Thank you so much for your reviews! Those make me really, really happy! I'm glad you guys are liking this story~ I'm going to do the same as NekoRoma and offer a prize fic for my lovely readers and reviewers~ just to thank you for leaving reviews~ every ten reviews sounds good o.o anyways~ The real story has started~~
i'm mad at FF right now -_- this had better work this time ...
maybe this time...
okay ... this is really getting on my nerves. this is an entirely new document ...
and it STILL won't work! ugh! this is really on my last nerve -_- i will be BEYOND angry if i have to re upload the entire story and lose my views and reviews ...
Kismet
Chapter Five: To the Open Seas
Femke grinned, pouring the last of the water into the basin for the prince, "I can't believe it! He's so old now!"
"Fifteen isn't that special, you know?" Lovino frowned, sprinkling the prince's favorite salt in the water, making the water smell sweet.
The girl raised her eye brow, "You only say that because you're not a man yet!"
"I've been a man longer than that spoiled bastard! Who had to take care of his little brother at the age of nine?"
"Okay, okay, you win, mister man, but you'll see. It's much better actually being fifteen!" she left the room laughing.
Lovino rolled his eyes and the door on the other side opened, revealing Antonio. He didn't look particularly happy.
"What's wrong with you, bastard?" Lovino asked watching the man strip. A blush covered his cheeks. Who wanted to be a man anyway? Antonio looked miserable in his body, with hair in weird places and various other things that must have been absolutely terrible. Lovino would have preferred remaining his age. He knew he was a man on the inside!
Antonio sunk into the water and let out a sigh, "Nothing, Lovi, it's just … now that I'm old enough, my father wants me to go with him to one of Sverran's colonies. He wants the people to see their future ruler." that was another thing Lovino hated about Antonio now. His voice was much deeper, but sometimes it liked to mess up and Antonio got mad when Lovino laughed about it.
"I don't see the big deal about that." Lovino began washing the prince's back like usual. The prince frowned, "I want to go, I really do, but I'm worried about father. Lately, there have been tales of men out on the sea doing horrible things. They take over ships and kill the men on board. What if they attack our ship? Both me and my father could die!"
Lovino frowned at the thought of Antonio dying, "That would …" he couldn't even finish the sentence before the prince rose from the water, "I think I'm just … I don't know. I think we'll be fine, right Lovi~?"
The boy nodded, "Sure, why not?" He was dismissed and was left with nothing to do for the rest of the day. The queen made sure there would be far more superior servants helping out for Antonio's birthday celebration.
He made his way to the servant's quarters where Femke would be. She, too, was told to stay behind.
"Hey, Femke!" she looked up at him and grinned, "Hi, Lovi! You ready?" the boy nodded and the two made their way to the gardens where the pond was. Femke sat down by the edge, "Isn't the pond pretty this time of day?"
Lovino yawned and nodded. The orange and pink sky lit up the water in the same colors. The two usually made their ways out to the spot when they were either upset or bored with nothing to do. It was calm and peaceful and it was a place where they could just talk.
"Daan is leaving tomorrow morning …" the blonde girl whispered sadly, "Mama is upset, but she knows he'd be happier traveling and all that. He wants to return to our father's homeland and hope to be accepted among the people."
"Why wouldn't he be?" Lovino threw a rock into the water, watching the splash.
Femke giggled, "That's right! I haven't told you yet! Mama really wanted it to stay secret, but you're my best friend so … anyway," she pushed her hair back and revealed her ear, which was slightly pointed, "Me and Daan are half elf." her hair fell back to it's original position, "There are a few elven tribes located on the mainland, but most of them live further up north. Anyway, mama fell in love with a Nerruian elf. They had Daan and then me, but when papa died, she was forced to find work.
"At first, mama worked in a local bar, but it wasn't enough to feed both of us, so she got a job here. No one knows what we are because we'd be used for awful things."
"Wait, if you're half elf, doesn't that mean you can do magic like they can?" Lovino tilted his head. He'd heard stories about the elves far up north. They had so many different types of magic that could do incredible, even impossible, things.
"Yeah, but my magic is limited since I'm part human and don't have a teacher. I can do this!" she pulled the ribbon from her hair and stared at it with an intense look. One tip of the ribbon began changing to blue and it bled across the entire thing, "See! I changed the color! Um … but don't tell mama I told you, okay?"
Lovino stared at the now blue ribbon she was typing into her hair. He smiled and dragged his finger over his chest in an 'X' shape, "Cross my heart."
Femke smiled and hugged her best friend.
"By the way, Lovi, how do you manage to call the prince horrible names and keep your head? You know if the queen heard you say that to her son, she'd behead you immediately!"
Lovino nodded, knowing the queen had problems with him. She'd use any excuse to have him killed or sent away.
"I don't know. It slipped one day and he didn't care, so I guess it's become habit." he shrugged. He honestly couldn't care less if the prince cared about his name calling or not.
Femke rolled hers eyes and smiled, "You're insane, you know that?"
"Yeah, yeah …" Night time rolled around and Lovino was forced to help Antonio put away the many new gifts he'd received from the nobles all over the kingdom.
"Who needs this many clothes?" Lovino grumbled, neatly folding a new pair of leather trousers.
"I honestly don't know." Antonio laughed, hanging a new silk robe up, "You can have anything you want, you know? Make you look all royal and stuff~ It might be nice to be seen with a properly dressed servant rather than a poorly dressed one."
Lovino glared, "Miss Tessa made these for me for my birthday. I'd rather be comfy in these that trapped in rags like those!"
"Oh, come on, Lovi~ don't be like that!" Antonio pleaded, "I didn't mean to insult you, I was just-"
"Not everyone wants to be a spoiled brat like you, bastard." Lovino cut him off, grabbing another pair of pants and tucking them in the dresser.
"You don't have to be so rude about it …" the prince glared, "Just go to bed. You're dismissed. I'm just glad I won't have to deal with you anymore for awhile." Antonio crossed his arms and stormed to the other side of the room.
"What do you mean?" Lovino asked worriedly.
Antonio shot a look at him, "It means, I'll finally get some peace! Father and I are heading to the colonies tomorrow and mother with be overseeing you until I get back. Now go."
Lovino threw the pants to the floor and rushed to the door that connected their rooms. Antonio was leaving him with the queen? He'd be dead within the week! He couldn't run away, either, since he had no way of getting back to Illonia to find his brother. He had a secret stash of gold he'd saved under his bed, but it wasn't enough for his dreams. He'd probably only saved two hundred gold.
He sighed and plopped onto the bed, trying to think of a way to save his skin and keep his job. Only one thing came to mind. He grabbed a small bag and filled it with a few extra shirts and pants as well as some of his gold.
This had to work! Lovino slipped from his room and down the halls, successfully managing to evade guards and servants on his way to the docks where the royal ship sat, ready to be used the next morning. He walked down into the storage hold and took a deep breath. If he was going to stay aboard until it set sail, he was going to need a good hiding place.
He found a barrel that was only half filled with apples and lowered himself inside. Once the lid was secured, he closed his eyes and waited.
Lovino hadn't expected to fall asleep, but he had. When he awoke, he felt his stomach flipping around in his belly. Did that mean the ship had set sail? He carefully lifted the lid of the barrel and looked around the cargo hold. Several more things had been added since he'd arrived, so others had been here as well. Lovino had almost deemed it safe enough to explore when he heard thumping coming down the stairs. He popped the lid back in place and tried to quiet his heart rate.
"I just don't get it father …" a familiar voice spoke, "I know I yelled at him, but I didn't know he'd run away."
"Son, these things happen. It' not your fault." Lovino bit his lip and held his breath, hoping that Antonio and the king would just go away.
"I know … but …" Antonio stopped, "Never mind."
"What is it, my boy?" the king spoke gently.
Antonio let out a sigh, "He's the only servant who's not afraid of me. Even Daan treated me like I was delicate and fragile, but Lovino … he acted like I was a nobody. He wasn't afraid to speak his mind. Where am I going to find another servant like that?"
The king laughed, "You are a weird one, son. It'll be fine." one set of foot steps retreated. Lovino didn't dare come out of his hiding spot.
Antonio thought he'd run away? That meant Antonio needed something and Lovino hadn't been there! Stupid! Lovino scolded himself. But he had taken his window of opportunity and that's all that mattered. Antonio would find out he was here sooner or later and by then it would be too late to send him back. He'd hopefully be able to keep his job and avoid the queen killing him or firing him.
He let out a small sigh of relief and instantly regretted doing so. "Who's there?" Antonio snapped.
Lovino felt tears prick the corners of his eyes and he held his breath. Hoping Antonio would just think it had been the wind or something else.
"I know you're there. Come out now or it won't be pretty when I find you." Lovino found it hard to take Antonio seriously with his voice cracking the way it was and he held in the light laughter that threatened to burst. He tried telling himself this was a serious situation, but nothing helped.
The lid was knocked off the barrel and Lovino looked up to see Antonio staring down at him with shock, "Lovi?"
"Uh … hi …"
"What are you doing here?" he honestly looked utterly confused.
"I … uh …" Lovino was at a loss for words. He couldn't tell Antonio that he knew the queen would kill him or what ever.
"Why did you run away? And to my father's ship?"
"I didn't run away! I …" quick Lovino, he scolded himself, "I just wanted to go, too! I mean, who else knows exactly how you like your food or how fluffed your pillow is supposed to be?"
Antonio smiled and wrapped his arms around Lovino, "Aw Lovi~! I'm so glad you're not mad at me anymore!"
"Mad?" oh right, Lovino frowned and shoved Antonio away violently, Antonio thought he'd run away because he was mad, "I wasn't mad. You're a bastard for saying those things and I still hate you like normal, but I wasn't mad."
Antonio frowned, "You hate me?"
Lovino blushed lightly, "Yes! You're a spoiled brat, bastard!"
The prince smiled sadly and laughed, "Yeah … well … come on then. I have to tell father you're on the ship too. That way he can pay you for being here."
Lovino climbed out of the barrel and followed him, ignoring the sound of the prince's voice.
The prince stopped at a large door and knocked, "Yes?" the king's voice flowed through.
"Father, it's me. You'll never guess what I found~!" Antonio laughed, returning to normal.
The door swung open and the king looked down at the child, "Lovino? What's he doing here?"
"I-I wanted to see t-the o-ocean and g-go t-too … your m-majesty." Lovino bowed. The king stared at him and rolling laughter bubbled out of him, "Of course! You can share Toni's cabin then, just … just keep doing what you do at home and you can stay on the ship … not that we could take you home now anyway." he waved them off and shut his door.
"Well, I guess I'd better show you where you'll be staying then~" Antonio grabbed Lovino's hand only to have it yanked away and face a slap to the arm, "Don't touch me, bastard."
The prince laughed and took him to his cabin. There was a bed against the wall, a small night stand, a chair and a dresser. "This is my cabin, where we'll be staying until we get to where we're going~ it's not as nice as the rooms in the castle, but it'll do~!" the prince's emerald eyes shone brightly.
"Like I said, spoiled!" Lovino looked around the room and frowned deeply. He'd have to ask Antonio about that later, though.
In the mean time, he set to work following the prince around, making sure he had everything he needed. Night time came and the crew laughed and joked around dinner, which Lovino looked at disgustedly. Who wanted to eat dried tomatoes and salted meat? He would have snubbed his nose at the meal if he hadn't slept through breakfast and lunch. It wasn't terrible, but he preferred the stuff made at the castle.
Antonio bit into the meat and smiled, "Hey, Lovi~ What do you think of life on a ship? This is my first time, too and I have to admit, now that I'm out here, I'm excited!"
Lovino thought for a moment. The way the waves pushed the ship made him queasy, but the ship's medic said that would pass once he got used to it. The sea air was nice, though. He actually liked the way the ocean smelled and had often wondered what it would be like when he'd go with Femke and Tessa to the market, which was right on the coast.
"It's okay, I guess. I do prefer land, but it's not so bad …" Lovino muttered biting into a dried tomato.
"That's good. Hopefully I'll still be able to sail like this when I'm king. You'll come with me, right~?" he raised his brow and smirked.
"Hell no. Once is enough. It's bad enough I have to deal with you out here, spoiled bastard." Lovino smirked, hoping the insult stung a little.
"Aw, Lovi~ you wound me!" he wrapped his arm around Lovino's shoulders and pulled him close.
"Damn it, bastard! I said don't touch me!" he punched the prince in the stomach, earning surprised looks from around the table as every one of the men, including the king became silent.
Antonio made an 'oompf' sound and let go of the boy, but like he always did when Lovino hit him, he laughed it off and continued eating.
"So mean, Lovi~ it's not cute!"
"Who said I was cute? Spoiled bastard!" he, too, continued eating.
The king burst into laughter, "You weren't kidding, son. He really isn't afraid of you! I like him!" the rest of the crew joined in his laughter while Lovino blushed, having forgotten he was not alone with Antonio and the king watched him punch his kid.
The prince smiled wide with his bright emerald eyes, "Nope~!" Once the dinner had come to an end, Lovino tiredly followed Antonio back to his cabin. He was once again face with that problem.
"Where am I supposed to sleep, bastard?" he would probably end up on the floor, or in the chair, which really pissed him off.
The older looked at him confused, "In the bed, of course. It's big enough to share~! I'm spoiled~ so it's a given, right~?" Antonio laughed, "Can you set out my night clothes while I ready the bed?"
Lovino blushed and shook his head, "I'm not sleeping in the same bed as you! Pervert!" he pulled the clothing from the dresser and threw it at Antonio, while pulling his own from the sack.
Antonio pulled the large blanket from the top and threw the pillows back, "It's either that or the floor, Lovi~ and I'd prefer you to be comfortable …" the prince slipped from his day clothes and pulled on his night shirt and pants, "Besides, this bed is huge. Mother wanted me to be happy and comfortable, so she made sure the bed was nice. I can have one end and you can have the other. Problem solved~"
Lovino frowned and gave up. He really would rather have the thick cozy bed over the hard wood floor. "Fine, but if you do anything perverted, I'll kick your ass." Lovino climbed into the bed and squeezed himself against the wall, facing the wooden planks. The bed shifted as Antonio crawled under the sheets as well, "Good night, Lovi~" he yawned.
"What ever, bastard." Lovino closed his eyes when the prince blew out the lamp and fell into a light sleep.
TBC
^_^ The next two chapters are my favorite for this age era~~ XD gah i have too many favorites for this story! I can't wait until you get to read them! anyway, tell me what you thought~
~ Lady Pyrien