Work Text:
Who are they?” asked Georg quickly, straining his eyes to see what the other would gladly wish he had not seen.
“Wolves,” said Ulrich, looking into the newfound love in Georg’s chocolate orbs. This new companionship was everything to him. He would rather pour a thousand of his favorite wine flasks down the drain than miss the gaze of his beautiful Georg. He would have a thousand pointless land disputes if it meant he could spend time with his beloved.
The wolves raced down the hill, their amber eyes glowing with hatred and passion alike. Just like the two men, they were hungry. Unlike the two men, their hunger was on a physical level, and would likely end up in the men being actually dead. Heart pounding in his chest, Ulrich looked over to Georg.
“Promise me, Georg,” Ulrich began as he began to reach out for the other man’s hand, “that we will see each other again.”
Tears streamed down Georg’s face, mixing with the blood that had covered his eyes. He, too, yearned to be able to see Ulrich again, no matter how long it took. The wolves would come, and the wolves would kill them, but love is a thing that cannot be killed. No matter the interactions between the two men tonight, peace wouldn’t come between their families. With their deaths would come blame, and with the blame would come more violence and death. How could the families be so close and yet so far from the peace promised to them since time before the land dispute?
“I promise, Ulrich, because we are friends,” Georg whispered, a feeling of anguish and guilt settling deep in his gut. If only he had realized their love sooner, maybe they could’ve lived out their happily ever after.
Still, maybe this encounter was a blessing in disguise. Neither of them had to hide anymore, hiding their passion into their land dispute instead of each other. Now, there was no way the two would rather die. They would die as themselves, if only to themselves, not as the picture painted by the rest of the family. True, nobody else would know about tonight, but the people it mattered to the most would know.
The pace of the wolves picked up as they ran down the hill towards the two despairing men. Ravenous snarls and ruby eyes that glint in the light of the moon were almost upon the two of them. Georg could not handle the feeling of their loss, even if it had not been inflicted on them yet, the mere presence was sickening enough.
This is my last declaration of love. He had thought, hopelessly. The chance of their spark growing was about to be drowned by an ocean of wolves.
“Take my hand Ulrich,” Georg whimpered pathetically. He stuck out his arm to the best of his abilities. Ulrich didn’t respond verbally. He reached his hand towards Georg, cold, calloused fingers brushing against one another. They interlocked hands, the last form of love that either thought they would receive.
The moment seemed to last forever, time stretching around their interlocked hands and between their eyes.They were two parts of one whole, together held down by the weight of the world and the expectations of those in it. How Georg yearned to spend countless days and nights with the man laying next to him. Holding hands as they walk through town, or while they hike through their shared land. Yet it all ended abruptly as the wolves circled in. Reality closes in with dark shadows and the growling of hungry beasts rises above. They were helpless under this tree. But they were helpless together.
Ulrich and Georg closed their eyes, waiting for the jaws of death to overtake them. This was it, it was all over-
BANG. A gunshot echoes through the windy and damp forest. Both their ears ring. The ground's dirt and leaves are kicked up around them. The wolves scamper off with whimpers and barks. It is silent after. Both men held their breath as well as each other's hands. Ulrich wasn't sure if he would pass out from the shock of what he saw next or from blood loss.
Now standing above the pair was his own family, pointing their guns to Georg’s bloodied head. Ruh roh raggy.
“Wait! Stop at once, for this man is a friend of mine, not our enemy,” Ulrich spoke as loud as possible, his voice rusty from coughing and shouting just moments before.
“What’s this not good land stealing boy doing on our land?” His brother spat, “These Znaeym have no right to be here… what happened to you?”
Georg remained silent, Ulrich speaking for them both.
“He means not to harm or take our land, Raymond, he is a friend of mine, so a friend of yours,” He tried to reason the best he could, but his brother remained silent before setting his gun against the cool bark of a nearby tree. The wind bit at the two men's faces, Georg strengthened his grip on the others’ hand. Ulrichs brother did not speak as he began to push at the tree which trapped the friends. It hurt like the devil, the numb feeling turning into quick sharp pain. But it was over as soon as it started, though the pain still came in waves of hurt. It felt like a lifetime of agony had passed before their branch was finally rolled off of the two men.
Ulrich sat up, panting heavily, his hand still in Georg’s. Ulrichs’ brother stood staring at them, first his brother, then squinting his eyes wearily at Georg, then lastly their interlocked hands.
“You…” Raymond paused, thinking his words through, “..a friend of yours is a friend of mine. Let us go home and care for your wounds.” The nodded in agreement, Ulrichs’ brother helped to support them both, leaving them to let go of eachother. They wanted to continue holding hands, but it was necessary they didn't, so they could go to the house.
It was a long, uphill battle, stumbling their way to the Gradwitz large cabin. But when they arrived they were taken care of immediately. Raymond told the family of Ulrichs’ new “friend”. They all muttered in varying degrees of anger, betrayal, or confusion. But it was so, Ulrich wouldn't let them hurt his Georg.
They recovered in the same room, talking quietly and learning more about each other. Georg had a son, he seemed like a lovely boy. He was widowed, lost his wife to a cursed sickness winters ago. Ulrich was the only Gradwitz sibling to have not married. He had been so focused on protecting and keeping their land that he had not the time for such things. They enjoyed their time together. They ate together and held hands.
The meal was simple, having been put together hastily by Ulrich’s servants the moment the three men arrived in the house. It consisted of the last of the venison, fresh turkey, and tomatoes from the end of the summer. It fuelled them back to good health.
The Znaeym were first worried about where Georg could have gone. Upon learning where he was they were enraged, but calmed when they had learned of the situation. Wearily the two families met together. Seeing their dear brother, uncle, and for one, dad, get along with the other family inspired them to get closer.
And spoon the rivalry over generations and a stupid strip of land was deflating. The families grew closer as did Ulrich and Georgs’ relationship. It was truly beautiful, perfect and the best outcome to their beloved story. *roll credits*
