Fic: Comes a Horseman 7/7 Complete

[astri13]

A few billion years later than I meant to but I did promise it would go up before my abouttwoboys fic, didn`t I? *g*

Title: Comes a horseman 7/7
Author: astri13
Genre: RPS AU
Characters/Pairings: Jared/Jensen, Chris/Steve, Chad
Rating: NC-17
Word Count: 7.738
Total Word Count: 45.440
Warnings: Graphic slash in later chapters
Summary: In the Bronze Age young healer-apprentice Jen is living a life of quietness. Though this may change once Jaret, leader of a barbarian horde, comes riding into his village.
Notes/Credits: Much thanks for beta duties go to xkatjafx and spinfrog.
For practical reasons the characters will speak/think in English, maybe even a bit advanced and not Ancient Sumerian. I used real names when they sounded fitting for the time period, perhaps with a different pronunciation - any eye witnesses are welcome to prove me wrong - and tried to "age" those that didn't. Though they should be easy to figure out, still.
The title is an hommage to a Highlander-episode which served as inspiration for this.
Disclaimer: Not real, don't own anything or anybody. Fair use only. Not created for profit.

Previous Chapters to be found: HERE




Comes a Horseman 7


It was a sight to behold and for one brief moment Jen was reminded of the first time he had seen Jaret. Back then Jaret's appearance, with his features hideously distorted by the red lines on his face, had struck nothing but fear in Jen's heart. Now though, Jaret came not as savage but savior, and Jen felt pure joy at seeing him.

He caught Jaret's eyes and was taken aback by the naked fear he saw in them, quickly to be replaced with something akin to relief before Jaret broke the contact and turned his attention to the other two figures in the room, face transforming into a mask of murderous rage once more.

Trying to wriggle free of the weight that pinned him in place, Jen twisted his head so he could see that it was one of the guards, a dagger protruding from his neck. The other guard had already rushed forward to meet Jaret but was dealt with as swiftly and deadly as his companion. Still with the noise everybody was making, it didn't surprise Jen to see more guards come running, weapons drawn.

Jen also spotted the fat man who'd backed away from Jen and was now pressing himself flat to the stone wall, squeaking like a little, frightened animal. There even appeared to be a wet stain on the shiny fabric of his tunic, and Jen couldn't help a smile at the man's humiliation.

However Jen's glee at seeing the tables thus turned was just as quickly replaced with a worried frown as he managed to level himself into a sitting position, pushing the guard's weight off of him. The room was becoming swamped with guards, already there were half a dozen of them with no end in sight. Jen feared Jaret wouldn't be able to hold out much longer. To his relief there were two more familiar figures pushing their way in by hacking through the oncoming guards.

Krisian and Tomin were fighting their way to Jaret's side with Krisian sparing Jen a quick relieved glance of his own, right before grabbing a man and proceeding to swiftly cut his throat. Between the three of them they were doing good work of evening out the odds.

Jen saw Jaret make a gesture to him to go for cover and presumably hide there till the battle was won. And even though instinctively Jen wanted to do exactly that, he felt anger rising within him, even directed at his rescuers which didn't make sense. But ever since he’d been taken captive all the choices had been taken away from him and only now Jen realized that it had started long before that. It was decided by others that he would become a healer and thusly he wasn't allowed to learn the fighting arts.

Not that he didn`t treasure his time as Hashid`s apprentice. Jen loved learning about the mysterious of life, his ever-curious mind made sure of that. And he loved being able to ease the suffering of others. There was nothing quite like the feeling of the distraught look in someone`s eyes turning joyous and hopeful when Jen told them their loved one would live.

But he just couldn`t understand why it should have to come at the expense of his simple desires. Would the ability to handle a sword, the true understanding of its danger not make him more inclined to respect and fight for the sanctity of life? Would it have made him stitching of a wound less precise and delicate if he`d been included in the camaraderie of the hunters?

And just now he’d been sold like cattle, held down by harsh hands and just waiting to be brutalized, only to end up in the midst of a small bloodbath. Apparently no one was interested in Jen’s say in the matter. No, all he could do was wait around for someone else to decide what would happen to him, either good or bad. Jen was well and tired of that. He felt it was important that he finally took a stand for himself and this was as good a time as any, maybe even the best of time. Otherwise things would continue to change for him but he himself wouldn`t change.

Determinedly he jumped to his feet and grabbed onto the dagger and yanked it free from the dead guard's throat, looking around for an enemy to engage. He didn't have long to wait for his first lesson in combat, namely that once you held a weapon, you were considered fair game. So far the guards had been ignoring Jen but now that they saw him armed one broke free from Tomin and came right at Jen. Tomin, however, stopped the man before he could make much headway.

"Go for cover." This time Jaret yelled out the order at Jen. Neither his tone nor the dismayed look on his face left any doubt what he thought of Jen's newfound fighter instincts.

Mutely Jen shook his head, clutching the dagger's handle so tightly, he was sure its markings would be imprinted into his palm forever. He would not budge. Just then he saw it, a man was nearing the momentarily distracted Jaret from the side, his own gleaming knife held at the ready. Without conscious thought Jen rushed forward and threw himself between Jaret and the attacker. He fell towards the man more than he actually engaged him, the dagger burying itself in the man’s stomach.

As a healer Jen instantly knew the wound would be fatal as entrails could be seen poking out of the cut already. With wide eyes he regarded his hands, now coated with blood. The feeling itself was nothing new, in his profession it happened, but the cause was so very much different. Never had he done harm like that.

He looked up and caught the incredulous glimmer in his opponent’s eyes before the man crumbled into himself. Jaret looked at the fallen man, than at Jen, mouth hanging open in shock. Luckily for them the tumult around them was dying down already, Tomin and Krisian making quick work of three more guards while two remaining ones fled, probably intent on gathering further reinforcements.

Their master looked after them in shock, yelling for them to come back. He was still flattened against the wall and seemed unable to move.

Jaret took a step towards Jen. He still seemed a bit shaken by Jen’s unexpected blood spilling but his eyes ran over Jen’s form with what Jen recognized to be practical interest of checking someone for injuries. Obviously coming up satisfied, his face darkened. “You little fool, what were you thinking?”

“What was…I just saved your life,” Jen pointed out heatedly.

Raking a hand through his hair as if to keep himself from grabbing Jen and shaking him, Jaret took a few visible breaths. “You could have killed yourself. You can`t just jump into a fight like that.”

While that was true enough, Jen refused to back down. Maybe his actions had been rash and foolish, and he carefully avoided looking at the dead man on the ground whose life he, Jen, had just taken but in his heart Jen felt it had been the right course of action.

Apparently Jaret came to the conclusion that now was neither the time nor the place to get into it with Jen because his eyes softened and he cupped Jen`s cheek softly. "Are you…unharmed?”

The little pause told Jen what Jaret was asking about and he shook his head vigorously. "No. He didn't…You came in time." His voice dropped to a whisper. "You came." It wasn't lost on Jen how wonder-filled his voice had just sounded when mere moments ago he’d nearly resented the rescue party but then nothing about his jumbled feelings seemed to make sense lately.

“Of course I would.” Jaret spoke with such certainty as if any other outcome would have been ridiculous. Then he turned towards the cowering man in the corner. “Danus, old friend. I believe you took something from me.”

Danus’ body masses trembled visibly. “You…you barbarian. You came into my home and attacked me. I’ll have you skinned alive for that.”

“Where is Chadan?”

“He…he brought me the little whore and I paid for him, a handsome price too. I…I had every right—“

“He is mine,” Jaret raged, “Chadan had no right to sell him and I bet you knew it, I bet he told you that he had Jen stolen from me.”

Danus turned red, than pale. “I…I’ll give him back to you…and…and the money I paid for him in reparation for the slight.“

Jaret smiled unpleasantly. “I`m afraid that won`t do.”

“But…but he just told you I didn't touch him.” Danus was holding out his hands in beseeching manner.

“Yet you wanted to. You had your dirty hands on him when I walked in. Besides, we both know I can’t let you live.”

“Jaret,” Jen stepped forward. While he had no pleasant feelings for Danus, he felt there’d been enough killing over him.

Krisian touched his arm, having crept beside Jen without Jen noticing. “Too dangerous to let him live,” Krisian said in a raspy voice.

Jen looked at him but Krisian avoided looking him in the eye.

“We need to go. Quick.” Tomin’s urgent voice was heard, and Jen saw him looking around nervously. Jen didn`t know if he`d heard something or was just eager to leave what still consituted as enemy territory for them.

Jaret nodded. “Right, yes.” And without a moment’s hesitation he slammed his sword forward, gutting Danus like an animal. Gurgling the man went down.

Jen flinched but forced himself not to turn his eyes away. He understood why Jaret had done it but that could never be who Jen was.

Face carefully blank Jaret wiped his sword on the fallen man’s tunic before re sheathing it and turning back to Jen. “Come.” He grabbed Jen’s arm, dragging him along. He frowned. “Can you walk?”

Jen swatted at the hand holding him. “Of course I can walk but where are we going, back to camp?”

“No.”

“Then where? Wha—put me down.”

But Jaret didn't even answer him as he proceeded to carry a struggling Jen over his shoulder, hurrying along with long strides. From his upside down view Jen couldn't make out much as to where they were going, and he kicked to be put down.

Jaret did so but immediately grabbed onto Jen’s shoulders, bringing them face to face. “I’ll explain everything later, I promise but now we have to go. Do you understand?”

Jen nodded and allowed himself to be lead into the stone maze that was the city of Ylesia. Well, at least he finally got his wish to see it.

* * *




Back and forth. Back and forth, Jen paced like a trapped animal. He could practically feel Krisian’s worried gaze burning into his back but at the moment he wasn`t much inclined to soothe the other man’s worries. In fact Jen was fuming. Once again he found himself on the outside of any action as Jaret and Tomin had so much as dropped him off here and left again to deal with matters at hand. The here in question turned out to be the home of this Mikos, Jaret had told him about.

So much for Jaret’s promise to explain things to him. At least he’d revealed the mystery as to how Jen’s predicament had been found out. Pure chance had Tomin spotting a certain Marek, one of Chadan’s friends, in the city even though he was supposed to be back at the camp. The fact that said Marek had carried a suspicious looking bundle into the house of someone that was known to do trading with Chadan every now and then had been enough to raise suspicion and have Tomin inform Jaret. The latter had figured out things quickly enough and so a rescue had been mounted.

Now Jaret was off to search for Chadan and find out if Danus’ friends had already learned of his sudden demise - and more importantly who was behind it. Jen had wanted to come but his demands had fallen on deaf ears. Jaret had even had the audacity to draw him in for a quick, passionate kiss before strutting out with a throwaway warning to stay put. So much for not sitting around anymore. Of course Jen understood the dangers of the situation but it had been him Chadan had taken and tried to sell to the old pig. Therefore Jen felt it only fair that he would be allowed to partake in any quest for vengeance. Apparently Jaret thought differently, he seemed to view Jen as this helpless, little thing that he had to protect now, and Jen would have to disabuse him of that notion as soon as possible.

The house he was in was magnificient, Jen had to admit that much, and under different circumstances he would have gladly indulged his curiosity about the wonders of life in the city, especially that of a wealthy man like Mikos. Jen was currently surrounded by things of marvelous beauty, half of which he could only guess their purpose.

To Jen’s dismay, he had been greeted by the children as soon as he had set foot in the place. Jaret had just given him a shrug. Obviously his plan of drawing out the children had worked perfectly. At the moment Jen didn't know how he should feel about that. Naturally he was glad to find the group of little ones together and unharmed. They’d told him of their adventures, obviously exaggerating here and there, Jen guessed, as children often did.

From what Jen could glean they didn't appear to be harmed, and Jen could tell Jaret had been right about Mikos. The wide, friendly grin never seemed to leave the man's face, and the children had obviously taken to him despite their fear. They clung to the folds of his colorful garments, begging him to engage in games with them and he always complied.

Jen didn't quite know what to make of it, He knew there were sicknesses that befell the mind rather than the body, leaving someone ill-equipped to deal with the hardships of life which is why in the desert tribes such people weren`t allowed to reach adulthood. It was a harsh law and not one Jen had particularly liked but then it was the only way he had known.

In a surprising move, Krisian had opted not to go with Jaret and Tomin and stayed behind with Jen. Currently he was sitting on a small bench, arms folded in front of him. Yet while his eyes followed Jen's every step, he seemed quiet and withdrawn, and he only stopped his brooding to inquire after Jen's state of mind ever so often. It drove Jen crazy.

He had tried to engage Krisian in conversation, ask him more about what had happened to the other prisoners, if they were in the city as well, but Krisian's answers had consisted only of half-hearted grunts. Jen knew there was no dealing with his old friend when he was in one of those moods so he had given up and occupied himself with pacing the length of the room. Back and forth, back and forth.

"Are you alright?"

Jen rolled his eyes. That time again. "You have asked me that five times now. I told you, I wasn't hurt, you got to me in time."

He heard Krisian sigh loudly. "That is not what I meant."

Now Jen turned around. "What did you mean then?"

Krisian made a helpless gesture. "I meant everything. Ever since the attack, your life changed so much and you…Today I saw you kill a man in cold blood, Jen. Never thought I'd see that."

Jen looked down for a moment. Krisian was right of course.

"If you…I think I could get you out of here. Now."

Jen's head shot back up at the words, meeting Krisian's questioning gaze. "What do you mean?" Jen looked at Krisian, uncomprehending.

"If you want to get away from it all, Jen, now is your best chance, your only chance maybe." Krisian's tone was imploring

Jen shook his head in confusion. "But…where would I go? Besides, I don't understand. You were the one who told me to get in Jaret’s good graces. Leaving now would hardly seem the way to do so.”

Krisian’s eyes darkened. “That was before…”

“Before what?”

"I'm just not so sure he is good for you anymore, Jen."

Finally Jen understood what all this was about. He remembered the way Krisian had refused to look at him after the fight. "Because I killed?" Jen asked calmly.

"Yes, it's…" Krisian fumbled for words, "it's not you."

"We were fighting for our lives. You killed a lot more than I did,” Jen argued.

Krisian pressed his lips together in anger. “That’s different.”

“Why? Because it is you, not me?”

“Yes…no. I can’t explain. You are holy man, a healer, it is wrong.”

Jen rolled his eyes. “Like it was wrong for my people to be attacked in the first place? Like selling people into slavery is wrong? Yet it still happens.”

“Do not twist my words. You shouldn’t have had to do this.”

Trying to be understanding of Krisian’s predicament because Jen knew it sprung from concern for him, Jen gentled his voice. “I joined the fight because I wanted to.”

Krisian spread his hands. “Exactly. That is his influence, isn’t it?”

Jen gave a short barking laugh. “Have you forgotten all those times where I pestered you to teach me how to fight? I always wanted to learn it.”

“And I didn’t want you to learn,” Krisian bit out. “There was always such a light in you, so warm and innocent, untouched by the darkness and violence I’d known in my life. I wanted to preserve it.”

Jen was taken aback. He’d never heard the often crass and stoic Krisian speak this way. He went over to his friend - and when had he begun thinking of Krisian that way again? – and put a hand on his shoulder. He smiled. “I’m still me. Just a bit more grown up.”

Krisian grunted. Jen knew he wasn’t fully happy with recent developments but he also knew that Krisian would get over it and learn to accept Jen’s more hardened self. Krisian was nothing if not practical.

Loud noise brought them both out of the moment and both frowned, following the sounds.

Jen’s eyes widened when he saw two hooded figures dragging in a struggling, streaming Chadan. The latter looked rather worse for wear too. Chadan’s eyes turned fiery when they fell on Jen.

“You,” he spat. “You ruined everything, you whore. The whole city is in chaos and for what? A lowly desert rat like you?”

The figure on his left gave him a hard shake, hood sliding down in the process and revealing Jaret’s face. He turned to the man on the other side of Chadan who shook of his hood as well. Stavus.
“Take him away. Maybe he can still be useful for something,” Jaret ordered and Stavus nodded. Krisian silently joined him, leaving Jen and Jaret to themselves.

Taking a step forward, Jen’s eyes traveled between all three men, confused. “Wait, what is happening? What did he mean about the city?”

Jaret gave a slight head-nod and Stavus dragged Chadan away, the latter screaming curses at Jen. Jen folded his arms in front of his chest and regarded Jaret with an expression that made it clear he would not be so easily dismissed this time.

“The news of Danus’ demise has traveled fast, faster than I expected,” Jaret started.

“And?” Jen prompted.

“Like I said, he was a powerful man, with many powerful allies – and enemies.”

“I still don’t understand.”

Jaret sighed. “The guards who fled, they recognized me, enough at least to know my men are holding down camp outside. And they know Chadan is one of my men too.”

This was still very much an enigma to Jen. He tried to put the parts together. “So they are after you now? These allies?”

“In a way. You gotta understand that noone would truly believe I came to retrieve a slave. Not in this manner at least.” Jaret shrugged helplessly. “Such a thing would be impossible to think of. So the rumors are I have been hired, bought to kill Danus. Only the different parties are not sure by whom. Everybody is suspecting everybody else.”

“But this could be good, right? If they are attacking each other instead of going after you?” Finally Jen felt like he was getting it.

“Maybe,” Jaret conceded. “I have sent word to the man at the camp that they are to scatter. But right now both Danus’ friends and enemies would want to get their hands on me to question me.”

Jen gulped. The way Jaret had pronounced the word question didn’t bode well. “Wouldn’t they know to look here? You said Mikos was your friend?”

“Probably. But Mikos is, well, some level of royalty you might say. Danus and his posse, they are rich and powerful but not like this. They wouldn’t dare come here. For now we’re safe. And I do have a plan,” Jaret soothed.

“Which is?”

Jaret smiled darkly. “All they want is someone to blame really, a scapegoat. And I know who’d be perfect for that.”

Of course Jen understood very well just whom Jaret had in mind. He might even feel pity for him, if not for the events of this day.

“There is…something else though,” Jaret started haltingly.

“What?” Jen wondered if things could actually get any worse.

“A couple of small fights have broken out on the street,” Jaret started hesitantly, “In the market place too where we had rounded up your people.”

The beating of Jen’s heart quickened. “My people? Was…was anybody hurt?”

The way Jaret didn’t meet his gaze confirmed Jen’s worst fears.

“Twenty were killed,” Jaret admitted. “Some of my men too.”

Jen was stricken “Twenty? But there were so few left anyhow and…” He stopped helplessly.

“I’m sorry,” Jaret’s voice was blank.

“The rest, where are they now?”

Jaret cocked his head. “They’ve been brought here. If you want to see them—“

“Of course. How can you even ask?” Jen looked at Jaret incredulously.

Nodding, Jaret turned around, presenting Jen with his back. “You have to talk to them about what you will do now, too.”

“What you mean?” Again Jen felt lost in this conversation.

“Well, I’ve basically lost my men. This will be the end of the horde, or let’s say the end of me as its leader,” Jaret pointed out calmly, leading Jen to gasp. But Jaret ignored him, continuing in the same monotone voice. “And neither I nor any of my men can show their faces now at the markets. Or anywhere really. Which means I have little use for your people.”

Jen bit his lip. “So they are free?”

“It looks that way.” Jaret snorted. “From the first moment I knew you would make things interesting but even I couldn’t foresee how much.”

He was still not looking at Jen, and Jen felt…he didn’t even know how he felt. Never in his wildest dreams had he imagined he alone would bring the whole horde to its knees. Ironic really that the goodness Jen had awoken in Jaret had cost Jaret the life he’d known. But then the horde, and Jaret, had done the same to Jen.

Lost in their own thoughts both men didn’t say a word for a long time.

* * *




All heads turned towards him when he entered, and Jen had to fight the urge to flee. He chastened himself silently. Those were his fellow tribesmen, people whom he had grown up with, whom he had lived amongst as long as he could remember. With the way they lived the tribe as a whole was a family, as much and sometimes even more so than one of blood-bonds.

For days he’d wanted nothing more than to be back among them. And now that the time had come, he was scared to face them, memories of the increasingly befuddled and then outright angry looks they had directed at him as their captivity went on, crept into his mind unbidden. It took but a heartbeat to see that their feelings had not changed for the better, quite the opposite really. His heart sank.

Part of Jen understood their feelings. After what they’d just been through, he couldn’t blame them for being weary and even furious. The tribe they had all known would be no more, of that there was no question for Jen. With the heavy losses they’d taken in the attack as well as today, the survivors were too few in numbers to sustain themselves for more than one, maybe two generations.

They would have to ask another tribe to take them in, and Jen knew how difficult that could be. Desert people by nature liked to keep to themselves and didn’t take much to strangers. Even if another village did welcome them, they’d still never be equals, at least not all of them.

For a brief moment Jen was struck by how he had begun to think of his own tribe as them and what they would do, as if it was an entity that no longer included him. He shook the thought off and stepped farther into the chamber. After all there were more pressing matters to attend to now. In fact Jen could already see a few people with smaller injuries and Jaran, who Jen guessed was to become leader now, cradled his arm protectively to his chest.

Unshouldering the leather strap of his medicine bag, Jen moved towards him but Jaran stopped him by holding up his hand defensively.

“Do you know of our children? What became of them?” Jaran asked.

Jen frowned. He had assumed someone would have told them the children were safe, Krisian or maybe even Tomin but apparently they hadn’t bothered. Jen would have to have a talk with Krisian about this negligence. He should have shown more concern for their situation. “Yes, they are well. Here in this house even, don’t fear,” Jen spoke in what he hoped was a calming manner.

“So the traitor spoke the truth?” Jaran’s eyes still held suspicion.

Ah, so Krisian had told them, only they hadn’t believed him. And apparently from the looks of it Jen’s word wasn’t enough to be fully convincing either. Jen forced himself to not take that as an insult. These were people who had been attacked, beaten, starved and kept in chains for days on end while to their eyes it must have seemed as if Jen had enjoyed special treatment.

And as the barbarians believed Jen to having resorted to whoring himself out to Jaret in exchange for such privileges, Jen feared his people would think the same. But then as one of their own had he not earned the right to be given the benefit of a doubt? He had fought for them after all, to the best of his abilities, and even if they didn’t know that, Jen felt they owed him to listen to his side on the matter at least.

“If you mean Krisian,” Jen ignored a man spitting at his mention of the name, “then yes, he told the truth. The children are safe.”

“Please, can you bring them here? I want to hold my son again,” a third voice sounded out timidly.

It was a woman, Marayna, and Jen turned towards her. “They will be brought to you as soon as I’m finished treating you,” he assured her.

“We’d like to see them now,” Jaran demanded forcefully.

“You will, I promise,” Jen tried to soothe.

Apparently Jaran was less than convinced but he changed tactics. “The… leader, have you talked to him?”

Jen ignored the way Jaran emphasized the word “talk” as if he expected Jen’s talks with Jaret to be of a different, more intimate nature. “Yes.”

“So you know what is to happen to us?” Jaran raised an eyebrow.

“Yes. You are free but—“

An angry scoff interrupted Jen. “Either we are free or we are not. And if we are, we want our children and leave this cursed place as soon as possible.”

“Be reasonable,” Jen argued, “You are hurt, exhausted, you couldn’t leave now. Besides, Jaret told me the streets aren’t safe now.”

An adolescent boy scoffed. “Jaret told me,” he mimiced Jen.

“Malik, be quiet,” Jaran chastened him. He looked at Jen intently. “If we truly are free to go, we will do so by two days time at the most.” Silencing Jen’s oncoming protest with a gesture, he went on. “When they let us leave, we shall see how much the word of a barbarian is worth.”

“And where will you go? The tribe’s numbers are too thin now to support ourselves for long,” Jen tried to reason.

Jaran frowned. “If and when we decide on it, we shall find another village and ask for shelter. With an experienced healer like you, we’d be a benefit. Not every tribe has one.”

That much was true, of course. And there were always a few of the tribe who were schooled in the beginnings of the magical arts to take over in case the actual healer would perish. In that they’d always been lucky as their line of apprentices had been unbroken so far. But it hurt Jen that as much as he was seemingly distrusted now, his usefulness made him good enough again. And where had this bitter thought come from? Jen wondered.

“You don’t know if anybody would take us in,” Jen reasoned.

“What would you have us do then? Stay here? The desert is our home, it has been for many generations.”

Jen opened his mouth but once again Jaran held up a hand, signaling his decision was final. “I take it you have to talk to…him still. But you can return later and stay with us. And once we leave, we shall speak of it no more.” At his last words Jaran looked directly at Jen, probably expecting gratitude for the forgiveness he’d just bestowed upon Jen.

Pressing his lips together into a thin line, Jen nodded curtly. “Do you want me to treat your arm now?”

Jaran inclined his head in a regal gesture. “Yes, you may do so.”

* * *




When Jen reached his next destination, he didn’t feel dread upon entering, though his heart was beating just as fast as it had before. It was a beautiful chamber, dominated by a large resting place covered in richly colored furs. It looked soft and inviting.

However Jaret had obviously managed to withstand the attraction and was currently leaning against a pillar, his back to Jen. He didn’t turn, didn’t acknowledge Jen’s presence in any way even though he must have heard Jen coming in.

“How are your people? Do they need anything?”

Jen cocked his head. He hadn’t expected such concern from Jaret, especially not seeing as Jaret likely had other things on his mind. “Shaken. But well enough for now.”

Jaret’s back was still turned, and Jen felt himself growing nervous. He preferred to see people’s faces when he talked to them. And Jaret’s eyes usually made it easy to read his moods.

“I’m sorry about your men,” he offered.

A small chuckle answered him. “Really? I mean in your grand fight to rid the world of injustice and murdering barbarians you won quite the victory today.”

Jen narrowed his eyes. “You are drunk.”

Finally Jaret turned around, raising a jug in a mocking gesture and taking a big sip. “It seemed like the best thing to do.”

Jen pressed his lips together. “This is your answer?”

Broad shoulders shrugged carelessly. “It’s as good as any,” Jaret said.

For a moment Jen was tempted to leave the other man to his misery, maybe try talking to him in the morning again but no, just today he’d resolved himself to be a little more forthright, to fight for what he wanted. So he marched right over to Jaret, grabbed onto the wavy dark hair none too gently and pulled Jaret’s face down for a passionate kiss.

“What in the…what are you doing?” Jaret sputtered, dropping his jug which smashed into pieces on the ground.

Jen met his gaze unflichingly. “What I want.”

“Have you lost your mind? What brought this on?” Then Jaret’s face darkened. “I told you, I’ll let you all go. You don’t need to whore yourself for it, not anymore.”

His answer wasn’t so much spoken in words as Jen simply slapped him clear across the face.

Looking shocked and outraged Jaret held his cheek. “You little…I will let that slide. Once. But never dare to strike me again.”

“You hit me,” Jen pointed out. “More than once.”

“That was different. And if you do not wish for me to do it again, I’m warning you. I’m not in the best of moods right now. If your sweet little backside is itching for my hand right now, say so and I’m happy to oblige.”

Jaret looked about ready to make good on this threat and Jen gulped. Maybe he had been a little too forthright. There was still a lingering ache in his lower back and he most certainly did not want to find out how much it would hurt to add to it.

He picked at the cloth of his tunic, gathering all his courage. “Is this…uh… the only thing you can think of doing to me?”

Jaret shook his head confused. “If I didn’t know better, I’d say you’re trying to seduce me?”

“And why would you know better?” Jen asked.

“Because so far you’ve never come to me out of your own free will,” Jaret pointed out darkly.

“Maybe I do it now,” Jen insisted.

“But why? Why now? If it’s not gratitude or fear?”

Jen took a deep breath. “Today I feared a man would force himself on me. And the mere thought was disgusting. But that night when we…when I drugged you, I was afraid, yes, but the thought…it didn’t disgust me. It kind of…excited me.” He looked down, cheeks flaming now.

It surprised him when Jaret tipped his head back up, surprisingly gentle and kissed him.

Jaret drew back slightly, holding Jen at arm's length and searching his face. "Is this truly what you want?"

This was all so confusing. Jen had imagined Jaret would jump at the chance to do this, maybe even jump on Jen literally. If Jen was honest with himself the latter wasn’t a totally unappealing prospect.

Apparently Jaret read his thoughts because he chuckled. "Believe me I wan't nothing more than to rip this tunic from your willing body and take you so long and so hard you won't be able to walk properly in days."

The image Jaret's words created make Jen swallow heavily. After their previous encounters and the intimacies they’d shared, he couldn't deny being more than curious.

"But this time I want it all, no games, no pretenses," Jaret continued, "If you give yourself to me now, I swear to you, you won't leave this chamber a virgin."

Jen drew a deep breath. “That is how I want it.”

Jaret drew a hand through his hair. “You are making this very hard for me.” He chuckled. “Literally.”

For a moment Jen didn’t get the joke but when Jaret drew him closer, pressing their bodies together, he felt the evidence of how hard it was for Jaret. “Oh.” He blushed.

Leading him by the hand, Jaret drew them both across the room till they sank into the soft furs, Jaret on top of Jen. Their mouths fused together, touches growing more heated as time went on. This time Jen felt brave enough to do some exploration of his own, learning the curves of Jaret’s body. Jaret was working on shedding their clothing, one by one and soon enough they were both naked. Jen felt a bit shy and self-conscious still, trying to shield himself with one hand.

“Don’t.” Jaret kissed him. “Don’t.”

When Jen felt Jaret trying to roll him onto his stomach gently, he protested. "No."

Jaret sighed. "It's easier this way, less painful. Especially seeing as you have never done this before."

But Jen stubbornly shook his head. He wanted to see Jaret's face, to be able to look into his eyes when the time came for Jaret to really be joined with Jen's body. Somehow that seemed important, and Jen would gladly accept a little added pain for it. "I want to see you," he said firmly.

"We can do that later, we have time," Jaret reasoned.

Jen only looked at him, his eyes conveying how he wouldn't give on this matter. Jaret might be the experienced one between the two of them but in this Jen wouldn’t budge.

A defeated sigh from Jaret told him he’d won. "Fine then, you need to loosen up, let me in when the time comes."

Jen nodded eagerly.

"Wait here.” Jaret jumped to his feet and went over to a small chest, rummaging around in it. He returned with a very small jug and a sweet smell reached Jen’s nostrils. A scented oil of some kind, he guessed. Jaret kneeled back down next to Jen and tipped the jug, coating the fingers of his left hand with the liquid inside before he put the jug away.

Jaret gave Jen a reassuring smile before his right hand grabbed onto Jen's thigh, then inserted his finger into Jen who immediately clambed up at the intrusion.

"You're too tense. Loosen up your muscles," Jaret instructed.

Jen squirmed, trying to follow Jaret’s commands but finding himself unable to. “I can't do it there. Especially not with your finger in it."

Jaret chuckled. "Then this is not gonna work as I assure you what is going in there is much bigger than my finger." He smiled. “Maybe a distraction will help.”

“Wha—Mhmph.” Jen’s question was silenced by Jaret’s hungry mouth. And in time the movements of Jaret's tongue made Jen forget the things Jaret's finger did within his body, at least so much that he was able to loosen himself. Soon Jaret added a second finger, stretching Jen and pressing down on a spot that led Jen’s world to dissolve into white-hot pleasure.

Suddenly the fingers withdrew and Jen mewled in protest.

“Shhh,” Jaret soothed.

He took a hold of Jen’s thighs, lifting them up and bending them backwards.

"Ow," Jen complained. “I’m not made to be folded in half.”

Jaret chuckled. “You wouldn’t have made a good pleasure slave. Too demanding.”

Angrily Jen pushed at his chest. “I can’t help it.”

Jaret still wore that infuriating grin. “And you talk too much.”

“I’m…oh…oh…” Jen’s eyes grew big when he felt something else press to the spot where Jaret’s fingers had just been. Slowly it slipped into him and he bit his lip against the pain.

There was a frustrated sigh from Jaret whose face was drawn in a mask of almost pain. At least that was what it seemed like to Jen and he wondered what cause Jaret had to feel this way. After all it wasn`t him that was being ripped apart by this huge thing inside him. But piece by piece Jen could feel his body relaxing, adapting to the pressure which in turn allowed Jaret to slip in further. When he was all the way in – or at least Jen hoped he was because there was no way he could accommodate anymore of Jaret within him – Jaret held himself still.

He peppered Jen`s face with tiny kisses before moving down where his lips attached himself to Jen`s nipple, suckling like a newborn. Jen sighed in pleasure, this felt nice whereas the invasion of his body while no longer painful didn`t do much for him either. Jen wondered if maybe Jaret would be willing to forego this part of it in the future.

Just then Jaret started moving again, pulling out of Jen till only the tip of his manhood remained and driving back in and in a slow thrust. Jen cried out at the invasion. Yes, he would definitely have to convince Jaret to forego that. Everything else was so much more pleasurable anyway. The fingers had felt wonderful but this didn’t at all and…oooooohhhhh. Jaret had arched downward slightly, and now he once again hit that special place inside Jen’s body, only this time it was so much better than his fingers had been. Jen felt he could die from the sheer bliss of it.

After that there was a steady rhythm of in and out, and Jen was half-gone with mindless pleasure. His hips shifted to meet Jaret’s body and deepen the other man’s thrusts. When Jen felt Jaret’s hand touching his own manhood, it was too much. With a strangled cry Jen let himself go, feeling his release coating his stomach.

Jaret held himself completely still till Jen was beginning to breathe normally again. Then he started moving once more and while Jen`s spent manhood wasn`t capable of more than giving a slight twitch, the feeling of watching Jaret working towards his own release was so intimate, so intense, Jen felt closer to Jaret in that moment than he`d ever thought possible. The thrusts grew harder till Jen felt Jaret’s body tensing up, then releasing his semen inside Jen’s body. And Jen reveled in the primalness of the act. He wasn`t sure he ever wanted to return to the real world after that.

Carefully Jaret withdrew from Jen`s body and rolled off of him, letting go of Jen’s legs in the process which fell limply to the furs.

Both men lay silent for a while, entwined with Jen's head pillowed on Jaret''s chest and Jaret lightly stroking Jen's bare arm, a peaceful mood descending over the chamber.

Jen endured it for a few hundred heartbeats before curiosity won out. He twisted his head a bit as to get a better look at Jaret's face. "What are you thinking?"

Jaret sighed. "I guess it was too much to hope that coupling would quiet you down for even a short while."

His tone was put-upon but with a distinct twinkle in it and Jen lightly slapped his chest. "I'm serious. What are we going to do now?"

"We?" Jaret raised an eyebrow.

A sudden coldness gripped Jen. Did Jaret not want to be with him anymore? After this? He couldn’t believe that. He scooted backwards, out of the santuary of Jaret's arm so he could sit up, looking down at Jaret's impassive face. "I thought this is what you wanted? For me to stay with you?" He hated himself for the little tremble in his voice but couldn't stop it nevertheless.

"Yet I didn't think that was what you wanted," Jaret pointed out.

“Not as your property, no,” Jen argued. “But as your equal, your…companion.”

Jaret raised an eyebrow. “Companion?”

Jen was starting to feel slightly humiliated now. “You know what I mean. We will be together, like Krisian and Stavus.”

“You would not go with your people?” Jaret studied him with interest.

“If I was going to do that, do you think this,” Jen gestured to their nude forms, ”would have happened?”

With a sad little smile Jaret shook his head. "You gave me your body but are you ready to give me your life?"

Jen threw up his hands in exasperation. “You always make it sound like slavery when I’m talking about…” He caught himself.

“About what?” Jaret asked.

Jen remained silent. He couldn’t speak the words, not yet.

With slow, halting movements Jaret rubbed his eyes. He looked tired. "I can't undo what I've done, Jen."

"I didn't ask you to," Jen countered heatedly. "I might not like what you've done but I have accepted it. Again, had I not, we wouldn’t be here like this. You gave me the choice. Did you not mean it?”

Jaret looked offended. “Of course I meant it. I was ready to let you go. For your own good, I might add.”

“Then what happened here, happened because we both wanted it,” Jen reasoned.

"I've made many enemies, some of them today," Jaret cautioned. "Travelling with me, if we even make it out of the city, it will never be a safe way to live."

“I always wanted to live an adventurous life.”

Jaret chuckled. “I would have thought you'd gotten enough of that lately.”

“Maybe you don’t know me as well as you think you do. Besides, would an experienced healer not be good to have around, you know, with your many enemies?” Jen grinned.

“Hm. But Jen, you aren’t a fighter.”

“So train me. I'm not a delicate flower, you know."

Jaret smiled. "I can certainly attest for your stamina. And flexibility." He waggled his eyebrows.

But while the corner of Jen's mouth twitched, this was serious.

“Then,” Jaret paused dramatically, “I guess, I’ll keep you after all.” He drew Jen back down in his arms, kissing him fiercely.

For his part and for the first time in a long time Jen felt actually content. Maybe it was madness, choosing a life of uncertainty with a man he still barely knew and had met under the most dire of circumstances. And of course he’d have to make sure that his people would be well taken care of, prideful stubbornness notwithstanding. Maybe he could find another village for them to join. But just this once Jen needed to follow his own dreams. He couldn’t go with them when part of him would always wonder, always look to the horizon and for a familiar face framed by long, brown hair.

But Jen also had the sneaking suspicion that Jaret still believed that he would be the one making the decisions and ordering Jen around, for his own good of course. Well, plenty of time to disabuse him of that silly notion. A lifetime at least.

Jen snuggled into the warmth of Jaret’s body and smiled.


- The End –



Addendum: This was the ending as planned which is admittedly kinda open. Now my beta suggested a little epilogue. Which I`ll use as an excuse for ticky boxes:

[Poll #1136189]