Atemu's grip on reality slipped as his opponent was announced. All he could do was sit there, his body unable to move the slightest. The color drained from his face, and Mahad swore it looked as if Atemu had been sucker-punched. Mahad snapped his fingers in front of Atemu's face in hopes of stirring him, but Atemu continued to stare blankly ahead of him. Mahad grew alarmed and began to shake Atemu.
"Atemu," he whispered. "Atemu, you need to snap out of this state!"
Inside himself, Atemu watched Mahad shake him, but he knew his mental state was separated from his body. He wasn't quite sure how he was dissociating, but he knew he needed to come back to reality. He needed to face the challenge that was handed to him. With a final, rather vigorous shake from Mahad, Atemu slammed back into reality. His body jerked with the force of someone who has hit the floor, and Atemu slumped a little in his chair. He shook his head to rid himself of the odd feeling he had and then met Mahad's eyes.
"Thank you," he mumbled. "I am not sure what happened. It was almost like...I was watching someone else watching myself. It was the strangest thing..."
Mahad wasn't sure if he understood what Atemu was describing, and he felt a little chill run through him. It seemed like Atemu was back to normal now, but he had never seen Atemu react to stress like that. Mahad sighed. "I am glad you are alright now. You need to be very aware for your next match. It will not be easy."
"What do I need to do?" Atemu wondered.
"You need to let him win."
Atemu's eyes widened in shock. "What do you mean?"
"His Majesty does not like to lose. He hates it...more than he should. It would do more service to you if you let him win than if you showed off your talent! He has picked you on purpose...he is testing you!"
"I am supposed to just stand there on my side of the court and let him rule the game?" Atemu asked incredulously.
"No, of course not!" Mahad hissed, more out of worry than anger. "You need to make it look as if you did not just let him win. It strokes his ego if he triumphs over a well-fought match."
Atemu kept eye contact with Mahad for a beat before sliding his eyes toward the royal box. He found Yugi staring at him again, but this time, Atemu was sure he could see emotion in the earl's features. Apprehension, perhaps? Then Atemu wondered if Yugi had been privy to his episode just moments before. The idea of appearing weak in front of a man who could be a supporter turned his cheeks red, and he returned his attention to Mahad. During this time, another match had started, and Atemu tried to calm his soaring nerves. If he didn't know any better, Atemu would have thought he was suffering from some type of mental malady after feeling jumpy for most of the day. He tried to think of anything to keep his mind off of the upcoming match, but no matter how much he tried, his mind always drifted back to the match with Henry. Normally, Atemu would have welcomed such a challenge, but when he was supposed to play his best and let the king win, well...he was in a quandry.
"You will be fine," Atemu heard Mahad say - almost like a mantra.
Atemu was certain Mahad was saying that more for his own comfort than that of his friend. The first match ended and another began. Atemu felt like time was crawling toward the pivotal yet awful moment where his fate would be decided. He was certain that death would not be a consequence if he won, but he didn't want to risk any sort of negative consequence if he won against the king. Match after match was played with a few dramatic upsets but mostly predictable outcomes. When it came time for Atemu to face Henry, he could feel his entire body trembling from adrenaline overload.
"Good luck, friend," Mahad murmured as Atemu stood and took his place in the court.
King Henry came down from the royal box and took his position on his side of the tennis court. His attire was very similar to Atemu's with the addition of a codpiece. Atemu wondered, briefly, if Henry had to show that he was top notch at all sports and use clothing to make up for a deficit somewhere else in his life. Atemu smiled and contained his laughter inside himself. He didn't need anyone prying into his thoughts as they were rather treasonous. He crouched into his starting position as Henry bounced the ball. He could still feel slight tremors throughout his body as he realized the court had become deathly silent. Henry served the ball.
As Atemu returned the ball to Henry's side, he realized with the first serve that Henry was a decent player. His skills weren't spectacular but passable. Really? He is known to be a top-notch tennis player? Is that because everyone lets him win? Atemu asked incredulously. He snapped out of his thoughts in just enough time to spring toward the ball and slide his racquet underneath the ball. Atemu watched the ball fall just short of the cloth divider, and he groaned for his rookie mistake. The courtiers stood and roared their approval for their monarch's lead.
"Fifteen-love!" the herald cried.
"I hope you are not going easy on me because I am your king," Henry taunted.
Atemu dared to smirk in reply to his sovereign. "Of course not, Your Majesty. I made a fatal error that will not happen again."
Henry smiled with a nod and bounced the ball before serving it once more. Atemu made sure that he paid attention closely to this rally. He served the ball and it came whizzing to Atemu, almost hitting his chest. Whoa! Atemu thought as he took a step back and connected racquet to ball to send it over to Henry's side. Atemu knew that he had to make a good enough rally that when he decided to let Henry score, the king would feel it was of his own skill. Or, he could tie the game and really make Henry fight for his win. The rally continued with Atemu finally finding an open spot at the end of the field. He spiked the ball, watching it go spinning to the back side of Henry's side before landing, sending up a little cloud of dust.
"Fifteen-all!"
The court cheered, but their cheer was not as raucous as the one they had given to Henry. Atemu understood why. The courtiers were obligated to root for their king.
"A well-played rally, my Lord," Henry called from across the field.
"I owe it to your Majesty's skill. It would not have lasted as long if you were not so quick."
Henry's smile dazzled at Atemu's flattery. He served the ball and play continued. Another long rally ensued. Atemu's concentration was on the game, but it didn't escape his notice that the court had grown eerily silent. All that could be heard was racquet against ball and the grunts Atemu and Henry emitted. Atemu felt the desire to look around to see what people's reactions were, but he didn't want to make another silly mistake. The ball kept traveling back and forth, and with each passing minute, the tension became so great that it was smothering. Henry made a return that Atemu couldn't reach. Stumbling as his toe caught the ground, the ball bounced in his box, and the crowd erupted into cheers. Atemu was able to gain his stability and stood to see Henry enjoying his adulation.
"Thirty-fifteen!"
Atemu sighed. Get a hold on yourself! You are supposed to let him win! Atemu didn't want Henry to win. He wanted to prove to the courtiers that he was the best tennis player of the court and not even Henry was as good as they all thought he was. Atemu watched the crowd, noting their joy. He wanted to surprise them. He wanted all this attention for himself. It was then that he decided that he would make Henry really fight for this last point. After soaking up all his praise, Henry returned to the game. He served the ball and another rally began.
Atemu played like he had never played before. He was so in-tune to the game against Henry that his surroundings seemed to melt away and disappear. If there was any noise from the courtiers, Atemu never heard it. All he could hear was the thud of the ball against the ground, the snap of the racquet hitting the ball, and the sound of his own heavy breathing. He even became more sensitive to the feeling of beads of sweat rolling down his face and body. He needed to tie the game. He could feel the desire pulsing through every muscle in his body.
In the heat of battle, the blur of the match, Atemu managed to score. He stopped short in shock as the crowd cheered in appreciation. Atemu doubled over to catch his breath, watching sweat drops hit the ground. He couldn't believe he managed to tie the game. He looked up and noticed the spark of anger in Henry's eyes.
"Thirty-all!"
Outwardly, Atemu cringed at his monarch's foul temper so clearly being shown. It became immediately obvious that Henry wouldn't take kindly to losing, especially to a newcomer. Inwardly, Atemu celebrated for putting Henry on edge. He wanted to win...even if it did cost him a higher place in Henry's court. He was just so competitive that he couldn't imagine allowing Henry a win just because he was the king. Quite frankly, his Majesty is horrible at the game.
Henry didn't even bounce the ball to give Atemu the chance to ready himself. Henry spiked the ball toward Atemu. Atemu looked up in time to see it coming towards him and he managed to raise his racquet in front of his face and return the ball to Henry. Henry was becoming frustrated, and Atemu knew that it would lead to amateur mistakes. This rally was a short one with Atemu managing to score once again.
"Forty-thirty!"
This is for the game point, Atemu thought as Henry served the ball once more. Henry was clearly upset with Atemu's lead, but Atemu was beyond caring. He was so close to winning this game. Henry made this rally particularly difficult for Atemu to score. He was more focused and determined to best his courtier. The rally continued and dragged on for what seemed like forever. The courtiers became restless and shifted in their seats, secretly hoping the game would end soon. They also prayed for a good outcome for the king, for if he lost, his mood would dampen the festivities planned for the evening meal.
Henry was beginning to slow down. Atemu noticed and decided to let the rally continue for a few more rounds before he would end the game. The ball was hit back and forth about three times before Atemu noticed that Henry was really dragging his feet. With a smirk, he hit the ball and sent it soaring to the other side. Henry saw the path of the ball and ran toward it. He managed to hit the ball.
What? He should not have been able to hit it! Atemu shrieked on the inside.
The ball, almost in slow motion, flew to the cloth divider and seemed to rest just on top of it. Atemu heard the crowd gasp as the ball wavered and then fell onto Henry's side.
"Lord Atemu Hasan wins!"
Again, the crowd was completely silent. No one dared to move. All eyes were on the king, waiting to see what his reaction would be. Bent over, it took a few beats before Henry raised his head to stare into Atemu's eyes. The cold blue of his eyes flashed and Atemu shivered. Henry straightened his posture and walked over to the divider. After a moment, he smiled and laughed.
"Well played, my Lord!"
The crowd, after sighing in relief, began to cheer for Atemu's triumph. Atemu approached the divider and held out a hand to Henry. Henry took it and then pulled Atemu closer to him for a hug. He clapped Atemu on the back in congratulations.
"I have not had to play that hard in so long! Thank you for the challenge!" Henry said.
"I am sure...you would have won if not for the finicky ball..." Atemu began.
Henry extricated himself from the hug. "Not at all. I made a very fatal mistake. We shall play again sometime, and you will not be so lucky," he said with a wink. He faced the court, and they silenced to hear what he had to say. "Tonight, we shall feast in the honor of the triumphant players, and for my guest of honor, Lord Hasan!"
The cheer was deafening. Atemu looked over to the royal box and saw Yugi openly grinning. Atemu returned a half-grin, not really thinking about the effect the smile would have on the Earl of Shrewsbury. Atemu's cheeks turned a dusty pink at the obvious recognition coming from the earl. Yugi then hid his expressions once more and came down from the royal box with the queen on his arm. Reluctantly, Atemu returned his attention to Mahad who was running up to greet him.
"That was very risky, my friend," he said in a serious tone.
Atemu frowned. "I could not just let him win. I wanted the recognition of being an outstanding competitor."
"You certainly got that," Mahad stated. "Now you will be kept very close to Henry. He will want you in his circle."
"Well, that was the intent..." Atemu said with a hint of irritation.
Mahad shrugged. "I think it is a good sign that tonight's feast is in your honor."
"Good show, Atemu," a distant voice cut into the conversation.
Atemu looked to his left and saw Jou standing there with a blonde lady he had sat next to during the tournament. She was beaming, and Atemu had to admit to himself that she was a beautiful young lady. Atemu looked down at the ground, feeling ashamed for being the cause behind Jou's cold demeanor.
"Thank you," Atemu finally managed to say.
"I will see you at the feast then," Jou said after a very awkward silence.
Atemu looked up and nodded. Jou and his lady brushed past, striking up a lively conversation. His lady's laughter was like a bell as it echoed through the courtyard. Atemu wanted to walk to Jou and apologize for what had happened earlier in the day. He wanted to say that he would still be his friend but Atemu sighed. Once Jou decided something, he stuck to it.
"Why are you upset? You should be celebrating your victory," Mahad stated.
Atemu sighed, letting his shoulders droop in exhaustion. "Yes, I won the tournament...but at what cost?"
The feast was more boisterous than the one held the previous evening. Atemu was able to watch more of the revelry from his new spot closer to the head table. Atemu had been given the seat next to Mahad. Mahad was still pleasant to Atemu, though it did not pass by either of them that Atemu was placed closer to the royal table than Mahad was. Atemu could sense the slight icy tone when Mahad spoke to him, and he knew his friend was miffed. Sitting down the same side of the trestle table was Yugi. He was chatting amiably with those around him, and Atemu found himself trying to watch the earl when he thought Mahad wasn't looking.
Atemu wanted to know why the earl had seemed to take an interest in him. As far as Atemu knew, he had nothing that the earl didn't already have. How would becoming his ally benefit the earl? Still, Atemu was happy for having another friend in the court. He really wanted to expand his horizons beyond the friendships he had created with Mahad and Jou.
Atemu enjoyed his feast. He loved how he was able to enjoy warm food and have decent pickings of the various dishes. Atemu felt more content than he had in a long time. It seemed like his fortunes were looking up with the feast and the favor from the king. Atemu found himself drinking deeply of wine, forgetting his mother's admonishes before he departed from their manor house. The next thing he knew, the dishes had been cleared and the trestle tables moved to the walls of the room. Henry had summoned musicians and a lively pavane began to play. Atemu glanced around the room to find someone to dance with. He noticed Yugi was standing to the side, apparently denying a lady a dance. How unchivalrous of him...Atemu thought with slight anger. Even though Yugi was a pious man, Atemu felt that he should still dance and allow a lady the pleasure of dancing, even if Yugi did not care for her.
"My Lord?"
Atemu turned his head toward the voice and noticed Anne Boleyn standing before him. Atemu swept her a courtly bow. "My lady?"
"Your performance this afternoon was stunning," she said with a soft smile. "I have never seen such a game between well matched players."
Atemu grinned, noting his eyesight was now swimming from the wine he had drunk during dinner. "I am glad I could make this tournament an exciting one to watch."
Anne leaned into him, her lips close to his ear. "In truth, I was cheering for you, my Lord."
Atemu laughed. "I appreciate it. I am sure your cheers were what tipped the scales in my favor." Atemu held out a hand toward Anne. "Shall we dance?"
Anne curtsied and placed her tiny hand into his. They walked out into the center of the dance floor and with hands joined palm-to-palm, they circled around each other. As Atemu circled around Anne once more, he caught Yugi's gaze. He wasn't sure if it was the alcohol playing tricks on him, but he thought he saw a hint of coldness and envy in Yugi's eyes. Atemu shrugged and turned his head back to Anne. He was surprised that he was able to execute all the jumps required for the pavane with all the alcohol in his system retarding his coordination. Anne was a gracious dancer with Atemu, and he realized that she was extremely intelligent. They began to talk about anything that came to mind and by the end, were giggling with each other. With a final curtsy, Anne flitted off to another part of the room. His chest heaving from exertion, Atemu made his way to a table where goblets of wine had been set out for the courtiers to partake of. As he took a cup and turned his body to watch the dancing, Atemu bumped into the Earl of Shrewsbruy. His wine sloshed over the rim of the cup and it hit not only Atemu's doublet, but Yugi's as well. Atemu's eyes widened in horror.
"Your Grace! I am so-"
Yugi's laugh was light as he pulled a handkerchief from his sleeve. "Do not worry about me, my friend. The wine does not show on black. It does; however, show on your blue."
With a quick flourish to unfold the white square of cloth, Yugi began to mop up the spilled wine from Atemu's doublet. Atemu was absolutely horrified. Not only was a man cleaning him off in public, but this man was the enigmatic Yugi. Atemu felt like dying from the embarrassment. He could feel the heat radiating from his face, but Yugi didn't seem to notice or care. With gentle enough strokes to avoid hurting Atemu but rough enough to remove the wine, Yugi rubbed at the velvet doublet to help lessen the stain. After what seemed like an eternity to Atemu, Yugi stopped and replaced his handkerchief in his sleeve. He smiled warmly at Atemu.
"There...all clean now. I admit that you can still see some red, but so much wine has been consumed this night that I hardly think it will be noticed."
Atemu's face was already suffused with enough blood that another blush couldn't be noticed. He couldn't believe that Yugi had just touched him! Granted, it was just on the chest and abdomen, but Atemu couldn't help but feel electrified by his touch. It was an innocent enough gesture, but with Yugi doing it, the cleaning of wine seemed to carry a sense of seduction. Atemu couldn't comprehend why he felt this way. There is no way he is trying to seduce anyone. Mahad told me he has taken a vow of chastity!
"Is everything alright, my Lord?" Yugi asked quietly.
Despite the softness of his voice, Yugi's words still reached Atemu's ears amid all the music and chatter. He felt the dulcet tones wash over him, and he shivered in pleasure. He suddenly didn't want to look into Yugi's eyes, but he forced himself to make eye contact, since it was the polite thing to do. He almost drowned in the bright, swirling pools of Yugi's stare.
"Y-yes," Atemu stuttered.
"You look like a deer that has been sighted by a hunter and knows its last minutes are at hand."
"I...I-I just...it's the wine," Atemu managed to splutter out.
Yugi laughed. "I think it is a little more than the wine."
Am I really so readable? "Meaning no disrespect, but I believe your eyes are faulty."
Yugi just stared at Atemu for a beat before laughing louder than he had before. Atemu wanted to back away and distance himself from Yugi in order to think clearly. He was frustrated with himself. He became a blubbering mass every time Yugi was near, even though most of the time, Atemu thought himself to be cool, calm, and collected. He hated not having control over his emotions, and he wanted it back.
"Why are you so interested in me?" Atemu blurted out.
Yugi's gaze could have melted Atemu in his spot. His eyes, though deep, didn't betray any thoughts. Atemu realized that he was waiting, breathlessly, for Yugi's words. He was a prisoner of this man's every spoken syllable, and because of the wine, his frustration over not having control over his emotions was slowly draining away. Yugi gazed thoughtfully beyond Atemu.
"I suppose...anyone who is a friend of Hal's should also be a companion to me," Yugi said, choosing his words with care.
Atemu didn't quite believe Yugi's explanation. "But you noticed me before His Majesty decided I was worthy of friendship."
"I felt that you were someone who would challenge him to be a better person. There are some of us who so desire for His Majesty to continue to learn and rule his kingdom justly. Even if you play games with him, you are teaching him how to handle loss with grace. It is something he has not quite grasped yet," Yugi said smoothly.
"Is that all?" Atemu asked, risking the chance that he sounded rude.
"Why yes. What would make you think otherwise?" Yugi wondered, truly curious.
Atemu knew he was enamored with Yugi, and he wanted to find out if the young man had similar feelings. He must feel something...otherwise, he would not have touched me as he did. "You refused to dance with that lady."
Yugi was taken aback. At first, he didn't know what to say, but then he reined in his response and composed himself. "My Lord, I must be frank. Everyone here knows I have taken a vow of chastity to do honor to my religious beliefs. I believe that to truly be closer to God, I must deny certain pleasures that could lead to sin."
"If you had not taken that vow, would you have danced with her?" Atemu demanded.
"No," Yugi's reply was simple and dismissive.
"Why not?"
"I am just not that interested. Now, would it be fair of me to dance with her when it would raise her hopes for a possible relationship? Her hopes would just be dashed when she discovered the truth of my disinterest."
Disinterested? Does he mean...? But how could he? He has said he is so devoted to his beliefs that he avoids all sins of the flesh. God, I wish I knew what he was thinking! Atemu wanted to stomp away in frustration and drink more wine to forget this conversation that left more doubts and questions than it answered. He wanted to become so drunk that the ensuing blackout would help him erase the feelings that overwhelmed him as Yugi worked on sopping up the wine that had soaked into the doublet he wore.
"You seem upset, my Lord," Yugi's voice cut through Atemu's deep thoughts. "Perhaps I should leave you for the evening to enjoy more dancing. It looked as if you were having a wonderful time with the Lady Anne."
Atemu wasn't sure, but he thought he detected a hint of hardness when Yugi mentioned Anne's name. A part of Atemu wanted Yugi to leave so he could mull over any possible hidden meanings behind his words. The other part wanted Yugi to stay so Atemu could continue to bombard him with questions in the hopes of learning more about this man. Yugi took Atemu's silence as a sign that he should go, and he did so. When Atemu realized Yugi had parted his company, he turned and grabbed another goblet of wine. He drowned the entire thing as Mahad approached him.
"Atemu, you really should be cautious of how much you drink. His Majesty asked me to tell you that he expects you in his chambers upon the morrow."
"I will be there. You do not have to worry about my intake of alcohol. I can handle my wine," Atemu said stubbornly as he reached for another goblet.
Mahad placed his hand on top of the goblet, blocking Atemu's access to its contents. "Really, Atemu. I worry about you. You seem agitated, and that is no state to be in while drinking wine."
"I can handle myself!" Atemu said angrily as he moved the cup out from under Mahad's hand, splashing some of the wine onto the floor, before stalking off to the middle of the dance floor.
Mahad sighed. Idiot...