Ghosts of the Past

Asrai heard as if from a dream, a rich deep baritone singing. 'Bravi, bravi, bravissimi.' It praised in a proud, adoring croon. She flushed slightly at the praise and wondered who around her had sung so sweetly. But as she glanced at her fellow players she saw all of them in the glorious afterglow of a successful performance. None of them could have done it.

With a shrug she looked over at Faith who was pulling off her wig with scant regard for the pins she was shedding. "Nothing happened." She reminded the watcher.

Faith grimaced. "The boss would have my head if something had happened to you and I couldn't prevent it because I was in costume."

"Faith, a costume wouldn't stop you. Grief! An army couldn't stop you." Asrai retorted, helping her friend out of the corduroy bodice.

"There's a first time for everything." Faith said darkly.

Out of the corner of her eye Asrai caught a glimpse of Briar, sitting down shakily on a crate. "I don't think we'll get a repeat performance out of Briar." She remarked. "Dragon either." She watched the warrior mage sit down on the floor next to his sister and lean his head against her knees. "Those two, really don't like being onstage like this."

"To be honest babe, I don't blame them." Faith remarked.

"What?" Asrai turned and looked at her friend in astonishment. "How can anyone not love this?" She gestured with her hands. "Its wonderful! To become anyone, make folk believe anything, through the power of your voice, and force of your words, to have someone truly believe the events onstage are really happening! What could be better than that?"

The dark watcher smiled to itself as it listened to the girls exclamation. She adored the theatre, seemed to love it above all else. She was definitely the one. He would join with this girl and become one with her. He could teach her so much about acting, and she would be his finest work.

"Briar doesn't like pretending to be someone else." Faith said reasonably. "She likes an audience, but when she's herself. Dragon…I don't know how you convinced him, and I don't want to know. But right now, he has the look of a man who's survived a death stroke by the skin of his teeth."

"We'd better go and retrieve Briar and Dragon." Sebastian said as he watched the audience empty the theatre. "Not to mention Asrai."

"Hmm…" His father nodded as he rose. He appeared to be thinking of something that disturbed him greatly. Now he regarded his soon to be married daughter and younger son with a serious gaze. "Nwyfan and Rosaleen will be part of our family soon. Formally recognized I mean, we already consider them family." Sabine took his hand smiling her agreement. "I think you had better begin teaching them how to fight."

"How to…" Lorelei broke off her question as the light of realization dawned in her eyes. She nodded seriously. "It would be a good idea for the two of us to alternate between Dragon and Briar." She suggested to Sebastian.

"Good point." Sebastian nodded. "They'll need a broad range of perspectives if they're to learn how to counter those damnable double blades."

The two of them sighed simultaneously. Neither one of them looked forward to answering the questions that would come along with these new, very necessary lessons.

Asrai sat dreamily before the mirror in her dressing room. Faith was lounging on the battered couch behind her. Both of them seemed completely entranced by the wondrous music they heard.

In her mirror Asrai saw the image of a man shimmer into view. He held out his hand and sang…music so filled with longing and promises of learning to be even better at her craft. To be her teacher… "I'll be your angel of music…" the rich voice whispered.

The loud knocking on the door made both of the girls jump in surprise and the aura of enchantment seemed to dissolve.

The self named Angel cursed to himself at the atrocious timing of the man who stood in front of the door. Then he regarded the man more closely. 'Ahhh…' he thought to himself. This one was not a threat to him. From the golden looks, so closely resembling his new student, he was a brother, not a lover, he was the one who had come backstage earlier. The only possible threat to his plans for Her was the dark haired female, she who acted so irreverently and of whom She thought of with such affection.

Sebastian frowned and shook his head. For a moment he could have sworn he heard a man's voice within his sister's dressing room. But when she opened it, only she and Faith were there. "Are you ready?" He asked looking at the two of them. "Dragon and Briar have given their costumes back to the wardrobe mistress."

Asrai nodded dreamily. "We'll be ready in a few minutes Sebastian. You don't have to wait for us."

"Don't have to?" Sebastian regarded her in disbelief. "Asrai, Mother and Father can't wait to see you. Everyone wants to celebrate. No one wanted to leave the theatre for nearly a quarter of an hour after the curtain finally fell. Your opera, your play, whatever you wish to call it, is a work of art!"

"All right." Asrai seemed surprised by the intensity of his reaction. "Just let me scrub my face." Sebastian stepped inside and shut the door taking a seat next to Faith on the couch.

She suited action to words while Faith finished lacing up her boots and buttoned up her shirt. "Hey boss," the dark haired girl grinned. "How did I do?"

Sebastian looked at her and at the costume she'd worn. "It took me a little bit to determine who you were playing. You've got a gift for assuming a character Faith."

The assassin grinned. "Comes in handy in my line of work."

Sebastian returned her grin. "If you ever get tired of working for us, I'm sure the Admiral's Men would be jumping to offer you a place."

"What? And leave Asrai here?" Faith shook her head. "No way in nine hells." She snuck behind the girl and wrapped an arm around her waist, giving her a kiss on the neck.

Asrai giggled in her embrace. "Hmm…" She turned and her hand slipped into Faith's hair. "I don't think I'd be able to get used to you not being around." She said giving her friend a soft kiss on the cheek.

Sebastian smiled genuinely glad that his sister and his friend cared for each other. "Quite frankly Asrai, I don't see Faith being reassigned to anyone else. Unless she cared to take on a special errand or two, once you are married eventually." He looked at Faith with a gaze the assassin knew was quite sincere. "If you wished to remain with my sister even then, I'm sure it could be arranged."

Faith's eyes went a bit soft and she smiled, a genuine sweet smile before the habitual mask went up again. Clearing her throat as if it was tight she said huskily. "Thanks boss, I think I might be taking you up on that, if the babe doesn't get tired of having me around."

"Never." Asrai declared affectionately and hugged her friend and watcher. The two girls, one so dark and the other so bright were a sweet sight, the picture of friendship and affection.

"Well let's go." Sebastian rose gracefully from his seat. "I'm rather impatient to be holding my beloved and I'm sure everyone is just about rioting for the chance to talk to you about the performance."

Andreas entered the practice room early a few mornings later. He had expected, given Sebastian's many occupations lately, that he would be practicing alone. To his surprise he found his younger brother already there, in his practice cannons and nothing else, punching and kicking one of the hanging sandbags as if it were a mortal enemy.

"Good grief!" Andreas exclaimed as he approached. "Has the punching bag given some offense? Or did you anger Briar and she pushed you out of bed this morning?" He looked at Sebastian curiously.

Sebastian shook his head and a barrage of punches hit the bag. "If I don't hit something I might lose control of myself in public." He replied.

"Where did all this energy come from?" Andreas asked. "The wedding and lessons and all your other duties aren't enough to keep you busy?"

"Not busy enough, not at night." Sebastian kicked the bag savagely and turned to his brother. "Sometimes I think my wedding night will never come."

"Whoa! Whoa!" Andreas held up a hand and regarded his brother strangely. "What are you talking about?"

Sebastian looked at him as if it were obvious. "I'm so…tense, for want of a better word, that I think I may implode." He hurled another punch at the bag.

Andreas shook his head. "Wait a minute." He leaned against a nearby wall and folded his arms. "I'm not making the connection here."

Sebastian turned and in frustration ground out the words. "I met Briar two years ago." He said spacing out his words with punches. "From the moment I met her, despite all outward appearances, I lost all interest in pursuing and bedding other women."

"And?" Andreas raised his eyebrows and simply looked at his little brother.

"Andreas…" Sebastian looked at his brother with irritation. "I've gone without," he shrugged expressively, "for more than two years now."

Andreas regarded him in astonishment. "Damn Sebastian!" He exclaimed in awe.

"Didn't think I had it in me did you." Sebastian commented dryly aiming another punch at the sandbag.

"No." Andreas' agreement was immediate and blunt and inspired an annoyed look from his brother.

"Thanks Andreas, it's great that your opinion of me is so high." He drawled and kicked at the bag.

"Wait a minute…" Andreas shook his head. "She spends her nights in your room." He pointed out. "The entire family knows of it, Asrai and Faith have seen her coming out in the morning."

"Your point being?" Sebastian grunted as he executed a roundhouse kick at the bag.

"What are…" Andreas paused in the middle of his question. His little brother had in the past been very close-mouthed about his lady and their activities.

Sebastian shot him a grin. "About the time you were matchmaking with Dragon and your twin, she and I became…" his smile gentled and was almost adoring as he thought of Briar and her response to him. "We became a little more intimate, but petting only goes so far to ease my frustrations."

Andreas shook his head. "Its obvious that she loves you, and you her. What are you waiting for?" He asked curiously.

Sebastian looked at his older brother and stopped punching the sand bag. Turning so he faced Andreas the younger prince said quietly. "Trust between Briar and I was a difficulty at first. She was trying so hard to get past her memories of Saldan, and I was afraid she would not love me, only the prince and what he could give. When she finally admitted she loved me, I thought we'd begin spending our nights together." He shrugged. "I was mistaken. She wasn't ready for such intimacy yet. But she and I talked. I was feeling incredibly frustrated, or so I thought, little did I know then." Andreas smiled at that and Sebastian shrugged sheepishly. "We took things slowly. I didn't want to frighten her and she was growing accustomed to my affections."

"Anyone who looks at the two of you can see how you adore her embraces." Andreas said quietly, a trace of envy in his voice. "That she feels the same is obvious."

Sebastian nodded. "It is a difficult thing to hide, being in love." He tilted his head consideringly. "I was, am, so humbled by Briar's trust in me at times. She trusts me to wait and still hold her at night."

"But you are to be married now, surely she's overcome her fears?" Andreas exclaimed in disbelief.

Sebastian smiled ruefully. "I would have waited forever. I simply have no desire for any other. The reason in part my Rose hadn't shared herself completely was the state of her birth and her mother's. She was determined to wait until she was married." His brother nodded his understanding and Sebastian said slowly. "But the day I went to propose to my lady, she offered herself to me, not knowing I wanted to marry her."

Andreas blinked slowly and said. "I thought I understood you to say that you were celibate in that particular act for two years?"

Sebastian flushed. "I am." He replied stiffly. "When she wanted to give herself to me, I was awed and honored and my first thought was to possess her completely. " He took a deep breath. "But she had waited so long. I had already waited so long… I did not do it. Instead I proposed and promised to make her mine on our wedding night. I wanted it to be special…for us both…to be our lives joining forever. And I want to give her that feeling of safety and security too."

Andreas stared at his little brother. "Sebastian!" He exclaimed slowly. "You are a romantic!"

The younger man flushed a deeper red. "Repeat that to anyone and you'll regret it Andreas." He muttered turning and beginning to punch the sandbag again.

"What will you do? Thrash me?" Andreas laughed shaking his head.

"In my present condition do you doubt I could?" His little brother growled back. Andreas held up his hands in surrender, his mouth still trying to twitch into a grin. Sebastian ignored him, muttering as if to himself. "I proposed in Ches, it's now Kythorn. I didn't anticipate this delay when I decided I could wait."

Andreas couldn't hold back his laughter. "Sebastian are you crazy?" He burst out between chuckles. "A royal wedding? Not one but two members of the royal family marrying and you didn't think it would take long?"

Sebastian rolled his eyes. "Mother and Dad were married publicly only a month after Queen Alusair learned of the private ceremony." He pointed out in defense of his reasoning.

"Haven't you noticed how those two seem to avoid all the rules?" Andreas returned , a slight touch of bitterness in his tone.

"Not all, Dad still ended up being king, hard as he tried to avoid it." Sebastian rolled his eyes again.

Andreas regarded his brother with a curious gleam in his eyes. "Sebastian, why are you telling me this?" He asked. "I mean…you haven't ever discussed this with me."

Sebastian looked at him as if it were obvious. "Andreas, you're my brother." He pointed out. "Who else would I talk to? Dragon? He wouldn't like hearing about Briar being in my bed. Anakin?" He rolled his eyes. "He wouldn't be able to stop laughing long enough to listen." Andreas grinned his agreement to that. Dragon entered the room at that point and the younger prince grinned. "Ahh, a new target." He greeted the warrior mage. "Come spar with me Dragon, since we're both in the same boat."

Dragon smiled and nodded. "You torment yourself unnecessarily." He observed. "Spending nights with Briar cannot be easy."

"Spending them away from Lorelei can't be easy for you." Sebastian retorted. When Dragon grimaced in acknowledgement of this statements accuracy Sebastian smiled. "I don't care if its easy or not. Holding her at night is making my life worth living until we marry."

Andreas chuckled, his hazel eyes darker than usual. "Then you'd better get used to very cold baths."

A duet of groans, the tenor of which suggested familiarity with that time honored method of dealing with unruly desire, was their response to his remark.

Briar listened wide eyed as Lorelei and her mother casually discussed the potential guest list. They threw names about like Dove, Lamruil, Amlaruil, Anastasia and Tanalastia. The bard shook her head in amazement as they debated whether or not their fellow rulers would attend but finally it was decided that anyone of consequence should be sent an invitation.

Lorelei cast a glance at Briar and smiled. "You'll have to get used to this Briar." She commented. "As Sebastian's wife you'll be associating with most of these people if not routinely on a semi-regular basis." She tilted her head curiously. "I know you are particular friends with my grandmother, and her children are most certainly invited. Are there any friends from the High Forest or the Misty Wood whom we should send invitations to? We will have to send a courier to any out of the way places."

Briar returned the princess' smile and thoughtfully shook her head. "Most to whom we are close will not be able to attend, simply because of their race. But to send an announcement would make them feel included. We will simply have to arrange to visit with them."

Lorelei nodded sympathetically. "I understand." She glanced at her mother. "If any of the Rulers agree to attend they will likely have a retinue of sizeable consequence." She remarked. "We'll have to word the invitations so all that will be attending the wedding and reception are counted properly."

Briar groaned. "You mean that if King Lamruil comes with his lady Maura, that he will bring along several of his courtiers?"

Sabine nodded and shrugged her shoulders. "Sometimes. That is why we must make clear the need for a final head count and the names of all who will attend. Raden and Sebastian will be driven to distraction trying to determine who must be watched the most and who is harmless among all who will attend. Don't forget you two must make a seating chart for the reception once all the responses have arrived."

Lorelei rolled her eyes. "How could I forget?" She drawled facetiously. When Briar looked at her curiously but quizzically the princess' eyes widened. "You've never done seating charts have you?" Briar shook her head and Lorelei grinned. "We'll have fun educating you."

"Why don't I like the sound of this?" Briar wondered.

Sabine looked at Asrai in concern. Ever since her performance a week before Asrai had been inattentive and dreamy eyed, almost sleepy. "Asrai?" She inquired delicately. "Are you feeling well?"

The youngest princess looked up at her mother and smiled. "Of course Mother, perfectly well." Her dark violet eyes gazed at her parent in surprise.

"She's probably tired out." Lorelei said sympathetically. She shot a glance at Briar who was a bit paler than usual. "You were both working non-stop."

Briar smiled and nodded. "I needed the distraction." She admitted. "At times I think I will go mad from the wait."

Lorelei sighed. "I sympathize, believe me." Her words were heartfelt. "When Dragon said 'as soon as possible' I think he hoped for within a few months."

"Not six months." Briar agreed with a groan.

"Definitely not." Lorelei said emphatically. "And while it is enjoyable to plan the wedding…"

"It doesn't make the time go by near quickly enough." Briar finished the other girl's sentence and sighed.

"Dragon is occupied with his studying and learning more about his new position." Lorelei frowned. "And I have my duties as well." She looked at Briar. "You've been left with a great deal of work."

Briar smiled slightly. "Sebastian and I can't be together much during the day." She murmured. "Between his normal work for Raden, and Court, and now with Raden sending a mage to begin tutoring him in magic…" She sighed. "Sometimes we don't even have a full night together." Her slim shoulders lifted in a shrug. "I must do something to keep busy."

Lorelei looked at her mother and smiled. "I know." She tilted her head towards Sabine who was still studying Asrai in concern. "Mother is the same way."

"I know." The bard folded the slim journal shut. "I think it is almost time for our lessons." She rose. "We had better change into something more appropriate to swordplay."

Lorelei nodded and Sabine looked up. "I will see you at Court?" Her smile was understanding. "Do not wear yourselves out."

Her older daughter laughed dryly. "Actually Mother, that's sort of what we're hoping for."

Briar wrenched her sword away from the peculiar blade Sebastian held and winced as she felt her arms protest. In the three weeks she and Dragon had been learning defense against this strange weapon she had found her rapier nearly useless. It took a wider blade and a two handed grip for her to withstand an onslaught of blows from the double bladed staff.

At the look on her face Sebastian halted his attack and set the staff down. "Your arm again?" He asked in concern.

Dragon paused in his own practice with Lorelei and Andreas and looked at his sister. "Do you need healing?" He queried. "Lady Shen taught me her spell."

Briar thoughtfully rotated her shoulder, stretching her arm and shook her head. "It will be fine. A temporary weakness." She told her brother.

"If you end up in battle with this enemy you won't have a chance to recover even from temporary weakness." Andreas seemed to almost bite off the words with angry impatience. "You need strength in your arms."

Briar regarded the crown prince in astonishment. "I am doing as best I can." She uttered a mild protest.

"You will have to do better if you wish to survive one of their attacks." Andreas returned sharply and thrusting his sword staff at Dragon he stalked from the room.

Briar stared after him in surprise and then looked at Sebastian and to Lorelei and Dragon. "I'm sorry." She said uncertainly. "I haven't been in battle overmuch."

Sebastian slipped an arm around her waist and gave her a quick hug. "Andreas has been more short tempered of late." He sighed. "I think the chaos of the upcoming wedding is getting to him."

Lorelei shook her head. "I don't think its so much that, but he is very impatient lately." The tiny princess looked a bit hurt. "He used to confide in me but he hasn't really since…" her voice drifted off and she dropped her eyes.

"Since New Beregost was sacked." Sebastian sighed. "I know."

Dragon eyed the siblings and his dark gaze echoed their concern. "Maggie might have a thought or two on the subject." He suggested. "Lorelei, you and I might ask him if he is well after we are through here." His betrothed nodded her agreement to that and Dragon studied Briar. "I don't know if you'll be able to develop a great deal of strength in your arms." He said returning to the original subject. "But you are very quick. If you can combine your speed and what strength you have to adequately defend yourself perhaps that will help."

Briar nodded and regarded the heavier blade she held with some doubt but looked at Sebastian. "Well, shall we try it again?"

Sebastian nodded and Dragon and Lorelei, rather than resuming their practice watched the two of them. After a moment Lorelei called a halt and stepped forward. "I'm a lot shorter than you are." She explained. "And I'm not terribly strong, so I had a lot of trouble against this weapon at first." She took Briar's sword from her and regarded it. "This is a broad sword." The princess sounded almost annoyed. "I haven't ever seen you fight with this weapon even."

Briar shook her head. "I hadn't really. But when Sebastian said a wider blade was needed I thought I'd better learn it."

Lorelei shook her head. "It's too heavy for you." She looked at Sebastian. "Why didn't you tell her to use her long sword. She's better with that. And you would have been able to help her with technique."

Sebastian looked apologetic and slightly harassed. "I'm sorry." He ran a hand through his already rumpled curls. "I noted it but the notion of it being the wrong weapon slipped completely through my brain." He leaned against the wall next to Dragon and shook his head. "My mind is too full these days." His lazy sensual voice held none of its customary boredom and seemed more overwhelmed.

"Speaking of which, Seltac is waiting on you." His father said from the doorway. "You're late for your lessons."

Sebastian groaned. "Is there anyway we can fill the days a bit more?" He drawled sarcastically. "I don't think I have enough to do Dad."

Amon laughed and shook his head. "And I thought keeping you busy would hasten the days until your wedding." He told his son. "If you prefer to while away the hours in boredom, be my guest."

Sebastian shook his head and pushed himself away from the wall. As his father strode further into the room his younger son bent and kissed his betrothed gently. "I'm sorry I didn't notice the blade you were using earlier." He murmured. "I need to pay more attention to you love."

Briar smiled up at him and two of her fingers tugged at his curls. "Its all right. We'll see how I do with my own blade tomorrow." She gave him a gentle push. "Now go, Seltac is waiting." Sebastian with a hurried bow to his father and sister took his leave turning only as Briar called his name when he reached the door. "Sebastian? I'd bathe before seeing your tutor." The green-eyed girl wrinkled her nose at him playfully and Sebastian laughed as he hurried away.

"Well." Amon looked at the three remaining young people. "Where is your twin?" He asked his daughter. "I was under the impression he was also teaching our two new family members?"

Lorelei bit her lip and sighed. "He left rather suddenly." She glanced at Briar who nodded slightly and shrugged. Dragon's eyes suddenly went as opaque as onyx and just as unreadable.

"I see." Amon said quietly surmising from their sudden mood change that once again his oldest son had lost patience and snapped something unkind before quitting the room. With an inward sigh he hoped Andreas would overcome whatever turmoil seethed inside him before he exploded with it someday. "Well shall I take his place then?" He asked quietly. "I am tall enough that I would be a match for Dragon if we take this by turns."

The three of them nodded and seemed relieved to change the subject.

TBC