Beginning of Nightmares

Prompt 000: Nobility

Tesoro mio, solo, Tesoro mio, solo mio, mio, mio…

Tesoro Mio, Guillermo Davila y Kiara

"You should tell her, young master." Said Greta to Balthazar, as he got into bed two nights after returning to the keep. He had just finished dressing after bathing, and Greta was offering to comb his hair, thing she did since he was small, and Balthazar had refused. Sitting on bed, Balthazar turned to the woman.

"Whatever you mean?"

"About Lady Veronica. You should tell her how much you like her."

"I'm not sure I understand Greta."

"Oh you do, do not play coy with me, I practically raised you." Balthazar shook his head and turned away. "Young Master Horvath has already spoken to her, did you know?"

"Maxim? Really?" Maxim in love with Veronica? That seemed so… unreal. Never had Balthazar seen indication to believe such thing, no inclination or particularity…

"Yes; we are very sure of her answer. I do not like to gossip…"

"Could have fooled me."

"But as I've heard, she called master Horvath an 'unfeeling snake'." That got him to turn to Greta, surprised.

Ouch. Balthazar frowned, and narrowed his eyes. "What makes you think my confessing will fare better?"

"A feeling, a really good feeling."

Balthazar had to roll his eyes and shake his head Great said her goodnights and then left, leaving Balthazar to ponder on this new information. If Maxim was indeed in love with Veronica and hopeful she would change her mind and have him then Balthazar had no right to get between them. But Veronica had, apparently, refused him in the most explicit way. Balthazar dropped back to bed, staring at the space between his bed and ceiling; he had promised himself to tell Veronica about his own feelings, and he would tell her, but the question he had to ponder on was; was now a good moment to do it?

But if he waited, if he let this moment slide by Balthazar would probably loose his gained courage and never tell. Not that Maxim was a bad man, if there was another man he was willing to let Veronica go to was Maxim; at least he could give Veronica the life Balthazar never could. Dear Lord this was growing to be such a depressive pondering. Tired Balthazar decided to go to sleep and crawled, as best as his injuries would allow, under the covers.

It was long before he could fall asleep.

Because Merlin insisted, and mostly because his injuries did not let him stand without support, Balthazar remained in bed a whole month. Merlin brought him some work to do, never forgiven of house chores, and was usually busy. And it was during one of those moments that he heard the door creak softly open and the smell of lilacs and chamomile invaded him. He willed the book in his lap to close and turned. "Hello Veronica."

Shyly so, something he rarely saw on her, Veronica smiled and entered the room, carrying a tray of food and a tall goblet. "How are you feeling?"

"Tired."

"Merlin has you working?" She asked, looking down at all the paperwork he was trying to get done with his horrible calligraphy.

"And it surprises you?" He said smiling tenderly. She neared him, cautiously, and set the tray over his leg. Again she smiled at him, and Balthazar nodded his thanks. Without anything else to say, Veronica turned, but before she could take a step away, Balthazar moved quickly (injury in his ribs complaining) and grabbed her hand. It was a smooth limb, with long fingers and soft skin. The nails were well kept, and with a strong hold. "I have not given you my thanks, for your letters. The ones you sent while I was in battle." Veronica smiled, eyes casted down, her fingers somehow lacing with his. "Thank you."

"It was nothing, really. After all you needed the contact." She'd been to battle, she knew the grueling marches and the expectative of attacks and the long nights of thinking. She'd seen and lived this, so she understood.

"Still, thank you." Balthazar dare give her hand a little squeeze. "I… When I was battling by Arthur, trying to defeat Medraut," Veronica lifted her face, eye locking with his. "I promised myself something, and I would like to tell you about it, that is if you don't mind."

"What is it?"

"I realized a few things during war. It is loyalty that bind me to Merlin, brotherhood to Horvath but Veronica… I am bound to you by love. And I know not how to express it, or how to tell you, but I do love you. With every fiber of my being. With every beat of my heart. I love you." Veronica sobbed, Balthazar had seen the tears escape her eyes, and she pulled her hand from his grasp and hurried away, leaving his door open in the process.

Why was it he always followed Greta's advice and ended up regretting it?

Veronica was crying and stroking Merlin's bear. It had been a pastime of hers long ago, to sit on Merlin's lap during lazy moments and just stroke her master's bear, and the older man enjoyed every second of it. Balthazar held the injury to his sides, and slowly climbed down the stairs to his master's laboratory and then towards the couple. Merlin had noticed, and didn't say a word, so when Balthazar touched Veronica's waist to pull her from the fierce hug she jumped, startled. But she gave in, turning from Merlin's hug to Balthazar's, and returned it eventually, crying against his chest. Balthazar kissed the top of her head, and watched Merlin walk out of the room, to give them a little privacy. So Balthazar had little to hide here.

"My words were not meant to hurt you, beloved, I just wanted to make my sentiment known. At the end of all things you will be the one to choose who to be with, right?" She gave a weak nod. "I will not hold your decision against your, or wish to change things between us. Just… think that my love for you has not changed, but intensified. Because I do love you but I am still the same old me." Again another weak nod and sniffled. "Don't feel pressured for a decision, we still have time."

And time they had.

"I understand you and Veronica had a little… misunderstanding?" After having consoled Veronica Balthazar had made his way to his room, where a much deserved night of sleep was on schedule, but of course his master, father to Veronica according to court, had something important to say. "May I inquire as to what it was about?"

"I've come clean; I told her how I felt towards her. I have not pressured for an answer…"

"I see." Merlin seemed angry for a moment but then he smiled. "Sit, boy, I wish to talk to you." Inwardly Balthazar groaned, but he did as was told. "Do you love Veronica?" The question was a silly one, of course he did and everyone in the Keep had noticed; even the servants' children. So Balthazar nodded. "And you feel as you said downstairs, that you love her with every beat of your heart." Again, Balthazar nodded. "Then you wish the best for her."

Balthazar did not like the line of conversation his master was leading, but remained quiet, eyes locked with Merlin's own blue eyes. "If you do wish the best for her, then you will encourage her to marry Horvath." Balthazar said nothing, his physical reaction was probably best; he stood up, chair falling back behind him, and his eyes wide staring down at his master. "He can offer her a better life, better than the life you could ever give her. Maxim is a good man, Balthazar, you know this. And if you do love Veronica you will understand why she deserves to be with a highly regarded man."

There was sense in his master's words, but also hurt. Swallowing hard, unable to blame Merlin for wishing the best for Veronica, Balthazar resumed his master's words in a simple phrase:

"Because he's a noble, like her."

"Indeed."