In the early
morning quiet, Cailan pondered what that meant, and eventually the answer he
came up with didn’t make him any happier than the dream. When he rolled to get out of bed, Jarek
moaned and turned toward him, his eyes opening groggily.
“Where’re
ya’going?” he mumbled.
Cailan couldn’t
help an upturn of his lips at the sleepy question. “Just starting the day.”
He didn’t get any
further though, because Jarek slid a hand across the mattress and grasped his
wrist. “Whas’a matta?”
“Nothing,” Cailan
said, trying to subtly pull free.
“Stop,” Jarek
ordered more quickly, his voice losing its sleepy murmur. His eyes were blinking open and looking less
blurry. “Something’s not right. We share, remember?”
It was the “we”
that made Cailan cave. He slid back
until he was tucked into Jarek’s side.
“I had a dream,” he admitted, and then added quietly. “And I think you need to discipline me.”
“For having a
dream?” Jarek asked in confusion.
“No, for what the
dream means.”
“Cailan.” Jarek sounded mildly perturbed. “You’re not making any sense. Tell me about this dream.”
Cailan shared what
he could remember, but even to his own ears knew it wasn’t making a lot of
sense, so he tried to explain what he thought it meant.
“I was angry at
you for dismissing me and not sharing what was bothering you, but then later,
when we talked about my disobedience and I couldn’t give you a definite answer
about discipline, I essentially made you dismiss me again. I backed away from an aspect of our
relationship that we rely on, and I shouldn’t have done that.”
“And now you think
I should punish you for that?”
“Yes.”
Jarek shifted so
the two of them were sitting up more and put an arm around Cailan’s waist. “Petling, are you saying you feel guilty
about the original infraction, or about feeling you disrupted the symbiotic
nature of our bond?”
“I don’t
know. Both?”
Frowning, Jarek
considered him, and then looked across the room in contemplation. “Cailan,” he finally spoke, “before this
dream, were you bothered by any of this?”
“What do you
mean?”
“I mean, were you
feeling guilty about maybe thinking you got away with something you shouldn’t
have, and that resulted in the dream?
Or, maybe you were upset that it still felt like I was dismissing you?”
Cailan had to put
some consideration to that. Finally, he
shook his head. “No, I don’t think any
of that was weighing on me. But,” he
continued, “now it is. I don’t like
knowing I disrespected you with my disobedience, and it’s…unsettling…to feel
I’ve changed the way things normally work between us.”
“Hm,” Jarek
murmured thoughtfully. His hand had risen
to tug absently at the silver strands that had fallen over Cailan’s
shoulder. “Do you remember the promise I
made to you when you first came here?”
Cailan felt a
flush start in his chest and rise to his face.
“Um…yes. You promised not to
force yourself on me; that you would wait until the day I permitted you to know
me intimately.”
Jarek nodded. “Your permission and acceptance of what
happens between us is very important to me, petling, and I don’t just mean in
sexual ways. I won’t force you in our
bed, but neither will I force your submission to me in other ways.”
That seemed
confusing to Cailan. “But, you
discipline me when I fall short in your standards and requirements.”
“No,” Jarek
disagreed, his tone completely serious. “I
discipline you when you fall short of the standards and requirements we’ve agreed to have you uphold. I will not punish you for something we are
not in agreement over. That is why I did
not enforce a punishment for your disobedience the other day. We both fell short, and I could not
discipline you in clear conscience if you could not accept that discipline with
a clear conscience. You did not cause a
break in how we are together. We talked
it over and in order to prevent a break, chose to not pursue any discipline at
that time. That was a mutual decision,
petling.”
Some of the weight
lifted off Cailan’s conscience. He
hadn’t considered things as Jarek explained them. A bit of guilt still remained though, but
Cailan now knew what to do about it.
“Thank you for
explaining that,” he said sincerely. “I’m in a better understanding now of my
own culpability in what we argued about the other day. But, I think I still need to answer for my
disobedience,” he admitted, and was proud that he managed to say that without
hesitating, since his heart knew he needed it, but his bottom was clenching at
the admission.
“Are you sure,
Cailan,” Jarek questioned. “I’m no
longer upset about that, and as I said before, I do not want you to resent a
punishment.”
Cailan nodded. “I won’t resent it. It’s a clean slate between us, right?”
Jarek’s eyes
softened and he leaned close to press a kiss to Cailan’s lips. “Right.”
The arm around
Cailan then began applying pressure, and a sudden burst of nerves flooded his
body. “Wait! Now?!”
The arm never
stopped as Jarek answered. “Yes,
now. There would be no purpose in
delaying things.”
A traitorous
whimper slipped passed Cailan’s lips as he ended up over Jarek’s lap. Neither of them had bothered with nightwear,
so there was no clothing for his disciplinarian to remove. While the position was not a new one to
Cailan anymore, he’d never before been spanked while they were both completely
nude. It left a confusing sense of
equality between them, while feeling like it also emphasized the differences in
their bodies.
Jarek’s big hand
patted twice, and then came down a third time in a hard, stinging swat. Cailan yelped, not able to prevent it, and
then buried his face in the covers as Jarek continued in a steady rhythm. Pride made him keep as still as possible, and
do his best to keep the tears at bay as well.
He hated it when Jarek’s discipline brought him to tears. It made him feel ridiculously young, even
when Jarek assured him that tears were normal and expected. Sometimes Cailan wondered if Jarek intended
to spank until he cried, but he’d
never made the step to actually ask that question.
He was managing to
keep the tears from spilling this time, although he felt the dampness in his
eyes simply from the awful sting that grew with each impact of Jarek’s hand. He gasped when a particularly tender spot was
struck, and swore in his head that not only would he never disobey Jarek again,
he’d never ask for a spanking again
either!
The big hand
dropped lower, and yelps Cailan couldn’t control squeaked out when the tops of
his thighs were soundly peppered in quick, biting swats. One tear mutinied and slipped down his cheek
before the spanks finally stopped and he was left gasping and whimpering.
“Come here,
petling. Come here,” Jarek comforted as
he helped Cailan right-side-up.
Cailan hid his
face in Jarek’s shoulder as the man hugged him.
“Sorry,” he mumbled.
“I know. I knew you were before we started. Clean slate now, petling.”
The arms around
him tightened and Cailan took a deep breath that felt cleansing and let it out
slowly, his whole body relaxing as they embraced skin-to-skin and Jarek soothed
him.
“Good thing the
parade wasn’t today,” Cailan quietly mentioned when his breathing had evened
out and he felt he could speak without a wobbly voice.
“Why is that,
petling?”
“Because I don’t
think I could manage two hours in that carriage on bumpy cobblestones right now.”
Jarek barked out a
laugh and kissed Cailan’s brow. “Yes,
I’d say that it’s a good thing the parade is behind us as well.”
*****
*****
The week of the
festival was different from all the other weeks Cailan had thus far experienced
in Cylandrea. Military training was
completely cancelled for the celebrations, although Jarek let it be known that
all soldiers were expected to abide by the principles of behavior they pledged
to uphold when they signed on for with their military service; as well as not
let a week’s worth of missed training make them incapable of meeting their
physical requirements when drill time was reinstated.
The royal family,
occasionally as a whole, but mostly in groups of two or three, traveled around
Palace City and further off municipalities to celebrate the holiday festivities
with their people. Because Queen Kesla’s
health still needed to be considered, she and King Alaric spent most of their
visiting hours in Palace City, while the rest of the family went further
abroad. Cailan visited parts of
Cylandrea he’d seen on maps during his geography lessons, but hadn’t realized
were so eye-catching.
The town of
Winsome was known for three gorgeous waterfalls that flowed side-by-side to
each other. In these winter months, each
waterfall had become a glorious frozen vista, and the waterway they typically
flowed into had a layer of ice at least two feet thick covering it. The people skated and somehow danced on the
smooth surface, and the day he and Jarek spent there was a unique and fun
experience.
Then they visited
the small municipality of Tigre, Cailan saw it wasn’t the wealthiest of
Cylandrea’s towns, but the people seemed uniquely content in their simple
cottages and work that involved a lot of hard labor. They were also a very talented community. Every home and business boasted beautiful ice
sculptures, hand-made by the people.
“They’re gorgeous,”
Cailan said. He was in awe of each one.
“They are,” Jarek
agreed, and Sana nodded as well since she was accompanying them on this
trip. “Tigre holds their own competition
this week, and the three top winners will travel to the palace on Starlight Day
and recreate their sculptures in person, where everyone can watch them.”
“Really?” Cailan
asked, already determining that was something he wanted to see.
Sana smiled at his
excitement. “It’s one of my favorite
parts of the day,” she admitted. “I wish
the sculptures could last forever. They’re so beautiful.”
The royal family
was in the habit of coming together after their days spent visiting during this
week. They would gather in a sitting
room each evening, usually around a lit fireplace, and share snacks and stories
about what they’d seen and who they had spoken with that day.
Cailan loved
that. It made him feel like he belonged.
*****
*****
Each day sped by,
and soon the eve of Starlight Day was upon them. Cailan was excited. He felt like everything had been building up
to this peak of the festival. The Palace
City lodgings were all filled. Most
families had relations and friends staying with them in their homes. The royal family had even opened the castle
to approved family of servants and guards who had no more room to host them,
although Cailan hadn’t seen any of the visitors.
“Where are the
guests staying?” he’d asked that morning as they prepared to leave for the day.
“The western
wing,” Jarek told him.
“Where the harem
is?” Cailan asked. He still hadn’t seen
that particular part of the palace. The
royal living quarters were spread out amongst the eastern wing of the castle. It was where the majority of Cailan’s time
was spent, although he’d seen parts of the northern and southern wings. The western section he hadn’t seen at all
yet.
“Yes, where the
harem is,” Jarek confirmed. “That’s not
the only thing there though. The western
wing is where the live-in servants reside, and where the majority of additional
guest quarters are. It has classrooms
for the children of the servants, and there are also three large rooms where
some of the palace furnishings from the past are stored, and a large work area
in the basement level for those with abilities in carpentry, metal-working, and
leather goods.”
“I didn’t know
that.” Cailan’s head tipped curiously at his husband. “Why have I never been to that part of the
palace?”
Jarek held a
Cailan’s traveling cloak out to him. “I
felt that might be a section you’d prefer some distance from for a while.”
“Because of the
harem being there?”
“Yes,” Jarek
acknowledged. He came closer and draped
his arms loosely around the smaller man.
“I don’t want you to ever think that is where you should have been, or
should ever be, so I thought it prudent to not tour that part of the palace
until you were ready.”
“How would you
know when I was ready?”
“When you asked to
go there,” Jarek said with certainty.
His arms around Cailan tightened, pressing their bodies together
gently. “Are you asking now?”
Thoughtful, Cailan
considered it. “I’m…curious,” he
admitted. “But no, I don’t think I’m
asking. Not yet.”
Jarek kissed his
brow. “When you’re ready,” he merely
reasserted, and then took a grasp on Cailan’s hand and moved toward the
door. “The carriage will leave without
us if we don’t hurry.”
They were
traveling with Sem that day. It was
always a good time with the youngest of the Lysander siblings. Sem was joyful and liked to play at being
immature compared to his brothers and sister, but he was highly intelligent and
always someone Cailan knew could be trusted and counted on. He amused Jarek and Cailan with stories about
his childhood memories of Starlight Day.
“One year,” he
said in a faux whisper to Cailan while his eyes danced with mischief at his
older brother, “Jarek really wanted our parents to gift him with a racing coach
and a pair of trained steeds to pull it.”
“Sem,” Jarek said
in his best warning tone, but the little brother wasn’t put off from his story.
“Mother was not
agreeable to his wish at all. She felt
the races that had become common at that time were unsafe to both the people
and the horses.”
Jarek sighed. “I was fourteen years old and I liked speed.”
“Did he get his
wish?” Cailan asked, enjoying the way the story teased Jarek as much as Sem did.
Sem shook his
head. “Nope. Father and mother did gift him with two fine
young steeds for him to train. He was
learning more and more about the horses and royal stables at that time, and
Father felt it would be a good compromise on Jarek’s actual wish.”
Cailan looked to
his husband. “Was it?”
Sem laughed out
loud and answered for his brother. “Not
to Jarek’s mind. He asked what good were
untrained horses and why couldn’t he have the coach he asked for. Then, according to Alaric, he stormed out of
the room in a huff.”
Cailan, wide-eyed,
looked to Jarek. “You actually did
that?”
Jarek
groaned. “I was young and, admittedly, a
bit spoiled and full of myself at that age.
I grew out of it.”
“Father helped
with that,” Sem continued to tease.
“He’s still holds the ‘honor’ of being the only one of us to be
disciplined on Starlight Day.”
Jarek groaned
again, louder this time, but he didn’t seem truly upset over Sem’s story.
“You’re
father…disciplined…you?” Cailan had to ask.
“I’ve told you
that we’ve all felt the pain of our misbehavior at some point in time,” Jarek
reminded. “Even Sem.” His gaze fell to his younger brother. “Maybe Cailan would be interested in hearing
about the time you were found repelling out your bedroom window.”
“I’m sure he
would,” Sem said without worry, “but we’re at our destination, so there’s no
time for more stories.”
Sem’s words were
true. They were kept on the move with
the visits they had scheduled all day.
In the busyness of their visits, Cailan realized that with everything
that had gone on during that week, there were parts of actual Starlight Day
that he didn’t know about. He didn’t
have a chance to ask anything until they finally arrived back at the palace and
the sun was starting to set.
“I’ll ring to have
a meal sent up,” Jarek said. “Change
into something more comfortable. I’ll
join you shortly.”
In fact, he
followed less than two minutes later.
“That was fast,” Cailan commented.
He’d undressed down to his undergarments, but hadn’t had a chance to put
on fresh attire.
“Apparently Sem
had the same idea. He ordered a meal for
himself and said one should be sent to us as well. It should be here in a few minutes.”
With a nod, Cailan
reached into the ornate wardrobe that held his clothing, but the feel of a warm
body pressed into him from behind. He shivered as Jarek’s big hands started
gentle caresses on his skin.
“Cold, petling?”
the now-husky voice said.
“Well, I am mostly
unclothed,” he replied, his voice low to match Jarek’s.
“Mm, let’s get rid
of the ‘mostly’ part,” the bigger man suggested. They moved to the bed and Jarek made sure
they stayed very warm.
*****
The sun had fully
set by the time the men’s grumbling stomachs forced them out from under the
warm covers and comfortable embrace they’d been relaxing in. Jarek appeared to be feeling the nurturing
dominant tonight, because he wrapped Cailan in a warm dressing gown instead of
allowing the younger man to clothe himself.
Then, donning his own robe, went to the sitting room where their meal
had been left and pulled Cailan to sit on his lap at the table. Breaking a bread roll in half, he smoothed a
generous portion of nut butter over one of the pieces and held it to Cailan’s
lips. Willingly, Cailan bit into the
offered food, enjoying the smooth flavor.
Jarek popped the rest of it in his mouth, and then began slathering the
second half. Cailan took the opportunity
to ask a question that had been on his mind.
“The gates open
for the people to enter the courtyard at the strike of the eighth hour, right?”
His mouth full,
Jarek simply nodded.
“There will be
events all day then—music and performances.
With so much going on, when does the family get to celebrate and give
their gifts, alone I mean?”
Jarek offered him
another bite of the roll as he answered.
“Cylandrean families typically do a gift exchange in the morning, since
most children would find it utterly cruel to have to wait to see their
gifts.” He chuckled. “My siblings and I were known to wake our parents
before sun-up. However, we have more
patience as adults, so our family takes a few hours in the evening for
ourselves now.”
“How? There’s always something going on,” Cailan
reminded, and to his understanding the royal family was involved throughout all
of Starlight Day.
“The performances
take place while there is daylight, but remember that tomorrow night will be
the longest night of the year for darkness.
Once the sun sets in the late afternoon, the performances will be
done. The vendors and palace cooks will
then make sure everyone still celebrating in the courtyard stays warm and
fed. Most people gather around the fires
or inside the artisan booths, and spend the time just eating and enjoying being
together.
“Our family will
return to the palace for a few hours to rest and eat together, as well as do
our own time of gift exchange. Then,
before Starlight Day ends, we’ll rejoin the people in the courtyard, and watch
the sky-fire show.”
Cailan had read
about that show, but he didn’t really understand what it was. However, when he asked Jarek for more
information about it, the man shook his head.
“No, I don’t think
I’ll explain how that works. It’s much
more magical just to watch and be a part of it.”
Cailan opened his
mouth to argue that a little, but a light swat warned him to leave it go. They finished their meal, and returned to
their bed, with Cailan more than a little excited about the next day.
*****
The morning of
Starlight Day started off quite happily in Cailan’s opinion. He woke with the comforting weight of Jarek
pressed into him while the bigger man planted kisses on his throat and chest,
and erotically rubbed their groins together.
Tingles of
pleasure ran down Cailan’s spine and everywhere else that the two of them
touched. He groaned and lifted his hips
to do his part in the rutting.
“You’ve been
very,” he panted, “stimulated the last few hours.”
“Mm,” Jarek
moaned, his lips finding Cailan’s for several minutes. Eventually he pulled away enough to respond
to the statement. “It’s my favorite
holiday, and I’m finding it very stimulating
to share it with you.” He pulled back
just a little farther so their eyes could meet.
“I’ve loved experiencing the Ice Festival with you this week, and seeing
everything through your eyes. The people
have loved you, and so do I.”
He captured
Cailan’s lips again and they both began moaning constantly as they moved and
rubbed against each other.
“Close!” Cailan
gasped out, and then gasped louder when Jarek reached between them and
squeezed, holding Cailan’s orgasm at bay.
“Not yet,
petling. Let me inside,” he begged.
A desperate nod
was his answer. He moved carefully but
quickly, and Cailan was thankful for their intimacies the evening before
because it left him looser and not needing as much preparation.
When they came
together, both men were vocal in their appreciation of the feeling. Jarek’s fingers threaded through Cailan’s
hair. “So beautiful,” he murmured.
The sincerity of
it always awed Cailan. No one else had
ever thought his silver tresses were beautiful; no one before Jarek. He was also awed by his own intense feelings
and extreme attraction he felt for his husband.
The man was muscular and powerful, a true warrior, but capable of such
gentleness and understanding. His black
hair with the amazing shimmer fell like a curtain around his face. Cailan cupped is neck and pulled him down
until their mouths connected. He felt
the bigger man start to rock, and then little thrusts, just subtle in and out
motions made Cailan’s arousal grow.
“Harder,” he
begged in a whisper, and his request was immediately fulfilled. Jarek thrust with more force, and it was
perfect. Cailan couldn’t stop his hands
from clinging, petting, and eventually scratching, as the rhythm between them
built and built. He hit the peak
first. His entire body tightened and he
yelled in pure pleasure, pleasure which became almost too intense as Jarek
continued to thrust through that tightness, until he too gasped. He dropped his head to Cailan’s shoulder and
bit down, just enough to give a welcome pain without breaking the skin.
Jarek’s full
weight slumped onto Cailan, making the deep breaths the younger man was taking
in harder to get, but he didn’t care.
Everything about that moment was perfect. When Jarek tried to roll off him, Cailan held
on, not letting the bigger man move.
“I’ll smother you,
petling,” Jarek gasped out.
Cailan shook his
head, his face pressed into Jarek’s neck as he answered. “Then I’d die happy.”
Jarek chuckled and
capitulated for another minute, but then insisted on moving off the smaller man. Cailan took several deep breaths as he
snuggled into Jarek’s side. “Can I stay
here forever?” he asked, only half joking.
“At my side? Absolutely,” Jarek told him. “In bed?
I’m afraid not. We’re expected
for breakfast with the rest of the family in less than an hour. And after that the gates will open for the
courtyard. Are you ready, my petling?”
Thinking about the
day ahead and how content he was right then, Cailan nodded. “Absolutely.”
*****
*****
Breakfast was hot
and filling…and fast. There was so much
going on that no one lingered over the meal.
The royal family bundled up, and then moved as a unit to exit the
palace.
As they walked
outside, the courtyard was set up for the day, but empty of people. It was clear, however, that the emptiness
would be very short-lived. Outside the
gates, a cheer erupted as soon as the family appeared outside the palace
walls. Guards stood at the high, steel
gateway, ready and waiting for the influx of people. To Cailan’s eyes, hundreds were already
waiting to be let in.
As they
approached, two guards carried a portable step and platform, which they set
securely on the walkway about twenty feet from the gates. They draped the platform in a rich red cloth,
and then Alaric motioned for the family to stop and the guards to stand at
attention.
Cailan couldn’t
help thinking how regal he looked. He
and Queen Kesla were the only ones in the family wearing a crown that
morning. Jarek said it was to show the
family’s honor to him as their current king.
A lush, purple cloak, trimmed in white and gold, draped from his
shoulders to his feet, and as he climbed the steps to the platform he lifted a
hand with a bejeweled scepter in greeting to the people.
It surprised
Cailan that the people’s cheers didn’t grow at that signal. Instead, a respectful hush fell over the
crowd. When all was silent, King Alaric
addressed those waiting.
“Welcome, my
friends. As your king and representative
of the ongoing line of the Lysander family, I’m honored by your attendance and
support. This day will always be
uniquely special to my family, and a time of celebration for all of us. As my ancestor, King Trace, swore on his
life, I too swear on mine that I will do everything in my strength, power, and
wisdom, to keep every subject of Cylandrea safe, cared for, educated, and given
opportunities for growth. My family
holds me accountable to that promise, and so do you.
“I welcome all of
you to spend the day with us today, and encourage you to talk with myself and
my family as you do your own friends and loved ones. We will always desire to get to know as many
of you as we can. However, I’d like to
remind everyone of the manners and rules you are asked to abide by while within
the palace gates.”
Cailan watched as
Alaric paused and seemed to personally meet the eyes of everyone watching him.
“For everyone’s
safety,” he said seriously, “weapons of any kind will not be allowed inside the
gates. The palace guards are the only
ones with permission to be armed. I will
not abide violence of any kind. Please
hold yourselves and each other accountable to that, or you will be escorted out
of the gates for everyone’s safety.
“There is no
tolerance for theft,” he continued. “All
food, crafts, and other goods must be
honestly purchased. However,” he added
in a much gentler and compassionate tone. “Absolutely no one will be allowed to
go hungry today. Anyone who cannot
afford the purchase of food for themselves or a loved one, please just tell the
vendor. The palace will cover the
remaining tab at the end of the festival.
I will trust in the honesty of my people to not take advantage of that.
“I also expect no
one to suffer from the cold. Blankets
and cloaks are available to anyone who needs them. Please alert a guard or a member of my family
if the cold is too much for someone. We
will make sure they are taken care of.”
Alaric then gave a
wide and genuine smile to the crowd. “I
hope for a wonderful day for all of us.
Guards, open the gates!”
The people flooded
in as soon as the heavy gates were unlocked.
Vendors and performers immediately moved to their booths and
leaders. Others began setting up
blankets and chairs in the courtyard.
But quite a few began approaching the royal family. Cailan hadn’t expected to be surrounded so
quickly, and when Jarek entwined their fingers possessively, he found he was
grateful for the grounding touch.
“I should have
warned you about the initial onslaught,” he apologized into Cailan’s ear. “This happens every year. It’s the only opportunity for some of the
people to actually interact with our family.”
He tugged lightly on Cailan’s hand and began walking, subtly moving them
away from the other members of the family while greeting and acknowledging the
people approaching them.
Cailan looked
around and noticed the rest of the family were making some distance too. It was discreetly done, but clear to him that
they were spreading the people out and keeping things from shifting into a
chaotic situation.
Guards were also
moving with the family and keeping the members close enough to guarantee their
safety. Cailan noticed Jothan had
followed him and Jarek as they moved, and two other palace guards were also
close by. He smiled at his friend, and
Jothan acknowledged the silent greeting with a nod, even as his attention never
wavered from his duty.
The better part of
an hour was spent conversing with Cylandreans who approached them, and Cailan
felt a little embarrassed that he appeared to be getting more attention than
Jarek. Everyone wanted to thank him for his
work in saving the queen and being the one to fulfill the silver
prophecies. Many wanted to hear the
actual story of how those events played out, although Cailan was reluctant retell
it. It felt boastful to share such
things. However, Jarek didn’t seem to
mind being the story-teller. He
explained in tactful detail the events of those days at least three times.
Children were also
amongst those approaching the royals.
Their mothers and fathers would bring them close and, following Jarek’s
example, Cailan willingly extended hugs and kisses to the young ones.
That was a very
new experience for him. In Arten, he was
often stared at on public outings, but he wasn’t approached for a blessing or
embrace. Adults looked down at him and
children either laughed behind his back or looked at him nervously.
Here in Cylandrea,
the looks were awe and happiness that he was receiving. Children might have been shy in their
approach, but they weren’t nervous, and he found he didn’t mind when they
curiously touched his hair. Some young
ones even ended up on his lap. A pair of
three-year-old twins hogged him for a good fifteen minutes as one toddler
chattered to him about the presents she got for Starlight Day that morning,
while the other kept trying to braid his hair.
He never thought he’d enjoy the sweet attention so much. He was almost disappointed when the crowds
gradually lessened and eventually gave them a few minutes respite.
Jarek let out a
laugh when the last few people moved on to the vendor stalls and he looked to
Cailan.
“What?” Cailan
asked, not sure of the cause of his husband’s mirth.
“Your hair has
received quite the style, petling. It
may become a new trend in the kingdom.”
Grumbling,
Cailan’s hands moved to his head. He
flinched at the knots, half-done braids, and flyaways. “I need to fix this, Jarek. Will it be a problem if I return to our rooms
for a short while?”
“I don’t think
that will be necessary,” Jarek debated.
He motioned to someone, and a minute later Princess Sana joined
them. Her hand rose to hide the smile
that came to her lips, but it didn’t hide the laughter in her eyes.
Cailan
sighed. “Does it look as bad as it
feels?”
“Probably,” she
gently teased. “But I’ve experienced
this problem before. Why don’t the three
of us move over here where we’re less visible.”
The two men
followed her, and they relocated to a semi-isolated corner of the courtyard
behind one of the artisan stalls. Sana opened
her heavy over-cloak and reached for an elegant bag strapped to the belt of her
dress. Rummaging in it briefly, she
pulled out a tiny hairbrush, no longer than the length of her hand.
“I’ve learned that
unless I want little hands in my hair, to put it up and out of the way when I
meet with our people,” she said with a smile.
“And even then, some children can’t seem to resist, so I find it helpful
to carry this with me.”
She moved behind
Cailan and began brushing out the tangles and knots. He blushed a little, not used to such
treatment, and thankful when neither Jarek nor Sana commented. The gentle strokes down his hair also felt
surprisingly good. He’d taken care of
his own tresses for years, and it never felt so good when he combed it
himself. But having someone else do it,
he was finding very relaxing.
A little
embarrassed about that, he worked to keep his enjoyment schooled. Sana finished getting the tangles out, and
then pulled a black string from her bag.
“Would you like me to braid the length back, Cailan? It will be less likely to attract as much
attention then, and you won’t have to worry about needing it brushed.”
He nodded and
offered his thanks after she quickly completed the braid and tied the end.
“I’m glad I could
help. Enjoy the day, boys.”
She moved off into
the crowd then, and Cailan watched her graceful stroll bring her to Prince
Sem’s side. The younger Lysander twins
often spent any required public time together.
Cailan knew it was because Sana was painfully shy, something she hid
well when necessary. But she had to deal
with her hearing struggles as well, which were more difficult when in a large
crowd. Sem tended to be her constant
guardian when she was part of the instability of gatherings or unfamiliar
faces.
He pulled his
attention away from the siblings when Jarek reached for his arm and hooked them
together at their elbows. “Would you
like to explore the vendors?”
“Do we have time
before the performances start? I don’t
want to miss those.”
“We have time,”
Jarek assured.
They walked, arm
in arm, from stall to stall. Seeing the
talent of the crafters amazed Cailan. He
rarely had the opportunity in his previous life to meet the individuals who
could carve statues, sew beautiful clothing, or paint pictures capable of
adorning royal walls.
He also hadn’t
considered that he could purchase the wares being displayed in the booths, but
was reminded of the opportunity when Jarek exchange several coins for a small
glass bottle of scented cream.
“Mother loves
this,” he explained to Cailan. “I always
get her a bottle for Starlight Day, something small enough to travel easily.”
Two booths later,
Cailan made his first purchase. His
youngest brother, Prince Doron of Arten, wasn’t quite two years old yet. He was walking, but still wobbly on his feet,
and at this booth Cailan saw a carved wooden duck on wheels, with floppy
leather cut out for its feet. A handled stick was attached to the toy, and when
it was pushed, the duck’s feet made a delightful slapping sound. Cailan knew his baby brother would love it. He handed over the coins willingly, and was
promised that the item would be delivered to his quarters, so he wouldn’t have
to carry it around.
At another booth,
a young leather worker was selling books.
Cailan thought that an odd business choice for the man’s trained skill,
until the artisan explained the connection.
“I collect books
with damaged or timeworn bindings,” he told the two men. “Then I cut and sew new covers for them, and
carve the title, author, and a decorative picture or border onto the new
leather bindings. I never repeat a
design except by request.”
Both Cailan and
Jarek were sufficiently impressed. The
carvings done on the leather were beautiful, and both men examined and skimmed
the stories in the books. Jarek ended up
purchasing three books, and Cailan picked five more. Truthfully, if he’d had the time, he’d likely
have gone through and purchased the vendor’s entire supply.
“The first show
will be starting soon,” Jarek then told him.
“We need to get to our seats.”
“Do we have
assigned seats?” Cailan asked.
Jarek shook his
head. “Not exactly, but the people are
purposeful in making sure the royal family can clearly see the
entertainment. We’ve tried in the past
to allow others to have those spots, but it’s been expressed that the
entertainers themselves want to perform for the family, so we don’t argue
against the people’s desire.”
Truly, Jarek spoke
with experience. As the two of them
approached the crowd gathered around the staging area that had been set up, the
people parted as if a wind blew threw and separated them. With several words of thanks as they passed,
they moved to the front of the assembly and joined the rest of the royal
family, who had already taken their seats.
Sem handed a paper to him that was embossed with the royal seal.
“It’s the
performance program,” the young royal whispered. “It lists the schedule of entertainment, as
well as what each group is doing.”
“Thank you,”
Cailan whispered back, and then looked to the first listing. He was pleased to see the day’s entertainment
was starting with the children’s orchestra he and Jarek had gone to visit a
couple weeks earlier. Cailan had hung
the picture the little girl, Glory, had given him on the inside door of his
wardrobe. He saw it every morning when
he got dressed, and it made him smile.
According to the program,
the group would perform three songs, one of them being the Cylandrean
anthem. Cailan showed that detail to
Jarek, who nodded knowingly.
“It’s one of the
first songs all school-age children learn, both to sing and play,” he told
him. “Considering that, and the fact
that today honors the beginning of Cylandrean’s government, I’m not surprised
they chose to include it.” He smiled
brightly when the sound of little feet preceded the appearance of the children
being led onstage and sitting nervously in their assigned chairs. “We also give any performances with children
the first few spots,” he said lowly.
“That way they don’t spend the day with anxiety over their show, and can
enjoy the celebration freely when their part is over.”
Cailan thought
that was an excellent decision, and he turned his attention fully to the
children now filling the area in front of them.
He spotted little Glory, and she saw him at the same time. She looked scared to be in front of so many
people, but he grinned at her and gave a little wave. It looked like it helped, because her smile
grew, and she waved back before turning her gaze onto their director, Darin
Sorenson. Seconds later, Darin gave a
flick of his baton and the hum of instruments filled the courtyard.
Just as he’d been
before, Cailan was beyond impressed with these young ones’ abilities. They were as good as any experienced adult
orchestra he’d ever heard, but there was an extra energy to them that showed
their age and innocence, and that added to the show. By the time the strains of their final song
were fading away, the entire crowd had drawn close to the stage, and they had
been hushed in amazement of the music. When
it ended, cheers and praises broke out loudly, as did enthusiastic
applause. Jarek and Cailan were the
first of the crowd to stand to their feet in approval, and everyone followed
their example.
When the children
were being ushered off the stage and guided to their waiting families, Cailan
looked to Jarek, and was startled to notice the man’s eyes appeared wet. When he asked about it, Jarek pressed a warm
kiss to his temple.
“Just emotion,
petling. That was truly beautiful to
hear, and seeing such talent come from such young hearts touched me.”
Cailan couldn’t
argue that statement. The music and
children touched his heart too, and it made him hope that the gift he had
prepared for Jarek would touch him just as deeply.
“We have some time
before the next performance,” Jarek told him.
“Is there something you’d like to do?”
“Could we see the
rest of the artisans? I don’t want to
miss anything, and they’re all so talented.”
“Of course,” Jarek
agreed readily.
By the time they
returned to the stage area for the next performance, Cailan had bought several
gifts to present to his own family when they came for his and Jarek’s wedding
in a week’s time, and was excited for when he could offer them.
“Our rooms will be
overflowing if you keep this up,” Jarek teased.
Cailan
shrugged. “It’s nice to be able to pick
things for them, and it means a lot to me that they’re coming. Even Abed is going to be there for the
ceremony!”
That fact was
significant to him. Besides Doron, Abed
was the brother he was closest to. Having
him there meant that the entire Artenian royal family would be present for this
ceremony. However, it also meant that
for at least a couple hours’ time, Arten would not have a member of the royal
family in the country. It was something
that was being kept very, very
quiet. In fact, from what Cailan
understood, the only person outside the family who knew this was going to
happen was the royal sorcerer, Ristoph.
Ristoph was
thoroughly trusted by the entire Artenian royal family, especially Cailan. He knew how to open a communication portal
between the countries if it became necessary while the family was gone, but it
was hopeful that wouldn’t be necessary.
The plan was that Cailan’s parents and all six of his brothers would
arrive together just before the start of the ceremony. When the official ceremony ended, Abed would
return as “King in standing” while the rest of Cailan’s family stayed for the
celebration.
Ideally, Cailan
would have loved to have Abed be able to stay for the entire day, but he
understood why that wasn’t wise. As a
prince, he would never expect his father or brothers to put their country in
danger, and they were already allowing a tiny bit of vulnerability in by their
attendance at his nuptials. He would be
content with the compromise, and he hoped Abed liked the gift Cailan had picked
out to present to him on that day.
He put those
thoughts aside for now. Right now was a
time to enjoy Starlight Day, and there were still booths he and Jarek hadn’t
gotten to, but the next act was getting set up, so they returned to their
seats.
This performance
was a family of dancers. The parents had
trained their six children and choreographed the entire routine. The children were all sets of twins ranging
from ten to sixteen years old, and each set was completely identical. According to Jarek, that detail was
unusual. While all Cylandreans were born
in multiples, mostly as twins or triplets, only about ten percent of them were
born with identical looks.
Their presentation
received a standing ovation as well, which Cailan thought they thoroughly
deserved. Afterwards, Jarek explained
there would be a longer gap before the next entertainment, so attendees could
enjoy a leisurely mid-day meal.
Unanimously, the
royal family chose to indulge in the traditional fire pies for their lunch, and
they walked together to where Nikolai’s stand was set up. Cailan could smell the enticing scents as
they approached, and his stomach growled in hunger. The people lined up to purchase a pie as well
automatically started to step aside for the royals, but the entire Lysander
family shook their heads, although Alaric spoke for the group.
“We can have
patience and wait our turn, just as you are doing. Don’t step aside for us this time. There is no need.”
It was such a
humble thing to do, and Cailan knew he wasn’t imagining the honest respect and
love for the royal family that shown in the people’s eyes.
When they did
arrive at the front of the line, Jarek encouraged him to order two or three
pies.
“One won’t be
filling enough,” he warned. “Two or
three will satisfy your hunger for now, and later we can purchase some treats
at other vendors.”
Cailan couldn’t
help looking behind him at the line of people still waiting for their chance to
order. “Will there be enough for
everyone else though, Jarek? I don’t
want Nikolai to run out of ingredients, or make the subjects have to wait
longer for their food.”
Jarek’s gaze was
warm, and he leaned in to brush a sweet kiss to Cailan’s mouth. “That’s very considerate of you,
petling. It’s make me proud to have you
at my side. But, you don’t need to worry
about supplies. I promise Nikolai has
enough, and he’s got all his children and grandchildren helping him today. They can make the pies quickly.”
Cailan took note
then to the number of people moving around Nikolai, all of which were taking
orders, assembling pies, cooking them, and then doing it all over again.
“Okay,” he
capitulated, and then focused on the handwritten sign hanging above the booth,
listing the options available.
In the end, he was
glad Jarek said to order several pies, because trying to pick just one out of
the options would have been impossible.
His final choices ended up being a steak and tomato combination, an
apple pie that was made from three different types of apples, and the chocolate
and raspberry one that he’d eaten on the first visit to Nikolai’s. The flavor of that one had haunted him, and
he was anxious to taste it again.
Jarek chose three
pies different from Cailan’s picks, and suggested they share their meal so they
both could experience each kind.
Apparently, the whole royal family thought very similarly. Between the eight if them, only two flavors
of pies were repeated, and they spent their meal time sharing and raving over
the flavors they were experiencing.
By the time the
meal ended, Cailan felt a little sleepy between the good food, early morning,
and buzzing energy of the day. They were
all gathered on thick blankets in the courtyard and close by to several heating
units. Cailan felt Jarek move to sit
behind him and urged the younger man to lean back into his chest.
“Rest if you want,
petling,” he said softly into Cailan’s ear.
“There’s about forty minutes until the next performance. You have time.”
Cailan’s initial
reaction was to say he didn’t need the rest, but a glance around the courtyard
showed he wouldn’t be the only one taking a brief break. Queen Kesla was almost asleep, leaning
against Alaric’s side. Prince Sem had
stretched out on the blanket and his breaths were very close to snores. And scattered about the area, Cailan saw
adults and children laying down or leaning against one another with eyes
closed. Apparently, this was another
common part of Starlight Day. Feeling
better about a brief rest, he let himself relax into Jarek’s chest and closed his
eyes.
He didn’t mean to
fall asleep, but a short while later the sensation of gentle rubs on his arms
and a kiss to his cheek woke him from a peaceful slumber.
“Wake up,
petling. We’re a few minutes away from
the next performance, and you won’t want to miss it.”
All around them,
people were moving about, some getting seats for the show, others getting more
to eat or wandering amongst the craft vendors.
Cailan took the hand Jarek offered him and they moved to the stage area.
His husband had
been right. Cailan was very glad he didn’t
miss this show. It was a dramatic
comedy, with all the men playing female parts, and all the women playing the
men’s. Cailan laughed so hard his sides
hurt and he had to wipe tears from his eyes.
He laughed even harder when King Alaric’s guffaws over the show caused him
such a bad case of the hiccups that a guard had to run to get him a glass of
water.
After the show, a
series of games were set up for the children in attendance, and the entire
royal family watched and joined in the cheers as the kids ran three-legged races,
had jumping rope battles, and enjoyed push-sled relays on a patch of smooth
snow.
However, Cailan’s
favorite part of the kids’ games was one the people called “King’s
Mirror”. All the children who wanted to
play gathered in a group, lined up with some space between them, and then
Alaric stood in front of them and began calling out and demonstrating silly
positions for the kids to mimic. After a
while, he turned the leadership of the game over to his father, and King
Jonerick had them doing even sillier moves.
Jarek leaned close
and whispered that all the men in the family would take a turn as a leader, so
he had better watch closely for his time at the front. Cailan had to admit to some shock and nerves
over that, but in the end, he had so much fun when it was his turn that he
wouldn’t have changed a thing.
When the games
ended, everyone moved as a whole toward the center of the courtyard, and Cailan
saw that while the games had been going on, three large blocks of ice had been
arranged in the quad.
“Oh! Are they going to do the ice sculptures now?”
“They are,” Sem
said from where he walked with his parents in front of them. He looked behind him as he answered Cailan’s
question. “It’s Sana’s favorite part of
the day, and they really are amazing to watch if you don’t mind the time it
takes for them to carve the ice.”
“How long does it
take?”
“About an hour,
give or take,” Jarek answered. “They’ll
get done a little before the sun sets.”
Cailan frowned as
he considered that information. “That doesn’t
seem fair. We’ll hardly be able to enjoy
them before it will be too dark to see.”
Queen Dyanna
glanced over her shoulder at him to address that concern. “Actually, doing the sculpting now gives us a
bit more time to enjoy them. When the
temperature drops with the sun, the sculptures will harden further in their
shapes. Then, as long as the daytime
temperature doesn’t rise too much, they’ll manage to keep their form for at
least three or four days. If it gets
very cold, I’ve seen the sculptures last for two weeks.”
That pleased
Cailan quite a bit, and he rather hoped that the sculptures would still be
around on the day of his and Jarek’s Cylandrean nuptials.
There was quite a
crowd who surrounded the area where the sculpting would take place, and six
people, two at each ice block, were preparing their implements. Jarek pointed to the different tools and
explained what some of them were used for, as well as expounded on the roles of
the creators.
“Because sculpting
ice is time sensitive, large pieces are rarely done by just one person. That’s why each block has two artists
present. They’ll alternate jobs as they
carve. While one is sculpting, the other
will keep the necessary knives and tools heated over that fire there.” He pointed to a small bonfire, far enough
away to not affect the ice, and large enough that several people could stand
around it as needed. “The artists will
swap back and forth in their roles until the sculpture is complete.”
In short matter,
Cailan got to observe what Jarek described.
It was fascinating to watch the artisans work. They all began with large, fire-hot knives,
and cut away hunks of ice, some pieces so large that Cailan felt that had to be
a mistake, but both Jarek and Sana assured him it wasn’t. When a general shape began to emerge, they
switched to smaller knives and picks, working on details for their ice statues.
A lot of people
wandered back and forth during the hour it took to create the sculptures, but
Cailan couldn’t take his eyes away from this form of artwork he’d never before
witnessed. Then, just as the sky was
starting to pinken with the setting sun, the artists made the last few cuts and
details to their work.
The final products
were phenomenal. One sculpture was a
large crown, almost identical to the one currently being worn by King
Alaric. Even the jewels shaped by the
ice somehow seemed to reflect the color of the jewels in his crown.
The second
sculpture was a majestic eagle appearing to be in flight, his wings fully
extended and carved with such expertise that Cailan could have sworn the statue
was about to take flight and disappear into the sky.
The final
sculpture was absolutely endearing. It
clearly showed a young family. Mother
and father were kneeling together, each with an infant child cradled in their
arms. The faces on both the adults and
babies were so detailed that Cailan felt certain the artist had carved people
near and dear to him.
He truly could
have studied the sculptures for hours, and he rather hoped to do that very thing
the following day. But, as he was
warned, the sky was quickly growing darker and making it harder to see.
“There’s one more
performance before we break for the evening meal,” King Jonerick informed their
newest family member.
Cailan tried to
remember what the program had listed, but he drew a blank. “What is it?”
“It’s an ancient
poem set to music,” the elderly king told him.
“Our ancestor, King Trace, had one daughter, and she wrote a sonnet in
tribute to country, king, and family. It
was set to music by her daughter years later, and it has become tradition for
it to be sung every Starlight Day.
Because of how it originated, every year a mother and daughter from our
empire is chosen to sing it for us.”
They had walked to
the stage area as King Jonerick made his explanation, and Cailan saw that four
tall torches were set in a square on the stage, and as the elder man had said,
two clearly related women stood in the middle of them.
It took several
minutes for the crowd to find their seats and settle quietly, and the two women
waited patiently. Then, without any accompaniment,
they lifted their voices together in a sound so pure it was heavenly.
Cailan found his
eyes tearing as the women sang to the crowd in growing dusk. The sonnet brought forth the emotions of
love, commitment, and loyalty, and the tune that flowed effortlessly from the
mother and daughter duo gave Cailan the sensations of peace, joy, and
gratefulness all in one. He could have
listened all night, and almost felt like mourning when the song faded into the
air.
There was no
applause this time. It was too pure an
experience for it. The hush of the
people was truer praise. Alaric stood
when the performance ended and joined the two women on stage, kissing both
their cheeks in thanksgiving before standing to address his people.
“It has truly been
a memorable holiday,” he said in a voice that wasn’t loud, but still carried
across the courtyard. “I think it has
been the best one in all I’ve experienced, and it’s not yet over. Please, enjoy the next few hours with each
other. Take comfort in your friends and
family, enjoy the food from those so generous and hard-working to provide it,
and stay warm. The sky-fire show will
commence when the lights in the palace’s highest tower are lit, and then we ask
that you safely return to your homes and continue your celebration with family
and friends.”
Alaric rejoined
his family, and then led the way into the palace for the private celebration
Jarek had told Cailan about.
At least, that’s
what Cailan thought they were doing. He
was surprised when everyone started heading in different directions when they
got inside. “Where’s everyone going?”
“Just to change
clothes and do some last-minute preparation,” Jarek assured. “We’ve been outside in the cold all day, so
we usually take some time to soak in some hot water and dress in more
comfortable clothing for the evening.”
“Oh.” Cailan had actually hoped they would gather
to eat right away. He was feeling hungry
and the food he’d consumed during the day had been burned off with the
activities.
“We’ll be together
again within the hour,” Jarek told him.
“Did you do what I said with your gifts?”
That morning Jarek
had told him to leave all the gifts he’d purchased for others in their personal
library, although he hadn’t explained why; just as he hadn’t explained why each
gift was to be wrapped and tied in the fancy paper and ribbon he’d brought to
their suite a few days ago. The most
he’d said was, “It’s tradition.”
“I put them where
you told me, but I still don’t know why.”
Jarek just
grinned. “You’ll see. Don’t worry about it for now. Let’s go soak in the bath for a little
while.”
Cailan moved to
head that direction, but was stopped abruptly by Jarek’s hand on his wrist.
“Wait just a
minute,” Jarek told him, and then gathered a silk scarf from his wardrobe. He moved behind Cailan, pulled the braid Sana
had put in his hair up, and tied it off his shoulders with the scarf. He then did the same thing to his own long
hair, which Cailan found very odd.
“What are you
doing?”
“We’ll be going
back outside in a few hours, and if our hair is wet when we do, it will freeze,
so I’m making sure we don’t get it wet.”
With that
clarified, they moved to the hot bathing pool and soaked for a while. Cailan had to admit, the heat felt wonderful
after the cold of the day, and it was very soothing. If his hunger hadn’t continued to grow, he
would have been ready to go to bed at that point.
“Dress comfortably
for now,” Jarek told him when they got out of the bath. “We’ll add layers before we return to the
courtyard later.
With that in mind,
Cailan pulled on thick leggings that he could put woolen pants over, and a
long-sleeve tunic made from bamboo thread and dyed a rich red. Jarek clearly appreciated the outfit as he
came and pressed close to Cailan’s front.
His hands cupped the younger man’s bottom and lifted until Cailan was
forced onto his toes. Grinning, the
smaller prince wrapped his arms around Jarek’s broad chest, willingly tilting
his head for a kiss.
“Feeling amorous
again?” he teased when they pulled apart.
Jarek gave a growl
in his chest that brought Cailan’s body to full attention. “You look good enough to eat, petling.”
The sound of a
gong made Jarek give another, less welcome, growl.
“Dinner announcement?”
Cailan asked.
“They couldn’t
have waited five minutes,” Jarek grumped, and Cailan couldn’t help laughing.
“It would have
taken more than five minutes, and I think the food we’re going to will taste
better than me.”
That broke out a
smile on the older man’s face, and a wink at Cailan as well. “I highly doubt that, petling, but you’re
right that we don’t have time. The rest of the family is probably waiting for
us.”
They were, and Sem
winked at Cailan in a way that made the younger prince blush. He carefully avoided his brother-in-law’s eyes
and sat next to Jarek while he looked around at the ornately decorated
table.
Unlike other
dining pieces, this table was round with no one claiming a head seat. It showed equality, something the Lysander family
seemed to give to each other, even while recognizing lawful authority within
the group. The table was draped in a red
cloth, with gold napkins, stately dinner services, and a silver chalice at each
setting.
As soon as they
were settled, food began to arrive, but Cailan was surprised that other than
the rich, brothy soup that was placed in front of him, the rest of the meal was
placed at a long table against the wall.
Queen Kesla was
the first to notice his confusion. “Are
you okay, Prince Cailan?”
“Yes, just….” He
motioned to the food.
“Oh,” she smiled,
her look understanding. “We want the
servants to have the opportunity to enjoy the holiday as much as they can
too. They won’t serve us the meal. They’ll just bring everything that’s been
prepared to us and we’ll serve ourselves.
It lets them have a few hours uninterrupted as well.”
That was
thoughtful, and Cailan didn’t mind serving himself. It appeared none of the royal family
did. Although Alaric insisted that Kesla
remain in her seat and he’d fill a plate for her. Cailan didn’t blame him. The queen was smiling, but her expression was
tired. It had clearly been a draining
day for her.
They feasted on a
perfectly done roast, sweetened potatoes with garlic and onions, baked
vegetables, and hot bread. Desserts of
sugared fruit tarts, a spice cake, and Jarek’s favorite pumpkin fruit pudding
were a delicious end to the meal.
Although, Jarek and Cailan were the only ones who indulged in the
pudding. No one else in the family cared
for it, but the two of them enjoyed it immensely.
After dinner, they
moved to the largest common room in the east wing, and Cailan was flummoxed at
the sight before him. A large pine tree,
rooted in a deep planter stood almost to the ceiling in front of the room’s picture
window. The scent of pine and spices
filled the space, and he drew closer to the tree in rapture to study the way it
had been decorated.
Ribbons of red and
silver were tied to the branches and completely surrounded the greenery. Glass baubles, some clear, others of red,
gold, and royal purple, hung amongst the needles. Added to them were small bundles of cinnamon
sticks, tied with ribbon, and dried oranges.
Cailan breathed the scent in deeply, closing his eyes to relish it.
The warmth of
Jarek’s strong arm circled his waist, and Cailan leaned into the embrace. “It’s beautiful,” he whispered reverently,
his eyes still closed.
“I love the
decorated tree as well. It adds to the
uniqueness of the day, to have a regal king of the forest in our home,” Jarek
told him. “In a few days, the tree will
be moved to a growing facility, and in the spring we’ll replant it in King’s
Forest.”
That made Cailan
smile. An expression which grew when he
opened his eyes and noticed that his wrapped gifts, and many others had been
placed attractively at the tree’s base.
His surprise and joy were a delight for the rest of the family to see.
“Who brought the
gifts here?”
“One of the
servants,” Sem told him as he plopped on the floor with the packages. “This is where we do our own gift
exchange. Sit, brother, and we’ll get
started.”
Cailan was as
happy about being called ‘brother’ as he was to see the packages and be
experiencing this entire holiday. Then
family took a seat on the floor instead of the available chairs, although each
of the women draped a shawl or blanket over their shoulders.
“Traditionally,”
Sem said, puffing out his chest as if he were giving an important speech, “the
youngest in the family has the honor of handing out the gifts. Thus, it has been my job for years. It looks like I must hang up my hat though,
and pass the mantle on to my little brother.”
He waved a hand from Cailan to the pile of gifts.
“Me?” Cailan looked to the family gathered, and for
a moment felt out of place and unworthy of what seemed to be so special.
He also looked
shockingly young and vulnerable to the rest of the room’s occupants. King Jonerick shifted over to him, putting
Cailan between himself and Jarek. “Of
course you,” he said, his voice deep with age.
“You’re the youngest son and brother to us now, Cailan Nyle-Lysander,
and until someone gifts Dyanna and I with a grandchild, this honor is
rightfully yours.”
Cailan’s cheeks
pinked a little, but he nodded slowly.
“What do I do?”
Sem reached out
and grabbed his hand, pulling Cailan closer to the presents. “I’ll show you. It’s easy and fun. Every gift is labeled. Just pick one, read who it’s for and who it’s
from, and then hand it out. The receiver
gets to open it right away so we can all see what they got, and then you’ll
hand out the next one. Got it?”
Cailan nodded, but
asked, “Is there an order to who gets the gifts?”
“Nope,” Sem
assured. “Just pick any you like and
start there.”
That was easy
enough, and Cailan was tempted to hand one of his out first, just because he
wanted to make sure people liked what he bought, but he thought that it might
not be appropriate to start with his own purchases. So, he reached for an unfamiliar package and
looked at the paper tag. “To Father,
from Sana.”
Everyone had big
smiles on their faces as Cailan handed the gift to King Jonerick. Cailan chuckled with them when the elder man
lifted the box to his ear and gently shook it.
“Oh, father,” Sana
giggled. “You always try to guess what
it is, and you never do. Just open it.”
Grinning, the man
untied the ribbon and wrapping and uncovered a set of fine-tipped tools that
were unfamiliar to Cailan. However,
Jonerick looked very pleased with what he saw.
“These are perfect, Sana, and look to be among the best made that I’ve
seen. Thank you so much!”
Sem was closest to
Cailan, so the younger man leaned over and whispered, “What are they?”
“Wood-carving
tools,” Sem answered. “Father has
developed a hobby of carving this past year.
Mother says he’s not a professional yet, but he enjoys it and each piece
gets better and better.”
That made Cailan
smile, and he kind of wished he could see some of the things the king had
made. Instead, he handed out the next
gift, and fell into the routine of picking a package for someone and watching
them open it. He loved seeing the
excitement on each person’s face, and was very pleased with the reactions
people gave over the gifts he picked for them.
Kesla had immediately wrapped the blanket he purchased around her,
exclaiming over its softness and pattern.
And Sana had exclaimed over the memory box, saying over and over how
beautiful it was.
The gift he most
wanted to be liked was the one he picked for Jarek though, and he couldn’t
prevent his nerves from showing a little when he handed the present to his
husband. Jarek unwrapped it carefully,
and it took just a moment for him to realize what it was, but then he smiled
broadly.
“A melody box,
petling? How wonderful! How did you arrange this?”
“I had some help,”
Cailan admitted, “from the royal sorcerer and a few others.”
“Is there already
music inside?” Sem and Sana asked at the same time.
At Cailan’s nod,
Jarek lifted the box’s lid and the sound of instruments floated from its
contents. Jarek’s face lit up even
more. “It’s the children’s orchestra!”
“The ones who
performed today?” Alaric asked. “They
were wonderful!”
“They were. What a wonderful gift, petling!” Jarek
exclaimed, and pulled Cailan into a hug.
“Let it play while
we finish opening the gifts,” Queen Dyanna requested. “It’s lovely music.”
Cailan felt
awkward with that request, but he didn’t say anything as he handed the next
gift over.
Several minutes
later, a man’s tenor voice joined with the instruments being played. The unexpectedness of it made everyone pause
and listen. Cailan felt his cheeks start
to heat and dearly hoped no one noticed.
“How beautiful,”
Kesla whispered. “That can’t be one of
the children, can it?”
Everyone looked to
Cailan for the answer, which brought his blush to everyone’s eyes. He shook his head in answer to Kesla’s
question, and Jarek’s eyes widened at him.
“It’s you, petling. My goodness,
that’s you.” He made a motion for everyone to keep quiet, and they listened until
the end of the song. When the music
returned to the children’s instrumental talent, the entire family was looking
at their youngest member.
“That was, kind
of, just meant for you,” he whispered embarrassingly to Jarek. “My mother thought it would be a good idea.”
“Oh, petling,”
Jarek whispered, and pulled Cailan against his side before tipping his chin up
and devouring the younger man’s mouth.
They were stopped
by Sem and Alaric’s cheers and applause that their mother couldn’t get them to cease. Cailan blushed even darker and it took a lot
of effort not to hide his face against Jarek’s shoulder.
“I think I’d like
you to open my gift to you now, although I’m not sure it can compare to the one
I received,” Jarek told him. He pointed
to a gift that Sem handed over and placed in Cailan’s lap.
Cailan, not able
to look at anyone else, met Jarek’s eyes.
“I thought you said it wouldn’t be ready in time?”
“We managed to get
it done,” Jarek answered. “Open it,
petling.”
The package had
some weight to it, and Cailan carefully undid the wrapping, and then lifted the
lid on the velvet covered box that was revealed. He gasped when he saw the contents, his eyes
wide in shock.
Jarek reached in
carefully to take out the priceless item.
“Your Artenian crowns will be placed in the treasure room with the rest
of the family’s,” Jarek said seriously, “and you may wear them anytime you
choose, but I thought it was important that you had a crown made from
Cylandrean materials and crafted by our best artisans. Our first king was crowned on this day, and I
felt it only right that Cylandrea’s newest royal should have a crown this day
as well.” He placed the golden coronet,
embellished with the glisten of diamonds around it, and the crafted points
bright with rubies, onto Cailan’s head.
“It’s my hope that you’ll wear this at our wedding next week, if you so
desire.”
Cailan didn’t
realize his eyes had filled until a warm drop slid down his cheek. He wiped it quickly away as he nodded,
careful not to dislodge the crown. “I’d
be honored.”
Jarek kissed him
again, and Alaric spoke up. “Prince Cailan,
I know you’re aware that Jarek and I had an argument surrounding your gift, but
I don’t want you to believe it was because I, or anyone else, did not wish for
you to have it. We just miscommunicated
on when it was to be finished. I also know
my brother isn’t likely to tell you this himself, but I think you’d like to be
aware that he worked personally with the metal workers and jewelers for your
gift. The design of your crown, and
every gemstone in it, was personally chosen by Jarek.”
Cailan blinked
quickly to keep any more tears from falling.
“Thank you,” he told his husband, his heart too full for any other
words.
At that point, Sem
silently took over passing out the few remaining gifts, because neither Cailan
nor Jarek wanted out of each other’s arms.
Later that
evening, the crown had been replaced with a warm head covering, but Cailan was
still curled into Jarek’s side. This
time they, and the rest of the royal family, were back in the courtyard with
the people, sitting on thick blankets and looking to the stars. Jarek had still refused to explain what the
sky-fire show was, and simply told Cailan to watch.
So he did, and
unexpectedly a flash of light shone in the distance. It started on the ground and climbed high
into the dark sky like a shooting star, and then it exploded with a boom that
made Cailan gasp, first in fright and then in awe. Sparks of fire in all colors had appeared
with the explosion, and now drifted to earth, slowly burning out before they’d
ever touch the ground.
“That,” Jarek
whispered into his ear, “is sky-fire.”
Never had Cailan
seen anything like that, and although he was better prepared, he still startled
when the next explosion happened and the sky lit up with the show. Around him, the people oohed and aahed. Cailan just pressed into Jarek and watched
the show in wonder, deciding not to ask how it was done because he didn’t want
to take away from the magic of the show, or the magic of the day.
It had been one of
the best of his life, but he wasn’t sad it would end soon. He was happy because the future held years of
Starlight Days, and all the days in-between, in front of him with Jarek.
THE END AND MERRY CHRISTMAS!
