
Julien and Nicolas both realise the other knows what has happened
before they make good use of that tree stump in the front garden of their cabin.
Note: Preview is SFW.
In Peace, Vigilance;
In War, Victory;
In Death, Sacrifice;
In Afterlife, Elation.
Julien watched Maric, Kell and Duncan walk down the bend, something tugging at his heart. He had resumed chopping wood while Nicolas was speaking with them. Now he cast his axe aside, letting it drop onto the grass, and he hurried after them.
‘Wait,’ he called out.
The three wardens turned to face him.
‘Look,’ Maric began, ‘we didn’t come to cause any trouble.’ Julien waved a hand dismissively at him.
Julien looked at Duncan and smiled. ‘I have no regrets.’
Duncan just stared at him before his eyes widened.
‘Wait,’ Kell breathed.
‘You’re not a demon?’ asked Duncan.
Julien let out a one-breathed laugh and placed his hand on the younger warden’s shoulder. ‘Duncan, I’m glad I saved you. You may be foolish, stupid at times, but your life was worth saving. And no, I’m not a demon.’
‘Then how are you here when the rest of us were in a dream?’ asked Maric, eyeing Julien with suspicion.
‘I created this place when I died, willing to wait for Nicolas,’ Julien explained. ‘Whatever brought you into the Fade used this place to send Nicolas here. If it was a demon, then it did us both a favour.’
‘Why didn’t you say anything sooner?’ asked Kell.
‘Because I didn’t want to hold Nicolas back if he needed to return with you,’ replied Julien. He smiled fondly. ‘He stayed.’
‘He stayed for you,’ said Duncan.
Julien hugged the young man. ‘Promise me to live your best life as a warden, all right?’
‘I won’t let your sacrifice be for nothing, I promise you that.’
Julien pulled away; Duncan’s eyes brimmed with tears. Julien turned to Kell and embraced his friend. Then, he clasped hands with King Maric.
‘Find Geneviève. Find Fiona. Complete our mission.’ Julien bowed politely.
‘We will,’ Maric assured.
‘Live well, uh, I mean, in the Fade, well,’ Duncan bumbled.
Julien chuckled before nodding. ‘Thank you, I will.’
The three other men backed away before turning and leaving.
Julien hurried back up the bend, smiling the whole way. Nicolas stepped out of the cabin, scowling. Julien pointed a thumb behind him. ‘I went to see them off.’
Julien saw Nicolas swallow and a sob escaped him. ‘Oh, Julien.’
‘What’s the matter, Nicolas?’ Julien stepped closer to his lover.
Nicolas took Julien’s hands in his. He hesitated. ‘I…I know this may shock you, but…we’re dead.’
Julien smiled tenderly. ‘I know.’
Nicolas blinked a few times. ‘You know?’
Julien nodded carefully. ‘I thought…I wasn’t sure if you knew or not, but…I didn’t want you throwing what was left of your life away just because I was dead. And when I saw the others I for sure knew you were not yet dead. I…I thought if I pretended not to know them, then you might return with them.’
‘I have no life without you, Julien. I forfeit my life to be with you now, I just couldn’t.’
Julien’s heart swelled. ‘Oh, mon amour,’ he breathed. ‘You know, I was so scared you’d die when you were injured, and I told myself, better me than you, let it be me because I didn’t want to lose you.’
Nicolas stared at Julien intensely for a few moments before speaking, his voice gruff with grief. ‘I died inside the moment you died.’ His brows furrowed in sorrow. ‘You were dead before I even had you in my arms and I tried to make Fiona bring you back.’
Julien placed a hand on Nicolas’s face. ‘It’s okay, mon amour. I didn’t want to be selfish.’ He smiled tenderly. ‘I’m glad you stayed. I would have waited, but I’m glad you chose to stay.’
Continue reading In Afterlife, Elation
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