Authors: Monica Luke
Both hurried back to t
heir horses and Loth, knowing Laad seemed troubled held his tongue until they reached them.
“
Laad,” he said, as he put his hand on Laad’s shoulder, “Dare you trust me with this and I not reach out to you. A brother you are to me that I love and I will hold true my silence of all made known to me this night.”
“
A brother you are to me that I love as well,” he said, as he slumped and leaned against his horse. He tried to be strong, but Apalgohor’s words of his father Boek saddened him.
“
Let us tarry as long as needed,” Loth told him, “And tell all we scouted the lands.”
“
We must get back.” Laad knew, but gave an appreciative nod, “Our wives, I reason will worry if away to long.”
Before he got on his horse Laad took his knife cut the bark fro
m the tree he tied his horse to; then marked it with words only he and Loth would know; before he dug a deep hole next it and buried both pieces of the crest,
his crest,
of Worrlgen in the earth.
“
Blood of Blood,” Loth read aloud when he looked at the inscription in the bark; then looked at Laad.
Laad nodded.
“Dare only we know?” He resolved, as he cut his hand and held it for Loth to take.
Loth nodded.
“Dare only we know?” he repeated, and cut his hand with his own knife, then gripped Laad’s hand.
Af
ter both mounted their horses, Loth looked to Laad, who still lost in thought was quiet, and decided to cheer him.
“
I must confess I am deeply troubled.” Loth’s tone serious, as he looked ahead and rode.
“
Speak it,” Laad said, ready to hear.
Loth sighed l
oudly, and shook his head dramatically playfully disgusted.
“
You naked,” he teased, “Is a sight I hope to live long without seeing again.”
“
Shall I fear you longing for me now?” he jestingly asked.
At once, Loth burst in laughter and laughed so hard he do
ubled over and his stomach ached, and as he watched him, Laad burst into laughter too.
“
Come,” he said, his heart lifted, “Let us leave this place.”
**
That morning, already aware he had to rise long before dawn Ogorec let Ovfren sleep longer while he dressed; then when it was time for him to leave, after he sheathed both his swords and tucked his knife into his belt, he woke him.
Standing over him about to touch his shoulder, he paused to look at his peaceful face before he kneeled on one knee.
“Ovfren,” Ogorec gently whispered, as he touched him, “Wake.”
Groggily, Ovfren stretched and looked at Ogorec as he kneeled next to the bed. His face right over his face; he looked right into his eyes.
“Such dark eyes,” Ovfren whispered drawn into them, “Such fierce dark eyes.”
Moving closer to his face, Ogorec kissed his lips tenderly.
“I must leave,” he whispered, as he felt misery suddenly rise within him.
“
Such that I dread.” Ovfren groaned.
Again, a tender kiss upon his lips, Ogorec put his forehead to Ovf
ren’s head.
“
I did not really breathe?” Ogorec’s lovingly words, “Until you...”
Ogorec stood and smiled; then turned to leave, and as he did Ovfren spoke too.
“Your love will be waiting,” he assured him, as he rose slightly.
Ogorec smiled, and gave Ovfren a long glance before he opened the door and closed it behind him; then once in the hallway, he paused by it fighting not to go back inside.
Inhaling deeply, he strengthened his will to walk away from the door, but unknown to him, Ovfren was just behind it longing to follow him.
As he made his way down the hallway, he resolved within himself not to show how miserable he was, but while he waited for the men load the wagons with grain, his thoughts wandering repeatedly back to
how Ovfren looked as he slept just before he woke him; gloom graced his face.
“
Such a gloomy face you have.” Baric immediately noticed when he passed Ogorec at the granary, as all prepared to leave.
“
My night was a restless one.” Ogorec only offered, but Baric looked at him and grinned wide.
“
Indeed,” he only said. Knowing what brought about his restlessness, “Such as mine.”
As they rode out, again, Baric looked over to Ogorec when he yawned.
“You yawn from your restless night,” he teased him.
Under Baric
for many seasons, Ogorec was used to his playful taunts and ignored him, but he was in a playful mood and kept at him.
“
Long has it been since we spoke free with our words,” he said, as they rode alongside the other, “What brought about your restless night?
Ogorec looked over to him, and then back at the trail ahead.
“I wager it readying myself for the long journey,” he lied.
Baric laughed aloud.
“Oooh, Ogorec,” he said, as he slowed his horse for the other men who were alongside them to let them get farther ahead, “Your gloomy face always gives you away. It is for the one you have left.”
Saying nothing Ogorec yawned, which spurred Baric on even more.
“First gloom, and now a yawn,” he teased, “Gloom for being away and the yawn for the restless night.”
Ogore
c looked to the sky.
“
A rain may be coming,” he casually spoke hoping to change the topic.
As Baric looked up too, not a cloud in the sky, he looked back to Ogorec.
“You should train him such that he becomes a high guild,” he hinted, “From it, if not with you at night, he can be near you when scouting and riding the lands as well.”
Ogorec looked ahead, and remembered his vow to Ovfren not deny his love for him, even to a lord.
“How long?” he questioned.
“
When he lay shot by the arrow,” Baric’s reply, which revealed he had actually known for quite a while. “Your eyes when you looked at him betrayed you.”
Quietly, both rode as Ogorec
’s head spun with thoughts of others knowing, then of his love for Ovfren, and Baric knowing what he revealed probably caught him off guard, decided not to pursue the topic further, until he did.
“
If my eyes betrayed me, they made known that I am in love with him,” he finally revealed after they got farther down the road.
Surprised, he made such a clear declaration of his love
for Ovfren. The expression on his own void of judgment, Baric looked over at him.
“
Come,” Baric merely said, spurring his horse to speed up, “Let us ride such that we not tarry on this journey this time so that you may return to what brought your restless night and me to mine.”
**
After sleeping awhile longer, when Ovfren rose he remembered Aron ordered him and a few low guilds to ride to check two water wells far away, and since he would be gone most of the day, he went to the men’s hall to get something to eat and take the rest with him.
When he walked in, he sat and waited for one of the women to bring him something to eat, but while he waited, Egar, who now despised him ever since he couldn
’t move him out of the circle, walked over and sat in front of him with his food, along with two other guilds.
“
You are out of place,” he hatefully said.
Refusing to reply, once one of the women brought Ovfren something to eat, after he began to eat, again Egar spoke.
“Did I not speak loud enough to reach your ears?” he asked, “You are out of place.”
Still Ovfren held his tongue, and refused to look at him, but because he wouldn
’t, that annoyed Egar even more, and he boldly took Ovfren’s bowl.
“
This is a men’s hall,” he said, now intentionally set on provoking him as much as possible, and turned his bowl over, “Woman are not allowed in this hall, unless you plan to serve us.”
Now angered by his insult, Ovfren
’s jaws briefly tightened before he stood; then suddenly without any warning, he reached over the table and grabbed Egan by the crown of his head.
“
If women are not allowed.” He gritted, as he banged his head down on the heavy wooden table, “Why are you here?”
As Egar tried to raise his head, Ovfren banged it again, but this time when he did, banged it into t
he bowl Egar took.
“
Dare you believe you are one able to taunt me? Ovfren blared as enraged, he banged his head again, “Speak to me again like that and your skull will lay open on this table by my hand, instead of only bleeding on it!”
After he spoke, he
released his hold, stood, and walked out of the room, but as he did the two who were with Egar rose to follow him.
Watching it all, Belon who had walked Moura to the men
’s hall after his night with her had waited by the door, instead of going in when he heard Egar speak, and as he listened, waited to see if Ovfren would cower.
Impressed that he didn
’t, when he saw Ovfren hurry towards the door, he quickly hid; then when the two with Egar approached the door, he moved in front of it, and put his long muscled leg across it blocking it.
“
You block the doorway,” one said, “Move out of the way.”
“
Where are you going with such haste?” Belon asked, his leg still blocking it,
“
This is between us,” one said, already knowing who Belon was; “And no worry of yours.”
“
Such is true,” Belon said; but questioned, “Yet why should two follow one?”
Impatiently, one forcefully decided to move Belon
’s leg out of the way, but as he reached for it, Belon tightly grabbed his wrist; then put his other hand under his elbow locking his arm straight in a hold before he moved his own body to block the doorway completely instead of with just his leg.
“
Careful,” Belon warned sarcastically; then asked, “Shall I break your sword arm, and have you be of no use as a guild. Somehow, I question if you are skilled enough to use the other.”
“
No.” The man painfully groaned.
“
Then, what shall I do?” he asked, as he locked his elbow even tighter causing him more pain while his eyes never left the other one with him.
“
Release it,” he said, as his face distorted from the pain.
Bored with his taunting, Belon decided to comply and release his arm, but not without making certain all three took him seriously.
Quickly, after moving his hand from the guild’s elbow, he shoved his palm under the man’s shoulder dislocating the socket, and as he cried out, Belon made a simple threat.
“
Take your friend, and tend to him,” he told the other guild when he released his arm, “Or I shall tend to you.”
As the young man, grabbed his friend under his arm to take him
away, Belon warned them.
“
Be grateful, I did not break it,” he told them, “But heed my words, and let the bleeding one at the table know also, that should I see as much as a scratch on the guild that walked out, I will break an arm on all three of you so you will have to feed each other when you eat.”
As the two young men walked back to the table, Belon boldness went even farther, and without speaking, he put his hand on his sword and slowly walked over to the guild whose shoulder he dislocated scowling a
t him while the other two watched.
Their eyes filled with fear, they became speechless as Belon took his arm, pulled it and shoved the joint back into its socket, then turned and walked out of the room.
N
ow gone for three nights, on the fourth morning, as Ovfren brushed horses in the outer stables, he stopped and looked up when he heard the horn blown twice, which meant someone was coming; then when he heard four more quick blows, almost beside himself with joy, dropped the brush and ran.
Two horns blow followed by four more quickly always the signal that their lord or king was close or back, he ran back into Worrl
genHall, and to the gate wall to watch and wait.
His heart pounding such that he could hardly stand still, Ovfren wondered if he should greet Ogorec at the gate, but fought against it. Their love for the other no longer kept hidden, they did not flaunt it
either.
Ogorec seen in the distance coming down the road, Ovfren inhaled and his chest swelled, as he watched him always mesmerized by how he rode his horse.
Ogorec’s back ever straight and his chest out as he held his horse’s reins with his left hand and rested his right hand on his thigh and close to his sword, had he never seen him before that day, again he would have swooned.
“
Look above you,” Baric said, when he noticed Ovfren on the gate wall looking down smiling; then looked at Ogorec.
Ogorec loo
ked up to Ovfren, and smiled back; then rode through the gates, and after he did Ovfren hurried down the stairs.
“
If you have no more need of me, my lord,” Ogorec said, “I will be in my chamber resting.”
“
Aaaah
resting
.” Baric looked at Ogorec nodding his head, as he smiled. “No Ogorec, I will not need you this day or it after, and I shall see to it that he is not needed either, r
est well
.”
Ogorec left Baric and made his way to the stables to leave his horse. Expecting Ovfren to be waiting for him there, he looked around for him, but when he didn’t see him, hurried to his chamber.
As he walked down the hallway, such was his determined walk, he saw no one to the left or right of him, and once there after he pushed open door; his breath quickened when eyes
beheld Ovfren anxiously waiting in the middle of his chamber.
“
My words to you were your love would be waiting,” Ovfren said, as he stood breathing hard from running to the chamber, “I am true to my words.”
Rushing right to him, Ogorec forgot to close th
e door, and only pausing for a moment when he realized it, pushed it closed with his foot, and once again rushed to him.
“
To shorten our journey we rode hard and did not stop much,” he warned, as he put his arms around him, “And is the reason for my foul smell.”
“
I care not,” Ovfren happily said, as his arms held him tightly back.
“
Our four nights made to only three,” he revealed, as their hold upon the other became even tighter, “Yet still, it felt like a season away from you.”
“
I must strengthen my will, and not long for you as I do if you must be away.”
“
But when I return,” Ogorec said, as he pulled back slightly to loosen the belt that held his swords, “I want made known how much you longed for me.”
“
Trust that I shall,” Ovfren said, and helped him.
Af
ter his belt and swords fell to the floor, tenderly they stood and kissed in the middle of the chamber; then as Ovfren began to move backwards to the bed pulling Ogorec along with him, he stopped him.
“
I am dirty,” he warned again, regrettably, “I do not want to be upon my bed or you this way.”
Ovfren only stopped for a moment, as his eyes looked beside Ogorec.
“Well,” Ovfren whispered, as he now began to undress him, “Shall we make use of the table?”
Later, after both had nothing left within them from their passion, as Ovfren laid waiting, he watched Ogorec wash up and shave before he got into the bed.
Mesmerized with Ogorec’s wonderful body, as well as, deeply in love with him, he watched him completely captivated.
“
You are not heavy or light. So fit you are and handsome.” Ovfren gushed, as he looked up and down his naked body, “If I was not so worn from us on the table, again I would be begging for more from you.”
Ogorec smiled, and looked over to Ovfren.
“I must stay fit to keep pace with you.” He laughed.
As he laughed too, Ovfren raised himself and rested his head on his hand while he waited, and when he glanced down, noticed the extra sword.
“You carry two now, why?”
“
When one released from my hand in the Valley of Tul when my horse fell,” Ogorec answered, as he now climbed in bed, “I knew I would not be without one close to grab again.”
“
Will you wear both always?”
“
I will wear them only when I am beyond the walls with the king or lords.”
“
So proud I felt to throw your sword back to you,” Ovfren said, as he put his arm across Ogorec’s stomach, who returned his embrace, as he reclined onto his back.
“
You saved my life,” Ogorec said, now pulling him closer to him.
As both thought of it, Ovfren inhaled and exhaled pleased.
“And it is a balance I shall never allow you to repay,” he said playfully, “You will always owe me for it.”
Turning his head to him, Ogorec smiled.
“I will always owe you much for it and more,” he said, and tenderly cupped his chin, before a kiss followed, “It is you, who brought life into me and love.”
“
Have you loved another, be it man or woman?”
“
No,” Ogorec’s truth, “And, nor will I.”
Even more pleased hearing that, Ovfren laid his head on
Ogorec’s chest, and looked up at him before he stroked Ogorec’s now low shaven face and beard with the back of his hand.
“
I long to have been your first and only,” he whispered, as he did it, “As you are mine.”
From his words, Ogorec moved from his back
onto his side, and looked at him.
“
It cannot be undone,” he spoke tenderly, “But I will give you another truth.”
“
Speak it,” Ovfren said eagerly.
“
No woman and, though be it only one, man,” Ogorec confessed, “Has yielded me such passion that when added with love, only his whisper can make all within me spill. Strong willed I must be with you to hold my seed within me as long as I do and when done, I am weak such that I feel I can defend no one, but you if invaded.”
“
Aaah,” Ovfren said, moved, “When you speak your heart to me you weaken me.”
“
Then be weakened,” he said, as his eyes met Ovfren’s, “As I speak more truth. Ovfren, dare I fall on my sword than live without you.”
As they held each other, when Ovfren finally fell asleep, once he turned onto his o
ther side; Ogorec eased out of bed.
Hungry because didn
’t eat much from his hard back to WorrlgenHall; he decided to wait until he was sound asleep; then eat something and come back to bed.
After he eased out of bed a
nd dressed, he intentionally left his sword in his chamber thinking nothing of it; then made his way down the back hallway to the gathering hall, but as walked, he passed Aron.
When he nodded to him, Aron nodded back; then after he took a few steps, he tur
ned.
“
Ogorec,” Aron said warily, “Egar’s brother is in the gathering hall.”
Ogorec stopped. “
What of it?”
“
Then I reason Ovfren spoke no words of it,” he said, “He fought with Egar in the men’s hall just days before.”
Ogorec
’s expression showed concern.“Did he harm him?”
Aron let out a hearty laugh.
“Ovfren got the better hand, and banged his head many times,” he answered proudly, “You taught him well, and put to blazing that fire within him.”
Again, as Aron began to walk away, he turned, “
And I shall offer you this,” he added, “Two sought to do him harm for it and Belon stopped them.”
Ogorec nodded; decided not to go to the gathering hall, and instead went to the men
’s hall to get something to eat, but as he walked, he saw Belon leaving Moura’s room.
Both
about to pass each other, Belon looked at Ogorec, but said nothing as he walked, then when Belon was close, Ogorec blocked his path.
“
What is with you Ogorec,” Belon commented annoyed that he did, “That you enjoy blocking my path?”
“
Aron spoke to me just now of your deed,” Ogorec said, as he stood in front of him.
“
And of it?” he questioned still annoyed.
“
I want to thank you.”
“
You can keep your thanks,” he scoffed, as he began walking again.
“
Belon,” Ogorec called out, but Belon didn’t turn around, “Will you hate me all the days of my life?”
Belon didn
’t answer, but Ogorec knew he reached something inside him, because his steps slowed, but he didn’t respond.
As he turned, and continued to walk to get himself something to eat, out of nowhere Egar
’s Brother Osgorad, who was a high guild walked down the hallway with two other high guilds.
They were looking for Ovfren, but
when they saw Ogorec in the hallway, figuring he would do, they spread themselves apart to block the hallway to keep him from passing them.
“
Well,” Osgorad said, as he looked at Ogorec, “Is your night a restless one that you cannot sleep, or do you lurk the hallways looking for another young boy to rut?”
Remembering he left his sword in his chamber, Ogorec decided not to challenge all th
ree of them.
“
I am in no mood,” he said, although his anger grew, “Find someone else to tease or go to bed. You are drunk.”
“
Drunk or not,” Osgorad said, as he pushed Ogorec, “Dare you reason you can command me? Vile you are to me.”
“
I do command you,” Ogorec asserted.
“
I know what you are!” Osgorad shouted, as he spat at Ogorec.
Angered, Ogorec struck Osgorad in the center of his nose; then chopped him in his throat, and as he instinctively grabbed his throat choking, the other two guilds grabbed Ogorec
and held his arms.
“
You should not have done that,” Osgorad warned him, after he coughed.
After Osgorad struck Ogorec across his face, about to strike him again, he stopped when he heard footsteps slowly coming out of the darkness.
“Shall we all die this night or soon?” Belon asked, “I am going to kill you Osgorad, and the two with you, but from it I will be put the death for killing fellow guilds, even ones so ugly and loathsome.”
Enraged, Osgorad charged Belon, and when he did, Belon struck him in the
top of the head with the pommel of his sword, which knocked him to the floor, and while the others looked on, Ogorec broke free and grabbed one by his head and banged it against part of the stone, which dazed him; then tripped the other.
After he fell to
the floor, Ogorec put his foot on his throat; then looked over to Belon checking on him.
As it all happened quickly, during the fight Osgorad tried to rise, but Belon unceremoniously helped him to his feet.
“Osgorad,” Belon said through clenched teeth, and his clothes in his grip, “I will be merciful to you this night. My sword wants to bathe your blood and I will deny it.”
After Belon shoved Osgorad over to his two friends, Ogorec stood over all three of them.
“All three of you are drunk,” he scolded, “Osgorad, hate me if you will, but raise your hand to me again, and drunk or not, I will cut it off; before I watch your head roll. Now go.”
As all three scurried away, Belon looked at Ogorec curiously.
“Watch your head roll,” he mentioned amused, “Now who over speaks words?”
“
Me,” Ogorec teased back, before he shook his head, “My sword wants to bathe in your blood …is much.”
As both laughed, it made them think of the times they fought battles together taunting those they fought; then as both came back to wha
t was real they stopped laughing.
“
I pray you know, I did not set out of betray you,” Ogorec said somberly, as he looked at him.
“
I know,” Belon said; then turned and walked away.
Ogorec no longer hungry, walked back to his chamber, and as he quietly open
ed the door, Ovfren sat up and looked at him.
Annoyed with him because he sneaked out of the chamber while he slept and didn
’t tell him, as Ogorec undressed, he quickly turned onto his side facing away from him to go back to sleep.