The Little One

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Kira had been observing the human for a long while, and noticed the dark circles under his eyes, and how weary they looked when William opened them. The elfling couldn't help being fascinated by their rich, green color, as they reminded him of something he couldn't quite recall. He wondered why they seemed to tired, and why William had been so restless in sleep. Nightmares could be the reason, or it could just have been that he was unused to someone else in bed with him. Though why the prince didn't just kick him out if that was the case…

As the prince woke, and reached out for him, Kira went even more still than before, forcing himself not to go rigid as it would have been a dead giveaway. Usually, slaves were supposed to be awake before their masters, so they would be ready for whatever the masters chose to throw at them. In this case, though, Kira had felt like he might see William as his real self when he awoke, and thought no one was watching. He was surprised to hear the words the prince spoke, and to feel teh gentle nature of his touch. The small, intimate moment touched his heart in a way all of William's words last night could not. Kira knew, perhaps instinctively, that this was not a show, that William believed him to be asleep still. If that was so…then the prince was like no master, no individual, he had ever met. The elfling held himself together, not wanting to betray himself by the trembling of his limbs. He was still so confused…

A soft knock at the door announced the servants bringing William his breakfast. Though they weren't allowed to speak to him, they had still been sent by his father partly to check up on his son and bring him word if he'd liked his 'present'. Given the fact that the two were in bed together, looking somewhat disheveled, the servants were pretty certain he had. They laid out breakfast for their prince in silence, prepared to wait to take Kira and prepare him for later use, since the prince still seemed to want to hold onto him. It wasn't exactly usual to cling to a pleasure slave like that, but the prince's father could afford to be somewhat indulgent in this regard. For now, the servants could set out their trays and take back good news to their king.
 
The door alerted William that his food was being brought in this morning. He clung to the elf a little more. He thanked the servants as they left as he always did. He knew it was a strange act of a master of a house, but cared not. He hoped they saw what he hoped them to see in his bed. Two beings that had engaged in some sort of activity during the night before. Everyone knew him well enough in the house that it was not an unusual site to see him doing something so unusual. He hope it made them stop looking for further unusual tendencies in his behavior towards the slave. He sat up and placed the tray in his lap.

He then looked at the plentiful breakfast that had been provided for him. He grabbed the peach off the tray and handed it to the elf. "Eat this." he commanded. Peaches were his favorite but for some reason he felt he had to give it to the slave. He sipped the water that was also on the tray. "I need to know how many other masters have you had now, Kira." he said as sternly as he could make himself. He knew commands and orders were the only way to talk to Kira at the moment.
 
(Back from work!)

Kira noticed the unusual act of thanking the servants; that certainly made him pause. As the servants left them alone again, he knew he couldn't hide the fact that he was awake any longer, and stirred a bit, sitting up when William did. Kira automatically got back into the usual slave's position, kneeling with hands on his thighs and head downward, only to find a ripe peach held under his nose. It broke him from his thoughts, which had been of a rather circular nature anyway, and had to do with William.

The command to eat was given, and he was actually glad to obey. In spite of not liking the harsh tones of a master, he didn't know how to take anything else yet. A tiny part of him did regret William's softer tones from last night, but they had been confusing anyway.

Meekly, he took the fruit and bit into it, trying not to wolf it down in spite of his hunger. The fashion for slaves at present was to have them very slim, even a bit bony, so he wasn't fed too much as a rule. The peach was thick and juicy and he savored it for the few moments of silence between himself and the master.

When William asked his next question, Kira nearly choked- it had been both unexpected, and brought on thoughts he didn't wish to have. He had to set teh peach down for a moment on the tray, lest it drip on the master's bedclothes, and he wiped his full, pale lips with his hand. The eyes that never met William's were wide and dark, and it took a moment for him to answer.

"Twenty-two, my master……William." he murmured. It sounded like a huge number, but he was an elf, and older than he looked. His features and body would remain looking so young for a long time yet. Only his eyes seemed old, having seen too much already in a short time for an elf.
 
The number shot like an arrow through William's mind. He thought to himself,"Twenty-three is more than enough for any slave." He had then noticed how much of the peach had already been eaten by the thin elf. The thought occured to him that Kira may have not had a good meal in a long time. His mind wrapped around how little normal servants were fed. Then he tried to imagine that compared to the slaves. He cringed slightly.

"Kira, when was the last time you had a good meal?" he asked trying to keep his voice stern, but he failed. Though he had some anger built back up, he was rested enough to know now that anger would solve nothing at this moment in time. He had no control over things even if he was prince. His say would only matter as soon as his father died, and he would never wish for that. No matter how terrible his father's views may have been, he still loved him. That was the flesh and blood he came from which gave his privilege for such a life.

All he could do for now was start by listening to the slave and nurturing it back to real health. He knew that now. He was scared though. He was scared of what might happen next to the elf. He saw the look in his eyes. The deep look as if he had faced death and come back. It was a look he had once seen in the old eyes of a hardened warrior who had seen many of his brethren die on swords beside him. The look only those in their lasts days should be allowed to carry.
 
If Kira had truly been able to understand how much William already cared about him in general, he might have hung about his neck and sobbed with gratitude….if he could sob. The ability to shed tears was probably still there under all the trauma, just buried. Truly knowing William's heart would have brought it to the fore, as well as Kira's actual personality, which he himself had forgotten. For now, the elfling had no clue that William's interest in him ran deeper than basic curiosity.

William's comment about the number of masters was odd to him, because Kira didn't know what William meant. Was it his fault he'd had too many masters? Or were said masters considered shiftless for not being able to hold onto him? He'd changed hands more than once after a gambling session.

William decided breakfast was a good time to ask Kira questions, and as the slave couldn't disobey, he answered the second question automatically. "Three days, my….m….William." Just getting used to saying his name was difficult; 'Master' rolled off the tongue so easily now.

As for his answer, Kira had actually gone longer with no food at all, so he said this small number matter-of-factly. Though he was hungry, he had gotten at least some stale bread during the three day journey to the castle. Having an expensive slave die in transit wasn't exactly good business.

Remembering how hungry he was, the slave took the peach up once more and finished it, closing his eyes for a moment to truly enjoy the taste. At least he did not feel so afraid in William's presence, though he was wary.
 
William carefully watched him as he finished the peach. three days. his mind whispered back at him. He immediately took a small muffin off the tray. "Sit down like you are not a slave," he commanded. He had an idea and he knew Kira would not like it at first, but he cared not. He then sat the tray on Kira's lap. "Eat as much as you like. I had a good meal last night. Do not argue with me on this matter," he commanded. He knew this must sound crazy to the slave. He had heard of the poor meals the servants sometimes got with no complain. He had never heard of a master giving up his own meal. He cared not what had been done before. He only cared where this may someday lead. He wondered for a moment starring off happily what the kingdom would look like under his rule and how that one servant would have felt about it.
 
Kira immediately got into a 'more normal' position like he had the night before, except this time he tried to mirror the way William sat. If he'd been in the mood, he would have laughed sardonically at the prince's insistence that he 'not argue' with him about eating a full meal. As though the slave could argue anything…

Kira obeyed automatically and began to eat, though his mind reeled with the strangeness of it all. He wondered if this was a shockingly realistic dream, or a figment of his imagination during some particularly nasty hour of brutality. He'd never sent his mind quite so far into itself for that, but there was a first time for everything. At the moment, he decided to focus on eating, rather than the state of his own shattered mind, afraid he'd wake again to no food at all.

After awhile, though, Kira began to wonder about William, and what he would eat. It was a curious, perhaps silly thing for a slave to fret over, but he almost felt guilty for eating so much. It didn't matter that William said he'd had a good meal yesterday, Kira became more and more self-conscious as the prince watched him eat and took none for himself. There was so much here… Anyway, years of being underfed made it dangerous to eat too much in one sitting, and he couldn't possibly finish all this. He ate as much as he could, supposing that would count for 'as much as he liked', then set his hands in his lap again, not sure if he should say anything about being done. There was still plenty left for William, and he hoped the prince wouldn't force him to eat any more. He would be very sick if that happened...

However, for the first time in a long while, he felt full, and that was reason enough to murmur, "Thank you, W…illiam, for the food." In his soft, musical voice was true gratitude.
 
William watched him eat wondering what Kira might be thinking. When he spoke, William thought he had probably never heard better words. There was something about the sound of them that was beautiful music to his ears. He took the tray back. He smiled softly, and then ate what was left. He would not have cared if the elf had eaten every last bite of food though. He was well fed and had plenty been for long enough he could easily skip a meal.

As he ate, he thought of the many things he could do as king to bring peace and equality to his kingdom. He knew it would not be an easy task. THough he knew it would be worth it. Maybe he would not succeed at it and his name would not be remembered. That was not why he wanted to in the first place. He only knew he could sit back and let things lie were they had fallen over all those years. It may have not been his doing or his fault, but he did not care. He had vowed to himself he would make no excuses.
 
Kira sat in silence, lost in his thoughts and in watching his master eat. It was strange to be in the presence of a master while they ate, and yet to feel a full belly. He had often been forced to stand by, starving, while others gorged themselves. It was a….good feeling to have the opposite be true.

However, it still didn't reconcile Kira's mind to what was happening, not yet. William was still something of a mystery to him, but for the first time he felt like he wanted to figure out the mystery for its own sake, not just to know what he needed to survive.

As he sat in silent thought, Kira's attention was gradually drawn to a drip of fruit juice on the prince's cheek. He didn't know why, but it was probably the training in absolute servitude that made him reach out and stroke the drop away with his finger. There was something else behind it too, though. Perhaps it was just a tiny outward extension of his gratitude. Kira was starting, hesitantly, to feel William's warmth. Even if he didn't quite understand it yet...
 
William smiled softly at the gesture seeing as a finally opening up of Kira. "If there is anything you want ask for or want to ask, feel free to. Only to me though and servants of the house," he spoke softly between bites. He swallowed the last bite as a servant came in the room. "Good morning, Gladis," he spoke softly as the woman of small stature with light brown frizzy hair and murky unappealing blue eyes took his tray. She smiled softly and nodded to him. She then whispered softly,"The king is leaving today on a visit to a near kingdom to talk of trade and your mother is going with him. They will be gone for around 3 weeks. You will be in charge." Anyone who listened could tell she was trying not to get too excited. He smirked softly. "Make sure to tell the rest of the staff.. quietly," he said with a chuckle. She then scurried off happily.
 
Kira listened to this with growing interest. He wasn't so dead as not to catch the way the prince and the servant interacted, especially in her obvious gladness at the young man being in charge. That said more than anything else so far about what kind of person he was. Kira had seen enough of masters and servants to know true feeling from base fawning. This woman, who looked like she shouldn't have even been allowed to speak to the prince, seemed genuinely happy to converse with him, and to have him be in charge of the castle.

Kira felt his heart leap a little in his chest, though he didn't know why. It may have been the newness of seeing a master treat his underlings kindly. Whatever the case, he had less trouble than before in speaking what he thought out loud. It wasn't much, but it was something, and he genuinely wanted to know…

"You….you were kind to her." he breathed, almost looking into William's eyes as he said it. The woman may have gone, but her influence lingered. She had left the room happy... Kira's wide eyes were filled with wonder, but still some hesitation.
 
William shrugged. "She is just another person like me and you. Actually, I should not say that. Gladis is the woman who keeps this house together no matter what anyone tells you. She is the head maid so to speak. My father gives her instructions for the others and for herself and then so does my mother," he spoke calmly then stood up thinking for a moment how amazing gladis is. He realized he was still naked in front of Kira and for some reason it made him blush ever so lightly. He turned way and grabbed his clothes that some other maid had left on the end of his bed probably while he slept. His heart raced slightly. He quickly began to dress. "I need to go see my mother. I know she will want to have a word with me before they go. You may go anyway in the house after they are gone, but for now you must say in here," he said as he pulled in his shirt and started to button it. "Oh, anything else to say before I am off?" he questioned.
 
Kira had long since gotten over being conscious of nakedness. Not that he liked it, per se, because it meant other things… It was just a way of life now. He was glad that his master had covered up, though, as it seemed almost to herald the close of any chance for 'other things'. The slave couldn't help shuddering a bit. Kira was only vaguely aware that his master was beautiful, and his body lean and muscular. For the moment, he only caught the fact out of hand, then forgot it again.



"I will stay here, William." He couldn't think of anything he felt his mouth would actually say, and not just clam up out of habit, so he shook his head. however, Kira's mind was a whirl of questions and problems which he couldn't work out, least of all the man standing before him. He would have plenty of time to think of these things, it seemed.



(We can skip ahead, if you want. Kira's just gonna stay in and wonder about things. But he will clean the whole room while William is gone, so there's that…)
 
(( that is fine. It was not necessary for them to talk. What you would find out from that conversation can still be found out later.))
William came back to the room after a good fifteen minutes. He opened the door and just as he did the spud of the gate dropping was heard. It would make most flinch but he just smirked at it. "With that, they are gone. Come with me I will show you around and introduce you to the help," he said holding his hand out to Kira as if he were a normal guest. His thoughts went everywhere as to how much this would be like the future. How similar the next three weeks would be to him ruling over the kingdom himself. He smiled as he awaited Kira's response. He did not notice how much more cleanly his room was now. His mind was too far in the clouds.

Then is occurred to him that nothing in the actually kingdom could be changed in three weeks times. Even if it could, his father would punish him then change it back after he retook his position. Nothing would happen over the next three weeks besides the differences in the house. He tried to keep his head high and his smile. If one were to look into his eyes, they would see a small flicker of sadness and defeat though.
 
(I thought that was how it would work XD)



Kira had not been idle while the prince was gone. Finding strength and purpose in himself, even for a short while, he felt he had to do something, so he decided to thank the prince by tidying the bed and the room in general. It was fairly clean to begin with, but Kira made it as perfect as possible. He even slipped into the short tunic he'd worn the night before, and tried to get the wrinkles out with his hands. He was only partly successful.



However, the exquisite beauty of the elfling, which had been somewhat dimmed and hidden by trauma, was starting to show through. Even as he shyly took the prince's hand, Kira looked ten times better than he had fifteen minutes ago. A full stomach and some healthy activity had done the trick. Plus, there was something in William's behavior that made Kira want to please him. He was still hesitant and unsure, but more alive. Even the hand in William's would seem warmer.



As they walked out of the bedroom and through teh hallways, Kira kept close to the prince, partly out of habit, and partly in case someone should lash out at him for some reason. With slaves, not much reason was needed. But teh servants were all bustling about in a very cheerful manner, and they greeted the prince with respect, but also open affection. To Kira, they paid little obvious heed, except to give him a few pitying looks until his back was turned, at which point they tried to get a better view of him. He was still beneath them in rank, after all, so they couldn't speak to him, but his beauty called out as all elf beauty was wont to do.



Kira could feel their stares, but was glad that there was no hostility. Anyway, he was too astounded at the way his master seemed to truly be loved by the servants, and to truly care about them. Kira would often sneak glances at him, and though he saw the heaviness of sorrow sometimes enter the green eyes, he didn't know what it was about.
 
William went about introducing Kira to many of the servants. Though most were hesitant to speak to even William at first as soon as he told them the news of the king and queens journey they opened up. They often told him how they had been and something that could go a little smoother. He listened to all their concerns and suggestions with ease. He often replied,"I will see what I can do," in a very powerful but caring time. The phrase held promise of trying to change what he could. They all believed it as they should. Most of the servant had watched the prince grow up. They knew him better than his own father.

William kept trying to get the servants to talk to Kira but they had a strange mentality towards him. Then it hit and crushed him a little inside. he was lower than them so thy did not want to speak to him. He stopped to the maid he was talking to at that moment and told her,"Gather everyone in the out into the garden foyer. I would like to talk to everyone at once."

He then grabbed Kira's hand again and pulled him in the direction of the foyer. Touching the elf's hand tickled him somewhere inside. He could feel something was a little different about the elf today. He saw the way even thoug none of the maids talk to him they stared with longing eyes. He saw himself the beauty of the elf. He wondered how a simple meal could really make such a difference in a being. He glanced back at Kira and smiled.
 
Once more, Kira felt like his world was tipping over and falling to pieces, but he was starting not to mind it. This whole new way of being was confusing, but….but it was better than what he had known. Was this all just a wishful dream? The more servants William spoke with, the more Kira began to believe that he really was different. And, if this was different, Kira wanted to be a part of it if he could. His long ago dreams of a better world, when he would cry himself to sleep in his cell, seemed to be sparking to a new reality. He didn't ever want to wake up if it turned out to be true.



Kira didn't mind so much not being talked to by the servants, nor did he blame them for looking down on him. They had been taught to do so, and anyway….he was filthy, always would be. Nothing could blot out the things that had been done to him. Kira knew he could never be clean, and so he passed amongst some servants in some households like a leper. At least these were not absolutely shunning him. William's presence was helping with that. Kira even felt a stirring of warmth in his chest at the prince's failed attempts to get the servants to speak to him. He could now see something else than a master's usual cruel jokes in the prince's behavior.



Kira allowed himself to be pulled along, not minding the physical contact so much. It was strange that he should feel this, or that there seemed to be a warmth between them, starting where their hands met. Kira didn't know why they were going to the foyer, and didn't care too much. He began to feel more and more that he just wanted to stay in William's presence.



As they stopped in the grand foyer, with its marble staircase and gilded walls, Kira found he only wanted to look at William, and press as close to his side as he dared. He still kept the contact to a minimum, but he felt like he needed to be closer to the prince to truly understand him. Slowly, other servants trickled in, their eyes on the prince as well, smiles and curious looks on their faces. Though respectful, they didn't seem afraid.
 
William felt Kira standing closer than before and with seconds past he felt that he was only standing closer. Something told William to just go ahead and pullto his side, but he knew it would inappropriate in this situation. He could tap his foot and patiently wait for all the servants to enter.

When he saw all the familiar faces he called all if their attention on him. "You are all probably wondering what the crazy daring prince has called you all away from the king'a orders for this time," he called out in a loud powerful voice filling the foyer but also not yelling. He chuckled lightly as they all shook their hands and murmured in agreement. Most in happy and playful agreement. He then got a very serious air to him. "This is an important matter to me though as it should be to you," he stoppe and cleared his throat collecting his thoughts once more. He then let them all know," you all have known me for a long time if not sense I was young. Most of you have heard personally from me how I plan to change this kingdom once I become king. The rest have heard from another. That is still one of the most honest things I have ever told anyone on e of you. I have a questioned though. How do you expect me to get the people of this kingdom to treat their servants as equal beings if you cannot treat one said to be lower than you as an equal." He pauses and looks around at all the different expression. He then took a step back slightly behind Kira. "This is Kira. You all know why he is here and all probably understand how I feel about that. His occupation is said to be lower than yours. One of the only ones. I have introduced him to most of you personally today, yet you still do talk to him. Shame on you. I treat him as I treat you and as I expect others to treat me. Do you think yourselves higher and mightier than as to /not/ treat him as your equal when I can trey him as mine? He is now apart of this household so welcome him as you would any other. Thank you. Thy is all." He stepped down from the center of attention and went to the crowd. He then looked back at Kira and waited for him to catch up. He also wanted to see his expression.
 
It was probably a good thing that William decided against pulling Kira to his side. The elfling would have panicked at the sudden movement. Right now, William's gentleness was doing him more favors than anything. Kira still needed space, and time to acclimate, but he was doing so faster than one would have expected.



Since Kira was paying more attention to William's face than his words, and the servants standing around them, he didn't at first catch what the prince was actually talking about…or whom. Not until William said his name, then stepped behind him, did the elf freeze and turn whiter than before, his head lowering suddenly as though he had been struck. What…what was William doing? What was he saying? Panic set in as his limbs trembled, ever so slightly, and his clasped hands tightened in front of him.



Kira had always tried not to be noticed, since that was a pleasure slave's only saving grace. It was the only time they got any peace, such as it was. Now, the spotlight was on him, and he felt teh heat of a few dozen eyes boring into him, scorching his flesh. There was no guarantee that this singling out, though well-intended, would not come back to bite him. The servants would think he had complained, or somehow gotten the prince to say these things… They would blame him because they couldn't blame the prince. No one liked to be shamed, especially not those who were trying desperately to preserve what little status they had scraped together. William's good intentions may just have made everything worse.



Kira was judging by his past masters and households, and while he may have been correct here as well, he was not counting for William's favor with the servants. For the moment, the slave was too terrified and shamed himself to even look up. He couldn't see if the servants had taken the prince's words to heart or not. He hadn't minded how they treated him before, since mostly being overlooked was far better than being actively hated.



Yet, some part of the elfling recognized the prince's act for what it was, and whatever the outcome, he felt that it was done out of kindness. To be told he was to be treated as an equal made an impression on the slave, one which stuck with him long after his mortification died down. For now, though, he hastened to the prince's side, looking meeker than a moment before. A thousand burning questions scorched his tongue, but he didn't ask them. Perhaps he would when they were alone, but not with all the listening ears about.
 
As the entered the small crowd a good few number of servants came up and apologized to William and then to Kira. A few stayed away and whispered amoungesy themselves. William knew that some ere never to understand. He cared for them all but still not all of them shared the amount of intelligence it room to comprehend the relations between his words. He eyed then ever so slightly harshly. He knew they would get an earful from the others about it. He knew everyone in the staff would have their own arguments over the subject he just have a small speech on. He knew also it would die down in the matter of days. He had seen things like this before. Things would only be better.

He stood back some from the crowd when Gladis came up to him. She smiled softly some her grey in her hair was starting to show in the light of the sun. He stepped a little further away from Kira. He tried not to distance himself too much but just enough to be out of earshot. Gladis then said,"I am sure Henry would be proud of you." He shook his head softly. "I have done nothing to make him proud yet. He gave me a head full of knowledge and I happen to have the means to use it. I will have done him proud until I have tried with my last beath to change this kingdoms ways," he spoke firmly but softly back. She shook her head,"He did not give you anything not love. He simply opened your eyes to a different view on the world. I am sure whether he is right now. He knows you are living to change things because of him. He always told me you were going to do great things." William smiled and said, "young boys do have a tendency to brag to their older sisters do they not?" They shared a small laugh. "He would be glad of he knew you found another twinkle just so you know," she hinted and left before William could question what she meant. He looked back to Kira as he wondered what she meant. Could it be they way he loves to fight for equality? Or did it have to do with Kira? His thought went on.
 
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