The Voyage in the Blizzard (BL)

What I feel

On the way back, when they wanted to make a transition, suddenly, they heard loud voices.

Children of the same age, dressed in simple vests and pants, ran from somewhere and headed towards the houses. From the distance it was difficult to see their faces, but it was noticeable that they were happily smiling. Pushing each other, they, one after another, entered the houses and three noble – looking elders in a dark - green robes followed them.

Looking at them, Draken asked, “Who are they?”

“They are teachers. The wisest and smartest ones. They teach children everything they need to know. But for us, they are unfamiliar. Because our fathers were our only teachers.”

“I remember them. They are very wise and kind,” Galen said.

“Let’s go now.”

On the way back, Draken asked the question that always bothered him. “As far as I know, in this world, when you turn 25, you have to leave an heir. Of course, if you are not the great warrior who doesn’t have time for such things. But, what will happen, after 25 years? Will we continue our trainings?”

“After 25, we will continue our training s. But only on a read Battlefield. We will be warriors but we can live in the village. But many, when they turn 25, live close to the Battlefield. But some of them stay in the village. Didn’t you notice that some warriors look much older than we are?”

“Yes, but why do they want to live close to the Battlefield? I mean, aren’t they wondering about how their children are living?”

“Children, here, grow up very fast. In a matter of months, they are already soldiers. And sentiment is superfluous when you have only one goal in your mind. Not everyone is like your or my father. Not everyone finds time for their children. Perhaps because they don’t want to look at them, because they know what is awaiting them in the future. On the Battlefield,” Storm said with sadness in his voice.

“What about these children? Who are their parents?”

“In three clans, there are a lot of soldiers. And most of them you didn’t see.”

“I don’t know so many things.”

“You have lived in seclusion for too long,” Storm angrily said.

“Are you still mad at me for leaving you?” Draken wanted to embrace him but he pushed him away.

“What do you think? You think that I can forget all these years of anxiety?”

Suddenly, they stopped and with directed their mesmerized look up into the sky. After all, what they saw was a miracle.

The wind scattered the clouds and opened the long – forgotten, blue, clear sky with the traces of the sun’s rays. But after a few seconds, the clouds closed the sky again and the cold wind returned to this world.

“Did you see that?” Galen asked still looking at the sky.

“So this is what the sky looks like,” Storm whispered.

“A blue sky with a golden veil of sunbeams, a bright sea full of thousands of candlesticks,” Draken poetically said, shedding one small tear.

Later, after the dinner, Draken went to the training field. It was very windy and painfully cold, but he joined everyone and began to compete with the blizzard.

Running in front of everyone, and already overtaking Leiandros, he didn’t feel tired at all.

Trying to breathe through his nose, he, feeling the surge of energy, suddenly pictured Leiandros in front of him. Long and silky hair, deep and cold eyes filled with secrets, strong hands that were always ready to fight, his voice, his look…

Imagining him, Draken sped up his run and tried hard to banish these thoughts. But knowing that he was running behind, feeling and hearing his heavy breathing, it was very difficult for him to drive these thoughts away.

Feeling the fire in himself, he closed his eyes. At this moment, he wanted to fall down so his thoughts would leave him. But the soft snowy field didn’t give him the opportunity to fall.

Hearing Leiandros’ breath nearby, he opened his eyes and saw him. Now, running in unison, two tall figures of the same height, catching each other’s glances, knowing each other’s thoughts but not daring to speak, with all their hearts wished to be somewhere far away from here. Where they could tell each other about what was in their hearts.

Without taking their eyes off each other, knowing that they were very far from everyone, knowing that the dark night would not allow anyone to see them, to see their feelings, they allowed themselves to get a little closer.

Moving their feet in unison, their hearts beat in one beat. The worlds within them intertwined together. Draken, looking at him, wanted to say something and Leiandros, holding breath, longed to hear his voice.

“Leiandros.”

“Draken.”

They only could whisper their names.

But without giving them the opportunity to pronounce their names again, suddenly, the loud cry was heard from somewhere.

Everyone stopped and through the darkness they could see someone who was running towards the training field.

“He is dead!”

Leiandros and Draken rushed towards the man who was running.

When they got closer to him, they saw that it was Neo.

“What happened?”

With horror in his eyes, Neo pointed towards the houses and said, “One of the soldiers, I found him dead in the forest! Leiandros, it is here. They are here! Leiandros!” Saying this, he suddenly fainted. Leiandros caught him before he fell down.

“Draken, take everyone home,” Leiandros ordered and lifting Neo went towards his house.

Once the way home, Draken noticed Raghnall approaching Leiandros and Neo.

Walking briskly, Draken looked back and felt someone’s gaze on himself.

Quickly entering the houses and locking the doors, all at once, rushed to the windows.

“What is happening?” someone asked.

“What was Neo doing here? And who died?”

“He said that it is here. What did he mean?”

Draken coldly replied, “Beasts are here.”

“Did you hear the scream? It was the beast’s voice.”

“Don’t open the door. Don’t lit the candles. Stay at home,” Draken said with a commanding tone and rushed to the door. But Storm immediately stopped him.

“Where are you going?”

“Let me go. I need to check if everything is alright.”

“Are you crazy?!” Storm shouted.

Pushing him away, Draken said, “Don’t let him follow me.”

He quickly opened the door and the sound of his steps disappeared in the blizzard.

“When did he become our commander?” Den asked.

Storm whispered something but then grabbed his sword and wanted to run after Draken but Galen stood on his way. “I don’t think you should go.”

“Go away.”

“No.”

“I have to go. What if something happens?”

“Draken is much stronger than you. Nothing will happen to him,” Galen said and when Storm tried to open the door, Den caught him into this strong embrace.

“Let me go!”

“Draken knows what to do. He is already the best warrior! That is why we need to listen to him! Brother, don’t be so stubborn!”

“When did you take his side?” Storm asked and tried to free himself.

“Don’t try to escape. You are not ready to face with beast! Guys help me!” Den shouted holding Storm in his embrace.

Draken, walking slowly and cautiously, looked around but saw no one. Although he felt someone’s presence around of him. Perhaps out of fear or excitement, his imagination began to play with his mind. But he knew for sure that it was the cry of a beast.

Passing the logs, he heard a heavy, intermittent breathing somewhere. Hiding behind the logs, he was ready to attack.

Hearing the footsteps getting closer and closer, sweat beaded on his forehead. It was difficult to see through the darkness and blizzard. But he tried his best to see something other than the logs.

Without moving, Draken felt that behind of this heavy log, there was someone. Feeling no fear at all, he clutched his fists and wanted to attack but suddenly he heard Leiandros’ voice.

“Draken is that you?”

Realizing that it was not a beast but Leiandros, Draken stood up and saw him.

“So it is you.”

“What are you doing here?”

“I was going towards your house.”

“Why?”

“Leiandros what’s going on? Are they here? I mean beasts.”

Hearing a shrill scream reminiscent of both howls and sounds of despair, Leiandros grabbed Draken by the hand and led him towards the house.

Finally reaching the house, Leiandros locked the door and windows.

“Leiandros wait. Why don’t we all go out and fight? We are trained for this,” Draken said.

“We can’t just fight. We need to know why and how they got here. We are not sure if they are beasts at all.”

“What did Neo say?! He said that they are here.”

“I don’t trust him.”

“But what about the screams?”

“Draken, now, we can’t fight,” Leiandros said and left him.

Sitting on a chair and looking at Leiandros who was standing by the window, Draken asked, “I saw Raghnall. Was he going towards you?”

“Yes.”

“What about Neo? How is he?”

“He is wounded. The wound is severe. He was unconscious and Raghnall took him to the Main House.”

Realizing that something was wrong, Draken stood up and began to walk. “One thing I don’t understand. What was Neo doing in our village?”

Leiandros replied, “I don’t know. But I think it will clear up tomorrow morning.”

“Did Raghnall order you to stay at home and don’t do anything?”

Leiandros nodded his head. “If it’s a beast, then we need to find out how it got here. If not, then Raghnall will go to the Head of the Third clan.”

“Don’t you think that something strange is happening. It is like Raghnall is hiding something.”

“Thinking about it now, is a wasting of time. We don’t know anything. So why think about it,” Leiandros said and turned towards Draken. Looking at him so intently he asked, “Why did you want to see me? Why didn’t you stay at home?”

A little embarrassed, Draken looked away. “I just wanted to know if everything is okay.”

“With Neo?”

“No. With you.” After saying this, Draken felt an approaching but impossible closeness between them.

Leiandros casually said, “What can happen to me.”

“Anything.”

Looking at each other, as if reading each other’s thoughts, they both made a few steps ahead.

Now, standing opposite each other, their thoughts ceased to fill their tired hearts.

Through the light that was coming from somewhere outside, they could see each other clearly.

Stepping closer, Leiandros reached out his hand to Draken’s face but then pulled it back. Without saying anything, he just went away and hid behind the rows of books.

Draken not daring to stop, followed him. Sliding his hand over the spines of books, Draken silently walked forward. Hearing Leiandros’ heavy breathing, he walked around the shelf and then he saw Leiandros standing in the corner.

He approached him and stopped in front of him. The feeling that was drowned out by all means, appeared in their hearts again.

Having touched each other’s hands, they held their breath and listened to the sounds of their heartbeats. Time stood still, the wind died down.

Draken made a few steps closer and now when he was so close to Leiandros, he closed his eyes and felt Leiandros’ lips.

After a moment of tender kiss, they, grasping each other, eagerly, with strength, stepped into the realm of love with a certain anger.

Feeling the warmth, tenderness, they forgot about who they are.

Draken, with his fingers wandering in his Leiandros’ hair, pulled his head to him and kissed the lips. Breathing loudly, they, without noticing it, dumped several books from the shelves.

“Leiandros.”

Throwing Leiandros onto the carpet, Draken pressed his hands to the floor and began to study every muscle in his body.

Draken whispered, “I was thinking about you. Constantly.”

Leiandros sat up and embraced him. There was something very tender in his embrace.

“Draken,” he whispered and lightly touched his neck.

Draken closed his eyes and the night took away all his fears and doubts.

Waking up in sweat in the middle of the night, Draken looked at himself and then at Leiandros who was quietly sleeping next to him. Blushing with shame, he got up and covered himself with Leiandros’ robe.

Still feeling Leiandros’ hand on himself, and his essence deep in his consciousness, Draken smiled and closed his face with his hands.

“What are you doing?” Leiandros asked from behind.

“Did I wake you up? Sorry.”

Leiandros quickly got up and walked over to him.

Acting like there was a small chasm between them again, Leiandros said, “It is quiet outside. I don’t think that beasts are here.”

Draken turned around and embraced him.

“Don’t say anything,” he whispered.

“Draken.”

“Be quiet.”