Royal balls are such a bore, aren't they?

Why Us?

Pitter, patter
pitter-patter...
The rain had remained as hypnotic as it had been when they first arrived. Never ceasing, constant dripping in the halls through cracks in the ceiling. When the Gelfling lived with the Skeksis in peace it hardly rained. General despised the rain; much as he despised everything about this accursed Castle and those who housed it. He was not the same Skeksis as he used to be, and anyone could note that. To many's surprises, SkekUng once was a clam and caring creature who would train the Gelfling guards and monitor their progress. Whenever one was falling further behind than the others, he would focus on the group as a whole but keep one specific technique as their priority until the Gelfling caught up. There was good in him once. But that was long ago.
General would never be like he used to.
The rain soothed his anger. It made him relax, knowing that somehow all of these small droplets would go to the ground or be dried up in due time. In some occasions, he would open a window and let a bit of it fall on the rocky windowsill inside his chamber. The rain did an excellent job.

"... why would you tell him?" SkekUng asked, his voice low and calm. He glanced at the Scientist who was a bloody mess. Earlier, about ten minutes ago to be precise, SkekUng had not been calm or collected. He was bashing SkekTek's beak in with a candlestick. But now he was calm. SkekTek was tied up in a wooden chair, painfully tight. He grimaced and groaned in pain, "I-It's best he knows....".
"OH, is it? Tell me something, Swine.", hissed SkekUng, "How would you feel if I was to tell the Emperor of your recent exploits? Using SkekAyuk as an experiment for a weight loss potion and making him sick for a week".
SkekTek gulped and shook his head, looking down. This wasn't anything like that. It was rare for the Skeksis to feel emotions towards one another and SkekTek saw this as a good thing. "Please, Lord Garthim Master, hear me through.."
"I don't want to. I want you to go tell Chamberlain it was a lie".
What upset SkekUng the most, is that he knew Chamberlain had already experienced these so proclaimed feelings; and they weren't for him. It was no secret that the Hunter had been close to SkekSil, near inseparable those two were. But since SkekMal's recent death... SkekSil hadn't been the same either. Denial. He would hear the poor Chamberlain speak with the Ornamentalist about dreams; "visions". Somehow SkekMal was alive. SkekUng shook his head at the tragic memory. 
SkekMal's death wasn't an easily forgotten one.

After a few moments of silence, SkekUng sighed heavily and cut the Scientist free. "Go, and say nothing to the Chamberlain. In due time he and I shall address the matter.". SkekTek spent no time and rushed out of the room rubbing his still flesh wrist. SkekUng cracked his neck and let out a huff. What was he to do? He would have to man up and go speak with the whimpering worm. Explain himself. But what was he supposed to say? "I know you are still mourning over the loss of your recent love but I love you"?. That would be inappropriate, so he decided to think it over.
-------------------------------------------

The Chamberlain peered through the Scroll Keeper's monocles. "Hmm! How do you see with these! Much to blurry for me!" he crooned as he gently handed them back. SkekOk chuckled and put them back on his beak, "That's the point! without them, I am near blind!". SkekSil hummed in understanding and spoke for a good while with the Scroll Keeper before walking away. For the recent few hours he hadn't seen the Garthim Master at all, so he only shrugged it off that SkekUng was cowering away from him. Good. Love? please. It must have been some cruel joke, making him remember... him. SkekSil shook his head and brought his thoughts to a better and more now place. Yet no matter how hard he tried he just couldn't... Maybe if he let himself remember?

------------------------------

" Why are you tied up?" snickered the Chamberlain. SkekMal snarled and tugged on his restraints. "Get me out of these, and I'll tell you". SkekSil shrugged and undid the chains, no one ever locked the damn things so it wasn't all too difficult; it was only the fact that they were old and rusty that restrained the Hunter. SkekMal rubbed his wrists and peered at the other skeksis, something must have happened. "I ate a Gelfling", noted Skekmal very nonchalantly. SkekSil's jaw dropped and he let out a shrill "DID WHAT!?". The Hunter gave a genuinely confused look, this hadn't been the first time he'd eaten - oh yes, now he remembers. He never told SkekSil of his delicacy. "What? It's not a big deal-" he was cut off when SkekSil grabbed the bone collar of his armor and shook him, "They could of have you exiled!! what would I do without you, hmm!? Am already a wreck! Worry much about SkekMal!".
SkekMal gave a small laugh. This tiny little skeksis was trying to intimidate him and make him feel bad. Yes, he knew that Chamberlain cared greatly about his well-being; and he cared much about Chamberlain as well.
"Calm yourself, Chamberlain. I am here now, yes? That is what matters. You seem stressed... perhaps we should walk outside?" offered SkekMal. 
"Typical" huffed SkekSil and released the bones. He fiddled his talons together and sighed, "Fine".
Hunter gave a grin and wrapped an arm around the Chamberlain's shoulder, causing the smaller skeksis to squawk. "How has your day been, SkekSil?" 
"Don't attempt to calm me down with other matters, am still upset with you" SkekSil sneered.
SkekMal gave a half-hearted sigh. He adored the care he received and also liked how SkekSil worked. Angry? He'll be fine once they go outside. "As you wish, Lord Chamberlain". 

----------------------------
SkekSil hadn't noticed the small drops that had started flowing out of his eyes. He quickly wiped them off and cleared his throat before entering the Dining Hall for dinner. Finally, he saw SkekUng's face. When General saw SkekSil, he gave a nod. SkekSil returned the gesture and sat in his usual seat- waiting eagerly to see what the Gourmand had prepared. Slaves slowly dragged themselves out, alongside with a few trays. For fun, a few Skeksis threw small pebbles and them to see if one would fall. To some disappointment; none did fall and managed to set all the food, unwasted, onto the table. It was only as soon that everyone had received the food that why wanted for the first portions did the Emperor speak, "I have made a decision," he said in between chewing some meat, "We are going to have a ball".
SkekAyuk choked on a bone, SkekEkt's head cracked towards the Emperor and SkekSil nearly spit out his drink.
"We haven't had one in many a trine and... I have decided that perhaps if we are to realign ourselves with whatever Gelfling are left in the world we can "befriend" them and corrupt their pathetic brains into thinking we've changed our ways." SkekSo scanned the group, whose attention was now only on him. "You all look surprised, friends" he laughed a bit "It won't be that bad I hope". 
Amid some unsureness, there was indeed excitement. This plan could work perfectly as long as none of the skeksis messed up, and how could they do that? Everyone chipped in what they had to say about the matter, such as where it would take place, how would invitations get out and small things like that.
"Garthim Master and Chamberlain will be leaving tonight to give word. They may be gone for a while to gain trust with the few remaining Clans, but they will do whatever it takes", explained SkekSo, peering at the two. This wasn't a request it was an order, "That could give us time to make preparations".  SkekUng glanced at SkekSil, both mentally agreeing that this would be a long, long while they'd be gone, and they might as well talk about what was going on between them after breakfast. The others spoke amongst themselves as usual and would laugh every now and than- but not Chamberlain nor General. What they spoke about wasn't of a laughing matter, and no one was paying mind to them. 
"Before you begin, answer me this; Why me?" SkekSil said coldly.
"I-I don't know. I doubt it truly is love, SkekSil. Maybe more of a friendship." SkekUng explained to the best of his efforts, "What do you think it is?".
Chamberlain took a sip of his drink and stared down at it after, thinking. ".... believe it is an alliance. That is all. When we return that we can speak further on the matters- but I will warn you of this. I may not win at many things, might be weak and pathetic; but touch and I will slit your throat in the forest where no one can find you and come back, saying you were eaten by Wooves.".

SkekUng found himself staring now. Not in shock but admiration at the sudden shift of aggressiveness. He blinked a few times than nodded, "Understood".  With that, the two began to eat again. Breakfast went by even slower than dinner, and for once when everyone dispersed the duo of rivals did not leave each other's sides. They had to plan and get ready, knowing if they fail they would be left in the wrath of SkekSo. "What clans are left, mmMmm? Thought they were all gone!" SkekSil exclaimed, looking up at SkekUng. "No, not all of them. Only the more unimportant ones. The Vapra clan still stands strong, but with few Gelfling. there is sickness in the forest, Chamberlain. while we are out there I want you to remember that. Now uh... The Drechen clan is still alive with more than Vapra and the Grottan clan. We have three clans to speak with". They made they're way into SkekSil's hidden Library, unbeknownst to General. He had been talking about the clans and focusing on SkekSil's eyes to have known where they were going. "We'll need a map, hmm? must be fair distances from each other, if I do recall" offered Chamberlain as he crept around, looking for a specific map he knew was in here somewhere. 
They both stayed in that Library for hours, mapping out the easiest and safest (not the quickest) routes, writing a list of supplies and getting to learn about one another some more.

"Well... You should probably rest, Chamberlain. I will go get our supplies. I'll seek you out here when I am done", General's voice sounded kinder and softer than usual. It made Chamberlain smile, "Of course, thank you". 
When the General was gone and the door shut, SkekSil let out a heavy sigh and bowed his head. "... It is love".