Temple of the Winds 8
By: sagelibra
Pairing: Yuuram
Rating: PG-13 (may change)
Summary: There's one more custom Yuuri doesn't know about.
Disclaimer: Don't own any of them.
-o0o-
"You knew about this, didn't you?"
Ken Murata blinked owlishly at his longtime friend. "Knew about what?" He returned smoothly, if somewhat cautiously. He didn't have to be the Great Sage to see that Shibuya was fighting mad. The dark eyes were flashing, and the Maou's shoulders were stiff with the effort to rein in his anger. Even his tone was grimmer than Murata had ever heard it.
"Don't play with me, Murata." Yuuri warned through gritted teeth. His patience was already stretched dangerously thin. Murata knew him better than anyone. The Great Sage had to have known how he would react upon learning the truth. He had to have known that Yuuri would never agree to send Wolfram away, for any reason. But still the fact was that Wolfram was gone, and if Shinou was involved then Murata had to have known. Yuuri couldn't believe how the very people he had trusted had seemingly all turned against him. Even Wolfram, who had never lied to him before…and if his own fiancé conspired against him, who else could he trust?
The thought added to his pain, and that simply fueled his anger even more.
Murata met Conrad's eyes over Yuuri's shoulder. "Ah." He nodded. "You're referring to the Temple of the Winds." He cocked his head to the side. "What is the problem? I thought you would be relieved to be rid of this engagement." He squinted. "Weren't you the one always complaining about this accidental engagement? Weren't you the one who couldn't stand his constant jealousy and vile temper?"
Yuuri swallowed hard, unable to deny the charge.
Thankfully, Celi chose that moment to step in. "You had no right to send him over." She said accusingly. "Only the Maou has the authority to do that!" She turned to the Ulrike, "You must have tricked Shinou into allowing this!"
The chief priestess twisted her hands anxiously, her eyes flying to the Great Sage for guidance. She knew the custom, of course. She had helped in enforcing it, after all, for Celi all those years ago, and more recently, for Yuuri. She bit her lip in distress. She could not deny that Wolfram's case had been extremely irregular. Shinou had originally denied them passage, relenting only after the dark-haired Sage had spoken with him at length.
However, Murata merely shrugged. "Wolfram said it himself. Shibuya's too much of a wimp to do what needs to be done." He added with a knowing smirk. "If it were left to him they would never get anywhere."
"Wolf – Wolfram asked to be exiled?" Yuuri's voice shook, his eyes wide and dark.
Murata recalled Wolfram's defeated expression, his bleak, hopeless gaze, and hardened his heart. "He asked to be released from the engagement." He said bluntly.
Asked. Yuuri's insides quailed. His proud fiancé had never asked for anything. Not ever.
"His time had run out." Murata went on reasonably. "You didn't want him. Not as a fiancé and even less as a husband. What choice did he have? He was smart enough to know that you would never have the balls to break the engagement, and strong enough to know what he had to do. Frankly, I must say I admire Wolfram's guts. He did what he felt was the only way to keep everyone happy."
"Does Heika Maou look happy to you?" Gwendal growled. "Do we look happy to you?"
Unreadable eyes locked with his. "No one forced your brother through the portal." Murata informed him gently. "It was his choice."
"But not mine." Yuuri countered tightly. "Not mine." He turned to the Ulrike. "I don't care what Wolfram said. You broke custom when you let him go. Well, I want him back." His voice rang ominously.
The priestess gazed at the Demon King uncertainly.
"I did not agree to let him go, and he had no right to decide for us both." Yuuri reiterated in a tone that dared the priestess to challenge his authority.
"Heika, the custom – "
" – can go to Hell! Frankly, I don't give a damn!" Yuuri snarled back, his patience at an end.
The Ulrike stared at him for a long moment. Finally, she nodded. "I can only let you through to the Temple, Heika. Once there you may of course speak with Lord Wolfram and sort out your – differences." She informed Yuuri softly. "Whether or not His Excellency agrees to return, however – "
"He will." Yuuri cut in confidently. His gaze did not falter from the priestess. "How soon can we do this?"
"Hold on." Murata stepped forward. "What if you're wrong, Shibuya?" He queried. "What if Wolfram is perfectly happy where he is right now?" He went on, ignoring the incredulous stares directed at him.
"Impossible!" Yuuri snapped.
"Are you so certain?" Murata countered with a lifted eyebrow.
Yuuri opened his mouth to say 'yes', then caught the sage's eye and hesitated.
The Ulrike's gaze moved to Celi, compassion in their depths. "The Temple will treat your son well, Your Excellency." She assured the ex-Demon Queen softly. "Its mission is not to punish failure, but to grant new life. New hope."
Failure. The word grated on Yuuri's already taut nerves.
"Why don't we let Wolfram decide what he really wants?" Conrad spoke up quietly.
"As I recall, he had already done that." Murata reminded him pointedly.
"He thought that Yuuri did not care for him!" Celi protested loudly. "He wasn't thinking clearly!"
Dark eyes locked on to the King. "Was he wrong in his thinking, Shibuya?" Murata asked slowly. "Have you changed your mind about this engagement? Do you love Wolfram?"
Yuuri swallowed. "I do." He said, meeting his friend's gaze steadily. "I didn't realize it soon enough, but I know it now. I love Wolfram."
The Great Sage absorbed that silently, then with a heavy sigh shook his head. "Maybe not soon enough." He said softly. "Wolfram has been there too long already. It is entirely possible that he will choose to stay with the Temple, even knowing how you profess to feel now."
"What are you saying?" Celi demanded faintly.
A distant look entered Murata's eyes. "You must understand that the magic that created the Temple was not meant to harm the people sent there. Shinou felt that lifelong exile was punishment enough. However, after the first few exiles committed suicide He decided to make their lives more bearable."
Suicide. "Oh gods…" Yuuri felt his insides heaving and he swayed slightly. Only Conrad's steadying hand at his back kept him on his feet.
"Shinou put a healing spell over the Temple." Murata went on quietly. "It is one that gradually alters the mind and heals the emotions. It gives the exiles a feeling of serenity. Allow them to go on living." He paused, coming to the difficult part. "It is powerful magic, Shibuya, and it cannot be undone. If Wolfram has fallen under the spell…" He shrugged.
"Then he might not come back anyway." Yuuri finished for him, his voice a horrified whisper. He may have lost Wolfram before he had even had him. Yuuri shuddered.
Suddenly, his shoulder was gripped strongly. "Do not lose hope yet, Yuuri." Conrad told him encouragingly. "My brother is the most stubborn person I have ever known. I do not believe he would so easily succumb to the Temple's magic. You have to have faith in him and in yourself."
His words jarred Yuuri, reminding him that Wolfram's freedom was not the only thing at stake. He needed Wolfram in his life. Losing the blonde to the Temple would not only doom Wolfram, but Yuuri as well. Their lives. Their love.
He straightened. "If Wolfram chooses the Temple, then I will respect that." He forced himself to say the words. "But I am not giving him up that easily. I won't rest until I've spoken to him myself." Wolfram had never denied him anything. He would not deny him this. It was the mantra Yuuri held on to.
Murata shrugged. "Fine."
Yuuri turned to the priestess. "When?"
The Ulrike bowed her head. "Tomorrow."
Another day. Yuuri's teeth gnashed with impatience, but he made himself accept the arrangement.
"I will go with the Maou." Conrad spoke up quietly.
But the Ulrike was already shaking her head. "The Temple of the Winds is forbidden to outsiders." She stated firmly. "Only the Maou may cross over. Only his magic can shield him from the spell Shinou cast over the Temple and its inhabitants."
"The Maou is not going anywhere without protection." Gwendal growled.
A curious smile crossed the Ulrike's lips. "General, I can assure you that no harm will come to the Maou at the Temple."
"Unless he suddenly develops a yearning to have his head shaved." Murata quipped.
Yuuri shot his friend a dirty look.
"They are all monks over there." Murata informed him helpfully. "You know the type – all meditation and the search for peace." He grinned as a sudden thought struck him. "Come to think of it, you'd probably fit in there better than Wolfram will."
Conrad and Gwendal exchanged grim stares. "We go with the Maou." Both stated at the same time.
"No." Yuuri spoke up, holding Murata's stare. "I don't want to disrupt the Temple, and I won't put anyone else in danger." He took a deep breath. "I'll go alone."
-o0o-
That night, alone in his chamber, Yuuri lay in his bed, his eyes wide open.
It is powerful magic… and it cannot be undone.
The words haunted Yuuri. Peppered him with doubts and anxiety. What if Wolfram had succumbed to the magic? What if the blonde knight no longer wanted to be engaged to him? What if Wolfram chose the Temple over him?
What if…?
His gaze drifted to the empty space beside him, his eyes lingering on the perfectly fluffed pillow.
What if…?
His throat closed. At that moment, he would have given anything to have his spoiled fiancé taking up all the space in the big bed. Anything.
A soft, broken sound forced itself out of him, and his hand flew up to cover his mouth. He would not cry. Would not give in to the anguish and hysteria clawing inside him.
To cry was to admit defeat. To accept that he had lost Wolfram to the Temple.
He would not cry. Tomorrow he was going to the Temple and he was going to bring the blonde home.
Tomorrow.
A knock on the door broke into his thoughts, and for a moment he considered pretending to be asleep. But when the knock came again he sighed and got up.
"Conrad." Yuuri stepped back, allowing the gentle-eyed soldier to come in. Turning, the boy-king dragged himself back to the bed, perching on the side listlessly.
Conrad sat himself a foot away, noting Yuuri's downcast expression somberly.
"Are you prepared for tomorrow's undertaking?" He asked quietly.
Yuuri hesitated before nodding. He knew that everyone's hope rested on him. "I won't let you down."
His tone, though sincere, lacked conviction; and Conrad sighed.
"There is something you must remember when you go to the Temple of the Winds tomorrow." He stated softly. At Yuuri's bemused look he went on, "Remember that Wolfram may not be himself. The spell will have affected his thoughts. It will have skewed his judgment. Do not let that sway you from the truth."
"Conrad – " Yuuri blinked. What was the captain trying to tell him?
'Your Majesty, there is only one truth you need to keep in mind when you see him. That Wolfram loves you." Conrad told him with utter conviction. "His heart and soul belongs to you. He would never choose the Temple over you. Not when he is in his right mind." His eyes hardened. "That is why you must be strong for him at this time."
"What do you mean?"
"You know what the magic does, how it blinds the heart and mind. But Wolfram does not. If he has fallen under its spell he will need you to save him from it. You must be prepared to do what is best for him, and for you."
"You want me to take him by force." Realization dawned, and Yuuri felt his stomach lurch sickeningly, he had not even considered that possibility. Naively, he had thought that once he had seen Wolfram, had spoken to him, that the blonde would forgive his stupidity and come home. After all, the blonde knight had never refused him before. And even when he had contemplated the power of the Temple's magic, it had not crossed his mind that he may have to forcibly remove Wolfram from the Temple.
Conrad nodded, his features turning grim. "If necessary, yes. I believe Wolfram's love for you. I know that his heart would never willingly surrender that love. Once he returns, I believe his true feelings will come back."
Yuuri stared at him, wide-eyed and not a little apprehensive. He had never had to force anyone to do something against their will. "Can I do that?" He asked uncertainly. "Just drag him away from the Temple, I mean? Wouldn't the monks try to stop me?"
"You are the Maou." Conrad stated forcefully, as though that alone answered all his questions. "To go against your express wishes is an unforgivable crime."
Yuuri sagged against the bedpost, his thoughts whirling. How was he going to 'force' Wolfram to come with him? And even if he did manage to 'force' Wolfram back, what if he never recovered from the spell?
…it cannot be undone...
His eyes closed. "What if -?"
"Yuuri," His eyes flew open when the slender hand reached out to squeeze his shoulder, "do you love Wolfram?"
Yuuri nodded, his heart in his eyes.
"Then bring him home." Conrad smiled. That special smile that had always filled Yuuri with confidence. Yuuri straightened, a glint entering his eyes as new determination flowed through him.
"I will."
-o0o-