Chapter 22

Honored Heroes

The whole village heard of the victory over the demon that had plagued their lives for so long, that the party went on for weeks. The tale of the lion and wolf was told so many times that nobody was telling it right anymore. Some say that there were more monsters than you could count, some say that main monster was so big that it couldn't fit inside of the mountain but all agree that Halt and Gilan were the ones that defeated them on their own.

The village decided that they were going to have some kind of award ceremony for the two of them even though they had said that having their new home for free was thanks enough, but Chase did not agree nor did many of the others. They thought it took great skill to take down the creature and all their arguing was not going to change their minds on the matter, for Halt and Gilan just like all rangers didn't want the award that they wanted to give them, they just wanted to live in peace now.

The only one that did agree with their view was Will, but he rarely stayed in their presence anymore. His wounds had healed but his heart had not. Halt knew that it was going to take time for those pains to die and that he was going to have to spend a lot more time with him to help him get over all of it.

For Will had found out that what Panis Rauly did and what the Witch had done was the same thing. They had taken Will's life force by force to feed the monster, to keep it alive. Why they did this was known only to them and was now not likely to ever be answered.

"Halt they want us up at the main house, something to do with the award, I think" said Gilan.

Halt sighed, he had his arms around a sleeping boy, who had needed him so much last night, like he could not get enough. They had made love all night long and even now they were still connected not wanting to loose what they had felt last night for anything in the world.

"Can't you do it by yourself?"Halt asked Gilan. He whispered not wanting to wake Will, the young man was still sound asleep but he knew it would not be to much longer and Halt hoped that when he when he did they could carry on where they left off.

"no not this time Halt"said Gilan looking at the two of them, knowing that if he had a lover he was sure he would not want to leave them alone at a time like this either.

"All right but give me some time to get dressed etc, and I must make sure that Will is all right, he has been acting a little strange lately"Halt said tightening his hold on Will.

"Fine I will leave you to your etc, but I had better see you soon and if I don't I will come for you, birthday suit or not"Gilan said before leaving the room.

Halt knew he was serious but he also knew that Will could not be alone right now. Some thing was very wrong and Halt did not want Will to deal with it by himself. Will had him to talk too and he was going to be there for him when he did.

Halt started to feel Will, so he slowly pulled his member out of the boy, earning himself a so moan and a flutter of eyelids before Will opened his eyes. Halt gently brushed the soft brown hair out Will's eyes before kissing his lips. Will's expression was one of peace some thing he had not felt in a while.

For most of the long days and nights that Halt had not been with him, Will had kept busy, he did not want to think of how the magic users had used him, abused him, twisted him and deceived him. It would hammer away at him only allowing him brief spells of rest and only now in the last day did he realize that he need Halt as much as possible to chase the dark thoughts away from his mind.

"Will I must leave you after breakfast"Halt said, it was his way of apolizing for saying it in the first place.

Will knew that he could not help what was happening. It was this idiotic ceremony so he said "fine but after this stupid thing is finally finished. Let's just disappear for a while and not even Gilan can find us, okay?".

"Yes I would love too. I know you have been off and I want to cure you of that. So if time with just me is what you need then that is what we will do"said Halt before giving Will a soft kiss dressing and then leaving the room.

A few days later Will was watching Halt and Gilan in the centre of the large group of people. The day had started exceptionally warm one with some periods of soft drizzly rain. By early afternoon the crowd had gathered in the centre of the town making the area ready. Cries of excitement could be heard as the party started.

Will heard Chase speak to the gathered crowd as Halt and Gilan stood with him. Will knew that this was going to happen but it made this all hard to take.

"Most honored among us. These two people have acted selflessly in the defense of a people they have known less than a few months. They could have taken their boy and left us to fend for ourselves again which we have done nothing to help defeat this evil. They are the best of us"he addressed to them.

Laughter and the sound of drums from the centre of the crowd started up again as Halt and Gilan got their medals. For Will who was watching this, it was too much and he ran.

An: What is wrong with Will? more soon.