Arc III - One Bastard, Two Orphans, and Several Vigorous Jazz Hands

Chapter XX - Conjuration For Dumeez

Noras is silent on the walk back to Elias’ wing after the ceremony. He can still feel Elias’ emotions, and his presence, like an intangible mass nestled somewhere between his ribs, and it’s strange, and a little frightening, but not altogether unpleasant. They part ways briefly to change, getting rid of all the Divine-awful ceremonial robes and makeup, and Noras returns to Elias’ chambers. The second he walks through the door, he starts complaining.

Noras: The air is so stuffy here! And in that room, with all those people, and those clothes… I thought I was going to pass out - how do you people live like this?

Elias, who’s in the process of untangling whatever the hell they did with his hair: I don’t. I tend to wear Tiamese clothing, they’re much looser than the constricting Astarian garments. [he shivers] I can’t imagine wearing those constricting garments all day. [He lets out a frustrated groan as his hair just… won’t budge??]

Noras feels a small grin creep up on him as he watches Elias struggle. He gives it another minute before placidly asking: Need help?

Elias gives Noras an unimpressed look before sighing and letting his arms fall: I’ve been going at it for ten minutes to no avail… [he pauses and then smiles to himself, looking to Noras with the most pitiful look he can manage] Please come save me, my knight~

Noras’ face warms, but he covers it up by rolling his eyes. He approaches and gestures for Elias to sit, standing behind him and starting to work on his hair with his hands - it feels as soft as it looks (but no one’s thinking about that here, no sir). It takes a minute, but, slowly, Elias can feel the twists and tangles start to come undone.

Noras smiles to himself, pleased: There, see… Now we’re getting somewhere.

Elias, feeling Noras’ hands run through his hair lets himself close his eyes, enjoying a rare moment of tenderness. Then he instantly opens his eyes, berating himself for his fanciful notions.

Quietly, almost inaudibly, as he works through the many tangles, Noras starts to hum. It’s some folksy tune, reminiscent of lullabies and campfires, low and comforting.

Elias listens to the humming and trying to identify it, before giving up and clicking his tongue. Suddenly a giant ass pile of rabbits comes barreling out of the next room to surround the two.

Noras interrupts his humming momentarily to laugh softly as they gather around his feet, a few of them curling up against his shoes, and he reaches down to pet the closest ones. Resuming his humming, he soon returns to Elias’ hair, and works out the last few tangles just as the melody comes to its end. Then he shuffles back, rabbits still sitting on his shoes.

Elias, against his will, aches at the loss of contact - … but Noras doesn’t have to know that. He hums softly, running his fingers through his untangled hair before turning and giving a thankful smile to Noras: Thank you, Noras.

Noras, who is currently trying to extract a rabbit from his foot, shrugs: No problem, I’m used to it. [He peels the rabbit off, straightens with it in his arms, and gives Elias a small, uncertain smile] Besides, I am your knight.

Elias lets out a small laugh, standing up as his fingers weave his hair into his usual braid: Yes, my brave knight, fighting against my bad hair day.

Noras, narrowing his eyes: I fixed your hair, and I can and will mess it up again. I know the secret arts.

Elias raises a brow, smiling: [teasingly] That could be treason you know~

Noras: [flatly] Then I will die knowing my cause was just.

With that Elias bursts out laughing, picking up a rabbit to giggle into. He keeps on giggling for a moment, before lifting his head and muttering: That melody was lovely.

Noras blinks: What melody?

Elias blinks back: The - the one you were humming.

Noras: I was—? [a look of realization flashes across his face] Oh… [a touch of pink colors his ears and he occupies himself with petting the rabbit] Well… thanks.

Elias smiles, settling back on his bed and setting the rabbit on his lap, trying to recall the melody to hum it himself: [he stops after a moment] Where’s it from? I’ve never heard it before.

Noras: [with a small frown] I… don’t know. From Darqa, my village, I think? My mother used to sing it… I can’t remember the words but… [he smiles slightly, looking distant] I remember her singing to my sister, helping her brush her hair…

Elias nods, hesitating to ask something before switching to something else: … Well, thank you for untangling my hair. [with a mild laugh] I’m sure this will not be the last time.

Noras doesn’t seem to have heard him, looking somewhere over Elias’ shoulder: Maybe I learned it when she was gone… then I used to brush my sister’s hair… maybe I started singing it then, too… [suddenly his face clears and he takes a sudden step back, before turning to Elias with a half-smile] Well, yeah, no problem. I’ll always be here to protect you from the evils of hair care, I guess.

Elias doesn’t seem to be expecting the joke, and lets out a laugh that sounds slightly more like a squawk than he is comfortable with. Turning away to hide his blush of embarrassment, he picks up the rabbit and places it on the ground as he files what Noras said. Those are questions for another day.

Noras looks contemplatively at Elias for a moment, and then suddenly grins, the expression coming surprisingly naturally: There was something else I used to do for her…

He closes his eyes, turning away so that Elias can only see his back, and after a moment Elias notices little white flowers appearing in his hair. Noras turns back, a little nervous now; he watches Elias’ reaction, tries to read it in the bond.

Elias watches at first in fascination as they grow, and then feels his heart ache as an emotion he hasn’t felt in it’s purity in years fills him so much it feels like it’ll suffocate him. Emeline used to pick him flowers to weave into his hair when she was allowed into the gardens... With a small blush and a smile, he looks at Noras: [barely audible] Thank you.

Noras: [blushing slightly, but plowing on ahead regardless, now examining the flowers with a critical eye] They’re a lot nicer than the ones in the village… [he shakes his head, wrinkling his nose] What’s that thing you nobles say? - It won’t do, not at all. I’ll have to take you there and give you real flowers someday.

Elias’ eyes haven’t shifted from Noras, and his expression remains the same: [softly] I’ll keep you to that.

It suddenly occurs to Noras that, in the span of about five minutes, he has both given Elias the name of his home and invited him to it. He turns away: ...Yeah, well… yeah. [His gaze drifts to the window, and suddenly a thought strikes him] Oh, can I - [he looks surprised at himself for a moment, and gives a small shake of his head, correcting himself] I’m gonna go visit my horse. Where are the stables?

Elias stands, then realising that Noras could possibly want some time to himself, he lowers himself back down: Would you rather I take you there, or do you want me to draw you a map?

Noras: … Would you like to meet him properly?

Elias blinks, surprised - but unusually happy, and he stands again, letting out a soft laugh: I suppose that’s necessary, our first meeting was a bit awkward.

Noras looks away. They make their way to the stables, happily avoiding anyone else on the path down. It takes Noras a moment to recognize Jeade - despite being twice the size of almost every other horse there, he’s been cleaned and polished so thoroughly that he’s almost unrecognizable. As Noras searches for him, Jeade leans over the stable door to rest his head gently atop Noras’.

Noras startles, and then his hands come up to pat Jeade’s nose, a short, happy laugh escaping him as he takes in the new shine to Jeade’s coat. Within moments, he has all but forgotten about Elias, deep in conversation with his horse.

Elias watches in amusement before walking to a different stall - greeting a dusty golden mare with a white mane and tail, and giving her nose a pat: Hey girl, I’m back.

Noras, who has now progressed to nuzzling Jeade’s face with his own, receiving licks in return, and looking more content than Elias has ever seen him: Hey! Look at you! You look like a proper noblehorse, don’t you? [Jeade tosses his head as though in protest and Noras laughs] Don’t deny it - we’re in the same boat, now, anyway.

Elias snickers unconsciously at Noras’ antics, turning back to Jasmine, and reaching into a side sack for a sugar cube: We need to go for a ride one of these days, would you like that? [Jasmine whinnies, nuzzling him for a second before eating the offered sugarcube]

Noras nudges Jeade’s face towards Elias: Here - you’ve already met our new boss. [softly, under his breath] He’s better than the other ones, I promise.

Elias, with a final whispered assurance to Jasmine that he’ll be back soon, reaches into the bag again to walk back to Noras. Looking up at Jeade, he gives a nod of respect.

Jeade, towering over Elias, studies him for a moment. He leans down and sniffs Elias, then he engulfs the sugar cube and gives Elias a small lick, before returning his attention to Noras.

Elias: [with amusement] Does that mean he likes me?

Noras, satisfied: He likes you. [nodding, and with a new degree of certainty -] That settles that.

Elias still feeling amusement from Noras’ behaviour with his horse from earlier: Would you two like some time alone?

Noras rolls his eyes, still petting Jeade: We’ll survive. [but the way he says it is more directed towards Jeade, as though assuring him]

Elias with one final nod toward Jeade, walks toward Jasmine again: My mare will need to go properly stretch her legs soon, [after a moment] we could perhaps go for a ride this evening.

Noras, smiling at Jeade: Hear that? I’m coming to see you again in the evening, and we’re going out! You see, this won’t be so bad.

Jeade gives him a reproachful look, then, as though relenting, nuzzles him one final time and nudges him back towards Elias. Noras rolls his eyes at Jeade, but walks back to rejoin Elias.

Elias, running a hand across Jasmine’s muzzle: This is Jasmine, she’s been with me for five years now. She was a gift from… [he sighs] well, Trent.

Noras glances over at him, feeling a hint of sadness and what might be resentment through the bond. He lowers his eyes after a moment, turning instead to smile at Jasmine: You’re a beautiful one. It’s nice to meet you.

Jasmine lifts her head regally and lets out a short huff. Elias laughs: You’ve forgotten to bring an offering. [secretly hands Noras a sugar cube]

Noras rolls his eyes fondly: A noble horse, through and through… Jeade never asks for anything… [he takes the cube and offers it to Jasmine with an exaggeratedly low bow]

Jasmine carefully takes the sugarcube, lips not even touching his hand as she lifts it. She looks at him for half a second, and slowly bows her head.

Noras, raising an eyebrow: Alright, good day to you, too, young mistress.

It is at this point that Elias lets out a short laugh, wrapping his arm gently around Jasmine’s neck: Don’t mind her, she’s pulling your leg. [with one last pat he lets her go, and makes his way toward the entrance] If you want a second more with your horse, I’ll be waiting outside.

Noras waits until Elias leaves, then walks back and gives Jeade one last hug before walking back to meet Elias outside the stable.