by Pfantazm

There are those who believe that a condom kills the moment. If I were to be historically accurate, and provided protection for my characters, Madoc would be slapping on a sheep's bladder. Latex doesn't seem nearly so bad now, does it?

	Two men, leading a horse between them, stood at the crest of a hill overlooking the cabin, and saw it with relief. Their hike was over. On the horse, they could have reached the cabin from their starting point in the mountains in but a few hours. Since the horse had been put to strenuous use over the previous week, carrying both men everywhere they'd gone, the one of them decided to give the stallion what rest they could, and led the horse at the slower pace of the humans. The journey had taken most of a day. They'd spent the night in the foothills. Exhausted though they were, the men were very happy. Only the previous day had they come to declare their love for one another. They had been travelling together, by force, for over a week by then, and although they had been intimate for most of that time, admitting to being in love had been a complicated thing. The taller man, dark-haired and blue-eyed, proudly wore the colors of King Dunstan of Aragonia over a leather cuirass. He was handsome and well-muscled, strong and courageous and true: the ideal of what any knight of the realm should be. His companion, shorter only by inches, lean and fair with hazel eyes, was the prisoner of the knight. His working name was the Dark Rogue, mainly because of the clothing that a thief such as he finds most useful. He was to be taken to the King's Court and tried for his crimes. His only reprieve had been the quest which the knight, Sir Madoc by name, had undertaken while on his way to the capital. The knight had had to bring the thief, known to none but the knight as Thom At-the-Well, along. And now the end of that quest was quite literally in sight. The cabin was built of fieldstone, which might indicate wealth, but the cabin was no larger than a modest peasant's cottage. It also had its chimney in the center of its roof instead of on one side of the building. Despite the late summer heat, plumes of smoke rose from the chimney. These irregularities marked the cabin as a wizard's home. Sir Madoc and Thom had sought out the wizard to ask for three bats' wings for a cure to a plague that had swept over a village farther up the Grey River. Thom had known of the wizard, but it was a recent acquaintance who had sensibly suggested that any ingredients that the questors might have to gather for a wizard, too busy to go looking himself, would most easily be acquired from another wizard. While the suggestion had come too late for most of the list they'd been given, it had come just in time to allow them to avoid difficult questions, such as, how do you catch a bat, and once you've got its wings, what do you do with the rest of it? If the wizard in the cabin had bats' wings to spare, then their quest would be over, and Thom would have to stand trial. That was another difficult question that they had spent time trying to answer: How could justice be served without losing each other? Now that the knight and the thief were completely aware of their feelings for one another, being separated would be a greater toruture than anything the keepers of the dungeons in Aragon could devise. Ever since Thom's brush with death the previous day, both Madoc and Thom were keenly aware that they never wanted to be apart again. They spent every moment possible expressing their love for one another in every physical form, and so, were exhausted today. Every physical form, that is, with one exception. Immediately after saving Thom and getting to safety, Madoc had gotten Thom onto his back and had plumbed the depths of Thom's bowels with furied pace. That night, they sought to make love at a more measured pace. Thom had suggested they switch places this time. Madoc had been unsure but he agreed. They had stretched out their blanket among a small holt of trees, with Fleetfire the stallion tethered nearby. The sun had just begun to set and fireflies were congregating among the branches. Both men were naked, seated on the blanket side by side, facing one another. Thom took the lead this time. He grasped his lover by the shoulders and drew him closer into a soul kiss. Thom's tongue passed gently, but insistently, into Madoc's mouth and entwined with its mate therein. The thief's hands slipped down under Madoc's arms, one caressing his shoulders from behind, the other reaching down to the small of his back. Their bodies were pressed together, one focused area of heat against the chill breezes of the evening. Thom pulled himself closer, their chests rubbing together, their hard nipples pressing into fleshy pectorals. Thom raised himself into a kneeling position, without breaking the kiss, and began to lay Madoc back onto the forest floor. As he did so, he moved to straddle the knight. When he was flat on the ground, Thom moved right on top of him. He gyrated on top of Madoc, grinding their cocks together. Madoc cradled Thom's head in his hand, his fingers running through the thief's somewhat shaggy hair, while his other hand came to rest on his ass. Thom broke the kiss and moved down to the knight's neck. Madoc turned his head to the side and sighed contentedly. He kept his hands busy playing with Thom's hair and fondling his ass. Thom moved down slowly, kissing and licking over Madoc's clavicle to his chest. He began to lave and suck the nub of Madoc's nipple. Madoc had to close his eyes. He wrapped his legs around Thom's and rubbed them against him. Thom descended on Madoc's body, and his erect cock was now prodding the area around the recumbent knight's cheeks. He made a few playful thrusts as he switched to Madoc's other nipple. Madoc flexed his muscular buttocks in time to the thrusts. Thom slathered his tongue down Madoc's chest, down his wonderfully rippled stomach and down to his penis. It stood tall, throbbing and hot, pulsating in time with the knight's big heart. Thom planted an affectionate kiss on its head, knowing that its time would come later and moved further down again. He licked at Madoc's thighs, hips and balls. Madoc had raised his head up and watched his lover at work. He saw Thom bring a finger to his lips and get it wet and ready to prepare Madoc. Madoc raised his knees to let Thom in. When Thom's finger was nice and wet, he pressed between Madoc's cheeks and found his pucker. He traced a lazy circle around the outside before trying to press inside. Madoc's sphincter was locked down tight. "Just relax," Thom coached. "It'll be alright. You won't believe how good it feels. Relax, and let me open you up." Madoc nodded and took a deep breath. He closed his eyes and felt around within himself to find those muscles and take control of them. Finally, Thom's finger was allowed inside. But just as Thom began to move around to loosen the ring of muscle, Madoc instinctively gripped his finger, immobilizing it. Thom tried to work against Madoc, but the only way he could move was out. After a few more equally futile attempts to get Madoc to loosen up, Thom was forced to admit defeat. "I'm sorry," Madoc said sheepishly. "I'd like to, but...." "It's okay. We'll work on it. For tonight, you can fuck me again." "Are you sure?" "Sure, but first I need some relief." Thom's smiled his devil's grin. "Can I use your legs?" Madoc smiled and lowered his legs. Thom climbed back on top of him, and nestled his slightly softened dick between the knight's hairless inner thighs. He broke open one of the custard pods he was going to use for other purposes over his privates, also coating Madoc's strong thighs. Thus greased, Thom lay over Madoc once more in a half-pushup and began to pump his hips. He ground his lower body into his lover, moving long and slow. He wanted this to last, but at the same time he knew Madoc would be wanting his turn. Thom's member prodded ineffectually at Madoc's ass, sliding through the thick cream that eased his way. Thom chewed his lips as he worked toward a quicker climax. Madoc reached up and teased Thom's nipples, as much to pleasure the thief as to keep his hands off himself. Thom grunted as he pushed down, feeling the familiar sensations of orgasm build within him. He came, still humping, adding to the mess between Madoc's legs. When he finished, he gave Madoc a kiss on the lips in thanks and rolled onto his back beside him. "I know you're ready, man," he said. "Take me." Madoc eagerly knelt before Thom, while Thom raised and spread his legs, revealing himself to the knight. He reached down and scooped up some of the mixture of Thom's come and pod cream and applied it to his hot pole. He used a fresh pod on Thom once he'd used a pair of slickened fingers to prepare him. Madoc aimed his long lance at Thom's hole and began his slow charge inside. Thom bore down as Madoc's inflated head eased inside somewhat painfully, but once that had passed and Thom grew accustomed to it once again, Madoc could enter easily. "Let's go slow," Thom suggested. "Let's do it right." "As you wish," Madoc replied. He pushed in gradually, feeling Thom's wonderful heat from all sides all the way up his shaft. He drew out again, feeling Thom try to close down on him to keep him there. Madoc picked up the pace slightly, getting into a steady rhythm. If this afternoon's frantic coupling had been a gallop then this was a leisurely canter that Madoc hoped he could keep up for hours. He rotated his hips, stirring up Thom's insides. Thom rolled his eyes in joy. Even though he only just came, his cock was stiffening again as Madoc rubbed that special spot inside of him. Madoc bowed forward and engaged Thom in another long kiss. As his dick stimulated his friend's insides, his tongue made its way around his friend's tongue. Madoc loved Thom all the more for accepting him so completely when he couldn't reciprocate. He vowed he would find a way. Thom, meanwhile, wished he could share the fabulous sensations that Madoc was providing for him. He reached down, stroking his lover's back as he felt him pistoning into him. He marvelled at the muscles at the small of his back, his ass, his legs, all flexing as Madoc moved. He gripped Madoc's ass as Madoc had done to him. Madoc felt the pulse of Thom's own muscles from the inside as he shuddered in pleasure. He let himself go and stepped up the pace. He began to pound harder into Thom. "Yes," Thom murmured. "Yes, go harder, faster, oh yes. It feels so good... come on, you studhorse, harder!" Madoc went faster. His flashing blue eyes gazed directly into Thom's as he slammed his weight into Thom, his balls swinging into the cheeks of his ass again and again. Madoc's meat churned into the thief's hungry hole, feeding it again and again. "Come on, give it to me," Thom was saying. "Fill me up with your seed. You've got me so hot, Madoc. Go, go...." Madoc was past caring about anything beyond the sensations in his dick. He took his pleasure from Thom. His thick member knifed at Thom's guts constantly. Madoc thrust a few final times, reared up and crashed into his lover and came, raising his arms to the sky and emptying himself into Thom with an animal cry of victory. He pumped his seed into Thom, living only through his manhood. Thom felt liquid heat cover his insides as he watched his display of prowess. He arched his own back and shot his second load up into the air. Spatters of come rained down on his chest and stomach. Spent, the two men came back down to earth and collapsed in a sticky heap of arms and legs. Panting heavily, they hugged each other close. Thom's head was still buzzing from the power and intensity of the experience. "I don't know how you do that," he said, "but don't ever stop." Madoc laughed. They wrapped themselves up in the blanket and held each other until sleep took them. Today they stood atop the hill overlooking the wizard's house, where, with luck, they would be able to fulfill their quest. Somewhat reluctantly, they descended into the river plain and approached the cabin. Madoc rapped on the oaken front door, while Thom stood deferentially back. A young girl, still in her teens, answered the door. `This must be the apprentice,' thought Thom. "Greetings, goodknight. How may we be of service?" "I am here on an errand of mercy. A plague has befallen the people of Cairncross. The local wizard there requires three bats' wings for a cure for them. I was hoping you had some that you could spare for it." The girl stroked her chin. "I'm not sure that we do. We may, but I cannot check at the moment." "Perhaps you could consult your master," Madoc suggested. "(Mistress,)" Thom corrected out of the corner of his mouth. "Mistress, Magister, uh--" "(Aspasia.)" "Aspasia?" The girl smiled. "I would, but both she and the room with our supplies are occupied with other matters. Magister Aspasia is currently casting a spell and cannot be disturbed." The girl leaned back and peered into the depths of the cabin. "She should be entering a hiatus soon, in a few minutes. If you could wait...?" "Certainly, m'lady. And thank you." He began to step forward. The girl put up her hand to stop Sir Madoc. "I'm afraid you can't wait inside. It would be dangerous." "Oh, my apologies. I'll wait outside, then." The apprentice moved to curtsy, and saw Madoc's legs for the first time. She saw his hose below his tunic and tabard, one leg shredded below the knee, the other burnt away, by the looks of the singed edge. The frayed remains of the cloth were bandaging Madoc's burnt leg. She barely suppressed a giggle and closed the door. Madoc was staring down at his legs and blushing. Thom chuckled and said, "Don't be embarrassed. They're well-turned legs." Madoc glared at him. Thom laughed. "Well, I like them." Thom was already sitting on the ground, his back against the cabin wall. "If you're worried about having good clothes to wear, why didn't you keep the outfit Tybalt lent you?" "Accept a gift from a criminal? I couldn't." "But you wore them." "To keep appearances up in your charade." Thom smiled up at him triumphantly. "So your mighty morality allows for that, then? What will you do when you appear before the king?" "I'll stop in at the barracks and change clothes." Madoc sat next to Thom. "My saddle and saddlebags, including more changes of clothes, should have arrived in Aragon by now." "But you haven't. They're probably wondering whatever's become of you." "No. They probably believe that I'm dead," Madoc said simply. Thom looked shocked. "Probably by your hand." "Why on earth would they think that?" Thom demanded. "I've never killed before now...." "The last time I checked in with an outpost, I had you in tow. That was when I dropped off my saddle. Since then, I have effectively disappeared. If I do not return to the barracks within a month, my belongings will be divided among the others, and I will be considered dead." Thom looked at him, slackjawed. "That's a drastic assumption, I'd say." "But a likely one. In all your times dealing with the law, have you ever seen, or even heard of, an old High Guardsman?" Thom continued to stare. "No, but I thought they just retired or promoted them. Are you saying none of the King's High Guard live long enough to grow old?" "In general, no. There is no promotion because there is no higher honor in serving the King." "That's a bloody strange honor if it gets you killed." Thom reflected on the number of times he'd had to act to save Madoc in one short week together. "Why don't they pair you up then? You get to your position by being the best at what you do. Surely Dunstan doesn't want to - waste - you like that. Speaking as a subject of the king, of course, and not as one of the criminals." "Unfortunately, it is for that reason that we cannot be paired up. There are too few of us to be spared. To do so would cut our effectiveness in half. You may be interested to know, by the way, that there were three Guardsmen assigned to trap you after that last diamond theft." Thom felt a flush of pride at that. "For a man of my former profession, that is an honor." Madoc ignored him. "If we were paired, it would take six men to cover the same ground that we three did. Men that could be put to better use elsewhere in the kingdom. And if fewer than three groups were seeking you out, we may have failed. That is why High Guardsmen work alone." Thom looked at his friend. He saw a man committed to his duty, and that duty would most likely take his life in a few years. You hardly ever heard of a High Guardsman who had lived beyond his thirties and Madoc had started early. Thom felt very afraid for his lover. His voice grew softer. "Can I ask you a personal question, Madoc?" Madoc was studying the ground at his feet. "What question?" "I was wondering why in the Seven Hells you would take a job like that. You said it was very important to you." "I'll tell you, on one condition. You tell me how you came into your profession. Fair?" "Fair. But you first." Madoc watched the clouds in the afternoon sky as he spoke. "I was an orphan. There aren't many options for orphans. Someone might come along and claim you as an apprentice, but I wanted to go into military service. So I became a guard at sixteen. I trained with the sword, dagger and bow, though I'm not a very good archer." "Why did you want to be a guard?" Madoc paused. "I'd just liked the idea. Knights are strong and brave. I just wanted to be one." Thom thought there had to be more to the matter than that, but didn't press further. "When I was twenty," Madoc continued, "I was doing guard duty at Lord Dunholm's palace when we were attacked. A band of drunken brutes tried to storm the gate, and they created an almighty ruckus. Most of the guards went to the gate to help stop the disturbance, but I was suspicious. My commander, Old Rustbottom, cursed me for a coward for running to the palace." He smiled at the memory. "Gods, what a miserable sod he was. But I had this feeling. Things had just felt wrong in the palace for weeks. I went to the upstairs chambers. I still don't know why. I checked on Lord Dunholm and found him fighting with his nephew, Roland. Dunholm was unarmed. Roland had a knife. I ran Roland through. "I'd never killed a man before that night. But I'm certainly not sorry I stopped Roland's assassination attempt. The drunkards admitted they had been paid off by Roland to cause trouble at the front gate. "Old Rustbottom himself had to tell me that in honor of my heroic rescue of Lord Dunholm, I was to report for duty as a member of the King's High Guard. I was the youngest man ever accepted to the post. "Now what about you? How did you come to be a thief?" Thom was about to answer when the door to the cabin opened and the apprentice beckoned them inside. "Magister Aspasia would see you now."

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