Sandstorm sidestory II

[maderr]

*~*~*

"Incredible," Noor said softly, eyes wide with amazement, even awe, as he looked at the book Rook had given him.

Rook warmed with happiness, hating that his cheeks flushed but unable to help it. He turned back to the clerk of the binding shop, passing over the necessary coin and arranging for the manuscripts he would periodically be sending.

Outside, Noor still could not tear his eyes from the book. "All this you did yourself, my heathen?"

His cheeks heated again, and Rook could not tamp down on the smile which spread across his face. That 'my' made him far too happy to and were it not for the persistent dread of wondering when he would no longer hear it, he would be the happiest man in the world. "Yes, and I've nearly finished a third. Do you like the binding? We had a time settling on what might hold up best in the Desert, without losing the aesthetic qualities. This leather is specially dyed and treated, and the paper is durable. Pleasing?"

"Quite pleasing," Noor said, and his cinnamon eyes sparked briefly, lips curving in a fond smile. "Though not as pleasing as the man before me."

"Nonsense," Rook said, turning away, but smiling all the same. The street they were on was deserted, the hour early yet for many to be about. He preferred to conduct business as early as possible, so that there were not a million things attempting to distract him.

A rough, calloused hand covered his eyes, then he was yanked back against a warm, firm body. He shivered as teeth lightly tested the skin of his throat. "Far from nonsense, my heathen."

For now, Rook could not help but think, though he hated it. They would be leaving tonight, to travel while it was cool and quiet – and as Ghost preferred to travel. When they were back in the Desert…would this last?

He pulled away and turned to smile. "Shall we go and purchase some new wines to take home with us?"

"Yes," Noor replied, and Rook could see he had not succeeded in distracting him. Noor knew something was bothering him – and wasn't it strange to be the one observed, read, when usually he went unnoticed.

Though Noor let him have his way, Rook didn't doubt it would come up again. They spent the rest of the day shopping, then bidding their final farewells to the King, the exiles, setting off as the sun neared the horizon.

Noor's mood continuously improved the closer they got to the Desert, and by the time they were lost in the Sands he swore the man was positively jubilant. "Sailors and savages," Rook said fondly. "The only men I know who love uncivilized worlds."

"Better to be a savage than a stupid heathen," Noor replied, smiling faintly. He nudged his horse closer to Rook's, leaning across the space between them to kiss him deeply, not releasing his mouth until it was necessary to breathe.

The thoroughness and skill with which Noor did everything, it was no mystery to him that Ghost had produced the man who managed to unite the Desert. Rook wanted so very badly for some of that focus to be on him eternally…that such a thing was unlikely hurt far more than he could bear to think about.

He should just accept it. Always he'd been apart from others, allowed to join only for brief periods of time.

Still…how fine a thing it would be to wake up alongside Noor ever day. To know that everyone knew they were one…

A soft sigh escaped before he could kill it.

"Does something trouble you?" Noor asked, pausing when he would have taken another kiss.

Rook summoned a smile. "Merely ready to be home." He gave the kiss Noor had not taken, drugged on that mouth, the lips soft and warm, skin rough where Noor had not shaved, and he wished they could stay like this forever – hot and tired, ready for a bath and bed, but if he could keep kissing Noor, and calling the fierce savage his own, the other discomforts were as nothing.

Unfortunately the kiss did end, and Noor urged his horse forward, continuing their journey.

They didn't have far to go, pushing on the last day so that they arrived late in the evening, right as the sun was beginning to set. Guards and various others greeted Noor enthusiastically, slightly more reserved when they spoke to Rook.

He dismounted at the stables and moved to take care of his horse.

"Lord Rook," a solider said, a small spider inked into his left cheek, "her Highness wanted to see you the moment of your return." He bowed to them both. "General, your presence was also desired."

Noor nodded. "We will come at once."

Wondering what was wrong, Rook handed off his horse to be tended by another and followed Noor from the stable. They made their way quickly through the halls, and all must have known of their destination because while they were greeted no one attempted to stop them.

"Rook!" Cordelia looked up and smiled at him as they entered. "General Noor. How was your trip?" She fondly stroked the hair of the woman who had been lying in her lap, and who now sat up to sit beside her.

"It went well," Rook said with a smile he could not help. "Very well."

Beside him he could feel and hear Noor laugh, but he said nothing further. "You required our immediate presence, my Princess?" he asked.

"Rook, really, but I wanted to hear the full of your trip, the state of the prisoners. Sahayl would have done it himself, for he worries over them a great deal, but he was called away to deal with a problem at the Northern border."

Rook frowned, not liking the tension that lined her face. "What's wrong?"

She didn't say anything, merely picked up something she'd been keeping out of sight on the floor beside her. "This came for you two days ago. I haven't opened it."

"You should have," Rook said absently, taking the envelope and sitting down at the table, motioning for Noor to join them. The envelope was made of heavy vellum, marked with his name – his real name – in careful, elegant script. In his native language, rather than Tavamaran, which would have been more proper and polite.

He frowned at the formal seal on the back – the King's own Seal, made with the ring he alone wore. "You should have opened it," he repeated. Breaking the seal, he pulled out two pieces of vellum, both filled top to bottom in formal script. The King's handwriting…why would his uncle be writing to him? So carefully…purposefully…

Biting his lip, Rook finally started reading.

When he reached the end, he was scowling. Without a word he handed the letter over to his cousin.

She read it in silence, looking up in surprise as she finished. "They want you back."

Rook shrugged. "Given the state of things, I would imagine they have lost the hold they had gained over Solna. I took care of matters as best I could before leaving, and laid out several basic strategies. The strategist they had remaining should have been enough to carry them to full victory – unless something happened or Solna is cleverer than I predicted."

Cordelia snorted. "Never have I known your predictions to be wrong, Rook. If something is amiss, it is likely a result of Gollen stupidity. So they are trying to seduce you home to take care of this matter?"

"Yes," Rook said quietly, picking the letters up again. "The King is clever, I will give him that." He reread the letter. His titles and lands back, even a new one that would make him the highest strategist in the land… "Trouble with Solna, which would sour things with Havarin since Gollen's agreement was to keep Solna under control. Never mind the way matters in the Great Desert soured. There is still more besides, all of which you know."

"Not nearly as well as you," Cordelia said ruefully. "I try and try, but my forte is knowing what to say to who at what affairs, who to sit where, which persons to keep apart or let meet…but these worldwide politics you treat as little more than a game of chess…" She smiled. "Truly, though we are just part of Tavamara now the Great Desert has much to do on its own – and I do not think we would be doing half so well without you, Rook."

Rook quirked one brow. "Are you worried I'm going to run away, Lia?"

She shrugged and dropped her gaze, only looking back up at him slowly. "You have been unhappy, Rook. You hide it, but I know you better than that. Always you keep to your books, hiding away in your room. We have always been friends, my darling cousin, and I would miss your simple presence far more than your diplomatic skills." She shrugged again. "However, I would rather see you happy. If returning to Gollen would make you happy again, then I will see you are sent home quickly and in full splendor."

"If I may speak, my Princess?" Noor asked quietly.

Cordelia blinked. "Of course. I apologize, General Noor, for making you sit through this; I should perhaps have bothered you later."

"No, Highness, I feel it is a very good thing I am here. If Lord Rook has been unhappy, honestly compels me to admit that it is at least in part because we children of the Sands have not been kind in our reception."

"Yes," Cordelia said bluntly, meeting his gaze, every inch the fierce Princess who had married the Sandstorm Prince. "He does not wield a sword and so deserves to be either ignored or sneered at. I have not said anything because it was not my problem to work out, but it has aggravated me."

Rook flushed. He hadn't realized Cordelia had been so aware of matters.

Noor didn't flinch beneath the reprimand, merely met her gaze. "That has already begun to change, my Princess."

Cordelia's expression eased a bit. "Oh?" she asked, smiling. "Did your trip to Tavamara go well, then? I always thought the two of you would get along."

Rook was torn between groaning and laughing.

Noor chuckled. "Indeed, my Princess. We get along quite well."

Cordelia was silent for a moment, then her laughter rang out. "I see! Well, that makes happy hearing. I will demand the full of that story later tonight. Rook—"

"If you're about to ask if I'm returning to Gollen or not, my answer was decided long before I opened that stupid letter. I won't deny life here has been hard for me – but there is nothing for me in Gollen. He makes pretty promises, and sweetens it further by offering to agree to things Tavamara has been demanding. As I said, it's a fine strategy. Yet no smart King would trust again a man who turned traitor. He needs me, then he would get rid of me. It would be a waste of an excellent strategist, but better to kill me than risk me running off with a different enemy."

That aside, he was weak. Noor would not want him forever; it was stupid to think after their few days together that there could even be a forever. Yet he wished there could be a forever, and any chance, however slight, made it worth staying.

"Besides," he said with a smile. "I get away with a lot more as your cousin than I ever would as his nephew. I'd also probably get right back into fending off challenges."

Cordelia laughed. "General Noor, has he told you the story of how he came to be called Rook? He is not fond of the tale, for various reasons, but it is a charming one."

"I have heard the story, yes," Noor replied. "One day perhaps I'll know the game in question so that I can better appreciate it."

"I'm sure Rook will be more than happy to teach you," Cordelia said, grinning. "If you have heard the story, did he also tell you that he is frequently challenged? Men from across the country and other nations daily challenge him to a game of chess. He accepts sometimes, and has beaten them all. There is not a person in all the world who has ever beaten Rook."

A startled silence fell.

Rook glared. "Why does everyone like talking about me without my permission?"

"Because you never say enough about yourself," Noor answered before Cordelia could. "You speak of strategy, and love to explain things, to teach and help people. The smallest signals give away to you how someone is thinking or feeling. But of yourself? Very little slips out. It sounds to me as though you gave up a great deal when you came to our Sands, and I am sorry that we have not given you very good reasons to stay."

"I like the Sands," Rook said. "Truly I do. It's just been difficult finding where in them I belong." He smiled faintly. "I have no Tribe, my royal blood carries no real weight anymore. As to the games…" He shrugged. "It is no fun playing with people who care less about the game than winning."

Cordelia smirked at him. "Besides, if they still want to challenge you so badly, I have no doubt they will find their way here."

Rook grimaced. "I hope not."

A silence fell over the three of them, then the woman beside Cordelia stirred, speaking softly.

"That sounds like a lovely idea," Cordelia replied when she'd finished. She kissed the woman's lips briefly, and watched as she departed. "Dinner here, my dears? You can tell me the full of your trip." She grinned. "Business first, then I want to hear how the Rook wound up with the Knight."

Rolling his eyes, Rook explained what she meant by Knight before Noor could ask even as servants began to appear with the first round of wines.




When they finally finished dinner some time later, his head buzzed from slight overindulgence. Just enough to make him lethargic, lazy. He held a hand to his head, sighing.

"Are you well, my heathen?" A hand curled around his arm, immediately making Rook feel more sure of his steps, if not himself.

He looked up at Noor and smiled. "Quite well."

Noor stopped them as they reached a shadowy intersection, the four halls that connected to it empty save for flickering torches. The cool air of a desert night passed through, stirring him slightly from his lethargy. "Are you certain, Rook?" Noor asked.

He realized they weren't talking about his drinking anymore. "Haven't I said so?"

"You never say all that weighs on you – that I have already learned. As the Princess said, I would not have you unhappy."

"Not so long ago you wouldn't have cared," Rook said sadly. "Only days ago you were yet again dismissive because I could not wield a sword." He wanted to ask if Noor would stop caring, when his interest had finally waned, but held the question back because he did not want to know the answer.

Noor gently touched his face, sinking his hand into Rook's curls. Nice, it felt so very nice to be touched affectionately, as though he mattered. He wanted so badly to just lean in and rest against that fine, broad chest… "I made a mistake," Noor said. "We all have. I was blind and stupid – but I am not so now." He smiled faintly, hesitation in it. "Everyone considered the Desert nothing but mindless savages, and certainly we proved to be over and over again – yet you are still giving us a chance, and helping to convince others to give us a chance."

"I would say I've made it clear that I've given you a chance," Rook said. "My problem was that no one would give me a chance."

Then he was against that broad chest, exactly as he'd wanted to be, and he could not find it in him to protest the arms that held him tight. His head was tilted back, and then Noor was kissing him slow and sweet and thorough. Rook moaned and looped his arms around his savage's neck, more than happy to explore the mouth he already knew so well.

"Is this giving you a chance?" Noor asked when they finally broke apart.

Rook nodded.

"So you truly want to stay?" Noor asked, hands moving over him in a rough, possessive caress.

"Truly," Rook replied. "I would have anyway, but—" He cut himself off, still not able to say what he wanted, though it must be obvious anyway.

Noor didn't press it, merely kissed him again, this one harder and hotter than the previous, making Rook wish they were closer to a bed. One kiss bled into another, the heat of them making him shiver and moan. His back collided with hard wall, Noor pressed up against him, pinning him rather nicely. "I did not want you go, my heathen. I confess if you had chosen to return to Gollen, I might have turned to my savage ways and made you my captive." He gave Rook another dizzying kiss, and whatever reply Rook had meant to make was forgotten.

Teeth nipped his ear, Noor's voice passion-soaked in his ear. "Though as much time as you have already spent blindfolded and bound in my bed, perhaps you are my captive already."

Rook groaned at that, and if he were not already hard that would have done it. He forced his eyes open and looked up. "Am I? How long do savages keep their captives before tossing them back to the Sands?"

Noor kissed him hard, bruising his lips, a sound almost like a growl fed into Rook's mouth. "Never, my heathen. What the Sands take, the Sands keep, unless the Lady sees fit to take it away. You are mine."

The truth was in his eyes, his face, the way his arms tightened. Rook dared to really hope. He dragged Noor down for another kiss, as slow and sweet as the first, and it was so very fine a thing indeed to be a captured piece rather than the one to checkmate.

Comments

[zeffy-amethyst.livejournal.com]

*mwah* A proper happy birthday now. ^_^

Lovely story and lovely explanation of the political climate.

Yes, I do have a bit of a thing for politics. All those games and strategists....

[anialove.livejournal.com]

Happy Birthday!

Have fun and do something absolutely silly that makes you happy!

Excellent story. I also have to love the fact Noor realizes he's been blind because of a blindfold.

[escagirluk.livejournal.com]

Happy Birthday!

And yay for Rook! Because he's cute and fluffy.

[captainschlumpy.livejournal.com]

Happy Birthday! I hope you enjoy yourself!
Yummy fic by the way, I'd hoped Rook would get a savage of his own!

[tygati.livejournal.com]

There are just... so many things about this story that make me squee like an idiot fangirl. ^^; Usually just minor lines here and there, but they just... sum up everything so beautifully and... yes. *_____* I so very very love this story.

All the allusions to chess, and being blind/seeing, heathens and savages and the differences between them, oh and got to love all those crazy Tavamaran wines... ^____^ *purr*

And then there's Rook's psycho friend who was just so devious and mischievous and... ^___^ Yus.

I confess if you had chosen to return to Gollen, I might have turned to my savage ways and made you my captive.

*happy happy purring*

[aetheraestus.livejournal.com]

Joyeux Anniversaire! :) I hope it's a lovely one.



Mmmmmmmmmmmmm, this was one hell of a story to wake up to. Rook and Noor are HOT.

[mechante-fille.livejournal.com]

Yay!! Poor Rook, I was so very much crying for him. Little lost boy. I'm so glad you hooked him up, good.^_^

I love that he is copying the books, to preserve the heritage of the desert. Mmm. And the blindfold thing is genius.

So, Callen seems an interesting lad... *grin*

Thanks so much for such a lovely gift on your birthday! I hope you get to spend the day exactly as you wish. ^______^

[layhigh21.livejournal.com]

*Drool* I love how insecure Rook feels about Noor especially since he's supposed to be able to predict everything.

[melayneseahawk.livejournal.com]

Whee! They're so cute!

And a real happy birthday this time! I'd offer to write you something, but I'm currently up to my bum in schoolwork, so it would be much delayed.

[aqua-eyes.livejournal.com]

*___* Nice. Love Sandstorm. XD!

[charisstoma.livejournal.com]

"to be a captured piece" Wonderful double entrendre.
I can fully sympathize with the uncertainty Rook feels. How long does love last? It appears that Noor might be thinking of having Rook as a concubine.
"What the Sands take, the Sands keep, unless the Lady sees fit to take it away. You are mine." *shivers deliciously*

[ruselkie.livejournal.com]

oh, i like the idea of writing a story for your birthday. thankee very much! i adore the chess parallels throughout, as well as the blindfold idea. total genius!

happy b-day. may you drink lots and not feel old.

[shadowzephyr.livejournal.com]

Happy birthday!

This is a wonderful story. I was always interested in Rook. Its nice to get to learn more about him!

[gwaihiril.livejournal.com]

Happy birthday again!

"What the Sands take, the Sands keep, unless the Lady sees fit to take it away." What truth, especially lovely applied to this case. Rook and Noor are sweet together.

I liked Cordelia in this story. I liked her before anyway, because strong smart women are awesome, but I like how she set Rook and Noor up and how she balances politics and personal life. Also, that she noticed how Rook was being treated; I think she was right to not interfere, but as his cousin and queen, she dragged him there and has some responsibility for him.

Lovely, lovely story. I <3 Sandstorm.

[avalon13.livejournal.com]

Cbdudnfnd. I must admit to you now, that Rook has been one of my favourite characters from Sandstorm since his appearance, and hat I always thought he needed to be someone's pretty. I thought maybe he ould squeeze in with Sahayl and his lot. After all, surely Shahayl would have a bed big enough to fit them all. But this? So much better. There are times you share, and times you don't. Rook must not be shared. Ever.

[broken-moons.livejournal.com]

Rook! ^_^ I remember reading Sandstorm and wanting more Rook. And here it is, just like that. <3

And I... sorta remember Noor. >.> But I like him :). I'd just like to know if the way I've been mentally pronouncing his name as 'nore' is right.

[purple-alicorn.livejournal.com]

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!

I had just finished re-reading sandstorm so it was nice to read the side stories.

BTW - when are your books available and are you going to publish a sandstorm collection one day, because I would definitely buy that :>

[ayumuneechan.livejournal.com]

Oh! Me, too! Me, too! I'd buy any book you put out.

Such a lovely story. I love Sandstorm verse so much. And I'm so glad you wrote more about Rook. I love that he's an uber-strategist, and the fact he has to be blindfolded? *puddles into goo* Thank you muchly for sharing!

[miikarin.livejournal.com]

Ohhh... *loves* I was hoping that Rook would get his own lover! Thank you for causing much happiness in me.

I also thought that it was a nice touch how in the end Noor is the one observing and watching Rook.

[tmelange.livejournal.com]

I loved this sidestory, and would love even more of it. LOL These two are very endearing characters. You did an excellent job bringing them together. Bravo!

[graphitesmudges.livejournal.com]

*____________________________* MUST READ SANDSTORM AGAIN. OH LITTLE ROOK. YOU ANGST SO WELL IT MAKES ME CRY.

[nikerymis.livejournal.com]

Oh, this is sparkly. *____* I cannot tell you how much I loved this, but dammit, I'm going to try. ^___^ I confess I've not had a chance to read Sandstorm, but I went for this nonetheless and I'm really glad I did. ^___^ Rook and Noor are quite delicious, and I love the setting (settings, both in harem-land and in Sandstorm-land, yay for combined universes!).

I love Rook. His brain and the way he can plot out the moves of everyone several moves in advance, the way he's had his eyes on Noor for a while, the way he's always trying to keep himself useful even though he doesn't have to... I adore it. ^___^ The explanation that he's poor at swordwork just because he gets too far ahead in the fight makes total sense and probably amused me a little too much. ^___^ Heh, I just about died of giggles learning that he'd defeated the previously undefeated king the first time he'd tried to play chess.

I think my favorite part of this was when Noor figured it out and started using his own brain to pick Rook apart. ^___^ watching him watch Rook and unravel him was fabulous. ::snerk:: And the blindfold, guh. So well done. Very very seductive and I love the way Noor puts it to work. ^__~ (and then, smut, of course blew my brain more than a little. ^___^ Man, you got really good at that really fast. ::glomps::) And now I'm all distracted. Blindfolds and bound hands and yeah, just... yum. ^_______^ I totally had more to gush over but I don't think it's coming back. ^____^ Lovely lovely and definitely a favorite. ::glomps::

[fairietayle.livejournal.com]

Rook is a dear. So fragile and insecure; Noor is perfect for him.
But more than just the characters, I love the world and the set up. The politics are fun, and the fact that Rook is unbeatable in chess (right from the first time he touched the pieces) is a testiment how intelligent he really is. I'm glad you only revealed it at the end, that way there were still some suprises left and we got to know Rook before his intelligence.
I like Noor's possessiveness, "What the Sands take, the Sands keep, unless the Lady sees fit to take it away". And Rook's last thought, "it was so very fine a thing indeed to be a captured piece" is the perfect ending.

I have so many things in mind that I'd like to complement but I'm not completely coherent after reading this.
And trust me, I mean that in the most nicest ways ;D

[nikerymis.livejournal.com]

This story still makes me happy. ^___^ (I'm a total goober, I know.)

[maderr.livejournal.com]

I cannot believe you laugh at me for reading Linen Closet 50 million times. I am sorry I do not have your drabble, I was not expecting the dealership trip. I will attempt it tomorrow ^___^

[nikerymis.livejournal.com]

::grin:: This is only like, the fourth or fifth time I've read this story. So, in comparison, I'm doing well. ^___^ I have consoled myself with original story. I can totally wait until tomorrow. I'm off to bed now, hopefully to crawl out of bed early enough to attempt whatever solution is to be had to allow members to access the account management area. (::sigh:: mornings, ulgh.)