The Candlebrook Chronicles

By,

Rune Wolfe

Disclaimer: I own none of Kyou Kara Maou.

Note: wow… I love hearing all your thoughts about murata/wolfram…. that's very Interesting as I am not a Murata/Wolfram fan…. Anyway, thank you all for reading and commenting, it really helps to motivate me.

And thanks to Pandawolf on LJ for kicking my butt into finding this chapter. Yes, finding. I had misplaced it.

Note #2: I apologize that this chapter is kind of short.

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Chapter 10: Stolen Child

"Come away, O human child
To the waters and the wild
With a fairy, hand in hand
For the world's more full of weeping
Than you can understand."

- Loreena McKennitt

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As Yuuri breeched from the darkness of the woods to the moonlit white sands of the lakeshore, he slowed his gait. The waters of the lake washed gently and silently onto the ashen shoreline and the small rock of a lake isle in the center of the sweeping tide stood proud and dark. The night was cold, and as if being woken from a dream, Yuuri began to cower in fear. All around him was emptiness and loneliness and the darkness seemed to thicken before his eyes, silhouetting the ebony forms of trees. He shivered and timidly moved into the glaring moonlight hoping to find sanctuary.

The moon seemed to give the lake life as the waters glowed a soft turquoise. Pathetically Yuuri dropped to the sand. Just a few more steps. That's all it would take to throw himself into the icy grip of the water. It all seemed so simple. Either stay, or go. But there was so much more to it than that. If he stayed… well, he didn't really want to think about what would happen if he stayed. For that matter, things might be even worse if he left.



Yuuri groaned, what had he done? He couldn't abandon Wolfram, especially not in his condition. Yuuri just didn't have the malevolence in his heart to do such a thing. His mind wandered into itself, digging up images of Wolfram doing just the simplest things, drinking tea or walking down the hallway, but all the while divine. His smile in which his pink lips quirked at the corners to form that all-knowing grin. His large spring-leaf eyes that seemed to glow even in the dark…

It was then that the cooing of a bird called him back to the darkness of the night.

He was stuck.

Even if he had wanted to turn back and run to Wolfram, he couldn't. He had made it to the lake by pure chance, and he was certain that he wouldn't have the same luck twice. "Wolfram…," he moaned pathetically into his knees, "… why is this happening?"

The wind rushed past him carrying tender words to his ears. "Yuuri"

Yuuri lifted his head in surprise, "Wolf? Is that you?" He flung his head about in a desperate attempt to see anything. "Where are you?"

The wind, just a breath now, whispered once more.

"I love you, Yuuri…"

"Wolfram, I love you too! Please, where are you? I'm… I'm scared."

There was no answer.

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Murata jerked at the nose strap of his bridle, being certain that it was snug and secure. When he was certain all was satisfactory he moved towards the large trunks in the corner. From there he grabbed his leather pack. Though it was light in traveling terms, it seemed to carry an extra unseen weight. Guilt. Yes, Murata knew it well as it was the majority of what he was taking. It quickened his heartbeat and started a sick dizzying feeling in his stomach. As if hoping to quickly discard it, the great wise man flung the sack over the steed's hindquarters and hurriedly fastened it to the saddle.

He could hear heavy footsteps behind him. He could hear them all day and had chosen, for fear of discovering what might be the source of this intrusion into his private madness, to ignore them. However, now they seemed bolder, more determined to torment him.

"Great Wise Man," a soft yet low voice spoke. "Where is it you are going?"

Murata hesitated before turning to face Conrad head on. However, by the flash of suspicion on his visitor's face he immediately regretted his moment's pause. "Lord Weller…"

The man painted a content smile on his face. So content one might even say he looked furious. "If the Great Wise One would be so kind as to allow me to repeat my question… where would my superior be headed so late at night?"

"It's you whose been following me…" Murata murmured, piecing it together in his head.

Conrad straightened, his regular lightheartedness wholly gone from his visage. "It is my duty to ensure peace and security to his majesty and his subjects." His deep brown eyes held the boy warily. He too was suffering, but not from guilt. Instead he felt utter helplessness. Watching as the world of his loved ones became mutated and cruel.

Murata eyed him. "So you feel I am a threat to that security?"

"I believe you are hiding something of great concern to our kingdom." Conrad stepped closer to ensure that the boy had no escape.

"Ulrike. The priestess said something to you." The great wise man turned to continue working on his saddle, restlessly readjusting his stirrups. "I believe that she and I have a current misunderstanding that will be dealt with when I return."

"The Priestess did confess to me some fears that she had relating to your behavior, and I must be certain that this will not be harmful to either Yuuri or my brother." He solemnly placed a heavy hand on Murata's shoulder. "What are you keeping from us?"

"Lord Weller I…," he thought momentarily before shaking his head, "I must assure you that this is nothing to be distressed about." Murata moved to mount, swing awkwardly into the seat of the saddle with a soft grunt. The horse's hooves tread anxiously on the brick floor. "Now, I must be going to give council to his majesty in relation to… er… celestial providence."

Conrad quirked his head suspiciously, "Celestial… Providence? Why would he need guidance on Celestial Providence?"

Murata nudged on his horse with his heel, encouraging it to prance past his intruder. "Planetary divination is not something that can be ignored, Lord Weller. Now, I must be going." As he retreated from the barn he prodded his mount to a leisurely trot, leaving Lord Weller wide-eyed in the swirling dust of the stables.

The Great Sage sighed, he had escaped.

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Wolfram stumbled pathetically as he tried to stand, reaching out to brace himself against the wall. However his reach fell just an inch short of any possible support and he fell to the ground panted and groaning in pain. He was dizzy and his hands were shaking. The town guards had so far failed to produce any part of Yuuri and the blonde was getting impatient. Every new moment that Yuuri wandered in the woods was an opportunity for him to fall into danger. The Candlebrook woods were a thing of legend for laying claim to lost travelers.

Hearing the crashes from within the red room, Aelis scurried in through the door, hurrying to her master's side. "Master, please let me help you."

However with fevered urgency he threw her off. "I can do this myself. I am not wounded." He shakily began again, clinging to the bedspread for strength. As he made it onto his feet he shifted his grip to the bedpost and turned to address the woman still kneeling on the ground. "Ready my horse…" he cast a glance to the window darkened with the moonlit night, "… I'm going after him myself."

"My lord, you can't! You have not healed-"

"You will not tell me what I can or cannot do." The blond was infuriated. "I said ready my horse and you shall do so. Every second you do not do as I say you waste my time and risk leaving Shin Makoku kingless."

"But my lord… please listen to reason."

Wolfram sighed, falling gracelessly to the mattress. "Aelis…. You know as well as I what is out there. You know the unknowable nature of those woods. The trees are full of voices…. full of sweet songs that conceal hateful intentions. There are spirits here…. And Yuuri…. He doesn't understand their nature. He is good and trusting. They will claim him if they can." He bit his lip as a wave a nausea rippled through him. "Aelis… I have to go." He dropped his head to mattress, "please… don't make me ask again."

Timidly Aelis rose from the wood floor. "I understand." With an obedient nod and a small flick of her hair she left as she had come, disappearing into the corridor crowded with soldiers.

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Yuuri nervously drew closer to the water in search of those dulcet words he had heard. That voice… Wolfram's voice was coming from the lake. It was almost as if he was there, standing on the shore of the darkened lake isle.

The wind had died and the breathing of the lake seemed to grow louder with each wave rushing over the pebble sands. It sounded like the soft tinkling of rain against stone… but the sky was not weeping. The forest was. It was then that Yuuri felt he had come to the heart of Candlebrook. He was standing on the land's very pulse. There was life he couldn't see.

In a brief moment the branches of the trees stirred.

"Yuuri… I'm alone."

Yuuri's heart jumped. The words were so clear, like they were being called to him from across the water. "Wolfram… I…" He hesitated before pacing closer to the water's edge. "I don't know the way back. Please… show me how to get to you… "

As if a spark had flared from the darkness of the island, a figure, glowing eerily like the moon's reflection on the water, began to materialize on the distant shore. Blurry and undefined the creature was golden and white, a sundrop atop a pillar of ice.

"Yuuri, I'm here… come to me."

Yuuri remained still. Should he go? The water brushing gently against the toes of his boots was beginning to seep in, soaking his feet and freezing his bones. It was cold… so cold. But the light from this vision was warm and fiery… like Wolfram. Yes. This stranger felt like Wolfram. The gears in Yuuri's mind began to churn backwards, spinning his thoughts and twisting his reason.

It was Wolfram.

Wolfram was alone… he needed him. Yuuri needed to get to his love… to save him from that darkness that was closing in so quickly.

"Wolfram….I'm coming."