An End to Summer

Alexander couldn't help but smile. "Ah, don't mock me. It is glorious my General. I command a whole army of warriors in the kitchen." He enjoyed the amusement twinkle in Bennonton's lovely eyes. "It's not as glamorous as the consort of the Lord General, I agree, but things are different here. Just...give it a little time. Okay?"

His king pursed his lips and gave him a narrow-eyed little glare. "I will not be a pot scrubber, cook-Zan'Dar."

"Oh, is that so? Well, we will find something more suitable to your station, beloved."

"I will be consort to the lord of the kitchen," Bennonton decided and took another bite of the food, watching him. "You will have to keep me in high style though."

"Mmmm," Alexander agreed and leaned closer to kiss his forehead. "Fine silks for you, my lord."

They were able to rest until nightfall wrapped together without anyone intruding on them until the cry of mounts went up from outside.

Bennonton tried to leap to his feet, grunting with pain as he grabbed at his wounded side with a choked oath. "Chirmeng! Mortari!" His smile brightened with delight that overrode the pain. "Oh thank all the gods!"

Rider. Rider, I come for you. The familiar song cried through him as Mortari embraced him, enfolding him in the silken warmth and protection and....pain. Oh, my Zan'Dar. Your beautiful soul. Look at you! The kindness and affection spilled over him, soothing the old scars and the torn bits inside his soul. I was not fast enough. He sounded wretched in his grief over the condition he found his rider.

"We better get out there." Alexander said as he helped Bennonton up and pulled the robe around him. His hands fumbled at the tie, struck anew by how huge the man was. Oh, how he had missed the towering presence of the man himself and it was almost overwhelming to know he could touch him again.

"Alexander! I think you have most guests. Where are all these coming from?" Vanessa called, pounding at the door of the room. "We're calling auntie Marion."

She was still waiting at the door when they opened it and gawked up at Bennonton and then at Alexander in accusation.

Bennonton started and bowed formally, "Lady! Oh! Dear gods. You are a reflection of the High Lady. It is a pleasure and an honor."

Vanessa stared a moment seemingly baffled at how to respond but Alexander was already pulling the big man with him down the hall.

Bennonton beamed at him, "You should have introduced us. I have much to tell her about her sister."

"She doesn't know. I haven't told anyone. I...it's not something easily explained. I honestly didn't know for sure what happened." He shook his head slightly. "We can talk about it later."

Oh, they were going to have so much to explain. Bennonton stared around himself

It turned out that talking about it would be put off for awhile. The pair of mounts were wounded as badly as the others had been but luckily nothing was broken beyond repair. As dawn came, two weary men huddled in a stall with the mounts around them. Alexander was considering if he could carry his beloved back to the room when he looked up to find his mother smiling over the edge of the stall at them.

"Cozy?" Her voice startled Chirmeng into wakefulness. His snorted warning was soothed by the others. All the war-mounts had happily included the newcomers into their band and tried to reassure the nervous sapphire stallions that they were safe. Really safe.

"Are they settling in alright?" She pitched her voice lower. Her smile was warm, eyes shining with emotion as though she couldn't quite contain her happiness.

"I think so, but they are still a bit shaken."

"I imagine so. Your auntie Marion is too. So, should we expect any more guests?"

He felt heat rise in his cheeks but she was smiling so broadly at him he had to chuckle. "No, mother. I don't think so."

She nodded. "Well, you two look comfortable. Do you want me to bring blankets out here?"

"I was thinking how I could carry him home." Alexander admitted, smoothing a hand over the man's bald scalp.

"I can help with that too. I'm so happy for you, son. Surprised my dear but so happy. I have not seen you smile like this since you were a boy."

Alexander did smile and he ducked his head slightly. "A part of myself was missing all this time." He rubbed his free hand over his chest where it felt almost hot inside him.

"I can understand. There has been too much of that in our lives I think. It's about time our fates changed. Come, let's bring your warlord inside."

He thought about his mother's words as they helped Bennonton inside between them. Were their fates changing? Could they be on the brink?

Amy's words whispered back to him, 'There is a beginning that can only start with a catalyst.'

That night as he curled himself around his beloved and pressed his ear to the vast chest to hear his heartbeat, he sent out his thanks to Amy. He wasn't quite sure how she'd done it, but without a doubt, he knew that she was involved in bringing this man and their mounts through.

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I'm going to end this here as I have stretched out this story quite a bit. If people would like to read more about these two, let me know. My goodness, what will Bennonton think of this new world? ^_^