by Luke, Monica
“What bonds you to Worrlgen,” King Hurus sarcastically replied. His spies most everywhere, he was well aware of what once was between two in high command, “Is not bonded to you, but to another?”
Knowing his comment meant exactly how it sounded, like a sarcastic jab; Belon jabbed back just as hard.
“Then all the more not go with you,” his retort to his sarcasm, “Shall I torment your grandson by having him love me and never return his love, as I have my way with any I please?”
“I want you within my kingdom,” King Hurus got the hint Belon would not let anyone shame or humiliate him into doing anything, “And not for the sole reason of my grandson. Your strong command and bravery is well known and is such to command the men of Ivodgald.”
“Then I will reason for a time,” he said, as he nodded; then turned after King Hurus nodded back, and walked away.
After he walked away, King Hurus’s advisor commented on Belon.
“Haughty is he,” Gueden said, disliking Belon right away, “And ruled by his fire within.”
“I can well see it.” King Hurus noticed pleased, “And is what Aderac needs to strengthen him, as well as, be strong willed enough to stand up to him and challenge his haughty ways.”
A few days later, after Aderac heard about his grandfather’s offer to Belon, he sent for him worried he might be upset with him.
“It was not by a plea from me that he asked you to come to Ivodgald.” Aderac spoke his concern, fearing he was angry because Belon didn’t come the last time he sent for him, and used the opportunity to speak his heart as well, “But should you, I will love you with all within me just as I do now until my dying breath.”
Although, moved by his words, Belon wanted to spare his feelings.
“I will never love again,” he assured him, certain of it at the time.
“Then never love again,” Aderac said, as he breathe heavy resolved he didn’t care and stepped closer to Belon, “And still have me love you.”
As he looked at Aderac, his face showing how nervous he was from his confession, Belon didn’t want to deceive him.
“I know well the hurt felt to love and not be loved back,” he warned him, “Could you bear such from me?”
“From my first sight of you,” Aderac spilled what was within his heart, “A want for you rose from deep within me, and is now such that, as well as, wanting you, I have fallen madly in love with you.”
“You lust for me and that is not love.” Belon tried to convince Aderac of his own feelings.
“To be willing to release my right to the throne to be with you if asked to do so,” Aderac avowed undeterred, “Is love.”
Belon frown, as if angry he confessed he loved him, before he shook his head doubtingly. “Then you are a fool, to even reason such.”
“Then a fool I may be,” he averred adamantly, “To be in love with you, yet it is so.”
Feeling tormented over what decision he should make, Belon thought of seeing Ogorec and Ovfren deeply in love and always together, and decided he wanted to get away from WorrlgenHall, but not be bonded to Ivodgald.
“Make it such than I am companion to both kingdoms and can go to and from freely,” Belon agreed to leave, with that stipulation, “And I will go.”
Aderac sighed relieved.
“So be it,” his willing words. His eyes showing his joy, as he lovingly stepped closer to Belon.
“Shall I pleasure you?” Belon asked lustfully. Deep within him, now more than he wanted to admit to himself, he began to enjoy his short interludes with Aderac as, as well as being inside him, it pleased him to just listen to him incessantly talk, which he did much.
Aderac became breathless at the very thought of his touch. “Such would be my torment if you do not.”
**
Set to leave in a few days, when Ogorec learned that Belon was leaving with those from Ivodgald, he struggled with himself whether to talk to him about his choice; then going against his better judgment of least informing Ovfren first of his intention, went to Belon.
Since he was already sleeping inside WorrlgenHall while Ovfren slept in the cottage, already close, he saw no harm in going to him to have a few words and not telling Ovfren.
Quietly, he opened the door and found Belon lying in bed, but still awake.
“Late it is,” Belon commented curiously, “Why are you here?”
“I heard of your leaving,” Ogorec said, as he stood by the bed.
Belon slightly sat up hopeful he wanted to reunite with him was why he came to his chamber.
“By your word alone,” he proclaimed at once, “I would stay.”
“Belon.” Ogorec sighed; then sat on the edge of his bed, “Never could I ask such, but why are you going away?”
Deep within, knowing his hopeful thought was futile, he answered.
“I have made peace with it in many ways, but my desire is still strong to be with you.”
“Saddened am I.” Ogorec regretted, “To know you leave for my sake and not of your own will.”
Belon inhaled; then sat up more.
“It is for the best.” He sighed, “Lord Bayl is no more and I reason I should do more. I will still be bonded to Worrlgen and journey back and forth.”
“Ah.” Ogorec nodded, “Sounds well wise.”
Both quiet, they sat beside the other wondering who should break the silence first.
“Does your pup know you are here with me?” Belon questioned, breaking it.
“No, he does not,” he answered, feeling guilty for not telling him, but he didn’t go to Belon to betray him, just to speak to him.
At once, Belon moved closer to Ogorec.
“Without words to him you come to me. You will see me nearly none,” his voice low and longing, “I ask to feel your lips to mine only once more Ogorec, only once more, and he will not know.”
“Belon,” Ogorec said, as he head shook, “You know I cannot.”
“You cannot,” Belon asserted, as he moved closer and suddenly kissed him, “But I can”
**
Missing him, although King Hurus was set to leave in just a few days, Ovfren’s want for Ogorec overcame him, and as he lay in bed, unable to wait, he rose; dressed then went to be with him.
Stealthily, he made his way to his chamber; then opened the door, but when his eyes searched the room, he noticed it empty and his bed still untouched.
Debating what to do, he sat at the table undecided whether to undress and lie in bed and have him ease in bed beside him, then rise early as he did long ago.
After he sat and waited a little longer, angst began to consume him because it was late and he wasn’t there.
“No,” Ovfren spoke aloud, as he fought with his emotion of jealously and suspicion to keep himself from going to look for him where he feared he might be.
Ovfren stood, and now succumbing to his angst, walked to Belon’s chamber, then as he stood and listened at the door, heard talking and recognized Ogorec’s voice.
“Should I go inside?” he debated. Remembering that he waited in the hallway the last time Ogorec went to Belon’s chamber, “Should I wait?”
His curiosity getting the best of him, Ovfren quietly opened the door, then his eyes not really knowing where to glance first, fell to the bed and Belon’s lips pressed to Ogorec’s lips.
“Ovfren!” Ogorec sprang to his feet surprised, but as he did, Ovfren turned and rushed out.
After quickly rushing towards the door, Ogorec halted only for a second.
“I wish you well Belon,” he turned and warned before he hurried out the door, “But never do that again.”
Ogorec raced down the hallway, but Ovfren swift on his feet, as well as, on a horse vanished.
“Curses! He cried out before he raced out of WorrlgenHall towards their cottage.
Riding as fast as he could, once there, he leaped off his horse before it even halted, and rushed to the door, then burst inside.
“Ovfren! Ovfren!” h
e yelled, but only the sounds of his own voice resonated off the wooden walls and hearthstone.
After plopping his body down hard in a chair, Ogorec exhaled tormented; then at once got up, hurried out and jumped on his horse to search for him.
All night long Ogorec rode around searching for Ovfren, but couldn’t find him.
“So foolish was my deed,” he mumbled worried and saddened, longing to go back in time and tell Ovfren where he was going, and that it was only to speak to Belon and wish him well.
Anxiously, Ogorec waited in their cottage; then after another day passed and night came, Ovfren’s whereabouts still unknown; Ogorec went from worry to despair.
“Ovfren is keeping away from me, and it is so well that I cannot find him,” Ogorec confessed to Laad, who had gone to his cottage to talk to him after Loth saw him riding here and there looking miserable with his hair and beard unkempt, “I fear he has left WorrlgenHall and me.”
“Why would he do such a deed?” Laad questioned knowing how much they loved each other, “Did you have harsh words?”
“It is worse,” he confessed truthfully, “He saw Belon kissing me.”
Laad’s eyes widened.
“Belon is to leave soon,” he mentioned, “Have you gone from Ovfren back to him?”
“Dare you speak such words?” Ogorec proclaimed, “He is my life.”
“And yet you kiss Belon,” Laad scoffed.
“His kiss was to me,” Ogorec’s rebuttal, “I did not foresee it and was about to speak against his deed when Ovfren walked in and saw it.”
Knowing how tormented he felt, Laad sighed and thought back on the time Nona hid from him all day.
“If he keeps hidden for much longer,” Laad assured him, “I will help you look and we will find him.”
Ogorec nodded, then later in the day, again looked for Ovfren, and again couldn’t find him.
After walking back the cottage hopeful he was back, he slumped when he found it still empty and flung his body onto the bed; then when he turned onto his side, the smell of Ovfren in the blanket made him groan anguished, before he suddenly got up and hurried out the door.
His smell in the blanket hinting where he could be, he raced to his chamber and burst inside, but when he looked towards the bed, found it empty, and after a brief slump, about to walk out, he happened to glance at the table and noticed a tall figure sitting in the dark.
As if flying, Ogorec was in front of him; before he quickly fell to one knee and took out of his knife, then put it to his heart with his head bowed low.
“Push it through my heart now,” Ogorec proclaimed solemnly, humbling himself before Ovfren, “If you speak we are no more; the wound will be less painful.”
“No less than what my eyes beheld.” Ovfren brooded from the darkness.
Slowly Ogorec looked up; but remained on one knee.
“Your eyes deceived you, but not by much,” he confessed, “His kiss was to me, but mine not to him.”
Ovfren sighed from the darkness.
“And you in his chamber,” his voice low, afraid to hear the answer.
“Forgive me Ovfren.” Ogorec’s voice cracking, “I fought within if I should tell you first, but I was inside WorrlgenHall and saw no harm in bidding farewell to a friend.”
Slowly, Ovfren stood and stepped more out of the shadows, and when he noticed Ogorec was unshaven and unclean, was glad to know he had spent his days and nights in anguish just as he had.
Still on his knee, Ovfren meet him; then looked into his eyes.
“Are you faithful to me?” he quietly asked, somehow knowing if he lied, he would know.
“Well faithful to you,” Ogorec whispered, as he looked back at him, “And am bound to only you.”
Tenderly, he touched his face; then stood, and as he did Ogorec stood as well.
“It hurt me to see your lips to his,” Ovfren admitted, still wounded, “And it is why I kept away from you.”
As if uncontrolled, Ogorec grabbed him and held him tightly fearing if he didn’t he would disappear again.
“I would rather death come to me than willfully hurt you,” Ogorec averred, and buried his head into Ovfren’s neck before he pulled away to kiss him passionately, “And beg that you forgive me for the hurt I could see on your face when you saw me.”
“My heart forgave you,” he whispered, “Just now when you kissed me.”
After he kissed him, Ogorec put his mouth to Ovfren’s ear.
“You are all to me,” his whisper into it, “And as long as I breathe you will know just how much.”
“Let us go to our cottage and be as one,” Ovfren whispered moved by his kisses and whispers of devotion, “Long has it been for us to be free with our passion.”
Ovfren rode on the back of Ogorec’s horse as they hurried to their cottage, and when they rode out of the gate, Laad saw them and nodded relieved he had found him.
Once they got back to the cottage, Ogorec jumped down first, and when Ovfren jumped down, he landed to an immediate kiss that turned even more passionate, with them hungrily grabbing at each other as they burst through the door and quickly darkened it by closing the shutters.
Both men practically tearing the other’s clothes off, in that darkness, all through the night between them were tender whispers of love, passionate moans, gasps, and sounds of heavy breathing until dawn.
Tired from fretting for two days with no sleep and their passionate night, Ovfren laid sound asleep; then when his eyes opened they were to Ogorec staring at him as he lay on his side.
“I never wish to go another morning without waking looking into your eyes,” Ovfren said when looked at him.
After kissing him tenderly, Ogorec got out of bed to shave and dress.
“Do they leave this day?” Ovfren questioned, as he sat up.
“Yes” Ogorec answered, “I must ride with Lord Baric to see them off.”
Ovfren plopped down onto the bed, but said nothing as he thought of Belon riding with them and him seeing him off as well, and when Ogorec looked over at him, knew what he was thinking.
“As soon as I am free,” he said, and went to him; then sat beside him and put his hand on Ovfren’s thigh, “I will come back, and we will spend our day only with each other.”
“Are you saddened to see Belon go?”
“I am not saddened,” Ogorec’s truth, as he moved his hand from his thigh to under his chin, “I wish him well and pray he finds his true love and makes them his all, as I have done with mine.”
Ogorec leaned in for another kiss, and after he stood to begin dressing, Ovfren got out of bed to help him, but while he shaved him, Ovfren began tenderly kissing him.
“Keep such up,” Ogorec warned playfully, yet always aroused by his kisses, “And I will have you back in bed and be inside you.”
“Soon enough,” Ovfren said pleased, “But now you have matters to tend.”
After he washed and dressed, looking well groomed as always, Ovfren gushed over him.
“So desirable you are and your devotion is to only me,” he said proudly.
“I am well yours,” Ogorec happily agreed, “And shall be always.”
“Do not tarry long,” an awestruck Ovfren encouraged, “I long to be alone with you more.”
“And I shall,” Ogorec said, repeating some of Ovfren’s words, “After I tend this matter, alone we shall be again.”
“I will wash up and be waiting,” Ovfren promised, eagerly looking forward to them not hiding their love after so long.
About to walk out the door, Ogorec turned.
“Speak them,” he said, as he stood waiting.
Ovfren walked closer. “I am in love.”
Tenderly, he kissed Ovfren and left, and as he sat beside Baric on his horse watching all pass, when Belon and Aderac rode by, Ogorec nodded goodbye to Belon, who returned the nod.
Patiently, all waited until the long trail of wagons and men who rode behind King Hurus disappeared down the road, then af
ter Baric was inside WorrlgenHall and had no more need for him, Ogorec hurried to Ovfren.
**
Not long into the journey back to Ivodgald, when all camped for the night, as Belon sat around observing how those around him looked, he sighed when he finally made his decision.
His appearance different from theirs, although, he didn’t care what they thought of him, he decided to blend in, and while most slept, after another deep sigh before he did it, used his knife to cut his hair very short, and shave the hair off the sides of his cheeks to only his mouth and lower chin.
That morning after all rose again and packed to begin riding again, the first thing Aderac did every morning before doing anything else, which was find Belon to greet him good morning, after riding around searching for him, when he didn’t see him anywhere, he fretted.
“Where is Belon? I cannot find Belon. Have any seen him?” he repeatedly began to ask, fearful he had changed his mind and returned to WorrlgenHall, because no one knew.
Just as he was about to go to his grandfather to tell him he was riding back to WorrlgenHall, he stopped when several guards immediately rode out to head off a stranger boldly riding towards the camp.
As they rode to him, when they got close enough to notice who it was, almost to the point of not recognizing him because with short hair, its hue became darker and he no longer had a beard, the guards stopped and stared surprised for a moment before they turned around.
When Belon rode in behind them, as soon as Aderac saw him, stunned by how he changed his appearance, again, he gaped and turned his body so quickly to look at him again, he almost fell off his horse.
“He looks as if he saw a vision,” King Hurus commented to Gueden before he burst into laughter, while Aderac positioned himself correctly on his horse again, and after he did, he looked at them annoyed and rode off.
Unable to do most anything without glancing over to Belon or just blatantly staring at him and smiling wide when he looked back, already Aderac thought of Belon as beyond handsome, but now shaved and his hair short with a darker hue, he was beguiled even more and longed to be with him so badly his body ached.
