Fan Fiction / Record Of Lodoss War Fan Fiction ❯ A Kind of Passion ❯ Chapter 2 ( Chapter 2 )

It wasn't until late afternoon that they found a small river to stop and quenched their thirst. Parn removed his boots and put his feet into the cold refreshing water and sighed relieved. His sprained ankle had swollen and he wasn't sure if he would be able to walk one more step without crying out in pain. Only his pride and Ashram's remark had prevented him from begging for an occasional rest or a helping hand. But he had kept his silence as well as the Black Knight. On the other hand, he was still wondering what had come over him to ask Ashram about that dark-elf and his feelings towards her. Had he honestly expected an answer? And why had he wanted to know? To convince himself that Ashram was capable of feeling something like love, of being capable feeling anything at all? Why? He hated that man with every bit of his soul.

What had happened that brought this change about?

His tumbling thoughts were sat to an end when a shattering noise drew his attention. He turned his head and his jaw dropped.

Ashram had taken of his shoulder guards and now started to remove the breast plate and the rest of his bulky armor. A sigh of content left his throat when he stripped his sweat stained tunic and let it drop among the pile of metal. He stretched his arms and rubbed his shoulders in an attempt to relax his sore muscles. While removing his pants he caught a glimpse of Parn out of the corner of his eyes. The boy was watching him with wide eyes, his jaw hanging down in a dull expression. Ashram lifted his surprised gaze to meet the boy's eyes.

"I'm going to take a bath. Wouldn't you like to join?"

Parn gulped down hard at this offer. Embarrassed of being caught watching the Black Knight stripping he closed his eyes and clenched his teeth. But immediately an image of strong muscles shifting under a flawless white skin came back to his mind. A perfectly build body moving in a catlike grace. Arms flexing with the strength of hard firm muscles. And to aggravate his embarrassment further he could feel that a certain part of his body had hardened as well. His eyes jerked open and locked with these clouded greys, that now were as impassive as usual.

Parn cursed inwardly and choose to stare at the small river in front of him, mumbling something inaudible. Ashram shrugged and continued to strip. Completely naked he gathered his cloth and stepped closer to the inviting clear stream. He shivered slightly when he got in contact to the cold water but didn't hesitate to go further.

The river was hardly waist deep and slow running and soon he became accustomed to its temperature. With a content sigh he sank into the water up to his shoulders and started to wash the grim away. The dirt made a grey cloud around him that floated down the river. He dove under the surface to wash his hair and scrubbed almost violently.

The pallid cloud floated along Parn's gaze and reminded him of his own condition. He glanced at the older man who was concentration on his cleaning job facing him with his back. Parn hardly stifled a heartfelt sigh while watching the sculptured body moving under water, the long black strands sweeping around broad shoulders like a silken liquid darkness. He felt a burning desire to ran his hands through these strands, to touch the white skin and feel if it was as cold as it look like or if it contained the warms of life. Gritting his teeth he removed his armor and clothes as well, his eyes fixed on Ashram's back.

Ashram broke through the surface with an outcry of relief, thrashing his now clean mane behind. A splashing sound from were Parn was sitting made him turn around. The boy stood some feet behind on shaking legs and goose pimples crept over his skin.

"Changed your mind? Your sure need a wash." The boy turned his back to him at this sarcastic remark. Ashram knitted his brows. Since when had the boy started to be that shy around him? He had expected him to shout insults or express his undying hate towards him. Curious he stepped closer just to notice that Parn moved away as well, keeping the distance. Had it been an imagination or had the boy blushed? Ashram choose to drop the case and went back to his clothes which he had dropped near the river and started to wash them as well. He wasn't looking forward to putting on the sweaty and still dirty pieces, now that he was clean.

Splashing sounds indicated that the boy had started washing as well. Ashram watched him occasionally from the corner of his eyes but didn't get a chance to see the boy's face. On the contrary, Parn seemed to be obsessively careful not to face him. Ashram shook his head and concentrated on his task again. But while his hands were busy his thoughts started to wander. The question the boy had asked, "did you love her?", came back to his mind. Did he love her? Had it really been this emotion that made him lose his discipline and drop the Scepter just to rescue her when she had fallen over that ledge's rim? What else would have made him doing something like that? After all, he had faced the threat of being burned alive by an ancient dragon just to get it. And then he dropped it without a second thought to grab a slender wrist and be rewarded with what? Her dead body? A painful cry tore him out of his thoughts. The boy was under water, tossing with legs and arms to come back to the surface. A curse left Ashram's lips while he rushed over to the struggling body.

Parn felt nothing but pain. He had tried to leave the river, but his ankle had given way on the slippery ground first causing him pain and second loosing his balance. Falling he had hit another stone under water which doubled his distress leaving him immobile for a moment before he gained control over his body back. Now he was struggling to stand up or at least reach the surface to breath for his lungs had started to burn with the lack of air. Suddenly strong arms surrounded his chest and he was lifted upwards. Gasping and coughing he was pressed against a bare warm chest and dragged to the shore.

"Boy, you really have a talent to get yourself into trouble."

The dark voice sounded amused and concerned at the same time. Parn felt shivers creping up his spine and the memory of a certain part of his body flashed back to his mind. He tried to free himself from the secure grip he was hold in but Ashram didn't let go.

"Stop that, boy."

Parn intensified his efforts with every inch his body left the water. When he was finally realised he choose to lie flat on his stomach, too embarrassed to turn around. He heard someone chuckle.

"I don't believe it. You nearly managed to drown in a river that isn't deep enough for swimming and has no dangerous current."

The words were teasing and hurt. Parn could feel his anger boiling up and he turned around to glare at the amused Black Knight.

"I stumbled. So what is so funny about that?"

Ashram just gave him his usual smirk and then kneeled beside him.

"Nothing boy. But now I defiantly know that I made the right decision to accompany you."

Ashram's soft warm breath wavered over Parn's bare shoulders and made him tremble. So close. He his so close. Parn gulped.

"Parn, the name is Parn."

The amused chuckle finally did the rest. Parn leaned closer, pulled his arms around Ashram and pressed his mouth forcefully on the older man's lips taking him completely by surprise.

Ashram's back stiffened at the sensation of those warm lips on his, and a voice in his head cried out with confusion. As his mind tried to sort out what was happening, he felt Parn's tongue brushing against his teeth. He pulled away and starred at Parn through narrow eyes.

"A simple: `Thank you for saving my life.' would have been enough."