JUST AS I PROMISED! I GOT THIS UP IN TIME FOR THE HOLIDAYS! MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE! HAPPY HANUKAH! HAPPY KWANZAA! HAPPY YULE AND ALL THE OTHER HOLIDAYS THIS MAGICAL WINTER SEASON!

Dedication: Special thanks to Armanthine Ispwich, my wonderful Grammar Knight who got this done and back to me today! I love you girl!

Special thanks to Val for being the best beta ever!

This is my Christmas Present to everyone ;) and there's a little surprise at the end ;) ENJOY!

Chapter LIII: Affairs

It had to be Critias.

As much as he wanted to believe that his comrade—his very brother-in-arms—wasn't capable of such treachery, there was no other word to describe it. Timaeus knew no one else could've committed the crime. The King had respected his decision to wait until his return to Locri to introduce Yugi to the rest of his royal family—out of both respect to his former lover's friendship and to give her a sense of closure, as well. And, as Dartz had added, it would do her and Locri well to see he did not choose Yugi out of any political reasoning, but out of affection—regardless of how the marriage actually took place. Ultimately, however, he felt it was just more honorable than some secondhand message that was cold and conveyed no emotion. The king would not have approved that. Hermos has remained perpetually indifferent to Timaeus' decision of marriage and respected his choices as his own, to which Timaeus was grateful. Of them all, Critias was the only one that showed any real hostility towards Yugi. Timaeus wasn't naive. He'd seen the glares—the mocking sneers and whispers of resentment.

He'd also made his feelings on the subject perfectly clear to the man before they left, taking advantage of Yugi's much needed valediction with his family.

Locri knew better than to heed the nonsense of clishmaclaver, especially those gossiping of their Magistrate's sexual misadventures. But if Rhebekka's words were true and these words came from their Princess… How could they be viewed as anything other than the truth?

Timaeus exhaled a heavy sigh, like he had aged ten years. "Tell us everything, Rhebekka."

She presented a crinkled note, where it lay splayed across the table. "He sent a bird." She did not need to name who wrote it. "Princess Christina is currently residing in Locri and has been for the better part of a week. She claims she is seeing to Locri's affairs in the absence of her Trierarch."

"She what!?" Timaeus barked, exasperated with rage. "Why were we not told sooner?!"

Rhebekka did not flinch. Then she produced a second note from the fold of her bodice. "This is his second message. The first was sent a little over a ten-day ago."

Timaeus swore. Over a ten-day. Just before the first storm—the storm that cost them two day's travel.

Timaeus resisted the urge to swear again and groaned. "What else?"

She hesitated, casting a sideways glance at Yugi that did not go unnoticed. Guilty apology burned in Timaeus' eyes, but the boy's expression was unreadable.

Yugi closed his eyes, then opened them, frowning. "Please, enough with the formalities." The pair spun to him. His face was neutral but his eyes flickered with something that clearly was not. "I know you're both trying to spare my feelings, but I don't need you two to protect me. Whatever is happening right now, I, more than anyone else, need to know about it," he said firmly.

Rhebekka bit her lip, skeptical. Timaeus frowned but nodded. "Tell us everything, Rhebekka."

She sighed. "It seems news of your recent nuptials reached Atlantis quicker than expected." She paused. "However, since the identity of your consort was kept in the strictest confidence until our return, someone…" She didn't need to name who that someone was. She paused before she spoke again. "… misread the information. And thus acted on it."

"Misread nothing," Timaeus snapped, aggravated. "She heard and saw only what she wanted to." He rubbed his brow with an exasperated sigh. "What is happening in my province, Rhebekka?"

She took a breath. "News of your and Yugi's recent nuptials had reached Locri as planned and the country has been engaged in planning the celebration, but at your and the king's request, Yugi's identity was kept secret. A week ago, the Princess arrived unexpectedly—claimed she was there to oversee the affairs. At first, it was believed she was there to aid in the celebration, but it quickly became clear she misunderstood the marriage." She paused, frowning. "He was forced to tell her the truth of the matter that you were already married, but would not say to who." She chose her next words carefully. "She disliked the truth, but was adamant about remaining to see to Locri's affairs. He's done his best to stall her influence and dispel the rumors that it was actually she you were set to marry, but… somehow news of Yugi's identity was revealed and—" She stopped suddenly and cast Yugi a glance.

"She assumed our marriage was a political arrangement rather than a true marriage," Yugi answered for her, voice caustic. His eyebrows knitted together and his fists clenched. "And now she's set on convincing the whole province."

She did not answer. She did not need to.

"It was Critias, wasn't it?" Yugi asked, but it wasn't really a question.

Timaeus watched him, eyes flashing with guilt, then he sighed. "According to our reports, The Great Leviathan did not arrive until half a ten-day ago. The Claw of Hermos arrived the day after and sailed North without stopping. Only one ship arrived sooner." Timaeus fingers clenched. "Damn him. Damn him for putting the idea in her head."

He watched Yugi, who stood unflinching, and he wanted nothing more than to take his hand, but Timaeus found himself unable to move. What he must be thinking? Feeling? Having come so far, having grown so much, so eager to earn the trust and love of his new people… Only to have it stolen from him before he could even stepped off their ship.

"Oh, she tried," Rhebekka chuckled heartily. The two spun to her, their faces painted with bemusement. Rhebekka's smile curled, and she gestured to the second letter—the one that had come just this morning. "But you forget: The Great Leviathan sailed for Locri, not the Capital."

She presented the note. Timaeus snatched it and read it quickly. His eyes smiled but his face remained stern. Yugi peeked curiously over his shoulder. Timaeus surrendered the letter.

"It seems my First was wise enough to contact the King as soon as The Leviathan arrived," he summarized. Yugi only half-listened and half-read the letter, but processed everything.

He smiled and read aloud. "'The King, it is my pleasure to report that I have curved the excitement of the Locrian people back towards the arrival of the Trierarch and his new consort, who, the King reported, is eager to introduce his'—" Yugi froze, and blushed at the words.

Timaeus peeked over his shoulder and smiled softly. "'His true love to his people, and had arranged a celebration in accordance with our Atlantian tradition to welcome home the Magister and the newly-crowned Magistrate. The union is expected to play out as we planned, but the Princess has adamantly chosen to remain as the Royal Family's Representative, as the King is acting Mediator for the two parties.'" He finished reading and heaved a frustrated sigh of relief. "Thank the Lords for that."

"I don't understand why everyone is so quick to assume the worst of me," Yugi snapped crushing the paper in his palm.

Timaeus wasted no time and squeezed his hand. "It is not you, Yugi." He sank the assurance into Yugi's name. "The King and I hoped introducing you to my people in person would avoid such a scandal."

"Aye," Rhebekka snorted out, her nose like an angry dragon. "What's infuriating is that the information was leaked." She stressed the word like it was some dark secret. "Makes it seem like we were trying to hide something we're not. Thank God the King knows the truth."

"Does he…?" Yugi asked hesitantly.

They blinked when he looked at them.

Yugi frowned and looked away. "He's not seen either of us since our…" He bit his lip, unable to say the word. Not when it caused so much grief. "When our marriage contract was signed. I know I did not leave him with much promise…"

"Oh, that you have nothing to fear," Rhebekka chuckled.

Timaeus eye's narrowed. "Rhebekka…" He sank the command into her name—low and dangerously calm. "What did you say?"

"Nothing of consequence." She smiled. "I simply sent birds to my husband and King that our beloved Dragon Knight and our equally-beloved Kemet prince had finally mended their bonds. And I can say, just by looking at you once we arrive, not a soul in Locri will believe this was solely a political union." She chuckled like a village girl with a new secret.

Timaeus rolled his eyes. His gaze fell on Yugi, but the smaller one had yet to lift his gaze. His grip on Timaeus' hand loosened and he did nothing to tighten it. Timaeus frowned, his chest tight with worry.

"Rhebekka, would you excuse us for a moment?"

She dismissed herself with a nod, but not before casting Yugi a sad expression.

When the door closed, Yugi pulled his hand away and wandered towards the window. His gaze looked out over the canals, hills, and buildings that, not an hour earlier, filled him with joy. Now he stared at them with dazed and unfocused eyes.

Timaeus stepped behind him and placed a hand on his shoulder, but otherwise made no other effort to console him.

"You're upset," he said, softly gazing into Yugi's shadowed amethyst eyes reflected in the window glass. He struggled for words, but nothing that his mind conjured sounded good enough to not be an excuse.

"Did you love her?" Yugi asked suddenly.

Timaeus blinked.

Yugi did not turn to look at him. "I assumed out of respect to your friendship with her, you wanted to tell the Princess about me in person. I understand that… but I know nothing about your relationship with her… or with anyone, and…" Yugi paused, his fingers scratching the glass. Then he spun to him, but his gaze did not reach Timaeus' eyes. "I heard the stories and the rumors, but everything I know I heard secondhand. I did not ask you about it because it was all from the past and did not matter anymore. It still doesn't. Not to me. But Tim…" He trailed off, his voice suddenly quiet.

And there it was—the very thing Timaeus had been terrified would happen. Yugi knew Timaeus had other lovers before they'd met. Timaeus knew he'd had lovers before they'd met, even if none of them were as intimate. But they had been foreign and distant. Part of a past that had no bearing on the future. Nothing more than a mystery to tease and dangle, never flesh and blood. Never something whole and alive that could threaten what was ready to bloom like a cold, dry wind.

He had respected Yugi enough not to mention them, and Yugi had trusted him enough not to ask, but now, faced with the fact… It didn't stun Yugi how unsurprised he was that Timaeus and the Princess were lovers in the past. A past that she had privy to but he knew nothing about and had no hope of understanding. What did surprise him was how much that fact hurt.

Timaeus swooped forward like a sudden warm breeze and clasped his hand. The squeeze was gentle and not tight, but the comfort was enough. Yugi looked up and met Timaeus' grave face, but his eyes were burning.

"When we renewed our bonds, we promised each other honesty," he said, neutral but grave. He took Yugi's hand, guided him to the couch by the window, and sat him down. The grip on his hand did not loosen. "I have no intention of breaking that promise now." His eyes softened and he expelled a heavy sigh. "And here it is," he paused before speaking. "Yes, Yugi, I was her lover once, when I was young and foolish."

"Was that all it was?" Yugi remarked sadly. "The way everyone spoke, you intended to marry her."

"No!" Timaeus cut him off, voice raised and angry and so sudden Yugi almost jumped.

Timaeus saw his expression and regained control of his self. His guilty gaze met the floor. "Forgive me, Yugi." He took a breath before continuing. "You asked me if I loved her. I won't deny I loved her once. At least, at the time, I did," Timaeus confessed. "Or thought I did. Do not misunderstand, she was not my first lover, nor was I hers, but I was a stranger in Atlantis—angry and bitter and I trusted no one, not even the King who saved me. Christina was the first one to make me feel welcome. The first time I felt true companionship. Because of it, we both believed our bond was more than what it was."

At first, Yugi said nothing, only listened. "And what was it?" he asked suddenly.

"A closeness," Timaeus confessed. "That was all. It was not long before I realized my mistake. I mistook kindness for affection and friendship for love."

He stopped and looked at Yugi. "Please, do not think… I never intended to hide this from you. It was…" He stopped, unable to finish the sentence. He sighed quietly. "As you said, it was all in the past. Those feelings are gone. I don't want them to affect our relationship now."

He stopped, waiting. Yugi's face struggled with emotions, his fingers writhing into fists. All he could manage was a nod. "When did it end?" he finally asked.

Timaeus fixed him with a sad smile and brushed away golden locks. "Long before Locri, I assure you."

"And why didn't you…" Hurt dulled his lotus-blue eyes, and when he spoke again, his voice cracked. "…want to marry her, I mean?" Yugi bit his lip, almost unsure if he wanted to know the answer.

Timaeus did not pause. "I did not want to." He said it so sternly, Yugi wondered just how many times he'd had to explain this part of the story. "I won't deny that Christina and I were close—perhaps closer than we should've been. It was easy to notice the affection between us. Everyone knew of it and the King thought well of it, but it was always the court and crew who thought it more than what it was. But I knew what marriage to her meant. I'm not naïve. I know my men thought of her when I married you. I know they wish and wanted me as their King, but I had no desire to be a king or a consort. I am content to rule Locri and run my ship. Nor did I wish for a marriage that was one of companionship and not love. I knew it would bring us no happiness, nor did I wish to burden my oldest friend with the knowledge that she loved me but I did not love her. To do so would've been cruel. I'd hoped to still have her friendship, but I knew it was not possible then."

"Why not?" Yugi asked.

"Her feelings were much stronger than mine and had not faded with truth and time as mine had. I knew only time apart could return us to what we once were." He rubbed his face with an aggravated sigh. "Again, I was mistaken."

Yugi nodded. His face curved into a small, sad smile. "I think I'm beginning to understand."

Timaeus smiled back. Gently, he cupped Yugi's cheek and lifted his face. "I'd hoped to tell you about her sooner, but after our botched wedding, I did not wish to upset you. And then we were always sparring." He couldn't help but chuckle. "And whenever we seemed to make progress, we'd spat again."

Yugi giggled at that, almost nostalgic. "That was a difficult time for both of us," he said tenderly. Timaeus' grip on his hand had not loosened; Yugi squeezed it reassuringly. "I'm glad you didn't tell me then. It would've have made a difficult situation harder."

He squeezed Tim's hand again. The question lingered on his tongue, terrified to be put out into the world. But ask it, he must. "And… what is she to you now?"

It struck him then. Great Leviathan. Timaeus almost blanched. Yugi was jealous. The thought exalted him, but at the same time, he would not let it stand between them. Timaeus shifted to his knees and released Yugi's hand, and for a moment, his heart sank. Then Timaeus advanced on him, seized his shoulders, and met Yugi's gaze with grim determination. The intensity in his eyes and voice was almost frightening.

"I will not deny that I loved her—and that I love her still. But not in the same way." The severity left no doubt of what he meant. "Not in bed. Not like this. My love for her then was the way I love her now: as my princess who I swore to protect, and the friend who showed me hope when I had none. The same way I love the King, both as my Lord and Ruler and the man who saved me—" He stopped to catch his breath, but it was ragged and loud. His grip was strong and his eyes were wild and ardent with passion. "But not in the same way," he said adamantly, his voice all breath. "Not in the way I love you."

Yugi's eyes shot open wide with surprise and pleasure. The words pierced his heart like arrows. One thing he'd learn from his sisters and past experience was that men hated falling in love—or at least, admitting that they were. They fought it, explained it away, and called it desire, or passion, or lust. Anything but love—anything than admit their weakness for a woman and giving her power over them. It was enough for most women to experience tender moments and acts of kindness, looks of adoration, and sweet embraces. To engage in witty conversations, soft kisses and nights of passion. To have the secret pleasure of knowing their husbands were in love with them, or at least adored them, even if they never spoke the actual words. For Timaeus, whose secrets ran deep and whose trust was so fragile even if his heart was so open… To not only admit to such feelings, but to speak them so boldly, so passionately... It was almost too much for Yugi to bear.

"You…" He almost choked. He wiped his eyes. "You love me?"

He waited skeptically, expecting Timaeus to balk and explain it away. Instead, Timaeus smiled. That same warm smile he only used with him. "Yes, Yugi, I do. I do love you."

Yugi launched himself into his arms before he could stop himself. This man was his, truly and irrevocably his, and the doubts that may have kept him from seeing such truth shriveled and died away like a withering poisonous flower. Timaeus squeezed him tightly, and he suddenly felt mad and giddy and drunk with power. "Good," he said, emboldened, and squeezed back. "Because whomever you may have courted in the past is irrelevant—you're mine now." He pulled away. Possessiveness made his eyes glitter bright and blue, and he declared boldly, "And I have no intention of sharing."

Timaeus stared back, stunned—the bold passion of the words sparking like a lit match, and he resisted the burning, insatiable urge to kiss him. Instead, he chuckled, lips curling into a smile. "I'll be hanged if that's not jealousy I hear in your voice."

Yugi's eyes flickered nervously for an instant, then a smile slit his face. "And if it is?" He crossed his arms, almost pouting, but the smile did not fade.

Timaeus chuckled. "Then no matter," he purred, leaning close until their blazing eyes met and his words were a ghost hovering over Yugi's lips. "Because I have no intention of giving you up."

He would've kissed him then, but the gloom of the situation returned to haunt him, and with a sigh, he groaned. "Now… what shall we do to salvage the situation?"

Yugi frowned, more a disappointed pout than anything else, but his brows narrowed and he considered thoughtfully. Then an idea sparked in his mind and his eyes flickered. "I think…" He turned to his Magister with a smile. "I have an idea."

So just to clarify, the plan was to keep Tim's marriage a secret until Dartx got home and could informthe Royal Family of the event, take everyone to Locri and then Tim and Yugi could tell everyone in person (so as of now they knew their Trierarch was coming home and were prepared to celebrate and that "something else" was going to happen but not what-Critias, unfortunately, spilled the beans leading Cristina to act on her own. Dartz found this out when he arrived and immediately set everything right claring up the confusion, unfortunately this means they had to reveal that Timaeus is married and he's bringing his bride home-the objective of course to avoid exactly what Cristina now doubt things right now: that this was purely a political marriage and arrangement...hope that clarifies it a bit.

Chapter Notes

Little history on messenger birds. I did an extensive amount of research on this for historical sake and was very careful NOT to describe the bird itself for that reason, but apparently messenger birds, specifically carrier pigeons or messenger pigeons. The homing Pigeon being he favorite because of its unique homing ability to find and return to its nest. Domestication and use of these birds began as early as 3,000 BCE, and yes they even had them in Ancient Egypt. Fantasy stories often use Ravens, but in actuality it was crows that possessed incredible memories, connotative skills, ability to use tools and communication skills necessary to recall memory information from youth and even learn from their parents. Problem is Crows tend to swarm in flocks and share the information among each other (ravens are more solitary) whereas Pigeons all have a unique nest. Records of these birds exist in Egypt, Persia, Israel, Greece, china and many other countries. Ancient Egyptian would use Pigeons in order to announce the rise of the nNew Pharaoh. I felt it made perfect sense that Atlantis would be part of that advancement in communication. The way the process works is merchants, warships, even royal barrages would have cages of homing pigeons on board with them and would write messages on papers that the birds would then take back "home" to their native country and court. The problem is homing Pigeons can finds their way home, but just that. So if a bird was sent from a ship it could find its way back to the land but it wouldn't be able to find its way back to ship, thus messages were normally one-sides and reserved for important codes, but it wasn't uncommon for countries to raise pigeons in their native country and send them out to other countries for correspondence so it was possible to send back and forth correspondence.

And on that...SURPRISE CONFESSION! ENJOY!

HAVE A WONDERFUL MAGICAL HOLIDAY EVERYONE AND MAY YOUR DAYS BE FILLED WITH HOPE, LOVE, WISHES, MAGIC, CHEER AND REMEMBER TO GIVE AND BE KIND TO OTHERS AND KEEP THE SPIRIT OF HOPE CLOSE TO YOUR HEART!

HAPPY HOLIDAYS EVERYONE!