Tom looked around the table, unsure of where to sit. All the food looked so good- there were steaks, beautifully arranged salads, a huge assortment of fruit, even pasta for the younger guests. Still scanning the table, Tom saw that the place at the head of the table was empty. "That's where you're sitting, right?" He said to Edward. The chairs next to the empty one, on the sides of the table, were both occupied. Where was Tom to sit? He looked for Kyrie, Yuri, or Jacob, to see if they were sitting on chairs or on the floor beside their lover, but couldn't find any of them. He bit his lip, feeling people's eyes on him.

"Yes.I'm sitting there." Edward smiled.He beckoned over a servant, and told them to go get an extra chair, and to put it beside where he was sitting.He sat down in his place and one of the servants sat down his plate, then one sat a chair beside Edward's."Tom.Sit right here." He said, smiling at Tom softly as he patted the seat of the chair beside him, as a plate of fruit, and a small steak, was set in front of Tom's chair.The servant who served Tom waited for him to sit down, to ask the boy what he wanted to drink.He looked at Tom sort of casually happily, recognizing the boy within seconds..After all, Tom had usually worked beside him, so he was relaxed.

Tom happily sat down on the chair beside Edward. Though less intricate than Edward's, with its beautiful carvings and gold appliqués, it was nicer than the chairs the guests sat in. It also had a big red cushion, that Tom bounced on a little as he sat down. He smiled at the boy who was serving him; they'd worked together for years. "Just water, please," he requested. He picked up his fork and knife, but then noticed that no one else was eating yet. The tradition came quickly to him- no one eats until the King takes his first bite. Setting down his utensils, Tom tipped his head up to look at Edward, waiting for him to take his first bite.

Edward smiled, leaned down and Kissed Tom's cheek as the drinks were served, making the female and the more feminine guests and the servants either squeal or go 'awwwww', before he took his first bite, making the rest of the guests begin eating.He laughed lightly at how the guests and the servants reacted to his little kiss, showing his love for the new queen fully in front of the whole castle.Before every servant left, he called over the highest-ranked kitchen servant there and told him that the servants could also cook themselves some nice food, since it was a special night, and that they could use the empty dining hall that was usually used if the other one overflowed, or if they needed it for some kind of meeting.

Tom smiled, blushing bright red, when Edward leaned down and pressed his lips to his cheek. He hooked his leg around Edward's under the table, swinging it lightly. Still smiling broadly, he picked up his utensils again and began cutting up his steak. Once it was in bite-sized pieces, he set down his knife on the edge of his plate. He started eating the pieces, chewing slowly to savor the meat. It'd been so long since he'd had such warm meat. It was absolutely delicious. After he'd eaten about half of it, he selected several pieces of fruit- strawberries, red grapes, and cantaloupe. "This is really good," he said to Edward. "How's your food?"

Edward smiled as he swallowed a bite of steak."It's very nice..Your friend must have REALLY worked hard to make sure it was perfect for the new king." He giggled."I sent off one of the servants to tell the others that they could make their own dinner, if they'd like..Im going to make sure the servants are well fed, I don't want to have to feel guilty when I see their poor malnourished bodies ever again..I'm going to make life so much better for them, the previous generations have treated them so poorly, when really, they're just human beings, just like the nobles, and the king, and the royal family, end everyone else, they just have a different job, that's a bit lower ranked than anyone else's..They shouldn't be punished for tiny mess ups, they should be fed and have a good place to sleep, and comfortable, clean clothing.Just like everyone else."

Tom listened to Edward's short speech, chewing on a strawberry and nodding. "That's very good of you," he said. "I think they'll really like it. If you treat them nicely, there won't be nasty words about you circulating in the kitchens." He ate up some more of the fruit, feeling very calm and relaxed. He hadn't felt this good in ages, and it was all thanks to Edward. He leaned his head against Edward's arm, smiling at all the 'awww's it caused.

"And I swear, if I see one child in the kitchen, being kicked to the side by rushing feet, i'll get him to safety as quick as possible, adn if there is one servant sick or injured badly, he or she may stay in bed, until they are well.I've seen the pain caused throughout my whole life..I alwayas asked my mother when I was a little boy, when I didn't understand the concept of a servant too well, 'Mommy, why is that boy dressed like that, why does he have so many bruises' or 'Mommy, why can't they get breakfast too, they're little boys, just like me, aren't they?' it made me so sad whenever she would say no t the second question I would ask alot of her, alawys wondering why the servants boys my age didn't get the basic things that I did, warm food, a good place to sleep, storys at night, a music box to sing me a lullaby, nice, unripped and unpatched clothing.."

Tom bent his head, suddenly not really wanting to eat. He remembered doing the same thing when he was younger, though he'd never been able to ask his mother. Instead the questions came late at night, as he was crying himself to sleep- Why do I have to work? Why can't I have three meals a day, like the boys in the main castle? Why are my clothes never mended? Why does everyone always hit me? What makes me so different from the boys in the main castle? How come I have to work, and they don't? Why do I always cry myself to sleep? It nearly broke Tom's heart now, just thinking about it. As he'd gotten older, he'd learned that the only thing that made him different from the princes was who he'd been born to. It was just class, his one you could only drop to, the princes' one that was hard to move into. He began picking moodily at his food with his fingers, not wanting to eat anymore but also not wanting to embarrass himself or Edward.

"Never again will another boy your age go through that terrible time again..I remember hearing SOMEONE crying, when I was younger, when I walked to the bathroom near the servants rooms, which was near my nursery, back then..I think it was you.Sometimes, I would peek in, but I heard someone walking towards me every time, so I pulled away, in fear that I would be made fun of by Felix, or pulled away, by an elder servant, or worse, one of my uncles..I remember waking up in there one night, everyone went searching for me, and found me sleeping near a little scruffy-haired servant boy one cold winter morning, that I brought one of my extra blankets to that night..It would be funny, if you remembered something like that, from long ago..You were so cute and small, if ti was you..I remember that boy's face when I woke him up, still..I remember he was about to burst into tears when he saw that I had brought a blanket for him, for he had none, while I had too many."

Tom shrugged. He could vaguely recall waking up one night to find someone sitting beside him, wrapping a warm blanket around him; when he'd woken up the next morning, the person had left but the blanket was still there. Tom thought it was his guardian angel. It did seem rather appropriate, that Edward was Tom's guardian angel- he had, after all, rescued him from what would've been a horrible life. Tom looked up to see that all the other guests were smiling and laughing, having a good time; even the servants seemed to be enjoying themselves. Tom looked up at Edward. "Can we talk about something else? This... I don' really want to talk about it." He knew he sounded rude, and Edward would probably be upset with him later in their room, but didn't really care.

"It's alright..What WOULD you like to speak about, love?OH, how was your little talk with the designers?I'd bet you've got some adorable clothes being planned out." Edward giggled."I'm sorry for bringing that up, dear, I really am..I didn't mean to remind you of that horrible time..It's all over now, though, for everyone..I'll even make sure each young servant has a music box, a stuffed animal, and a giant box of toys for them all to share."

"It's okay," Tom said, kissing the side of Edward's arm. "The designers was... it was actually fun, to my surprise! I got a bunch new clothes- casual stuff, formal stuff, pajamas, and..." He leaned up to whisper in Edward's ear, "a few special things, for when it's just us! How's that?" He pulled back down, smiling at the guests who'd watched what'd just happened. He stabbed a couple grapes with his fork and popped them into his mouth, chewing cheerfully.

Edward blushed at the last mention, and giggled."As long as you still wear my shirts sometimes, Thomas, it sounds good.." He said, popping a grape into his own mouth from his plate, grinning down at Tom."I still think you look absolutely adorable wearing my pajama shirts..I think I drew you in one once, somewhere in my Diary, but I can't remember..Hey, you can't blame me, I was a perverted 15 year old boy in love with a tiny, cute, servant boy.I had to draw my rendition of what I saw that morning."

Tom giggled. "Of course I'll still wear your shirts," he said. "I just thought it'd be nice to have some new stuff. I'll show you tonight." He smiled, and leaned over to take a piece of fruit off of Edward's plate. Laughing softly, he pushed the small strawberry into his mouth, licking the excess juice off his fingers. "You'll show me the picture, won't you?" he asked. "Later, tonight, after all this-" he waved his hand at the table "- is over."

"Of course, darling." Edward giggled, kissing Tom's cheek lightly."As long as I get to see what You'll be getting.Save some for a surprise, though." He smiled softly, going back to eating his steak now."I wonder what Felix is doing tonight, wonder which one he'll drag off into his room..He seems to be flirting with quite a few, there.."

"Of course I will," Tom answered. Mental note- surprise him with that last outfit, the one that looks really good on my you-know He began to eat the rest of his steak, finishing all but a few bad pieces within minutes. Setting his fork down, Tom glanced over to where Felix and a small group of guests and servants were sitting. Laughing at the thought that instantly popped into his head, Tom looked back up at Edward. "Maybe he'll take them all," he said, giggling. "And then, he'll choose the one he likes the most, based on... y'know, stuff."

"No, He likes that one, that kind of feminine looking dominant guy that keeps glancing at his bottom." Edward laughed."I have a feeling Felix won't be the same tomorrow..He might have a bit of a personality change.And a bit of a limp.."

He smirked."Same with you, Claudius, Jacob and Kyrie, most likely..At least you and Jacob."He giggled softly, finishing his steak, his wings flapping happily."I love you, babe."

At Edward's words, Tom couldn't help squealing softly with excitement. Apparently, he wasn't quiet enough, as a quite a few people turned to smile tolerantly at him. He snapped his mouth shut, fake-smiling at the people, though he couldn't help wiggling in his seat. He tugged lightly on shirt sleeve. "You promise?" he asked. "Promise I'll be limping cos of what we do?" He was excited. He loved Edward and wanted to be pinned down underneath the bigger boy, let him have his way with him. But that probably wasn't the best thing to be thinking about at the dinner table...

"Promise." Edward grinned, kissing Tom's cheek gently."And I'll carry you, if you can't walk in the morning." He smiled sweetly, watching his sweet little boyfriend, and how he was wiggling so cutely."And afterwards, before you fall asleep, I'll cuddle you, and make sure your nice and warm."

Yuri looked over at Claudius, sort of jealous of what he was hearing from Edward.He wanted to do that to, but he wanted to be the one pinning Claudius down.He sighed and fiddles with his own, long, strawberry blonde hair.It was more blonde than anything, but it had a pinkish tint to it at some spots.

{Aw, poor Yuri! xD}

Tom actually shivered with excitement at Edward's words. "That would be wonderful," he said, smiling up at Edward. He leaned his head against the space between Edward's arm and chest, his eyes closing slightly. "When is this over?" he asked. "Not to be rude or anything, it's just... y'know, I'm eager to get back to our room. It's been a long day, and I want to... unwind." He smiled slightly, knowing that Edward would understand what he really meant.

"It'll be over soon..Promise, sweetie.Soon, we can go back to our room and..'cuddle'." Edward smirked, kissing Tom's cheek lightly.

Yuri looked over at Claudius and sighed again, still a bit too shy to ask if THEY could do that afterwards, too..Seeing as THEY were actually both 18 or over, it would be fine..But he didn't want to get hit, or something, after all, he was just a servant, still..And Claudius still wasn't acting, well..Well, not exactly like how Tom and Edward were acting around each other, yet, to say the least.He still felt like he had to be silent, speak only when spoken to..That was the usual law when you were around the royal family, otherwise you would be beat.

"Good," Tom answered with a smile, lifting his head up slightly. He looked over at where Yuri was sitting, looking longingly over at Claudius. "I'll be back in a minute," Tom said to Edward. He stood up and went over to Yuri, his bell jingling cheerfully. Tom sat down next to Yuri, looking at the other male inquisitively. "You look sorta lonely," he said. "Everything okay with you and Claudius?"

"Yeah, everything's fine, but..I'm just so nervous, I want to do that thing you and Edward will be doing soon whit him, with me sort of in the position of King Edward, but I'm too shy to say it, still..He doesn't exactly act like you do with Edward, and Edward does with you..He's barely spoken to me.I just feet like a normal servant, still.." Yuri said, sighing again as he braided one section of his hair boredly.

Tom smiled sympathetically down at Yuri, rubbing his arm gently. "Have you tried talking to him about it?" he asked. "I'm sure that if you do, he'll pay more attention to you. Are you guys, y'know... sharing a room? Try talking to him this evening." Tom looked around trying to find Claudius, but couldn't. He shrugged, assuming the prince was off chatting with friends or something.