Fox and Spiced Dreams Ch 6

Fox and Spiced Dreams
By: Niq
Date started: 4/13/11
Pairings: Lawrence /Sionn (OC character)
Rating: NC17
Disclaimer: I don't own Spice and Wolf, or any of its characters. This is purely fan fiction and I do not make money off of it. It is for amusement only.
Character note: just in case any one is interested, Sionn's name is pronounced shoon. It's Irish, go figure. ^_^
Author's Note: Please give feedback!!

~***~

Chapter 6


On the way they had meet a shepherd by the name of Nora. The girl had said a blessing over Lawrence and had asked him if he would hire her to protect them from wolves. Both Holo and Sionn were not very keen on the idea but in the end Lawrence had hired her, more out of kindness to the girl then for the protection. After all he didn't need a shepherd's protection when he had two deities.

The sun was only starting to set when they stopped for the night so Nora could get some sleep before she had to watch over her sheep through the night. Lawrence had talked to her for a while before she'd gone to sleep. Holo and Sionn both kept their distance and were very quiet.

When Nora had gone to sleep Lawrence sat down by Sionn and put his arms around him. "You're not jealous are you?" Lawrence asked teasingly.

"No..." Sionn lied horribly.

"Sionn... I love you; nothing is going to ever change that." Lawrence reassured. "I kind of see her as a little sister, that's all."

"I'm sorry..."Sionn said a little ashamed. "I guess I just can't help but be a defeatist some times."

"Yeah I kind of noticed that," Lawrence said with a smirk. "Seriously though, I know it's hard considering all you've been through, but just try to remember that I've sworn to love and stay with you no matter what."

"Ugh... Must you two be so sickeningly sweet? It is bad enough to have to travel with that shepherd girl with out having to listen to you declare your love for each other all over the place." Holo groaned.

"Hey that's what you get when you travel with two people who're in love." Lawrence said with a smile.

~***~

The next two days went surprisingly quick and they had reached Ruvinheigen. Sionn began to feel that sense of dread again. The people they continued to meet up with seemed uneasy about something. When they had stopped at the trading house so Lawrence could check in, Holo and Sionn waited out side. They could hear Lawrence's conversation with the man inside and found it rather amusing, but Sionn couldn't seem to shake the feeling as though he was being watched again.

"Is something the matter?" Holo asked suddenly noticing Sionn's dark mood.

"I feel like I'm being watched again," Sionn answered.

Holo looked around searchingly. "You really should relax. You are a foolish fox you know that?" she playfully mocked.

"I guess you're right." He sighed and went back to eavesdropping.

Two young men walked up after they had stopped talking again and began to flirt with them. Holo played along but Sionn told them flat out he wasn't interested.

"I'm married," He told them simply, but they still seemed interested in flirting with both of them.

Thankfully that was when Lawrence emerged again. The two men ran off as if Lawrence were going to get them. Sionn immediately put his arms around Lawrence.

"What? What's going on?" He asked a just a little confused.

"It seems our fox is still insecure and to top it off those men were sweet talking us even when Sionn said SHE was married." Holo laughed.

"Oh, good grief," Lawrence chuckled and gave Sionn a squeeze. "Well let's go see if we can find those peaches hmm?" Lawrence suggested.

~***~

The next day they had gone to Remerio Trading to complete the transaction they had started with the Latparron Trading merchant they had railroaded.  No one seemed to be around but then one man came out and talked with them. After a moment Lawrence said they'd come back tomorrow. It was then the man began to tell them that Latparron Trading had transferred the debt to them and that the armor they had in their wagon was next to worthless.

"We were also given this," the man said holding up a sealed letter, "For someone named Sionn."

Sionn stepped forward and took the letter. He opened it and read it three separate times.

"What is it Sionn," Lawrence asked with deep concern. He was shocked about his current problem with his finances but that paled in comparison to how pale Sionn had become when he'd read that letter.

"I'd like to speak with Mr. Remerio, if you please," Sionn said to the man, ignoring Lawrence's question. He knew if he were to say something to Lawrence now he'd probably break down or something. This was no time to be faint of heart. He would not let his happiness be destroyed as it had been in the past.

The man left to go and inquire about this request, leaving the three of them alone.

"What is going on Sionn?" Lawrence asked again with even more concern. Sionn took a deep breath and was about to say something when the man had come back saying that Sionn could see Remerio.

Giving Lawrence an 'I'm sorry' look, Sionn handed Lawrence the letter and said, "I love you." Then Sionn followed the man into the main part of the building.

Lawrence opened the letter and read it, and then read it again. "No…"

"What is it?" Holo asked now concerned as well.

"I-I don't believe it. They shouldn't have been able to find out." Lawrence babbled.

"What?" Holo asked.

He was too shocked, too worried now to say a word. Lawrence handed Holo the letter. She took it and read. "Oh, no… Lawrence, I'm sorry."

~***~

"I read the letter," Sionn said when he was introduced to Remerio. "How did you find out?" he asked.

"We were given information from several different sources." Remerio said simply.

"What do you want?" Sionn asked shrewdly.

"That's simple, money of course. If you decline I'm sure the church would love to hear about a young merchant who is in love with and in an active relationship with a male fox deity."

"How much money are we talking?" Sionn asked.

"Sixty Lumiones, in two days time." Remerio replied.

"Sixty!" Sionn said in complete shock. "There's no way we can come up with that much."

"That does of course incorporate your lover's debt as well as a fee for not turning you in." Remerio explained.

Sionn bit his lip. This was bad. Even as good of a merchant as Lawrence was, there was no way he could come up with sixty Lumiones in two days. They had no choice though. He'd have to accept and see what they could do and deal with it all as it came. "We have no choice I suppose. You have yourself a deal." Sionn said finally.

"Good." Remerio said as Sionn left after a few formal pleasantries.

~***~

"Sionn!" Lawrence called when Sionn emerged from the building.

Looking down thoughtfully, trying desperately to think of a way out of this mess, Sionn hadn't even heard Lawrence. Lawrence took hold of his shoulders and said his name again. Sionn looked up at Lawrence apologetically. "They want sixty Lumiones in two days or they turn us in to the church." Sionn said, a little disconnectedly.

"Sixty!" Lawrence gasped.

"Maybe I should just turn myself in, use myself as a bargaining chip for your debt…" Sionn said his tone a little on the desperate side.

Before he realized what he was doing, Lawrence pulled back and slapped Sionn. "Stop it!" he'd yelled then seeing the shocked look in Sionn's eyes, he realized what he'd just done. "Sionn… I'm sorry… I." he stammered putting his hand tenderly over the cheek he'd slapped, then pulled Sionn to him and held him tight. "We'll figure this out together."