A/N: The Esca/Marcus is toned down in this chapter a bit. It's still plenty fluffy, but with a little splash of adventure mixed in. Hope you like! This one's a bit longer than the others due to its transitiony-ness.
Love, Requited
Chapter Three: The Journey
Marcus woke slowly, his brain lazily pulling him out of the sweet, warm stupor of sleep. He was harshly greeted by the sound of Stephanos knocking at the bedroom door.
"Masters Marcus and Esca?" The slave's voice was muffled behind the door. Marcus opened his mouth to speak, but with his body not fully escaped from sleep nothing but a dry croak escaped his lips. Apparently, that was greeting enough for Stephanos. "Breakfast is prepared, and in addition a letter from Opulentus has arrived."
That immediately pulled Marcus from his groggy state. News already? he thought. "We'll be down in a moment. Could you slip the letter under the door?" he asked, his voice back in full. Marcus didn't want the slave coming into the room (although he didn't know that Esca had locked the door, which would make it rather difficult for him).
Somehow, despite deciding against making love, he and Esca had managed to lose all of their clothes between last night's caresses. Their tunics, belts, braccae and undergarments lay scattered across the floor, and currently they lay cuddling on Marcus' bed, their naked bodies set flush against each other.
Stephanos spoke, "It's not mine to give, sir. Master Aquila intends to inform you personally over breakfast."
Esca's not going to be happy about that, Marcus thought. He had fleeting visions of Esca's smiling, ecstatic face as he read off the good news, their dreams of running away together enabled. But that wouldn't happen at a table with Uncle. "Tell Uncle we'll be right down," he said, a note of frustration in his voice. The slave shuffled away.
Why can't we just read good news ourselves? It's our future, our dream, he thought. Then his mind suddenly clenched. Stephanos only said 'a letter'... he didn't mention good or bad news. A wave of stinging cold washed over him. Surely he would have mentioned good news if there was any...
But then Marcus felt Esca shift against him, the smaller man's warm body pressing into his. Like sitting near a bonfire, the heat from Esca's furnace of a body slowly washed over him, making the stinging cold disappear.
He smiled. As long as I have Esca, things will be alright no matter what may come. Marcus felt Esca's hand move down across the sheets where his hand was caressing the Briton's defined stomach. They clasped together.
"Good morning, Marcus," Esca said, yawning. He turned over under the blanket and smiled dreamily at his lover. "It sounds like we should head down for breakfast. I want to hear this good news."
Esca thinks it's good news... Marcus thought. "You heard Stephanos?"
"Yes," Esca said, smirking, "I'm quite good at feigning sleep."
"I could tell you were faking anyway," Marcus lied, trying to make a joke, "because I didn't hear your throaty snoring."
Esca blushed. "I don't snore that badly, do I?"
Marcus chuckled. "No, and I don't mind it anyway. I'm used to it and it's good white noise."
Esca tugged on Marcus' hand as he sat up on the bed. "Come on. I'm hungry."
"You and your stomach," Marcus mumbled, idly remembering Esca hungrily biting into a raw rat during their previous adventures. He wasn't very hungry and that image made him slightly queasy.
Esca threw away the blankets and stood naked in the morning light to gather his clothes. His pale body gave off a warm glow in the morning's sunlight. Marcus couldn't help but stare for a few seconds, mouth unhinged and a bit bewildered at Esca's openness. We just slept naked together, he thought, Seeing him naked isn't that much of a leap, you clumsy romantic. Marcus' eyes wandered across his lover's body, from the vivid blue tattoos covering his arm to his speckled shoulders and thin-but-built chest.
"You like what you see, I suppose?" Esca's smile was full of pride. Marcus raced for a lower glimpse before Esca pulled up his braccae and tied them.
Tease.
Marcus, Esca and Uncle Aquila sat together in the dining room, laying lazily on the long couches surrounding the low table and pecking at the fruits and cheeses that Stephanos had laid out in front of them. Esca wore his normal cold glare, like at all other Roman meals, but today it was a bit lighter, and he and Marcus held hands while eating. Esca still refused to look at Uncle, however, for good reason. Marcus clinched slightly at the memory of last night's teases and Esca's burning anger.
Marcus finally broke the quiet after pensive thought. "So, Uncle, Stephanos tells me you've received correspondence from Opulentus?" Esca's expression lightened a bit more.
"Ah, yes... I have it right here." He pulled a roll of parchment from underneath the table and unraveled it. "Considering it was both your business and mine I've refrained from reading it until now, with us all present," Uncle said considerately, clashing with last night's rude remarks.
My uncle... thoughtful for once, Marcus thought. Esca seemed to be thinking the same thing. Is that a smile pulling on the edges of his lips? Indeed, Esca's mouth was now in the slightest possible crescent shape.
"Hmmm..." Uncle smiled as he read silently, and then relinquished the letter to Esca and Marcus. "I gamble a lot, as you both know, and it seems Opulentus has a debt owed to me that he never repaid, and that I forgot about."
Esca's steely eyes and Marcus' brown ones both lit up and smiles spread across their faces. "Do you mean-" Marcus started, before being cut off. A feeling like adrenaline was spreading through him at his sudden excitement.
"A debt about the price of a villa in Lucus Argentus, once one factors in the discount for friendship." Uncle folded his arms. Marcus stammered, and Uncle spoke in his stead. "Say no more. It is my gift to the happy couple, and I shall hear no protest." He laughed softly. "I am truly happy for the both of you and this is how I intend to show it."
Still, Marcus and Esca were speechless, passing cursory glances to one another, but Uncle continued.
"Lucus Argentus is about a two or three-day journey from here. If I were you I'd start packing!"
Finally Marcus found words. "Uncle, I can't be thankful enough."
Esca broke his silence as well, forgetting his usual rule of not speaking at a Roman table. He was beaming. "Myself as well. Truly."
"The way you two will thank me is by never leaving each other's side." Uncle contemplated his next few words, then spoke again. "True love is not to be wasted."
The powerful wave of adrenaline was joined by a heavy warmth in Marcus' chest. "I would never leave him."
Esca had decided he'd broken his silence enough for today, and spoke not, but his expression quite clearly said Neither would I.
Uncle stood up. "Good. Now go, you two, and prepare for your journey! I'll send confirmation to Opulentus. In fact, I think I'll tell him myself. I haven't seen that old dog in quite a while, and I was simply too tired to trek across town last night." Uncle smiled fondly at the thought of his friend. "I'll have Stephanos prepare your horses while you pack your things." He grinned widely again and made a shooing gesture to Marcus and Esca.
They disappeared into the hallway and half-walked, half-ran to their bedroom. Both men were red in the face with joy, and let out shocked, but grateful, guffaws.
"I can't believe this is finally happening," Esca said, taking in a breath sharply as he pushed open the bedroom door. "I love you so much." His wide, loving smile smothered his face as Marcus hugged him.
"And now we can spend the rest of our lives together, independently." Marcus could barely breathe, a numbing, warm tingle coming over all of his body parts as he embraced the man he loved. "But however, we must get ready to go." Slowly they fell apart, and still overcome by loving joy, they began to pack clothing and supplies for their journey into Cambria, to Lucus Argentus, their new home.
Clothing, tent, food, wine, money... In his head, Marcus ran over what he packed in his bags while he and Esca dragged all their belongings outside to the villa's courtyard. Marcus squinted in the bright light of midday, and then saw before him Audaculus and Tapaidh lashed together, pulling a sizable wooden cart.
"Part of your Uncle's gift," Stephanos proclaimed, seeing Marcus' gaze to the cart as Esca began to load his things into it. The slave stood by them, seemingly out of nowhere.
Though he was not sure from where, Marcus felt a sudden pang of loss cross his chest. Last time seeing old Stephanos. Even though the slave was crotchety and occasionally a bother, Marcus had grown attached to him in his weeks at Uncle's villa. "Stephanos, I'll miss you."
Stephanos looked shocked for a moment, then simply smiled. "I was proud to serve you, Master Marcus."
Marcus chuckled. "There's no need for 'Master' anymore, Stephanos. I'm not your master any longer. I wish for you to see and greet me as a friend."
"Any friend or relative of Master Aquila's is a master of mine, sir. But I am happy that you see me as your friend." Stephanos seemed a bit out of character, a sort of sorrowful cheeriness coming over him. Marcus felt the tiniest bit crestfallen at Stephanos' response, but smiled all the same. He's Uncle's man through and through.
Esca walked over, having finished loading his things, and offered his hand to Stephanos, who took it and shook curtly. He had always envied Esca to a degree, what with his newfound freedom, but served him just as unswaveringly.
Esca tugged on Marcus' hand and helped him pull his bags to the cart, and together they loaded the last of their luggage, lashing it down. Just as Marcus slid atop Audaculus, Esca handed him his centurion's gladius, its long blade sheathed and attached to a shoulder sash. "You never know if we'll run into thieves or robbers." Marcus nodded and slipped the sword on as he watched Esca slide his quiver over his own shoulder, and strapped his bow to Tapaidh's side. He climbed atop the horse and moved to crack the reins, when a voice came from behind them.
"Marcus! Esca!" They turned, and Marcus turned to see Uncle standing next to an enormously old and fat man, whose belly rivaled that of the most volumptuous pregnant women. "You're not going to leave without a final goodbye!" He was smiling, and then gestured to the fat man. "This is Opulentus! I thought he'd like to meet his new lodgers! Opulentus, this is Marcus," he pointed to Marcus, "and this is Esca," he pointed to Esca.
Opulentus smiled and waved. "I think you'll find Lucus Argentus to be well suited to your needs! It is an honor to meet you both." He bowed, then turned and whispered to Uncle, his large belly shaking softly as he turned his sandaled feet.
They jabbered away in quick Latin, but Marcus couldn't hear any of their mumbles. Opulentus was giggling, and suddenly he heard Uncle's voice cut through. "-yes, they are together; been ogling eachother for months... hardly hid it...-" Marcus blushed and turned to Esca, who apparently had heard the same thing. His face was twisted into that unfortunately familiar, angry shape, and he cracked Tapaidh's reins.
The two horses began to trot slowly, and the crack shook Uncle and Opulentus from their whispered musings. "Wait!" Uncle yelled, running behind them. "You don't even know how to get there, you fools!" He held out a roll of parchment as he reached them. He handed the parchment to Marcus, who began to blush deeper as he realized that they indeed had had no directions. "Those will get you there in three days, tops."
Marcus turned to Uncle and smiled feebly. "So this is goodbye... I can't thank you enough for all you've done for us."
Uncle's gaze lowered as he chuckled. "As I said, true love is something I hate to see wasted. Thank me by never leaving eachother's sides." He held out his hand to Marcus, then to Esca, and they both shook tightly. "But don't forget to have fun! Now be off! And write often!"
Marcus and Esca were smiling as Esca cracked the reins again, and Audaculus and Tapaidh carried them through the gates of Calleva and onto the road beyond, the rolling, green glens of Britannia waiting before them, basking under the ever-feebler rays of the late autumn sun.
"You are the worst navigator in all of Rome," Esca muttered, frustratedly. They had been on the road for nearly seven hours, and now trot through a thick forest, its age-old trees towering high above them, their leaves in various stages of decay, from green to yellow, to red to brown. The sun was beginning to slide out of the sky, ever earlier, casting orange rays to the two men, who passed the same thicket of leaveless oaks for the third time.
"Esca, it's not my fault they decided to put a loop in the road," Marcus said, retaining his composure. Our dreams are coming true, Esca, he thought. Now's no time to fight. It had been a while since they had seen any signs of human activity, aside from the forest road, having passed through a small village for dinner an hour ago. Marcus had offered to stay the night in the inn where they ate, but Esca said he wanted to press on, and stated his preference, as a Brigante, to sleeping outside in a tent. "Besides, Esca, I gave you the directions as soon as we left the town."
"But you pulled the horses onto the wrong path twice, despite what I said." They came to a fork in the road, and Esca haughtily tugged the reins to the right. "Now we're going the right way, Marcus." His voice lightened a bit. "I'm sorry for bursting out."
"It's understandable," Marcus said, though he was still a little hurt. "We need to stop and rest soon; we're both weary," he said, as the feeble sunbeams became red, turning the sky crimson and purple as night began to descend on them.
Marcus saw the edge of the forest ahead, and a wave of relief washed over him, mixed in with a splash of shame. This is the right path... Good thing I had Esca with me. I might have disappeared from the face of the Earth. He paused in thought and glanced to Esca, whose smile was back and expression had lifted fully. I'd never go anywhere without him. Marcus edged his hand from Audaculus' neck and placed it on Esca's. "If it hadn't been for my getting us lost, this would have been a very romantic place." Esca laughed as he intertwined their hands.
Marcus felt that same numbing tingle and began to lean toward Esca, and their soft lips met. For a moment, encased in the mesmerizing kiss, they forgot about the forest and road and basked in eachother.
But then a scream shot through the air and rocked them back into reality. They whipped apart, eyes searching for the source of the violation. "There!" Esca hollered, and Marcus followed the point of his finger to a spot about a quarter mile further ahead. A small horsedrawn cart, like theirs, except with only one horse, was stopped in the road. Marcus saw three figures, what looked like two men and a woman. One of the men was holding something long and glinting at the female figure.
A sword, the realization shot through his mind.
Before Esca realized what was going on, Marcus cracked Audaculus' reins and urged the horse faster, and soon they were sprinting up the road. Esca looked bewildered for a moment, but then saw the three figures ahead and understood. They came closer and closer, and Marcus could hear the swordbearing man's shouts. "Stand and deliver!" he said.
Highwayman! Marcus thought, pulling the reins taught and jumping from Audaculus as he came to a halt. Esca jumped off too, and grabbed his bow from Tapaidh's side, loading it. Marcus drew his gladius and ran ahead, Esca not far behind. "Thief! Stand down in the name of Rome!" The highwayman backed away. "Leave these fair citizens to their business!"
The highwayman spoke, daringly. "And on whose authority do you command me?"
Marcus extended his gladius further, but Esca spoke, his bow taut. "Marcus Flavius Aquila stands before you," he said, "one of the few Romans to survive Caledonia, and the recoverer of the Eagle Standard of the Ninth Legion, and former Commander of said Legion, reformed."
At Esca's words, the highwayman dropped his sword and ran to his horse a few feet offroad, a terrified look covering his once proud face. He cracked the horse's reins and shot off into the distance.
Esca lowered his bow and Marcus slid his gladius back into its sheath. He turned to the two figures by their cart. A woman and man stood before them, the woman with dark, curling hair, brown eyes, and olive skin, and the man with blond hair, green eyes and pale skin. The woman looked dumbfounded, a shocked expression covering her face. "Marcus Aquila?" Marcus' brow furrowed, confused, and the woman's shocked expression furthered. "All of Britannia knows your name! The man who brought back the Eagle!" Marcus smiled slightly.
"It's not safe to travel unarmed," Marcus said, turning to the man beside the woman. He picked up the highwayman's sword and handed it to him. "Keep it with you." The man's hair was blonde like Esca's, and he had the same high cheekbones and pointed chin, though his head was more squat. His eyes were a vivid, piercing green like the first grasses of spring. He looked scared.
Esca spoke, looking at the blond man as well. "What is your name, traveller?" Esca's accented Latin seemed to shake away some of the fear in his eyes.
"Janus Aquarius." Janus' words were accented like Esca's. "And this is my wife, Lucia, and our daughter, Aelia." For the first time, Marcus noticed the bundle of blankets in Lucia's arms, and indeed a small, delicate face poked out from their top.
Something's not right, Marcus thought. He was suspicious of this man. I just can't place it.
"What is your name?" Janus asked, stepping forward a bit, staring at Esca, the man he resembled. He seemed to be searching for some long-gone memory.
"Esca MacCunoval, son to Cunoval of the Brigantes, and companion of Marcus Aquila." Marcus felt the warm tingle fleetingly. "Now I'm going to ask you again, sir," Esca said, changing to Gaelic, "Cad is ainm duit?"
He's a Briton! Marcus thought, recognizing the language.
Janus' eyes widened, and he spoke quickly in Gaelic. "Táim Nechtan MacLorcan. Tá mé ó do fine, agus go bhfuil tú mo Prionsa." Janus bowed deeply and then smiled cheekily.
"What's going on with Janus?" Marcus asked Esca.
"He's a Brigante, and his name's not Janus," Esca said excited. Esca threw open his arms and ran towards the blond man, nearly knocking him over with his hug. "Nechtan! Tá sé dom! Esca!"
"A fhios agam!"
Suddenly both men were laughing happily. When they finally fell apart both Esca and the other man were smiling.
Marcus was still confused, until the other man spoke. "I'm Nechtan, a very good, very old friend of Esca's." The two men stood, arms over shoulders.
"Then why did you call yourself Janus?"
"I'm not exactly the type who brushes shoulders well with everyone. I've got to be careful where I tread." He paused. "I was sold into slavery just like Esca, but I tricked my master into giving me freedom. He's sent his men looking for me so we keep moving just to be safe. Janus Aquarius is my cover name."
Esca and Nechtan were still jabbering away in Gaelic, and several times Nechtan blushed or laughed, with the occasional interested glance to Marcus.
"I'm just as surprised as you, sir," Lucia said, and Marcus turned to her. Her dark black hair, olive skin and brown eyes were a clear indication. She was as Roman as they come. "I knew my husband was a Briton, but I didn't think we'd run into any old friends along the way." She too was smiling and chuckling. "They seem very glad to have remet, sir."
"What's with the 'sir'?" Marcus asked, slightly uncomfortable. "That's not needed. Just call me Marcus."
"I apologize, Marcus," she said, "It's just... meeting someone as famous as you, and having him save your life? It's not at all something I expected."
"Aww, come on now Lucia, don't blow his head up too big," Nechtan said, making Marcus blush slightly. Esca and Lucia laughed as they shook hands.
"It's my pleasure," Esca said. "Where are you headed?"
"Well," Lucia said, "we've decided to settle down. We can't keep running around the country with little Aelia. She needs a place to call home."
"So," Nechtan picked up, "we're going to one of the new towns in Cambria. Lucus Argentus."
Esca and Marcus both smiled, and glanced at eachother. "That's where we're going!" they said, in unison.
Nechtan's mouth dropped and he laughed. "You're kidding!"
Marcus and Esca just smiled. Esca piped up, "Come on. Why would I lie?" The sky was almost fully black now. "Come on, let's make camp. It's dark." Esca led the horses off the road and unpacked a tent. Marcus helped him set it up while Nechtan scurried away for firewood, and Lucia nursed the suddenly-crying baby Aelia.
A few minutes later, the fivesome had made a proper camp. Two tents stood close to eachother, a fire crackling in front of them, and the three horses grazed by moonlight, tied to a lonely tree. Nechtan and Lucia told them of their adventures and their forbidden love, as Lucia was the daughter of a high-class noble, and Nechtan her father's friend's slave. They told of their clever tricks to get Nechtan's master to set him free (although they did not divulge this secret fully), and then told of their romantic adventures through Britannia as they escaped together.
As it turns out, Nechtan was a distant marital relation of Esca's. Esca's father was Cunoval, King of the Brigantes, and Cunoval's uncle Drosten's second wife's brother had a son named Lorcan, who was Nechtan's father. Esca and Nechtan told endless tales of their adventures as children, and Marcus couldn't help but feel the tiniest bit jealous.
Keep it together, Marcus thought, Nechtan's just a friend. But he couldn't help the prickling jealously.
Nechtan spoke, "So, Marcus. Where does a goodlooking man like yourself stand with the ladies?" Marcus froze and glanced to Esca, whose expression was turning stony. "I know Esca here was never too good with girls." Esca feigned a smile and playfully punched Nechtan.
Marcus stuttered. "I don't get around much with women," he said plainly, and truthfully. Lucia and Nechtan giggled, and seemingly on cue, but most likely from seeing her mother laugh, Aelia joined in.
"Oh come now, Marcus. Famous Marcus Aquila isn't sharing his bed with anyone?" Nechtan pried.
He seems more open with Romans than Esca, Marcus thought, filing that notion away. His expression lightened. He glanced to Esca, silently asking for permission as he gazed into his storm-colored eyes. In a tiny motion, Esca nodded almost imperceptibly. Marcus eyes glinted and he spoke. "I didn't say I wasn't sharing my bed with anyone."
"Oooh," cooed Lucia, "Do we have someone who fancies the men here?"
Marcus felt a bit of pride fill him as he saw Esca grin. "Yes, in fact. One man in particular..." He shuffled over to where Esca sat next to Nechtan and sat as well. He took Esca's hand in his and leaned in, giving him a chasté kiss on the cheek. Marcus felt Esca's hand grab hold of his cheek and he pulled Marcus close, and Esca kissed him on the lips. The two men felt the lightning sensation shoot through them, and their mouths fell open as they kissed, tongues exploring each other's mouths as they seemingly forgot Nechtan, Lucia, Aelia and the campground.
Nechtan and Lucia's mouths were wide as the men fell away from eachother, and Lucia cat-called quickly, making Esca laugh. Nechtan patted Esca on the back. "So that finally explains it..."
"Nice choice," Lucia said. "You two make a good couple."
Marcus yawned and nodded, a warm heavy fuzziness filling his chest, warmer than the coals in the now-dying fire. "Thanks." Esca's hand held Marcus' a bit more firmly as he turned and stared lovingly again into Marcus' deep brown eyes, that same, familiar loving smile curved across his mouth. "I think it's time for bed," Marcus mused, his eyes not dropping their steady gaze into Esca's blue-grey eyes.
Nechtan chuckled. "Riiiiiight..." Nechtan winked slyly at Marcus as he stood up and offered Lucia his hand. She pulled herself up, gingerly cradling the now-sleeping Aelia, and they retired to their tent. "Dea-oíche!" Nechtan called in Gaelic from in the tent.
Esca stood and pulled Marcus to his feet with him, and pulled open the flap to their tent. They lay down on the blankets and furs Esca snuggled close into Marcus' body, and Marcus wrapped his hands around his lover's middle.
"You know," Marcus whispered, "Sometime I'd like to be the one that gets held."
"No," Esca said, somehow nudging their bodies closer together, "You're too big. Besides, I like it like this."
"Why?"
"Because I feel safe in your arms." The hot feeling in Marcus' chest sagged down more, and his hands tingled with loving contentedness as they wrapped tighter on Esca's middle as sleep slowly called them away.
The next morning passed remarkably fast, from eating a breakfast of dried fruits with Esca, Nechtan and Lucia and packing up camp to being on the road again. Lucia sat, holding tiny Aelia, behind Nechtan on his large, grey steed, pulling their cart as they rode behind Esca and Marcus, Tapaidh and Audaculus pulling their cart.
Although they were in the company of friends, the ride was incredibly dull as they rode across rolling treeless hills, expanding as far as the eye can see. Neither highwaymen nor game nor even weather were there to provide distraction, as the sun had chosen to hide away behind a thick covering of overcast clouds, making the autumn day grey and shadowless. Marcus' bad leg ached in the high-pressure air.
Marcus was thankful as they finally come to a village to stop for a meal in the early afternoon, though the only eating establishment was a very shady inn, half of which was a veritable brothel. After several drunk men, subsequently intimidated by Esca's bow and Nechtan's sword, tried to woo Lucia, and an invasive prostitute did everything she tried to attract Marcus' attention, even nearly dancing in his lap, the fivesome left, disgusted, and continued into the forest.
"At least we ate," Marcus said, though he was still bitter about the prostitute.
The afternoon turned into much of the same, although another encounter with a highwayman added some excitement. Marcus simply had to unsheathe his sword and state his name before the thief scampered off over the moor.
More hours passed, and the sky started to be tinged with red from the hidden sun behind the clouds. They reached the crest of a hill, looking down as the expanse of rolling green stopped at the edge of a forest half a mile ahead. Lucia suddenly cried out, "Mountains!" Indeed, in the far distance they could see a set of crested peaks, and the collective mood of the group started to lift.
"We must have made very good time," Esca said. "We should be in Lucus Argentus by this time tomorrow."
"Then again, it's you who's navigating now," Marcus joked, and Esca chuckled. "We should make camp here," he added. They pulled off the road and Marcus started setting up tents with Lucia as Esca and Nechtan disappeared into the forest ahead on a hunt before Marcus could say a word. He had not hunted in weeks, and wanted to go, but the slow aching pain in his leg limited him.
Esca and Nechtan returned an hour later, a small boar spread over Esca's back. Nechtan cut it open and cleaned it deftly, his knife making extremely accurate cuts with much finesse. Marcus was impressed as he watched; he had hunted all his life as well, and was never able to clean any animal that precisely.
Esca was tending to the tiny fire in the firepit Marcus had built, and nursed it slowly into a respectable blaze as Nechtan finished cutting all the meat from the tiny boar.
"Dinner!" Nechtan said, impaling a slice of meat on a long stake he retrieved from his cart, and handed the remaining stakes to the others as they gathered around the firepit, and they lowered their meat over the fire.
"You haven't yet told us of your travels in Alba," Nechtan said, slowly rotating his meat. "Regail us."
So Marcus and Esca recounted to them the story of their adventure, from the arena, to the wall, to the Seal People, to finding and returning the Eagle standard of the Ninth Legion.
"So, Marcus," Lucia asked, as she bit at the final pieces of her pork, "What's your business in Lucus Argentus? You never told us."
Marcus was thoroughly chewing through a bit of overcooked meat, then swallowed. "Same as yours, I suppose. Esca and I are settling down."
"I thought Esca said you two had only been together for a week or so," Nechtan said.
Even that's an overestimation, Marcus thought.
Eska spoke. "Officially, yes, I suppose. But we've loved eachother for a lot longer than that and were simply overcome by the fear we might be rejected by one another. So it feels a lot longer than a week." Lucia and Nechtan looked confused and Esca nodded to show that he understood. "I know, it sounds weird and complicated but," Esca slipped his hand into Marcus' and he glanced quickly up to Marcus, "we know it's true love and we know we can find a way to make it work."
Nechtan smiled widely and Lucia chuckled. Marcus gave her an inquisitive but playful fake glare, and she chuckled harder. "Sorry! It's just... you two are too cute and perfect for eachother. I can't help it!"
"Too cute you say?" Esca quipped playfully. "What do you think of that, Marcus?"
"I think you're too cute, mi flor," Marcus said, a cheesy grin taking over his face.
Esca couldn't help but laugh and leaned in close, "Give the nice lady a show, shall we?"
Marcus smirked as their lips touched again and immediately the numb, warm tingle spread out from his lips and cheeks through his chest and into his entire body. Esca's tongue traced across his lip and Marcus opened his mouth, letting Esca enter him.
Lucia gasped out of shock and joy, but once more Esca and Marcus forgot about her and were enveloped in eachother. Marcus ran his hands through Esca's soft, thick hair and could feel Esca give a tiny moan of pleasure.
"Oi!" Nechtan called out, clapping his hands, "Come off it!" He was laughing as Marcus and Esca fell from their kiss, still clinging to eachother. Lucia was still laughing, but her face was blushed, the deep pink lit by the orange light of the fire, and Nechtan grinned widely as Marcus and Esca turned to face him.
"Tomorrow's the day when all four of us start brand new lives," Esca said, smiling as well, "I think that's a good purpose for celebration.
Nechtan cocked his head and nodded, "I suppose so." He saw the truth in Esca's words and turned to his wife. "For being husband and wife, we're being beat by these bastards in the romantics department."
Lucia turned to Marcus and Esca, who had already fallen back into their kiss, and she turned to her husband. "C'mere." She leaned close into Nechtan and their faces nearly touched. All was quiet except for little Aelia's breathing, shrouded in blankets and sleeping warmly a few feet away, and the sounds of Marcus and Esca's ministrations. Her deep brown eyes stared into Nechtan's cutting green ones and before they knew it they too were kissing deeply as the fire died between the two couples.
A/N: GOD THAT CHAPTER WAS A BITCH! Whooo. Okay, hope you liked it! I'm sorry if the second day seemed kind of rushed, it's just that there's not a lot of important things that happened then. Fourth chapter soon!
Translations (again this is translator-Gaelic to it could be horribly incorrect): "Cad is ainm duit?" means "What is your name?" "Táim Nechtan MacLorcan. Tá mé ó do fine, agus go bhfuil tú mo Prionsa," means "I am Nechtan MacLorcan. I'm from your tribe, and you are my prince." "Nechtan! Tá sé dom! Esca!" means "Nechtan! It's me! Esca!" "A fhios agam!" means "I know!" "Dea-oíche!" means "Good night!"