The Lord of The Fae

As they watched Hiaro sweep away Hizen nodded towards Ron. "That was a very Nobel thing you did young master. Hiaro relies too much on passion and not enough on reason, but there is wisdom to his words. It is not enough to say you are united. You must be. You must be a single unit, united and unbreakable. If Voldemort should break your alliance apart you will fail."

Draco looked to Harry then the others, he sighed. The old man was probably right. It galled but an army divided was a poor army. His eyes caught Ron's, they stared at one another each assessing the other. Draco gave him a look as if to say, I can if you can.

Hizen nodded a slight smile on his face. "We shall see won't we. Niaki would you explain to the young ones the object of the challenge before them." He said nodding towards the beautiful Shojian. She nodded gliding forward gracefully.

"Step back young ones and gawkers." She said with an amused glance towards Sirius and the others. Seamus blushed and scampered backwards and everyone else fallowed."Good now to explain the challenge. You will be split up into pairs of two. Two teams but you must remain aware of each other as a team. There will be a golden ring that you must reach. You will be opposed and the danger shall be very real. If you die the challenge is over and your wounds will remain even in reality. Do not worry we would halt the challenge before you actually reach death as it would be foolish for us to kill you. Also If both teams do not reach the ring the challenge will be lost."

When the youth nodded their understanding Niaki smiled and brought her slender feminine hands from her white robes. Harry watched in fascination as her hands moved in a graceful blur of movements. Each movement of her fingers sent a bright entity of magic in the air until her hands seemed to be glowing internally with it. "mente del corpo di spirito di illusione " (1)

Her voice had mellowed too a throbbing tone and her hands spun faster making strange symbols. With each word she made a different symbol and the air around them pulsed. Draco sucked in a sharp breath as he felt the world spin around him and his perception altered drastically. He was no longer standing in the middle of the garden. In fact the garden seemed to have transformed into a jungle. It had to be an illusion, but everything was so real. When he reached out to touch the nearest plant he could feel it on his fingertips. The air smelled dense and full of strange scents. He could see cliff tops and mountains. Hermione was standing next to him, on the cliff above them he could see Harry and Ron. guess these where the teams.

"What is this place, did she magically teleport us somewhere?" Draco turned asking Hermione. Hermione shook her head looking around warily.

"No, its Shojini. A form of wandless magic the Shojian people have developed over the years. Its a highly kept secrete in their culture. Only the Shodan or king, of the of Shojo is taught it. And he passes it on to his children. That's part of the reason the order had such a hard time getting Yuea to agree to teaching me, and why Hiaro is so upset." She explained. Draco raised his eyebrows in grudging respect.

"You mean you can do that?" He asked. Hermione blushed and shook her head.

"I'm no where near as good as Niaki. Basically what she did was place an enchantment on our minds bodies and spirits feeding us an illusion. But since those three portions of ourselves are all under the same illusion everything will be real. You will feel it if your hurt here, I imagine if you could also die here if you received enough injuries."

Draco glanced around the dense jungle and then up to the cliff. Harry was pointing down at them. This entire portion of jungle was surrounded by a ring of mountains and succession of cliffs.

"You ok up there?" He asked Harry through their link.

"Yeah, Ron and I can see the ring. You and Hermione will have to find a way to get up here."

"No problem I'll fly us up there. That's way to easy though, somethings going to happen be careful. Hermione says if you get hurt here it wont be an illusion."

"I will if you will. And you worry to much Draco, its quite as one of our old history of magic lessons."

"I'm being serious Harry!"

"Alright mum, I'll be careful"

He didn't know whether he wanted to groan or laugh. Harry could be so reckless, he'd never known when to stop and blatantly defied all the rules. True it attracted him but it could be damn annoying. He turned to Hermione. "We need to get up to where Weasley and Harry are. They can see the ring, I'll fly us up there." Hermione nodded glancing nervously around. Draco concentrated and felt the fire in his body spurt to life their was a flash of golden light and he was once again fae.

The instant he used magic their was a hallow sucking sound and four men appeared into view. Four tall death eaters surrounded him and Hermione. Two of them had swords one of them a wand the other was wandless.

"Shit Draco their everywhere up here."

Draco didn't have to look up to know that he had triggered the fun and games in the illusion. Hermione shifted closer to him. The wandless Death Eater advanced first. "Surrender yourselves to the Dark Lord!" He commanded voice gruff with an Asian accent. Draco stared intently at him he could sense the aurora of the man, it was similar to that of Hermione's but with a much darker taint.

"Hermione the one without the wand knows Shojini." He whispered to her. She nodded, she would handle him and the wizard with the wand. He'd take the two with the swords. With barely a perceptible nod to Hermione he drew his fire lance and attacked.

~above~

Harry had barely enough time to pull out his wand before the death eaters where attacking. Ron had pulled the blade of the Miraza` and Harry was thrown off balance by the resonating power coming from the sword. He just barely dodged a blade cutting him in half. The death eaters in front of him where both carrying blades and where advancing on him. Ron was busy fending off two others.

"Morte veloce (2)!" Harry shouted. A jet of red light streamed from his wand zooming towards the closest Death eater. He brought his blade up in a twirling motion shattering the spell. Harry gritted his teeth, stupid Hizen had taught them that move. That was the advantage of having a wizard sword, it was charmed to deflect even some of the strongest spell work. He wasn't going to last long against two of them, he had only his wand on him he had to go fae if he had any chance of getting out of this alive.

Ron's sword was clanging against his opponents. Each hit sent a resonating shiver in the air, Harry could hear a soft chanting floating in the wind. A jet of flame erupted from his sword spearing a death eater in the leg. He let out a scream of pain as his leg and robes caught fire.

"Pay Attention Harry!

Harry jerked his eyes away from Ron in time to dodge a spell narrowly missing him. He was being forced backwards, they deflected his every spell forcing him farther away from Ron. He backed up and hit the wall of the mountainside. He took deep panting breaths. The Death Eaters sneered at him with triumph. He concentrated trying to call on his fae magic.

~below~

Draco slammed his sword against that of his enemy. He could smell the fear on the man as he advanced sword moving in graceful arches. The fire sprang across the swords singing the other mans hands. "Come to me small one. Come for your doom" He hissed. His voice deep and tremulous. Both Death eaters trembled Draco smiled at them a chilling smile of death. Then he felt a burning stinging pain in his side. He glanced down in shock, it had felt as if one of the Death Eaters swords had slashed him across the stomach but his skin was unbroken and the Death Eaters where quickly taking advantage of his brief hesitancy. Nothing had touched him but he could still feel the throbbing pain. Then he knew. Harry.

"Harry! Whats happening"

"The bastard cut me, I can't transform. It isn't working Draco."

"Pull back then. Let Weasley handle it!"

"I'm not backing down!"

Shit, Draco could feel his heart start to pump into overdrive. Harry was in danger and he could'nt aide him unless he left Hermione. There wasn't anyway she could fight off four Death Eaters at once. He felt the rage boiling in his body and didn't bother trying to hold it back. A blast of power lanced off his body knocking the two Death Eaters back.

"Ich habe genug von dir und deinesgleichen, wie kannst du es wagen zu verletzen, was mein ist!"(3) He demanded of the two cowering men. Their bodies shook as the power streaking from Draco's body reached out to touch them, one pointed his sword sending a spell shooting towards him. With a wave of his hand the spell shattered in the air." He felt stinging on his cheek like a nasty spell had brushed past it. He gritted his teeth, Harry was not going to last up there what was Weasley doing sleeping! He took deep calming breaths, he concentrated on the ground below the Death Eaters feet as they charged him.

It burst into flames, great leaping flames that caught hold of one of their robes and greedily began to devour them. he turned his attention back to Harry.

"Harry, ich weiß, dass du das schaffen kannst. Schau tief in dich hinein, dort ist deine Macht verborgen."(4) He concentraed reaching out for his mate, connecting with his soul he sent him a wave of warmth and confidence. That was all he could do for Harry now until it was safe to fly to him. He turned Hermione was still fighting her two death eaters he opened his wings and flew towards them.

~above~

Ron had never battled anyone so fierce, even with a smoking hole in his leg the Death Eater kept coming at him. Each time his sword met theirs sparks flew and he released magic. Most of it they blocked but every once in a while he scored a hit. The problem was so did they. Some sort of hex had hit the side of his arm and their was a boiling rash forming. He had a slash mark on his left leg where one of their swords had grazed him. It was hard to call on the knowledge of the past earth kings and concentrate at the same time. The cut in his leg was fast draining not only his blood but his energy. He was in trouble and he knew it.

"Harry!" he called out. Where was he, he had lost track of him while fighting for his own life. The two Death eaters he had been fighting had driven him away.

Harry stumbled backward hitting the cliff wall for about the tenth time as the edge of a sword cut into his cheek. Any closer or harder and that thing would have taken off his head. Their was blood leaking down his face now along with the stab wound in his side. It burned like hell, he had felt some sort of hex leak into his body when it had cut him. Their was sizzling and the smell of burning flesh but he pushed that aside. He had to go fae or they where going to loose this challenge.

"Forget the bloody challenge! Harry you could die!"

"Your distracting me! Shut up!" Harry grit his teeth focusing on his body once again. He heard Ron shout his name and new the shit was about to hit the fan. He was not going to die, and they where not going to loose! He didn't care if these things where only illusions the pain was real enough and his anger sure as hell was real enough.

"Harry run. Hermione and I will be up in a moment, your loosing to much blood!"

"NO I WILL NOT RUN!"

The very idea made him angrier then he'd ever been. Did Draco think he was some sort of coward! These where his most hated enemies. They had killed his parents, and too many of his friends. He'd die before he ever turned his back and ran away from them.

There was a blast of ultra fluorescent green light and suddenly he was fae, all his magic and power flowing into the air around him in a sudden rush. The earth shook, moved and trembled with the force of it. Vines shot up through the rock of the cliff to lock around the Death Eaters feet. Rocks dislodged themselves from the mountain to rain down on them. The very mountain seem to shake itself in an effort to kill his enemy. It worked, horrifyingly well a vine dug itself into one Death Eaters chest shooting out his back in a spray of blood. The other was crushed by a falling boulder just before the vine wrapping around his neck could break it.

Harry turned to aid his friend only to find that he was being attacked by whithering vines as well. He sent a push of magic towards them knocking him free. Into the path of a rolling boulder. Ron dove out of the way and rolled right over the edge of the cliff. Terror seized Harry's heart as he stared in shock at the point where his friend had been.

"DRACO! RON!" Then the two death Eaters that had been attacking Ron attacked him.

~Below~

At Harry's shout Draco looked up. Weasley was falling from the cliff body hurtling toward the ground. If Weasley hit it he would die. He felt something slam into his stomach. His inattention had opened him up for attack. Devils snare was wrapping itself around him. "Ich kann ihn nicht erreichen!"(5) He made his body burst into flames again destroying the devils snare. "HERMIONE, LOOK UP!" he shouted frantically to the other girl.

Hermione looked up and felt her heart jump into her throat. Ron was falling to his death! She dove away from the Death Eater she was fighting waving her hands in a complex pattern. "Aria Della Scatola"(6) She shouted. She formed her hands rapidly into the symbols for air and box. The death eater halted trapped by four invisible walls. it wouldn't last for long he was already forming the symbols to break it.

She fought back the panic as she glanced at Ron's falling body. She didnt know anything to halt his fall! He was going to die! She looked around her spotted the lake in the clearing ahead and made an instant and hasty desison."Acqua Netta Del Fermo"(7) she quickly made the symbols.

Draco stared in disbelief as water from the pound reared up like one giant water bottle and slammed into Weasley's falling body. He didn't fall strait through the water but instead was held in its depths as it floated back to its place. Weasley however did not appear at the surface of the now still and quite lake. This just kept getting better and better. He sent a jet of flame towards the Death Eater who had apparently broken whatever Hermione had put in place to hold him. He burned his screams echoing in the air. Above him he knew Harry was fighting off two Death Eaters. Ron was still in the pond apparently not thinking of coming up for air.

Shit! If he flew up to save Harry Ron would die and Harry would never forgive him for not trying to save his friend, if he didn't then Harry might and he would never forgive himself. Draco let out a string of curses. "Hermione see if you can help Harry!" he turned and flew to the lake.

"Erde, Feuer, Wind und Himmel" he shouted raising his lance and bringing it down in a graceful arc to touch the water of the lake. The earth below him shook and broke the water streaming into the hole he had made. Fire lanced out to devour anything it could touch as the wind picked up blowing like a sudden tornado. Weasley's body flew from the depths of the draining watter into the sky. Draco launched into the air to catch him. Weasley sputterd coughing up water. "What the hell is wrong with you Weasley! Cant you swim!"

"Ron shivered in his arms. The water it wouldn't let me go or move!" Draco cursed. Didn't Hermione think of that when she cast the bloody spell! "Harry's up there with two death eaters both with swords like mine!" Ron warned his teeth chattering with cold from being wet. Shit. Then Harry's feelings flooded his mind and he new his mate was not only in danger but about to do something rash.

~Above~

Harry whirled around to meet his two foes just barely missing being shred into pieces. Their swords where shooting magic at him, combating the vines trying to strangle and defile them. No mater how fast he moved he could not evade their lightning quick advances. The wound in his side continued to sizzle and burn and it was doing something funny to his body. Slowly pulling him into a dreamy lethargy, he was growing slower be the minute. When he felt a sword cut into his arm hard enough to tear his flesh and shatter his bone he let out a scream of agony.

He was not going to fail he absolutely was not going to die like this! He was going to kill these two bastards even if he had to bring the mountain down on top of them! The earth beneath his feet trembled as if to tell him it would obey his every command.

" Harry don't you dare!"

"I'll throw up a shield around me. I refuse to let it end like this!"

"HARRY STOP"

Harry blocked out Draco's frantic voice and sent all the power he could muster blasting into the mountain side.

~below~
Draco flew upward as fast as he could but it was too late. The mountain roared with sound, rocks and boulders of all sizes shook loose from the mountains above the cliff to rain down on it. He could see Harry struggling to form a shield of magic around himself.

"Harry pass auf!"(9)

He felt the heart tearing from his chest as Harry dissapeerd from view under a shower of boulders and dust. He hadn't seen a shield go up. It had happened to fast! Rocks poured over the edge of the cliff to rain down on him and Ron. He flew into a sharp right to avoid them. He waited till the shower had stopped and the last rumble had faded, then flew to the spot Harry had been in. He dropped Ron as soon as they touched ground. His heart was in his throat beating a frantic drum beat. Fear coursing through his body.

"HARRY!" He shouted. Their was no movement beneath the rocks.

Then the illusion shattered. And he was standing in the garden the masters looking on at them. Harry lay sprawled on the ground in front of him bleeding and battered. Hermione stood not to far off still staring up towards the sky in shock with hands trembling. Ron lay in the same position he had dropped him. Draco rushed to Harry's side.

He was breathing. Shallowly but breathing. Immense relief turned to rage in an instant. Harry opened those beautiful maddening green eyes of his to blink at him.

"Harry you idiot! What the fuck is wrong with you! Don't you ever take chances like that with your life! Do you hear me!" he shouted. He wasn't aware that he was shaking Harry until he felt hands grab his shoulders and jerk him away.

"Draco let go of him, he's hurt badly and near death. It was only because Hizen had time to throw up a barrier that he is alive at all. He needs a medi-witch." Draco didn't care to question why Hiaro had come back to watch. He was just glad he had stopped him before he did Harry even more harm. He was so stupidly reckless! He had been on his way and Harry had thrown reason to the wind. He would have died. The thought of it opened something deep and dark inside Draco. A great empty chasm filled with misery and despair. He had almost lost his light, his hope and not even to real Death Eaters. Simply because his mate seemed to have some sort of death wish. He gatherd Harry to him fighting back a sob of pain. He was not going to cry, he was going to carry Harry to the resident medi-witch and nurse him back to health. As soon as he was well he was going to kill him.

(1) Mind body spirit Illusion.( the shojini that creates an illusion that can fool and effect your body mind and spirit.)
(2) this is a curse I invented you'll get to see its effect in later chapters.
(3) I've had enough of your kind. How dare you hurt what is mine. (fae language)
(4) Harry I know you can do this! Look deep inside yourself that is where your power is. (fae language)
(5) I can't reach him! (fae language)
(6) Air Box (shojini spell that creates an invisible four walled barrier around a person.
(7)Water catch net! (Shojini spell that forms any water into a kind of net it holds a person with its depths.)
(8)Earth Fire wind and sky! (fae language)
(9)Harry look out! (fae language)
_____-----____------______------______-----_____-----____-----____----

Hiaro sat on the rooftop of one of the castles many levels. Today's events had opened his eyes to many new things. They had also although unmeant, opened old wounds. He hadn't even meant to return to the practice field. He was so shaken by what Ron had done earlier. Why had he done it anywhere. Hiaro had shown him nothing but cold disdain upon first meeting him.

He had nothing against Ron personally it was mainly old wounds coming to surface. Everyone bowed down to the Miraza' obeying his every word . Never questioning him. It was sick, to think the great Shojian people had been reduced to sheep. He felt the familiar anger threatening to overwhelm him.

His father was a strong man and a fair ruler. He loved his children and did everything possible to see to their happiness. But even he was forced to obey the rule of the Earth King. Even if it meant destroying all that he loved.

TEN YEARS BEFORE.

"Hiaro, Kenshi has returned from the forein lands!" Hiaro turned from the book he was supposed to be reading to stare at his little sister. Two years younger at eight years old she was thin and gawky as a stick of hay. Her hair was pulled into a single braid but it was as always coming on done.

"Are you sure Hari?" he asked her. He didn't think he could bear it if she was wrong. At the nod of Hiaro felt his heart speed up and fill with joy.

The last time they had seen him he and father had been arguing. Kenshi had stormed away, Hiaro had grabbed onto his robes and begged him to stay. Kenshi had patted his head and set him aside. He had promised to come back for him. It had been almost three years since then.

He dropped what he was doing and ran past her his bare feet slapping on the cold stone of the castle floors. It probably wasn't dignified for a Shojian prince to run in bare feet but he did not care. When he reached the front hall he halted in a skid of momentum nearly slamming into Kenshi.

" Is this the greeting I get after the long years?" Kenshi's voice was just as Hiaro remembered it, warm and melodic and full of wisdom. He had been fifteen when he left home. Now he was older and stronger, Hiaro stared up at him with fascination.

"Where did you go Kenshi, why did you stay away so long? Father was really upset. Your his heir and you should be here training not off in forein lands. That's what Niaki said." he said to him in a rush of sound. Kenshi chuckled and placed a hand on the top of his head in the familiar way. Hiaro felt the same sensation of love he always felt when he was with his older brother.

"I have learned that their are more important things. You are young yet little Hiaro and no nothing of the world and real power. Remember this. I have business with father and I need you to listen closely to me Hiaro." Kenshi bent down till he was level with his little brother.

Hiaro felt the air change, their was something happening around him he could feel it. This was not like before, he could hear whispers all around him the air had intensified with the strain of it. He glanced fearfully at Kenshi and nodded.

"I have done things that Father and the Miraza` do not agree with. The Miraza` is a small minded man with a love for those weak and not the strength to use his great power. I have given our knowledge to a great man, a man with vision. Father and Naru will not let this stand. I plan to escape but I came back for you. Just as I told you I would. I need you to go to the east field tonight and you can not be late. You must tell no one not even Hari."

Hiaro shivered, what was going on what had Kenshi done? He trembled and opened his mouth to ask him why he must do this when castle guards flooded the hall fallowed by his father. He felt a spurt of relief, father would clear this up.

"Kenshi! You dare to step foot in this home again after what you have done?" Yuea demanded. His voice was cold with anger but their was also a deep tone of hurt in it. Kenshi rose, as he rose Hiaro caught a glimpsed of something black on his arm before his robes fell back into place to cover it. He shivered.

"I come for judgment in remorse for what I have done father." Kenshi said bowing his head. Yuea stared at him, searching he looked as if he wanted to believe as if he would. He grit his teeth and motioned towards the guards.

"We shall see, take him to the dungeons put safeguards on him. Niaki call for Naru."

Hiaro stared in shock as the guards instead of bowing to their prince and welcoming him home, instead bound him in chains. Kenshi went without struggle. Hiaro rushed forward and clutched at his fathers robes.

"Father what are you doing. Stop that's Kenshi!"

Yuea turned to his youngest son and said in a harsh tone, "Go to your room Hiaro this is no place for you." A lord from Yuea's council steeped forward and pried him away from his father. Hiaro's tiny body shook with tremors all the way back to his room.

~one hour later~

"Hiaro I am frightened. Does father not love Kenshi anymore" Hari's voice was high pitched and breathy with fear and her body shook. Hiaro could barely force himself to look at her. She clutched a rice doll to her chest her hands white and her body looking cold. He felt a wave of protectiveness wash over him.

"Of course he does, but Naru must judge Kenshi. Do not worry Hari father will not let anything bad happen to Kenshi. We are his children, his light remember." He soothed patting her on the head the same way Kenshi always did to him. She nodded and clamored up onto his bed, snuggling beside him. He waited until she had fallen asleep before he sneaked from his room.

He made sure to avoid the castle servants, an easy feat most walked around in an air of sadness as if doom hovered over their collective heads. His fathers hall of judgment would be full of lords and guards he knew. There would be no way of seeing what was happening from their. He ducked into the kitchens and through the servants panels.

Kenshi had showed him these years ago. They would play games in these hidden cordors and the servants would ignore them looking on in fond indulgence of the two princes. Today he did not use them for games. Today he used them to sneak unseen into the council room.

He peered through the door at the people gathered in the room, their where many lords from both his fathers council and Naru's. Hiaro felt the breath in his throat catch at the first sight of the Earth King. He had never stared unlimited power in the face before. It sent a shiver of fear up his spine. Naru sat on his fathers throne while his father stood by his side.

He felt a smatter of confusion. No one was allowed to sit on fathers throne, letting Naru sit there was a sign of being subservient. Everything about that word warred with his past view of his father. Kenshi was on his knees in chains kneeling before the dais where his father and Naru sat.

"You have come to us for judgment then Kenshi. Heir to the Shodan throne, son of my most trusted advisor. Keeper of the secretes of Shojini? Traitor to his people?"

Hiaro's legs wobbled, threatening to give out at the sound of Naru's voice. It echoed with ancient power. Then his words sank in, he had called his brother a traitor. Kenshi's words came rushing back to him. He had said he'd given the secrets of Shojini to a great man with vision. Sharing shojini with anyone without promision from the Shodan was a betrayal but not one harsh enough for death. Especially if the man was as great as Kenshi said he was. He felt relief swamp his body.

"I do my King. I acted in young and foolish haste. Out of anger at my father, I ask for punishment and the chance to redeem myself." Kenshi replied bowing his head. Naru's eyes narrowed.

"Who do you preform for young dark one. I see into the souls of all men, and yours is as black as your masters." Naru warned his voice had gone hard as steel and Hiaro shivered with fear. Naru didn't belief that Kenshi was sorry for sharing the secret. He thought Kenshi was a bad person. He watched as Kenshi turned to plead with his father.

"I have done wrong father I know it. But I'm your son, please allow me to make right all that I have done."

Hiaro waited with trembling limbs and baited breath. His father would not care that the Miraza did not belief Kenshi. He knew his son better then Naru did anyway. Yuea turned to Naru and bowed respectfully.

"Are you sure my king. He is my son, and despite what he has done he is a part of my heart. I don't wish to destroy him."

Hiaro just barely resisted sticking out his tongue and shouting Ha at Naru. How could he be so cold wanting father to destroy his own son! He wasn't a very good king as far as Hiaro was concerned.

"His words reek of lies and they are not for our benefit. He knows that I know what is in his heart. The son you loved has been twisted and shaped into a dark being by the dark one's followers. They will use the art of Shojini to bring him into power once again plunging our world into darkness. I see in his mind that he left to soon, he does not know all that is needed to know to bring the Dark lord back into power at this moment." Naru counseled.

He put a comforting hand on Yuea's shoulder. Yuea shuddered and told cold angry eyes on his son. "So you think to beg my forgiveness. To regain my grace. To learn more of our secrets and bring them back to the Dark ones minions!" He spat in anger. Their was deep and utter pain in his eyes his stance was rigid as if he had received a blow to his chest but refused to acknowledge it.

"No, for I know that you would never fully trust me again. Not with the secret of reviving life and renewing power and youth. What sense would it make for me to try father" Kenshi replied calmly. Hiaro held his breath praying that his father would listen.

Naru frowned. "He speaks the truth he knows it is a fruitless idea for him to try. So what then I wonder is your motive darkling!"

Kenshi ducked his head and a small chilling smile spread on his lips. "perhaps I hope to protect my brother, to advise him not to do as I have done. To prevent him from making my mistakes. To prove I do not covet your secrets father I denounce my hold on the throne. I give it instead to Hiaro for he has earned your trust where I have lost it."

The hall went utterly silent and still, Hiaro felt tears gather in his eyes. To give up his throne was no small sacrifice on his brothers part. It spoke of real remorse and real love for his father and his Kindom. He saw his fathers face soften and actually thought for a moment that everything was going to be ok. Then Naru stood anger radiating from his body.

"Clever of you little dark one. Very clever, you know your father will never give you the secrets you desire now. And they can only be given to the next king of Shoja. Very clever indeed to instead give the title to your brother. You hope to then turn him to your dark and twisted ways and he will finish what you have started!"

The hall erupted in gasps of shock and outrage everyone was staring at Kenshi with malice. No! Kenshi wouldn't do that! Why did they belief Naru over their own prince!

"Never! I would never send my little brother into that pack of evil and deprivation. Please belief that I love him too much to do such an evil thing pleas..."

"CEASE YOUR LYING!"

Narus voice caused the walls to shake and some stone and dust to shake loose from the ceiling. Hiaro swollowed a cry of fear as he stared at the Miraza. He radiated power and determination, He stared at Kenshi as if he was something disgusting.

"Your heart sickens me. How could you do this to your father, your people. I will not alow you to live and cause more damage. Take him to the dungeons he will be terminated at dawn."

NO!

Hiaro felt his heart stop in his chest his gaze flew to his father, father would stop this he would not allow that man to kill his son. Even if he was his king, kings could be wrong. He would not throw away his honor just because of someones orders.

Father did nothing but turn his back on Kenshi when he pleaded with him for mercy. He let guards drag his son from the room all the while he pleaded for mercy and understanding. He even nodded when Naru comforted him saying he had done the right thing.

Hiaro fled his hiding space all the way back to his rooms. When he slammed the door shut it woke Hari.

"Hiaro what is it." She asked sleepily. Hiaro's legs finally gave out as he slumped to the floor his little body shaking.

"Naru ordered that father kill Kenshi. He thinks that Kenshi is a bad man, a dark one."

Hari stiffened and her little hand trembled on his shoulder. "What are you going to do Hiaro?"

What was he going to do. The king had ordered his brothers death, what could he a ten year old boy do against kings. His body shook with tremors, images of Kenshi playing over and over again in his mind. Kenshi teaching him to fish without a pole, showing him the secrets of the forest. Playing invented games with him in the meadows. Kenshi had even helped change his diapers when he was born, Niaki had told him so.

Despite the difference in their ages Kenshi had always guided him, always loved him. Kenshi was his best friend, his mentor and in many ways his hero. It had pained him to see that he had been angry with father, that he grew more and more distant with each argument. He knew Kenshi yearned for more knowledge and to see the far off lands. Father disagreed, called him arrogant and hasty. He and father had begun to argue everyday until Kenshi had finally left. He had promised to return and Hiaro had counted down every second that his beloved brother was away.

Now father was going to kill him. Father said that honor was the stability of all men's souls. And that his family was his light and should be the most important piece of each mans heart. Hiaro shuddered, how could father slay a piece of his own heart so cruelly.

Because Miraza` had ordered him to. His noble and proud father was going to bow and scrape for his king, even slay his own son because of one man. He felt rage enter his body for the first time. No one questioned Naru's orders because he was king! Well Hiaro did question, he would not kill he would not raise his sword because a person in position of power told him to.

Disaster led down the road of blind obedience and he would not fallow. He was going to save his brother, and Kenshi was going to take him away from here. perhaps he would even meet the great man who understood that people needed minds of their own. That one should never fallow like a sheep. His father was wrong to listen to Naru. He would never forgive him if one hair on his brothers head was harmed.

So that night he sneeked into the dungeons, narrowly being caught by a sleepy guard he slipped into his brothers cell block.

"Kenshi!" he whispered. The sight of his brother in chains sent hurt and rage swirling in a body too small to hold such strong emotions.

"Hiaro, I knew you would come for me."

He was doing the right thing, He felt pride at his brothers words. Kenshi knew he would never desert him. Their was a flash of glowing blue light as his brother whispered something the chains broke and the door swished open soundlessly. Hiaro stared in shock, how had Kenshi done that? Father and Naru had put strong magic on them.

Kenshi smiled at him placing a hand on his head as he always did. "I have learned many things in my time with the great one Hiaro. And you will too, I was waiting for you to come to me. Come let us leave this place of blind sheep who would turn on their own kin." Hiaro nodded and slipped his hand into his brothers feeling warm and safe for the fist time in years.

As they slipped through the silent halls he imagined what a life of being a rebel would be like. In all the tales his mother used to tell him before her death rebels where brave men. Over throwing tyrants and evil men. Daring to defy the odds, not willing to lie down and take injustice. His brother was a brave man and he hoped that he could be just like him one day.

it was not to be, as they slipped closer to the back gate outside the kitchens they where seen.

"Hiaro, Kenshi Wait! I want to go too!" Hari's little voice rang out in the night. Too loud, the little girl in her haste to reach them was shouting. Hiaro winced, she was going to bring the entire house down on their heads.

"Hari be quite! your going to wake everyone up!" He admonished her. She ran tripping over her robes. When she caught up with them she paled and stilled. She stared at Kenshi with eyes growing steadily wider. This was the first she had seen Kenshi since the day he left. Having like him not been allowed to attend his trial.

"Kenshi...What have you done to yourself" She whispered backing up a step away from him. Hiaro stared at her in confusion. Hari was always seeing things no one else saw. It was a gift that his mother had also had, whatever she was seeing now she didn't like. "You cant go with him Hiaro!" She pleaded grabing his hand. He was just going to reassure her when Kenshi said something.

Hari screamed jerking away from the two of them. Whatever spell Kenshi had hit her with it had hit her in her face. She lay on the ground screaming and clutching her face. Hiaro stared at Kenshi in shock.

"Kenshi...Why?"

And then everything was happening so fast, guards where pouring from the castle magic was being thrown back and forth. Hiaro stood their cold shock and disillusionment holding him in place. His brother had hurt Hari, sweet little Hari. She hadn't meant to alert the guards and he had hurt her. He was battling for his life now and loosing fast. He was slain right there in front of the back gate. Hiaro stared at his brothers fallen body with horror. His father stood over his oldest son a look of hallow pain on his face.

"Father..." His little legs shook and his voice failed him as he stared at the naked pain on his fathers face.

"Enough Hiaro. You have shown all of us where your loyalties lie. You have shamed your people and allowed this monster to harm your sister. You bring shame to my name."

~Present day~

He paused back the memory of the night his life had changed forever with a sigh. It had been his own foolishness that lost him his fathers trust and his right to learn Shojini. Even though he had been proved horribly and irreversibly wrong about his brother, as he had lain on his bed that night crying out his pain he had made a vow.

Kenshi had fallowed one ruler a man he now new was connected to the Dark Lord. He had served him in blind faith until his heart had become as twisted as his masters. His father served Naru and would kill his own children if it was decreed it was so. He was unforgiving of a child's mistake all at the word of his King. He'd had enough of kings and orders. Wouldn't the world be a much better place if people actually took a look at whom they where serving, if people fallowed their own hearts instead of orders.

He had vowed that he would be such a person, although bowing was a symbol of respect and an important part of his culture Hiaro would never bow to anyone! He would bow when he found a person he truly respected. This had brought further shame to his father and their family. When he would not bow in respect to the elders and even Naru his father had decreed that it must be because his sons true loyalty lay with his brother.

He grit his teeth in anger, how could anyone think that. Being proved that his brother was not only a Death eater but depraved enough to try and kill his own sister had destroyed any innocence he still had. He had vowed that if he ever met another Death Eater he'd get vengeance. They had twisted his brother taken away from him something that he loved. The wound of his brothers treachery he would carry with him forever.

He had lost everything that night, how could his father thing he would be loyal to evil. He shuddered, he had come so close. He didn't delude himself into believing that if Hari hadn't have stopped them and he went with Kenshi that things would have been ok. If he refused to join the forces of darkness they would have killed him. He had no doubt that if Hari hadn't shown up he would even now be either dead or a Death Eater.

Well it hadn't happened that way and he wasn't a naive little boy anymore. He was an adult, no matter how many times he said that no matter that he was twenty and not ten. He still felt like a lost little boy. That's why when Ron had decreed that his father forgive him and teach him what it was his right to know he had struck out. The boy in him wanted his fathers love, wanted his forgiveness of his own feelings not from any Kings orders.

"You can't think like a child, you owe him an apology." He berated himself aloud. He gave a heaving sigh, might as well do what he had to do while the going was good.
______-------______-------______-------______--------_____-----

His thigh hurt like hell and the last thing he needed was Hiaro on his ass. Ron thought to himself as Hiaro entered his bedroom. He glared at the older man and shifted on his bed. For a snotty bastard with a pole up his arse Hiaro had the looks of a young god. Ginny had been real into wizard Manga when she was alive, always watching the pictures and drawings playing out their stories. The young men in them had always been beautiful in the purely unique way of the Japanese. She'd teased Ron when he'd picked up one and remarked that the girl on the cover was gorgeous. She'd giggled and informed him she thought so too but since Ayime was a guy he might not appreciate being mistaken for a girl.

Ron was of the firm opinion that he shouldn't be wearing a dress then. What self respecting man did that. Hiaro had feminine features a lot of the men around here did. If they all put on dresses and heals and makeup it would be hard for him a foreigner to tell between the sexes. A lot of people said it was art, said it was style and that it enhanced a males natural beauty. That he shouldn't be afraid to explore his body and his sexuality. Well he knew his body and it sure as hell like pants and girls!

"look if you want to spit and tell me I don't deserve to be king and we made complete ass's of ourselves out there I know all that. Could you please save it till my thigh doesn't feel like it's been chopped off" He growled at Hiaro. Hiaro frowned glancing at Ron's leg. He took a deep breath, he looked nervous as if he was about to do something really distasteful.

Like the sound of silence calling,
I hear your voice and suddenly
I'm falling, lost in a dream.
Like the echoes of our souls are meeting,


"Look, I know I snapped at you earlier. I was just rather shocked. I haven't been very kind to you and your friends and I apologize for this. You helped me regain something I had lost and I responded in a rude an ungracious manner. It would be customary for me to bow in apology however I ask that you forgive me this slight. I once took a vow never to bow to anyone unless I felt they deserved my honor and my allegiance." He waited for Ron's reply.

You say those words and my heart stops beating.
I wonder what it means.
What could it be that comes over me?
At times I can't move.
At times I can hardly breathe.

Ron stared at him in something close to embarrassment he had berated Hiaro when all he had meant to do was offer an apology. "There really isn't any need Hiaro, I'm sorry I snapped at you. And there really isn't any need for you to bow to me. Everyone keeps doing that to me and in all honesty it makes me nervous. Besides I haven't earned any of those things you mentioned in fact since I got here I've done the exact opposite. So why would you?"

Hiaro stared at him a look of contemplation on his face. "Because you are my King and by right alone i should bow to you. It is the way of things, my father even though he thinks you are young and rash will bow to you even though he is both older and wiser."

That was true all the lords who knew he was the Earth king bowed to him. "Your sister does not bow to me when I pass her. Does she share your opinion then?" He asked, every time he'd seen Hari she had ignored him as if he was not there. Pain flashed in Hiaro's eyes then was quickly masked with his usual coolness.

"No Hari believes in respecting our father. She believes if he thinks you would make a good King then it will probably come to pass that way. Most likely she simply did not know you where passing, she is blind. She has been since she was small." Hiaro explained. He looked as if he was daring Ron to blame him, to cut him down. What was wrong with this man he always had such a chip on his shoulder, even when making an apology he never let go of that obstinate pride of his. His mother had always said he was stubborn, Hiaro made him look like a saint.

"That's ok, like I said I don't really care either way. I grew up kind of poor sharing a bathroom with a bunch of siblings and always being second best at everything. People bowing to me is not something I've grown up to expect." He said. Hiaro nodded and graceful slid into the window seat. They eyed each other with an edgy truce between them.

"You care a lot about your family. When you talk about them, even when you complain its easy to see that you feel a lot for them"

When you say you love me
The world goes still, so still inside and
When you say you love me
For a moment, there's no one else alive

Ron nodded, he did and he could say the same for Hiaro. When he talked about his father and his sister it was plain as day that he felt a lot for both of them. Hiaro sighed turning to face the window. "Don't care too much, even family. You trust them with all your being love them with all your heart and make yourself blind to their faults. Then when it matters you loose everything."

You're the one I've always thought of.
I don't know how, but I feel sheltered in your love.
You're where I belong.
And when you're with me if I close my eyes,
There are times I swear I feel like I can fly
For a moment in time.
Somewhere between the Heavens and Earth,
And frozen in time, Oh when you say those words.

Ron frowned, their was such stark pain in Hiaro's voice pain he tried to hide with coolness and indifference. He sensed that this was a sore subject for Hiaro. "Family can hurt us sometimes. Trust me my brothers have hurt me multiple times. The twins used to..." this was the first time he actually had talked to anyone about Fred and George. It had always been so hard to think on it. He gulped back the ball of emotion threatening to choke him and continued."They where terrors, its because of them I'm afraid of spiders. And when they where alive the amount of times they'd nearly killed me was growing steadier by the time I was six. They teased me and really didn't often have much to say to me unless it was to tear the mickey out of me."

When you say you love me
The world goes still, so still inside and
When you say you love me
For a moment, there's no one else alive.

Hiaro was staring at him in something like fascination, he had beautiful eyes. Ice gray that contrasted his hair and brought out the red streaks in his hair. He was really a very beautiful man he made those models in Ginny's magazines look like trolls. "I used to think they where my least favorite of my brothers. And then they died and I realized that I'd suffer every moment of it again if I could just tell them how I really felt."

Hiaro stared at the young man on the bed, his auburn hair laying lazily in front of deep brown eyes. It had come loose from is ponytail and was spread out on the pillow around him. He was tall and without a shirt it was obvious just how masculine he actually was. Hiaro wasn't dense, he'd figured out on maturity his taste ran towards men. He'd never even been attracted to a female before. Listening to him talk about his family with such love and forgiveness was warming something that had frozen inside him.

Would he relive every moment of that night and the years leading up to it if he had the choice. He felt a tremor go up his spine. He would. He tried so hard to feel differently but even to this day he loved his brother. He wanted to see his face again, to shout and to scream. To ask his brother what had made him turn, to beg him to come back. he'd relive every moment just to have those years of happiness back. He felt his insides shaking and melting with warmth. Oh shit, this couldn't be happening. It went against everything he felt about kings, about the Miraza` especially. He felt fear clutch at his heart. He did something desperate.

"My brother was a Death Eater!" He blurted. He sounded like a ninny he knew that, but Ron being Harry's best friend would surely condemn him. "My father was going to kill him and I set him free, that's why my father took away my right to learn Shojini." He waited, it was odd that he really hoped that Ron would condemn him. Then whatever was happening inside him would wither and die.

"He was your brother, what else would you have done."

Shit.

Hiaro scrambled off the window seat said a hasty goodbye and left the room. What in the hell was wrong with him, he despised kings! Men undeserving of power, leading people around like sheep! Ron was just a stupid little boy who had stumbled upon a sword and because of it he now had the power to order his death, and his father to forgive him. It wasn't right! He couldn't do this, he couldn't fall in love with the Miraza` that was the most foolish thing he could ever do! Not to mention that if their was anyone straighter then Ron he would be a ruler! he was so strait it was almost homophobic!

"Hiaro"

He whirled around like someone had tried to stab him. Hari stared at him with those gray eyes of hers, deep and fathomless. They saw nothing but always seemed to see all. He tried to control his breathing but knew he was failing miserably.

"You feel different Hiaro, don't be afraid of healing." She said walking towards him ever graceful and every beautiful. His heart hurt, those eyes of hers seemed to look into his soul yet didn't focus on him at all. He hadn't cried since he was ten years old but he wanted to now.

"He's in love with a girl. And it would be a mistake Hari!" He whispered. He shivered when one pale hand touched his cheek. He felt her aurora touching him, his little sister had so much faith and so much power. Looking at her hurt, he was always swamped with guilt. She had lost her sight because of his foolishness.

"You have made a lot of mistakes, that is true Hiaro. But your greatest mistake is refusing to love, you once loved to much and you now think that it is best not to love at all, that brother is your greatest mistake."

When you say you love me.
When you say you love me.
Do you know how I love you

Authors note: the song is When you say you love me by Josh Gorban a very haunting but beautiful melody. I only had one class today fridays are my easy days and Aisha Insisted i spend it writing. I made up that paper Like I said and hope it turns out ok. I have a test monday so i'm off to study the next update probably wont be untill after monday then. BYE EVERYONE!