By Pfantazm

	The first troll ducked back into the solar and tried to close the door, but the dragon had already stuck its snout through the entryway. Shea cursed and hid behind the cloth until the dragon had completely materialized. Out of sight, the room was filles with crashing noises and screams. Shea peeked into the solar, and almost got his head taken off by the dragon's tail as it whipped past. On hands and knees, Shea bravely slipped into the fray. Most of the window had been shattered, leaving only the thick metal framework, and even that had been heavily dented in places. Furniture was overturned. From behind a couch, the young man saw one of the trolls go through another door on the far side of the solar. 'That has to be the library,' Shea thought. He cursed under his breath. Shea crawled toward the library door along the far wall, mindful of glass shards. One troll was lying still in a corner across the room. The last troll had to be hiding somewhere, but the dragon was looking for him. Luckily, the dragon seemed to be ignoring Shea. Perhaps it was because he'd specified help against the trolls. At last, Shea was at the door. He stood up and tried to open it. The handle wouldn't turn. He took a quick look over his shoulder to see what the dragon was doing. The creature let forth a burst of flame that set a table on fire. Shea turned and tried desperately to wrestle the door open, but it wouldn't budge. He slammed himself into the door a couple of times, but there was something heavy just on the other side. He had to get into the library. He really didn't want to have to use the bell again, but he didn't see what else he could do. He took out the little silver bell and wished he could get into the library. Out of the corner of his eye, Shea caught a glimpse of something coming his way. He dove out of the way just in time as the dragon's tail smashed through the wooden door. The troll who's hidden so well was making his way out of the solar and the dragon was turning around to follow. Inside the library, the body of the troll who had taken refuge there lay under the pieces of the door. He was groaning. Shea jumped over him. He didn't want to waste any time. How was Shea supposed to know which book was the Queen's spellbook? He couldn't read anything. Just as in Magnus' library, shelves covered the walls, and books covered the shelves. He couldn't possibly take them all to someone else to sort out, and Shea didn't think anyone else was near, else the dragon would not have appeared. A large red stained-glass window across from the door illuminated the chamber. Below it, bathed in bloody light, stood a lectern much like the one Magnus used to read from. Back when he was practicing magic! Shea darted over to the stand. The book atop it was large and flat. He closed it. It vibrated in his hands. Yes, this had to be the magical book. He held it away from himself like a tray and ran from the room, leaping over the body of the fallen troll, who was coming to. Out in the hall, the dragon was on a rampage. It was shooting fire from its mouth and its tail was flailing. The stonework shook like ten thousand trolls charging through. It was a wonder he hadn't felt anything in the library. A small band of guards, either brave or foolish, tried to block the dragon's progress. They were down the side passage immiediately ahead of the stairs. The trolls were too busy to notice Shea rushing down the spiralling steps. The corridor on the main floor was deserted. Stones from what was left of the ceiling littered the walkway, and more fell here and there. Any rebelling humans or soldiers who may have been fighting here had retreated to safer ground. Shea hoisted the book over his head and ran for it. He wasn't sure what protection it would afford, but it was magic, and it would at least keep away and sharp rocks from splitting his head open from above. Of course, if the dragon broke through the floor.... Shea only paused when he rounded the corner to make sure he wouldn't run into a battle. He was dismayed to see troll and human bodies in this hallway. Had the trolls beaten them back to the dining room? Or had it happened when they'd all run from the falling debris? He did not wait to figure it out. He listened at the door to the dining room before going in. The farmboy circled the table and tried to get into the kitchens. The way was blocked. He knocked, and a woman he didn't know let him in. "I have the book. What's happened?" "We don't know! We think the Queen might have unleashed a spell to quell the rebellion." "No, I did that. There's a dragon above us, fighting the trolls--" "But how did you--" She looked at the book Shea now held under his arm. "Ohh," said the woman with sudden insight. "Where's Darragh? He was supposed to meet me here." "This way," said the woman. She led Shea through the castle's cast kitchens. "Darragh is clearing the way ahead. That dragon you conjured up put that dragon into quite a tizzy. Some of them were trying to hide in here. Can you imagine?" "But I didn't conjure the dragon. Well, not exactly--" Shea's guide grabbed his hand and yanked him around a corner. She held a finger to her lips, then pointed back where they'd been and mouthed the word trolls. Sure enough, Shea soon felt the thunderous footsteps of one of the castle denizens. He was moving fast, and coming this way. If he caught Shea with the book.... "We need to hide," Shea whispered. He cast about the room he was in. It was another pantry. The young woman went to pick up a sack. It was too much for her. "Help me get this to the doorway." "We can't hide behind that. It's too small." "We need to hide our scents. That's how the trolls find us!" Shea dragged the sack to the entrance. "Open that and throw it around, quick!" Shea tried to tear the sack open. When it gave it fell over, leaving Shea with a strip of cloth in his hand. The sack, which held flour, flopped to the floor in a dusty, white cloud. Shea went into a coughing fit. The woman clamped her hand over his mouth. Shea's throat ached from not coughing. The troll was coming. Shea reached into his pocket and shook the bell so it could just be heard. I wish it were dark in here,' he thought. A breeze picked up - indoors - and blew out the torches. More flour got picked up and the woman had to cover her own mouth to keep from breathing it in. All the pair could see now was the view outside the door. The air inside the pantry was choking. They both watched as the troll trudged past, pausing to investigate the smell in the pantry. About a minute later, they emerged, Shea with the spell book in his hand, and they continued on toward the dungeon entrance. They arrived at the portal to the stairs leading down without further incident. The woman wished him luck, then returned to the relative safety of the kitchens. Shea opened the door as quietly as he could, slipped inside and shut it again. The ring handle on the outside swung into the door with a loud clack, but no one seemed to be around to hear it. Down the stairs, Shea could hear more fighting. Seeing no need to be quiet any longer, he rushed down into the castle gaol. The main door, usually locked tight, was smashed to pieces. Shea stepped through the wreckage and saw what had to be the main site of the human uprising. Bodies were everywhere, lying in wait to trip a troll swordsman or Nebulan fighter as he sparred. Shea remembered the route he'd taken to get to Magnus' cell. He dove into the m�l�e, keeping his head low to make himself as unnoticeable as possible. Swords crashed and clanged all around him. In places, bodies lay as obstacles atop piles of blood-soaked hay. These Shea had to crawl around, all thw while not getting stepped on by the swordfighters. That was the problem. He was not getting attacked because no one could see him, but not being seen meant that he could not move very far. And there was still the spellbook, so he was only crawling on one hand, the other pressing the tome to his chest. He needed to stand to move. Shea tried his best to get his bearing from where he was, so he'd know which way to run when he was on his legs again. He then sprung up and sprinted in that direction. As he reached the corner to the bank of cells where Shea thought the King was being kept, a troll stepped out in front of him. Both of them were surprised, but the troll recovered first. He raised his axe over his head, ready to bring it down on Shea. A bolt appeared in the troll's side. The axe fell behind the troll as he clutched it and crumpled to the floor. Shea looked around. A human with a crossbow stared at him. A troll was sneaking up on him. Shea pointed and the man turned in time to block the beast's sword with the heavy crossbow. Shea turned down the hallway, knowing he'd been very lucky. The door to the cells was kept locked, but Shea had seen where the keys were kept. The small guardroom was empty, the guards presumably now out fighting the humans. He grabbed the key ring and started trying them in sequence. Soon Shea was inside. "Magnus! Magnus, I'm here!" he cried. Shea could see Magnus' bear paw stick out through the window in one cell door. "Shea," Magnus growled. "Pass me the book, the bell, and the candle." The boy dug in his pockets and gave the candle stub and the magic bell to Magnus. The oversized book wouldn't fit through the window. He slid it under the door, as he had the King's food trays. "Please tell me that's the right book," said Shea. "It is, my love, now give me your hand." Shea reached into the window up to the elbow. With his other hand, he tried to open Magnus' door. The king began flipping pages. When Magnus started his spell, there was a loud noise and screams in the battle outside the dungeon proper. Shea wasn't sure if it was Magnus' doing or not. Then Shea saw a human body go flying past the doorway. Shea wished he'd locked the dungeon door behind him. The bell was pressed into his hand. Magnus held him by the wrist. "Where is my book?" screeched a voice outside. "Magnus,..." Shea said, but the monarch didn't stop. A shadow of a figure appeared in the doorway. The Troll Queen. "You! Who are you?" She walked towards him. Shea desperately jammed another key into the lock. "Oh, no you don't!" the Queen said. Shea yelped and let go of the keyring. It was glowing red hot. "Where is my book?" Shea tried to run, but Magnus had an iron grip on his wrist. The Troll Queen muttered something under her breath, and a ball of green light was conjured over her head. Shea saw the Queen's face for the first time in the eerie light. She was ugly, even for a troll, with misshapen features, lumpy nose, and her mouth in a sneer as she prepared to strike. "Graubna!" cried Magnus. The keyring flew from the lock. Magnus had let go of Shea and he started up the passageway away from the Troll Queen. The cell door fell to the floor and out stepped King Magnus, holding the spellbook. He was human once more, and wore nothing but his ratty travelling cloak. "Graubna, Queen of the Trolls, I have your spellbook! I refute your power over me and my people!" "It's not possible! How could you have broken my enchantment?" "I could break it because the man I love came to your land, came to your castle, and he set me free." Shea stepped forward, and stood at Magnus' side. "This boy? But how?" "True love, Queen Graubna. It is more powerful than your magic. And now I will take my people, and we shall return to our home." King Magnus took Shea's hand, and spoke some words which Shea did not comprehend. In but a moment, the King and Shea were gone. The spellbook thudded on the broken door. No humans were in the halls of the palace to hear the Queen's outraged scream. The captain of the guard raced through the halls of the castle, the home which he had been long denied so many months. Several of his men had been nearby his office when he rematerialized there. After a few moments' celebration of finding themselves in the Kingdom in the Clouds once more, they began to see to their duty. First and foremost: find the King. So they ran through the corridors of their castle, hearing cheers and sobs of joy as more citizens found themselves in familiar surroundings. Occasionally they would see a man who was wounded and a guard would help him to the surgery. They looked in the banquet hall, where the King had been when the attack had happened, but the room was empty. They checked the throne room, but there they only found more guards, dancing. They, too, joined the search. Finally, they found King Magnus in his chambers, holding Shea tight and listening to him tell the story of how he was rescued. The door had been standing open and the guards had seen it all. As they realized they'd found their king, they kneeled. "My liege," said the captain, "it is good to see you well." "Rise, men," said Magnus. "Today is a day for celebration. Formality can be recognized later. What is the state of the castle?" The captain made certain not to stare at his nude leader. "Most everyone seems to be back, sire. We did see some wounded fighters, those who were part of the rebellion..." "Shea was telling me all about it. Search the castle and the town. Find them all, and see that they are tended to. Unfortunately the spell would not bring home our dead as well, but many may be dying." The captain gave a hand signal and the guards dispersed. "Do you have need of the surgery, sire?" "No, but there is one thing you can do. One of your rebels saved Shea's life, firing a crossbow in the dungeon at an opportune moment. Find him if he is here. He shall be rewarded." "Yes, sire. Is that all?" "Check the state of the castle. When we know all is well, we'll see about a celebration for the whole kingdom." "Yes, sire!" The captain bowed, smiling, and strode away closing the door behind him. "Who was that?" asked Shea. "That was my head guard, Captain Darragh." "I thought he was your cook." Magnus blinked at Shea, then burst out laughing. "Yes, I imagine using the kitchen was very convenient for him. He only said he was the cook so that the trolls would leave him alone to help me." Shea giggled. Magnus stroked Shea's cheek. "It is so wonderful to see you by the light of day, my precious young man." "Magnus-- Your Highness, I'm so sorry for the trouble I've caused you and your kingdom...." The king put a finger to Shea's lips and quieted him. "You caused trouble, but you more than corrected it by coming to my aid. I don't know that the Troll Queen would have let my people go when faced with the proof of our love. Now there is no doubt, and we are free! You have nothing to apologize for. And I hope that this will become your kingdom as well." Shea hugged his lover tightly. "Thank you," he said. "Thank you for choosing me." Magnus gazed at his love with passion in his eyes. His hands delved under the farmboy's shirt and eased it up over his head. When the simple linen uncovered his face once more, Shea was grinning lustily back at him. The younger man rose and dropped his pants and underthings, all the while studying the body that he knew so well, but until that day, had never seen. Short, jet black hair covered his jaw and chin, and a fine weave of hairs swirled across his chest and stomach. He sat with a regal bearing that exuded confidence. Facing his enemy in the raw had not cowed him. His face was the definition of handsomeness, and his shining green eyes seemed to glow from within. Lastly, his manhood stood proud and straight between his thick thighs, and a glittering drop of masculine dew was trickling slowly from its tip. "Come to me, my love," said the King. Shea sat in his lap, facing him, and leaned in close for a kiss. They tasted each other hungrily after weeks of isolation. Their crotches crushed together, grinding against each other in lust. Hands gripped and stroked in a mad frenzy as the lovers' bodies tried desperately to become one. Through his hair, along his thigh, down his back, grabbing his ass. Magnus and Shea were lost in their passion. "Oh, Shea," moaned the king, "there is something I've been longing for." "Anything for you, Magnus," Shea breathed, The ruler smiled. "Get up on the bed on your hands and knees." Shea did so, scampering like a playful dog, and Magnus lay below him, his head between his lover's legs. He took the tip of Shea's quivering length into his mouth and sucked gently. The farmboy sighed and his head drooped. He felt the mage-king's tongue tease his cock and moaned. The king held onto Shea's legs and drew his tongue across the young man's length. Magnus mouthed along, drifting eveer southwards until he popped one of Shea's balls into his mouth. Shea gasped. As his testicle was sucked on and licked, he groaned and whimpered loudly. "Oh, Magnus, that feels so wonderful!" The king put his finger in his mouth briefly and got it wet. As he continued to minister Shea's balls, he pressed the finger to Shea's asshole. Shea's hips bucked from this new sensation. Sensing that it all might be too much for Shea, he angled the lad's cock straight down and took it in his mouth. The farmboy pumped his hips, sending his rock-hard member deep into Magnus' throat and all the while that finger swirled slowly around his pucker. When Magnus felt that Shea was receptive, he pressed against the opening and the finger poked inside. It wormed its way in, reaching for that lump of flesh that would set Shea off. Shea let out a strangled cry and emptied his essence into Magnus' mouth. He thrust jerkily six,... seven,... eight times, and Magnus swallowed every drop. When it was done, Shea sagged, but stayed on his arms and legs. He was breathing heavily, as though he'd just run a mile. Magnus went back to licking at Shea's balls and continued fingering his hole. He wiggled it vigorously, and Shea still squirmed, though not so much as before he'd cum. The king slid further under the boy and sampled his chest. "Oh, Magnus, don't stop." Shea still rocked over his love, humping the air slowly. His cock was still stiff and straight, pressed against his stomach, the way only a man of eighteen summer can be. Magnus had no intention of stopping. He had but begun to act upon his desires for his young lover. The knig brought the hand he was using to finger the younger man, and brought it to his lips again. When the finger left Shea's pucker, the youth sagged and sighed, as if he'd just lost something dear. Magnus wetted a second finger and worked the pair of them into Shea. The youth groaned Magnus' name. Shea was squirming and writhing over Magnus as he touched places in Shea no other had even considered. The boy's manhood was hard and strong. "It appears this pleases you greatly, my love," said the king. "Ohhhh, Magnus, yes...." "I want to take you, Shea. Fully and completely." "I am yours to take, sire." Magnus smiled at this and asked Shea to roll onto his back. He was somewhat unsure how to do this with Magnus' fingers in him, but together they managed it. The king spit on his cock, regal in more senses than one, and prepared it for entrance into his love. Shea, his legs on Magnus' shoulders, was quaking from a mixture of desire, anticipation and feat. Magnus leaned over him and gave him sweet kisses while he replaced his fingers with his member. The farmboy broke their kiss and gasped in pain. "Relax, my darling. Open yourself and push back against me." This Shea did, as though voiding himself, and Magnus slid an inch into him. Magnus and Shea worked the royal cock into the common ass. When the king had finally reached his end, they kissed anew, Shea's tongue invading Magnus' mouth as fully as he himself was being invaded. The feeling was like nothing Shea had known. It was as though some piece of him he hadn't known he'd lost was back with him. The feeling intensified as magnus stirred his dick up within him. Magnus' cock sank deeply into Shea's hole, then rose out and bored into him again. And again. And again. The king had yearned for this sensation of knowing his love completely this way. He thought this was among the most intimate experiences two men could share. The youth rolled over his spine in time to his love's rhythm. Shea wanted it deeper inside him. He gripped the king's back and rammed himself harder onto his spike. All the while they were making love, the two kept their eyes fixed on each other. Their gaze never wavered. A connection was being made. They knew that they could be together forever, even though distance may separate them. They would always be one. Magnus' hips swung faster. She abit his lip. They both knew what was about to come to pass. A fire rose within Magnus' groin and burned through Shea's body. Shea felt Magnus' essence flow into him. His own juice shot out of him, soaking the hair on Magnus' body. Both men were grunting as the moment took them. They saw the lights of the fairies and the music of the elves. Shea pressed Magnus' body off of him after they were done, so that he might unfold his legs. They settled into the bed together, exhausted. They held each other while they caught their breath. Shea's head rested against Magnus' chest and he rubbed his cheek against it. The king soon fell asleep, secure in his love's embrace, knowing at last that his kingdom was safe.

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