For disclaimers, look to chapter 1
A Whole New MeaningLarva stood there, as his friend gestured at the lavender blossoms all around him.
"I love these flowers so... they strike something deep within me." Garline was smiling as he remembered. The lack of response made him turn to Larva, concern evident in the purple depths.
Larva forced a smile to his lips.
"What's wrong?" One slim hand fell on the shoulder of those pale blue robes.
"Your wounds, are they healed? Lord Kai was too much."
Larva found his chin being tipped upwards by a finger, the purple nail gently touching his skin. Garline wondered if this was perhaps the root of what afflicted Larva so. His smile was an uplifting sight to those pale blue eyes.
"I am fine, although if Lord Kai had made my clothes anymore tattered, I might have been... really embarrassed."
A shout of laughter erupted from Larva.
"As if you would've been! You would probably take the opportunity to show off your physique-"
He jumped backwards as Garline's dagger missed narrowly. There was no threat in those violet eyes, but mischief was apparent.
"I'll show you, I'll let you feel it for yourself, come here, you-" Larva narrowly dodged another sweep. Garline spent the next 5 minutes pursuing Larva through the lavender fields to the edge of the forest, where he successfully tackled him to the ground.
More scuffling led to Garline finding himself pinned under Larva, one hand gripping his wrist, the other with their fingers interlocked. The knife had fallen to the ground. They were both breathing hard. Larva grinned. "This also does seem rather familiar as to what happened then. You flat on the ground and the victor sitting on you."
Garline rolled his eyes in mock annoyance. "I was on my front, not back, you dope. And he wasn't crushing my legs to a pulp the way you are now." Wriggling did not free him.
"Then he leaned down..." Larva bent forward until he could feel breath on his face. Blue was darkening to a cerulean hue. The smile had vanished from his face as his gaze encompassed the delicate elfin features, lingering on rosy lips. He could not pull back.
Mirthful violet eyes had been filled with puzzlement, and then froze. Garline had recognized him for what he felt. Larva waited for the distaste to colour those innocent lavender orbs, but it did not happen. The sweetest smile appeared, then the lips parted slightly. And he pressed his own colourless ones against them in a reverent kiss.
He could feel Garline yielding to the kiss, and his own body relaxed against him. Then he felt the familiar fire burning within his belly, spreading upwards. The gentle kiss became consuming, their tongues meeting and mating with increasing passion. His red nails tore the thong binding Garline's hair, and he was running one hand through burgundy softness even as he pressed closer against this man that aroused such strong feelings in him.
The sun shone down warmly on them as the long grass closed over their heads. Garline's hands slid over Larva's back to hold him closer. He was lost in the moment, and the warmth invigorated him. Which was why they were totally unprepared for what happened next.
Lemures jerked sharply on the reins of his horse. "Andeas, don't-"
But she had seen, seated behind him and her eyes were hurting. The scene in front of them was horrifying. Lemures felt as if he was about to throw up any minute, plus there was a sharp pain in his gut. She was frozen in place.
Garline tore his lips from Larva's, and blissful purple haze met the girl's brown eyes. Such agony... it seemed to stab him in the chest. Larva saw the pain that crossed his face and he too looked up. Lemures looked distinctly ill. He had gotten off his horse, and was moving unsteadily towards them both.
"Lemures, what's the matter-"
One green-tipped hand was held up in a plea for Larva to stop. As he got closer, his gaze fell on the other figure beneath his friend and the look became hostile. Jealousy and hate burned as the words that spewed forth were equally poisoned.
"You ensorcelled him, you evil filth from over the seas. Damn you!"
One boot lashed out so swiftly that Larva was unable to block it. However, it was not aimed for him. Pinned beneath his friend's body, Garline twisted to avoid the unexpected blow, but it was not enough as it caught him across the lower half of his face, splitting his lip.
The cry from one dear to him, the sight of blood on those lips he had lovingly kissed... Rage flared in Larva's eyes and the very intensity caught Lemures by surprise. If looks could kill, he would probably be dead. One slim hand slid up to cup Larva's face, as pained tones soothed the young man with red nails clenched in fury.
"Leave him be..."
Go away. Lemures could read the message in those furious chips of ice. He turned and ran back to his horse, springing into the saddle and riding away with Andeas quickly, mind at a loss.
Larva cradled the young man in his arms, brushing away the blood and kissing the lips gently in apology. Garline's eyes remained closed for at least five minutes, but he rested his head in the crook of Larva's shoulders, the simple contact comforting them both. Eventually they stood up and supporting one another, made their way back to the mansion.
Andeas and Lemures made a pact not to tell others what they had seen. Maybe the madness would pass once the lord was back on his ship and headed for his homeland.
The bond between them strengthened day by day. They exchanged childhood stories, hopes, dreams... and many kisses and caresses in between. The former half by day, and the latter half by night. However, lying in bed together, just holding hands was enough to reassure each other. They did not go further. Neither one knew why. Nor how. But they wanted it all to be perfect when it happened.
Soft laughter with a touch of cruelty floated through the room, as the dark being stopped scrying to enlighten his bright companion.
"I can sense it, what perfect timing for fruit ready to be plucked from the branches. The Queen's Ball will be where I make my move."
Long pale fingers tucked away the lock of burgundy in his hand.
It could not be put off. How she avoided his gaze the whole time, attempting to never be in the same room as him... Garline finally cornered her in a stairwell near the servants' quarters. "Andeas..."
Entreating her to speak openly to him was futile. She was not cooperating. He understood, as he always did. The girl had had a huge crush on him, at the least. Any spun fantasies probably involved him, and they had most likely involved Larva long before he had set foot on these shores. But all had been brutally crushed by reality, that very afternoon at the edge of the forest.
"Please, I never meant to hurt you, say something." Red-rimmed brown eyes looked up at him. Slender fingers pressed against his lips. He did not expect this, or the pain he felt on unintentionally wounding such a sweet young woman. Melodic faintness played from some distant place.
"I don't hate you or Lord Larva, but the memories... I'm having a hard time reconciling myself to them. I know you'll understand, you're special in that way." Their eyes met in bittersweet understanding of what might have been, if only he hadn't…. The strange melody was growing stronger; so oddly familiar to Garline.
Andeas removed her fingers, and moved closer. The emotion in the depths of those dark brown eyes transfixed Garline, his own becoming sweetly sad. As she tilted her head up, her eyes locked with his. And he inclined his head towards her, eyelids gradually sliding downwards in unbidden response of possibly more than mere sympathy.
Then flew open in surprise as her eyelashes fluttered shut, and he caught her in time as she crumpled forward into his arms. "Hope I was in time again, though the tune sounded a bit off-melody with the last few notes on the flute being rushed-" Faint regret turned into surprise as he turned his head and caught sight of the speaker. Delight was evident in those purple orbs.
"What are you doing here? And how..."
