Snow

"Well," the King said, standing up, and David finally looked at him. He was beautiful--tall and lean, with blond hair cropped short and bright sparkling eyes--and David realized who the statue in the fountain in the square was of, saw that it had failed to capture the King's energy, his glow.

In a grand room with shining crystal walls and a carpet that gleamed like the sun he stood out brighter than everything. He made David's brother and sister's shine seem like candlelight, like nothing. He was looking at him and he was smiling, a beautiful pleased smile. "You are--well, I don't think I've ever seen anyone so lovely. What's your name?"

"David."

"David. Surely that can't be your entire--oh," the King said, surprise in his voice, and now he was looking at Alec, his smile gone crooked, pained. "I--you--that is, I'd been told you were gone but--you--you're here."

"Surprise for me too," Alec said. His voice sounded like the King's smile.

"I thought--I was told you'd said you weren't coming back."

"I hadn't planned on it."

The King nodded, looked at David, the smile on his face trembling, and then back at Alec again.

"Are you still living in that awful little room?"

Alec nodded.

"I can't believe I ever visited there. But then," and the King's voice softened, dipped into memory and David watched, fascinated and jealous, "it's where you were."

"Michael--" Alec said, and his voice was quiet, full of memory too. David heard the collective intake of breath of all those silent figures on the edge of the room at the use of the King's name and how Alec had said it. Simply, and like he'd said it before. Like it had once been familiar to him.

"I had to--" Michael said and his voice was soft, pleading. He looked as if he'd forgotten everyone except Alec was there. "It couldn't go on. You knew that."

"I did," Alec said and his voice was steady now, calm. "It's the way of the world."

"Always right to the point. I remember when you--" Michael broke off and for a moment his smile faded and David saw regret in his eyes. When he spoke again his voice was different, commanding, and David knew he'd remembered where he was, who he was. "You know why you were summoned here?"

"Yes."

"Is it true?"

Alec shrugged. Michael made a face at him, a wry twisting of his features, and for a moment Alec smiled. But he still didn't say a word.

"Is it?" Michael said again, voice sharper, as if surprised by Alec's silence. He looked hurt, lost, and David couldn't look at him anymore. It wasn't--he hadn't expected this. All he could think about was the saucer and the look on Alec's face when he saw it, Gladys telling him that no miners were ever taught to read but that Alec could, the way Alec had looked at him that first night when he'd come back and David was still there. He looked at Alec.

Alec was looking at him. There was no expression at all on his face but his eyes--his eyes were furious, sad. Frightened. He realized that even though Alec had always said he'd known this moment or one like it would come that somehow he'd still been surprised by it, that he wasn't prepared. That he was hurting.

"It's true," David said quietly and Alec's eyes flashed pain and sorrow and something else, something that made David's own eyes sting.

"The lost prince," Michael breathed. The lost look had faded from his face and he was looking directly at him, motioned for him to come forward with one hand. He had long, beautiful fingers.

"Come here."

David looked at Alec but Alec wasn't looking at him anymore, was staring straight ahead, gazing at the crystal walls.

Up close Michael was even more beautiful, with eyes that looked at him as if he was the only person in the room and a smile that was warm, kind. "You really are lovely," he said, and his voice was husky, gentle. He put a hand on his shoulder. His hand was warm and large, stroked up over the collar of his shirt and onto his skin. "Is it true?" he said softly. "What they say about you?"

David nodded jerkily, let everything that was inside him push forth and waited for Michael's hand to fall away. He could feel Michael's hand growing cooler, waited for Michael to look at him like everyone did.

"Oh," Michael said, voice gone surprised but soft, and his hand stroked across David's skin again. The part of himself that David had felt roar to life with Henry stirred, prickled his skin and made him lean into Michael's touch. Painted pictures that made sound vibrate in his throat.

"You'll stay here," Michael said, leaning in to whisper in his ear and when he pulled away his eyes were bright and curious, a slow heat flickering through his gaze.

"I--" David said, surprised and dismayed by how strange everything was, by what he'd learned, what he felt, and looked around for Alec. He wasn't there.

He looked back at Michael.

"He's gone," Michael said quietly and there was kindness in his eyes now, understanding. "It's his way."

"I--gone?" He'd known it was coming but to have it happen like this, to have him not even see it