by Luke, Monica
“Oh,” he bobbled his head sarcastically. “Does he really?”
“Yes, and me as well -”
Again, Belon sighed.
“I hold you and Ogorec in high regard, and each as a friend,” he said, “And will not put myself in the middle. But, I do not want either of you trying to kill each other either should Ogorec find out, so I shall reveal this to you.”
Turning to the tapestry, Belon moved it aside and pushed on the stones, one at the top, and one at the bottom; then pushed a fake wall to the side.
Surprised, Enek looked at it; then back to Belon.
“The answer to how I got in,” Belon revealed, “Have him use it to come and go that no one sees him. It leads out and into a hallway much farther down.”
“Ah.” Enek nodded, “Why, Belon?”
“I have come to know you well Enek,” Belon answered, “And know you would not be with him without reasoning in your head the bad, as well as, the good before you let yourself love him.”
“And?”
“And,” Belon added, and warned before he turned to leave through the secret passageway himself, “If found out, I know it will deeply crush Ogorec and, somehow, I have come to be somewhat fond of Ovfren. Yet, I warn you, if this is found out, I will deny I knew anything.”
Enek nodded, his way of saying thank you to Belon.
“Oh and …” Belon said, as he turned and looked at him, “Speak nothing of this to Ovfren.”
**
Sliding back into bed, Enek pulled Ovfren close to him again; then inhaled deep relieved Belon understood.
“Umm.” He groggily hummed, as he nudged the side of his head into Enek’s chest, “Is it time to wake?”
“Ssshhhh,” Enek soothingly answered, “Dawn is still far away.”
Ovfren slightly lifted his chin to look at Enek, who when he did, looked back at him. “If only I could always wake as this.”
Enek sighed deeply, as he thought about Ovfren’s comment.
“If you wish it,” he whispered, “In my arms you could always wake back at Ivodgald.”
When Ovfren realized what he said, both eyes opened wide.
“Enek,” he began to speak hesitatingly, careful about how to phrase his words, “I ...”
“Ssssh,” Enek shushed him, “I know.”
Ovfren smiled, as he looked at Enek and raised his body, resting his weight on his elbow.
“I did not speak that I would not,” he whispered, “But I will not deceive you. He has been a part of my life for some time. I do still love him and do not want to hurt him.”
“And what of me?”
“You,” Ovfren’s truth, “Once spoke that I had cast a spell upon you, but it is you who has cast a spell upon me. I do not want to be without you. In truth, I know I cannot be. I love you and it is unlike how I love him.”
“Unlike?” he questioned.
“He is a comfort to me,” Ovfren being still truthful, “Just as I am to him. We are comfortably in love, and enjoy each other, as well as embrace, in that comfort. It was lust for you at first and by no will of my own became more, such that just to have you near me pleases me just as much as you inside me.
Even as haughty as you are, you gave yourself over to me first as a gesture of love, your already love, and it was then that my already love, turned more deeply. ”
Enek kissed his lips tenderly.
“All I ask of you is that there is truth with us, just as it is now,” Enek lovingly said, “And that you truly love me, and not stay with me for the sake of comfort and loyalty.”
“I ask the same of you.”
Again, Enek kissed him before he moved his body flat on the bed and pulled Ovfren closer to him.
“It is time,” he words, as his hand gripped Ovfren’s rear while his other hand dug into his hair.
“Time for what?”
Leaning his head towards Ovfren’s, as his strong hand moved his head forward to meet his lips, he kissed his words into his mouth. “Our eighth.”
**
Belon eased into bed trying not to wake Aderac, but he should have known he’d awaken.
“Where did you go?” he asked, as he stretched.
“…to speak with Loth.”
“Is all well?”
“As well as it can be for now,” his reply, still slightly concerned, “A servant heard heavy breathing and saw Ovfren sneaking out of the darkness and spoke it to Loth, who knew without question that it was Enek with him.”
Aderac sat slightly up. “What did you do?”
“I spoke with Enek,” he answered, as he moved closer to Aderac, “And revealed a secret passageway in my chamber that Ovfren could come and go without others seeing him.”
“Oooooohh,” Aderac made certain to stretch the word to add inflection, as he looked at him raising one eyebrow inquisitively, “A passageway once well traveled, I gather.”
“Ummhmm.” Belon sounded off, as if reminiscing, “I gather it was.”
Aderac immediately became jealous, and flipped hard onto his side with his back to him go back to sleep. “Hmph”
Belon only laughed while looking over at him. “You knew beforehand that I was one for pleasures.”
Aderac didn’t respond, and instead stayed on his side, but when Belon put his hand on his shoulder and gently turned him, he looked up. “And what are you now?”
“I am still one for pleasures,” he readily answered.
“Oh, are you?” Aderac asked, as he rose slightly giving him another inquisitive look.
“Yes,” Belon answered, and put his hand to his chin, “But from only one.”
Rident, Aderac now turned his whole body to face him. “And your pleasure is me?”
“You, and you alone,” he assured him.
Aderac beamed, as always when Belon spoke to him lovingly, then as he moved his head more to his, he closed his eyes and rubbed his face onto his chin.
“I love the feel of my face to yours, as I rub it along the hair on your chin,” he whispered, then inhaled deep taking in his scent, “And I love how you smell.”
“How I smell? I have been riding and sweating, and did not even wash up before bed.”
“Umm.” Aderac hummed, “And so manly you smell.”
Belon chucked, as Aderac kept sniffing on him, and playfully bit on his nose. “Enough smelling on me, now go to sleep.”
Playfully, Aderac giggled returning Belon’s bite, but on his neck. “Sleep well honey.”
Moving onto his back, with his arm securely wrapped around Aderac, Belon stared at the beams above him and thought of Ogorec, Ovfren, and Enek, troubled that in the end someone would probably be hurt between the three.
He thought of all the seasons that had passed between Ogorec and Ovfren with them contently in love, and how even once he actually paid someone to tempt Ovfren and failed. Yet, as fate would have it, after he had fallen madly in love with another who ruled his heart completely, one who could and did came to WorrlgenHall.
Without even trying, Enek captured part of Ovfren’s heart that once Ogorec completely filled, and if Belon had been the same man from long ago, he would have enjoyed seeing them tormented, but he wasn’t and it saddened him that sometimes love can bond and even severe those seized by it.
As Belon settled down to sleep beside Aderac, he thought of his life with him. Always when he did, it made his heart pound rapidly with exuberant palpations that he could want and love only one, and truly that one.
“I have never known such happiness Aderac,” his whispered words to him, as he contently sighed before he pulled him even closer.
Aderac dug his head into Belon’s upper chest, as his arm and leg found their usual place draped somewhere across his body.
“Nor, have I honey,” his tender returned words, as he kissed underneath Belon’s chin.
**
Just as planned, King Baric arrived back at WorrlgenHall by mid sun, and as he approached, as soon as Ovfren heard the horns soun
ding, rushed to the wall to wait for Ogorec.
As they approached the gates, expecting him as always to be there looking down at him, Ogorec smiled when he looked up and saw Ovfren standing on the wall.
Ovfren racing down the stairs, as King Aderac, Belon, Enek, as well as Laad and Loth, who were waiting in the courtyard watched him, all except Laad, who Loth didn’t tell, tried not to look over at Enek to see the expression on his face, while he watched Ovfren rush to Ogorec.
Immediately, Ogorec jumped from his horse; then tenderly kissed Ovfren.
“I missed you,” Ovfren’s first words.
“Not as much as I.”
“Come.” Ovfren took his pouch. “Let me help you.”
As the servants and guards took King Baric’s pouch, Aderac jumped from his horse.
“Is all still as planned?”
“All is as planned,” Baric answered, as Belon and Enek jumped from theirs, and all followed him, “Let us meet once more in my council with the quorum, bid farewell to those we love, and we shall all march in two days.”
After one final discussion about battle plans, as all dispersed into court, as soon as Ogorec walked out the door, he went right to Ovfren.
“Shall we be off to our cottage?” he asked, as he put his arm around him.
“Gladly.”
Witnessing it, Enek expression briefly showed a hint of jealously, which he quickly pushed aside, and after he did, Belon walked up beside him.
“You did well,” he commented on his masked indifference, well aware that the sight of them together bothered him, “But can you keep up such Enek, I know I could not?”
Enek didn’t respond, and instead walked the opposite direction, but as he did, he couldn’t help his impulsive urge to turn for a second to briefly watch them walking side by side lovingly down the hallway.
“Come brother,” Cyorec said, as he hurriedly caught up with him, while he walked, “We have spent no time with the other. Ride with me and we shall.”
Slightly disturbed by Ovfren’s show of affection to Ogorec in front of him, Enek took in a calming breath before he looked at his brother.
“Well true,” he gladly accepted his offer hoping it would get his mind off the thought of Ovfren and Ogorec probably embracing madly, as he now patted him on his shoulder, “I would enjoy such.”
Aderac walked over to Belon. “What shall we do this day?”
Just as he asked his question, the children burst into court from the hallway, and as soon as they saw their fathers, began running straight towards them.
“Long has it been since we all swam,” he answered and squatted to grab Beladera in his arms, “We shall do such and eat by lake.”
“Swimming.” Laad heard them. “Sounds pleasant, if you grant it, great king, I would enjoy such with my family, and Nona can make us all something to eat.”
“I grant it,” Aderac pleasantly agreed, “And the children would indeed enjoy it.”
“Well then,” Baric chimed in pleased with the idea, “Let us all.”
**
Making certain he was sound asleep, by adding herbs into his drink to ensure it was a deep one. Ovfren sneaked out of the cottage and rode to WorrlgenHall, then once inside, stealthily made his way down the hallways, and as instructed, through the passageway into Enek’s chamber.
“I feared I would not be alone with you before we rode out,” he commented, as he sat up in bed when he heard him quietly come from behind the tapestry.
“Did you really believe I would without touching, kissing, and being with you?” Ovfren questioned, as he undressed.
“It was my worry,” Enek answered.
“I am here,” Ovfren whispered, as he climbed into bed and started his kisses at Enek’s stomach.”
Enek moaned heated by Ovfren’s lips upon his skin, but as he kissed on him, his mind wandered to the kisses he was sure he gave Ogorec not long before.
“I became jealous when I saw him kiss you,” Enek confessed when Ovfren finally reached his mouth.
“I know,” he whispered, alternating from his mouth to his neck, “But I have not deceived you.”
Knowing he hadn’t, Enek let out an exasperated sigh unsure if he could keep up the charade of indifference when he saw them together, or let the thoughts of what they did when alone not bother him.
“I do not know if I can stand the torment of seeing and knowing that you ... that you?”
Ovfren stopped kissing him, and looked at his face. “Can you stop loving me Volenek, or bear your body never again upon mine?”
Ovfren now imbedded into his very mind, heart, and soul, Enek knew he couldn’t.
“No Ovfren,” he averred his answer, “Or would I want to.”
“Just as I cannot stop loving you, or ever not want to feel you inside me.”
“Could I be in love to deeply?” Enek questioned aloud tormented or not, certain he couldn’t release him.
“You are no more deeply than I.”
With that said, both began kissing and grabbing at each other wildly as if, if not the other would escape from his grasp, and spoke no more words of severing the cord of passion and love that now bound them tightly together. Instead, well into night, both moaned the other’s name until Ovfren rose out of Enek’s arms to leave.
As he dressed, Enek lay in bed observantly watching his every move; silently staring at his youthful perfect physique wanting him again almost immediately.
“I will not be able to come to you this night before we ride out,” Ovfren’s words, as he faced away him while dressing, but felt his eyes on him.
Enek groaned, as he raised and moved to sit on the edge of the bed, silently annoyed with himself that he desired him so badly he wanted to be with him every minute of the day and night.
“I gathered such,” his low toned obviously unhappy reply,
Ovfren could hear in the tone that the briefness of their interlude bothered him, as well as the news they wouldn’t meet before he rode out, and after he pulled up one boot, he reached into the other before he put it on.
“For you.” Hoping his gift would at least soothe him to know how much he thought of him when he wasn’t with him.
Enek looked at the tightly wound strings of braided black leather, fashioned into a circle to fit his wrist and hardened with resin.
“This must have taken some time,” he said, and immediately slid it over his hand and onto his wrist, feeling moved as he noticed the meticulous woven strands with copper tubing down its center tightly wound, then sealed by burning the end to keep it from unraveling.
“Yes,” Ovfren admitted, and sternly ordered, “And never are you to have it off your wrist. It means a great deal to me to know you wear it, and is symbol of my love.”
“Ah.” Enek smiled pleased, noticing more of its intricacies with the braids going into the small copper tubing, as each strand joined, and knowing he was who Ovfren thought of solely while he worked on it made him happy, “Never shall I.”
As Enek admired his gift, Ovfren put on his other boot.
“I must go,” he whispered, as he moved his face to his.
Admiring his gift a few seconds longer, Enek moved his hand to Ovfren’s face, and looked at him lovingly.
“Be watchful of everything and be brave, but do nothing foolish, and I pray my face is always what comes to you when you close your eyes and wake,” he said, as his hand touched Ovfren’s chin.
“That almost sounded as words a commander would speak to his men,” Ovfren’s attempt to lighten the somber moment of their impending separation.
“You can be well sure.” Enek slightly chuckled, “None have heard from me, that I want my face to be what they saw when the closed their eyes and woke.”
Both chuckled, as they sat on the edge of the bed.
“Wait,” Enek suddenly said, and stood, then went into his pouch quickly taking out something he always carried in battle, “Keep this with you. It means a great deal to me.”
&nbs
p; “No,” Ovfren didn’t want to take it.
“Take it,” Enek lovingly said, “It saved my life.”
Ovfren twirled the smooth rose hued rock between his fingers. “How did it?”
“The sun shined off it, and when I bent to pick it up.” Enek remembered, “If I had not, a spear would have gone into me and surely killed me.”
“I shall carry it always.”
Both knew they had to part, and as Ovfren stood, Enek stood as well. His tall frame looking down, as Ovfren looked up into his eyes, both put their arms around the other.
“Find your way to me at once when all is done,” Enek’s words, as he now put his hand lovingly on the nape of his neck before gliding his lips to his to kiss him.
“I shall miss you Volenek,” Ovfren whispered, as his lips melded to Enek’s lips tenderly kissing him several times, before both gave one long last one.
“And I shall miss all that is you,” his anguished aver, “With every beat of my seized heart.”
“I love you.”
“I love you more.”
Chapter 58
A soft wind calmly blew across the grassy land, as the sun peaked over the hills lighting the red and orange streaked horizon, and as all the early morning preparedness began to buzz, the movement of people, and the hum of conversation spread throughout WorrlgenHall.
Cyorec’s horse guard already well on their way south, now the rest of the footmen, horse guard, bowmen, and wagons began their journey.
The men of Worrlgen leaving from the southern gate, the walls crowded with loved one’s waving and shouting farewell to their men, and since Ivodgald had none, Nona and Ecia arranged for women to line the walls to bid them farewell as they rode out from the eastern gate.
The children in the courtyard alongside Silinia sniffled holding back tears in swelled eyes as they bid goodbye to their fathers, and as Belon and Aderac kneeled holding them, both men struggled not to become overwhelmed with emotion.
“Worry not children,” Belon said, with them tightly in his arms, “We shall return before you can blink.”
