Chapter 1

Bucky and Steve leave their hometown to travel North east to Essex. Set in the 1500's of the Medieval Period

1508 Spring Solstice

There was something in the air. It felt strong, enough to tear one's soul wide open and see the world more clearly than the day prior. Steve and Bucky were on a wagon headed north. It was the beginning of a journey towards a different life; one of freedom, passion, and independence. They two of them had no expectations, but only a few gold pieces, hardened bread, whiskey, trinkets, and each other's company.

Bucky smiled and exclaimed lightly, "Oh Brother Steve! Are you ready to go?"

Steve displayed little to no excitement. He somberly packed the last of his belonging in the back of the wagon. Steve looked up again to see the sincerity of Bucky, the genuine joy beneath his smirk. Steve told himself 'I need to lighten up.'

Steve twitched his head down, suppressing his treacherous fears. He looked up at Bucky sitting on the wagon chair, faked a grin while stating, "Bucky, I'm ready."

Steve threw his leather bag into the wagon and pulled himself on the front wagon seat beside Bucky. Bucky flashed another grin at Steve, lovingly patted him on the back and declared, "Oh good. For, these journeys are far greater with company as such."

Steve replied, "Yes, I feel better alongside you too."

Bucky whipped his reigns, clicked his mouth, and then shouted to the horses, "Yee-haw! Come on, Yee-haw! We are off! Whoooo!"

Steve chuckled to himself, soaking in the presence of his friend in his playful, optimism of the road ahead.

Immediately, the rumble of the churning wheels vibrated through their entire body. The sound of crushing rocks under the wheels, with magic of such an environment invigorated their senses. The magic of Winter transforming into Spring was nothing but alchemy from the gods. The green forest, chirping birds, deer, and waterfalls that could be heard on their trek to a new life.

Steve's eyes, watched as Bucky's eyes were sucked in with his surroundings and the road ahead. Each moment forward Bucky grew in anticipation. Whereas Steve, felt his body lean back. Steve whipped his head back and saw his own century old, family cottage full of nostalgia, comfort, and tradition in rural Devonshire. He saw it shrink in size and the memories of pain that were also present shrunk. Friends in the same space, with two very different ways of going forward.

Steve felt his body painfully clench and as Bucky sat back into his power he noticed his friend's deep discomfort and skepticism, "Steve, I see your apprehension, what's the matter?"

Steve jumped, he had no idea how obvious his outer appearance mirrored his deepest fears, "Bucky, it's nothing."

Bucky breathed a small smile, but he knew his defensive mechanism would fall soon. Bucky started calmly, "Steve, I'm not convinced that's the truth brother."

Steve wiggled his body trying to escape something, yet his guard fell down, "Bucky, I don't know if I can do this. I have never done anything like this."

Bucky heard his friend's concerns. He looked at Steve with strength, whereas Steve looked like he might pass out. He firmly stated, "Steve, if you are afraid, you can know this – I am too. But, this is us now Steve."

Bucky looked back on the road and began, "And look at you, you found a part within you that was courageous enough to walk with me on this journey. I beg of you to see that."

Steve closed his eyes and smeared his lips together, mouth tightly closed. Then, he allowed a deep breathe full of his present fears vanish into oblivion. Another breathe escaped him, he began, "Bucky..." He sounded so small for such a man as him.

"Bucky, we don't have anything. We are not soldiers, wealthy, royalty, or men of property. We are going into a town with people and culture we are frightfully unacquainted with. What if we get robbed? What if we are out casted? What if..."

As Steve rambled on into a spiral of doubts, Bucky stopped him, "Please Steve, stop." He cut Steve off, in exasperation he roughly started, "Steve, you are right. There are challenges ahead, but look again. We have no idea what to expect."

He paused, softened his tone to uplift Steve, "From our hometown, we know that Essex is in high demand for blacksmiths, soldiers and horseman. We have more opportunities for wealth and others have noted the beauty held within such a space. Don't forget, us lads are devilishly handsome to any fine lady in Essex."

Steve did not appear at ease. Rather he felt more disappointed and then, shook his head and spoke from a space of strength and pain, "Bucky, I thought I told you, my fighting days are behind me."

Bucky gaped, in shock he began, "Brother, during the Oxford shire uprising, you were the best in our county. Not of strength, but of character. I would hate to see you waste away."

Steve distastefully shook his head, with disappointment filling his body, he said, "I can't. I just can't."

Bucky responded, "I know, there is no rush."

Bucky knew how much depth was contained within the word soldier. Being a solider was something Steve never discussed, it was his skeleton in an ancient closet. But, Bucky dropped the subject.

Steve solemnly said, "Thanks."

Bucky swiftly changed the mood, "There's a bottle of whiskey behind you. I would give it a try! How about that?"

Steve said, "Alright then."

Steve took a giant gulp, then coughed, choked, and shook his head from the shock of liquor in his system. Bucky amusingly gaped at his friend's state, Bucky slowly grabbed the jar of whiskey and said, "And allow me to lighten the load."

He agreeably handed the liquor to Bucky, "Take it."

Bucky grabbed it, swung it back, and squinted with a sour face and shouted, "Ohhff, that's strong!"

As the liquor began to settle in, Steve began to settle down, stopped talking and absorbed the full moment. Whereas, Bucky began to become more vocal and expressive. He began to sing

Oh the wrenches from my town

Town of golden, green, colored hue

How we see you sing! We see you dance!

And that's a pleasantry!

The Cornish lady holds out her hand,

Oh dearest, I held it true,

The dove draped in blue

Sings to my Valentine rouge

My heart, my heap of gold, in my chest

My lady you

My lady you

In hands, and in the eyes to me, I see the beauty true

Bucky burped and then laughed, "I'm so happy Steve."

Steve just laughed at his friend's drunken state, foolish grin, absurd poetry, and bubbling burps. Steve said, "I am too Bucky."

By night fall, the found a space in the forest for them to stop, set up camp and sleep for the night.