Parsley, Sage, Rosemary, and Thyme

by Stephanie Park

“True, true. Here, come sit by me, don’t just hover there.” He patted the bed next to him. Johnathan perched gingerly on the edge of it. Fionn was sitting more comfortably, though he had to spread his wings so that the long feathers trailed across the bedspread, since there wasn’t room to keep them folded as he sat. Johnathan looked at them, with their huge, white flight feathers and soft-looking, rounded smaller feathers. He could see where the muscles in Fionn’s back were larger and shaped differently to help support them.

  He had a sudden weird urge to reach out and touch them, to see if the feathers were as soft as they looked.

  “Not many avian around here?” said Fionn.

  Johnathan flushed. “Uh. No, I’ve never even met one before.”

  “We’re not that common outside of the Aerie Mountains.”

  “I’m sorry, I shouldn’t stare.”

  “It’s fine. I said I grew up on the northern coast. I’m used to being the only one around. People always look at things that are different and interesting.”

  “What’s flying like?”

  Fionn smiled, and reached out himself, touching Johnathan’s arm lightly. The touch felt electrifying. “I wish I could show you. It’s wonderful. You feel so free…And the world looks so different from above.” He chuckled and added, “Though there are down sides too. Grooming the feathers takes forever, and outside of avian territories it’s really hard to find shirts I can wear. I learned to sew partly so I could alter shirts rather than having to get everything tailored.”

  “Hah. I guess nothing is ever quite free in this world.”

  “No. But one can still stumble on something wonderful. Like me stumbling on you.” He moved just a little closer, sitting so that his hip almost touched the other man’s, and ran his hand down Johnathan’s arm to squeeze his hand gently.

  Johnathan looked over at Fionn. He was so close. He leaned in even closer, their faces nearly touching now. He felt like his heart might pound its way out of his chest, it was beating so rapidly and so hard. Could this really be happening?

  It could be, and it was, for Fionn leaned even closer, tipping his head back a little to the taller man, and then they were kissing, and the electricity Johnathan had felt in Fionn’s touch was a hundred times stronger in his kiss.

  The kiss was amazing—a startling, wonderful jolt—but it lasted only a brief, sweet moment before Fionn pulled back. He smiled at Johnathan, still stroking his cheek gently. “I’m very glad I chose to land at this particular farm.”

  “I’m glad too.”

  * * * *

  Fionn stayed day after day, and since there was never any shortage of work for him to do, Johnathan wouldn’t have complained, even if Fionn’s touch didn’t send electricity racing through him.

  For his part, Fionn found he enjoyed the work itself nearly as much as he liked Johnathan’s company. He’d been as tired after fights, and after the endless rounds of training that had prepared him for them, so the work didn’t seem too hard. As satisfying as battle and adventure could be, somehow the farm work was even more satisfying. The kingdom had to be defended, yes, and he was proud to be one of the defenders, but it felt now as though he were countering the death he’d dealt by dealing in life.

  His sword and his chain mail stayed in the corner of his attic room, gathering dust, as the summer passed into fall. He was definitely needed during the frenzy of harvest time, and worked harder then than he’d ever worked in his life. He no longer had swordsman’s calluses by the time that was over, he had farmhand’s calluses, and he didn’t mind one bit. That deep satisfaction stayed with him through every back-breaking hour of it.

  He made slower progress with Johnathan than with his crops, though, for even after all of summer and some of fall, they’d gotten little further than kisses. The farmer never made any move, and though Fionn often wanted more, he avoided pushing himself on the farmer. He had the feeling that a flat-out invitation to his bed would probably scare Johnathan off. Taking things slow might be frustrating at times, but he hoped that the payoff would eventually be worth it.

  Meanwhile, the kisses and touches they often shared in small moments here and there were very good, so he wasn’t going to complain of his situation either.

  So things continued until the late autumn day when a white dove came down from the sky while Fionn was helping prepare the kitchen garden for winter. He sighed to see it, but raised his arm for it to land on all the same. The tiny slip of parchment it carried was magical, and as he unfolded it, it grew to a note he could read without squinting.

  Jonathan gaped at him as he read it, caught utterly flat-footed by the impossible sight before his eyes.

  Fionn folded it up, and it didn’t shrink again. “Tell her I come,” he said to the dove, and threw it back up into the sky with a whir of feathers.

  “You’re one of the Queen’s Own,” said Jonathan incredulously, as the dove vanished into the sky.

  Fionn nodded. “Yes. And I’ve been summoned. I’m sorry. I would have liked to stay longer, it’s been…very nice, being here. But my queen needs me.”

  Jonathan just nodded mutely, shocked. That he had been living with—had been using as a farm hand, even—one of the elite adventurers that served The Eternal Queen directly was impossible, unthinkable, but undeniably true.

  He was still standing, stunned, when Fionn came out of the farm house. His mail coat looked bright in the sun, and he rested his hand on the saber at his belt for a moment, re-accustoming himself to its presence there. He walked down the path to the road that led to the village and eventually to the river and the route to the Queen’s Tower. He turned, though, as he passed through the gate.

  “Jonathan…I truly have been happy here. Would I be welcome if I returned, when this is done?”

  Johnathan blinked. “Of course!”

  Fionn smiled. “Then expect me back to help with spring planting, at the latest,” he said, and with a leap and a thunder of wings far larger than the dove’s, though they were just as white, he was gone into the sky.

  * * * *

  Winter was not yet half gone when Fionn soared once more over the patchwork countryside. The landmarks were all much changed by their deep blanket of snow, but he eventually found the right farm. He noticed Jonathan out in the yard, and was unable to resist the impish urge to land right next to him. He jumped at the sound of Fionn’s wings, and then jumped again to see him.

  “Hi! Hope it’s all right that I’m a little early,” He said. “Thankfully this little adventure didn’t take me long.”

  “I, uh…No, that’s fine! It’s good to see you!” said Jonathan. He was nearly as stunned as he’d been on the day Fionn had left. Even though he’d said he would return, Johnathan hadn’t really expected him to. What could there possibly be to draw somebody like Fionn to a place like his farm, to a person like him? He’d hardly been able to accept that a soldier might want to learn farming, but one of the Queen’s Own? Fionn could be living in the Queen’s Tower right now, in comfort and splendor, why would he want to come back here?

  But he had, and Johnathan found himself very glad to see him.

  Fionn took his attic room again, and once more leaned his sword in the corner and folded his mail shirt and padded gambeson next to it.

  Winter was a slower time on the farm. There was still work to be done, but there were no plantings, no harvests, no crops to tend, and so there was more time for leisure. There were trips into the village, and visits with neighbors, and even the occasional party at one of the other farmhouses in the area. Fionn enjoyed himself thoroughly. The winter here was mild indeed compared to the weather he was used to further north, and the company was very enjoyable.

  As much as the work filled some strange inner desire, the real attraction of the farm was definitely the young man who owned it. The winter down time meant they were often at loose ends in each other’s company, so Fionn had high hopes that his romantic campaign would progress further over the winter months.

&
nbsp; One day, after returning some mended harness to the barn, the pair were in the snowed-over garden with nothing much to occupy the rest of the afternoon. As they walked back towards the house, Fionn acted on a sudden impulse and scooped up a handful of snow. A moment later his snowball was flying towards Johnathan. He’d meant to hit the farmer in the back, but it flew high and got him smack in the back of his head.

  Sputtering in shock, Johnathan turned around and stared at Fionn. He just grinned back. “Gotcha!”

  Johnathan suddenly grinned too and scooped up his own handful of snow. Fionn tried to dodge, but the snowball got him square in the chest.

  “Well now it’s war!” he said, and soon snowballs were flying back and forth. Both combatants were fairly accurate, but Johnathan threw harder. After getting hit right in the face with a particularly large snowball, Fionn grabbed another double handful of snow and then snapped his wings open.

  “Hey, that’s cheating!” shouted Johnathan as Fionn rose into the sky. With a laugh, the avian dropped his snowball right on Johnathan’s head. He yelped and shook his fist up at the sky. “You have to land to get more snow, you know. I’ll get you then!”

  “True. However…” Fionn suddenly dove straight at Johnathan. He yelped, trying to dodge out of the way, but Fionn back-winged expertly and landed just in front of him in a flurry of flying snow. Next thing Johnathan knew he’d been tackled to the ground and Fionn was sitting on top of him.

  “You won’t win so easily,” Johnathan said once he’d recovered his breath slightly. He rolled, pushing Fionn off of him, and pinning the smaller man down in the snow. He was about to grab and handful and wash Fionn’s face with it, the way he had with his brothers when he’d been young, but suddenly Fionn reached up and pulled his head down for a kiss.

  For a moment Johnathan melted into it, giving in to the suddenly changed mood, feeling the warm softness of Fionn’s lips against his.

  Fionn slid his hands down Johnathan’s back, pulling their bodies tight together. They were both bundled up against the cold, but as Fionn continued to kiss Johnathan passionately, he could feel that the other man was having a reaction to the kiss. A warmth and hardness where their hips pressed together was obvious, even through the heavy winter trousers they both wore. He was sure that Johnathan could feel his similar reaction too.

  But it seemed that Johnathan was still uncomfortable with such things, for he pulled back, rolling off of Fionn and getting to his feet.

  Fionn lay in the snow, his wings half-spread around him, making a somewhat literal snow angel, and looked up at Johnathan. He’d been letting such moments slide for months. Perhaps he should try to address the subject. “I’m sorry if I’ve made you uncomfortable,” he said.

  Johnathan scuffed a foot in the snow, shaking his head. “I…It’s…You have nothing to be sorry for.”

  Fionn looked at him for a moment, wanting to say more. But would prying get him what he wanted, or only chase the apparently shy farmer further away? “I’m glad you’re not upset,” he finally said as he rose to his feet. He shook snow from his wings and added, “I’m also half-frozen, a hot cider and a seat by the fire sound pretty good right now. What do you think?”

  “Yes, that sounds good to me,” replied Johnathan, relaxing enough to return Fionn’s smile. As he walked inside behind the handsome avian, though, he found himself almost wishing that Fionn had said something else; had asked, and had let him finally ask in turn why somebody like him, somebody from the Queen’s Own, who could go anywhere and have anything, was here with him. He could not bring himself to believe that a man like Fionn would stay here and build a life with a man like him. Someday, surely, Fionn would soon move on to better things.

  He didn’t want to be only one more conquest, one more notch on a warrior’s belt. He had been there and done that once already in his life. He wasn’t going to repeat that mistake. Attractive as Fionn was, he couldn’t be the one for Johnathan. Their kisses tempted him mightily at times to give in and just have a fling. But he couldn’t possibly hope for Fionn to stay here, and settle down with him forever. Could he?

  * * * *

  That evening, after a cider by the fire and another hearty farm dinner, Fionn undressed and climbed into bed. The attic was actually one of the warmest rooms in the house, being above the kitchen, so even in winter he was comfortable enough sleeping nude, as he had always preferred to do.

  He thought about the day, the kiss, and the scrap of conversation that had followed it, and gave a soft sigh. He almost wished he’d pushed more. Johnathan was wonderful to be around, and he responded to kisses as if he truly did like Fionn. Yet he was still so resistant to doing anything further than that, after all this time. Maybe if they could discuss whatever was holding him back, something more might come of their relationship.

  Fionn found himself dreaming sometimes of staying here and building a life with Johnathan. But he couldn’t tie himself forever to somebody who would never give him more than kisses. And gods, the young farmer made him want so much more. He slipped a hand down his body to run his fingers along his growing erection. Just remembering the kiss and the momentary feel of heat as their bodies pressed together was enough to have him rock hard in moments.

  He groaned softly, his head tipping back as he started to stroke himself. Images of Johnathan passed through his mind. Of his warm blue eyes and utterly charming smile. Of the strength of his broad, calloused hands. Of the glimpses he’d gotten of Johnathan’s body, and what it would be like to finally get to run his hands all over it. What it would be like to finally bed him.

  His hand stroked a little faster, his cock aching with need. He could imagine exactly what it would be like to be beneath the strong farmer. He’d been pinned under him today, but to have him here, now, naked as he was…Fionn wanted that with a burning desperation.

  Fionn clenched his teeth on another moan, feeling his pleasure building as he fantasized about Johnathan. It would be so wonderful. Everything about Johnathan seemed so perfect, all it was lacking was this, the two of them in bed together. A moment later Fionn came, moaning Johnathan’s name softly as he did.

  Afterward, as he cleaned himself up, he felt a deep dissatisfaction. The fantasy had been enough to get him off, but it was hollow, empty. He loved what he had now, even with only kisses, but he wanted so much more. He just wasn’t sure what course to pursue in order to get it.

  * * * *

  Both men’s romantic worries, though, were pushed aside when the snow began to melt. Planting was not quite as frenetic as harvest, but it was still a very busy time, and they were both often too tired at the end of the day for anything other than dinner and bed.

  Fionn loved planting. Putting the seeds in the soil and contemplating the miracle that turned little hard specks into green plants gave him endless pleasure. So he worked happily through the spring and into the early days of summer. Things weren’t perfect, quite, but they were good.

  One day he was helping plant late vegetables in the garden, and realized that it had been a whole year since he had first landed at the farm. He thought then of his family. He had sent word to them, not long after he first arrived here, so they wouldn’t be worried. In any case, he was long since old enough to not have them fret over him being away. Still, he did miss them, just a little. But he wasn’t ready to leave here, not even for a visit home. All the same, I should probably write again, and let them know what’s happening in my life, he thought. Well, the village isn’t that far away, by wing. I could go today, and be back by sundown.

  “Jonathan!” Fionn just hollered, no point wandering the farm looking for Johnathan, he could be anywhere.

  Johnathan’s head poked out of the hay barn. “What is it?”

  “I’m done here, and I just thought of an errand I need to run. I’d like to take off and head into town this afternoon. I’ll probably be back by sundown, though I might stay there overnight if it takes too long.”

  “Sure, go ahead. I’ll mana
ge.”

  “Thanks!” he took wing immediately, no point hanging around, and soared off over the springtime fields. He never tired of looking down at that patchwork of a thousand shades of green.

  The village was small, but large enough to have a post station. He landed there, and was actually in the middle of writing out his letter when a voice called from behind him.

  “Fionn!”

  He blinked in surprise, then spun around to see a very familiar face. He flung himself at the tall, dark-haired form of Sir Alan Gloring, a fellow member of the Queen’s Own and one of his closest friends. “Alan! What on earth are you doing here?”

  “Roaming. I thought I’d look for you while I was at it. Her Majesty said you were staying near here. We haven’t had a mission together in ages, and I miss your prissy butt sometimes.”

  Fionn laughed. “I can’t say I miss your insults, you giant oaf. But it’s good to see you. Are you staying long?”

  “Only a day or two. As I said, I’m roaming. I haven’t seen the whole world yet, after all.”

  “I’m pretty sure you could find more exciting parts of it than here. It’s very calm and boring here.” He gave a little smile and added, “I find that suits me more than I expected. I’m practically working as a farm hand now, you know.”

  “Shocking! Why don’t we grab and drink, and you can tell old Uncle Alan all about it.”

  They sat together at the one modest inn and talked for a long time, catching each other up on their lives. Then Fionn glanced up at the darkening sky. “Guess I won’t be making it home tonight after all,” he said.

  “So that’s ‘home’ now, is it?”

  He smiled. “It’s starting to feel that way. I’m not ready to throw away my saber just yet, but…There’s nothing that says I can’t farm the rest of the time, you know I don’t get called in all that often.”

  He chuckled. “True, true. I don’t think I could be a farmer, too much work! But it sounds like you’re very happy with it.”

  “Yes. Very happy indeed,” Fionn said.

  * * * *