Title: Destiny’s Refuge Chapter 8
Characters: Elden/Misham
Series: Another Life
The storm gained in strength as the night wore on. Wind swirled the snow, creating valleys between high drifts on the ice that had fallen earlier. Thunder rolled through the trees as the clouds rammed into each other. Yet Misham sat oblivious to the storm raging. Instead, all he could hear was the pounding of his heart.
He’d argued with the three large men. And he’d won!
After the men had eaten, Sander, Rastus, and Elden discussed taking turns throughout the night on fire watch. The temperature had plummeted when the winds from the north grew in strength. If the fire was to go out, they’d freeze to death. As the men debated how long each watch should be, Misham noticed they were only figuring for the three. But with him, there were four people who could feed the fire.
The three were deciding if each watch should be the length of one crystal or a crystal and a half. Having the extra time of rest would benefit them, but estimating when the crystal was at half strength would be difficult to do. That was when Misham spoke up.
“There are four of us. We could each take a watch the length of one crystal’s glow. The would divide the night evenly.” Misham didn’t know where his courage came from, however, it wanted to flee when the men turned toward him.
Concern, worry, astonishment, and a hint of what felt like pride bombarded him. In the presence of more than one person, Misham couldn’t distinguish where each emotion came from. Yet, he was starting to recognize Elden’s signature on what he was feeling. The hint of pride came directly from the young dominant.
Knowing he had an ally, Misham turned toward him. “I’ve already slept. I will take the first watch.”
“Misham,” Sander’s voice was colder, yet gentler than the wind outside. “We are a unit. We are one. You do not tell us what you will do. We talk with each other.”
“The hawk that instructs the hummingbird to fly wastes both of their time.” Rastus’s words echoed through the cave and fell heavily on the men.
Misham froze when the words formed meaning in his mind. Elden hadn’t needed the time as he started chuckling as soon as they’d left Rastus’s lips.
Sanders’ mouth tightened, his jaw clenched, and then he sighed. “Rastus, in his unique way, speaks true. Misham, thank you for offering to take the first watch. As the glow of the crystal dies out, wake Elden. Elden, at the dark of the next crystal, you wake me. Then I will wake Rastus to finish the night.”
As Misham sat in stunned silence by the fire, Sanders and Rastus gathered bedding from the emergency supplies they had found. The sounds in the cave quieted, leaving Misham with just his thudding heart and wails of the wind. And a tendril of worry.
Glancing over his shoulder, he met the dark eyes of Elden. “I’m stronger than you know.”
“You’re stronger than you know. You are probably the strongest of us all.”
Misham shook his head in denial. He scooted over when Elden came and sat by him. “You should sleep. You have the next watch.”
“Why do you dismiss your strength?”
Misham sighed. “I’m not strong. Not like you are.”
“No, not like I am. But you have your own strength. You have a calmness that surrounds me. That is a strength greatly needed.”
“I...” Misham paused. Then with Elden’s kind eyes encouraging him, he blurted out, “I have that calm because of you. During my worst days, you were there. In my dreams. In my mind. You never said anything, but your presence gave me peace. At least at night while I dreamt.” Warmth surged through him when Elden reached out and took his hand.
“Your father is a Historian, right? You know what visions are.” When Misham nodded, Elden continued. “I’ve had visions of you for as long as I can remember. My heart would ache at your pain. I wanted to comfort you but didn’t know who or where you were. I’m glad the stars let me find you in your dreams. Now, we’ve found each other, I promise to do whatever I can to protect you.”
Until this very moment, he’d felt Elden’s emotions, but they were muted. Now, though, Elden’s fierce need burned hotly inside his soul.
Misham felt his body argue with itself. It wanted to become boneless, safe in knowing someone would shield him. But it also wanted to stiffen with pride. To be worthy of being protected.
The cave lit up brighter than daytime. The crack of thunder that followed seemed to signal approval from the universe. His world had turned upside down, yet Misham felt more at peace than he ever had before. That peace increased tenfold when he felt Elden’s soft lips on his forehead.
“The crystal has gone out. I’ll get a new one. You go to sleep. If the storm has abated, we’ll have another long hike tomorrow,” Elden whispered.
Misham slipped into the blankets Elden had left. He inhaled the scent of the other man. Within minutes, he was lulled into the deep sleep of serenity.
End ch. 8
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