Ghosts of the Past

Faith paused a moment as she and Asrai stole through the gardens. The princess was holding onto the watcher's arm in a way that looked as if the dark haired girl was in need of support. Faith stumbled soundlessly and sagged to her knees halting their progress.

Asrai knelt beside her and put her mouth to Faith's ear. "You can't keep going." She whispered softly. The music that pulsed through her head made it difficult to think but somehow she remembered the need for silence. "Your knee must be throbbing."

Faith shook her head. "The boss is in the Lover's garden with Briar." She replied, her voice just as soft. "We can't let him see you out here, or me like this." The melody that always made her forget what happened throbbed along with the pain in her knee, making her head feel as if it was splitting.

"I don't hear anything." Asrai protested. "And you need help."

Faith lifted her free hand and pressed it softly to Asrai's lips. "Trust me, they are there." She murmured. "In another moment Sebastian will hear us, and then…" she shook her head as if to clear it. "Neither of us will be visiting the theatre again."

Asrai shut her mouth firmly and draped Faith's arm over her shoulder. With a strength that was unexpected in her slim young body she rose, half carrying Faith. "Then let me help you." She whispered. "Trust what you taught me about moving quietly."

Faith nodded, the pain forcing her teeth together and clenching her jaw against it. "Lets go."

Sebastian lifted his head from Briar's neck and listened for a moment. Turning slightly he regarded the darkness that lay beyond the archway that led to the garden. A slight frown creased his brow and he resolved that in the next few days he would speak with his baby sister regarding her midnight excursion.

"Sebastian?" Briar was looking up at him with a worried expression. "You hear someone?"

Her betrothed smiled slightly. "No one interested in interrupting us my beloved." He whispered to her. "Let me continue?" His wicked smile was beguiling. "Unless you are not enjoying yourself?" Briar tugged him back down with a breath moan of need and his sapphire blue eyes traveled over her form. Gently he untied the other bow and pulled back the thin layer of silk that concealed her breasts. "So lovely." He breathed bending his head to brush his lips over her sensitive skin. Briar uttered a sighing whisper of his name as he began to softly lick and suck on her nipples.

"Sebastian." She threaded her hands into his golden curls and arched her back up to press her breasts to his mouth. "Ohhh…"

He raised his head, looking at her, feeling a surge of desire and love for her that pounded his heart. Carefully he slid the gown off of her leaving only her braies covering her mound. His fingers slid between the silk and her skin and she gasped parting her thighs for him. "Oh, yes, open for me." He told her as he stroked her intimately. Briar uttered a cry of protest as he stopped stroking her and withdrew his hand. "Shh…its all right my love…" he soothed her. "Just wait a moment." He untied the bow that held the triangle over her and removed the silk, revealing the soft black silky hair.

"Sebastian…" She whispered. "Are you sure about waiting?" Her white hand caressed his face adoringly.

"Eleint's end will be here soon love." He murmured. "And you will be my wife." He trailed a kiss over her stomach. "But I will give you a taste of what we both wait for." Sebastian's breath was hot over her skin as he bent and slid his tongue through the sensitive folds of her nether lips.

Briar moaned and then desperately tried to keep from screaming with pleasure as Sebastian's tongue and mouth began stroking and sucking her clit. "Sebastian!" Without thinking she pushed her mound up to his mouth and her fingers slid through his curls, rubbing herself against his lips. The prince groaned his appreciation of her enjoyment and slid his hands along her thighs, sliding them further apart and draping her legs over his shoulders.

The bard felt her entire body flushing with erotic fire as Sebastian expertly and passionately made love to her. "Oh love…" She whispered helplessly. "I'm…" Trying not to scream she still uttered a groaning cry as heat flooded her body with shattering convulsions of pleasure.

Sebastian moaned his own need against her clit and began gently kissing her inner thigh and stroking her hips and the curve of her ass with his hands. "Briar," he whispered, his tongue sliding over her again. "Don't be frightened."

His words barely reached Briar through the haze of desire. "What?" She murmured in confusion.

"A taste my Rose," he bent his mouth to her again. "It will not hurt you, I swear it my love." One hand left her thigh and she felt a gentle touch at the opening of her sheath. His fingers stroked her wickedly there, moistening with her juices, circling her slit.

"Sebastian…" Her whisper was breathy and trusting. "I give myself to you…I love you…" He could feel her slim fingers stroking his curls and her thighs relaxing over his shoulders, giving him greater access to her mound.

Gently he slid her thighs down, and circled her waist with one arm, resting his head on her belly. "I promise you…" He pressed a kiss to her belly. "You will be whole, but you will also be mine my Rose." He began to move downward again, kissing his way to her mound and using his tongue and lips on her again. Two of his fingers, now moist with her juices, slid with exquisite slowness, slightly within her sheath.

"Sebastian!" The shocked pleasure in Briar's voice was intoxicating. "Oh…" Her eyes opened in surprise and she stared up at the full moon dazedly. She squirmed against him wanting more, but confused as to why.

The prince felt himself grow even harder, almost painfully aroused watching her, tasting her and now feeling her sheath clutching around the tips of his fingers. "More?" He whispered the question lifting his lips from her only minutely.

"Ohhh…yessss…please…" Briar moaned and felt the most dazzling sensations as her lover slowly, carefully pressed his fingers up inside of her. "Sebastian…" She realized she was panting, unable to catch her breath. "I feel…ohh…so full… Sebastian…ahh…"

Sebastian licked her clit delicately, and watched his love. She was tossing her head from side to side, tangling her hair and her hands were clenching his hair with a desperate grip. She was so erotic, so beautiful seeking her climax, and she didn't even realize how close she was. Slowly he began to move his hand, sliding in and out of her and groaned as her hips began to move with him instinctively. "Oh yes love…" He coaxed her. "My Rose, yes…" He licked her torturously and felt her shuddering around his fingers and under his mouth. "Let me see you explode." He whispered, stroking within her and feeling her tightening around his fingers. With exquisite care he pressed up within her and marveled at how hot she was.

"Sebastian!" Briar nearly wept at how wonderful he felt. "I'm… oh…" she gasped the words out, not truly understanding these new marvelous sensations. "You're making me…" She felt herself stiffening up, her muscles tightening and throbbing inside her, one amazing erotic contraction of pleasure and cried out wordlessly, her thighs closing around his hand, shaking at the pure explosion of desire.

Sebastian lay his head against her belly and kissed her skin softly. She was still shaking, her skin trembling in the aftermath and carefully he slipped his fingers out of her. She moaned slightly in protest and he smiled. Sliding his arm out from under her waist he moved so he could cradle her in his arms. She lay bonelessly on top of him, still trembling slightly, her hands gripping his shoulders as if afraid he would disappear.

Sebastian looked up at the moon and smiled. Even though he followed Nicodemus, he still offered thanks to Eilistraee that through her servant Briar had been led to him. Looking down at his love he felt her sigh and realized she had drifted into sleep. Sebastian's smile grew wider.

The guard that was stationed at the palace entrance from the gardens smiled in spite of himself as he saw who was coming towards him. Prince Sebastian, a basket over his elbow, cradled his personal bard, wrapped up in a quilt, in his arms. The guard's smile grew to a grin as he opened the door for the prince. "Good night your highness."

"A very good night." Sebastian's wicked grin flashed his white teeth. "Thank you. And also to you."

The guard found himself grinning from ear to ear for an hour afterward remembering the expression on the younger Obarskyr son's face.

Asrai regarded Faith with a worried expression. "I keep thinking that this has happened before." She said in a confused voice. "But it hasn't or I'd remember." She had bathed the Watcher's wound, a jagged tear in Faith's creamy thigh and put a cold cloth on the bruise that had become visible on Faith's forehead. It was Faith's knee though that truly had her concerned. Where the tear in the Watcher's flesh ended the swelling began and Asrai knew the girls knee was severely sprained at the least.

The Watcher grimaced. "I know." She knew now, now that the music wasn't overwhelming her, now when she had the pain to concentrate on, that this had happened before. It had gotten worse after she'd kept Asrai from leaving their bed in the middle of the night. Since the near miss with the sandbag she'd had five different accidents at the theatre. This was the worst of them so far. And she knew somehow, even as the music rose in her mind again, that when the pain was gone, she would forget again.

"I've sent for a priest of Nicodemus." The princess told her. "Not even Mother can get information out of them, so you don't have to worry about Sebastian finding out."

"Good." Faith closed her eyes and sighed. "I just wish I knew why I was so accident prone lately."

"So do we." The priest remarked dryly as he entered the room. "But you follow our Lords ways well Lady Faith."

Faith grimaced again and then relaxed as the priest's hands touched her leg. The pain was receding and with it the memories. Asrai watching could see the change in the dark haired girls face as the pain left her.

"Thank you." The princess whispered. "I can't stand it when she gets hurt."

"Perhaps you should stop placing her in danger." The priest remarked in an offhand manner. Knowing his payment would be sent to his temple he exited the room.

Asrai looked after him, confused and then glanced at Faith. Even as she tried to make sense of the priest's remark the wonderful melodies rose in her mind and she was thinking of the theatre again.

"Well babe?" Faith asked. "Are we going back tomorrow?" She stretched seductively on the bed.

Asrai flopped down beside her. "Of course we are." She giggled as Faith's hands pulled her closer and dark lips met her own for a passionate lazy kiss.

Andreas sat alone in the dark of his bedroom. It was just before dawn, and he'd only returned from Maggie's rooms a few moments ago. This time of day reminded him of the time between battles, surreal, moments that stretched forever and hours over so quickly. In his hands rested the silver locket he was never without. His fingers traced the patterns on the silver without even looking at the design. This was when he felt closest to his lost love. Before dawn when night was over but the day not yet begun.

He wondered where she was, if she felt as he did, that her heart had been ripped out of her. With a sigh he rested his head on one hand and closed his eyes. He could still see her, so clearly, and hear her voice. He looked down at the locket and took an unsteady breath. "Oh Kat, am I to be trapped in these moments forever?" The prince whispered aloud. "It feels as if I am locked within these surreal pieces of time, between the past and future. I cannot go back, but without you…" Andreas didn't complete his words, nor the thought that spurred them. But the very dawn seemed to echo with it, as it froze over the horizon for a brief moment. 'Without you, I do not wish to go forward.'

Painfully he wondered if he was doomed to always be alone.

Sabine lay within her husbands embrace and listened to the sound of his breathing. Sleep eluded her, this late at night and yet early in the day, her mind was active though her body was still seeking rest. She frowned unconsciously and sighed.

"What worries thee my Sabine?" Her husband's voice inquired. The lack of sleep slurred pronunciation argued that he too had been awake for a while.

The queen turned and rested her head on Amon's shoulder. "I wonder sometimes my Amon, if we did right in acceding to Andreas' refusal to speak of what occurred in the Western Heart." She looked at him.

"We thought it would be better for him to open up when he was able, rather than forcing the issue." Amon recalled, stating their past intent aloud, though they both remembered well the anxiety filled conversations they'd had on their eldest son's return home.

"Yes." Sabine agreed. "I was thinking of how hard it is for you still, to speak of the Cormanthor and Myth Drannor. I wonder sometimes if you would have been as open with me, speaking of it at all, had you not been left without a choice. Would you have been able to bring yourself to discuss it with others who had no idea of what you'd been through?"

Amon shuddered slightly and kissed her forehead. "I don't know my love." He said quietly. "But I thought Andreas would eventually confide in his twin if no one else."

"Instead, he has become completely closed off." Sabine said sorrow in her voice. "It hurts Lorelei deeply that he won't speak to her about anything of consequence."

"And this anger that he is carrying around with him." Amon said slowly. "There is something very wrong, and it is not only the fact that his lady is lost to him."

"Oh, Amon…did we do right?" Sabine wondered. "Or did we make a bad situation worse?"

"We did what we thought was right, best for our son." Amon said softly. "You and I know better than anyone else, how imperfect we are, we cannot always be right."

"I wish we could when it concerns our children." Sabine said tears leaking out of her beautiful eyes. "I am afraid for him Amon."

Her husband cuddled her close and closed his own eyes against the moisture that was seeping in at the sorrow in his wife and the pain he felt for his son. "As am I Sabine. As am I."

Briar threw her hands in the air. Frustration was etched in every line of her body. "Lorelei, I've never done this before and I don't think my wedding is the time to learn!" She snapped finally. "I have a very basic knowledge of the etiquette involving Cormyrean nobility, and I know nothing of the proper stations of the Elven nations or the Alphatians or the Western Heart. Do you really think I can learn all of this in time to have the reception and the wedding done?"

Lorelei sighed, equally frustrated but understanding what her friend was going through. "The whole idea is for people to be able to enjoy themselves and putting Lamruil next to a Lord who doesn't even speak Elven isn't going to be enjoyable for each of them."

"That's the problem." Briar said quietly. "You know he doesn't speak Elven. You know most of these people. I don't. How can I know if they'll like sitting together?"

"Granted." Lorelei nodded. "So lets just concentrate on what is proper, and I'll try to give you a little information on each guest. " She tilted her head and tugged at Briar's black braids. "Whatever we do though, we can't seat Lady Sylvan near any of our Silver Marches guests. She doesn't approve of their politics regarding magic."

Briar grinned. "She and I will get along fine."

Lorelei shook her head. "Briar you get along with everyone, your goddess' credos assure it." She drew the large roll of parchment over to her and forced it flat with several weights. "Actually most of this is about right if all you're concerned with is pure etiquette. All we really have to do is switch equal ranks around, and bend the rules if we must, so that it's interesting for everyone."

"What about the actual wedding?" Briar wondered aloud.

"Well that's actually a lot easier." Lorelei muttered as she looked over the chart. "We'll pretty much seat people by nations. Rulers will have to go in front…right behind our families. And the Nobles will go behind the Lords. We'll put personal friends in with the Lords I think, to keep everything evenly mixed."

Briar sighed. "Did you know it was going to be this difficult?"

Lorelei looked at her. "Briar, this is easy. A court dinner, now that is a royal, no pun intended, pain in the arse."

"Lorelei! I'm shocked at your language." Briar teased. "Do you kiss your mother with that mouth?"

Lorelei grinned impishly. "Oh, and you've never said worse?"

Briar turned her nose up haughtily. "Oh never." She sniffed and then began laughing. Lorelei shook her head at her in mock despair before her own giggles erupted.

Andreas stopped abruptly as he entered the sitting room. Somehow the two ladies that sat within it seemed to be surrounded with an aura that commanded respect. While they were not immediately intimidating the way his grandfather could be, the profound solemnity of their expressions made him wish he hadn't entered without preparing them for interruption. The delicate flow of the elven language had halted with a suddenness that impelled him to offer apologies.

"Forgive me." He bowed formally. "Grandmother, Lady Kalaya, I didn't mean to intrude."

"You have not Andreas." Shenandoah smiled gently. "You know I always welcome your company." Beside her on the couch Dragon's mother smiled and gestured for the prince to sit in the chair nearby. "Will you join us?"

"If I am not interrupting you." The Crown prince seated himself. "Grandmother I am surprised that my grandfather is not with you. You are seldom apart."

The emerald-eyed bladesinger regarded him with an affectionate gaze. "We are never truly apart, Andreas. Elaith and I are joined too deeply for a small physical distance to affect us." She glanced at Kalaya. "He knows that this month is difficult for me, as other times of the year are for him."

Andreas frowned slightly with confusion. "I don't quite understand." He looked back and forth between the two of them. "Why is this month hard for you?"

Kalaya said in her exotically accented Common. "Just as the heart of winter is painful for me at times, the height of summer is so for Shenandoah."

Andreas shook his head, still not understanding what she meant.

His grandmother's smile was sorrowful as she spoke again. "You have met my daughter Deirdriu and my son Agnoman." Andreas nodded cautiously. "They are half elven." Shenandoah said that as if it made part of her sorrow plain. Andreas' face must have revealed his bewilderment though for a tiny flicker of amusement showed in Shenandoah's eyes. "When I was very young, the elven equivalent of your own age, I left home and went adventuring. I met a ranger by name of Cia'ran of the Moonshai's and I we became friends. And then we began to love each other as more than friends." She smiled slightly and it was an expression of sorrow more than joy. "My first love was killed in battle in the first week of Flamerule." She said in a soft voice. "Several years later, my best friend, my priestess was also killed in battle, as Cia'ran was, trying to save her friends from death, myself among them. She was killed in the third week of Flamerule."

Andreas took a deep breath. "I am sorry Grandmother." He offered, knowing the words would never be enough to offer. How could she bear it? He mused. How could she go on living, when she'd lost so much?

"Its all right Andreas." Shen shook her head. "They died as they lived. With love. And I go on. But I give myself one day a year, to remember and to mourn, and grieve because I miss them still. Even with new friends and my husband, I still love Alauniira and Cia'ran."

"And I, also, give my support and sympathy to Shenandoah, for in Hammer, my beloved, Dragon's human father, died." She smiled and glanced at the bladesinger. "He gave me my beautiful son, for which I will always be grateful. And he gave me a wondrous love that warms me until my heart joins forever with another soul. But in the second week of Hammer, I do miss him greatly. Especially in the cold, when I do not have another to hold me at night."

Andreas nodded, his thoughts flying to his lost love. A deep sigh rose from him and he wondered again if Sune had cursed him that he had been parted from her. Inwardly he marveled that these ladies had managed to go on with their lives. They had put their lost loves behind them. What was wrong with him, he wondered, that he couldn't do the same? "I am very sorry." He said quietly, rising from his chair. "I hope Flamerule passes quickly then, so your pain will as well."

As he was bowing over his grandmother's hand a footman arrived, carrying a vase of beautiful blooms. "These are for you my lady." The servant bowed and handed her the card.

With a smile Shenandoah opened it and looked up at Andreas. "They are from your younger brother." She told him. "It reads, 'Dearest Grandmother, In Cormyr, these flowers bloom only in Flamerule. I know that nothing can persuade you from your sorrow, but I hope that their beauty, as well as the joy of the coming celebrations, will make your grief lighter. May their music remind you that this month contains joy as well as sorrow, for all of us. Your adoring and foolish grandson, Sebastian'." Shenandoah laughed. "You and your brother both have your father's golden tongue. You comfort me with your presence Andreas, and Sebastian with his gift." She touched the flowers gently and the petals rang like tiny bells as they moved.

Kalaya smiled in delight and moved to blow over the flowers and laughed at the music they made.

Andreas forced a smile and bowed again. "It is a joy to see you smile, both of you." He bowed over Kalaya's hand. "Please excuse me." As they both nodded he turned and left the sitting room, annoyed all over again at Sebastian.

Dragon smiled and bent over Lorelei's chair to whisper. "Is it just me or is your family just a little impatient with all of this?"

Lorelei smiled up at him. "Its not just you." She murmured. "But with so many folk arriving, we are compelled, in all politeness to entertain them. Sebastian hates this, all these delegates and ambassadors make him twitchy. Not to mention every noble left in Cormyr, all of them flocking to Suzail so they have accommodations for the weddings."

"Ahh, yes…the nobility of Cormyr, the ones who were plotting against the royal family in Azoun's, Alusair's and Amon's day." Dragon muttered. "The vaunted Noble families. Tell me, why am I so unimpressed?"

The princess restrained herself from giggling, barely. "Because in comparison to the nobility of the Tel'Quessir, they are extremely unimpressive?"

"That must be it." Dragon nodded. "Well, shall we take advantage of your parents social obligation to enjoy a public embrace?" He smiled at the astonished expression on his betrothed's face. "It's called a waltz my siren." Bowing over her hand he helped her rise.

Asrai nudged Andreas as she caught sight of his twin and Dragon. "Aren't they graceful?" She said wistfully. "I wish I could dance."

Andreas even smiled at the sight of his twin, moving so lightly over the marble floor. "Why can't you dance?" He asked curiously.

"I have two left feet." Asrai grumbled. "No one ever asks me unless its one of the ambassadors thinking it will gain him favor with Dad, or one of the noble dilettantes for the same reason."

Andreas shook his head. "Baby sister, have you taken a look in the mirror lately?" He inquired. "That may be part of the motivation but I assure you, were it the only reason, they would find another way to curry favor."

Asrai shook her head. "The result is the same." She shrugged. "Thankfully because I get so bored I'm excused halfway through these evenings." She grinned up at her older brother. "Why don't you dance with Maggie? She's being bored to tears by one of the Silverymoon ambassadors. You could rescue her."

Andreas looked over at where she'd jerked her head and uttered a groan of sympathy. "Thank you Asrai, at last, something productive to do with my time, rescue a beautiful lady."

Asrai grinned as her brother set off purposefully and turned to Faith. "Now its our turn to sneak out and do something productive."

Faith grinned. "Then by all means lets go."

TBC