Part Three

'Would you offer your throat to the wolf with the red rose?'

Without looking up Darren turned towards the owner of the voice.

'I guess not.' He said his shoulders slumping.

'I know not.' The other replied, and holding out a hand he assisted Darren in dismounting the bridge.

Gratefully Darren took the hand and stepped down out of harm's way. 'Thank you.' Raising his head he looked into the greenest pair of eyes he had ever seen. Green flecked with gold and blazing with such a fierce intensity that they looked almost feral.

The face that framed such extraordinary eyes belonged to a young man of about his age. Tall and lean, the picture was completed by an unruly mop of blond hair, hair so blond that it looked almost silver in the moonlight. Instantly Darren was completely entranced.

The young man just smiled and started to lead him off of the bridge. Darren began to follow then stopped, his breath catching in his throat, as there, barely ten feet from where they stood were four wolves. He had never been this close to them before and he grew suddenly fearful.

His saviour sensed this. 'Don't be afraid, they won't hurt you. In fact they are about to entrust you with their lives.'

Not comprehending Darren stood rooted to the spot as right in front of his eyes the four wolves changed into four young men.

Darren blinked and did a double take, maybe he had had more to drink than he thought.

'No, your eyes do not deceive you,' The green eyed man laughed, 'they are as real as you and I.'

Something in the back of Darren's brain slipped forward. Whenever he had watched the wolves there were always five of them. Slowly he turned his gaze away from the young men and back to the man beside him.

'Yes.' he nodded, answering the unspoken question he saw in Darren's eyes 'Me too.'

'But how…what…how?'

'Many years ago we were just like you and your friends. Young noblemen content to spend our days riding and hunting. Except one day we were hunting this stag and followed it far further than we usually ventured. Unbeknown to us both the land and the animal belonged to a powerful sorcerer who caught us and as a punishment cast a spell on us, turning us into wolves, condemned to live in the forest, only coming out at night. Hunted as we had hunted his stag. Returning to our human forms only for the three days of the full moon.'

Darren was lost for words, unable to respond and still in a state of partial disbelief. All those nights he had watched them at play, never in his wildest dreams imaging that they were anything other than wolves. Now to find out that they were young men like himself, his head spun.

'Come on.' Taking his hand once more Darren was drawn over to where the others were waiting. 

He gave up trying to rationalise the situation as cautiously he made his way towards the changeling men and smiling they welcomed him into their midst.

‘Prince Darren we meet at last.’ One of the men bowed deeply.

‘Y…you…know who I am?’

‘We hear things,’ his mysterious friend said, ‘Darren this is Lee, Benjamin, Stefan and Steven.’

As he indicated, each man respectfully nodded.

‘Please don’t,’ Darren said with embarrassment, ‘I have had quite enough of princely treatment for one night.’

‘I just wish people would treat me like a normal person.’ He added sadly.

Turning to his friend he said, ‘I still don’t know your name.’

‘Daniel.’ He replied simply, his green eyes sparkling with amusement

‘Now Darren it is our custom on nights such as these to adjourn to,’ and he named the nearest town some seven or eight miles off, ‘to partake in the hospitality of an establishment or two. Would you care to join us and perhaps you will tell me why you were standing so unhappily on the bridge tonight?’

At Darren’s acquiesion, Daniel turned to the dark haired man he had introduced as Steven. ‘Go on then Steven lead the way.’ Steven happily complied and the group of wolf men plus Darren made their way across the castle grounds back towards the dense woodland of the forest.

As they did so, it seemed natural that Daniel and Darren hang back as the others walked on ahead.

After a while Darren lost sight of them and remarked upon this to Daniel.

He chuckled softly and explained. ‘They’ve cheated slightly. You see while we can only become men during the full moon we can still change back at will. That’s what they’ve done. It’s quicker and easier to go through the trees and over uneven ground on four legs instead of two.’

‘Oh,’ Darren replied, ‘so am I holding you back then?’

‘No, not at all, but if you will permit me to change I will. Like I said it’s just easier.’

‘But how will I keep up with you then?’

‘Simple. I’ll carry you.’

‘Whhaaat?’ Darren said slowly, looking at him in incomprehension.

Daniel smiled at his confused expression. ‘Being part wolf makes me a lot stronger than I may look. It will be of no effort for me to carry you on my back. Just remember to keep your head down and no matter what happens, hold on tight.’

‘I don’t know.’ Darren was still unsure.

‘Trust me. It will be alright.’

Uneasily Darren agreed and watched in disbelief as Daniel transformed. It was incredible, to think that the magnificent creature now before him was still, in part, the man who only moments ago had been standing there talking to him.

Gently nuzzling against him, the wolf encouraged him to climb on his back. Hesitantly Darren took hold of the soft fur around the animal’s neck.

Inclining his head the wolf ran his rough tongue over Darren’s hand giving it a reassuring lick. Shivering slightly at the sensation, he gripped a little tighter and bent his head to rest it on Daniel’s.

Obviously happy that Darren was settled, he set off at a brisk run, easily covering the ground a lot quicker than if they were still on foot. Bushes and low-hanging branches brushed only inches above Darren’s face as Daniel effortlessly carried them through the reminder of the forest to a clearing on the other side.

Another nuzzle motioned Darren to dismount and soon Daniel stood before him again.

‘I envy you.’ Darren told him as they walked along the roadway that entered the town. ‘The freedom you have to go anywhere you like, to live unfettered.’

‘To be hunted by the villagers every time we kill one of their livestock.’ Daniel added without rancour.

‘At least you don’t have your whole life mapped out for you by numerous advisors and tradition.’ Darren explained.

‘Is that why you were on the bridge tonight?’

Darren nodded miserably. ‘Yes, I just want to be free to love who I want, regardless of whether they are of royal blood or not, to make my own decisions, my own way.’

‘Well for tonight at least you can forget your troubles and be plain old Darren. I don’t care what or whom you are, all I see is someone who is hurting and I intend to remedy that.’ Grinning broadly, Daniel pushed open the door to the hostelry that they had arrived at and ushered Darren in.

Daniel was right; he and his friend’s showed Darren no deferential treatment. Unlike his own friends they had no need to. His friends were all good men but they were the sons of his father’s ministers and advisors and they knew their place. No matter how much time they spent together or how much they fooled around, at the end of the day Darren was still their prince and would one day be their king. They weren’t about to upset their fathers or Darren’s by letting any harm come to him or by treating him with anything other than the highest respect.

Daniel’s friends still treated him with respect but it was a different kind of respect. It was genuine, the respect of equals, of people who were happy for you to be yourself. Darren felt himself instantly relaxing in their company, but like his cautious courtly friends Darren couldn’t help but remember that these men were different from him. They were changelings and after tomorrow night they would be trapped as wolves for another cycle of the moon.

Eventually Daniel suggested that they leave the others to their pleasures and start on the long walk back. Reluctantly Darren agreed, it had been a long night and no doubt tomorrow would be equally hard as he would have to account for his actions of earlier.

This time Daniel didn’t turn for the journey and they walked along in comfortable companionable silence, their way lit by the glorious moon above.

Reaching the castle side of the forest they proceeded down a steep slope, which had been made all the more hazardous by the hard-packed snow.

‘Race you.’ Daniel said in an effort to break Darren’s mood, which had become noticeably more melancholy the nearer home they got.

‘You’re on.’ Darren replied, already knowing that Daniel was sure to win, but never one to back down from a challenge.

 As they raced down the incline, Darren tripped and losing his footing began to fall. Grabbing out wildly for support he only succeeded in bringing Daniel down with him.

 ‘That’s cheating.’ Daniel proclaimed as they both landed in a breathless tangle at the bottom.

 ‘’tis not,’ Darren retorted, ‘besides I didn’t do it on purpose.’

‘I don’t believe you.’ Daniel shot back, lunging for Darren’s legs.

Rolling over and over they tussled in the snow. Daniel proving to have the superior strength and pinning Darren firmly beneath him.

'Hey that's not fair.' His captive protested, wriggling vainly, managing to only free one arm.

Daniel had him beat and they both knew it. He leant in so close that they breaths intermingled, sending up short puffs of white in the cold air. 'So what are you going to do about it then?'

'This.' And bringing his hand round to the back of Daniel's neck, Darren pulled him down so that their lips met.

To his overwhelming surprise and joy, Daniel didn't draw back but returned the kiss, moving his hands to cradle Darren’s flushed cheeks.

When they parted, they were both gasping for breath, drawing it noisily into their lungs.

'I…' Darren began.

'Don't be.' Daniel replied stroking back Darren's snow damp hair

Sitting up he drew Darren to him. 'You know I've long seen you watching us, high up in that castle of yours. First as a child and then as you grew, until one day I realised that you were a child no more, you had become a man, a very beautiful young man.' Daniel's fingers trailed over Darren's lips. 'I can still remember the exact moment I fell in love with you. You were standing at your window, as was your habit, and you were crying. The moonlight fell on your face illuminating your tears and I just wanted to comfort you, embrace you and kiss away all your pain.'

He took Darren's hand, entwining their fingers. 'Let me kiss away your pain Darren.' And once more their lips met, more gently this time, Darren parting his to allow Daniel's eager tongue entry, moaning softly at the sensation. Then he shivered and Daniel broke the embrace.

'You're frozen.' He said, rubbing his hands over Darren's shoulders and arms, 'You should be inside, come on.' Standing up, he held out his hand to Darren, pulling him up after him.

Then not releasing his newfound love's hand he set off at a run towards the castle.

Still unwilling to risk a confrontation with his parents, Darren took his preferred route back to his rooms. Grabbing hold of the thick vine that grew up the castle wall, he pulled himself up with practised ease and began climbing towards the window. Daniel followed, the gnarly tendrils posing no trouble for his surefootedness. 

Levering himself over the window sill, Darren landed in a heap on floor, much to the other’s amusement.

Brushing himself down, Darren saw that Daniel had remained at the window, one leg hooked over the sill, paused there, half in, half out. Darren went to him, looping his arms around his neck.

 'Stay.'

'I can't. I have to leave. As soon as the sun rises I will change back, I must get to the safety of the forest before that happens.' 

Taking his face in both of his hands, Daniel gently brushed his lips against Darren's.

Letting out a sigh, Darren tightened his hold around his neck, melting into the kiss, his tongue questing and demanding entrance.

At this Daniel willingly complied, opening his mouth and drawing Darren ever deeper.

The kiss grew more passionate and bruising, Daniel's hands sliding up to tangle in his lover's hair as both sought to explore and remember every detail of the other in the last few moments permitted them.

Breathlessly he pulled back, breaking the contact; 'I love you.' Then hoisting his other leg over the window frame Daniel jumped down and sprinted off to join his changeling companions.

Darren touched his fingers to his lips, still swollen from the kiss, 'and I love you,' he whispered.

Smiling to himself and without even bothering to remove his soiled clothes, he lay down on the bed and fell immediately into a deep and contented sleep.