Pirate Prince

Part 8

Posted: April 2003
Author: Estella Greenleaf

*****

"I love you Dave, but I cannot take part in this charade," sighed Karl as he paced in his chambers of Hugo's large mansion. His lover had just suggested that he should propose a union between Orlando and Viggo to cement the alliance between the mainland and Ascenscia. Though Karl knew his lover meant well, he could not participate in this scheme. His relationship with his first-mate was still too fragile after what happened on the Revenge a month ago. He could not risk betraying Orli's trust again. He loved the young man too much for that.

"Come on, Karl. You know how stubborn they both are. Without our help, they will never get back together," reasoned David, walking to the Prince to hold his eyes in a determined gaze.

"But it should be Orli's choice whether to forgive Viggo or not. Forcing them together is not the way," argued the former pirate impassionedly, refusing to back down in this contest of will.

"This is the only way we can get Orli to talk to Vig in person; and we both know it," sighed the young officer wearily, shaking his head. He had not expected such resistance from his lover. He thought Karl would jump at the chance to help his young friend find happiness in love.

"Maybe. But Orli is not some sort of political bartering tool. I cannot make this 'offer' without consulting him first," replied the Prince as he moved to envelope his tired lover in a gentle embrace. He knew the officer must be tired after a month of fighting at sea. They would talk again later, after David got a bath and some rest.

"I suppose you are right. I will talk to him," whispered Dave as he leaned back against his lover's warmth. He would have said more if it were not so difficult to think with Karl nibbling on his earlobe. When the larger man's fingers moved to unbutton his uniform, the young officer surrendered control of his body to his Prince. Orlando and Viggo could wait until tomorrow.

*****

Orlando had never been a pious man; but in the past month, since he received news that Viggo would stay with the East Ocean Fleet and fight the Kurenans, he had been praying every moment of his free time for his beloved officer's safe return. The pirate never understood why he kept torturing himself; he had decided not to give the older man another chance to tear his heart out, even if Viggo regretted hurting him. As an affirmation of his decision, he had refrained from accompanying Karl to the pier to greet the returning Naval Officers this afternoon. Yet, in the lonely darkness of the night, the young beauty's only thought was of Viggo, wondering if the General was all right.

Orli considered getting out of bed to pace, but Billy had threatened to throw him out of the house if he disturbed their sleep one more time. It had been two weeks since Doc stopped giving the young pirate sleeping medicine. Fraught with worry for his beloved officer, the dark-haired beauty was unable to find peace in slumber and often resorted to performing mild exercises to hasten his recovery. Unluckily, the noises generated by his movements had awakened his friends on many occasions. He could understand why his hosts' patience was wearing thin. Perhaps it would be best if he went out for a drink at the saloon.

*****

Viggo did not understand why he was having so much trouble sleeping. He was exhausted from the past month at sea, yet his mind would not give him a moment's peace. Orlando would not even come greet him on the pier today; he knew salvaging their relationship was hopeless. But he knew also Dave very well - his friend would not give up playing matchmaker for him and the pirate easily. The tactician must be planning something. The officer did not know what the younger man would do, and he could not help but fear that his friend's scheme would inadvertently hurt Orlando. That was something Viggo would do anything to prevent. He needed to figure out Dave's plan before the younger officer could act. Seeing that any attempts to rest would be futile, the Navy General decided to go out for a walk at the docks. Perhaps the cold air would help him clear his mind.

*****

Orli was forced to leave the tavern after destroying most of the furniture in the shop. It was not his fault really. He just wanted to drown his sorrow in liquor alone, but a group of burly sailors insisted on bestowing their favors upon him. When the pirate rejected them, they became offended and hostile, ganging up on the young man. Despite his slightly inebriated condition, Orli was far superior to the sailors in combat. Within several minutes, Orli's attackers laid unconscious on the floor. But because of the sailors' large sizes and brute strength, most of the decorations of the saloon had joined the men as rubble on the ground. After demanding a handsome compensation from the young man, the barkeeper threatened to shoot the 'troublemaker' if he did not leave at once.

The pirate was on his way back to Billy's house when he heard the hush whispers from the dark ally ahead. "Hand over all your valuables now if you know what's good for you."

Being a pirate, Orli usually did not interfere with criminals at work; but these muggers were in his path. He was in too bad of a mood to circle round to avoid disturbing this robbery in progress. As he walked leisurely towards the scene of the crime, he called out in warning to his fellow outlaws, "Don't mind me. Just carry on. I am just passing through."

"You there. Stop! Hand over all your money too."

The young man would have stopped even if the robber had not ordered him to. For by the dim light of the moon, he could see who the outlaws were holding at pistol point - Viggo, the only man Orlando had ever loved and the source of all his troubles. Alcohol combined with the fierce protectiveness of the ones he loved had always been a deadly combination - tonight, these thugs were going to meet the infamous Orli Bloom of the Revenge, the one responsible for keeping the fear of the 'Dread Pirate Roberts' alive. In a low dangerous whisper, the pirate hissed, "And if I don't?"

Viggo's heart stopped when he heard his beloved's voice from a distance. He was about to teach his attackers a lesson when Orlando came upon the scene. But now, with a pistol trained on the pirate, he could not risk confrontation with the robbers. He never wanted to see the young man hurt in any way again. "Here, take these. Just leave us alone," said Viggo as he offered the outlaws all his money and his pocket watch.

But his co-operation was not enough to satisfy the greedy men. Looking intently on Orli, their leader once again demanded, "Give us your valuables now."

"He doesn't have anything," pleaded Viggo whose words were rewarded with a punch in the stomach by the pistol-wielding thug guarding him.

"We aren't talking to you, old man," leered Viggo's assailant with eyes fixed on his victim, thus missing the murderous look on Orli's face.

"You see, I am in a really bad mood tonight. I came out looking for a drink; but instead of getting drunk, I got propositioned to by some of the most disgusting men I have ever met, then I got kicked out of the saloon for a fight I didn't start and now this. Still, I was going to let you all walk away alive. But what you did just now changed my mind," said the pirate in an icy, singsong voice as he circled the man who held him at gunpoint.

From Orli's earlier observation, only two of the four robbers had pistols - the one guarding him and the one who hit Viggo. His goal was to position himself in between the two so he could turn their own weapons against them. The young man knew these men were not killers. It was written in their eyes, the way they held their pistol so proudly; these robbers may be criminals but their hands had never been stained with innocent blood. Up till tonight, the threat of force had always been enough for these small time crooks. These fools had no idea who they were up against; and that made Orli's job much easier.

"Stop moving, or I will shoot!" exclaimed the man guarding Orli, clearly shaken by the young man's promise of death. There was something lethal and chilling in the dark-haired youth's lilting voice. Their target was not as meek as his slim form suggested.

"Then shoot,while you still can," taunted Orli, knowing that if he ducked in time, the bullet would hit the hated man who punched Viggo earlier. The pirate knew he was slightly drunk, but his reflexes should be fast enough to dodge the attack, especially since his assailant was someone who had never killed before. The moment's hesitation on the robber's part would be all the young man needed.

"Orlando, please, just do as they say," pleaded Viggo, risking further injury. His beloved pirate was lucky to be alive after being shot by the Kurenans. The General did not wish to tempt fate again. Though the officer would like to see the criminals brought to justice, neither he nor the young man was armed; they could not challenge four bandits with pistols to a fight and win unscathed.

The pirate could hear the concern in Viggo's voice. The officer was worried for his safety! While his heart rejoiced that the older man cared for his well-being, his mind reasoned that even if Viggo had feelings for him, the perfect Orlando the officer loved did not exist. He was Orli Bloom, first-mate of the Revenge and a killer many times over. This cold-blooded pirate exterior was as much a part of him as the vulnerable, violated boy within. He needed to show Viggo who he truly was. If the officer still wanted to be with him after this display, Orlando would risk his heart again for a chance to start anew.

"Stay out of this, Viggo. This is between me, and my four new friends here," said the pirate with an icy smile that froze the officer in his tracks.

Viggo had seen this expression before; but that was in the act where Orlando pretended to hurt David. He never thought he would see it again, this smile so full of malice that turned the young man's angelic face into something frightening. The dark-haired beauty had meant what he said about killing their assailants. The robbers were breaking the law, but their crime was not punishable by death. What Orli had in mind was too harsh, almost cruel. The thought that his sweet beloved was capable of such cold-bloodedness sickened the officer to the core.

Without another word, the pirate charged the man who was targeting him. As expected, the robber hesitated before firing, giving the young man enough time to roll to his side. The shot hit the other pistol-wielding outlaw squarely in the chest, killing him instantly. The shock of hitting one of his friends immobilized Orli's opponent. He did not even put up a fight when the pirate rushed him, knocking him out with a high kick on the side of his head.

The other two robbers drew their swords and advanced on the unarmed young man, thinking to avenge their friend. But the experienced pirate easily dodged their thrusts and slashes, rolling behind them to shove them hard onto the ground. The agile young pirate quickly leapt onto the back of one of the robbers, bringing his knee hard onto the man's spine and elbowing the back of his head. As the remaining outlaw attempted to rise, Orli kicked him on his belly to send him back onto the floor to join his comrades in the land of the unconscious.

When his work was done, the pirate raised his eyes to look at Viggo, who was still shocked at what had just occurred. Orlando reached out to the officer to check if he was injured, but the other man shied away from his hand ever so slightly. When the young man saw the horror in his beloved's eyes as the officer surveyed the carnage he caused, he knew it was over. He could finally lay his foolish dreams to rest. "This is who I am, Viggo, not the tender, innocent youth you slept with that night on the Revenge. You pretended to like me for information, and I tricked you with my sweet, vulnerable Orlando act. We are even." With that statement, the pirate walked away, leaving the pieces of his broken heart with the stunned Viggo and the robbers. He would never love again.

*****

The sound of the pistol had brought the attention of the constables. The unconscious men were brought to the doctors; Viggo was invited to the headquarters of the police. "So what happened?"

"Don't bother asking, Sam. This is Orli's handiwork. Only that kid is crazy enough to play 'dodge the bullet' with a handful of robbers," remarked a newcomer before the Navy General could answer. "Why don't you go home to your wife? I will handle it from here."

"Thanks, Harry," replied the constable who brought Viggo to the station gratefully as he left the Naval Officer alone with his colleague.

"So, it's Orli, right?" asked the constable as he took a seat opposite Viggo. The police officer was a handsome, muscular brown-haired man. What was the most remarkable about him were his eyes; they were a rare shade of amber that heightened the intensity of his gaze. Harry was an intimidating man.

The Naval Officer considered lying for a moment before chastising himself. He could not believe he was tempted to mislead the authorities to protect the pirate. What Orli did tonight was wrong - the young man should be held accountable for the 'murder' he committed. "Yes."

"That's strange. I checked the body on the way in. Didn't think a common thug like that would have anything against Karl," commented Harry quietly with a frown as he poured himself a drink. As a second thought, he poured another and offered it to Viggo.

"What do you mean?"

"Orli only kills when he has to or for Karl. Since I am sure this does not fall into the first category, the dead man must have offended Karl in some way," answered Harry in a matter-of-fact tone while he sipped his drink and made a face. "This ought to be the most horrible whiskey ever."

The constable's statement brought Viggo's memories back to the events of the night, in particular the pirate's words. It suddenly dawned on the Naval Officer that Orli had only killed the man who hit him. All the other ones were knocked out, but alive. Perhaps the young man had done this to 'avenge' him. While that was still not enough justification for taking a life, it would mean that Orlando loved him, as much as he loved Karl; that there was still hope for a future with the dark-haired beauty.

A loud thump on the table jolted Viggo out of his musing. Harry had now placed his feet onto the table and was leaning back comfortably in his chair. "What are you thinking?"

Curious as to why the constable knew the young pirate so well, Viggo answered, "Nothing much. Do you know Orli well?"

"Depends on why you ask," answered Harry nonchalantly with a shrug.

"I think Orli killed that man for me," whispered Viggo, trying to bait the constable into speaking more. He was not good at all at games of words; that was Dave's arena. Perhaps he had given away too much information, but right now, he just wanted to understand the man he loved better.

"Now, that's an interesting thought. But you have to understand, you are not the first high-ranking government officer he slept with, probably won't be the last either. It's Karl he truly cares about; trust me, you'd be a fool to get emotionally attached to that little minx," laughed Harry bitterly as he removed his feet from the table to hold Viggo's eyes.

It took every ounce of Viggo's self control to stop himself from strangling the constable for slandering Orlando. Glaring at the man, he hissed, "If you believe that, you know less about him than I do. If you don't have any more questions, I will leave now."

Before Viggo reached the door, the constable caught him by the arm and forced him to turn round. "Listen, you are the one who don't understand. I was with Karl when he bought Orli at that slave auction thirteen years ago. Thanks to the cursed pirates who took him, little Orli is incapable of loving anyone. I watched him grow from a broken child into an incomparable killer. I watched him sold himself for information to find the man who murdered Karl's family. He lives and dies for his captain; he never has eyes for anyone else. Believe me, I've tried."

It took several moments before Harry's words sunk in, but they had the opposite effect as the constable intended. Now, Viggo finally understood how truly precious Orlando's gift of love and trust was. It was a miracle that the young pirate had opened his heart to him, after the abuse he suffered at a child. But he had been stupid enough to throw it away because of his stubborn adherence to his principles.

True that Orlando had a propensity for violence, but it was the circumstances of his upbringing that was to blame. The young pirate was not as cruel or cold-blooded as he wanted others to believe. Inside the ruthless façade of Orli Bloom, first-mate of the Revenge, was someone who loved Viggo despite all the odds against them; and that was enough for the Naval Officer. He would do whatever it took to win his beloved's heart again.

*****

Dave decided he loved waking in his lover's arms. The night before had been wonderful - the former pirate had bathed him gently and satisfied his desires with skilled hands in the warm tub before carrying him to bed. Instead of pursuing his own pleasure, Karl had simply kissed Dave goodnight and held the other man in a protective embrace. The officer could not have been more grateful for his lover's understanding. As much as he wanted Karl, he was too exhausted to make love last night. Now, however, was a completely different story. With a mischievous smile, the officer snuck his hands inside his slumbering Prince's shirt and began their gentle exploration of the hard plane of Karl's chest.

When Dave's hands found a peaked nipple and rolled it gently between his fingers, the former pirate awoke with a moan. "Good morning, love. Did you sleep well?" smiled Karl as he removed his shirt to give his lover better access.

"Yes, thanks to you," muttered Dave against Karl's throat as he suckled the hollow of the Prince's collarbone, eliciting a sigh of pleasure from the pirate.

"Good," moaned Karl when his lover freed his erection from his breeches and began to fondle the length. He could sense that Dave wanted to play this morning; he would keep still as long as he could. The Prince wanted theirs to be a relationship of equals; though he had never allowed anyone inside him before, he would surrender control to his lover. Dave was special - Karl would trust him with his body as well as his heart.

Karl's acquiescence sent fire through the officer's veins, making his already engorged manhood hardened to the point of pain. Quickly, Dave stripped his lover before claiming his lips in a scorching kiss. He was pleasantly surprised when Karl parted his lips for him in invitation. Without hesitation, the smaller man thrust his tongue into the Prince's mouth. As their tongues mated in a primitive tango, Karl wound his legs around his lover's waist, grinding their hips together, opening himself for the taking. When Dave broke the kiss to moan in pleasure, the Prince reached down to stroke their cocks in his large hand before gathering the moisture from the leaking shafts to coat his lover's arousal. "I want you inside me, Dave."

The officer wasted no time in doing as his lover asked, sheathing himself in Karl's tight heat in one quick thrust. He paused to ascertain that he had not hurt the larger man, but the Prince pushed down upon him, urging him on. At his lover's prompting, Dave began to thrust into Karl's sweet spot, setting a moderate pace; despite his desires, the officer wanted this amazing sensation of being surrounded by his lover's heat to last as long as possible.

However, it did not take long for Karl to decide he could not bear any more of this sweet torture. Being stronger, he used his legs to urge his lover to increase the pace as he pressed himself against Dave's manhood. It was not long before the officer lost control of his need, slamming hard and fast into the Prince in pursuit of completion. Karl slipped his hand between them and began to stroke himself in synchrony with Dave's thrusts. Twin cries of ecstasy filled the room as the lovers reached the peak of their passion together. Trembling, Dave collapsed into his lover's arms and was promptly greeted by a sweet, tender kiss.
It was a long while before Karl spoke as he gently disentangled himself from his lover. "Stay here and rest. I will talk to Orli about the alliance."

If Dave were not so exhausted, he would have protested. He would much prefer to speak with the young pirate himself, knowing the Prince would never try to trick his first-mate into agreeing to the match. But the tactician knew he was still too much of a mass of over-sensitized nerves to talk to anyone. Moving just enough to give Karl a goodbye kiss, the officer whispered, "Good luck, handsome."

*****

"Didn't expect to see you so early," grinned Orli as Karl walked in to join him and Hugo at a breakfast meeting. They were making last minute preparations for the Prince's coronation tomorrow afternoon. There were many details to attend to and it did not help that a number of the guests were the first-mate's former 'lovers'.

Now that Karl would soon be King of Ascensia, Orli had suddenly become a very valuable asset. They all wanted a permanent relationship with the dark-haired beauty and had gone as far as making trouble just so they could get some time alone with the young man. Orli had rejected their suits already, but apparently, high power government officials had a difficult time accepting 'no' as an answer.

"Dave needs to rest," answered Karl with a wink as he flopped onto an empty armchair. He was tired too and would like nothing more than return to his lover in bed. But he was a Prince now, as well as Orli's self-appointed protector; he would see to his duties first.

"As interesting as it may be, we don't need to hear about your sex life right now, Karl," sighed Hugo as he fumbled through the papers detailing the banquet arrangements after the coronation ceremony,

"True enough, but you will need to hear this. I intend to make Dave my Viceroy after my coronation," announced the Prince as he stole a piece of toast off his foster father's plate.

"You must be joking! Captain Wenham is the Chief Tactical Officer of the North Sea Fleet. You cannot 'steal' him from Erasia!" thundered the governor at the naivety of his foster child. While he was happy that Karl had found someone to love, he knew from the start that the former pirate and young Naval officer would be separated. At best, the couple could maintain a low profile, long distance relationship, nothing more.

"Not if he offered a proper trade," commented the young pirate quietly, understanding immediately this was Dave's plan - they would trade places; Ascenscia would have the Tactical Advisor of the North Sea Fleet and the Erasia Navy would have Karl's protégé. These unions would strengthen the alliance between the nations.

"I love Dave, but I love you too. I will not exchange you for him unless it's what you want," answered Karl as he reached over the coffee table to lift his young friend's chin, forcing the dark-haired man to look at him.

"I don't want to be with Viggo," replied Orli, barely able to keep his tears at bay. Being bound to his beloved knowing the other man did not love him in return was torture the young pirate could not bear. Besides, despite all that happened, he still wanted Viggo to be happy, and that meant being free to find someone else worthy of his love.

Before Karl could speak, the young man added, "I do have several other suitors. I will speak to the Chancellor on your behalf this afternoon."

"Orli, you don't have to do this at all. We will find another way," said Karl as he shook his head at his friend's suggestion. He respected Orli's decision to not give Viggo another chance. He wanted his protégé to be happy; he would not allow the young man to make this sacrifice for his sake.

"Don't worry about it, Karl. My heart will never heal enough to love another again. Believe me, I know. I was just going to rot in misery alone for the rest of my life. Being a trophy to some Erasian government official is not a bad alternative, especially since it will give you and Dave a chance," replied the young man with a sad smile as he allowed his friend to see how deeply scarred he was by Viggo's betrayal.

Karl did not know what to say. He wanted to comfort his friend, but he knew his words could not lessen Orli's pain. Only one man had the power to make the young man feel better; but that was the person who broke the dark-haired beauty's heart in the first place, the one man Orlando did not wish to see. "Orli..."

"Can you ask Dave to meet me later today? I can use his help in securing this bargain," sighed the young pirate in resignation before making his exit to see to the decoration of the banquet hall.

*****

It took Viggo four cases of expensive imported wine, five packets of his best tobacco and twenty pieces of gold to bribe the staff into providing him with a definite location of his beloved pirate. It was a very small price to pay to see Orlando in person again, even if the young man ignored him. No, the General would not think about that; failure was not an option. He would do whatever it took to convince the dark-haired beauty to forgive him.

Thus, Viggo waited impatiently outside the library for his beloved's arrival in his best uniform with a rose and a box of chocolate in hand. He knew his gifts would not impress Orlando, but he wanted to court the young man properly this time. He never had the chance to shower his beloved with gifts or woo him with sweet poetic words. The officer wanted to put their misunderstanding behind them and have a brand new start. He would do things right this time.

"I did not know the library is a popular meeting place for lovers," commented Chancellor Lee with a smile. He had known Viggo and Dave all their lives. As the old man did not have children of his own, the two young officers were like his surrogate sons.

"Chancellor, Father," said an embarrassed Viggo with a bow of acknowledgement. He could feel a blush forming, which was strange since the Navy General thought he lost that ability a long while ago. His information said Orlando would be at the library at six. Since the older men seemed to have an appointment at the same location, he wondered if his information was false.

"Who are you waiting for, son?" asked the Admiral with a raised brow. He could venture several guesses, but none of them were pleasing possibilities. He had always objected to his son's dalliances. Though he had no prejudices against same sex relationships, he would not sit by and watch his only son waste his time on pretty, young baubles who were nothing more than a good time in bed. Viggo deserved much better.

"His name is Orlando," replied the Navy Officer proudly as he dared the older man to challenge him with his defiant gaze. He knew his father wanted him to marry and have children, but he loved the dark-haired beauty with all his heart. He would no longer hide his feelings, since his denial was what ruined the blissful love he and Orlando shared in the first place.

The pride and adoration in Viggo's voice as he said his lover's name astonished the Admiral. On more than one occasion, his son had told him he preferred males; but never once his child announced his affections for another openly in front of him. This Orlando must be special. Before he could question his son further, the young men who requested the meeting had arrived. He would have to wait to find out more about his son's lover to ascertain the other man was worthy of Viggo's attention.

*****

Orlando froze in his tracks when he saw that his beloved officer was with the two elderly Erasian officials. The pirate knew he should have expected this - David would not allow Karl's stubborn noble ideals get into his way of playing matchmaker. With his senses still reeling from Viggo's rejection last night, the young man had been caught unguarded and walked right into David's trap. He could not believe the Naval Officer bested him in a battle of wits at this most inopportune time. God, how he wanted to wreck the tactician's neck for this!

But the pirate understood that giving into his secret violent fantasy would not remedy the situation. Orlando would have to rely on his wits to avoid being bound to Viggo. Admiral Mortensen was the key - if he could make the old man hate him, things would once again be under his control. Since he did not understand the Admiral as David did, he would let his opponent make the first move. He opted to remain quiet and looked 'nervously' at the tactician, waiting for the blond man to speak.

*****

David had hoped his friend would start wooing the dark-haired beauty as soon as they walked into view. But the General had merely watched in surprise when the two white-haired Erasians stepped forward and shook hands with Orli before inviting them into the library. Now, they sat in a circle in tense silence - the pirate was playing dumb and mute; Viggo was in a 'wait-and-see' mode; and the two old men were curious about the strange undercurrent that flowed between the three younger ones. It was time for David to force his friend into action. "Prince Urban wishes me to be his Viceroy; in exchange, Orlando here offered to take my place in the North Sea Fleet."

Both government officers frowned at the proposal, believing the young man to be inadequate to take over David's position. They had met Orli before; the pirate was always standing silently behind the Governor and the Prince. They knew he was Karl's protégé and second-in-command, but they suspected that was due to the young one's skills in bed. The youth was most likely a brainless token beauty.

Viggo, however, reacted by jumping out of his seat to kneel before the young man. "Is that true? You still wish to be with me, after how I have wronged you?"

Orlando knew he should not answer. He noticed how the Admiral and Chancellor had looked at him disapprovingly when David made the suggestion; silence was the best way to maintain his 'dumb Orli' act. But when he saw the hope in Viggo's eyes, he could not keep his hurt and bitterness inside. "I am here to offer myself as a prize to whomever the Chancellor and Admiral choose for me. I will not to take David's place by your side."

Viggo was a proud man. He did not even like apologizing, but today he realized he was not above begging in front of an audience for forgiveness. "I know I hurt your feelings. Please forgive me, Orlando, I love you. I will do anything to make it up to you."

"There was a time when I would have given anything to hear you say those words, but not anymore. We are finished," said the young man resolutely as he stared at the floor. Orlando knew he could not lie if he looked at Viggo. The officer's warm, pleading gaze had always had the power to turn his resolve to dust. He could not understand why Viggo was asking for forgiveness. He still remembered how the other man had shrunk back from his touch last night - Viggo did not want him at all.

"All right. Then look into my eyes and say you don't love me anymore. I won't bother you again," said Viggo as he took the young man's hand in a firm grasp. This was his last resort. He knew his heart would never recover if the pirate were to say those words. But he remembered what Harry said last night; he was certain Orlando still loved him. He would risk everything if it meant having a chance with the man he loved.

Viggo had asked Orlando to do the one thing he could not. The young man did not know how his former lover knew of his weakness - that no matter what happened, his heart was no longer his own; he would always love Viggo. Defeated, the pirate hung his head and closed his eyes against the onslaught of tears, sobbing, "Why are you doing this? Why can't you just leave me alone in my misery?"

"Because I love you and want to be with you," pleaded the Navy General, lifting his beloved's chin and waited for the young man to open his eyes.

Orlando was about to argue, citing what happened last night, when Viggo's gaze captured him. Love, longing and regret shone through the gray-blue eyes, a window to the officer's soul lay bare for the youth to see. Viggo loved him; there was no doubt of that; those pure, clear orbs would not lie. The dark-haired beauty was thinking how none of this made sense when the older man leaned forward to lay a tender kiss on his lips.

As their skin touched, logic ceased to exist; the only thing that was real was the warmth of Viggo's lips upon his, the heat that melted the barriers of icy cynicism Orlando built to keep others out, rekindling the fire within his heart. The officer broke the soft, wondering kiss, pulling the pliant beauty into his firm embrace before reclaiming his beloved's lips; this time offering a soul-searing kiss that purged Orlando's nightmares and made him feel whole again. When the young man wound his arms around the officer, Viggo knew things were the way they should be. For a long while, they remained lost in each other's touch, reveling in the sensation of being together in this realm they created with their mutual love. The young man did not even notice his own tears of joy until the officer's hands gently brushed away the moisture, pleading, "Don't cry, love. I will never hurt you again."

"Oh, Viggo," sighed Orlando as he burrowed his face deep into his beloved officer's warmth.

Their bliss was interrupted by the Admiral's announcement. "I will not allow this union." He knew his child loved this former pirate, but Orlando had yet to demonstrate he was more than just another exquisite face. The High Commander still highly doubted the young man could take over David's duties as the Tactical Advisor of the North Sea Fleet, least say take the place of his only son's mate. Casting a glance at Chancellor Lee, he knew the other Erasian agreed as well.

"Please, father. I love Orlando, just as Dave loves Karl," said Viggo, rising to his feet with his beloved pirate still enveloped in his arms. He would not allow anyone to take Orlando away, not even his sire or Chancellor Lee.

"It is all right, love. The offer is David for me. I will bind myself to whomever they choose, as long as they let him go," smiled Orlando as he left his lover's protective warmth and turned to face the two Erasian high officials. When the tactician moved to speak, the pirate shook his head slightly at him, telling David he had this under control.

"Very well. Our Chief Senator had a young daughter who will be delighted to meet you," said Chancellor Lee dismissively. He knew he should not let the tactician go, but he loved David like a son and could not stand separating him from his lover. Besides, the Prince was a powerful and noble man; he was certain Karl and David was a good match.

"If I understand correctly, Chief Senator Gunry is already an ally. Perhaps a match with Opposition Leader Valaurum will be preferable. I know he would love to have me," suggested the young man with a coy smile as he returned to his seat. Lately, the younger politician had been gaining support among the people and had become quite a thorn in the Chancellor and Admiral's sides. Orli knew the old Erasians have been trying to find a way to neutralize the threat the man represented for quite some time.

When the two senior officials answered only with their arched brows, Orlando continued, "Maybe that's not such a good suggestion. Lord Csorkas might take offense. He was the first to make an offer for my hand. God knows what he will do if he finds out Chancellor Lee gave me to a commoner." The young man smiled at the stunned expressions on his companions' faces. Marty was quite a character, intelligent, rich and influential, with many 'friends' on both sides of the law. He was the most difficult to handle out of all of Orli's former lovers, but he was well worth the trouble since most government officials had a hefty dose of fear of him.

When the Chancellor and Admiral turned to look at each other in silent communication, Orlando knew it was time for the final act. "I guess it is best to simply use me as a bait to get the others to fight among themselves. I got quite a number of offers just as Karl's protégé; I can imagine the competition will be fiercer if I am a prize endorsed by the Chancellor and Admiral as well."

"I will not allow this," vowed Viggo as he walked over to his beloved, dragged him to his feet and smothered him in his arms. "You belong with me. I will not let anyone else touch you, even if I have to challenge each and every one of your former lovers in a duel."

It was very clear that Orlando was very astute to the political situation in Erasia. In fact, the Chancellor was now certain the young man had a hand in garnering support for the petition to reinstate Karl as Prince of Ascensia. This dark-haired beauty had brains to match his looks. Though the Chancellor was of a mind to declare his support for Viggo's claim, he knew his old friend should be the one to make the announcement. As the dark-haired officer's father, Admiral Mortensen had the right to decide whether to accept Orlando as a part of his family. "What do you think, Daniel?"

"I think Viggo outdid himself this time," said the Admiral with a smile as he walked towards the couple. When the pirate wiggled out of his beloved's embrace, the white-haired man offered the young man his hand. "Welcome to the family, Orlando."

*****

The coronation was a magnificent affair. A red carpet was laid from the entrance of the banquet hall to a small stage constructed for the occasion. Rays of the sun shone through large stained glass windows, painting the room in brilliant colors. The witnesses sat on both sides of the red carpet, while the top Erasian government officials stood on the stage, awaiting the arrival of the Prince. The crown and scepter of Ascensia was brought to Port Luis from the museum in Port Charles to be returned to its rightful owner.

At the sound of trumpets, the door opened to reveal the Prince in all his masculine glory. Karl wore a suit of rich blue velvet that highlighted his stunning sapphire eyes. The material clung to the blond man, showcasing his broad chest and muscular limbs. Behind him stood his protégé as always; only this time, one would need to be blind to fail to notice Orlando. The young man was dressed in a black silk shirt, a burgundy velvet waistcoat and matching red breeches. His mop of unruly dark curls had been combed back such that his delicate features and exquisite chocolate eyes were put on full display; combined with the form-fitting garments that left little to the imagination, the dark-haired beauty was the object of many admiring gazes from both sexes.

In a dignified march, the two men moved through the aisle onto the stage. When Chancellor Lee placed the coronet in Karl's hand, the crowds erupted in cheers. After raising the crown and bowing in reverence of his deceased father, the Prince placed it upon his head. The Admiral offered Orlando the velvet cushion on which the scepter of sovereignty laid. Gracefully, the young man knelt before his friend and offered the treasure. When Karl took the scepter from Orlando and raised it, the audience bowed to the new King. Trumpets blazed in a joyous tune as the cannons of the Port sounded their respect. At last, the Pirate Prince had returned to his rightful place as ruler of Ascensia.

Raising his hand to motion for calm, Karl made his announcement - Captain Wenham would be the new Viceroy of Ascensia. As gasps of surprises permeated the room, Chancellor Lee joined the new King at the front of the stage, naming Karl's protégé, Orlando, as the new Chief Tactical Advisor of the North Sea Fleet. This announcement was met with shocked silence; but when Governor Weaving and his staff began to applaud these new developments, others quickly joined in, realizing these arrangements would strengthen the alliance between the two nations. With the collective chant, "God Bless Erasia and Ascensia", the ceremony came to a close.

*****

Viggo could hardly believe that his friend and the new King of Ascensia had slipped away from the banquet early. Even more unbelievable was the fact that Orlando managed to charm the guests into not taking offense from the couple's behavior. Thanks to Karl and Dave, the young man was kept extremely busy throughout the feast, assuaging everyone's pride with his quick wit and gorgeous smile. To Viggo's chagrin, that meant the gregarious social butterfly had no free time for him.

Now that the hated feast was finally over, the officer stood hesitantly outside his beloved's rooms. He was uncertain whether he would be welcomed tonight; he knew Orlando must be exhausted. But he would be happy if the young man would allow Viggo to hold him in his sleep. "Waiting for someone?"

The officer spun round to find Orlando standing only inches from him. It would seem that despite the hectic evening, the former pirate had lost none of his abilities to approach people unaware. Viggo wondered if the young man might be interested in more than just snuggling tonight. "Yes. You," muttered the officer against his lover's ear. He proceeded to kissing the shell and suckling greedily on the lobe.

"Perhaps you should come inside," sighed Orlando as he fumbled for the key of his door without interrupting the older man. He was very glad that Hugo had given him a room in the mansion for the night. He would hate to disturb Billy and Dom's sleep with the noises he would make later in Viggo's company.

"Great idea," breathed Viggo against the young beauty's neck as he pushed him into the room once the door was unlocked. Spinning round, he slammed the door shut and pushed the smaller man against the surface, grinding their hips together in a slow circular motion. Licking and suckling his lover's graceful neck, the officer undid the buttons of Orlando's shirt. With one smooth motion, he stripped the young man of his waistcoat and shirt.

"Kiss me..please..." moaned Orlando as his lover's hand drifted to cup his buttocks to pull him closer. He needed the older man's kiss; he wanted that same fire the officer gave him when he professed his love yesterday.

Viggo lost no time in complying with his lover's wishes. He crushed his lips to Orlando's, tongue thrusting into the younger man's willing mouth as he grounded himself hard against the dark-haired beauty's hips. Soon, clothes became a mere annoyance as impatient hands yanked at the offending garments. Breaking the kiss for a brief moment, Viggo made quick work of stripping himself and his lover. Moans of pleasure filled the rooms as the older man explored and tasted Orlando's lithe body, drowning in the sensation of the young man's smooth olive skin against his own.

Desire sizzled the blood in Orlando's veins as his lover took his manhood into his mouth. He tried to squirm, but Viggo held him firmly as he teased and stroked the sensitive tip with his tongue and lips. The dark-haired beauty was used to being taken to bed, but never before had he felt such intense pleasure as his lover suckled his length lovingly. He felt as if he was being swallowed whole when the officer took him deep again into his wet heat, muscles tightening against the head as his tongue caressed the shaft with firm strokes. It was not long before Orlando was lost in the ecstasy his lover provided, pouring his seeds into Viggo's mouth.

Milking every drop of his lover's seed, the officer stood to claim Orlando's lips again. The young man was pliant, still breathless from the pleasure Viggo had just bestowed. The officer was of a mind to kiss the exhausted beauty goodnight, when Orlando moved to caress his manhood. "Make love to me," pleaded the young man.

The older man could not deny his lover his request. Tenderly, Viggo carried his beloved to the bed, laying him on his stomach. The young man spread his legs for the officer, decking himself out to be taken. Determined to make this enjoyable for Orlando, the older man kissed his lover's buttocks before licking his way to the young man's entrance. Gently, Viggo probed his lover's tight heat with his tongue, thrusting against Orlando's sweet spot. At first, the former pirate had thought he was too tired to fully enjoy the experience, but with each stroke of the older man's tongue, electricity began to arch through his body as heat pooled in his loins. He knew he would not last much longer; he wanted Viggo inside him now. "Please..."

After coating his manhood with saliva, Viggo plunged into his lover's tight heat. Hearing the young man's gasp, the officer stopped, concerned that he had hurt his lover. But Orlando had other ideas. Driven by the lust that enflamed his every nerve, the young man moved his hips back and forth upon his lover's manhood. Realizing the dark-haired beauty's need for completion, Viggo quickened his pace, driving forcefully into the young man's lithe body. Eager to hear more of his lover's moans of pleasure, the older man took Orlando's arousal into his calloused hand and began to pump swiftly, matching the timing of his cock. With a soft cry, the young man succumbed once more to the satisfaction that only Viggo could give, surrendering his body, heart and soul. With a few more thrusts, the older man followed Orlando into the land of ecstasy. Gathering his trembling lover into his arms, Viggo kissed the young man gently before falling into a peaceful slumber. Tomorrow would be a new day, one that the Naval Officer looked upon with hope. It would mark the beginning of a new life for two couples with the ones they loved.

*****

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