ext_46181 (![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png)
v-angelique.livejournal.com) wrote in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)
fellowshippers2006-02-09 03:22 pm
v-angelique.livejournal.com) wrote in fellowshippers2006-02-09 03:22 pm
Brethren, Chapter Five
Title: Bretheren
Author: Viktoria Angelique
Email: viktoria_angelique@hotmail.com
Pairing: DM/VM, perhaps others
Rating: up to NC-17, this part PG
Beta:![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
saura_
Disclaimer: If this is real then I must be really confused.
Summary: Elijah the Mischevious resurfaces, and Dominic meets someone new.
AN: Sorry this keeps being a little slow in coming. R/L catches up to me sometimes, and I have tons of bunnies running around in my head yelling "write me! give me carrots!" or something like that. Feedback is greatly appreciated, however, and rest assured that the story shall continue, despite the slowness.
Previous Chapters
The next Sunday night, Dominic lay awake for many hours, tossing and turning so that the thin linen of his nightshirt was sure to leave telltale red creases on his pale skin, his hair mussed beyond repair from his frustrated movements.
The day had been a happy one, full of joy and celebration for the newly wed couple whose marriage ceremony had taken place in the church after usual services in front of the eyes of the community and Christ himself. And now, Lucia and Matthew were in the long wooden house at the edge of the town where rooms were set aside for married couples to participate in the lovemaking act.
Actually, Dominic mentally corrected himself, by now both partners were in their own new beds in the married choir homes, as the prescribed time for sexual activity had long passed. Open as the community was about such things, Bethlehem was nothing if not organised, and like all other things, sex had a time and a place. And so, it was this sense of organisation and security that startled him so when a foreign hand shot up into his bunk, obscured by darkness, clamping over his mouth and restricting any sound or movement.
Dominic’s first thought was to panic, put up a physical struggle of some kind, alert the rest of the choir, but before he had a chance to act, a head popped up into his line of sight. Pale skin was tinted bluish in the moonlight, and a brilliant grin shone underneath a head of mussed brown hair.
“I told you I was going to teach you to ride, did I not?” Dominic’s eyes went wide with the excited whisper, and he looked around him desperately as Elijah beckoned him to come down and follow.
Dominic hesitated for a moment, his better judgement telling him not to follow the oddly confident young man. However, he had no intention of causing a stir from a verbal argument, the rest of the choir being sound asleep in their beds. His curiosity getting the better of him, Dominic found himself sliding silently to the cold wooden floor, reasoning that they could speak outside and then he would return to his warm, safe sleeping place.
Elijah opened the door at the end of the long cabin carefully, avoiding any squeaks from the wooden frame, and motioned for Dominic to follow him into the next building. Here it was empty, but Dominic still didn’t dare speak for fear of being caught. They silently removed their day clothing from the wooden cubbies along one wall and dressed quickly, exiting the way they had came and creeping quickly down the dirt path towards the stables.
“Are you completely daft?” Dominic finally exclaimed when they reached the tree line, clearly out of the earshot of the others. Elijah grinned even wider at Dominic, who had still not raised his voice above an angered whisper, and shook his head, gesturing at the stable door.
“Not at all, young Dominic. I’m simply aiding you in fulfilling your duty to the community.”
“To the… what?” Dominic was utterly dumfounded as Elijah hopped the low wooden railing in front of the nearest stall and began to rouse and tack up a young tawny-coloured mare.
“You, my friend, are gathering nightshade for Viggo. Very important.” Elijah’s smile was the picture of innocence, but his eyes sparkled eerily in the moonlight shining through the stable windows and Dominic didn’t buy it for an instant.
“Nightshade… you little… was Viggo actually informed of this charitable errand, pray tell?”
“What he doesn’t know won’t hurt him.” Dominic shook his head at the ever-brighter twinkle in Elijah’s eye and warily stepped forward, holding his hand out over the railing for the horse to sniff. She tickled his palm with a warm, wet, nose, and Elijah let out a satisfied giggle as he watched. “You’ve gotta bring food for her next time. She doesn’t like a tease, now.” Dominic raised his eyebrows, but chose not to comment as Elijah slipped the bit into the horse’s mouth.
“What’s her name?”
“Tagestraum.”
“Daydream…” Dominic repeated the name back reverently, almost in a whisper, and then nodded as Elijah opened the gate and led her out.
“Here, take the reigns. You’ll ride her, I’m going to get Diablo ready.” Dominic stifled a giggle, which came out as more of a snort, as Elijah prepared a lean, almost jet-black male horse in the next stall.
“You ride a horse named Diablo??”
“Shut up. He’s a good horse. Kind of crazy, but he likes me. Don’t you, Dia?” The beast whinnied receptively and nuzzled Elijah’s shoulder, stomping his hooves a few times but not objecting as Elijah got him ready. “No one objects when he’s gone, anyway. He won’t let many ride him.”
“But you…?”
“Dia’s good to me. They were going to let him go, you know. But Viggo told me that if I could get him to bear me, we would keep him.” Elijah’s hand stroked absently along the animal’s head as he spoke, and Dominic marvelled at the relationship between man and beast, a large chocolate brown eye keeping Elijah in focus as the horse bowed his head slightly to receive Elijah’s touch.
“So he’s your horse then?”
“Essentially. You know how they feel about private property around here. But I’m more independent than most, anyway, and Viggo knows that. He doesn’t cross me too much.” Dominic cocked his head, eyed the youth suspiciously as he laid a plaid blanket over Diablo’s flank.
“You’re pretty confident for someone who’s breaking God knows how many rules right now,” he commented with an appraising look.
“And you with me,” Elijah pointed out with another brilliant grin. “But my situation is different than many here. I made the choice to come, after all. That’s rare, and so I think Viggo respects me. Warily, but he respects me. Now come on! It’s time for your first lesson!” Elijah swung one leg confidently over Diablo’s flank, gracefully airborne for a moment until he landed atop the blanket with a hand on either side of Diablo’s neck. He whispered a few words to the animal, and Diablo walked a bit unsteadily in Dominic’s direction, stopping with a light tug on his mane from Elijah, who then instructed Dominic to slip a foot into the stirrup on Tagestraum’s left side and use it to boost himself onto the horse.
Though not particularly graceful, Dominic was able to seat himself in the saddle with a fair amount of ease, and was somewhat grateful to Elijah for tacking Tagestraum up in the standard fashion, though he himself rode Diablo in Indian-fashion with only a blanket for the horse’s warmth and the man’s comfort.
As they rode through the woods that bordered the settlement, Dominic adjusted fairly quickly to the feeling of being in a saddle. He learned the signals to the horse without too much difficulty, and was able to follow Elijah along a network of slightly worn paths that led deep into the virgin forest. Tagestraum was a gentle animal, and carried him with her head high, almost in ladylike dignity, Dominic noted with a smile.
Diablo, on the other hand, really was a little crazy, barely bothering to heed Elijah’s commands and always wanting to run just a little bit faster, or a little more zigzagged, than Elijah probably would have liked. But the young man simply laughed aloud at the animal, reserving no punishment for him, and allowed Diablo to misbehave just a little as long as he bore his rider in the generally desired direction.
They did, at one point in their walk through the woods, stop in a clearing to gather a bit of nightshade, placing it in a leather saddlebag to “avoid suspicion,” as Elijah put it. Dominic found himself questioning his decision to ride after this comment, as he had never had any desire to be found suspicious in the first place.
Elijah’s laughter was infectious, however, and he found that it was relaxing, at least, to get off into the cool night air on the warm back of a gentle animal.
Dominic was just ready to suggest that they turn back, as his thighs were growing increasingly sore and the dark blue at the edge of the horizon was beginning to lighten faintly, when they heard a twig snap.
Dominic jumped in his saddle, and Diablo whinnied loudly, looking ready to bolt any minute until Elijah whispered some soothing words and dismounted the animal, leading him gently with a firm hand on the horse’s neck to the source of the sound.
“William Boyd, I could have your head for frightening the poor animal!” Elijah exclaimed with only a half-angry tone in the darkness, and to Dominic’s surprise a slight figure slid out from behind a thick oak, rifle held loosely under one arm.
“Jeezus, Lighe! That’s what you get for scaring me like that, now innit lad?” Dominic just watched in surprise as the stranger pulled Elijah into a tight hug, his thick Scots brogue and the tartan of the blanket draped over his shoulder giving away his origin.
“Come now, Billy! What’re you out here at all hours of the night for, anyway? Shouldn’t you be in your bed with your little lady, hmm?” The stranger smiled conspiratorially and elbowed Elijah, but his eyes darted over Elijah’s shoulder in explanation.
“Injuns, Lighe. Woods are full of the little buggers. Just protecting my house and home, lad, and that includes the lovely lady keeping the bed warm for me, indeed.” Elijah frowned and shook his head, his voice lowering.
“Billy, you know you’ve nothing to fear from the tribes out here. What have I always told you? They’re happy with you and the missus in this part of the country, and they shan’t be disturbing you…”
“Lighe. I know they’re your friends and all. I know what happened when you were a wee one, but that doesn’t change the present situation. A man’s got to protect himself!” Elijah didn’t look convinced, but he apparently decided that the conversation was best reserved for another time and suddenly turned to his still mounted companion.
“Well now, Billy! Where are my manners? This is Mr. Dominic Monaghan, here, arrived from Germany just a couple of weeks ago. Dominic, this is Billy Boyd.”
“Pleasure to meet you, lad. Germany, you say?” Billy’s eyebrow raised, almost in a suspicious manner, though Dominic couldn’t figure why as he slid out of the saddle and shook the Scot’s hand.
“Yes sir, but I’m English by parentage.”
“Ah, well then. Guess I’m not supposed to have much a love for the English either, eh? But your kind haven’t been much trouble to me on this side of the ocean, and any friend of Lighe’s is a friend of mine.” Dominic smiled, somewhat weakly, but supposed faint praise was better than nothing. “Tell me though, Lighe. I haven’t seen you around lately, and so late… is something wrong?”
“Not at all. Dominic here has never ridden a horse, and so I offered to instruct him.”
“Never ridden a horse? Is that so, laddie?” Dominic nodded, a bit embarrassed, but Billy’s grin held nothing but a gently teasing mirth. “And out so late…?” Billy then directed a rather pointed look at Elijah, held longer than necessary, meaning behind it that Dominic couldn’t read.
“Oh hush, Boyd. When else was I supposed to commandeer a mount for the poor boy, hmm?” Billy tossed his head back, laughter uncomfortably loud in the dark twilight of the woods.
“Commandeer, you say? You’re not a pirate, Wood!” Elijah laughed lightly, shoving Billy’s side in jest, when both men froze, hearing the rustling of hooves from just beyond the crest of a nearby hill.
Dominic started when he was simultaneously tugged by both elbows behind the tree that had been Billy’s hiding place. He thought it was a bit of a joke to be attempting to hide with both horses still standing clearly in the open, but he couldn’t open his mouth to point out this folly with Elijah’s hand clapped tightly across his lips. He grumbled weakly in protest, but the hand only tightened, smelling of earth and leather and sweat.
Elijah’s leg was tight against his left as they crouched down, and Billy’s hand rested on his right shoulder. From his position between the two of them, he couldn’t see a thing, but the tree didn’t exactly sufficiently shelter three grown men, and the widening of Elijah’s eyes as the hooves drew closer was enough to tell him what he needed to know.
“Good morning, gentlemen.” The loud voice startled Dominic, and he jumped as Elijah rose to greet the familiar voice, looking a little sheepish but also a little smug. When Billy stood as well, Dominic realized he was going to look pretty stupid crouching alone behind a tree, and rose to follow them.
Viggo sat high in Schwarzfee’s saddle, eyes stern, looking none too pleased. His disapproving gaze was focused principally on Elijah, but Dominic felt his cheeks redden with shame. Even in the scant light of early morning, Viggo’s eyes glistened the blue-grey of an oncoming storm, and their intensity was startling. If there was anything he could do to avoid ever witnessing that look again, he would gladly submit to Viggo’s will without batting an eye.
“Viggo, mate, haven’t seen you in awhile,” Billy commented with a smile, evidently delighting in the discomfort of his young companions as Elijah shuffled his feet idly.
“William. Still Indian hunting, I presume?” Viggo’s stare was just as cold when it focused on the Scot, and Dominic shivered despite the relative warmth of the morning.
“Protecting my property, mate. All a man can do. But what are you doing out here at all hours of the night?”
“Well, William, you may notice that it is in fact morning,” he pointed out, nodding at the increasing light in the eastern sky. “And given that fact, I rose early to see about tending to Schwarzfee here before my other duties. Imagine my surprise, gentlemen, when I found two horses missing, and one of them, indeed, the horse that only Mr. Wood here is privileged to ride.” Viggo directed a pointed look at Elijah, evidently pleased with his own ingenuity, and Dominic had the distinct urge to cower apologetically.
“Well, technically, Viggo,” Elijah pointed out, most of the confidence gone from his voice but still with the hint of a smile pricking up the corners of his mouth. “Diablo will let you ride him, as well.”
“Yes, however I clearly did not steal the horse that was missing, did I?” Viggo’s tone was raised almost to a yell, evidently annoyed for having his intelligence mocked. Elijah, to his credit, actually took a step back at the outburst, his head lowering a bit in defeat. “Dominic,” Viggo continued in a slightly softer tone. “Do you care to explain your involvement in this fiasco?”
Dominic looked up in surprise, seeing something in Viggo’s features that was not exactly warmth, but at least a sort of stern intent to be understanding, and this gave him the courage to speak. “Elijah suggested that we… we gather nightshade, sir.”
“Nightshade, is it?” Viggo asked, raising an eyebrow. Viggo was no idiot, and Dominic knew this. As much as he wanted to protect his friend, he couldn’t help but feel Elijah’s hanging-rope was already tied for him, so to speak, and Viggo’s stare was compelling, urging Dominic to tell the truth.
“Well, yes, sir, but… well we had another purpose, sir, as well.”
“Yes?”
“Well, you see, sir, I’ve never ridden a horse before, and Elijah, well, he thought he might show me, you see. He was just trying to be helpful,” he quickly added, hoping to take a little of the edge off Elijah’s own punishment.
“I see.” Viggo pursed his lips, seeming to consider for a few moments, and closed his eyes and opened them again before continuing. “Well, Dominic, I can’t say I exactly condone your sneaking off in the night to learn to ride a horse. If you really desired this education, you could have come just as easily to me in the daytime. However, I will acknowledge that Mr. Wood has quite the powers of…persuasion.” Out of the corner of his eyes, Dominic saw Elijah stand a little straighter with pride, and Dominic had to stifle the urge to roll his eyes.
Viggo’s expression had softened considerably as it focused on Dominic, and Dominic found himself more than a little relieved when Viggo made his judgement. “Assuming it won’t happen again, I will talk to you myself about the matter later today, and that shall suffice for your punishment. I don’t believe in harsh consequences for a first time offence, especially when you are clearly not the primary guilty party. However,” he added, schooling his features again with that hard look at Elijah, an accusatory finger pointed to emphasize his point, “you know better, Elijah. I reserve some leniency for you, and you know that. But how dare you abuse my kindness to tempt another into ill-doing?” Viggo’s tone was harsh, and Elijah resumed a guilty look, not paying any heed to Billy, who was looking rather delighted at this whole proceeding. The Scotsman was actually smiling as Viggo ridiculed his friend, and Dominic wondered if this was a very common occurrence. “Elijah, I think you know what comes next,” Viggo finished in a tone of dismissal.
Elijah shuffled his feet uncomfortably but did not speak. Viggo just sighed, looking more tired than anything, and tugged at his reigns to direct his horse back towards the settlement. “I have no more say in this matter. Sean will decide your manner of punishment.” And with that, he set off at a trot, the other men hurriedly saying their apologies to Billy and mounting to follow him home.
Dominic risked a quick look at Elijah as they reached the crest of the hill, first rays of sunlight shining down on their faces in the clearing. And in the light, there was no mistaking Elijah’s expression. An evil hint of a smile graced his features, and for someone who was essentially directed to ride to his own funeral, Elijah looked remarkably chipper. Dominic shook his head, mildly impressed by his friend’s resilience. If he had personally been directed to report to Sean Bean, one of the strictest ministers in the community, his smile would not be nearly as wide. However, he surmised, this was perhaps why it was Elijah, and not himself, that had been punished for such crimes numerous times and still managed to escape to do it again. Dominic, for one, was fairly certain that Viggo was plenty for him to deal with. Elijah could pick his own battles.
Author: Viktoria Angelique
Email: viktoria_angelique@hotmail.com
Pairing: DM/VM, perhaps others
Rating: up to NC-17, this part PG
Beta:
saura_Disclaimer: If this is real then I must be really confused.
Summary: Elijah the Mischevious resurfaces, and Dominic meets someone new.
AN: Sorry this keeps being a little slow in coming. R/L catches up to me sometimes, and I have tons of bunnies running around in my head yelling "write me! give me carrots!" or something like that. Feedback is greatly appreciated, however, and rest assured that the story shall continue, despite the slowness.
Previous Chapters
The next Sunday night, Dominic lay awake for many hours, tossing and turning so that the thin linen of his nightshirt was sure to leave telltale red creases on his pale skin, his hair mussed beyond repair from his frustrated movements.
The day had been a happy one, full of joy and celebration for the newly wed couple whose marriage ceremony had taken place in the church after usual services in front of the eyes of the community and Christ himself. And now, Lucia and Matthew were in the long wooden house at the edge of the town where rooms were set aside for married couples to participate in the lovemaking act.
Actually, Dominic mentally corrected himself, by now both partners were in their own new beds in the married choir homes, as the prescribed time for sexual activity had long passed. Open as the community was about such things, Bethlehem was nothing if not organised, and like all other things, sex had a time and a place. And so, it was this sense of organisation and security that startled him so when a foreign hand shot up into his bunk, obscured by darkness, clamping over his mouth and restricting any sound or movement.
Dominic’s first thought was to panic, put up a physical struggle of some kind, alert the rest of the choir, but before he had a chance to act, a head popped up into his line of sight. Pale skin was tinted bluish in the moonlight, and a brilliant grin shone underneath a head of mussed brown hair.
“I told you I was going to teach you to ride, did I not?” Dominic’s eyes went wide with the excited whisper, and he looked around him desperately as Elijah beckoned him to come down and follow.
Dominic hesitated for a moment, his better judgement telling him not to follow the oddly confident young man. However, he had no intention of causing a stir from a verbal argument, the rest of the choir being sound asleep in their beds. His curiosity getting the better of him, Dominic found himself sliding silently to the cold wooden floor, reasoning that they could speak outside and then he would return to his warm, safe sleeping place.
Elijah opened the door at the end of the long cabin carefully, avoiding any squeaks from the wooden frame, and motioned for Dominic to follow him into the next building. Here it was empty, but Dominic still didn’t dare speak for fear of being caught. They silently removed their day clothing from the wooden cubbies along one wall and dressed quickly, exiting the way they had came and creeping quickly down the dirt path towards the stables.
“Are you completely daft?” Dominic finally exclaimed when they reached the tree line, clearly out of the earshot of the others. Elijah grinned even wider at Dominic, who had still not raised his voice above an angered whisper, and shook his head, gesturing at the stable door.
“Not at all, young Dominic. I’m simply aiding you in fulfilling your duty to the community.”
“To the… what?” Dominic was utterly dumfounded as Elijah hopped the low wooden railing in front of the nearest stall and began to rouse and tack up a young tawny-coloured mare.
“You, my friend, are gathering nightshade for Viggo. Very important.” Elijah’s smile was the picture of innocence, but his eyes sparkled eerily in the moonlight shining through the stable windows and Dominic didn’t buy it for an instant.
“Nightshade… you little… was Viggo actually informed of this charitable errand, pray tell?”
“What he doesn’t know won’t hurt him.” Dominic shook his head at the ever-brighter twinkle in Elijah’s eye and warily stepped forward, holding his hand out over the railing for the horse to sniff. She tickled his palm with a warm, wet, nose, and Elijah let out a satisfied giggle as he watched. “You’ve gotta bring food for her next time. She doesn’t like a tease, now.” Dominic raised his eyebrows, but chose not to comment as Elijah slipped the bit into the horse’s mouth.
“What’s her name?”
“Tagestraum.”
“Daydream…” Dominic repeated the name back reverently, almost in a whisper, and then nodded as Elijah opened the gate and led her out.
“Here, take the reigns. You’ll ride her, I’m going to get Diablo ready.” Dominic stifled a giggle, which came out as more of a snort, as Elijah prepared a lean, almost jet-black male horse in the next stall.
“You ride a horse named Diablo??”
“Shut up. He’s a good horse. Kind of crazy, but he likes me. Don’t you, Dia?” The beast whinnied receptively and nuzzled Elijah’s shoulder, stomping his hooves a few times but not objecting as Elijah got him ready. “No one objects when he’s gone, anyway. He won’t let many ride him.”
“But you…?”
“Dia’s good to me. They were going to let him go, you know. But Viggo told me that if I could get him to bear me, we would keep him.” Elijah’s hand stroked absently along the animal’s head as he spoke, and Dominic marvelled at the relationship between man and beast, a large chocolate brown eye keeping Elijah in focus as the horse bowed his head slightly to receive Elijah’s touch.
“So he’s your horse then?”
“Essentially. You know how they feel about private property around here. But I’m more independent than most, anyway, and Viggo knows that. He doesn’t cross me too much.” Dominic cocked his head, eyed the youth suspiciously as he laid a plaid blanket over Diablo’s flank.
“You’re pretty confident for someone who’s breaking God knows how many rules right now,” he commented with an appraising look.
“And you with me,” Elijah pointed out with another brilliant grin. “But my situation is different than many here. I made the choice to come, after all. That’s rare, and so I think Viggo respects me. Warily, but he respects me. Now come on! It’s time for your first lesson!” Elijah swung one leg confidently over Diablo’s flank, gracefully airborne for a moment until he landed atop the blanket with a hand on either side of Diablo’s neck. He whispered a few words to the animal, and Diablo walked a bit unsteadily in Dominic’s direction, stopping with a light tug on his mane from Elijah, who then instructed Dominic to slip a foot into the stirrup on Tagestraum’s left side and use it to boost himself onto the horse.
Though not particularly graceful, Dominic was able to seat himself in the saddle with a fair amount of ease, and was somewhat grateful to Elijah for tacking Tagestraum up in the standard fashion, though he himself rode Diablo in Indian-fashion with only a blanket for the horse’s warmth and the man’s comfort.
As they rode through the woods that bordered the settlement, Dominic adjusted fairly quickly to the feeling of being in a saddle. He learned the signals to the horse without too much difficulty, and was able to follow Elijah along a network of slightly worn paths that led deep into the virgin forest. Tagestraum was a gentle animal, and carried him with her head high, almost in ladylike dignity, Dominic noted with a smile.
Diablo, on the other hand, really was a little crazy, barely bothering to heed Elijah’s commands and always wanting to run just a little bit faster, or a little more zigzagged, than Elijah probably would have liked. But the young man simply laughed aloud at the animal, reserving no punishment for him, and allowed Diablo to misbehave just a little as long as he bore his rider in the generally desired direction.
They did, at one point in their walk through the woods, stop in a clearing to gather a bit of nightshade, placing it in a leather saddlebag to “avoid suspicion,” as Elijah put it. Dominic found himself questioning his decision to ride after this comment, as he had never had any desire to be found suspicious in the first place.
Elijah’s laughter was infectious, however, and he found that it was relaxing, at least, to get off into the cool night air on the warm back of a gentle animal.
Dominic was just ready to suggest that they turn back, as his thighs were growing increasingly sore and the dark blue at the edge of the horizon was beginning to lighten faintly, when they heard a twig snap.
Dominic jumped in his saddle, and Diablo whinnied loudly, looking ready to bolt any minute until Elijah whispered some soothing words and dismounted the animal, leading him gently with a firm hand on the horse’s neck to the source of the sound.
“William Boyd, I could have your head for frightening the poor animal!” Elijah exclaimed with only a half-angry tone in the darkness, and to Dominic’s surprise a slight figure slid out from behind a thick oak, rifle held loosely under one arm.
“Jeezus, Lighe! That’s what you get for scaring me like that, now innit lad?” Dominic just watched in surprise as the stranger pulled Elijah into a tight hug, his thick Scots brogue and the tartan of the blanket draped over his shoulder giving away his origin.
“Come now, Billy! What’re you out here at all hours of the night for, anyway? Shouldn’t you be in your bed with your little lady, hmm?” The stranger smiled conspiratorially and elbowed Elijah, but his eyes darted over Elijah’s shoulder in explanation.
“Injuns, Lighe. Woods are full of the little buggers. Just protecting my house and home, lad, and that includes the lovely lady keeping the bed warm for me, indeed.” Elijah frowned and shook his head, his voice lowering.
“Billy, you know you’ve nothing to fear from the tribes out here. What have I always told you? They’re happy with you and the missus in this part of the country, and they shan’t be disturbing you…”
“Lighe. I know they’re your friends and all. I know what happened when you were a wee one, but that doesn’t change the present situation. A man’s got to protect himself!” Elijah didn’t look convinced, but he apparently decided that the conversation was best reserved for another time and suddenly turned to his still mounted companion.
“Well now, Billy! Where are my manners? This is Mr. Dominic Monaghan, here, arrived from Germany just a couple of weeks ago. Dominic, this is Billy Boyd.”
“Pleasure to meet you, lad. Germany, you say?” Billy’s eyebrow raised, almost in a suspicious manner, though Dominic couldn’t figure why as he slid out of the saddle and shook the Scot’s hand.
“Yes sir, but I’m English by parentage.”
“Ah, well then. Guess I’m not supposed to have much a love for the English either, eh? But your kind haven’t been much trouble to me on this side of the ocean, and any friend of Lighe’s is a friend of mine.” Dominic smiled, somewhat weakly, but supposed faint praise was better than nothing. “Tell me though, Lighe. I haven’t seen you around lately, and so late… is something wrong?”
“Not at all. Dominic here has never ridden a horse, and so I offered to instruct him.”
“Never ridden a horse? Is that so, laddie?” Dominic nodded, a bit embarrassed, but Billy’s grin held nothing but a gently teasing mirth. “And out so late…?” Billy then directed a rather pointed look at Elijah, held longer than necessary, meaning behind it that Dominic couldn’t read.
“Oh hush, Boyd. When else was I supposed to commandeer a mount for the poor boy, hmm?” Billy tossed his head back, laughter uncomfortably loud in the dark twilight of the woods.
“Commandeer, you say? You’re not a pirate, Wood!” Elijah laughed lightly, shoving Billy’s side in jest, when both men froze, hearing the rustling of hooves from just beyond the crest of a nearby hill.
Dominic started when he was simultaneously tugged by both elbows behind the tree that had been Billy’s hiding place. He thought it was a bit of a joke to be attempting to hide with both horses still standing clearly in the open, but he couldn’t open his mouth to point out this folly with Elijah’s hand clapped tightly across his lips. He grumbled weakly in protest, but the hand only tightened, smelling of earth and leather and sweat.
Elijah’s leg was tight against his left as they crouched down, and Billy’s hand rested on his right shoulder. From his position between the two of them, he couldn’t see a thing, but the tree didn’t exactly sufficiently shelter three grown men, and the widening of Elijah’s eyes as the hooves drew closer was enough to tell him what he needed to know.
“Good morning, gentlemen.” The loud voice startled Dominic, and he jumped as Elijah rose to greet the familiar voice, looking a little sheepish but also a little smug. When Billy stood as well, Dominic realized he was going to look pretty stupid crouching alone behind a tree, and rose to follow them.
Viggo sat high in Schwarzfee’s saddle, eyes stern, looking none too pleased. His disapproving gaze was focused principally on Elijah, but Dominic felt his cheeks redden with shame. Even in the scant light of early morning, Viggo’s eyes glistened the blue-grey of an oncoming storm, and their intensity was startling. If there was anything he could do to avoid ever witnessing that look again, he would gladly submit to Viggo’s will without batting an eye.
“Viggo, mate, haven’t seen you in awhile,” Billy commented with a smile, evidently delighting in the discomfort of his young companions as Elijah shuffled his feet idly.
“William. Still Indian hunting, I presume?” Viggo’s stare was just as cold when it focused on the Scot, and Dominic shivered despite the relative warmth of the morning.
“Protecting my property, mate. All a man can do. But what are you doing out here at all hours of the night?”
“Well, William, you may notice that it is in fact morning,” he pointed out, nodding at the increasing light in the eastern sky. “And given that fact, I rose early to see about tending to Schwarzfee here before my other duties. Imagine my surprise, gentlemen, when I found two horses missing, and one of them, indeed, the horse that only Mr. Wood here is privileged to ride.” Viggo directed a pointed look at Elijah, evidently pleased with his own ingenuity, and Dominic had the distinct urge to cower apologetically.
“Well, technically, Viggo,” Elijah pointed out, most of the confidence gone from his voice but still with the hint of a smile pricking up the corners of his mouth. “Diablo will let you ride him, as well.”
“Yes, however I clearly did not steal the horse that was missing, did I?” Viggo’s tone was raised almost to a yell, evidently annoyed for having his intelligence mocked. Elijah, to his credit, actually took a step back at the outburst, his head lowering a bit in defeat. “Dominic,” Viggo continued in a slightly softer tone. “Do you care to explain your involvement in this fiasco?”
Dominic looked up in surprise, seeing something in Viggo’s features that was not exactly warmth, but at least a sort of stern intent to be understanding, and this gave him the courage to speak. “Elijah suggested that we… we gather nightshade, sir.”
“Nightshade, is it?” Viggo asked, raising an eyebrow. Viggo was no idiot, and Dominic knew this. As much as he wanted to protect his friend, he couldn’t help but feel Elijah’s hanging-rope was already tied for him, so to speak, and Viggo’s stare was compelling, urging Dominic to tell the truth.
“Well, yes, sir, but… well we had another purpose, sir, as well.”
“Yes?”
“Well, you see, sir, I’ve never ridden a horse before, and Elijah, well, he thought he might show me, you see. He was just trying to be helpful,” he quickly added, hoping to take a little of the edge off Elijah’s own punishment.
“I see.” Viggo pursed his lips, seeming to consider for a few moments, and closed his eyes and opened them again before continuing. “Well, Dominic, I can’t say I exactly condone your sneaking off in the night to learn to ride a horse. If you really desired this education, you could have come just as easily to me in the daytime. However, I will acknowledge that Mr. Wood has quite the powers of…persuasion.” Out of the corner of his eyes, Dominic saw Elijah stand a little straighter with pride, and Dominic had to stifle the urge to roll his eyes.
Viggo’s expression had softened considerably as it focused on Dominic, and Dominic found himself more than a little relieved when Viggo made his judgement. “Assuming it won’t happen again, I will talk to you myself about the matter later today, and that shall suffice for your punishment. I don’t believe in harsh consequences for a first time offence, especially when you are clearly not the primary guilty party. However,” he added, schooling his features again with that hard look at Elijah, an accusatory finger pointed to emphasize his point, “you know better, Elijah. I reserve some leniency for you, and you know that. But how dare you abuse my kindness to tempt another into ill-doing?” Viggo’s tone was harsh, and Elijah resumed a guilty look, not paying any heed to Billy, who was looking rather delighted at this whole proceeding. The Scotsman was actually smiling as Viggo ridiculed his friend, and Dominic wondered if this was a very common occurrence. “Elijah, I think you know what comes next,” Viggo finished in a tone of dismissal.
Elijah shuffled his feet uncomfortably but did not speak. Viggo just sighed, looking more tired than anything, and tugged at his reigns to direct his horse back towards the settlement. “I have no more say in this matter. Sean will decide your manner of punishment.” And with that, he set off at a trot, the other men hurriedly saying their apologies to Billy and mounting to follow him home.
Dominic risked a quick look at Elijah as they reached the crest of the hill, first rays of sunlight shining down on their faces in the clearing. And in the light, there was no mistaking Elijah’s expression. An evil hint of a smile graced his features, and for someone who was essentially directed to ride to his own funeral, Elijah looked remarkably chipper. Dominic shook his head, mildly impressed by his friend’s resilience. If he had personally been directed to report to Sean Bean, one of the strictest ministers in the community, his smile would not be nearly as wide. However, he surmised, this was perhaps why it was Elijah, and not himself, that had been punished for such crimes numerous times and still managed to escape to do it again. Dominic, for one, was fairly certain that Viggo was plenty for him to deal with. Elijah could pick his own battles.