The Duke of Tremont II - Bloodspell

Chapter 22
 

Author's Note: Okay, folks, so we’re going to swing into canon a little bit in these next few chapters. What can I say? I’m feeling a bit nostalgic.


 

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Justin woke slowly the next morning, feeling warm and safe, with the always comforting weight of Brian's arm across his waist. He shifted a bit, blanching as a shooting pain went through his head and every muscle in his body screamed in protest, all of which brought back scattered feelings of fear.

Even though he was clearly in their room at Jonathan's castle and he was in his beloved's arms, he still felt anxious and overwhelmed and flew into panic mode. Despite his pain he sat up and began to struggle out from under Brian's arm. Brian awoke quickly and sat up, feeling Justin's desperate panic through their link.

He reached for Justin, who had not gotten far in his exhausted state. "Stop. Justin, stop it." He pulled him into his arms firmly, but also trying to be careful not to hurt his battered lover.

"D...don't touch me!" Justin cried out. "Let me go!"

"It's me, Jus," he soothed. It's just me. I've got you. You're safe now. I'm so glad you're safe and back with me. I was so scared for you. He kept up a constant stream of comforting words spoken directly into Justin's mind, and soon the young man stopped struggling, though he was still tense and shivering in Brian's arms.

"Brian?" Justin finally whispered out loud. "What happened?"

"A lot has happened, Sunshine." Brian loosened his hold a bit so he could look at Justin's face, but his lover just snuggled back into his chest, almost as if hiding. Brian simply ran a gentle hand over blond hair, which was thankfully clean and soft. Brian belatedly noticed that Daphne must have cleaned Justin up last night while he had been with Jonathan. "What's the last thing you remember?"

"I...I'm not sure. We were at a lodge, maybe. Was it Blake's?"

"Yes, his father's hunting lodge," Brian replied patiently, even as his brows furrowed at the seemingly large gap in Justin's memory.

"Um...we made love...then I'm not sure. It's all hazy."

"It's okay." Brian kissed the top of his head. "You've had a bad blow to the head. I healed the worst of it, but it's going to take some time. Daphne can help too."

This time Justin did pull back to look at Brian. "Blow to the head? How?" He looked around. "And why are we in Sylvania? How did we get here? What about Maynor and the spell?"

When Justin began to get agitated again, Brian pulled him back into his arms. "Shhh, you had an accident. There will be time to explain it all later. Dryden brought us back here, and the spell has been broken."

"Dryden? Why? H...how?" Justin sniffed from his spot against Brian's chest. He was starting to sound disjointed and confused. "Is Jon all right? And Prince Tristan?"

"Jus, it's a long story, and I promise I'll tell you, but you need to rest. Jon and Tristan are fine. They're still a little weak, but Daphne says they'll make a full recovery." He gently eased Justin back down onto the bed.

"I am tired," Justin yawned and his eyes drooped. "You promise you'll tell me all about it soon?"

"Of course," Brian replied as he kissed Justin's forehead and sat up.

Justin reached up for Brian. "You won't leave me?"

"I'll stay right here," Brian answered, even as he frowned, noticing that Justin was reaching with his left hand. He was normally right handed. "Justin, can you take my hand?" he asked softly.

Justin blinked sleepily and grabbed onto Brian's hand with his left one again, causing a cold feeling to form in the pit of Brian's stomach. His lover's right hand had remained still at his side the whole time. "Can I see your right hand?" Brian asked in a purposely calm voice.

Justin opened his eyes for a moment and looked as if he was concentrating. "Hmm, can't move it. 'S too heavy..." he trailed off as his eyes closed again and he dropped into sleep.
Brian sat back. "Damn."

 

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"Well, he's looking better, anyway," Michael came into Justin and Brian's room and moved over to the bed where Brian was sitting next to his sleeping lover, his back against the headboard. Brian raised his face to Michael and the two shared a friendly kiss. "I heard he woke up this morning. Has he woken again?" Michael sat down in the chair Daphne had pulled over earlier in the day.

Brian nodded. "He woke up while Daphne and Kelton were doing some healing. It did not go well. He's still pretty jumpy."

"Hmm, that sounds about right." Michael eyed his friend. "Did he do any damage?"
Brian smirked a bit. "Well, he was all right with Daphne, but I think she's going to be healing a broken nose on that Kelton guy, but other than that, no."

"Brian, be nice. I met him at breakfast this morning. He seems like a nice enough person, and Daphne is completely in love with him."

"We'll see," Brian answered grudgingly. "He was rather nice about the flailing punch in the nose. Who knew Justin had such a good left hook?"

"Left? What about his right?"

Brian looked down at his hands. "His right hand doesn't seem to be working very well right now."

Michael looked surprised. "What did Daphne say about it?"

"Oh, something about head injuries affecting other parts of the body, and healing slowly.

She said we really won't know the extent of the damage until he wakes up long enough to test it out."

"Can't you just heal him?"

Brian shrugged. "I don't know. I've tried it twice today already. At least his fingernails have grown back."

"Don't overdo it, Brian. You need to stay strong for him. You still look exhausted."

"I won't." Brian sighed. "Anyway, he still doesn't remember anything about what happened. I don't know if that's a detriment or a blessing."

"You've been through it too. You'll be able to help him no matter how it all falls."

"Or falls apart," Brian returned acerbically.

"Well, I seem to remember you doing that a little bit too, but it all worked out in the end." Michael leaned over and clasped one of Brian's hands.

"Thanks, Mikey," Brian answered. "And thank you for being there for me during Justin's ordeal. You helped me more than you'll ever know."

Michael blushed. "That is what true friends do for each other, Brian. I love you."

"Always have..." Brian started.

"Always will," they ended together with a smile.

They looked up when they heard someone clearing their throat. "I hope we're not interrupting anything," smiled King Jonathan from the bedroom doorway. Young Prince Brian was standing right behind his father.

Michael stood up quickly and bowed to both men. "Your Highness! It is good to see you up and about."

"Thank you, Michael. And it is good to see you back safe and sound. Thank you for all you've done for me and our kingdom."

Michael ducked his head and blushed again. "Truthfully, I did not do much. It was mostly Brian and Justin, but I was happy to help." He began to move toward the door. "I will leave you with Brian, I'm sure you have much to discuss."

"Thank you Michael," replied the king as he moved to sit himself in the chair Michael had just vacated. "Oh and Michael," he called over his shoulder.

"Yes, Majesty?"

"I am having a council meeting later this afternoon. I would like you and Ben to be in attendance."

Michael bowed again. "Certainly. I will go and find Ben right now."

Jonathan nodded his approval and Michael turned and left the room. Young Brian found another chair and moved it closer to his father and uncle.

"Bloody hell, he looks awful." Jonathan reached out to lay a gentle hand over Justin's.

Brian snorted as Jonathan and his son stared at him. "I'm sorry, but Michael was just stating how much better he looked."

"God!" Jonathan exclaimed softly as he squeezed the limp hand in his. They all watched Justin sleep for a few moments and then Jonathan spoke again. "Brian."

"Yes?" Duke Brian and Young Brian both answered at the same time and then smiled at one another. They loved to play with the king when they were together.

"That's what you get for naming your son after me," Brian smirked.

"Shall I have to call you 'old' Brian then?" Jonathan asked in mock anger.

"Try it, brother," Brian smiled back.

"All right, you two," young Brian intervened. "I suppose it's back to my childhood nickname," he sighed in mock disgust. He really didn't mind for his family had really only stopped using the name Tim had bestowed upon him when they were very young, when he was a teenager. By then his Uncle Brian had moved to Tremont, and there was no reason to distinguish between the two. It was only when the two men were in the same place together that the family fell back into the habit.

"Bodie it is," smiled Brian, thinking back to a very tiny Timothy struggling to say the word 'brother'. Bodie was the best he could come up with and a new nickname was born.

"So, Brian," Jonathan emphasized his name. "I wanted to speak with you before the council meeting.

"Jon, you know I cannot go. Justin needs…"

"I know," Jonathan interrupted. "That's why I came here. I have met with Blake, Father Ryan, Sir Andrew and Prince Tristan. I must know, do you trust them, Brian? Are you sure this is not all some elaborate trap?"

"What does your gut tell you?" Brian turned the question back onto his brother.

"My gut says that they are being truthful, but I am doubting myself since I awoke. After all it was I who took that brooch without even questioning it."

"Now you are being silly," scoffed Brian. He looked to his nephew. "You do not buy into this garbage do you, Bodie?"

"Of course not," answered the prince. "How could any of us have known what that brooch was? Mel or Daphne maybe, if they had been here, but even Daphne admits she had never heard or seen anything like it before."

Brian looked back to his brother. "There you have it. Jon, your instincts are still the best of anyone I know. You need to trust them. And yes, I would trust Blake and the others with my life. Well, I'm not sure about the priest, I really haven't even officially met him yet, but I guess he tried to help Justin, and Blake and Tristan seem to trust him."

"All right, then," Jonathan answered. "I will invite them all to the meeting as well.

"Ohhhhh," Justin groaned as he shifted a little. His eyes opened and immediately scanned the room in fear.

"Hey, Jus, are you awake?" Brian leaned down, speaking softly in his lover's ear. Sometimes Justin was having a nightmare when he awoke, and was unaware of his surroundings.

Justin looked into Brian's eyes and relaxed. "Yes, I'm awake."

"We have company," Brian whispered.

"W…who is it?"

Brian's heart broke at the uncertainty in Justin's voice. This scared and uncertain man was not his brave and bold Justin. He desperately wanted that Justin back. He sighed inwardly and spoke again, using his most soothing tone. "It is only Jonathan and Bodie."

"Um…okay."

Brian moved out of the way so that the other two could greet Justin. "Hi, Justin," Bodie said gently. "I'm happy to see you are awake."

"Th…thank you," Justin replied quietly.

Bodie wisely sat back out of the way so he was no longer in Justin's line of site. Jonathan leaned in and spoke. "Hello, little brother, how are you feeling?"

Justin smiled a bit at Jonathan's pet name for him. He had been so proud the first time Jonathan had called him that. Justin looked up to and admired Jonathan very much and he was extremely proud to be considered part of the man's family. "I…I'm all right. I think."

"I'm so proud of you," Jonathan went on. "You saved my life, Justin. It was you that broke the blood spell. I wanted to come and thank you."

Justin's eyes darted to Brian's for confirmation, and Brian smiled and nodded. "Oh, you're welcome. I…I don't remember much about it…well, any of it really."

"Well, you did it, regardless of whether you remember it or not. I'm just so sorry that you were hurt." Jonathan reached up to brush a lock of hair out of Justin's eyes.

"No!" Justin put up a hand to ward Jonathan off as he shrank away from the king's touch.

Jonathan pulled back his hand quickly. "I'm sorry…I…"

Brian quickly took Justin's hand and held it firmly. "It's all right, Jon. Justin is still a bit skittish."

"Don't talk about me like I'm not here!" Justin bit out angrily.

"Justin!" Brian exclaimed, surprised by his lover's irrational behavior.

Justin yanked his hand out of Brian's as he tried to leverage himself up from the bed. "I'm sick of all of you talking about me!" He was struggling as he tried to use his right arm to brace himself. "Damn it!" he cried out as he fell to the floor. "God damn it!"
His voice broke as he once again tried to use his useless arm. He tearfully looked up at Brian. "Why can't I move my arm? What in the hell is wrong with me?"

 

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