Disclaimer: don't own

I'm sorry, for ending it there, but I had to pause for Dramatic effect-that and the cat decided to sit on the keyboard and wouldn't move. So here is the second chapter.

Chapter 2

Rath was down the steps to the throne and among the group of Dragon Knights before Thatz could even think. He knelt beside the small child, taking in every inch, noting the way the child held the Water Dragon. "Child-where did you find this dragon?" he asked softly. If the child had Water, then it could only mean that Rune was truly dead, and all his hopes were shattered permanently, and Thatz-he couldn't even fathom how Thatz would react to this.

The child looked up at him, a little fear threading its way through the blue eyes… blue eyes that reminded him painfully of Rune.

"You don't need to be afraid child." He said soothingly. "Just tell me where you found the Dragon. You are safe here, I promise."

The child looked down at the Dragon in his arms, then back up, blinking. "He's mine." The child whispered quietly, so low Rath almost didn't hear him.

Thatz came up behind him suddenly, looming over Rath, and frightening the child, who's already big eyes widened even more at the angry expression on the mans face. "Where did you get that Dragon?" Thatz demanded to know, angrily. He knew the implications of the Dragon being with another, and he didn't want to believe it, the boy had merely stolen Water from Rune-Rune couldn't possibly be dead-he just couldn't!

"Thatz!" Rath said angrily, shooting a silencing glare to his lover, who backed down, albeit, very reluctantly. Rath turned back to the child. "Calm down, he was just a little surprised to see that Dragon. It's one of ours you see, and belongs to a very good friend of ours. So could you tell us when you got the Dragon?" he asked, knowing the child would only repeat, 'He's mine' if asked where he got it.

The boy's eyes flicked to him. "I dnt know, I aways had him." He said, with the tiniest of lisps.

For some reason he couldn't name he felt his heart go out to the child, even though his heart broke a little more when he heard the words. He felt Thatz tense behind him, and before his lover to take his frustration out on the child, he quickly put a robed arm around him and lifted the small boy up. The child yelped in surprise but suddenly broke into giggles at the sensation of being lifted. Shooting another glare at Thatz to quiet him, he spoke to the child. "What's your name little one?"

The boy looked at him, one hand stealing away from the Dragon to grasp onto Rath's shoulder, and by default some of his hair. "Whas a 'name'?" he asked, blinking.

Rath frowned, how could a child not have a name. "A name is what we call you by. What do people call you by?" he asked.

The boy seemed to think, then blinked innocently up at him. "Dnt know." He said.

"Well, you must have a name, because if that Dragon is really your then that makes you part of the Dragon Tribe-that's who we are, so you simply must have a name." Rath caught himself with some surprise, why was he doing this? He couldn't understand it. What caught him most be surprise though was the name he knew he must call the child, sparing a sideways glance to his lover, knowing he would become angry, but also knowing that he had to name the child this, perhaps the healing process could begin. "I think we should call you Rune." He said, a little dramatically for the child's sake, causing him to giggle and squeeze the Dragon tighter with his free hand.

The room was shocked-no one had said that name in years, but no one was more shocked than Thatz, who had frozen to the spot, staring at Rath and that giggling child. How dare that little creature giggle at the name of his lover, how dare Rath make a decision like that and not inform him. How dare that child look so goddamned pleased with itself. His breathing was getting ragged; he was angry, very very angry. He knew the Dragon fighters had all moved back, away from him and the King.

Rath motioned quickly to Ruwalk, and handed him the child with a reassuring smile. "This is Ruwalk, he's going to go take you for something to eat, all right?" without meaning to he had placed a small kiss on the child's head, receiving another wide eyed blink of surprise. He smiled, a little confused with himself. Only around Rune and Thatz had been so affectionate, perhaps it was because the child reminded him somehow of Rune, those blue eyes, those expressive and innocent blue eyes.

Because Rune had always been innocent, no matter what he told himself, Rune had always been the one to blush if sex was mentioned, even in passing, it was an endearing trait, and something he had never grown out of. Though they had faced Demons so often, Rune was still so surprised at the level of evil there. Rune had been an innocent, just like the child.

Ruwalk whisked the child away and out of the rooms on that order, away from the dangerously angry Thatz. Rath took a deep breath to deal with his lover and turned, noting that everyone in the room had already run for cover. He took one look at Thatz's face and nearly wanted to do so himself, but he couldn't-he was the Dragon Lord damnit, he wasn't allowed to go hide from deranged lovers who had a serious bone to pick. "Is there a problem Thatz?" he asked, cringing mentally from the onslaught that was about to come. He had a feeling that facing Alfeegi on one of his rants who have been much more preferable right now.

"Is there a problem?" Thatz asked darkly. "I'll say there is. What do you mean by bringing that-that… That THING in here, accepting it? And giving it HIS NAME? How could you do that Rath-how can you just accept it? I know what it means if that damned Dragon is actually his-I know what it means. It means that Rune is… is…" He couldn't say it-he just couldn't say it. "And he can't be… he's out there somewhere-probably looking for that stupid Dragon! What did you think you were doing?" he demanded.

He didn't know what to think anymore, Rath had named the little creature after Rune; he had just destroyed all hope Thatz had ever had, because by using the name it somehow told Thatz that he was… that his Rune was… He spun away from Rath suddenly. "I don't want to know. I just don't want to know. But I hope your happy Rath. I hope your very happy." And with that he stormed away.

Rath looked after him sadly; Thatz would need time to come to terms with this. Even he would need time. It had been impulse that made him name the child Rune, but he didn't regret it, Thatz would learn that if he just let himself, this child, that little child could perhaps fill that hole in his heart. Because Rath hated to see his lover hurting. With a heavy sigh Rath turned and made his way to the kitchens.

X

In the kitchens Ruwalk had been left in awe as the child showed an interest in absolutely everything all at one, he had barely stopped him from climbing into one of the ovens. He hardly thought Rath would find it amusing if the child ended up cooked. He didn't notice Rath enter, but the child, who had been sitting eating a huge sandwich, still clutching the little Dragon close, as if he was afraid someone might take it away. Not that the Dragon seemed to mind overly much.

"Hewo!" The child said, waving the sandwich at Rath.

Rath smiled and sat down beside Ruwalk. "Hello Rune." He said, surprising Ruwalk, who had not actually expected Rath to keep the name, not after the argument had had most assuredly had with Thatz. Yes, Rath looked tired and ad round the eyes, hit had been a bad one to all intents and purposes.

"You are Mr. Waf." The child stated. "Mr. Wuwalk was telling me your names. An' de odder man was called Mr. Fatz." He smiled; proud he had remembered the names.

Rath smiled. "Yes, Rune, that's right."

The child looked up at him, before sliding suddenly out of view as he got off the chair, pulling the Dragon and the sandwich with him. Seconds later he had made his journey under the table, and pulled at Rath's robes, looking up expectantly. Rath gave a short laugh and lifted the child onto his knee. Once there the child held out the Dragon. "You wana hold 'im?" he asked.

Rath looked at the boy in a little surprise, but he accepted the little Dragon with a smile. "Thank you I would." He looked at the child curiously. "Where are your parents little one? Won't they be missing you?" the child was most certainly not old enough to be away from his parents at any stage.

The boy stroked the Dragons back. "Whas a pawent?" he asked.

Rath smiled softly. "It doesn't matter little one. You'll stay here. We can be your parents."

The boy looked up at him, yawning suddenly, all the commotion from earlier finally getting to him. And in the way of little children he curled himself up in Rath's lap, a tiny hand gripping the robes tightly. "'Night Mr. Waf." He mumbled sleepily. "'Night Mr. Wuwa…"

Ruwalk smiled. "He is truly an adorable little child." He said softly.

Rath nodded his agreement.

"It's a pity Thatz can't accept him." Ruwalk continued.

Rath nodded again. "I think we'll all need time to adjust, after all, how long has it been from we had a child in the castle?" he said softly. "Especially one that is going to remind us all of what we lost."

Ruwalk understood, and he laid a hand briefly and reassuringly on Rath's shoulder. "You have fallen in love with the boy already."

Rath laughed quietly, brushing some of the golden hair away from the child's peaceful face. "I suppose I have." He replied, and looked up at Ruwalk.

"Thatz will come round. I don't think anyone could stand up to that level of cuteness." Ruwalk smiled, as he got up and left the room to continue his duties.

Rath sat there, looking at the boy, his sorrow gleaming in his eyes. Thatz was a very stubborn man. If he didn't want to accept the child, no amount of persuasion was going to change that mindset. No one but Rune had ever managed to convince Thatz to do anything he didn't want to do. He sighed, leaning down to drop a soft kiss to the child's head. "It's a difficult path you now tread child. Do not stray." He whispered.

Um… yeah… was that ok? I really like the idea for this story. I'm hoping to have another chapter up before I go on my week's holiday on Thursday, but don't hold me to that please! Don't worry; this story is going to be as fluffy as it is bitter.