Posted: June 2004
Title: The Dark Heart
Author: Estella Greenleaf

*****

A great horse carrying a lone rider thundered towards the castle's gates. He wore a full suit of armor, its smooth steel plates glittering under the scorching sun. So great was the knight's haste that he had neglected to change into lighter traveling gear for his long trek. The moment he received news of Prince Orlando's fate, he left his post at the borders to answer the King's summons.

From a distance, the sentinels recognized the Mortensen coat of arms and began to prepare for Sir Viggo's arrival. They knew the urgency of the brave knight's quest. Not a moment was to be lost if they were to rescue their young Prince from the clutches of the evil vampire that took him.

Without pause, the knight rode past the opening gates. Onlookers attributed Sir Viggo's haste to his loyalty to his liege, but the knight knew better. This was all his fault. His place was beside his Prince, not leading soldiers to settle a skirmish at the borders. If only he had been by Orlando's side when the vampire struck. He would never have surrendered his Prince to the creature to preserve his own life like the guards had done. Without his Prince, his life would mean nothing.

Viggo was the most trusted knight in the realm; with this honor came great responsibilities. Battles and missions consumed his life; over the years, his heart had grown cold from solitude. Then came a sweet infant's soft touch upon his calloused hand that brought warmth into his life once more. Ever since he first laid eyes on Orlando, from the moment his Prince's plump baby fingers grasped his own, he had loved him. He could do naught else.

As young Orlando grew, so did the knight's love. Viggo knew not when his feelings changed, but he would never forget the night his Prince visited his dreams. In his fantasy, he held Orlando closed as they sat together on the terrace to watch the approach of a new day. As the first golden ray of the sun graced the horizon, he lifted his Prince's chin and claimed the youth's luscious rosy lips in a tender kiss.

The knight had awoken with a start that night and in many other nights that followed. Somehow, his pure fatherly love for his Prince had turned into something forbidden, something that needed to be hidden in the shadows. In his shame, he withdrew from his vivacious Prince's company. His sweet Orlando deserved so much better than a lowly knight who lusted for him.

Over the years, the distance between them grew. It broke Viggo's heart. So many times, he was tempted to speak of his feelings, but love held him back. He wanted only the best for his Prince, bliss that an aging knight like himself could not provide. He would rather suffer in silence than burden his dear Orlando with his unsolicited, forbidden love.

Thus, by his own hand, Viggo banished himself from his Prince's favor. Gone were the days where they talked and laughed freely together. Orlando now saw him as his jailer, the King's puppet who cared nothing for his happiness. Though it was by his own design, his Prince's veiled hostility was more than Viggo could bear. Whenever he could convince himself that Orlando did not need him by his side, he would petition the King for an assignment far from the castle.

So it was that Viggo was away on both of the times his Prince had needed him the most. He was not there to catch Orlando when the youth fell into the moot three months ago; his Prince almost caught his death in the chilly water. Now, he was not there to prevent a vampire from kidnapping Orlando. With all that he held dear, he vowed to the gods: he would die before he failed his beloved Prince again.

*****

previous | Chapter Index | next

If you enjoyed this story, please send feedback to: Estella Greenleaf