Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Roman finds the journal hidden in a niche directly on the back wall. Right where he had seen The King hide the book a day before. From the name on it and color of it he instantly knew. It looked just as Aunt Patty had described to him. The journal that had all the answers Roman was looking for. Picking it up he mused that such a light book could hold such a heavy weight.

“Psst—” he whispers to Noise who jumps a little, being unable to see Roman as he is invisible.

“Got it.” He says quietly.

Noise nods wordlessly as Roman exits the richly decorated room of The Bard King. They quietly hum the simple tune that closes and locks the door. The two scamper out of the area not wanting to wait around and be discovered.

Noise slows his pace to a brisk walk. They walk down a hall that is open air on his right and wall on his left keeping their posture cool as if he was exactly where they should be at this very moment. Roman follows behind doing his best not to knock into them. He does peak to his right over the roof of the rest of the college. The view is breath taking. There are blue and red roofs with towers and open walkways sewn throughout the structure of the floating isle. Majestic clouds with a rainbow sheen them are drifting about some of the lower spires giving them a magical vibe.

Roman had, had no time to admire the college ground since Noise, Youngblood, and him had got here. The three of them had only snuck around at night and then Roman had gotten stuck in the Bard King's chambers last night. Which had few windows in it, making taking in the beauty of the college hard. While admiring the view Roman takes a moment to glance at the roof below him to check on Youngblood's hiding spot. When he spots a section of roof just slightly off Roman indicating where Youngblood is hiding.

Good, all going to plan. Roman thinks. Hopefully we can leave today and we'll finally get to eat some of Burgundy Red’s bread.

A guard rounds the corner a little after the duo had started down the hall, cutting short Roman’s admiration of the view and wandering mind. Also on cue there is a loud blaring noise that goes off much like the sound of a very out of tune violin double stopping really badly while attempting to do a glissando. Then the voice of The Bard King comes booming out form where his door is. (If you don't know what a glissando is, please look it up. It is the best worst thing you can do as a string orchestra instrument player. >:)

“WHO DARES TRESSPASS IN THE CHAMBERS OF THE BARD KING, CONDUCTOR OF THE COLLEGE OF BARDS! I WILL FIND YOU AND PUNISH YOU WITH THE POWER OF EVERY MUSICAL INTRUMENT!"

Roman jumps out of his skin at the noise. At the same time both Noise and the guard swiftly turn toward the sound, while also covering their ears. Noise playing their part beautifully says,

“What was that?” A very displeased bite to their voice. If Roman’s heart wasn’t already fluttering from that God awful noise it would have from Noise’s voice.

Now’s not the time. Get it together Roman. He thinks.

“Come on, GO! Call the rest of the Guard! I’m going to check it out!” Noise shouts.

“Let’s Go.” Noise whispers into the communi-rock as soon as the guard is out of sight.

“Come on Roman. All that dance practice better pay off.” They whisper under their breath as the two vault off the railing of the walkway onto the curved Japanese style roof below them. They are joined by Youngblood who pulls his cloak of disguise around him.

“Roman,” Youngblood says,

“You ready to finally get some answers?”

“Yes.” Roman says,

“But first let’s get the hell out of here!” Youngblood says determinedly.

Chapter Text

(three days ago)

“I still don’t understand why you two think it’s a good idea to trust me.” Noise says handing Youngblood a cylindrical case made for holding rolled papers. Youngblood and Roman are sitting at a table in the back of the tavern of the town just below the bard college, Minstrel. A town most people pass through for better things. While the main tavern and connected inn was always busy, everyone is always a stranger. Save the occasional Bard Guard or college student.

Roman scoots over and gestures for Noise to sit as well. He looks around checking to see if anyone recognizes him before sitting down with the two young men. Youngblood, eager to get to business, opens the case. He pulls out several maps and architectural designs of what seems to be a palace complex. With the acceptation of it floating in the sky.

“What are you thinking Roman?” Youngblood asks,

“Are you ready to find out who you are?” He adds.

“As ready as I’ll ever be. If my dad won’t tell me who I am, then I’m just going to have to go find out.” Roman looks at the two people next to him. Love for both of them blossoming in his heart, the kind one can only call romance. Every time he sees each Youngblood and Noise he can’t bear the thought of either getting hurt.

“Are you two willing to go with me? It will be dangerous and both of you have stakes up there at the college, reputations, people you’ve angered. I don’t want either of you to get hurt because of me.” He says suddenly welling up with tears.

“Roman.” Youngblood says firmly but gently, placing his hand on Roman’s hand,

“This is important to you. I want to help you with something important to you. And also isn’t this why we are on this adventure? To find out who you are? You are so kind and amazing and there is no one else I would rather get hurt protecting. You silly doofus.” Youngblood says.

While he was speaking Roman had slipped his hand into Youngblood's and the two staring into each other's eyes. Noise can't help but feel hurt by this. Like they've been ignored and nocked off some unspoken pedestal. Yet he can't help the annoying warm fuzzy feeling he gets when he see these two together. They are both idiots, ridiculous lovable idiots.

“Awe, I,” Roman is stuttering trying to hold back tears,

“Thank you. I’m really glad you’re willing to come with me.” Roman says seemingly oblivious to Noise’s pain. He then turns his attention to them,

“Noise. You don't need to come along with us on this. You've already helped a lot and I totally understand if you—”

“I’m coming.” They say,

“I don’t want to see you fail at this. You’ve been very kind to me, I would like to try and repay that debt.” They say dejected. They’ve lost and probably will lose more after whatever these two are planning. But at least he can go out doing something for the two people who make him feel the safest.

Roman moves closer to Noise, hovering just over theirs, he looking expectantly to see if he can touch them. Noise brushes his hand with Roman's and settles into holding Roman's hand.

“Thank you. Thank you both.” Roman says seriously with reverent gratitude in his voice, as he holds both Youngblood and Noise's hands.

“But before we discuss our plans we need to discuss the romantic tension between you two.” Flipping the mood, Roman speaks in a jovial, teasing manner, pushing the sadness out of his voice and replacing it with the enthusiasm of a kid. He then pulls the hands of Youngblood and Noise toward each other till the two are holding each others hands instead of Roman's hands.

“Awe, come on I know you two like each other long before I met either of you. Did you think I didn’t notice? I may be unperceptive, but I’m not blind.”

Youngblood and Noise both blush and sit awkwardly holding hands. Then Youngblood decides he isn't ready. Not yet. 

“Roman.” Youngblood says abruptly,

“Look you maybe be right about a thing or two sometimes, occasionally, but now is not the time to bring up my or Noise’s past. We’re here to discuss how to break into the college. Let’s do that before it becomes morning. Ok?” He says directly with a hint of annoyance letting go of Noise's hand.

“I would also not like to talk about the past as of now. But maybe if we all get through this alive we can discuss this latter. It would be appreciated, Youngblood.” Noise says trying to stay matter of factly, but his snarky demeanor is replaced with a tone of longing.

"Sorry, no you two are right. I didn't mean to push you two toward something you're not ready for. Let us plan instead!" Roman say going from an apologetic tone to a determined and jovial tone.

And so a plan is set into motion.

Chapter Text

“So, what exactly are you looking for? Your message was very vague on why you wanted to sneak into the college.” Noise asks.

“Well, I’m looking for something I think can help me figure out who I am.” Roman says with apprehension in his voice.

“I was told that The Bard King’s book of spells would have the answers I seek in it.”

“By who?” Noise asks suspiciously. He knows that Roman would only ever steal something for pure intentions, but someone else could be pulling the strings here. Noise could not stand the thought of someone using Roman for their own malicious intents.

“Aunt Patty.” Roman says at the same time Youngblood says,

“The fae.”

“We were directed to talk with the fae by Aunt Patty after she told us what she knew of the notebook.” Youngblood says. He looks at Roman there is more to it than that, but it is not his to share.

“What Aunt Patty said was really vague. It’s a bit worry some that she couldn’t remember, but yeah she did direct us to the fae, saying they could give us more answers than she could. The fae may not be the most trustworthy, but they are my only lead after Ryker refused to tell me anything.” Roman says, his face suddenly falls and his cheery manor falls away.

“Aunt Patty is dying.” Roman says bluntly,

“There’s also some sort of curse on Reston. I think that’s what’s causing her to be so sick. The curse keeps music from being played there and it also causes people to forget what music is. Aunt Patty was holding up a counter curse for most of the townsfolk, but with her strength waning I just— I just had to –" Roman’s voice cracks and he pauses to breath, trying not to cry.

“We’re trying to find Roman’s other parent because they were rumored to be connected to the curse somehow.” Youngblood cuts in.

“She – they - he, could maybe end the curse, or something. Something so that Aunt Patty doesn’t – Doesn’t –” Roman says stumbling on his words frantically trying to get them out.

“I’ll help you get that book.” Noise says determinedly.

A pause of surprised silence.

“Thank you.” Roman says choked up. There is sadness in his voice, at the thought of Aunt Patty dying, yet happiness has crept in. His friends are going to be by his side. The ones he loves dearly. Roman visually, physically relaxes as he takes his next breath, relieved that he doesn’t have to do all of this all by himself.

“It’s really nice to have you on our side.” He says to Noise, smiling through sad eyes.

Noise acknowledges Roman’s kind words to them with a head nod. Then with a quick thought, jumps back to business.

“Ok there are two ways to get up to the bard college. The stones of trial or with a slay song, a special flying vehicle that can get through the magical barriers keeping any other flying things out. Postal and food curriers or deployed Bard Guards use them, but everyone else is expected to use the stones of trial.” Noise says.

“Oh, so are you suggesting that we sneak out on one of those?” Youngblood asks.

“Yes.” Noise says

“That sounds so cool!” Roman says in an almost cheery voice. His natural wonder at the world edging out his long held sadness for the moment.

“You two should have no problem controlling the slay. Once you are in the driver’s seat just sing what you want the slay to do and it will.”

Roman and Youngblood nod vigorously.

“Wait, ‘you two’? What is that supposed to mean? Are you not coming Noise?” Youngblood asks him.

“I—Uh, (sigh) It’s like you’ve said, I have a reputation to keep up. Wouldn’t want to lose that…” they laugh uncomfortably and sadly.

Roman looks at him in an earnest and determined way. A look that is laced with sadness and determination.

“Please come with us Noise.” Roman says.

Chapter Text

Roman looks at him in an earnest and determined way. A look that is laced with sadness and determination.

“Please come with us Noise.” Roman says.

Roman’s voice pulls Noise out of their thoughts of that night. The night where he, Roman, and Youngblood had planned to sneak into The Bard King’s chambers and steal a book of his. The night that Roman had given them the same look. A look of hope, longing, love, and sadness.

Here now the sky is a brilliant blue and shining with the light of an early mid-morning sun. A stark and stunning contrast to the night time scene that had been dancing through Noise’s head. In front of him stands Roman holding out his hand sitting inside a flying slay. It has a large fabric sack in the back and is parked on a landing platform. The group is in a loading depo with other slays like it all lined up. This is the mail and shipping cargo loading zone. For now, it is quiet and devoid of life.

“Noise, won’t you please come with us? I know you hate it here. Please come with us, all we want is for you to be happy." Roman says with only love in his voice,

"You don’t need to suffer here. What the college and The Bard King has to offer won’t mean anything if you are not happy. What is success if you are not proud of what you have done?” Roman says. His beautiful brown eyes full of worry and compassion plead for Noise to come.

“Noise, Roman and I talked it over,” Youngblood says with earnest from over Roman’s shoulder in the driver’s seat.

“The best way to say it, is that, we both love you and want you in our lives. Together. the three of us.” Youngblood says. There is another quiet moment of deliberation by Noise. Should he join them? Should they stay?

“Look out!” Roman says jumping out of the slay and tackling Noise to the ground. A blast of magic hits the side of the slay shaking it and leaving a scorch mark. There are sounds of shouting in the distance.

“You two better get in here! Now!” Youngblood yells as a horn is sounded and a drum starts pounding a rhythm.

A projectile, this time, aimed toward Youngblood, misses him. Instead, it hits a large bag in the back of the slay making a huge rip in it. Noise, with his quick thinking waves his hand and with a note of song a gust of wind blasts the bag. The papers fly everywhere giving the trio just enough cover to get away.

With this distraction, Roman picks up Noise from his tackle. He does not grab Noise’s hand but instead reaches out behind him he starts off toward the slay. Noise makes a split second decision and grabs Roman’s hand and the two run, hand in hand toward the slay. They dive into it and Youngblood shouts out in song,

“Fly away! Fly away!”

The slay springs to life and shoots off into the sky. A moment passes. The wind whips past them. Just as they think they are in the clear a magic spell wiz past them. With that, Youngblood gets the slay to swerve and weave. Hopefully they can out maneuver their pursuers. Youngblood looks behind to see three slays full of bard guards flying after them. Following their paper trail of mail flying out the bag in the back of the slay.

“I don’t feel so good…” Noise groans, they are slumped over on Roman holding their stomach. Roman has been comforting them until now and hadn't noticed the bolt of magic or the bard guards who were slaying it yet.

“Roman! We've got bard guards on our tail! I have an idea of how to keep them away, but you need to drive." Youngblood yells as another spell comes hurtling past them almost hitting the slay.

“I’m going to set things on fire!” He says menacingly.

Roman whips around at the spell that whizzed passed them, finally seeing the slays coming after them. He nods at Youngblood and whispers the plans to Noise before Roman slides over into the driver's seat. Which is indicated by a star shaped decal on the left side of the simple wooden bench seat the three have been sitting in. Roman is able to easily get the slay under control. He' able to dodge and weave well and avoid all but one arrow and one minor spell that were thrown at them.

While Roman takes control of the slay, Youngblood carefully climbs onto the enormous bag that takes up the entirety of the back area of it. Then he starts to sing.

Youngblood finds a simple melody and within it, directs his focus where he wants his fire to appear. The words he finds to his song are about home, love, and adventure. They resonate with what he has been feeling throughout his adventures. His feelings for Roman. His feelings for Noise, and their encounters long past and recent. His words talk about how he found home not in a town or city, but on the road with the people he travelled with. With tears streaming down his face, he sings.

As the song progresses a plane of glowing fire, vertical to the slay, appears just behind it. When the papers flying out of the bag pass through the plane they catch fire, these fiery letters start flying into the bard guards' faces. This causes them to back off. Eventually each of them decide to give up and turn back.

When he is for sure the threat is gone Youngblood’s song comes to a close. With that the plane of fire melts away into nothing. Youngblood turns around to face forward and slumps from a primed and on edge keeling posture, into a tiered sitting position.

“You ready to stop and take a nap or something?” Roman asks.

“Yeah.” Youngblood says.

“Please put us down.” Noise groans,

“Alright then, one simple landing in a tree covered forest coming right up.” Roman muses cheerfully before calling for the slay to slow down and descend gently.

Chapter Text

The three had finally made it out of the bard college and away from the bard guard. With both Youngblood and Noise needing time to rest after that blood pumping escape they had set up camp in a circle of trees.

Youngblood helped Roman set up the campsite. Toward the end, after Noise had thrown up, he had helped a little. Though it was briefly and both Roman and Youngblood had kindly told them to sit this out. As soon as the campsite was set up Noise and Youngblood settled into the tent and fell asleep next to each other.

With everything being so quiet, Roman decides takes out the book and look at it. The cover is made of green colored leather with an intricate pressed pattern framing the front cover. The name Revin is sloppily cut into the cover inside the box created by the framing pattern. Roman opens the book to beautiful ink scrawling across the first page reading: ‘Revin’s personal and magical journal’. He turns to the first page revealing a journal entry.

June 10, 516 of the era of the fae

Well, this is my first journal entry. I don’t know what to say really other than I really don’t get what others see between Ryker and me. Yeah he keeps giving me gifts and doing nice things for me, but like people do that after my performances all the time. I’m just not sure what he could or would see in me. Like he’s a cool adventurer while I’m just a farm boy who can make music really well. I’m just the town screw up that always ruins everything with my disturbing and destructive magic.

Anyway Patton, or Patty, as Ryker calls her, has asked if I would like to come travel with her and Ryker. I can’t believe this! Like the cool people from out of town are asking me to come with them? I’m not sure, will I be missed or glad to be gotten rid of?

Anyway traveling with Ryker doesn’t sound half bad, he is really pretty and thoughtful and kind. But you will not catch me saying that to his stupid ass cute as hell face. How can I like someone and not be able to stand them at the same time? How are both of those feelings feeding into each other too? Anyway those two are coming so I better wrap up writing. Adventure awaits me, I hope.

Revin

Roman pages through the rest of the book. Most of the journal entries are very similar to the first entry and there are records of spells and how to cast them interspersed with the entries. There is even a spell that requires tiny tarts and a feather, to be performed. Odd, Roman thinks, But that’s just how magic is I guess.

Curious Roman shuts the journal and opens it on the last page. A sheet of paper falls out. It is almost completely covered in writing front to back, clearly a continuation from the last pages of the journal which are also completely covered in similar writing.

The writing is emotional and messy with words crossed out things underlined and emphasized. Roman slips the loose paper back between the last page and the back cover. He flips back till he reaches the beginning of the final entry. It is long and doesn’t look good.

Sep. 21, 522 f.e.

Whatever happens I want there to be a truthful record of what has happened. Whatever happens next. Someday I hope that my friends will know the truth.

To Ryker

I love you. With all my heart. I’m sorry things have gone this way. We could have been kings. Together. With our child. We could rule together! I just want to offer our family the world. Just as you offered me yours. I think whatever happens, whether or not we are good for each other, I will always love you. You were my one. I hope our child, Roman, grows up healthy and strong.

May the record be set.

We were on a quest seeking out the Eternal Mother. Mother of the fae to ask her to end our suffering at the hands of the fae. Tricking us less magical creatures into contracts and deals with them for generations. While on the quest I found a way to slow aging of things. Eventually I found a way to cast this spell on myself, but it came at a price. I became a monster in this form. All the worst qualities of my personality became apparent and I could not control how long I was in form. I called it my engulfed form.

The secret to the form was pixie dust, a mixture of fairy excrement and fae magic, and the death of a fairy. One day while transforming into my engulfed form, I stumbled while transforming and nocked open a cage of fairies.

Knowing the noise would alert my friends I muttered that I wished my friends would not see me in my engulfed form. The fae that were freed now owed me a wish and in their spite granted this wish that I can only call a curse saying,

“May all that call you friend miss place your name and face,

Not be able to fit your looks and memory in their mind

Till your dark truth be told

may your form not hold,

A hint of recognition for those who call you friend.

All fae here be whiteness and grant your wish accordingly!”

And with that all the fae there cast their curse upon me as if they were one.

Ryker and Patty came to check on me,

“Revin? Are you ok? I heard a lot of banging and blasting in there. Do you need help with anything?” He asks with a note of concern in his voice, just as he always does when I do dangerous magical experiments.

“I’m fine!” I call out not sure what to say in the wake of all the chaos. I’ve almost transformed into my engulfed form and really don’t want them around right now.

Just as I’m about to make up some excuse for them to leave Patton bust down the door shouting,

“That’s not Revin!” she continues to shout at me as if she doesn’t know who I am.

Confused I dump a bucket of water on me to maybe stop or slow the engulfing transformation.

Hopefully this will slow it and Patton will be able to recognize me better. I thought desperately. But she did not. And neither did Ryker. They both got angry and started shouting asking where I was.

“Where’s Revin?!” They kept shouting. It was so overwhelming.

Then it happened. I transformed fully into my engulfed form. The power and rage that overtook me was so intense. I could not believe my best friends, including my boyfriend, would forget who I was. I cursed them both, saying,

“Wherever you may go,

May no music flow!

Forget every note! Forget every song!

Every person that is kind

To Ryker and Patton may this curse bind

No music they shall find!”

I don’t remember much after that. The past few months have all been a blur. I’ve been in and out of my engulfed form. I am no longer Revin. I am The Bard King. Conductor of the Bard College. With the fearful respect of everyone here, I have built something great in a year that Revin and his soft lousy friends could have only dreamed of in a lifetime.

With the rush of empowerment that the form gives me when I enter it, it is my goal to inhabit it for the rest of eternity. I think the form’s energy is running out, better go see if we have any more live fairies around.

The Bard King

Chapter Text

After the first day of camping Roman, Youngblood, and Noise travel at night to avoid detection by the Bard Guards. Their journey back to Reston is swift, with the slay eating up the miles crossed and days it took getting to the bard college. Roman did not say anything about his findings in the book during the ride back, though he did contemplate the stories about his father and Aunt Patty deeply.

The trio arrived late into the night to the forests surrounding Reston and decided to camp till the next morning. Roman gets very little sleep that night. He tosses and turns while ruminating on all he has read. In the morning they send the slay off back to the college and the trio heads toward town.

Roman takes a deep breath and steps beyond the edge of the first of the fields of wheat leading into Reston. Before long, with both dread and hope, Roman spots his father coming up the road to welcome him. Many of the town folks had come as well, but they all stayed back and gave the family their space.

“Hi father,” Roman says with a nervousness in his voice,

“How’s Aunt Patty doing? I uh, brought a spell book that might be able to help her. Or maybe we can find the owner of it, Revin, maybe he can help her. I –” Roman cuts off as his father starts tearing. Ryker tries to keep a gruff and displeased look on his face but can’t. He simply pulls Roman into a hug.

“Aunt Patty.” He says shakily,

“She’s not doing so well. I – I’m not sure she would remember you.” Ryker says simply as tears simply streak down his face.

More confusion washes over Roman. Not remember? Why would Aunt Patty not remember him? Still his choice of words told him she hadn’t died in the few days he was gone, like Roman had feared, so that was a plus.

“I found the book that Aunt Patty said could help.” Roman says trying to disentangle himself from his father’s awkwardly prolonged hug. He pulls out the journal from his satchel and instantly Ryker’s eyes react with recognition.

“That –! How did you get that?” He says weakly.

“We, might have stolen it from the Bard College?” Roman says shyly.

Ryker lets out a large sigh of exultation.

“Let’s go home Roman. There are things I probably should have told you long ago I need to say. Youngblood and you other friend can stay the night at our place, but they might want to go elsewhere while we discuss family matters.”

*          *          *

At the kitchen table Ryker and Roman sit across from each other the journal sitting out in front of them. The name Revin staring back at them intensely. Roman is nervously munching on a loaf of Burgundy Red’s bread.

“Revin was your father.” Ryker says abruptly,

“He and I fell in love while we were out adventuring together. Aunt Patty and I passed through his town during our travels. He was the town bard and caught my eye with his charm.” Ryker smiles a soft sad smile. The room is quiet and Ryker’s eyes are far away from. He is deep in the memory of the past, a small sweet memory hidden within the pain he has tried to forget over the years.

“This was the journal I gave him back when I was young and stupid. I was bright eyed and bushy tailed like you are, and blind to what he was doing. After Patty and I showed him the world his desire to control it grew. He would experiment and try new types of spells and potions all the time. Everything he would record in this journal.

Whatever he was doing got him killed. I’m sure of it. One night I never saw him again. Someone just came in and then he was gone. It was like he disappeared and was replaced with an evil entity pretending to be him.”

While speaking Ryker’s hand had been increasingly covering his face and his head had been increasingly falling into his hand. In the moments of silence afterwards Roman could see him shake ever so slightly, proceeded by tears dripping down his chin.

Roman is silent unsure what to do. He’s never seen his father like this before. He’s heard stories of his father’s adventures before, but never any with a person like Revin in them.

Before he’s realized what he’s doing Roman has put down his bread and stood up. He walked around the table and stood directly next to his father, towering over his slumped figure.

“Dad?” He says timidly,

“Can I give you a hug?”

“I – uh, ok son.” Ryker says hoarsely. The two embrace warmly, each comforting the other. Roman had missed the warm embrace of family out on the road. He was glad to be home, dire circumstances or not.