Date: Thu, 1 May 2003 17:09:03 -0700 (PDT)
From: Corrinne S <quasito_cat@yahoo.com>
Subject: Dark Wishes Installment 7: Part Two Chapters 4-6

Note: This is a gay themed fantasy novel about kings
and magic, love and war.  Although I will often allude
to sexual encounters, there are no scenes of sexual
acts for this is, by and large, a love story.  This
author claims exclusive copyright to the characters,
settings, and plot.

Dark Wishes

M.C. Gordon

Part Two: Karandal

Chapter Four

     The long years of war were over and the evil that
had started it was gone.  Karandal, Duke of Enworthy,
closed his eyes and thought of peace.  He had known
war his entire life; had been raised with his brothers
toward the day when they would take up their swords
and fight.  He had done well in the final battle and
earned the praise of his King, Llewelyn.

     Disappointed, but not surprised, he had stood by
Trelaine when Llewelyn crowned the new King of Elanen.
 He longed to kneel and promise his fealty to the
Qell, but he was already sworn to Llewelyn for
Enworthy was a province of Endril.

     Karandal opened his eyes and gazed across the
small campfire at Trelaine.  The long black hair fell
forward across the sharp angles of his face and hid
his eyes.  Those eyes were what had first caught
Karandal's attention.  If they held any color at all
it was pale silver and a man who looked into them
could see the reflection of his own soul.

     He had, quite frankly, fallen in love with
Trelaine.  His affection went beyond the man's
child-like view of the world, each new discovery
bringing a smile of pure delight.  Karandal thought he
could detect an honest love for life and respect for
all living creatures.  He was truly surprised that he
had fallen in love over the past few weeks because
Trelaine's sudden fierceness in battle evoked fear and
the remembered childhood stories of the Qell coming at
night to steal naughty children.

     Trelaine was traveling with King Llewelyn as he
took his weary army home to Endril, to seek advice and
council before assuming the mantle of leadership in
Elanen.  They traveled slowly, no matter that each man
wanted to return quickly to loved ones, for the
wounded were many.  Each evening Llewelyn explained to
Trelaine what would be expected of him as a king,
hoping to revive still more dormant memories.
Karandal, grasping at each precious moment of time
with the one he loved more and more each day, offered
to share his tent with Trelaine.

     The summoning had agreed, suddenly expressing an
inexplicable fear of darkness, as if some other memory
was trying to rise, unbidden and unwanted.  There were
still many parts of his nature that had not unfolded
to him and he grappled with himself each day, unsure
of who he was expected to be.

     As the sun sank below the horizon and shadows
lengthened, Karandal saw a momentary panic flit behind
Trelaine's eyes.  Finishing the last of his ale he
handed the cup to his squire and rose from his seat on
the ground.  "Come, Majesty," he said as he crossed to
where Trelaine sat.  "It will soon begin to rain."

     A cold wind began to blow and they barely reached
Karandal's tent before a torrential rain began to
fall.  Karandal's body servant, Petel, had already
prepared the tent for the night.  Soft blankets
covered mattresses of straw and a small fire was lit,
safely contained.  Petel helped remove their heavy
cloaks and boots.  Assured that his master and the new
king had no further need of him, Petel sought his own
pallet under one of the supply wagons.

     The party would reach the mountains that marked
the boundary between Endril and Elanen the next day
and Trelaine would leave them to return to Aolane, a
kingdom nearly destroyed by evil and treachery,
starvation and death.  Karandal knew that if he were
ever to confess his love, it would have to be now.

     "The night turns cold, Sire.  Perhaps if we share
a bed and our blankets we can keep each other warm."

     Trelaine, in his innocence, accepted the kindness
and concern of his new friend and companion.  He had
no memory of ever having loved or being loved.  The
memories that had returned to him were of war and
battles, not of gentleness and a lover's embrace.  As
the night grew colder Trelaine eased himself close to
Karandal for the promised warmth and comfort.  Finding
peace and contentment, he slid into an easy sleep.

    Trelaine was unsure what woke him; he only knew
that he was lying with his head on Karandal's
shoulder.  Strong harms held him in a safe embrace.
Thinking Karandal asleep, he reached up with one
fine-boned hand and stroked his fingers across his
friend's cheek.

     At the feel of Trelaine's touch on his face,
Karandal slipped one hand beneath the king's chin and
lifted his head slightly.  Seeing the silver eyes look
up at him, Karandal leaned his head and gently brought
their lips together.

     A distant memory ran through Trelaine's mind -- of
loving hands and sweet embraces, gentle touches and
passion beyond imagining.  The kiss he received from
Karandal seemed natural, correct, familiar.  He knew
they belonged together and surrendered himself to the
love that was offered to him so willingly.


Chapter Five

     Aolane was astir with activity and had been for
months.  Trelaine called in masons to repair the
crumbling walls of his fortress castle.  Years of
debris were removed from each room and the stone
floors scrubbed clean.  Master carpenters filled the
castle with new furniture and weavers worked
diligently on tapestries that would cover the walls.
Gradually, the castle began to show a glimpse of its
former glory.

     Trelaine received a courier from Enworthy
informing him that Karandal would arrive soon for an
informal visit.  He wanted his home to be as perfect
as possible to greet the man he had fallen in love
with months earlier.  His days were filled with the
thousand things needed to restore prosperity to the
ravaged kingdom, aided by the lords of Elanen.  But
his nights were lonely and filled with longing for the
blonde-haired man who had captured his heart.

     He requested his lords be present at a formal
dinner to welcome Karandal, the first celebration to
be held in Aolane in centuries.  His hunters had
already provided pheasant while the fishermen found
salmon and trout in great abundance.  Ancient herb
gardens, cleaned from years of neglect, gave the cooks
a variety of seasonings to choose from.

     Trelaine agonized for hours as he waited for
Karandal's arrival.  He wanted to wish for time to
pass more quickly but had learned that his wishes
could have drastic results ... like the ripples of a
pebble tossed into a pond.  So he poked his head about
the fortress, constantly checking to see that
everything was perfect while he waited.

     Memories of protocol had not yet returned and the
King relied upon Olan, the captain of his personal
guard, for advice.  Olan had been with King Llewelyn
since childhood and had spent his life around courtly
affairs.  He had been assigned to help guard the
witless Trelaine during the first days of his
existence in Endril and felt friendship for him.  When
Llewelyn proclaimed Trelaine King of Elanen, Olan had
asked to be released from his vow of fealty in order
to swear himself to the new king.  Llewelyn had gladly
released him to the service of one who was becoming a
valued friend and ally.

     With Olan's assistance, invitations were sent to
the highest Lords.  Egraine now served as Elanen's
Master of Horse and keeper of the vast prairie land
where the great war-horses were bred.  Lingred, in
Elanen's eastern domain, was given charge of the
kingdom's vast orchards.  Egret managed the sanctuary
Trelaine established along his southern border,
sustaining the existence of those species in danger of
extinction.  Egbert was responsible for the farmland
that would provide grains and vegetables for the
kingdom.  All of these men, while important lords,
also believed in things dear to Trelaine and Karandal.

     Trelaine was pacing restlessly down one corridor
of the castle when a page ran to him, informing him
that Karandal's party had entered the gate of the
walled fortress.  Trelaine rushed to the castle steps,
his heart beating in his chest, and watched as the
standard bearing the gyrfalcon of Enworthy entered the
courtyard.  His beloved sat on a steed as white as new
snow.

     Karandal dismounted and strode quickly to the
waiting King.  He knelt and took Trelaine's right hand
and kissed it.  To those watching, it was a proper
gesture.  But Trelaine knew that it also an expression
of love.

     The feast was a great success.  The Lords of
Elanen greeted Karandal with sincere warmth.  Karandal
had large acres of orchards in his Dukedom which had
been stricken by an unknown blight.  Lord Lingred was
familiar with the problem and offered to share a
formula he had developed which was successful in
destroying the blight with no harm to the delicate
trees.  Karandal enjoyed a long conversation with
Egraine for he was quite fond of horses.  Before
circumstances led King Llewelyn to make him Duke of
Enworthy, he had hoped his eldest brother, Tam, would
let him assume the care and management of Enworthy's
herds.  From early youth, Karandal had been able to
judge which of his father's horses would breed the
best and he had vastly improved the herds.

     As Chardel's youngest son, he could expect
neither fortune nor future.  That changed when his
father and all of his brothers died in the war.  The
darkness that had twisted men's minds had also
deceived his father.  Karandal had watched helplessly
as Chardel changed from a kind and peaceful man into a
tyrant who ruled his land and family with distrust.
When others plotted to overthrow King Llewelyn,
Chardel joined them.  Knowing it was wrong, Karandal
still stood by him for the love he felt for his
father.  He had been at Chardel's right hand during
the battle in which Chardel died by Llewelyn's sword.
Llewelyn had been about to slay Karandal as well when
Trelaine stopped him and begged the King's forgiveness
for a son's loyalty to his father.  It was the first
time Karandal had ever seen Trelaine.

Chapter Six

     When the feasting was finished, Trelaine rose and
took Karandal's hand.  A group of harpers had been
playing softly in the background and Trelaine bid his
guests stay and listen to them play and sing their
tales of valor if they wished.  Assured that the lords
would be sufficiently entertained, he led Karandal
from the massive dining hall to the apartments he had
chosen as his, unaware that Miralen had used those
same rooms.

     Much later, their passion appeased, Trelaine and
Karandel slept deeply in each other's arms.  Some time
toward the early dawn Trelaine woke screaming as if in
fear for his life.  Karandal had no idea what to do
but to try and hold his love; calm whatever horror
held him so strongly.

     Olan, who slept in one of the smaller rooms, was
also awakened by the screams and quickly entered the
bedchamber.  " `Tis all right, M'Lord," he said to
Karandal.  "The candles have all gone out, you see.
His Majesty fears the dark.  I'll just light new
candles and the King will be aright again in no time."

     Once the candles were lit and placed around the
room, Trelaine began to relax.  The darkness was gone
and with it the fear conjured by hidden memories.
Olan brought cups of hot tea laced with a little wine.
 Assured that Trelaine had recovered, he bid the men a
good night and left them alone.  Karandal continued to
worry but, as Trelaine relaxed against him, he sighed
deeply and went back to sleep wondering what had
provoked the nightmare.

     Trelaine was standing by a window when Karandal
woke the next morning.  The Duke slipped on a simple
woolen gown and joined the King.  It was raining and
droplets of water ran down the stained glass
windowpane like miniature rivers.

     "I do not know who I am," Trelaine said as
Karandal came up behind him and enveloped him in
strong arms.  He leaned his head against the
windowpane.  "Look below, how the wind blows the
leaves thither and yon through the courtyard.
Sometimes I feel like one of those leaves.  Nothing I
have done since Menfred summoned me has been of my
choosing.  I have gone where the winds of chance have
blown me.  All save you, my love.  That was one choice
I made willingly and with my heart."

     They held each other for several moments as
Karandal tried to reassure Trelaine with soft words
and gentle kisses.  They were finally interrupted by a
knock on the door and Olan entered, followed by
servants with water for the bath and food for their
morning meal.

     Bathed and dressed, they sat at a small table by
the fireplace and ate.  Karandal was hungry and filled
his plate but noticed that Trelaine only nibbled at
pieces of fruit and cheese.  He did not want to pry
into things Trelaine might not want him to know, but
the screams of the night before had come from his
lover's soul.  Reaching across the table, he took one
of Trelaine's hands to offer what comfort he could.

     Trelaine rose and went to sit beside the man who
offered him love without knowing the darkness that
haunted him.  "Men say that I am one of the Qell
Lords, and perhaps I am.  I only know that Menfred
brought me into this world with no knowledge of myself
or others.  Each day has been a new beginning."

     Karandal rose and pulled a blanket from the bed
to wrap around his shoulders.  "You need not tell me
these things, my love, unless you do so freely."

     "You should know what manner of man I am.  I
cannot hold your heart to mine without your awareness
of me.  What I tell you I do willingly and hope that
you wish to listen."

     The room was filled with silence for a moment.
When Karandal made no objection, Trelaine continued.
"I know, in a way I do not understand, that the evil
which caused so much hatred in recent years had its
root in the Qell."  He stopped and took a deep breath,
a tear escaping the corner of one eye.  "When the
candles have all burned down at night and I am left in
darkness, I see death all around me.  I can feel,
hear, and smell it.  It leaves a bitter taste in my
mouth.  I am surrounded by death and it makes me
wonder what I must have been ... what I have become."

To be continued

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