A Bounty Hunter's Bundle

Swimming

"Nuh-uh! Nope! No way! No! Never!" Lincoln yelled upon approaching the body of water. It was a big lake, crystal clear that fed south by a river to the massive watermill and to the castle.

"Come on Link," Valkyrie pleaded, "this will not only help with your cramps but you will learn to swim." He wiped sweat off his forehead, as the hot summer son continued to beat down on them. Lincoln just shook his head.

"No," Lincoln shivered, "I...I can't....something bad happened once. I can't remember what but it was during my black out."

The warrior put his hand on Lincoln's forearm. "Come on, I will never let go." He stripped off his shirt and tossed aside his boots. Lincoln just froze after follow suit.

"I...I can't," he hissed, "Something bad's gonna happen."

"I'll be right here." The warrior draped an arm around Lincoln's powerful but narrower shoulders. It was times like these that the warrior remember just how much smaller his mate was.

Lincoln pressed against him tightly as they waded into the water. "Please..."

Valkyrie continued with the Bounty Hunter until it was up to Lincoln's elbows. He swept the Bounty Hunter off his feet. "Trust me Lincoln, trust me. We are going to go a little deeper, then you are going to float."

The brown haired man almost started crying and clung tightly to Valkyrie. The warrior ignored the terror flowing off Lincoln even though it twisted his heart. It was rare to find something that scared the feisty hunter to no end. It was unsettling and daunting.

Once Valkyrie was elbow deep he reached out and laid Lincoln in the water. Lincoln actually screamed, and began thrashing. At once the warrior pulled him back, and the Bounty Hunter wrapped his legs around the warrior's torso his arms around his neck. "Please, I can't do this."

"Trust me...just don't thrash, my arms will be right below you." After a long, long, very long moment, the smaller man let go, and Valkyrie tried again.

"You float, you naturally float," Valkyrie clarified, "You don't have to be afraid, just always hold in a breath." That seemed to easy Lincoln enough to open his eyes and turn his head to look at the warrior.

"W-what next?"

Valkyrie smiled, and then waded deeper and set pushed Lincoln off into an area deep enough he couldn't touch the ground. "Don't panic, just breath. You will sink a little when you let a breath out just don't panic."

The warrior could see the smaller man panicking though. He sputtered in terror despite Valkyrie's calming words and precise commands. They were getting no where.

"Lincoln!" Valkyrie finally snapped, realizing what had to be done. "I'm not coming to you. You will listen to what I said and swim back to me. I will be waiting here with open arms. You can either just do a back stroke here, or try and flip over and paddle back."

Lincoln began crying, as he thrashed in the water. Valkyrie ignored him despite his heart physically ripping in pain at the fact he wasn't saving his mate. He knew though that Lincoln would be fine, that Lincoln had to learn the hard way. That Lincoln could only learn his way.

Without warning Lincoln sunk and Valkyrie gaped. He was just about to die after his little mate when Lincoln re emerged sputtering. "Fuck you!" the Bounty Hunter screamed. And just like that he seemed to know what he was doing--even if his swimming was poor.

"I'll show you a few tricks," the warrior promised, pulling his mate in for a hug as Lincoln reached him.

Lincoln snarled in anger but kissed Valkyrie's cheek and nuzzled his neck, "Thanks...." he mumbled, "I feel better already...."