Laertes the Fae (special preview)

“What do you mean Master Aymeric is here?” You heard someone from down the hall yell. “He didn’t call?”

“Does it look like he called?” Another voice shouted.

You were coming back from the laundry room, arms loaded with two full baskets. You hurried off towards the linen closet to set the baskets down at the very least.

“I should warn Laertes,” you mumbled to yourself. “He probably has no idea Master Aymeric is coming either.” You begin to head towards the master bedroom when you’re snatched from behind.

“What are you doing? The Master is coming! He has a guest!” You’re shoved back down the hallway without much ceremony. “Go into formation! Now!”

“Then don’t go yanking and pushing me around!” You snapped back. “Fucking hells,” you rubbed your arm where they had snatched you and you wandered down the hall. Laertes was still sleeping, you were fairly certain.

You lined up with the rest of the staff at the front door. You could hear voices outside, master Aymeric and a woman from the sounds of it. Aymeric hadn’t been here in years, but his brother, Laertes, had been living here for quite some time.

“I sure hope Laertes was better prepared to receive his brother than we are,” you thought to yourself.

The doors swung open and Aymeric was led in by a pretty human woman. You gasped to yourself, hurriedly covering up your shocked reaction, but you’re not alone. The rest of the staff seem stunned as well that a mortal has entered the fortress.

The woman seems just as stunned, looking at you and the staff with a wide eyed awe. “I thought you said you hadn’t been here in years.” She murmured to Aymeric.

Aymeric strode in, having unchanged in all these years. Except I noticed he let her lead the way. “I haven’t, but I have family members who often come to stay, so I keep the staff here regardless.” He takes off his sunglasses and tucks them into the woman’s bag. He then produces a set of keys.

The woman yanks her purse back. “Why not put things in your own pockets?” She then smiles and acknowledges us as she passes by. “Good morning. Sorry if this is sudden,” she whispers as she walks by.

Aymeric and her continue to fuss playfully back and forth as they go through the castle. From their stride and direction I can tell they’re heading for the master bedroom, where Laertes is probably still asleep.

“Back to work! Keep in mind now that the Master is home we will be changing some of our chore routines-” I ignore the pompous blatering of the staff leader and go back from where I came. I had been working on the laundry, but also, I wanted to make sure the bedroom was in order for whoever was going to be staying in it now that Master Aymeric had returned.

As you come to the main corridor you hear Laertes yelling in some distress “Let go of me!”

“This room was locked! How the hell did you get in?” Aymeric’s voice boomed.

“Shit.” You stayed back, listening to the commotion from the bedroom. After a few moments, Aymeric and the mortal woman came back down.

“You there,” Aymeric stopped before you. “How long has my brother been here?”

You went a bit cold inside and swallowed. “You didn’t know he was?” You asked with a meek tone. “He said he was here on your word.”

Aymeric’s brow arched and he clicked his tongue. “How long has he been here on my word?”

“Don’t be mad at her,” the woman hissed.