*~AN~* Sorry this chapter took so long, but ya'll know how it is. You get lazy…anyway, behold, Chapter 4!
Kris holed himself up in the library—with so many gone for the midwinter break, there wasn't much going on in the Collegium, and he didn't care to spend it with the court. He'd been taking his meals with Alberich after a daily routine of light sparring. He could have gone home, of course, but it would have been pointless. The only ones in his household over the holidays were the servants. Kris knew that without anyone to wait on, they were able to have their own fun, and Kris had no intentions of going home and ruining their entertainment.
This was the first Midwinter since he had met Dirk that he didn't go home with him to spend the holiday with his enormous family. The empty Collegium halls were so quiet and lonely that the only thing he could do to keep himself sane through the long boring days was read. Dirk had left early in the morning without speaking to Kris, which was too bad. Kris wanted to apologize but only if Dirk came to him first. He had said some rotten things when Kris had only been trying to get him to see the truth, and Kris was hardly about to be the first to apologize for THAT.
So, with nothing to do over the holiday, he spent his long hours in the library. He had noticed the new Queen's Own, Talia, in the library as well, and he wondered if she too, had no place to go. He began seeing less and less of her though, so he thought maybe she found somewhere to go.
:Rumor has it, she's been keeping old Jadus company.: Tantris informed him. Kris knew the retired Herald he spoke of—he had taught Kris to play the harp quite some time back, but his duties didn't let him get much practice, unless he happened to be on circuit. Now that Tantris mentioned it, he had heard a few of the servants talking about him giving her music lessons.
:That's good. I haven't heard much from Jadus, and I was beginning to wonder if he had gone off on a pensioning out.: It didn't happen often, but when Heralds did live to see a respectable old age, they had generally been so used to constant duty that it was hard to sit idle, and they were given some task out in the country where they could live out their life in relative peace.
:You know as well as I do that Jadus wouldn't go for that, he's too smart, and wouldn't want to live the rest of his life in solitude anyway.: Tantris commented.
Kris admitted he was right. He was glad that he had found some way to be useful again, even if it was just for a single young girl. For a Herald, the feeling of being needed was essential, and fed the addiction to duty Heralds were known for.
He stretched his muscles, stiff from sitting in the library all day, and closed his book. It was a history, and quite engrossing, but it was growing dark, and his eyes were feeling a little tired. He looked over at the time candle, and noticed it had burned down considerably since he started reading. To prove his point, he let out a huge yawn. :I'm for bed, featherfoot. I'll see you in the morning.:
Kris walked to his room quietly. It was much later than he thought and he didn't want to wake anyone. Occasionally he would hear the murmur of voices behind a few of the doors—those who's family was here at the Collegium, and didn't have to leave Haven. The late-night murmuring only made him angry, as he remembered Naril.
As soon as Dirk left, she had turned into the court tramp—Kris saw her walking with a new man every time he saw her, and there was not a doubt in his mind what they were up to. It disgusted him to no end—she was only sixteen, yet she had had more men in her few years than some of the more promiscuous women he had ever known. The trouble was that she was so damned innocent about it all. At least the prostitutes he had run into were honest about what they did.
No, he didn't care for Naril one bit, and he wished he dared tell Dirk why. That night in court, Naril had asked him to take her to his rooms. He knew damned well what she meant by that, but the idea of bedding one of the silly court girls just seemed absurd. It was practically begging for scandal. The next day, Dirk had practically floated into his room to inform Kris that he was in love with Naril. There had to be something going on. Usually, after seeing Kris, Dirk didn't stand a chance with the women, and he didn't mean that to sound arrogant, it was just the truth.
The only thing that kept him from strangling that bitch Naril on sight was the knowledge that Dirk and Naril were NOT lifebonded. He was a Herald—she was just an empty headed, malicious court beauty. Sooner or later one of them would realize that Dirk's first loyalty was to Valdemar, and then to his Companion. There was simply not enough room for silly games with the vixen Naril. Kris only hoped he wouldn't be hurt too badly when he learned this.
* * *
Dirk rolled over in bed. It was very nice to be home, with his family, especially now. Earlier that night, he had revealed to his parents his intent on proposing to Naril. He could tell they were nervous, but he was certain that could be cured as soon as they met her and realized how wonderful she really was. He thought back to the morning he had left.
"Oh love, I will be counting the days until you return to me." Naril had said when she came to his quarters to bid him good-bye.
"It's not too late for you to come with me, dearest. If my family could meet you, they will fall as in love with you as I am." Dirk said. This was not the first time he asked her to come with him for his visit.
"You know I have family obligations here that I can't ignore sweetling. Just think of me each night, and make haste on your return."
He had never felt this way about any girl in his life. He had never needed someone quite like he needed her. She made him feel special and best of all, she made him feel handsome. He knew in his deepest heart that she didn't understand his Heraldic duties and devotion, and she never would, but that didn't phase him in the least. After all, there wasn't a couple alive who saw perfectly eye to eye in everything, right? It was this reasoning that convinced him.
Dirk hadn't mentioned his intent to anyone besides his parents. Not even Kris knew he was going to ask her to marry him, although that had to be expected. He was acting so jealous as of late! That last argument had been the last straw—he didn't bring Kris home this midwinter. It was a shame really, for his family had been expecting him. By now, he was accepted as one of their own family. But Kris deserved everything he got for being such an arrogant, big-headed little…
:Now now, Chosen. He was only trying to do what's best for you. You're his best friend. He'd never intentionally hurt you.: Ahrodie said.
:Some best friend. He's not trying to do what's best for me, just what's best for him as usual. He's jealous, Ahrodie. Of anyone, I'd think you could see that.: Dirk was starting to get angry again. Things between Ahrodie and him had been a little icy ever since Naril came into his life. He just couldn't understand why she didn't like her. Naril was perfect. :Why doesn't anyone want to see me happy, with someone I love?:
He felt more than heard Ahrodie's sigh, and she didn't say anymore.
Well, if Kris can't accept the fact that I've fallen in love, then he's no kind of friend. Dirk told himself.
Dirk anxiously waited till the day he would return to Haven. He had everything planned, and the delicate silver ring tucked safely away…