Chapter Twenty-Eight
Jaq
Something was going on. Jaq couldn't pinpoint what it was exactly, but his two husbands were up to something, and he wasn't sure what it was. Jaq slept most of the day the World Council had visited. He had been tired, and in a lot of ways, the events leading up to the presentation had been very emotional.
In truth, Jaq hadn't been a hundred percent sure how Serron and Patin would take being married to him for real, or how Patin would accept being a crown prince consort. The whole time he’d been writing his proposal, Serron’s story about how Patin hadn’t talked to him for two days when Serron made him the Duke of Folkon kept floating through his brain.
But when Jaq woke up late that same afternoon, the two men greeted him warmly. They shared another meal, and when Jaq started yawning again, they went back to bed - together. Serron had asked if Jaq would mind sharing a bed with them, not for any intimate purposes, he’d added quickly, as if he was worried that Jaq would get the wrong idea. But rather, Serron explained, they hoped that Jaq would get used to sharing their private space, the way Serron and Patin were very used to being with each other.
Jaq didn't mind, although he wondered how the two men would cope with him tending to take up a lot of bed space. He was used to sleeping alone. But the fact that Serron and Patin were gently nudging him toward those intimate matters he was so keen to learn about without being overbearing or pushy, was really appreciated.
It wasn’t as though he had the confidence to say, “Could you just show me what you two do when it comes to intimate matters, and do you mind if I take notes so I can study them later?” It was enough to feel as though they wanted to include him, which Jaq was happy about.
Waking up with Patin spooning him from behind, and his face plastered on Serron’s chest could’ve been an embarrassing moment. Until that moment, Jaq had no idea he was a snuggler in his sleep. The two men both had an arm resting over him, holding hands with each other, making Jaq feel safe and special. But his cheeks heating and other parts of his body responding in what could be considered an inappropriate manner, Jaq wiggled out of the hold and disappeared to the bathroom before his husbands woke up. Having feelings was one thing but knowing what to do about them was another topic entirely.
It was at the breakfast table that same morning that Jaq got the idea that his husbands were up to something. Over breakfast he mentioned that now the wedding was over, he was keen to get back into his habit of taking a ride every morning. He missed the exercise and fresh air. “Did you want to come with me?” he’d asked, fairly sure that was a normal thing a person would do, but instead of answering right away, Serron and Patin engaged in a spot of mutual eye gazing, as if they were trying to communicate with each other telepathically. Jaq wasn't sure that was even possible.
It was Patin who said, “I'll come with you for a ride this morning. I can show you around some of the estate.”
Serron smiled and just said, “I've got a bit of work to do here, but I’ll be sure to meet up with you both later.”
Jaq didn't detect any deceit, but he did pick up a weird little vibe. Deciding not to worry about it, because as he reasoned to himself he’d never been a crown prince and had no idea what they did all day, he was happy to ride with Patin, who blushed furiously when the stable master called him “Your Highness.”
The ride with Patin was a lot of fun. The Folkon estate was beautiful with extensive gardens, riding paths, and trails over hills and through wooded areas that were all clearly defined. Jaq could see there were many places he could ride safely although Patin did warn that as the abductor still hadn’t been caught, it would be best if Jaq didn’t ride alone.
“With two husbands I shouldn’t need to.” Jaq had grinned as he challenged Patin to a race. Patin won, but then Jaq expected that. It was good to see Patin appear a lot more relaxed by the time they got back to the stables.
Serron had shown him the letter they’d received from Queen Sophie over lunch that same day. Jaq had been touched by her warmth and acceptance of their non-traditional marriage. Personally, he could see it was going to take Patin a while to get used to his rise in social status. Spending time at Folkon, among loyal staff and limited visitors, would make that easier for Patin to gain his confidence before they moved back to the castle.
Jaq was upset that the king’s prognosis wasn’t any more positive, even though he had never met him, and from all accounts, wasn’t likely to. In the two days before the wedding, he had sourced out some limited information that might help Mortrin and had sent the message to the castle. But with his access to books restricted to the books he’d carried with him from Elembaum, he did not anticipate it being much help.
Mortrin had replied, which Jaq was surprised, but pleased about, explaining that, unfortunately, the king had reached a point in his disease where even if some miracle or magical cure could be found, the king’s body was already impacted to the point that his quality of life thereafter would be severely limited. “There are times” – Mortrin had written in his elegant script - “where we must accept life’s inevitable end. All that can be done by those who care about him is to ensure His Majesty’s comfort as he takes these final steps and ensure he isn’t alone.”
Jaq had privately shed a few tears about the deep feelings behind those words, even as he accepted the logic behind it. Mortrin had been the head healer at Monce for decades, winning respect worldwide for his expertise. Prince Orion, now crown prince of Tyrion as well as the crown prince consort of Faast, attributed his ability to walk again to Mortrin, after his back was broken in a mine accident. All I can do is be supportive of Serron when the inevitable happens.
In the meantime, Jaq was the type of person to keep himself busy and while he didn’t have a library, his two husbands were more than happy to include him in meals, walks in the garden, and interesting chats over drinks in the evening, sometimes all of them together, and sometimes Jaq with either Patin or Serron. Jaq knew their time at Folkon was limited, but at least for now, they could enjoy their bubble, isolated from other responsibilities, and just be three men getting to know each other.
On the following day, it was Serron who said he would go riding with Jaq, while Patin said he had a few things to do around the estate. Again, Jaq could sense there was something going on, but none of his senses indicated that it was anything harmful or deceitful. It was as if the two men were working on something and for some reason, Jaq wasn't supposed to know what it was. He reasoned with himself he didn't need to know, that was fine, and that if it did concern him the two men would tell him soon enough.
Jaq was working on another research project when Serron came into his room the evening of the second day. Although Jaq didn’t sleep there, there was no room for his bookshelves in the suite Serron and Patin shared, and Jaq said he was fine to use the room as his own sitting room and study. As always, he was surrounded by papers and open books, trying to work out a specific timeline of when magic was first recorded in world history.
“Hello,” he said when Serron came over and kissed his hair. “Did I miss mealtime again?” He sat up straight and arched out his back. “Oh, it’s getting dark out. What time is it?”
“Dinner will be served shortly,” Serron said, and Jaq noticed he seemed nervous.
“Is everything all right?” he asked.
“Yes. It’s just…would you mind coming with me? Patin and I have something to show you.”
“Is it a good something or a bad something? Because I suppose it could be either, couldn’t it.” Jaq stood up, making sure his buttons were done up and there was no visible ink on his clothes.
“I did know you two were cooking up something, although I have no idea what it is,” he said as he took Serron’s arm. “Is it a surprise for me? Is that what you want to show me? Are you actually going to tell me what it is now?”
Serron laughed as he led him out of the room. “We should have known we wouldn't be able to hide anything from you,” he said. “You must be very difficult to buy for during gift-giving ceremonies, on your day of birth, or festivals.”
Jaq shrugged. “I don't recall people buying me gifts as a rule,” he said. “I’m sure my parents did when I was younger, but as I grew up, I could get the things I needed myself, and I haven't really known anybody who might want to give me a gift – until people started considering I was marriage material.” He laughed.
“I haven’t forgotten the beautiful gifts that you and Patin gave me while we were on our way from Elembaum. I still use the pencil you gave me every day, and Patin’s knife is in my boot, just like he told me it should be. But anyone else’s presents, such as from he who shall not be named, were best returned because they were given with no thought whatsoever.”
“I’m glad the small tokens we bought you mean something to you. Thank you.” Serron’s smile widened as his steps slowed to a stop outside a door to what Jaq believed had been another sitting room. “Hopefully, you’ll be equally happy with what we’ve done now, although I will warn you now, it’s not something you can carry or wear on your person.”
“Did you design a room for me?” Jaq looked back down the hallway in the direction of their suites. “I already have one - two if you count the one I share with you and Patin.”
“This is different. Patin and I have been working on a little bit of a project for you. I'm actually surprised you didn't notice the number of carriages, and messengers making deliveries to the estate.”
Jaq screwed up his face. “I’m sorry, was I meant to notice? I don't usually pay attention to things like that. It's not as though I have a lot to do with the running of any estate. Is that something I should learn?” he asked. “As one of your consorts, am I expected to know how to run a castle?”
“Goodness, no.” Serron chuckled. “Your knowledge of laws and the workings of the World Council are far more useful. We have extremely wonderful, loyal, and hardworking staff who would probably seriously object if we tried to interfere with anything they did every day.
“If there is anything that you want or need, or something you want changed, then by all means, say so. But I learned from my mother from a very young age that it actually pays to let people do what it is that they're paid to do, and just focus on other things like boring missives from the advisers who keep insisting that we really should go back to the castle.”
Jaq patted his arm. “Your mother was very clear in her instructions for us to stay away for the month.”
“Yes, I know. But I do sometimes feel as the only child, it is my place to be there should something happen to Father.” A look of sadness passed over Serron’s face, but then he smiled again. “However, I will never forget that I took my mother's advice when we approached you for a marriage contract and that worked. So, I'm going to be quietly confident that us taking this break now is the best idea.”
“Is Patin getting used to being bowed to?” Jaq giggled. “He still doesn't like being called a consort, or Your Highness, does he?”
“No, but he'll get used to it,” Serron said, resting his hand on the door handle. “Now, are you ready? Before you say anything, and before I show you, please know that Patin and I have been working very hard on this. I really hope that our gift doesn't...I really hope we haven't let you down.”
Now Jaq was confused. “Maybe you'd just better open the door and show me what's going on. I'm sure there isn't anything that you could do that would let me down.”
“Let’s hope you keep thinking that. We wanted to show you this.” Serron opened the door, stepping aside so Jaq could walk into the room.
The first thing Jaq saw was Patin standing to one side of a table, looking nervous.
“We really weren't sure how you wanted this set up,” Patin said, coming forward and giving Jaq a kiss on his cheek. “But we thought at least we could make a start on this for you, so you'd have something to work with. You can organize it any way you like.”
Jaq nodded even though he couldn’t speak, his heart was so overwhelmed. He had walked into a room that likely had been a sitting room – similar to the one Patin had shown him when he’d first given him a tour of the estate. But now all the dainty chairs and little coffee tables had been removed and instead of art decorating the walls, all the walls were lined with solid bookcases made of a dark wood.
In the center of the room was a large round table with four chairs arranged around it, although there was room for more. There was a large blotter set up in front of one of the chairs with an arrangement of pens, pencils, ink bottles, and a box with a stack of blank paper.
Turning around, Jaq was sure his eyes were so wide they would fall out of his head. It wasn’t so much the table, the desk setup, the filing cabinet Jaq spotted in one corner, or the ladder propped up against the bookcase to enable him to reach the higher shelves. It was the books. There were far more books in his new library than the ones Jaq had stored in his room upstairs.
“Where did all these books come from?” he asked, wandering over to the nearest shelf and stroking along the spines of the books stored there. Some of the titles he recognized and others he didn't. But they were rows and rows of them, all lined up, perhaps not in the system that Jaq would have put them in, but there was just shelf upon shelf filled with books. “Are there any books left in the rest of the country?”
“I’m sure there are.” Serron chuckled, and Jaq noticed he and Patin were standing together, their arms wrapped around each other’s waists.
“We sent a message to the queen, and then other messages to some of the closest estates, letting people know that the Crown Prince Consort Jaq was planning a new library to help him feel at home but was having difficulties sourcing books to fill his shelves. Mother and various other households all sent books as gifts to celebrate our wedding.
“And then,” Serron added, “when that wasn’t enough, Patin went into town yesterday afternoon and went on a spending spree. Admittedly, there are not likely to be any books for sale left in Monce City, but the two booksellers we have there will source more titles now they know one of the consorts has such an avid interest for collectible and limited editions.”
“It might not be what you're used to,” Patin added, “but there is at least a basis here of a library that you could work with. Is it all right?”
“All right?” Jaq said. “This is by far the most stunning gift anybody has ever given me. It’s perfect.”
Stroking over the shelf he was near one last time, he made his way over to Patin, flinging his arms around his waist, standing on tiptoe to brush a kiss on his chin. Then he did the same to Serron. “You have no idea what this means to me,” he said, making sure he was still holding onto them both. “I feel like you truly understand who I am inside and created a gift for me that would touch my heart and soul. No one has ever done that for me before.”
“I'm not sure about the quality of books,” Serron said, his voice deepening. He and Patin were both red-cheeked. “Some of them might not be to the high academic standard that you're used to. I'm not even sure if they are all reference books. I believe some of them may be fiction. But we really wanted for you to have as wide a collection as we could find in a short space of time.”
Still stunned by the magnitude of the gift, Jaq said, “You have done all this in two days, but more importantly, you've done this for me. Can we sit down for a moment?” he asked, dropping his arms from his husbands’ waists and taking their free hands instead. The glow was a comforting sight.
“A library is a space where I always feel most comfortable, and what you’ve done for me… Let’s just say it’s given me the confidence to say what’s in my heart. Is it possible we can sit and possibly talk about intimate matters – ones you think you might like to share with me? I know you’ve already given me so much, and I’ll totally understand if you want to wait…” Jaq realized he might be rambling and tried to stop. “I just feel that I am ready to move our relationship to another deeper and more intimate level, if you are. Is that something we should talk about?”
Serron and Patin shared another look, and then Serron stepped forward, tugging Jaq’s hand until their bodies were flush with each other. “We could talk,” he said gently, cradling Jaq’s cheeks in his hands. “Or I can kiss you – properly - and we can see how that makes you feel?”
“Kissing is good,” Jaq squeaked as Serron’s lips descended until they were touching his.