Date: Tue, 3 Jun 2003 16:09:50 -0700 (PDT)
From: Corrinne S <quasito_cat@yahoo.com>
Subject: Dark Wishes Installment 15: Part Three Chapters 7-9

Note: This is a gay themed 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 characters, settings,
and plots.

Dark Wishes

M.C. Gordon

Part Three: Fanna

Chapter Seven

     The High King of Elanen knelt in the clean straw
of the stable, willing the new foal to stand.
Filadon, the name that had come to him for the
newborn, was not tall enough to reach his dame's teat
to suckle.

     "He will have to be hand fed if he is to
survive," a voice said and Trelaine looked up to see
Fanna watching, his forearms resting on the top rung
of fencing surrounding the birthing area.  "He is
small for a war-horse," Fanna said.

     "Much too small," Trelaine answered.

     "I am hard pressed to believe that he is the get
of Phaedon."  Fanna glanced across the stable toward
Trelaine's giant war-horse.  Phaedon was part of the
King's magic on the battlefield and Dradera was his
mate.

     "He was bred for you, Fanna," Trelaine said.  "I
know you care not to ride but you ride well.  Filadon
will be a gentle steed for you if you win his
affection now."

     Fanna vaulted across the top rail and went to
kneel with Trelaine next to the foal.  "Is he really
mine?" he asked in awe as the tiny creature nuzzled
against his face.  Greatly moved by the gift of this
precious life, he edged himself toward the towering
Dradera and gently pulled on one teat.  Her milk
flowed freely and he glanced about, surprised when
Evander handed him a bowl.

     "For the milk," his servant said.

     The following weeks passed quickly as Trelaine
tended to the business of Elanen.  Fanna divided his
time between the archives and the foal which depended
upon for him life until he was large enough to suckle
on his own.

     When Trelaine slept, Fanna lay close to him.
Nothing passed between them until the night Fanna
whispered, "Will you love me, My Lord?"

 . . .

     Trelaine filled the next two years with as much
love as he could bestow on Fanna.  He listened to each
new idea his love had to improve the archives and
instituted each one.  The archives were now arranged
according to subject and era.  Trelaine searched
Elanen for any likely prospects and installed ten
young people as apprentices to Fanna.  The aged
scrolls were copied many times, sealed, and sent
throughout the ten kingdoms.

     Trelaine smiled as he listened to his dear love
explain the importance of preserving and sharing the
knowledge contained in the ancient writings.  The cost
of Fanna's tutors was repaid a thousand-fold for he
truly understood the importance of the written word.

     In return for their generosity, tattered scrolls
arrived at Aolane on a daily basis.  Trelaine watched
as Fanna gently unrolled each one and expressed
delight at some new bit of ancient history, piece of
pottery, or work that had to have been the result of
an active imagination.

     Trelaine sent to Artilan for the loan of an
artist when Fanna bemoaned that many of the scrolls
contained drawings and there was no one in Aolane who
could copy them.  Sendit arrived and tried to claim
the castle garden as his domain, insisting that there
was not enough light in the room that housed the
archives.  Trelaine had a new room added to the castle
with larger windows and more light.

     As time passed, Aolane was quickly becoming a
center for learning and preservation.  Fanna was
happy, the kingdom was at peace, and Trelaine could
ask for little more.

     Fanna found time each day and evening to spend in
the stables with Filadon.  Trelaine leaned against the
bars of the stall to watch his love tend to the
growing foal.  Chuckling to himself, Trelaine
remembered when Fanna had proclaimed his preference to
use his feet to carry him from one place to another.
Now his gentle lover was impatient for the time when
he could sit astride the young creature growing from
foal to colt.

     "When will I be able to ride him?" Fanna often
asked.

     "When he is older," the constant reply.

     In frustration, Fanna once exclaimed, "I don't
think he'll ever be big enough."

     "Patience, love," Trelaine advised.  "He will
grow.  Never as large as his sire or dame, but a good
size for you."  Trelaine never let Fanna know that he
had wished, not bred, Filadon's size.  Wishes could be
terrible things but the King was learning to control
and focus his wishes.  To wish a war-horse that Fanna
could ride was a benevolent and precious gift to his
love.

     Fanna was not a warrior and never would be.  His
spirit was most at home in the archives and Trelaine
often thought of Ilafrain who was happiest with his
nose buried in scrolls.  But Trelaine knew that Fanna
would stand beside him in battle as Ilafrain had stood
by Miralen.  The thought worried him but he knew there
were some ways in which he had no control over his
lover.

     Fanna's love for Sigil never lingered between
them, nor did Trelaine's love for Xoachin and
Karandal.  They understood and accepted that each had
loved and been loved before.  Still, Trelaine was
pleased to hear Fanna call out his name when passion
overcame them.  And he enjoyed the feel of the warm,
young body against his, Fanna's head resting on his
shoulder, and the feel of his fingers as they twined
through his long black locks of hair.  Fanna's warm
breath on his naked chest sent a feeling of
contentment through his mind and body.  Trelaine would
have been content to spend the next sixty or more
years of his life as it was now, with his kingdom at
peace, his life content, and his lover sleeping
quietly against him after physically reaffirming their
love for each other.
 . . .

     Over breakfast a handful of days after Trelaine
received the request from King Artilan, he told Fanna
that he was leaving for Endril the next day.  "Will
you come with me?" he asked.  "You may remain here if
you prefer but I would very much enjoy your company."

     Fanna had been expecting the question since the
letter's arrival.  He was reluctant to return to
Endril and tangible reminders of Sigil, but he had
been the High King's lover for two years and would not
be parted from him.  Smiling, he took Trelaine's hand
and said, "I would like very much to go with you."

     "You will ride Tilla," Trelaine said.  "I know
that he is a gelding but he will cause you no trouble
and we must make haste on our journey.  I will ride
Sethen."

     He noted the crestfallen look on his lover's face
as the lad asked, "I may not ride Filadon?  Master
Ahearn assures me that he is fully trained.  I have
ridden him around the paddock many times."

     "Nay, love," Trelaine replied.  "The path we take
through the mountains is for more nimble steeds.
War-horses were not bred to be ridden through those
treacherous passes.  But we will bring Filadon and
Phaedon with us.  You learned much while in the care
of Artilan and Grislen; perhaps they can see that you
learn how to ride a horse into battle for I have
despaired of teaching you."

     Fanna was disturbed by the remark until he saw
the loving smile on Trelaine's face.  It was true, for
all his great patience Trelaine seemed unable to teach
him how to ride a war-horse and use weapons of war.
That he would be allowed to take Filadon and train in
the proper way to ride the two-year old colt pleased
him greatly.

     "I will learn as best I can, My Lord," he said.

     "Dilby and Evander will see that our things are
made ready for the journey.  There is, in the garden,
a secluded place where fallen leaves have made a quiet
cushion through the years.  There are roses near at
hand and if I scatter their petals on the leaves their
fragrance will be released as we lie upon them."

     Fanna blushed at the thought of what Trelaine was
suggesting.  He reached out and twined his fingers
through those of the man he loved.  As Trelaine kissed
him, he wondered if he could control himself until
they made it to the garden.

Chapter Eight

     The journey to Endril took several days for the
high passes were still covered with late winter snow.
Fanna quickly realized Trelain's wisdom in using Tilla
and Sethen for they were sure and nimble of foot,
easily picking their path across patches of ice
amongst the craggy rocks of the mountain passes.

     Their party made their camp each night in large
caves in the mountains.  The caves were used by all
travelers between Endril and Elanen and were kept well
stocked by both kingdoms for not all travelers could
carry their own provisions.  Trelaine made sure they
carried enough provisions that he could add to each
camp and the pack-horses were soon relieved of the
bags of dried venison they carried.

     He held Fanna in his arms each night but did not
make love to him, although he voiced no objection when
others of their group did.  For Trelaine, the love he
shared with Fanna was not meant for public display
beyond the natural affection they showed each other.
The physical recognition of that love was for quiet
moments between the two of them.

     The journey became easier as they left the
mountains and entered the kingdom of Endril.  Spring
had arrived in the valley, the days and nights were
warmer, and grass had grown tall enough for the horses
to feed.

     Their entry into Chamel was a joyous one.  The
inhabitants of the Endril capital lined the cobbled
streets to welcome Trelaine, a favorite visitor to the
kingdom.  And many among them were pleased to see
Fanna.  Their memories of him were fond and their
hearts had grieved for him at Sigil's death.  There
was no resentment that Fanna had found love with the
King of Elanen.  Indeed, they felt it fitting that the
High King would choose one who had held the heart of
the young man related by blood to Karandal.

     Trelaine and Fanna dismounted at the steps
leading to the castle.  King Artilane, King Etamere,
and Grislen greeted them.  "Well come," Artilan said
extending his hand to the High King.  After greeting
Trelaine he turned to Fanna.  "And you as well," he
said.  "It pleases me that you came.  We have missed
you."

     "And I you, Majesty," Fanna responded as he bowed
before the King.  He barely had time to right himself
when Grislen caught and hugged him.

     "It pleases me also," the King's brother said.
"You look well and have added some to your height
these past four years."

     Etamere greeted Trelaine.  "I am grateful to you
for coming," he said.  "The barbarians threaten my
kingdom daily."

     "I promised your ancestors my protection and
support," Trelaine said.  "It is both my duty and my
pleasure to keep that promise."

     "Come then," Artilan urged.  "Tonight we will
have a feast in honor of your presence.  Talk of the
barbarians will wait for the morrow.  I have a chamber
prepared unless you would have another preference."
He was not sure how Fanna would feel about staying in
the castle.

     Fanna relieved his fears by saying, "It would be
poor homage to Sigil's memory should we not stay
within the castle.  My memories of him are of love and
he lives in my heart."

     Etamere, who had no personal knowledge of Sigil
and Fanna, was surprised that the handsome youth would
speak so openly of love for another in the presence of
the man acknowledged as his lover now.  Nor did
Trelaine and Fanna expect any to understand that the
love each had known before served to strengthen the
bond between them.

     The chamber prepared for them was more than
suitable for a King but smaller than that in Aolane.
Several small rooms and a large sleeping area lead
from a central room.  The furnishings were rich and
comfortable.  A small fired burned in each of several
fireplaces.  Trelaine noticed that Fanna seemed
pleased in the warmth and once again considered giving
in to his lover's request to move their apartment in
Aolane to one smaller and easier to warm.

     Dilby and Evander helped them remove their travel
stained clothing and bathe.  The two were just
wrapping themselves in soft woolen robes when there
was a knock on the door.  Dilby opened the intricately
carved door to admit the same small page who had led
them to these chambers.

     "Pardon, Lordship," the child said to Trelaine,
"but His Majesty sent me to say the feasting will
begin in two turns of the hourglass."

     "Thank you, Pelanen," Trelaine said.  "Please
tell King Artilan that you have fulfilled your duty.
Turning to Fanna he said, "And now, my love, we have
two turnings of the glass before we attend tonight's
celebration.  I have an announcement to make this
evening and would share the joy that it will give me
with you now.  It has been too long since I have felt
the pleasure you give me."

     Fanna blushed as Trelaine took his hand and led
him to the sleeping room.  He would not ask about the
announcement but felt it must be of great importance
if the King could not wait to share the moment.
Thought of all else fled his mind at the touch of his
love's lips on his own.

     The great hall was filled when Trelaine and Fanna
entered.  Fanna still carried a subtle glow from the
love he had known during the afternoon hours.  He wore
a rust colored tunic nearly the color of his hair,
which fell in curls to his shoulders.  His deep green
eyes were vibrant with remembered passion.

     Trelaine stood in contrast next to him.  Long
black hair reached past his waist, eyes nearly silver.
 His deep blue tunic touched his fair complexion with
a pale blue cast.  The look of contentment on his face
mirrored that of Fanna.

     They were seated at the high table with Grislen
and Kings Artilan and Etamere.  Fanna ate quietly,
enjoying the music provided while Grislen's daughter,
Famira, gave him all the latest gossip of his old
friends.  He was mildly surprised when Trelaine stood
and called his name.

     "Yes, Majesty?" he asked.

     "Stand beside me, Fanna," Trelaine commanded and
Fanna obeyed.

     "Endril has long been a favored place to me," the
High King spoke.  "It was here that Menfred brought my
spirit into this world.  It was also here that I first
found love in this lifetime."  He smiled as he spoke.
"It is fitting that this is the place where I choose
to formally name and acknowledge Fanna as my Consort,
although my love for him took root and grew in
Elanen."

     Fanna blushed the color of his hair as cups of
wine were raised high and the great dining room
reverberated with echoes of, "Hear! Hear!"  He did not
see Dilby approach until Trelaine lifted a circlet of
intricately carved gold from the purple pillow Dilby
held.

     "This is the symbol," Trelain said as he looked
into Fanna's eyes, "of your position in the Court of
Elanen, which you will help me rule, my dear Lord
Fanna."  With that he placed the circlet on Fanna's
head and settled it among the auburn curls.

     An even greater cheer followed the simple
crowning and the men bowed while ladies curtsied their
acknowledgment of Fanna's new position.  The minstrels
struck a lively tune and couples drifted into the
large hall adjacent to the dining hall to dance.  King
Artilan and Grislen offered the new Lord their hands
and pummeled his back in congratulations.  Etamere,
familiar with the legend of the Qell, tried to
understand what had transpired, finally deciding that
it was none of his affair and the lad was handsome and
personable.

     Fanna took advantage of a quiet moment as the
court drifted off to the dancing.  "I cannot be your
Consort, My Lord," he said to Trelaine.  "I am less
than a commoner; I am but a peasant and one-time bread
thief."

     "There are no common men in Elanen," Trelaine
replied.  "And I am the High King, the Qell Lord.  You
cannot nay say me for so trivial a reason.  In my
heart, and the hearts of Elanen, you are the
embodiment of a great lord.  I have but acknowledged
what all of Elanen has known these two years past.
They already think of you as my consort and my heart."

     Fanna was unaware that the inhabitants of the
kingdom thought of him as anything but the new
archivist.  "Will your people not be offended that you
have chosen Endril to name me, Trelaine?" he finally
asked.

     "This was a high affair of State, my love,"
Trelain said, "important only to lords and ladies.
When the problem with the barbarians is resolved we
shall return to Elanen and visit each village and
shire.  Our people know their importance and are more
concerned with their own small celebrations of life
than what happens at court so long as their lives are
left in peace.  A few days in each village, time spent
looking at newborn lambs or foals, concern for their
children, and the knowledge that we would choose to
tell of your new station in person will please them
more than news from a courier.  They love us, Fanna,
and that is the secret of the prosperity and happiness
in Elanen."

     "Then we must return that love to them," Fanna
replied in understanding.  "This afternoon you allowed
me to share your joy in the announcement you planned
to make.  Will you allow me to share my joy with you
tonight?"

Chapter Nine

     The next several days were spent in a flurry of
activity.  Trelaine was busy with the other kings,
Artilan and Etamere, planning their strategy for
dealing with the newest barbarian horde that
threatened the peace of the kingdoms.

     Fanna filled his days with Grislen as he and
Filadon were put through their paces learning the
correct way to ride in battle   He knew that Trelaine
had no intention of letting him actually ride into
battle and only set him to the training for his own
peace of mind.  But Fanna threw himself into his
instructions with great zeal.

     When he was not studying the art of warfare,
Fanna was occupied with Chamel's archives.  The new
master had been an assistant when Fanna lived at the
fortress castle.  The old archivist had become so
frail with age that the King had retired him to a
comfortable cottage with servants to care for him, and
Buford was now in charge of the considerable scrolls
and records of Endril's history.

     Buford accepted Fanna as his equal and asked
endless questions about the changes Fanna had
instituted during his tenure as the master archivist
for the High King.

     "Will you remain archivist now that you are
Consort," Buford asked.

     "His Majesty and I have not discussed it," Fanna
replied, "but it is my desire to remain so.  I must
have some occupation of my own.  There is still much
to be done for Aolane receives records daily from many
different places."  He brushed his lengthening hair
back from his face.  "You wanted to ask me about the
placement of the old records.  At Aolane we have tried
to set them in the order of the year they recount.
For example, rather than putting all of the scrolls
referring to the Renan Kings jumbled together in one
place, you might consider starting with the scrolls of
King Anen and putting them together since he was the
first of the Renan line.  Then those of his son, King
Pasyl."

     Involved in training and the archives, Fanna was
so occupied that he noticed not the change in
Trelaine's manner as the Kings made their plans for
the coming campaign against the barbarians.

     Trelaine tried to withhold as much as he could
from his love.  Deep in his heart he feared that Fanna
would insist on joining in the battle.  The thought of
him being in danger sent a chill through Trelain such
as he had not known since the day Karandal had been
captured by Etamere's ancestor.  He could not bear the
thought of Fanna's body lying cold and bleeding on a
battleground.  Trelaine seldom felt portents of the
future but this one came to him time after time.
Still, the time came when he could no longer withhold
the news that he would be leaving soon.  After a quiet
evening meal, Trelaine lifted Fanna in his arms and
carried him to their bed.

     "You have a mood about you this night," Fanna
whispered as he felt his lover's hands roam across his
body.

     "Later, my love," Trelaine responded.

     Later, much later, they lay sated in each other's
arms.  Fanna knew, from the power of the passion they
had shared, that something was amiss.  Easing himself
into the King's arms and pulling long strands of the
black hair across them like a blanket he asked, "Are
you leaving tomorrow to face the barbarians?"

     "You know?" Trelaine asked against the silky skin
of Fanna's neck.

     A small chuckle escaped Fanna.  "You mounted me
as if I were a woman any warrior wished to leave with
child, as if you fear you will not return."

     "You are no woman, my love," Trelaine replied,
"and I will never beget an heir.  But it is true.  We
leave tomorrow.  You may come or not, as you will."

     "What would you will?" Fanna asked.

     "I could wish you to stay here and be safe.  But
I will not do so for I will put no boundaries on you.
I can only ask that you will not join the warriors who
go with us.  Your life is too precious to me and you
are not proficient in the arts of war."

     Turning to face his love Fanna asked, "Is it
permissible for Consort to visit King at the
encampment?  It might be that I receive a plea from
one of your household staff in Aolane regarding an
urgent situation."

     Trelaine responded with a kiss.  "If an urgent
situation should arise, you should come to me at once.
 But only in that regard."

     "And not in the regard that your Consort might
have need of you in a more personal matter?" Fanna
asked, his eyes gleaming in the candlelight.

     "Rascal you were and rascal you remain," Trelaine
responded.  "I thought you had learned not to be
impertinent to your King."

     "I need more lessons in courtly behavior," Fanna
said as he slipped his arms around Trelaine's neck and
pulled him closer for a lingering kiss.

     Trelaine woke while it was still dark.  He
carefully eased himself away from Fanna, who was
draped across the length of his body.  Assuring
himself that his lover still slept, Trelaine left the
sleeping chamber.  Dilby was waiting for him in the
great sitting room, clothing ready for the day's
journey.

     Dilby helped the King to dress in warm leggings
and a think tunic of soft wool.  Dyed dark forest
green, the tunic showed the paleness of complexion
that marked Trelaine as Qell and was necessary to
prevent chafing from the light armor her would wear.

     Dressed in all but the armor, Trelaine returned
to the sleeping chamber and gazed fondly on his love.
Fanna had rolled to his back with one arm raised to
the pillow beneath his head.  Trelaine leaned down and
ran his slender fingers along his lover's cheek and
jaw.  Leaning over, he tenderly kissed Fanna and
whispered, "I will return to you."  Turning, he strode
out of the room.  He was a King and a Qell Lord with
duties to fulfill and promises to keep.

     When the great door to the apartment closed and
he could hear his own guards take their stations,
Fanna rolled to one side and cried into his pillow as
if his heart would break.  When the rays of the rising
sun filtered into the room and across the bed, Fanna
rose and tended to his own immediate business.
Entering the large sitting room he found that Evander
had his breakfast ready.
     "There be a pouch from Elanen," the servant said.
 "His Majesty told Dilby you was to tend to it."

     Fanna was momentarily taken aback until he
remembered that he was to aid in ruling Elanen.  "Very
well," he said.  "Bring me the pouch."

     He glanced through the correspondence as he took
his simple breakfast and cheese, fruit, and the thick
oat porridge the castle cook remembered was one of his
favorites.  There was news from various lords that the
orchards were in bloom with hope of an abundance of
fruit and nuts if no late freeze occurred.  The
grasses were growing and the herd-beasts had been let
loose on the land to graze.  Lambing time was
approaching and the people of Elanen hoped that the
King would be able to return in time to gift the ewes
with his magic for easy births.

     The winter had been harsh enough that the sheep
were possessed of thick coats and the summer shearing
would produce enough wool to provide ample income for
the carders and spinners.  The High King had long ago
proclaimed that everyone in Elanen reap the benefit of
their own labor.

     "Your bath be ready, M'Lord," Evander announced.

     "Very well," Fanna responded.  "Lay me clothing
suitable for riding.  I will take Filadon for a run
before I tend to business."

     Trelain had left him in charge of Elanen and he
was his love's representative to the Endril Court.  He
intended to fulfill those duties in a manner that
would please his King and lover.  He wanted Trelaine
to be proud of him if and when he returned.  And if
was a very great part of Fanna's thoughts for he was
aware that the ancient Qell had died in battle.

To be continued.

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