THE CHAINED GIFT XVIII: Ignorance isn't bliss

 

 

PART THREE

XVIII: Ignorance isn't bliss

It was a radiant morning, and the courtyard of the training room at House Elore'il was packed with guards that practised under the warm sun, satisfied of having left behind the long sessions within those walls; there was an atmosphere of war, and it may well be that, soon enough, their skill would be tested in the battlefield.

Among them was Sül. That was something new for him: so far, he had always used the facilities quietly, at dusk, when most of the soldiers were gone; but during those days he used to have a lot of free time, and it was impossible for him to remain idle. He felt strange, openly holding a weapon, surrounded by so many elves that had been unaware of his existence so far. He had avoided to draw attention, or to establish any kind of relationship with his fellows, who, for their part, regarded him with a certain suspicion: they knew there was something odd about him, and were unable to judge his position in the House, which is why they were taking good care of keeping their distance.

In the middle of a round of one-arm push-ups, with extra weight on his back, a growing murmur around the place and some furtive giggles distracted him; with self-discipline, he finished the round before having a look: standing at his back he encountered Caradhar's figure, watching him with interest.

Meeting him in a public place like that was as strange as it had been, for him, to join the rest. Since his return to Elore'il, the redhead had kept himself hidden from prying eyes, in Lord Navhares' shadow; but there he was, after deciding to go outside, with his flaming mane and his eye-catching red livery. His presence attracted many gazes, including Sül's, who couldn't but admire his partner's beauty under the sunlight; all the more so since he hadn't enjoyed his company for several days, monopolised by their demanding Maede. He smiled and approached him, his dark eyes brimming with satisfaction.

'Will wonders never cease? I thought you'd be playing the nanny, as usual; last thing I expected was turning around and catching a cardinal among all those ravens...'

'I ran away, taking advantage of the fact that the Maede was getting protocol lessons to... please wives.' Sül laughed heartily. 'Your skin got a tan.'

Caradhar had been studying the Shadow as well, while he trained. The sleeveless doublet he was wearing showed his arms, slightly golden, and his attractive muscles, shining with sweat.

'For real?' The young elf looked down to his forearms. 'If you don't like it, I'll wear long sleeves...'

'Perhaps you should take off your doublet and allow all of it to get a uniform tan.'

'And showing my back? No way. You're the only one with permission to look.'

'I feel honoured. You also gained volume; I can see your training is bearing fruit.'

'Maybe you fancy to take a peek and review the rest of my... parts.'

'Of course. I hope you didn't think I came to chat about the weather. Although I'm happy I did; watching you surrounded by all those soldiers helps me to understand where you got that martial air.'

'Martial air?'

'There's at least one part of you that's standing at attention.'

A smile fluttered across the gifted's lips. Sül opened his eyes wide, in awe: a Caradhar trying to joke was something brand new for him. But he was right indeed... Smacking his lips, he rushed to pick his equipment, and virtually pushed the elf all the way out of there.

'Ugh... Ah... Ah... Adhar... Dee... Deeper... Stick it up to the hilt... Ooooh... Oh, yes... Right there... Gods... Think I'm going to...'

His lips pressed close together, Caradhar thrust abruptly, holding Sül's hips so tightly that his fingers were leaving red marks on his skin; with each thrust, the lash of his pelvis resounded against the Shadow's rump, as the splashing of the bath water, inexorably emptying due to its occupants' bumps. Holding on to the edge, Sül groaned under his onslaughts, his face covered by his soaked hair; the lines on his back seemed to dance when his body arched with the comings and goings of the gifted, whose eyes were lost in the show; and, although that increased his excitement, pushing him to the extreme, he couldn't stop watching... With a deep breath, Caradhar reached the peak, and trembled while firing the desire he had been suppressing for days. Leaning on his lover, he rested his chest on his back, hands slowly gliding along his sides.

'Pull out, sweetheart,' gasped the Shadow, with cheerful voice. 'I think... There's something you should check...'

Moving smoothly, still panting, the dark-haired elf shifted under his companion. The gifted lowered his gaze, though he already knew what he was going to see: Sül hadn't come; his member, ripe and hard, pointed at his owner's navel, who was staring at him with a devious smile on his lips.

'You know what... this means, right?' The Shadow reached and lecherously took hold of the redhead's buttocks. 'It means this is mine now, and I'm going to have my way with it...'

'You're... a cheat...' complained Caradhar, miffed. 'You held back on purpose... Even... telling me all that stuff to get me more excited...'

'And you, a lousy loser... You know I...' the hands kneaded those elastic and round shapes, slightly spreading them to expose his opening, 'kept my side of the bargain... Now's my turn...'

After that occasion in which Caradhar had allowed Sül to penetrate him for the first time, the Shadow had harboured illusions about the possibility of taking him every time he wished. It isn't that he didn't enjoy having him inside: sometimes, just remembering their sessions in bed was enough to fly him to heaven. But when the gifted let himself to be held that way, a way he hadn't shared with anyone else... When he moaned under him, Sül used to dream that, besides his body, he also possessed a little piece of his soul.

Instead, once he had tried to savour the experience again, Caradhar had been reluctant. He had done his best to convince him; he had begged; finally, they had argued, and the young redhead had agreed to a compromise solution: he'd let him swap positions each time he didn't manage to make Sül come before him; something that seldom happened... But, from the Shadow's point of view, it was better than nothing.

'Come here...' Sül pulled the other elf and submerged him into the warm water. 'I'm taking my time with you...' He lowered his head and started to nibble on the soft-skinned neck, avoiding the red tresses that tickled his nose; meanwhile, his right hand sneaked down to his captive's groin, right between his legs...

'Wait,' Caradhar commanded, grabbing his wrist. 'That spot is off-limits for now; you have to do it without touching it, same as I did to you. It's most fair, isn't it?'

'Hey, don't start making up new rules,' remarked his partner, annoyed. 'I didn't ask you not to touch my...'

'Without touching it,' the gifted declared sententiously, 'and without taking your time, as I didn't take mine. And you know the rest of the rules: if I don't come first, your privileges for the next occasion are revoked. Do you feel incapable? You can withdraw honourably; I'm ready for another round...'

Sül swallowed hard; having that attractive and slippery naked body in his arms wasn't helping his crotch, throbbing in a barely tolerable way, longing for release... He couldn't believe that cheeky young elf's tremendous nerve, who would push him down on all fours soon enough if he allowed him... He felt tempted to dominate him and take him by force, to his heart's content; but he didn't dare: he knew that, with him, they had to play by his rules. Frowning, he moved his right hand back to its starting position, along the furrow leading to Caradhar's rear entrance.

'Alright: we'll play your way.' He gave him a challenging, piercing glance, and slipped two fingers inside the narrow passage; under the warm water, they penetrated as smoothly as silk, and the youngest elf shivered.

'... You don't need to do that... Uh...' The redhead stretched his arms and grabbed the side of the bathtub with both hands, arching his back in an enticing way. 'Put it in me.'

'But...' Sül's fingers froze. 'If I don't get you ready for me, I'll hurt you...'

'I don't think so; remember whom you're talking to.' The elf smiled faintly and bent until his partner's lips were in range; slowly, with deliberate lewdness, he slid his tongue along them, lingering on its corner, looking at him through his half-closed eyelids and his long, crimson eyelashes. 'What's up?' he whispered. 'Don't you have enough self-confidence to make me come... just with your cock?'

That was more than the Shadow could stand. The gifted barely spoke while they were getting off, and never used that language: he was thoroughly arousing him... Bloody Adhar! Now he was almost about to explode. Clenching his teeth, he pulled his fingers out and held that shameless elf's waist; pressing his thighs he made him spread his legs and easily placed him on top, ready for making his stiff wood take over the playground that his hands had been enjoying so far. He let him fall on his lap, and the ram opened its way in one go, swiftly and without any fuss, making the younger elf moan.

Sül kept him in that position, decided to force him to ride him, but Caradhar slipped out of his embrace. That was yet another thing the gifted was unyielding about: he had never lent himself to that. Instead, he fell backwards, from the side of the bathtub, on a stone bench lying besides it, whose edge he clung to; entwining his legs around the Shadow's waist and getting up speed with his arms, he started to rock his hips, and Sül's weapon was alternately shoved and drawn from that narrow and delightfully warm sheath. The dark-haired elf released all the air from his lungs through his parted lips; he knelt, inside the water, and placed the palms of his hands flat at both sides of the slender body swinging in front of him; in response, his weapon was regaled with the pulsating massage of the walls that seized it, almost leading him to the point of no return, and taking his breath away. He accidentally bit the inside of his cheek, filling his mouth with his own blood; but that was no doubt good, thought Sül, as the slight pain helped him to concentrate. Two could play that game..

'Alright, you asked for it,' he said through his teeth, leaning. 'I'm going to fuck you like never before in your life. Once I'm done with you... nnnh... you'll beg of me not to pull it out...'

And lying full-length on him, he immobilised him under his muscled body, plunging the tongue inside his mouth and undertaking a wild dance around his, spiced with the metallic flavour of blood. His skilled fingers fit between them, searching for the pink nipples, pinching them softly, stroking them the way he knew Caradhar liked it, with circular, fast movements.

Sül seized control and set the pace; he started to penetrate him with intense and spaced bumps, making him taste the whole length of his mast, as deeply as possible. His abdominals trapped the gifted's erection, almost as if he was surrounding it with his hands; he didn't know if that was within the stipulated rules, or if he would be penalised for it, but he couldn't care less: he sensed inside his mouth the echo of Caradhar's whimpers, in crescendo, perfectly synchronised with his hips, and wanted a lot more. Breaking the kiss, he delighted his ears with that music; he didn't know how much longer he would be able to hold back.

With a firm grip on the younger elf's hips, who was still entangled around his waist, he stood up. The redhead was startled; his body bent to follow Sül's movement, with his head pressing against the bench; his arms flexed; his knuckles white, so strongly he was holding on to the stone edge; the thrusting continued, and the whimpers turned into screams.

Caradhar burst for the second time during that session; his orgasm was so intense that he barely noticed his partner, gently putting him back on the bench, with his forehead covered with sweat and the heart pounding inside his chest. The gifted's blushed neck was spattered with his pearly essence like a beaded necklace; Sül's tongue, almost on its own, slipped shyly to try it, while his own seed was being pumped inside his lover.

Once he got his breath back, Caradhar's red eyes took possession of Sül's dark ones; raising his hands, he held his cheeks; his tongue started to tease those wet lips...

'I beg of you, don't pull it out.'

No more was needed for Sül's member, still accommodated between his buttocks, to stand to attention again, ready for inspection.

'So now you can lift me up and enter me at the same time... Disturbing...'

The older elf forced his head to return from the clouds, right where it had been wandering after possessing the gifted twice. They had managed to make it to the huge bed and there he was, cuddling up to his back, his nose buried inside his hair, sowing kisses across his neck and shoulders. The redhead grabbed one of his tanned biceps with both hands and weighed it up, arching one eyebrow.

'As if you weren't intimidating before,' he continued.

Sül stopped, gently made his bedmate turn around and held him on top of him.

'You know very well I'm a very obedient Darshi'nai; I never do anything you don't wish me to. I wouldn't be able... Gods, you're perfect...'

Caradhar looked at him, surprised by the apparent change in tone. Sül raised his right hand and started to trace the smooth outlines of his lover's face with his fingertip; he lingered along the reddish eyebrows, and even dared to delicately brush the silky eyelashes of the same colour; raising the other hand, he glided his thumb, from the pointy and flexible end of his right ear, across his cheek, and along the beautiful curve of his lower lip.

By the gods, he thought, he's in my arms, and I know he wants me. Today, in the training room, all those eyes were fixed on him; he could have anyone, but now he only allows me to touch him. I'd wish to shout you belong to me... I'd wish...

'Adhar...' The Shadow gave him an adoring look, his lips slightly trembling as he spoke. 'Adhar... I l...'

Someone knocked on the door; the gifted turned his head, annoyed, and stood up. As for Sül, he would have gladly wrung the neck of whomever had chosen that very moment to interrupt. When he realised his companion was headed to answer, without bothering to wear something, he opened his eyes wide.

'Adhar! Get your kit on, bugger! Don't...!'

Late; the elf opened the door; Sül swore under his breath, covering himself with the sheets.

On the other side patiently awaited Niliara, Lord Navhares' lady-in-waiting, whom the Shadow had suspected to belong to the same brotherhood as him. The female elf didn't move a muscle when she faced the naked male; instead, she looked at him in the eye and spoke, with the most courteous voice and the sweetest smile:

'Forgive my intrusion, sir. I just wanted to tell you that tomorrow you will join Lord Navhares' retinue on its way to the Palace of the Forty-nine Moons, where, as you know, his engagement will be held. The Maede expressed his desire to be accompanied by you tonight, as well, in his chambers.'

'Tonight? I was supposedly free tonight. During the whole week I've been...'

'I'll see you there, sir.'

The female bowed her head and walked away. Caradhar closed the door and leant against it, a tired look in his face.

'Once more... I wonder why that kid took a liking to me.'

'Same as everyone.' It was a delicate question, and they always chose to avoid the fact of his kinship. 'Same as that Darshi'nai on the quiet. Now I'm sure she sneaks to spy on you.'

'Why?'

'Because,' Sül flexed his legs and rested his elbows on them, staring at him, 'if you welcomed her like that and she didn't cast a glance at you, it's because she's already familiar with everything that needs to be seen.'

'Maybe she's disciplined; maybe she isn't interested.'

'That, Adhar, is impossible.'

The gifted raised the right corner of his lips, walked back to the bed and sat on the edge, placing the palm of his hand on his companion's nearest calf.

'You have to find another refuge in the Ditch; a more comfortable one, this time; where we won't be disturbed. Well, we have some hours left; do you want to go to get some food?'

Sül grabbed the elf's wrist; with a sudden tug, he made him lie on the sheets and straddled him.

'Screw food...'

By nightfall, Caradhar headed to do his duty of watching over the Maede's sleep. Lord Navhares hadn't changed since that day, in Therendanar, when human alchemy had worked the prodigy in him; but there was something more adult in his way of behaving, something that used to leave open-mouthed the people that ever knew the child he really was. The gifted wasn't certain about how could Corail obtain such results, nor about the arts she had displayed to convince the Prince of the advantages of a union between the princess and her pretended son. He took good care of washing his hands of the young elf's education; he fulfilled his supposed task of accompanying him, during both day and night time, as the rest of the elves with the Gift, and showed him all the deference his sullen character made him capable of, but nothing else. He found those dark red wine coloured eyes, as Neharall's ones, somehow perturbing.

And yet, for some reason he didn't know, the boy seemed to feel attached to him; he required his presence as often as he could; disdaining the other elves with the Gift, he always chose him as his companion; if Caradhar hadn't refused to give in, in front of his mother, he wouldn't have been able to spend a single night alone with Sül. Inside the Maede's limited world the only ones that mattered were Dame Corail, Niliara, his lady-in-waiting... and the unsociable young elf in flaming red. Only they ever witnessed, in private, the scarce moments in which Lord Navhares showed his true age and behaved like a curious, naive or whimsical child.

The gifted was quietly allowed inside the room; in the beautifully adorned bed the Maede was already resting, as usual, and besides him, sitting on the edge, his lady companion. They both turned their heads at him; the young elf smiled openly, but soon showed a reproachful grimace; the female elf smiled faintly, bowed her head to her Lord and left. Caradhar imitated the gesture and sat on his own bed, placed too close to the other one for his taste...

'You disappeared this morning, and spent the whole day in...' The Maede stopped. 'I don't like you to do that.'

'You were busy anyway, My Lord, and didn't need me.'

'How would you know?' The young elf smiled wickedly. 'They taught me what I am supposed to do with my wife to have a heir. I would have asked you for advice.'

'I'm not married, My Lord.'

'I know that.' Navhares snorted. 'But it's something embarrassing, if I have to talk about it with other people.' He stretched his arm and, as was his custom, pulled a lock of the gifted's hair and started to play with it. It was a gesture that Caradhar couldn't understand; the Maede's own mane was even longer than his. Then he spoked, calmly. 'Come to my bed.'

'You are too grown up to share the bed, My Lord...'

'And wasn't it about that, today? That I have to share the bed with my wife?'

Caradhar raised an eyebrow but didn't answer; the younger elf seemed to consider it for a moment, and then jumped into his companion's bed, who didn't even bother to complain; he knew it was no use. Navhares cuddled up to his back and continued fiddling with the red tresses.

'The princess is beautiful, but she blushes too often; I know I have to marry her, and I am fortunate, but... Besides, I think Niliara is even more beautiful. Or you.'

The gifted frowned; the Maede clung on to him even more.

'Tell me, how is it?'

'...'

'To sleep with someone. I know you do it with that bodyguard; I know you have been doing it today.' The older elf stiffened, but that didn't get his questioner to be quiet. 'How is it, to do it with a male?'

Caradhar didn't answer at once, feeling uncomfortable. Then he sighed.

'It's the same as doing it with a female, but nobody gets pregnant.'

'Really? Then it's fine, isn't it? I mean, I must make heirs only with my wife, true?'

'I guess you can do whatever you want, My Lord. Please, you should sleep; from tomorrow on, the days will be exhausting.'

Navhares remained thoughtful; it looked like he wanted to ask something else.

Caradhar... May I try it tonight?'

'You already tried it yesterday; and the night before, as well.' The youngest elf pursed his lips, almost pulling an angry face. 'Please, do sleep.'

'All right, all right... Good-night.'

And finally, the most expected day had arrived: Lord Navhares of Elore'il would depart to the Palace of the Forty-nine Moons, and his House and the Prince's one would be bound by the wedding vows. A magnificent procession would cover the short path to the centre of the Noble District; there, the ceremony would be celebrated, and the Maede would remain within its walls during the time agreed by both Houses. According to tradition, that should have become his definitive residence, as in every marriage it was the family with the highest rank the one receiving the new spouse; but since Lord Navhares was the Maede of his House, his bond with it couldn't be broken until he could secure a successor; and since his first born was destined for the throne of Argailias, the succession of his own dominion would have to wait.

Lord Navhares appeared beautiful and impressive with his full-dress uniform; his extremely long tresses, with a complicated hairstyle; around his neck, the heavy necklace with his family coat of arms. He was being followed by his personal guards and all the gifted elves of his household; Caradhar attracted many gazes, with his striking livery, even more so with the rich tissues and the long cloak.

Sül hadn't escaped that pomp; his lover had requested him to be one of the escorts, and now the Shadow was squeezed into the military version of Elore'il livery, predominantly black; he had never worn such an expensive attire... neither such a stiff one. The young elf had to fight the impulse to slip a finger inside the collar of his jacket and separate the rigid fabric from his skin.

At least, he had been spared from the embarrassment of being a visible part of the procession. He preferred to watch from a distance and observe the other elves' reactions. And then he saw him; in the front row, not missing a detail, surrounded by several of his assistants: Darial.

The Shadow hadn't seen the Grand Alchemist for a long time. His daily routine had consisted, basically, of walking to the training room from the wing with the Maede's chambers, and back again; Caradhar's duties had kept him even more confined than that, and Sül had wanted to stay close to him. With regard to Darial, his position used to keep him busy in the laboratory; their paths hadn't crossed, and the young elf was grateful: he had come to abhor the alchemist.

But there he was: the tall, blonde elf hadn't changed, except for his awful taste in clothes, ostentatious beyond measure. He was staring at the Maede, with a well known expression for Sül, because he had seen it too many times. Look at that sonofabitch, he thought, eating him alive with his eyes. I know very well what you're thinking, dickhead. Too bad you can't touch this one, huh? I'd enjoy chopping your balls, so that you won't... Oh, bugger!

A gloomy grimace seized Sül's face when he realised that Darial had spotted Caradhar; it didn't take much attention, as the Alchemist's yellow eyes dilated as they were fixed on the figure that followed Lord Navhares. Since the gifted's departure, years ago, he hadn't seen him again... And a departure without a goodbye, of course. The Shadow observed how the blonde elf turned pale and clenched his fists, following Caradhar's movements with sick concentration. I'm watching you, you bloody bastard, who knows the kind of shit you could pull; don't you ever dream of laying your filthy paws on him. I'll kill you before.

Anyway, Sül couldn't spend much time thinking about it, because soon he found himself, for the first time in his life, in the palace of the Princes of Argailias. He wouldn't have dreamt of knowing the place from the inside: Darshi'nai took good care of not interfering in the affairs of the throne; they knew, better than others, how important was to keep a solid government to guarantee the stability of the city. If the rest of the Houses were devoted to perfect the art of backstabbing each other as discreetly as possible, they were there for them, offering their wise advise. Regarding the Palace of the Forty-nine Moons, it was considered off-limits.

From his position, along with the Elore'il guards, the young elf admired the splendid hall were the ceremony was being celebrated. Glass, in all the varieties that the glass artisans could produce, was everywhere, casting multi-coloured sparkles under the sun, torches and hundreds of white candles. In no other know place it could be found in such amounts; even the polished marble floors, reflecting the light as giant mirrors, had a crystalline quality that drove visitors to step lightly, as if they were going to crack under their feet.

His Highness, the Prince, guided his only daughter towards the back of the hall, both in pristine white. There, Lord Navhares was waiting for them, and he bowed deeply when they climbed the stairs leading to the Altar of the Moon, where the First Maid of the Moon awaited; traditionally, she officiated at the highest rank marriages.

Sül studied all the characters and decided that the Maede was, no doubt, the most stunning. He still couldn't believe the transformation worked upon that delicate elven child he had met, not a long time ago; he wasn't surprised at all when he noticed the princess' cheeks blushing upon gazing at her husband-to-be. Who could resist such a presence? The Shadow shuddered, when he realised the way that young elf had captured his eyes; he couldn't stop watching Neharall in him... A version specially blessed with his father's beauty.

He quickly searched for Caradhar among the retinue of his House; once he found him, the rest of the characters, the ceremony and the palace lost their significance for him. Only the cheers of the public, when everything was over, could bring him back to his senses.

That night, Sül waited until he could pass unnoticed and furtively slipped into the small room assigned to Caradhar in the guests wing. The gifted didn't say anything when his partner jumped into bed with him; he simply pulled him close to himself, seized the nape of his neck and made him cock his head to gain access to his lips and make his way into the wet cavity that hungrily needed him. The young redhead could certainly kiss; when, with delicate strokes, his tongue knocked on his mouth's door and stirred up Sül's desire, the Shadow found impossible not to open the entrance and allow it to linger, smoothly, across every nook and cranny, until it seemed tired of wandering and concentrated on leading its equal in a sinuous dance; the moment that silky tip took its time along the borders and inner side of his tongue, the dark-haired elf was unable to prevent his blood from flowing like a torrent down to his nether regions.

But there were occasions in which his kisses were violent, demanding, dominant; pure muscle wanting to mark his territory and pull moans before dealing with... more important affairs; or to pave the way for... another part of his anatomy to take over. After the previous day session, Sül knew the gifted would search for reaffirming his position and retake control; he didn't care: he was more than ready to submit with docility to his demands.

Caradhar's hands moved down, firmly pressing his back, and sought quick access to the warm skin surrounding his rear entrance; he didn't find it: the former spy was still wearing the numerous layers of his formal clothes. With a grunt, he pushed him down and started to unfasten clasps and untie ribbons, leaning to lick the hollow above his collarbone, up along the side of his neck, and then nibbling the edge of his jaw; Sül panted, deeper and deeper; he stretched his arms to sink his fingers into his companion's feverish flesh, and saw that he had been waiting for him stark naked; his pole twitched, eager for getting rid of the annoying fabric and feeling another kind of contact. While Caradhar still fought the upper part of his uniform, he reached for his black breeches; finally, the gifted uncovered his chest with a rough tug, and his tongue travelled South, leaving a moist trail, to his nipples; he took one between his lips and sucked it, his fingers busy teasing its companion, and then swapped, until both stood stiff and excited, brilliant with the redhead's saliva.

Sül's need started to kick, so strong that it almost turned painful; he thrust his hips, in search of his lover's stroke along his inflamed member, spreading the thick fluid overflowing the pink slit. The elf closed his eyes for an instant, his mouth open in a quiet gesture of anxiety... A second later, his body stiffened and he sat up, turning his eyes to the entrance. His partner, whose tongue had reached Sül's waist level and was busy moistening one of his scars, tilted his head in puzzlement.

A moment later, someone opened the door; both elves remained still, watching Lord Navhares' figure, in his night clothes, whose eyes were fixed on the bed, or better, on the occupants. Grimacing, the young elf approached them and talked to the Shadow.

'Go away; leave us alone,' he ordered, with harsh voice.

Caradhar knit his eyebrows; Sül, on the other hand, was well aware of his place; with blank expression, he grabbed his clothes and left the room. Then the Maede jumped in the bed and held the gifted, who stared at him suspiciously; pulling the sheets, he covered himself up to his waist, hiding the proof of his imminent sexual frustration. The elf with the dark wine-coloured eyes tightened his grip.

'What are you doing here, My Lord?' the gifted asked, tense. 'You should be with your wife; that's supposed to be the right thing, in your wedding night.'

'I... I tried, but... I can't do it! I don't feel anything for her. I escaped from her chambers; I excused myself, saying I wasn't feeling well... Moreover, I was missing you: I got used to have you at my side, by night... Let me stay here, please...'

'I don't care! I'm not ready for... I mean... She lay down besides me, without a word, and just waited; she was wearing a white nightdress that almost showed...'

'As far as I know, being a noble entails having to share intimacy with people you don't choose; you are lucky to be merely indifferent to her: if you openly disliked her, it would be much worse.' Caradhar's cold voice, and his words, greatly disturbed the Maede. 'But after all, you're still very young; I understand you aren't ready. My Lord should spoke to Dame Corail about it.'

'My Respected Mother will feel very disappointed with me; they all expect me to... expect us to produce a heir to the throne, in case the Prince has to leave for the battlefield...' The gifted didn't answer. 'I don't want to speak about it now.' Lord Navhares sank his fingers and nose into the ruby hair. 'I just want to be like this...'

'If you release me one moment, I'd like to wear something.'

'No, stay put: you smell so good; as always.'

Caradhar was starting to feel very exasperated.

'My Lord, you should bear in mind you interrupted something in a very uncomfortable way; besides, another of the gifted was taking care of you tonight...'

'The others don't mean a thing to me; I don't understand why my Respected Mother wouldn't allow me to choose you every night.' The younger elf sat up and looked down at Caradhar's eyes. 'Aren't I more attractive than that bodyguard?'

'That isn't the question; you are the Maede and he's my...'

'I don't want you to spend the night with him anymore; stay with me.'

'You are tired and nervous. Tonight we'll just sleep, and tomorrow you'll see things in a different light.' The gifted's eyes were stern; he motioned to put off the candle that dimly lit the bedroom.

'Don't put off the light; I had never seen you...'

Caradhar ignored him and stretched his arm anyway; the younger elf, in his pursuit to stop him, tried to grab his wrist; as he reached for it, he scratched the redhead's lip. It was a deep cut, and the gifted froze under him.

As for the Maede, he stared intently at the red trace on the other elf's lower lip.

'Yesterday you didn't let me try it...'

He leant very slowly and slid his tongue gently along the wound; closing his eyes, he abandoned himself to the tickling sensation caused by that blood, blessed with the Gift... He had become addicted, since he tried it for the first time. Caradhar only indulged him on rare occasions: it made him feel uneasy.

Navhares opened his eyes and fixed them back on the lips resting under him; with determination, he put all his weight on the gifted's arms, lowered his head and forced his tongue between them, eager to relish something he had longed for...

Caradhar fidgeted; despite his disadvantaged position, the younger elf's strength was no match for his: throwing him aside, he jumped out of the bed and cast an irritated glance at him; seizing his clothes, he started to get dressed, facing the Maede's confusion and anger.

'If you do it with him, why can't you do it with me?' he spit out. 'Niliara says anyone would die for getting my attentions; and besides I'm your Maede, and the Prince's son-in-law...'

'Yes, Lord Navhares: you are the Maede, and so far I've obeyed unreservedly; and yet, I am telling you that what you're asking for is never happening.'

'But, why?' His voice sounded pleading, for a moment. 'I... I love you so much, Caradhar... I know I have to perform my duty as the Maede of Elore'il, but I thought that if... I did it before with someone I loved, it would be easier... to the princess...'

'Ask your lady-in-waiting; she's a female, after all; there isn't anything you can learn from being with me that can be useful in your married life.'

'She isn't the one I want to hold, every night, when I sleep close to you...'

'I repeat, what you're asking for is never happening.'

'Then... I command you! Come here! I'm your Lord, and you owe me obedience...' The child in him appeared through his demanding words, pronounced with shaking voice.

'You say you love me and then command me to obey; curious love and funny feeling. You have a lot to learn, Lord.' He avoided the possessive on purpose, and that angered Lord Navhares even more.

'Caradhar: It won't be long until my mother have to grant me to use... you know: what bestows the commanding voice. The moment we bring a heir into the world, I will be considered a true adult and will be able to claim what belongs to me in all fairness. Do you rather do it now, or later, by hook or by crook? Because I don't know what you will do then to resist my orders...'

The gifted wondered, for the umpteenth time, how did his mother manage to turn a child into that thing. He didn't answer; he just left the room, leaving the annoyed Maede behind.

Once he was far enough away he stopped, closing his eyes. A part of his mind recalled with pleasure Lord Navhares' beautiful figure, leaning over him, with his long hair hanging like a silk curtain, getting tangled with his; another part shivered, disgusted, just remembering who he was...

As for Sül, he wasn't feeling very satisfied at that moment. He had searched for a private corner, with the idea of getting some relief for the unfinished business between his legs; his own bed was in a shared room with Elore'il guards, so he had sneaked in a small empty room.

The elf rested on the bed, his legs apart, and unfastened his breeches. His hard member still kept the warm moist caused by the contact of Caradhar's hands and mouth on his skin. He slipped a finger along the slit of his glans and quivered; he imagined that was his lover's tongue, and his sensual lips joining; a new drop of sticky nectar oozed from his opening. He continued, moaning softly, until his body calmed down.

In that moment he experienced a strange feeling, that gave him goose pimples. His face didn't show any expression, and he remained still, getting his breath back, for some instants. And then he leapt like a cat, examining the only place of the room where someone could hide: under the bed. There was no-one, as expected; he had already checked when he entered. Once a Shadow, you were a Shadow for the rest of your life.

He looked around, and along the adjacent corridor; he even felt the walls, searching for holes or hidden places. Nothing.

And yet, he would have willingly bet his head that there was someone else in there.

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