Thaim stared at the two guards and then at the gate that was slowly opening. He didn’t know what to do. Was he really let in just like this? That … well, he wouldn’t have expected that. In fact, even now that it was happening, he had a hard time believing it. Could it be that he had been too exhausted after running the last stretch of the way? Had his body given out and he had collapsed on the road and was dreaming?

The two guards exchanged another look and realized that, most likely, he had no idea what was going on. Usually, they would have been annoyed but they had been told about this person by none other than their leader’s brother. Would they really dare to complain? Surely not.

Instead, one of them tried to give a smile even though it turned out a little peeved and explained to him. "We were told that you would come here today. So, just go on in. We’re not about to leave the gate open for too long if you know what I mean."

Thaim stared at them for a moment longer but then nodded his head and rushed inside. He didn’t know why he was so lucky. He just knew that this was an opportunity and he should better not blow it. As a Tarlheyn, it was difficult enough to obtain any chances in life. You had to take it if you were lucky enough to stumble upon one.

He stepped through the gate onto a small square, looking around with worry. He didn’t know anyone here and he doubted that there would be any Tarlheyn he could approach. There probably wouldn’t even be many Aldhar. If he wanted any answers, he would have to ask the Velheyn. Not that he thought that that would work out too well. No, he would probably have to find Dova himself and then he might be able to tell him what was actually going on.

Dova … Yes, he could hardly wait to see him again. But looking around, while he could spot somebody behind a window further up, there wasn’t a single person in this little courtyard. And this place looked so big that he really wasn’t sure if he would be able to find the one he was looking for. It might take days before they would be able to reunite.

He clenched his hands into fists, telling himself that he shouldn’t think too much. He should just go forward and try to find him. Maybe he would be lucky. Or maybe Dova would wait at a place that was obvious to him.

Yes, most likely, his lover had thought of that. He was probably somewhere outside where he wouldn’t have to search long. So it was best to just go straight forward and look around. Each place that he passed by was a new chance to reunite.

He went ahead and through an arc in the wall, making his way through yet another small courtyard where two pairs of stairs were leading up and down on each side. He wasn’t quite sure what to make of this but he took one of the stairs up, still looking around carefully.

He could see more people now, some of them passing by him while he walked up slowly, clearly hurrying somewhere. Others were going down, and he could also see more through the windows now, spotting some standing in the corridors, talking idly, or carrying things to someplace further inside.

Thaim just followed the stream of people, making his way onto a wall walk that led from one side of the building to the other. He stopped in the corner and leaned over the wall, looking into the courtyard below.

This one was teeming with people: women, men, children, they were all there, showing how lively things could actually be here. His gaze brushed over all of them for a moment, trying to find the figure of his lover among them.

Unfortunately, Dova didn’t seem to be there. He already wanted to pull back when somebody ran past him, making him hastily jump to the side with a yelp.

Down in the courtyard, Dova was sitting crosslegged under the branches of the pine tree, helping one of the merchants sort some coils of yarn. He looked up, straining his ears to hear something.

The person next to him glanced at him and raised her brows. "What’s the matter?"

"I could have sworn I heard my lover’s voice just now."

The woman laughed and shook her head at him while she continued to sort her part of the coils. "I’m afraid you’ve been missing him too much for the past few days. You’re hallucinating already! If he is walking here, he will probably need much longer."

Dova hung his head, feeling that she was probably right. He just missed Thaim so much, he couldn’t wait to finally see him again. This wasn’t the first time he got all excited for nothing just because he had heard somebody talk about a good-looking young man or saw a person whose back resembled him brush by a corner. He sighed but still looked up against better knowledge, hoping to get a glimpse of that familiar figure.

And then, he actually did.

The red yarn in his hands fell down into his lap while he stared with his eyes wide open. The woman next to him finally realized that something was wrong and glanced at him before looking up and seeing a young man walking over the wall walk, looking around as if he was lost. "Seems like a new one. Don’t tell me that’s really him?"

Dova nodded as if in trance and then grabbed the coil, putting it onto her stack before he scrambled to his feet and rushed to the staircase on the other side of the courtyard.

The woman just smiled, not even able to be angry at him. Even though he had made a lot of trouble over the last few days, since he had told them about everything, she and most of the others had quite fond feelings for him.

Who didn’t have a person they loved more than anything else? In this war that could claim the people closest to you at any time, these sentiments weren’t beneath them.

Especially here in the north, they were even more likely to lose their lives. After all, they only had this small place while Ellysrha had all of eleven states. There were places there that were safer. Not completely safe, mind you, but a lot better than here where all the attacks concentrated.

She continued to sort the coils, watching as he rushed up the steps, and reaching out before the other person had even seen him, pulling the young man into his arms and pressing his lips onto his. Then she took her gaze away, feeling that this kind of intimate moment should be left to them alone. They didn’t need any prying eyes right now.

Even if somebody watched, Dova couldn’t have cared less. He held Thaim tightly, his heart beating frantically in his chest while tears gathered in his eyes.

The whole time, he hadn’t been sure. First, it was his own journey that he didn’t know if he would see the end of it, then the time he needed to wait, day after day, waiting for Thaim to finally get here.

He had tried to find a place for them, to get to know some people and make friends with them so Thaim would have an easier start here than he had ever had in life back in Ellysrha. He felt that he had done pretty well but no matter how far he got, he hadn’t been able to shake that fear deep down in his heart.

He had worried that maybe, no matter what he did, it might not be important anymore because his lover wouldn’t make it. The soldiers could have stopped him, the people here in the north could have believed that he was just a spy like they had with him at first. The weather could have changed or he could have failed to make the journey because he wasn’t used to the life out there.

So much could have gone wrong and every minute spent alone, he had imagined the worst scenarios possible, torturing himself with them. Now, those worries seemed idiotic. They were unimportant. They had made it, and finally, finally, they were together again.

Thaim was shocked at first and wanted to push the person off until his lover’s familiar scent hit him, and then the feeling of those hands on his back also reminded him of the times they had embraced each other before.

He reached out, wrapping his arms around his neck and kissing him back desperately. Just like Dova, he had worried. Worried about the very same things his lover had. Although, even if he himself didn’t make it, after he had known that Dova was already safe, he was happy enough. Still, this was what he had wished for. Now, they could finally be together again, nothing standing between them.

He cried as well, their tears dropping down and mixing on the ground, while they continued to hug each other, unable to let go for even a moment.

They continued to stand like this for several minutes, the happiness of reuniting masking the moment as all the tension finally left their bodies, leaving them without any strength. By the time they realized, they had already sunk down to the ground, leaning against the wall with their shoulders.

They clung to each other, neither willing to let go or let even the smallest space open up between them as if they were afraid that they would be pulled apart again. They just lost themselves in the feeling of the familiar embrace, the sound of each other’s breath, and the warmth seeping through their clothes.

Finally, when yet another couple of minutes had gone by, leaving them up there for close to half an hour, Dova pulled back a little, his tear-streaked face still showing his agitation. He stared at his lover, cupping his cheeks while he looked him over. "Thaim, are you alright? They didn’t get you?"

Thaim shook his head. "They almost got me on the first day but I got lucky. He … he let me go. I think he knew you. He …" He pulled at the cloak, a faint smile on his lips. "He gave me this and told me to tell you that you should better take care of me well."

Dova looked down and reached out, his fingers brushing over the clasp that was used to hold the cloak together in the front, giving a short laugh. He actually knew who this belonged to. "That’s like him. He probably hates me for running away but he still wouldn’t be able to do something to my lover for that. He’s … he’s a bit too honorable." Saying that, he pulled Thaim back against his chest, closing his eyes while the tears trickled down again.

This matter … it had been a lucky coincidence. In other words, Thaim almost hadn’t made it. If it had been anybody else, things would have been different. But as it so happened, it had been one of his own friends, somebody who was willing to look the other way even though he didn’t agree with his actions.

Thaim hugged him back, not thinking about it any longer. In any case, that moment was already in the past so to him, it didn’t matter anymore just like all the other things in the past were just that: the past. Important was only that they were here, that they were both alive, and had a chance at a future together.

Thinking of that, Thaim actually smiled. "I’m happy you made this decision. Coming here … no matter how afraid I was before when you suggested it, it wasn’t wrong. It was the right decision. You clearly looked further into the future than me."

Yes, if they had stayed in Ellysrha, they never would have been able to be together. After all, the Cejta had passed the law already. They wouldn’t take it back. So for as long as they stayed, they would either have to break the law and risk being found out each time or they had to take one big risk and flee. This way, they could start anew somewhere else, somewhere that wouldn’t criminalize their relationship and let them be together without repercussions.

Dova nodded, feeling the same. "I could have done with a little less fear but I guess we’ll have to make some sacrifices for a good end." He pulled back again, wiping away his tears before he brushed over Thaim’s cheeks, and then gave him a splendid smile. "In any case, we have a new home now. I’ll show you everything later on. There are also some people that you should get to know. In the future, we will belong here."

Thaim nodded and then motioned to the courtyard past the wall. "I didn’t see you when I looked down before. You’ll definitely have to show me around so I’ll know where to find you in the future."

Dova leaned closer, pecking his lips. "Just don’t leave my side in the future and we won’t ever have that problem. Now, come on, there is so much to do here. I’m sure you will love it."

Thaim nodded and Dova pulled him to his feet and then down the staircase, going to one person after the other, introducing him with a bright smile.

Thaim didn’t have many expectations but to his surprise, people actually smiled at him as well and some older man actually patted his shoulder with a laugh, stunning him completely.

It seemed that while he had gained a future with his lover, he had gained even more than that. This place … for somebody like him who had been an outcast for most of his life, it seemed to be a paradise.

It really made him feel that those people in the south had no idea how life should really be. If they were able to see this, if they were able to experience what he had, they might realize that this whole war … wasn’t worth fighting.

Although maybe that was wrong. Maybe this moment should show him that it was worth fighting for some things. If there was something unjust happening, maybe changing sides and taking a stance was actually worth it.