4 comments/ 5237 views/ 2 favorites Vanyel and Stefen Ch. 01 By: TimothyM These stories only make sense, if you have read the three Valdemar books called the Last Herald Mage series by Mercedes Lackey. This chapter is based on book 3 Magc's Price. The story is about Vanyel meeting his lifebonded lover Tylendel the second time around in the shape of the young bard Stefen. And again, this will probably be confusing to the reader, if you have no idea what Heralds, Companions, Hawk brothers (Tayledras) or the kingdom of Valdemar are, or who Vanyel, Tylendel, Yfandes, Savil, or Stefen are. Yfandes or 'Fandes is Vanyel's Companion, the 'magic horse' that chose him to be a Herald. Parts of the book relating to Van and Stef getting involved are cited, and also some bits and pieces of the dreams and interactions between the two lovers after their first time together. The signature -o- means that a large bit of the cited text from the book has been omitted, but sometimes sentences or paragraphs have been dropped here and there without this indication. A few explanations matked with * have been added. Dreams, thoughts and Mindspeech are in italics, and in addition Mindspeech is shown between : text : signatures as in the Valdemar books. Shaych is slang for gay, and ashke and ke'chara are Tayledras for beloved and dearest. As for the ages of the protagonists Stefen was eighteen when he met Vanyel according to something Vanyel's nephew Medren (age twenty) said as he told Van about the young Bard. This was several months before they became lovers, and Vanyel was in his mid-thirties at the time. Vanyel and Stefen, part I Medren watched his uncle out of the corner of his eye. Vanyel had the kind of fine-boned, ascetic face that aged well, with no sign of wrinkling except around the eyes and a permanent worry-line between his brows. His once-black hair was thickly streaked with white, but that wasn't from age, that was from working magic. -o- For whatever reason, the silver-streaked hair, when combined with the ageless face and a body that would have been the envy of most of Medren's peers, made Vanyel's appearance confusing -- even to those who knew him. Young-old and hard to categorize. Add eyes the color of burnished silver, eyes that seemed to look right through a person, and you had the single most striking Herald in Whites... Medren frowned again. And the least approachable. Vanyel was as beautiful as a statue carved from the finest alabaster by the hand of a master. But thanks to that absolute control, he was also about as remote and chill as that same statue. Which is the way he wants it, Medren sighed. And in some ways Vanyel was absolutely right, in that he couldn't afford close emotional relationships, due to the fact that people he cared about could be used as a target. If Vanyel had been the marble statue he resembled, his isolation would likely have been a good thing. But he wasn't. He was a living human being, and one who would not admit that he was desperately lonely. To the lowest hells with that, Medren thought. If he doesn't find somebody he can at least talk to besides Savil, he's going to go mad in white linen one of these days. He's keeping everyone else sane, but who can he go to? Nobody, that's who. Medren gritted his teeth. Well, we'll see about that uncle. If you can resist Stefen, you're a candidate for the Order of Saint Thiera the Immaculate. Some Bardic Journeymen might have objected to being roomed with Stef, for the younger boy was shaych and made no bones about it -- but not Medren. Not with Vanyel for an uncle, Medren reflected with tolerant amusement. Not that Stef's anything like Van. If uncle's a candidate for the Order of Saint Thiera, Stef's a candidate for an Order of Brothers of Perpetual Indulgence! No wonder he writes good lovesongs; he's certainly had enough experience! -o- Vanyel hung back when they'd gotten to the room Medren shared with the boy, prompted by the feeling that Stefen might be uneasy in his presence. Vanyel's first impression was one of fragility. Stefen was slight; had he been a girl, he'd have been called 'delicate'. He was a little shorter than Vanyel and as slim. That didn't matter, though -- Vanyel could tell that Stef's appearance was as deceptive as his own. Stefen was fineboned, yes, but there was muscle over that bone; tough, wiry muscle. I wouldn't care to take him on in a street fight, Van observed, eyes half-closed as he studied the boy. Something tells me he'd win. Dark auburn hair crowned a triangular face; one composed, at first impression, of a pair of bottomless hazel eyes, high cheekbones, and the most stubborn chin Van had ever seen. He looks like a demented angel, like that painting in the High Temple of the Spirit of Truth. The one that convinced me that knowing too much truth will drive you mad... Vanyel watched carefully as Stefen listened to Medren's plans. Once or twice the boy nodded, and some of that wavy hair fell into his eyes. He brushed it out of the way absently, all his attention given to his roommate. He was tense; that was understandable. Vanyel was very glad that he had chosen to keep himself out of the way now. The boy was under quite enough pressure without the added stress of Herald Vanyel's presence. Van was quite well aware how much he overawed most of the people he came in contact with. :'Fandes, what do you think of this youngster? He felt her looking out of his eyes and felt her approval before she voiced it. :I like him, Van. He'll give you everything he has, without holding back. He has a very powerful Bardic Gift, and he does indeed have a secondary Gift as well that is nearly as powerful. It's something like MindHealing, but very specific. I can't tell you more than that until I See it in action: * Stefen turns out to have a gift for singing pain away, which is very much needed, because Valdermar's king, Randall, is ill and in so much pain he can hardly function. The first time Vanyel and Stefen actually meet is right after Stefen's first session with the king, where the young Bard has worn himself out. Vanyel takes Stefen back to his rooms to help him deal with the injuries to his fingers. They end up talking and having dinner together and getting fairly drunk. Too inebriated for Stefen to walk back to his own room. And though the Herald is aware that the Bard has a spot of what Van terms 'hero-worship', he suddenly realizes that it's something more than that. Van became aware, painfully aware, that Stefen was looking at him with an intense and unmistakable hunger. He flushed and tried not to look in the boy's eyes. Damn. Damn, damn, damn. If I let him stay -- it's not FAIR, dammit! He's too young. He can't possibly know what he wants. He thinks he wants me, and maybe he does, right now. But in the morning? That's another thing altogether. He Felt Stefen's gaze, like hot sunshine against his skin. Felt the youngster willing him to look up. And stubbornly resisted. The boy was too young; less than half his age. And the boy was infernally attractive... Damn it all, it's not fair... Stefen could hardly believe it. He was in Herald Vanyel's private quarters; the door was shut and they were quite alone together. He could tell that Vanyel was attracted, he sensed it in the way the Herald was carefully looking to one side or the other, but never directly at him, and in the way Vanyel was avoiding even an accidental touch. Yet Vanyel wouldn't do anything! What's the matter with him? Stefen asked himself, afroth with frustration. Or is it me? No, it can't be me. Or is it? Maybe he's not sure of me. Maybe he's not sure of himself... The wine was going to Stefen's head with a vengeance, making him bolder than he might otherwise have been. So when Vanyel reached blindly for his own goblet on the table beside tehm, Stefen reached for it, too, and their hands closed on the stem at the same time. Stefen's hand was atop Vanyel's -- and as Vanyel's startled gaze met him own, he tightened his hand on the Herald's. Vanyels ears grew hot, and his hands cold. He couldn't look away from Stefen's eyes, startled and tempted by the bold invitation he read there. No, dammit. No. Boy, child, you don't know what you're asking for. In all his life, Vanyel had never been so tempted to throw over everything he'd pledged to himself and just do what he wanted, so very badly, to do. * Much to Stefens's dismay and frustration, Vanyel resists this temptation and several other attempts of the Bard to seduce the elusive Herald. At the same time, exercising his pain relieving Gift for the King is exhausting Stefen, who has been made a Master Bard in order to devote his time to the King and the Healers, who are studying his gift. This is the situation, when Medren returns from a journey. Maddeningly, the young Bard seldom saw much of Vanyel, and every attempt to get the Herald's amatory attention fell absolutely flat. Every time he pressed his attentions, the Herald seemed to become -- nervous. He could not figure out what the problem was. Vanyel would start to respond, but then would pull back inside himself, and a mask would drop over his face. If Stefen had the energy left, he would have strangled something in frustration. That was the way matters stood, when Medren returned from his little expedition. Stefen stared at himself in the mirror, then made a face at himself. "You," he said accusingly, pointing a finger at his thin, disheveled other self, "are an idiot." "I'll second that," Medren said, popping up behind him, startling Stefen so much that he yelped and threw himself sideways into the wall. While he gasped for breath and tried to get his heart to stop pounding, Medren thumped his back. "Good gods," his friend said apologetically, "What in the seventh hell's made you so jumpy?" "No-nothing," Stefen managed. "Huh," Medren replied skeptically. "Probably the same 'nothing', that made you call yourself an idiot. So how's it feel to be a Master Bard?" When Stefen didn't immediately answer, Medren held him at arm's length and scrutinized him carefully. "If it feels like you look, I think I'll stay a Journeyman. Don't you ever sleep?" A sly smile crept over Medren's face. "Or is somebody keeping you up at night?" Stefen groaned and covered his eyes. "Kernod's codpiece, don't remind me. My bed is as you see it. Virtuously empty." "Since when have you and virtue been nodding acquaintances?" Medren gibed. "Since just before you left," Stef replied, deciding on impulse to tell his friend the exact truth. "That's odd." Medren let go of his shoulders and moved back a step. "I would have thought that you and uncle Van would have hit it off-" Stef bit off a curse. "Since when -- you've been -- what do you-" "I set you up," Medren said casually. "The opportunity was there, and I grabbed it. I knew Van would try anything to help the King, and I knew you think he hung the moon. I figured neither of you would be able to resist the other. Gods know I've been trying to get you two in the same place at the same time for over a year. So-" Now he paused and frowned. "So what went wrong?" "I don't know," Stef groaned and turned away, flinging himself down in a chair. * Medren and Stefen try to come up with all sorts of ploys to get Vanyel to give in, but without success. In the end, Stefen gives up and tries to be satisfied with just being Van's friend. But he is still utterly frustrated, as this little intermezzo with Medren clearly shows. "Damn!" Medren swore, pounding on the arm of his chair. "This is stupid, my uncle is about to drive me mad!" The windows to Stefen's room were open to the summer evening, and Medren was trying to keep his voice down to prevent everybody in the neighborhood from being privy to their plight. Stefen apparently didn't care who overheard them. "About to drive you mad?" Stefen's voice cracked, and Medren winced in sympathy. Stef was pulling at his hair, totally unware that he was doing so, and looked about ready to climb the walls. He shifted position so often that his chair was doing a little dance around the room, a thumblength at a time. "I know, I know, it's a lot worse for you. I'm just frustrated. You're --" Medren paused, unable to think of a delicate way to put it. "I'm celibate, that's what I am!" Stefen growled, lurching to his feet and beginning to pace restlessly. "I'm worse than celibate. I'm fixated. It's not just that Vanyel isn't cooperating, it's that I don't want anyone else anymore, and the better I know him, the worse it gets." He stopped dead in his tracks, suddenly, and stared out the window for a moment. "I'm never happier than when I'm around him. I sometimes wonder how long I'm going to be able to stand this. There are times when I can't think of anything but him." Medren stared at his friend, wondering if Stefen had really listened to himself just now. Because what he'd just described was the classic reaction of a lifebonded... Stef and uncle Van? No. Not possible; not when Van has already been lifebonded once... Or is it? Is there a rule somewhere that lifebondings can only happen once in a lifetime, even if you lose your bondmate? A lifebonding would certainly explain a great deal of Stef's behavior. Medren had long ago given up on trying to second-guess his uncle. Vanyel was far too adept at hiding what he felt, even from himself. Vanyel and Stefen, part II * So this is how things stand, when Vanyel, Stefen and Savil take a much needed break from duties and go to visit Van's family at Forest Reach. On the night of arrival, Van has a long meeting with his father and brother before going to bed. Vanyel found himself yawning as he neared his door. I didn't realize how tired I was, he thought sleepily. It's a good thing I didn't drink that second mug of ale Father poured. He reached for the door handle and pulled it open just enough to slip inside. As he stepped away from the door he glanced automatically towards the right side of the hearth, beside the bed -- the servants always left his luggage there, and he wanted to make sure his gittern was alright before he went to bed. Vanyel froze, for there were two sets of packs, and two gitterns. His -- and Stefen's. And -- he looked beyond the luggage to see if the furnishings had been changed; but they hadn't -- only one bed. Behind him, someone shot the bolt on the door. He whirled; Stefen turned away from the door and faced him, the warm gold of the candlelight softening his features so that he looked very young indeed. His loose shirt was unlaced to the navel, and his feet were bare beneath his leather riding breeches. "Before you ask," he said, in a soft, low voice, "this wasn't my idea. This seems to have happened on your father's orders. But Van -- I'm glad he did it --" Vanyel backed up a step, his mind swimming in little circles. "Oh. Ah, Stefen, I'll just get my things and --" Stef shook his head and brushed his long hair back behind his ears with one hand. "No. Not until I get a chance to say what I have to. You've been avoiding this for weeks, and I'm not letting the one chance I've had to really talk to you get away from me." Vanyel forced himself to relax, forced his mind to stop whirling as best he could, and walked over to one of the chairs next to the hearth. He stood beside it, with his hands resting on the back so that Stefen could not see them trembling. He glanced down at them; they seemed very cold and white, and he wondered if Stefen had noticed. "Ah ... what is it you need to talk about that you couldn't have said on the road?" he asked, as casually as he could. "Dammit, Van!" Stefen exploded. "You know very well what I want to talk about! You -- and me." "Stefen," Vanyel said, controlling his voice with an effort that hurt, "you are one of the best friends I've ever had. I mean that. And I appreciate that friendship." Stef's eyes were full of pleading, and Vanyel forced himself to turn away from him and stare at a carved wooden horse on the mantelpiece. "Stef, you're very young; I'm nearly twice your age. I've seen all this before. You admire me a great deal, and you think -- " There were no footsteps to warn him; suddenly he found Stef's hands on his shoulders, wrenching him around, forcing him to look into the young Bard's face. Stef's hands felt like hot irons on his shoulders, and there was strength in them that was not apparent from the Bard's slight build. "Vanyel Ashkevron," Stef said, hoarsely, "I am shaych, just like you. I've known what I am for years now. I'm not an infatuated child. What's more --" Now the Bard flushed and looked away, off to Vanyel's right. "I've had more lovers in one year than you've had in the last ten. And -- and I've never felt about any of them the way I feel about you. I -- I think I love you, Van. I don't think I could ever love anyone but you." He looked back up at Vanyel. The Herald could only gaze back into the darkened emerald of Stefen's eyes, eyes that seemed in the dim light to be mostly pupil. Vanyel was utterly stunned. This -- this was considerably beyond infatuation... "Bards are supposed to be so cursed good with words," Stefen said unhappily, looking into Vanyel's eyes as if he was looking for answers. "Well, all my eloquence seems to have deserted me. All -- all I can tell you is that I think I'd love you if you were a hundred years older than me, or a deformed monster, or -- or even a woman." The Bard's voice had lost any hint of training; it was tight and rough with tension and unhappiness. For his part, Vanyel couldn't seem to speak at all. His throat was paralyzed and his chest hurt when he tried to breathe. He felt alternately hot and cold, and his heart pounded in his ears. Stefen didn't notice his unresponsiveness, evidently, for he continued on without looking away from Van. "Since you aren't any of those things," he said, his voice unsteady with emotion, "since you're w-wonderful, and w-wise, and beautiful enough to make my heart ache, and dammit, not old, I -- I can't take this much longer." A single tear slid down one cheek, shining silver in the candlelight; Stefen either didn't notice it, or didn't care. "I -- I'm only glib when it comes to making rhymes, Van. I love you, and I'm not a Herald. I can't show you how I feel -- except physically. I want to be your lover. I don't want anyone else, not ever again." When Vanyel didn't respond, a second tear joined the first, slipping silently from the corner of Stefen's eye; he swallowed and broke eye contact to look down at his feet. He relaxed his hold on Vanyel's shoulders, but didn't release him. "I suppose -- I guess I must revolt you," he said, bitterly. "All my ... other lovers ... I don't blame you, I guess. I --" That broke Vanyel's paralysis. That, and the ache his Gift of Empathy let him feel all too clearly, an ache that was matched by the one in his own heart. "No," he whispered. "No -- Stef, I -- just never knew you felt that strongly." His hands hurt from clenching the back of the chair. He let go, and flexed them, then raised his right hand, slowly, and brushed the tear from Stefen's face with gentle, wondering fingers. "I never guessed," he repeated, no longer trying to hide the strength of his own feelings from himself. Stefen let go of Vanyel's shoulders, caught Van's hand and looked back up into Vanyel's eyes, quickly. Whatever he read there made him smile, like the sun coming from behind a cloud; a smile so bright it left Vanyel dazzled. He kept Vanyel's right hand in his and backed up a step. Then another. Vanyel resisted for a fraction of a second, then followed, drawn along like an obedient child. His knees were weak, and the room seemed too hot -- no too cold -- Vanyel and Stefen Ch. 01 He's too young! Part of him kept clamoring. He can't possibly know what he's doing, what this means. He's hardly older than Jisa -- His conscience nagged as the young Bard ran strong, callused hands under Vanyel's shirt and drew him down onto the bed -- And then the voice was silenced as Stef gently proved beyond a shadow of a doubt that he was just as experienced as he had claimed. If there was someone being seduced, it wasn't Stefen... The last of Vanyel's misgivings dissolved as not-so-young Stefen showed him things he hadn't even imagined, and then proved that the sweet giving and receiving the Bard had just taught him was only the beginning... Stefen could hardly believe that he had finally coaxed Vanyel into bed with him, that the Herald was letting him caress the beautiful body, which he had yearned for since the first time he touched Van's hand. He removed the white shirt and let his lips follow his hands around the smooth chest and the firm stomach above Van's breeches. There was no doubt that he was having an effect on the hitherto so remote and seemingly asexual Herald. When Stef teased the nipples with lips and tongue, they became hard and erect, and Van's breeches revealed that something else was in the same condition. As Stef kissed the handsome face, which he knew so well, Van quivered like a cornered animal, but did not protest. Finally, Stef let his lips brush Van's, very lightly and gently, then went on with a firmer kiss, and Van gave in and almost melted against the seeking mouth. Stef thought he might faint from happiness as his kisses were returned with ardor and unmistakable love. His mouth found Van's ear, murmuring sweet words. His tongue flicked the earlobe, worked its way down the neck and up along the jaw line. Then Stef kissed Van's mouth again, and this time he slid the tip of his tongue between the soft and yielding lips. Van's breath was becoming ragged and quick, and while they were kissing deeply, his hands seemed to find their way through Stef's open shirt by themselves. As Vanyel's fingers encountered the naked flesh of the young Bard, his eyes flew open, and for a moment it was as if he would yet again refuse to acknowledge their mutual desire. But Stefen was not going to let that happen, not ever again. He finally knew that Van wanted him and could not refuse him. If Van would not take the initiative, Stef certainly would. He held Van's hands firmly against his chest and smiled, while he looked deep into the silver eyes. "Would you like to take my clothes off?" he said and pushed the unresisting hands towards the edges of his shirt. Van hesitated, but Stef gave him no choice: "I wanted you to undress me and make love to me that first night I spent in your room, and I've tried to invite you to do so countless times since then. You are not going to turn me down this time, are you?" With a groan that was almost a sob, Van gave in again and slowly took off the loose shirt and Stef's breeches. As the young Bard lay naked on top of the bed, he enjoyed the look of delight and desire, which Van could no longer hide at the sight of the slim, fit body and the long, hard, fully erect phallus. Stef had to take Van's hand and set it against his throbbing member; they both gasped with excitement, as Van's fingers curled around his shaft and began stroking him. After a while, Stef sat up and ran his hands up and down Van's legs. Then he removed the rest of the Herald's clothes and felt a surge of desire, when he saw the size of the revealed manhood. It was slightly longer than his own and quite a bit thicker and Stef just had to caress it. He reveled in feeling the hardness of the erection below the soft skin. The young Bard cupped the heavy testes with one hand, while the other slid the foreskin back and forth over the moist and swollen head of the Herald's phallus. Van moaned, and his hands clutched the bedclothes, then -- as Stef stroked him rhythmically with expert hands -- he lost control. His lower body made a small arch, as his pent up desire and suppressed need was released in an exquisite and prolonged orgasm. The resulting ejaculation covered his chest and stomach with blobs of semen, as Stef was taken by surprise and had no chance of catching it. Van blushed with embarrassment, but the Bard just smiled and kissed him. Then he got up and went into the adjoining washroom, coming back with wet cloths. He wiped the spilled seed carefully from Van's body, saying: "If I had known that you would enjoy my attention so much, I would have insisted on caring for you long before this." He chucked the used cloths on the floor, then went to his pack and got something. Vanyel sat up and tried to get a grip on himself; he was utterly shaken by his instant and uncontrolled reaction to being fondled by the young Bard. When Stefen returned to the bed, Van said hesitantly: "Thank you, Stef, that ... that was wonderful. Would you like me to ... to return the favor?" A mischievous grin appeared on the beautiful face, as Stefen shook his head and showed Van the bottle of oil in his hand. "No, I would like you to turn over, so I can make love to you." He pushed a stunned Vanyel back on the bed, leaned over and kissed him, while his free hand slid around Van's hip to cup one buttock and give it a little squeeze. His face was serious again, as he looked into the Herald's eyes: "Will you let me do that, Van? I want you so much, but if you aren't ready for this..." Vanyel answered the question by rolling over on his stomach; he could not speak for the wave of lust and longing that washed through him. He had luckily visited the downstairs privy on the way to his room, relieving himself in both ways (that awful ale!), but he knew Stefen did not mean whether he was physically prepared. The question was justified, for months he had refused to admit even to himself, how much he wanted to be in this situation. How was Stefen to know that Van ached for the Bard's beautiful instrument to fulfill its purpose and play him high and low, till their joint music of physical love reached the final crescendo. A quick intake of breath, as Stefen caressed his buttocks, revealed that the Bard was indeed focused on this part of Van's body. Van's legs were pushed apart, and Stef sat between them, his fingers slid down the cleft and paused at the rear entrance. Vanyel gave a small whimper of anticipation and desire, as gentle fingertips tickled him and pressed against the opening. Scented oil was poured down the narrow ravine and caught by the questing fingers; they began massaging the oil into his tight aperture. Van groaned as two fingers entered him, more oil was added, Stef's fingers found the sensitive spot inside his lover and stimulated it with great skill. The Herald felt himself grow erect again; as Stef pulled him in position, and his condition was revealed, the Bard gave a pleased sound and immediately stroked the swollen shaft, while still sliding his fingers in and out the slick tunnel. The erotic sensations arising from the Bard's ministrations to Van's sexually and emotionally starved body were making him dizzy and more exited than he had been for ages. Suddenly Stef let go, and Vanyel, who was now on all fours, turned his head and looked at his young lover. Stefen was spreading oil on his long phallus. Oh, Havens, he is ready to take me, Van thought. Before he could say anything, Stef was behind him and placed the tip of his engorged member against the well-prepared sphincter. A suspenseful pause -- they were both panting from excitement -- then Vanyel cried out in pleasure and pain, as he was penetrated to the hilt in one swift motion. The pain soon went away, as Stefen gently moved back and forth, until Van was sufficiently dilated and relaxed. He felt Stefen deep inside him; the sensation was indescribable, so wonderful that Van could not recall anything remotely like it since his first lover. Almost the thought of Tylendel made him cringe, but just at the same moment Stef began to take Van with deep and measured strokes, making the Herald forget everything else but the joy of being loved. With each powerful thrust Stefen laid claim to his lover's full attention, filling him completely and answering every need. Vanyel wanted it to go on forever, so when the Bard suddenly stopped and pulled away, he cried out in disappointment. But Stefen just made him turn over on his back, pushed his legs apart and up and reestablished the union they both longed for. His phallus probed between Van's buttocks and found the entrance easily. This time he entered very slowly, letting Van feel every bit of the long shaft possessing him, and all the time gazing into Vanyel's face with eyes that showed his love, gratitude, desire, and utter commitment. When Stefen had buried his manhood in Van, he gently lowered his body, till he was lying on top of his lover. They clasped each other tightly and kissed, then whispered soft endearments, just enjoying the physical intimacy, the sensation of skin against skin, the knowledge that this was what they both wanted. Finally, Stefen could wait no longer, he began moving inside Van, who held the muscular buttocks and helped him penetrate as deep as possible. With hard, rhythmic thrusts the Bard completed his conquest of Van by filling him with warm spurts of semen, while he cried out in ecstasy, and his body shivered all over from the orgasm. Van's rigid phallus was rubbed between their stomachs, as Stef took him; he almost came from the simultaneous stimulation, but managed to hold back. Stefen lay on top of Van, empty and satisfied, he felt like crying and laughing at the same time, shouting his happiness out and clinging to his beloved forever. However, the hard thing trapped beneath his stomach reminded him that there was something else, he wanted more than anything, and he whispered to Van: "This time I would like you to return the favor." Vanyel gave a small, breathless laugh in Stef's ear: "Your wish is my command, Master Bard! I cannot resist your persuasive words and sweet blandishments." Stefen giggled as he slowly pulled away from his lover's embrace, partly from relief that Van was relaxed and happy enough to joke, partly from giddiness and the thought of a Herald being at his command. He sat up and used one of the clean, wet cloths to wipe himself. Vanyel slowly got up on his knees and caressed the flushed face in front of him. This time he was the one to kiss Stefen, his tongue entering the sweet mouth, savoring the fact that he was invited and entitled to fulfill his longings. The deft hands of the Bard stroked his throbbing shaft, and he whispered in Van's ear. "I can't wait to feel your sword penetrate me, I want you to do justice to all the dreams, I've had about you." The Bard turned over and rested his head and shoulders on the bed, so that he could reach back and pull his buttocks apart. The puckered rose of his anus opened enticingly, and Van's breath caught in his throat. He wanted to protest that they should take time to enjoy touching each other in foreplay and preparation, but there was no denying that he was more than ready to do what Stef so obviously wanted him to. Vanyel grabbed the bottle of oil and greased both the tight tunnel and his own phallus thoroughly. He could feel that the young Bard was totally relaxed and confident, apparently he had no qualms about the Herald's size, and he had expressed no doubts about being able to accommodate him. The large circumference of Van's manhood had on other occasions prevented him from enjoying this experience, as some of his few lovers over the years had been too fearful of the potential pain from a penetration. But Stef just seemed impatient and eager for Van to enter him, and as the Herald hesitantly pressed his engorged and oil slick head against the desirable entrance, the young Bard gave an exultant 'Yes'. Before Van could do more, the slim buttocks moved backwards, and he felt the tip of his phallus being engulfed and hugged by a willing and wonderfully tight canal. There was no doubt that Stefen enjoyed the sensation just as much as Van, he was emitting small moans of delight, and his body language signaled his total readiness for a deeper occupation. Vanyel could hardly believe it, but then he recalled the Bard's boast of experience and realized that it had to be true. Stefen was no innocent child submitting to an older man's seduction, but an accomplished and hedonistic lover of men. This realization did not disgust Van in the slightest -- how could poor Stef have labored under such a misconception! No, it freed him, made him lose his last inhibitions, and give in to his lust for the beautiful body in front of him. As Van grabbed the slim hips and slowly buried his thick shaft in quivering Bard, both of them gave small sounds that indicated their shared pleasure. When Stef's buttocks were pressed against Van's stomach, the Herald paused. Stef turned his head and gave the same dazzling smile that had emerged, when Van had finally admitted his feelings for the young Bard. "I love you, Van, and I love feeling your body inside, around, and against mine. Promise me that you will give me this pleasure often?" Van could only nod, his eyes filling with tears, overwhelmed by unexpected happiness. As Stef moved impatiently against him and squeezed his phallus with internal muscles, he was overwhelmed with lust instead, and let the Bard have the ride he wanted. Again and again he drove his rigid shaft deep into the tunnel of love, until he felt his climax approaching. Somehow Stefen was able to read the state of his body, and his hand began to caress Van's testes, the sensitive area behind them, and finally the slightly sore but still erotically charged aperture between Van's buttocks. As Stef's fingertip slid into the opening, an involuntary spasm ran between Van's legs from rear to front, and the Herald cried out in desperation, as his instantaneous climax almost made his entire body go into convulsions. Spurt after spurt of semen left his phallus in a seemingly unending series of orgasmic contractions, which were duplicated by his anal muscles around the two fingers, Stefen had managed to slip into him. When his ecstasy was finally over, Van stood shaking and exhausted, feeling both his own sperm leaking from the Bard's anus, as he slowly withdrew, and wet streaks on his inside thighs, where the gift he had received earlier had seeped from his own tunnel during the final act. Stefen was not the least embarrassed or shy about the sticky consequences of their mutual loving. He led Van into the washroom and wiped him down, then washed him carefully back and front. He refused to let Van do the same for him, but told him to go back to the bed and warm it. Van was too tired and emotionally and physically spent to argue, and by the time the Bard slipped into the bed beside him, he was almost asleep. However, he was still able to register the satisfied sigh and soft words from his lover: "That was so wonderful, my love, something I've wanted for a long time, including the right to sleep next to you." As Stefen slid closer and held him with one arm, Van felt sleep claim him. -o- Vanyel woke, shaking like a leaf in a gale; his chest heaved as he gasped for breath, clutching the blanket. He was cold, bone-cold, yet drenched with sweat. It was the old dream, the ice dream where I die -- I haven't had that dream for years -- Stefen lay beside him, sprawled over the edge of the bed, oblivious to Van's panting for air. Though the candles were out, Van could see him by the moonlight streaming in the window. I haven't had that dream for years -- except this time it was different. This time it wasn't 'Lendel that was with me. Except -- except it felt like 'Lendel. I thought it was 'Lendel until I turned around, and it was Stef... The young Bard sighed and turned over, bringing his face into the moonlight. Lying beside Stef, for a moment -- for a moment it had been, it had felt like being beside Tylendel, his love and lifebonded. -- Lifebonded. Only then did he realize why Stefen 'felt' like Tylendel. The tie was the same; Vanyel was not only in love with the Bard, he had lifebonded to him. There was no mistaking that tie, especially not for an Empath. -o- * Vanyel falls asleep again and has a dream, where he talks with Tylendel. When he wakes, he gets up and walks around the room, worrying. The square of moonlight crept across the floor and up the wall, then vanished as the moon set. And still Vanyel was wide awake and too intent on his own thoughts to feel chilled. He kept pacing the floor, pausing now and then to look down on Stefen. The Bard slept on, his lips curved in a slight smile, sprawled over the entire bed. After a while, as the impact of the two dreams -- if they were dreams -- began to wear off, that posture of Stef's began to amuse him. I never would have believed that someone that slight could take up that much room all by himself, he thought with a silent chuckle. He's like a cat; takes up far more space than is even remotely possible under the laws of nature. Stefen stirred a little and opened his eyes. He blinked confusedly at Van for a moment, then seemed to recollect where he was. "Van?" he asked, sleep blurring his voice. "Is something wrong, Vanyel-ashke?" Vanyel froze. The words, the very tone, brought back the second dream with the impact of a blow above the heart. Tylendel leaning up against the shaggy tree trunk, a slight smile on his lips, his arms crossed over his chest. "What's wrong, Vanyel-ashke?" Ashke - it was the Tayledras word for 'beloved', and Tylendel's special name for him, a play on Vanyel's family name of Ashkevron. "Stef," Vanyel said, slowly and carefully. "What did you just call me?" "Vanyel-ashke," Stef repeated, bewildered, and plainly disturbed by Van's careful mask of control. "Why? Did I say something wrong?" "Is there a reason, why you called me that just now?" Vanyel didn't move, though the hair was rising on the back of his neck. First the dreams, and now this.... "Sure," Stef replied, blinking at him and rising up onto one elbow. "I've-" he blushed a little "-I've been calling you that to myself for a while. Comes from your name -- Ashkevron. It -- it seems to suit you. You know how a Bard likes to play with words. It has a nice sound, you know?" Vanyel relaxed and smiled. It was nothing, after all. He wasn't being haunted by the spirit of a long dead lover. Just an incredible coincidence. "Did I say something wrong?" Stefen asked again, more urgently this time, starting to sit up as he pulled tangled hair out of his eyes with both hands. "If you don't like it -- if it bothers you-" "I do like it -- just, I had some odd dreams, and coming on top of them, it startled me. That's all." Vanyel touched Stefen's shoulder, and the Bard flinched. "Havens, you're freezing," Stef exclaimed. "How long have you been up? Never mind, it's probably too long. Get in here before you catch something horrible, and let me warm you up. After all," he added slyly, as Van shrugged off his robe and slid into bed beside him. "Whatever you catch, I'll probably get, and you wouldn't want to have the guilt of ruining a Bard's voice on your conscience, would you?" "Anything but that," Van replied vaguely, then gasped as Stef curled his warm body around Van's chilled one. "Oh?" the Bard said archly. "Anything?" He began kissing and caressing Van's body, and before long Van was not only warm but also very excited. As Stefen's mouth moved from Van's mouth and face to his chest and further down to his stomach, the Herald surrendered completely to the erotic pleasure of tongue and lips against his skin. His nipples were aroused by the expert tickling they endured, and though the Bard had not yet touched his crotch, Van was already erect and eager for a repeat of the delightful fondling of the previous night. But instead Stef did something unexpected but even better. Before Van realized what was going on, the questing mouth found his phallus and enclosed it. Vanyel couldn't help the small cry of surprise and lust, which escaped him, as he felt himself being surrounded by a warm, wet cave. Vanyel and Stefen Ch. 01 As Stef proceeded with gently sucking and licking, Van thought he might go crazy with desire. He reached down and ran his hands through the Bards soft curls, then he held his head and pressed his hard phallus deeper into the willing mouth. Stefen seemed delighted that Vanyel took advantage of him in this way; he whimpered excitedly and sucked more enthusiastically. His hands tickled Van between the legs, finding every sensitive and erogenous spot unerringly. Too soon Van had to ask for a pause in order not to come prematurely. Stefen gave him a cocky grin, when he released him and sat up. Then he suddenly straddled Van's chest with a mischievous expression. Van eyed the long phallus, which jutted jauntily and expectantly towards him. The glistening head was exposed, as Stef's full arousal had made the foreskin slide back. "Well, I did say anything..." Van muttered, but of course he was more than willing to play his lover's beautiful instrument with lips and tongue. As Stef leaned forward, Van caught hold of the hard shaft and guided it between his lips. He ran his tongue around the glans, tickling every crevice including the opening at the tip. Then he let it slide deeper into his mouth, and his lover moaned in pleasure, as his phallus was given every attention. After a while Stef withdrew, but only to turn around and place himself over Van, so that they could give each other pleasure. Stefen was certainly very experienced in this game, and Van delightedly and faithfully repeated his every move, both those he had tried before, and some novel approaches to giving his partner joy with lips, tongue and mouth. The outcome was inevitable, and although Van tried to hold back, he was helpless, as the Bard worked on him with mouth and hands. The slim fingers found the Herald's rear entrance, pushing in and curling upwards, the subsequent stimulation of his sensitive spot pushed him over the edge. A tremor started at the base of Van's spine and moved forward, increasing in power, until it culminated in his testes and phallus, which let go of his semen in the loving warmth of Stefen's mouth. To Van's utter delight his lover did not withdraw, but received every spurt with obvious enjoyment, and indeed returned the favor at the same moment, by coming in the Herald's grateful mouth. Van happily swallowed the sweet bursts, while he stroked the tight balls and the contracting flesh behind the scrotum to get every drop. Only rarely had he tried this experience, the simultaneous orgasm together with the willingness to receive the offered gift in full. With Tylendel, yes, but they had both been young, easily aroused and quickly spent. Even so it had not happened on the first try as in this case, and again he had to face the fact, that though Stefen was almost half his age, he had more than double the ability and experience as a lover of men. Very soon he realized that the young Bard also had a much greater appetite and capacity for sex than he had ever encountered. As Van lay next to his lover, feeling relaxed, warm and fulfilled, he did not at first think of Stefen's caresses as anything but an enjoyable aftermath to their satisfactory loveplay. But soon the hands became bolder and more insistent, and suddenly Van felt a hard pressure against his thigh. Just as he realized that Stef was erect and eager for him, the Bard pushed him up on one side, and his long phallus slid in between the Herald's buttocks. Van became exited, as Stef's fingers made him slick with oil in the cleft and then found and prepared his aperture. Even though he was a little sore after their loving the night before, he was more than ready to accommodate his lover's wish. Soon Stefen was lying on top of him, moving his long shaft back and forth in the tight crevice, a most stimulating feeling. But of course it became even better, when he very carefully slipped his rigid phallus inside Van. He was gentle and slow, making Van's sphincter relax, as he worked the tip of his demanding instrument past the barrier. Once the head of his phallus was beyond the tightest part, Stef could have possessed Van fully in moments. But he kept the process agonizingly and excitingly slow, prolonging the Herald's enjoyment enormously, as he was gradually filled. For a long moment Stef lay atop of Van, just enjoying the sensation of the Herald's firm buttocks and back under him, the tight sheath of muscle and tissue around his swollen manhood. He had somehow felt the surprise of his lover, when he resumed their loveplay, and indeed he would not ordinarily have felt the need again so quickly. But he had been celibate and aching for bodily intimacy with Van for so long, and now that he finally had access to him, he was almost insatiable. He slid his hands through the soft hair of his lover and whispered in his ear. "I want you, Van. I have suppressed my need for you since -- well it feels like forever, and I'm going to make up for it now." He began moving slowly inside Van, who turned his head to give him an accepting and slightly amused smile: "Anything you say, Stefen. I promise, I'll let you have your fill of me, and I'll make it up to your for your deprivation." Stef grinned and continued to prepare Van for his next plan by widening him gradually. When he judged the Herald to be ready, he withdrew and got Van to sit up. As he lay back in the bed and pulled his lover towards him, Van looked surprised, then understanding dawned, as Stef got him to straddle his stomach. It seemed as if Van would protest, but Stef pushed him gently but inexorably back and down with one hand on his hip. The other hand held his phallus in position, so that the head came to rest against the opening, he wanted to enter again. As Van could no longer be in any doubt about what Stefen expected from him, the Bard paused and looked at the beautiful face, trying to discern whether the Herald disapproved. Vanyel looked a bit apprehensive, but when Stef raised one eyebrow questioningly, he just said: "I have never done this before, Stef, but I'm willing to try." The Bard smiled reassuringly: "Trust me, my love, it will be wonderful for both of us. Just relax and sit down slowly." Van took a deep breath, and Stef held his buttocks apart with one hand and made sure his eager phallus was set firmly against the slick aperture with the other. The Herald began to sink down, and Stef entered him easily. When the head was safely inside, Stefen moved his hands to the narrow hips, which he had admired when riding next to Van. He let his lover impale himself at his own time, but when Van finally sat down with a small gasp, he squeezed Van's hips and rotated his own slightly, making them both moan with pleasure. Stef guided Van, as he began to ride him, ensuring that he did it slowly and carefully at first. During the frequent pauses they caressed and kissed each other, and Van admitted that he liked the novel position. He became more confident and finally rode his lover with abandon, until the Bard told him to stop. Vanyel was panting and flushed, he wanted to tell Stefen that he would do anything the young buck liked. Stef smiled knowingly and slowly pushed away from the bed, until he was almost sitting up. Van gave a small, surprised sound; then he moved his legs, so that they folded around Stefen's back. They held each other tightly, Stef's face were against the smooth chest of his lover, and he used the occasion to suckle and squeeze the dark nipples with his mouth, enjoying Van's moan as they contracted to excited little lumps. He rocked backwards and forwards, which made his hard shaft poke Van in new places, then he suddenly tilted them both to one side. Before Van could react, he had brought his legs around, pushed his lover on to his back and was suddenly on top of him. This time Stefen did not wait, he immediately began moving between the strong thighs, thrusting with short, hard, quick stabs into his lover's narrow tunnel. He held himself up on straight arms, so that he could gaze into the beautiful, silver eyes, while he climaxed. Vanyel was just as happy to look up into the focused and ecstatic face of the lovely Bard, as he cried out and delivered another gift in a series of distinct contractions just inside Van's dilated opening. Then he collapsed on Van, who held the slim, boyish body against his own, wondering at his amazing luck of becoming the lifebonded and beloved of this wonderful creature. There could be no doubt that Stefen would make his love life very interesting and totally different from now on, over and above the fact that he would actually have a love life for the first time in years. When the Bard withdrew, he looked just like a cat again, this time one who had suddenly found himself in a larder well stocked with fresh cream and succulent fish. Oh yes, for sure Vanyel was in for it now... After Stefen had warmed him and relaxed him -- among other things -- they both fell asleep for a second time as the first light of the sun sent strokes of pink and gold across the sky. This time Vanyel slept deeply and dreamlessly, and Stefen actually woke before him. Van awakened to find Stef lounging indolently next to him, watching him with a proprietary little smile on his face. "Well, what are you looking at?" Van asked, amused by the Bard's expression. "And a copper for your thoughts." Stefen laughed. "Acres and acres, and it's all mine," he said, quoting a tag-line of a current joke. "If you had any idea of the number of times I've daydreamed of being right where I am now, you'd laugh." "You think so?" Van smiled and shook his head. "Oh, no, I promise, I wouldn't laugh." "Well, maybe you wouldn't." Stefen searched his face for a moment, looking as if he wanted to say something, but couldn't make up his mind how to say it. Vanyel waited patiently for him to find the words. "Van," he said, finally. "I have to know. Are you sorry? I mean, I'm just a Bard, I haven't got Mindspeech; I can't, you know, mesh with you when we --" He flushed. "I mean, does that bother you? Do you miss it? I--" "Stef," Van interrupted him gently. "You're laboring under a misapprehension. I've never had a lover who shared his mind with me, so I wouldn't know what it was like." "You haven't?" Stefen was flabbergasted. "But -- but what about Tylendel?" "My Gifts were all dormant while he was alive," Van replied. Finding it amazingly easy -- for the first time in years -- to talk about his old love. "The only bond we had that I could share was the lfebond." "Do you miss that then?" Stef asked, shyly, as if he was afraid to hear the answer, but had to ask the question. "No," Van said and smiled broadly. "And if you look inside yourself for a moment, you'll know why." "If I --" "Stef you're a trained Bard; Bardic Gift is enough like Empathy for you to see what I mean." Van sent a brief pulse of wordless love along the bond and watched Stef's face change. First surprise -- then something akin to shock -- then a delight that resonated back through the bond they shared. "I never dreamed," Stef's voice was hushed. "I never -- How? Why?" I don't know, ke'chara, and I don't care." Van shook his head. "All I know is that it's happened, it's real. And I know that if we don't get out of bed and put in an appearance, we're never going to do so before noon -- I'm afraid they might break the door down and find us in a very embarrassing position." Stefen laughed. "You know, you're right. We should spare them that at least. It's only fair." Vanyel and Stefen Ch. 02 The day after Vanyel and Stefen become lovers, an evil mage attacks Forest Reach. Vanyel is hit by a leech blade and rendered unconscious. Herald Savil decides to get the two Hawk brothers who have saved him before (Starwind and Moondance). They manage to remove the magic blade which was draining Vanyel and Stefen as well, through the life bond. They get Van started on the healing process, partly through energy provided by Stefen. Afterwards they reveal to Savil, that Stefen is indeed Tylendel reborn, but they decide not to tell the two lovers for fear of warping the new relationship. Some weeks later the Heralds and Stefen return to Haven (the capital of Valdemar), and on the way Van and Stef have a small discussion on whether it is safe for the Bard to be Vanyel's lover. In my version this leads to Stefen reminiscing about the time spent at Van's side during the stay at Forest Reach. * Vanyel and Stefen, part III Vanyel had been brooding again, and finally Stef decided to ferret out the cause. "Something's bothering you," Stefen said when they were barely a candlemark from Haven. "It's been bothering you for the past two days. Whatever it is, I wish you'd just spit it out and get it over with. You're giving me a headache." "It's you," Van said quietly, "I have an enemy who doesn't want a direct confrontation, so he'll strike at me through others. Once it's known that you and I are lovers, he won't hesitate to strike at you." Gods. I was afraid I'd shocked or offended him. He's so – virginal. And Kernos knows I'm not. "Ah," Stefen said, relieved. I was hoping it was just something like that, and not that – that I'd upset you or anything." Vanyel turned to face him with an expression of complete surprise. "Stef, you've just had a taste of what it's like to be a target! How can you brush it of so lightly?" "I'm not treating this lightly, but why are you bringing your parents to Haven if it isn't safe there?" Stefen pointed out with remorseless logic. "I thought that was the whole idea behind making them move there." Van looked away from him, up the road away from them. It won't work lover. You're never getting rid of me. Stefen had already made up his mind to counter any argument Van gave him, so he used Van's silence as an excuse to admire his profile, the way his long, fine-boned hands rested on his saddle-pommel, his perfect balance in the saddle... Of course, this led to thoughts about having Van's fingers resting somewhere else, and how his body looked, when it was balanced above Stef – or the other way round. After the initial night Stefen had anticipated the pleasure of being in Van's bed every night. Well, he had spent both days and nights next to his lifebonded, but of course there had been no chance of full scale love play while the Herald was recuperating from the leech blade. But that didn't prevent them from exploring each other's bodies with fingers and mouths. And Van was much more frustrated than me! Stefen couldn't resist feeling a certain glee, when he thought about that. It was an unexpected revenge and reward for the patience he had been forced to exercise for the many months he had longed for Van's love. The Herald wanted to resume their physical loving, but he was too weak and sore to do much. And of course the Hawk brothers had been very strict in their admonitions, telling Van in blunt words that he was not allowed to do anything that Stef did not permit. Stefen gulped a bit as he recalled the stern lecture he had received out of Van's earshot, a talk which gave him every reason to keep Van to a slow increase of exercise. Starwind had given him one of those stares which felt like having one's innermost thoughts and secrets exposed: "Well, young Singer, I hope you realize that Vanyel's recovery depends almost entirely on you!" As Stef had stared nervously at the exotic Hawk brother mage, Starwind had outlined precisely what he expected in terms of getting Van to rest, relax and recover. "He will not do it for his own sake, but if you ask to rest and refuse to engage in any activity, which is too strenuous for Vanyel, he will comply. And if you do not leave his side – indeed his bed – then Vanyel will have no great urge to do so either!" Stef blushed at the recollection, for some of the instructions had been almost too explicit: "You may fondle him with hands and mouth, till he spends himself, because he will be languorous afterwards and easily persuaded to sleep. But no intercourse until his wound is at least three weeks healed and clearly starting to knit. And even then you make take him, but not the other way round." After more admonitions, Stefen had sworn to do his best, and the exotic Tayledras had smiled at him: "I know you will, for I see that your love is boundless and patient and determined to act in the best interests of Vanyel. He is very lucky to have you, and I hope he learns to appreciate you properly. He needs you, Stefen, and never let him try to tell you otherwise!" Stef still treasured those words in his heart, the implicit approval and support were a nice confirmation of his own determination to stay at Van's side no matter what. Stefen smiled dreamily as he recalled some of the pleasant hours he had spent with Vanyel recently. He would lie on his side next to Van and stroke the Herald's soft hair, tracing the outline of his beautiful face, letting his hand wander down the body which in spite of scars and bandages was totally desirable in the young Bard's eyes. While he was exploring his lover physically, he opened his mind to his beloved, telling him of his childhood, his dreams and answering any question, which Van might have. This subject fascinated the Herald, who forgot to fret about lying abed and became more concerned about the wounds and scars Stef had suffered in his short life, than his own injuries. Then Stef told him of all the schemes, he and Meke had concocted to trap the unwilling Herald. Discussing how they had been perceived by Van, and the difficulties the Herald had had with not giving in to the temptation, occupied another couple of days. Those hours were filled with laughter and teasing, and at some point Stefen had told Van, that since he was now helpless and could not get away, he would just have to submit. Before Van could respond, Stef had dived under the blanket, and his mouth had joined his hand, which had been stroking the large, hard phallus of his lover for a while. Stefen had spent a long time running his tongue around the swollen head, tickling the edges, dipping into the aperture with the tip of his tongue, enclosing the glans with lips and sucking gently. Van had groaned, and when Stef had kissed and licked his way up and down the hard shaft, and fondled the aching testes below, his lover was willing to promise anything. "So, you'll invite me for dinner and wine in your room, and get me drunk, and take me to bed, and make love to me, instead of sleeping on the floor?" "Yes, yes, I promise!" Stef rewarded him with a sensual rubbing along the throbbing shaft. "And you'll go with me to the hot springs again, and not disappoint me like last time?" Vanyel was almost whimpering with lust and despair: "Oh, gods, Stef, I wanted you so much, your naked body made me wild with desire – I ached to kiss every part – I wanted your hands on me." His voice became a low moan, as Stefen finally coordinated his hands and his mouth, and within a matter of moments drove Van to a shuddering release. The Bard enjoyed the salty taste of his lover's semen, which filled his mouth in short bursts. He swallowed every drop, and when he had milked him dry, he sat up and gazed at Van with a satisfied smile. The Herald was panting hard, but otherwise the experience had not strained him unduly. Stefen felt his own manhood ache; he slipped it out and began to fondle himself. Just then Van opened his eyes and tried to reach for him, but the Bard shook his head. "Oh no, you don't get to touch me. You can lie there and regret all the opportunities you missed due to your silly behavior, while I feast my eyes on your naked body and enjoy myself." In fact, Stef was so close to his own climax, that even as he finished speaking, he felt the contractions begin. He cupped one hand in front of himself and delivered his seed, while the accompanying orgasm made him groan with release. When he returned from the wash room and slipped into bed next to Vanyel, his lover sighed. "You are a terrible tease, Stef", he began, trying to look stern and disappointed. But as Stef just laughed and nodded, Van couldn't help joining him. Stefen gave him an arch look and informed him, that it was just the beginning of the revenge he was going to take for being forced to endure the longest dry spell since he became sexually active. This led to some candid talks about their previous partners. Van did not enquire directly at first, but Stef could easily see his curiosity. And since Van did not disapprove of his beloved being experienced, Stef was quite willing to relate how he had become such a prodigy. Such bed talk kept Van from becoming bored for quite a few days, and often ended at night with Stefen giving them both release for the pent-up excitement the stories evoked. He would press his naked body against Van's and stroke him gently, not just his phallus, but fondling his testes and tickling between his legs and buttocks. But he would not allow Van to reciprocate, and the Herald soon learnt to obey, once Stef demonstrated that he would get up and refuse to return to the bed, until Vanyel had sworn to behave. When Van was almost crazy from being aroused by the words and fingers of the young Bard, Stef would use his mouth for something else than talking. His fingers entered Van and found the magic spot, and his lips and tongue worked on Van's phallus. The desperate Herald had to give in almost immediately and fill the sweet mouth with his semen. Afterwards, Stefen would 'torture' him some more by fondling himself, while he told Van what he was going to do to him, when the Herald was well again. Sometimes, Stef would let Van caress the firm buttocks or even press two fingers into his rear opening, while he gave himself release. It was totally erotic and frustrating for the Herald to watch the Bard's beautiful hands rub the hard phallus, making it spray and not being able to participate. Except for those few times, when the Bard relented enough to let Van feel the simultaneous contractions in his lover's tight tunnel. Van had been told by Savil, that Stef had supplied a lot of the energy to keep him alive and bring him out of the coma. So he did not at first wonder that Stefen needed a lot of sleep. In fact, the Bard would often tire, just as Van himself ran out of energy, and they would both drift off to sleep. But after three weeks of this, Van suddenly woke one day from a much shorter nap than he usually took and found Stef sitting and reading in a chair next to the bed. The young Bard looked up at the slight noise of surprise from the older man and blushed slightly, as he met Van's knowing gaze. The Herald immediately realized that his lover had been deceiving him, feigning to be tired, in order to tempt Van to sleep. But he was very easily distracted from his anger, when Stef reacted to his improved strength by asking him to undress and turn over. First, however, he had quite calmly gone to the door and locked it, while Van was grumbling and scolding. Stef ignored Van threatening to get up in order to show the Bard that he did not appreciate being treated like a bedridden invalid. He just fetched something in his pack and shed his clothes, As Stefen approached the bed, Van fell silent at the sight of his naked and erect manhood. The Bard pulled the blankets and upper sheets away and showed his lover the bottle of oil, he held in his hand: "If you are well enough to get out of bed, then you are also able to fulfill my desire for you. So take off your clothes and turn over!" Van began shaking, but got hold of himself with an effort. But he could not deny the lust which suffused his whole body at the thought of what his lover wanted to do to him. With fumbling fingers he began to remove his nightshirt, soon Stef was helping him and caressing him at the same time. The sore and only half-healed side where the leech blade had hit him, forced Van to move slowly and carefully. His lover helped and supported him, but when Vanyel was finally on his knees with his head and shoulders resting on the mattress, he was shaking from fatigue and pain rather than desire. Stefen seemed to be perfectly aware of how the Herald felt and enquired gently whether he had better lie down again. But as Van very well knew, his wound was still holding together and in no immediate risk of reopening, so he refused and said that he only needed to catch his breath. The Bard did not try to dissuade him, but just moved around to sit behind his lover. His hands ran over the firm buttocks and began fondling, massaging, and caressing. Soon the oil came into play, and Van forgot pain, exhaustion, anger, his irritation at being kept in bed. Why then – being in bed with Stef was the most wonderful experience – so why be so eager to leave it? Especially as he had a perfectly good excuse to stay in bed and relax, and everybody was urging him to do so. Van thought he might pass out from pleasure, as he was penetrated and given a short but very efficient dose of the best relaxing treatment invented. Somehow Stef was able to stroke Van's throbbing phallus in time with his short stabs, which made the engorged head of his own member move back and forth in the tight outer tunnel and hit Van's sweet spot every time. The intense massage of the most sensitive parts of their bodies drove them very quickly towards mutual ecstasy. Towards the end, Van took care of himself, while Stefen gripped the slim hips and took them both over the edge. When the Herald's orgasm made his sphincter contract, the young Bard cried out and matched the rhythmic spurting, pushing deeper inside for a short while. It was their first simultaneous ecstasy, and both lovers knew that they would crave this unique pleasure again and again. Afterwards, Stefen gently eased them down on one side, making sure that it was Van's uninjured side. He pulled a blanket over them and held his beloved close, until he felt him relax completely. Then he carefully withdrew, which made Van moan slightly and express how much he had enjoyed their lovemaking. Stefen removed the soiled nightshirt which had received his lover's semen, wiped Vanyel down and washed himself. By the time he climbed back into bed and settled against the still naked body, the Herald was almost asleep, and the Bard had no difficulty in inducing a contented slumber by humming softly and caressing the soft skin at the nape of Van's neck. Stefen even took a short nap himself, but soon he woke feeling quite refreshed and very satisfied. He slipped out of bed, got dressed, unlocked the door and went in search of some food and clean clothes for Van. When the Herald awoke, he found Stef sitting on the bed waiting patiently for his lover to climb out of the sexually induced stupor which had claimed another couple of hours for the necessary healing. He helped Van take care of various other bodily needs, then sponged him down and assisted him in getting dressed. When Van had moved into the comfortable armchair next to the bed, Stef tidied the room. The Bard joined Vanyel at his meal by sitting on the bed and taking little bites from his plate and sips from his cup. Somehow this made Van eat and drink more than he normally would bother to do. It became a game, where Stef would reach for a certain tidbit, and then Van would snatch it and eat it to tease him. Stefen looked adorable when he pouted in mock anger and then pretended that he did not care after all, while searching Van's tray for something else to pounce on. And all the time he was telling little snippets of gossip and observations, which kept the Herald amused and distracted. So when the Healer came to inspect him, he could find no fault with his behavior, as the patient was clearly doing his best to replenish and conserve his energy for healing. After that visit Van had a string of others, but they were kept short, seeing as Savil, who was the first to enter, stayed and glared at people, if she thought they were tiring or bothering him unduly. Meanwhile Stefen went out for some fresh air, and as always he went to visit Yfandes. He knew of course that she had just as good an insight in how Van was doing, as he did, but somehow telling her how much better the Herald looked made it more believable. The Bard fancied that Van's Companion agreed and gave him approving looks, and this time she even nuzzled his hair, as he leaned against the fence. He had been lost in contemplation and almost jumped into the air when he felt the warm breath and soft touch of her nose. He looked into her blue eyes and blurted "Oh, Yfandes I love him so much, I don't know what I would have done if I had lost him just as he finally admitted that he cared for me too." Somehow, all the worry and anguish came pouring out of him, all the emotions that he kept deep down when in Van's company, so as to keep his lover content and happy and relaxed. He laid his head against the warm skin of the Companion's neck and cried, not even questioning the fact that the person offering her shoulder for comfort was shaped like a horse rather than a human. Savil found him there; she paused some distance away, long enough for him to become aware of her presence, which was betrayed by the greeting of her Companion. Kellan had been standing a bit to one side, staring at the Bard with compassion and a good dose of approval, but now she moved up to the fence and made a noise. Stefen gave a start and moved away from Yfandes. He rubbed his face and took some deep breaths, while Savil completed her walk down to the fence. She gave him some extra time by focusing on greeting her own Companion and presenting an apple for both Kellan and Yfandes. When she finally looked at Stef, the Bard was able to show her a composed and polite face. She delivered her message, as if it was just normal conversation: "Van is asking for you." The Bard's face lit up, and he immediately turned to go back to the Hold. Then he remembered his manners and turned again to take his leave of the two Companions. Both of them nodded at his courteous words: "Thank you for your time, ladies, I'm much obliged for your kindness." Savil smiled a little, as Stef's eagerness warred with his obvious wish to stay on good terms with Van's oldest friends. He looked at her and remarked that it was nice to see the Herald well enough to get out of bed. Fortunately, Savil had a reputation of being gruff, so she could cut him short with the tart observation that in her opinion Van had been up for long enough by now and needed to get back to bed and rest. "So run along now, boy, and work some more of your magic on him, so he'll get a good night's sleep!" With an effort she held back her laugh, until he was out of earshot; well, now, she had not seen such a delightful blush on a young man's face for quite a while. But Stef was tough and could take a bit of teasing, even if he was lifebonded and infatuated. Stefen hurried back, but made sure to walk slowly and breathe deeply the last bit along the corridor to Vanyel's room, so as to seem calm and casual. When he entered, the Healer was at his lover's side; Stef felt his insides contract, was something wrong? Then he relaxed, as the man just asked him to assist in helping the Herald-Mage back to bed. It was a good sign of how tried and sore Vanyel was after just a couple of hours in a chair that he did not protest, when both men supported him and helped him lie down very carefully. As soon as he was prone, the Healer vanished, though not without a significant stare at Stef. Vanyel and Stefen Ch. 02 The Bard knew very well what that meant, but he chose to do things his own way. He sat down in the chair next to Van, pretending that he did not notice the pale drawn face, or how his lover shook from exhaustion and pain. Stef just took Vanyel's hand and held it, gently massaging the strong fingers and humming under his breath, exerting his Gift, until he felt Van relax and sigh with relief as the pain receded. Then Stef carefully and gently undressed the Herald, checking that the bandages were in place and showing no signs of bleeding. He helped Van into the soft shirt which served as both nightclothes and his only garment during the days, when he did not get out of bed. This preserved the modesty of the Herald, who still worried how people would react, if they saw him naked – and especially his parents if Stef was in the room. The Bard couldn't care less if half the Hold came to visit and found him naked in the bed next to Van, but he respected the feelings of his lover. Thus, when he had settled Van, he pretended to do a bit of tidying, chatting about how well Yfandes looked, what the weather was like, saying that he was hungry and would get some supper for them. So when there was a diffident tap on the door, he could open it and let the maid in; and there was no need for Van to blush, as the young girl carried the tray with food and drink to a table. Everything was respectable and proper, and the maid even curtsied, as she left the room. Stef coaxed his lover to eat and drink, and made sure that Vanyel saw that he was making inroads into the provender himself. Even though he longed to lie down next to his beloved, even just to hold his hand and caress his hair, he waited until he knew that the Hold was settling down for the night. He took out his gittern and practiced for a bit; this always made Van smile fondly and proudly. Finally, when there were no more risks of visitors except for a crisis, the Bard put away his musical instrument and made himself ready for bed. Before he undressed, he locked the door; the small sound of the bolt being shot home roused the Herald, who had been dozing. Stefen deliberately had not doused the lights, and he placed himself in a spot where Van could see him. Very slowly and as tantalizing as possible he undressed. When he was naked except for the tight briefs he had under his breeches, he began a series of exercises designed to keep him limber and fit, but also capable of showing his body off in very provocative poses. He had been taught the exercises by the Weaponsmaster's assistant as a part of his training for hand combat, but he had soon elaborated on them. Especially after one of his lovers had said that seeing him perform turned him on. Nothing was basically changed, he would just hold some poses a little longer, tilt his head slightly, run his hands along thighs, arms, and finally all over his body, as if inspecting himself for sore muscles or weak spots. He had been doing these exercises morning and night for a couple of years now, and saw no reason to desist just because Van was gazing at him with hungry eyes. Quite the contrary... However, this night he did stretch out his performance a bit, even repeating a couple of the most provocative floor exercises. To cap it he ended up with a good stretch with his back to the bed, before he very slowly removed his last item of clothing. He rubbed the small of his back, and wriggled a bit as if to loosen up, then as he slowly slid his hands down over his naked buttocks and forward, Vanyel could stand it no longer: "Stefen, for pity's sake, you're driving me insane, will you please stop that and come to bed!" The Bard turned slightly and looked over his shoulder, he sent his beloved a teasing smile. "Am I hearing you right? You would like to have my naked body in your bed?" The need and desire was plain on the Herald's face, and it made Stef want to cry with happiness. He had longed to see this expression on Vanyel for months, and now finally his dreams were coming true. He turned all the way and let his lover see the erection, which had been straining his briefs for some time, caused by the hot gaze he had felt on his body, while he was performing. "Will you behave, and not exert yourself, if I do?" The Herald nodded to both questions; then moaned as Stef ran his hands up and down his swollen member, exposing the glistening head. "Maybe, just maybe – if you are very good and promise to go to sleep straight after – I will let you have a taste. Would you like that?" He did not wait for the eager affirmation, but walked to the bed and climbed in. Van was lying on his back, his head was turned, and his eyes were fixed on the jutting phallus, he licked his lips in anticipation. When the Bard flicked back the blanket and straddled his lover's head, a small whimper escaped the Herald's mouth. He opened it eagerly to receive the beautiful shaft, just as Stefen exposed him and dipped down to return the favor. Vanyel still could not quite credit, how much he craved the sensual pleasure which Stef provided. Even though he was sore and tired after a couple of hours in a chair and numerous visits, the erotic performance of his lover made him forget all other concerns and burn with desire. He was of course aware that Stef did it on purpose, but after so many months of refusing to acknowledge his lust for the beautiful young Bard, the love-starved Herald was helpless now the barrier had been broken. He ached for the touch of warm skin, soft lips, wet tongue, and he cursed his inability to act on his wants. But at least he got to do more than just lie passively and receive satisfaction or stare at Stef, while the Bard fondled himself provocatively. Van was beside himself with joy, when his lover let him lick and caress the erect phallus he craved, allowed him to enjoy the mutual pleasure of oral sex. He sucked hard and rubbed the throbbing shaft, caressed the soft buttocks and tickled Stef's tight star. The Bard did the same in return, and soon they were both panting at the brink of orgasm. Van begged for the full experience, and Stef laughingly agreed that he had behaved well enough for this reward. He held back, while Van completed his efforts, so that the Herald could focus exclusively on the wonderful feeling and taste, as Stef came in long spurts in his lover's mouth. Then the talented Bard resumed his expert treatment of Van's intimate parts, making him climax almost immediately. Vanyel was still savoring the last dribbles of Stefen's love fluid, when he exploded in ecstasy and gave a similar gift into Stefen's eagerly awaiting mouth. The Bard swallowed every drop and made sure to milk him dry, before releasing him, making Van shudder with pleasure. Afterwards they lay close together, kissing deeply and tasting their own seed in each other's mouths. Van tried to tell Stefen how happy he was, how much he loved him; it was the first time, he had really expressed his feelings at length. The heartfelt delight and gratitude on the young Bard's face told the Herald better than words how much this avowal of love meant to him. Even though their mutual love could be felt through the lifebond, Stef – and Van for that matter – still needed the vocal confirmation. Within the next couple of weeks, Stef gradually let Van become more active in their love play. The Herald explored the slim body with his hands, as they lay next to each other. Stef happily tucked himself in the embrace of his lover, wriggling slightly so that Van's erect phallus nestled between his buttocks. He almost purred as Vanyel stroked his hips, stomach, chest, tickled the sensitive nipples, before his fingers began playing with the Bard's intimate parts. At some point Stef would turn around, and they kissed deeply as they fondled each other. Usually, the next step would be mutual oral stimulation, and then came the moment that Vanyel longed for. Stefen would settle between Van's thighs, push his legs apart, and dive in for an even more intimate taste of his lover. The first time he did this was just after he had helped Van take a much needed bath. Stefen had insisted on washing the Herald, and when Van had tried to object by saying that he was well enough to do it himself, the Bard's answer and lust filled gaze had the older man erect and aching within seconds. "You promised to let me have my fill of you. I want to do this for me. And it will prepare you for what I want to do to you afterwards." As Stefen spoke, his fingers were busy between Van's buttocks. The Herald was kneeling in the bath, resting his arms and head on a thick towel on the edge. The warm water only just covered his thighs, and Stefen had used a scoop and a cloth to wash the lean, naked body of his lover. Van was helpless against the onslaught of lust, when the Bard's slim, skillful fingers slid inside him and proceeded to clean the tight, needy tunnel carefully. When Stefen was done and had dried Van and helped him back to bed, he insisted that Van had to lie still and relax, while he kissed and licked him all over. By the time the Bard finally spread Van's legs and buttocks and attacked the quivering sphincter with his tongue, the Herald was utterly lost in the throes of passion. He tried to muffle his cries with a pillow as his hole was licked and teased and plundered by the mouth and fingers of the most ardent and experienced lover he had ever had. In between Stefen would feast on the leaking head of Van's manhood, or fondle the heavy balls and the sensitive area behind the tight sack. Finally, it became too much for Van, and though he wanted to enjoy the incredible sensation of having his intimate parts licked and sucked for much longer, he couldn't help himself. As Stefen's mouth descended on Van's manhood, taking him into his throat, and his fingers found the sensitive spot inside the wet channel, Vanyel finally resorted to begging: "Please, Stef, please make love to me. I need you inside me, when I come. I'm so close, you're driving me insane. Please, I – oohhh – aarrgh." While Van was pleading and almost whimpering with need, Stef had oiled himself, and his long, hard manhood penetrated his lover in one deep thrust. Stef took him hard, with ruthless, efficient strokes, once, twice and then it was all over. Van spilled his seed between them, his cries of pleasure muffled by the Bard's ardent kiss, as Stef erupted inside his beloved, reaffirming their bond in the best way imaginable. Vanyel and Stefen, part IV Vanyel had realized long ago, with his first lover Tylendel, that he preferred being made love to, but also enjoyed reciprocating. From their first night together he knew that Stefen wanted and liked to have his lover inside, but he kept denying the Herald this pleasure. "You need to be almost completely healed first, Van. I'm not going to jeopardize your recovery. Savil would have my balls, not to mention the hoof shaped marks Yfandes would leave on my butt! And I don't even want to think about the look on Starwind's face if he had to come back and save you again." Stef had a point, a very good point, because Vanyel certainly did not want to experience that either. He knew from past experience what an annoyed and disapproving Starwind looked like, and though rarely occurring, it was something best avoided. So the Herald tried to curb his growing need for possessing Stef's body in that way, though he kept hinting about it. If only to see the quick flicker of yearning which filled the young Bard's eyes, whenever Vanyel managed to express his desire, even in a roundabout way. With time this became easier for the reticent Herald, but Van had been lacking a lover for such a long time, and he had practiced discretion and suppression of his needs for even longer, so that to openly acknowledge that he wanted Stef's body was ridiculously difficult. Just when Van got well enough to think about insisting, he was caught up in the demands from his family and duties as a Herald. As soon as he was physically able to leave his room and sit or walk for longer periods of time, his father, brother, mother and a lot of other people claimed his attention. So for almost a week he came back to his room each night and fell into bed and asleep as soon as his head hit the pillow. Stefen did not complain, and in truth he was also kept busy with entertaining Lady Treesa, her ladies and various guests who came to stay. Finally, every matter was dealt with, including the details of his parent's move to Haven. The last duty was a family dinner two nights before Savil, Vanyel and Stefen left. As they had to ride out early in the morning on the day of departure, Savil had insisted that nothing was planned for the last day. She had been quite firm with her brother and sister: "I'm getting too old to spend a day packing, an evening drinking and socializing, a late night with not enough sleep, before getting up at dawn and spending a whole day in the saddle. So if you insist on having a farewell party, it will have to be the night before, and I get to sleep in and breakfast in bed." Vanyel and Stefen agreed, but would never have dared to voice this, so they were very grateful to Van's aunt. To Van's surprise he had actually enjoyed the dinners of the past week, and the reason dawned on him half way through. For the first time in his life he only heard approval and pride in the words of his father when he spoke of his eldest son. Withen's manners were still gruff, but Van knew him well enough to see the implicit love and acceptance that he had yearned for all his life. Even when Stef talked to Van during the evenings, mostly brief and very formal consultations on the music suitable for this particular venue, Withen did not flinch. Not that anyone could have guessed the bond between the two men from their behavior. Both were in their formal uniforms of Herald Whites and Bardic red, and Stefen played the role of Master Bard with a dignity and seriousness that let no one doubt his right to carry the title despite his youth. He more or less ignored Vanyel, and all his attention was given to Lady Treesa as hostess and Lord Withen's wife. She was utterly delighted to boast of both her favorite son and a Master Bard who was highly regarded at court, while quite capable of ignoring their liaison as irrelevant. In any case, Vanyel was proud of his beloved, but he didn't have a chance to express this, because they hardly had any time together alone. Stefen would be asleep, when Van came back from the late night consultations, and he would often rise before the Herald. At first, Van thought nothing of it, but when he woke on the fifth day with an achingly hard erection but no lover in his bed to sate his needs, the Herald began to wonder and worry. During the day he found himself looking at Stef and lusting for his body every time the beautiful Bard was in the vicinity. He even tried to hint at his wishes when he had a moment with Stef during dinner in the evening: "I'm hoping that I can get away earlier tonight, there is only one visitor that my father wants me to talk to. Will you be... awake?" The last word was a sensual whisper only meant for his lover's ear. Stefen gave Van a polite smile: "Possibly, but why would that make a difference?" He moved away and picked up his gittern, leaving the flabbergasted Herald staring after him. Vanyel pulled himself together with an effort, when his mother came up to him and asked if he was feeling unwell. Sure enough, when Van entered the room he was sharing with Stef, the young Bard was fast asleep in bed. Van wanted to pull the sheets down, rip the shirt of his sleeping beauty and ravish the slim body. He wanted to hear Stefen cry out in ecstasy and joy, make them climax together. His hands were shaking with the need to touch his lover's soft skin. Van wanted to kiss and lick his way down to the treasure hidden under the covers. But once again he restrained himself. I shouldn't disturb his rest. He'll be annoyed, if I wake him up just because I want to make love to him. And...and maybe he's bored with me or angry because I have spent the last week on my duties. He hasn't touched me with desire in all that time, and before he couldn't keep his hands off me. Now Van was getting irritated. Stef should know better. Duty always comes first with a Herald. If he cannot accept that, we don't have a future together. The very thought made Vanyel's guts ache with misery, even though he knew that Stef would be safer, if he was not in a relationship with Van. With a sign he undressed, doused the candles and slipped under the covers. He wanted to take his lifebonded into his arms and just hold him, but instead he turned his back and tried to sleep. It took a while and the Herald had to use a mind calming technique. Luckily his body was still in need of rest and healing, so Van finally slipped into a dreamless stupor. The next day was their second to last, and nothing was scheduled except the family dinner. Apart from packing most of his belongings Van had planned to go for a longer ride on Yfandes. He had taken short trips in the days before, but he wanted to test his stamina, to be sure he was ready for the trip to Haven. When he came down to the meadow, the Herald was surprised to find Stefen there with his mare saddled and tied to the fence. Even more surprising was the fact that the young Bard was leaning on Yfandes, his forehead on the Companion's shoulder. Yfandes just fixed Van with a hard stare, daring him to protest. :I've invited Stefen to accompany us on our ride. He could do with the practice and some quiet time away from your family.: Vanyel immediately felt guilty and elated at the same time. He should have thought of suggesting that Stef practiced his new skill of riding, and he certainly should have sheltered his lifebonded from the never ending demands of his large family. But Stef had seemed to do well, probably using his Bard training in social skills, and Van had somehow stopped worrying. As he saddled Yfandes and rode into the forest together with Stefen, his elation soon took over. Finally, they were alone, and he meant enjoy Stef's company and maybe a few kisses as a prelude to later delights. At first everything was fine, Stefen seemed happy, he joked and made Van laugh, just like their friendship used to be. It was comfortable and wonderful, but something was missing. Van gradually realized that there was no sensual flirting or hints of desire in Stef's behavior, nothing like the early part of their acquaintance or first weeks as lovers. As they reached their destination, a secluded grove of trees around a small pond fed by a brook, Stef exclaimed with pleasure. He dismounted and let his mare drink from the brook where it left the pond, then tied her reins to a bush next to some lush grass. Stefen removed his boots and sat on the edge of the pond, dappling his bare feet in the water. The sun lit up his auburn hair, and when the young Bard leant back on wiry but strong arms, his lithe body was displayed in a manner which made Vanyel's mouth go dry with desire. He had dismounted also, removing Yfandes' saddle and bridle. Stefen didn't say anything, just looked at Van, his expression turning unreadable after a while. Van's thougts were in a jumble Oh gods, I want to touch him, see him naked, make love to him – right now. How do I ask him for this? Maybe he doesn't want me. He hasn't touched me or said anything. Why doesn't he take the initiative, like he did before? Maybe he... Suddenly Van was rudely interrupted by an impatient shove from behind. Yfandes' snort was clearly annoyed. :Will you quit being a fool and stop this stupid, obsessive nonsense? I'm fed up with your ridiculous worrying.: Van turned his head and met the blue eyes of his irate Companion. :Don't you understand that Stefen is waiting for YOU to take the initiative, to seduce him? He needs you to prove that you love him and desire him. For all his experience he is still young and insecure in love. As the older and supposedly mature male, you should be the one to claim him, and your failure to do so has made Stefen very unhappy.: Suddenly, Stef's reply the other night made sense to Van. The Bard had been trying to imply, that if Vanyel did not desire him enough to wake his lover and instigate intimacy, he did not feel wanted. Vanyel and Stefen Ch. 02 Stefen was looking at the pond, trying to pretend that nothing was wrong, but his heart was aching. Nevertheless, he stubbornly held on to his decision not to beg Van for love play. If the Herald wanted them to make love, he could damn well say it or show it. Every night this week, Stefen had gone to bed ready for his lover, hoping that Van would wake him with kisses and intimate caresses either at night or the next morning. Sometimes, like last night, he had only pretended to be asleep, and when Vanyel did not even touch him, it felt like utter rejection. Silent tears had run down Stef's cheeks after Van had fallen asleep, and as always he woke early the next morning, hard and aching for the handsome man next to him. The only way Stefen could keep to his decision was to get up and take a cold bath. If he had stayed in bed, he would have given in to his needs and seduced Van the moment his beloved stirred. Usually, he would then visit Yfandes, and he had poured out his heart to the sympathetic Companion on more than one occasion. She had even answered with a nod and a shake of her head, when he had dared to ask her this morning, if he had made the right decision in wanting Van to make a move, or whether he was being silly. When Savil had approached Stefen later in the morning and informed him that Yfandes wished to invite the Bard on a ride with her and Vanyel, Stef was sure that this was the moment he had been waiting for. The secluded grove that the Herald led them to seemed perfect for a lover's tryst, and Stef had made an effort to display himself to Van, without doing anything overtly seductive. For a moment the Herald had seemed to ignite with lust, but then he just stood there wrinkling his brow, and Stef gave up. His skills as a Bard and the hard lessons of survival from his childhood enabled Stef to pull a mask of indifference over his face. But he couldn't look at Van anymore, so he turned away and stared into the sunlit water, trying to clamp down on his feelings and empty his mind. Without much success I'm not going to cry in front of Van. I don't want his pity, I want his love. But most of all I want him to take me, make me his and... Stef shifted as his manhood began to swell in his tight riding breeches. He quickly stopped that line of thought, before he embarrassed himself. The next moment he was grabbed by the shoulders, and Van's mouth closed over his. Ardent kisses, a demanding tongue and hands that held him tight, made Stefen's body tinkle and his phallus sprang to full attention within seconds. He was pushed back to lie on the soft grass, whimpering as Vanyel's lean body covered his, while his mouth was still being plundered. When his lover's lips finally left his mouth, Stef gasped for air and his eyes flew open. A jolt went through the young Bard's body as he met the gaze of the older man. Van's silver eyes looked down at him with the most wonderful possessive, lust filled love Stef had ever seen on his beloved's face. Vanyel's words dispelled the last insecurity and sadness in Stef's heart. "I love you, Stef. I want you more than you could ever imagine. You are mine, forever, do you understand?" The hard length of Van's manhood was grinding into Stef's thigh, leaving the equally aroused Bard in no doubt of the Herald's desire. Vanyel gave him no time to answer, but claimed his mouth again. He was undressing Stef, quickly and efficiently, then shed his own clothes. Vanyel was back on top of his lover, forcing his legs apart and holding his hands pinned above his head, while he showered Stef's face and neck with kisses. Stefen moaned and thrust his hips upwards, pulling his knees up so that the engorged head of Van's large phallus bumped against his needy entrance. The two men rubbed against each other, lost in insatiable desire and long unfulfilled need. With a huge effort, Vanyel refrained from impaling the slim body beneath him, knowing that it would be much too painful for Stef without the proper preparation. He caressed the blushing cheek of his beloved, until Stef opened his eyes again. "I want to make love to you tonight, Stef." The aroused youth shook his head in denial and muttered incoherently, trying to convey his wish for the promised delight to happen now, not later. His legs wrapped around Van and pulled him closer, clearly hoping this would lead to penetration. Van tried to reason with him: "You're not ready for this, Stef, and I did not think to bring..." A happy giggle interrupted him: "Silly man, of course I prepared, before we left. Just as I readied myself for you every single night, hoping you would make love to me. And I have a bottle of oil in my saddlebag." Van jerked upright and pulled Stef with him. He dragged the Bard over to his mare and panted in his ear, while Stef found the oil in the small bag attached to the saddle. Back to a spot further away from the pond, where Van spread his cloak, which he had snagged from his own saddle on the ground nearby. "Get on your hands and knees, Stef." Shaking with anticipation the Bard obeyed, spreading his legs and arching his back to present himself for this exciting new, demanding Van. Stefen was incredibly aroused by the unusually dominant behavior of his lover, he wanted to submit, to be filled and used by the impressive instrument jutting from Van's loins. Normally Stefen enjoyed being in charge, in fact he preferred to have Van at his mercy and drive him crazy with lust. This had often been the case with his previous partners also. But now and then, if he really trusted a lover, he wanted to be the one to receive, to let go of the responsibility and just let himself be pleasured. That Van was finally prepared to fulfill this need, made Stef want to cry with joy. He did cry out, when he felt Van's hands spread his buttocks and a skillful tongue attack his most intimate spot. Before long, Stef's face was buried in the soft cloak beneath him, as he tried to muffle the sounds that Vanyel's actions was wringing from him, first his mouth, then his fingers, and finally the long, thick phallus the young Bard craved. Vanyel was beside himself with excitement. He had never taken charge of a lover's tryst like this before, but the fact that Stef clearly relished being subjected to Van's selfish demands fueled the Herald's ardor and made him forget everything else. He felt a short twinge of regret when Stef admitted to his nightly hopes of intimacy, but rather than berate himself for opportunities lost, Van focused on making the most of this unexpected chance. As he exposed the enticing star hidden between Stef's taut buttocks, Van had to clench the muscles in his groin in order not to come on the spot. He dove in and got his first smell and taste of the treasure which he had only possessed once, on the night when he and Stef became lovers. A mixture of the scented soap that the young Bard favored, sweat, and a heady musk uniquely Stefen, tinged with Van's own juices from where he had rubbed his leaking member against the puckered rose. The Herald licked and prodded until Stef's sphincter yielded to his tongue, and then he explored the tight tunnel with two oil slicked fingers. The wanton cries and begging for more which this elicited in his victim, was sweet music to Van's ears. On his knees behind Stef's naked body, so beautifully displayed and ready for him, Van poured oil over his phallus, while resting the exposed head against Stef's glistening entrance. "I'm going to take you now, beloved. Skewer your naughty little hole with my sword and make you scream with pleasure, before I fill you with my seed." With those words Van plunged inside Stef, who pushed back so hard that the Herald was totally embedded within his lover within a matter of moments. A muffled scream from Stef had Van worried for a mere snatch of time, but without cause. "Oh gods, Van, move. Take me, make love to me, move damn you! Ahhh, yes. Yes, gods I love you inside me. I need you, more, harder." The babbling was interrupted by moans and wordless cries, as Vanyel rode his lover with abandon. Again and again the wildly excited Herald rammed his thick rod into the young Bard's willing body, amazed at the ease with which Stefen seemed to accommodate the large phallus that almost all Van's lovers had eyed with trepidation. As he felt the approach of orgasm, he withdrew, flipped Stef over, and impaled him again. The two lovers gazed into each other's eyes, as their bodies moved together, riding the crest of ecstasy for a long, exhilarating moment. Stef surrendered first; his back arched and he thrust one last time against Van's stomach, before he exploded and covered them both with his semen. As soon as his tunnel clenched around Van, it was all over for him too. Crying out Stefen's name he came in short, hard bursts, filling his beloved as promised, reaffirming their bond with his seed. Vanyel collapsed on his lover, and they hugged each other for a long time, sharing sated kisses and murmuring loving words. Afterwards they washed briefly in the pond, before getting dressed and eating some of the provisions they had brought. Just as Stefen noticed that Yfandes was nowhere in sight, the Companion entered the glade. Van went over to her and they shared one of their wordless communications, before he saddled her up. As they started on the journey back, Van smiled at Stefen: " 'Fandes says to tell you that she is pleased I'm no longer being an idiot about our love." When the Bard blushed, his lifebonded laughed. "Don't worry, she went away to give us some privacy, but also to guard against anyone accidentally stumbling on our fun." This specific moment was just one of the happy memories that the sight of Vanyel's long, fine-boned hands on his saddle-pommel and his perfect balance in the saddle evoked in Stefen as they rode towards Haven. Together with their subsequent lovemaking at night after the farewell dinner and the next morning before a leisurely breakfast in bed, and again the last night befoe leaving, Stef felt that his gamble of waiting for Van to seduce him had paid off handsomely. Even if they probably both felt a bit sore during the first day of travel, and the prospect of being in the saddle all day had been rather daunting. (resume the conversation in original book here: "It's safer," Van said, after a strained silence.)