A short writing thing I wanted to do !
The bustling banquet that crowded the dining hall was nothing to scoff at ; long elegant tables of food and bright torches displayed around for light. The warm summer air of an unusually humid summer in Rome blew through cascading colorful curtains. Even outside the party was humming with movement, for you see past the curtains of the large dining hall was a patio-esque area filled with small more conversation friendly tables. Knights standing near the edges of the marble laid floor, keeping their usual guard as they watched the rich guzzle down any wine they could lay their hands on. Decorative brightly lit candles and ornate flowers alongside tapestries adorned the large marble walls of the great dining hall. Not an inch of the room was to spare with all the guests talking and dancing together. Every member of the court and every member of riches or royalty was there, not to mention the guards and of course the emperor himself. The emperor shone above them all , sitting on his throne he glimmered in untouched elegance. Clad in layers of thin colorful robes, rich satins and silks from distant European lands. The beads and jewelry he adorned couldn't help but shimmer with his few movements. A look of calm pride upon his face, holding his cheek in his palm with an elbow rested on the arm of the chair in which he sat, simply watching the others waltz about and cackle. Like a flurry of birds he watched them all eat and drink, flirt and flaunt with one another, some even disappearing out onto the balconies to enjoy the warm summer air. The emperor was never a fan of his own festivities, he would have been down walking around but it was simply too unsafe. It was frustrating to say the least, how he longed to be down those marble steps with his people ; fingers intertwined with them as they danced and sang old hymns and songs of warmth. Sadly, the slip of a blade or wrong sip of wine was too high a risk and he was sent away to the desolate throne, where only his knight stood beside him.
It made the emperor bitter really, jealous if anything. For all he had to do was sit up in his seat and watch, perhaps offer a few words to those who greeted him ; but his personal guard made it obvious the emperor was not to be trifled with. The great knight stood beside the throne, his bronze armor and helmet giving off a glow from the candles of the room ; stood there quietly. The only thing telling people he was alive and well, not some statue, was the tracking movement of his eyes upon everyone who passed by. Aside from that he tried to keep his eyes off his emperor as well, although it was rather difficult not to marvel at him sitting there so nicely. But he could see the emperor wasn't enjoying himself either, of course he would never propose leaving the banquet even if he knew the emperor might like it ; for he also knew good and well the younger man was quite fiery. His mind wandered away to watch the others again after a moment , of course he wanted to join in, who wouldn't?
The young emperor gave a sigh, it had been quite a while of sitting and he nudged the guards foot with his own , once he had his attention he nodded his head before standing. The guard offered a firm hand to the emperor and guided him off the throne down the steps to leave. When the man stood at the throne the room seemed to fall silent with an infectious hush. “I offer my greatest wishes and tidings , I pray every one of thy has a bountiful evening of entertainment and indulgence.” He spoke slowly, his voice languid but rich with a calm tone. Without another word he raised a hand and the festivities continued, with a hushed curse of annoyance he turned back to the knight and left immediately.Once they had broken away from the bustle of the dining room the emperor was seemingly more relaxed. They made their way to the emperor's room and shut the door behind themselves.
Calmly the emperor sat on his bed and rubbed his face for a moment, the guard slipping off his helmet and sitting beside him. The guard's fingers slipping around the side of the emperor's face softly before kissing his cheek. "May I do anything for you , you seem far from content?" The guard asked, rubbing the side of the emperor's face sweetly with his thumb. The emperor let his cheek rest in the other man's hand , he gave a few silent moments of thought before answering "no , do not worry for me I am well, just a bit cross is all." He replied curtly, not giving much food for conversation before standing up and going to take his many robes off. As he sat down near his vanity he took off the jewelry and headpieces, his fingers gently unweaving his delicate but oddly complicated headwear. Small strings of jewels tapped against his forehead as he removed the main piece and set it aside. “These banquets breed nothing but lustful meetings and trouble “ the younger man complained, really just feeding his own jealousy as he sneered to the knight. Of course the other man couldn't help but chuckle , “if it was not for the wine you had earlier I would believe this little jealousy skit of yours σπουργίτι μου.”
The two continued undressing, the emperor still sitting in an almost posed fashion at his vanity as the knight shed his armor near the doorway.
“You saw the pope with his gaggle of whores did you not?” The emperor asked as he turned his back to the knight and began shedding his own robes. “They hardly looked able to stand, I've seen cranes with broken legs stumble along better, and squawk half as much” he couldn't help but scoff and his knight laughed to himself from across the room. “You paint such colorful pictures in your head, do you spend all your silence picturing drunk women like birds? I always thought the emperor may be a bit more sophisticated.” The guard replied with an amused but cheery tone as he approached the emperor and slipped his arms
around him. The man's broad chin resting on the emperor's narrow shoulder, his nose almost touching the side of his lovers head as he turned to face the side of his face. “So serious” he teased, noting his lovers fed up expression “perhaps you just need to rest, you always get like this after a drink or two huh? So bitter, hateful, remind me not to let you drink when we hold the wedding” the knight teased one last time before letting go and guiding his lover to the edge of the bed where they perched to talk a bit longer before a night of rest. “Now you want to be wed? The court would have my head on a spear if that was to happen” the emperor couldn't stifle his little smile as they spoke. “Perhaps you're right, I've become quite the mongrel.” He admitted with a tone of comfort but light guilt, he never liked upsetting his lover even if he was wound up tight most of the time.
With some coercion the two were finally in bed, nestled up against one another with a silent comfort between the two. Tangled arms and legs spelling out their hidden affection under the thick blankets, it didn't take long for them to fall into the night together. Sleep enveloping them with a soft hand that held no hate for the couple, for their blasphemy.