Destiny's Fool - Chapter Two
Jan. 27th, 2007 04:33 pm![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
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vigorliTitle: Destiny’s Fool
Author: Greenleaf
Pairing: Viggo/Orlando, Sean/Orlando
Rating: NC-17
Disclaimer: This is fiction. I make no money with it and remain a poor student
Beta read by: The glorious, awesome![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
sylvanelfqueen
Warnings: AU, M/M sex, later MPREG
Feedback: Never fails to put a smile on my face, brightens my day, and inspires my muses…so yes please!
Summary: Orlando's life is turned upside down when he travels with his sister Samantha to Denmark. Nothing goes according to plan and Orlando finds himself in a situation he would've never guessed.
In this story males can get children and marriage between men is common, so you be warned ;) It takes place around the 18th century and Orlando is 15 years old while Viggo and Sean are 25.
Chapter Two – Destiny’s twist
Orlando hesitated. This was definitely not Sean’s voice. It was a deeper and raspier. Orlando turned around, one fingertip still absent-mindedly in his mouth. The brown eyes widened in surprise when he recognized the person walking towards him.
Orlando looked at the person before he became aware of how he must look, and quickly let his hand sink again, as he struggled to his feet.
“Uh, yes it’s very good, your majesty.” Orlando stuttered, not sure how to behave, or what to say. He kept his eyes cast down, and didn’t even dare to look up when a pair of shoes came into his view.
“Please, there’s no need for such formalities. For you, it’s Viggo.”
Orlando twisted the hem of his tunic with his fingers, unsure what to do. He had never thought that he would actually get so much attention; they were here because of Samantha after all.
“Alright…Viggo.” Orlando finally managed his voice a little shaky. When he looked up, he saw the smile on the older man’s face and couldn’t help but smile himself. The smile vanished though when Viggo gently brushed his thumb over Orlando’s lower lip. Orlando raised an eyebrow in confusion, lips slightly parted.
“There was still some chocolate.” Viggo chuckled at the confused look on Orlando’s face. Orlando blushed and the idea of turning around and running sounded very appealing all of a sudden. His mother and Julia often told him, that he behaved childish but now he really felt like that. Like a child, not able to eat properly, and smearing chocolate over his face.
Viggo found himself mesmerized by Orlando. The young man warmed his very heart with a simple thing like his smile. He had already been captured by the appearance of the young man when he had first set a step into the ballroom. He had searched out Orlando in the crowd and watched him until Orlando had disappeared. Viggo had been stuck with Samantha for another two dances. Not that Viggo didn’t like her; she was a nice girl, but nothing more than that. Orlando, on the other hand, was mesmerizing.
“Happens to me all the time.” Viggo assured, trying to put Orlando at ease.
“Really? That’s not very kingly.” Orlando looked up, slowly finding his confidence again. He could still feel his lips tingling where Viggo had touched him. It had been strange and good all the same.
“I know.” Viggo sighed theatrically, before he smiled again. “To be honest, being kingly is boring.”
Orlando nodded in understanding.
“I can imagine that.” Orlando loved his freedom and couldn’t imagine how it must be to have so many duties and responsibilities. And on top of that, having to behave according to the etiquette all the time.
“You should come to Canterbury one day. Everything there is pretty un-kingly. Our castle is not even half as big as this one though.”
Viggo sat down while he listened to Orlando’s lively description of his home and everything there. Without realizing it, the young man stole Viggo’s heart. It wasn’t only his looks; Viggo found that Orlando was also beautiful inside. There was something that made the brunette so very loveable, and stirred the desire to shield him from sorrow and sadness, only to treasure his smile and happiness. Something like a connection, like finding your second half, and feeling complete after all the years, falling in love without compromises.
When Orlando looked at Viggo, brown eyes locked with grey-blue ones. All of a sudden, time seemed non-existent and Orlando found himself at a loss. He couldn’t name what he was feeling, but there were thousands of butterflies freed in his stomach.
“Your majesty?” The voice of the servant finally broke the spell, and Viggo tore his gaze from Orlando.
“It will be midnight in ten minutes.”
“Thank you, Grant.” Viggo nodded and the servant left.
“I am sorry, I have to go now, but not for long.” A profound smile played around the corners of Viggo’s lips, before he leaned in and placed a gentle kiss on Orlando’s cheek, before he left the room.
Orlando just sat there and stared after Viggo, slowly raising his hand. Fingertips trailed over the place, where seconds before, Viggo’s lips had been. Although Orlando felt horribly confused a smile crept onto his face. His hand sunk slowly and moments later Sean entered the room again, carrying a mug of tea.
“Sorry that it took me so long. They have pretty a lot to do in the kitchen.” Sean smiled apologizing before he handed the mug to Orlando.
“Aw, thank you, Sean. You really didn’t have to do that, I wasn’t all that cold.” Orlando smiled at Sean before he took a sip of tea. The hot liquid ran down his throat and pleasant warmth spread through Orlando’s body. He closed his eyes for a few seconds, recalling the conversation with Viggo before he would let go. Let go of the memories of the blue-grey eyes, the little scar right above Viggo’s upper lip, the gentle voice, the touch of soft lips, and last of all, the irritating butterflies in his stomach. Why was he thinking about Viggo in such a way? The man would propose to his sister in some minutes, and Orlando couldn’t sort out his confused feelings anyways.
When Orlando had finished the tea, Sean took the empty mug and placed it on the table before he took Orlando’s right hand.
“We should go into the ballroom again. Your sister will most likely want you by her side.”
Orlando decided that there definitely had been enough butterflies for one evening. Maybe he shouldn’t have drunken the glass of wine earlier. Yes, it definitely had to be the wine. His parents never allowed him to drink wine, except for a small amount on special occasions. He wasn’t used to the alcohol and one glass had most likely been too much for him. Why else would he feel like this not only near Viggo, but also near Sean?
Sean squeezed Orlando’s hand a little, then pulled his hand away to let Orlando go over to where his mother and sister were standing. Orlando flashed him a smile before he walked over to stand next to Samantha, who cast a suspicious glance at her brother and then at Sean. She hadn’t much time to ask Orlando who this guy was though, because silence spread out in the room, covering it like an invisible cloak.
The reason for it was the king walking through the room, a bunch of red roses in his hands. Orlando smiled at Samantha before he looked towards the floor. So many people were standing around them, all staring at either the king or his sister, and Orlando felt uncomfortable because he was in their field of vision too. The tension in the room was nearly tangible. Orlando could feel the nervousness radiating from Samantha, and he would’ve liked to take her hand and comfort her but knew that was something he couldn’t do.
With his eyes cast down Orlando did not see that Viggo’s eyes were fixed on him the entire time, not on his sister. He didn’t see Samantha’s smile vanishing more and more with each step Viggo took towards them. He didn’t see Sean’s eyes widen in disbelief. He didn’t see the confused look in his mother’s eyes or the appalled look on archduchess Grace’s face.
Only when murmurs started to fill the room Orlando looked up. Viggo did not stop in front of Samantha but turned straight towards Orlando. The brunette inhaled sharply, feeling as if his legs would give away any second. He could barely hear what Viggo was saying. He only heard the rushing of his own blood, while he thought of what to do. He couldn’t refuse a king so he had to accept; there was no other way. Just…why him? Samantha was supposed to be the one to marry him. Orlando’s thoughts were spinning in his head. He couldn’t sort them out, this was just too much.
“Orlando, I would be more than honoured if you would give me your hand and marry me.” Viggo smiled slightly, now feeling insecure himself. He knew that his decision had been rushed; he hadn’t even told his mother that he had changed, what had originally been her plan. He only knew that he had already fallen for Orlando and could never find peace or happiness with anyone else. It wasn’t surprising that Orlando was completely overwhelmed. Viggo couldn’t blame him, he just hoped for an honest answer. He didn’t want to make Orlando unhappy or force him.
Silence lingered in the ballroom once again for seconds, which seemed to be as long as centuries. The air was crackling with tension, and some of the woman in the room even seemed to hold their breath.
Finally, Orlando nodded shyly and accepted the roses, holding them tightly as if they’d keep him from falling. Viggo smiled in relief before he carefully took one of Orlando’s hands and lead him to the balcony.
The people awoke from their frozen states and soon the room was filled with voices again. Only four people remained silent, trying to gather their strength and composure.
Sonia looked after her son in disbelief before she carefully took Samantha’s hand, trying to comfort her. She didn’t know which of her children she pitied more. Her daughter, who had spent the last three years preparing for a life as a queen and dreaming of this marriage, or her son, who had just been pushed into a world he didn’t know, and who couldn’t imagine what he would have to face.
Grace felt anger welling up inside her, but she kept smiling while she walked after her son and his…fiancé. Why did Viggo choose this child? She couldn’t understand her son. At least it wouldn’t affect the bound with England and the boy was young, she would just have to form him.
Sean stared at the wall without realizing it. He felt as if something inside of him had just been shattered. Viggo was supposed to marry Samantha, not her brother! He had grown to like Orlando very much, and had already dreamed of what could be. Now there was no “could be” anymore. After some seconds, Sean turned around and left the ballroom.
Orlando trembled when he stepped onto the balcony with Viggo. There was a firework in honour of the betrothal, but Orlando had no eyes for the glittering sparks in the sky or the cheering of the crowd in front of the palace. His vision seemed to blur.
~*~*~
“Ouch.” The seven year old twisted his lips in discomfort while his mother cleaned a scratch on his cheek. The ankle of his right leg was already bandaged, but he didn’t care for it.
“Orlando, will you stop skidding, please?” Sonia sighed before she continued to clean the scratches.
“But it hurts.” Orlando pouted before he squeezed his eyes shut in pain.
“That’s your own fault. Why did you have to try to walk over the rope anyways?”
“Because the circus artists do that too! And when I’m grown up I want to go to the circus.”
Sonia could only shake her head at the plans of her youngest child.
“Mama?”
“Hm?”
“You don’t have to search someone I can marry when I grow up. I can do everything I like on my own, and I never want to be bound.”
~*~*~
Orlando had never wanted to marry, let alone so young, and now he was standing here. Orlando tried to control his breathing and the violent beating of his heart.
“Orlando?” Viggo gently squeezed the trembling hand of his fiancé, concern shading the blue-grey of his eyes. When Orlando looked up, he continued.
“I am sorry that I startled you like that. I know that this must be very confusing for you. Still, I hope that you might find a place for me in your heart. You already hold mine in your hands.”
A tiny smile crept onto Orlando’s face. Through all the confusion he still felt warmth flooding his body at Viggo’s words.
“I’m…you…you don’t have to hope for that. It’s just…so much.” Orlando finally stammered, looking at the roses he still held with one hand, eyes shimmering with unshed tears. He didn’t know what to say or to do. He wanted to hide somewhere, close his eyes, and find that everything was all right when he woke up.
“Would you prefer to return to your rooms?” Viggo could only imagine what was going on in Orlando’s head. He swallowed, feeling guilty because he was the reason for the youth’s distress. When Orlando nodded shyly, Viggo led him back into the ballroom. Thankfully, most people were outside to watch the fireworks. When Orlando’s eyes drifted through the room, he found that Samantha was nowhere. He felt even more miserable than before, swallowing hard. She had been looking forward to marrying Viggo and now he had ruined everything. Surely Samantha was angry with him. Orlando barely realized that Viggo led him down various corridors before they stopped in front of the guestrooms.
“I hope that you are not…unhappy about this marriage. The last thing I want to do is to make you unhappy, Orlando. If this is the case, please tell me and I will release you from the engagement.” It was hard for Viggo to say that because he feared that Orlando really wanted nothing more than to undo the engagement. He wouldn’t blame him because Orlando had been prepared for none of this, but loosing the brunette would mean to loose his heart.
Orlando nearly dropped the roses.
“What? Uh…no, I’m not…unhappy just…confused.” Orlando could see that Viggo’s face lit up in relief and felt a strange tickling in his stomach.
“Fair enough.” Viggo gently cupped Orlando’s cheek and lost himself in the expressive brown eyes for a few seconds.
“Sleep will probably solve a bit of your confusion. Will you have breakfast with me in the morning?”
“I guess so…and yes that’d be…nice.” Without intending to do so Orlando, leaned his head against Viggo’s hand. Viggo nodded but couldn’t pull away right now. They stood like this for some more seconds before Viggo leaned forward until his lips gently brushed Orlando’s.
“Good night. Sleep well, my love.”
Viggo gathered together all of his willpower and turned around, slowly walking down the corridor. He did not look back, for he knew that if he did he would run back to Orlando, hold the youth tightly and never let go again. In the few hours since he had first laid his eyes upon Orlando, he had completely lost his heart and had fallen in love. He didn’t want to think that his soon to be husband would be on his way home tomorrow, and that it would be weeks before he would see him again. Viggo banished this unpleasant thought from his mind for now he could look forward to breakfast.
Orlando stood before the door a little longer, watching Viggo leave. When Viggo had kissed him a wave of heat had rolled over his body, sweeping the confused thoughts away for a few seconds. He liked Viggo, he liked him very much, of that he was sure now, but it didn’t change the fact that his life had been turned upside down.
With a sigh, Orlando opened the door, the heat now replaced with a numb, cold feeling. He heard hushed voices when he entered and swallowed hard. He put the roses carefully on a little table in the antechamber before he walked into the main room. Samantha was sitting on the couch crying, while Sonia tried to soothe her. They didn’t notice Orlando until he cleared his throat.
Orlando looked at the floor when both women looked up at him. He felt so ashamed.
“Sammie…I’m…I’m sorry.” Orlando swallowed hard again. It seemed as if a lump had formed in his throat, and he was barely able to speak while tears blurred his vision. He loved his sister but had disappointed her so much.
“Oh Orli.” Samantha smiled weakly before she got up and pulled her brother into her arms. She was sad, not only because of the big disappointment and of the shame of being rejected in a way like that, but because she knew what awaited Orlando. This was not the life she had always imagined for him. He loved his freedom and found joy in the simplest things. He was so full of life, embracing every new experience. Now he would be imprisoned in a golden cage for the rest of his life.
“You don’t have to be sorry, lovey. You haven’t done anything wrong.” Samantha tightened her embrace when Orlando sobbed and buried his face in her shoulder. She could feel the hot tears on her skin.
“B-but…y-you’ve b-been looking forward t-to this and…and you m-must be so…so angry.” Orlando sobbed, his voice muffled.
“Why should I be angry? No, Orli, don’t think that. I am happy for you because when I looked at King Viggo I saw that he really loves you. I wouldn’t want to marry a man who is already so deeply in love with someone else. I am sure Viggo will make you happy.” Samantha had seen how Viggo had looked at her brother and knew that his love was true, and something precious. He would make Orlando happy without a doubt, if he would’ve been anything but a King. If he had been a shoemaker Orlando would have a happy life without duties and prying eyes following him everywhere.
Samantha led Orlando over to the sofa and pulled him down between her and Sonia, who had watched her children silently so far.
“You’re really not angry?” Orlando looked at Samantha with tearful eyes, sniffling.
“No, I am not.” Samantha smiled although it was hard. Her own dreams had just been shattered, but now was not the time to cry over the shards.
Orlando smiled tearfully back at her, while his fingers played nervously with the hem of his tunic. Sonia took one of Orlando’s hands reassuringly.
“Samantha is right Orlando. You should be happy. Don’t you like King Viggo?”
Orlando stared at his hand, taking a few shaky breaths before he spoke.
“I like him…I really do. It’s just…I would’ve never thought that…something like this would happen and…and I don’t know what to think about it or…or how to behave.”
Sonia tucked one of Orlando’s unruly curls behind his ear.
“Don’t worry about such things now. You will learn everything you have to know before you marry him. Don’t think too much about it. You can’t change it, so be happy about it.”
Orlando nodded calmly. His mother had always had the ability to make everything sound so easy. He could not change it; she was right, so he should just accept it and be happy. The cold feeling inside him didn’t vanish though.
“It has been a long day for all of us, so I think it would be the best if we go to sleep now.” Sonia smiled at her children before she stood up.
~*~*~
Orlando awoke the next morning with stiff muscles and swollen eyes. He had barely slept and finally cried himself to sleep. No matter what his mother said, he couldn’t stop thinking about what would be, and in the darkness of the night he had realized just how much he would loose. Back in Canterbury, he had pitied Samantha because she would have to live in Denmark. Now the tables were turned and he had to leave his life behind. He felt so alone because everyone expected him to be happy, and no one tried to understand. Overwhelming sorrow welled up in him while fear pressed down on his body, crushing him, so that he could barely breathe. Fear of what awaited him.
After lying in bed for a few more minutes, and staring blankly at the ceiling Orlando sat up with a sigh and stretched his stiff muscles. The room was bathed in light, but the white walls reflecting it hurt Orlando’s sore eyes. He blinked a few times before he finally got up and made his way to the bathroom. Orlando shivered; it was cold in the castle and the cold water he splashed into his face didn’t help at all. At least it soothed his swollen eyelids a bit. The lack of sleep let Orlando shiver even more and he hurried back into the bedroom and crawled under the blanket. He curled into a fetal position and slowly drifted off to sleep again.
“Orlando? Orlando wake up.”
Orlando wrinkled his nose when a voice interrupted his sleep, and buried his face in the pillow.
“Orlando, wake up now. King Viggo has sent a servant to fetch you, you can’t let him wait.”
Orlando blinked before he sighed in frustration.
“I’ll be up in a minute.” He finally mumbled. He didn’t want to leave the warmth of the bed just yet.
“Alright, don’t dawdle.”
Orlando sighed again and snuggled closer to the blanket. After a few more minutes, he forced himself to stand up because he knew that his mother would bother him again if he wasn’t ready soon. Still half-asleep Orlando put on the first clothes he could find and a second tunic over the first one. He was still shivering. The clothes didn’t seem to help. It was as if the cold was going right through, freezing his bones.
When Orlando walked out into the main room he heard his mother inhaling sharply. She was instantly at his side, tugging at his hair. Sonia finally managed to put Orlando’s hair into a braid but twisted her mouth unsatisfied.
“You look horrible.” She stated dryly, taking in Orlando’s pale face, the red rimmed and still swollen eyes, and the tunic that was not matching with the trousers Orlando wore. There wasn’t time to make him look more decent so Sonia simply pinched Orlando’s cheeks to bring a bit of colour back into his face.
“Ouch.” Orlando rubbed his cheek and glanced angrily at his mother.
“What was that for?”
“You looked too pale.” Sonia stated simply before she drug her son to the door where a servant was already waiting.
“Behave yourself.” She whispered before Orlando left the room and followed the servant. They went through seemingly endless corridors and more than once Orlando couldn’t suppress a yawn. Finally, the servant stopped in front of a white door, bowed before Orlando, and opened the door for the young man. Orlando smiled at him before he entered and just in that moment he seemed to fully wake up. He had walked behind the servant in a haze but now nervousness hit him brutally and his stomach seemed to turn upside down. Orlando swallowed hard and hoped that his stomach would settle down. His mother would most likely kill him if he vomited now. It wasn’t something she would relate with “Behave yourself.”
Orlando hugged himself and tried to chase away the cold. He felt miserable like never before. He forced himself to smile when Viggo entered the room although he felt like crying.
Viggo’s face lit up and he gathered the youth in his arms.
“Good morning.”
“Morning.” Orlando murmured his voice hoarse.
Viggo let go off him again and eyed Orlando with worry.
“Are you cold?” Without waiting for an answer, Viggo took off the jacket he was wearing and put it on Orlando’s shoulders. Orlando blushed but his tense posture relaxed a bit.
“Thanks.”
Viggo simply smiled and led Orlando into the next room. He made a mental note to make sure that a fireplace was in the rooms he would inhabit with Orlando. His spouse to be shouldn’t have anything to complain about.
Orlando looked around in amazement when they entered a winter garden. Big glass doors on the south side granted a look at a part of the big garden. The room was decorated with flowers that added colour, and there was only one big table and two chairs in the big room. Various plates with food stood already on the table and the smell of coffee filled the room. Orlando sat down on the chair Viggo offered him with a sigh. He felt a bit more comfortable in this room and pulled Viggo’s jacket a bit tighter around his body. He could faintly smell the scent of the other man in the fabric and smiled slightly to himself.
“Did you sleep well?” Viggo scolded himself for asking such a stupid question. Orlando looked tired and sick, so it was obvious that he had not slept well. Still, Viggo couldn’t help but find Orlando adorable, no matter how pale he was.
“Not really.” Orlando admitted honestly.
“There were just so many thoughts spinning through my mind.” Orlando bit his bottom lip. He shouldn’t have said that. Hopefully Viggo wouldn’t ask further.
Viggo nodded; he could imagine what Orlando had thought of. Viggo reached over the table and carefully took Orlando’s cold hand in his.
“I can imagine that all of this is hard for you. I just want to ask you to be honest with me. There is nothing you can’t tell me or ask me. I want to know what you think; I want to know about your fears. Don’t be afraid of telling me, I’ll always be there for you, and help you in every way I can. I care very much for you.” Viggo’s thumb gently caressed the back of Orlando’s hand.
Orlando had to swallow hard and tried to keep the tears at bay. This time because no one had ever said something like this to him and he felt overwhelmed, wrapped in an invisible but comforting, warm cloak all of a sudden.
“Thanks.” Orlando’s voice was trembling although he smiled at Viggo. The Dane returned the smile and squeezed Orlando’s hand before he pulled back.
“Do you prefer tea or coffee?”
“Tea.”
Orlando took the mug Viggo handed him gratefully, taking a sip of the hot liquid which warmed his body from the inside. Now that he was here with Viggo, Orlando thought that maybe everything wouldn’t be so bad after all. At least he wanted to believe that it wouldn’t be.
TBC
Author: Greenleaf
Pairing: Viggo/Orlando, Sean/Orlando
Rating: NC-17
Disclaimer: This is fiction. I make no money with it and remain a poor student
Beta read by: The glorious, awesome
sylvanelfqueenWarnings: AU, M/M sex, later MPREG
Feedback: Never fails to put a smile on my face, brightens my day, and inspires my muses…so yes please!
Summary: Orlando's life is turned upside down when he travels with his sister Samantha to Denmark. Nothing goes according to plan and Orlando finds himself in a situation he would've never guessed.
In this story males can get children and marriage between men is common, so you be warned ;) It takes place around the 18th century and Orlando is 15 years old while Viggo and Sean are 25.
Chapter Two – Destiny’s twist
Orlando hesitated. This was definitely not Sean’s voice. It was a deeper and raspier. Orlando turned around, one fingertip still absent-mindedly in his mouth. The brown eyes widened in surprise when he recognized the person walking towards him.
Orlando looked at the person before he became aware of how he must look, and quickly let his hand sink again, as he struggled to his feet.
“Uh, yes it’s very good, your majesty.” Orlando stuttered, not sure how to behave, or what to say. He kept his eyes cast down, and didn’t even dare to look up when a pair of shoes came into his view.
“Please, there’s no need for such formalities. For you, it’s Viggo.”
Orlando twisted the hem of his tunic with his fingers, unsure what to do. He had never thought that he would actually get so much attention; they were here because of Samantha after all.
“Alright…Viggo.” Orlando finally managed his voice a little shaky. When he looked up, he saw the smile on the older man’s face and couldn’t help but smile himself. The smile vanished though when Viggo gently brushed his thumb over Orlando’s lower lip. Orlando raised an eyebrow in confusion, lips slightly parted.
“There was still some chocolate.” Viggo chuckled at the confused look on Orlando’s face. Orlando blushed and the idea of turning around and running sounded very appealing all of a sudden. His mother and Julia often told him, that he behaved childish but now he really felt like that. Like a child, not able to eat properly, and smearing chocolate over his face.
Viggo found himself mesmerized by Orlando. The young man warmed his very heart with a simple thing like his smile. He had already been captured by the appearance of the young man when he had first set a step into the ballroom. He had searched out Orlando in the crowd and watched him until Orlando had disappeared. Viggo had been stuck with Samantha for another two dances. Not that Viggo didn’t like her; she was a nice girl, but nothing more than that. Orlando, on the other hand, was mesmerizing.
“Happens to me all the time.” Viggo assured, trying to put Orlando at ease.
“Really? That’s not very kingly.” Orlando looked up, slowly finding his confidence again. He could still feel his lips tingling where Viggo had touched him. It had been strange and good all the same.
“I know.” Viggo sighed theatrically, before he smiled again. “To be honest, being kingly is boring.”
Orlando nodded in understanding.
“I can imagine that.” Orlando loved his freedom and couldn’t imagine how it must be to have so many duties and responsibilities. And on top of that, having to behave according to the etiquette all the time.
“You should come to Canterbury one day. Everything there is pretty un-kingly. Our castle is not even half as big as this one though.”
Viggo sat down while he listened to Orlando’s lively description of his home and everything there. Without realizing it, the young man stole Viggo’s heart. It wasn’t only his looks; Viggo found that Orlando was also beautiful inside. There was something that made the brunette so very loveable, and stirred the desire to shield him from sorrow and sadness, only to treasure his smile and happiness. Something like a connection, like finding your second half, and feeling complete after all the years, falling in love without compromises.
When Orlando looked at Viggo, brown eyes locked with grey-blue ones. All of a sudden, time seemed non-existent and Orlando found himself at a loss. He couldn’t name what he was feeling, but there were thousands of butterflies freed in his stomach.
“Your majesty?” The voice of the servant finally broke the spell, and Viggo tore his gaze from Orlando.
“It will be midnight in ten minutes.”
“Thank you, Grant.” Viggo nodded and the servant left.
“I am sorry, I have to go now, but not for long.” A profound smile played around the corners of Viggo’s lips, before he leaned in and placed a gentle kiss on Orlando’s cheek, before he left the room.
Orlando just sat there and stared after Viggo, slowly raising his hand. Fingertips trailed over the place, where seconds before, Viggo’s lips had been. Although Orlando felt horribly confused a smile crept onto his face. His hand sunk slowly and moments later Sean entered the room again, carrying a mug of tea.
“Sorry that it took me so long. They have pretty a lot to do in the kitchen.” Sean smiled apologizing before he handed the mug to Orlando.
“Aw, thank you, Sean. You really didn’t have to do that, I wasn’t all that cold.” Orlando smiled at Sean before he took a sip of tea. The hot liquid ran down his throat and pleasant warmth spread through Orlando’s body. He closed his eyes for a few seconds, recalling the conversation with Viggo before he would let go. Let go of the memories of the blue-grey eyes, the little scar right above Viggo’s upper lip, the gentle voice, the touch of soft lips, and last of all, the irritating butterflies in his stomach. Why was he thinking about Viggo in such a way? The man would propose to his sister in some minutes, and Orlando couldn’t sort out his confused feelings anyways.
When Orlando had finished the tea, Sean took the empty mug and placed it on the table before he took Orlando’s right hand.
“We should go into the ballroom again. Your sister will most likely want you by her side.”
Orlando decided that there definitely had been enough butterflies for one evening. Maybe he shouldn’t have drunken the glass of wine earlier. Yes, it definitely had to be the wine. His parents never allowed him to drink wine, except for a small amount on special occasions. He wasn’t used to the alcohol and one glass had most likely been too much for him. Why else would he feel like this not only near Viggo, but also near Sean?
Sean squeezed Orlando’s hand a little, then pulled his hand away to let Orlando go over to where his mother and sister were standing. Orlando flashed him a smile before he walked over to stand next to Samantha, who cast a suspicious glance at her brother and then at Sean. She hadn’t much time to ask Orlando who this guy was though, because silence spread out in the room, covering it like an invisible cloak.
The reason for it was the king walking through the room, a bunch of red roses in his hands. Orlando smiled at Samantha before he looked towards the floor. So many people were standing around them, all staring at either the king or his sister, and Orlando felt uncomfortable because he was in their field of vision too. The tension in the room was nearly tangible. Orlando could feel the nervousness radiating from Samantha, and he would’ve liked to take her hand and comfort her but knew that was something he couldn’t do.
With his eyes cast down Orlando did not see that Viggo’s eyes were fixed on him the entire time, not on his sister. He didn’t see Samantha’s smile vanishing more and more with each step Viggo took towards them. He didn’t see Sean’s eyes widen in disbelief. He didn’t see the confused look in his mother’s eyes or the appalled look on archduchess Grace’s face.
Only when murmurs started to fill the room Orlando looked up. Viggo did not stop in front of Samantha but turned straight towards Orlando. The brunette inhaled sharply, feeling as if his legs would give away any second. He could barely hear what Viggo was saying. He only heard the rushing of his own blood, while he thought of what to do. He couldn’t refuse a king so he had to accept; there was no other way. Just…why him? Samantha was supposed to be the one to marry him. Orlando’s thoughts were spinning in his head. He couldn’t sort them out, this was just too much.
“Orlando, I would be more than honoured if you would give me your hand and marry me.” Viggo smiled slightly, now feeling insecure himself. He knew that his decision had been rushed; he hadn’t even told his mother that he had changed, what had originally been her plan. He only knew that he had already fallen for Orlando and could never find peace or happiness with anyone else. It wasn’t surprising that Orlando was completely overwhelmed. Viggo couldn’t blame him, he just hoped for an honest answer. He didn’t want to make Orlando unhappy or force him.
Silence lingered in the ballroom once again for seconds, which seemed to be as long as centuries. The air was crackling with tension, and some of the woman in the room even seemed to hold their breath.
Finally, Orlando nodded shyly and accepted the roses, holding them tightly as if they’d keep him from falling. Viggo smiled in relief before he carefully took one of Orlando’s hands and lead him to the balcony.
The people awoke from their frozen states and soon the room was filled with voices again. Only four people remained silent, trying to gather their strength and composure.
Sonia looked after her son in disbelief before she carefully took Samantha’s hand, trying to comfort her. She didn’t know which of her children she pitied more. Her daughter, who had spent the last three years preparing for a life as a queen and dreaming of this marriage, or her son, who had just been pushed into a world he didn’t know, and who couldn’t imagine what he would have to face.
Grace felt anger welling up inside her, but she kept smiling while she walked after her son and his…fiancé. Why did Viggo choose this child? She couldn’t understand her son. At least it wouldn’t affect the bound with England and the boy was young, she would just have to form him.
Sean stared at the wall without realizing it. He felt as if something inside of him had just been shattered. Viggo was supposed to marry Samantha, not her brother! He had grown to like Orlando very much, and had already dreamed of what could be. Now there was no “could be” anymore. After some seconds, Sean turned around and left the ballroom.
Orlando trembled when he stepped onto the balcony with Viggo. There was a firework in honour of the betrothal, but Orlando had no eyes for the glittering sparks in the sky or the cheering of the crowd in front of the palace. His vision seemed to blur.
~*~*~
“Ouch.” The seven year old twisted his lips in discomfort while his mother cleaned a scratch on his cheek. The ankle of his right leg was already bandaged, but he didn’t care for it.
“Orlando, will you stop skidding, please?” Sonia sighed before she continued to clean the scratches.
“But it hurts.” Orlando pouted before he squeezed his eyes shut in pain.
“That’s your own fault. Why did you have to try to walk over the rope anyways?”
“Because the circus artists do that too! And when I’m grown up I want to go to the circus.”
Sonia could only shake her head at the plans of her youngest child.
“Mama?”
“Hm?”
“You don’t have to search someone I can marry when I grow up. I can do everything I like on my own, and I never want to be bound.”
~*~*~
Orlando had never wanted to marry, let alone so young, and now he was standing here. Orlando tried to control his breathing and the violent beating of his heart.
“Orlando?” Viggo gently squeezed the trembling hand of his fiancé, concern shading the blue-grey of his eyes. When Orlando looked up, he continued.
“I am sorry that I startled you like that. I know that this must be very confusing for you. Still, I hope that you might find a place for me in your heart. You already hold mine in your hands.”
A tiny smile crept onto Orlando’s face. Through all the confusion he still felt warmth flooding his body at Viggo’s words.
“I’m…you…you don’t have to hope for that. It’s just…so much.” Orlando finally stammered, looking at the roses he still held with one hand, eyes shimmering with unshed tears. He didn’t know what to say or to do. He wanted to hide somewhere, close his eyes, and find that everything was all right when he woke up.
“Would you prefer to return to your rooms?” Viggo could only imagine what was going on in Orlando’s head. He swallowed, feeling guilty because he was the reason for the youth’s distress. When Orlando nodded shyly, Viggo led him back into the ballroom. Thankfully, most people were outside to watch the fireworks. When Orlando’s eyes drifted through the room, he found that Samantha was nowhere. He felt even more miserable than before, swallowing hard. She had been looking forward to marrying Viggo and now he had ruined everything. Surely Samantha was angry with him. Orlando barely realized that Viggo led him down various corridors before they stopped in front of the guestrooms.
“I hope that you are not…unhappy about this marriage. The last thing I want to do is to make you unhappy, Orlando. If this is the case, please tell me and I will release you from the engagement.” It was hard for Viggo to say that because he feared that Orlando really wanted nothing more than to undo the engagement. He wouldn’t blame him because Orlando had been prepared for none of this, but loosing the brunette would mean to loose his heart.
Orlando nearly dropped the roses.
“What? Uh…no, I’m not…unhappy just…confused.” Orlando could see that Viggo’s face lit up in relief and felt a strange tickling in his stomach.
“Fair enough.” Viggo gently cupped Orlando’s cheek and lost himself in the expressive brown eyes for a few seconds.
“Sleep will probably solve a bit of your confusion. Will you have breakfast with me in the morning?”
“I guess so…and yes that’d be…nice.” Without intending to do so Orlando, leaned his head against Viggo’s hand. Viggo nodded but couldn’t pull away right now. They stood like this for some more seconds before Viggo leaned forward until his lips gently brushed Orlando’s.
“Good night. Sleep well, my love.”
Viggo gathered together all of his willpower and turned around, slowly walking down the corridor. He did not look back, for he knew that if he did he would run back to Orlando, hold the youth tightly and never let go again. In the few hours since he had first laid his eyes upon Orlando, he had completely lost his heart and had fallen in love. He didn’t want to think that his soon to be husband would be on his way home tomorrow, and that it would be weeks before he would see him again. Viggo banished this unpleasant thought from his mind for now he could look forward to breakfast.
Orlando stood before the door a little longer, watching Viggo leave. When Viggo had kissed him a wave of heat had rolled over his body, sweeping the confused thoughts away for a few seconds. He liked Viggo, he liked him very much, of that he was sure now, but it didn’t change the fact that his life had been turned upside down.
With a sigh, Orlando opened the door, the heat now replaced with a numb, cold feeling. He heard hushed voices when he entered and swallowed hard. He put the roses carefully on a little table in the antechamber before he walked into the main room. Samantha was sitting on the couch crying, while Sonia tried to soothe her. They didn’t notice Orlando until he cleared his throat.
Orlando looked at the floor when both women looked up at him. He felt so ashamed.
“Sammie…I’m…I’m sorry.” Orlando swallowed hard again. It seemed as if a lump had formed in his throat, and he was barely able to speak while tears blurred his vision. He loved his sister but had disappointed her so much.
“Oh Orli.” Samantha smiled weakly before she got up and pulled her brother into her arms. She was sad, not only because of the big disappointment and of the shame of being rejected in a way like that, but because she knew what awaited Orlando. This was not the life she had always imagined for him. He loved his freedom and found joy in the simplest things. He was so full of life, embracing every new experience. Now he would be imprisoned in a golden cage for the rest of his life.
“You don’t have to be sorry, lovey. You haven’t done anything wrong.” Samantha tightened her embrace when Orlando sobbed and buried his face in her shoulder. She could feel the hot tears on her skin.
“B-but…y-you’ve b-been looking forward t-to this and…and you m-must be so…so angry.” Orlando sobbed, his voice muffled.
“Why should I be angry? No, Orli, don’t think that. I am happy for you because when I looked at King Viggo I saw that he really loves you. I wouldn’t want to marry a man who is already so deeply in love with someone else. I am sure Viggo will make you happy.” Samantha had seen how Viggo had looked at her brother and knew that his love was true, and something precious. He would make Orlando happy without a doubt, if he would’ve been anything but a King. If he had been a shoemaker Orlando would have a happy life without duties and prying eyes following him everywhere.
Samantha led Orlando over to the sofa and pulled him down between her and Sonia, who had watched her children silently so far.
“You’re really not angry?” Orlando looked at Samantha with tearful eyes, sniffling.
“No, I am not.” Samantha smiled although it was hard. Her own dreams had just been shattered, but now was not the time to cry over the shards.
Orlando smiled tearfully back at her, while his fingers played nervously with the hem of his tunic. Sonia took one of Orlando’s hands reassuringly.
“Samantha is right Orlando. You should be happy. Don’t you like King Viggo?”
Orlando stared at his hand, taking a few shaky breaths before he spoke.
“I like him…I really do. It’s just…I would’ve never thought that…something like this would happen and…and I don’t know what to think about it or…or how to behave.”
Sonia tucked one of Orlando’s unruly curls behind his ear.
“Don’t worry about such things now. You will learn everything you have to know before you marry him. Don’t think too much about it. You can’t change it, so be happy about it.”
Orlando nodded calmly. His mother had always had the ability to make everything sound so easy. He could not change it; she was right, so he should just accept it and be happy. The cold feeling inside him didn’t vanish though.
“It has been a long day for all of us, so I think it would be the best if we go to sleep now.” Sonia smiled at her children before she stood up.
~*~*~
Orlando awoke the next morning with stiff muscles and swollen eyes. He had barely slept and finally cried himself to sleep. No matter what his mother said, he couldn’t stop thinking about what would be, and in the darkness of the night he had realized just how much he would loose. Back in Canterbury, he had pitied Samantha because she would have to live in Denmark. Now the tables were turned and he had to leave his life behind. He felt so alone because everyone expected him to be happy, and no one tried to understand. Overwhelming sorrow welled up in him while fear pressed down on his body, crushing him, so that he could barely breathe. Fear of what awaited him.
After lying in bed for a few more minutes, and staring blankly at the ceiling Orlando sat up with a sigh and stretched his stiff muscles. The room was bathed in light, but the white walls reflecting it hurt Orlando’s sore eyes. He blinked a few times before he finally got up and made his way to the bathroom. Orlando shivered; it was cold in the castle and the cold water he splashed into his face didn’t help at all. At least it soothed his swollen eyelids a bit. The lack of sleep let Orlando shiver even more and he hurried back into the bedroom and crawled under the blanket. He curled into a fetal position and slowly drifted off to sleep again.
“Orlando? Orlando wake up.”
Orlando wrinkled his nose when a voice interrupted his sleep, and buried his face in the pillow.
“Orlando, wake up now. King Viggo has sent a servant to fetch you, you can’t let him wait.”
Orlando blinked before he sighed in frustration.
“I’ll be up in a minute.” He finally mumbled. He didn’t want to leave the warmth of the bed just yet.
“Alright, don’t dawdle.”
Orlando sighed again and snuggled closer to the blanket. After a few more minutes, he forced himself to stand up because he knew that his mother would bother him again if he wasn’t ready soon. Still half-asleep Orlando put on the first clothes he could find and a second tunic over the first one. He was still shivering. The clothes didn’t seem to help. It was as if the cold was going right through, freezing his bones.
When Orlando walked out into the main room he heard his mother inhaling sharply. She was instantly at his side, tugging at his hair. Sonia finally managed to put Orlando’s hair into a braid but twisted her mouth unsatisfied.
“You look horrible.” She stated dryly, taking in Orlando’s pale face, the red rimmed and still swollen eyes, and the tunic that was not matching with the trousers Orlando wore. There wasn’t time to make him look more decent so Sonia simply pinched Orlando’s cheeks to bring a bit of colour back into his face.
“Ouch.” Orlando rubbed his cheek and glanced angrily at his mother.
“What was that for?”
“You looked too pale.” Sonia stated simply before she drug her son to the door where a servant was already waiting.
“Behave yourself.” She whispered before Orlando left the room and followed the servant. They went through seemingly endless corridors and more than once Orlando couldn’t suppress a yawn. Finally, the servant stopped in front of a white door, bowed before Orlando, and opened the door for the young man. Orlando smiled at him before he entered and just in that moment he seemed to fully wake up. He had walked behind the servant in a haze but now nervousness hit him brutally and his stomach seemed to turn upside down. Orlando swallowed hard and hoped that his stomach would settle down. His mother would most likely kill him if he vomited now. It wasn’t something she would relate with “Behave yourself.”
Orlando hugged himself and tried to chase away the cold. He felt miserable like never before. He forced himself to smile when Viggo entered the room although he felt like crying.
Viggo’s face lit up and he gathered the youth in his arms.
“Good morning.”
“Morning.” Orlando murmured his voice hoarse.
Viggo let go off him again and eyed Orlando with worry.
“Are you cold?” Without waiting for an answer, Viggo took off the jacket he was wearing and put it on Orlando’s shoulders. Orlando blushed but his tense posture relaxed a bit.
“Thanks.”
Viggo simply smiled and led Orlando into the next room. He made a mental note to make sure that a fireplace was in the rooms he would inhabit with Orlando. His spouse to be shouldn’t have anything to complain about.
Orlando looked around in amazement when they entered a winter garden. Big glass doors on the south side granted a look at a part of the big garden. The room was decorated with flowers that added colour, and there was only one big table and two chairs in the big room. Various plates with food stood already on the table and the smell of coffee filled the room. Orlando sat down on the chair Viggo offered him with a sigh. He felt a bit more comfortable in this room and pulled Viggo’s jacket a bit tighter around his body. He could faintly smell the scent of the other man in the fabric and smiled slightly to himself.
“Did you sleep well?” Viggo scolded himself for asking such a stupid question. Orlando looked tired and sick, so it was obvious that he had not slept well. Still, Viggo couldn’t help but find Orlando adorable, no matter how pale he was.
“Not really.” Orlando admitted honestly.
“There were just so many thoughts spinning through my mind.” Orlando bit his bottom lip. He shouldn’t have said that. Hopefully Viggo wouldn’t ask further.
Viggo nodded; he could imagine what Orlando had thought of. Viggo reached over the table and carefully took Orlando’s cold hand in his.
“I can imagine that all of this is hard for you. I just want to ask you to be honest with me. There is nothing you can’t tell me or ask me. I want to know what you think; I want to know about your fears. Don’t be afraid of telling me, I’ll always be there for you, and help you in every way I can. I care very much for you.” Viggo’s thumb gently caressed the back of Orlando’s hand.
Orlando had to swallow hard and tried to keep the tears at bay. This time because no one had ever said something like this to him and he felt overwhelmed, wrapped in an invisible but comforting, warm cloak all of a sudden.
“Thanks.” Orlando’s voice was trembling although he smiled at Viggo. The Dane returned the smile and squeezed Orlando’s hand before he pulled back.
“Do you prefer tea or coffee?”
“Tea.”
Orlando took the mug Viggo handed him gratefully, taking a sip of the hot liquid which warmed his body from the inside. Now that he was here with Viggo, Orlando thought that maybe everything wouldn’t be so bad after all. At least he wanted to believe that it wouldn’t be.
TBC
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Date: 2007-01-27 04:13 pm (UTC)I cannot wait to see where you go with this story! It is wonderful! *winks and hugs*
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Date: 2007-01-27 04:16 pm (UTC)thanks ^^ honestly, i only have the rough outline for the plot, so let's see where it will lead me lol
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Date: 2007-01-27 04:42 pm (UTC)I have to say that I really don't believe Viggo can make Orlando happy at this point but Sean can. I am going to love this story wherever you take us! It is brilliant and I am completely enthralled! *hugs*
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Date: 2007-01-29 08:48 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-01-30 10:47 am (UTC)