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In the Land of Arborea	By : Sweetsong22 Category: +S through Z > Tera Online Views: 6239 -:- Recommendations : 2 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own Tera Online. All rights go to ENMASSE Entertainment and their collborators. There is no profit being earned from this fanfiction.

Chapter List
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Chapter 14
          Lucas knew that he was at a great disadvantage as he watched the two burly men approach him. But there was at least one thing he had going for him -- the element of surprise. These men would think of him as nothing but a cripple and easily subdued. And although Lucas was still subject to his elusive memories, it was not lost on him that a body as honed as his had to have been used in some sort of combat. He closed his eyes briefly and allowed his instincts to take over. He realized that considering the alternatives, this was the only option left to him. He blocked out the taunting sounds the men made as they approached while he fought for some epiphany to be delivered to him. Knowing that his body would yet fail him, he decided to go for it anyways.
          Lucas' eyes swept open just as one of the men were about to reach for him. He quickly grabbed his cane and used it to sweep the man's feet out from under him. When the other lunged at him, he brought the cane back up and slammed the tip into his attacker's bulky chin. When the man stumbled backwards with a surprised cry, he used that opportunity to swing the cane at his head making firm contact with his temple. The man soon fell to the ground unmoving.
          "Bavis!" Clovon was instantly on his feet, his beer forgotten as he realized Lucas meant them harm. He noticed Jameson rebounding and was preparing to take the injured man alongside his friend but suddenly he felt himself trip. He fell forward and knew that Saeylas was responsible before he even glared over at the youth. A growl escaped his lips when he saw Lucas make short work of Jameson who soon joined Bavis on the floor out cold.
          Clovon rolled backwards before grabbing Saeylas and holding him by the neck in front of him. He glared at Lucas and knew now that it was a mistake to let the man stay there at all. "If you take one step, I will snap his neck!"
          "You would kill your own son? I'd think he was too valuable to you." Lucas was not as yet willing to call the man's bluff, therefore he remained rooted in place.
          "He's not my fucking son, he was always little more than a whore to me, so was his stupid bitch of a mother."
          A muscle ticked in Lucas' cheek but he said nothing. He wanted to wipe the floor with the man simply for the disrespect he'd just paid to both Saeylas and the boys' mother. By Saeylas' own admission, Clovon was his stepfather, but adopted or not a father figure was no less a father to a child who had only known that person most of their life. Lucas began to twirl the cane in his right hand while never taking his eyes off the distasteful man.
          "Who the fuck are you?" Clovon demanded. He knew that only a man with trained combat skills could have been able to take out his buddies that easily.
          Lucas shrugged, "Your guess is as good as mine."
          "Lucas, take one of the horses and get away, I'll be fine." Saeylas was certain he looked anything other than fine, with the tight grip Clovon had on his neck that was close to cutting off his circulation.
          "Shut up you fucking whore!" Clovon shook the naked boy in his grasp while tightening his hold. He noticed too late that Lucas had taken a few steps forward. When he felt the end of the cane crushing into his skull, he realized that his time on this earth may be coming to an end. His body slumped forward as blood began to stream down his temple.
          Saeylas was simply elated to be free from this man in every sense of the word. He jumped to his feet and ran into Lucas' tight embrace. "By the Titans, thank you!"
          Lucas hugged the youth to him for a few brief seconds before releasing him to gaze into his eyes. "No, thank you. I can't guarantee that your life will be much better with me, but it's time we left this place for good."
          Saeylas nodded as he quickly gathered his clothing. He donned a pair of brown trousers with matching sandals before retrieving the now mended trench coat that his mother had given him. He knew they couldn't stop to gather supplies before the other men woke and was prepared to leave this hell hole with just the clothes on his back. Once they exited the farmhouse, Saeylas turned to Lucas and before the man could say another word he planted a slow kiss upon the Castanic's lips. When he finally pulled away, his heart was so open that he said the only words on his mind and in his heart. "I love you."
          Lucas was taken aback, not sure what to say or do, but when he heard the flapping of approaching wing beats, he knew they were about to have visitors. Not far in the distance, at least two Pegasus' were en route to them. From their trajectory it was possible they had come from the city of Allemantheia. He knew that he'd hit Clovon hard enough to kill him, but hadn't bothered to check. After all the vicious man had done to his step-son, he would have certainly deserved it. But now if the people approaching them were authorities, he'd have some explaining to do.
          Saeylas was grateful that Lucas held him close as they waited for the riders to arrive. He'd witnessed these winged horses flying overhead before, but never had they come directly to this farm. He should have been concerned that even after his admission to Lucas, that they would now be separated. But he had faith that the man did indeed care about him and that they would have a future together. As the beautiful animals landed he noted that the first had carried a lovely Castanic female with brilliant orange-red hair, and the second -- a tall human man. Saeylas had been so preoccupied staring at them that he missed the wide-eyed look on Lucas' face, but it was clear that there was certainly recognition there.
          "General?" Brie was confused. She hadn't quite expected to find Luceus in a conscious state, for now it would seem as if he'd really skipped out on his Tenlis Culpas. But here he was, obviously still suffering from the effects of his beating but in no way seemed impaired by them.
          "Brie, Traviis." The words left his lips as a flood of memories suddenly inundated his thought process. "I remember."
          Saeylas' wide eyed stare flipped from the newcomers to Lucas and back as he wasn't certain what would happen next. The pretty woman had referred to Lucas as a General which was something Saeylas would never have suspected.
          "Wait, are you saying you'd lost your memory?"
          Luceus nodded slowly. "Flashes would come back to me, but nothing coherent. But it wasn't until I saw you two just now, that I knew exactly who I am."
          "Oh man!" Brie lost all propriety and hugged him close to her for a full minute. She was aware of the pretty High Elf male at his side but wasn't quite ready to acknowledge him. If Luceus had lost his memories, it meant he may have developed a relationship with someone else if he'd forgotten all about Tristtan. She didn't like the idea of that but was so happy to have Luceus back that she couldn't complain.
          "You gave us a pretty good scare there, General." Traviis waited for Brie to release him before he grasped the Castanic's arm in greeting. "But I got to say that although you look like hell, it's great to see you're still breathing."
          "Lucas..." Saeylas didn't doubt that the male Castanic was still very aware of him, but he had to know just what this all meant and who exactly Lucas was. He didn't need to voice the actual question when the man once again gave him his full attention.
          "Now I know why that name seemed familiar, Luke is the name of my son. But my true name is Luceus Magelus.
          "Luceus," Saeylas liked the way the word came off his lips. However, they were once again distracted by the approach of another Pegasus.
          "Is that who I think it is?" Luceus' didn't take his gaze away from the newcomer even after he'd landed before them and dismounted. "Lycineus."
          "Brother -- so, you're not dead nor do you appear to be dying. But I suppose I ought to get you back to one hundred percent in case I have to disease you within an inch of your life -- later." Lycineus held his hands in a semi-circle before creating a brilliant, healing ball of life. He compressed the circle before allowing it to fly towards Luceus' chest. The orb passed through the layers of clothing and skin in order to heal the injuries within.
          Saeylas watched in awe as Luceus' brother who was clearly a skilled mystic healed the man completely in a matter of seconds. All the recent scar tissue and bruises faded and the broken tip of Luceus' horn was instantly regenerated. "By the Titans, that's amazing." Saeylas couldn't help his outburst, but it also had several pairs of eyes looking his way.
          "Brie, do me a favor, secure the men in that house, they'll have to await trial. But it's time I got back to Allemantheia and Tristtan. Anyone care to fill me in on what's happening in the meantime?"
          "Been missing for days, presumed dead and you're right back in the swing of giving orders, aren't you?" Lycineus asked dryly.
          "Cut him some slack Lycee, he did lose his memory." Brie winked at him before moving to enter the farm house.
          "You lost your memory?" Lycineus echoed. "Well I suppose that makes sense as to why you didn't contact us."
          "There will be time enough for explanations, I'd really like to leave this place," Luceus insisted.
          Lycineus nodded, "We can double up on the mounts."
          "Good, Saeylas will be coming with us," Luceus motioned to the young elf.
          "Will he now?" Lycineus raised a single eyebrow.
          "Yes, because if it wasn't for him, I wouldn't be standing before you now."
          Lycineus nodded and said nothing else but, "Fair enough."
OOO
Tristtan's eyes fluttered open slowly when he felt a soothing presence beside him. He thought perhaps to find Luceus' brother once more, knowing like Rosalinda the man was a skilled healer adept at soothing the body. What he found instead was someone he hadn't expected to see again for quite some time. Tristtan bolted upright in bed his demeanor changing instantly to that of displeasure. "Mother, what are you doing here?"
          "Calm yourself, Tristtan. I'm not here to fight," Laeyla assured him.
          Tristtan eyed her warily. "Do the others know you're here?"
          "You think me skilled enough to sneak in here undetected and spirit you off?"
          Tristtan pressed his lips in a thin line. "Well then, I suppose I should have made it clear that I wanted nothing to do with either you or father."
          "Tristtan will you just listen to me for a minute. I came here to make things right, as of this moment -- your friends are searching for Luceus. And hopefully we should hear back from them soon."
          Tristtan immediately flipped the covers off and left the bed. He paused long enough to don a pair pants beneath his hospital gown and some slippers intent on learning from someone he trusted just what was going on.
          "I thought this news would make you happy," Laeyla couldn't replace the frown on her face with anything else as she saw her son prepare to leave the room.
          "Mother, I doubt anything you say will ever make me happy again." He didn't even grace her with a final look before exiting the room. He'd made it to the first level of the building and almost shrieked when he saw a Castanic male with his back turned to him at the building's entrance. Judging by the man's form and build, it had to be Luceus. He was about to break into a run when he noticed an unknown Elven male with him holding Luceus' hand almost possessively. When the man with the purple tinted long hair leaned upwards to steal a kiss from the General, Tristtan felt as if the floor had opened up from beneath him and was about to swallow him whole. Here was Luceus seemingly okay and kissing another man. Tristtan had seen enough, he quickly turned and bounded back up the stairs, unable to keep at bay the flood of tears that now streamed down his face.
          Luceus was the one who broke Saeylas' kiss and soon realized he'd need to have a talk with the boy and soon. He was not available to pursue a relationship with him, and the sooner Saeylas learned that, the better. He glanced upward when he saw a human female approaching him and managed a smile and a brief hug. "This is Rosalinda, I need you to go with her."
          Rosalinda had already been briefed by Lycineus on all the details of Luceus' rescue. She wasn't thrilled to see the young man kissing the General and certainly hoped he'd nip that in the bud and quickly.
          Saeylas glanced at the woman who gave him a welcoming smile, but all he could focus on was the fact that Luceus was leaving him. "You're leaving me?"
          "Only briefly, I have to change and issue my report on the happenings of the last several days." Luceus noticed that the boy still looked like he'd lost his best friend. "I won't abandon you Saeylas, and believe that whatever you wish to pursue, be it schooling or training in the healing arts, I will see it done." He touched the boy on the cheek gently, giving him a brief smile and within moments he was gone.
          Saeylas was reassured by the General's words, and hoped that perhaps one day he'd add the role of his lover to that list.
          "You wish to pursue healing?" Rosalinda's expression was gentle despite the fact that she didn't want this boy causing trouble for Tristtan and Luceus.
          Saeylas nodded slowly. "My mother taught me simple healing spells when I was younger -- if she hadn't then I fear I may not have been able to keep the General alive."
          "Then the gods were truly smiling on him that the river led him to your doorstep. Come, walk with me." Rosalinda began to lead the way to a spare room where the boy could freshen up before being taken to the cafeteria for a meal. "What healing profession beckons you? Priest or mystic?"
          Saeylas stroked his chin as if to ponder her question. "You're a priest aren't you?"
          Rosalinda nodded, "Indeed I am."
          "Well I was going to ask you which profession you preferred -- but I suppose your answer may be biased."
          "Not necessarily, my husband to be is a mystic and sometimes we swap healing spells and ideas."
          "Your husband to be?" Saeylas echoed and remembered the mystic that healed Luceus at the farm. "The General's brother?"
          "Yes, Lycineus Magelus," she replied with a smile.
          "I don't think he likes me very much."
          "And you've figured that after knowing him for all of what -- five seconds?"
          Saeylas grinned slightly, "Call it intuition."
          "And what does your intuition say about me?" Rosalinda wanted to know.
          Saeylas gazed at her curiously for several seconds. "I haven't quite figured that out yet."
          "Well let me know when you do," She winked at him as they arrived at the guest room.
OOO
          As Luceus' feet took him to his assigned quarters, he couldn't stop thinking that Tristtan was here in this very building, and in a matter of moments they would be reunited. A part of him wanted to go to the boy directly and sweep him off his feet with a soul binding kiss. However, Luceus was anxious to get out of these rags he'd been wearing for far to long and wouldn't sully their long awaited reunion in that way. But, when he spotted someone heading to the roof area that looked an awful lot like Tristtan he knew he had to follow him on instinct. Something was wrong, he felt it in his gut as he headed up the narrow stairs leading to a look-out point atop the structure. These conference buildings were built much the same across Arborea and he knew there to be a narrow balcony up there that did make for a great view or an escape for two lovers to be alone. When he made it to the top of the stairs, as he'd suspected, the man was alone. But his precarious perch on the other side of the balcony railing gave him pause. However, that slight build and the short cropped yellow blond hair was unmistakable.
          "Tristtan?"
          Tristtan sobbed when he recognized Luceus' voice and turned slowly to glance at him. His heart was practically in his throat to be this close to his lover once again. For so long he'd believed the worst, that Luceus was possibly dead and that all their efforts to find him would one day prove in vain. But here he was, seemingly alive and well, he was slightly thinner than the last time Tristtan saw him but other than that, he looked much like the Luceus he remembered. But perhaps that man was gone in more ways than one. "Stay back, don't come any closer!"
          "Tristtan what are you doing?" Luceus had begun to close the distance between then but paused at Tristtan's frantic words. However, fear coursed through him at the thought of Tristtan falling from this height.
          "I'm so happy you're alive," Tristtan managed a weak smile but all too soon, the images of Luceus and the strange boy kissing once again filled his head. "But -- if you've found another, then I won't stand in your way." His eyes were blurry with tears as he stared at the man he knew he still loved.
          "Tristtan, it's not what you think!"
          "How else am I to interpret it? You were holding hands and you kissed."
          "He kissed me." Luceus slowly approached the balcony rail with non threatening movements hoping that his words would distract the distraught boy. "Saeylas may have been the one responsible for saving my life, but he doesn't hold my heart. My memories returned to me only this morning, and I know who the most important person in my life is once again."
          Tristtan unhooked one arm to wipe the tears from his eyes as Luceus' words began to hit home. But he realized too late that he would be left unbalanced as a result and instantly slipped off the outer ledge of the balcony railing. He felt his grip giving and realized he was about to squash his brains like a pumpkin on the far pavement below of which there would be no reviving. But suddenly, he felt Luceus tight grip on his arm as the man took hold of him and quickly pulled him up onto the balcony proper. Apparently loss of weight had not diminished the General's strength. Tristtan expected the man to scold him for his foolishness, but instead he hugged him tightly for close to a full minute. Tristtan felt warm and safe again to be in this man's all encompassing embrace.
          "I feared I'd found you only to lose you once again." Luceus tilted Tristtan's head to gaze into the boy's glossy blue eyes. "Please Tristtan, tell me what you need from me so that you'd never feel this way again. For as the man that I'm in love with -- I want you to be here with me for many years to come."
          "Oh, Luceus," Tristtan kissed him firmly on the lips, never wanting to let go. "I love you ... I love you..." He repeated between kisses as desire soon inflamed him.   "I want to be with you, right now."
          "So do I, more than anything -- but I don't want our joining tarnished by the unfinished business I must see to post haste."
          Tristtan nodded his understanding but his hands remained joined with Luceus'. "I no longer have a relationship with my parents. The way in which they manipulated us simply to keep us apart -- I can never forgive them for that."
          "Tristtan that's not what I want. I simply wish to be allowed to build a life with you. And as for your future in the military, I will respect whatever decision you choose."
          "I've already made that decision and I know I want to be with you as your consort."
          Luceus lowered his gaze as he realized that admission came far too quickly. "I will give you time to think on it, I don't want the recent events of what we've been through to be responsible for any hasty decisions. I know that you are a brilliant and skilled archer and it would not be in anyone's best interests to keep you from that."
          "I just want to build a life with you," Tristtan spoke truthfully.
          "And you will, that I promise you." Luceus kissed him then, reveling in the remembrance of a taste that was utterly Tristtan. How he'd missed it. It seems the gods had granted him a second chance to be with this young man, and he wasn't going to waste it.
OOO
"My liege, I understand that your presence here has been very beneficial to my cause." Luceus grasped Lektus' arm in greeting as one would an old comrade of arms. The General had just arrived at the main conference room, where the special group of investigators including those from Herald Fort had been working on locating him for the past several days. He'd been properly groomed and dressed in his own clothing that thankfully Brie had thought to bring some spares along for him.
          "I must admit, General, it's good to see you in one piece." Lektus managed a genuine smile grateful that his recent doubts as to the Luceus' survival could now be laid to rest. "However, the situation surrounding you is not yet over."
          "My memories have indeed returned fully. And one of the last things I do recall was being turned away at Stanhope manor, then being escorted out by Lord Stanhope's guards to an undisclosed location, where a group of men led by Juleus Truth were awaiting me." Luceus noticed when Brie's face hardened at the mention of the High Elf Commander. "The beating was severe but I don't think that alone attributed to my memory loss. Clearly after they dumped me into the river, I must have sustained further injury."
          "That man is completely honor-less, to try to outright kill you!" Brie slammed her right fist onto Lektus' desk. She couldn't wait to get her hands on the traitorous Commander Truth.
          "I was unconscious at the time, therefore honestly, I don't know if Truth gave the order for that," Luceus conceded.
          "Well there's one way to find out," Brie prepared to leave the room when Luceus delayed her with a few words.
          "Brie, I know you're angry, but don't lower yourself to his level."
          "You don't have to worry about that General, I have something else entirely different in mind." Brie winked at him before excusing herself from the room.
          "You've got a loyal one there," Lektus commented after the fiery Commander left. His thoughts then returned to the matter at hand. "I'm sure you realize that I'm bound by law to report to Judge Phaeos of your return. However, I shall do nothing until tomorrow, giving you the rest of the day to build your defense. Given the fact that it will be your word against Reginaldd Stanhope, I suspect you'll need one."
          "But we have a written confession from Laeyla Stanhope," Rosalinda interjected. "And we know the interrogation the High Elf council gave Tristtan to be manipulated."
          "It won't be enough, Lord Stanhope can claim her disturbed or insane," Lektus began. "We may have enough to keep Luceus out of prison with Tristtan's corrected testimony, but his rank will never be re-instated, not if this cloud of dishonor is allowed to hold, and Lord Stanhope could drag a trial out for years. The best way to end this would be a confession directly from his lips."
          "So even though Laeyla came all the way here and is now on our side, that still isn't enough?" Rosalinda felt she'd had it up to her ears in this aristocratic political bullshit.
          "Laeyla Stanhope is here?" This was the first Luceus was hearing of it. Perhaps during their whirlwind reunion, Tristtan had forgotten to mention it. Then again, perhaps he purposefully had said nothing. He'd left the boy resting in his room, promising to return to him as soon as he was able.
          "Believe it or not, if she hadn't told us her side of the story, we would never have found you," Sarrion stated.
          "And you're not going to believe what else she did tell us," Lycineus spoke up. "Our father had an affair with her husband many years ago when we were still children."
          Thoughts began to race through Luceus' mind like a tornado but all he said was, "Bring her to me."
          Sarrion left to obey Luceus' order and in less then two minutes, a Laeyla Stanhope with dark circles beneath her eyes was presented to the room of people.
          "General, I received word of your safe return. I truly am pleased, and I know Tristtan must be as well." Laeyla managed a smile, although the thought of Tristtan's treatment of her left a dull ache in her chest.
          "Why did you decide to come clean now?" Luceus simply asked.
          "Because in the past, I clearly did not have my priorities straight, and unfortunately, Reginaldd still does not. Our son is the most important factor here, and I refused to keep hurting him because of our selfish feelings," Laeyla explained genuinely.
          "I sensed from the very beginning that your husband held some sort of grudge against me. Will you explain how his having an affair with my father had anything to do with that?"
          "It had everything to do with it," Laeyla began softly. "Your father broke Reginaldd's heart, and he was never the same after that. I fear that nothing we can do now will ever make him forget that."
          "What if everything he believed wasn't true?" Lycineus had brought his father's journal which he'd carried with him in remembrance of Winstone and had begun flipping through it. Having read it from cover to cover in the past, he knew exactly which areas to re-read that had given him pause in the past.
          "What are you saying?" Laeyla eyed the younger Magelus brother curiously.
          "Judging from several of the passages I've read here, I'd say our father truly loved your husband. But he couldn't admit it due to pride and guilt. He never mentioned Stanhope by name, but it was also clear that the person he was referring to was not my mother." Lycineus flipped open to a specific page and began to read.
          "Sometimes I think back of what could have been if I'd followed my heart and built a life with him. But I feared that one day he would regret all that he had missed out on, had I been selfish enough to keep him to myself. My sons could have learned much from him, and so would I. But alas, it seems what we had was not meant to be. I do hope he's happy, I pray that the family he now has can give him a sense of what I once shared with Stella, of what I'd wanted so desperately to share with him." Lycineus stopped reading and folded the book closed, "It ends right there."
          Laeyla stared at Lycineus wide eyed but unfortunately, what he'd just revealed to her had not come as a big surprise. She recalled that day when she'd walked in on the lovers in her bedroom, and her subsequent stress attack that had endangered her pregnancy. Laeyla had wanted to believe that Winstone was honor-less, that he'd suddenly decided to break if off with Reginaldd after he'd gotten want he wanted -- the rank of General. But deep down, she always suspected what Lycineus had just revealed to be true. As the years passed and she realized that not even the love they shared for Tristtan would ever bring them together, she should have ended it. But when Winstone died eight years ago, there had been no going back -- no opportunity to give the two lovers a chance to be together ever again.
          "By the Titans," Laeyla blinked back tears as she fought to find the right words to say. "Winstone Stanhope was indeed honorable, I see that now. If not through the two of you, these wonderful sons that he's raised, then definitely through the great sacrifice he made so that my family would not be torn apart. I must visit his grave in the future, for I will not find absolution over my part in this otherwise."
          "Wow, this is really deep," Traviis began not really sure what else to say, but it suddenly occurred to him. "But that has to be it, all we have to do is let Lord Stanhope know that the senior General Magelus really did want to be with him. Then maybe he'll drop this grudge against Luceus and admit his guilt?"
          "I fear it won't be that simple. Years of hurt and pain have frozen Reginaldd's heart. Words alone will not be enough to thaw it. But I do have an idea," Laeyla turned and gazed directly at Luceus. "And you'll be a big part of it, if you care to hear it."
          Luceus gazed at Laeyla for several seconds. He knew she was hurting, if only from Tristtan's own admission that he'd broken all ties with his parents. It wasn't lost on him on that fateful day when she broke that plant pot over his head, she'd instigated a chain of events that had led to him almost dying. But the last thing he wanted was to put Tristtan through the horrors of a long trial, so if there was a way to end this tonight, then he was all for it. "My lady, tell us what you have in mind."
A.N. Thanks to the few people still reading. FYI there will be no more videos but I really don't plan to introduce anymore new characters at this point. But can't make anymore videos since I don't play the game anymore. This was a new endeavor for me and it really branched off into a strange realm of fanfiction. However, my next project will be a return to original fiction, no gimmicks. ;)
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In the Land of Arborea