Disclaimer: Dude, I wish.

"Hey, Eliot, look at those girls over yonder!" murmured Michael in his ear. The two were riding through the cobblestone main way on their way to survey Eliot's plot of land. The two girls in question giggled and pretended indifference as Michael stared avidly at them. Eliot, on the other hand, could have cared less as he sniffed and urged his horse onward.

"Michael, stay focused. You were sent with me to learn how one deals with a new territory, not to feel up every woman in town." Michael furrowed his brow.

"That's not fair, Eliot. You know I was only joking, why do you always have to be so cold?" He turned away, hurt. Eliot smirked, but said nothing, sulking. Why did he have to be accompanied by this witless fool, anyway?

Edam walked into the dining hall, his arms around his two younger children.

"Now today, Violet, I need to set straight the castle records with you, and that will probably take all day. Is that alright?"

"Yes of course, father. You know how I like to help you."

"Yes, dear, I do." The three came up to the head table, where Eliot was sitting, eating his porridge and toast.

"Father, I think I shall go visit my plot today." he said, while chewing a particularly lumpy piece of gruel. Edam smiledn proudly.

"Of course, son. You need to get a move on with your plans. The people are waiting for your decision."

"Oh! Can I come too?" interjected Michael. "I need to start learning these things too, so I'll become a proper heir." Eliot scowled.

"No."

"Oh, come on, please? Father?" Edam hesitated. Eliot was scowling heavily, and Michael was pleadingly searching his face for an affirmative. As much as he knew Eliot would rather go alone, Michael did need to start in his practical studies, so…

"Yes Michael, that's a splendid idea. You can go with Michael, and Violet and I will get this castle in order." He smiled to himself at the murderous expression on Eliot's face. Oh well, he thought. He'll just have to deal with it. I'll make it up to him later. Nodding at the two of them, he turned and steered his daughter out, leaving Michael and Eliot to glare—well, Michael was grinning smugly, and Eliot was glaring—at each other.


And here they were, on their way to survey the land. Michael had now lapsed into a heavy silence, shooting strained smiles at passing villagers. Eliot, on the other hand, had actually been pleased and aroused by the group of girls. Fully mature, and pretty, he made a note to have them brought up to the castle…later on. The two passed miles of wide, green moors, and small, but close villages, until they finally came upon a stake driven into the ground that marked the beginning of Eliot's territory. He nodded assuredly, and moved on. Michael was stupefied. This plot was huge! It was much larger than the village of Indigo, where the duchy was located. In Eliot's opinion, though, it took all too soon for the pair to reach the small village where his soldiers were located. As they rode through the muddy roads, the townsfolk, all clad in black, watched silently from the sides, and windows of their slightly pathetic huts. Michael was obviously uneasy, and even Eliot started to fidget under the hawkish gaze of approximately 60 old ladies. Michael noticed this too.

"Eliot, where are all the men?"

"I had them all shot yesterday." Michael blanched.

"W-What!"

"You heard me. I had them shot."

"But….why? They did you no harm!"

"They were obviously plotting an uprising. I want no obstructions."

"ELIOT? I KNEW THESE MEN! They were planning a PARADE for your glorious welcome into their humble village! I helped them plan it!" Eliot raised his eyebrows at Michael, who was in tears.

"Dear, dear, I seem to have been mistaken…" Eliot shrugged. "Oh well. Less people to provide for, I suppose."

"How can you say that? You're not my brother…you're…a monster…" Michael wiped his eyes and turned his horse. As his brother galloped away, Eliot couldn't help but think of him as a coward, filthy imbecile that he was. He looked after him for a while, until Michael's black stallion was nothing more than a dark blip on the horizon.

When Eliot turned back to the village, many people were weeping, and frowning at him. they stood there for a while, people, horse and rider, until a boy not much younger than Eliot stepped forward.

"Welcome, sire. My name is Kyle of Lexington, and this is my village. I have recently—this morning, actually, when I returned—been appointed leader of this village, as I am the only male inhabitant left, aside from the old, weak elders." Kyle looked Eliot straight in the eye, and spat out his words. "We're the only ones left, sire." He then turned away, and the crowd parted. Eliot followed him, and they ended up at the guardhouse, where Eliot's squadron leader came out to greet him.

"Good morning, sire. Welcome to Lexington."

"Thank you Ralph. I wish to see your plans."

"Certainly, sire. Right this way."

Eliot jumped down from his chestnut mare, Hoshi, and gave the reins to Kyle, who nodded and went to stable her. Eliot then followed Ralph inside, and was greeted by the rest of his battalion.

"Freedert! More tea!" yelled Ralph, as they all sat around a large wooden table. The interior of the hut was wood, primitive as the style was, it was liveable, and Eliot wouldn't complain unless he got into a bad mood. Ralph sniffed impatiently, and yelled again. "FREEDERT! DID YOU HEAR ME? TEA, NOW!" A meek and distant "Yes sir!" was heard somewhere in the back room, and a flurry of activity was then understood to have taken place. Ralph rolled his amber eyes, and the men got down to business. Ralph showed Eliot the plans for his castle, and they discussed where it should face, et cetera.

"Sire, I have a question," asked a man down the table, near the end.

"Yes?" Eliot prompted, while still skimming the diagram of the moat.

"Um, what's really in it for us?" Eliot jerked his head upwards.

"What? Are you saying you're too greedy to help me?"

"N-no, sir, I was just wondering what kind of pay we'd be receiving, 'cause my wife, you know, she's ill, a—"

"That's no excuse! You will either build my castle, or be banished forever from this kingdom! I'll work it someway, don't you wor—" But Eliot stopped too. Actually, Eliot not only stopped, but also was blatantly staring at a newcomer to the room. And that newcomer was—

"Freedert, m'lord. She's my daughter, merely a peasant girl, who is now courting a young man called Kyle. She likes to help me out with company. Freedert, this is Lord Eliot of Indigo, he's here to preview our plans." Ralph smiled at his daughter, and she at him. But to Eliot, she stared him straight in the eye, and muttered a sullen "A pleasure, my lord." She bared her beautiful, white teeth at him, and whirled out. Eliot stood there, speechless. Freedert… She was the most gorgeous thing he had ever laid eyes on. Tall, slim, and fair, her ice-blue eyes, though ironic, and disapproving, were spirited and deep.

"You'll have to forgive my daughter, sire…" started Ralph hastily. "She's carried a grudge against you long before you…erm…raided the town. But she is courting Kyle, so please don't…intrude, sire."

"Are you telling me what to do?"

"No, sire, please. It's just…well…she's my child, sire. I'd like her to be happily married, not loathing her husband, should it be you."

"Are you saying I'm loathsome?"

"NO, sire! She, well…hates you, is all. You did order her brother killed…and her best friend…so…"

"Oh, those are but petty concerns. But…we shall see."

That night, the only thing Eliot could think of was Freedert. And in his dreams, an angel with beautiful long, golden hair visited him, and sang him to sleep. And that was it. The theft had occurred—the theft of Eliot's heart, that is.

Hooey! That was a mouthful. Well, thanks Meg. Thank you kindly.