Broadswords - 49. The Nightfall

Broadswords

Chapter Forty-Nine
The Nightfall

Birten rolled to one side, watching the subtle rise and fall of Kep's chest as he slept soundlessly next to him. The activities earlier that evening had meant a lot to him. He hadn't felt so cared for in as long as he could remember. It had been a long time since he'd felt that way with Daegon.

He fought the urge to envelop Kep in his arms. He wanted that closeness, but he knew that Kep getting his rest was much more important. After everything that had happened, all of them that were involved needed a mass quantity of sleep. So he didn't touch him, just stared at the ceiling and let his mind wander to the events from a few hours before.

After Harmon's speech, everyone kind of mingled for a while. They tried to keep the conversations light, for one last bit of normalcy, but most of the time they ended up going back to everything they might expect for the near future. Eventually, though, everyone started to trickle out. Once everyone was gone except for Birten and Daegon, Kep and Sal had started cleaning up the dining room. Daegon pulled Birten over to one side of the room.

"I'm so glad you're okay, Birten. I worried a lot about you while everything was going on. My love for you is without compare. But… I do sense that our romantic partnership has come to a close," he said. It was evident that it was hard for Daegon to say those words, but Birten was glad he did. He didn't know how he would have brought it up, and he felt an appreciation for Daegon's courage.

"I love you, too, Daegon. And I will be your dedicated squire as I always have. But I must agree, I think this chapter of our lives is ending." It saddened him. He truly did love Daegon. However, they weren't right for one another. They both grew as a result of their romantic relationship, in different ways, but it had to be over.

"I sense there's another?" Daegon asked, nodding in Kep's general direction. He didn't ask it accusatorily or jealously, either. It was genuine. Birten smiled thinly, not needing to verbalize a response. Daegon smiled in return. He squeezed Birten's shoulder. "He's a good man. And he'll be lucky to have you." With that, Daegon said his goodbyes and thanks to the brothers. He gave Birten a final hug before departing.

Birten helped clear the last glasses and flagons from the tables. When they were done, Sal asked Kep if he was heading to bed. "I think I'll, um… walk Birten home. If that's okay?" With a simple smile and nod, Birten confirmed. Sal said nothing, but also sported a smirk, and left the other two men in the room.

"Oh, I almost forgot," Kep said sheepishly, and disappeared behind the bar. He emerged holding the bottle of wine he'd set aside for when Birten returned to Jhirdyr. Birten knew he was blushing, but he didn't care. It was a sweet gesture.

He waited as Kep locked up the door, and the two of them headed toward Birten's home. They walked slowly, enjoying the quietness of the evening. They didn't say anything at all until they had entered Birten's house. It had been a long while since he'd stayed there, and many of the surfaces were covered with a thin layer of dust. Kep didn't seem to mind, though, and he set the bottle on the table. "Do you have glasses?"

"I do, but I predict that they'll be as dusty as everything else in here. I could run to the well…" he trailed off. Kep shook his head though, and opened the bottle. He took a swig directly, and handed it to Birten to allow him to do the same.

"Thank you," Kep said.

"For what?" Birten asked.

Kep shrugged, a small laugh formulating as he did so. "I don't know. Just… thank you."

They stared at each other for a few moments before Birten finally got the courage to do what he'd been waiting to do for a long while. He stepped up to the slightly shorter man. He put each hand on either of Kep's biceps, feeling the muscles tense as he did so. He looked into his eyes, that same depth there that he'd noticed on their first meeting. And he kissed him.

Kep's lips were soft, but still contained a firmness that allowed for a powerful kiss. Though it was their first kiss, and tender, there was a passion behind it that made Birten feel weak in the knees. He'd definitely had passionate moments with Daegon, but none that felt like that.

When they broke apart, Kep's smile was ear to ear. "Wow," he said. And that was all he needed to say. They shared another kiss, and Birten knew that he'd made the right decision. Sure, there was more for each of them to learn about the other. But that would come in time. Right now, all he wanted was to be with Kep.

However, when they disconnected after their second kiss, Kep's smile was replaced with a frown. "Birten… I feel like I have to tell you something. When you were gone, I…." He let his sentence trail, and Birten could tell whatever he was about to say was weighing on him. He didn't know what it was specifically, but given the situation they were currently in, he had a good idea.

He cupped Kep's jaw in his hand, running his thumb over his cheek. "Hey, listen. Whatever happened before isn't important. I was involved with someone before this, too. The past doesn't matter. We have the future to look forward to. We have now."

Positioning himself on the bed, he motioned for Kep to join him. He did so, but he still appeared to be a little down. Birten didn't like it. He'd dealt with enough sadness over the past few weeks, and he wanted this to be a pleasant experience for both of them. With that considered, he needed to take Kep's mind off things. And he knew just how do to that. He slipped Kep's tunic off and over his head, running his fingers over his bare chest. He trailed his mouth down Kep's neck, over his torso and down to his stomach.

This seemed to bring Kep back into the present. He visibly began to relax, allowing Birten's fingers and lips to do all the work. Birten slid his hand across Kep's thigh, letting it rest at his groin. He felt Kep hardening underneath his fingers.

He untied the drawstring of Kep's pants with one hand, and after they were loosened he slipped it inside and curled his fingers around Kep. He was fully hardened now, and Birten kissed him deeply. His hand continued to stroke Kep, and his own pants were feeling very tight. But suddenly, Kep started to pull away. "I, um… I've never…."

Birten felt ashamed. He was moving far too quickly, considering the amount of time they'd known each other. He moved his hand away. "I'm sorry," he said simply. He wanted to apologize for how far he'd pushed things, for assuming that Kep was ready for what he was initiating. But he felt too sheepish to utter the words.

"No, it's not that," Kep said, and he grabbed Birten's hand. "It's just… how do we determine who… goes where?"

"Oh," Birten said with a blush. Kep didn't feel rushed. He just wanted to make sure everything went as it was supposed to. "You just kind of figure it out as you go along. Everything will fall into place."

They fell into another kiss, and eventually Birten's tunic met Kep's on the floor. Soon, their trousers did, too. Their bodies intertwined as Birten's barely-tanned limbs wrapped around Kep's bronzed ones. A rhythm was found without effort. Birten's stubble pulled against Kep's full beard, Kep's calloused fingers raked across the skin of Birten's back.

Birten couldn't wait any longer. He fumbled around in the drawer of the bedside table until he found a small container of oil. Unscrewing the lid, he dipped his fingers inside to anoint them with the liquid. He set the jar aside and rubbed his hands together to coat his palms. He ran his fingers of his right hand over Kep's length while he used his left to apply some between his legs.

He laid back on the bed and helped guide Kep inside of him. He inhaled as he took him in, the sudden sensation of being penetrated overwhelming. Kep's reaction was quite similar, and he allowed him a moment to familiarize himself with the sensation. Soon, though, Kep's instincts had kicked in. He found a perfect pace and followed it. And it felt amazing. Their bodies worked together as if they were one. Birten had to fight to prevent himself from finishing already, before Kep was done.

But Kep finished first, a slight pant playing at his breath. A thin sheen of sweat peppered his skin, and he smiled at Birten. Birten smiled back and stared at him. Kep was breathtaking. They'd shared a moment more glorious than any he could think of from his past. He was glad he was with this man.

The both of them fell onto their backs, staring at the ceiling as they regained their composure. Kep sidled up next to Birten and wrapped his arm around his chest, running his fingers through the hair that grew there. Kep kissed his shoulder and sighed into his skin. "Wow," he said again. Birten didn't think he'd get sick of hearing that. Without looking at him, Kep added: "do you want to go again? But… the other way? I want to experience that, too."

Birten was kind of shocked. When he'd been with Daegon, it was almost always done after Daegon had gotten what he was after. And Daegon was always in control; there wasn't a single situation where Birten had taken the lead. It felt unusual having Kep ask to switch it up. In a good way. In a very good way.

He got up and positioned himself accordingly, repeating the routine with the oil. He looked at the man before him, watched as he nodded his readiness into existence. Spreading Kep's legs apart, he centered himself. He kissed Kep tenderly on the mouth. He knew that it might be painful for him, considering it was his first time, and so he went slowly. He could feel Kep tense up beneath him, and he paused. When Kep seemed to relax again, he continued. Completely inside, he waited again to make sure Kep was comfortable.

And it was effortless. They moved together seamlessly, and the feelings were beyond compare. Birten had never felt so in tune with someone in his life. He didn't last long before he finished, his body falling slack on top of Kep's. The innkeep grabbed his face and pulled it toward his own, the pair once again lost in each other's embrace.

It had been exactly what Birten had needed. Now, in the darkest hours of the night, he watched as the moonlight peeked through the curtains and shone across the parts of Kep's nude body that weren't intermingled with the sheets. He took in the beauty of the moment for a while, until he could no longer remain motionless. At that point, he emerged from the bed and stepped over to the window. As much as he tried to suppress it, and even with the recollections of his intimacies with Kep, he couldn't prevent the thoughts of the stones from entering his mind.

There were nine dragonstones out there that they had to find and destroy. And they had no idea how much time they had. They could revert into their dragon forms tomorrow, or it could be years from now. It could happen all at once, or it could happen periodically. While Elsior may have been foolish and arrogant in telling them about his plan B in the first place, he was smart enough not to give them much more information than that.

As Kep's soft snores sounded from behind him, Birten stared out the window into the blackness of the night. He knew he should get some rest, but he couldn't sleep. There were so many unknowns left. A month and a half ago, he knew what to expect. Here's a dragon, slay it. Now… it wouldn't be that easy. They might have to travel the world to accomplish their goal. They would likely have to split up. There was no telling what was in store for them.

The darkness outside bore no solution. It simply stared back at Birten, not putting his anxieties to rest. The call of a night-raven was barely audible somewhere in the distance. The chirrups of crickets echoed from outside the walls. They weren't giving him answers. With a sigh, he admitted defeat. Though not tired, he retired to his bed and settled in next to Kep. Tomorrow would bring what tomorrow would bring. He thought back to what he'd said to Kep earlier that night. The past doesn't matter. We have the future to look forward to. We have now. He hoped he was right.