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lorifragolina · 1 year ago

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Eternally Together

So this is my first - and only, for the moment- fic for Metalsanswich Movie Mania from @now-showing-at-the-hawk-events. In my family Fantasy + 80`s always meant Ladyhawke, although it costed me a little to remember the existence of the movie at first! I hope you enjoy reading it like me writing it!

Relationship: Steve/Eddie/Billy Rating: T WC: 7352

Billy Hargrove dismounted from his horse and hid it behind the barn, near to two other horses, a black one and a white one.

He cautiously opened the door, looking carefully inside. Two men were already there, one, long black haired, lying lazily on a white cloak, the other, tall and blonde, with a black corset completely opened to his waist. A copper medallion with a dragon trapped in tree roots laying on his naked chest. Both of them had visible scars on their arms, neck and upper body. They had glasses and a few bottles of wine in a basket, and raised the glasses to him.

“Finally, Billy” smiled the black haired, leading a hand to him. Billy took the hand and knelt at his side on the hay.

“My father detained me” sighed Billy, kissing his palm.

“Eddie thought you couldn’t make it” said the blonde, pouring wine for Billy too. Billy leant to kiss him lightly.

“He must have chained me with a hell chain to stop me,” laughed Billy, drinking a good sip of wine. “It’s very good, princess. It’s your personal reserve?”

“Directly from Count cellar” laughed Eddie again. He made a site between them for Billy, and kissed him in return.

Captain Steven Harrington returned to the garrison with the last rays of sunset. Commander Hargrove senior was sitting on the door, looking at him sheltering his black horse. The grin on the older man’s face, with his two penetrating blue eyes and that pervert glare, was vicious.

“The patrol was good, I guess. Though it was very, very long” he scoffed, looking Harrington in the eyes.

Steve didn’t answer, passing his second pushing him a little. Hargrove disgusted him. He wanted to be captain and started hating Harrington in return the moment he took the charge by the hands of the King. He was plotting since then to get rid of him and take his place, along with the Bishop who considered Harrington a king spy.

Hargrove clenched his fists. He left the garrison to his house just in time to see his son, Billy, dismounting his horse at that moment.

“Where were you? I told you to go to the armorer”.

Billy pursed his lips, knowing that his father was just searching for an excuse to argue.

“Of course, here you are,” he took from the saddle a clanging bundle in white rags. Hargrove grabbed his arm painfully.

“Excuse me?”

“Here you are, sir,” Billy answered, lowering his eyes and praying he wouldn’t notice the wine and perfume scent on him.

Neil gave him a deep glance and then freed him, entering the house. Billy went into his room, and while he took off his doublet, he found a straw on his hair

Read it on AO3

Count Eddie Munson sat at the dinner table with his uncle Wayne. The old man was, as usual, reading some documents while eating.

“Please, uncle, relax, at last at the dinner table”.

Wayne shook his head. “Bishop is really restless in his stupidity… the King counts on us to control him”.

Eddie nodded. The bishop was wicked, corrupted and he tried to control the land with his guards. They were loyal to the King, but he lived far away and things weren’t easy. They worked side by side with Captain Harrington, but most of the guards sided with the bishop, who could promise them more, although probably he wouldn’t hesitate to sell them away too, at the right moment.

“And he asked for a meeting now after evening mass, so I have to control those documents”.

Eddie sighed. The bishop wasn’t not only politically dangerous, but he was sly and disgusting in the way he looked to him. He had even tried several times to win him and touch him, making him ambiguous offers. He really just wanted to take a bath and go to bed, but he wore his red formal dress and followed his uncle to the reception room.

Bishop Creel entered with a little following of guards, Captain Harrington and Commander Hargrove were behind him.

Eddie and Wayne sat in their chairs and the Bishop sat in front of them. Eddie crossed his eyes with Steve and blinked, they had to hide a little smile between them.

Captain Harrington was sent to the city a year ago, when some kids disappeared in the woods. He was able to find all of them and, apparently, defeat the menace: he had to work really closed with the Count and especially with Eddie, they found that something evil lived underground the county; they could defeat the creature together, although with severe wounds; they still carried matching scars of the supernatural bats bites and, more important, the adventure left a trace in their hearts, they felt deeply in love for each other.

Bishop Creel arrived in the city just after the monster defeat, taking Hargrove and some soldiers with him, apparently to watch over the demonic menace; reality was, according to Wayne, that the Bishop wanted to take advantage of the King’s power to weaken it and rule on the territory.

Wayne Munson was a tough cookie indeed and the Bishop wasn't really successful in his plan, but he was pressing every time he could.

Eddie rapidly distracted from the bored chat, and looked again at Harrington pointing to Hargrove. Steve raised his eyes and shrugged his shoulders. He neither knew why Billy wasn’t there.

“I think we should discuss such things during the council, in the proper place,” said Wayne, evidently annoyed by the absurd continuous requests of the Bishop. He was convinced that the Bishop was attempting to annoy them enough to provoke a reaction and therefore report them in front of the King. Sometimes Wayne felt dangerously near the boiling point.

The Bishop grinned. “Well, I wanted to solve the problem informally, but if you insisted…” he mocked a tired groan of pain. “I also fear that these hard chairs are affecting my back… I’m no longer a young kid” he looked sharply at Eddie and grinned even more. “Maybe your kind nephew could walk me out”.

Eddie felt a shiver and looked at Wayne. The man had to shake his head and pursed his lips, he couldn’t stop it.

The Bishop rested a little too much on Eddie's arm. The rest of the court walked out, led by Wayne, but Creel walked really slow. Eddie knew that he wasn’t old or slow at all, but it was only when the Bishop stopped near the door, far from the other, and stood in all his height, perfectly capable of standing and moving, that his intentions were made clear.

He licked his lips and firmly grabbed Eddie’s arm. “You know that I can easily defeat your uncle with my guards” he hissed. Eddie tried to step behind but the bishop was strong. Stronger that he appeared, and pushed Eddie against a column.

“I don’t think so,” said Eddie.

“Don’t put me on the test” grinned the Bishop. He increased his grip and put his waist nearer to Eddie’s. “But you can help him and avoid him suffering. Together you and I should rule the county and save the poor old man…”

Eddie horrified, feeling the bulge of the Bishop, hard, and his excited breath.

“Are you threatening me?” He whispered, trying to hide his disgust and fear.

“Oh I wouldn’t call it threatening… it’s a trait between gentlemen”. He was sly, and pressed his body against Eddie’s, trying to reach his face, his lips. Then scoffed.

He rapidly took from his pocket a little velvet bag: a golden medallion slipped on his hand. It was his crest: a strange, pointy flower with five petals, more sick than pretty. He tried to give it to Eddie, and he knew what it meant. “Don’t make that shocked face with me. I know perfectly well that you take lovers in the village. We can share control… and my bed”.

It wasn’t the first time the Bishop tried to lure Eddie.

Eddie shook his head, trying to free himself, and pushing away the medallion. “No, I…”

“Excellency?” Hargrove’s voice for the hallway surprised the Bishop. He let Eddie go and leaned again against him like an old man.

Hargrove appeared at the door.

Creel snickered.

“I’m sorry, my good man, I fear I’m a little tired, and slow, today”

Eddie could do nothing but bear the Bishop’s touch. Hargrove gave him a large, sharp glance, then extended his own arm to Creel.

“Let’s go, I’ll take you to the carriage”. The Bishop glanced again at Eddie, and he had to shiver in disgust.

Eddie told Steve and Billy about the offers of the Bishop, and Steve spat on the ground.

“That person is vicious and disgusting. How can he be a man of God?”

“He just wants to defeat my uncle and me, and the King in general”.

“And that Hargrove is his shadow, he gives me a terrible feeling. No offense,” he raised his hands to Billy.

“No offense taken. I hate him too. He is vicious and… wicked. They surely are plotting something. He said that the Bishop wants to meet me this night”

Eddie sighed in surprise. “Do you know why?”

Billy shrugged his shoulders. “My father wants to make me his commander, when… and if, he could be Captain”

“That will never happen,” smiled Steve, grabbing Billy’s hand.

They became friends when Hargrove came to the village. He took the commander's vacant site and summoned his son from abroad, where he was studying liberal arts. He wanted to make him a perfect guard and a cold soldier like him, but Billy didn’t want it. He befriended Harrington the night he escaped from his house with a bottle of cider, and then met Eddie at the barn with Steve. Eddie and Steve already exchanged their secret vows, Eddie gave Steve his crest medallion and Steve wore it like a wedding ring. But on a moonlight night, they looked into each other's eyes, and Eddie was the first to kiss Billy. Steve kissed him too, and they never separated since then.

Eddie hugged a really worried Billy. “Calm down now, baby. For now we are together. Will you give me the permission to help you relax a little?”

Billy laughed and let Eddie’s hand unfasten his belt.

The Bishop looked sharply at Billy, for a long time, while Hargrove senior stood nervously at his son’s side.

Billy didn’t dare to raise his eyes. He felt a devilish touch from Creel eyes, and he had the irrational fear he could read inside him and about his love for Eddie and Steve. And he feared also that the Bishop could want him as a lover, too.

The Bishop got near and touched his face, moving it to the right and to the left.

“Nice to meet you officially, young Hargrove” hissed the Bishop. “Your father tells great things about you. Are you a good soldier indeed?”

Billy blinked, and muttered something, then he felt his father fussing.

“Yes, sir,” he said in a louder voice.

“Very well. I know that if your father will be the Captain, you and I could... work together very well”

The Bishop indulged in a caress with the back of his hand, almost to Billy’s collarbone. He shivered and tried to stay still.

“Very well,” smiled the Bishop then, returning to his seat. “Now leave us, son, your father and I have something to discuss”.

“Wait for me at the entrance” said his father, and he left the room. He stopped near the door that they didn’t even close, maybe thinking he was too stupid or too henpecked to eavesdrop.

“I’ll give you Harrington,” said the Bishop. “And I’ll take for me the palace and the young Count. Make sure your men are ready, and they will rush as the dumb champions they are. A clean work”.

Billy heard a servant approaching, and there was no place to hide in the hallway. He had to move, pretending to go away, and had to wait for his father outside. He was extremely worried, and tried to hide his face from his father.

They dismounted and gave the horse to a servant. “Tomorrow we have to check the dungeons, Billy,” said the commander, casually. “The guards said that there are movements there, and some peasant saw something”.

The servant blinked, pulling the horses.

Billy nodded. He thought he maybe had to warn Eddie and Steve, then, when he looked out his windows, he said Dustin, a young peasant that was a good friend of Eddie and Steve, and of the kid that had disappeared the year before, talking with the same servant.

Probably the rumor would come more rapidly to them this way.

At the sunrise, he was awakened by the hustle under his windows. He got near cautiously to listen, and he overheard his father with one of the bishop’s attendants.

“They say the count went to the lodge and they went to the dungeons, sir”.

“Good,” nodded Hargrove. “Make sure the guards are all hidden in the forest, we will catch them in the dungeons”

Billy froze, his heart racing crazily. He didn’t understand last night why his father talked so airily in front of the servant, but now he did: it was a trap, plotted by his father and the Bishop to capture them faking a new dark menace. “A clean work,” said the Bishop, and he and the commander would come out from it clean like babies.

He struggled. His father stayed a little more in the door, and he wouldn't be able to sneak out, so he had to wait, his blood boiling for anger and fear. When finally he tried to escape, the commander called him, and forced him to ride with him to the forest. He didn’t know how to run away without making his father suspicious, and then, when the Bishop joined them, he felt trapped too.

“I will go to explore”, said Billy, mad with panic, trying to gain time. “To see if it’s safe for your Excellency” he looked his father in the eyes, and he nodded, seeming sort of proud.

Billy pushed the horse to the entrance of the dungeons. Eddie’s and Steve’s horses are there, and his heart sank.

He looked out at the entrance. “Steve! Eddie!”

“Billy! We’re there… Dustin is missed”

“We’re coming out in a moment”

“Hurry, please!!” Yelled again Billy. “It’s a trap, you have to go away!” He struggled if they understood his words.

“In our way, Billy!” Answered Steve, and Billy felt really worried.

Steve came out first holding onto his hand. “He wanted to go alone to see the monster, and he felt. He will be good in a moment”

Billy helped him to escape from the hole, then Eddie came out too, smiling at Billy and trying to hug him.

“No” Billy wiggles out, hearing his father’s and Bishop’s horses approaching. “Go away right now… it’s a trap…” he whispered, looking around.

“What? What do you mean…”

“Well, well, here they are our heroes at work once again”

They heard the vicious Bishop’s voice behind them.

“It's a real pity that hidden, evil beasts will prevail this time”.

The Bishop was grinning, and Hargrove had his hand on the hilt of the sword.

Billy saw that some men were coming out from the trees, and they approached them with their crossbows pointing at them.

Billy and Steve drew their swords.

“Oh, I don’t think so, my dear sons” giggled the Bishop, while one of the guards dragged Dustin, unconscious and dirty for the soil of the dungeons.

“Apparently your little friend tried to be a hero himself” the guard took off his sword, menacing Dustin.

Eddie clenched his teeth and his fists, and looked at Steve. Billy was holding his breath, waiting to draw his own sword and defend them.

“Sword on the ground” said Hargrove, and after an instant of reflection, Steve threw his sword on the ground, followed by Eddie.

“Let him go” barked Steve, and the bishop laughed.

“What better destiny to die to save a little friend?”

“Billy, take their swords” ordered Hargrove, but Billy didn’t move. “Come on, Billy!”

Billy still didn’t move, and Hargrove took the swords himself. Then he forced Eddie and Steve to walk in front of the Bishop, tying their hands behind their back.

The Bishop dismissed his men with a gesture: he didn’t want witnesses. Only the guard with Dustin stayed.

“Well, dear Munson…” the Bishop fixed his eyes on Eddie's. “You have a good occasion now to save your life, and your uncle’s” he sniggered viciously.

“Let my uncle be alone!” Yelled Eddie furiously.

“It’s in your hands, my beautiful friend” continued the Bishop, lightly caressing Eddie’s cheek with his long and pale fingers. Eddie moved his face. “Very well, then. Hargrove, do you want the honor?” He asked, grinning, pointing to Steve.

Billy was petrified. He saw with the corner of his eye that Dustin was conscious again and was trying to wiggle from the guard. He got closer slowly and then, with a single movement, he hit the guard’s face with his elbow and then kicked him. He pushed Dustin away.

“Go! Go to the palace! Run, advise the count!” He whispered, while his father was taking the crossbow, and the Bishop was distracted by the fight. Billy took his sword and ran back against his father, while Steve too was jumping against the Bishop, trying not to stumble for the tied hands

The Bishop easily avoided him, but while he bounced him, he broke his doublet and the Munson medallion remained uncovered on his chest. Hargrove could hit Steve with his sword making him fall down, before Billy jumped on his back and beat him to the ground.

Eddie jumped too, trying to defend Steve and hit the Bishop, but all happened in a single instant. The Bishop focused the medallion, and his face transfigured in fury. He leaned his hand and tore the emblem from Steve’s neck, growling like a rabid beast and foaming from his mouth

Eddie screamed. Billy screamed too, throwing himself against the Bishop.

Bishop’s eyes became red, his face seemed to melt down and a bright light came out from the hand that was grabbing the medallion. He screamed, and his voice was from hell, casting a spell with a devilish yell.

Billy tried to stop him and defend Steve and Eddie, he fought with the Bishop but it was impossible to move him; he tried to tear away the medallion from his hands, but it was burning hot, and he screamed, trying not to let go.

The light exploded, hitting Eddie and Steve. Billy was hurled away, and he hit his father falling, with blood in his hand, and blood in his mouth.

When Dustin ran in the woods searching for them, he found just a huge circle of ashes where he left his friends, and only the dragon medallion left in the ground.

The little burglar ran for her life on the dusty road. Four or five knights were behind her when he turned on the wood. The knights turned too, but an arrow hit the first of them, the horse reared and the others got scared. Another arrow hit the captain of the knight, and the girl kept running. She felt a horse behind her, and tried to escape, crying “No, no, no!”

She heard the shriek of a giant bird above her and she fell down.

The knight stopped near her and caught her while she wiggled. But eventually she surrendered. A giant eagle came down shrieking to the man’s shoulders, and the girl screamed and passed away.

She woke up on a black cloak, the knight's cloak, on the hay of a barn, near the black horse that was chasing her.

She jumped sitting at the sight of the giant bird near her.

“Shh, sweet lady,” whispered the man. He had sparkling hazel eyes and dark blonde hair, a big sword at his feet and a crossbow at his side. She saw the long shadows of the sunset outside the barn. He fed a piece of meat to the bird.

“You hungry?” He said.

“Who… who are you?” Said the girl. She was on the run, and she learnt not to trust strangers.

The stranger scoffed. “Don’t be afraid, young lady. Your enemies are my enemies too” he looked at the sky outside. “Now I will sleep in there, and you better sleep too, please, don’t try to disturb me: I could kill you before knowing that's you”.

He entered the barn, with a cry of the bird.

The kid laid down a little. She was used to sleeping with one eye open, so she woke up immediately when he heard a big noise, a sort of crack. The horse neighed and she went to see it.

She heard a growl, and froze. A pair of sparkling golden eyes crossed hers. A wolf’s eyes. She tried to scream but the voice died in her throat. She turned around and ran in the barn, only to face another tall, black haired man with a once white shirt. He signed her to shut up, then moved to go out of the barn.

“No sir,” whispered the kid, with urgency in her voice. “There is a wolf… a big wolf outside”

“Shh” whispered the man sweetly. He smiled a little, then went out, and the wolf came near, growling a sort of greeting.

“I… am I dreaming, sir?” Whispered the girl again.

“Yes, you are” whispered the man in return, then he leaned a hand to the wolf, that growled with pleasure, and then he walked with the beast for a while.

The girl rubbed her eyes, looking at them in the steam of the sunrise. She returned inside and tried to sleep again.

“And he told you his name?” Said the blonde knight, smiling at her while she told him her vision of the night after.

“No sir… I asked if I was dreaming, and he said yes”

“I hope such a vision could visit me in my dreams too, sometimes,” he smiled at the eagle on his arm. “I had waiting for a long time for a dream like that”

The eagle shrieked.

“Hargrove’s men were hunting you” said the man again after a while. The kid didn’t answer. The blonde grabbed her for her dress. “Tell me you managed to escape to the Bishop’s dungeon” he growled, grinding his teeth.

“Tw…twice” she squealed.

“This is the sign of God I was waiting… for all those years”.

The girl whined.

“How did you manage?” He growled again, pulling her with more strength.

She trembled, then raised a shivered hand, squeezed her eyes and… the big sword flew on the air, planting with a clang in the ground.

“You… you have the same powers as him?” He whispers, amazed.

The girl was shivering again, exhausted.

“Mine are not strong… not anymore”

The blonde closed his eyes. “You have to help me… to return there… I’m Captain Steve Harrington and my quest is… to kill that evil man”

“No!” Screamed the girl. “I can’t! I don’t want it!”

“Or I’ll give you personally to Hargrove men, and I am sure you couldn’t escape a third time”

The girl sighed. “I’m Jane, sir. I… I will help you if you… promise you let me go then”

Steve nodded. “Now, we better camp here. Today it’s not a good day to travel”.

Steve sat under a tree, petting the majestic eagle and feeding him. Jane sighed again, her enemy’s enemies were her friend, or she tried to convince herself so.

“Hi… hi, milord” Jane woke up again in the middle of the night, frozen for the dead fire. The tall, skinny man sat there with a smile. He had long and black hair that he combed in the dark. “Do you remember me?”

“Of course, milady”. A wolf howled from afar. The man stood up and smoothed his clothes. “If you return to sleep now, I promise you will eat blueberries for breakfast”

Jane leaned her head again on her arms, and when the soft light of sunrise touched her eyelashes, she found a handful of big blueberries near her face.

“What’s this?” Smiled Steve.

“The man… the man of the dream gave me these”.

They shared the blueberries, then Steve went to groom and saddle the horse.

“We will stop near the bastions today. In a couple of days you will be free” said Steve after the lunch, pointing to a group of houses a little far away. Jane nodded, playing a little with her powers, launching pinecones and leaves, with Steve apparently amazed. He was smiling, and the eagle was shrieking a little.

They got distracted, Jane ran a little to the little steam at their side and threw some rocks in the water.

Steve heard her scream, then the scream of the eagle. Jane screamed again, and he could hear neigh and voices.

“Jane!” He ran, the crossbow aimed. He shot some arrows, hitting the guards that were menacing Jane, then drew the sword rapidly and fought the rest of them. They had the bishop sign and that made him more furiously, if possible.

The eagle flew down towards the face of the guards. They hit and someone could shoot some time.

Steve freed Jane who helped him kick and bit him, but after they could defeat the last man, the eagle screamed high and crashed at the ground like a rock.

Steve yelled like a beast. He beat the last man unconscious and then ran, falling on his knees near the bird, pierced by an arrow.

He screamed without a sound. The bird was bleeding and whining slowly.

He tried to cup the body of the animal with his hands. Jane was petrified at his side.

Steve stopped, smelling the air. The sun was near the horizon.

He called Jane, trying to shake her. She was scared and crying.

“Take a piece of cloth, quick!” He yelled, grooming the suffering bird a little. He wrapped and then put the eagle in Jane’s arm. The sun was every instant more low on the mountains. He pointed a red and gray house, a little ruined, at their right.

“Found Dustin, he will know what to do. Careful now. Careful” he whined in a low voice.

“But you…” started Jane, holding the eagle gently in her arms. A little stain of blood was soaking the cloth.

“Go. Go! Be careful, please”. There were tears in Steve’s face when he pushed her away one last time

Jane started to walk towards the village. She knocked on the door, frantically. Someone looked from the window on the first floor.

“I was told… to bring you this wounded bird” started Jane, hesitant.

The guy spat from the window. “Then let it there, I will make a good fire to eat it”

Jane winced and held the bird at her chest, protectively.

“This is not an ordinary bird… he belongs to a man named Harrington” she tried again.

The jolly expression on the man's face faded away in a second. He disappeared inside and ran to the door.

He looked Jane straight in the eyes. His face was pale and dirty, he had big dark circles under the eyes, but the eyes themselves were blue and bright, and she felt she could trust him.

“Hurry,” he said, making her space to enter. He pointed to a room with a bed and some blankets, apparently clean. “Here,” he carefully took the bird. “Now gently, here. Harrington was right, I know what to do” he petted the bird once he put it down, looking at the arrow that pierced him. “We must wait a little now”.

Jane sat outside the room while Dustin was busy in the garden searching for herbs and flowers.

After a while, she heard a howling near the village, and a noise in the room. Carefully, she opened the door, calling in a lower voice.

“I’m Jane. Please don’t be scared”.

In the bed was lying the man of the dreams, his long hair in a mess around his head. He had the arrow in his shoulder. He was awake, and smiled lightly to the girl.

“Harrington?” He whispered.

“He’s fine, he’s just fine. The eagle was struck, but… you already know” she whispered in return, getting nearer. “Are you flesh or are you a spirit?”

“I am sorrow,” smiled the man, his eyes sparkling. He raised a hand with difficulties to Jane.

Dustin entered at that moment.

“What are you doing here?” He barked. “Out. Out now. I have to work”.

Jane shivered and went out with hesitation.

Dustin took Eddie’s hand and kissed it. “I’m sorry, my lord, it's gonna hurt”.

Eddie closed his eyes, letting a couple tears run away on his face. He took a deep breath when Dustin knelt on the bed and grabbed the shaft of the arrow.

Jane heard a pain scream and then silence.

Dustin gave a cup of hot, sweet tea to a shaken Jane. They looked each other in the eyes for long, deciding if they could trust each other. Jane was the first to lower down her eyes and nodded.

She told her story, and Dustin nodded in return.

He told his story to her too.

“The Bishop was evil, and vicious. He put his eyes on the younger count, but his heart was already lost for the Captain of the guards”. He took a long breath. “They exchanged their vows in secret, and they fell in love with Billy, the son of Harrington second, Hargrove. The man who was hunting you”.

Jane nodded.

“And then?”

Dustin lowered his eyes. “The Bishop ambushed them, and before they could realize, they were betrayed. A foolish friend of theirs tried to be a hero and caused their disgrace.

The Bishop became aware of their bond and he got mad. If he couldn’t have him, no man would.

He spat the terrible curse you said working. Billy disappeared, burned alive for the powers the Bishop conjured. And by day, Eddie is the beautiful bird you brought to me and by night, as you have already guessed, the voice of the wolf that we hear is the cry of Harrington.

Creatures with no memory of the halflife of their human existence, never touching in the flesh, only the anguish of a split second at sunrise and sunset when they can almost touch, but not. ”

Jane sighed. She had to dry her eyes. “Always together, eternally apart” she sighed.

Dustin nodded, his voice broken.

“As long as the sun rises and sets, as long as there is day and night and for as long as they both shall live.

You stumbled in a tragic story and now you are lost in it as the rest of us”.

In the dead of night, Jane was incapable of sleep, kept awake by the sorrow and the howling of Steve. She sneaked into Eddie's room, where a short candle was lighting the man’s face, wet with tears. But he smiled when he saw Jane, inviting her at his side.

“It’s only a scratch,” he said, following her worried eyes. “I’m already good”

Jane nodded.

“Tell me your name”.

“Most people called me Jane, or El” she answered.

“You travel with him, don’t you?”

Jane nodded, and Eddie smiled with difficulty, hiding a little sting of pain in the move.

“You must save the eagle, he said. For he is my life, my last and best reason for living. And then he said, "One day we will know such happiness as two people dream of, but never do”.

Eddie chucked, or almost tried to. A cheerful sparkle appeared in his eyes.

“It’s not something Harrington would say,” he smiled. “But thanks” and he closed his eyes again, trying to rest.

“You… you are the friend that trapped them, right?” Said Jane, sat on the porch, while the sky got clearer every moment.

Dustin nodded, broken. “I wanted to be the one who saved the day, and I led them to this living hell”.

Jane bit her lips.

“But now I know how to undo what I have done. God gave me the knowledge to put it to an end. After years, we are together once again, and I have found a way to break the curse, and give them the lives they deserve. A way for them to confront the Bishop, and begin their true life again”.

“But Harrington wants to confront the bishop to kill him with his own hands!”

“If he does that, the curse can never be broken!” Exclaimed Dustin.

They stayed silent, looking at the dawn that broke the sky behind the mountains.

“I am glad to see you again, Dustin,” said Steve, approaching on his horse.

“I somehow thought you would kill me with your bare hands,” answered Dustin without looking at him.

Steve dismounted. “Why?” He said sadly. “It was not your fault, absolutely, and nor did I or Eddie ever blame you,” he got near and held Dustin in a deep hug. “I missed you. We missed you”.

Dustin broke out crying and answered the hug.

“How’s he?”

“Good… good” Dustin sniffed, drying his eyes. “The wound was not so serious”.

Steve nodded, smiling and hugging Dustin again. Then looked him in the eyes again. “And do you… do you know anything about…”

Dustin shook his head sadly, feeling his heart breaking more than it was. “No… he didn’t come back with the Bishop… there is no… no traces of him…”

Steve sighed, and took a deep breath.

“I’m so sorry, Steve,” continued Dustin.

“Don’t be. It’s not your fault,” repeated Steve.

“But now… now I have the chance to redeem myself and save you and Eddie at least… I now know how the curse may be broken. Two days hence, the Bishop will hear the confession of the clergy in the palace. All you have to do is confront him, as men, in the flesh, and the curse will be broken. And you both will be free,” Dustin stopped Steve's objection with a gesture. “Two days hence there will be a day without a night and a night without a day”.

Eddie flew on Steve’s arm, freed from his room by Jane. Steve looked at him, hearing his chirp.

“I always trusted you, Dustin, and I say again that you have no fault in this, but I will not follow one of your rumors again,” Steve seemed so harsh in that moment, that Dustin had a step behind.

Jane listened to all the arguing, and then jumped at Steve’s side.

“Sir…” she began.

“I’m in your debt,” said Steve.

“Oh, no, sir, no, not at all” she looked at Eddie. “He… he wanted me to deliver a message, sir,” Steve raised a brow. “He still has faith, hope in you, sir”.

“He said so?” Jane nodded.

“It is something he totally could say,” smiled Steve, then giggled.

Jane followed him, and Dustin decided to take his mule and go behind them, to convince or at least help them.

But Steve ordered them not to talk about their hope to break the curse, to him or to Eddie. He knew Eddie, and he knew that if he learnt about it he would believe it, and he didn’t want to put him in danger for a foolish dream.

That night, Eddie seemed completely recovered. He took a blade of grass and played it.

“He liked when I played for him, '' he said to Jane, out of nowhere. “Sometimes, we danced together, out of the inn, or outside the castle. I wish I could fight at his side, you know, we both were soldiers…. But he also was… the brightest being I ever saw in my life. I envy you… for every moment you can pass with him”.

Jane sighed, and lowered her head. She was at the point to tell him Dustin’s idea, but she stayed silent.

“Why won’t you listen to me?” Dustin was yelling again to Steve, the next morning. “Tomorrow, you can face the bishop face to face, and break the curse!”

“I will be in the palace tomorrow, and it will come to an end, one way or another”.

“Please, captain…” started Jane. She got closer to him, and whispered. “He told me about you last night… he was… he glows when he talks about you… please, sir, you…”

“You too? I said stay away from my business. I can enter the city by myself, go away, you both”.

Steve was angry, sad, and tired. He wanted his revenge, and it was completely understandable. The curse was unbreakable, and Dustin liked to spread rumors, although it wasn’t his fault, and he wanted to end their misery. His own, and Eddie’s. And have his revenge on the bishop and on Hargrove, for them both and for Billy, he remembered perfectly that he died trying to help them, trying to save them, and he deserved revenge, and peace.

He pushed the horse at a gallop in the country, and Jane and Dustin feared he would never come back. He did, instead, at dusk. He had a couple of rabbits and a fish, and gave them to cook.

“Eat and rest, tomorrow would be a great day” said, sadly, leaving the horse and disappearing again in the woods.

“He is taking us to the city, right?” Said Eddie later, saying them sitting sad and silently with such a banquet.

Jane nodded. She tried to bite her tongue, but she couldn’t.

“It could be our last night together,” she said.

Eddie got worried. “He is thinking of doing something stupid, right?”

Jane nodded.

“He said… for Billy” .

Eddie blinked, trying to hide his tears. “He’s always been a warrior… he just can understand a language… we tried, but…”

He got on his feet and walked away. The wolf reached him, and they walked together a little.

Next day in the early morning, they managed to pass the city’s gates with Jane’s help; she was able to move rocks and ground faking a landslide and the guards gathered to look; they sneaked in, Eddie hid in a bag under Steve’s cloak.

Jane stole a choirboy robe and joined the procession when the bishop entered in the main hall of the palace. They closed the heavy doors behind them, and she waited near them for Steve’s arrival.

Dustin took Eddie from Steve’s hand. The sky was clouded and gray.

“It should be soon now, once the clouds break,” said Dustin desperately.

Steve scoffed. “It’s day. That’s all. I’m not into poetry like you and Eddie. There is nothing else, and there’s no time left. I can’t wait anymore, hoping Jane could do her job. I can kill the Bishop, now or never”.

He stopped Dustin's protests.

“If the service ends peacefully, the bells will toll, and you’ll know I have failed,” Steve took his dagger and gave it to Dustin. “I beg you to take his life. Quick and painless”

Eddie shrieked, as he was understanding. Dustin trembled, tears on his face.

“I couldn’t!”

“You could, and you will. You must free him from the condemned half life, forever. I beg you”.

Dustin took the knife. When Steve walked away, he took the dragon medallion from his pocket, and kissed it.

Jane followed the service.

Steve passed on his horse the desert streets. He had to fight with a couple of guards, but he won without great difficulties, and he was lucky none of them remembered or recognized him.

Jane tried to open the doors with her powers. It was difficult, and a guard saw her, but she tried again and the doors opened wide, just in the moment Steve was outside. He wore his helmet and wielded his big sword, facing the Bishop. At his back, he heard the steps of another horse.

Hargrove. Steve was guessing where he was, why he wasn’t at Bishop side to defend him. Hargrove wore his helmet too and attacked him fiercely at the Bishop’s gesture. Steve threw him down off his horse and faced him, sword against sword.

Steve saw the clouds opening on the big clear window, and saw a dark circle approaching the sun.

“A day without a night” he whispered.

Dustin saw it too.

Jane held her breath.

Hargrove ran again against Steve, but again, he easily hit him with his sword, making his heat hit the ground with the great clang of the helmet. Hargrove fell and slipped and stumbled on the bell rope. He clung to one of them to stand again, losing his gloves, but failed, falling again on the ground.

And the bell tolled.

Steve’s heart stopped, he blinked and looked at the sun again, now half covered.

“Dustin, make it quick,” he praised.

Then he could get close to the helpless bishop with his sword ready to take his life.

“But kill me, Harrington, and the curse will go on forever” smiled Creel, with his sly eyes. “We must think of Munson”.

“Munson is dead,” said Steve, harshly, while the Bishop's eyes, fixed behind him, widened in surprise and fear. “He is dead, damn you. Damn you to hell!” He raised his sword.

“Steve!”

They turn. Eddie was there, and Creel closed his eyes, hiding his face trying not to look at them.

Steve forced him to look at them, and Creel looked.

The black circle was covering the sun. People screamed in surprise and fear.

Dustin reached Jane. “It’s broken. It’s broken”.

Steve knelt in front of Eddie. He had the medallion in his hand, the sign of their vows, and they hugged, and kissed.

Hargrove, unseen by the presents, tried to stand again. He took his sword from the ground and tried to run again to the couple.

“No!” Screamed Dustin, jumping against him, trying to disarm him. And when he grabbed his right hand, to tear away the sword, he cried.

“Steve! Steve!” Dustin raised Hargrove's hand, where the burst of the dragon medallion was burned. Steve knelt at Hargrove side and took off his helmet.

“Billy!” Eddie knelt too.

It wasn’t commander Hargrove, it was Billy, apparently unaware of them.

“Hargrove! Kill them now!” Screamed the bishop, and Billy tried to attack them. Steve saw the Bishop sigil on his neck and tore it away, then trapped Billy into his arms, dragging him in front of the bishop, along with Eddie.

“Look at us! Look at us three!” He again menaced the bishop with his sword, and he looked, while the dark circle started leaving the sun, and the light of the day began to enter again in the palace.

Billy blinked, as he had just woken up, and looked to Eddie and Steve as it was the first time.

“I… I… Steve…” he touched Steve’s face and Eddie’s hands. “Eddie…” Then took the bishop medallion from Steve’s hands, and took a few steps to him, throwing it on his face.

The Bishop transfigured, changing into a monster of blood and flash, with a five petals head. He growled and launched a clawed hand to Billy’s chest, hurting him as he was trying to rip off his heart.

“No!” Screamed Jane, running in front of him and raising her hand. With a terrible scream, she hit the monster, making him hit the walls behind him, and eventually, destroying him.

The kid fainted in Eddie’s and Steve’s arms, while Billy looked at his wound, that was only superficial. Dustin took her, and then kept looking at each other, touching each other face, hands, kissing, finally together.

They left the hall, hands in hands.

The sun was high and bright in the sky, and when the night fell, they laid together, finally, as men, in flash and bones.

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