Julian

Nordenland – The Western Woods

Alina and Julian flew hard atop their fast Pegasi, trying to increase the distance between them and the castle as much as possible. Getting caught was not an option they wanted to imagine.

"Julian! I'm tired." Alina was panting as she flew by his side, mounting Achilles.

"Hold on a little more Alina. We don't want to give them any chance to find us."

"But it's been two days already!" Alina frowned in frustration, and Julian's heart winced at the pained expression on her face. She was right. They had indeed been flying for two full days since their escape from Nordenvania. He didn't want to admit it, but he too was tired. Even their Pegasi were panting and snorting heavily. Perhaps they needed to rest after all.

"Alright, we'll make a stop after we pass the woods," Julian said, and they continued to fly silently above the vast woods that stretched towards the West.

It was late in the afternoon when they finally spotted a small town in the distance. With Alina dressed as a boy, they would not likely catch any particular attention, Julian thought, for the sight of a young winged boy attended by a human slave was quite common even back in Nordenvania. And they were far enough from Nordenvania to be recognized anyway.

"Can we stay here tonight?" Alina asked as they sat at a table in the corner of the only inn they found in this town. It was a small inn, and it was quite crowded. Loud chatter and smoke filled the thick air, along with the smell of food and heavy drinks. Julian was quite aware of the curious stares targeting them, and he did not know whether that was because they were strangers, or because a slave boy was sitting face to face at a dining table with his master. It was probably the latter. Or perhaps it was both. He was mistaken. They were definitely catching too much attention.

"No Alina, we can't stay here. I think we should eat quickly and leave soon," he whispered.

"Why?" Alina sulked. "Julian I am very tired and we have just found a good place to sleep!"

"I said no!" He hissed, a little too louder than he intended. Now there was no mistaking the glares he received from the surrounding winged ones. Of course, two strangers, a human slave seated equally at a table with his master, this master looking more like a timid girl rather than a boy, and moreover, the slave was obviously the one in control!

"Good afternoon, young Sir." A plump winged man appeared at their side, stooping towards Alina. She looked up at him with the most wide and timid round eyes. Julian passed his hand over his head in frustration. That was it! They had been noticed. And if she said a word now, her soft delicate voice would reveal her true identity.

"May I ask who you are?" The man continued. Julian opened his mouth for a brief moment before he shut it again at once. He should not speak. He was a slave and he had to act like one to save what he could of their disastrous situation.

"My name is Lucas Johansen, of Akaria," Alina said in a deep voice that sounded too confident for their unfortunate situation, and Julian stared at her in approval. He had not expected that from her!

"Akaria?" It seemed that the man was not leaving them be. "That's quite far up north! And where are you heading?"

"I am visiting my mother Lady Helga in Grytia. She has remarried into the Hellstrom's house after my dear father died." Alina lowered her head in sorrow, surprising Julian again with her quick wit. As far as he knew, Alina's mother had never remarried, and she was definitely not in Grytia.

"Grytia... that is a long way to go, especially for a young boy like yourself, all alone!" The man continued, as he eyed Alina from head to toe.

"I am not alone. My guards await me with my Pegasi outside."

"I see, well, of course." The man straightened his posture and Julian almost sighed in relief, thinking he was going to finally let them be, but he was mistaken. He found the man stooping again, but this time he was looking at Julian.

"I find it quite strange though, that you leave your guards outside, but you allow your slave to sit with you at the table." The man spoke as he studied Julian carefully. If Julian had the authority he would have shot back at the irritably intruding man! It is none of your fucking business! He wanted to shout at him. In his situation the only thing he wanted was to avoid unnecessary attention. Not that it wasn't avoided already, as everyone inside the inn had turned to watch the interesting conversation. And all Julian could do now was sit meekly in silence, his head lowered, waiting for his master's instructions.

"He is my personal slave," Alina said with challenging eyes. "And I decide who accompanies me inside and who stays outside."

"Yes, yes of course..." the man said, seemingly unconvinced, for he still stood before them. "You are from Akaria you say, a Northman then, just like everyone in here." The man continued with narrowed eyes. "So you must know that human slaves are not allowed inside inns." Julian's heart hammered. Although Alina had surprised him by her confidence and strong responses, yet he did not know how long she could keep up the façade.

"That's true!" a man from a table next to them shouted. "Why should we be forced to accommodate a lowly human among us."

"The rules are rules!" another shouted.

"May I leave, my Lord?" Julian whispered at Alina, staring at her deeply, trying to communicate to her with his eyes.

"No, don't leave me here," she whispered back.

"Get out! No humans in my inn." It was the innkeeper who spoke this time. Julian forced a smile at Alina and rose to his feet, before he left amid the shooting glares of contempt. He had only walked out the door when he found Alina right at his heels. He quickly grabbed her hand and went to mount their Pegasi before they took off flying at once, leaving this town for good.

Julian could hear Alina's sobs over the sounds of flapping wings. He knew how tired and frustrated she must be. They had barely eaten anything since they left Nordenvania. And she must have been looking forward to a nice warm dinner at that inn. He knew how she felt. He felt the same too. But their safe escape was far more important. It was right before sunset when they reached another stretch of mountainous woods, and they flew on for a mile or two chasing the sun that was setting ahead of them. But it was getting dark, and they would need to find a place to sleep.

Julian silently tugged at Nina's reins and took a dive towards the woods beneath. Alina followed him, still sobbing. They landed in an eerie spot where the earth was covered in large exposed twirling roots and the skies were blocked by the thick entwined branches and tangled leaves of mighty trees. As they dismounted their Pegasi, Julian turned to Alina and gently pulled her into his arms.

"It will be alright." He assured her, smoothing her long chestnut hair which she had tied back at the nape of her neck.

"I'm sorry," she sobbed. "I've let those men belittle you."

Julian pulled away from her for a moment, looking curiously into her sparkling honey eyes. Was that why she was crying! He sighed and pulled her into his arms again, burying his nose into her hair, breathing in her sweet scent.

"It's alright my love," he whispered, tightening his arms around her. He had barely bent down to kiss her forehead, when he found her reaching up towards his face and landing her lips unto his, taking him by surprise.

His heart thumped and a dangerous tingling rose within his body. He kissed her lips back, losing himself in her sweetness, while his tongue daringly toyed with her soft warm one. His hands travelled the length of her back in a light caress, and he did all he could to stop them from wandering below her waist. They had kissed and cuddled many times before, but he had never touched her in any way he deemed inappropriate. Not yet...

It must have been past midnight already, but Julian could not sleep as they lay beneath a large creaking tree. It was freezing cold at this time of year, and the unfamiliar sounds of night creatures and rustling movements echoed within the deep thick forests. But that was not the reason for his sleepless night. He could not sleep because Alina lay in his arms, her body so soft against him. And he did all he could not to touch each and every part of her. His insides fluttered at the mere thought and his body reacted on its own, growing hard against her soft curves. He closed his eyes tight. Shit! He didn't want to go that path, not when she was sleeping so innocently and trustingly in his arms. Not now. And definitely not here. Not until they had safely reached Vausterland and found a decent place to live. But to make things worse, she suddenly stirred in her sleep, her body shifting and accidently rubbing against his already hard member. He took in a sharp breath. Fuck... God help him sleep tonight...

The skies had just turned from black to a dark shade of blue when they took off flying the next day. They flew hard all morning until the sun was high above them, and the thick woods below opened to reveal a hidden valley that stretched in the distance. There were no houses or any sign of life down there, only a sparkling stream surrounded by lush green hills, and Julian found no harm in sparing a few minutes to have a little break down this little piece of heaven.

They rode their slowly walking Pegasi along the narrow stream that ran West, nothing disturbing the silence but the pleasant splashing sound of water and the clanking of hooves against gravel and pebbles. Alina was smiling as they enjoyed their peaceful stroll, and Julian's heart fluttered in response. He loved it when she looked this happy. And she did not look happy quite often. He watched her fondly, and his eyes wandered a little much lower than her face.

"What are you looking at?" She turned to him with a mischievous knowing smile.

"Nothing," he said quickly, turning his blushing face away from her breasts, although there wasn't much to see beneath the restraining dark blue coat that she wore. 

Alina giggled as she kicked Achilles into a trot, glancing back at Julian with a teasing smirk.

"Catch me, and I might let you have a better look!" she teased, before she kicked Achilles into a gallop and quickly took off to the skies. 

Julian stood stunned for a moment, his face glowing as his mind registered what she had just said, and he quickly took off behind her. She must have sensed his approach for she turned to take a look over her shoulder, and she squealed as she found him atop Nina, closing upon her and catching up with her already. He laughed as she cried out in frustration, and then he slowed down his Pegasus to give her a chance to win, or at least to think that she was winning, before he quickly caught up with her again. 

They continued to laugh as they playfully chased each other through the skies, temporarily forgetting about all their earlier misfortunes and dangerous escape. A few moments of peace where they happily played and laughed from their hearts, like those sweet short days they had spent back at the castle. But why had their happiness always been so short?

Julian realized with horror that the echoing sounds of flapping wings he had heard a short while ago was not merely the echo of their own Pegasi as he had mistakenly thought. He threw a quick look over his shoulder, and far in the distance, he could see them. Ten Pegasi mounted by ten winged guardsmen. 

"Alina!" He called suddenly as he forced Nina to go faster, closing in behind Alina. "Hurry! We are being followed!" His hands trembled and the panic in his voice was clear enough, and he did nothing to hide it. There was no time for playing tough now. It was either escape... or death.

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