Justice Stream!

Valkyrie never returned directly from her meeting with Freya. She always had another soul to recruit somewhere in this damned, violent world.

Lorenta had gotten up early for a walk and hadn’t been seen since. Lawfer was starting to get worried, and he knew with a glance that Llewelyn was, too.

However, the second they made eye contact, Lawfer quickly averted his gaze and stared at a nearby clump of weeds. His face and neck burned as he recalled what he had done last night. Touching himself while thinking about another man! He hadn’t dared to do that with Arngrim; he respected him far too much. When he looked back on it, he realized that his feelings for Arngrim were different from the ones he had for Llewelyn. Lawfer had revered Arngrim, looked up to him like everyone else, wanted to be like him. It was really more of a hero worship than anything.

Llewelyn was different. Llewelyn was someone Lawfer truly cherished. Every time they fought together, it gave Lawfer courage to know that if he stayed alive in battle, he would get to live to see Llewelyn again. He would give up all the glory in the world if it meant he could stay with Llewelyn forever.

But right now, there were more important matters at hand. It was already late afternoon, and Lorenta still had not returned.

“Arngrim…” Lawfer began.

“Yeah, I know,” Arngrim sighed, standing up and stretching. He picked up his sword and rested it on his shoulder. “I’ll go find her. If Valkyrie shows up, just give her the skinny on what’s happened.” He turned to go.

“Please wait!” Lawfer desperately grabbed onto Arngrim’s arm. “Please let me go with you!” The last thing he wanted was to be left alone with Llewelyn. He just didn’t think he could keep his composure.

“What are you talking about?” Arngrim asked. “You have some things to take care of here, don’t you?”

Lawfer’s face turned bright red and he muttered, “I can do that later…”

“It’s all right,” Llewelyn said. “I can watch for Lady Valkyrie by myself.”

Lawfer’s heart sank. Although he was afraid of being alone with Llewelyn, he’d hoped that maybe…just maybe…

Arngrim shook his head. “No, it might be too dangerous. Besides, I need to move quickly.”

Lawfer knew the unspoken sentiment was “I don’t need you slowing me down.” He sighed and nodded his head, knowing he couldn’t argue with that. “All right…”

“Hey, cheer up.” Arngrim pulled something from his bag and handed it to Lawfer. It was a giant, dark green bottle filled with a liquid that did not look like water.

“Arngrim…” Lawfer looked disdainfully at the bottle. “Is that alcohol?”

“Now, now.” Arngrim shook his meaty finger in Lawfer’s face. “It’s not ‘alcohol.’ It’s ‘liquid courage.’ Trust me, a couple drinks of this and you’ll say everything you need to say.”

Lawfer smiled in spite of himself. It was sweet how Arngrim was trying to help him out, albeit in a slightly unorthodox way.

“Thanks, Arngrim. I’ll, uh…try your ‘liquid courage.’” Lawfer attempted to put on a relaxed smile.

Arngrim rewarded him with a broad grinned and a one-armed, awkward hug that squeezed his shoulders. “Hey, anything I can do for my best fighting buddy. Just believe in yourself, Lawfer. It’ll all be okay.”

Lawfer turned pink at the word “best.” He had to do this. For Arngrim, who believed in him. For Llewelyn, who had a right to know. And for himself, for Ragnarok could be right around the corner.

Arngrim winked at his young friend before tromping off into the forest. “Good luck.”

And before Lawfer could thank him again, he was gone.

Lawfer looked over to where Llewelyn was standing. The young archer was eying him with an expression that Lawfer could not identify. Was it impatience or curiosity?

“So, uh…” Lawfer considered his predicament, and said slowly, “…Looks like it’s just you and me, huh?” He instantly regretted his words. Way to state the obvious, he thought, thoroughly disgusted with himself. He must think I’m an idiot.

“Yeah.” Llewelyn sat down on the grass, then patted the spot next to him.

Lawfer reluctantly sat down next to Llewelyn. This was nice, he had to admit, but he felt so nervous.

“Are you in love with Arngrim?” Llewelyn asked suddenly.

Lawfer jumped at the unexpected question. “Why do you ask?”

***

“I don’t know, Arngrim,” Lorenta said, shaking her head. “Do you really think they’ll fall for it?”

Arngrim shrugged. “Probably. They’re pretty gullible. But either way, I couldn’t just say to them, ‘I’m going to leave you two alone for a while.’ It would embarrass them.”

“I just hope Lady Valkyrie doesn’t find out,” Lorenta sighed. “Are you really sure there’s something going on between those two?”

“Of course I am. Now stop worrying and give me something to do. I’m bored.”

“Well…I suppose we could look go looking for fireflies to catch.”

***

“Arngrim’s brave,” Lawfer explained to Llewelyn. “He never worries about Ragnarok, or losing people close to him, or anything. When we were alive, he wasn’t afraid of death. And he’s really strong and fast! Even when he was very young, everyone in Artolia was afraid of him! Even the king! Of course, he was kind of reckless, too…He’d rush headstrong into battle, even if the odds of coming out alive were a hundred to one. And he’d always beat them, no matter what! And he wasn’t a daydreaming idiot like me, either. He always stayed down-to-earth and never had any misgivings about life.” Lawfer paused. “But I’m not in love with him.”

Llewelyn tilted his head to one side and stared intently at Lawfer. “Have you ever been in love?”

“Uh, yeah…” Lawfer stammered. “Once. What about you?”

Llewelyn smiled and lay on his back. Lawfer was unsure what to do, so he lay down next to the archer.

“Before I died…there was a girl in my life I loved very much. She was so beautiful, Lawfer…She had soft brown hair and gorgeous, crystal clear blue eyes. All I wanted was to marry her and spend the rest of my life with her…”

Lawfer looked at the ground. “I see.” There was no way Llewelyn would love someone like him, then…

“But after I died, I realized that would never happen.” Llewelyn smiled sadly at Lawfer. “So…why don’t you tell me about this person you were in love with?”

Lawfer’s eyes brimmed with tears and he whispered, “Llewelyn…I’m sorry.” How could he tell Llewelyn he loved him now?