Special Thanks To: luckless-is-me, Cheese, L.L, SaiSuki 1329, EsmeTyler

Thanks! I couldn't ask for better reviewers! You all be Awesome!

Curse of Fayte

Chapter Two

Who the Hell is the New Stable-boy?

12/27/2010 2:24 PM

Suzaku stood just at the foot of the grand gates of Pendragon. The massive stone arch of the gates set before him. The same white stone that composed the gates and surrounding walls were under his feet as well as the coble stone leading all the way up to High Castle. His surroundings were not of open fields but was of the poorer slums of the city sprawled around the looming walls. Wooden and stucco houses of these areas were a better cry then the twig and mud huts erected farther out around the farms and homesteads. They were the expanse of the city as over time it had grown far past the grand white walls. It had been that way as far as Suzaku knew for ages. The city was centuries old and the wall were rumored to have been built by the hands of titans. Of course, when it came to Pendragon there were a lot of farfetched rumors associated with it.

Before him the guards watched the crowd carefully. Minotaur's were very common to use in more visible posts, Suzaku knew that. That didn't mean he was prepared for it as he started walking again to the gates. At least eight feet tall the two on either side of the gates watched the crowds as they passed. No one seemed to pay the nonhumans much attention as they passed. Suzaku had just never seen a Minotaur's besides the few that had preferred to live wild around his small village. Those were to be looked away from whenever they did come into town to terrorize the townsfolk and have drinking parties at the lone tavern in the center of the village.

Suzaku kept his head down as he was pushed and pulled by the crowd forward to the open streets. He passed directly under the white gray nose of the left guard without incident and found himself in Pendragon. A smile stretched on his face as the streets opened up and widened. Like a bottle neck the gates fed into the streets, the streets he now found himself walking amongst. Still smiling he looked around. He had to find the Guard Station.

A whole month he had traveled to get here from Gad. Gad was the small village on the Britannia, Providence Eleven border. It was considered Eleven though, making him an Eleven, unfortunately. He had been raised as a foster child of one of the numerous homesteads in and around Gad. Eleven children had filled the homesteads after Britannia's victory as parents had tried to give their children a chance at becoming Britannian. Suzaku's best guess is that is what he was. A simple sent away for a better shot in the world. His eyes on the other hand spoke differently. The other foster children had always jabbed at him that he was probably half Britannian with leafy green eyes like his. He had shrugged it off. Britannian or not all pedigree rights said he was hundred percent Eleven. He'd never cared enough to wonder if he was or really was not Britannian. He remembered being Japanese anyway. Not much most there was one memory that always struck with him. It was of snow and the old Japanese capital castle. His foster parents had assured him he was probably a child of one of the numerous servants that had worked that. It made sense to him and he'd never bothered to look farther for an answer.

Some of the parents had come back collecting their children from the farms. Suzaku's had never come though and by fourteen most of the others that had no returning parents had started to leave. He had joined the guard. Cramped children filled bunkers had been replaced with cramped crowded barracks complete with screaming sergeants and overall disdain directed at his very existance. He had always been a generally likable person but a single Eleven surrounded by Britannian soldiers constantly hadn't been the smartest thing to throw himself into. He did have to admit though he'd learned to fight and he'd learned to fight quickly. He'd moved up the ranks quickly as well at the small academy as consequence of his quick learning. He'd become top of his class in everything from hand to hand combat to swordsmanship and now—well now he had finally moved up from militia forces to an official Private and had been able to ask for a transfer to Pendragon.

The smile on his face wasn't going away as he strode through the town. The noose top sack that held what little he had for belongings was slung over his shoulder as his boots clicked over the white stone roads.

The white ivory comb ran through Lelouch's inky black locks. He combed furiously looking at the mirror in front of him. The same room he'd had since birth as far as he knew. It hadn't changed much over the years with the dark violets and blacks threaded through the chambers. He watched his reflection as he concentrated on arranging himself for the day. His outfit had already been planned the black pants, white shirt, black riding boots and as always to compliment his violet eyes the dark purple vest he had all buttoned and pressed neatly. Now the only task left was to get his bone strait hair into order. He pulled the decretive ivory comb more forcefully over his head.

"You comb it too hard and it may all fall out." C.c. informed him. She sat sideways in one of the violent armchairs next to the rarely used fireplace. Her long legs crossed and dangled over one side and her apple green hair flowed down the other. Her outfit was…less than the courtly standard. Her shoulders bare along with most of her legs from the seam that was open from hip to end. The indigo velvet fabric draped over her covered vitals only. Lelouch was never bothered by her lack of shame, though. He'd grown up seeming most of the expanse below her collar bone and the porcelain skin at her high thigh. She sat soaking up the sun in her chair. A large bound spell book was open before her and her delicate fingers gripped the thick parchment as she turned the page to allow another decoratively illustrated spell to present itself to her.

"It's not cooperating!" Lelouch growled back at her.

C.c. looked up with her cat like stare. "Why do you even care? You have the Gift of Beauty. You could go wallow in a pigsty for a week and still look like an angel pulled directly from heaven."

"I hate looking messy." Lelouch said with a hint of disgust.

"You look fine, besides you're going for a morning ride, aren't you? Jarlath isn't a slow mount, so you'll just come back windswept as always."

Lelouch ignored he comment but all the same decided to forgo his endeavor with his hair. Instead he pulled the cravat around his neck. His fingers searched over thee armoires surface for the amethyst stone pine.

"You left it on the nightstand."C.c. chimed in.

Lelouch swung to look at the witch over his shoulder. She didn't even look up from the large dragon leather book she had in her lap. He swung back around to look over his other shoulder. There the pin was sitting on his dark mahogany wood nightstand next to his black bound journal. He snorted, before quickly retrieved the pin and inserted it as he returned to the mirror to meticulously make sure it looked perfect.

"Alright, I'm ready and leaving." He announced, clipping in the matching amethyst cuff links.

"I wouldn't. Remember how you lost the last set when Jarlath had a temper tantrum in the courtyard?"

Lelouch stopped at the comment, looking down at the links. Again, as much as he hated to admit it the witch was right. He sighed and unclipped the links returning them to their original place on the armoire. He took one last look in the mirror before he went to the door.

"I'm leaving now."

"See you when you get back." C.c. said and waved him off bored.

He nodded and briskly started down the tower steps. His riding boots clicked over the polished dark stone as he reached the bottom and started down the long hall. Dark wooden doors lined each side of the long dimly lit corridor. These were the private quarters of the Royal family or all the children at least. King Charles and his numerous consorts were in a completely different wing of High Castle. Lelouch continued on to turn down the next hall and from there came into the landing. He walked past the first set of stairs leading down to the dining hall. It had an open feeling to it, with the long broad paned windows. The room from the marble floors to cathedral ceiling was flooded with the light of midmorning. He glanced down to see several of his older siblings bickering over some trivial matter. He rolled his eyes and swiftly continued to the next hall and was caste back into the dim torch light.

"Lelouch!" He stopped to peer behind his shoulder.

Euphemia li Britannia stood at the top of the stairs Lelouch had passed up. She looked at him far too enthused for that early in the morning. Her long flower pink hair flowed down her slim back. He lighter pink dress had a sweetheart top that hugged close to her frame down to her thin waist. There like any proper princess gown it widened and fluffed out to continue down to the floor. The flower at her neck had a small diamonds in the center. Her mid-sleeve white jacket sat on her slender shoulders as she lifted the gown bottom to continue up the stairs to Lelouch.

Lelouch turned to greet her with s slight smile. "Euphy,"

She surged forward at the mention of her name to her brother and threw her arms around him. Lelouch tried to keep the smile as he was forced into the embrace. Euphemis only squeezed him tighter. His arms were hugged to his sides and Euphemia's cheek pressed to his shoulder. A bright smile on her face she released and held him at arm's length.

"Good morning!" Again, she was far too cheery for this time in the morning.

"Morning," Lelouch said back.

She linked her arm with his and looked up at him as she spoke. "Come down and have breakfast with us, will you?"

Lelouch shook his head before he patted her hand and unlinked their arms. "I can't Jarlath will feel abandoned."

She gave a pout. "Lelouch, you hardly ever take meals with us."

Lelouch only smiled as he started down the hall again. "I promise I'll have lunch with you and Nunnally today."

"Do you swear it?" She said one hand going to her hip.

Lelouch gave a grand bow. "I swear to you my dear sister I will take the time to have lunch with you and Nunnally, my dear precious ladies."

Euphemia giggled, her small hand going to cover her lips. "Alright Prince Lelouch I'll be sure to hold you to that."

"Until later than!" He said and gracefully bowed again before continuing into the darkly lit hall.

From there he quickly found himself at the landing to the grand staircase leading into the foyer of the throne room. At the bottom of the stairs he gave a glance through the ajar giant doors of the throne room. The room was empty except for a few maids all rushing about to polish the marble floors. Court as always was to be held that night as far as Lelouch knew. The dull endeavor had never held much interest to him so he had rarely attended unlike several of his older siblings and Euphemia. Euphemia loved court. She loved the dresses and the socializing and the grandeur of it all. She especially loved to dress their little sister Nunnally up in it all.

Lelouch sighed at that. As much as he hated to admit it, Nunnally, the most precious sibling to him he'd ever had, was slowly being indoctrinated into the life of the Britannian Royal Family. His sweet, loveable, adorable sister was already being schooled in everything from etiquette to history. She'd soon be a full, feathered, embroidered, and sparkling example of the Britannian Family. Then she'd be married off. Lelouch really didn't like that thought. He sneered and turned away from the throne room to continue down a side hall that led directly to the stables.

He let the guards open the doors for him, before he sauntered down the steps to the open area of the stables.

"Will you be wanting your stallion Jarlath for your morning ride sir?" a freckled blue haired stable boy asked.

"Yes, as always." Lelouch said impatient. He continued past the boy in mid-bow to his prized stallion's stall.

He paid the boy little heed as the he scampered behind him. He looked to the rows of stalls to see Jarlath. The slender and lithe stallion looked to him through dark eyes and gave a short whinny. He smiled and quickly unlatched the stall door upon reaching it. He slipped in next to the tall white horse and patted at his neck.

"My lord—"

"His halter, please." Lelouch commanded of the blue haired servant that staggered to the side of the stall.

"Yes—I mean of course, my lord." The boy fumbled for a second before producing the leather halter from the small tack rack against the wall a few feet away.

Lelouch took it, as he calmed the beast by petting at his long arched neck. He pulled the halter on a second later sliding it over his nose then buckling the strap behind his ears. He linked the lead rope on and turned to unlatch the stall door.

"My lord, please I—"

"Move." Lelouch said as he pushed the door open and led Jarlath out of the stall.

The servant cooperated and Lelouch calmly led the white horse out into the open expanse of the paddock. He led him over to the open tack sheds across the way. The flustered servant lagged behind in an effort to keep up. Lelouch looped the lead rope through the hitching ring and continued into the first shed. He reemerged with a brush a second later as the servant caught up.

"Really I could do this myself, my lord…" the servant continued to blab on.

Lelouch ignored him as he brushed briskly down he swoop of Jarlath's back and up the hill of his hind quarters. The stallion leaned into the brush as his head dropped a few inches and his eyes became hooded. Lelouch continued to his neck then chest area.

"His saddle, please." Lelouch commanded again. He wasn't sure if he'd interrupted again but it didn't really matter to him.

He finished up on the brushing before turning to the saddle blanket rack and pulled the thin padded dark violet blanket from the rack. The blanket was slightly stiff and embroidered with silver thread. "L vi B" was stitched off to one corner along with the Britannian coat of arms stitched on the opposite side. The freckled and flustered servant returned with the light riding saddle. Light in weight also Lelouch was thankful, as he took the saddle from the little tag-along and lifted it on to the saddle blanket. The saddle was of polished and primed dark almost black leather with the padded seat of the same dark violet with silver thread embroidery. Lelouch checked the position, making sure the saddle and blanket were both high over the withers before he reached down to the under straps. After pulling them tight he buckled them before he straightened. He unhooked one end of the chest strap, of the same dark dyed leather, as he walked around to the other side of the horse. There he reached to the dangling strap and pulled it around to attach it to the other side of the saddle. He then clipped the small under strap to the larger main saddle strap, which held the saddle in place under Jarlath's stomach. He admired the dark leather for a moment and the silver name plate that read 'Jarlath' against the white steed's chest before he stood. He was met with the servant's worried eyes and bit lip.

"The bridle," Lelouch said in hopes of being helpful to the poor boys brainless condition.

"Yes, the bridle," the servant said enthused at possibly getting another task. The problem was he didn't move.

Lelouch looked at him giving him a moment to hopefully come to his senses. It wasn't happening.

"Go get it," Lelouch said looking to the blue haired.

"Oh! Yeah, right!" he scrambled off to the tack shed again.

Lelouch shook his head as Jarlath swung his head to look back at him.

"Sometimes I wonder about the hired help we have around here." Lelouch said to the horse. The horse cocked his head giving a snort.

Lelouch smiled at the reaction. "I see that you are in agreement."

The horse only continued to look at him. Lelouch could only expect so much from the creature really.

"Here, My lord!" the blue haired said hired help returned with the bridle.

"Hn," Lelouch grunted and took the bridle. He pulled it over his arm to sit on his shoulder as he went to Jarlath's head. he loosened the halter behind the ears and pulled the front strap from his nose. He then pulled the bridle up carful fitting the soft bit in to Jarlath's mouth and pulling it over his ears. Jarlath snorted a the metal bit but didn't otherwise react as Lelouch casted he reins to rest on his shoulder and unbuckled the halter at Jarlath's neck and buckled the small bridle strap. When done Lelouch ran his hand over the flat forehead of the animal affectionately. A matching sliver name plate, only far smaller, was set into the top most ear strap. Lelouch pulled out the white mane letting it cover the plate before turning around, the reins in hand. He handed off the halter and attached lead rope to the blue haired servant before pulling the reins over Jarlath's head. He then placed his foot into the stirrup and pulled himself up and into the saddle seat.

He said nothing as he reined Jarlath to face about and gave a small kick. Jarlath let out in a lope to the stable gates and turned quickly to start down the streets that would most quickly lead them out of the city and out into the country.

"You're Suzaku Kururugi?" the officer sitting at the desk inquired, skeptically.

Suzaku looked around a bit confused before nodding in affirmative. As far as he knew he was the only Suzaku Kururugi.

He had found the Guard Station fairly quickly after asking a dwarf for directions. He was actually surprised the dwarf had given him correct direction seeing how he was stumbling and sluing so much. He in return had asked Suzaku to see him to the next Tavern. Apparently the one he had stumbled out of had cut him off. Obliging Suzaku had helped the dwarf to the next establishment before he started down the streets to the Guard Station or the Central Station as the dwarf had called it.

"You don't look like an Eleven." The officer said, with a harsh tone. "You sure you ain't Britannian or even like a Four or something?"

Suzaku shook his head.

The guard gave a sigh before he looked back down at the parchment in his hand. "You do know where you are, right?"

Suzaku had started to wonder about his new commanding officer. "We're in Pendragon if I'm correct." Suzaku supplied.

"Yeah, and you do realize you're in the military, right?"

Suzaku gave a glance around again before he shook his head. "Yes."

The officer looked at him. "Are you stupid or crazy?"

Suzaku's brow furrowed. "Excuse me, sir?"

"You are an Eleven, in the military, in Pendragon where you wished to have a transfer to!" the officer said. "They'll eat you alive out there, private!"

"I don't think I follow, sir," Suzaku said.

"Alright, here I'll be kind and give you a quiet post. If you're lucky you won't get maimed there." He snatched up a stray piece of parchment before scribbling across it furiously. A second later he looked up as he thrust the parchment out to Suzaku.

Suzaku took it easily. Upon looking down he wasn't sure if it was a joke or not.

"You want me to report to High Castle?" He said still confused.

"Just move along, You'll get the rest of the details once there." The officer said not looking up from his scribbles.

Suzaku's eyebrows rose. "Alright then."

This was not what he had been expecting. Standing in the stableyard he looked up at what looked like was a person, but he wasn't sure from all the muck and soot. The ruff looking man form leered down at him. The piece of parchment was in his hand. His eyes looked from the parchment and back to Suzaku then to the parchment again and back to Suzaku.

"Whuh 'er ye doing 'ere boy?" the man asked with a thick accent. His face looked perplexed. "This 'ere be sayin' you were in the figh'n rege's"

It took Suzaku a moment to decipher what exactly the man had actually said before he could answer. "Yeah, I was in a fighting regiment in Gad."

The man looked at him seeming to want more of an answer. "But whuh 're ye doin' 'ere?"

Suzaku shrugged. "I was told to report here."

"By Whu?"

"Well first from the Central Station then from the Warrant Officer at the Guard Post in High Castle."

"You mean' these be direct or'ers?"

Suzaku only nodded.

The man looked at him than back down at the parchment. Then back up at him. He gave a deep sigh and turned lumbering back in to what looked like a Blacksmiths forge.

"Ahite!" he said loud. Suzaku followed the man in and watched as he tossed the parchment on a table. "Rival!" he billowed out the window as he lumber back to what looked like his work pumping at the billows. Now that Suzaku looked at him on level grounding he realized where he'd heard that thick accent before. The problem was the man was human. Only Orges had such blatant thick accents like that. Then again now that he looked at the man he wagered that the man could very well be part Orge.

Not a moment later a squirrelly freckled blue haired boy appeared at the door.

"Yeah?" he said.

"These be theh' new 'elp." The probably half orge indicated with his thumb in Suzaku's direction.

"Oh." The boy looked over. "Hey! I'm Rivalz!" he said enthused and held his hand out.

Suzaku took it. "Suzaku Kururugi." He said with a smile.

Rivalz gave a firm shake before releasing.

"Rival 'ell be ye mentor so to speak."

Suzaku nodded, "Alright."

Rival nodded. "Come on then, the Prince will be back soon." He waved Suzaku to follow as he went out the door and out in to the paddock.

Suzaku followed. "The Prince?"

"Yeah," he said as he made for a small shed. "You can set your stuff there," he indicated to a corner near the shed. "Prince Lelouch, he takes a ride every morning with his stallion, Jarlath."

Suzaku set his noose sack against the shed where indicated as Rival stepped into the same very shed. He emerged a second later with a plain white peasant's shirt.

"Here," he said. "You won't be needing all that garb here." He said as he looked over Suzaku's Guards Uniform.

Suzaku took the shirt. He placed it on his sack before he pulled off the quiver and unstrung bow followed by his uniform tunic. He unbuckled the sword at his hip then set it down next to the bow and quiver. After that off came the leather cuirass and pardons. The leather greaves came next and he picked the shirt back up to pull it on. He tucked the ends into his pants as best he could before replacing his boots back on, as he had to remove them in order to remove the greaves.

"Wow, you combat guys sure do pack a lot of weight around don't you?" Rivalz had been watching incidentally the whole time Suzaku had stripped.

Suzaku adjusted the leather braces, having decided to leave those on, as he looked up at Rivalz. "The more protection the better."

Rivalz shrugged.

Suzaku finished looked up, "So who is this Prince Lelouch?"

Rivalz gawked. "Who is Prince Lelouch? Where have you been dead or something? He's the Eleventh Prince of Britannia! Seventeenth heir to the throne! Consort Marianne's first born son!"

"Seventeenth?" Suzaku said skeptical. "You mean the King has more than seventeen children?"

"Well yeah!" Rivalz said and threw up his arms. "And wait till you see the Prince! Boy is he a looker!"

Suzaku just gave him a look as they started to the stalls.

"He really is! The boys as pretty as any girl, I'm telling ya! He's practically built like a girl too. I mean he's thinner than a bean pole!"

"hmm." Suzaku hummed.

They reached the stall just then and Rivalz handed over a shovel. "Here,"

Suzaku took the shovel as Rivalz unlatched the stall and went in. Suzaku followed.

"We need to get this mucked out before Prince Lelouch gets back." Rival explained. "Plus the straw needs replaced. Nights here get pretty cold and if Jarlath ends up with repercussions it'll be our heads on a chopping block."

Suzaku nodded and dug the shovel in. "They sound pretty strict around here."

"No, not really." Rivalz said as he dug his own shovel into the muck. "At least not for most of the horses here, just the royal's mounts mostly, but Lelouch's is the strictest I'll tell you that!"

Suzaku started to pile the much just outside the stall. "Is he a neat freak or something?"

"That isn't the half of it!" Rivalz said and added to the pile. "The guys a loony when it comes to things being just so! His horses tack, stall, hay, water, horse shoes, all of it has to be perfect or you'll wish you could trade his wrath for the wrath of god himself!"

Suzaku shoveled another bit out. "Really that bad?"

"It's worse than that." Rivalz assured. "The guy is the most heartless bastard you'll ever come in to contact with. Rohar, the half orge," Rivalz jutted his thumb in the direction of the blacksmith. Suzaku stifled the urge to blurt that he'd known it the guy had to be something like that. "Says it's because the guy needs a good lay."

Suzaku let out a laugh and kept shoveling. Of all the things he'd imagined to become here, he had to admit that stable boy was at the bottom of that list.

Shoveled, cleaned, and re-strawed Suzaku observed his handy work with a smile. He was leaning on his pitch fork looking around him at the freshened stall. Rivalz and he had gotten it all done in good time and now that the straw had just been replaced they both looked it over with smiles, pleased at their pace and job well done.

"Man, you're a fast worker, Suzaku!" Rivalz said.

"It was both of us," Suzaku chimed in. "Many hands makes for lighter work."

"Yeah, but we still got that done fast!" Rivalz said.

Just then the sound of horse shoes clicking against cobble stone echoed through the yard. Suzaku looked to see a tall slender boy astride a lithe long legged white stallion come trotting into the stable yard. Head and steps high, the stallion came to a halt before the tack sheds. Suzaku stopped taking a step back as he got a good look at the boys face. Rivalz hadn't been lying. The boy was prettier than almost any girl Suzaku had ever met. Inky black hair a bit tussled, from the ride not doubt, swept over his face in fringe. Sharp eyebrows matched sharp sculpted features and alabaster pale skin. Thin lips but not too thin, they were poised and emotionless. Suzaku felt the urge that he really wanted to see them curve into a smile. But those weren't even the boys best features. The best, the most beautiful was the eyes by far. Clear crystalline amethyst orbs were framed by long inky lashes set deep in his head but still wide and very much visible.

The boy slid from the fine saddle to gracefully touch his boots to the ground. Now with a better view of his body Suzaku could see Rivalz was double right. Shallow thin shoulders and chest smoothly flowed down to a slender waist and slight hips, with long lovely legs.

"Told you!" Rival said next to him as he caught a glance of the slightly ajar look on Suzaku's face.

"Wow." Was all Suzaku could let out as his eyes were still glued to the boy as he tethered his mount to a hitching ring.

"Yup." Rivals said. "You might want to stay here, believe me he opens his mouth and your opinion of him might drastically change."

"You sure he's a guy?." Suzaku said shucking the pitchfork into a nearby pile of hay and starting forward. "I think I should go and make sure."

Rivalz only smiled and went after him quickly catching up.

Prince Lelouch was already starting on the tack as Suzaku approached flanked by Rivalz. He stopped as he realized that the boy was indeed tending to the tack. Royals never did that in Gad. Granted there was only a few nobles—well barely nobles, but even they had servants all attend to their mounts for them.

"My Lord, sir this is—"

"The halter." The prince interrupted without a glance up.

Rival stammered before gawking a moment and scampering off to get it. Suzaku watched him before turning back to the prince. He was slowly working at trying to loosen the saddle strap. Long spidery fingers clawed and dug trying to loosen the strap. Suzaku glanced over at Rivalz retrieving the halter from the small tack rack near the stall they had just cleaned and wagered it a moment longer before he stepped forward. He gently brushed the Princes fingers away before he firmly grasped the strap and pulled it free of the buckle entirely. He then proceeded to the chest strap unhooking the thin underside strap first then the side strap. He continued around to the other side of the horse, and he had to admit it was one fine horse.

"What in god's name do you think you are doing?" he abruptly heard hissed at him.

He looked up about to remove the saddle to find violent violet eyes.

"Tending to your horse, your highness," He said calmly.

"I can take care of Jarlath on my own, thank you very much!" the prince growled back his features had twisted in to a snarl his teeth bared and brow creased and low.

Suzaku blinked several times before he simply stepped back his hands up in surrender. Prince Lelouch charged around the horse glaring at Suzaku as he did. He got to the saddle and started to neatly clip on the other side of the chest strap.

Rivalz returned with the halter and Lelouch snatched it away from him quickly and buckled it around the mounts neck. Suzaku looked up to Rivalz who mouthed to him 'what did you do?' Suzaku gave a shrug in answer and mouthed 'my job.'

Lelouch slung off the saddle and shoved it into Suzaku's arm. "Make yourself useful, peasant." He ordered.

Suzaku blinked but did as told knowing if not it really would be his head on the chopping block by the way things were going. He returned from putting away the saddle to see Rivalz still standing around awkward and Lelouch working at the bridal. He removed it from over the horse's ears and the animal quickly spit out the bit. He shoved that too back to Suzaku and he took it without question retuning it to what he guessed was its original place in the tack shed. Next he pulled the blanket from the horses smooth white back and practically threw it at Suzaku. Suzaku caught it luckily and hung it on the blanket rack nearby.

"Brush," he growled out and Rivalz hopped to it scampering to the tack shed. Suzaku just stood there and watched as Lelouch pulled the halter on all the way.

He looked up though as he heard what he could only call as faint whistling sound. It was growing stronger though and the Prince stopped also looking up as well, seeming perplexed as well. Suzaku took a step forward still looking up as he spotted a red dot. He e squinted as he watching the dot coming straight at them. He cocked his head for a moment as it sped through the air directly to them. He could feel the Prince still behind him, but heard the shift in the dirt letting him know he was looking up at the red thing as well. It got closer seeming to increase in speed. It was getting really close. It was like it wasn't flying so much as falling. He looked closer at it and abruptly his eyes widened

"Dragon!" he shouted.

He spun, grasped on to the Prince around the waist, and yanked the halter off the horse before he threw them to the ground all in a split second. The dragon hit then digging hard into the ground and sent debris and rock flying everywhere from the produced crater. Suzaku caged the boy under him. He locked his arms around him like iron and covering him as best he could. He hunched his shoulders and squeezed his eyes shut as dirt and rock pelted his back. He felt the blast down to his skin and heard the loud impact. He also heard the loud whinny of the horse and corresponding pound of hooves against stone.

Then it was over. He panted, though he wasn't sure why, as his muscles loosened. All other thoughts dissipated quickly as he slowly became aware of the boy under him. His hands were fisted, arms up and his head was bowed to Suzaku's chest, his eyes squeezed very tightly shut. Suzaku moved to pull his knees up and under him before he froze. It wasn't anywhere near over, he realized as he heard a low pained growl. He jumped to his feet, dragging the Prince with him and he spun to see the beast. He looked around knowing he'd left his weapon with his cloths. No matter, he retrieved the buck knife from his boot. He felt the ragged breath at his neck but didn't look back.

The beast was small, not much larger than the horse really. Although it was big enough it would be a challenge if it attacked. Hell a dragon the size of a small cat would present itself as a challenge if it attacked. The dragon was red most defiantly though, but more brown than Suzaku had previously observed. It had a small body compared to seemingly endless amount of wing. There was a sharp long horned head but short, especially for how amazingly long the neck and tail were. Four legs instead of two looked to be its support. It had short claws along with teeth. The only thing truly puzzling about it was the fact it had still yet to move from the crumpled heap it had landed in.

Suzaku watched it carefully taking a carful step back forcing the prince behind him to do the same. He glanced around quickly to identify the whereabouts of the horse. When he found it the animal looked to be doing the same as he. Alert it shuffled nervous at the far corner of the stable. An ear perked as the two made eye contact. If need be the horse was Suzaku's best option of getting Prince Lelouch out of there. He looked back to the beast quickly. Another growl echoed through the ruined paddock.

Saying it was ruined was quite the understatement. The large crater the dragon lay in had blasted out over the rest of the stables. Rock and cobble stone had stabbed through the tack shed and immediately lying stalls. It had crashed all around the crater even banging up and imbedding large chunks of stone everywhere. Suzaku was thankful he and Lelouch hadn't ended up impaled together by one of those large sharp looking pieces.

The dragon started to stir drawing Suzaku's gaze. Suzaku heard the sound of boots and his head shot behind him. Rohar immerged looking stone faced a hammer in one hand he widened his stance ready. They exchanged nods before their eyes returned to the dragon. With only the buck knife he knew they hadn't much of a chance so he glanced to his side, the sword really wasn't that far away. Feeling behind him he quickly found the prince. His hand over his hip he pushed him back slowly as he himself stepped back. The dragon stirred again lifting a shoulder to pull out a long front leg from under its body. Urgency rushed through Suzaku and he took a couple more hasty steps back to reach his sword. He was glad the prince was at least good at taking cues. He bent, shoved the buck knife back in his boot, and retrieved the sword and pulled it from its sheath. Now he at least felt like they might have a shot.

Giving another growl the dragon opened its ruby eyes to groggily look around. Suzaku froze as the long neck pulled its head up to look at him. Suzaku's brow lowered as a low growl escaped reptilian lips and a row of white pearly teeth were exposed. Suzaku gripped the sword in both hands sliding his feet for a firmer stance. The dragon stood letting out another threatening roar. Suzaku gritted his teeth and braced himself.

"No! Don't hurt him!" Abruptly the sing song voice let out through the yard.

Suzaku tore his gaze from the dragon to see a man. Suzaku's determined look dropped then to perplextion. The man was running full speed through the yard…to the dragon…not the prince. Behind him trailed a maiden as well holding her skirts up to keep from tripping. The man jumped excitedly as he reached the dragon cheering and giving loud whooping noises.

"You did it! You did it Elrond! That has got to be one of the fastest dives I have ever seen! Let's see if Rakshata can beat that, eh?" the man still cheered and jumped up and down as he exclaimed the words.

Suzaku dropped his stance letting the sword down to his side. He had to admit he was very confused.

The woman thankfully went to him and the prince. "I'm so sorry my lords!" She pleaded. Pale blue eyes matched dark blue hair and lovely sweet features.

"Really I am so sorry for this!" she glanced back at the celebrating man and what appeared to be celebrating dragon. The dragon looked to be dancing—not very rhythmic or graceful but it was something along the lines of dancing, also deep chortling sounds came from its agape mouth. The mouth, oddly enough, looked to be pulled into the reptilian equivalent of a smile. "Lloyd isn't very—well he's—" she trialed off.

"Stark raving mad?" Lelouch said from behind them. Suzaku looked back. He was shocked to hear the princes voice at all let alone as calm as it was.

"Yes," she breathed. Apparently she wasn't much for defending her companion. "I really am sorry. Elrond was instructed to land outside Pendragon all together and defiantly not in the stables of high Castle!"

Suzaku only nodded.

"Cecile! Cecile come see this! His vitals are almost perfect despite such an amazingly horrendous landing!" the man raved on as he now buzzed around the stilled dragon putting his hand here and there over reddish brown scales, his pocket watch out.

"Again, I'm sorry and I do hope you're alright, your highness." She said before trotting back to the small dragon and stark raving mad man.

Suzaku just stood there sword in hand as he tried taking it all in. First hour on the job and he'd already met more non-human creatures than he'd ever seen in Gad, met a prince, held that same prince close enough he could feel his heart beat, possibly saved same said princes life, escaped certain death by flying rocks, been challenged by a dragon, escaped certain death by said dragon, come in contact with a madman, and was still shockingly alive. He really didn't know what else to do besides stand there.

"I need to see to Jarlath," the prince stammered weakly sounding to be trying hard to regain composure as he shakily started in the direction of the white stallion.

Suzaku grunted, not knowing if the boy had been speaking to him or not. He couldn't do much though than just continue to stand there and look around himself as he wondered faintly what to do next.

"You! Swordsman!" He looked up. The stark raving mad man had shouted at him.

"Yes?" he asked quiet.

"Who are you?" the man shouted back again. The mad man had stood between the Ms. Cecile and the red smiling dragon.

Suzaku wasn't sure how to answer so he just blurted the truth. "I'm the new stable boy."

Here you go! Alright, so I know that this chapter well the first part of it at least is just as boring as the previous chapter. But hang in there it was important and It plays a part in further chapters so don't get bored please! And don't stress action comes in full force later on.

Chapter Question: Where does the name Elrond come from? Does anyone know? I can tell you it's really from something! :)

Personal Question: What was the best pet you ever had? Mine was a dog, named Jake. He died last summer form cancer, but when I was little he was like my freaking body guard. My mother has told me many a time that she was never afraid of me going outside or anything so long as I had Jake with me. And that would be mine, so what is yours?

~Review they make me never want to leave my laptop!~