Author's Note: This is completely random XD a personal need to get it out of my head and onto a screen somewhere. XD I have no idea WHERE the plot is going, but hopefully it will be nice enough to tell me sooner or later. XD
Disclaimer: I do own Yulian Von Wincott, Astarte and Muller. YAAAY FOR THE UNIVERSE.
There should be three or four parts to this story ^^ I've been playing around for two weeks with at least six ideas. XD I just NEEDED to put one somewhere. Hopefully someone out there will like it ^_^
Horses nickered softly in the night, the smells of food wafting through the fabric of the tent, teasing senses and lingering for a few moments before dispelling. Ragged breaths escaped dry lips, brown strands flopping right into cinnamon eyes, stinging them slightly, before he could sweep them back with his fingertips. He jerked at the feeling of dampness on his fingertips, his shaking hand drawing away to allow him to see the teardrops that clung to calloused pads of his digits. Chest heaving, Conrart Weller felt the burn of the tears clearly now, the raw sting sweeping down over his cheeks and soaking into the collar of his shirt. Raw agony twisted his heart, the images of Yuuri's own tear streaked face filling his vision, haunting him in a way nothing else could.
'Conrart.'
His entire body jerked at the sound of that voice, heart pounding all over again, everything inside him screaming for him to answer that call, answer his King and explain all. It tore at him every moment, the guilt, the overwhelming feeling of guilt and self-hatred that he had been responsible for those tears. Fingers tugged harshly at his dark locks, palm scrubbing against his eyes for a moment, attempting to rub away the evidence of his emotions, but he couldn't seem to stop. Once they had started to fall, the salty droplets wouldn't stop falling down across his tanned cheeks, the lump in his throat expanded almost choking him.
'Conrart.'
The tantalising whisper inside his own mind sounded as if... the King's own heart were breaking at the sight of his tears. Though his brows suddenly came together, shivering slightly and becoming aware that the name being called was... his true one and not the...
Head lifting, his eyes caught the glint of something in the mirror, a shadow behind the glass. Something was there, something waiting for him, watching him with such sad inky black eyes, such compassion and understanding lingering in their depths. The image was that of a man, not a boy, a face ivory pale was framed by a mass of raven strands that tangled down on either side, the mane drawn back into an unmanageable tail at the nape of the reflection's neck. Yuuri? The face was worn, dark smudges ran across sweeping cheekbones, a man that had seen far too much in his life.
"Your Majesty..." Choking out the words, he was struggling to free himself from the sheets, legs tangling in the fabric as he staggered once, his body jolting as he awkwardly spilled out on his knees before the mirror. He was clumsy, his body barely answering anything he asked of it, the ragged breaths hissing from his lungs, shoulders trembling with the force of his own emotional distress. For Conrart there was no middle ground, his soul was a raging inferno beneath his controlled calm, powerful and overwhelming, as fiery as Wolfram's.
'You haven't called me that in such a long time.' The shadow moved in the reflection of the room, a ghostly image that moved to stand beside him, before dropping down to both knees at his side, turning to look at him. 'Though sometimes I think you almost forgot what to call me in those moments I caught you off guard...'
Conrart turned his head, almost expecting to see the man, the grown Maou beside him, but was instantly met with open air, nothing at all, until he glanced back into the mirror. He was still there, a solid presence, a ghost in the reflection. Was this another of his dreams of his King? A brush of warmth fluttered across his jaw, like butterfly wings sliding across his skin, the play of a thumb stroking at the tears, brushing them away. The reflection's hand touched him, reflecting the action of which he had felt.
'I could never stand your tears, Conrart. It always broke my heart to see them.' A second hand joined the first, thumbs sweeping at the continuing stream of tears, attempting to catch the wayward drops before they soaked into the already damp shirt that half clung to Conrart's sweaty frame. 'I know I cannot offer much this night.'
"Your... Majesty... I..." The words wanted to spill out, every single one of them to slide out of his soul and into the night air for this man's judgement.
'I know.'
Conrart jerked as if struck, his hands trembling now, barely able to remain still as they wanted nothing more than to clasp one of those hands that stroked his cheeks, cling to the lifeline that had been given to him.
'And I forgave you for this. You only tried to serve my wishes as best you knew how. I cannot fault you for that.' Arms tucked around Conrart's shoulders, pulling the soldier in against a warm chest, tucking the brown head just beneath his chin, nuzzling the silky chocolate locks. The reflection cradled the anguished soldier, drawing him in close and refusing to let go, rocking ever so slightly and attempting to stem the flow of silent tears.
"How can you...?" His fingers curled into warm fabric, senses filling with that of a man, leather... parchment... ink... so many things clinging to those dark clothes and the soft skin. "How can you forgive me for this, your Majesty? I have... betrayed you. Drawn my blade against you..." He couldn't let go, his entire body shaking like a leaf caught in a storm, but he was still being cradled, even though he was far larger than his sovereign even now... those arms held him tightly.
'Shhh.'
A palm pressed against the back of his nape, keeping Conrart's head him close, preventing him from moving away while he closed his eyes tightly, just allowing himself to feel the heat of that embrace slowly ease the shaking in his limbs. His heart ached at the sensations, the deep love he had always held for this man almost overwhelming him, his thoughts of the boy... Why would he see his Maou as a man? He couldn't be his usually calm self, not in the light of his actions, not in the gloom of his nightmares.
"Sire..."
'I don't have much time.' Yuuri gripped Conrart just a little more tightly, just trying to absorb the grief of the other man and bring it into himself. 'I always regretted... not being able to be here for you, that circumstances prevented me from returning to your side.'
His senses tingled, the quiet whisper that had always told him where Yuuri was, the throb of pain sparked in his heart and he knew something was terribly wrong. This time when he looked up, he could see the Maou, smell the metallic tang of blood in the air, and the dark smear across one side of his Maou's face. Everything in him lurched with such fiery rage that someone would be able to get close enough to Yuuri to wound him. "Yuuri!" Large hands lifted to touch the deep wound that was half hidden by the dark strands, his fingers were stained a bright crimson when they pulled away at the sudden wetness. Gripping the slender jaw, he turned the man's head slightly, sweeping the raven locks back and his widened at the dark jagged slash that worked its way from forehead to just behind one ear. "Who did this?" He demanded as he pressed his palm against it, his other hand reaching for the nearest piece of cloth to staunch the dark flow of rich fluid out of the wound.
'Conrart, I am already gone.'
"NO!" His cinnamon eyes met obsidian and tried to hold the man's gaze, desperate to keep the one he loved with him. "You... you are right here." And the slender frame was dropping forwards into his arms, the Maou's energy used up in attempting to comfort him. "Here with me."
And one hand slipped down across the slender back and bumped up against something jutting from living flesh, his palm sliding against the hilt of the dagger. It had penetrated deep, piercing the liver, allowing the rich blood to slow ooze from around the blade. Shifting the man in his arms, he was desperately trying to work out what to do, he would have instantly lifted the form upwards, and taken him to the nearest field medic. How had this happened? How had they failed so badly that their Maou had been dealt such a deep wound. Did... Conrart fail him again?
"Yuuri... please..." The Maou had come here, somehow come to this moment to comfort him... why? Why! When he was so grievously injured. From what place in the future, had this man come? How far into the future until that moment came... when he would indeed fail to protect Yuuri from danger?
'Not your fault... Con. They caught us both by surprise, we were both exhausted. Stretched beyond our limits and...'
"It is no excuse for putting you in danger! Such a lapse is unforgiveable."
'Oh, Love.'
Dark obsidian eyes glinted with candle light as they gazed up at him, the life slowly beginning to fade, the warmth drifting away as the body in his arms began to evaporate, turning into the insubstantiality of the ghost Yuuri was.
Conrart felt his heart surged upwards into his throat at the endearment, his expression showing just how startled he was at that single word. "Yuuri."
'Never forget... Conrart just how much I love you.'
A hand brushed at the tears, something cold sliding across his skin, making him turn his head just enough to catch the flash of a band around one finger. A wedding band. A single binding of silver, gold and bronze strands, woven together in a symbol of something that strangely tugged at Conrart's heart. He was trying to hold him close, keep the Maou with him, but the tighter his grip the more the ghost seemed to fade away. "Yuuri... Stay with me! YUURI!" His head dipped, finding warm lips, desperate to do something, anything to keep this man from vanishing from his life. Sweeping the slender body up, he was still leaning over him, staggering towards the flap of the tent and the camp beyond. Pulling out the knife would only allow the wound to flow more freely, he couldn't let go.
'You... are my happiness.'
His heart melted at the words, before being overwhelmed by his sense of horror over the feeling of the body in his arms no longer resisting at all. The face tucked into the crook of his throat, the faint breath fluttering warmly over the skin. "No, please." His face buried against the dark locks, cradling the warm body close to his chest, stepping into the light spilling over from the nearest campfire and gazed down into the insubstantial mass, the burden in his arms lessening. "Yuuri... I..." His cinnamon eyes were dark with so many emotions, wishing nothing more than to speak of all the feelings that lay within his heart.
'My Conrart...'
And the weight was lifted, Conrart stood in the firelight, his clothes streaked with splashes of dark blood as a single ring dropped to the grass at his feet, glinting up at him merrily. His hands trembled as they lifted, his fingers streaked with drying crimson and knowing that he had failed his Maou once more. Yet, in his heart, the spark of desperate love had been fanned as his hand reached down towards the ring and closed around it tightly, lifting it to his lips.
"I swear on my life. I will not fail you, your Majesty." Swallowing hard, his shoulders trembled, Conrart remaining unnoticed by the half drunk soldiers sprawled around the blaze and the simmering pot of stew resting in the hot coals. "I will not fail you, Yuuri, I will be by your side, even if I have to up everything I will."
A raw sound escaped from dry lips, damp brown strands sliding down into cinnamon eyes, prickling skin before he could sweep them back with his fingertips. Sitting up amongst the pooling white sheets, he trying to tamper down on the raging emotions that assaulted him in reaction to his rather violent dream. He stiffened at the wetness he found trailing down his face. The impressions of something teasing his mind, images and things that didn't quite seem to belong to him, yet he knew inexplicably that they were his own.
"Conrart?" A sleepy voice responded to the sounds of distress, a slender hand slowly sliding up along the curve of the powerful back, stroking tenderly and attempted to ease whatever was tormenting the soldier. Soft lips pressed a kiss against one broad shoulder, a soft cheek nuzzling the tanned skin in an attempted to offer some kind of solace to the soldier. A wild tangle of raven locks teased lightly over the sweat covered skin, the younger man ignoring it as he continued to lightly sweep his hand up and down over the plains of that back.
"I..." The words caught in his throat, the unexplainable pain flaring inside before he allowed himself to be soothed, the slender limbs coiling around his solid chest, both palms pressed over the flat of his belly as that soft mouth danced against the nape of Conrart's neck, lapping at the salty skin and rubbing into the shaggy chocolate locks.
"Don't you even think of apologising." The heated breath teased against the back of Conrart's ear, teeth nipping softly at the shell of it, like a naughty cat, practically purring against him with each tantalising movement.
Pleasure stirred in response to the contact, the physical sensations extremely welcome, his hand dropped down to spread his own hand over one of the smaller ones, drawing it upwards and over his heart. The other man could feel the pounding of his heart, like a galloping horse that didn't seem to want to slow. "My Lord." Conrart leaned a little into the contact, focusing on the feeling of that mouth sliding against his skin, pushing away everything else in favour of relishing that intimate caress.
"I'm never going to get you to say my name am I? Not even here." Kissing the side of the soldier's neck, he continued to hug the larger frame close, feeling the tension slowly easing out of the larger body. There were so many nights like this one, his companion jerking hard and awakening from the nightmare of something even he didn't know and of which the handsome soldier wouldn't speak of. Pausing as he nuzzled that shoulder again, he finally lifted his hand to touch the handsome face, sliding fingers back through the damp strands of hair, palm brushing at the damp trails that marred the warm cheeks. He didn't comment about it, just giving the other man the acceptance he needed on a night like this. "You don't need to say anything."
Conrart swallowed hard around lump in his throat at those words, his eyes drifting closed as he leaned into the contact, wondering how he had ever earned such a thing. They were not intimate. It was simply the way their odd little relationship worked, it was merely that both needed such a thing in the darker hours of the night. Conrart the soft warm hands that could steal away the shadows that plagued his dreams, the images of things he didn't quite recognise and for Yulian it was needing someone to guard him, to keep out the dark presence that hunted him.
"I continue to disturb your sleep, my Lord..." Lids slipped closed down over cinnamon eyes, hating the fact that he craved this so much, he was intruding in the personal space and chambers of one who was far more than himself. Taking advantage... yet no matter how often he tried to convince himself that this could not continue, he would be unable to go more than a few hours in his own bed before he found himself out in the corridors returning to the side of this noble. Yozak knew he was here, the other half demon aware of the fact that his Captain never remained look in his chambers during the hours he was free of duties or during the evening hours.
"How many times have I told you? I do not mind. I have you, that is enough to make up for any lack of sleep."
"My Lord." He took a deep cleansing breath, feeling a spark of warmth flare in his heart at the knowledge that his presence brought this man some sense of happiness. His own hand stretched out, hesitating a moment before brushing against a silky cheek, fingers unerringly brushing against the ragged raised edges of the scar that ran from behind one ear across the temple and back into the wild raven strands, feeling the jolting burn of anger that another had caused such harm to one so endearing and compassionate. "I am grateful for your words."
"Well, if you are... would you consider sharing breakfast with me?" Yulian leaned firmly against Conrart's side, dark obsidian eyes glittering like polished stones in that pale face.
His mouth opened, ready to give an answer to the other man, but nothing came out, his ability to say anything coherent seemed utterly gone. His hand almost trembling as it brushed at the wild raven strands that spilled down over the beautiful features, a mane of pitch black that glinted a raven's wing blue in the moonlight that spilled across the tangled sheets.
"Julia was having tea with you, wasn't she?" Head tipping slightly, he was attempting to remember the things that his cousin had spoke to him of, his fingers stroking lightly over the warm cheek softly, straightening a little as he dropped a kiss against the corner of Conrart's lips. "She spoke of it..." The jolt of jealousy skittered through his belly, a feeling he couldn't easily dismiss, but one that he did clamp down on to prevent Conrart catching it expressed in his eyes. He loved his cousin more than he could say, enjoyed being around her, soaking in the happiness that seemed to bloom all around her and return it where he could. But when it came to this man he could not content himself, no matter what he told himself, that he wanted himself that growing so attached was not a good idea.
"Yes, my Lord."
Abruptly he felt bereft, his body stiffened as the slender one slipped from the sheets beside him, his fingers almost clenching the dark strands as they slipped through his grasp. His gaze following the beautiful creature that slowly stood up in the moonlight, white skin gleaming, though his gaze drifted down the curve of that back to the scar that ran across the smooth skin about half way down.
Shifting amongst the sheets, he was leaning forwards, his fingers spanning the length of that mark, a thumb trailing across it, wishing he could erase it, remove all the things that were associated with that mark. "Have I displeased you?" And this time he couldn't help himself, shifting to the edge of the bed, his feet dropping to the cool floor, his arms reached out and caught the smaller man, reeling him back in and between his knees to rest his head between those shoulderblades. There was no resistance to the contact, something that always amazed him. Most demons found his touch... distasteful, yet Yulian Von Wincott would lean back into his.
"No. Nothing like that." Lacing his fingers through one of Conrart's he squeezed, just remaining still as he was held, a smile turning his lips upwards at the feeling of lips finally touching his skin, touching across the visible mar of the white skin on his back. His soldier seemed... caught by the marks, continuing his attentions on the imperfections as if trying to erase them. "I was just wanting to feel the moonlight on my skin."
"You are a terrible liar, my Lord." Conrart's voice was muffled against smooth skin, tightening his grip and feeling a bubble of pain that he had caused any kind of distress to a man that had made life just that little better.
"How so?"
"You do not like leaving the bed when I am present." A simple observation, the dark haired man would remain as close as possible during the few hours they had when no one was the wiser to their nocturnal habits, before Conrart rose from the bed to start his morning rounds and attend to his troops.
"That might be true, but I still love the moonlight." Eyes sparkled for a moment over his shoulder before slipping out of Conrart's grasp, a hand swiping the shirt that lay nearly over a nearby chair, drawing the length of it up over his arms, buttoning a few of the small white fastenings. The entire thing half slipped off one slight shoulder, but kept out most of the chill that had seeped into the rather nice rooms he had at Covenant Castle. The tails of the shirt reached down to the backs of his thighs, the cuffs slipping down past his fingertips, before he attempted to push them back upwards again. "Its such a beautiful night." Moving to the windows, he leaned against it slightly, gazing out at the vast gardens that stretched out between the high walls and this wing of the castle.
Conrart's eyes followed the man's progress, feeling a heated ache coiling tightly in his belly at the sight of Yulian dressed in only sleeping pants and his own large shirt. For some reason, he liked the idea that it was his, it was pleasing to watch, the slight sway of those hips and the glances he received over one shoulder.
"Could we go out?" Gazing down into the quiet grounds of the castle, he glanced back over his shoulder, obsidian eyes studying Conrart's face, knowing sleep would be impossible for at least an hour. He was quite familiar with the long minutes that would run by the pair of them when the nightmares disturbed them both. Adrenaline was not a good thing, especially when it was not productive at all when it came to sleep.
The hour was... not one for doing anything outside of a bedchamber, but... he had been careless with his actions. Yulian was important to him and to deny the Lord anything was... Julia had asked him to have tea with her... which made it practically impossible to get back in time for breakfast. He should have asked... said something... other than nothing...
"Of course, my Lord." Conrart smiled slightly, the corners of his lips turning upwards as he rolled off the bed and stood, moving towards his clean uniform that sat folded neatly on the chair close to the fire. It had always made him wonder exactly how Yulian always had it waiting for him without anyone being the wiser to his clothes being taken from his room and brought here.
"Con."
His body froze midstride at the sound of the nickname, one that only Yulian ever used for him. The tone of that voice made him instantly aware he was being watched, dark eyes following his passage across the room. He was suddenly aware of his own body in that moment, aware that the only clothing he wore was his own sleeping pants... that those dark eyes were scanning every inch of his skin.
"You do know you have other clothes than that... I doubt anyone will see us."
Clothes that had been bought for him by Yulian and that meant the man's intention was to head out of the castle grounds. "As you say." Bowing his head slightly, he was conscious of the fact that the very act of accepting those clothes was like agreeing that he belonged here. His cinnamon eyes glanced around him at the familiar chambers, noting the few hidden objects that were interspersed with Yulian's. A bundle of his assignment papers, a personal trinket given to him by his mother, a few books... and his spare sword hidden near the doorway behind one of the tapestries, hanging from specially fixed hooks that Yulian himself had hammered into place. Hidden behind one of the books on the shelf was the small collection of parchment notes sent to him by Yulian, short messages... little private thoughts that no one would be able to link between them if found. Yulian didn't know he had kept every single one of those hand written messages.
Home.
The word came unbidden, bringing with it the flood of intense feelings that rose from where he had pushed them. The emotion that accompanied every dream about... a man who looked so much like Yulian, of a boy Conrart had not know, but had grown into someone with his Yulian's beautiful face and mischievous demeanour.
Suddenly a shirt flopped right on top of Conrart's head, the fabric sliding down over his face into his hands as he gazed straight at the grinning face of the slender man who was dressed in black riding pants and... Conrart's shirt. It was fully buttoned and the cuffs rolled up enough that they didn't completely cover the elegant hands that he liked so much.
"Where are you tonight, Conrart? You aren't usually this quiet." It was a slight tease, obsidian eyes twinkling at him in amusement, Conrart usually was this quiet. "You get dressed and I'll find where your boots ended up in the sitting room."
"My Lord... you are not... wearing that are you?" He knew his position, keenly aware that he had no right to question someone who was his superior, it was still something that came between them, but...
"Why not?" Running his hands down over the slightly starched material, he inhaled deeply and just smiled rather unrepentantly at Conrart. "I like it. Smells like you too." Bringing one folded cuff to his nose, he inhaled again gently, catching the faint scent that lingered on the fabric, rubbing it against his cheek slightly.
"You are indeed a Wincott."
Black eyes brightened at that as he straightened slightly, his lips turning upwards and nuzzled the fabric again. "Of course I am."
"Mischievous."
"Well I'm not as bad as Julia." Colour flared across pale cheeks, Yulian unable to hide the feelings that ran so close to the surface, his desire to be the object of this man's affections. "She has a perchance for causing quite a bit of mischief when she wants to. Uncle was always running after her..."
"And I assume you were a well behaved child, my Lord?"
Pouting slightly at Conrart, his eyes lifted to the ceiling and blew out a short breath. "As one could be." He had been adopted from a distant branch of the Von Wincott family by the younger brother of Julia's father, Alois Von Wincott and his wife, Alexandria. He was only grateful to have been taken in, they had been any child's dream, loving parents that always made him feel as if he belonged, the loss of both of them had struck him hard several years before and the running of the vast estate that belonged to Alois had fallen to him. His birth parents had practically abandoned him, a Double Black like him was too... different and they had not wanted to be... known for having a son like him.
Smoothing out the shirt, he went to the wardrobe, pulling out a pair of riding pants, sliding them on after having heard the soft snick of the door's lock as the younger man went in search of Conrart's wayward boots. He paused before the wide windows, looking out at the gardens beyond and towards the edge of city that he could see over the castle's high walls. On the very edge, he could see the glow of a thousand fires, the camps of soldiers waiting to be deployed, of the war that lurked outside of these rooms, the war that had torn apart so many lives.
When had this all started? When had sleeping curled against the slender body of this gorgeous man become something so necessary? It had all started that day they had met, the two of them falling in strangely together with such familiarity on the main Wincott Estate. A fencing teacher to Delchais Von Wincott... and Yulian, a highly respected member of the Wincott family. It... had been...
Conrart jolted when he felt something heavy settling around his hips, his cinnamon eyes blinking wide as he stared down at the mass of raven strands that filled his vision, glinting a touch blue in the moonlight that pooled around them. Yulian was on his knees before Conrart, buckling the sword belt into place around his hips, fingers making quick work of it, having done the action several times before.
"You are off with the Bone Tribe this evening."
"I..."
"You don't need to tell me, as always, I am just happy to have you here with me. I still dislike the time we spend apart, though I am glad you were able to enjoy the bath this evening." The thought of that made him smile.
Droplets of water dripped over the edge of the large porcelain-white claw footed bath and down onto the tiles of the floor, steam slowly coiled up from within the bath, filling the air with the scents of a myriad of scents that melted the body and soothed all troubled thoughts away. Long chocolate lashes brushed against tanned cheeks, the body curled into the warmth of the water, half hidden from view by the cloudiness of the salts that had been added by the maid who had heated the water. His cheek rested against the cool lip of the tub, his wild brown locks clinging to his skin as water continued to drip from them and down onto the floor.
It was luxury. A sheer pleasure to just soak in heated water, to be alone for a little while and enjoy one privilege he had been given by...
"I see my bath is being put to good use."
Cinnamon eyes jerked open to stare at the slight frame that leaned against the doorframe, a wide smile decorating soft lips, his heart jumping at the sight of that man watching him like that. It had been on the orders of this dark haired demon that he had actually had the hot bath waiting for him, the personal maid having arranged for it to be perfectly heated when he had arrived in the sitting room of the private quarters of the noble. The piece of parchment sat tucked in a pocket of his uniform, the message that had arrived for him via one of the pages to come to see the Lord at Covenant Castle.
Conrart just sank a little more deeply beneath the surface, the warmth of it drawing everything out of him, including any capacity to answer the man. Yulian Von Wincott gave him a knowing look, clearly pleased with the results of his small plot to have Conrart to himself a little earlier than usual.
Moving slowly to the side of the bath, one hand reached out and stroked against a heat flushed cheek, thumb sliding against the inviting lips, before rubbing his knuckles along the slight stubble that ran across the strong jaw, feeling the slight scratch of it against his skin. The soldier's head turned slightly, pressing into the contact, returning the slight rub of stubbled jaw against sensitive knuckles.
A hint of colour stole its way up across his throat, heat running and pooling again in places it shouldn't. Clamping down on his body's reaction, he was desperate tried to keep everything from deciding to 'explode' on him, it would not do for the Lord to realise exactly what he was thinking about when he saw the man on his knees before him like that. Even he tried to not think about the thoughts that clambered in his mind. Desire. Raw and sharp, cutting at his control the more time he spent around Yulian.
"Do you miss me, Conrart?" Leaning forwards so that his face could press against the warm belly, feeling the rock hard muscles beneath the shirt.
"Indeed I do, my Lord."
Both hands tunnelled through the raven mass, sliding both his fingers through the long length of it as it spread out across the slender shoulders, though he couldn't help but touch the scar that was hidden beneath the mass, from where a sword had struck hard against the younger man's skull. He should have been there guarding Yulian. The entire incident was one that he had only heard about weeks after it had occurred. He had never known such rage before in himself, his utter fury over the fact that someone who was meant to protect the Lord had actually turned his blade against him. Conrart had been unable to go to his Lord, unable to go to the one that mattered most because of his duties. The one who had been responsible for that... lay dead in a ditch, Conrart having exacted the justice needed for such a hateful act.
And it had all been for money, all because Yulian spoke out against the war, spoke out against the bitter hatred and racism that burned in the hearts of so many. He had his suspicion who had offered such payment to a member of Yulian's trusted guards. Conrart had never spoken of it to anyone, of the act he had committed where all had failed before him, but Yozak knew, the blue eyes had shone with the knowledge of the death on Conrart Weller's hands.
'You did what was right, Captain, I'm just sorry I wasn't there to help you.'
The half demon had returned to the Capital only to find Yulian waiting for him, having come to be close to Lady Suzanna Julia at her request so that his nearly fatal wounds could be treated by herself and Gisela in the privacy offered by Covenant Castle.
He should have abandoned his duties the moment he had known... gone to the Lord... returned to the one that had needed him that day. In the depths of his heart, he blamed himself. He alone was responsible for not ensuring the safety of one precious to him, checking each of the guards for any suspicious activities or any questionable tendencies.
"You are at it again." Yulian blinked down at him slightly, lips turning upwards into a quiet little smile, one eyebrow raised in question. "You're so pensive."
Gritting his teeth at the flash of self-hated that burned in his gut, he disliked that he had forgotten himself so much that evening. The dream had not helped, the feeling that he had failed again, the feeling of warm blood flowing over his fingers, the cold steel buried deep in the flesh of the one he cared for.
"We do not need to go out." Yulian was tipping his head up slightly, his hand reaching out to lightly stroke his fingers across the warm cheek, feeling the heat of that tanned skin, his expression softening as he gazed at the man before him. Conrart was such a puzzle, so many things crammed in behind the quiet stoic expression, so much raw emotion and feeling that could explode at times. He had seen it once, the lightning that crackled and jumped when one of Yulian's guards had been careless in regards to his care and allowed the Lord to be placed in danger.
Their relationship was an odd one, both of them having been together and apart several times since that first meeting. Their duties and lives taking them in different directions, but the moment both were together in the same place, Conrart would find his way to Yulian, unobserved and unhesitatingly willing to put up with practically anything to keep up what they had. It was still... just them needing the comfort. Conrart's heart truly belonged to Julia, he had seen the pair together several times and felt the burning jealousy rock him. Julia had a way with Conrart... despite the fact that Julia loved Adalbert, Yulian didn't attempt to plead for more than what they already had, knowing it could break apart...
"We are going." Conrart couldn't help it, his hand reached out and drew Yulian upwards, sweeping the slender body under his shoulder, a touch possessive in the action after both had finished with boots and a few other things. Soon moving towards the door and out into the silent corridor, the main door leading out into the hallway was locked firmly against intruders.
Yulian turned his head slightly, glancing along the silent hall and smiled, dark obsidian eyes laughing. "Good morning to you, Yozak."
Conrart was not surprised at all when the amber haired half-demon stepped out into the light of one of the torches, grinning like a fool and giving a quick salute. "Mornin', your Excellency, Captain." Blue eyes positively sparkled as he glanced at what Conrart was wearing, noting the slight tip of the sword belt around the Captain's hips and knowing that it had been Yulian that had buckled it there. They looked good together, natural in their closeness, now if only Conrart would get a clue about just what he had and could lose through his heart's foolishness. "You're getting better, Excellency, faster."
"I fear it is merely being use to your presence and knowing your habits." Yulian honestly liked Yozak, the man was reliable and was someone who would protect Conrart with everything he had. The noble had actually talked to Yozak on the matter, stating in no uncertain terms that if Conrart did come to harm when Yozak was watching over him, the half demon would answer for it.
"Being predictable is not a good thing." Sighing, he rubbed his fingers along his jaw and then grinned at the slightly darkened look that flashed across Conrart's face that made him grin even wider. It was clear his Captain liked having the Lord's attention all to himself on nights like these. "What are your plans, Excellency?"
"A ride. I thought down through the town, just a few minutes in the night air would calm me. I can't seem to sleep well this evening."
Instantly Yozak glanced towards Conrart, knowing the one that couldn't sleep now was his Captain, the restless nature of the man always did seem to catch up with him at times like this. He had often here the sounds of the man stirring in his sleep, jerking awake and gazing around him with an expression on his face, one that could not quite be explained because of the complex web of emotions that were etched into the wild features.
"You want to check on the shipment, don't you, your Excellency?"
Conrart's gaze jumped from Yozak back to the man beside him, his fingers curling slightly against curve of one hip, squeezing lightly in question.
"I fear I never could keep anything from either of you. I saw the torches coming up from the east and I knew it had to be the shipment and I did want to check on it myself. Though his main plan had been to share a few moments with Conrart, both of them together in silence like that, riding together as they had done a few times before."
"Lord Von Wincott has been quite a busy man, Captain. Unlike most would think, he is actually quite good at paperwork when he puts his mind to it." Teasing the noble, he felt secure in knowing that they were friends, the raven haired man was someone who looked out for those he cared about and wouldn't hesitate to go out of his way to make sure they were safe. "I saw the messenger arrive at camp after you had come to the castle, Captain. Got a glimpse of what he was carrying." He wasn't about to admit he snuck in to read the small document that had been given to the quartermaster of the Lutenberg Division, one that bore in the embossed paper the mark of the Von Wincott family.
"My Lord?" His cinnamon eyes reflected his surprise over the mention of a 'shipment'. Their Division usually didn't get much in the way of that, always getting what was left and it was barely enough to give the soldiers what they needed to survive a battle.
"It is not much." Pale cheeks suddenly flushed a vibrant red, even his ears seemed to glow with the heat that burned through him at being caught. He was not one to usually mess in Conrart's affairs, especially not when it might risk gaining him the attentions of 'general' Geigen Huber.
"Full supplies, Captain. Everything we've been lacking, paid for by Lord Von Wincott personally."
"Yuu." Conrart's heart throbbed hard against his ribs, pounding so loudly that he thought the entire castle could hear it. Yulian Von Wincott was a man that had his loyalties, but to personally order a shipment like that in a world where such supplies were in extremely high demand... it would have cost a considerable amount to give the entire Division what it needed.
Yulian jerked hard at the sound of that particular nickname, his obsidian eyes so wide in his face he looked like a frightened kitten. Conrart had never called him by name, especially not something so intimate like that. "They are good men." He was trying desperately to cover the surprise and wonder that filled him, his entire body shivering slightly with the rush of heat flaring through his blood. "Good loyal men that have proven themselves." Considering the Division was made up of those like Conrart and Yozak, most would not even consider wasting such supplies on them. His fears remained that Geigen Huber would speak to Lord Von Spitzweg about them, that bigot was someone that Yulian wanted nothing more than to strike for some of the filth that came out of his mouth.
Dropping to one knee before Yulian, Conrart reached out for the lord's hand, drawing the fingers to his lips and bowing his head over them, expressing in the one action his loyalty. "My Lord."
"Conrart... please..." Badly flustered, he was attempting to draw his fingers back, suddenly extremely embarrassed to be the centre of attention. However, the redness of his face didn't improve when he felt the caress of those fingers against his knuckles, the brush of a tongue teasing each digit lightly. And suddenly he remembered he was not in his usual blue and white clothes but was in Conrart's large shirt and riding pants, looking as undignified as possible with his raven locks falling down across his shoulders and part way down his shoulderblades.
Cinnamon eyes burned at him from behind the strands of chocolate that fell beautiful across his forehead, rewarding Yulian in the only way he knew how before another, hiding what they had to keep it 'appropriate', even though when he finally did release that hand, he could feel it trembling as he released it. "I cannot express, my Lord, the gratitude I feel for you doing such a thing for my men. There is nothing I can say that can accurately..."
"Maybe... we should just go." Yulian was looking everywhere but down into those gorgeous eyes that seemed to pin him to the spot. Conrart was like that, one moment as silent and as cool as a spring breeze and then like the autumn rainstorms, fierce and burning and he liked that about the man, being allowed to witness the changes in mood, watch those piercing eyes light up... glittering at him in those rare moments. "I don't want to be caught by the guards... Um..."
"Well now." Yozak gave Conrart a knowing look. "I think..."
"Yozak." It was a warning.
The slightly younger half demon just grinned, white teeth glinting in the darkness, before glancing back over his shoulder. "I'll watch your back, Captain."
Moving swiftly down the corridor, Conrart was easily keeping pace with the shorter strides of his Lord, his eyes never stopped studying the corridors, making sure that at every moment that he had Yulian protected. Yozak had already vanished into the shadows, observing from a distance and clearly not going to be too far away at all during their night sojourn. This was going to be an interesting night after all.
"Con." A finger was held to his lips as they moved through the stables past the sleeping Dacauscas, the horses snorting softly and glancing towards them both as they were heading through the ranks of them. "Here." His hand caught at Conrart's shoulder, tugging softly as they stopped before his own white mare and one of the larger stallions. "We can use mine." Carefully both of them were moving around the animals as moonlight spilled into the stables, providing them with enough light to saddle the horses and draw them out past the sleeping guard.
Putting one foot in the stirrup, Yulian was just about to push himself upwards, when a pair of strong hands caught him around his waist, lifting him with ease onto the back of the horse, steadying him as he settled into the saddle. His hand reached out to stroke a soft caress over the warm cheek, thumb brushing against the slight stubble that he found, his gentle expression of affection for how well the soldier took care of him.
Drawing the horses along by the reins towards one of the quieter gateways, he was remembering that one of the guards that he frequently passed by was there. Their exit would cause the least about of trouble and questioning as to where they were heading, he knew it would be best that way.
"Sir Weller." The brown haired guard greeted them with a salute, before blinking up in surprise at the figure seated on the back of the white mare, his olive brown eyes blinking in surprise before looking back towards the captain in interest.
"I would appreciate your discretion, Muller, about this.." Conrart said to the man, shifting slightly and glancing back towards Yulian and feeling a heated flutter jolt through him. The man looked elegant like that, even dressed in riding pants and his own shirt, the man looked as if he had been born to...
"Of course, Sir. No need to worry, you have my word." Before he turned his attention to the raven haired demon, the sentry giving a warm smile to the lord as well. "Have a good ride, Lord Von Wincott, Sir Weller."
"Thankyou, Muller." The obsidian warmed as he smiled down at the Sentry, before he was trotting his mare through the gateway and they were swiftly moving off through the dark streets, Conrart close behind him settling on the back of the long legged stallion.
"Let's see just how good a rider you are, Conrart Weller." Yulian through the older man a challenging grin, urging his mare into a run, the horse taking the rider's direction as they headed quickly through the streets, the only sound was the metal horse shoes clicking against the smooth worn cobble stones. Leaning forwards against the back of the mare, he let out the reins a little, trusting in the mare, knowing she was the most surefooted of his personal horses.
His raven locks were swept back away from his face, whipping against his shoulders as he couldn't help but laugh in sheer delight at the feeling, the moonlit streets becoming their playground for a few brief moments in the grim reality of war. Conrart was outpacing him, the larger bay stallion using the straight roads to gain ground on them, the man attempting to corral him, reel him in.
Suddenly the town gave way to open ground, the open fields around the town spread out before them like a patchwork quilt of crops and grazing land, and beyond that first ring of agricultural lands was the first camp. Yulian knew exactly which one of these quiet camps was that of the Lutenberg Division, he was familiar with them as he had spent a few days on this last stay at Covenant Castle to be a touch closer to Conrart and to get to know the men that fought with his soldier. Urging the horse onwards, he matched his horse's strides to those of Conrart's, snatching quick looks at the other man and not quite knowing what to say as they rode through the quiet night.
"Are you happy, Conrart?"
The question caught the soldier hard in the gut, his cinnamon eyes widened slightly, not having quiet known where that one had come from. "I am."
"I want your honest answer, Con, not just what you think will make me happy." His voice was quiet, but he was feeling suddenly awkward, his fingers tugging at the edges of one half unrolled cuff, playing with the fabric and knowing that their relationship was... reaching a point where something had to happen. He was willing to hide what they had, but his heart was beginning to get tangled up, coiled in the mess of emotions that bound them. Yulian was... unhappy. What he wanted was something he couldn't have. No matter what he did, he knew... Conrart's heart belonged to Julia and he couldn't blame him for it. Julia had a way with people that even Yulian couldn't compare to.
Swallowing back a sound, Conrart gripped the reins tighter, wishing he knew exactly what to do in this situation. How close was Yulian to him? How close... had they become? What about Julia? His heart ached at the thought of her, at the longing that remained deep inside himself when he was with her. He loved her desperately, but knew she was out of reach... but... what if he did confess to her? Speak of what rested in his heart, maybe she would return his affections? His courage was lacking on that point, his soul aching in a way when he allowed his eyes to take in the beauty of the man beside him. His heart craved Julia, but his soul pleaded with him to stay with Yulian, tearing his insides apart.
"I... cannot say."
"Its alright, I shouldn't have asked." But he had wanted to, needed to have an answer so that he could know if he would ever have a chance with Conrart, a chance to truly love the man as he wished to do, other than just in the physical sense.
Lips pressed together slightly, as he quickened the horse's pace as they finally entered the sleeping camp, the sentries startled at the arrival of Lord Von Wincott at such a horrible hour. But their arrival couldn't have been more perfectly timed as from the other direction the first of the fully leaden wagons entered the camp, the guard parting ways with the first few wagons that entered, dismounting as they greeted several of the half bloods that had been roused by the shipment's arrival.
Conrart shed his jacket, sliding the fabric away from his slightly flushed skin and carefully draped it about Yulian's slender shoulders, covering the shirt that the man wore before anyone realised exactly who it originally belonged to. The unfinished conversation hanging heavily in the air between them as he dismounted first, before moving to assist the dark haired demon, steadying him and pressing a hand lightly against the warm shoulder.
Yulian slipped through his grip like water, the smaller man exuding a presence of authority that had grown over the time Conrart had known him, the war having brought for Yulian a sense of purpose and new determination. A hand gripped wayward raven locks and tugged them back, clipping it at the nape of his neck and Conrart could catch a glimpse of the vicious scar that was hidden normally by the messy strands of black, the ragged line of what hadn't quite healed.
His cinnamon eyes couldn't stray far from the man, feeling his heart aching strangely when his hands had been unable to hold the man to him, that whatever they had together was slowly coming to a head. They had had years together, the thought of not having the refuge this man offered, not feeling the slender body press against his own during the night, the soft touches that reminded him he was good enough. Julia. She stood between them in his heart. Though... did... could Yulian love him? He had never considered it before, their relationship had been built on a mutual need to have someone, someone to confide in at times... someone there who wouldn't turn either of them away.
As he watched the man's back, Conrart Weller began to realise, he had never considered any possibility that Yulian could love him. It seemed inconceivable that someone would want to... love him. For the most part, he was someone that had trouble expressing his emotions, trying to balance out the intensity of them with his own quiet nature. He... was trapped, without Yulian he was trapped in his own quiet prison, even Julia couldn't reach as far as Yulian at some times.
'You... are my happiness.'
A chill swept its way up along his spine, every little hair on his skin stood up and he swore he had gooseflesh springing up, the words echoed in his thoughts, Yulian's voice filling him from the inside out. The dream moving through him, the vague impressions and images blurring, the clarity of it having been lost the moment he had awakened. He wanted to make Yulian happy, to make those particular words true, but...
"Astarte." The noble was smiling, obsidian eyes glittering brightly in the firelight, reaching out to shake the hand of the leader of the guard contingent, squeezing the fingers and being grateful the man would take such good care of the supplies. "You had no problems, I hope?"
"A few unruly bandits, my Lord." His head dipping slightly, his head glancing back towards one of the wagons and his lips pressed together, clearly uncertain whether to request such a thing from his Lord. "Nothing we could not handle." The demon turned his head slightly to one side, studying the man that hovered just behind Yulian, noting with a moment of surprise that the man's hand was curled loosely around the hilt of his sword. Though he had never met this man, he knew without a doubt exactly who this man was, no one at Aschen Castle didn't know about Conrart Weller. "I am also honoured that Lord Weller would greet us with you, my Lord. Many speak highly of him and I can see the rumours are indeed true."
Conrart blinked. Straightening slightly and wishing he knew exactly what that meant, he had never met this man, nor had they been introduced. Why would others be speaking of him?
"Astarte."
Suddenly grinning, the guard was ruffling his fingers back through his light brown hair, messing up the smooth perfection it had been pressed down into by his cap. "I apologise, my Lord, but it cannot be helped. He is as described and well, if rumours can..."
"Don't you start teasing me." Crossing his arms and attempting to look slightly indignant, Yulian couldn't help the smile that caught at the corners of his lips and pulled them upwards, relaxing at the familiarity of the teasing. "And those rumours aren't true."
One brow raised, regarding Conrart with a look that was clearly asking. 'Are you an idiot?'
"And if any of your men dare to spread those particularly ones in this camp or to anyone... I'll find out exactly who spoke and string them up for Karmina to deal with."
Astarte visible paled at that threat. "My Lord, is that punishment not a little harsh?"
"I doubt it is." But Yulian was laughing, his shoulders relaxing completely and was eternally grateful for the presence of one he knew well, he would be keeping the guards on here near the castle, wanting them close if something did indeed happen in the next few days.
The entire exchange was incredible. Conrart almost knocked over mentally over the fact that there seemed to be no distance between Lord and servant, the two talking as if equals, yet he could see the deep respect in Astarte's eyes and the openness of the man. Astarte stood in a camp full of half breeds as did the other blue and white clad guards and looked as if it didn't bother him at all. There was no other he knew besides possibly Julia that could have ever made a pure blooded demon like Astarte clearly was be so open to others...
"Astarte is my head of guard on my visits to Caloria."
Caloria? Yulian was visiting human country, during the midst of the war? It was insane! Even though Caloria was known to be as peaceful as could be in the current circumstances, it was something he... What right did he have? What honest right did he have to say where this man travelled?
"My Lord, I must ask..." Swallowing slightly, Astarte gestured to the man being lowered from the back of one of the wagons on a stretcher, it was clear that he had been injured during the journey and looked paler than the white blankets tucked tightly around his limbs. "Our medic attended to him, but he is not responding well to treatment and..."
"Why didn't you tell me earlier?" Dark eyes were wide as he was moving past Astarte at the sight of the injured soldier, already calling out for them to bring the wounded man to one of the other tents, Conrart and Astarte falling in behind him. Yulian was already leaning over the fallen soldier, moving with a practiced care as he was attending to the man's wounds, a hand hovering over his chest and the warm flow of magic spread out into a silky blue bubble that flashed and glittered at them both.
A hand caught at Conrart's arm, preventing the soldier from following the man into the healer's tent, the half demon's head lifted so that his gaze met that of the guard. "We need to talk, Lord Weller."
Nodding once, he stepped back, feeling Yozak moving into position to take up guard and watch over Yulian and he willingly stepped away and into the darkness away from the masses of people moving around the laden wagons. His expression was a stoic mask, his shoulders stiff and he took a few more steps into the darker night, though his hand rested lightly against the hilt of his blade, ready to draw it at a moment's notice.
"Will you allow me to speak freely, Lord Weller?"
Conrart Weller was surprised at the show of respect of the other man towards him. "Speak what is on your mind."
"Have you completely lost it, my Lord?" Astarte was practically bristling, his eyes snapping and burning a hole into Conrart with a look that said he wasn't at all happy over something.
"I beg your pardon."
"You. Have you lost your mind? I'm serious about this. You are so blind to what is right before you." Arms crossed over the stocky bulk of a well muscled chest, the demon confronted the soldier with the protectiveness that spoke volumes of his absolute loyalty to his Lord. Yulian had earned his loyalty long before and his Lord's wellbeing was paramount to those of Aschen Castle and the surrounding Estates, their Lord had brought true happiness and joy to their people, bringing them a sense of belonging and had worked magic on even those who had questioned the sanity of the Double Black. "The rumours are meant to be true."
"What rumours?"
"That..." Letting out a hissing breath, his gaze moving from Conrart's face to the ground, both fists clenching and he was struggling to get over the lump of fear that stuck inside his chest at the thought of ever speaking behind the back of his Lord. It needed to be said though, after the betrayal of one of Yulian's guards, most had become extremely protective of the young man, fearing that they might lose him if they weren't careful. "That you were our Lord's fiancé, that after the... incident you had... proposed."
The half Demon wanted to openly stare, where had a rumour like that come from? That... these so loyal to Yulian would know of their... private arrangements, that something like this had been conjectured about and clearly accepted as being fact. He was... not someone of Yulian Von Wincott's class.
"Most of us at Aschen Castle know about yourself and Lord Von Wincott or at least what Karmina could pry out of him, she is our head cook and... always knows how to get his Lordship to speak when he is unhappy." Pressing his lips together, he glanced around and his voice dipped a little lower, attempting to keep himself from being overhead. "The rumour to which my Lord was referring to was that you were the greatest swordsman in all of Shin Makoku and had sworn your blade in the service of our Lord and your person as a shield to him. Well... some of the other rumours are more..." Fingers waved slightly, the man looked almost embarrassed. "Colourful. I don't think I should mention what a few the maids came up with." Coughing slightly, his face seemed to take on an odd shade of crimson in the darkness.
"What myself and Lord Von Wincott have is not up for personal discussion." Conrart gritted his teeth, feeling suddenly defensive of something he had long thought was completely private, but clearly in the shelter of his lord's home, the knowledge had spread. "We are not..." The thought of marriage was an odd one, what had given someone that idea?
"Well you should be." Astarte hissed slightly in response, dark eyes narrowing on the man before him, clearly not at all pleased that it wasn't true. All of them wanted their Lord to be happy and there was only one source of true happiness in Yulian Von Wincott's life and that was the man before him. "You are all he talks about, but I could tell from your expression that you don't realise exactly what you do have with him."
"I am grateful for his kind words and actions." But his heart... his rebellious heart wanted someone other than Yulian, even though his entire soul was screaming at him, the conflicting feelings waging a full scale ward down inside of him. "But our relationship is not like that. It is... of a mutually beneficial nature."
"So you have no intention of ever..." The guard let out a hoarse little sound, his shoulders drooping slightly and clearly accepting that whatever had been talked about between the maids back home had been nothing more than baseless speculation. He knew what this much be doing to his Lord's heart, it was clear to everyone just how much Conrart Weller meant to him, but the only one that couldn't see it clearly was Conrart himself.
"I want you to consider this, Lord Weller." Astarte shifted back towards the tent, his lips pressed together and regarded the half demon with a long look. "My Lord has greater joy than yourself, not even our people can truly bring happiness to his soul. I ask that you consider your actions carefully from this day. Do not shatter something that..." The guard's head jerked slightly, aware of something and was shoving past Conrart and towards the tent as several of the other guards were doing, responding silently.
Conrart was instantly moving with the man, his hand curled around the hilt of his sword at the first sign of trouble, his heart finding its way into his mouth as he froze in the open flap of the healer's tent. Four guards were already kneeling at Yulian's feet, all of them with bowed heads, though each seemed quite aware that their Lord was swaying dangerously on his feet, having expended quite a bit of energy on healing the injured guard that had been brought in.
"My Lord." The soldier was moving forwards, ready to reach out and steady the swaying frame, lift the man off his feet and take him back to the castle or to Julia.
"I am fine, Conrart."
The half demon froze, his face actually registering the tone and his heart dropped like a stone in his chest as it was Astarte that moved to steady the Lord. The brown-haired demon giving Conrart a look that was just as questioning. Something was going on and Conrart knew it wasn't good. Was Yulian trying to distance himself?
Ignoring the words, he was stepping past one of the kneeling guards, his one hands reaching out towards the man, catching the slender shoulders, his frame shifting and forcing Astarte to literally step away or be physically pushed. A hand tangled in the warm, silky soft strands of raven, his palm pressing against the nape of Yulian's neck, his other hand nudging the smaller man into the curve of his body. Tucking the man in close, he cradled him like that, a little stiff but refusing to allow the smaller man to pull away, waiting until hands bunched into the back of his shirt and he felt the hot tears soaking into the fabric of his collar.
"Con..." The word came out in a rush, Yulian trying desperately to stop the tears that had started, embarrassed to be caught before so many in such a state. "Con... they..." Fingers twisted sharply in the fabric, knotting it and barely being able to keep himself standing.
"What is it?" His voice was whisper soft against Yulian's ear as he turned them both presenting his back to the guards and Astarte, his arm sliding around the slender waist, tightening his grip and making sure no one saw any of the hot tears he could feel burning his skin. It tore at his heart to see Yulian's tears, to feel the ripple of silent sobs tear through the exhausted body. "What is it that has you crying, my Lord?"
"They... they attacked Caloria."
Caloria was the ancient home of the Von Wincott family, a neighbour to Yulian's own lands. It was a small quiet nation, one that had some strategic value, but was not one for war. Conrart knew from the statement earlier, Yulian had been visiting Caloria. If he knew the man as he did, the demon had been attempting to forge a peace of a kind, something to prevent both lands from ending up fighting.
"Arland... was killed. They slaughtered him... his son... Norman fled to Aschen Castle, I just received Norman's letter. How could they? How... how could they murder a man like Arland?"
Sobbing even harder over the death of a human, Conrart's heart twisted hard in his chest at the sounds, his soul screaming out for revenge against those who had done such a thing and harmed the one he... Forcing that thought away, he was just holding the man, not trying to do anything else but hold the trembling form close to his body, knowing Yulian needed to let all the tears out right here. Though, he knew what others would say if they saw a Double Black demon like Yulian weeping over the death of a human.
"Norman is barely ten! A child! They killed his father right before his eyes and Small Cimaron is attempting to sake its claim." His shoulders quivered again, a rage flaring through him so that even in the weakened state he had been left in through the healing session, the blue flash of energy crackled and leapt around his body. Conrart however, didn't let go, not even when the guards shifted back warily at the brilliant flares of magic that coiled restlessly in the air. "Caloria has done nothing to warrant such an attack! They merely wanted to keep peace within their borders."
What could he do? If he did go to Caloria's defence... move his own troops in to defend a country he had come to think of in such... Stoffel would brand him a traitor for going to protect humans, Geigen Huber would win. What would Odell say? What would happen to his own lands? He could not... abandon Caloria... he could not... go against his nature... but what would be the cost of such an action?
There was only one action he could take. He would not let Caloria suffer, he had been unable to act before.
"Astarte."
The guard jerked, saluting instantly at the sound of his name. "My Lord?"
"I need you to take this to Odell Wincott." His fingers curled around something that hung at his neck, his fingers closing around the warm weight of the ring, sliding the chain up and over his head before handing it out to Astarte.
Every guard froze as they saw the signet ring glint in the firelight, all knowing what that action meant. Conrart's hand curled lightly about the man's forearm before he could place it in the demon's hands. "Yulian..."
"No. Conrart, I have to. I can no longer stand by and allow such madness to continue. Arland Gilbert was my friend, a man that had protected his people and been at peace with those who neighboured his lands. His death will not go unanswered, the attack on his people will not go without justice being done. Small Cimaron is making a play for lands that do not belong to them with the support of Big Cimaron. Caloria was once the homeland of my family. I for one am not willing to abandon it." His fingers placed the ring into Astarte's hand, giving up what had been his parents, returning it to the power of the head of his family, Odell Von Wincott, his adoptive uncle. "Return this to Odell Von Wincott and ask him to guard the child, Norman Gilbert while I cannot... Ask him... to be as kind to my people as he is to those he commands."
Conrart was suddenly torn, his heart throbbing wildly as everything just went from bad to worse. His gaze lifted from the top of Yulian's dark head to gaze at Yozak who stood in shadows, their eyes meeting for a moment.
"Captain?"
"I am going with you." Yulian had done everything for them, had protected them and given them arms and supplies to see them through, but now was a time to make a stand against those who had take what did not belong. The Demon Tribe had been one to help set off this War, Stoffel and others... wanting to fight, wanting the victory and glory, others had gotten caught in between, those who could not protect themselves adequately against such large forces. The War had to stop.
"Con...?" Large obsidian eyes still swimming with angry tears lifted to look at him. "You... you know... what will happen..." They would be called traitors, deserters for running to human lands. "They... you can't. Conrart. You cannot do this... what... what will...?"
Cinnamon eyes closed for a moment and he let out a quiet breath, his grip on Yulian tightening, his arm hugging the slender man to him tightly. "You have never turned your back on us, you have always offered me... acceptance when no other would." Except for Julia, she had... not cared about his human blood. "I failed to protect you once." His palm pressed lightly over where he knew the scar ran across the warm expanse of Yulian's back. "I will not fail again."
"I'm with you all the way, Captain." Grinning at Yulian, Yozak winked and actually saluted. Blue eyes steadily watched the two men together, knowing that hopefully they would be able to work this out.
"Thankyou... both of you."
"I did not think... this would happen." Sleepy, his head actually rested back against Conrart's shoulder, his entire body quite willing to sag back into the warmth of the strong one behind him. Sunlight streamed down across the forest path, no one commented on the fact that his horse had been abandoned in favour of riding with Conrart, the sleepless morning hours had left him entirely drained. The sounds of others around them had made him stir, armed men, soldiers, half-demons and his own demon forces were moving together, and somewhere in back a carriage followed amongst the wagons and the protective column of guards. "I... I did not think... so many would follow me."
"You have earned their loyalty, my Lord." Conrart leaned his head down, his chin resting softly on top of the raven black mane that tickled slightly against his throat. "All of us came willingly, we are still serving in a capacity for Shin Makoku, protecting the Eastern Borders." His head twisted slightly, catching the blue and white banners that fluttered in the crisp morning air, they served under a noble, they of the Lutenberg Division would do battle to protect those who were out-numbered. "You care for them, for those who are met only with suspicion and hateful words. You are allowing them to fight for Shin Makoku and also for themselves, for the humans exiles that are waiting to join us nearer the border."
"You... should be with Julia." Yulian swallowed hard, knowing that in the carriage was both Julia and Gisela, neither woman had wanted to remain behind when they heard of the horrors reported back about Caloria. When the news finally reached the ears of Stoffel, Gwendal, Gunter and Adalbert, there would be quite an uproar about such a thing happening. "She... will need you to..."
"You need me."
Yulian blinked at that, head twisting up and trying to get a good look into those cinnamon eyes, wanting to see the emotions reflected there. However, their position on the horse made it next to impossible, his entire body shivering when the man's head dipped down and lips scooted along beneath his ear, touching the bottom of the long scar. A startled little noise slipped from between his lips at the intimate contact, his entire body freezing in place.
"Rest, Yuu. Let me... take care of you, like you have been me for so many years." Conrart was shifting on the saddle, drawing the slender body as close as possible to his own, all his senses burned with the thought that Yulian was right there in his arms. Though he still could not quite shake the feeling that pervaded his very bones that he needed to guard Yulian carefully. He had failed. The thought would not leave him, the knowledge that he had failed to protect the one who had provided such comfort to him at the expense at times of his own.
"YOUR MAJESTY!"
The sound of horses coming towards them made the man stir slightly, his dark eyes slowly beginning to flutter open at the familiar voice. Though he could not bring himself to lift his head, feeling the silk shirt beneath his cheek, inhaling the scent of Conrart on the fabric. Fingers clenched sharply in the edge of it, dragging himself forwards, his entire body throbbing with raw agony as the dagger sticking out of his back slashed at sensitive flesh as muscles tightened and clamped together around it.
The images of Conrart filled his vision, the sensation of strong arms holding him close, the voice choked with anguish and fear. A man... that had once been. But his Conrart was still beneath him, the body slowly beginning to cool in the chilled night air, the blood pooling around the still form. Hands lifted, trying to call on what magic he had remaining, desperate to draw together the last of his strength to try and pull his beloved back from the other side, drag the soul back to the body.
"You can't leave me." He hissed out, black eyes misting over with his own tears this time, head leaning down so that their foreheads touched as he tried to use his own body to protect that of his fallen soldier. "You promised." The bubble of healing energy flickered dimly between them, bursting apart with each attempt, his own life blood flowing out of him to mingle with that of his protector. "Love... please..."
Pressing his cheek against one broad shoulder, his mouth touched lightly against the curve of that throat, desperate to feel the throb of that heart... desperate for any sign of life from the only one that had ever stolen his entire heart. They had both been exhausted, worn and happy just to be going home, the promise of a warm meal back at the Castle was too much for Yuuri to resist and he had pleaded... and Conrart had just smiled at him. That warm welcoming smile that filled those cinnamon eyes and lit up Conrart's entire soul from the inside out, simply pleased to have Yuuri by his side.
Conrart was slipping. The brilliant soul sliding out from Yuuri's grip, though he could feel Conrart's resistance, the struggle of the soul to remain in a body that had already given up the fight.
"Your Majesty!" It was practically a wail, Gunter was beside Gwendal, both of them throwing themselves almost literally off the backs of the horses that had come down the road from the City.
'Yuu...?' A quiet whisper in his mind, a soft sound of raw pain, the soul barely able to hold itself there, fighting the draw of some distant power.
"By Shinou..." Gwendal jerked hard to a stop, staring down at the pair, his dark blue gaze settling onto the hilt of the dagger that had been thrust into their Maou's back.
Cinnamon eyes closed tightly, knowing that it had not been his own memory, the ones that filled his dreams were a mix of his own and 'Yuuri's', a face he knew as Yulian Von Wincott's. The knowledge that he had failed to protect his Maou, to protect his beloved, his... It was a surge that slammed right into his gut, mingling with everything else inside of him and almost spilling over onto his face. The looks on Gunter and Gwendal's faces, he had never seen such horror.
It was hard to see himself like that, older, a little more scarred, but in the lifeless face he had seen the marks of happiness, the sounds of that voice, calling him back, trying to drag him back from the darkness once more. Sliding the long mass of Yulian's hair down over one shoulder, he leaned in, his mouth touching against the nape of the man's neck, brushing his lips over the soft skin, feeling a shiver ripple through the slender body in his arms at the contact. He was not one that usually initiated their physical displays of affection, but he wanted to push the nightmare away, shove it so far that he couldn't see the faces and blood.
"Conrart." It was a sleepy little groan, lips parting as obsidian eyes drifted closed at the feeling, entire body shuddering with the sensation that jolted through him. Others could see them... it was out in public and he definitely didn't want Conrart to stop. "What... has gotten into you, Con?" Another breathless sound escaped him when teeth caught the lob of his ear, tugging slightly, cheeks brushing slightly, rough against silky smooth. This was unlike his Conrart, but he had to admit he loved it.
"I am distracting you." One chocolate brow lifted slightly in amused question, cinnamon eyes warming instantly when their gazes met. "And myself."
"The... visions?"
"Yes."
"That was what disturbed you so much last night..." Yulian sighed softly, his hands lightly caressing over the back of Conrart's palms, fingers meshing together for a moment. "I thought... they had stopped, that it was... just nightmares now." Lips pressing together, he was completely pliant in the man's arms. "You should have said something..."
"I... am deeply troubled by them."
"What do you see?"
"Death... loneliness..." Shaking his head slightly, he allowed his body to practically consume the smaller one curled against his own, his cloak was drawn up around the lithe form. His face was pressed in against the mass of dark strands, inhaling deeply and allowing the warmth to flood through him at the contact. There was nothing that could quite compare to the feeling of the slender body curled against his own. "Happiness. Not all were bad... some visions..." A hot flush of desire swamped him, completely out of character at the remembrance of a slender body sprawled out beneath his own, writhing with pleasure, screaming his name for all to hear.
Yulian squirmed back against the solid frame behind him, suddenly aware of something pressed squarely against his rear. His lips formed a perfectly little 'O', obsidian eyes abruptly grew dark at the response in the soldier's body. It was rare that he caught Conrart like that, the man had a phenomenal control over his body. The rules of their relationship as it was had stopped them from ever... he had wanted that with Conrart, wanted more than just gentle touches. He wanted to be kissed, to know what it was like to be utterly possessed by this man. But Conrart had wanted Julia and she stood between them both, Conrart's love for her burning in his heart. It was as if... his future self had come back, dumping feelings and emotions into him that raged at him ever time he thought of Julia. Their relationship was unpredictable and wild at times, the rules being pushed.
"Is that one for me?"
"Mmh." Heavy lids dipped, Conrart muffling his response against Yulian's hair, finding the play of strands against his slightly stubble roughened jaw fascinating.
"Julia will know..."
"About?"
"Us."
"I want you." How could he say such a thing right there? The situation was insane, Yulian had taken an entire Division to aid a human country without a word to anyone. Julia and Gisela had both left without word to anyone as well. Julia refusing to be left behind knowing that both Conrart and Yulian were heading into trouble.
"Oh... in Shinou's name... would you... stop that..." His voice was breathless, his entire body shuddering as those lips did rather intimate things to his ear, Conrart's hair falling in the way to prevent anyone from seeing. The Double Black was practically on fire, his entire body throbbed in response to the contact with his lover, the hard evidence of Conrart's emotional state was pressed hard against him.
"Call a halt, Yozak." Pulling hard on the reins of his horse, he was bringing the animal around, heels digging into the creature's sides, keeping them both on the large mount. "Let the men rest for half an hour and water the horses."
"Captain." Those blue eyes were blazing with intense amusement at the suddenly riled state of Conrart and the strangely blushing Yulian.
The horse broke the line, heading for the river and scattering a few of the troops as they moved. Conrart ignoring everything as they plunged from the grassy bank into the cold water, that sprayed upwards across the horse's legs and their own, soaking the fabric as the creature waded across the clear creek and up onto the other side.
All sleep was pushed from Yulian's mind at the sudden action, something was going on. The moment the horse stopped he was sliding off the back of the horse, staggering backwards, tripping once on a protruding rock hidden amongst the thick clumps of wild grass that sprang up around the banks. Flailing for a moment, he was unbalanced as he went down hard, almost yelping as he ended up sprawled over the cool grass staring up Conrart with wide eyes.
"What... what is it?"
The man was down on his knees, his eyes blazing with something that sent hot aching jolts washing through them. The emotional turmoil send his head spinning, temples throbbing as his body made ferocious demands on him. "Yuuri."
Yulian froze, sprawled on the grass, trying to prop himself up on his elbows as he gazed into eyes that were not quite the ones he knew, these ones glittered with a thousand captured silver stars that danced and glinted like flecks of steel. "Conrart." Something was going on and he didn't quite know exactly what it was. "Conrart... what is it?"
Hehe XD my brain is crazy! I just feel sorry for poor Conrart, his brain is probably like BOOOOOOOOOM! by now XD something is going on for him D I just don't know what quite yet.