Bois sprang over the bed grasping his sword. "Stay here love," Bois dashed from the room down to where Lakshee had chosen as her own space. She came hurtling down the hall in her undertunic. Bois quickly turned his sword away, fearing impaling the terrified young woman. "What are you doing?" Lakshee looked up shocked that Teeye was at his side. The monk placed a hand on the sword arm that was near to severing his arm. "I told you to stay there."
Teeye lowered his brows at Bois, "Are you alright?" Teeye asked Lakshee holding her close while she sobbed. "What happened?" Bois stormed down the hall fuming, he kicked the door open. In the darkness, he could barely see as his eyes adjusted to the moonlight he realized he was in what could have been a child's room further cementing his thoughts on Lakshee resembling a child of his people. He pulled the curtain aside allowing moonlight into the dark room. He peered under the bed as well as in an alcove covered by a ratty blanket full of clothes and toys. Boise left the room to find the hallway deserted. He saw the flickering of a candle in his and Teeye's room.
"He was just standing there, over the bed," Lakshee sobbed. "Staring at me, an old man." Bois held himself from snatching Lakshee away from where she clung to Teeye burying her face in his chest. The thin robe he wore for nighttime clung to his form wet from her copious tears. "My brother used to hold me like this," She sniffled, the last of her words muffled against the soft, fragrant cloth.
"Nothing is in there," Bois pulled her away from Teeye turning a frown to the monk. Teeye nibbled his lip wondering at Bois's displeasure.
"I was not even asleep yet, so I know it was not a dream," Lakshee insisted. "I saw him, I swear it."
"There is no one here," Bois affirmed as he sheathed his sword. He reached to place it on the sheath he carried on his back shaking his head to realize that he was in his loincloth.
"No one living," Teeye grew quiet. He closed his eyes, tilting his head back. Bois stared at the slim line of the monk's neck. He could almost see the faint remains of the mark that he had left there. "It is faint. He was powerful in life, powerful enough to hide from me in death. He is sorry he frightened you, he was looking for me." Teeye gasped as the message left him. "He must rest and will be back. He knows where to find me now."
"I told you there was someone there," Lakshee glowered at Bois. For the first time, she looked at Teeye fully noting his loose hair mussed she blushed looking away. "I did not mean to disturb your rest. If you are sure it is safe, I will go back to my room."
Bois nodded as she left the room. "Keep your sword at the ready," He commanded.
"What good would it do against a ghost?" Lakshee called back. "Tell him, when he comes back, that I am sorry that I screamed." Lakshee left the room in a hurry. All she could do was hope that Teeye would be able to walk in the morning.
Teeye startled at the loud bang of the door. He pushed his hair back from where it had covered his face. He lay back on the bed feeling a terrible fear overcome him as Bois approached the bed. Bois blew the candle out and then stormed over. "Why are you upset?" Teeye backed away from the towering behemoth.
"I know that I should not be," Bois clenched his fist at his side. "You do not understand. So I will not hold it against you."
"What have I done?" Teeye wiped tears from his face.
"I will never hold another as I hold you," Bois knelt at the side of the bed holding Teeye's hands in his. "I love you. I am in love with you. And I know that you do not understand all that entails."
"She was upset, my intentions were pure." Teeye sniffled.
"I know," Bois brought his lips to Teeye sinking into their softness. "This is not your problem, it is mine. I apologize if I frightened you." Bois lay beside Teeye on the bed. "May I hold you?"
"Will you tell me?" Teeye scooted in having enjoyed the warmth of the large body pressed close to his own.
Bois sighed. He placed a kiss on the temple of Teeye's head rubbing the silken fall of gold against his lips. "In my village, if we were on long treks, no one would think twice about seeing to another warrior's needs, it was just the way things were done. Yet in the village, to be devoted to another man was not as accepted. I had one, that I loved. His name is Stephin. I mean, if he is still alive. I thought he loved me as well. Yet he went with a woman and wed her. He denied my claims of our love before all. I chose to leave to find water, rather than see him with her. I know now, that what I felt for him, was love but what I feel for you, is deeper. I admire you. You tried to save all, even those that meant you harm. Your beauty is not just on the outside." Teeye accepted the kiss. He knew his body was not fully healed yet he would not resist. "I will just hold you," Bois promised.
"And I will never hold another," Teeye vowed. He gasped as Bois held him tight pressing kisses to his head, his cheeks, his lips. Teeye wondered as his heart pounded... was this love?
