CHAPTER TWO

In the Moonlight

Once they finished feeding the horses, Lynn offered for Fletcher to take a horse with him on his journey. Fletcher chose Nox, a horse he had known since childhood. While they were not allowed to have pets, they have always had horses, as they were seen as the more practical kind of pet, useful for getting around. Nevermind that Fletcher used to sneak out to the stables to lean on Nox when he was having a bad day. That was also how he had met Lenith.

For the longest time he thought Leenith didn't speak. Fletcher had seen him around before, working at his brother's stables, but he had never uttered a word, only nodding his responses. Leenith didn't have a family and slept at the orphanage most of the time, but sometimes when he thought no one was looking, he would come to sleep on a hay bale in the stables. For Leenith, anything was better than those hard orphanage cots. He barely fit on them anymore, almost sixteen at the time. Leenith always picked an empty stable, farthest from Nox's, so he didn't notice Fletcher, but Fletcher saw him. He didn't mind. It's not like the boy was bothering him, and besides, he wasn't technically supposed to be there either.

This changed when Fletcher arrived later than usual one night. He couldn't sleep so he sought comfort in the horses. Only, Lenith heard him coming. He had no time to run, but thought about it as he heard Fletcher approach.

Fletcher stopped in his tracks. Leenith had somewhat of an excuse to be there in the middle of the night while Fletcher did not. Leenith relaxed a bit when he realized it was Fletcher, relieved that it wasn't one of his brothers, come to shoo him away. They don't seem to come out here at night as far as he was aware. Maybe this was a good thing. Leenith had longed for a friend. He had forgotten what it felt like to have company. He smiled and patted the hay bale next to him for Fletcher to sit down.

Fletcher hesitated. Could he really trust the stablehand, or would he rat him out just like the rest of his so-called 'friends'? He chose to trust Leenith. After all, Fletcher was just as lonely, maybe even more-so than him.

Fletcher looked around, making sure no one in the village was out before saying, "You can't tell anyone about this," still thinking of all the possible ways they could get caught.

Leenith nodded, "I can't. I would get in trouble too. I was scared until I realized it was you." Fletcher scoffed for a second, surprised. He had never heard Lenith speak before.

Leenith chuckled before saying, "I can speak, I just choose not to. Don't you do the same?"

Fletcher thought about it. He realized he had definitely dialed down his amount of words to match his image as well, even shortening his conversations with Lynn. He just never stopped speaking completely. He wondered if that was easier than picking and choosing what he had to say. Leenith tilted his head, unsure if Fletcher meant to answer. Fletcher blushed with embarrassment, now realizing how long it was taking him to come up with an answer that he would have had in seconds had he said what he was thinking.

"Sorry, I guess I just accidentally did that."

They stayed up all night talking about everything from their favorite books to the hottest gossip in the village. Fletcher never had someone to gossip with as it was considered unbecoming for powerful families to care about the lives of the poor, and there was no way that he was allowed to talk about these things in broad daylight. Time flew by way too quickly for his liking.

The moon's position told him that it was just before sunrise, when the village people would wake up and get to work. He better head back home before his parents noticed he was missing. Fletcher hopped down from the hay bale. Just as he was about to leave, Lenith put his hand on his shoulder.

"Wait! Will you be here tomorrow?" he asked.

"Yeah, I'll try," said Fletcher, smiling slightly.

He couldn't remember the last time he had worn a smile that wasn't fake. He didn't want to leave but he had to make it back before sunrise, or his dad definitely wouldn't be happy with him.

He climbed back through his window and back into his bed. With extra luck maybe he could get about two hours of sleep. The next day, Fletcher simultaneously felt awful and amazing at the same time. Although he was incredibly tired, he was also excited to have a new friend. He didn't care that he couldn't tell anyone. It was their little secret.

That night, he fell asleep on Leenith's lap, exhausted from the night before. Leenith was used to nights without sleep, living at the orphanage, but he realized that Fletcher was not, so he stayed awake, watching for the position of the moon. When it was time for Fletcher to wake up, he gently shook him.

Fletcher awoke looking dazed.

"Did I fall asleep?" he asked, barely awake.

"Yeah, sorry. You looked like you needed it, so I left you alone."

Fletcher sat up on his hay bale and blushed, realizing the closeness between them.

After that, they switched their meetings to every other night and started ending their talks earlier so they could actually sleep. It was no use if they couldn't remember what was said in the morning.

They grew closer the next month, only talking at night and ignoring each other during the day. Although sometimes, making sure no one was looking, Leenith would wink at Fletcher by the stables. Fletcher was always too paranoid to wink back, but Lenith understood. Regardless, it still put a smile on his face.

One night, Leenith brought Fletcher a bouquet of flowers, some wildflowers Fletcher had mentioned in passing, although he wasn't sure Lenith had been listening. He stared at the bouquet for a while, unsure whether the gesture was one of friendship or something else. No one had ever done something like this for him, let alone paid attention to the things he liked. But Fletcher had tried so hard not to like Lenith like that. His father would not approve. His village would not approve. Leenith could not produce an heir. It was impractical on so many levels, and yet Fletcher was drawn to him. Leenith sensed his hesitation and moved closer, allowing Fletcher to close the gap if he wanted to, and Fletcher did want to. Before he could change his mind, he kissed Leenith, allowing himself to be free, just for this once.

"Thanks," he whispered to Lenith after they had pulled away, not necessarily thanking him for the kiss, but rather the freedom he had felt that night.

He swung his legs back and forth, sitting on the hay bale, feeling giddy for the first time ever. He felt like a new person. The old Fletcher would never acknowledge his feelings, but when he was in the moonlight, he could admit things, even to himself, that he had been suppressing for years. He didn't think he had ever liked a girl. Not like this anyway. He knew he could never tell anyone. But then, he didn't have to. As long as they stayed out of the sunlight.

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A/N: Thank you for continuing to read up to this point! If you liked it, please consider commenting and voting for the chapter. I will also respond to any questions you have about the story so far.