The long trek back to the castle was filled with the chatter of the servants. Some complain about the poor and some are happy for the chance to give back. Ewen kept quiet as he braided his hair, it was getting too long to manage and several times he considered cutting it shorter but every suggestion was met with rejection. Ewen had some--awareness of his beauty but tried not to focus on it. If anything, his looks have caused him more trouble as he lost count how many nobles' wayward touches have vexed him. 

“I believe you will do splendidly at the Blessings Festival,” Praetor Ludwig said and took a puff on his pipe, blowing a playful ring of smoke in the air as the clouds passed the moon over Lir, Ewen reached for a flask of water, “..you must bring the same theatrics to your solo retelling of the founding of Lir.” The shock causes Ewen to choke.

“S-solo?!” Ewen coughs and sips more water. For months, Ewen was told to prepare for the annual Blessings Festival but he had no idea he’d be the one doing the retelling, much less doing the performative without his teacher. “But, I’m not ready.”

“Of course you are!” Ludwig exclaimed, tapping his pipe on the side of the wagon, “You’ve been performing your story times solo for two years now, each time improving in your delivery and cues. Tonight was your best performance!” Ewen felt the warmth of his praise deeply, ever since he was a child, Praetor Ludwig always fed his imagination. Since magic was forbidden, he encouraged Ewen to channel his fantasies into writing and acting as he was a bright ball of energy in the castle and often that would lead him into trouble. “Our beloved king is turning sixty this year, the longest any king has reigned, we should strive for this Blessing to be memorable.”

“Yes, Praetor.” Ewen sighs, he didn’t know why he was so flustered. The Blessings Festival was the annual retelling of Lir’s founding. It was the same story, told the same way as it has been done for decades. King Cronhe created the holiday with the idea to ‘uplift’ the spirits of the Lir citizens but more importantly, it served as an enlisting drive for more soldiers, promising a handsome stipend and a donation drive from the populace. Regardless of the intentions, Ewen was honored to perform for the king. 

Then an idea came to him…

“Ewen?" Ludwig then studied his apprentice's face, , "Oh dear…I know that look.” 

“I simply want to make some…small changes.” 

“Small?” Praetor Ludwig laughs, “His excellency prefers tradition.”

“Yes! Y-yes of course, don’t worry master,” Ewen smiled with a mischievous glint in his eyes, his imagination running wild and all Ludwig could do was sigh. He had no idea what Ewen was planning but he was already mentally preparing an apology to present to the king when this Blessings Festival was over. 

The servants helped Praetor Ludwig to his study while Ewen guided the horses to the stable. The wagon wheel snapped on the way back causing a bit of a scare for the poor things but Ewen’s calm voice was enough to lead them into their stables. Out of all the animals he tends to, horses were his favourites and the two he cared for the most were a lovely chestnut stallion named Dust and a dappled stallion named Clay and he loved them dearly.

Ewen went about brushing their coats, cleaning their stalls and bringing them fresh hay with apples for treats. If he could, he'd stay here all night talking to them thinking that they understood his every word. 

When Ewen was just a child, a rumor spread throughout the royal palace that there was Fae in the kingdom in the guise of horses. It was impossible for humans to know the truth and since magic was forbidden in Lir. The only solution was to slaughter and burn all the horses in the kingdom and in the end…no Fae revealed themselves. It was a mindless slaughter and cost the king a fortune to replace the lost labor. Ewen never forgot the cries of the people, the dying horses and the smell...he cried for days.

Clay knocked his muzzle against Ewen’s head for more apples and he obliged, giving him lots of pets and gentle brushes before heading out of the stable. That’s when he heard a sound coming from the shed. Moaning.

Ewen peeked in the cracks of the shed’s door, to see a man’s back with a pair of legs over his shoulder ramming into the person below. He was older with a large physique and growled deeply as he pumped rough and hard into the smaller man. The breathy whines of the other man sounded like he was in pain but when Ewen saw two sets of hands reach up and drag long red scratches down the older man’s back and a loud ‘harder’, Ewen breathed a sigh of relief that this wasn’t something more…sinister. 

The smaller man was lifted up and locked his legs around his lover as the tears streamed down his cheeks, he was biting his lips so hard that blood trickled down. Ewen couldn’t understand the look on the smaller man’s face...this looked so painful but the smaller man was drowning in bliss, even arrogance. Almost as if he was the predator and his lover was being devoured.

Just then the smaller man caught Ewen’s stare and smiles, he was attractive with pale blond hair and emerald eyes that flashed with desire. Ewen’s face felt flush, his pulse quickened and when he saw the smaller man playfully bite the larger man’s ear as they both came, he had enough. 

Ewen didn’t know who these men were, he should report them for indecency but decided to let it go. 

A decision that will come to haunt him.