WORRLGENHALL

by Luke, Monica

  “Roll closer to me,” he said, but Aderac didn’t move closer, instead, he moved farther away.

  Rolling onto his side closer, Belon smiled amused by how he behaved like a spoiled child.

  “Roll over to me,” Belon’s firmer command, “And now.”

  Huffing, but obeying, Aderac turned, and his mouth still pouting, Belon laughed.

  “If only you could see how silly you look,” he said; then pulled him close.

  “My body longs for you Belon and only you,” Aderac whispered, as his head nestled into Belon’s neck.

  “If you let me sleep a while more,” he promised, as his strong hand gently stroked his back, “When I wake, I shall thrust inside you until you whimper pleased; then fall limp.”

  At once, Aderac joyfully lifted his head to Belon.

  “Go back to sleep. Hurry got back to sleep,” he avidly encouraged, “And when you wake I shall indeed want such.”

  True to his word, when Belon woke, his shaft solid and hard as forged steel, he was reenergized and ready for him, but Aderac had fallen back to sleep, so he moved him onto his back; then got between his legs, and when Aderac opened his eyes, he looked up at him thrilled.

  Looking lustfully down at him; Belon got onto his knees and pulled Aderac closer to him by his thighs; then while on his knees, he lifted them high and put both his feet on his broad shoulders before vigorously thrusting hard and deep inside Aderac such that he panted, moaned, as well as delightfully whimpered.

  Finally, his stomach soaked, as all spurted out of him profusely until he had nothing left inside him, when Belon saw it, he exploded into Aderac filling him completely and collapsed onto him.

  “Are you pleased?” he asked, as his sweaty body pressed to Aderac’s sweaty and fulfilled body.

  “I can barely breathe.” Aderac wheezed, as he tried to catch his breath, “Ah, Belon so deep and hard did you thrust into me that the muscles in my legs and my lungs have forsaken me.”

  “Umm.” Belon moaned content; then rolled off him.

  After both got their breath, and the numbness left Aderac’s legs, they washed each other and ate within the chamber. Everything on Belon’s plate lovingly fed to him by Aderac’s hand, Belon playfully licked or bit on his fingers making Aderac buzz with laughter.

  “I have devoted my day to you.” Aderac’s elation his love was with him again, “What shall we do?”

  “Enjoy the other,” Belon said, then after they ate, dressed, and kissed a few times, left the chamber.

  All day, Belon and Aderac were inseparable, and when Aderac sent for his daughter, Belon held her for the first time. As he looked down at her adorable face peacefully looking back up at him in his arms, he knew he’d love her just as if she was his own child.

  Later, as their day ended and they practiced with their swords, Aderac became frolicsome. Each time he was close to Belon, when their swords locked, jumping up quickly to kiss him or touch his shaft to distract him, all he could do was laugh.

  “Well playful is my sweet this day.” Belon laughed each time, “What am I to do with you. What …what …what?”

  “Love me until you die,” Aderac said, again locking swords, but about to kiss him again, Belon tripped him, then while on the ground got over him.

  “Trust that I am going to,” his words, before he grabbed his hand and pulled, then, as Aderac sprang up from Belon’s strong pull, “and deeply,” he added.

  Chapter 35

  As welcomed spring again graced the land, the villages to the west honored their treaty with King Aderac, and as he requested herded fifteen mares and five studs to Ivodgald.

  However, not all in agreement with this treaty, the brother of the man beheaded and a band of his rebellious followers seized the horses by force. When the villages tried to deliver more horses, and the same men seized those again, leaders from the villages traveled to Ivodgald to plead their reason for breaking the treaty.

  After Aderac heard their plight, he forgave them, but taxed them by making them deliver each spring ten additional mares and five extra studs, but he was lenient in that they did not have to bring them until he had the thieves captured and punishment.

  Ever protective of Belon, instead of sending him to do the task, Aderac sent Ulborid, his other in high command who, longing finally for a chance to outshine Belon, eagerly and gladly accepted.

  Ulborid had hoped one day to be in complete command at Ivodgald once the other commander died, but when King Hurus came back with Belon, even going as far as to put him in command and equal with him, he loathed him with so unhealthy a passion that he cringed just hearing his name.

  Added to why he loathed Belon was jealously, because charismatic by nature, the men instantly took to him, and his proven bravery, skill, and willingness to fight and die beside them won their absolute loyalty, even having Ulborid’s men desiring to serve under his command.

  Overly anxious in his selfish quest, Ulborid eagerly rode out to squash the rebellion, and becoming overconfident believing he had forced them to flee into the forest, to blind by jealously to notice it was only a ploy to lure him. Consumed with thoughts of glory and honor; rode in after them.

  When they did, all overtaken by traps, they gouged out Ulborid’s eyes, cut off his nose and ears, and sent his head back with their message, “This shall be the same for you,” stuffed in his mouth.

  After reading the message pulled from Ulborid’s mouth, Aderac didn’t let fear sway him, nor still did he want to send Belon out; instead, he talked to his council of men while he stared at Ulborid’s mutilated head and asked what they thought.

  “Are horses from the west really needed?” one asked. “Be done with such and cut them off.”

  “They have no honor for you great king,” another added, “And did no such deed under King Hurus’s rule. They test you. Now it is horses to the west, yet, I fear soon enough, horses to the east, north, and south.”

  Aderac inhaled and exhaled loudly, while he thought.

  “I shall reason for a time.”

  That next morning in court; again, a message came for Aderac, and another under Ulborid beheaded and sent to him the same manner, and with the same message, reluctantly Aderac summoned Belon.

  When he got the summons, Belon came right away to stand in front of Aderac, who, as always stood to greet him; this time putting one foot on the top step and the other on the second step so Belon would not have to look up at him.

  “Yes, my king,” Belon said, as he looked at him and kept his face serious because they were in court, but deep within, when he looked at him, he wanted to kiss him roused by how handsomely he looked, as he stood with his crown on his head.

  “Belon, my aachmm -” Aderac caught himself before he called him a pet name and cleared his throat, “Belon, this came to me as well, what do you reason we should do against those so bold?”

  Belon looked at him, then at the head, then back at him.

  “Bring those to heel who have set themselves against our great king and from it against the one who swore to serve him always, and without mercy.” Belon replied looking right into Aderac’s eyes, and it was his look, not his words that made Aderac know retribution was his answer, and the way he looked at him made his chest swell with pride for his lover.

  “You command those under Ulborid now as your own, and shall have the new title of Grand Commander;” Aderac boasted proudly, “Make them as you are, well above all.”

  “I will leave at once.” Belon nodded to Aderac, then turned and walked away.

  As he watched Belon walk away, he said nothing, and all knew not to utter even a syllable until he was out of his sight; then once he turned, he looked at the second head and thought of the one he already had.

  “Such kind gestures,” Aderac sarcastically said, “I shall do the same to show how thankful I am.”

  Reacting quickly, Belon changed his clothes; then rode out to the men he chose to go with him, and although when he got back he shaved his b
eard, he didn’t cut his hair as short as before, and neither did those who rode with him from WorrlgenHall.

  When all he chose saw Belon’s hair braided down the back and banded, those whose hair was long enough did the same, and those whose wasn’t, pulled it into a ponytail towards the back middle of their heads, and from that moment on, only Belon’s high chosen could wear their hair in that fashion.

  Waiting on his horse to see him ride out with his men, Aderac sat patiently while Belon rallied them, then when he rode to him to say goodbye, a vast number around them, didn’t become sentimental, although deeply in love with him, he wanted to.

  Instead, with a stern face, Aderac rode over to him, but when he saw his red hair in one braid and his leather armor on, he gaped at him, and at first could hardly speak because of how fierce, as well as, handsome he looked.

  “You are in command of all, but I see you have chosen who you want to ride with you, and they have their hair the same as you do.” Aderac noticed, as he moved his horse next to Belon’s so they could talk.

  “They are my high chosen, and above all in skill and bravery. I know they will fight in spirit even beyond death.”

  “Ah.” Aderac nodded, liking the concept of his special elite band, “From now on your band of men all shall call Belon’s Red Men.”

  Aderac knew Belon liked the title by the look on his face.

  “I am your king and you will bring to heel those against me,” he then added, “It is my command that you come back unharmed to me and you will obey.”

  Belon nodded, and looked into his eyes.

  “...and,” he said waiting.

  “...and,” Aderac spoke his heart, “You are my light, do not put me in darkness.”

  Belon inhaled deeply, and set his mind for battle.

  “Your will be done,” his stern reply before he turned his horse the opposite way, then tenderly added, “I live for only you King Aderac,” and such was the deep loving tone in his voice, Aderac couldn’t look at him again for fear he would burst into tears.

  Riding hard, the men made it to the western region by nightfall; then remembering that Ulborid rode right into the forest from the south after them, Belon divided his men.

  He sent a band to the north since the forest ended at the river to kill those who tried to cross it, and a band west, while he remained to the south.

  “They have hidden and lived in this part of the forest for some time,” Enek, Belon’s high commander and one he trusted well to lead his men when he was away and in most everything, said, “They have strong holds well placed, I gather.”

  Belon sat on his horse and stared at the dense foliage that faced him.

  “Dare we ride in?” he questioned, and tilted his head sideways studying the sight in front of him, “And have them swing from trees, jump from out of the ground, or have trees fall all around us such that we can do nothing. I am in no mood for their traps.”

  “So we stare at them and they back at us?” Enek chuckled, “… and that is it.”

  “We shall bring them out,” Belon said, as he looked at him, “And I am sure they will be running.”

  Unsure what he meant, Enek looked oddly.

  “Your words are veiled.”

  “Set this forest ablaze from the west,” Belon commanded boldly, “Such that it looks like the bowels of hell.”

  At once, Enek nodded; then rode to two under him.

  “Burn the forest from the regions of the west.”

  The climate dry from sparseness of seasonal rains, when the men rained pitched fiery arrows into the forest it lit like a tinderbox, and as orange and red flames now consumed the parched wood and foliage, soon black smoke blocked the moon.

  **

  Worried about Belon, Aderac refused his meals and unable to sleep, he paced the roof, as his mind endlessly thought of him late into the nights.

  “Look to the west,” Gueden said, who had used the secret stairs to the roof from the hallway one night to speak with him.

  Quickly, Aderac hurried to the western part of the roof to look, then saw the black smoke in the far distance rising high into the sky.

  “Oooh Belon, be unharmed my love,” his response to the sight, as his forehead creased from worry.

  “And if he is not safe?” Gueden questioned, “… if harm comes to him?”

  “Dare you bring such words to truth?” Aderac turned shouting angrily, “By even speaking them!”

  “I must be your voice of reason when it comes to him,” Gueden spoke honestly; “He has filled that heart of yours such that you can see nothing pass him.”

  “Nor do I want to Gueden,” Aderac confirmed.

  Both quieted, with Gueden stumped unsure how to reply, and when Aderac saw the perplexed look resting on his face, he decided to make it clear one last time how in love he truly was with Belon.

  “For most of my life you have known me Gueden,” Aderac’s devout and solemn declaration, “And no words have come from me of love for anyone, even long after I wed. I have lived my days from boy to man in front of pages of books and scrolls reading and learning, and among the priests listening and learning, as boredom seized such that I feared I would choke, until him.

  He brings joy to my heart and passion to my body beyond what I could have ever dreamed, or can put in words. I cannot help but smile when with him and am sadly hopeless when he is away, and when we quarrel, I am miserable. I am in love such that I will not live from man to old man without him.”

  Gueden sighed, gathering that as well.

  “Then let us hope that Belon is victorious always,” he said, and put his hand on Aderac’s shoulder, then left him.

  **

  Vigilantly, Aderac walked the roof staring out at the black smoke that rose, and unable to do much else but think of Belon, decreed he would not hold court until Belon returned.

  Knowing he would worry each day Belon sent a message back to Ivodgald with reports of his progress, and in them always were secret words of love that Aderac read while in bed, and it was his letters that soothe him to sleep.

  For five days and four nights, Belon burned the forest and as those within it ran out, his men cut them down one by one, but spared the women and children, and waited for the wood to cool.

  On the six day when Aderac didn’t get a message from Belon, he was so upset he could hardly be still.

  “Nothing has come! Nothing has come!” Aderac said, as he paced back and forth in his private chamber, “Why has nothing come from him?”

  “Worry not my king,” Gueden tried to reassure him, “Belon is to be a thorn in my side and he must live to do so.”

  Aderac turned to him and sighed not insulted or angered by his words. He knew he was only jesting to calm him.

  “I was not fond of you for a long time Gueden,” he said, as he appreciatively looked at him, “But you have become a friend to me and an ear, just as you were for my grandfather.”

  Gueden nodded.

  “If I may speak truth,” he said honestly, “I was not fond of you as well. I have served under foolish kings before and feared for this kingdom, and of what others would think of you behind him, but while on the throne your judgments and decrees have indeed been sound and wise. It has become my will to serve you, and I will challenge any who speak against you.”

  Aderac nodded pleased. It was the first time since he had known him since a child that he had spoken of him in such a way.

  **

  Without mercy, Belon and his men cut down those who ran out of the smoldering forest; then when the wood finally cooled, they rode into it and after fighting with those who managed to survive the smoke they killed them too.

  To the north those who fled to the river, Belon’s men cut down as well; and after they did, quickly joined the others.

  Once all had joined again, bodies sprawled along the edge of the forest; Belon rode alongside them and looked down.

  “Remove the heads of most,” he ordered, “Then sack them.”
r />   Enek nodded; then noticed Belon’s arm. “You are bleeding.”

  Belon looked down at his arm.

  “Ah, the one that jumped out of a tree.” He now remembered, as actually acknowledging it immediately made it throb, “Has left his mark deep.”

  “You should have it tended to,” he warned concerned for his commander, “Or it will swell and run with puss and cause you to burn with fever.”

  “I shall have it tended to…” Belon said, as he thought of Aderac knowing as soon as he got back, he would tend to him, “…and with great care.”

  Dutifully, they cut off the heads of many; then each carrying about five heads a sack, hurried back to Ivodgald.

  “Ride ahead,” Belon ordered one of the men, “And give word to the king that victory is his and his men are journeying back.”

  As obeyed, he rode hard ahead, but even after Aderac received the message, still fretted.

  “He did not speak of Belon.” Aderac noticed concerned, “Why did he speak that my men are journeying back and not of Belon?”

  “Worry not,” Gueden assured him, “If something befell him you would be told at once.”

  Aderac exhaled.

  “Such is true.” he sighed relieved, until another worried thought came to him, “Or dare they spare me agony until all are back.”

  Riding just as hard to get back as they did to get there, the men made it back by mid morning, and as Aderac sat on his horse between Ivodgald and the wall waiting to receive them, he watched proudly, but in his heart longed to lay eyes on only one.

  One by one, they paraded by emptying their sacks in front of him, and as many heads rolled to his horse’s feet, he nodded approvingly, but deep within his heart ached such that he felt it would stop beating because he still had not seen Belon’s face.

  As the line of men dwindled, when Enek and Ven, the two high in command under Belon and last, rode towards Aderac, they separated to the left and right at the same time; then when suddenly Belon appeared, Aderac’s breath left him.