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Tale of the Winter Prince

Chapter 4: A Calm N** ight**

The Winter Prince laid in bed as he tossed and turned in his sleep. He and his beloved protectors managed to escape the Castle of Seasons when it was under siege from the Black Serpent's army. They had found safety in an allied village hidden in an enchanted forest, which was protected by a powerful magic barrier that rendered it undetectable as well as defended. Every need had been provided for the prophesied heroes by the accommodating elven folk who populated the town. At this moment, the ocelot, Akita, unicorn, and jackal were training in different parts of the village to develop their skills and gifts in order to better protect their beloved prince. As the memory of that battle replayed in the dragon's dreams every night, Nathan, sweating from the stress and heat within him, gripped the white sheets of the wooden bed.

Suddenly, I sat upright and gasped. I stepped outside for some fresh air, but the memory of the battle was still there. I sat down alone among some trees and let my tears fall upon the roots as I cried softly.

Nearby, the Grand High Elf, Arbane, was picking fruits from tress and berries from the bushes. Clad in his light green robes with golden trim, he felt the chill and snow falling around him as he heard the sound of someone crying. He searched for the source and found the forlorn son of the snow king. He approached the younger male and placed a gentle hand on his shoulder. "Dear prince, tell me your woes." His voice was kind and gentle.

"It's just... my life has been filled with first joy and later despair. My father's captured, my mother dead, one of my protectors was almost killed, and now the palace of the Seasons is overrun with the enemy... I'm the unluckiest dragon that ever existed in this whole world," I sobbed.

The elder male pulled the scale close to him as he sat beside the despairing boy. "Dear prince, all these are more reasons for you to become stronger. Falling into despair is exactly what Exortos would want, for it would make you all the easier of a target. You need not worry here, little one. You are protected here. I may look young, but I am much older than I seem. Your father, the Snow King, and I agreed long ago that you would be safest here in the event of the Black Serpent's takeover. Feel free to cry into my bosom, young prince. I am here to aid in any way I can." A light wind blew, causing the fair skinned elf's hair to wave gently in the breeze.

I looked up into the elf's eyes and then I hugged him and cried into his chest as my tears seeped into his tunic and his arms rubbed my back soothingly.

The elf stood and picked up the boy in his arms. As he carried the lad he said, "Tell me about the battle."

"I don't want to talk about," I said looking down at the ground, "It was too awful. I still have nightmares about it even now. That's why I was out in the garden. I thought the night air would help clear my head."

"That is exactly your problem, my draggling. Holding these things in is exactly what is weighing you down. You need to be stronger for your people, your protectors, and your father." He cradled the scale in his arms.

"But... I don't know how. What if something bad happens whenever I think I'm safe? I'll never be safe if Exortos knows I exist," I said down-heartedly.

"Your fear is also what he wants." The elf opened his door and walked into his house. "You are your own worst enemy now."

"How can I face my fears? I thought I could face them alone, but I realized that my fears are stronger," I said looking up into the elf's eyes.

Returning the look with his azure eyes, the Grand High Elf proclaimed, "Aye, but you are not alone are you?"

I look down and sniff. "I know but I don't want to put them in harm's way. I'm afraid of losing them the same way I lost my parents. Haven't you any family?"

The elder breaks his smile, replacing it with a forlorn look of his own. "Aye, Prince, I had."

"Where are they?" I asked softly, and I began looking up with concern and curiosity.

The older man sighed as he carried the dragon up a long, winding staircase that led to his chambers. "I once was not on the side of the Seasonal Guardians. Rather, I initially was on the side of appeasing Exortos. I withheld my forces from engaging him, and he let my village be...until one fated day. He came and demanded my finest hunters and archers for his army. I adamantly refused. So much so, that I challenged him myself. I dueled him, one on one, and he was victorious, despite my best magics. In retribution for my challenging him, the Black Serpent...killed my dear wife....I still remember the site of her fair face turning blue with his scalie hands around her neck." Tears begin to trickle out of his eyes as he lays the dragon on a huge bed with sheer, golden curtains hanging from bars along the posts. "My son...My son was turned to stone. I remember his expression: the look of utmost despair in his eyes as he witnessed his mother's demise by his father's defeat, immortalized by the Dark One's stone spell."

I gasped and rushed over to his side. "I... I didn't know. I'm sorry," I said as I wrapped my arms around him and nuzzled the back of his shoulder.

"I thank thee, oh Winter Prince, but I am not without resolve. I shall do what I can to aid and comfort you. These tears are reminders that I cannot back down to that man again." He returned the embrace and nuzzling of the younger male.

"Arbane, please, just call me Nathan. I swear when Exortos is finished, we will free your son from his stone prison. I give you my word," I said as I cupped the elf's cheek.

"Thank you, Prince Nathan." The Grand High Elf pulled the teen into a tighter hug. "Forgive me, but your kindness and caring nature remind me of my belated wife."

"It's alright. I know what it's like to miss someone," I said still holding the elf in my arms. "Arbane, when we do save your son, what will become of you then?"

"Of me? I'll step down as Grand High Elf, and let someone more suitable have my position, after the world is at peace."

"But... what then? Surely must have a future," I said

Drying his eyes, the elder replies, "I have not thought about life afterward. Rescuing my son and retiring are all I've thought of these last decades..."

"Well... if you want... you and your son can live with me," I said cupping Arbane's cheek.

The elder gazed into the prince's eyes and smiled. "That kind bearing and loving voice...They remind me of my dear wife."

I smiled and wrapped my arms around him. "Can... can I sleep with you tonight?" I asked softly as I drew nearer to Arbane's lips.

"I'd...love that, my prince." His arms wrapped around the dragon's neck.

The only words that came out of my mouth were,"Arbane." Then, I close my eyes as I felt his lips touch mine,and we kissed for a very long time.

The elf held the kiss for long, silent moments of passion with the dragon before breaking it. "Nathan..." He beganto tremble. "I've been alone all these years and held in so much..."

"Then let it out. Rest your head on my chest as you did with me," I said softly caressing his cheek.

The two lay together on the royal chamber's bed. The elder male rested his head in the bare chest of the Winter Prince as the dragon cradled him.

"Shhh..." I soothed as I held him in my arms. Then, I felt him gently pull me to his lips,and we both started to undress slowly.

As proof of his elfish lineage, the elder male's body looks toned and slim, despite his age of over fifty. He laidnow beside the scale in nothing but a white loincloth. "My prince, it's been forever since I've...physically been one with another being."

"Then, let the two of us become one... Let me be your light in the darkness,... your one... true... love," I said before I slowly started kissing the elf again and slipped Arbane's loincloth off of him.

When it was revealed, his member began rapidly hardening as a shared heat began to generate between flesh and scale. His tongue parted the younger man's maw, and his firm hands began to explore the dragonic youth's body.

My hands also exploredthe elf's body, and I then start massaging Arbane's nipples asmy lips start kissing along his neck and giving him a few love bites.

He moaned from every nip that the dragon gave to him. When his hand found the pelvic slit, a strong finger tracedaround it as the spare hand held tightly yet gently to the teen's fiery mane.

I whimpered a little, but then my member starts to get hard. I grippedArbane's member and started stroking my member with his at the same time

"Nathan," the elf moanedas he instinctively toyed with the lad's nipples and bit down on his ear. "I have not felt like this...in a long...time"

"Then take me as I am... I... I love you," I said at last, "I couldn't help but have strong feelings for you. It's been a few weeks. I know but I can't lie to myself anymore... I love you, Arbane."

"I love you too, Nathan. These past few weeks watching and guiding you have been the most rewarding I've had in a long, long time." The elder pulled the youth into another passionate kiss as the scale continued pumping is fleshy, erect cock.

I gently pushed the elf down on the bed,and then I bent down to suck on his member as I directed my own member to his face, putting us into a 69 position

Arbane took the snow white dong of the dragon into his mouth and worked it in his wet, ready throat. As he did, his fair skinned hands groped the dragon's firm, young gluteal mounds and gently massaged the erogenous area with his digits.

I bobbed my head up and down as I suckedon the elf's member, slurping up the pre leaking out of the tip

A finger traced the dragon's puckered tailhole and gently prodded inward toward the slickening love tunnel. Meanwhile, Arbane used his tongue to tease and taste every inch of the nubile scale's ridged scalehood.

I moaned and continued to suck on Arbane's member, and I then started to finger his chamber in return.

The elder male removedhis mouth from the dragonic tool. "Nathan...I'm ready to become one."

I nodded as I rolled onto my back and spread my legs apart. "I'm ready for you, my love," I said.

Re-positioning under the scale, he slid his saliva-lubed penis into the wanting hole of the dragon. Afterslowly hilting himself in, he allowed the younger male to lay his scalie back on Arbane's fleshy stomach and wrapped his arms around the smaller male as he kissedhim on the cheek, shoulder, and neck.

I moaned and then started to kiss Arbane's lips

It took some work from their position, but they managed the kiss with Nathan laying his head on Arbane's chest and the elf bending himself forward. Then, he said, "This is one of my favorite positions. Move at your own pace when you feel ready, my prince." He gently ran his smooth hands over the smaller male's torso.

I nodded and slowly went up and down on Arbane's member while giving soft moans

As the dragon workedhis tailhole on the fleshy's schlong, the GrandHigh Elf found his younger lover's nipples and teased the erect nubs.

"Oh... please stroke me," I whimpered as my member flopped up and down

Without delay, he grabbedNathan's white cock and stroked it, oh so slowly, intime with the scale's movements.

"Oh... yes," I moaned,and I began massaging my own nipples

Arbane's moans steadily grew louder from the dragon's rapid and strong movements as he began to pump the younger male's pulsing cock. "Nathan, you're bringing out so much in me! No one but my mate ever made me feel this, my love!"

"Then... fill me, Arbane... fill me with your love," I whimpered as I felt my climax approaching.

He released the dragon's member and held the scale tight to him to cease the sexual movement. Arbane then whispers into his lover's ear, "Not yet...I want us...Face to face, my princely love."

I then turnedto face him and wrapped my arms around him. "I'm yours," I said

He sat up and crossed his legs as the dragon wrapped his arms and legs around the elf's slender body. His fair skinned manhood took the position under the blue scale's needy canal. The elder whispered, "I'm ready for us to seal our love in our masculine essence, Nathan."

"So am I," I said as leaned my head forward and kissed Arbane's sweet lips before gently going up and down on his member while my own member rubbed along the elf's chest.

The Grand High Elf, remembering what his belated mate liked, managed to stand up on his knees and used the momentum to thrust in and out of the scale hard as he groaned from rediscovered intimacy and pleasure.

I moaned and wrapped my arms and legs around the elf, seeing that he was in control,and I held on as I was given the pleasure of a life time

Arbane pulled Nathan close to his body until their chests touched each other. From their flat stomachs and their shared heat, the white, dragonic cock began to feel greater friction, and the elf could feel his lover's tunnel constricting around his smooth fleshy rod.

"Arbane... I love you so much," I moaned as I kissed him passionately, "Please... fill me with your love... I can't hold it in any longer."

Syncopated grunts accompanied the last few impalements into his younger mate as the older man neared his own climax. Reaching his own limits,he pushed Nathan up hard and brought the youth back down as hard as he could back onto his staff, causing his schlong to pulsate and shoot rope after rope of elven spooge into Nathan as Arbane's own screams of lust echoed in his bedchamber.

I cried out as I went down hard, and my seed released all over Arbane the same time the elf filled me. I panted and kissed him passionately and lovingly.

He acceptedthe kiss and soon collapsed backward onto the mattress, without even breaking the fervently heated embrace or lip lock, as he remained hilted inside of the scale. The elf turned them both onto their sides so he could continue to stay in this moment comfortably for longer.

"Arbane... I wish this night would never end," I said softly as I run my hand through his long beautiful hair, "I love you so much."

"I don't want this to end either, my love." Tears of emotion that have been held back for years begin to trickle from the elder male's eyes.

"Shhh..." I said softly as I cupped his cheek and wiped the tears, "If you like, I would be honored to have your hand in marriage."

"I love you, Nathan." Arbane's body began to tremble. "However, I can't marry you, not with the realm in the state that it's in...I'm sorry." The tears become thicker and faster.

"But... without you... I... I don't know who else to turn to.. And we can be together when the war is over... please," I said as tears began to come to my eyes this time.

He pulled the dragon to his chest and held him tightly. "I will marry you, Prince Nathan; and we shall have a proper ceremony after the realmis rid of Exortos and his accursed magics."

"I love you, Arbane," I said softly and kissed the elf lovingly,and then I rested my head on his chest.

Nestling with his new love, the Grand High Elf fell asleep. It was the best one he'd had in years.

Meanwhile, back at the palace of the Guardians, Exortos was sitting in a big, black throne, surveying the halls, once beautiful and now in ruin. He looked at a crystal orb in his hands and inside it was a human man dressed in royal garments, and his skin as white as snow. "It seems yourguardians are not as powerful as you say. But don't worry. Their fate will come soon enough... just like yours, Snow King," the serpent hissed as he held the orb at eye level. Back at the elf village, Buddy woke up and saw Tereso was outside in the night air sitting in meditation.

The golden colored jackal, wearing nothing, but an elven loincloth approached his lover. "Teroso," he said rubbing his eye sleepily, "why are you up this late?"

"Oh, I just thought I'd do a bit of mental training before the battle approaches. Why? Is there something troubling you?" the black furred unicorn asked looking at his beloved mate with concern.

"Well..." The canine looked away.

Teroso stoodup and pulled the jackal into a hug. "It's alright. You don't have to hide anything from me," he said softly, cupping the young jackal's cheek, "I'm here for you."

"Well," he looked up to the elder fur. "I've been training really hard, but I've made very little progress with my slingshot...I did manage to hit that hydra in one of its heads, but that was luck, not skill. I look at how much you've mastered your magic gauntlets, Decland his amulet, and Hachiko his claw blades, and..." the jackal's lack of confidence in himself caused tears to well up in his eyes.

"Hey... shhh," Teroso soothed as he wiped away the tears, "It's alright. Sometimes, it takes time for things to blossom. I should know. When I was your age, I didn't even know how to control my own magic."

"But...but..." speaking through his flowing tears, the adolescent tried to compose himself. "The battle will happen any day now...and...and...I don't want to drag everyone else down...I know I'm not that useful..."

"But you're somebody. Don't let your doubts cloud your judgment. You have friends all around you, and I'll always be there for you... I love you," Teroso said as he gently pulled Buddy to his lips.

As warmth filled his young body, the younger male, wanting to feel more of his lover,wrapped his arms around the equine's neck and pulled himself up to press their chests together. Then he wrapped his legs around his lover's frame and used his entire body to embrace the horse's..

"You're never alone," Teroso whispered in their kiss, "And I'll always be there for you."

Without anther word, Buddy cuddled his beloved and let his tears, of love, fall onto Teroso's chest.

"Shhh... how about we go inside and settle ourselves in the bath?" Teroso whispered kissing the top of Buddy's head.

"Snif...I'd like that...." was all the lad could manage to say.

Teroso picked Buddy up in his arms and carried the jackal back to their quarters. Once inside, they went to the washroom, where a tub big enough for them both was hot and ready for them.

As the equine set him in the tub, the teen kissed the elder male lovingly. "Is it ok for us to be up this late? We have training early tomorrow."

"I'm sure our trainers will understand. Besides, you're the one who needs cheering up and a smile or two," Teroso said giving Buddy a small tickle on the sides.

Splashing around the tub as his arms flail about, the jackal laughed from his lover's attention.

Teroso laughed as well as he began to wrap his arms around the small jackal and tickle him all over.

Buddy laughedlouder as he pleaded, "You win! You win! I'll have more confidence. Now, get in here and snuggle with me."

Teroso smiled and then put the jackal into a reverse cowgirl position as the unicorn positionedBuddy over his pre-leaking member, and they both started kissing as Buddy lowered himself down.

The heat of the water loosened the canine's hole, making it easier for the unicorn to slide into him. The nubile male moaned into the kiss as he felt his body being invaded by the man he's come to love so much.

Teroso moaned as Buddy began going up and down on his equine member and began to play with the jackal's nipples

The nipple teasing made the youth gasp in pleasure as he worked himself on his beloved's thick, fleshy rod. Training had kept them separate, and they usually slept through the entirety of the nights. He had been denied this intimacy for weeks, so he relished the feeling on once again joining Teroso in sexual consummation of their feelings.

Teroso grunted as he then began thrusting into Buddy while holding the youth's hips and the water splashed in rhythm to the thrusts and with one last thrust, Teroso let out a whinny as his seed filled the jackal's chamber.

The feel of warm horse seed within his body caused the jackal to go over the edge. " AH! AH! AAAAAAAAAH!" He repeated as every spasm of his knotted cock caused his entire body to seize in pleasure. His canine cum floatedjust under the surface of the bathwater as he pulledTeroso close to him. "I love you!" he declared in a hushed whisper.

Teroso hugged Buddy from behind and nuzzled cheek to cheek with the jackal. "And I love you too," he replied in a soft whisper.

"Teroso...will I ever get to return home?" He asked after a long moment of silence.

Teroso looked at Buddy and said, "If that is what you choose. But always remember that even though we may be apart, I'll always be with you in your heart." Teroso hugged the jackal and held him in his arms for a long time.

"But...I'd want you to come with me." The jackal clung to his lover. "I don't want to be without you."

Teroso turned and looked at the jackal. "You... you want me to go with you? I... I don't know what to say... I'll go anywhere with you," the unicorn said with tears of joy rolling down his cheeks and returned the hug.

The couple continuedto hold each other tight as they remain in the rejuvenating waters of the bath. Elsewhere in the village, Hachiko was patrolling the parameter of the magical barrier, a three times a night ritual that had become his habit.

"Hachi! Where are you?" the young ocelot called out from the small hut he and Hachi slept in.

Assuming his feral form, the hunting dog dashed as fast as he could back to the hut. As he climbed the steep hill, he transformed back into anthro form and busted through the door. "Deku-chan? What's wrong?"

"Nothing... it's just... I can't help but feel a little scared about what's going to happen. What if we get killed in battle? What if we never see my parents again?" Decland said, almost close to tears.

The Akita pulled his lover into a warm embrace. "Don't think like that. We will see them again because we will live. That is the thought you need to keep in your head."Hachiko kissed Decland on his forehead.

The cat couldn't hold back the tears anymore. He let it all out as he hugged the Akita,and he cried into Hachi's chest, letting his tears fall on the dog's fur.

The canine, still learning of anthro relations, cautiously said, "I'll call off patrol for tonight. How about we take a walk in the field of flowers you like. Will that help?"

Decland sniffed and nodded. "Okay," he said wiping away the tears.

Taking his beloved by the hand, the hound lead him to the magical field of flowers, one that changed its layout and species depending upon the emotions of those walking through it.

Decland remained in Hachi's arms as they walked along the field. "Hachi? When you were still just an ordinary dog, were you ever scared?" the young feline asked.

"All the time," he began as they walked through a field of forget-me-nots. "Everyday, I either had to avoid cars, protect my territory, or fight for food. I got scared quite a lot."

"Did you ever know your mother?" the cat asked, hoping he wasn't too personal.

"Very briefly." He unconsciously held his ocelot tighter. "I was taken from her as a pup buy a hunter, but when I showed no promise as a hunting dog, I was abandoned."

"That's terrible. Where's your mother now? Did you ever see her again?" Decland asked, hoping to find some light in the conversation.

"No. From puphood on, I was in the streets. It wasn't too long after being abandoned that you found me and started feeding me." A soft smile crossed his muzzle.

Decland smiled and hugged his beloved, faithful dog. "I hope there might be some way of finding your mom and letting you two be together again," Decland said, trying to sound like his old optimistic self again.

"There may be," the Akita said with a smile. "And I'm sure that she'd love to see me happy with you." Hachiko snuggled with the big cat in his arms.

Just then, they heard a bark coming to the village. It was another Akita, only it was a female. One of the elves opened a hole in the barrier. He took a look atthe collar and told the dog to go to Hachi and Decland. The elf said that the dog was sent from the Guardians of the Seasons and that she would know Hachi,for she was his mother.

The dog tookoff running, with his beloved in his arms, and followedthe barks until he saw the feral in the distance.

Suddenly, Hachi took to his feral form, and his mother smelled the air,barked happily, and tookoff in the direction of her son.

Decland landedon his feet and followed Hachiko as best he could before falling a few yards behind. The Akita sniffed the air for the familiar yet almost forgotten scent he last smelled years ago when he had last fed from her milk.

At last,the two Akitas met. The mother was licking the face of her beloved son.

Hachiko feverishly nuzzled his mother as tears flowed freely from his eyes. The ocelot was quickly catching up and made it just in time to see the heartwarming scene.

"Oh, my son. Where have you been?" Hachi's mother said as she licked her son's head.

"Mother...I..." The normally stoic dog was unable to make himself speak as his beloved ocelot walked up behind them.

"My son... I see you have your soul mate. I'm so happy for you," she said and then padded up to Decland and licked the cat's hand as a friendly gesture.

Smiling, the ocelot knelt and pet the female Akita. Of course, Decland could not understand their feral language, but he knew what was happening. The hunter padded to his mother's side. "How did you get here?"

"I believe it was a human some years ago. His skin was white as snow,and he wore some sharp, shiny hat on top of his head. And everywhere he went, it seemed to be cold," she said.

"The Snow King? But how is that possible? We were told he was locked up for well over a decade." Hachiko asked in astonishment. Decland sat on the ground and pulled both Akitas to him.

"Maybe it was an illusion... like before in the castle," Decland said as Hachi turned anthro, startling his mother, and told the cat what she said.

"Oh, this it's ok, Mother...I was given this gift so Decland and I could...be together..." The dog blushed as he pulled the ocelot to his body.

But then the female Akita smiled knowingly and padded up to sniff her son's member.

The Akita frozeat the sudden sniffing around his loins. He knew that his body reacted in certain ways for Decland.

Hachi's mother gave her son a wink, knowing that he had found a mate

Hachiko, getting on his knees, embraced his mother and held her tight. He's been without her for three years, and he had so much he wanted to say, but it was all jumbled inside his head.

Hachi's mother licked her son's cheek and nuzzled him gently in a way to say that they had all the time in the world, and she wasn't leaving her son any time soon

Hachiko returned the lick and lifted his mother into his arms, resting her head on his cheek so that he and Decland could continue waling.

Then Hachi's mother jumped out of Hachi's arms and jumped up putting her front paws on Decland's shoulders and licked the cats cheeks as a way to say 'Thank you for helping my son'.

Decland fell backwards from the weight of the Akita as he giggled in surprise. A hexagonal, green amulet around a golden chain on his neck began to glow, radiating with his happiness.

The female Akita then started to whimper a little. For some odd reason after meeting her son, she felt like she was in heat. She looked to her son, hoping that he might help her create a new litter of pups so that Hachi and Decland wouldn't feel lonely.

The hunter nodded in understanding, for; somehow, he wanted the same thing she did. He looked around the area for a suitable mating place. "We need a more private place," he said as he looked down at them. The ocelot looked up at his beloved. "What about the thick woods over there." The teen pointed to the tree populated area of the elven village.

They all set off into the forest. Hachi's mother was whimpering at this point and wanting her son to claim her. Decland watched as Hachi took to his feral form.

The male feral mounted his mother. His, black, canine cock already hard and leaking, Hachiko ran it over the female's wet, ready vaginal lips. Although he wasn't into girls, watching his lover so enthusiastic sent Decland into a strange heat as he discarded the white robe he was wearing.

Hachi thrusted into his mother, and then he beckoned Decland to come forth. Once the cat was with the two dogs, the female began to suck on Decland's member.

The ocelot planted his hands on the ground to steady himself as he leaned back to enjoy the feral female's oral attention. The feel of her tongue running over his barbs was almost too much for him to hold back from. Hachiko frantically pumped in and out of his mother as he, overtaken by instinct, panted feverishly from the mix of lust and pleasure.

Then,the mother yelped as she felt her son's knot enter, but kept on sucking Decland's member till the cat filled her muzzle with his seed.

The feline fell backwards from the sexual release, and the female feral managed to crawl on top of him and lay on his naked chest. Hachiko rested on top of his mother as he nuzzled her close and pawed at his lover's face, prompting the teen to kiss them both.

Decland leaned his head forward and both dogs met his muzzle in a three-way kiss

The three nestledtogether in the soft, cushy grass of the forest and soon fell asleep. The night air was comforting as the full moon lightly illuminated the dark yet cloudless sky. Meanwhile, Exortos sat on the winter king's throne as he gazedinto the orb that was the Ruler of Winter's prison. In front of him, kneeling and clad in black, hooded robes, were his four mightiest warriors. "The Winter Prince may feel confident now, but he is not the only one with four warriors to do his bidding. Tell me, oh fallen King of Winter, do you still feel confident in your mutt of a dragon? You are trapped;the Guardians' castle is now in ruin; and your comrades are mere weeks away from execution. Do you still have even the slightest thought that he can win?" The drained ruler looked defiantly up into the serpent's eyes and declared, "If you did not feel even the slightest chance of your demise, would you be trying so desperately to reinforce your supposed superiority?"

"Oh, I'd save my breath if I were you, Jack Frost. By the rate your powers are going, you don't have many left," the snake-like ruler hissed. The next day, back at the elf village, I woke up to the rays of dawn and smiled at Arbane, who was still beside me

"Good morning, my beloved," he said with a soft, loving smile. "I hope your heart is lighter this morning."

"It is,thank you," I said and kissed his lips.

He accepted the kiss and pulled the younger male to his body. "I have something to tell you. It's about a ritual to fully awaken the abilities of you and your protectors.

"A... ritual?" I asked feeling a little nervous, but being held by the one I loved made me feel better.

"Yes...Some years ago...your father placed some of his powers within me. I've been holding them all this time, and I think you're ready for them..."

I nod and hug Arbane. "But... I don't think I'm ready," I said, feeling uneasy. "It's for that very reason I believe you are," the elf said reassuringly. I look up at him and smile. "I love you, Arbane," I said.

"I love you too, Nathan." The Grand High Elf pulled his beloved into a passionate, loving kiss. "But before the ritual, let's lay here and enjoy the last few silent moments of the morn..."

I noddedand rested my head on his chest.