Chapter 1 A White Elephant
Wales, August, 1903
Chapter 1
A White Elephant
Sixteen-year-old Apollo Ithel was in his chambers, his shaggy, wild, dark curls gathered on top of his head under a flat cap as he put the finishing touches on packing to go to the University of Edinburgh, with the intention of becoming a physician. He knew that there was only so much he could pack and he couldn’t wait to get out of his father’s manor house. He had gone to boarding school since he was little, so living away from home was far more familiar. Besides, his little brother, Ares, was his father’s favourite, and his little sister, Artemis, or Missy, was his mother’s favourite. If it were up to him, he would much rather stay with their family friend, Brendan Brennus Sr. and his two sons, way up north in the Scottish highlands, than come home on holidays. Especially now that he was going to Edinburgh. Home was just north west of Cardiff, and the train ride alone would take over a day. Besides, Beren and Brendan Jr., aka Pipsqueak, were his age, and felt more like brothers than his real brother.
Apollo planned to arrive in Edinburgh a week early, in order to have plenty of time to settle in before classes started. Not to mention in hopes of getting out of Wales as soon as possible.
The butler and the chauffeur were helping him with his bags when his father, Cyril, walked into his chambers with a small boy who looked to be only seven or eight.
“Apollo?” his father began, diverting his attention from the task at hand.
“Yes Bampas?” Apollo asked, mixing in his mother’s Greek here and there as he turned to him.
“Seeing as you are going away, I bought Aelfric to take care of you while you are at uni.”
Apollo looked around for an unfamiliar servant, but seeing only the small boy, asked, “Where is Aelfric?”
“This is Aelfric,” his father told him, pushing the small boy toward him. “He is small but he’s actually ten and is highly skilled. He will do a good job taking care of your every need.”
Apollo stared in shock.
Just what I need, he thought, a child to raise while I’m at uni!
He gave a resigned sigh and truly looked at the boy for the first time.
He was small and slight with short black hair and huge mesmerising brown eyes in a beautiful, cherubic face. Aelfric looked up at him, probably frightened of the tall, skinny teenager he had just been given to.
“Hello Aelfric. I’m Apollo,” he greeted with a smile, kneeling down to be at his level. “You’re just about the perfect travel size. Are you ready to go with me on a grand adventure to Edinburgh?”
Aelfric silently nodded and began trying to help with one of Apollo’s bags.
“I’m pretty sure you could fit inside that thing, with room to spare,” Apollo laughed as he took the bag from him.
Aelfric looked ashamed that he wasn’t big enough to help, so Apollo gave him two pillows and two blankets to carry.
“One for you and one for me,” Apollo nodded. “My pocket-sized helper is coming in handy already.”
Aelfric gave a dazzling smile and they went downstairs together.
Apollo wanted to yell at his father and ask him what the hell he was thinking, saddling him with a child, but could see that Aelfric was already quite insecure about not being good enough. If he overheard Apollo yelling at his father, it would crush Aelfric. And he knew that his father and brother treated the servants horribly. He wanted to get this tiny precious boy out of that house as quickly as he could without risking his father taking him back. Instead he asked his father for Aelfric’s papers.
“If I’m going to show up to uni with a small child, I had better have proof that he’s mine.”
“True,” his father sighed, looking longingly at the boy. “Here are the papers that I was given when I bought him.”
“Are these all of the papers?” Apollo asked, knowing that his father had a tendency to try to pull one over on people, especially his children.
His father huffed and pulled two more papers out of his pocket.
“All of them?” Apollo once again asked, his deep voice taking on an authoritative, almost booming quality.
His father made an irritated expression but pulled two more papers out of his pocket. At the stern look Apollo gave him, his father turned out his pockets, showing him that they were in fact empty.
Apollo nodded and climbed in next to Aelfric. Turning back to his father, he asked, “Did you get a double sleeper? Or do I need to change my train ticket when I get to the station?”
His father seemed at a loss for words, so Apollo decided to double check when he got to the station. Turning back to Aelfric, his voice softened as he asked, “Have you ever ridden in a sleeper car?”
Aelfric nodded but his eyes looked a little wider than before.
“I’ve got you now,” Apollo soothed, wrapping an arm around his narrow shoulders. “I will make sure you are safe and well cared for.”
His mother, Daphne, and sister, Artemis, came out to say goodbye but his brother stayed away.
Daphne was still very young, having only turned thirty earlier that year, so her long hair was still a dark mass of curls and her olive skin was still smooth, untouched by wrinkles. She was slender and very handsome but her smile was a bit strained to see Apollo once again leaving.
“It seems it’s always goodbye, paidi mou,” she sighed, and kissed him on the cheek. “Stay safe, and know that you can always come home, should anything go sideways.” Looking over at Aelfric she almost ordered, “Take good care of him and make sure he eats. He’s so skinny…”
Aelfric smiled and nodded enthusiastically, seemingly happy to be given an assignment.
Artemis walked over to the window and teased, “I’m going to miss my partner in crime, but I’ll keep this lot in shape while you’re gone. Don’t have too much fun without me.”
Apollo smiled and gave each of them a kiss goodbye, then turned to his chauffeur.
“Let’s get to the station, before we miss our train.” And with that they drove away.
When they arrived at the station Apollo discovered that his father had not gotten a double sleeper, and that there were none left. Apollo huffed in irritation, but when he saw Aelfric flinch and shrink back, he softened and soothed, “You’re small, and I’m skinny. I’m sure we can make do.”
Aelfric once again nodded but didn’t say a word. Apollo was starting to wonder if Aelfric was mute. He could obviously hear him, as he always responded immediately, but had yet to say a word in response.
A porter loaded all of Apollo’s things, and he and Aelfric went to their sleeper car to figure things out before going to the dining car.
The sleeping compartment had one bed, barely big enough for Apollo, and a wash basin that made it hard to get in and out of the bed.
“Next trip we take, I’m getting a ticket for a Pullman car,” Apollo groused.
Aelfric smiled but remained silent.
“Let’s get something to eat,” Apollo told him, offering his hand. “We can figure this thing out when we’re not hungry.”
Aelfric nodded and put the pillows and blankets down, taking his hand and submissively following him. When they sat down in the dining car Aelfric looked so tiny in that great big chair that Apollo’s heart broke. Aelfric was so young, and it was already his responsibility to care for Apollo. The least he could do was return the favour.
Taking a deep breath Apollo asked, “Do you speak?”
Aelfric nodded. “Several languages.”
Apollo was startled by how sweet Aelfric’s voice was and found himself wanting to hear it again. “Do you know how to do basic chores?”
Aelfric nodded. “I cook, clean, mend and press clothes, make beds, and many other things. There are very few things I don’t know how to do.”
“Well, then you’re smarter than I am,” Apollo smiled. “Do you read and write?”
“Oh yes, in several languages.”
“Wow,” Apollo marvelled, feeling lucky. “What languages?”
“English, French, German, and Spanish. And I’m trying to learn Welsh, since you’re Welsh.”
“I’ll help you with that, and Gaelic,” Apollo smiled.
“Y-you speak Gaelic?” Aelfric stumbled. “I… I thought the English didn’t want us speaking that.”
“Well too bad,” Apollo laughed, switching to Gaelic.
“I’m glad you speak Gaelic. I was afraid to admit that I do,” Aelfric replied in kind.
“I’ll also need to teach you Greek, as my mum is Greek, so it’s spoken a lot at home.”
Aelfric nodded but looked nervous.
“No rush,” Apollo reassured him. “We have almost a year until we spend any significant amount of time with my parents. I spend most of my holidays up north in Scotland, with my Uncle Brendan. He’s who taught me Gaelic.”
“Oh… Scottish Gaelic,” Aelfric said, a nervousness clouding his eyes.
“They’re close enough that you’ll pick it up in no time,” Apollo smiled. “And they speak English the majority of the time. Now what do you want to eat? We need to make you grow.”
Aelfric smiled and picked up the menu.
When they tried to lay down, it was a bit of a tight squeeze. Apollo was right about them both fitting, but Aelfric’s pillow was on the verge of falling off the bed. It made Apollo happy that Aelfric seemed comfortable enough to snuggle up to him without hesitation.
I must have earned his trust, Apollo thought with a smile.
The rocking of the train car and the rhythmic clickity-clack of the tracks quickly lulled them to sleep with full bellies and full minds, dreaming of the adventures they would face together.
