First Knight
By Penthesilia
| Season: | |
| Spoilers: | |
| Word Count: | 2112 |
| Past Life: | 13th C |
| Rating: | |
| Warnings: |
Angst. Romance. Challenge. |
| Notes: |
Short story, I guess - really short. Well, it's longer than a flashfic but it's also a painfully short 'short story'. I thought about calling it a 'slashfic' but OF COURSE it's already one of those. LOL! Daniel is King and Jack is his First Knight. It's really just one short scene written for Pepe because she said the expressions in my manip just called for explanation. I hope this is good enough. the usual thanks to the wonderful Saladscream. |
“You can’t leave! We’ve just won a great victory. It is time for celebrating, not leaving,” the King put forward emphatically.
The Sovereign was horrified at the turn of events. Their victory on this day had secured the safety of the kingdom once more and it would not be fitting for one of its heroes to just disappear into the sunset.
Sir John was his finest knight and a good friend. Why he had suddenly chosen to leave was beyond him. Had something transpired that he was unaware of? Or had the man suddenly felt the pull of the wild again. The freedom of the wide-open spaces that had held him in its thrall for many years. But it was also a place where the then young Prince Daniel had been set upon by an arm of bandits and held for ransom by the pompous dark knight, Phillip.
A rogue figure had miraculously rescued him and returned him to his parents with only a few cuts and bruises. His saviour had not been so fortunate since an arrow had pierced his chest and caused him a grave wound. Yet, he had bravely fought his way out and rode through the night to return Daniel to safety.
The prince had never set eyes on this person before, but from the moment he had seen him, he had felt a closeness, a camaraderie the likes of which he’d never felt, and after a long and troubled journey back to health, the two men had become firm friends.
Daniel discovered that John, or ‘Jack’ as he preferred to be called, was a talented swordsman and tactician. A trait his father came to admire also; the King charged Jack with the personal safety of his son and heir. His talents were also used frequently in times of battle, as he was often called to sit in on strategic meetings with the older King’s advisors.
When Daniel ascended to the throne, his first act was to make Jack his First Knight. Sir John became well known, loved and respected by all of Daniel’s subjects, and, to Daniel’s amusement, was chased fervently by various ladies of the court. Jack, however, was not interested, Daniel noted gratefully. What little time Jack had after all his duties, he spent with his King or practicing his sword craft.
Daniel would often watch his friend practice for hours - unbeknownst to Jack, of course. The King loved to watch as Jack feigned and feinted, thrust and parried, attacking the unseen assailants. He was truly magnificent.
Jack stood over six feet tall, his body well toned from years of hard training. His face was lean and chiselled and he had the most spectacular silver hair, giving the man an amazing appearance of regalness. One could mistake him for royalty were they not aware of his standing. And in Daniel’s eyes, Jack was the best thing to have happened to Daniel and his kingdom.
Jack kept him sane and honest in a world fraught with scheming enemies abroad and within his own realm. Jack’s sense of humour also kept him amused. Daniel had often joked that if his friend ever tired of fighting his wars, he could take on the court Jester in a battle of comedy instead. His friend would not converse with him for days after any such suggestions - but Jack was so handsome when he was cross at his friend.
Daniel had frequently dreamed about Jack. Strange dreams. Erotic dreams. Unbidden thoughts came to him and he was enthralled by them, many times waking in a cold sweat and discovering he had become extremely aroused by these imaginings.
When he’d first met Jack, he’d thought they were just the foolishness of a young prince who had silly romantic notions about his saviour. For years, he had pushed them aside and hoped he could get past them. He did not wish to do anything to make his friend desire to leave his side. However, overcoming these deep-seated needs was a hard task, and he often found these thoughts were never far from the surface.
Was this why Jack had now decided to flee? Had Jack somehow caught on to his hidden feelings? Had Daniel somehow projected his desires outwardly without knowing?
Oh God, please don’t let him run because of that.
“You can’t leave,” Daniel said more softly, almost pleading, taking his friend’s hands in his.
“I have to, Sire. I can’t stay. There are too many …it’s too much…” Jack found it hard to articulate what he truly wanted to say. He had so much he wanted to tell his friend, needed to tell him, but the words just wouldn’t come.
”But, Jack…” Daniel’s eyes also pleaded his case, but Jack refused to look at him.
“Sire… Daniel, I can’t,” Sir John whispered.
Finally, he took his leave to look at his King and stare into his eyes, trying to convey what he had never been able to express in words. This may be the only time he would ever get the chance.
He felt the burn of Daniel’s piercing blue eyes and had to look away for fear of breaking down in despair. Break down in anguish with the belief that it would never be acceptable for him to touch or to love the most important person his life.
How could one accept that all he wanted to do was to make passionate love to his King, to strip away all the barriers between them and get as physically close as two people could possibly be?
He could be executed for just having such carnal thoughts. So he would leave. Force himself into exile and shut out all these foolish ideas of love for his friend. He would flee the light he’d come to know after years of travelling the lonely road, searching for something he’d thought he would never find. He had found something - only to have to let it go. He would go back to his lonely travels and lose himself once again. It was the only way.
Sir John was his King’s First Knight and best friend; his King trusted him with his life. Jack had saved his life on many occasions, the first being on the day they met. Since then, both men had watched each other’s backs, and often, Daniel had come to his friend’s rescue. Both men would gladly give their life for the other.
If truth be told, the closeness of their relationship was overwhelming. More often than not, Jack found himself watching Daniel from the other side of the council table or while they played one of their intense games of chess. He would imagine grabbing him, ravishing him and saying the words, ‘I must have you now’. Daniel would cry out in ecstasy as Jack took him and they would be so glorious together they would make the angels weep.
He wanted to share his life, his body, his soul with the one he loved, the one he worshipped, the one he served. Jack had never loved anyone so deeply and it scared him. It wasn’t that he was afraid to love, but it was WHOM he loved. Daniel was King; he had responsibilities and duties, and those did not include being bedded by one of his male subjects.
He looked back up at his friend, a slight blush colouring his cheeks.
“I must go,” Jack spoke softly, almost too low to be heard yet the pain was evident.
The emotion effused in those few words tore at Daniel’s heartstrings.
“Please stay, Jack. Please!!”
“Why, Daniel, tell me why.”
Jack needed to hear Daniel say the words that would make him stay in a heartbeat. But to dare hope those words would be spoken was only a foolish dream.
“Because we need you. Your King needs you. Your country needs you.”
Daniel - the man - needed him but was afraid to say those words.
“That will always be so, Sire, but what about you? What about Daniel?” Jack let all pretense go and went forth boldly at last. He placed a hand over Daniel’s heart and pressed it in close, feeling the rapid heartbeat beneath. “Do YOU need me too?”
“Jack, I… you’re my best friend. Of course I need you here. You’ve always been there for me and I will always be grateful for that,” Daniel started. He dare not entertain such a view. Was Jack really asking him what he had wanted all these years? Or was fate taunting him cruelly?
“As will I, but that is not what I asked.” Jack captured Daniel’s blue eyes in amber ones and held them for what seemed like an eternity. The love emanating from Jack was unmistakable and he forged on. “Do you NEED ME? All you have to do is say one word and I won’t leave, I’ll stay forever.”
But that would never happen and he knew it. He could see the shock in his sovereign’s eyes, the total confusion. But then what was it that he saw? He saw what appeared to be flash of hope cross Daniel’s face.
Was it possible? Could Daniel love him like that after all?
No, he was dreaming. This was all a dream and he would wake in his chamber any moment now.
Then as if being woken from that dream, his face grimaced in horror as he realised he had just propositioned his King.
Oh God, what had he done? His position was only made worse by his friend’s silence. Perhaps it had been pity rather than love that Jack had witnessed.
He had to leave - flee with all possible haste.
“Sire, I apologise… I must leave now.”
Jack attempted to pull away, his eyes once again downcast, exuding utter pain and embarrassment, but Daniel held on tight.
“How can you bear to touch me?” Jack croaked, his voice breaking in desolation. “I have disgraced myself, shamed us both. I will leave this castle immediately.”
Again, Jack endeavoured to break free but Daniel’s hold on him was strong and he had no intention of letting go. Yes, he loved his Knight, his friend, his Jack. He loved him dearly and wanted nothing more than for him to stay.
“Please, Daniel, just let me go.”
“As your King, I could command you to stay, and you would have no recourse but to obey me, Sir Knight. But I would never do that. So I will ask you as a friend. But first you will look at me.”
Jack still refused to look up at his King.
“I will have you look at me when I speak to you,” Daniel commanded a little harshly so that Jack recoiled at his words.
“I have made you angry at me, Sire. I am sorry.” The broken man managed to lift his gaze to his friend’s and did as his King requested, even as he wanted to run.
“Stay, Jack. Yes I need you. I want you and I love you with all that I am, all that I have.” Daniel promised with his words and his eyes as they bore into Jack. “So, I ask you again, Jack – Will you stay? For me? For us?”
Hope sprang in Jack’s heart as he listened to the words he’d been longing to hear, and now there was only one thing to do.
“Yes, Daniel. I will stay. I love you too.” Jack grinned widely and breathed out noisily as if he’d been holding his breath. The ache in his heart had been replaced by a throbbing joy and it sang loudly.
Determined not to let this moment end, Daniel smiled and raised his hand to caress his love’s cheek, Jack angling his face to press against the warm, tender touch.
“Now as your King, I have a new mission for you, Sir Knight.”
“Oh, do tell, my Liege.”
“Your mission from this day forth is to remain at my side and never reflect on the possibility of leaving me ever again.” Daniel’s tone said more than the words ever could.
Jack knew it wasn’t a request and promised to obey it until the end of his days.
“You will also be charged with ensuring that I am ravished daily and made to feel as if I am the King of Heaven and you are my Archangel.” The King smiled mischievously and drew his friend in tight. “Now Sir, kiss me quick before I change my mind.”
“Never going to happen. I’ll make sure of that, My Love.”
And then Jack proceeded to show Daniel just how successfully he would achieve his new mission.
