The Union

Timothy looked at the sinking sun on the horizon from the window of the hut. The slow dimming of the earth gave him a melancholic feeling.

"How many days should we stay here?" Lucia asked beside him. She was also looking at the sunset.

"I don"t know. I don"t want to rush because the Wismarines could find us again, but Erik and my guards will be worried."

"Yeah, I think five days should be our limit"

Timothy looked at her. She was wearing a plain one-piece tunic and her hair was a little rugged. But she was beautiful. She may not be wearing her pretty dress or her luxurious jewelries, but she was still the most beautiful woman in Tim"s eyes. More than her beauty, she was smart, capable and kind.

Someone then knocked on the door. "Theo, Alice, are you there?"

Timothy opened the door and saw a young man their age. Even though he just met him today, Timothy recognized him. If he"s not wrong, the man"s name was Jason.

"The chief has organized a gathering and he requests your appearance. He said it will be good for you to meet the villagers." Jason said.

"Okay we"ll be there"

Timothy and Lucia then followed Jason. He led them to the center of the village where the villagers had already gathered. There was a huge pot above the bonfire. The villagers sat on four huge logs that surrounded the bonfire. There were also bottles of wine prepared for the gathering.

Timothy surveyed the villagers. There were about fifty of them. Some of them were old, but most were on their early thirties. There were only two children among them.

Samuel scooped some stew from the pot into two bowls and offered each one to Timothy and Lucia.

"Thank you" Both of them thanked Samuel.

"Sit" Samuel gestured towards a vacant s.p.a.ce on one of the logs. The pair complied and ate the stew.

Timothy looked at Lucia as she ate her stew. She must be starving, Timothy thought. Lucia hadn"t eaten anything for half a week. Also, their tiring journey must have drained her energy. He transferred half of his food into her bowl.

"You need it more than I do" he said.

Lucia stopped eating and glared at him.

"Oh come on! There"s enough food. You can just get more from the pot. No need to act lovey-dovey in front of us!" A big man who looked like a bear shouted to them.

"Don"t mind him Theo. He"s just jealous because he"s still single at his age" A villager shouted back. The others laughed.

"Hey take that back" the burly man pointed "When I was still a soldier, women flocked around me"

"You were a soldier?" Timothy raised his brows. The man was lying. Almost every soldier in the Western Region knows his face. "What is your name?"

"Abraham" he said

"To what unit did you belong? And why are you here?"

"Knightsend"s garrison" he proudly patted his chest. "I retired after the battle. I came here because I was bored"

It took Timothy a few moments to absorb what Abraham said. Knightsend? Retired? What?

Timothy"s mouth was frozen so it was Lucia who continued the question. "So you know Prince Timothy then?" she stifled her laughter.

"Oh yes!" Abraham stood up "Prince Timothy and I are best of friends. He once told me, "Abraham, you are my champion. Together we will conquer the world"" he tried to imitate what he imagined Timothy"s voice to be.

What"s with that drama! Never in a million years would he say something as cheesy as that! Timothy rubbed his forehead and stared at Abraham.

"So what do Prince Timothy look like?" It was Samuel who asked. He then turned to Timothy and winked.

"He was big! Seven, no, Eight feet tall with a huge scar on his face." Abraham drew a line on his own face to represent Timothy"s scar. "He sword is also big, taller than two people"

"Does his sword have a name?" a villager asked

"He calls it…" Abraham pondered "Ah yes. He calls it Tulosan Slayer"

Timothy almost choked on his food. What the h.e.l.l? Stop ruining my name! Please! Stop. He silently begged Abraham.

Beside him, Lucia was giggling nonstop. "I never knew you also had a talent in naming swords"

A villager raised his hand and asked, "Is it true that he can turn into a giant white lion?"

"Ohoho" Abraham pointed at the villager "I"ve seen it friend. He was big. His claws were so sharp that you"ll cut yourself just by looking at it. His roar was so loud and powerful that it shook the earth. General Sigurd also turned into a stallion. They fought each other for hours until Prince Timothy bit his head off. It was marvelous"

Timothy"s jaw dropped. What"s with that tale! So he"s a shape shifter now? How come he doesn"t know?

Timothy felt someone tug his arm. It was Lucia. She was cupping her mouth with one hand to hold her laughter. "I can"t take it anymore Tim. Let"s go somewhere"

Lucia grabbed him into the darkness away from the bonfire. Timothy looked behind and Abraham was still telling absurd stories about him.

"Ahahahaha" after finding a spot where no one could hear them Lucia finally vented her laughter. "I can"t.. I can"t imagine what he said Tim" she said between laughs.

Timothy scratched his head "My reputation is ruined…Eight foot tall scarred shape shifter with a huge sword called "Tulosan Slayer" of all things"

Lucia then embraced Tim and looked at him "Well I won"t mind even if you were an eight foot tall scarred shape shifter with a huge sword called Tulosan Slayer" she grinned widely.

Timothy laughed. He must admit, Abraham"s description of him was entertaining. "So you won"t huh? How kind of you" he pinched her cheek.

"I won"t." she said laughingly "Because you will always be my Timothy"

The grin on their faces slowly vanished. There was no need for words because feelings communicate better than words. Their hearts became one, their minds intertwined. The pent up feelings they both had for the past month was released like flood.

They kissed.

It was ecstasy. It was bliss. It was glee.

A strange feeling enveloped their soul. It was like they were the only people in the world, a feeling that the universe belongs to them and only them. How charming it was. How good. It was love.

It took a while for their lips to part. But it wasn"t enough- no, once will never be enough. Their lips met again. This time it was more forceful, more rigorous, and more intense. Both savored each other"s affection. Nothing else mattered in that moment. Oh what a beautiful life it was!

The kiss lasted for a long time. Timothy doesn"t know how long it lasted and he doesn"t care. When their lips parted again, the world felt new.

"I love you Lucia"

"I love you Tim"

Both of them said at the same time.

Timothy smiled and caressed Lucia"s face. He looked at her like he wanted to engrave her existence on his being.

The two then sat on the gra.s.s side-by-side. Their hands were intertwined as they looked at the beautiful moon. They remained silent and enjoyed the moment.

After a while Timothy asked, "Lucia?"

"Uhuh?" She looked at him. Her blue eyes were sparkling like diamonds under the moonlight.

"Want to run away with me?"