Title: The Worth of Love Author: Ylith (CneajnaTsepesh@aol.com) Rating: NC-17 Pairings: Orlando/Sean Orlando/Viggo Summary: how to explain this fic…Gosford Park meets Count of Monte Cristo…with hot man on man sex. Complete and utter AU, naturally. Disclaimer: I own nothing, I am just a silly little girl that loves to write about the way things SHOULD be, but life’s a bitch, and I have no idea what the boy’s sexual orientations are. Archive: just ask me!!! Part 1: The huge manor house loomed before him, lurking in the distance like a great beast ready to swallow him. Orlando looked out the window of the carriage at the massive house in absolute wonder. He had never seen a house like this before, having come from a tiny one-room apartment in the overpopulated city. He was so scared about his new post. His old position had been working for an upper class elderly woman in the city five days a week. She had taught him all about etiquette and working for wealthy families. She had taught him how to serve and obey and keep his masters happy. The woman had said that she wanted the young to remember how to treat their elders and betters in society, as her incompetent son had forgotten. She had liked Orlando, and in her own way felt bad that he was so lowly in society. She had said that since she could not make his life better, she would help him so he could get a better job and take care of himself. It was she that recommended him to Lord Lee, and gotten him the job. Orlando pressed his hat back down on his head, securing it so it did not fly off in the wind. He sat back down in his seat and leaned his head back, breathing deeply, trying to relax. This would be good. He would have the best life he could for one of his standings. He would have a secure job for a respectable man, a roof over his head and food in his belly. He felt the car slow down, and looked out the carriage window to see the stone side of the building. This was it. The carriage driver pulled the horses to a stop. Orlando heard the sound of the driver getting down from his seat, and then the rustle of his single bag being retrieved from the top. His breath stopped for a moment as he waited for the driver to open his door. The driver opened the door and looked at Orlando. He saw the trepidation on the boy’s face, and his expression softened. “It’s now or never, young fellow,” he said in a low, gruff voice. Orlando swallowed and nodded, trying to give the man a little smile as he exited the back of the carriage. The old man gave him a reassuring slap on the back, slightly jarring Orlando with the force. The old man then returned to his place on the front of the carriage and whipped the horses into a trot. Orlando watched the carriage disappear over the hill and then turned to pick up his bag, and headed for the house. He did not know where he should go, to the front or the back. He had thought that there would be someone outside that would meet him or that he could ask, but there was no one. He stood there for a moment, thinking of what to do, and looking out to the back When Orlando’s back was turned, the front door opened, and an older woman stepped out of the house. She closed the door quietly and folded her hands in front of her. Orlando turned at the sound of the door being closed, and saw the woman standing there. “May I help you?” she asked curtly. Orlando nodded and took off his hat, which drew a pleased half smile from the woman’s thin lips. “My name is Orlando Bloom, I am here for the new position for Lord Lee…” “Oh yes…the new Valet. I am Miss Dench, head of the household servants. I would lead you in the front, but it is not proper, follow me please.” Orlando nodded and followed Mrs. Dench around to the back of the massive house. She walked with a short, crisp step, and her shoes clicked against the cobblestone steps. Even as she walked, she kept her hands clasped in front of her. All of her gray hairs were neatly pinned and covered by the little black cloth, as the lady servants were to cover the tops of their hair. Orlando clutched his hand around the handle of his suitcase as though he was afraid it would slip from his hand, trying to keep his head held high as she did. He took in the scenery around him as he walked. The grounds were very impressive, a lovely wooded area off to the right and back, creating a sort of fencing at the boundaries. There was a stables off a little to the left, and he could see several figures running around to the back. Orlando’s pace must have wavered for he could hear Mrs. Dench clearing her throat in slight irritation. “Sorry” Orlando apologized as he tore his gaze from the scene of the grounds and back to the path in front of him. The woman reached the back door and opened it. “This is the servant’s entrance,” she said curtly. “This is the only entrance you shall use unless you are directly assisting Lord Lee. It does not matter if the front door is the faster route, it simply is not proper. Is that clear?” “Yes ma’am” Orlando assured, walking though the door as she directed. Mrs. Dench re-clasped her hands and continued walking. “If it has been raining, you are to remove your shoes before walking through the house as to not leave mud tracks. It is the considerate thing to do. We all have enough work as it is. These are the storage rooms. We keep all the jarred goods in these rooms. Lord Lee is partial to his jams, and this is where you would find them should he ask.” Orlando nodded even though her back was to him. He felt as though she would know if he did not. “This is the kitchen” she said, signaling to the room as they walked through the door. “As you are not a trained cook, you have no reason to be back here unless it is to fetch something the Lord has specifically asked for. If it is any kind of dish or tea, ask one of the kitchen girls to fetch it. This will avoid any unwanted or unexplainable mistakes.” Orlando looked around and saw several people working. There was a blond haired woman leaning over a boiling pot, stirring with concentrated determination. Her long hair braided and covered with a cloth so it would stay out of her face and the food. There was another woman working with red hair who was kneading some dough. There was a scruffy boy eating an apple. He looked rather like an imp to Orlando, his face slightly crooked. Orlando must have been staring, because the boy gave him a little wink before he began munching on his apple again. Mrs. Dench threw him a raised eyebrow and he immediately began to sweep again, shooting her big face scrunched smiles as he swept. Mrs. Dench gave him a haggard nod, and with a wave of her head motioned for Orlando to follow her. He did, shooting a glance back at the boy, who blew him a playful little kiss before sweeping around to grab the blonde haired woman about the waist. “Dom!” Orlando heard her screech before the door to the kitchen closed behind him. He continued to follow Mrs. Dench through the house as she showed him around. Orlando could not believe the size of the house, nor the ill lighting. The house was dark although it was midday. Orlando wondered why anyone would possible want to stay in the dark like that, as he himself loved the feel of the sun. She led him into a well-furnished hallway, lit by hanging chandeliers. “This is the main hallway” she explained, motioning to the walls around them. “It is from this hall where all main areas of the house can be reached. Over here is the drawing room. When the master has arties, they often play cards and take brandy here. Over here” she motioned to a room to the right with tall sturdy doors. “This is the library. His lordship likes to pass many hours here. Expect to serve him sherry or tea in here most nights. If you want to be a good servant, you shall bring him tea at eight o’clock if he is in there. If he takes a late night walk, as he is known to, you should light a fire when he gets back. Lord Lee is known to catch a cold often enough, especially if there is a dew in the chilly air.” She did not stop talking as she walked. She did not have to look around either. Orlando guessed that if she were blind, he would still know every crack in the house. “You do not need to worry about remembering every detail just yet, there shall be plenty of time for you to learn.” She ensured. Mrs. Dench led him to a grand staircase and stopped. She finally turned to face Orlando head on. Her tone became much more quiet as she spoke to him this time. “I shall be frank with you, mister Bloom, we did not have much need for a ‘valet’ for Lord Lee. He lives alone, and has many servants to do his wishes. Unfortunately, Lord Lee is getting old, and needs more aid and supervision than any of us may give him. We all have our tasks, and cannot manage it on our own. It shall be your job to watch after the master, make sure he does not exert himself; that he is always warm or cool enough, that he has what he needs or requires. Is that understood?” Orlando nodded. He had a question, and could not hold back. “So, am I to look after the master as though I would a small child?” Mrs. Dench’s mouth twitched in a smile. “It all depends on how you think about it, I suppose. You could just think that you need to take special care of him, watch him more than a normal valet would need to. If his health remains, you remain. However, if you do not live up to the expectations of the position, I shall not hesitate to remove you from his services.” She saw the look of slight shock that came over his lovely face. “Oh yes” she warned. “I have that power.” She held Orlando’s gaze to see if he would hold it, and he did not disappoint her. She seemed pleased with his steady gaze, it was something she could trust. “You have no need to worry about me, ma’am” Orlando assured her. “I shall fulfill my tasks as you request of me.” Mrs. Dench nodded at his words and motioned down the hall to another small staircase. “This leads upstairs to the servant’s wing. I shall show you that part of the house only briefly now so you may put away your belongings, but then I would like you to meet the Master.” She led him upstairs to his small room with naught but a bed and chest before leading him back downstairs. Mrs. Dench heard a crashing sound coming from the drawing room as soon as they got downstairs and rolled her eyes. She turned to Orlando. “Please, wait here a moment.” She said, briskly walking towards the drawing room. Orlando stood at the foot of the stairs, arms crossed in front of him, waiting for her to return. He did not know what else to do besides look around the hall a little, try and remember what room was where. He was so engrossed in thought he did not hear the sound of footsteps on the floor above. He did not see the figure at the top of the stairs watching him intently, taking in his graceful beauty. A deep, penetrating voice boomed from above, cultured in its class. “This creature before me must be an angel, for I have ne’er before seen such a sight.” Orlando turned immediately to see the face of the man that spoke to him…his new employer.