Okay so another fic! This time it's a Valentines's day/Threesome fic, but it's sadder then what I usually do, so I hope you enjoy it :D
The next Challenge is Bedroom/Magic, so you might even have that before the end of the week! :P
Velend let his eyes wander over the scene outside his window. The shops and stalls had all been painted various shades of pink, ranging from a gentle baby pink to a garish colour that seemed to burn his eyes. Balloons in the shape of hearts swayed in the soft breeze, tied down securely with pink strings to stop them disappearing into the late winter sky. He saw a woman go up to one of the stalls selling beautiful red roses and exquisite boxes of chocolates tied up with ribbons. A tear rolled slowly down his cheek. For the past few days all he had seen were lovey-dovey couples, holding hands, kissing. All of his friends had someone; even Tayend of Tremmelin now had Ambassador Dannyl.
"The man I love doesn't even know I exist," Velend thought, and looked over at the envelope resting on a box of chocolates, "But that won't stop me trying." He picked up the letter, and looked at it for a few silent moments, before his other hand scooped up the heart shaped box and he made his way out, a hopeful smile playing across his mouth.
Lord Finnegan looked up, blinking at the sudden light that hit his face. He looked around. He was sitting at his desk (or rather, doing a shoulder stand on the seat), the light was coming from the morning sun, which had just risen high enough to bypass his early morning sun shield, that stopped him from being woken up at 5 o'clock every morning. The screens that other Magicians used were covered in those stupid Guild Incals. His family didn't believe in Incals. Looking down, he remembered why he was at his desk. Last night, he had been writing a flirtatious letter to the one he had been admiring for years, but had only now had the courage to do anything about that. Quickly, he finished the letter, signed it with the traditionally ambiguous question mark, and sealed it in the envelope with a handful of glitter and sequins. Cart wheeling outside, he found a messenger boy.
"I want you to post this letter, and make sure that it arrives with 12 thornless red roses." He held out the letter and a few coins to the boy, who reached down to take them, his eyebrows raised in obvious respect at Lord Finnegan's ability to support his whole weight with one hand. "Get off the tables!" Lord Finnegan cried suddenly, making the boy jump, and then watch him, confused, as 7 he made his way back inside.
Velend's eyes shot open as he realised the date. It was the 14th of February. Then came the familiar sound of letters dropping to the floor. He shot out of bed, and grabbed the pile of envelopes, running back into his bedroom to sort through them. The first few were just regular letters, but then he came to the third. It was a pinkish-red colour, and coming off it was a rich, musky scent. He opened it carefully, his hands trembling in anticipation. Slowly, he slid the letter out of its casement, and marvelled at the metallic paper, in a similar colour to that of the envelope. It was written in neat, flowing handwriting, with what looked like expensive black ink. He started to read.
Dearest Velend,
My love for you has burnt bright and strong for many years now, but I have never had the courage to write to you. You are the man of my dreams, and every time I see you, my only wish is for us to be together. Meet me at the restaurant on the corner of your street at 8pm tonight, so that we may finally be where we are supposed to be, with one another. I will see you with my rose in hand tonight. Till then, my dearest Velend!
?
Velend lay the letter down on his crossed legs. His heart beat with a new warmth, a new joy. Maybe they did know he existed after all. He looked down at his hands, resting in his lap, and noticed that they were shimmering. He smiled, realising that that had come from the letter. Yes, to put in that much effort they certainly did.
Lord Finnegan rolled slowly up the street, anxious as to what he would do when he got to the cafe. The moment he had been dreaming about for so long, could he make this work? He took a deep breath. Only one way to find out. The little bell above the door rang as he carefully pushed his way inside. A few people turned around to stare at him, asking their neighbours who he was.
He let his eyes stray over the exquisite tables, all adorned with pink, almost fluffy looking double roses, in red-tinted glass vases, sitting atop red lace tablecloths. All except one. Peering through the warm glow of the candles, his eyes rested upon the royal table. Reserved for the royal families and their most trusted officials, she was sitting in the corner on a raised platform surrounded by soft, expensive chairs. Upon it, sat a vase of twelve thornless red roses. Lord Finnegan smiled a bright, perfect toothed smile, his watery eyes shining in the candlelight.
"You got my letter?" He breathed, tentatively reaching out a hand towards her.
"Lord Finnegan!" Velend cried with relief. "You came!" He ran up to him and hugged him tightly. Lord Finnegan squirmed in his grasp, not at all sure what was happening.
"Err..." He grimaced, and pushed Velend's shoulder so he lost his balance and hit the ground. "Why... what's with the hug!" He spluttered, doing a back flip away from him. Velend looked at him from the floor, betrayed.
"You told me to meet you here... in your letter... You said "With my rose in hand". You're holding it now!" He pointed to Lord Finnegan's hand, in which was a deep purple rose. He looked down.
"I didn't send anything to you though... I brought it for my one true love, Bel Bellbell. He strode up to her with love in his eyes, and rested the rose in the vase. Suddenly though, it tipped over, spilling its contents over the lace tablecloth. Lord Finnegan stared at her in amazement, his breath hitching in his throat and the tears of bewilderment starting to form in his eyes. "But... you have my roses..."
Velend looked up in amazement, and stared at the scene with new eyes. He pointed at the table.
"You sent me the letter? Not him?" He walked slowly up to her, and placed his hand gently on the edge of her polished surface. "I'm sorry, I don't mean to be crude, but... my... inclinations aren't exactly towards tables, even fine ones such as yourself, or even... women for that matter." He blinked regretfully at her. "I'm sorry, I truly am, this was all a misunderstanding." The purple rose rolled to his feet. "I understand, I won't stay a moment longer." He walked out of the restaurant, head down.
Lord Finnegan stared after him as he left, with fiery determination and hatred. He looked back at his beloved. She was gone.
"NO!" He wailed, and went after Velend. He slammed the door open, and cart wheeled as fast as he could down the street, before turning sharply at a dingy alleyway. He saw Velend, and turned feral. "How could you?" He screamed, the sobs coming think and fast. "She never did anything to you, and you just dumped her! I would have taken care of her, but I can't now! She's gone, and it's your fault!" He collapsed to his knees, unable to support himself anymore, and closed his eyes.
Velend turned at Lord Finnegan's anguished cry. He wanted to comfort him, and those arms were so muscular with all that cart wheeling... He knelt down next to the broken man, and brought him up into embrace.
"It'll be okay, it'll all be okay," He consoled him, rubbing his hand up and down his back and rocking gently. "We'll find her, don't worry, she can't have gone far!"
Suddenly Lord Finnegan gasped.
"No! This isn't what it looks like!" He cried, and got to his hands. Velend wheeled round, only to see Bel Bellbell, standing not five feet away from them, a white cape draped over her. He looked to Lord Finnegan's stricken face. "I love you!" He cried, the tears rolling down his cheeks merging with one another making his whole face shine. "Wait! We can work it out! You don't need to do this! Don't end your beautiful life! I can make you happy if only you'd put down the gun!" Velend froze at the mention of a gun. Then he heard a shot. He turned around in time to see her falling, a smoking gun falling with her and a scorched, blackened hole right in her centre. Lord Finnegan draped himself over her body, weeping for her. All Velend could do was hold him. Then something changed. "Someone get an ambulance!" Lord Finnegan cried. "She's still alive!"
A week later, Velend went to visit Bel Bellbell in hospital. She was lying in a bed, with a healer polishing her top. Lord Finnegan stood beside her, his hand resting by her leg, smiling. He came into hearing range just as the healer finished.
"Well, from now on you'll need to be polished every day," He patted her, "But you survived, that's the important thing."
"We can never thank you enough doctor!" Lord Finnegan vigorously shook the healer's hand once he had bent down. Velend smiled as he approached the couple.
"Everything's worked out for you too then?" He asked. Lord Finnegan looked lovingly at Bel Bellbell.
"Yes, everything is perfect now, thank you." He smiled at her, then turned to Velend. "Get off the tables!" Velend smiled, but inside he was crying. The one he loved... he could never have. That was the curse of Valentine's Day.