Ghosts of the Past

Andreas hesitated outside the sitting room door. His reluctance to enter was based solely upon the fact that his brother was within. Sebastian was speaking with Dragon. The subject seemed to be one of importance from the tone of Dragon's voice.

The crown prince scowled. It seemed everything to do with Sebastian was important. The fact that Dragon was supposed to meet with Andreas in the next few minutes appeared to have been forgotten by the warrior mage.

"Are you sure you will be all right?" Dragon's voice inquired his anxiety apparent even through his rasping words. "I think we have a course well laid…" He paused. "I am to meet your brother quite soon, but…"

Andreas rolled his eyes. 'Of course, being late for a meeting with the future ruler of Cormyr wouldn't matter, if Sebastian would like you to stay.' He thought to himself.

Sebastian's voice interrupted both Dragon's words and Andreas' thoughts. "I promise you, I won't do anything rash." He said. "I shall simply study what you have set out. I already begin to understand better than I did." Relief was prominent in his tone.

"Good then. I'm off. I wouldn't want to be tardy when meeting with my future king." Dragon said wryly. "Much less an appointment with my friend." His voice was much closer to the door and Andreas straightened from his position of relaxation against the wall. To Dragon it appeared Andreas had just walked up. "Andreas!" He exclaimed with a smile. "I was just going to meet you."

Andreas summoned up a smile of his own and wondered exactly how enthused Dragon was about Andreas ruling someday, or if perhaps the older man would rather see the younger prince on the throne. "I was a bit early finishing some of my duties so I thought I'd check and see if you were available." He said in an easy tone. "If you like we can begin in Princess Tanalastia's old study."

Dragon nodded casting a slightly concerned glance at the room he'd just left and then gave the crown prince his full attention.

Asrai watched her brother and Dragon leave and then smiled dreamily at Faith. "They're gone, no one will see us leaving this wing." The dark-haired watcher nodded, wondering faintly why such secrecy was necessary. Even as she began to voice this inquiry, the music rose in her mind again, drowning the suspicion.

The youngest daughter of the royal house moved with deft speed through the halls, followed by Faith, and out of the doors of the family wing. The journey through the rest of the palace was easy, and to reach the theatre was child's play.

Dragon knocked on the door of Lorelei's sitting room. Even though she'd left it open he'd learned it was better to knock. His habitual way of moving was so quiet that he'd more than once startled his betrothed.

Turning she greeted him with a smile and put down her paintbrush. "Dragon!" The warrior grinned as she threw her arms around his neck and kissed him soundly if briefly.

From where she sat in an armchair Delia rose and regarded them with a slight grin. "Lorelei something tells me you will be amply protected with your betrothed." She sketched an ironic bow and disappeared into the bedroom.

"Well?" Lorelei asked. "How was it?" Her amber eyes gleamed inquisitively.

Dragon gently detached her hands from around his neck and led her to the couch where he could face her and continue to grip her hands in his. "He has much to unlearn, but I believe the course of study we set today will prove fruitful."

Lorelei smiled. "Good." She tilted her head. "Dragon may I ask you a foolish question?" A mixture of mischief and solemnity was upon her pretty face.

Her betrothed smiled and regarded her somewhat warily. "My teachers told me there was no such thing as a foolish question." He tilted his head. "Ask away."

"Have you ever been in love before?" She asked after a moment's hesitation. "I mean deeply?"

Dragon smiled. "My siren." He drew her a bit closer and his hand stroked her cheek and hair for a moment. "I have been 'in love' and I have loved, yes, women before you. Each differently."

"Then how can you know you wish to marry me?" Lorelei asked softly. "I do not doubt you love me, for I see it in your eyes, but how can you be certain you won't find another you would love enough to marry?"

Dragon's eyes shone down at her and he bent forward to kiss her softly. "How can you know you love me enough to spend your life with me?" He asked. "What makes you love me?"

Lorelei seriously considered. "I could list all the things about you that attract me but that isn't love." She murmured thoughtfully. "I suppose because with you I feel complete. As if I am enough as I am. I don't have to prove anything. And when I'm with you, I feel good, but I want to be better than I am. I simply love you, so much that I have no real interest in others. I only want your happiness."

Dragon nodded. "My mother told me once, something I never forgot." He recited carefully.

"'Love not me for comely grace, for my pleasing eye or face

Not for any outward part, no nor for a constant heart.

These may fade or turn to ill so thou and I shall sever.

Keep therefore a true lover's eye and love me but know not why

So thou hast the same reason still to dote upon me ever.'

I've always remembered that whenever I thought myself 'in love' since then and understood many times that I didn't love truly."

Lorelei frowned. "Then you know you love me, because like me, there is no reason for it?" She said haltingly, trying to completely understand. "When did your mother tell you that?" She asked after a moment.

Dragon's hands stroked her fingers charmingly. "When I am with you I am complete unto myself and yet I wish to be a better man for your sake." A shadow darkened his face and he sighed heavily. "The when of it is a bit lengthy and it also explains in part my reasons for so readily agreeing to tutor Sebastian."

Lorelei regarded him curiously and let her slippers fall from her tiny feet, tucking her feet up under her skirl. Curling up next to him she waited patiently.

Her maneuvers drew a smile from Dragon. "If you are comfortable?" She nodded and snuggled closer to him with a tiny smug grin. Dragon looked down. "You've learned that elven magic is different than human magic. It has to do with perspective more than anything else, and connections."

He paused a moment. "When I was younger than Sebastian, I was a student of magic. I learned from one of my cousins and much to his pride progressed rapidly in my studies." His tanned face grew slightly ruddy and Lorelei realized he was embarrassed. "At the time I was considered handsome, an eligible match and I fell in love with the daughter of a noble family."

His mouth twitched ironically and he paused a moment. "She was quite pretty and she and her family didn't seem to mind that I was a half breed. At least the subject never came up at first. I became betrothed to her." He shook his head. "The greater the power of a spell the more control it requires and the more dangerous it becomes if cast incorrectly. I learned that, to my detriment, too late."

Lorelei's hand touched his arm and he looked at her. The princess' face was stricken and she whispered. "Nwyfan, you need not tell me this if you do not wish it."

He shook his head. "I do not mind." He told her quietly. "You are one of the few who would understand. But perhaps you mind being told?" She shook her head silently and he nodded. "Apparently for all my vaunted talent, I did not have perception enough to correctly cast higher elven magic. The result of my error was an explosion. Magic in its raw unshaped form is called spellfire for a reason. I was burned and badly."

He took a deep breath. 'Then we all learned that the healing magic of the elves greatly depends on their connection to the earth and the Seldarine. They could heal me enough that I have the use of my arm and this side, and I can speak, but the scars could not be removed and my voice would never be as it was."

Irony practically dripped from his words as he continued. "My 'beloved' couldn't stand the sight of me. I was no longer handsome, my voice sounded like a dead man's and the sight and sound of me made her ill. It was bad enough I was a half breed but my face had made me acceptable, barely. If I couldn't become as I had been she wanted nothing to do with me." Dragon shrugged. "When it was made clear to her that what she demanded was impossible she threw the ring I'd given her in my face. she didn't speak to me after that. Her family dissolved the betrothal."

The warrior mage looked down at his betrothed. "I began to learn swordplay in order to regain full use of my arm and side. My mother gave me my fathers sword and I realized that I didn't have to choose one life or the other. My despised half breed status was an asset. With time and patience there was almost nothing I couldn't learn. At sixteen I had plenty of the one, and I learned the other."

"Sixteen?" Lorelei breathed in shock. "You were betrothed at sixteen?" She shook her head. "Mother says half elves are barely more than children at that age!"

Dragon grinned at her. "And she's right. We were living among humans up in Silverymoon at the time. And I was a rather precocious boy."

"I can imagine." Lorelei said dryly. Her amber eyes were soft as she looked up at him. "I'm sorry Nwyfan." She whispered.

"For what?" He looked at her curiously. "It is long past."

"These must have been very painful." Her soft hand stroked his scarred cheek. "I'm sorry that you were hurt.

Dragon gently brushed his lips over hers. "'Tis done, and were it not for these I might never have met you."

"Was she very pretty?" Lorelei asked wistfully.

Dragon chuckled. "At sixteen yes, in a lush way. When I visited years later she wasn't nearly as much so. She was actually rather plump and not nearly as pretty as I remembered. And she was also getting gray in her hair." He grinned. "You my love might gain enough flesh when you bear children that I will enjoy holding onto you at night even more."

"Mother didn't get fat!" Lorelei retorted, not at all pleased by the thought.

"I doubt you will either." Dragon tugged her hair. "But I will enjoy growing old with you my love, doubt it not, no matter your appearance. Even if you lose your teeth."

Lorelei made a face at him in retaliation for that remark and then simply wrapped her arms around him in a warm embrace. As long as they were together, she didn't care what she looked like really, as long as Dragon loved her.

Andreas watched Sebastian lift Briar's hand and kiss it gently. It was all he could do to keep from rolling his eyes. Bad enough his brother played the courtier but insipidly romantic was even worse. When he voiced this thought in an appropriate wry voice and teasing grin his little brother blinked and then rose to the occasion.

"But what else am I good for?" Sebastian drawled. "I've no talents suited to rule that's for certain." A slow smile tilted his lips lazily. "You should try playing the romantic, it would do you some good."

Andreas smiled slightly and looked at Maggie whose hand rested on his arm. The curvaceous redhead was listening to the exchange with an amused smile, as if she knew something Sebastian didn't. "What is your opinion my dear?"

Maggie tilted her head and slanted a glance at him. "Why Andreas, should you act Sebastians version of the romantic I think I should expire from laughter. I prefer your own ways infinitely." The amused smile widened to one of warmth and genuine pleasure in his company and Andreas found himself returning it.

"I yield to Maggie's well made point." Sebastian smiled. Something caught his eye and he nodded in the direction behind his older brother. "Dad's stuck talking to one of the Huntsilvers. Do you want to rescue him or shall I?"

Andreas groaned. "Maggie and I will distract him long enough for Dad to make an escape." He looked at the lady on his arm. "Feel up to the task my dear?" She grinned her answer. "Then we're off to confound a Huntsilver." The prince began to turn.

Maggie smiled her goodbye to the other couple and Briar touched her arm before the two could go. "Maggie, I hope you will join all of us when we visit the modiste's? Lorelei and I will welcome a voice of sanity in the next few days. It won't take much of your time, and surely you will wish a new gown as well?" The bards voice was genuinely eager for Maggie's company, with none of the occasional snobbery that tinged a noblewoman's tones.

"I would be delighted Lady Rosaleen." She replied and smiled her pleasure.

Briar groaned. "Please, my name is Briar to my friends." She invited.

Maggie smiled again, her eyes twinkling as she followed Andreas away. "All right."

"Now, now…" Lorelei's voice teased. "You have to follow the rules too." She told the bard. "No messing around with the Watchers of our siblings." She grinned as she and Dragon came up to them. "Even if Maggie doesn't fit in that category, I think the rules apply to her as well." Briar regarded her with complete confusion and Lorelei glanced at Sebastian. "Does she know about our Watchers?" She asked him with a double question in her voice.

Sebastian leant over and whispered in Briar's ear for a moment. The bard's face suddenly tinted a darker pink and she blinked at Lorelei. "Uhh… no, Lorelei, I don't think you have to worry about me breaking that rule." The dark haired girl said finally. "I, haven't ever… not with anyone but Sebastian." The younger prince slid an arm around her shoulders and kissed the top of her head affectionately.

Lorelei grinned. "Well I wouldn't mind if you wanted to borrow Delia." She said wickedly. "Even though I hate to share. Witness my childhood arguments with Sebastian." She tilted her head and wrinkled her nose at her little brother. "Now look at me. I'm sharing my wedding with him. Could things become worse?" Abruptly her mask of disgust fell and she smiled. Giving him a swift hug she said softly. "Actually I think its kinda wonderful little brother."

Sebastian smiled and spoke past the sudden tightness in his throat. "I also." He admitted.

Dragon grinned. "The two of you play remarkable games of subterfuge but you love each other very well." He observed the rasp of his voice affectionate.

Lorelei looked up at him in mock alarm. "For Selena's sake, don't say that too loudly." She teased. "We have reputations to protect!" A giggle rose from her throat as Dragon wrapped an arm around her waist.

Briar looked at her brother and just rolled her eyes, grinning as she caught the same expression on his face.

The clash of swords and masculine laughter was a sound that wasn't often heard from the practice room these days. Especially not from the Obarskyr brothers. Still, as Karse watched from the shadows, unobtrusive as only an assassin turned bodyguard could be, that was exactly what he saw.

Andreas grinned at his brother and gave a mighty heave with his sword, pushing Sebastian back. Shorter and a bit slighter looking the crown prince might be, but looks were most deceiving if one believed him to be weak because of this.

Sebastian recovered quickly, turning his near loss of balance into a spin that brought him back into play quickly with another clash of swords. The younger prince couldn't keep a grin from his face. It seemed forever since he and Andreas had had a good match. With one thing and another these days it was near impossible to meet for any length of time.

With a wicked gleam in his eyes he executed a blindingly quick series of maneuvers and nearly wrenched Andreas' blade from his hands. Nearly was not successful though and his older brother pulled his blade up and out of the vise like grip of Sebastian's sword angle had created.

"Ha! Everything may come easily to you, but victory will not today!" Andreas crowed, his laughter ringing out again along with his teasing words.

"I do not find everything coming easily to me." Sebastian replied with a grin as he parried his brother's sword thrust. Briefly his mind flashed to his new course of study, a course with slow progress but at least some progression as opposed to a complete lack thereof under Seltac's tutelage.

"Really?" Andreas returned, an edge to his words now as he sought to disarm his little brother. "It certainly looks like it from here."

Sebastian ducked and then rolled under his brother's sword and popped up behind Andreas. The other man spun quickly, just in time to parry the thrust of the future spymaster's sword. "Looks are deceiving." He thrust forward again, and grinned as Andreas blocked him. "I simply don't whine about it."

Andreas slashed the air one final time with his blade before angrily throwing the dull edged weapon away from him, snapping in a hot voice. "And what exactly is that supposed to mean?" Without waiting for a reply he turned away, stalking from the room.

Sebastian sheathed his sword with a ring of steel and rolled his eyes. "Tears of Night!" He swore fluently. "And I thought Lorelei was difficult when she was having her menses!" The young man stared at the doorway and shook his head with a sigh. Something had to give soon, he thought, but what?

Andreas looked up as Asrai entered the sitting room. His youngest sister appeared extremely upset. "What's wrong?" He inquired his voice worried.

Asrai shrugged. "I have to stay for court tonight and I wanted to go to the theatre instead." She told him.

Andreas made a sympathetic face. It seemed like all his life he had heard of what he had to do. You have to behave properly. You must learn this. You have to do that. He thought of all the things he'd wanted to do that had been put off or given up. 'You must go on with your life Andreas.' A sweet voice echoed in his mind. 'You have to let me go.'

The prince frowned and studied the silver locket he held. More and more often lately he'd found himself fingering the worked silver, or opening the tiny clasp to stroke the lock of dark brown hair within. But for the pain within him and the locket he would have wondered if his lost love was only a dream.

He looked up at Asrai and smiled slightly. His baby sister was sitting with a dreamy look on her face. "Asrai." He said quietly. When she didn't hear him immediately he repeated himself a bit more loudly until she jerked in surprise and looked up at him.

"I'm sorry Andreas. I just…" She sighed. A shrug lifted her slim shoulders and Andreas nodded his understanding.

"Court doesn't go on forever, it only seems like it." He said quietly. "Why don't you just leave early?"

Asrai tilted her head. "Andreas you're telling me to sneak out?" Her voice was incredulous.

"It's not as if you're going to meet a lover." Andreas returned teasingly. His baby sister blushed slightly and he regarded her with a stern gaze. "Or are you?"

Asrai's blush deepened. "I'm not…but sometimes I wish…" She shrugged. "The Admirals Men are all attractive and they speak very freely. It would be nice to be able to fit in."

Andreas smiled. "That I can't help with I'm afraid." He said dryly. "But lately I've been feeling the restraints on my own behavior. Why shouldn't I help you sneak out of court a little early? Its not as if you're running away to a life of adventure like Alusair or doing something that will risk your life."

Asrai smiled. "No." She tilted her head. "Thank you Andreas."

Her big brother smiled. "My pleasure."

Briar smiled up at Sebastian. "Thank you." She said in a soft voice. "It is so beautiful at night. These gardens are lovely." She looked around and breathed deeply.

Sebastian smiled. "It is a pleasure." He took her hand and lifted it to his mouth, pressing a kiss to her palm. "My loving Rose." His smile grew wicked as her breathing quickened and he gently tugged on her wrist.

Briar carefully set her plate within the basket along with the remains of the small feast Sebastian had surprised her with. "If we clean up after ourselves we will be able to lie down and look at the moon." She told him slanting a glance up at the night sky.

Sebastian's grin was playful and lustful. "I do enjoy lying with you." He teased. "If only I could have convinced you to wear less." He was clothed in loose breeches and an open vest that revealed his bare chest. He hadn't bothered with shoes or a shirt. Briar suspected he'd deliberately forgotten his braies.

Briar looked down at the gown he'd given her with the warm request that she wear it this evening. It was made of a thin silk, with a low neckline and tiny cords that tied in little bows to hold it up. It was near impossible to wear anything beneath it but a tiny set of triangles that bore no resemblance to braies. The color was such a pale icy green it was nearly white. "Is it possible for me to wear less?" She inquired ironically. Her feet were bare and she was thankful it was mid Flamerule.

Sebastian watched as she put the last of their picnic in the basket and then he reached for her. Strong hands grasped her waist and lifted her into his lap. "Shall I show you how much less you can wear?" He inquired huskily. As she melted against him his hands rose to stroke through the wealth of her hair. "Your goddess, I'm told, looks kindly on lovers. Let her look upon us…" He brushed his mouth over her neck in an exquisitely gentle caress.

"Out in the open?" Briar whispered her halfhearted protest. "Anyone could see…" Sebastian's lips were driving her wild, nibbling on her skin so tenderly. He made her feel languid and yet so alive.

"Trust me my love." He whispered. "I would hear anyone approach…" He swept her hair up revealing a delicately tipped ear. Wickedly knowledgeable his tongue stroked up the curve and point of it. "And I chose this place for both its beauty and privacy, it is called the Garden of Roses, or The Lover's Garden, because of the wall."

Briar gasped faintly as his words sent shivers over her skin and the feel of his warm breath over her neck and ear ignited heat in her belly. "Sebastian…" she whispered longingly. "You make me want you…" Opening her eyes she looked at him, not realizing how deeply her gaze spoke of her need and love for him. Her eyes, so dark normally they were near black, were brighter with emotion, nearly glowing in their intensity.

Sebastian groaned softly in his throat. She couldn't possibly know how her eyes affected him. "I want you all the time." He murmured, his fingers stroking her cheek, outlining her lips. "Right now, I want to watch you come apart in my arms, shatter with delightful ecstasy. " The younger prince felt as if he'd explode. "I want your goddess to see how I love you." He told her. "I want to brush your skin with wild roses and gift you with my heart all over again." Sebastian cupped her face in his hands and stared into her eyes. "I love you my Rose." He whispered. "My black briar Rose, the rarest bloom, the treasure of my heart."

Briar leant towards him, his words making her head swim while his hands trailed heat over her skin. "Yes." She whispered softly, stretching up to press her mouth to his. "Let my goddess see how I love you." Her right hand dropped to the drawstring of his breeches and nimbly untied it. Hard and hot under her fingers she drew his cock out and stroked him carefully. "Gift me with your heart." She murmured looking up at him again and then pressing kisses over his chest, working her way down. "And gift me with your seed."

Sebastian gasped as her warm mouth closed over his sword and began to suckle her way down. "Rose…love…" He tried to protest but she simply raised her head and ran her tongue over him, deliberately making him hotter with lust.

Briar smiled and removed her mouth long enough to smile at him. "Won't you be more comfortable if you are lying down my shadow prince?" She asked sweetly. "Please?" She trailed a lock of her hair over his chest.

The prince caught himself before he moaned too loudly and did as she suggested. "Oh Briar…my sweet girl…" He fisted his hands in the old soft quilt and gave himself up to the pleasure of her mouth. Her mouth and tongue were making him insane, teasing him deliberately.

The dark haired girl swirled her tongue over him and felt the trembling that rippled through his body. Closing her eyes she surrendered to the pleasure of making love to him. To be able to touch him and please him was intoxicating. That he was tamely submitting to her will instead of imposing his own was like a flame inside her. Her beloved was so often so very controlled, but he gave her power here, and made no objection. Her mouth stroked him up and down, sucking and licking. She could feel his thighs tensing, his cock growing harder and throbbing between her lips. Slowly she licked him, trying to draw out his pleasure and wanting to savor the feeling of making love to him.

Delicately her hand cupped and began stroking his balls, carefully fondling him. Her hair spilled over his thighs and stomach and she felt his hands gathering it up and holding it out of her way. She knew he was watching her that his sapphire eyes were seeing her pink mouth stretched around his pulsing cock. She could feel him throbbing against her tongue and moaned in her throat knowing he would cum soon. Her tongue probed into him, delicately pushing down and he gave a guttural moan and she heard him whisper her name in a voice harsh and hoarse with lust. "Rose!" His seed erupted against her tongue and into her mouth, filling her so quickly she began to gulp it down. Her hand stroked his cock and she heard him groan as he continued shooting into her hot mouth until all the tension was gone from his body and she was able to swallow the last of his seed.

Carefully she licked him clean and sat up regarding him with a smile. Reaching for the basket she pulled out the small jug of wine and poured herself a cup. Gulping it down she replaced the jug and cup and smiled at him. "I pleased you my prince?" She whispered teasingly.

Sebastian reached for her, tugging her down against him. "As if there could be any possible doubt." He whispered back. "But why the wine?" His curiosity compelled him to ask. "If you are so nervous about being outside…I will take you indoors."

Briar shook her head. "You don't like how you taste." She said matter of factly. "And I adore your kisses mightily. Thus the wine."

Sebastian smiled. "My practical princess." He teased. "I adore your kisses also." He stroked her cheek. "Shall I show you how much?"

Briar's eyelids fluttered at his touch and she went warm and liquid inside. "Let my goddess see how you love me." She murmured. "I give you my body." She slid a hand into his golden curls, loving how he felt.

Sebastian smiled and began to tug at the bows that held the gown over her upper body.

TBC

Author's Note: The poem Dragon quoted was written by John Wilbye