Nightshade: Chapter XVII
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XVII–The Father and The Son
Noë laughed, clearly enjoying herself as an elf touched high on her waist, their forearms bound as they traded dancing partners to the thrumming music.
Orion admired her.
Her smile was sun.
Her air was sweet.
Her laughter was a sonnet he had not yet heard.
Her words adventure and life he had not yet felt.
And her kiss…
Her kiss had been scorching.
Coaxing him from what felt like hibernation in a long overstayed winter. Yet her lips were cool, her demeanour even, though he could feel through her skin how her heart was beating outside of her chest.
He rounded the room, watching her and only her as she continued to dance, their eyes catching briefly over the shoulder of her dance partner.
Orion felt envy as her partner’s hand slipped on her waist, touching her delicate back a little too low.
He stepped forward unknowingly, accidentally adding himself to the dancing, circling into her hands as everyone changed partners once more.
Noë’s eyes lit in surprise as Orion stepped forward, almost frozen in front of her.
Words not needed, she lifted her forearm to his own and pushed in close.
His face thankful for her lead, her smile bloomed. She took his hand, coming closer as they spun together and he lifted her.
Orion found his stride as she laughed in his arms, their steps taking them further to the centre as he spun her in and out, their hands not relinquishing as those around them changed partners.
Pleased with his greed as his hand tightened on hers she repeated the moves with him, his hands lingering on her waist as he lifted her again, her white hair circling around them as they danced.
As her feet landed again she touched his shoulder, her fingers gliding along the plains of the muscle there as her tips skimmed his neck. Their movement slowed as the others in the garden seemed to fade, welcoming in warm light.
Noë felt his presence slipping against her own as they stood in the courtyard in the peak of a summer day, long before Fimbulwinter reached their shores.
She could smell fire in the heated breeze, and see the tree watching over the garden, its branches full and ripe with fruit.
Orion saw the sun pouring on her face, the light shimmering in her eyes though she had never seen the garden this way.
Here she stood still in the courtyard in her solstice dress, a summer breeze pouring sunlight over her shoulder and moving through her hair.
She felt the warmth of their shared consciousness slipping over her as she reached out to nothing, meeting his hand as he brought her close to his chest.
She closed her eyes, feeling Orion’s hands in her hair, down her back, on her waist, lifting her, lying her down, touching every sensitive bit of her skin as his lips pressed to her ear and drifted down her neck, flowing up again to meet over her lips.
In their vision she could feel his warm breath on her lips, his shaky exhale as she touched his torso, taking a handful of his clothes to bring him closer.
The bark of the tree hit her back as their lips met wet and hurried as his hands tangled in her hair, his tongue delving deeper now, long and soft against her own.
Orion felt her hands pulling at his clothes, her sweet muffled gasps became lost in his own.
Was this too much?
Was he overwhelming her?
He tried to control his doubts but his mind was too clouded.
This was not fair to her.
Not until she knew the truth.
He parted their lips, his forehead pressed against her own. “I can’t. Not yet.”
Ripped from their shared vision as they came back to the physical plane, their dancing stopped amidst everyone else continuing.
Noë felt her chest shaking as she looked up into Orion’s eyes, embarrassment crossing his cheeks. He reluctantly unlaced their fingers, stepped back and bowed in apology. “Vala.”
His eyes held hers as she looked at him in confusion, brief rejection flashing in the silver pools.
“Orion–” she gasped as she reached for him, cut off as the next elf took her hand, she followed his lead half heartedly, looking over her shoulder as she watched him move through the covered hallway back to the castle, his eyes never leaving hers as she continued to dance, enraptured by his stare.
She broke away immediately as the song ended and polite clapping rang out. Noë bowed to the elf she danced with and moved to follow Orion when she was stopped by Oncinth’s friends chittering and complimenting her dancing.
Orion entered the dining hall, unsure of himself as he formed a fist, feeling her hands in his, wanting their vision together to return. What was it? Why did they keep connecting this way? And was it him that made her see those things?
The vision had bordered on indecent, his hands touching all over her body as they pressed against the tree, moving up her dress coming close to her heated core.
He groaned and wiped a hand down his face. They had a pleasant evening and had even danced together.
Why had he ruined it with his lust?
And so soon after her first kiss?
He was disappointed with himself.
He was to be a guide, a mentor in spirit to her, and he took advantage of their shared bond by fate. How could he be trusted to lead her when he himself exercised no discipline or restraint?
This was not what his grandfather foresaw.
He looked behind himself as music began once more, wanting to turn back and explain, apologise further and hope he hadn’t sparked distaste within her towards their fast friendship.
Aolis stopped him.
“Never thought I’d see you dancing. You aren’t very good.”
Orion flicked his eyes towards his brother, dressed in royal blue, golden straps crossing his chest and back enforced with leather. His long white blonde hair slicked back from his face. “Aolis.”
“Orion.” Aolis said with distaste as he stood with him, looking out of the hallway entrance. “It seems even the mighty ‘Hero of Tiere' gets lonely.” he said in mockery.
Orion turned to walk away.
He was in no mood for his brother’s cruelty.
Aolis gripped Orion’s arm, stopping him from turning away. His brother stepped closer, warning on his face as his blood red brows came together in fury.
Aolis released him.
“Keep your distance from her.”
Orion bit back a laugh.
First she was an orphan, a lesser being that his younger brother had seethed at the arrival of, and now he desired her?
“You have enough playthings, Aolis. Be kind and seek another.”
His brother had run through half of the court's free women, all but Noë was out of bounds.
Of course he wanted her.
But she was kind, and sweet. Too sweet to fall victim to Aolis.
Orion wouldn't allow it.
“It isn’t a temporary affair that I seek from her.” His eyes narrowed. He stepped closer. “But that would anger you too, wouldn't it?”
Now Orion did laugh.
His selfish ambition knew no limit.
“Father forces you to begin looking for a wife and you want a goddess? And she isn’t just any goddess–”
“If I determine it is she I want, then of course I should have–”
Orion interrupted him, his patience thinning.
“She’s meant for more, Aolis. Not to be just another court wife, planning parties and bearing children. Grandfather–”
Aolis hissed.
“Grandfather was a loon just as you are. He said some drivel on his deathbed and now you and father take it as law. You can't really believe his nonsense, can you?”
Orion shut his mouth, shaking his head.
He was too tired for this argument. There were many things he saw fit to defend, this was not one of them.
Whether Orion felt worthy or not, their fate had been planned long before either of them had taken a breath.
He wouldn't allow it to consume her.
“As much as you belittle me for not being pure, you’d marry her and have your children be the same?”
Aolis considered this and tilted his head back and forth. “They would be mongrels, but divine. And I have only to ask and I’ll receive her.”
“Then ask.” Orion stilled his glare. “You do not have to threaten me for her.”
Aolis stepped forward, “Perhaps I will. And sever whatever fictitious fate you feel is tied to her.”
Orion searched his contorted face, hatred evident in his glare. He couldn’t even begin to explain how it simply did not work that way. “You don’t want her. You just can't stand the thought of a woman throwing themselves at me instead of you.” Orion stepped closer, taller than Aolis and much more menacing.
“Why? Does it disturb you that I–unlike you–have proved myself? Killed for our country many times over, stepped away from our family so that you could be handed your title?”
Aolis spat at his feet. “It was always meant to be mine. Had you not been born–”
Orion stood in front of him, pride in his shoulders. “But I was. And now I get to watch you suffer in my shadow purely for my own pleasure.”
A throat clearing brought Aolis’s attention deeper in the hall where their father stood, his cane leaning into a crease of stone as Orion kept his gaze on his brother.
They would finish this another time.
Lefelgd watched as Aolis walked away, heading to his rooms instead of the celebration. He saw Orion’s jaw tick as they stood alone, the music pausing and resuming again with clapping and cheers.
Orion let go of his malice in his back, sliding on a bored expression as his father clasped his shoulder. “You should not let him in, Orion. You know his jealousy leads him.”
Orion didn’t look at his father. “Yet you have every confidence in him as king.”
Lefelgd removed his hand. “I do not. I am very worried. But I pray that eventually he will change, and he listens to his mother far better than he listens to me.”
He looked at his son, the warrior.
It was he who had been born to be king. If not for fate’s task Orion could have very likely been both Nornorë and King as his own father was before him.
But Fimbulwinter had changed their plans.
“I am shocked you two are fighting over a girl. A girl whose father would kill me if he were here to see the way you look at her.” Lefelgd chuckled slightly, recalling the seriousness of Kirk’s face.
Orion shivered.
If Kirk were alive, their dance would never have happened, and their shared vision even less so. “I won’t touch her. You do not have to worry.”
“I'm old and down an arm, but I can still see. You're in love with her, and her father is the God of Death.”
Lefelgd patted his back as he continued to pale, allowing it to sink in. “Humour aside, I only care that Noë is given the chance to decide for herself who she spends her time with and… if she decides to take her journey.”
“She will.” Orion closed his eyes. There was no vision in which she turned from her purpose. Either anxious or afraid, she would never shirk from duty.
She was her father’s daughter.
He saw his son lick his lips anxiously. “Have you prepared yourself for the chance that your relationship will complicate fate’s path?”
Orion stayed quiet as shame consumed him. “I… it cannot be me.”
“It must be you. You know this.” Lefelgd pressed as Orion breathed deeply.
And so resentment grew within him.
“Father.” he interrupted before Lefelgd could begin pressing it.
He was not in the mood for this talk.
“Please excuse me. I’m still weary from travel.”
Lefelgd nodded as Orion bowed lightly. “If your mother asks for you–”
“Please give her my every apology. Goodnight.” Orion quickly turned before his father changed his mind, up to the path of the west tower, opposite his brother.
He could take no more tonight.
He would let his worries rest.
Noë took the hem of her dress in both hands as she lifted the silken skirt to move quickly up the hallway. Nearing the light filled corridor she saw Lefelgd coming through, his royal blue formal uniform tied and pinned in the sleeve where his arm was noticeably absent, his otherwise fit and attractive form amplified by his blond hair slicked backwards and tied at the base of his neck.
“Uncle, have you seen Orion come through here? We were dancing but a moment ago and I wish to speak to him.”
Lefelgd bowed to the young goddess as she approached and took her small hand, kissing it gingerly only in kindness. “You look lovely, niece. I’m glad my wife and yourself were able to spend time together to prepare for this evening. You have quite a talent.”
“Thank you, Uncle. You also look well.” Noë bowed in return. “But… Orion?” she lifted her head in question, eager to run behind him before he slipped away once more.
Lefelgd raised his back and gave her his elbow to hold on to. “Walk with me.” he said with calm as confusion crossed her face.
Reluctantly she took it, stepping light with him as he began to lead them down the hall to the right where bare garden paths lead into a darkened courtyard, hedges and flowering plants winding between the cuts through the castle with statues guarding the way.
Noë felt his firm arm through his uniform jacket, feeling the chill of the night as they walked further into the dark garden, castle walls on either side of them as the moon beamed down on the jade top towers.
“You and Orion find yourself close after your adventure in the wilds, don’t you?”
Noë looked into Lefelgd’s blue eyes as she felt her cheeks warm. “I’m afraid to tell you. I have a feeling you don’t have a neutral opinion.”
He smiled, her wit and challenge reminiscent of his dear friend. “I do not. As his father, I do not want you together. As your godfather I would want you to follow your heart. And as a King who knows what's to come, I do not want either of you altered by the troubles of the heart at all.”
“Hmm.” Noë said with clear distinction as she watched the passing shrubbery. She supposed as a father he knew that Orion was clearly too good for her.
Her life was in shambles, and she was alone. Who would want that in their child’s partner?
Lefelgd took her silence as she silently tortured herself. He wished he could be more straightforward with her, but diplomacy amongst her mixed emotions was necessary.
She could not yet understand now why as a father he would want Orion to stay away from her, far away where he could continue to live his life as he was before her.
After her, he would never be the same.
It was clear in the way Orion peered at her over dinners, breakfasts, lunches, that he already cared deeply for her. Even in his past stays at home he never ate more than two meals a week in the same space as their family, and suddenly he was never far from wherever Noë happened to be.
During their briefs together since his return, Orion’s mind always seemed far away, his thoughts turned to something that brought an ample blush to his tanned cheeks.
“I think your father would say the same. He would say, ‘Keep my daughter miles away from your cretin.’”
Noë laughed with Lefelgd’s smile. “You don’t think he’d like him?”
It was Lefelgd’s turn to laugh. “He seldom liked anyone. But Orion… Orion he would like. He is strong, dedicated, skillful, and spirited. All things your father considered admirable–worthy of man to experience and devote themselves to. A leader, who in turn knows how to follow.”
He stopped walking before a covered outdoor hallway, the lone stone walls stacked with grey and black quartz. “That is why he would not want you near him, because then you have no hope–no option–but to follow him.”
Noë felt her brows press together at his riddles. “Is there a reason I should not?”
What would happen if she chose to be led by him? To lean into the tie she felt binding her to follow him in spirit, to be near to him for some greater purpose than logic could voice reason to?
“Uncle… I do… I… feel there’s something very strong between us. And it would mean more to me to have your support rather than to be absent without it. I’d know I could do anything then.”
He searched her full silver eyes, unable to tell her to steer clear of what was clearly intended for her.
Fate would not be changed.
“There’s a tower up past our quarters in the western wing of the castle, past the Bromhillow tree tapestry before my own chambers and just after Orion's. Take it on a night when all else falls dark. Then you may know if you have my support.”
Lefelgd stepped back, bowing slightly before turning away from her, leaving her amongst the garden to think on his words.
To be continued...