[NC-17] Lonely Heights IC (PatchworkDandy/Car'mael)

[Car'mael]

The relief in those green eyes was almost palpable. For once, the answers were straightforward here, and now that he knew his role in it, Delwyn felt he could handle at least how he and the page were supposed to work together. The white-haired youth seemed so very nice... he could only hope this would not change with the deception they would have to manage together. But he followed Louis' lead happily for now, anyway.

***

Once Louis had gotten the bath ready and the prince was happily scrubbing up in the tub, the maid knocked on the bedchamber door.

"I have everything ready for when we need to begin," she announced sharply, all business-like. "From the robes downward, it's all here."

(OOC--I can have her butt heads with his narcissism. )

[PatchworkDandy]

Louis stiffened slightly as he heard the maids stern and impatient voice.

"Yes, thank you miss, the prince should be ready to be dressed in a moment." he replied. Going to the linen closet, he pulled out some freshly laundered towels and placed them next to the tub.

"No need to feel rushed, Prince Delwyn, let me know when you're ready for everything to be brought in." Dismissing himself from the washroom, he began stripping the prince's bed.

[Car'mael]

Delwyn nodded and scrubbed down in the warm water, savoring the heat on his thin frame. Oh, it felt so good! It beat the lukewarm water of the past, and figuring out the heated bucket system for himself. The soap was nice-smelling, not so harsh, either. Yeah, he could get used to this.

Taking a bit of time, he cleaned himself up and rinsed out his fair golden hair, carefully stepping out of the tub and toweling dry. Wrapping one about his waist, he took a deep breath and looked to the door.

There was no putting it off forever.

"I am ready," he called, gathering his courage and resolve together. He had to do this. Delwyn knew he had no choice.

At his call, the maid entered, holding the door open for him to come into the main dressingroom. "This way, your highness," she stated firmly.

Resigned and yet determined to manage what he'd agreed to, Delwyn followed.

"I am Abigail, Princess Deleanna's personal chambermaid," the woman announced briskly. "You look and move enough like her that this should work just fine, so long as you say as little as possible to give away you lack of familiarity around here. Granted, we haven't been here at the palace long, either, having the hunting lodge for most her life, but we don't need any courtiers catching onto this scheme and causing trouble. Now, let's start with the basics..."

In a few minutes, she had a blushing Delwyn in (thankfully his own) undershorts, and wrapped his chest with carefully-sewn "endowments" to make up for his lack, then was layering him in silky robes and flowing embroidered cloth.

"Good thing..." she muttered around a few pins in her mouth and hands as she secured them neatly, "...these traditional robes... are easy... for either gender to wear... Outdated but excusable for the courtship and wedding... using tradition for excuse... Flowing and feminine enough, flattering even... they'll automatically assume you're her... No man here'd be caught dead in such."

Delwyn winced as a pin here and there pricked him by accident, face hot with embarrassment and shame, but he held his tongue and endured it stoically. Finally the maid leaned back on her heels and sighed, brow furrowing.

"There," Abigail decided, nodding firmly, seeming almost taken aback by what she saw. "That's done."

A glance at the mirror made Delwyn blush the hotter.

The prince hardly recognized himself. He looked... He really looked like a girl, if a bit thin and small-chested, hair still damp. The plain darker blue inner robes were sleek and emphasized his slim form, the white-embroidered soft turquoise outer ones flowing elegantly with every movement to catch the eye and tease by partially concealing them...

[PatchworkDandy]

After quickly stripping the prince's bed, he made his way into the main dressing room. He couldn't help but dislike the stern maid and felt uncomfortable leaving Prince Delwyn alone with her.

After finding a task that would help him look busy he glanced at the dressing prince, watching his satin-smooth skin slowly become covered with his underthings. Trying to keep his mind from wandering into far to dangerous places, he focused his attention to the clothing. His eyes widened at the sight, these were unmistakably women's clothes. He watched in awe as the silky layers covered Prince Delwyn's body, the fine fabrics clinging against his thin frame perfectly.

Surges of questions filled his mind, but he pushed them away. He was merely a page, it wasn't his place to question royal matters. Louis could tell the prince wasn't enjoying this and was slightly horrified at the maid's scathing comments.

Once the prince was dressed, Louis finished and approached him, feeling that he should comfort the prince.

"Prince Delwyn..." he trailed off, looking away. Comforting others was in no way his strong suit. Reaching out his fingers delicately trailed along the smooth fabric.

"You look stunning." he murmured, looking back at the prince.

[Car'mael]

Prince Delwyn blushed the hotter at that light touch tracing the soft fabric against his skin and Louis' compliment, looking at the floor uneasily. He was at a loss for words. Why was he even born male when he fit this role so well, according to everyone he knew? Even this new page seemed to think so!

"You must address his highness as Princess Deleanna when dressed like this," Abigail told Louis swiftly. "To do otherwise, one slip, and all our lives are forfeit." Her eyes narrowed sharply. "If he falls, we go with him."

Noticing the confusion in Louis' eyes, Delwyn nodded, to second what the maid said. His own eyes were bleak with having this handsome page drawn into this dangerous deception with them. He was too young, kind, and handsome to have to be part of such, and with death hanging over him. "I... I have to play-act my sister for a time to fool the foreigners... Please, we--we must carry this off. Our lands need that alliance to end the warring between us."

Among other things, but he didn't dare speak of them. Delwyn had no wish to admit the shameful and pathetic bargain he'd struck, that he was risking his life just so he could escape his old prison for a more gilded cage, to evade further abuse and just live a life of sad isolation instead.

He could only hope this page was not going to ask further questions, or back out of this charade. The prince didn't want to tell them that his sister might not return (or be found) in time to take over before the wedding itself, and that even more risky plans would have to be made to evade the wedding night and the aftermath, or be used to decieve during such, perhaps with hallucinogenics or somesuch... or that they might have to plain his pseudo-assassination... The maid was a reluctant help, but determined as her own life hung on the line--she would otherwise be blamed for the Princess running off anyway. One friendly ally in it would be nice... Yet what right did he have to ask this man to join them?

The two of them couldn't do it alone, though.

"What is your name?" he asked quietly, curious. It felt odd just calling him "page", if even only in his own head.

[PatchworkDandy]

"Louis, your highness, my name is Louis.." Trailing off he looked at the prince's all too innocent face, his eyes filled to the brim with sorrow. Something about the man he served made him feel selfless. He was the representation of untainted perfection, at least in Louis's mind, and he felt a need to keep it safe. He couldn't have that kindness, that delicacy, but perhaps if he helped to keep it safe, to keep the prince safe, he would be slightly better. Perhaps that could take away some of the rot from his soul.

His hand remained on the prince's-or perhaps now princess's- robes as he watched the emotions flicker through the others eyes. The deep, clear green pulled him in.

"Of course I will assist you in whatever endeavors you must do Prince- Sorry, Princess. I am your page, am I not?"

[Car'mael]

"Thank you, Louis," Delwyn said, smiling in relief. "This is a dangerous game we now play... but it must be played nonetheless. Only we, a few guards, the head of the servants, and my family know about it."

"Well, we're not done yet," Abigail murmured gruffly. "I have to fix your hair and add a few touches of color. Sit back down, Mistress," she commanded stiffly.

Grimacing slightly, Delwyn complied, closing his eyes with a sigh as he submitted to the brushes, combs, and a bit of dark liner about his eyes... yet Abigail didn't add other colors, eyeing them with a bit of a frown.

"Oddly enough, Mistress, you need them less than she did. That might do enough, as is." Was the maid actually being lenient to the prince by cutting back on what makeup he had to endure? "That should end it, I think. The resemblence... is uncanny..."

Delwyn looked into the mirror, and sighed quietly. But he flashed Louis a brave smile and stood carefully, drawing his silky robes neatly about himself.

"I suppose, then, best I go see my family and see if they agree that I look like her..."

Green eyes turned to Louis hopefully. He really didn't want to face his parents or brothers alone. It was bad enough last time, knowing they despised him at most and were indifferent at best.

"Would you... accompany me?"

[PatchworkDandy]

Louis's eyes widened at the simple request. He couldn't fathom why the prince would need him to accompany him. Tentatively he smiled, pushing away the hair that had fallen into his face.

"Of course, I would be delighted your highness." Looking at the prince, he felt as if his breath was taken away. He looked marvelous, and yet Louis could tell how uncomfortable with the situation he was.

"Prince, if I may....I don't think submitting to your family, wearing these clothes makes you any less of a man. I admire your bravery." He smiled, hoping Prince Delwyn was understand his meaning.

"Now, Princess Deleanna, you must be presented to your parents."

[Car'mael]

Delwyn blushed warmly as Louis pushed a lock from his face, confused as to why the white-blonde was staring at him so. Yet he seemed to approve...

"Prince, if I may....I don't think submitting to your family, wearing these clothes makes you any less of a man. I admire your bravery." He smiled, hoping Prince Delwyn was understand his meaning.

Brave? It was the act of a desperate man, in Delwyn's opinion. If that term even fit when he suited the female clothes and lifestyle better than that of his true gender. He looked away uneasily at that compliment, not knowing what to say.

But then Louis was offering his arm, as was customary, and so he set his hand on it as he knew a girl should... and off they went, "Princess" and escort.

***

The guards announced "Princess Deleanna" to the royal family's private study. Luckily not all the family was present, just his younger brother and his mother. Hirsham, his brother, was a sturdily-built and powerful figure, a good six feet tall with stormy grey eyes, black close-cropped hair and a stubbly beard, and reputed to be as fierce an axe-man as a lover of women. Queen Florean was a few inches shorter, yet stately and solemn, her hair the same soft gold as Delwyn's own (yet longer, to her waist). He had been sprawled in a chair by the fireplace while she stood with a glass of wine nearby, talking to him in hushed but urgent tones.

As the doors shut behind Delwyn and Louis and the "Princess" stepped forward away from her escort, the queen dropped her glass to shatter on the floor with a gasp.

Hirsham twisted in the plush leather chair to look, and his stubbled square jaw dropped open. "Holy shit," he swore, struggling up to his feet without turning away. "You can't be... Lea, it's got to be you..."

"No," the queen breathed, a hand to her mouth. "The eyes... Lea's are purple." Her own purple eyes narrowed in anger and disgust. "You look the part well, Delwyn. Too well for what you were born..."

Delwyn blushed and looked at his feet, ashamed that his own mother was disgusted by him. Yet what could he do? He was at their mercy, what little they had.

Before the prince knew it, his older brother was standing in front of him and caught him by the chin, forcing him to look up into those cold grey eyes. "Yes... I see it now..." he agreed, as if talking about a horse, yet smirking slightly, a mean glint to his gaze. "The resemblence is... unnatural... Better hope the plan works and this foreign prince misses out on his wedding night, Del, or you'll be a 'girl' in every way that matters. Then you may as well stay in skirts, right?"

Delwyn winced, jerking his chin from his brother's grip and looking away. That was one of his fears in all this, really, combined with possibly a horrific, painful, humilliating death for fooling the foreigners.

Hirsham's gaze and cruel smirk rose from his younger brother to the page, and his eyes widened slightly with interest, his smile fading to a thoughtful look. "So this is the new page, eh? Guess they assigned him to you. A bit of a looker--do we want to make sure this Prince Arslan isn't into boys? Or are we hoping that if he is, it'll only help with the deal?" he speculated, that smirk slowly returning.

"I asked them to give someone with looks and some ability to handle a tyst, if need be," the queen told Hirsham coldly, not caring about divulging this in front of Delwyn--or harming Louis's reputation in front of his master. "You never know if it'll sweeten the deal. And you, page--you had better comply with what that foreigner wants, if that's the case, or a rough night with him will be the least of your worries," she added with a huff.

Delwyn felt his veins run cold as they threatened Louis. Whatever did the page do to deserve it, smeared and commanded as cruely as he? Delwyn eyed Louis worriedly, his green eyes pleading that he not upset the royals present. It would be throwing his life away--perhaps literally--to dare protest or speak back to these two. Bravely, he dared face Louis and offer some hope. "Prince Arslan's supposed to only like girls, though, so he probably will not..."

"Probably?" Hirsham laughed, making Delwyn flush again, this time in suppressed anger that Delwyn knew he couldn't voice without bringing punishment down on his own head. "If it's pretty and can bend over, who cares? A wife's just for breeding brats from, anyway. The rest is all about the fun!" the second prince bellowed.

The queen watched Louis intently, though, saying nothing, her purple eyes almost evil slits as they sought some flaw... "You look suitable as extra bait," she admitted finally, almost as if irritated he was pretty enough for her purposes. "If you do your job well, and keep quiet and help pull this off, you will be handsomely rewarded, page... with a full pension and retirement."

It was almost unheard-of. A generous regular stipend and not having to lift a finger for it, for life! Enough to keep a modest home in the city, or start a business, or buy a farm... or even begin a new life far away. A life of liesure, regardless the choice.

[PatchworkDandy]

Looking at the prince, Louis smiled reassuringly. For the first time in the castle, he knew exactly what was asked of him.

"Of course, your Highness, I shall act in a manner appropriate to the situation." Fixing his hair, he met the Queen's glance briefly before looking back down. He could feel a hot rage bubbling in the pit of his stomach. How could such a bitter and cruel woman exist. The way she had spoken to Prince Delwyn, her own son, had made him bristle. However, the prince was far worse. He couldn't stand the way he had treated Delwyn. Perhaps he could distract Prince Hirsham and keep him from continuing to treat his brother harshly?

Looking at the second prince, he flashed him a brief smile, his tongue quickly swiping across his lips. Focusing his gaze back onto the Queen, his eyes widened at her generous offer, he could feel a small surge of hope slide through his chest. He would be comfortable- what he had always dreamed off. Something so simple yet had always seemed impossible.

"Thank you, you majesty, for such a generous reward. I hope to serve you and your family well."

Turning away, he put his hand out to escort Delwyn from the room.