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Arminius breathes heavily as he hoists the bag up on his shoulder. He stumbles and splashes through the shallow water but he keeps going. He can hear his follower and he knows he needs to outpace him. But he knows the blasted barbarian won’t give up.
“Ari!”
He breathes out and shakes his head. But his strength is slowly ebbing. He doesn’t know how much longer he can go on. He can feel the blood seeping from his wounds. From the many, many wounds. He has no idea how bad they really are. He thinks maybe he should be dead. And he would have been if Folkwin hadn’t saved him.
“Ari! Stop!”
And he does stop. Not because he’s told to but because he really can’t go on. He really just needs a moment and he tips his head back, shaking it as he closes his eyes. “I can’t.” He says.
“Just give me back the eagle!”
Arminius breathes out and spins around. He shakes his head and narrows his eyes into a glare. “I can’t, Folkwin!” He snaps. “If I return without it… don’t you see? If they find out it was you… they’ll kill you! All of you!”
Folkwin shakes his head. He holds up his hands and steps closer slowly. “Not if you don’t tell them.”
Arminius shakes his head. “It’s not that simple.” He sighs deeply.
“Just make it that simple.” Folkwin says, speaking softer. “Ari…”
“Don’t.” Arminius shakes his head. “Don’t call me that. I’m not him anymore.”
Folkwin flinches. He stops and he looks away. He breathes in deeply and exhales it and shakes his head. “I don’t believe that.” He says softly. “I can’t believe that.”
Arminius rolls his eyes and shakes his head. “We were kids. It was a long time ago.” He says dismissively.
Folkwin shakes his head and steps closer. “You started it! You kissed me first! And then you left me!”
Arminius’ shoulder sags under the weight and he has to drop the eagle. He stumbles and Folkwin gasps. Suddenly he’s beside him, touching Arminius and catching him before he falls. Folkwin helps him to sit on a rock in the shallow part of the river, if it can even be called that.
Folkwin forgets the eagle and leaves it where it landed. He kneels down beside Arminius and shakes his head. “Here.” He rips off a piece of his shirt and folds the cloth. He dips it in the water and lifts it to Arminius’ face. He moves slowly and gently as he starts wiping the blood away.
Arminius sighs deeply. “I didn’t leave you. I was given away.”
Folkwin hums as he moves lower. He pulls Arminius’ shirt off and continues, cleaning his wounds. “You didn’t come back.”
“I couldn’t.”
Folkwin sighs deeply as he rinses the cloth in the river. “When I saw you… after all these years…”
Arminius shakes his head and reaches towards him. He touches Folkwin’s shoulder, making the other man look at him. “Don’t.”
Folkwin sighs and looks away. “Did you really come back just for the eagle?”
“It’s not that simple…” Arminius starts.
Folkwin brings the cloth to his skin again, not being quite as gentle this time and Arminius hisses. “It is that simple.” Folkwin mumbles. “Did you come back just for the eagle, Ari?”
Arminius clenches his jaw. “I came back to save you. You and Thusnelda. I didn’t know which dropped the tooth… but I knew it was one of you. Or… both of you.” He sighs. “Either way… I knew you would be killed for it. Possibly the whole village. I… I couldn’t let that happen.”
Folkwin looks up at him and a smile stretches across his face. He moves before he can think better of it and reaches for Arminius. He wraps an arm around his neck and pulls him close enough to rest his forehead against him. Arminius doesn’t fight it but he does let out a pained grunt and Folkwin’s eyes widen. “Sorry.” He mumbles and moves to pull away.
“Don’t.” Arminius says quickly. He closes his eyes and for just a moment, he can imagine they were younger again. When they were kids, barely old enough to understand the feelings growing between them. When little Ari had stood on his toes and kissed the older boy, stealing his first kiss without asking.
“I loved you, Ari.” Folkwin says softly, his voice barely a whisper.
Arminius clenches his jaw. “Don’t.”
“I did… I might still…” Folkwin whispers.
Arminius pulls away. He pushes Folkwin and shakes his head. He yanks his shirt back and grunts as he slips it back on over his head. He ignores the way his muscles protest and he can feel blood starting to seep from his wounds again. “I said don’t.” He snaps as he stands.
Folkwin looks up at him. He sighs and shakes his head. He says nothing as he stands. He turns and steps towards the bag holding the eagle. It’s wet but the river is much too shallow to sweep it away. Folkwin bends down and picks it up. “I’m sorry, Ari.” He says softly, not turning.
Arminius moves slowly. He bends, watching Folkwin. When he’s sure Folkwin isn’t paying attention, he grabs a rock. He moves fast after that. He barely remembers it, barely registers even thinking it in his head. “I’m sorry, too.” He says as he swings the rock at Folkwin’s head. Folkwin makes no sound and Arminius staggers backwards as the other man falls. There are tears in his eyes and he blinks, trying to force them away. He steadies himself and kneels down. He checks Folkwin quickly, confirming he’s still breathing. He should be out for a while, Arminius thinks. He rolls him over, onto his back, and pulls him from the water. He grunts as he goes, struggling with each movement. And then he returns to the eagle and picks it up. “I loved you, too.” He says softly, taking one last look at Folkwin. Then he turns and walks away.