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fellowshippers2005-01-25 09:23 pm
saklani2.livejournal.com) wrote in fellowshippers2005-01-25 09:23 pm
NEW: Servitus 5/21 (Viggo/Elijah) [NC-17}
And here is part 5! More soon!
Saklani
Title: Servitus
Author: Saklani (saklani@wildmail.com), Wushu and Iocane
Codes: Viggo/Elijah, ELijah/Sean B. AU RPS
Rating: NC-17
Disclaimer: I do not own these men, or anything else I mention here. I am not looking to make money from this... God forbid. And I am NOT them nor is what I put down here real. Thank you.
Summary: Roman Elijah buys Spaniard Viggo as a slave, but finds that he is worth more to him than he ever imagined.
Author's Notes: There is no semblance to real history here! Please do not look for any! Please! I wrote this due to a discussion on the LJ about Hidalgo and the slave scene. It was supposed to be Viggo buying Lij, but instead, it warped into Lij buying Viggo. Enjoy! We finally get mention of our two main villains here! Sean will appear next time!
Thinking for a few more minutes, Elijah finally nods. "I accept your offer."
Viggo straightens to his full height and then bows at the waist, his eyes lowering to the ground. "Then I live to serve you," he says softly, eyes alive with swirling emotions.
Elijah ignores the jolt of arousal Viggo's words cause before he speaks, "You will be my body guard."
Viggo gives a short nod. "A suitable cover and one that gives me a lot of access. Whom am I guarding you from?"
Elijah glances away. "Anyone who wants to damage me."
Viggo notices his inability to keep eye contact and resists the urge to broaden his smile. "How many people wish to hurt you?"
"Lets just say I'm not the most... popular person in some quarters. You'll stay in the room beside mine- my bodyguard should be close at all times."
Viggo gestures to the other guards. "And them?"
"They are my guards, they guard the house, the household and me when required. But you will be responsible for my safety."
"What I mean is- will they still guard against me? Or do you plan on releasing me from their 'constant' gaze?"
Elijah makes a face at him. "They will be reassigned."
"Good," he says, leaning against the wall near Elijah and looking at the guards with cool assuredness. "So tell me more about this house. Who lives here besides the slaves, your sister and your niece?"
"How do you know about Meda?"
"The young Andromeda and I had a lovely chat. Actually, she keeps sneaking back when she can get away from her mother. You should employ her as a spy, as she sneaks past your guards at all hours."
"She's never going to be a lady. Sneaking around and climbing trees... Her mother blames me." Elijah's face wears a fond smile.
Viggo nods once. "She cares a great deal for you. Perhaps her faith more than anything else is what sways me to trust you."
The smile does not leave Elijah's face, as he says, "However you were misinformed, my sister does not live here. She visits regularly, but she still lives with our father."
This information interests him, but not a flicker shows on his face. "She visits often?"
"Several times a week." Elijah stares at the ground thought. "There is me and Meda. Her mother is the housekeeper. Then there are around twenty servants, fifteen slaves, ten guards and-" He bites his lip for a moment- "a companion of mine stays here often."
"Body servants?" Viggo asks directly.
Elijah nods just once, still not looking at Viggo.
"Do they sleep with you often?"
"They are both trustworthy, you do not have to worry about them further."
Viggo eyes him. "Knowing when they will be there is helpful in several ways," he says. "There is no sense being recalcitrant with such information. I do not plan to tell others what I am sure they already know."
Elijah blushes very slightly. "Several times a week, there is no set schedule."
Viggo ignores the blush. "Am I to assume that your bodyguard is supposed to assume similar duties?"
Elijah's head jerks up as he stares at Viggo, "What?"
"Would your bodyguard normally assume similar duties?" He asks, enunciating every word so only Elijah can hear them.
"I force no one into my bed. If you want an invitation just you can ask." His gaze is stormy, the blue deepening with emotion, mostly anger, but there was more than a little embarrassment as well.
Viggo again ignores his reaction. "That might come in handy sometimes... if I am supposedly engaged in your room, no one will wonder at my absence."
"No one would believe that I ordered you there... no one in my household or family."
"Who says I am going to make them think you ordered me?" he asks. His eyes turn inward again. "I shall need a chance to explore the surroundings some."
Elijah takes a few deep breaths, trying to get himself under total control before commenting softly, "I often take Meda for long walks; you will quickly get an idea of the area around here."
"That will suffice to begin with, but I will need to do some of my own exploring," he says. He smiles again, watching the guards at the door. "I will not take long to know every way in and out of this area. Where do I eat?"
"Either with me or the kitchens." Elijah watches Viggo, letting him muse.
Viggo nods again. "Is your sister close to your father?"
Elijah frowns slightly before commenting, "Closer to my mother. We both are. Why?"
Viggo makes a noncommital gesture with his hand. "I like to know everything I can," he says, sounding more like the commander of men then every before.
"Who were you at home Viggo?"
"What do you think?" he asks softly.
"You act like a military commander, you move like one and you certainly have the pride of a ruler..."
"You would know," he answers easily.
"I've watched it in my father for years."
"Gods forbid I remind you of him," he says and this time the disgust and contempt are clear in his voice.
Elijah shakes his head. "And others... But there is a pride that only comes with ruling. And you have it."
"I am not a ruler," he says. "There is very little left of my land to rule, even if I were."
"Then who were you, Viggo of Spain?"
"A leader perhaps," he says softly, "in a place where people are always scared. Your people are an overwhelming force, who give no quarter. For years, we have managed to protect what remains of our lands from you, but always do more soldiers come. Pax Romana." He looks away, anger and bile rendering him speechless.
"I think I would have preferred growing up where you did," Elijahs says softly.
"You will conquer Spain in the end, as you have conquered so many other lands. I just do not intend to be alive to see it happen." He drums his fingers on the wall.
"One day Rome will fall... I just don't think I'll live to see that."
"Change is the wind of the world," Viggo says and then shakes his head. "When do I start my new 'duties'?"
"Now."
"Then let's get started," he says straightening and then bowing. The slightest smirk tugs at his mouth. "Master."
Elijah sighs, but does not say anything as he heads out of the room.
**********
Elijah paces his bedroom, his gaze distant and worried as he wonders if Viggo was coming back, if he was going to get caught, if this night's end would bring his whole world crashing down. Or Viggo might decide to slip away and never come back and that would be just as much a blow... Elijah wrenches his mind away from those thoughts almost desperately.
Viggo occupies more and more of his thoughts lately and not in regards to their agreement. He... he wants Viggo,badly, and it was driving him insane. His lovers entertained in his bed more times in the last two weeks than they had the last two months, but his need for the Spaniard just seemed to grow, no matter how many times he satiated his desire with others. He walks over to the table with his dinner tray, untouched, and takes a sip of wine, ears open for the sound of Viggo's return.
Viggo scales the outside wall, smiling down at the oblivious guards. He had scouted to the North of Elijah's compound, checking out the houses, guards and streets. The inclination to disappear into the night struck him several times, but he made a bargain and intended to fulfill his end. Besides, there was much good he could do here. Scooting along on the wall's edge, he jumps gently into the compound and skirts the gardens. He spies one of Elijah's body servants sitting on one of the balconies and watches the pretty man sigh and settle more into his seat.
Shaking his head in some pity for the man, he keeps to the shadows until he reaches the wall outside Elijah's room. Looking around carefully, he climbs the convienently stoned wall and acends on to the balcony. He walks into the room through the gauzy curtains that hide the occupants from prying eyes below. Striding in, he finds Elijah sipping wine. "Just eating now?" he asks, eyes flicking to the dinner tray.
Elijah puts the wine down slowly, turning to look at Viggo, "I haven't been very hungry this evening. If you are-" He gestures, indicating Viggo's welcome to the food. Inwardly, he almost dances as one thought dominates his mind, //He came back.//
Viggo nods a thanks. "I am rather hungry," he says, picking up a piece of bread. "Your city is quite lovely," he confesses, "and I would have been happy to explore it all night. However, I did not wish to stay away too long."
"I'm glad you are- are safe. It is a beautiful city, and lit only by torches it's even more beautiful."
"I shall eat quickly and leave you," he says with a slight smile. "I noticed one of your companions outside, seemingly waiting for you." He helps himself to a piece of mutton.
Elijah frowns slightly before shaking his head, "I-" He walks over to the balcony and looks over the courtyard, spying Orlando before coming back into the room, "I not expecting... company."
"Yes, I am sorry for interfering with your fun this night, but there was a limit to what I could learn walking with you and Meda. I shall wish to make more of these journeys soon, but slowly. Perhaps again next week. I wish to travel south, toward the lands of your father."
"I meant Orlando. I am not expecting him to join me this evening." He sits down on a chair not far from Viggo "My father- Be careful, the streets around his home are patrolled all hours of the night." He looks thoughtful for a long moment, as he mutters, "You'll need a reason to be in the area..."
"I am sure we can come up with a legitimate excuse, in case I got caught. However, no matter how good your father's men are, I am very skilled at eluding those who pursue me." He eats some grapes. "Sure you do not wish any of this?"
Elijah shakes his head, "No thank you. Perhaps we could." He muses for a moment before speaking again, "My father has requested that Meda is brought to met him... especially now..." He nibbles his lip, not explaining the rather cryptic comment as he thinks.
"Why would we bring her in the dead of night? That is a good reason to go in the day..." He pauses and his lips quirk. "Ah, perhaps your father is not eager to let the world know of his son's little indiscretion. Although many of Rome's nobles have children by slaves." He brushes a stray strand of hair out of his eyes.
"I'm adopting her," he says very off-handedly. "We would stay at least a night, if not several. My mother wishes to spend some time with her grand daughter."
"You would take me to spend a night at your father's? I do not think that would be wise. Some temptations should not be strewn so carelessly in my path."
"Would you see Meda dead for your revenge?"
Viggo sips the wine, rolling it over his tongue. "You are always so quick to think I will be caught," he says. "There are things in life worth dying for, Elijah of Roman, even worth sacrificing others for. The time will come when you might have to make that choice. Tis time now to start deciding just what you believe in."
"I believe I am unwilling to risk Meda's life. Apart from that I believe in hope, and where there is life there is some hope, Viggo of Spain."
"Do you also believe in freedom?" he asks, stretching his legs out and kicking off his boots.
Elijah glances down at Viggo's bare feet, his eyebrow raising as he comments ironically, "Make yourself at home."
"Am I not at home here?" he asks, "at least for this year?"
Elijah shakes his head, aware of the irony of his own thoughts. Although he considers himself no better than anyone else, he is used to their deferential treatment. And it still surprised him when Viggo does not act the part. "Just do not leave them here as you did last time. Not unless you truly want the house hold thinking you are *gracing*-" He makes the word as sarcastic as he could "-my bed."
"I am working on that," he says. "However, my reputation makes it difficult for them. They dislike me, fear me, which is precisely what I want, but makes them disbelieving that you wish to bed me." He chuckles. "And when you have so much more pleasant company, who am I to disagree?
"You do both them and yourself a great disservice. Nothing in this city cannot be found out by the slaves and servants. They are a very good to have on your side, Viggo." His tome indicates they argue this point frequently. Elijah does not embarrass himself by saying noone would question Viggo in his bed, just as no one had questioned Sean.
"They are loyal to you, _Master_, and I wish them to stay away from me. My secrecy depends on never being caught. It helps when none here know nor care where I have gone at certain times. The only one who might reveal me is you. And I am the only one who can reveal you. When I have need to know something, I can have you find out or go in search of the answer myself. It is the way I prefer to handle this."
Elijah flinches slightly, his head still full of other memories, and he almost hisses, "Don't call me that."
Viggo looks at him evenly. "Why not?"
Elijah takes a shuddering breath, shaking slightly as his eyes came back into focus. Blinking a few times, he soeaks softly, "Just do not."
"Tell me," he presses, curious about the sudden lapse in attention. "Whom else can you tell?"
Elijah looks at Viggo, really looked at him, "You do not want to know, Viggo. It is not something that is useful or important to you. Just leave it."
Viggo looks back at him, focusing for one of the few times on the Roman. "If it tells me something of you or helps me understand why you act as you do, it is worth telling."
"Since when do you _care_ who I am? Or what I may feel? Or wish to understand me?" Cold etches his voice, not mere emotionlessness, but ice.
"If I am to live within your house for a year, I would know those who live here. I could find out from a servant or fellow slave, but would you not prefer to tell me yourself?" He slides down in his chair, stretching out his own legs further. "I told you of what I lost, why do you deny me?"
"Deny you? What am I denying you but my pain? And what right to it do you have?" All feeling deserts Elijah 's voice, leaving it dead.
Viggo finishes his drink and stands. "Then keep your pain, Elijah, for all the good it does you to bottle it in. I shall take my leave of you." He bows once, eyes cold again and distant.
"Why do you care,Viggo?" Eliajhs asks, defeated.
Viggo stands and gazes down at him, so small as he huddles in his chair. "I have spent my life hating the Romana- a faceless, nameless enemy who battered my people and me. It is easier to hate those you do not know. Here sits before me a person, Roman yes, but a person. You are liked by those in your service, even those who once knew freedom. What makes you, another Roman, different from the faceless enemies I have always fought? I cannot say I like you, but I still harbor resentment for being bought, so perhaps that is my fault as much as anything else. I do, however, believe that you wish better things for the downtrodden. And as such, I respect you in a way. And maybe, someday, when I know who you are, I might think of you as a more than the one who would own me."
"I loved someone and I believed I was loved in return. I... I did not think there was a better person on earth. I... I was proven wrong, very wrong. Everything I believed about ... everything to do with him was shown to be a lie." He snorts softly before finishing, "He is now one of my father's generals. So he got what he wanted after all."
"He was a fool," Viggo says firmly, "and not worth wasting your pain or time on. He traded away his soul for something worth far less than what he already had. If you must think on him, pity him for choosing so poorly."
Elijah gapes at Viggo, completely shocked at his words, blinking as he tried to understand them. "Par-pardon?"
"No position of power is worth what he threw away to achieve it. You do not lose anything that was worth keeping, if he valued so lowly what it truly most worthwhile in life."
"I still loved and it still hurts, Viggo, no matter how unworthy of that love he proved to be." Elijah grimaces and shudders. "Father thinks he would make a good match for my sister."
"Would you wish the pain away?" he asks. "The pain is what makes you human, makes you better than the one who scorned you. I cherish the pain I feel in me, though sometimes I feared to break under its strain, yet I know how deeply I love, for I know how keenly I feel my loss."
"Perhaps it is the bitterness of that love that I wish did not exist... The memories are not ones I cherish as you do, for they are memories of lies and betrayal. If I had loved and lost for another reason, then perhaps I would feel that same way." Looking up at Viggo, he asks softly, "Were you... "
"Was I ever in love?" he asks.
"I am not sure what I was going to ask to be honest."
"Not as such," he says. "Perhaps I am not made for it, perhaps there has just never been the time to find one with whom to share my life." He shrugs. "I love my siblings and their children. I love my country and my people. Is that love enough for one life?"
"So no wife and children?" Elijah looks surprised, having been sure an attractive, strong man would be married.
"No wife. No children." He looks out the window for a moment. "And no time to truly mourn the loss of what might be."
Elijah nods slowly, letting this new information filter through his mind, "I... just... assumed. You seem so fond of Meda."
"I do like children. One of my sisters has five children, whom I adore." His eyes flicker shut a moment. "I hope they escaped."
Elijah lays his hand on Viggo's shoulder and squeezes lightly.
Viggo takes his hand with his own. "Perhaps we may understand each other better than I thought." He tilts his head and glances at the window, where the first rays of light touch the sky. "I best go to my room and sleep before I am supposed to get up and look after you."
Elijah wants more than anything to ask Viggo to stay, but his expression reamins neutral. "Sleep well... and do not come into my room swearing, Hannah and Meda will be breakfasting with me."
The first real smile of amusement curls around Viggo's lips. "Swearing? I never swear, especially around children."
"Good... then you'll remember not to do it in front of Meda even when she pranks you."
Viggo lowers his head to Elijah, releases his hand and then turns to walk to the door. "Sleep well, Elijah of Rome... and long, so I might sleep some, too."
Elijah nods, waiting until Viggo was out of the room before whispering, "Sleep sweet."
Viggo strides along the hall, emerging on the balcony, where he finds Orlando still huddled on a bench. His eyes widen in fear as Viggo walks toward him. "Go to bed, pretty Orlando," he says quietly. "Your master has no need of you this morn." He turns and glides away, aware of the shocked stare of the man behind him.
**********
Saklani
Title: Servitus
Author: Saklani (saklani@wildmail.com), Wushu and Iocane
Codes: Viggo/Elijah, ELijah/Sean B. AU RPS
Rating: NC-17
Disclaimer: I do not own these men, or anything else I mention here. I am not looking to make money from this... God forbid. And I am NOT them nor is what I put down here real. Thank you.
Summary: Roman Elijah buys Spaniard Viggo as a slave, but finds that he is worth more to him than he ever imagined.
Author's Notes: There is no semblance to real history here! Please do not look for any! Please! I wrote this due to a discussion on the LJ about Hidalgo and the slave scene. It was supposed to be Viggo buying Lij, but instead, it warped into Lij buying Viggo. Enjoy! We finally get mention of our two main villains here! Sean will appear next time!
Thinking for a few more minutes, Elijah finally nods. "I accept your offer."
Viggo straightens to his full height and then bows at the waist, his eyes lowering to the ground. "Then I live to serve you," he says softly, eyes alive with swirling emotions.
Elijah ignores the jolt of arousal Viggo's words cause before he speaks, "You will be my body guard."
Viggo gives a short nod. "A suitable cover and one that gives me a lot of access. Whom am I guarding you from?"
Elijah glances away. "Anyone who wants to damage me."
Viggo notices his inability to keep eye contact and resists the urge to broaden his smile. "How many people wish to hurt you?"
"Lets just say I'm not the most... popular person in some quarters. You'll stay in the room beside mine- my bodyguard should be close at all times."
Viggo gestures to the other guards. "And them?"
"They are my guards, they guard the house, the household and me when required. But you will be responsible for my safety."
"What I mean is- will they still guard against me? Or do you plan on releasing me from their 'constant' gaze?"
Elijah makes a face at him. "They will be reassigned."
"Good," he says, leaning against the wall near Elijah and looking at the guards with cool assuredness. "So tell me more about this house. Who lives here besides the slaves, your sister and your niece?"
"How do you know about Meda?"
"The young Andromeda and I had a lovely chat. Actually, she keeps sneaking back when she can get away from her mother. You should employ her as a spy, as she sneaks past your guards at all hours."
"She's never going to be a lady. Sneaking around and climbing trees... Her mother blames me." Elijah's face wears a fond smile.
Viggo nods once. "She cares a great deal for you. Perhaps her faith more than anything else is what sways me to trust you."
The smile does not leave Elijah's face, as he says, "However you were misinformed, my sister does not live here. She visits regularly, but she still lives with our father."
This information interests him, but not a flicker shows on his face. "She visits often?"
"Several times a week." Elijah stares at the ground thought. "There is me and Meda. Her mother is the housekeeper. Then there are around twenty servants, fifteen slaves, ten guards and-" He bites his lip for a moment- "a companion of mine stays here often."
"Body servants?" Viggo asks directly.
Elijah nods just once, still not looking at Viggo.
"Do they sleep with you often?"
"They are both trustworthy, you do not have to worry about them further."
Viggo eyes him. "Knowing when they will be there is helpful in several ways," he says. "There is no sense being recalcitrant with such information. I do not plan to tell others what I am sure they already know."
Elijah blushes very slightly. "Several times a week, there is no set schedule."
Viggo ignores the blush. "Am I to assume that your bodyguard is supposed to assume similar duties?"
Elijah's head jerks up as he stares at Viggo, "What?"
"Would your bodyguard normally assume similar duties?" He asks, enunciating every word so only Elijah can hear them.
"I force no one into my bed. If you want an invitation just you can ask." His gaze is stormy, the blue deepening with emotion, mostly anger, but there was more than a little embarrassment as well.
Viggo again ignores his reaction. "That might come in handy sometimes... if I am supposedly engaged in your room, no one will wonder at my absence."
"No one would believe that I ordered you there... no one in my household or family."
"Who says I am going to make them think you ordered me?" he asks. His eyes turn inward again. "I shall need a chance to explore the surroundings some."
Elijah takes a few deep breaths, trying to get himself under total control before commenting softly, "I often take Meda for long walks; you will quickly get an idea of the area around here."
"That will suffice to begin with, but I will need to do some of my own exploring," he says. He smiles again, watching the guards at the door. "I will not take long to know every way in and out of this area. Where do I eat?"
"Either with me or the kitchens." Elijah watches Viggo, letting him muse.
Viggo nods again. "Is your sister close to your father?"
Elijah frowns slightly before commenting, "Closer to my mother. We both are. Why?"
Viggo makes a noncommital gesture with his hand. "I like to know everything I can," he says, sounding more like the commander of men then every before.
"Who were you at home Viggo?"
"What do you think?" he asks softly.
"You act like a military commander, you move like one and you certainly have the pride of a ruler..."
"You would know," he answers easily.
"I've watched it in my father for years."
"Gods forbid I remind you of him," he says and this time the disgust and contempt are clear in his voice.
Elijah shakes his head. "And others... But there is a pride that only comes with ruling. And you have it."
"I am not a ruler," he says. "There is very little left of my land to rule, even if I were."
"Then who were you, Viggo of Spain?"
"A leader perhaps," he says softly, "in a place where people are always scared. Your people are an overwhelming force, who give no quarter. For years, we have managed to protect what remains of our lands from you, but always do more soldiers come. Pax Romana." He looks away, anger and bile rendering him speechless.
"I think I would have preferred growing up where you did," Elijahs says softly.
"You will conquer Spain in the end, as you have conquered so many other lands. I just do not intend to be alive to see it happen." He drums his fingers on the wall.
"One day Rome will fall... I just don't think I'll live to see that."
"Change is the wind of the world," Viggo says and then shakes his head. "When do I start my new 'duties'?"
"Now."
"Then let's get started," he says straightening and then bowing. The slightest smirk tugs at his mouth. "Master."
Elijah sighs, but does not say anything as he heads out of the room.
**********
Elijah paces his bedroom, his gaze distant and worried as he wonders if Viggo was coming back, if he was going to get caught, if this night's end would bring his whole world crashing down. Or Viggo might decide to slip away and never come back and that would be just as much a blow... Elijah wrenches his mind away from those thoughts almost desperately.
Viggo occupies more and more of his thoughts lately and not in regards to their agreement. He... he wants Viggo,badly, and it was driving him insane. His lovers entertained in his bed more times in the last two weeks than they had the last two months, but his need for the Spaniard just seemed to grow, no matter how many times he satiated his desire with others. He walks over to the table with his dinner tray, untouched, and takes a sip of wine, ears open for the sound of Viggo's return.
Viggo scales the outside wall, smiling down at the oblivious guards. He had scouted to the North of Elijah's compound, checking out the houses, guards and streets. The inclination to disappear into the night struck him several times, but he made a bargain and intended to fulfill his end. Besides, there was much good he could do here. Scooting along on the wall's edge, he jumps gently into the compound and skirts the gardens. He spies one of Elijah's body servants sitting on one of the balconies and watches the pretty man sigh and settle more into his seat.
Shaking his head in some pity for the man, he keeps to the shadows until he reaches the wall outside Elijah's room. Looking around carefully, he climbs the convienently stoned wall and acends on to the balcony. He walks into the room through the gauzy curtains that hide the occupants from prying eyes below. Striding in, he finds Elijah sipping wine. "Just eating now?" he asks, eyes flicking to the dinner tray.
Elijah puts the wine down slowly, turning to look at Viggo, "I haven't been very hungry this evening. If you are-" He gestures, indicating Viggo's welcome to the food. Inwardly, he almost dances as one thought dominates his mind, //He came back.//
Viggo nods a thanks. "I am rather hungry," he says, picking up a piece of bread. "Your city is quite lovely," he confesses, "and I would have been happy to explore it all night. However, I did not wish to stay away too long."
"I'm glad you are- are safe. It is a beautiful city, and lit only by torches it's even more beautiful."
"I shall eat quickly and leave you," he says with a slight smile. "I noticed one of your companions outside, seemingly waiting for you." He helps himself to a piece of mutton.
Elijah frowns slightly before shaking his head, "I-" He walks over to the balcony and looks over the courtyard, spying Orlando before coming back into the room, "I not expecting... company."
"Yes, I am sorry for interfering with your fun this night, but there was a limit to what I could learn walking with you and Meda. I shall wish to make more of these journeys soon, but slowly. Perhaps again next week. I wish to travel south, toward the lands of your father."
"I meant Orlando. I am not expecting him to join me this evening." He sits down on a chair not far from Viggo "My father- Be careful, the streets around his home are patrolled all hours of the night." He looks thoughtful for a long moment, as he mutters, "You'll need a reason to be in the area..."
"I am sure we can come up with a legitimate excuse, in case I got caught. However, no matter how good your father's men are, I am very skilled at eluding those who pursue me." He eats some grapes. "Sure you do not wish any of this?"
Elijah shakes his head, "No thank you. Perhaps we could." He muses for a moment before speaking again, "My father has requested that Meda is brought to met him... especially now..." He nibbles his lip, not explaining the rather cryptic comment as he thinks.
"Why would we bring her in the dead of night? That is a good reason to go in the day..." He pauses and his lips quirk. "Ah, perhaps your father is not eager to let the world know of his son's little indiscretion. Although many of Rome's nobles have children by slaves." He brushes a stray strand of hair out of his eyes.
"I'm adopting her," he says very off-handedly. "We would stay at least a night, if not several. My mother wishes to spend some time with her grand daughter."
"You would take me to spend a night at your father's? I do not think that would be wise. Some temptations should not be strewn so carelessly in my path."
"Would you see Meda dead for your revenge?"
Viggo sips the wine, rolling it over his tongue. "You are always so quick to think I will be caught," he says. "There are things in life worth dying for, Elijah of Roman, even worth sacrificing others for. The time will come when you might have to make that choice. Tis time now to start deciding just what you believe in."
"I believe I am unwilling to risk Meda's life. Apart from that I believe in hope, and where there is life there is some hope, Viggo of Spain."
"Do you also believe in freedom?" he asks, stretching his legs out and kicking off his boots.
Elijah glances down at Viggo's bare feet, his eyebrow raising as he comments ironically, "Make yourself at home."
"Am I not at home here?" he asks, "at least for this year?"
Elijah shakes his head, aware of the irony of his own thoughts. Although he considers himself no better than anyone else, he is used to their deferential treatment. And it still surprised him when Viggo does not act the part. "Just do not leave them here as you did last time. Not unless you truly want the house hold thinking you are *gracing*-" He makes the word as sarcastic as he could "-my bed."
"I am working on that," he says. "However, my reputation makes it difficult for them. They dislike me, fear me, which is precisely what I want, but makes them disbelieving that you wish to bed me." He chuckles. "And when you have so much more pleasant company, who am I to disagree?
"You do both them and yourself a great disservice. Nothing in this city cannot be found out by the slaves and servants. They are a very good to have on your side, Viggo." His tome indicates they argue this point frequently. Elijah does not embarrass himself by saying noone would question Viggo in his bed, just as no one had questioned Sean.
"They are loyal to you, _Master_, and I wish them to stay away from me. My secrecy depends on never being caught. It helps when none here know nor care where I have gone at certain times. The only one who might reveal me is you. And I am the only one who can reveal you. When I have need to know something, I can have you find out or go in search of the answer myself. It is the way I prefer to handle this."
Elijah flinches slightly, his head still full of other memories, and he almost hisses, "Don't call me that."
Viggo looks at him evenly. "Why not?"
Elijah takes a shuddering breath, shaking slightly as his eyes came back into focus. Blinking a few times, he soeaks softly, "Just do not."
"Tell me," he presses, curious about the sudden lapse in attention. "Whom else can you tell?"
Elijah looks at Viggo, really looked at him, "You do not want to know, Viggo. It is not something that is useful or important to you. Just leave it."
Viggo looks back at him, focusing for one of the few times on the Roman. "If it tells me something of you or helps me understand why you act as you do, it is worth telling."
"Since when do you _care_ who I am? Or what I may feel? Or wish to understand me?" Cold etches his voice, not mere emotionlessness, but ice.
"If I am to live within your house for a year, I would know those who live here. I could find out from a servant or fellow slave, but would you not prefer to tell me yourself?" He slides down in his chair, stretching out his own legs further. "I told you of what I lost, why do you deny me?"
"Deny you? What am I denying you but my pain? And what right to it do you have?" All feeling deserts Elijah 's voice, leaving it dead.
Viggo finishes his drink and stands. "Then keep your pain, Elijah, for all the good it does you to bottle it in. I shall take my leave of you." He bows once, eyes cold again and distant.
"Why do you care,Viggo?" Eliajhs asks, defeated.
Viggo stands and gazes down at him, so small as he huddles in his chair. "I have spent my life hating the Romana- a faceless, nameless enemy who battered my people and me. It is easier to hate those you do not know. Here sits before me a person, Roman yes, but a person. You are liked by those in your service, even those who once knew freedom. What makes you, another Roman, different from the faceless enemies I have always fought? I cannot say I like you, but I still harbor resentment for being bought, so perhaps that is my fault as much as anything else. I do, however, believe that you wish better things for the downtrodden. And as such, I respect you in a way. And maybe, someday, when I know who you are, I might think of you as a more than the one who would own me."
"I loved someone and I believed I was loved in return. I... I did not think there was a better person on earth. I... I was proven wrong, very wrong. Everything I believed about ... everything to do with him was shown to be a lie." He snorts softly before finishing, "He is now one of my father's generals. So he got what he wanted after all."
"He was a fool," Viggo says firmly, "and not worth wasting your pain or time on. He traded away his soul for something worth far less than what he already had. If you must think on him, pity him for choosing so poorly."
Elijah gapes at Viggo, completely shocked at his words, blinking as he tried to understand them. "Par-pardon?"
"No position of power is worth what he threw away to achieve it. You do not lose anything that was worth keeping, if he valued so lowly what it truly most worthwhile in life."
"I still loved and it still hurts, Viggo, no matter how unworthy of that love he proved to be." Elijah grimaces and shudders. "Father thinks he would make a good match for my sister."
"Would you wish the pain away?" he asks. "The pain is what makes you human, makes you better than the one who scorned you. I cherish the pain I feel in me, though sometimes I feared to break under its strain, yet I know how deeply I love, for I know how keenly I feel my loss."
"Perhaps it is the bitterness of that love that I wish did not exist... The memories are not ones I cherish as you do, for they are memories of lies and betrayal. If I had loved and lost for another reason, then perhaps I would feel that same way." Looking up at Viggo, he asks softly, "Were you... "
"Was I ever in love?" he asks.
"I am not sure what I was going to ask to be honest."
"Not as such," he says. "Perhaps I am not made for it, perhaps there has just never been the time to find one with whom to share my life." He shrugs. "I love my siblings and their children. I love my country and my people. Is that love enough for one life?"
"So no wife and children?" Elijah looks surprised, having been sure an attractive, strong man would be married.
"No wife. No children." He looks out the window for a moment. "And no time to truly mourn the loss of what might be."
Elijah nods slowly, letting this new information filter through his mind, "I... just... assumed. You seem so fond of Meda."
"I do like children. One of my sisters has five children, whom I adore." His eyes flicker shut a moment. "I hope they escaped."
Elijah lays his hand on Viggo's shoulder and squeezes lightly.
Viggo takes his hand with his own. "Perhaps we may understand each other better than I thought." He tilts his head and glances at the window, where the first rays of light touch the sky. "I best go to my room and sleep before I am supposed to get up and look after you."
Elijah wants more than anything to ask Viggo to stay, but his expression reamins neutral. "Sleep well... and do not come into my room swearing, Hannah and Meda will be breakfasting with me."
The first real smile of amusement curls around Viggo's lips. "Swearing? I never swear, especially around children."
"Good... then you'll remember not to do it in front of Meda even when she pranks you."
Viggo lowers his head to Elijah, releases his hand and then turns to walk to the door. "Sleep well, Elijah of Rome... and long, so I might sleep some, too."
Elijah nods, waiting until Viggo was out of the room before whispering, "Sleep sweet."
Viggo strides along the hall, emerging on the balcony, where he finds Orlando still huddled on a bench. His eyes widen in fear as Viggo walks toward him. "Go to bed, pretty Orlando," he says quietly. "Your master has no need of you this morn." He turns and glides away, aware of the shocked stare of the man behind him.
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