The rest of the evening the two took the time to help the dragons settle in. It seemed that there were a million things that needed to be done, and all of it done right then. Somehow AJ found himself separated from Brian, though that had been the last thing that he had really wanted. Honestly, what he wanted was to find a quiet place with Brian and just relax. Somewhere that he wasn’t burdened by being the trulion. Somewhere that he could just be Alex for a while.
Funny, how Alyck and Alex had blended together until, to him, they meant the same thing. When he had started he had made Alex as a way to fit in. But underneath it all he had always been Alyck. But with Brian it didn’t matter which name he was called. From those sweet lips it all meant the same thing. What was a name difference when they knew the others heart and soul better than anything? When they knew who the true person was underneath it all.
AJ glanced over and saw that Tadhg had Brian at his side and was speaking with a set of fire dragons. In the bond were feelings of amusement and love, as well as a slight impatience. Brian wanted the alone and quiet as well. But they both knew that duty came first.
Gods above but duty could be a burden. AJ was learning that the hard way. He had always carried a duty inside of him for others. In one way or another he had always been bound to the races and peoples around him. But that had been by choices he had made. Not that he would change those choices, but…everything that came with being trulion meant that the duty was thrust upon him. Oh, he knew that sounded ungrateful but that wasn’t how he meant it. He wouldn’t change things for the world. It felt right to him, to take up this mantle and fight this battle.
But he hadn’t realized how much came along with it. People were bringing their personal disputes to him, as if he was now the mediator. Things that, before, they would have brought to their King! Part of AJ wanted to tell them to grow up and figure out their own problems, while another part wanted to ask them why they didn’t speak to their own King? But he didn’t do either. He listened, and offered his simplistic advice. More often than not the solution was easy.
Yet other things were brought before him as well. Where he thought the pixies should be housed; what to do for hunting grounds. So many things.
He was currently standing listening to a few fire dragons that felt that there was nowhere that would be hot enough for them to heat their bodies as they liked to do. No volcanoes, none of the tropical heat that they were used to in the rainforest in their anaconda form.
For a moment, as he listened to them, there was nothing he wanted more than to bring his fingers up and rub at his temples. Not that they would have noticed. They were so intent on what they were saying that nothing he did would have interrupted it. So he zoned it out slightly as he tried to figure out a solution.
“What about this.” AJ interrupted them, putting his hands on his hips. He chewed on his bottom lip and looked toward the cliff near the castle, on the opposite side that the dwarves would be. “What if a shield was created over there, on that cliff top, that was made for you to pass through? It wouldn’t be large enough for all of you at once, only a few at a time, but it would be hot inside. Enough heat to warm your scales and give you what you’re looking for. Would that satisfy you?”
“Would there be a way to place a large sunning rock inside?” A dragon by the name of Fura asked him in that growly voice.
In answer AJ focused his power and used earth to reach down into the ground and draw up the rock he would need, shaping it and forming it as it came up out of the ground. He didn’t pay attention to anyone around him, or the way they all watched as he formed a rock on the cliff large enough for two dragons to lie on. Thank God the cliff area was large, he thought to himself.
When he released the magic, the dragons bowed their head at him. “This works for us. Thank you, trulion.” Fura said respectfully.
AJ bowed in return. “I will get some elves on creating the shield immediately.”
The dragons left and AJ hunted down a few elves that he knew could do what he wanted. So it continued on throughout the night.
~~~~~~~~~~
For a while Brian had been watching AJ deal with different situations here and there. Night was passing, and the sun was starting to rise in the eastern sky. Frustration and a slight mental exhaustion was starting to build in their bond. Smiling, Brian began to weave his way through the elves milling around. It was about time someone pulled AJ away and gave him some privacy.
It took him ten minutes just to get past everyone and close to AJ. So many elves wanted to talk and there was no way to be rude. But by the time he was almost to AJ’s side, Brian gave up on being perfectly polite, and his manners were wearing thin.
Realizing that there was no way to break out of the crowd to actually reach his lover, Brian sent a pulse along their bond that he knew would get AJ’s attention. It was a pulse that demanded to be noticed. Sure enough he saw AJ’s head snap up, and those eyes he so loved locked on to him, full of question and concern. AJ held a hand up to those around him in a gesture that instantly created silence in their area.
A grin covered Brian’s face. “Song of my heart, might you spare a moment of your precious time for your humble baka?” He called out teasingly.
AJ’s eyes lit with an answering smile and a bright love. “Always will I spare a moment for you, Master of my heart.”
“I am not your master.” Brian called back to him, enjoying the banter, and the smiles that bloomed around them. There was nothing elves appreciated or respected more than love.
“Before the grace of your love and the strength of your heart I will always be your humble servant.” AJ replied in a voice that was no less sincere for its humor. He moved into the crowd, making his way through them and toward Brian. “You are the song that makes my heart sing and soar.”
“If I am master, then come with me. Let our song be sung together as the sun rises and a new day is born. I wish to walk with you amongst the trees as we watch the sun climb into the sky.”
No one stopped them as they joined hands and moved off toward the forests. From AJ radiated a sense of love and relief at being free. There was no need for words while they walked. At the moment it was simply enough to take the time together. They both knew that it couldn’t last long. There were too many things that needed to be done. Geoff’s healing and feeding; Isleen and Howie had sent another message that they would be home by noon so they had to be there to see how that went.
But for now they could enjoy the glory of the coming morning, and bask in one another’s company.
Once they reached the trees, Brian looked at AJ and decided that they needed a moment of levity. In that spirit, he chuckled and pulled free of AJ’s hand. With just a thought of ‘Catch me if you can!’ he darted into the woods, laughing as he ran surefooted over the ground.
AJ’s answering laugh came from behind him, and then the chase was on. The two ran over the soft grass, darting this way and that behind trees and around rocks. With a carefree abandon they gave themselves up to the joy of the morning and to the sweetness of each other’s company.
Finally Brian slowed himself, allowing AJ to catch up to him and snag him around the waist, dropping them both down to the grass. Gone was the lines of stress from AJ’s face and eyes; it was replaced with happiness and love. That had been Brian’s intent all along. Riding those feelings, he lifted his head, kissing AJ’s lips lightly. This wasn’t a morning for lovemaking, but just for a gentle love between them.
Sighing, AJ laid down on the ground beside Brian, snuggling up to his side. Light danced over their skin from breaks in the trees, giving the woods a naturally mystical look. From a break in the trees they could see the sun slowly rising.
“Ἕως, Σας ευχαριστώ.” AJ whispered softly. In his mind Brian understood what AJ was saying. Sometimes, in their bond, it was almost as if the words were instantly translated. AJ was thanking Eos, the dawn. Then those beautiful eyes turned to Brian, practically shining with the love that was in them. “Thank you, too. I was starting to go a little crazy back there.”
“I could tell.” Brian teased him, tapping at his own temple. As he’d hoped, it made AJ smile. “I didn’t just do it for you. Need my own sanity, you know. Plus, honey…I don’t know how to say this nicely….”
AJ’s eyebrows furrowed when Brian trailed off and worry spiked across the bond. “What, honey?”
“Well, I figured before we go back…well. You need a bath.”
For a split second AJ stared at him in surprise. Then he threw his head back and laughed long and loud. When it was finally done, he rolled on top of Brian and kissed him again. “Well, far be it for me to force you to smell me. You’re not exactly a rose yourself, sugar pie.”
“Sugar pie?” Brian scoffed.
“Sweet cakes. Honey bun.”
“Are you hungry or something? All of those are food related.”
Again AJ laughed. He jumped to his feet and grabbed Brian’s hand, pulling him up and then with him through the trees. “Maybe I am. I haven’t decided yet. First, let’s get this bath taken care of.” AJ teased. He let go of Brian’s hand and kept running as he started to take his clothes up, balling them in his hand. Amused, Brian ran with him and watched as they broke from the forest, ending up back by the cliffs. AJ tossed his clothes down on the ground and ran straight for the cliff edge, his hair flowing loose behind him.
Brian couldn’t help but pause and watch as AJ jumped into the air off the edge of the cliff. He could see how AJ wove strands of air to carry him further out, allowing him to flip a few times, making it an elaborate dive before he landed some fifty feet out into the ocean.
Not to be done up by AJ, he quickly shed his own clothes before launching toward the cliff. Brian prepared the bands of air so that they were ready when he jumped, giving him the support he needed to twist and spin and turn before he allowed himself to land about sixty feet out into the water.
It was freezing when he hit so that he gasped at the shock of it. He broke the surface gasping. Even as he slicked his hair out of his face, he heard AJ’s laughter echoing from behind him. Without looking, Brian flung a small stream of water at AJ while slicking his hair back from his face.
Water hit the back of his head in retaliation. The hair that he’d just shoved back was now in his face again. Treading water, Brian turned to look at his grinning lover. “Oh, you asked for it.”
“Bring it, shit head.”
That started a full scale water war that lasted until the two were laughing too hard to breathe. Finally, thoroughly relaxed and both in much better moods, the two used air to bring themselves back up to the cliffs. Richard sat there waiting for them, with Flreu and Tadhg by his sides. Discreetly Richard averted his eyes from their nakedness, but the two elves had no such shyness. In the elvish world, it was almost an insult to look away from one who stood naked in front of you. It was an implication that you found them unattractive.
“I brought you clothes, grandsons.” Flreu held up the bundle in his lap, grinning at them. “I settled down to watch the show while I was here. To see you two play with such abandon gladdens my heart.”
AJ shook his hair out like a dog before giving them all a grin and taking the offered clothes. He pulled the breeches on first, for Richard’s comfort, as did Brian. Once the pants were on, Richard was comfortable looking at them and smiling again. He even teased them. “You two looked like kids out there.”
Shrugging, Brian pulled on his shirt. “Everyone needs to be a kid now and again. Otherwise we’d go crazy as adults.”
“Isn’t that the truth.” AJ agreed wholeheartedly.
Tadhg offered them a smile and gestured for the two to sit with them. “We’re waiting upon Howi and Isleen as well. Join us and finish your relaxing morning. There will be no talk of business yet. The sun is bright, and the spirit strong. We shall enjoy this moment while we have it, as a family.”
~~~~~~~~~~~~
AJ didn’t bother taking the shirt that Flreu had offered him. Instead he stretched out in the grass, waiting for Brian to lie down before pillowing his head across his stomach. He sighed in contentment. Then he moaned in pleasure when he felt Flreu take a brush to his hair, starting to brush out all the tangles that the water had created.
“Your hair is growing long, grandson.” Flreu told him. “It looks good for you.”
“I missed having it long, grandfather. But I needed it short for my image.”
No other words were spoken. Together they all stayed there together, enjoying both the sun and one another’s company while they waited for their friends to return, and with them, the return to reality.