Disclaimer: Sookie Stackhouse - Southern Vampire Mysteries belongs to Charlaine Harris.

Chapter 10

Mixed Points of View.

When breakfast ended, Eric rose, helping Sookie to her feet. He dismissed everyone from the room and she was surprised that he didn't take her back to his rooms.

There were two men that remained in the hall after everyone else had left. She heard Christian's mind curse one of the men to the right and he glanced at Eric with pleading eyes. Eric looked back to me and whispered in my ear, "This may get nasty, lover."

"I've seen worse." I said bluntly, Eric nodded and held out his hand to me which I accepted. We walked past Christian and I grabbed hold of his hand, pulling him along with us. He looked at me in surprise, but I squeezed his hand in comfort and he nodded, showing he appreciated the gesture.

I tugged on Eric's arm and he leaned down, glancing briefly at mine and Christian's entwined hands. I kept him leaning down and whispered in his ear, not taking my eyes off of the man Christian was cursing in his mind.

"The man over there, Lord Nickolas, is going to kick up a storm. He's going to openly complain to you about some lies regarding Christian's actions with his daughter, Lady Isabelle. She has no idea of what her father's been up to," I whispered. He looked at me in surprise for a while, before gazing deeply in to my eyes, then nodding, squeezing my hand.

He glanced over my head at Christian and the three of us stood in a circle a distance away from the two remaining men.

"Brother, Princess Sookie has just given me some interesting news, I don't know how she knew... but it seems your ex-lover the Lady Isabelle is innocent in her father's plotting for your hand in marriage. She has no clue that he's been blackmailing you; it's all his doing."

"From what I can pick up, Christian, the only thing she's done wrong is accuse you of something you've not done. She believed in the gossip instead of the truth." Sookie said, earning a look from the two brothers. She looked at them both innocently.

"What? It's one of my 'gifts,' as my great-grandfather calls it. It's more like a curse, if you ask me." She said with a shrug of her right shoulder.

"Sookie?" Eric asked her questioningly whilst Christian gaped at her. Sookie let her shields down and knew Christian's mind was working along the right path.

"Don't you say anything, Mister," she said, prodding her finger in Christian's chest and giving him a glare. "Let me tell him in my own time. I'm not ready to share this information and it could damage the future." She said, still poking him for emphasis.

In response, a string of curse words and un-holy words that would have a nun praying for his salvation came out. Eric just stood there looking annoyed at this exchange between the two. He hated being left out the loop of things; he was the King, after all.

An annoying sound of a throat being cleared pulled the three out of their circle and Sookie gripped Christian's hand tighter in warning, whilst Eric just raised his eyebrows looking suspiciously between the two, his brother and his lover.

"Your Majesty," Lord Nickolas addressed him, speaking perfect English with a Nordic accent.

Eric rose to his full height and glared down at the man for not going via the proper channels to greet the king, or talk if it's a private matter, or request an audience. This man dared approach the king after the room had been dismissed. To tell the truth, Eric hated the man and had no idea how on earth he produced and raised that daughter of his who has his brother quite smitten.

Eric decided to deliberately ignored hateful the man and pulled Sookie, who in turn pulled Christian along with them to greet the man who had been a dear and loyal friend to his parents who had been waiting patiently.

"Sir Anton, what can I do you for?" Eric asked the man, smirking, feeling the burning glare of Lord Nickolas. He was sure the man's angry gaze would turn him to ashes if it were possible. Anton raised his eye brow glancing over Eric's shoulder, before glancing back at his king.

"I wish to leave court and return home. My loyalties, including those of my family, will always lie with your family. Your father and mother were very dear friends of mine. The crowns they wore notwithstanding, behind closed doors your father was like a brother to me. We were friends since we were young children. I will miss them dearly, as I'm sure many people will; but for me, court is not the same..."

"I understand your reasoning and you are released from court. Your family's loyalty and friendship will always hold a dear place close to my family's hearts. I hope you keep in touch, Sir Anton. I will not contact you unless I require your aid in some way that none other can help the crown." Eric said.

"I hope you keep hold of this one King Northman," he said, nodding to Sookie. "She's already changed your heart, I can see. I've watched you grow up and taught you well in academics and other subjects; I know your moods and personality almost as well as your mother and father knew you. I can tell, my old friend, that your father would love the Princess. He'd be very pleased in the match if you choose to take her as your wife."

Eric nodded his thanks and spoke, "Yes, she has lightened my cold and hard heart."

Sir Anton smiled a genuine smile. "I can see that, and I'm very happy for you, your Majesty, as your parents would have been. I do sincerely hope this does not end badly."

Sir Anton turned to face Christian. "Do not be too hard on her." He said in a low voice so Mr. Impatient and Mr. Nosy in the background couldn't hear what he was saying. However, Sookie could hear him loud and clear - he was a loud and annoying broadcaster, one of those types that just won't butt out. "You know my contacts are far-reaching. I've heard that since your separation, he's been punishing her for destroying the family's advancement and chances for closeness to throne. She knows nothing of her father's doings at court; she's been left in the dark for quite some time. I have it on good authority that her maids have said that she's heartbroken without you and that her father is thinking of arranging a marriage to a man who will not treat her very well and whom she will never love like she does you, young Christian."

"Sookie just said pretty much the same." Eric said looking at me fully with curiosity.

"Now, now brother, remember what our princess said on that subject, so switch that curiosity button off and focus on the more pressing matters at hand." Christian said, smirking evilly. Sookie guessed that Christian liked knowing something his brother didn't.

"Boys, boys, behave. Eric, I'll tell you when I'm ready, I wasn't planning on saying anything at all. I said to you before, it's more like a curse and could change things." Sookie said.

Anton looked back and forth between the trio. Never had he heard anyone call the king by his first name with such ease except for his mother, father and brother, not even his closest aunt and uncle call him 'Eric,' they all called him 'Prince Northman' as a child, and now they call him 'King Northman.'

"Excuse me, your Majesties," an annoyed voice sounded from behind them. "If you're finished with your business, I would like to request a few moments of your time."

Both brothers had stiffened and turned to look at Lord Nickolas with completely blank faces.

"Lord Nickolas, you will address me properly and you will wait your turn. If you needed my attentions so urgently, then you would have gone via the correct procedure but instead, you rudely wait and boorishly interrupt me twice. Give me two good reasons why I shouldn't call my guards now and have them throw you out."

Sookie watched Lord Nickolas slowly turn a nasty shade. Sir Anton spoke quickly before things got ugly, "If it please your Majesties, I would like to bid you both farewell from court and return to my family today as soon as you will release me from my duties here."

Eric waved his hand in dismissal, whilst Christian gave him a slight nod. Neither brother's gaze moved from the angry man who was quickly turning purple in front of them. Sookie turned to smile at Sir Anton, who returned it with one of his own and a slight bow, before leaving the room quickly.

Sir Anton knew that the king had a temper - one you do not want to be on the receiving end of. He was so much like his father, but he knew how to control his temper and use it to his advantage. He also knew when it should be unleashed. The king is a very gifted man; his temper was one of his gifts, believe it or not. Christian was more like his mother than his father.

King Eric Northman was a fair king. He knew when to be tough and he knew when someone was telling lies or when they were not quite what they made themselves out to be. The princess looked beautiful, very beautiful and even more so next to his king. He hoped the king would not let go of this one and treat her as a princess from a different land should be treated.

He left the hall, closing the doors quietly, nodding to the guards who looked up at him in alarm when they heard raised voices. He shook his head, indicating them to wait.

I wonder what's gonna happen to Lord Nickolas, and the conversations that flow.