Never Finished Fic: lotrips Slave AU Part 4

[rsadelle]

I've decided to, in preparation for the new year, look through all my unfinished fic and post anything posting-worthy that I either didn't post or hadn't written the last time I posted lots of unfinished and never finished fic. This is up first because I want to refer to it in another entry.

This follows the previously posted parts of this fic: 1, 2, 3

"What is the meaning of this?" Viggo all but threw the parchment at Orlando, who shrank from his anger and picked up the letter from its place on the floor. "Sean says it is written in the language of your people," Viggo growled. "Tell me what it says."

Orlando skimmed it quickly, then found his way into a chair and read it more carefully.

"The Avatar of the Goddess," he murmured. "She blesses this union."

"What does it say?" Viggo demanded.

Orlando looked up at him. "It is a message from the priests of the main temple of the Goddess. The Avatar has spoken. The Goddess blesses this union."

Viggo scowled down at him. "What does that mean? How did they know how to send it here?"

"The Avatar," Orlando said, trying to explain, "acts as the Earthly voice of the Goddess. Through her the Goddess would tell the priests where to send the message." He looked back down at the parchment, avoiding Viggo's eyes. "The Goddess blesses this union. I am honor-bound to stay with you." He swallowed against some emotion Viggo couldn't identify. "My land has been turned over to my family, and they will be comforted knowing I have the blessings of the Goddess upon me." The last was said in a dull monotone that marked it as a ritual phrase.

Viggo knelt before him and took the parchment from his hands. "What are you saying, Orlando?" Viggo searched his face for some sort of clue. "Are you saying that in the eyes of your Goddess we are--"

"I will not leave you," Orlando said hurriedly, forestalling his words. "Not willingly," he amended. "To do so would dishonor my family and reject the Goddess's blessing."

Viggo smiled faintly. "Staying with me out of duty rather than fear." He sighed. "It will have to do." He gave the parchment back to Orlando. "Keep your letter, little one." He kissed the inside of Orlando's wrist. "I would not deny you all tokens of your homeland."

Orlando smoothed the parchment between his fingers. "Thank you, my lord."

Viggo watched the boy for a few moments longer, then turned and found a slave to summon his steward to his rooms.

"Yes, my lord?"

Viggo turned from his inspection of one wall to speak to the steward. "I want this removed," he said, gesturing at one of the tapestries. "There are rooms beyond. The first will be Orlando's dressing room, the one beyond a sitting room. Uncover the door to that as well. I want a copy of the key."

"Yes, my lord."

"He'll need furniture, and move all his clothes into his dressing room." Viggo turned and surveyed what could be seen of his own dressing room through the open door. "He'll need more clothes, too. Send for the tailor."

"Yes, my lord."

"You'll obey his commands, within reason. I'm sure I can trust you to determine reasonable boundaries." Viggo turned back to the steward. "Inform the rest of the household that they're to do the same."

"Yes, my lord."

Viggo dismissed the steward to make the arrangements and went back down the stairs to the great hall. He was pleased to see that Conrad had already begun making preparations. He leaned against the doorway and watched the servants and slaves bustle around a still silent Orlando. The boy stared into the fire, fingering the letter he still held. Viggo sighed and left him to it.

"Viggo," Sean greeted him.

"Sean. I need you to give Orlando some sword training, and I'd like him to learn to use a knife as well." Viggo glanced back at the keep. "He'll need to be able to protect himself if the raiders come against us again."

"He's a slave," Sean reminded him. "Are you sure it's wise to teach him how to kill you?"

"He says he won't leave me. Not by choice."

Sean raised an eyebrow. "His letter?"

Viggo nodded. "His goddess has blessed this union."

"What's that supposed to mean?"

Viggo shrugged. "He won't leave."

"You're installing him as your consort," Sean said shrewdly. "You think it means you're married."

"News travels fast."

"Yes, it does."

"I asked him," Viggo said. "He interrupted and said he wouldn't leave me."

"Huh. Sounds like you're married." Sean grinned at him. "Congratulations."

Viggo laughed. "Thanks. Just make sure he can defend himself."

Sean grasped his shoulder. "Don't worry."

"You're to have sword lessons," Viggo informed Orlando at dinner that evening.

"My lord?"

"You need to learn to defend yourself. Sean will teach you." Viggo dipped a corner of bread into his soup. "You can discuss your training schedule with him." He waited until Orlando seemed to have digested this information before adding, "You will obey him. You will not fight his judgement."

Orlando bowed his head. "No, my lord."

"There will be other changes," Viggo told him. He waited for one of the slaves to take their bowls while another brought out a platter of meat. "There are rooms beyond the walls of my chamber. They are yours. You are to have a dressing room and a sitting room. A tailor will be coming to take your measurements tomorrow." Viggo reached across the table to brush his fingers along the line of Orlando's cheekbone. "You have free reign of the castle."

Orlando blushed and dragged his eyes away from Viggo's. "Thank you, my lord."

Viggo let his thumb brush across Orlando's lips. "It is nothing more than your due." He stood abruptly and held out his hand to Orlando. "Come."

Orlando obediently abandoned the end of his dinner and took Viggo's hand. "Yes, my lord."

Viggo drew Orlando's hand up to his mouth and dropped a kiss onto the back of it. He drew Orlando up the stairs and into their bedchamber. Once there, he set to loving Orlando with all the tenderness and gentleness he knew how to give.