Par for the Course

Willelm hadn’t thought he’d been sneaking. He hadn’t tried to walk softly, or keep his chain mail neck guard from jingling.

Another horse had wondered over and Willelm was sure it was his! He had remembered the beasts name, and had started to go through the packs he carried when he’d found provisions. Food in hand they didn’t need a rabbit. He’d thought he was doing the man a favor by calling an end to his hunt.



But then he’d seen the man, leaning heavily against a brick wall. Will’s first thought of course was that he was hurt. He’d ducked behind a rock, looking over the area for enemy’s. Eadric’s breathing and soft groan put an end to his thoughts. To all thoughts!

Blinking, shocked dumb, he stared opened mouth at the man.

His angle wasn’t the best for spying but he could see the others arm moving furiously. Hear the soft metal sound of his belts moving. The slack look of lust on Eadric’s face. The cocky turn of his mouth.

Willelm’s mouth ran dry, air leaving his lungs and avoiding him like the plague.

He’d only thought Eadric complicated since meeting him. The man was easily angered, but tempered enough that he’d yet to lash out with more then a sharp tone. Now the man appeared completely new to him. He viewed him in a totally new light.

The warrior didn’t look capable of just handling himself on the battlefield. His wide shoulders carried new thoughts. Not just strength, but something sensual. Eadric’s trim waist had the teen’s teeth sinking into his lip. He had the horrible imaginings of licking his hips. And his tongue seemed to know what a man’s skin would taste like.

The list went on, a whirl wind of information about Eadric’s body bombarded the younger knight until his head throbbed with the information. Fantasy’s ran so rampant he was quickly reminded how young he was. Hormones raging until he was dizzy.

Eadric’s finale came to quickly for Willelm. He hadn’t finished feasting his eyes on the mans private activity.

When the sound of his own floated to his ears the teen stilled, his heart racing like the rabbit’s Eadric said he’d be hunting. He’d been caught, he’d been seen, Eadric knew!

But no. The man simply said his name, chuckled to himself, and fixed his clothing.

Sweat ran down the teens brow as Eadric walked away, keeping his back unknowingly to Will. He wiped his forehead with a trembling hand, breathing heavily.

His body betrayed him, having hardening so quickly he hurt. Ached for attention of it’s own. But Willelm resisted, he needed to get back to the horses before Eadric gave up his hunt. Or worse, simply turned around.

Creeping most of the way back Willelm’s mind fought to focus beyond it’s lustful fantasy’s. He’d learned to much about himself, and frankly, Eadric. Before memories slipped away he needed to coax them out and analyze them.

Back with the horses and still as breathless as ever, the teen fought his pounding head.

He recalled a face in the sunlight, smiling. He was rugged, wearing more armor then Willelm liked himself. He recalled the same man circling him, sword aimed right for his chest. But he was laughing. Training! Willelm recalled his trainer… Sir Bracker? Bricker?

The knights sweat this time was caused by concentration and pain.

He recalled dropping to his knees, that was how he knew what Eadric would taste like. He’d touched his trainer. But before full memories could form, the teen felt incredibly light headed, swaying on his perch.

Panting he lowered himself from the rock to the ground, his vision going white.

Willelm couldn’t believe he was gay! He knew, just as he’d known his own name when hearing it, he’d never told anyone. That he wasn’t suppose to. He felt guilty for such a confession even to himself. But there it was. He was young, gay, and had crushed horribly on his trainer.

“God above.” He groaned, holding the side of his head.

“Who?” Eadric’s voice shocked Willelm more then when he’d caught the warrior jerking off.

“My head is splitting open.” Willelm gasped, squeezing his eyes closed against the pain.

Eadric was beside him instantly, laying him back, propping his head up with his quiver of arrows. He fanned the teen lightly, giving him fresh cool air to try to breathe.

“Relax.” Eadric advised, his voice softer then he’d ever heard it yet. It cause a rush of heat to creep up his neck. Willelm prayed he didn’t embarrass himself under the man’s attention.

“What happened?”

Willelm licked his lips, eyes closed while the pain slowly started to recede.

“My horse, Gypsy, found me.” He swallowed, the tightness of his throat slowly relaxing, “I started to remember things.” He managed to say it without blushing to brightly.

“Gypsy… kind of a girls name isn’t it?” Eadric was teasing him, Will couldn’t help but grin.

“I remember, he doesn’t like to stay locked up. He wonders where ever he wants.”

As the pain edged further away Willelm was able to open his eyes, then drink some water before he could sit up. Eadric took the opportunity to look over his things.

“You must be a lord of some kind.” He grinned, looking over his shoulder at the teen, “I figured. You’re to posh to be anything less.” He fingered the detailing on Willelm’s saddle.

Will almost felt embarrassed by the mans statement. But the difference in their belongings was noticeable.

Hex and Gypsy were equally fine steeds. But Willelm’s horse wore the best leathers imaginable. Finely crafted, decorated expertly. Even customized with Willelm’s name.

“You’re a Terrin?” Eadric looked over his shoulder, seeming to look Will over differently.

“I don’t know.” He shrugged, but felt nervous, like it were an accusation, “Is that a bad thing?”

Eadric shrugged this time, pulling off the saddle bags to sit on the rock Willelm had vacated.

“Depends I guess. Terrin is a large family, wealthy, with their fingers in many different pies. If someone is their friend then everything’s fine. Cross the Terrin’s however and they will ruin you, and your friends.”

Willelm swallowed. He certainly didn’t feel like that kind of person.

“They more or less run Skeldergate, although the tribe claims their God does.”

Eadric pawed through Willelm’s belongings, but the teen didn’t care. He didn’t really feel like they were his things. Even when he was handed his flask, with his name on it. Or a family ring (that Will just put back in the bag).

Shaving utensils, silverware, a compass, clothing, his bedding. All things Willelm would have handled everyday, and yet he could remember none of it. It was incredibly frustrating. Like being haunted. Apparitions of  memories taunted and teased him but never solidified.

“Good, you have food. I didn’t manage to find a rabbit.”

Willelm choked, his eyes popping wide before he could fake a heavy cough and recover.

“No? To bad.” He chugged his flask dry without realizing it. Eadric looking at him as if he’d proclaimed himself King of the stars.

And surely Willelm had never felt more stupid. Literally!

“Oookay.” Eadric shook his head, working around Willelm’s odd behavior, “Good news is now you have a tribe, a full name, and a horse. Tomorrow I can point you in the right direction and you should be home in two-three days time.”

The man stood to ready their camp, dragging up wood and clearing a space for a fire. Rolling out his bedding and tending to the horses. Willelm sat in a soft silence. He couldn’t imagine leaving Eadric’s company. As of the second he’d seen the man, he was all he knew. Before him it was all blurry visions and confusion.

And the more he learned of his family the less he liked the sound of ‘home’. The nervous feeling that rolled through his guts at the idea of returning to Skeldergate never lessened either. If anything it grew with every step they’d taken.

“More good news.” Eadric grabbed the teens attention as he threw a rolled up bit of parchment at Will’s face.

“Corena is your mom. That’s a letter for you, wishing you well on your patrol. Keep her bracelet safe. Return quickly. Also congratulating you on your new rank. You are officially the youngest Knight I’ve ever met.” Eadric’s tone was a mix of mocking and disbelief. Willelm ignored him, scrambling to open the letter and read it for himself.

She told him to have confidence in himself, that he’d earned his title no matter what others said. She promised to remind his father of his achievement often. She preyed for him daily, but reminded him that sooner or later he’d need to start courting. Corena was ready for ‘fat grandchildren’.

Willelm’s guts rolled for all new different reasons. His mother didn’t know his secret. Hell, HE hadn’t even known his secret until spotting Eadric.

“At first I assumed you were a cousin of the Terrin family, but Corena is quite the scandal. I know who you are now.” Eadric was grinning as he sat down, lighting the fire.

Willelm’s first reaction however was to draw his sword. Eadric was mocking his beloved mother and Willelm would shed blood to defend her.

Seeing the teen’s hard look Eadric appeared to take the matter more seriously.

“Corena is Lord Henric’s fourth wife. He is more then double her age, and worse yet, he married down. Instead of taking a noble born woman he chose a pretty peasant.”

Willelm didn’t want to stop the man from sharing what he knew, but he ground his teeth to keep from snapping at the other.

Every word he said sounded so degrading.

“You have, about, eleven older brothers and sisters. If none have died since the last I heard about the Terrin family.” Eadric helped himself to Willelm’s dried food. He offered a scrap of something but Willelm was not up to eating with such a topic between them.

“And the dealings of this family?” Will could not yet believe he came from such a bastard of a man. Even if Eadric had only really mentioned his mother, Willelm knew the man was wicked. He had no memories of him, not even ghostly fragments. But he knew.

“Mostly trade. But skirmishes against ‘non-believers’ apparently is profitable. Honestly I don’t think you had a choice. I believe all of your brothers are Knights, and every daughter of Henric’s is wed to one.”

Willelm’s head throbbed once more, lightly. Just behind his eyes, pressuring against his forehead.

“No wonder I don’t wish to return.” He sighed, rubbing at his head. Eadric only grunted.