He was Almost Absorbed by the System

Chapter One Hundred And Forty Four - Thoughts of Vengeance

"How long has he been in this state?" Leif asked after Elyas visited him with a distant Saewulf in tow.

"Almost two days," Elyas replied, clearly distressed that he had not been able to coax his beloved from his child state. He knew that Sae would occasionally become locked into the state, the reasons seemed random, but Elyas knew there were likely connections to something deeper, something that his psyche sought to protect him from. "We were talking and I was showing him some things and suddenly he retreated. I thought he would just need a little time, like usual, an hour or so but... what was the longest that he was in this state when he was just with you?"

"Hmm, probably the same, an hour or so," Leif believed as he thought back.

"Nine years," Wulfgar (formerly Five) said, honestly as he appeared from the bedroom. The two other men stared at him wide eyed. "He was barely six, I had just turned ten. He stopped crying that day. Did not revive until the day on the surface." Five placed a shy kiss upon the warm cheek of the Witch, before blushing and turning away. Leif smiled as he observed the large man's back.

It had been a long year for the Witch as he chased this giant of a man, whose hands could easily crush a throat and fists snap bones, but who had protected a small boy with soft paws and who had fled when Leif first announced his intentions. As this was not strictly a rejection, Leif simply let Wulfgar get used to the idea before approaching him once more.

"If you do not like me," Leif had told him, "then tell me now and I shall let you alone."

"I like you," Wulfgar had replied. He spoke longer sentences now he was comfortable within the company and surroundings of the village, but he still used words sparingly.

"Then why flee from me?" Leif had asked, in a demanding tone.

"I don't want to give birth to children." Leif had appeared startled at his response before bursting into laughter.

"What makes you think you need to?" Leif had asked him as he had clutched his aching sides, unable to cease the tickling mirth despite the rosy glow of Wulfgar's face.

"People here marry to have children," Wulfgar had replied. "Why else would you wish to marry me?"

Leif had stroked his fingers along Wulfgar's jaw, the younger man shivering in delightful response. "That's not the only reason for marriage, Wulf," he had told him. "I simply want to be with you in more than simple friendship. I want to share my home with you, my food and my bed. Will you think about it?"

Wulfgar had taken a great length of time to think about the proposal, not because he was slow in thought, but more that he had thought too deeply about it. His mind still had not been able to fathom the concept of love, so he still could not understand why Leif wished to marry him and why he should agree or disagree. His friends had been of no assistance to his dilemma for whilst Elyas and Saewulf were in favour for Leif, Samuel had teased him no end about becoming a mother and Fleur had suggested that if Wulfgar decided that he disliked Leif's suit, he should just kill him.

In the end, Leif had dragged Wulfgar from the hall, which he had still shared with his brothers at that time and into his own home. They had emerged some three days later, Wulfgar with a glazed look of wonder upon his face and Leif with a noticeable limp. Saewulf had wondered whether Leif had had to resort to that aphrodisiac to weaken Wulf enough to let him have his wicked way with his body! Leif would likely openly admit to whether this was true or not, but no one thought to ask.

Wulfgar had not left Leif's home since that day and they were formally wed a month or so later, some three months after Saewulf and Elyas. Wulfgar's morning astonishment had vanished to become that generally of one satisfied, while Leif occasionally still limped in the early hours of day.