Winged Dream

Misery

It was late but never-the-less Freyer was lead outside to a patch of dirt.

"First, hand to hand combat." Just after he had processed Waldek's last sentence, Freyer realized he had been knocked to the ground. "Stand up." Without hesitation Freyer lifted himself up, and this time took a fighting stance. Once again he was pummeled to the ground. This time though, Waldek had literally pushed him down with his foot as opposed to knocking his feet out from under him. The cycle repeated countless times. It was dawn before he could he dodge all of Waldek's simple, effortless attacks. They headed back to the house, Freyer was breathing heavily and could barely walk. Waldek on the other hand hadn't even broken a sweat.

"Morrow's night you shall learn how to block and counter. For now, help me with breakfast. Finn should be awake soon."

"But he lost so much blood, how would he be 'awake soon'?"

"Are your memories so fleeting? We are dragons."

Sure enough when it was almost time for breakfast, Finn bolted down the stairs. He was running so unreasonably fast he left skid marks in the wood where he did a slide-stop. He turned into the kitchen and rammed right into Freyer. Where Freyer found himself, once again,on the ground

"OH MY GOD! FREYER YOUR NOT DEAD!! ARE YOU HURT!!?

"Finn."

"YOU ARE HURT AREN'T YOU!!? THAT BASTARD!"

"Finn."

"HE'LL PAY FOR THIS!!"

"FINN!! Get off me."

"Oh..."He stood up and just as he was about to apologize when Waldek decided his punishment was concussion by frying pan.

"Gee, he sure is hyper this morning." Freyer started dusting himself off.

"He's always like that when he sleeps more the six hours."

'I'm never letting him sleep again!'

The secret training routine went on a few more days. It was brutal and after each lesson Freyer never failed to find and bandage at least two injuries. But that was to be expected, he was new to fighting and it came with being trained by someone like Waldek. Despite that, Freyer was a fast learner, and had the will power to improve. He wasn't the best, but he could fight now, and he wasn't that bad. In fact he was doing good enough that he would start working with swords and throwing knives soon. For that though, It would be best to have a sparing partner about his level and so came the time let Finn in on their secret.

The next night both Waldek and Freyer got some much needed sleep. But trouble would be waiting for them, in the morning they would be telling Finn. Finn and Freyer came down stairs together as they had before the training. Waldek was siting at the table drinking what seemed to be a strange mix of coffee, tea, and some sort of juice. Ham and toast had been set out. They all dug in. "Ah...Finn...?"

"Uhmm?" Finn responded his face filled with ham.

"I was wondering...if you'd be my sparring partner, for when I can use swords...?"

"Are you kidding? You can't even fight without weapons.."

"Well, ya see....Waldek...has been teaching me to fight."

"..........." Finn's eyebrows began to knit. "You..." he turned to face his brother. "Why didn't you tell me!?"

"I thought it would be best for you, to work on recovering, not fighting with him."

"R-recover?! But I'm fi-"

"Did you think I wouldn't notice?" he said sternly. "You haven't been using your left hand for a while, you don't roll over on to your right side when your uncomfortable."

"Brother...I..."

"I'm going to find him a sword to practice with. In the meantime, you two warm up."

Finn and Freyer headed out back to the dirt training circle. Donned Their leather armor and stood in the middle and shook hands. Finn let go and turned in an elegant fluid motion. Now they stood at the far ends of the circle. Finn made the first move, he charged at Freyer with his hands behind him. Out of nowhere, he jumped and gave Freyer two feet to the face. Freyer pulled him self up and was almost hit by Finn's fist, but at the last moment he grabbed Finn's wrist and pulled him forward while he glided ahead. Finn was also quick to stand up. Freyer was about to punch Finn in the gut, at the same time that Finn was ready to flip him.

" L'adovec zachytenie." The ice formed quicky over they're calfs . Feet frozen to the dirt beneath them. Finn and Freyer looked to over to the right, Waldek stood outside the ring holding a newly sharpened sword. The real training was about to begin. Waldek went over the basic moves with Freyer, and Finn practiced along impatiently. By the time Freyer had been deemed ready to spar with Finn it was past mid-day. As Waldek prepared him, Freyer watched Finn,

'He still seems a little upset. I wonder why it bugged him THAT much...He practically tried to kill me earlier......is everyone here hiding something?'

Once again the two went to the center of the ring, but this time there was no hand shake. It wasn't needed they could tell from the look in each other eyes, the fight was on.  

Freyer lunged at him. But as to be expected Finn dodged. Finn slashed at him leaving a mark in the leather chest plate but not much of one.Their swords clashed. The sound of metal strikes seemed to ring far off into the distance. After a 5 minute period of lunges, slashes, and dodging, Finn decided to add some dirty tricks to the mix. First the classic slicing of the belt. Freyer pants fell to his ankles, but he had the odd reaction of jumping completely out of them and carrying out several more strikes, while blushing like hell ( man or women no one likes having their underwear displayed ).

Freyer's method was poke him repeatedly. It certainly did a fabulous job pissing Finn off. This went on for at least another two minutes while Waldek was reading a book, completely ignoring the fight. Then Finn and Freyer just seemed to stop. Laughing, a little like idiots, they went inside to get some meat-buns. The three sat outside in the sun eating, joking, laughing, just plain screwing around. Even the oh so stoic Waldek took part in the tomfoolery. Some how they ended up lying in the grass staring up at the afternoon sun.

'I don't think I've been happy in a very long time. I'm glad I ended up here, even if I don't know where I am. Does it even matter anymore? I'm here and I finally remember why people bother to exist. Why we don't all just give up. I missed it, having a home.'

Freyer shut his eyes. He tried to move but it was futile. He had been plunged back into the darkness. His happiness was being ripped from him, again.Freyer opened his eyes to the bare white walls of his room and the obnoxious beeping from his alarm.

"A...a dream. Figures. Dragons, dragon hunters, people breathing fire. When will I learn." He got up and sorrowfully put on his same old uniform.

"Frey, Fre~ey. You in there?" Finn waved his hand over Freyer's unresponsive face. He turned to his brother,  whose expression was painted with worry.

Freyer gathered his things and put them in the school approved messenger bag.

The brothers carried Freyer up into his room and set him on the bed. Not knowing what else to do Waldek wetted a cloth and placed it on his forehead. Finn pulled the covers over him and sat on the floor watching, afraid.

Freyer walked out the front door and started the half hour walk to his school. It had rained last night. Several passing cars hit a puddle and splashed him.When he finally reach the school yard he was sopping wet. To top it off school bully and hot shot jerk, Ron, and his gang were waiting from him.

Days passed and Freyer hadn't moved an inch. Neither had Finn, he refused to leave his only friend's side.

'Frey...what's wrong with you. I'm not stupid. I see it. you haven't moved but even so you look sad, broken. Like when we first met........why won't you wake up Frey? Why?'