Chapter two
After a busy day working in their shop, Kaye trudged home to get changed to go to Luis'. Roiben was under strict instructions to meet Kaye at her house or suffer painful consequences so she wasn't surprised to see him unlocking her door with the newly cut key she gave him as she trundled up the street. They ascended the stairs to Kaye's room; the apartment being empty as Kate and Ellen had gone to visit her Grandmother last week. Roiben already dressed in a black shirt and trousers topped with a grey woollen jacket. His hair was pulled back at the nape of his neck and flowed down his back in a cascade. He sat himself down on the end of Kaye's bed and casually watched her undress. Sorting through her wardrobe she glanced across that famous cat suit and for a fleeting second considered wearing it, then decided against it and pulled out a rather low cut tank top and a pair of dark blue drain pipe jeans. As Kaye proceeded to the bathroom to put her make-up on Roiben interjected.
"I wish you wouldn't wear that stuff on your face my sweet, you're radiant naturally, so I am going to request that tonight you do not cover your beauty with it... please?" Roiben added the please quickly afterwards as he did not want Kaye to take this as an insult.
Sighing deeply and muttering a quiet and unwilling ok, Kaye moved away from the bathroom and sat next to Roiben on the bed. She kissed him a little before she noticed the time, then grabbing his hand and her keys and they ran outside to hail a cab.
Exiting the cab, and climbing the short flight of stairs to Luis' front door they were only ten minutes late, which was much less than Kaye had originally thought, she then realised she had checked the watch that had stop conveniently the night before. They had knocked and were waiting for Luis to answer the door when Kaye turned to Roiben saying;
"Relax tonight, be casual ok. You don't have to worry about 'your duties' tonight. Oh and another thing, try and dumb down how you talk, your command of the language is beautiful but it makes some of the people around us feel uncomfortable because A. They don't know what you're saying half the time and B. It makes them feel rather common since they don't talk with that much sophistication." Kaye smiled a reassuring smile at Roiben whose face had been taken over by a now nervous and tense gaze. He was no good at social gatherings. Kaye was squinting, head tilted to one side at Roiben looking for something she couldn't see, then she located it. She quickly reached round and pulled the band holding his hair back. she let it fall down naturally then grinned at her handy work.
"You look much sexier with your hair down" she winked flirtatiously at Roiben as Luis opened his door.
"Hi guys," Luis welcomed them warmly. They entered the small cramped hallway where they could see the kitchen door open and hear chatter from beyond it. Kaye hugged Luis and Roiben shook his hand but as Luis took his hand and pulled him into a bear hug which after a few seconds Roiben relaxed and returned.
"I'm not a formal type of guy, hugs all round in this house." Luis laughed and slapped Roiben on the back.
They followed Luis into the kitchen where Corny, Val and Ravus where sitting.
"Hey!" Kaye said excitedly, She was about to start talking but trailed off because Ravus had bowed down. Roiben put his hand to his head and rubbed his temple, annoyed and a little embarrassed.
"Rise my good Sir; this is neither the time nor place for that"
"My humble apologies, your Lordship." Continued Ravus. Roiben looking around the room, seeing Val's slightly shocked and confused face.
"Well as I have failed at trying to escape my title for the night I may as well tell you who I am Valarie since I managed to avoid this the last time we all met. I am Roiben, King of the Sealie and Unsealie courts." Roiben sighed after this, and Kaye felt a pang of sorrow for him, he really did want to escape the heirs and graces. She hugged him hard. Ravus started talking to Roiben at once after this, but was cut off by Roiben making an odd expression, he started to sniff.
"You smell of iron, this is not your true form. You must be uncomfortable, as we are all aware of the situation why do you not remove your glamour for tonight old friend. You too Kaye, if you feel more comfortable you can remove the glamour."
Everyone but Val (who was obviously accustom to the transformation glamour was responsible for.) was watching intently as Ravus rose and with a soundless wriggle the body of the young man in front of us melted away in a golden haze and the large frame of a troll was left in his place. As Kaye's first time viewing a troll, she was shocked as she was under the impression trolls were ugly little things yet he was different. Ravus was defined, with an almost Elvin facial structure and straggly brown shoulder length hair.
"If you would excuse us for a while, there are a few things I would rather urgently like to discuss with this fine man." Roiben excused himself and Ravus and retired to the other room leaving the four of them in the kitchen.
Kaye perched herself on a stool next to Val and started to discuss their men and their absurd ways. Within minutes they were laughing and giggling like old friends.
"So how did you discover your ermm... man?" Kaye giggled genuinely interested in how Val met Ravus.
"Well back in our rebel homeless days eh... Lulu" Val laughed with Luis.
"He took me on a trip in the subway to try and score and he told me there was a troll at the end of the tunnel, I didn't believe him, let's just say for once our dear Luis wasn't talking out his arse." She had a very thick accent and she laughed a deep laugh that somehow suited her look. Short, bobbed ginger hair and her clothes made her look like a typical biker chick with leather jacket and all.
"How did you meet yours then? Damn girl you set the bar high, a freakin' King. You did bloody well for yourself. I land a troll and you get royalty. Oh well beggars can't be choosers" She cracked up in fits when she realised her homeless joke.
"Well I was walking home and he was there in the trees, he was hurt and helped him, so he gave me his name, at that point I didn't know what that meant but now I know that all it means is that I use his name and he's twisted round my little finger. It's absolutely brilliant."
"Who wants pizza, I'm bloody starving!" Corny piped up after five minutes of silence.
"Ok I will go ask those two what they want," and Kaye trotted off to the living room to find Roiben and Ravus. She reached the door which was slightly ajar and stopped, they were talking in hushed but serious tones, and it didn't sound good.
"All is still not well in the courts I'm afraid, I had thought that one king would have brought unity and peace but has brought just the opposite. I fear we are on the brink of a war, If a war does ensue can I count on you and the exiles to join and bring peace with you?" Roiben asked in a tone that was almost commanding.
"Yes my Lord, I shall rally the exiles if the war happens. Is there any progress on the wrongly sentenced exiles being reinstated as members of the courts?" Ravus was anxious; his voice had started to quiver.
"That was what I had hoped to happen but with the war immanent I do not wish to provoke anymore uproar, so I kindly ask you to be patient my dear friend until we have restored calm in the courts."
"Of course my Lord, I am at your side for when you need me, my guidance and knowledge is there at you command. I offer my services to you my king." Ravus told Roiben sincerely.
"May I ask one more thing of you? Can I ask you not to breathe a word of the war to any of the exiles or your beloved Val, and especially not to my Kaye. She must know nothing of this or she will just cause trouble worrying over my safety."
Kaye composed herself, a war? This could only spell sorrow for her and Roiben. She applied her oblivious smile and knocked on the door softly, walking in and talking animatedly.
Roiben sighed, stressed.
"How much did you hear Kaye? You cannot pretend for one moment that I didn't see you falter there. Do not try and lie to me Kaye." He looked at her with that angry look on his face, the look she associated with a father figure after their daughter had arrived home drunk from a party.
"Nothing Roiben, don't make a scene please..." Kaye pleaded, with a warning look in her eyes.
"Kaye! Do not lie to me! I will not have you lying to me." Roiben had increased the volume and was starting to resort to his hostile attitude that he had become accustom to during his time as a knight of the Unsealie court. He had no time for her lies, It was new to him as she was the first of the fey that had proved they could lie. He couldn't handle when Kaye lied to him, it was excruciating, like torture for him.
Knowing the signs, Kaye grabbed Roiben and pulled him from the room, muttering apologies and a hurried goodbye to their company. Kaye was marching towards the door. She through it open and shoved Roiben down the stairs and out onto the pavement outside. Almost throwing his hand from hers as they exited the apartment, Kaye started to bellow at him, rambling about keeping secrets, If she was to be with him how could he keep such big secrets from her. Roiben had resorted back to his usual calm state and began to explain to her that it was for her own protection.
"Kaye you know that I am eternally yours, you have my name. I will not put you in danger, you are my Queen, Kaye and you will be safe!" Roiben seem genuinely scared, Kaye could see it in his eyes, which scared her. She wasn't used to him being scared; he was the brave one, her rock, her protection. Kaye knew there was real trouble ahead. The cracks were appearing, she could see them ripping, tearing. It would strain him to the limit, drain him. He didn't even want to be the god damned King, this is not his responsibility.
"We're leaving." It was declared.
"Kaye my love, we already left..." Roiben uttered slightly confused.
"Not Luis' you idiot, were leaving this place Roiben, now! Take me home." Kaye demanded the last bit, making Roiben relinquished any hope he had of a quiet night alone with Kaye.