Chapter 45 - 45: Wolf's Birthday
He had first effectuated his spirit contract, hunting several small creatures outside of the capital's walls.
Artemis had not been out of Henem since he had arrived. He had wanted to take this opportunity to breathe the fresh air, although it was already quite plentiful in the palace due to the traditions of the Witch-King. Gardens were abundant, trees growing indoors at times. Ivy plastered the exterior walls, and flowers grew out of special pots and vases designed to support their gorgeous growth rather than display the fading beauty of their demise.
And soon, it had been time for him to return to the palace. Not that he minded, his life there was quite pleasant. Although August was often tied up with his administrative duties, he was always sure to make time for him.
Perhaps it was because neither him nor August had spent much of their youth fooling around, but they had spent much more time in bed together than they considered necessary...
Just the thought of it made Artemis's head spin.
Focus... fool!
Artemis often had to force himself to remain on-task. In recent days, this 'love' he had developed for August messed with his head.
He couldn't remember another time, if ever, he had felt such strange and enthralling emotions.
And on a certain day, about a week's time away from the festival of Saint Cyro, Artemis was woken up ceremoniously. August had dressed in a casual set of clothes, and so it was clear he wasn't going to be working that morning.
"Happy birthday, darling!" August smiled, kneeling over Artemis as he brushed a loose strand of snowy hair from his forehead.
That was what he had forgotten!
Artemis hadn't often celebrated his birthday. He either forgot about it completely, or spent it alone in the outdoor study in the Starke's Estate.
August had Artemis dress however he wished, before whisking him away down the halls of Naasis. While he expected the usual bustle, especially of the guards changing posts, and attendants cleaning or carrying various items throughout its halls, there was simply no one in sight...
"Are we... going to celebrate today?" Artemis asked sheepishly. Of course, he didn't want to come off as the sort of person that expected anything, especially because he wasn't. He had even forgotten his own birthday, but August was a showy person, he simply didn't know what to expect.
"Of course we're celebrating! What kind of question is that?" August shot Artemis an odd look.
They soon appeared at the entrance of the grandiose main hall.
"I was going to throw a festival for you..." August grimaced. "But then, Isolde chimed up... 'Your people have had too many festivals recently. Your return, your marriage, and soon the Festival of Saint Cyro. They will forget their work and only know to play.', she said... what is the point of this power, if I cannot do what I want?"
He was sulking, and for the first time, Artemis couldn't determine whether it was genuine or exaggerated. He smiled warmly, taking August inwards as he embraced him.
"You lovely fool..."
August chuckled, soon recovering from his despairing stupor.
"Instead, I had everyone vacate the Palace. In Naasis, it is just you and I. No one else remains, not a palace guard, not the other consorts, and no Archknights lurking in my shadow."
"Isn't it dangerous to do so?"
He scoffed. "If someone chose to attack me at this time, it wouldn't matter how many Archknights were present in Naasis. Do you think I'm the sort of person that will fall to a petty assassination attempt?"
Artemis shook his head, smiling warmly. "No, I don't think so. But I might."
"Not while I'm around. And I don't plan on ever dying, so you will have to be content with old age taking you. But even that, I will try to stifle. I want you here forever, I'll celebrate as many birthdays as it takes."
Artemis raised an eyebrow. "Have you already fallen for me? Have you grown stronger as a result?"
He was teasing August. This caused the all-powerful Witch-King to be taken aback. When had his adorable, obedient dog become so forward and witty? His cheeks flushed, looking away out of embarrassment as he cleared his throat.
"This... it's just sentimentality. I won't return your feelings until I'm absolutely certain... I want to be mature, at least in this. But there are definitely some things about this I enjoy, maybe a little too much..."
He felt his entire body grow hot, an uncomfortable ache washing over him. He quickly took Artemis's hand, leading him through the massive door.
As soon as they entered the main hall, Artemis felt a sudden gust of wind brush past him, carrying thousands of multi-coloured petals into the entrance hall like sheets of prismatic rain.
His gaze shook with wonderment as he glanced around. Where there had once been fantastical marble pillars, now stood dozens of sky-piercing white trees, with trunks as thick as buildings, and canopies like silver clouds. Fields of emerald grass expanded into the far distance, and clouds as thick and amber as honey wafted past, carrying with them the sense that rain was a myth, and they were only there for show.
"What... what is this?" Artemis could barely believe his eyes. Had they accidentally entered a gateway like the one leading to Shadowhaunt that had been spoken of before?
"Stage 10, Prince of Illusion, allows me to conjure something like this. In reality, it is just the same main hall we've spent so much time in, but it appears to us like a fantastical reality."
Artemis glanced upwards towards the pale-blue sky, covered his eyes with his hand slightly as he furrowed his brows.
"What is that... bright thing in the sky?"
August chuckled. "That's 'the sun', my dearest Wolf. There was one inside Shadowhaunt, and supposedly there are many on the surface world. It's just a ball of light in the sky that makes the air hot and the world bright."
"Ah, more state secrets..." Artemis sighed. "I said I would rather not know these things..."
August shrugged. "You were the one who chose to be curious..."
He looked oddly at Artemis. "When you hear such things, it really doesn't intrigue you?"
Artemis shook his head. "I was born here, I will live here, I will die here. Hearing about other places doesn't intrigue me, it rather intensifies my worries. I would rather remain ignorant to unimportant matters... the more I know, the more it will involve me..."
"Then I will keep you ignorant." August nodded his head assuringly.
Artemis and August sat down in the waving emerald grass, glancing up at the bountiful golden fruits within the silver canopy, their fingers intertwined. The cold wind brushed past, the weather was sublime. Even though he had spoken about not wishing to know of such things, of such places... the weather was too kind, it was too beautiful. He thought that as long as August was there, he would never want to leave, even if it were just an illusion...
"I'm sorry..." Artemis spoke suddenly. "I did something bad, something I shouldn't have..."
August, intrigued by this sudden change, stifled his initial curiosity and ran his fingers through Artemis's hair. "It's alright, darling. Whatever it is, we'll be fine. Do I look like the sort of person that would fault you for menial things?"
"After besting Lieger Sequoia in a duel, I offered him the rights to Naasis's liquor provision... in exchange, he would introduce me personally to the nobleman at the upcoming festival..."
August seemed puzzled. "Huh? Why would you offer him that of all things?"
Artemis quickly and thoroughly explained his intentions. It wasn't as if he could hide such a massive endeavour. He felt quite guilty about doing it without permission, he felt as if he had overstepped his bounds in a moment of overwhelming confidence. It felt quite unlike him.
But to his surprise, once it had been explained, August burst out into laughter.
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"Oh...! Oh goodness!" His words were forced through his bouts of raucous laughter. "Oberon is going to be so angry! That's hilarious!"
For a moment, Artemis wondered if this was the sort of attitude a King should have towards his compatriots, but then he remembered exactly who August was. He was a jokester at heart, this was a situation suited perfectly for his sort of humour.
"Still, I'm sorry. I should have asked your permission before promising something so grand... it was made-up in the moment..."
"No, it's alright... there's a reason I asked for the permission of my own Knights before your coronation went through. It wasn't because I was just seeking their approval for you as a person, it was to seek approval for you as a leader. You have true authority now, I won't fault you for using it how you wish. It's yours, that was the whole point. You have every right to do such a thing, my dearest. Although, I could have introduced you to the noblemen myself... it makes me feel quite jealous that you went to Lieger Sequoia of all people for such a thing..."
"If you introduce me, it's not friendliness, it's command... besides, the Sequoias and Starkes have been on good terms since my father's time."
His face paled. "Ah, I suppose you're right..."
It was oftentimes that August forgot just how his relationships with others worked. But that might have been exactly why he thought Artemis so special to him.
"The money I received from selling the looming organ just came in recently."
Artemis's eyebrow curled up. "You worked so hard to obtain it, did you earn a sizeable profit?"
August nodded. "Enough to put to use."
He reached out into thin air, light fragmenting around his fingertips as he reached into nothingness, procuring a long wooden box. Artemis would have marveled at such an occurrence, were it not for August performing such magical things at any given time.
He had learned to expect many impossible things from the man.
"This is your gift, my dearest. Happy birthday."
Artemis accepted the box curiously, holding it gently within his hands. This might have been the first time he received a gift from someone other than his parents. He didn't really know how to feel about it. A mixture of heartfelt love, embarrassment, and sadness churned in his heart.
Still, he excitedly removed the lid of the box, removing the object within.
It was pitch-black in hue, with ornate silver swirls along the length of its edge.
It was a scabbard, one fit for the rapier he always carried alongside him.
"The scabbard you've used ever since we've met has always looked worn out. Besides, you carry that rapier with you frequently, I thought it would be nice for you to have something like this."
Artemis leaned in close, placing a kiss on August's cheek.
"It's wonderful... I... can't really place it in words how I feel... but this is... everything..."
August, a little embarassed, quickly tried to shift the subject.
"But I also wonder, why is it that you always carry that rapier with you? I've been meaning to ask you for quite some time. I've never seen you draw it."
"There's not often a reason for me to draw it. But the real reason I carry it around is not for defense, I can't really wield a blade... this was my father's. It's just a keepsake, it feels too weird to be apart from it."
August looked at him, a glimmer of deviousness in his eyes.
"Then, would you like me to teach you how to use it?"