Category: Queen's Thief

Rating: M

Couples: (at least mention of) Canon ones

Warnings: AU, potentially smut, Character death

Chapter: 9

Copyright: Characters & places © By Megan Whalen Turner, Plot & OC´s © by me

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Despite repeated assurances that he would not leave her, Relius had left the city after a few days after all. Now that calm was being restored across the Peninsula, Pheris had to see to his duties as Baron Erondites. Grateful for an excuse to get out of the palace without the need to inevitably having to return come evening, Relius had promptly offered his company. Both as an advisor to the still rather untested youth and a reminder that this Baron Erondites carried the approval and support of Their Majesties.

It would prove to be a giant mess, that is for certain. Not only was he young with no clear regent, he was disabled and had spend all his time outside of the palace pretending said disability was also mentally.

"Enjoying the prospect of soon-to-be-politics?" He looked at the boy sitting across from him in the carriage the King had generously loaned them to ferry them to the main holdings of Erondites.

Said boy rolled his eyes and just sighed in answer.

"Yes, your uncle is being very inconsiderate to staying in Ferria instead of helping." Mostly because Dite was enjoying himself too much in Ferria. He would probably come if Pheris actually asked, but he had not. On questioning, he stated that he didn't want to drag him away so quickly after finding his place.

Relius suspected he didn't want to have to talk about his other uncle Sejanus just yet. "Did you make a decision about who will be your regent, at least?"

"Probably my grandmother..." Pheris shaped the words hesitantly. He'd like to think she would not mess up the region, but he practically didn't know her. He knew she still lived and that she was a better person than his grandfather who had been Erondites, but that was it. He didn't even really know how she looked! He assumed like his mother, but for all he knew she could look like a female version of Yorn Fordad.

"Baroness Eronditia would be one of the better choices, certainly at first, considering there are very few men who would be loyal to you right away." Relius smiled gently. "We'll have to see if there'd be a better one before returning to the capital. Perhaps you can somehow get the assistance of your grandfather who is Susa."

"Yes." Pheris looked outside where vast fields were passing them by. "It's been so long since I was here." He had not back anywhere near his home since he had first been send to the capital… which had been almost two years ago.

"I can imagine." Relius smoothed his cloak down. "Shall we see about getting your former nurse to attend you while we are here? What was her name again…? Melisande, yes?"

The young form nodded with a slight smile. It almost felt like a balm for his wounded heart, but it was just barely not enough to completely cover the hurt. Perhaps he should try with another lover again, though using someone just to distract him seemed needlessly cruel.

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Just after a month, Teleus was finally visited by someone that was not a physician. Sitting up too fast for his head's liking, the vision of the four Namreem swum in front of his eyes. This… was not going to good in any form and way.

He hissed in pain when they dragged him from his bed, giving no thought to his only mostly-healed injuries. In fact, there was the very real suspicion they intentionally shoved him onto his hurt arm when putting him in the prison-carriage. Oh yes, this would be a nightmare to endure. The only previous time he had been in a Medean prison-carriage had been on his arrival, when he had been first delivered to Ghasnuvidas and had suffered dearly for a good while. He still thanked the gods he had been dumped among the gladiators by the time worth of the Peninsula's victory had arrived in the Imperial capital… there had been no way he'd survive whatever tortures they would have subjected him to.

Taking a deep breath, Attolia's Guard Captian steeled his nerves at the realization that this might well result in all those tortures he had once dodged. "Philia, have mercy on me and help me endure this." He leaned his head against the closest wall of the carriage, cradling his sore arm. "Let me not dishonour my queen and king. Let me frustrate him just a bit longer."

He did not ask for a gentle passing, simply because that was off the table so long it had been cleaned up days ago. All he could hope for was a dignified end, even if dignified meant 'not begging for it within days'. It really was not the end he would have chosen for himself, but the Gods had decided it would be.

The only upside was that it wouldn't be long until he was reunited with Relius… to learn that your lover was dead as you were being gift-wrapped to be send to the enemy emperor for bragging-rights.

Turning lightly, he peeked through a slit in the carriage-wall. The sounds of market filtered in, as did the smell of all the foods being sold. Gods, he could kill for the simple indulgence of a good meal… just one more evening in front of the fireplace with Relius, talking softly and being comfortable.

"Please, let me outlast him… keep his attention on me a bit longer… give them peace even if it means I suffer." Tears ran down his cheeks. "Gods… have mercy on me, ferry me gently to the afterlife when it is my time, but let that time be long in the coming."

Anything… he would give even his sanity if it meant some peace for his people. His hale hand pressed against his mouth, trying to keep the sob from escaping. Gods, have mercy on me...