane, nothing bad is happening to your body, Jamie went through the same thing when his body changed. In another week or so the pain will go away. Come on, get up and do a,little walking. That should help ease the pain a bit.”

“Really?”

“Yes, if it worked for Jamie, it will work for you too.” It took a little more convincing before Caelane agreed to get up and walk the pain away. And just like Eli said, the boy didn't hurt so much after walking around the room for a long while. Caelane went to sleep right after his pain eased away. Eli stroked the boy’s hair and wondered how Jamie and the boy’s father were going to take the news. One thing he knew for sure was that Caelane had to remain here. The king of Zhanthia wouldn't hesitate to use the boy to get to Anders. He hated to admit it, but his king and Anders were the same kind when it came to revenge.
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Jamie’s stomach was so big that everyone in the castle was betting that their consort was carrying twins or more. When Jamie heard about it he laughed and joined them as well and placed a bet of his own. He was lying in his bed next to the king, rubbing his swollen stomach and recalling it. He nudged his king awake.

“What is it Jamie?” Sebastian asked, half asleep.

“When are you going to fetch Caelane and Eli? It has been three months already Sebastian. If I hadn’t been told by the royal doctor to not take a long trip, I would have returned to the country of Serey and fetched them myself. How long are you going to postpone your promise to me Sebastian?” asked Jamie.

“Soon my love. This I promise you,” replied Sebastian.

“Sebastian how many times have you promised me? I don't want another promise from you. Tomorrow I want you to get your men and go over to the country of Serey and fetch Caelane and Eli! If you don't return with them...”

Sebastian was wide awake now. He sat up right away and looked at Jamie. He sighed in defeat. “Alright you win! I will go and fetch them as soon as the sun rises,” he cut into Jamie’s threat right away.

Jamie gave his king a big smile, glad that his threat had worked. “Then I will be looking forward to seeing those two,” he said.

Sebastian was about to fall back to sleep, when Jamie’s next question brought him back. “Sebastian, would you mind telling me where you got this red fabric?” he heard Jamie ask him. Once again he sat up in bed. He saw in Jamie’s hand, the red fabric that he always carried with him.

“I found it. Don't ask me where I found it Sebastian, because I know that you already know where it was. Tell me Sebastian, how did this red fabric from a shirt I worn ten years ago get here? I seem to recall that I ripped it up and used it for something. I can't recall what I used it for, but that will have to come later.”

“How do you know that the red fabric belongs to you?” Sebastian asked Jamie.

Jamie let out a soft chuckle. “Because I weaved the fabric myself and also I still have the ripped shirt. When I matched the two together, they fit perfectly. I am a weaver boy,I have weaved tons of fabric since I was a small child. It is only natural for me to recognize my own work,” he explained with a laugh.

Sebastian smiled and caressed Jamie’s cheek. “I got it from you Jamie. You ripped up that pretty shirt of yours to bandage my wound when you found me floating in the river, about to die from blood loss.”

Jamie gazed into the king’s eyes, and knew that he was telling him the truth. “I'm sorry Your Highness, I can't remember any of it.”

“No need to be sorry Jamie because your memories were taken from you.”
“What do you mean by that?” Jamie asked Sebastian.

“You will know soon Jamie. Right now get some sleep,” Sebastian said as he pulled the cover over Jamie’s body.

Jamie slept through the morning until noon he woke up to see a very familiar face, “Eli!” he said out loud.

Eli let out a chuckle. He had returned to Zhanthia with the help of Felix. They escaped before the sun rose and arrived here just before noon. “How are you Jamie?” he asked.

“I missed you Eli, and I have been bugging the king many times to fetch you and finally he did as he promised!” said Jamie. Eli didn't bother to set Jamie straight since he promised his king that he wouldn't breathe a word about his and Caelane’s kidnapping. His king must have all the luck in the world, Eli thought.

“Where is Caelane?” asked Jamie.

“He is in Serey. I hate to admit it, but it is actually safer for him to be with that bastard Anders. Our king won't hesitate to kill him to get back at the man who killed Hayden when he learns of Caelane’s condition.” explained Eli.

“Tell me what happened to you and Caelane! I want to know what the king was trying to hide from me!” Jamie said in a firm voice. Now was the time to get the truth. Whatever Sebastian was hiding from him, he wanted to know.

Eli seeing the serious look on Jamie’s face, hesitated, “I promised the king that I wouldn't breathe a word of it to you Jamie, but I never promised him that I wouldn't write it down for you,” he said with a smile. “Just promise me that you won't be angry with our king,” he added. “And don't let him know that you know,” he added again.

Jamie nodded his head. “I will write it all down for you in detail tonight and give to to you tomorrow Jamie. Right now you need to get out of bed and walk I have also prepared a delicious meal for you,” said Eli.

A laugh escaped Jamie’s mouth. He got up and got ready in five minutes then he sat down in front of the delicious food. "Sit down Eli and join me," said Jamie.

Eli sat down but didn't touch the food. He just watched Jamie eat. Sebastian opened the door and walked in. He went over to Jamie’s side and gave him a kiss on the brow. “Jamie did Eli tell you yet?”

“Tell me what?” Jamie asked looking at Eli.

“Eli is pregnant,” Sebastian announced.

Jamie mouth hung open. He stared at Eli. “Who's the baby’s father?” he uttered out after coming out of his shock.

“Eli is married to me Jamie. Of course he is carrying my child. Eli knows that it would be death for him if he was pregnant with another man’s child right Eli?” Sebastian said with a warning glare at Eli.

“Reluctantly Eli nodded his head with a “yes.”

“I will leave you two alone now,. I have to announce this wonderful news to all my people,” he said with a smile. As soon as Sebastian was out of the door, a sinister smirk came on his face. He then left to put his plan into work. To eliminate Anders, first he had to get rid of Conor, and having Eli pregnant with Conor’s child was like God was handing him a weapon to use. Too bad that the baby didn't belong to Anders he thought. Since it wasn't Anders’ baby, he would let it live.

Back in the room, Jamie was still staring at Eli. "What is going on Eli? Is it true that you are carrying the king’s child as well?" he asked.

Eli hated to have to lie about this, but he had to. If the people in the castle knew the truth, he and his unborn child would to be condemned to burn alive at the stake for all to see. Damn it, this was all Conor’s fault.

Jamie got up from his seat and went around the table to Eli’s side. He put his arms around Eli. “It’s alright. You don't have to say anything, because I know what kind of person you are Eli, and I promise not to say a word.”