Date: Mon, 19 Sep 2022 20:07:47 +0100 (BST) From: blackscar01 Subject: Operation Pied Piper - Part 130e IMPORTANT NOTE TO ALL READERS Copyright and content notice No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, without the prior permission of the author and publisher, nor be otherwise circulated without the author or publisher's prior consent in any form of binding or cover other than that in which it is published and without a similar condition, including this condition being imposed on the subsequent publisher. The rights of the author have been applied hereon. ******* This Story and all the characters are 100% fiction. Any references made to schools, castles, entertainers and aristocratic titled personages are pure fiction. None of the story features about those places or personages named are true. None of what you are about to read actually happened. ******* If you enjoy my story or any others on the Nifty site, please show your appreciation and donate what you can afford. ******* Finally, thank you again to my editor, Jim. ********************* "Con, I need to find Brookmeyer and speak to him. I will catch up with you later." "Is there a problem?" "No," I lied. I wasn't sure Con believed me. "Well, give me a kiss to keep me going." I kissed him and then headed off towards the walled garden, where I guessed Brookmeyer would be. I needed to sort out the way he spoke to me about Drew. ********************** Operation Pied Piper – Part 130e - London Darius continues the story I stood in the entrance to the old coal cellar. Forts had been at least thirty minutes. I was just about to glance at my watch again when the sirens began to wail mournfully across the London skyline. Time was up. I opened the door and hurried down the corridor, coming to a halt by the door of the bed-sitting room. "Your Imperial Highness, we have to go to a shelter." Forts broke away from the old Count, straightening his tunic jacket as he did. "Thank you, Darius, we are just coming." Forts made eye contact with me as he walked towards me. "It wasn't what it looked like," he mumbled. If I had learnt anything working with Royals and the like, it was you see nothing and speak even less. "Sir, I don't know what you're talking about. Please, we have to get you both to an air raid shelter. This way, both of you." We hurried out up to street level, joining the throng of people, hastening towards the local underground station. "Darius, you have to slow down, the old Count is struggling." "Sir, it is my role to keep you safe..." The old Count was definitely panting heavily. He stopped and held on to a lamppost. "Please, you go on ahead, Your Highness... please," he gasped. "No!... We are waiting for you... Darius, slow down." "But, Sir..." Forts glared at me. "I said... NO Major." He shook his head. "Now, help me with the Count." So, with me on one side and Forts on the other, we half carried Samara down to the shelter. I managed to find us a small corner and, removing my jacket, gave them both something other than cold concrete to sit on. Having gotten the Count as comfortable as he could, Forts stood and took my arm. "I am sorry, Darius, but I couldn't just leave him." "You don't have to apologise to me, Your Imperial Highness." "Darius, please call me Forts." He smiled, "You will have to bear with me while I get my head round all these security concerns. I shouldn't have spoken to you like that, I am sorry." "Like I said... Forts, you don't have to apologise to me." Forts squeezed my arm, "Thank you... Err Darius, it wasn't what you thought... me kissing the Count." "I don't know what you're talking about... Sir." I watched his face; he knew I had seen him embracing the Count. "Darius, it is hard for people to understand what my parents, the Count, and people like us went through... I just wanted to show him some human warmth..." "Forts, like I said, I saw nothing. You don't have to apologise to me. I am sure the British Royal Family keep the Churchill quote, 'never apologise, never explain,' as a motto for a reason. You should remember it." Forts looked straight into my eyes, his mouth forming into a grin, "Ah, but they don't have Davy watching them." He chuckled; we both did. He mouthed, "Thank you." ** Davy picks up the story When the sirens began to wail, Carson had hurried into the suite. "Your Grace, we must go to the shelter." "Has His Highness Prince Drageon come back yet?" Dima hurried into the room, Vlad close behind, Andrew in his arms. Carson shook his head. "Not that I know of Your Grace." Vlad looked at me, Andrew had started crying, "Davy, we must get to the shelter." "But where is Forts?" I know I sounded frantic. Dima took hold of my arm. "Davy, we have to go! We must think of Andrew." Unless you have heard the desolate wail of an Air-Raid Siren, you can't imagine how it consumes your very soul, making all other thought difficult. Your mind's racing, you know you have time to get to safety, but never-the-less, your ears strain to hear for the first explosions. Andrew was now screaming, his little hands clasped over his ears, attempting to block out the wail. "Vlad, let me have him." Vlad handed Andrew to me, big tears rolled down the poor boy's face. This war was traumatising a whole generation of kids. "Please, Your Grace, we must go now!" Carson pleaded. He opened the suite door, and I followed him out into the corridor. I began to head towards the lift, Carson stopped me, "Your Grace, we must use the stairs." Dima smiled, "Davy, give me Andrew, come on, we must get to the shelter. Forts would want us to." I knew Dima was right, Forts would want us to be safe... But where was he? We emerged in the foyer just by the lifts. It was crowded. "This way, Your Grace!" Carson was trying to lead the way. We headed towards the main doors. "We will use the hotel's shelter just by the hotel entrance, Your Grace." I nodded, the main hotel doors were being held open by hotel staff. We were hurried through them, as we headed for the sign "Savoy Air Raid Shelter." There were two of the Savoy's liveried security staff at the entrance to the staircase leading down into the shelter. One of them was holding on to a young blond-haired boy. "Oh no you don't... This is for hotel patrons only! Now get on with you." I looked at the boy. He was probably only around twelve, he was struggling against the hand holding him tightly by the arm. His clothes looked dirty and worn, matching the colour and stains of the skin on his face and bare legs. "Please, Mr," he pleaded with the guard. "No, be off with you! This shelter isn't for the likes of you." I stopped, "What's going on? Let that boy go!" Carson looked horrified as the two surprised security men exchanged confused glances. Carson leant to my ear, "Your Grace, this shelter is only for hotel residents." I looked at the boy again, only a couple of years ago that could have been me. Now but for the grace of God... "Let him go, now!" I barked at them. "But Your Grace!" Carson tried to reason with me. "I said let him go!" I was struggling to be heard against the sirens. I grabbed hold of the boy's other arm. The security guards glanced at Carson who nodded. They let go of the boy who launched himself at me. He threw his arms round my waist, "Please Sir... I don't want to die. Please help me." It was suddenly deadly silent. After years of bombing, the eerie silence after the "Warning" siren filled the air with foreboding, only relieved by the "All Clear" signal. Now all we could do was wait for the bombs. I hugged the boy, "You're not going to die. Just hold my hand and watch the steps." The boy nodded, "Thank you Sir." He glanced back at the vanishing daylight as we descended into the bowels of the earth. I squeezed his hand, "It's okay. I am Davy, what is your name?" "William, Sir." "Well, you stick with me William." Carson led our party now including William, into the shelter and to a small seating area. As he began to calm down, I saw William's eyes looking first at Prince Dima in his tunic and then at Father Vladimir in his priestly robes, and then finally Andrew and me. I suppose we must have been an unusual sight. His eyes locked onto my gold watch and the three heavy gold rings on my fingers. "Are you a toff, Sir?" I shook my head, laughing, "No, I am just like you." He pulled a face, "I don't av a watch or rings like that!" I couldn't think what to say, other than, "Maybe one day you will. Where are your parents?" "Dead Sir... Germans got'em." My heart sank. "Where do you stay then William? Who looks after you?" "I look after myself, Sir." "When did you last eat?" William looked at the floor, "Yesterday, Sir... Davy." I laughed, pulling him to me, "It's just Davy... Carson, if it's possible, can we get William something to eat, please?" Carson glanced at Dima, then back at me, "The sandwiches are for hotel residents, Sir." "CARSON! GET THIS BOY A SANDWICH NOW!" Dima took my arm, "Davy..." I pulled my arm free, hissing, "Dima, let go of me... And tell that idiot to get this boy a sandwich, right now!" Dima nodded and then bowed, "Yes, Your Grace." I felt I was being watched by several of the people round me, staff and guests. I even heard one supposed gentleman saying, "A bloody street urchin in here, it's outrageous." I wanted to scream at him... "But for an accident of birth, this could have been you!" Vladimir had now moved closer to me and was smiling at me reassuringly. Mouthing the words, "Calm, stay calm, remember who you are." Carson arrived with a plate of sandwiches and a mug of tea, he placed them down beside us. "Your Grace." William smiled up at me as he descended on the sandwiches, "Corr, you are a toff, e called you 'Your Grace'." I tried to smile as the tears rolled down my cheeks, "No, I am just the same as you." * With the food eaten, William was soon on the floor playing with Andrew, every now and then he would smile up at me. Dima leant into my ear, "Davy, you have caused quite an upset, my friend." "Dima, he is an orphan..." "Davy, London is full of orphans. You can't be responsible for all of them." I snapped, "You just don't get it do you... That could have been me! That could have been me! These stuck-up idiots don't know how lucky they are! They would rather he die outside in the bombs, than help him." I felt Vlad's eyes on me now, Dima and he exchanged glances. Vlad smiled, his calming voice rolling over me like smooth liquid chocolate, "Davy... You will have to lower your voice... Remember who you are." He squeezed my hand. Again, Vlad smiled reassuringly at me. "Davy, I will arrange for him to get a place in the orphanage Forts and Theodora set up. He will be well cared for there and get plenty to eat." I sighed, "Thank you Vlad..." I turned to Dima, ashamed of the way I had snapped at him. "Sorry Dima, I had no right to speak to you like that... I must have sounded like one of them." I nodded my head towards the gentleman who had called William a street urchin. Dima smiled and winked. "It's okay." "Carson." "Yes, Your Grace, how may I be of service?" "I just wanted to thank you. I am sorry I raised my voice to you. I had no right." Carson bowed, "Think nothing of it, Your Grace." I sat, watching Andrew with William, worrying myself sick, where was my Forts?" * Two hours later, the all clear sounded and we made our way back up into the daylight. "William, I want you to go with Father Vladimir. He is going to take you to a place you can stay, where they will look after you and give you something to eat. Will you promise me you will stay there?" William nodded. I rummaged in my pocket and took out a Crown coin. Now, don't waste this. But buy yourself something nice." "Blimey, thank you Sir. I have never had so much money." I ruffled his hair, "Don't spend it all at once. I will come and see you tomorrow." William took hold of Vlad's hand and the two of them set off down the road. At the corner they stopped and William waved. I waved back and turned back to face the hotel. I glanced round, I had an audience. Several sets of eyes were on me, none of them looking happy. * "Hey, we are back." Forts smiled, his smile fading as he took in the faces round him. "Is everything okay?" I nodded, "Can we talk?" We all made our way back into the hotel and up to our suite. I sat Forts down and explained what had happened. I could see he was thinking, then he put his arm round me, "That's my Davy. Shall we visit the home tomorrow? I have been thinking about seeing it for myself." "Can we?" Forts beamed, "We can do anything you want." Again, we were interrupted by a knock on the door. "Your Imperial Highness, I am sorry to disturb you, but the General Manager would like to speak to you." Carson gave a slight head bow. Forts smiled at me, "I wonder what that can be about...?" He winked and kissed my cheek before following Carson out of the room. I could hear their muffled voices. I got up and went to the door, it was slightly ajar. Forts was nodding, listening to the General Manager. He glanced towards the door, his eyes making contact with mine. He smiled and nodded, thanked the manager, and turned back to me. Before he reached me, I was turning away, "I am not apologising... It was outrageous." "Davy, I don't know what you're talking about. He has received a messenger from the Palace. Dima and I are to attend the funeral of Prince George... God, I haven't got a black suit." * We didn't, well more accurately, Forts didn't get to visit the Children's Home the next day, although I still went with Vlad and Andrew. Luckily, William was still there and was pleased to see me again. The visit gave me a warm feeling inside. I wished Forts could have been with me. Unfortunately, Dima and Forts had to go on a mad scramble across London to arrange Black suits and ties. The funeral took place on the 29th of August in St. George's chapel at Windsor Castle. I wasn't invited. It was the first time since all the business with McPhee's uncle that Forts had met with the King. As it turned out, it was quite a gathering, and for Forts, a first meeting with many of his distant relatives from across Europe. And much to my annoyance, he got to meet up with Gethin again, in his role as an Air Marshall of the RAF, and a close friend of Prince George. I was pleased to hear later, King George and Queen Elizabeth had insisted Forts have a prominent place at the funeral and had introduced him not only to the Princess Marina of Greece and Denmark, Prince George's widow. He also met King Haakon VII and Crown Prince Olav of Norway, King George II of Greece, Queen Wilhelmina and Prince Bernhard of the Netherlands and King Peter II of Yugoslavia, all of whom he was distantly related to. I had sat aghast as he listed them all. How could my partner be related to all these royals? What was he doing with me, Davy Thomas? I was sure I wasn't the only one asking that. * Now, here we all were, the day after the funeral, on the way to the station. Andrew was standing unsteadily between Forts and me on the bench seat of the Rolls Royce. Dima and Vlad were both facing us on the jump seats. Darius was up front with Andrei. Forts was chatting away to Andrew, his hands supporting him as he let him stand on the seats to see out of the windows. Me, I watched as Darius' head turned slowly from left to right, like a metronome's stroke, as we drove slowly towards the station. I know what you are all thinking. I had agreed to having a protection officer. I had even agreed with Forts to obey his wishes in regard to all security matters, but now I wasn't so sure. Forts no longer seemed able to relax when we were in public. I couldn't help thinking, by buying into it all, we were helping feed the madness. I looked round as we drove along, the curious eyes of pedestrians peered into the car, all obviously wondering who could be cosseted in such an amazing vehicle. My fingers felt along the leather of the car seats. My eyes focused on the glint of the diamonds on the Draco Constellation ring and other rings I now wore. The heavy gold Rolex watch. The perfectly tailored, hand stitched cuffs of my morning suit. What was happening to me? I felt Forts' eyes on me, "Are you okay?" he mouthed. I nodded, but I knew I wasn't. * As we arrived at the manned barrier into the station, I caught sight of a number of young teenage boys by the barrier, their clothes threadbare, their faces all needing a good wash. They all turned and stuck their tongues out at the Rolls Royce, shouting out "Toffs." I saw Dima turn away from them, muttering something about deserving to be horse whipped. I glanced round at the youths, at first I thought one of them was William, but I was wrong. Their hoots and gestures earned them a stiff rebuke from the man at the barrier, they all just ran off laughing as he threatened, "Be Orff with you or I will get the law on to you." Andrei was directed to take the vehicle straight down onto the platform. We stopped alongside the train that was already standing on the platform nearest the vehicle's entrance. Darius jumped out of the car and took up a position by the door nearest Forts. I glanced out of the window, "Forts, isn't that your carriage?" He smiled, "Certainly is. Dima managed to get it brought down, so you wouldn't have to slum it back to Scotland." He was beaming at me. I felt myself exhale, I turned away, speaking quietly, "And no one thought to tell me?" Forts reached for my hand, "It was a surprise, I thought you would be pleased..." I shook my head and stared out of the window next to me. "Davy..." I shook my head again angrily, snapping, "Well! Maybe I would like to slum it for once. I just want to be normal again, Forts!" "Normal?" Forts glanced at Vlad and Dima, both were looking concerned. He took a breath, then spoke, "Can you give us a moment?" They both nodded, Vlad scooping up an excited Andrew as he left the car, "Come on Andrew, let's have a look at the big woo woo train." Andrew giggled, "Woo Woo!" The door of the Rolls Royce closed, plunging us into isolated silence. Forts turned towards me, "Davy, what is it? I thought you would be pleased." "That's the problem... No one bothers to think to tell me or ask me about anything!" Forts looked shocked. "Forts I hate all this! It isn't me! I feel like a bird trapped in a golden cage. You should have seen the kids at the orphanage... Christ, who am I to be visiting them... I am just like them or could be... They resented... hated me." Fort's eyes were fixed on me, "What did they say?" I shook my head, "Christ! They didn't have to say anything! Their eyes said it all." The door of the car opened, Forts barked, "Not now!" It was Darius, "Your Imperial Highness, the train is about to depart. They are holding it for you." Forts leant in closer, "Davy, please, we have to go." He turned and began to get out of the car. Andrei opened my door. I stepped out on to the platform just as a blue staff car pulled up. Gethin's smiling face got out. He grinned at me, "Phew, I just made it, I see." I glared at Forts, "Something else you didn't think to tell me?" Gethin stopped in his tracks, Forts just shook his head mumbling, "I give up." Without looking back, he climbed up on to the train. Gethin came over to me, "Hey I am sorry, I thought you would be pleased to see me." "Oh, Mr G, I am... it's just..." "Just what?" "I get told nothing... I am just another bauble... like all of this..." I waved my arm at the Rolls Royce and private train carriage. "Gethin, this life isn't mine! I don't want any of this. I just want Forts and me to be the way we used to be." Gethin took off his hat, "Davy, it was me who told Forts to keep it a secret, my travelling up to Scotland with you." He put his arm round me as the shriek of the guard's whistle blared out. It was met with a great roar and hiss of steam as the engine just ahead of us let off its brakes. "Come on Davy, on you get. We can talk on the train." We clambered aboard as the train began to slowly creep forward. Gethin stopping me in the corridor just inside the entrance. "Come on, what's going on?" I burst in to tears, "I just can't cope with this anymore. I want to be normal again, just plain old David Thomas." I cuddled into him, resting my head on his shoulder. The marquetry inlaid butler's door opened beside us, I glanced up, "Albert, it's you!" "Surprise!" He was smiling, "Hello, Davy." "But how?" I heard myself stammering. I felt Gethin shaking his head, Albert obviously got the message. He smiled, "I had better serve the tea." I turned to Gethin as Albert closed the door, "See something else I didn't know about." Another squeeze from Gethin. I sobbed into his shoulder, "See, no one thinks to ask me... I am no one!" Gethin stood back, holding me with his outstretched arms, his voice full of frustration. "Davy, stop it! Listen to yourself... Forts wanted to surprise you. He thought all this would be nice. All of this was done for you, the carriage being brought down, Albert... me, for that matter." "But." "Davy, there are no buts! You are not a pair of love-struck teenagers anymore! You promised your life to him remember, for better or worse! Don't forget, you're parents now too with responsibilities! As for all the money, Forts is a Russian Prince, a possible future Tsar, whether he likes it or not! YOU KNOW, he hates that idea as much as you. But he is trying to make the best of it! He worships you for God's sake! ... Davy, listen to me, there is no going back, only fairy stories can do that, this is all real!" Davy nodded and began sobbing. I pulled him into a hug. "No one said life would be easy Davy. Forts needs your help and support, not all the constant criticism and sniping about things he can't change." Davy buried his face into my neck, "Oh Gethin, I just don't know what to do." ** Forts picks up the story I was watching Gethin speaking to Davy down through the carriage. I could see he was getting quite animated. Davy, well, looked like he was crying. I watched intently, trying to ascertain what was going on. I still wasn't very sure what I had done so wrong. I had only wanted to surprise and please him. Gethin saw my worried face watching, and behind Davy's back, waved for me to come up. I hurried down the carriage through the glass door with its Imperial Eagle etched into the glass. I heard Gethin's voice calmly say to Davy. "Now there is someone here to see you. And I know he loves you more than anything else in the world, in fact we all do." Gethin's voice cracked. Gethin gave Davy another hug and then broke away. As he stepped back, Davy slowly turned round to me, following Gethin's eyes. He came towards me and wrapped his arms round me, "I'm sorry. I don't know what's wrong with me... I'm so sorry..." I kissed him on the lips, "It's okay... It's okay... I am just sorry I didn't..." Gethin slipped past us and vanished into the main compartment of the carriage. Davy put his finger to my lips, "No Forts, it is me who should be sorry." I handed him my hankie and looked into his eyes. I smiled and then gave a little pout, "Please don't be to cross about the things I brought you that are in the bedroom area." "Forts no, you haven't brought me presents... I haven't got you anything." I kissed him again, "Stop it, you don't have to. Just having you with me is like receiving the most expensive present anyone could ever want, every day." I smiled and gave him another of my smiles, as I wiped away a tear from his cheek, "Now are you ready to go back and join the others?" Davy nodded and blew his nose, "I feel so stupid... You did all this for me." I smiled. Davy went to hand me back my hankie, I grinned and chuckled, "You can keep that one." His face broke into a smile, "I'm sorry, Forts." I took his hand. As we entered the main cabin, Andrew came running towards us, Vlad in his black robes and Kalimavkion chasing after him, holding onto one of his hands. "Unrucle Florts." I glanced at Davy, he thankfully just burst out laughing. "SEE!" ** Gethin takes up the story I was worried about Davy. He seemed to be coming apart at the seams. Father Vladimir had managed to tell me what had happened in the air raid shelter. This and a couple of other things, and then Davy calling me Mr G again; How long had it been since he had called me that? I was also carrying another secret; I had been going to say something... now I wasn't sure how to proceed. All of these things made up my mind to speak to Davy again. * As the train rattled north, I managed to get Davy alone. He looked up and smiled as I sat down next to him. "Can I join you? How are you now?" He just smiled and shrugged his shoulders, then tapped the couch next to him. "Davy, you know Forts can't change who he is, don't you?" Davy sighed, nodding, pursing his lips, his eyes filling with tears again. I put my arm round him, "Hey don't be like that to me Davy. You and I have been through a lot together. I was just a pilot when we first met, now..." he chuckled, "Look at me, an Air Marshall. But we are still close. Forts was just young and hung when you got together, now he is a Prince. He is the same person though, he worships you Davy, every breath you take and even the ground you walk on. But he can't stop being who he is. And with that comes certain responsibilities, things that are expected of him. Things he has to do." "I haven't stopped him, have I?" "Davy, please... Look, I heard how you stood up for and helped that boy William. That was an amazing thing to do." Davy shook his head. "Forts would have done the same." "Yes, but you did it. NOT FORTS. You used your position to help that boy and ensure that, from now on, he is housed and fed. You should be very proud of yourself, you did that all alone. Just you!" "I..." "No Davy, your instincts were all right, if you hadn't helped him no one would have. And do you really think, if you had been just plain old Davy Thomas... rather than his Grace the Duke of Pittodrie, anyone would have listened to you?" Davy looked up at me, "So, you are saying, I can and should use my position to help others?" I nodded, "Yes, just like Forts does. You are both amazing chaps, so young to have such responsibilities, but I know both of you are so up for the job, but you need to help and support each other all the time." Davy gave me a hug, "Thank you Gethin..." He stood slowly, "Do you know where Forts is?" I stood next to him and kissed his head, "Yes, he is in the sleeping compartment, trying to get Andrew to calm down and have a snooze." Davy smiled, "Thank you." ** Davy takes up the story I moved down to the sleep compartment, opening the door as quietly as I could. I peaked in, Forts was lying on the bed, little Andrew on his inside, his little head facing the carriage wall. I slipped into the carriage, sneaking round the pile of shop boxes. Forts looked round, his face burst into a broad one of his smiles, he mouthed, "Hello." I crept over to the bed, Andrew was lying on his back sleeping, holding Forts' finger tightly clasped in one hand and a teddy in the other. Forts whispered, "He has just dropped off. Hang on." He shuffled over on the bed and tapped the space next to him. "Come and lie down next to me." ********************** Folks, I really hope you're enjoying the story. There is nothing more rewarding than hearing your feedback with observations and suggestions. Please email me to let me know. Blackscar. Other Nifty stories by Blackscar. 'NightCam Fun' – Gay/Encounters 'Exploring my brother' – Gay/Incest 'Josh's Adventures series' - Gay/Adult Youth 'An Army life for me' - Gay/Adult Youth/Military 'Grandmas Bedroom' – Bisexual/Incest 'Dominic Online' – Gay/Adult Youth 'Vampyre' – Gay/Adult Youth 'Operation Pied Piper' – Gay/Adult Youth 'Scream if you want to go faster' - Bisexual/Adult Youth 'Red and Nick' – Bisexual/Military 'The Extraordinary Christmas Party' – Bisexual/Incest 'A Brother Used' - Gay/Incest 'A very English Trailer Park' - Gay/Adult Youth 'Special lube Oil' - Gay/Adult Youth