Warnings/disclaimers: Ok...so, I don't own Darun, Narsus, or Arislan...no matter how much I would like to. They are the property of whatever lucky person owns the right's to The Heroic Legend of Arislan (Gods, I wish that was me). Seeing as it isn't...I'm not making any money whatsoever off this, so don't sue me, I'm broke anyway. Uhhh, as to the warnings, this contains yaoi(closer to just shonen-ai in raceyness, but they're grown men so I couldn't call it that). Don't know what it is? Go read my explanation. Don't like it? You must be crazy, but just don't read this, or if you do don't flame me. I did warn you. This also contains some angst, and excessive amounts of my specialty, sap.

Sleeping Arrangements
By: Isabella Fairfield

"I can't count on evil quite yet…"


The tone of his lover's voice made Darun somewhat uneasy, there was something… sad about it. He slid up behind Narsus and wrapped his arms around the nobleman's waist.

"Are you ok?" He asked, somewhat roughly, he wasn't very good at this comforting stuff.

"I'm fine, just a bit worried, that's all."

"About what?" Darun asked, restraining the biting comment that had come to mind.

"What effect this will have on Arislan."

"The prince is strong, I'm sure he'll be able to handle it."

"Yes, but…" Narsus bit his lip, wondering how to phrase his worries. "He shouldn't have to. He's still innocent, Darun, I hate to see an innocent kill."

"I'm not so innocent as all that, Narsus." Interrupted a light alto. Darun let go of his lover almost guiltily as the two men turned to face their prince. He began to kneel but Narsus stopped him. Something about the prince tonight, the poor boy did not need to be kneeled to.

"What can we do for you?" The artist asked.

"Well, first you can stop pretending that I don't know about your relationship." Arislan said softly.

Narsus and Darun moved back towards each other, Darun's hand coming to rest lightly on Narsus' shoulder.

"You said first." The warrior reminded the prince.

"Yes." Arislan looked at the two older men with wide, unguarded blue eyes. "I…I'm scared…and lonely and… can I stay with you two tonight? Please? I really don't want to be alone."

Narsus smiled gently at the blue haired boy, and opened his arms in invitation. Arislan flew into them gratefully and Narsus enclosed the blue haired boy in a tight hug.

"I'm glad you don't think you have to be brave all the time." He murmured into Arislan's soft hair. Then he smiled up at Darun as the other man rested a comforting hand on the prince's back.

"I thought you were with Pharangese." Darun said softly.

"I was." Arislan whispered. "She went in, and Geive followed her, and Elam and Alphreed are went chasing each other around the palace, and I feel so alone." He choked out.

"Ssshhh." Narsus murmured, stroking the blue hair as he held the prince. "Relax."

"I'm scared." Arislan said fervently, burying his face in Narsus' shirt. "And lonely, and it hurts."

"You're not alone anymore." Narsus reassured the boy, looking up at Darun for conformation, his dark haired lover merely nodded. When Arislan lifted his face Narsus smiled at him. "What do you say we go inside?" The prince nodded and the three men headed toward the inner part of the palace.


Arislan looked hesitantly up at Darun once they reached the rooms that Narsus slept in (and that Darun snuck into every night).

"I…I'm sorry, Darun. You probably think I'm weak now." He sighed.

Darun looked down at the prince and finally realized the same thing Narsus had. "Arislan," He began, taking a step forward to wrap the boy in his arms. "It takes true courage to admit when you are scared, even some of the best warriors can't manage to. And I would never think you were weak."

"T-thank you Darun."

Narsus laughed gently as he saw his lover hug the prince. "Are you going to take off that armor voluntarily or do Arislan and I have to pull you out of it?" He chuckled.

"I'll get it off." Darun grumbled, letting go of Arislan and beginning to work his way out of the black armor he wore. "We don't need Arislan learning to unclothe people just yet."

"I told you," Arislan said softly. "I'm not that innocent."

"Do enlighten us." Narsus teased, settling against the headboard of the bed and patting the spot beside him to indicate that Arislan should sit down.

"I'm fourteen, I've experimented."

"With who? If you don't mind my asking."

Arislan blushed. "Uh…"

"Don't bother him, Narsus. You were experimenting at that age too, just like the rest of us." Darun called from where he was changing into more comfortable clothes. Finally he came out, dressed in black pants and tunic, a silvery sash around his waist. Narsus' eyes went dreamy as he looked at him.

"Black suits you, my love."

"Well I wear it practically constantly, so good."

Arislan had been inspecting Darun closely ever since he had come back out. "You do look nice like that." He said finally as Darun sat down at the end of the bed. "Why do you wear the armor all the time?"

Darun sighed. "If it wasn't war time I wouldn't. But is it, and I have to be constantly ready." Then he smiled. "Except for times like now and these are the kind of time's I like best. Besides," He reached out to take Narsus' hand with one of his hands while the other came up to touch Arislan's cheek. "What better company could I have?"

Against his will a small tear slid down Arislan's cheek, Darun brushed it away.

"Here now, what's wrong?" The black haired man asked. Suddenly Arislan threw himself into Darun's arms.

"Don't either of you dare die!" He sobbed. Darun held the prince as the tears began to fall in fast floods, and Narsus moved up to stroke Arislan's back until the torrent had passed. When it was over Arislan turned to hug Narsus. "Thank you." Came the breathed statement. Narsus lifted Arislan's chin to look into the blue eyes.

"Tired?" He asked. Arislan nodded.

"Can I stay here, please?"

Narsus looked up at Darun, who nodded, smiling slightly. It would feel good to have both of them in his arms. Suddenly he was aware that his brown haired lover was attempting to get the sheets out from under the three of them and he shifted his weight a bit. Narsus smiled at him, then got off the bed.

"If you two will excuse me for a minute," He said glibly. "I need to change." He fingered his coat. "I am not sleeping in this. Would you like something different to sleep in, Arislan?"

The boy blushed slightly, and shook his head no. "It's ok." He said quietly. "But do you have somewhere I could put these?" He asked, touching the jewels in his hair and in his ears.

"On the table, next to the bed." Narsus told him, before disappearing to change. Arislan began to take the baubles out of his hair, but one seemed to be caught, he turned to Darun.

"Darun?"

The man smiled softly, the reached over to untangle the jewel with surprisingly gentle fingers.

"Thank you." Arislan said quietly, taking the jewel and setting it with the others on the table. Darun nodded, looking the prince over carefully.

"You look different." He said finally. "Without the jewels, I mean."

"He almost looks like one of us." Narsus said, coming back into the room. He now wore only light green pants, and his long chocolate-brown hair was held back in a braid. He placed his handful of jewelry on the table next to Arislan's.

"Almost?" Arislan asked.

"You have a very different bearing." Narsus told the prince. "Very regal."

"You do that too." Arislan reminded the nobleman.

"True." Darun agreed. "But there's something…ethereal about you, Arislan. You've never looked quite human."

"Wow," Narsus chuckled. "Big words from a barbarian."

"Hn."

"People said that about my mother too, didn't they?" Arislan asked quietly. Narsus nodded. "I don't want to be different." He said finally.

Narsus sat down beside the prince. "Yes you do. Being different makes you who you are, and you should never try to change that. Besides, you're beautiful."

Arislan looked up at the older man with wide surprised eyes.

"Me?" He whispered finally. Shaking his head. "Father always said I was a pale little brat, who would never make it a day on his own."

"Well, you've proved him wrong haven't you?"

"You don't like my father much, do you, Narsus?"

"I don't have any reason to."

Darun noticed the strong bitterness in Narsus' voice and moved to wrap the other man in his arms. Then, looking up at Arislan he moved his lover to one side and opened his now free arm to the prince, which the boy curled into gratefully. And Darun placed a soft kiss on the top of each head.

"I love you." Arislan whispered. "Both of you. You're the only people who see me as something besides just a prince."

"What about Geive?" Narsus asked. "Or Pharangese?"

"Do you think so?"

Narsus nodded. "Geive hates royalty, he wouldn't follow you if he didn't see you as something else too. And Pharangese…let's just say that that woman certainly knows more than she seems to."

"She is amazing." Arislan agreed.

"Oh," Darun teased. "Does someone have a crush on the priestess?"

Arislan smiled slightly. "No, I'll leave that to Geive."

"Ah, yes."

Arislan yawned, and Narsus realized that they had been heading to bed before they had been distracted by Arislan's looks.

"Alright." He chuckled. "We'll sleep. But there's just one thing you have to know first."

"What?" Arislan looked worried.

"I get the side of the bed by the wall."

Arislan laughed, lightening the mood of the whole evening and Narsus slid under the sheets, holding them up to indicate Arislan should get in. The prince looked up at Darun, questioning.

"You sleep between us tonight." The warrior told him. Arislan nodded and climbed under the covers, spooning against Darun the minute the older man was in. Both men wrapped their arms around their blue haired prince, and then each other as all three fell asleep. Arislan, between the two, slept more peacefully than he had in years.



Isabella Fairfield
Email me! pleaaaaase? (looks up at you with big, pleading, hazel eyes)

back to fics page