That Which is Forbidden by Nehan Shinzui
a/n: yeah, boi! chaper two is up like whoa!
Chapter Two: Temptation
When Charles was young, his father told him he had been touched by angels. Nine times he and Emmaline had had children. Every time they had died before reaching their six month. Father had said it was because of his mother's lack of faith and his failure to prevent that. The tenth time Emmaline got pregnant, Father had gone away for a long time and did not return from his missionary until he was three months old. He had not named him yet, just in case God was punishing them again. However, by the Lord's graces he did survive. Charles was a miracle, a gift for Father leading God's word to the heretics.
Because Charles was such a blessing, he had to be protected. He must be kept away from things that would corrupt him, and must be raised in the Lord's image. At least that was what his Father told him.
...
Charles found himself watching this servant, whenever he could. He couldn't help himself. There was something about him so interesting that he couldn't quite put his finger on. He was too nervous to actually approach of him of course-he'd leave that type of thing to his sister. Besides, Father didn't like him interacting with others unless absolutely necessary. Sometimes, he found himself wondering why there was such a discrepency between he and his sister.
...
After about a week or so, it was easy for him to follow the servant's patterns. His varied very little in comparison with the others. Every day he would awake at dawn with the other workers and begin tending to their gardens until around ten o'clock. Then he would eat in the servant's quarters with the others. He would eat quickly, and then wander the grounds for a while, until it was time to beign working in the fields again. Charles sometimes wondered about that, the way he alwasy seemed a bit furtive and kept to himself most days. But..it really wasn't any of his business was it? Still, he likes it best in the morning when the man is working in the gardens-he's much closer to him this way. So far, Charles has not had another moment like when he first saw him, and so he has felt more relatively at ease. But he remains, as youth always is, curious.
...
In principo creavit Deus caelum et terram(1.)
"Why not just go and speak with him?" Raven asks him one day, and he is startled out of his thoughts.
"Whatever do you mean?" he stammers, momentarily confused.
"Charles," she lets out an exasperated sigh. "You've only been gawking at him since he came here. Why not just-"
"Raven." Charles interrupts her, tightening his lips slightly. "You know we're not allowed."
"What is it about him you find so interesting anyway?" she asks, ignoring his reply. "You two haven't spoken a word to each other, and yet he seems capable of distracting you from your studies. Father would be displeased, you know."
Charles looks away from her, his ears reddening slightly as he remembers the man's well-defined shape, his grey-green eyes that touch him in his sleep. "Nothing." he says, almost to himself. "He seems...different..that's all."
...
His father has warned him of thoughts like this. But it isn't as though he is causing anyone any harm. Besides, he has begun to feel that this man may be important to him. A message somehow. How he gets these ideas, he doesn't know.
..
...
The dreams he begins to have of him, are like little vignettes mostly.
Muscles rippling in the sun, arms turned golden from the heat
Stomach firm and glistening
Lips upturned in a slight smile
Those eyes focused lazily on him
He hasn't gotten as close to him as he did the first time, but at night his image is pressed close to him, and he doesn't just stop with a smile and the acknowledgement of his presence. Sometimes he approaches him, a hand pressed softly against his cheek, a voice whispering lightly in his ear, always in a language he can't understand.
...
The way he thinks about him...he knows it isn't right.
But still...
The way those eyes looked at him, it seemed to Charles as if he could see the man's life in them. Behind the amusement, for the briefest moment, Charles has seen something akin to pain in the man's eyes. And he can't help but wish he could find out why.
...
The autumn months are usually when his father returns from his missions. He always looks refreshed and has many tales to share with them of him enlightening the people in the other cities. Most of the cities were farther away than the one near where they lived and a lot of times, Father would tell him, he'd go and visit the villages. These people lived like beasts near the forests and acted as if they were like wild animals he said-almost as if they were 'born from beasts themselves.' This all very much fascinated Charles, but he wasn't allowed to ask so many questions, lest his father get angry. He can still feel the sting on his cheek from the last time he'd stepped out of place. Normally, if he was really desperate to know something, he would ask Raven to find out for him. Mother would often let things slip when she was around. No one really cared what she heard.
...
The servant is in the gardens again, and as Charles looks down at him from the kitchen window, he happens to look up.
Charles turns his head quickly and blushes.
...
a/n: Eh heh. Yeah, I know. Blah. But I do believe this is going to be a double update. (Really this time.) The funny thing about this story is, I plan on this being mega-long and I've even got some huge parts of the later chapters done but...um. I just can't think of a mega-awesome way to start the story, so things are gonna be eh. for a minute. But I do appreciate all the reviews and alerts I've gotten, so please continue to review please! And Lizzy19191, I may be able to update quicker next time. So put the gun down and don't do anything crazy, all right?
NOTES ON THE TEXT:
1. In principo creavit Deus caelum et terram
"In the beginning, God created the heavens and the Earth."
As a lot of people know, in Medieval times, Latin was the language of the church and the upper classes. Most people were illeterate as schooling was very expensive. The church owned most of the land in towns and religious leaders were usually very wealthy. Also, religious priests were allowed to marry, before corruption and favoring of family members caused the church to make up this rule, so that religious leaders wouldn't be so corrupt. Which leads me to Sebastian's estate, which I totally forgot to describe in the earlier chapter.
Alright, so basically, they live on this hill overlooking the town on one side, enircled by a wood on the other and their land with the crops and stuff on it all the way down to the outskirts of the town. So I wanna say they live about some miles from the rest of them. They have a small prayer area that's sorta churchish but IDK, really. Maybe I'll come up with something more later. Perhaps, the church where they live is sorta the church errbody goes to? Idk, sorry if I'm confusing people more...I'm better at events, really, not scenery, but I felt the urge to describe the place. It's got a courtyard and a garden and it's big as all hell...and..ok, let me shut up now.
BTW, did anyone notice I changed Emma's name? Forgot to do that last chapter. :) Again, pwease R&R.
Nehan Shinzui