[OrigFic] Years End Wishes (Costumes)
Feb. 26th, 2011 03:25 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
nathanialroyaleTitle: Years End Wishes
Prompt: Costumes
Rating: (PG)
Content Notes/Warnings:
Sjel Nn’harma is the God of Death, Souls and the Afterlife.
Warnings: None
Main Character/s: Sir. Raphael Lécuyer, Nathanial Peter Quele Royale
Plot: It is the Years End Masked Ball, the King asks a favor of his King’s Guard to pull off the ruse.
Location: illander castle, illander city.
--
Raphael drew the brush through the golden blonde hair one last time, standing behind, setting the brush down his white linen gloved hands lay on small shoulders.
“You are certain?”
“Oui, Raphael this could be the only time I may be able to do this...”
Raphael let go and moved to the side, on one knee he knelt beside his King looking into the vanity mirror. There was no denying that Nathanial could pull off the ruse, the Half Elven boy had always been feminine and now with the God Sjel Nn’harma housed within his form he had stopped aging. Until the day he died he would forever remain physically thirteen.
“I am aware of that My King,” Raphael stayed kneeling as Nathanial leaned forward, opening a drawer in the vanity. Bringing out the makeup he would require, he began to apply the kohl around his eyes.
Raphael could not bring his eyes away from the transforming boy; the King was in relaxing clothes, just a black tunic and black breeches, nothing fancy. But the kohl around icy blue eyes, the small paint brush applying the pink to his lips. Yes his King had done this before, was it in his past upon the streets during the years of civil war? Raphael tried his hardest to understand his beloved King, the boy who had saved their world but there would always be things he could not understand.
“Can you bring the dress to the bed?”
Raphael jarred back to the present moment inclined his head, fist to his heart and he stood moving into the walk in closet. It was not hard to find, among all the male clothes there were only three dresses in the far back. This one was flowing silk of midnight blue, it would not quite cling to his frail frame but it would give the illusion that it did. He carried the dress out and laid it on the bed, checking the back of it for how it closed. Ahh, it was closed in corset style and he loosened the satin ribbons looking to Nathanial as he approached the bed.
“Is your hip healed enough to wear heels My King?”
“Even with the hip injury I did manage to before, and the injury is nearly gone as Sjel is within me. I will be fine.”
Nathanial drew off his shirt and Raphael politely kept his eyes on the dress in his hands; it was not that he had not seen the scars before. He had many times however that was no reason to make his King feel any more shame over the old wounds.
“Do you know how do up a corseted dress Sir Raphael?”
“Oui mon roi, I grew up with my female cousin, I have had to do this before.”
Slipping the dress over Nathanial’s head, he helped him get it snug and comfortable before he moved behind, pushing the wig’s blond waves over the young man’s shoulders so he could begin to do up the dress.
“I require something of you My King.”
“Yes?”
“If it becomes too tight, that you will tell me. I have not forgotten your high pain tolerance or past, but here and now there is no reason to further your pain. I am your King’s Guard; I will not allow pain upon you, especially from my own hands if it can be avoided.”
“I will Raphael,” the soft whispered words, and feeling guilt gnawing at him for the tone of his words Sir Raphael began to tighten the satin ribbons.
He would look around to Nathan’s front, hand resting on Nathan's stomach to check how tight it was, Nathan not speaking up. In the end Raphael finished and tied the ribbons behind him, moving to the front to inspect. He leaned in close so he could hear the King’s breathing, it was usually raspy, as his King was dying slowly of disease, but never the less he would know if it was worse.
Ear pressed to chest, Raphael missed the affectionate smile on his King’s lips, and relieved at last Raphael pulled away. He grabbed the linen handkerchiefs they used to effectively stuff the dress a little, though not much was needed, the King looked quite young regardless of what gender he was playing.
“Sit upon the bed your Majesty, I will get the heels and mask for you.”
Raphael disappeared back into the walk in closet to find the last pieces of the costume. Guards and servants alike had asked him why he did what he did, why he acted as the King’s Guard, Knight, servant and butler. It was not easy coming up with a diplomatic answer, to not insult the guards and servants who served the King. He spoke truth when he said he owed the King his life in a personal debt, but there was more to it than just that. Nathanial trusted him with every aspect of His King’s life, and Raphael trusted little in any others around the young man who had lived through such misery to save their world. Yes he owed the King his life, but he also was proud that his King trusted him enough to allow him into his world, to see his quirks and strangeness. For Raphael had never known a man who had a wish to be a woman before, but it seemed his King was that way, strange, but it did nothing to distract him from his respect and admiration for his King.
Kneeling before the slightly flushed adolescent, he slipped the black heels onto Nathan's feet and settled the dress back down. Up onto his feet he gave Nathanial the mask of midnight blue like the dress he wore with silver edges, peacock feathers adorning the sides, shadowing the eyes so others could not see the King’s tell tale icy blue eyes.
“Raphael, what of Lord Riq’ua? Have you explained this to him?”
“Your Majesty I have, Lord Riq’ua is fine with the idea, and there is no jealousy between us. I play the part of your Guard and Servant in any capacity you ask of me. Tonight I am courting a beautiful young woman named Natalie, not many here know my true age as I know I look still younger then I am. Though I will of course have at least one dance with Lord Riq’ua as he is the one truly courting me.”
Nathan smiled and his white hands touched Raphael’s cheeks, “My knight,” the words were filled with affection and Raphael smiled.
“Oui mon roi, I will always be your Knight.”
Slipping from his pocket into linen white gloved hands he looked doubtful to the young man still sitting, “Is this too much My King? I have no wish to step beyond boundaries of protocol and etiquette, but when I heard from you that you wished to do this, I saw it in a shop in the city and could not say no.”
The short necklace was silver, a sapphire in the shape of teardrop at its end and Nathan’s eyes widened touching the jewel, “I...-“ he could not say what he wished to, it looked so expansive! “Merci,” Nathan whispered and Raphael did it up beneath the golden hair, the teardrop resting on the dress.
Raphael took Nathan’s hand in his and helped him stand, the younger male getting used to the added height and the compensation needed to balance himself in heels.
“Lady Natalie?” Raphael asked with a soft smile and Nathan looked to his King’s Guard with a devious little smile.
“Yes Sir Raphael?”
“Are you ready for the Year’s End Ball?”
“Yes!”
The excitement was clear in his voice and the little of eyes that Raphael could see, and he laid the King's hand on his arm and they exited the Royal bedchambers and made their way toward the grand staircase.
Nathan’s voice was very soft, and with the mix of prepubescence sounded like a fairly young female, “I have always wanted to be a girl Raphael, but I know that if I had been this life would have been even harder than it was. Getting the support to take back the throne, have the court listen to me during the civil war, I know there have been strong women in my family. My mother Queen Linda was one, Queen Tarja, Queen Zosia, but no...The Gods knew what they were about when I was born a boy, politics is hard enough with them thinking because of my age I can be manipulated, but thinking even more so because of my sex?”
Raphael huffed out a breath and gently he grasped Nathan’s fingers in his opposite hand, “Male or female, it would not matter to those closest to you. Griffonous, Riq’ua and I would serve you to the death regardless, it is not the body you live in, it is your love, your kindness that makes you someone we believe worthy to serve.”
The bare hand drawn up Raphael kissed the back of it, “It is an honor to serve you, to stand at your back and by your side. To see you at your highest and to see you at your lowest, to have your trust. Laugh with you and hold you as you cry. And come now, what other King’s Guard can say that they were given the chance to act as though they were courting their King for an evening?”
Sir Rapheal laughs and Nathan smiled deeply, “Not many.”
“Exactly, so for this eve I am yours and you are mine, as much as protocol will allow. And then I will bring you to your true partner, and I will retire with mine. Play tonight, be what you have always wanted to be one more time. I will enjoy seeing you shine with happiness and smile with no restraint.”
Down the staircase Nathan stood straighter, taller with more confidence then he had as himself, as only a few would know who he was beneath the costume. One more time, he would be able to relax with his Knight by his side and act the part of what he had always wanted to be.
Does it matter? Truly? The body over the heart? After all, it is only a shell to house the true importance until the day we die.
A boy or a girl? Man or a woman?
No.
I am still me.
Prompt: Costumes
Rating: (PG)
Content Notes/Warnings:
Sjel Nn’harma is the God of Death, Souls and the Afterlife.
Warnings: None
Main Character/s: Sir. Raphael Lécuyer, Nathanial Peter Quele Royale
Plot: It is the Years End Masked Ball, the King asks a favor of his King’s Guard to pull off the ruse.
Location: illander castle, illander city.
--
Raphael drew the brush through the golden blonde hair one last time, standing behind, setting the brush down his white linen gloved hands lay on small shoulders.
“You are certain?”
“Oui, Raphael this could be the only time I may be able to do this...”
Raphael let go and moved to the side, on one knee he knelt beside his King looking into the vanity mirror. There was no denying that Nathanial could pull off the ruse, the Half Elven boy had always been feminine and now with the God Sjel Nn’harma housed within his form he had stopped aging. Until the day he died he would forever remain physically thirteen.
“I am aware of that My King,” Raphael stayed kneeling as Nathanial leaned forward, opening a drawer in the vanity. Bringing out the makeup he would require, he began to apply the kohl around his eyes.
Raphael could not bring his eyes away from the transforming boy; the King was in relaxing clothes, just a black tunic and black breeches, nothing fancy. But the kohl around icy blue eyes, the small paint brush applying the pink to his lips. Yes his King had done this before, was it in his past upon the streets during the years of civil war? Raphael tried his hardest to understand his beloved King, the boy who had saved their world but there would always be things he could not understand.
“Can you bring the dress to the bed?”
Raphael jarred back to the present moment inclined his head, fist to his heart and he stood moving into the walk in closet. It was not hard to find, among all the male clothes there were only three dresses in the far back. This one was flowing silk of midnight blue, it would not quite cling to his frail frame but it would give the illusion that it did. He carried the dress out and laid it on the bed, checking the back of it for how it closed. Ahh, it was closed in corset style and he loosened the satin ribbons looking to Nathanial as he approached the bed.
“Is your hip healed enough to wear heels My King?”
“Even with the hip injury I did manage to before, and the injury is nearly gone as Sjel is within me. I will be fine.”
Nathanial drew off his shirt and Raphael politely kept his eyes on the dress in his hands; it was not that he had not seen the scars before. He had many times however that was no reason to make his King feel any more shame over the old wounds.
“Do you know how do up a corseted dress Sir Raphael?”
“Oui mon roi, I grew up with my female cousin, I have had to do this before.”
Slipping the dress over Nathanial’s head, he helped him get it snug and comfortable before he moved behind, pushing the wig’s blond waves over the young man’s shoulders so he could begin to do up the dress.
“I require something of you My King.”
“Yes?”
“If it becomes too tight, that you will tell me. I have not forgotten your high pain tolerance or past, but here and now there is no reason to further your pain. I am your King’s Guard; I will not allow pain upon you, especially from my own hands if it can be avoided.”
“I will Raphael,” the soft whispered words, and feeling guilt gnawing at him for the tone of his words Sir Raphael began to tighten the satin ribbons.
He would look around to Nathan’s front, hand resting on Nathan's stomach to check how tight it was, Nathan not speaking up. In the end Raphael finished and tied the ribbons behind him, moving to the front to inspect. He leaned in close so he could hear the King’s breathing, it was usually raspy, as his King was dying slowly of disease, but never the less he would know if it was worse.
Ear pressed to chest, Raphael missed the affectionate smile on his King’s lips, and relieved at last Raphael pulled away. He grabbed the linen handkerchiefs they used to effectively stuff the dress a little, though not much was needed, the King looked quite young regardless of what gender he was playing.
“Sit upon the bed your Majesty, I will get the heels and mask for you.”
Raphael disappeared back into the walk in closet to find the last pieces of the costume. Guards and servants alike had asked him why he did what he did, why he acted as the King’s Guard, Knight, servant and butler. It was not easy coming up with a diplomatic answer, to not insult the guards and servants who served the King. He spoke truth when he said he owed the King his life in a personal debt, but there was more to it than just that. Nathanial trusted him with every aspect of His King’s life, and Raphael trusted little in any others around the young man who had lived through such misery to save their world. Yes he owed the King his life, but he also was proud that his King trusted him enough to allow him into his world, to see his quirks and strangeness. For Raphael had never known a man who had a wish to be a woman before, but it seemed his King was that way, strange, but it did nothing to distract him from his respect and admiration for his King.
Kneeling before the slightly flushed adolescent, he slipped the black heels onto Nathan's feet and settled the dress back down. Up onto his feet he gave Nathanial the mask of midnight blue like the dress he wore with silver edges, peacock feathers adorning the sides, shadowing the eyes so others could not see the King’s tell tale icy blue eyes.
“Raphael, what of Lord Riq’ua? Have you explained this to him?”
“Your Majesty I have, Lord Riq’ua is fine with the idea, and there is no jealousy between us. I play the part of your Guard and Servant in any capacity you ask of me. Tonight I am courting a beautiful young woman named Natalie, not many here know my true age as I know I look still younger then I am. Though I will of course have at least one dance with Lord Riq’ua as he is the one truly courting me.”
Nathan smiled and his white hands touched Raphael’s cheeks, “My knight,” the words were filled with affection and Raphael smiled.
“Oui mon roi, I will always be your Knight.”
Slipping from his pocket into linen white gloved hands he looked doubtful to the young man still sitting, “Is this too much My King? I have no wish to step beyond boundaries of protocol and etiquette, but when I heard from you that you wished to do this, I saw it in a shop in the city and could not say no.”
The short necklace was silver, a sapphire in the shape of teardrop at its end and Nathan’s eyes widened touching the jewel, “I...-“ he could not say what he wished to, it looked so expansive! “Merci,” Nathan whispered and Raphael did it up beneath the golden hair, the teardrop resting on the dress.
Raphael took Nathan’s hand in his and helped him stand, the younger male getting used to the added height and the compensation needed to balance himself in heels.
“Lady Natalie?” Raphael asked with a soft smile and Nathan looked to his King’s Guard with a devious little smile.
“Yes Sir Raphael?”
“Are you ready for the Year’s End Ball?”
“Yes!”
The excitement was clear in his voice and the little of eyes that Raphael could see, and he laid the King's hand on his arm and they exited the Royal bedchambers and made their way toward the grand staircase.
Nathan’s voice was very soft, and with the mix of prepubescence sounded like a fairly young female, “I have always wanted to be a girl Raphael, but I know that if I had been this life would have been even harder than it was. Getting the support to take back the throne, have the court listen to me during the civil war, I know there have been strong women in my family. My mother Queen Linda was one, Queen Tarja, Queen Zosia, but no...The Gods knew what they were about when I was born a boy, politics is hard enough with them thinking because of my age I can be manipulated, but thinking even more so because of my sex?”
Raphael huffed out a breath and gently he grasped Nathan’s fingers in his opposite hand, “Male or female, it would not matter to those closest to you. Griffonous, Riq’ua and I would serve you to the death regardless, it is not the body you live in, it is your love, your kindness that makes you someone we believe worthy to serve.”
The bare hand drawn up Raphael kissed the back of it, “It is an honor to serve you, to stand at your back and by your side. To see you at your highest and to see you at your lowest, to have your trust. Laugh with you and hold you as you cry. And come now, what other King’s Guard can say that they were given the chance to act as though they were courting their King for an evening?”
Sir Rapheal laughs and Nathan smiled deeply, “Not many.”
“Exactly, so for this eve I am yours and you are mine, as much as protocol will allow. And then I will bring you to your true partner, and I will retire with mine. Play tonight, be what you have always wanted to be one more time. I will enjoy seeing you shine with happiness and smile with no restraint.”
Down the staircase Nathan stood straighter, taller with more confidence then he had as himself, as only a few would know who he was beneath the costume. One more time, he would be able to relax with his Knight by his side and act the part of what he had always wanted to be.
Does it matter? Truly? The body over the heart? After all, it is only a shell to house the true importance until the day we die.
A boy or a girl? Man or a woman?
No.
I am still me.
