A sweet morning breeze, scents of pine and earth, mixed with dew and wafted along as a divine perfume; the sun had at last freed itself from the clouds, and dispelled the gray that had for the past few days besieged the heavens. The sounds of birds and bells were soft in sleepy ears, still a bit muffled as he woke. He stretched and wriggled about, the sheets tickling his bare skin and causing him to shudder. Damned room is always so cold.

"Ah, you've awakened. I was beginning to wonder if you ever would." There was that voice again, that familiar resonant voice introducing him to yet another morning-after. He often wondered what he was doing there, wondered how he was able to be seduced by a man as unnerving, as dubious as Walter. How could he end up in another man's bed night after night, his own lord's nonetheless? It must have been blasphemous and God must have hated it, and as much as he damned himself for it, it was beyond his control, beyond mortal control. Walter unfortunately possessed his own fiery brand of dastardly charm, and was prone to using it to get his way in most, if not all situations. Joachim could recall many a time when local lords and their ladies would come to call, and in the morning either of whom would return from his chambers, hair mussed and skin rosy. Likely though, and with any luck, the young knight's pride would eventually hit its breaking point, releasing him from this spell, this binding of consciousness. It was an eager hope, anyway. He yawned and rubbed his eyes, the light stinging as Walter drew back the burgundy drapes further.

"Uh…yes." His flesh took on a kind of radiance in the sunlight; the pallor of it seemed to both absorb and reflect the sun's rays, affording him a glow fitting of a saint. His lord knelt down beside the bed, shamelessly taking another opportunity to touch him; he whispered softly as his rough lips moved on the neck below him.
"Mmmmm…another night well spent." All Joachim could do was offer a sad smile, one that faded into the light that played on his face. It was then that he truly realized, for the first time, the nature of his plight. Until he was struck down by an enemy or by God Himself, here he would be forced to play the part of both steadfast protector, and fragile lover; there had been a time when he found this paradox amusing, but these days it seemed to distress him. However, he was not about to let him know that. He smirked at the scarlet-haired man and sat up, preparing to retrieve his clothing from the floor.
"Don't children get tired of playing with the same doll over and over again?" But Walter was not interested in letting him get away just yet, pinning him back down.
"What else I am to do when the doll keeps returning to my bed?"
"Uh…" Joachim blushed in spite of himself. Damn him.
"Come now, it's not like you to be speechless. What is weighing on your mind?"
"Nothing…in particular."
"But certainly something."
"Nothing worth sharing."
"Hmmm, this wouldn't have anything to do with our conversation yesterday, would it?"
Joachim sighed, and shook his head. But Walter knew him better.
"You asked about my family, and no, I did not reply…because it was too painful to."
"Too painful? May I ask what happened?" The lord looked towards the window, drawing a single deep breath before he continued.
"I had a wife and child once, though the child was unborn…when they both died. My wife was stricken with a mysterious sickness, and when she died I lost my child as well."
"I'm sorry. I…" Walter took his knight's hand, and held it tightly.
"Don't be. It happened so long ago it seems. I have missed them, and there are days that I can't speak to anyone or leave my chambers. But I have moved on with my life, and am content with it as it stands. After all, I'm not alone—I have you by my side."
"I see." Maybe it was the way his eyes looked then, or the way he held onto his hand so deliberately, but Joachim could sense something troubling. As they sat in an uncomfortable silence, the morning bells began to knoll, and the clopping of hooves grew louder. Suddenly releasing Joachim's hand from his, Walter flicked his wrist dismissively.
"You should go see your family now. I've business to attend to."
"Yes, sir." As he gathered his clothing, Joachim wondered aloud if such a fickle nature was learned or inborn.Walter either did not hear his words, or simply ignored them.