Angel's Song

AN: Well seems like I managed to update after all. Wohoo. Enjoy...pretty please tell me what you think!

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Cortax paced back and forth in front of Ainu’s room. He was letting him wait on purpose, which meant that they were going to be late and so with were going to offend their hosts. The door opened and Cortax was about to grab Ainu and shake him for his complete lack of any sort of etiquette but he stared instead. Ainu was wearing a longer deep red tunic with white trousers and white boots, his hair hung loose in waves around his face. Taking his fiancée’s arm Cortax led Ainu towards the banquet hall. He managed to shake off the stupor Ainu’s appearance had put him in just before they entered and hissed in his ear.

”When we’re married, things will change, you will learn to behave yourself.” Giving his fiancée's backside a smack, Cortax led them both into the big hall before Ainu had a chance to do anything else.

Ainu could feel his temper rising. If Cortax thought that he was going to just sit down and take it, he was very, very wrong. He greeted everyone they passed with a smile and a little nod of his head but inside he was boiling. They settled at the royal table which was already seating the King and Queen of Tira Dahn, Prince Syrus and Ainu’s father King Apol.

”If you think this is the way you can treat me when we’re married you are seriously deluding yourself.” Ainu hissed at Cortax. “I will not put up with something like this from you.”

“You will hold your tongue Ainu!”

“I will not hold my tongue.” He whispered. “I am not yours to do with as you please.” Ainu winced as Cortax’s hand clamped down on his leg hard.

“I will not discuss this with you here; everyone is already looking at us.” Cortax hissed back at his fiancée.

“I don’t care Cortax I wont stand for the way you treat me you selfish, arrogant, stick up your…”

“Would you care for a dance?” Ainu glanced up and felt his heart skip a beat. Syrus was talking to him. “After all it is officially expected.” His heart sank again with that sentence. However getting away from Cortax seemed like a pleasant option, so he lowered his eyes and nodded his agreement. He took the offered hand and let himself be led onto the dance floor.

The slow music changed into a quick dance. Ainu counted the steps in his head so he would not have to concentrate on the feel of Syrus’ body so close to his own; the way his hand rested on his lower back and the other hand held his right one so gently but firmly. Right, Left, Right, left, right, and front side close. Back, back, back, turn, front front side spin. Soon the music carried them both away, spinning over the dance floor, the lifts and figures coming as easily as if they had been dancing together for years. Ainu couldn’t resist turning his head slightly over to Syrus’ face, and he caught a glimpse in those cool silver eyes, a glimpse of something that had been there all those years ago and that he thought was lost.

Syrus had been watching Cortax’s face contort in fury as he swung Ainu around the dance floor. It seemed the clumsy little boy from all those years ago had grown into a very graceful young man. He did look stunning in that deep red tunic that seemed to hug his body in a most charming way. He was beautiful, Syrus could not deny that. He was also still as spirited as he had been all those years back. Shaking his head, Syrus tried to clear that fog that was drifting through his mind. He really did not need things to complicate his life further, and Ainu was in none to gentle words a complication and a distraction. Syrus led Ainu back to his seat and then quickly hurried back to his own seat, settling down next to his best friend Lady Faye who had arrived while he was on the dance floor.
“Syrus, it is good to see you smiling again.”

“I am not smiling Faye.” Raising a delicate eyebrow she gave Syrus a rather disapproving look.

“Of course you are not; something has simply forced the corners of your mouth upwards. Who is he?”

“His name is Ainu, he’s the prince of the Namää kingdom.”

“He is beautiful. You are hiding from him Syrus I have seen you do it before. What is he to you?”

“Nothing, he is just the son of my father’s best friend.” Again Faye raised a delicate eyebrow. “Oh alright, we used to be friends but he’s got engaged to the moron sitting next to him, and did not even bother to tell me about it. And….”

“And you wanted to marry him instead.”

“NO!” All heads turned towards the Elvin prince who had jumped out of his seat. Eyes watched him, expecting an explanation. Syrus mumbled something and quickly sat down again, sending a silent glare in Faye’s general direction. “No I did not.” He hissed, denial burning on his tongue.

“The way you two swept over the dance floor, it was the perfect unity, the one we all try to achieve. Syrus you are a very attractive man, you are a prince, you are kind and gentle, though you like to make us all think that has change. Why should he not want you?”

“Faye I do not wish to discuss this topic with you any further. I have duties I need to full fill. I am an elf, he is mortal. I will not loose another person that way.”

“Syrus…your mother was….”

“I do not want to talk about it Faye. Father would not permit it anyway. I will not complicate things further. You and I will keep to our agreement.”

“You know Syrus that I would do anything for you.” She placed a gentle hand on Syrus’ cheek, her lavender coloured eyes swimming with gentle care. “I will not however sit here and see you throw away the chance of being happy just because you think it is your duty to marry another elf, that elf being myself, just because your father is too narrow minded to accept what you feel.”

“Faye….”

“No Syrus, not another word. This discussion is over. Now why don’t you dance with me? I came especially for one of those lovely dances with you.” Syrus smiled and led Faye onto the dance floor.

Cortax watched Ainu’s face turn pale as Syrus left his place at the table with the beautiful elf lady. His eye twitched slightly as he grabbed his fiancée’s arm and cruelly twisted it.

“Ouch! You’re hurting me Cortax.”

“Stop staring at him Ainu. We will dance as well.” Pulling Ainu up sharply, Cortax dragged him onto the dance floor. Taking the lead forcefully, he pushed his fiancée across the dance floor, all of the grace and style having disappeared. Ainu had to move his feet too quickly just to rescue them from being stepped on. Cortax’s hand on his back was far to firm, the one holding his hand was nearly breaking it as he was spun around.

“You’re hurting me Cortax.”

“Quite Ainu!” Cortax stopped with the music abruptly and grabbed Ainu’s face forcing a hard kiss onto him, shoving his tongue into his mouth and not giving him a chance to move backwards or forward. So, Ainu did the only logical thing, he bit down, hard. Cortax choked a scream down as he stepped back, but that was not everything that assaulted after the bite followed a resounding slap. The ballroom fell silent; knives and folks cluttered to the floor.

“AINU!” King Apol thundered. “Go to your room now! I do not wish to see you tonight again!”

“But father.”

“You will go to your room and think about your behaviour!” Ainu turned and fled. Why was he being punished for defending his own honour since nobody else was prepared to do it? He heard the music start up again. He stomped his feet angrily. He HATED Cortax. If that man tried anything with that shrunken cock of his he would bite it off, he really would.

Ainu reached his room and slammed the door as he entered. Angrily he tugged off the stupid red tunic he had worn to catch a certain someone’s attention and then divested himself of his trousers. He trudged around the room, and winced as his naked foot made contact with something round, cool and slightly sharp. He stepped back and picked it up. It was a little medallion, a round coin which bore the words EVOL S’LEGNA and underneath was a little wing. Ainu frowned at it, it looked familiar. He just couldn’t put his finger on it. Somehow it had to be important though, he felt it deep inside that it was. Settling himself in front of the mirror, Ainu proceeded to plait the medallion into his hair so he would not loose it. He often braided things into his hair to keep it safe. There was for instance the little angel’s wing he had received from his mother when he’s been born.

Ainu decided that a bath would be nice now, especially since it was far to early to go to bed. Sighing happily he sank down into the warm bath that had been filled quickly be the taps that fed from the water from the underground warm springs; a clever system that had been thought up by one of Syrus’ ancestors. Syrus...he let his thoughts wander towards the dark haired silver eyed man. With his thoughts so far away he didn’t notice the eyes that were watching him once again and the mind that was being pulled further and further towards the thin line that separated genius from insanity.

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Zelasii: Thanks for reviewing...you're hte only one who did, sadly. I went from 6 or 7 reviews, to only one. Slightly depressing that is. I hope you still like this though. *Hugs*