Chapter 9:
Osen woke to his head buried in a pillow. He groaned as he turned over and sunlight streamed through into his eyes. Slowly the memories of the night before came to him. They had drunk insane amounts of pachi wine, and fallen over more times than he could count at this time. Lorlen lay beside him still asleep, hair tangled and falling in every direction. Osen rolled over carefully so he was cuddled up to him, and woke him with a kiss. "Morning my pachi smelling one." He whispered gently. "Pachi? What?" Lorlen babbled incoherently. Osen smiled, grabbed his pillow and smothered Lorlen's face with it. "It's time to get up sleepy head."
"Ahhh!" Lorlen cried, arms and legs flailing. "Noooooo, not yet." He grumbled as Osen let go. He rolled onto his side with his back to Osen and tried to go back to sleep. "No you don't!" Osen laughed playfully, and pushed him off the bed. Lorlen landed with a thump and Osen heard a groan shortly after.
Lorlen lay face first on his bedroom floor. Osen, like the idiot he is, didn't realise how high the bed was, or how hard the floor was, and Lorlen could feel where he'd find bruises already. As he raised his head, he found the flower from the night before in pieces. He heard Osen giggling and wriggling to the edge of the bed, so quickly pushed it all under the bed. He had Osen, Osen was here now. He could think about Akkarin later. Osen's head then appeared over the bed and he said concerned "Are you alright down there?"
"I think my nose is flatter, but other than that yes." He laughed whilst turning onto his back.
"That's good then, now are you getting up?"
"Yes, yes, I am getting up!" Osen grinned, got up off the bed and held out his hand to help Lorlen up. As Lorlen stood, Osen pulled him in for a cuddle and sneakily grabbed his buttocks. Lorlen chucked, and extracted himself from Osen and reached for a clean set of robes. Once both dressed, they sat down in the guest room, Lorlen shaking his head at all the empty bottles of pachi wine scattered across the floor. "Did we really drink that much?" He exclaimed.
"Yep. All twelve bottles. I think I had seven of the though."
"It's good today is a freeday, I don't think I could work with a head like this."
"Ah, but I bet you still want to work today, and would I hadn't ordered you not to." Osen leant back in the chair with the sun streaming across his face, he smiled at his words. "You are just lucky I don't find another assistant, and send you to help Jerrik." Lorlen replied jokingly.
"You'd miss me too much."
"So you think." Osen pouted at Lorlen, and he chuckled. A strong knock at the door made them jump, and Osen straightened as Lorlen answered the door. "Good morning Administrator."
"Good morning Lord Balkan, what can I do for you?"
"Could I have a look at the report you have compiled for the King before you send it off please? I would like to check something."
"Yes of course, I hope I don't need to change anything, I want to send it tomorrow." Lorlen signalled to Osen that he'd be back soon, and stepped into the corridor. Once they reached his office, Balkan flicked through the report carefully. "This is fine. I just wanted to make sure the King is sure that we covered all angles."
"That's good, I will get the courier to send this off tomorrow."
"Why not get Akkarin to give it to him when he goes to court tonight?" Balkan asked confused.
"I could... But I haven't seen him about since yesterday afternoon." He said carefully.
"Neither have I actually. He wasn't at the Night Room either last night."
"I am sure he is fine. Is that all Balkan?"
"Yes, thank you Administrator. Good day." And with that he strode out of Lorlen's office confidently. Lorlen flopped into his chair and put the report away. No-one had seen Akkarin since their discussion. Lorlen was tempted to go to the Residence to see if he was there, but didn't. He had tried to moved on and had to move on. Akkarin was too stubborn and wouldn't apologise. He sighed heavily, inside he knew he still loved Akkarin. And then there was the flower. He knew Akkarin had put it there, but he didn't know whether it was a reminder that he still loved Lorlen, or that it was the end. He couldn't go back to him now even if he changed his mind, it would be unfair on Osen. He felt differently about Osen, he was much more affectionate with his actions and always seemed to want him. However Akkarin was much gentler and loving. Osen was more in control, Akkarin seemed to let Lorlen be in control. But what did he actually want? His heart screamed Akkarin, yet his mind screamed Osen. And he had to choose.
When Lorlen finally returned, he looked torn. Osen stood worried, went to approach, but Lorlen said "Stay there Osen." He slumped down in a chair opposite Osen looking awful, tears threatened to fall. He looked Osen straight in the eyes and choked out "I don't know what to do." Osen knelt down beside him despite Lorlen's words and grabbed his hands. "About what?" He asked worriedly. Lorlen tried to carry on, but he found himself crying. Osen gently pulled him to the floor and held him close, letting Lorlen cry on his shoulder. When his tears reduced to sobs, Lorlen lifted his head. Osen could see all the pain in his dark eyes, and wanted to take it away. "I want you..." He started. Osen smiled at that, but he could see that it made no difference to him. "But," he continued, "a part of me also wants Akkarin." He said finally. Osen looked at Lorlen in disbelief and pulled away. "How could you still want him? After everything he has done!"
" I don't know." Lorlen cried. "But I wanted you to know."
"I suppose you can't help how you feel, but," he paused "who do you want more?"
"I don't know." He sobbed. Osen moved further away, not knowing what to do.
