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Chapter 8 - Fillun at the abbey

Chapter 8 – Fillun at the abbey

Ooooooooooooohhhhhhhhhhmmmmmmmm – went the chant in the chapel. The monks were singing in plain chant, this was the song that they used as meditation. Fillun was joining in although he had a shaky singing voice and his voice was just breaking.

Later, in the refectory (dining room), the monks were eating in silence as someone read from scripture. This was custom as well. Many traditions and customs were observed here and sometimes Fillun thought he would go crazy without someone to talk to. But there was one other trainee monk around his age and they were allowed some free time each day to chat and laugh and this was understood by the abbot who was a wise man.

“So where did you come from?” asked the other trainee monk.

Fillun had been told not to disclose his identity to anyone. He could not allow the chance of loose tongues spreading his identity and the rebels finding him. Bonnar had made him promise.

“Ah... my cousin is Lord Elstar, he lives in a castle nearby. My parents died when I was younger and he took me to live with him.” Fillun felt a bit guilty about not giving the complete picture to his friend who seemed like a trustworthy person, but he understood the reason for secrecy.

“I'm sorry, Brother Leviticus”.

Fillun had been given a name as a monk which would make him equal to the other monks. The abbey philosophy was that all should be equal in the community, and that taking a religious name would help them to focus on their life in the abbey and forget what their lives had been like before. Fillun found it strange being called another name but again he could understand it would help to protect his identity.

“That's OK, Brother Michael,” he answered, smiling. He still found these names funny.

They laughed at the names and continued talking. After some time one of the monks came to tell them that it was time for night prayers before bed. And so it continued, the daily routine. Fillun found it a little frustrating but he was learning a lot academically and had been identified as a clever individual, which was helping him in the scribes' room, where the manuscripts were being written.

A few weeks after, Bonnar came to visit. On occasions when family members visited – which was not allowed very often – they were allowed to spend time together in a study which was specially for this purpose. There was a fire, and comfortable tables, and the monks allowed them to take a little mead (honey liqueur) which was produced at the abbey.

“So how is your training coming along, Fillun, should I say Brother Leviticus?” asked Bonnar, grinning.

“I have learned some of the drawing techniques of the monks in the scribe's room and they have allowed me to do some drawings.”

“Brilliant, Fillun!” exclaimed Bonnar. “I can see you're doing well here. Maybe you'd consider making this a vocation, and staying here for good?” he grinned.

“Don't even think about it!” answered Fillun, swiping him with the cord around his monk's habit. He was smiling too. But he added “I've decided that I will be King of Velastria, and I want your help to do it, but if you won't help me, I'll do it anyway.” he said with a look of steel on his face.

“I think that when the time is right – and we do have to choose the time wisely – that is just the thing you should do,” replied Bonnar.

“Will you help me?” Fillun looked at him, pleading.

“Of course I will, Fillun. I will help and protect you in any way I can, you know that. The time isn't right now, but we will make sure that when it is, we will do everything we can for it to happen. And then when you are King you can help me in return,” he aded gleefully.

“What's that?” asked Fillun, looking at him curiously.

“I want to get revenge on the rebels, and take back my father's lands in Velastria.”

“When I am King, I will send my army to fight and do it for you. I promise that with all my heart, Bonnar. You have been very good to me and I will repay it some day.”

“Really?” asked Bonnar, thinking of their kiss the night before Fillun left for the abbey.

“Really,” answered Fillun, reaching over, brushing his lips again. He knew he had Bonnar in the right place and knew he could do this without anyone seeing them. He had asked his friend, Brother Michael, to wait outside and prevent anyone from coming in.

Bonnar had been waiting for this, dreaming of it. He reached into the kiss, and put his hand around Fillun's head, cupping his neck into his palm as he pulled him in.

When they finished, they both pulled back and looked at each other, smiling. There was no need for words. Fillun took Bonnar's hand and placed it on his chest, where his heart was. They stared into each other's eyes for a few minutes before saying goodbye.

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What did you think of them getting closer?  I want more comments, I've only had one person so far telling me what they thought.  Thanks for that - I changed the Intro.  I've written most of the book already but am in the process of rewriting it and need your best suggestions for place, character, historical context, just tell me what you think, I need your comments!

If I get 5 comments by tomorrow I'll publish Chapter 9 tomorrow night.

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