Arthur woke to fingers pressed against his forehead, and he opened his eyes. Lovino hovered at his side and withdrew his hand when he saw his eyes were open. He sat up and yawned. The ache in his body had dispersed while he slept and left him feeling slightly odd, like he'd slept too long and his body had aged in that time.

The man help up a piece of paper for him to read. "How do you feel?"

"I am fine." He did a check of his body. Everything seemed in place, although he still felt weak, his body was no longer sore. "I feel rather good."

"Get up."

"Where are we going?" He carefully stood, his legs wobbled under him, but they held as he took a few steps. Weakness was to be expected after being bedridden for so long. Lovino placed a pair of thin sandals in front of him and he tied them on.

Lovino motioned him to follow and he exited the room. The man led him to a spacious dinning hall, where Feliciano sat in wait for them. The hall was bigger than necessary for only three people, and the furnishings were strange, lavish.

A grand table ran the length of the room, suggesting a time when large banquets were common. More tapestries hung on the walls, most depicting images of gods and nymphs carousing merrily together. The last time he'd seen such delicate work was in the home of a wealthy merchant, but the wall hanging had shown great age with worn threads and faded colors.

The snap of fingers drew his attention and Lovino gestured for him to sit. Arthur seated himself and glanced over the lay out of colorful foods, although there was not a single meat dish. Across from him, the eyes of Feliciano bored into him with unbridled curiosity. Feliciano wore shinning robes just as his brother did and a gold collar-like necklace around his neck, forged in the same style as his older brother's bracelets.

"Er, hello. Your brother told me of you. I am Arthur Kirkland. Thank you for your hospitality."

Feliciano's face broke into a smile, his face shinning with gentle kindness, and the man waved a greeting. Arthur caught sight of sight of a tattoo identical to Lovino's running down his younger brother's arms. He glanced from Lovino to Feliciano. The two brothers had an undeniable resemblance with their shades of brown hair and godly beauty, but Lovino frowned where Feliciano smiled.

Lovino caught his eye and made various hand motions to his mouth and the food, holding his hands at a small distance apart to show size.

"Eat little?" Arthur frowned slightly. If he hadn't known Lovino was mute, he might have laughed at the motions.

The man nodded, and patted his stomach, making an exaggerated, scrunched face.

Then he began to understand better. Lovino didn't want him to eat too much for fear of making him sick. "I understand."

The younger brother covered his mouth as if to stifle a laugh, and Lovino shot him a stern glare, pointing a warning finger at him. Feliciano merely smiled sheepishly at his brother. Lovino shook his head and rolled his eyes. Noticing his staring, Lovino frowned again and poured honeyed wine into his cup.

"You seem to have a large amount of wealth, yet I see no servants," Arthur said, trying to be polite, and sipped the wine offered to him. He had never been one to drink wine, but the crisp, sweetness of the drink startled him. "Who all lives on this island?"

The eldest brother pointed to himself and Feliciano.

"Just you two?" He raised his eyebrows in surprise.

Nodding quickly, Lovino gestured for him to eat.

"Yes, I'm going to eat." Arthur put only simple foods on to his plates, choosing nothing too heavy or thick, even though he wanted to try a bit of everything on the table. He could feel two sets of eyes on him as Arthur took a bite of food. "This is wonderful," he said, happily caught off guard by the flavor. "I presume one of you is the cook?"

Both of the brothers pointed a finger at the other in unison. Feliciano covered his mouth in another silent laugh, while Lovino merely shook his head and snacked on a few grapes.

He ate in silence, sometimes glancing at one brother or the other. The quiet didn't bother him, for he was use to eating alone in his cabin, but such silence with two other people in the room was strange. He wasn't sure how to go forward, or if the two men in front of him were truly friendly. They were undeniably generous to save him and share their table, but they were other worldly—not quite of this earth or time, but instead timeless as the sea and sky. He couldn't help but be wary of the men, despite his gratitude to them for saving his life.

"I would think others would have come to this island by now," Arthur said after finishing his light meal. "It's curious that you are the only ones here."

Lovino stood and drew his attention to one of the colorful wall hangings. Depicted on the woven fabric, a whirl pool spewed rocks on one side and a six-headed monster lurked on the other, both promising death. Between them a boat bobbed on turbulent waves, caught in the middle of two evils.

"Sea monsters?" He frowned, wondering if Lovino took him for a fool.

The man shook his head and pointed at the water.

"Oh, dangerous waters." Arthur rubbed his fingers over newly acquired scraps on his knuckles. He must have gotten them when he was thrown from his ship. "Is that why you do not leave?"

Lovino's brows knitted together and the man shifted uncomfortably, agitated by Arthur's question. Even Feliciano seemed disturbed, turning to look at his brother for support. Finally, Lovino shook his head and sat down again, pouring himself a cup of golden liquid. Noting Lovino's discomfort, Arthur let the subject drop. He found it odd that Lovino's every emotion showed on his face when he felt them and he did nothing to hide them. Perhaps Arthur was just too use to liars and cut-throats. Even so, the strange honesty was refreshing and he couldn't find it in himself to use Lovino's bare emotions against him.

Feliciano stood suddenly and tugged his brother up and out of the room. Arthur, now left alone, rose and explored the large dinning hall. Aside from the delicate tapestries, finely made vases and sculptures stood along the walls. The dinning table itself was elaborately carved along with matching chairs. The detailed carvings seemed alive with nymphs dancing to the tune of some distant music. The richness made him uncomfortable. Arthur could appreciate luxury, but this wealth borderlined royalty.

A soft whistle startled him and snapped his attention towards the sound. Lovino stood in the doorway and beckoned him. Arthur followed as Lovino led him down the hall and back to his room. He took this moment to look at Lovino's tattoo closer. Feathered wings ran down the backs of Lovino's arms, delicately detailed to the point they almost looked real, and if Lovino held his arms out, he'd look like a bird spreading its wings to take flight. He resisted the urge to reach out and touch them, half expecting them to somehow be real, but he kept his hands at his sides and merely stared at the strange tattoo.

...

The blond followed behind him silently and he risked a glance back. His guest had a thoughtful expression and he snapped his fingers to catch his attention. Green eyes cut into him and he hesitated for a moment afraid that they saw through him, that they knew what he was. But the man's gaze wasn't fearful, nor was it intensely enchanted, just merely curious.

Getting a hold on himself, he led Arthur into the room Lovino had dedicated as his sickroom. Staying only a moment to make sure Arthur didn't need anything, he walked to the door.

"Where are you going?" Arthur stood in the middle of the room, watching him.

Curse the Gods, he swore, biting his lip to keep his frustration from escaping. Lovino turned and scrawled on a near by piece of paper. "To sit with my brother."

"May I come too?"

Why can't you stay in your damn bed, sailor bastard? I can't let you roam around with my blabber mouth brother. You're lucky I didn't leave you for Poseidon to claim, no good, sea loving, pirate. He yearned to say the words that collided in his head, but kept his mouth shut and bit his silver tongue.

Arthur seemed to read the expression on his face and quickly added, "I've slept more than enough for now. I'm not tired."

Then stay in your fucking room, pirate. Despite his thoughts against it, he waved a hand vaguely for the blond to interpret as he please, and left the room. He heard soft steps behind him and a frown pulled at his lips. Lovino had hoped with Arthur safely tucked away in his room, he could speak without fear of bewitching the unfortunate sailor that had stranded himself on their island.

"Your house is rather large and old."

Is it? Lovino glanced around. He didn't know how houses looked outside his own, but his mothers had told him the outside world was cruel and humans were savage. Although, he wouldn't put it past them to have lied about the mainland to keep him and his brother from leaving. Even now, he didn't know why they stayed, other than the obvious reasons.

He opened the door to the room he and Feliciano shared. His brother lifted his head and opened his mouth to speak, but snapped it shut when he caught sight of Arthur behind him. Feliciano looked from him to Arthur, questions in his eyes.

Shrugging, he simply shook his head and settled in his usual place atop a soft sheep throw by Feliciano's loom. Feliciano took to the stool in front of his loom, and continued to send him worried glances.

Arthur hovered in the doorway until Lovino finally took mercy on him and motioned for Arthur to sit beside him. Arthur seemed surprised, but sat on the rug without a word.

Green eyes burned into him, and he raised his brows questioningly.

"Why do you have no servants?"

A sigh rose from his chest and Lovino rubbed a hand over his eyes. Does this man never stop asking complicated questions? Go get me a piece of parchment and a quill, you rotten pirate, he ordered in his mind and pointed to the desk on the far side of the room with all his writing tools.

The blond frowned, and Lovino almost thought he'd refused, but then Arthur rose and got the things Lovino needed. Writing quickly, he said, "Our mothers, alone, were exiled to this island, and not allowed to leave. Servants were not necessary to keep them alive."

"Why?"

"They failed their master."

"Who was their master?"

"You ask too many questions. Stop."

Embarrassed flush rose on Arthur's pale cheeks. "I apologize. It's not my place to pry, but your situation surprises me and I'm curious as to why it is like that."

"We can't all be worldly sailors." Lovino almost chuckled, but quickly caught himself. The blond's embarrassment was almost cute. For a sailor, Arthur was strangely polite. "Where do you come from, wanderer?"

"England is where I am from. It's far to the North, if you don't know. England is a large island, but the mainland is only a short boat ride away."

"Why do you sail?"

Arthur seemed surprised by the question. "To see other worlds...and to get away from my family. I was a young and rebellious man when I first set sail, wanting only to get under my lord father's skin. But the sailing life suited me and I had no reason to return to my old life."

"That explains your manners. Most sailors are crude and ignorant."

"There have been other sailors?"

"Do you think you're the only sailor to wash up on this island? The waters are dangerous and some captains are fools enough to sail through despite any warnings." From Arthur's expression, he'd take a guess that Arthur was one of those fools and now he was paying for his stupidity.

"I see. That is all I will question you of for now."

Finally. Lovino set aside his parchment and inkwell, and looked at Feliciano. His brother gave him a look of distress and made various gestures at Arthur. Despite his brother's flailing, he just waved a hand and pointed to the loom. Feliciano let out a huff and pointed to his lyre. He sighed softly and picked up the instrument. Fine, if you won't shut up any other way, I'll play.

Feliciano smiled brightly and set about choosing colors of yarn from the basket beside him. Lovino watched Feliciano pass the shuttle back and forth before he braced the lyre in his lap. Strumming his fingers over the strings, the sweet melody wove through the air in a tapestry of notes. Words to the song stuck in his throat and he bit his tongue to fend off the temptation of letting them flow out with the music.

The light of the setting sun grew low and he let the music follow as Apollo's chariot plunged below the horizon and let his sister have the sky. Arthur leaned so close, enjoying the music, that he could feel the blond's soft breath on his cheek. He thought he heard someone chuckle and when he looked towards the sound, Lovino thought he saw golden curls flash by the window. He quickly wrote it off as rays from the dying light and continued playing, changing to a more soothing song to calm his unease. Feliciano touched his arm, startling him, and he cut off playing. It had grown dark and Feliciano rose to light a candle.

A soft snore sounded from beside him and Lovino glanced over to find Arthur fast asleep with a pillow under his head. After he made sure Arthur was asleep, Lovino let out a long breath. "The bastard is asleep," he whispered, and drew away from Arthur.

"Why did you let him in here?" Feliciano looked nervous, glancing at the window and at Arthur.

"What was I suppose to do? He's a guest, even if he is a dirty pirate."

"Lovino, you don't know that he's a pirate," Feliciano scolded him quietly, looking at him with worried eyes.

He frowned, shrugging off Feliciano's worry as nothing. "Shut up, I'm going to get this idiot to his room. That means no talking."

"I know, brother."

Lovino knelt in front of Arthur and slapped his cheeks lightly. Arthur's eyes opened and blinked at him. "Huh? I fell asleep. I'm sorry."

So polite. He chuckled internally and straightened into a standing position. Waving the man up, Lovino led Arthur back to his room.

"Good night," said Arthur, before closing the door quietly.

...

Feliciano loved weaving on his loom with Lovino playing his lyre to help him pass the time, but the music didn't soothe him this evening as it usually did. He remained tensed. It was that man sitting next to his brother that left him so uncomfortable. For some reason, he knew that Arthur shouldn't be here, that something bad would happen because he was here. It scared him and made his fingers tremble, but he didn't know what was wrong or how to keep it from happening.

Letting out a cleansing sigh, Feliciano set down the loom's shuttle. He listened to Lovino played and felt a bit calmer. Lovino had a way with music that could touch anyone's soul and silence the swirling thoughts in their head; it almost always made him smile to hear Lovino play. His feelings of content were suddenly interrupted by something whistling through the air.

He looked behind him and saw a shinning arrow buried in Arthur's chest. The reaction was immediate in Arthur. Arthur leaned forward, closer to Lovino, his eyes glowing with unadulterated longing for his brother. All this went unnoticed by Lovino, who was too caught up in his music to care.

Pressing a hand to his mouth to keep from calling out to his brother, he looked at the window. Framed in the fading light, Eros smiled at him and put a finger to his lips in an order of silence. The youthful God let out a soft chuckle and disappeared from the window. His heart cringed painfully and Feliciano looked back to Arthur and Lovino. Arthur's eyes still held their longing, the arrow in his chest melding into his heart, but when he looked for an arrow in Lovino's chest, Feliciano was relieved to see none there.

He touched his brother's arm and startled from his music induce trance. After speaking with him, he watched Lovino wake Arthur and take him to his room. Once they were gone, Feliciano went to the window and looked out. It was dark outside and he could see the ocean, smooth and flat as ever. Feliciano sighed and whispered into the soft night, "Please, protect us from this challenge, Lady Demeter. Don't let this be our end."

Don't expect regular updates for this story. I'm still trying to finish other stories. Feel free to check out whatever story is holding my attention so strongly.

-Windy