Lunar Flare Book 2: Midnight Eclipse

Chapter 6

Emil had finished his sweeping duty and was making his way back through the courtyard when something caught his attention. He saw Beowulf, still sitting on the bench where the noble had left him hours prior, learning forward with his arms resting on his knees, helmet-covered head slightly bowed. Pulling his mouth into a line of concern, Emil wandered over to the large soldier.

"What are you still doing out here, Beowulf?" Emil asked cautiously, looking down at Beowulf's hunched over form.

Beowulf turned his head upwards to look at Emil through the slit in his visor. "I... I don't know what to do..." he explained quietly.

"You basically have the rest of the day off, right?" Emil's tone changed to flippant, and he leaned casually on his broom. "You could do whatever you want! Why waste it just sitting around here like an idiot?"

"Richard said I should consider my mistake... so I have been..." Beowulf said woefully.

Emil made a sound of disapproval. "I don't think he meant you should sit here and beat yourself up about it for the rest of the day! You should take advantage of your time off," he suggested lightly.

Beowulf shrugged in response. "I've spent every day the past four years with Maerwynn and usually Thedrick too. They are my entire life, and now I can't see either of them? And I don't even have a room anymore, I sleep in Maerwynn's room to keep her safe. Where am I even going to stay tonight?"

Thinking for a moment Emil tried to come up with a solution to Beowulf's problem. "Well... what about going to see your parents? It must have been a while since you had the chance to visit them?"

Beowulf paused for quite a while before responding. "... It has. Ma and I... haven't really spoken for a while..." Beowulf muttered, glancing away.

"Oh..." Emil said, realising things were worse for Beowulf than he had thought. "Well... I have the rest of today off, how about you come out to the tavern with me for a drink, try and forget your worries for the evening?"

Beowulf made a noise of uncertainty, still not looking back at Emil yet.

"Come on Beowulf... it's got to beat sitting around here all night, yeah?" Emil pressed, smiling down at him wryly.

Beowulf sighed. "Alright, I guess that couldn't hurt..." he agreed hesitantly, and then rose to his feet, Emil having to tilt his head back slightly to look up at him once he stood up straight.

"Great! But you should get changed first," Emil pointed out with a smirk.

"Huh?" Beowulf made a sound of confusion, looking down at his armour. "Why? I always wear this," he pointed out flatly.

"Come on Beowulf, you get one night off finally, don't you want to slip into something more comfortable? I'm not taking you out in your work clothes," Emil stated firmly, crossing his arms over his chest and frowning up at the large man. "Go on, run along and get changed and I'll put my broom away and we can meet at the front gate."

Beowulf looked away again for a moment. "Okay..." he said hesitantly.

Emil gave a sharp nod before picking up his broom and heading off towards the barracks, while Beowulf headed back inside the castle.

Once Emil got back to his bunk he quickly freshened up and put on some nice, neat clothing. Then he hurried out to the castle gates, arriving to find Beowulf waiting for him. The large man looked so strange in just plain linen clothing, as no one ever really saw him out of his armour. His expression looked rather concerned, but he smiled at Emil when he saw him approaching.

"Are those really the only clothes you own?" Emil asked incredulously as he looked the big guy up and down, scowling slightly.

"Y-Yes?" Beowulf offered nervously in response, eyebrows knitting together in worry.