srry guys! sorry for not updating for long! i deserve a lil punishment for the slacking (my best frnd is grinning in the corner pls ignore)
on to the story!
warning : this stoy contains yaoi / boyxboy!
disclaimer : i do not own ben ten alien force!
THE FAIRYTALE WAY
Chapter six : Green Kaleidoscope Eyes
Prince Collin looked about; finding no sign of the mysterious brunette with the elegant selflessness. He was almost to the point of giving up, when he spotted the slim figure again. Although this was the first day (night actually) that Collin had seen this man, the frame of the figure was imprinted on to the Prince's mind, for he had absentmindedly paid great attention observing the lithe attractive body as he saved the waiter. And now he could very well tell it was him.
Meanwhile, Benjamin was more than happy; not only did he enjoy walking about and studying the portraits and tapestries, meeting and talking to people, but also he could do what he loved most : -
To serve people.
Having worked at Bertha's Bakery, being a chef and a waiter came in ease.
At the moment, Benjamin stood at another buffet table in the corner of the Hall. He hummed happily as he refilled wine glasses with blood-red wine from the expensive and royal bottles of refined vine. He would soon carry the tray with these glasses and make everyone happy with the offering.
A gentle tap on his shoulder made Benjamin straighten up from his bending position. He turned around cheerfully saying, "Sir, would you like to have a glass of vi..-"
And his tongue stopped. He found himself staring only inches away from the most gorgeous caramel eyes sparkling in interest. Benjamin stepped back in startlement of the proximity, it was almost as if the prince's flame of irresistible elegance had burnt Benjamin's cheeks crimson.
"Y-your Highness!" Benjamin gasped. Prince Collin was taller than Benjamin by several inches and when Benjamin inhaled to continue his stopped breath, he caught the strong delicate fragrance around the Prince.
Collin seemed to peer down at him.
Those are the most beautiful green eyes I have ever seen... Collin smiled a little as he gazed into the green optics that had the brightest of lime green and darkest of jade, all dancing in the irises like a kaleidoscope.
Benjamin dazedly gazed back.
At once, Benjamin's senses clicked and he realised he was standing in front of the Royal Blood Heir of the Laquinelle!
"You Highness", Benjamin bowed in respect. Prince Collin was used to the lady courtesies and manly bows, but he was rather interested and amused. Benjamin looked up at the handsome face, offering the tray forward, trying to keep calm, "Would you like a glass of red vine, Your Majesty?"
Collin smiled at him as he took a glass. "I see you are enjoying yourself as a waiter?"
"Uh...I am a waiter," Benjamin lied unsurely. In reply the prince flashed an amused smile, "Pardon, but that was rather pathetic of you to forget that this is MY castle and I know every one of my waiters, and I do rather well know you are not one of them!"
Benjamin gaped a little, before looking down at the mosaic floor in embarrassment and guilt, "My apologies, Prince Collin, but it was willingly that I ..."
"I saw the whole spectacle from afar", Collin sipped at the glass in a mannerly way, gently smacking his thin lips as he spoke, "And I deeply appreciate your attempt, young man. I was rather wondering why you would take the effort to take the place of a waiter?"
Benjamin smiled, "Thank you, Highness; I am used to jobs like these, in fact, I enjoy them a lot!"
Prince Collin looked down at the younger male; there was respect and fascination in the green eyes that caught his breath. But there was no form of false flattery or flirtatious chuckles tumbling from him as the Prince had expected from others who came into his aura of presence.
Collin felt pleased to be in his company.
Benjamin smiled suddenly, "Happy birthday, Your Highness! I feel honoured to have had the chance to wish you in person!"
The prince nodded acknowledgingly, "Thank you." He again observed the man; he had a slight form and yet he was able to balance a waiter on one arm and a tray on the other, earlier.
"One must never judge a book by it's cover..." he mumbled to himself.
"Are you enjoying yourself, Prince?" Benjamin asked innocently. Collin almost dropped his glass of vine; it was the first time anyone had asked his opinion of the day rather than rattle on and on about how the glorious hair of his head shone or how wonderful his sensuous voice was.
"Uh, I am,...q-quite... I am quite enjoying myself, thank you!" the Prince cleared his throat with an embarrassed smile. It was perhaps his first time being flustered, of all things, talking to a man!
A man with the most breathtaking green eyes. The irises almost sparkle more than the jade Orb of Omnius itself! ... And he is not throwing himself at me, I feel quite comfortable and happy in his presence...all the boredom is dissolving away...
"Your Highness?" Benjamin called gently, seeing the Prince only staring back at him as if lost in thought. Which he was, indeed.
They blinked at each other for a few moments, Benjamin finding himself intrigued by the brown eyes, the fair skin and the sort of glow that emanated from the gentle smile.
The thin lips opened as the Prince spoke, "Oh, I wish to know, what is your na-"
"COLLIN! Collin, my dear! Come hither!" Uncle Samuel's voice floated from behind the Prince, and almost immediately, the dark-haired prince found himself surrounded by the men his Uncle wanted him to meet. Prince Collin was spun around, and he struggled as he tried to look over his shoulder; he wanted to ask the young brunette to wait a few moments, but he was gone again. Possibly, the young man had thought his own presence useless compared to the great officials excited to meet the handsome Prince.
The prince sighed again, again putting on his false smile as he nodded to all the men his Uncle introduced.
o.o.o
Benjamin smiled at the small cube-shaped strawberry treats which he gently and neatly arranged on the serving tray. He thought to himself, "The Prince is a very nice man; rather polite and refined mannerism, but then again, what else may one expect from a Royal Blood Heir who has been taught the finest of the finest, by the finest of teachers? Well, it was very pleasant to speak with him, and my, isn't he breathtaking! Twice as that I had imagined! I have heard that he has no love-interest as of yet, which means he is very careful about choosing the apt soul-mate for himself. Blessed be the soul who manages to steal his heart!"
It took a lot of will power for Prince Collin to keep himself from sighing all the time. And finally, he managed to squirm out of the huddle of men and officials, to go about and find that green-eyed man.
And the Prince finally spotted him; the young man posing as waiter was serving the sweet treats to a couple, happily talking as he served. The prince however decided to not approach him, lest he be pounced on by that couple.
Cheerful and jolly; not a shred of self-importance or vainness,...what a remarkable personality.
Sighing at how restricted he felt although he was the King of this Kingdom itself, Prince Collin looked around and his attention was caught by a blonde man who helped himself to a glass of vine. "He looks like he is a merchant; maybe he would know that green-eyed beauty?"
The blonde felt a hand tap him on the shoulder, and he turned around to find the Prince himself smile calmly at him. Staggering a little, the man chirped, "Your Highness! How may I pleasure you dainty ears?" he bowed respectfully.
"Sir, do you see that man over there?" Collin pointed carefully and unnoticeably to the direction where Benjamin stood, "That brunette man with the green eyes? Pretending to be a waiter?"
The blonde blinked at Benjamin and said, "Of course!" he nodded, "That is Benjamin Teradrian, son of widowed Diane Teradrian."
"Benjamin?" Prince Collin breathed gently, liking the way the name resounded on his lips, while his eyes watched the lithe brunette, "And what is his profession?"
"Oh, he is a baker, Your Majesty; he works at Bertha's Bakery! Rather a good baker too; his cakes and pies are famous!"
"Oh, is it now?" the raven haired prince nodded thoughtfully in interest. He then turned to the blonde, who seemed to be busy studying the Prince's hair and stepped back when looked at.
"Do you know about his...character? His mannerisms perhaps?"
The blonde smiled, "Oh, he's rather famous in the market, Your Honour! He is kind, friendly and selfless; he never could refuse any form of request from anyone! They say that he donates his salary to the Orphanages and the Hospital, for he is from a middleclass family that has three well-earning reputable men. He is also known for his just behaviours, and at times he fixes bakery stalls for the poor, for serving free food! Bless that soul, Your Highness!"
Prince Collin smiled absentmindedly at Benjamin; he seemed to have guessed that Benjamin was a kind man, and he was indeed pleased to hear that it was true.
I knew it...his presence was so genteel and comforting... interesting man, indeed!
"I suspect that he may have even met the Green Shadow!" the blonde added thoughtfully.
Collin's mind snapped to reality.
The Green Shadow. It was a name that he had heard numerous times from several of the kingdom dwellers; a masked vigilante who saved the poor and helpless. The masked man never had to appear before the Prince however, for the Prince was under constant security. And Collin had always wondered how the man would be; tall muscular and well-built, imposing, strong and cold in expression. Collin wanted to meet him as well.
"Why do you suspect so, sir?" Prince Collin asked.
"Well, Your Highness, it may seem no one knows the countryside as well as that young man Benjamin over yonder; if at all, he may have had his fair share of beholding the Green Shadow save people; or maybe even had the chance of being saved from the saviour himself!"
"I see..." Prince Collin nodded. That was all he needed to know. He was intrigued by Benjamin and he wished to talk to him more; somehow, talking to Benjamin seemed meaningful and useful rather than spend hours on end silly-talking about trinkets and coats!
Turning to the blonde, the Prince cast his familiar smile of appreciation, "Thank you for sharing your knowledge with me, sir."
The blonde grinned back, "Of c-course, Mour Yajesty..." and he choked on his vine, "I mean, Your Majesty!"
o.o.o
All good things come to an end.
But sometimes, good things come to an end with a smear of the bad.
"AAAAAAAAHHHHH!"
There was a terrorised scream of several females, which alone was shocking, for it was already understood how high-pitched women's voices are. Every face turned in a whip to the large painted French windows of the Hall, to see several masked men, dressed in black and swinging swords jump in through every window and door. More screams of fear and surprise followed as the masked men swarmed in like a great wave of black ants.
Prince Collin stood up from his throne which he had occupied a few minutes ago. "What is the meaning of this!" he gasped angrily to himself.
The Army General Helmour, a handsomely dressed man with bright red hair came running to him, "Your Highness! The invaders are attacking from all sides of the Castle!"
Prince Collin shouted at him to have his voice heard over the wild commotion, "Have every one escorted safely out of the Castle! I do not want even ONE guest injured, do you understand?!"
"YES YOUR HONOUR!" Helmour saluted swiftly, gripping on to his sword and gesturing his great goup of armed men into following him as he swam into the crowd, attacking the invaders who flashed silvery swords.
The General did his job with the help of his men, fighting the surrounding invaders and directing the terrified and disturbed guests as quickly as they could.
Somewhere in the bustling and confused crowd...
"The Restroom, I must get to the Restroom!" Benjamin chanted to himself, and he ran against the tide of running guests. He could feel the tiny pouch in his pocket, and his being almost strained in excitement. This was it, his chance to save the Prince!
o.o.o
The Prince found himself standing alone in the huge empty Hall, his heart drumming. Uncle Samuel, who was also a swordfighter, had accompanied Helmour and was currently leading the guests to safety. The Hall was now a large gaping hole of glossy emptiness, the buffet table in the far corners and the otherwise usual decorations in the posh walls and ceiling.
Standing amidst the silence, Prince Collin thought to himself, "I know who could do this."
And the a voice swam into the air from behind the prince :
"Well, well well! If it isn't the famed male beauty of Crolloubelle! The man who could make a thousand lungs sigh! The man who dwarves the glow of the Sun and the elegance of the Moon!"
Collin narrowed his eyes onto the floor and then turned around. His caramel brown eyes glared the tall well-built man dressed in tight-fitting black clothes of a burglar. His sword dangling at his waist. His face was masked with a black cloth wrapped around the head; only his cold blue eyes peered through, and a few strands of navy blue hair visible that slipped through the cloth.
Prince Collin did not even grace him with a reply. He merely stared acidly as the intruder walked slyly towards him, smirking, "Well, happy birthday to you, Your Highness! Aren't you looking lovelier than always!"
Collin's eyebrow twitched in annoyance.
"And what a nice party you seemed to have had! Too bad that I had to...disperse it, you see? This masked stranger would like a little...private conversation with the Prince."
In a 'wush!' he was gone like a flash. Collin looked at the spot where the man had stood, but he was not there anymore. Until...
"Surprise!" came the hiss from behind the prince.
- End of Chapter -
THERE! cliffhanger sorta!
more later!