Julian

"My Lady, I am truly honored by your visit!" Liam bowed as Julian introduced Alina to him. "I apologize for the crudity of my place, but please have a seat and make yourself comfortable. Would you like something to drink?"

"There's no need for that Liam, we only came for a quick favor," Julian said as he turned Alina around, and Liam's eyes widened as they fell on the chains. "Can you do something about her wings?"

"You want me to break those chains off?" Liam asked.

"No!" Alina gasped and turned around in alarm. "You can't do this."

"Yes he very well can!" Julian said impatiently. "You almost died today because of them!"

"No, please, you can't break them. If Bernard finds out he will kill me!"

"To hell with Bernard! He can't kill you. He's not even here. Please Liam, take those fucking chains off!" Julian said, and he could notice Alina's wide eyes. He always made sure to watch his language when he was around her, and to suddenly curse like that must have been a bit shocking for her. But he couldn't help himself. The idea of her almost dying today because Bernard had put those fucking chains on her made his blood boil with rage.

"But that's against Bernard's will, if I understand correctly," Liam said.

"We will mention nothing about you," Julian assured him.

"How can I guarantee that?"

"Come on Liam! Have you just met me today or something?" Julian scowled at him. He was not in the mood for Liam's games now.

"Well, what can I say? Alright, I will do it. But it will require a lot of gold."

"Agreed," Julian decided without even getting back to Alina.

Julian held Alina's arms, and he could sense her trembling and whimpering as Liam stood behind her trying to cut off the stubborn metal.

"Stop fidgeting please," Liam said. "The chains are so tight and you will get hurt if you don't stand still."

Alina trembled further at his words and Julian's hands rose up and down her arms soothingly. He could feel her relax a little bit at his touch. He looked down at her face to check if she was in pain, but she only looked up at him with round trusting eyes that made his heart melt. He gave her a smile, which was supposed to be a reassuring one, but it came out weak and hesitant, and he realized that he himself was trembling too.

"There!" Liam laughed out, and the chains rattled as they fell loose onto the floor. 

Julian couldn't help his wide smile as he found Alina's wings set free at last. He turned to look at her face, but he realized that she was not smiling. She was only staring at him blankly.

"Can you move them?" Julian frowned, dreading her answer.

"I can't," she whispered, confirming his fears. His heart sank. Could her wings have been confined long enough that she had probably lost use of them?

"It is alright. It might take some time to adjust," Liam said as he walked to the anvil and resumed hammering a long blade he had been working on.

"Oh!" Alina gasped, and Julian turned to find her looking back at her wings which were now moving so slightly. She flashed him a warm smile of silent gratitude before she turned towards Liam, her eyes lingering on the many swords that lay on a table before him.

"Can you give me one of these?" she asked as she gestured towards the row of large war swords, and Liam chuckled.

"What would a fine lady like you want to do with such a dangerous thing? Are you planning on killing someone?" Liam joked.

"Perhaps I am," she said, and both Liam and Julian looked at her in surprise. "Of course not! I was joking. It is going to be a gift, for someone dear to me."

"Alright then. But that will require a lot of gold as well," Liam teased as he continued to hammer the blade.

"Does it look like I will have a problem with that?" Alina teased back.

"And who is the lucky one you plan to gift this sword to?" Julian asked, his eyes slightly narrowing and an unpleasant feeling rising within him.

"You are," she smiled.

"I am not joking." His frown deepened as he realized she must be mocking him.

"Neither am I! The sword is for you. You saved my life and freed my wings. This is the least I can do for you."

Julian did not know if she was still mocking him. But why would she do that, when he had indeed just saved her life? He studied her smile, and he could tell that it was genuine. She was serious!

"Alright, you can have this one," Liam said as he held up one of the thinnest swords lying before him.

"This? For me?" Julian asked with furrowing eyebrows, insulted by Liam's choice.

"Yes."

"It's too small!" Julian complained.

"Anything bigger and you will tumble with the first strike you attempt. Have you even ever held a real sword before?" Liam scoffed. "You should be grateful that I am taking the risk and actually letting a dumb head like you hold a sword at all."

"Well careful then because this dumb head will one day become the most powerful human warrior in Nordenland," Julian challenged, only to receive a long warning stare from Liam.

"A dumb head indeed! To say such a dumb thing," Liam said as he shot Alina a quick glance. Julian chuckled as he saw how deeply unsettled Liam was. He could understand his concerns. For Julian to speak of such an aspiration openly, and in the presence of a winged one, was indeed not the smartest thing to do. Yet Julian was not afraid to speak before Alina. He knew he could trust her.

***

Julian stood in the middle of a deserted field near the haunted eastern woods, swinging his new sword in awe. It was not that ridiculous thin sword Liam had initially planned to give him. After some pleading and a few sweet smiles from Alina, Liam unwillingly agreed to give Julian a rather large war sword that looked more like Mikal's and Vilfred's masterpieces. But of course, Liam was getting almost double its worth for doing such a forbidden thing.

Julian looked up towards Alina who giggled as she ran through the field, her wings spreading freely behind her. She could finally move them, but they were not yet strong enough to make her fly. But it didn't matter. At least she was free, and he wanted her to enjoy this freedom for as long as it would last.

"I am tired!" Alina panted as she dropped herself to the ground and stretched over the grass.

"Do you want to go home?" he asked, looking down at her in concern.

"No, of course not," Alina said, but Julian only frowned as he silently searched her face. And the next moment, he grabbed her arm and pulled her upwards.

"What are you doing?"

"We are going home," he said decisively.

"What? But I said I don't want to go home," she objected as he led her to the Pegasi. "Stop!"

"No."

"No?!" Alina stared up at him in shock, and the next moment she burst into giggles. 

"What are you laughing at?" Julian frowned.

"What am I laughing at? You are unbelievable! Bossing me around as if you were the master and I were the slave!"

"I am sorry," Julian lowered his head, realizing he had indeed pushed it too far. "I did not mean any disrespect. But it is growing cold, and you will get sick -"

Julian was cut off as Alina giggled again, and he noticed her eyes narrowing mischievously.

"Don't worry," she whispered as she leaned in too close to his face, as if telling a great secret. His heart thumped. "I wouldn't really mind it if you were the master and I were the slave..."

Julian could feel himself blushing. What did she mean? For some reason he felt that her words suggested a meaning that was not quite common in the North, but perhaps a rather popular practice in the West... And as if it were not enough, he found her further raising her hand to his face, brushing his cheeks with her soft fingers. He looked back at her in awe. But he was also scared at the same time.

"Julian..." she whispered as she leaned her face so close to his, her lips almost brushing his. What was she doing? No, this can't be happening! Julian tensed and turned his face away. But as he did so, he realized what a terribly stupid thing he had just done. Alina was trying to kiss him, and he fucking turned his face away! She quickly turned her head away as well, apparently embarrassed. The only thing she would be thinking now was that he did not want to kiss her!

"You were right. We better go home!" she said angrily, avoiding his eyes.

But just as she was about to turn to mount Achilles, Julian had quickly grabbed her arms and slammed her against his chest, his strong arms closing firmly around her. His heart pounded hard. He had just pulled Bernard's wife into his embrace! But he didn't care anymore. His arms tightened further around her, as if he feared she would be taken away from him. He looked deep into her sweet honey eyes. He leaned in close to her face. His lips parted.

"Alina," he whispered, before he closed his lips onto hers in a deep full mouth kiss. His heart leapt to his throat, and his whole body went aflame. Julian, a lowly slave stable boy, stood kissing the beautiful young wife of his ruthless Lord. But he didn't care. He tightened his arms around her, indulging in the warmth of her soft body pressed against his hard one, and the sweetness of her lips that kissed him back with passion. It was not his first kiss, yet somehow it was...

His heart fluttered as little moans escaped her, and he continued to kiss her lips, taking his time, enjoying every bit, every stroke, every breath. Their lips parted for a moment long enough to look up at each other, their chests rising and falling, before they closed their eyes again, and leaned in once more for another kiss...

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