Aetheling Caesura

[ismenin]

The lovely summershobbit made three lovely pics for CD. This is one of them. In return I said I'd write her a short story based on ant pairing she fancied. She chose Aetheling.

So here it is, with my grateful thanks.





No beta. I'm sorry, there just wasn't time if I had to post before Sunday. Excuse this, my friends. Hugs.

Summary. Dom has taken Lighe, the Aetheling, home to France. Dom's father, King Dagobert, has a suggestion. :D



The Pear Trees at Blois


They had been in France for some weeks, and Lighe had enjoyed the time they had spent with King Dagobert, Dom's father.

He had proved to be a man who said what he thought, but his thoughts were kind, as well as being to the point. Lighe liked him the more for it. And the king had liked Lighe; he told Dom so, clapping his eldest son on the shoulder with a smile, and a laugh in his voice.

"He is a good man, my son. Gentle and caring. And he loves you - even a fool can see that, and I am no fool."

Dom glanced fondly at his father. "No, papa."

"You should take him into the country, and flesh him out a bit. The troubles he has seen of late have taken their toll - apart from the physical damage he has suffered. You do not want him coming down with a summer fever, in the stifling heat of the court."

Dom was still grinning. "No, papa."

"Idiot!" Dagobert punched Dom lightly on the shoulder. "Never have I known you so compliant. Where will you go?"

Dom considered for a moment before answering. "He is minded to see Blois. I cannot imagine why. But it is pretty at this season. We will go there."

When, shortly afterwards, Lighe came in carrying two pups, and closely followed by the pups' mother - a handsome bitch of indeterminate breed he had found languishing by the roadside three weeks before - Dagobert asked him if he would enjoy riding to Blois.

"I will!" he answered emphatically. "The countryside must be very beautiful, there, my lord, as Lando and Dom have said... And as long as we can take a carriage for Eloise, here..."

He patted the dog on the head, and the king intercepted a look between his son and his son's lover which clearly stated you may bring along a herd of wild goats, my love, as long as you are with me...

Dagobert left them to decide the details, and went off to a meeting of councillors. Only a very real sense of duty prevented him from asking to join them. That, and the fact that the men obviously wished for some peace in each others company.

A week later, they set off for Blois.

***

It had, indeed, been a picturesque ride. The grass was long and green, and the flowers brightly coloured. There were streams and rivers, and folks working in the fields who, recognising the king's insignia on the carriage, bowed and curtseyed as they passed.

Dom laughed as he acknowledged the salutes. "They must think the king rides in the carriage! They would be shocked to find that it holds three dogs, and a page boy to mind them. Come! Let us press on - it cannot be an hour before we reach the manor."

Lighe was happy to do so. The warmth of the sun had penetrated his skin, giving it a honeyed look, and his tendons and muscles had relaxed under its beneficent rays. The sun was different, here, somehow. He could not determine why, but it was. He felt himself relaxing under its influence.

The rode through the village and up to the manor house just as the sun was sinking in the west. After inspecting the house, and eating a very fine dinner, the lovers retired to bed.

"I am very weary," Lighe admitted, as Dom rested his head on his shoulder. "I want you, but...tomorrow..."

Dom kissed his cheek. "So am I weary, my love. Tomorrow..."

"Under the pear trees," sighed Lighe in a soft voice.

Now why should he wish to make love under the pear trees? Dom thought, as he sank into a delicious sleep.

He was soon to find out.

***

"Which one was it?" Lighe asked, staring at the large orchard of pear trees in front of him.

"What do you mean, my love?" Dom asked, looking carefully at his lover, whose voice sounded a little strained.

Lighe blushed slightly, and failed to meet Dom's gaze.

"The....um...the tree under which you and Lando first..."

Enlightenment struck Dom, and it was a puzzling thing.

Lighe wishes to make love to me under the tree where Orlando and I joined together that first time? Why, in the name of all the saints, should he wish for such a thing?

"Lighe?" Dom, asked, concern filtering through his voice. "Why?"

Lighe sat down under the nearest tree, and stared at his feet, stretched out before him. "I...I..."

There was no sound about them except for the humming of bees, and the occasional small creature scuttling amidst the trees. Dom took Lighe's nerveless hand in his. "Why do you wish to know such a thing? And why - remembering what you said last night - do you wish to make love under the tree?"

He was concerned for his love. This was not like him. Usually Lighe had no difficulty sharing his thoughts with him. But this was different. He could see clearly that Lighe was embarrassed.

"My love, tell me what is in your heart, for I would know."

Lighe looked up at this, and met Dom's gaze at last. "I feel such a fool, Dom. It...I never had anyone of my own to love, until you. I never wanted to kiss, or to hold or to share. It was just swiving with the others, as I have told you. Release, that is all. But you..."

Here he swallowed painfully, then lifted Dom's hand to his lips, and kissed it. "But you made all things different. Showed me what love is. Taught me to feel, and to think, and to embrace."

There was a short pause, which Dom did not interrupt. If Lighe was confiding in him - as he was - let it be fully.

"I wanted to take you under that tree, take you as mine, as I am yours, and replace your memories of Lando's body with memories of my own. I am jealous, Dom. And it is not something of which I am proud. You are mine, now, and that is how it shall ever be. I am sorry, I..."

Dom drew his lover into his arms, and kissed him passionately.

"You are ever in my mind, for I have not lain with Lando since I first had you. And, my love," he said, smiling down, gently, into the face of the man he held so tenderly in his arms, "and, Lighe, Lando never took me. No-one had, before you."

"But...but..." stuttered the former Aetheling, not understanding.

"You were the first, my alder-liefest. Before you, I had never wished for it. For, you see - and I know you know this, Lighe - although I love Lando, I am not - nor have I ever been - in love with him, as I am with you."

"Forgive me, Dom. I am foolish, I know. But I feel it better to tell of my fears than stoke them with the fuel of silence."

"Indeed, Lighe. You may tell me anything, as I will tell you. And I take leave to inform you that I have no idea which tree it was. But, if you like, we can lie together under each one, and that should satisfy you."

Lighe blushed again, and laughed. "But, Dom, there are dozens upon dozens of trees here. It will take many years, and..."

Dom kissed him. "I look forward to it. For will we not be together to accomplish it, for uncounted years ahead?"

Lighe nodded. "We will. Come, my love, let us begin here. And I leave it to you to keep tally!"

In the warmth of the morning sun, the two men united in love. And, there, as Lighe entered him, Dom made a silent vow to swiftly forget which tree it was that they were lying beneath, so that their love in the pear orchards of Blois would never come to an end.

For Dom knew that they lay under the tree that Lighe had dreaded discovering. Dom vowed he would never reveal it - the knowledge would remain locked within his heart forever - as would his undying love for the Aetheling.