Asdel III

The cold water of a wooden barrel feels like ice over Asdel’s hands as he cleans off the thick layer of mud. Although his head feels light from the multiple punches he has just received from Stephen from their latest training session, the cold water is shocking him awake.

As he looks down into the water as it stills, removing his hands, the young lad sees his own reflection. His face, caked in mud and a cut on his right eyebrow forcing blood to fall into the water.

Splashing himself in the face to clean himself, Asdel decides to not bother anymore and walks back to his tent. Seeing Jeon asleep, he tries to creep in but the effort of lifting off the steel armour forces a grunt out of his mouth.

“Hey, more training?” Jeon groggily asks sitting up from his bed, just a thin sheet covering his naked body.

“Yes.” Asdel grunts back, throwing his dirty armour onto the ground.

“How’d it go?” Jeon asked.

Sighing, Asdel turns his head and looks at Jeon smiling back at him.

“I don’t know why I bother, I’m not getting any better. As soon as Stephen swings at me I just… I just freeze. There is no anger or strength in me to fight back.” Asdel admits, feeling a few tears appear in his eyes.

“Hey, you’ll get better.” Jeon says standing up. The sheet that once covered him falling to the ground and he stands there completely naked. Patting Asdel on his shoulder he gives him a smile and says, “I have some good news anyway.”

“What’s that?” Asdel asks, his eyes darting down and catching glimpses of Jeon’s man hood, swinging in the air, thick and hairy like a beast.

“I got us on scouting duty for the next few days.” Jeon told him.

“Why’s that good news?” Asdel asks, pulling his gaze away from Jeon and looking him in the eyes.

“It’s just a small group moving a few miles up to scout the next camping ground. No training with Stephen, you can relax for a few days.” He tells the young soldier.

No Stephen? No training? Thank the gods!

“That sounds like a dream to me.” Asdel says back with a smile.

For the next hour, the two pack their bags and prepare to set off with the scouting party. Putting back on his armour, Asdel grabs his belongings and follows Jeon to the meeting point.

A fifteen minute walk, there are eight men stood around a fire. As they approach, one shouts out.

“Jeon, good to have you with us.”

“Petir! Glad to be here.” Jeon replies hugging him.

Watching Jeon hugging this other person he is hit with a hint of jealousy. Being his only friend and the only person that doesn’t treat Asdel like a piece of filth, he is anxious of Jeon leaving him for other, stronger men.

“This is Asdel, he’s coming with us.” Jeon said.

“Asdel? Aren’t you the kid that Stephen has been kicking the shit out of every day?” Petir says with a laugh. His teeth rotten and black and his laughing face looks like a ghoul.

“Hey, leave him alone.” Jeon says, standing up for Asdel and forcing a smile on the young boys face.

“Alright you fucking cunts.”

Oh no!

Turning around, Stephen is walking towards the scouting party.

“All you bunch of pricks are doing is scouting a few miles ahead. Nothing too difficult so try not to fuck it up yeah.” Stephen shouts at the group.

His face turns and his eyes meets Asdel’s who instantly diverts his gaze to the ground.

“Asdel, try not to get yourself killed. Uriel will fuck me sideways if you do.” Stephen shouts at him.

“I… I won’t.” Asdel stutters back, just the mere sound of Stephen’s voice sending fear through Asdel’s body.

“Right then, see you fuckers in a few days.” Stephen shouts, turns around and walks away.

The scouting party grunt in response and turn back towards the fire.

“Okay then lads, I’ll be taking lead. Stick behind me and I will choose where we camp. Understood?” Petir shouts out.

Again, the rest of the group grunt in response.

“Asdel, as the bitch of the group, you’re carrying the cooking equipment.” He says and throws a heavy bag that has the sound of metal hitting each other coming from it.

Why do they all hate me?

“It’s alright Asdel,” Jeon says whispering into his ear, “I’ll take your bag.”

“Thank you.” Asdel whispers back, happy to have some of the heavy load taken from him.

The group set off along the dirt track. They only go for a few hours until setting up their first camp. The tents they are using are smaller and easier to put up, but are not nearly as comfortable and Asdel finds himself sleeping on the ground.

“Wake up boys!” Petir’s voice calls out, startling Asdel so he jumps up, hitting his head on the wooden stick holding up the tent and forcing it to collapse on top of him.

“Fucking hell, how are you still alive?” Petir shouts.

Eventually being able to pull himself out of the tent, Asdel can see that Petir has walked away. Grabbing his belongings, he follows the group down the road.

“How does this work exactly?” Asdel asks Jeon catching up to him.

“Pretty much we walk ten to twenty miles. Make sure there’s no threats or anything, then we find a suitable place to set up camp.” Jeon tells him.

“And what does that look like exactly?” Asdel replies.

“Pretty much just an open field.” Jeon answer.

Sound invigorating. Asdel thinks.

Hours later, as the sun starts to fall from the blue sky and light up the clouds with a blood red colour, Petir stops the group and begins to give orders.

“Okay, we will set up camp here for the night.” He tells them.

“Petir?” Jeon shouts out.

“What is it?” He asks.

“Why don’t Asdel and I carry on a few miles, we have walked a long way today and we could potentially find a new camp site for the whole army. If not, we will just wait until morning for you to catch up.” Jeon suggests.

He wants me to go with him ahead? Asdel thinks to himself.

“Sounds pointless to me.” Petir replies.

“It’s just an idea, if we find a spot early then we can all rest for a few days before sending someone back to inform Uriel.” Jeon tells him.

A moment of thought, Petir replies.

“Okay, why not.”

Leaving a few supplies from the bag that Asdel is carrying, the two set off further down the road.

They walk for only an hour longer, the sun is now completely gone and a full moon lights up the sky.

“We should stop here, no point walking any further in the night.” Jeon tells Asdel.

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Stopping for a moment, Asdel looks out to Lake Skolton, the moon beaming off of it like a torch, the water going as far as he can see with a few trees around the edges.

This is what I wanted. Beautiful sights that I have only read about in poems. Asdel thinks.

“Sure.” He replies and the two set up their makeshift tents and start a small fire.

After eating a rabbit that Jeon was able to catch, Asdel stands up and prepares to rest his head.

“Wait.” Jeon shouts out.

“Is everything okay?” Asdel asks.

Then, silently, Jeon walks over to him. Standing just inches around from his body, the big, strong man is staring at him.

“I didn’t really want to come here to find a new camping ground.” Jeon whispers.

“Then why are we here?” Asdel asks.

“I wanted to be alone with you.” Jeon whispers.

“W-why?” Asdel stutters, his nervousness taking over.

“I’ve seen the way you look at me, especially when I’m naked.” Jeon says, his right hand rising up and stroking Asdel’s arm, “I’ve never been with a man before.” He says.

“J-jeon..” Asdel goes to speak but is stopped when Jeon’s lips press against his.

Is this really happening? Does Jeon want me? Asdel thinks, his eyes wide open as his only friend kisses him. I want this.

Closing his eyes, Asdel kisses Jeon back, sliding his tongue into the other soldiers mouth. Jeon’s big, strong arms wrap around Asdel, dwarfing him and making him feel tiny.

“Let’s go to my tent.” Jeon says firmly, locking eyes with Asdel.

Without saying a word, Asdel and Jeon get under the cover of Jeon’s tent. Jeon planting his lips onto Asdel’s once more, the two start to undress the other. Their passion taking over and all of Asdel’s worries and fear that have been forced upon him melts away.

“Asdel, wake up.”

Jeon’s whispered voice calls out, but Asdel was fast asleep and keeping his eyes closes he groans.

“What is it?”

“There’s movement, in the bushes up ahead.” Jeon whispers.

Slowly opening his eyes, Asdel sits up and sees Jeon crouched down outside of their small tent. His still naked body forcing Asdel to marvel at his muscles.

“What do you mean?” Asdel says.

“Shhh.” Jeon hushes up.

Walking over, Asdel grabs his trousers off of the floor and puts them on, the cold breeze forcing his hairs to stand on edge. It’s still pitch black except for the moon in grey, cloudy sky.

“Over there.” Jeon whispers.

Looking out, Asdel can see the bushes that Jeon speaks of. A few hundred feet away, yet they do appear to be moving.

“It could just be the wind?” Asdel asks.

“Maybe.” Jeon whispers.

A crash of lighting and the sky fills with the bright light. In an instance the heavens open and rain comes pouring down onto the two men.

“Fuck it’s cold!” Jeon shouts loud enough to be heard over the pouring rain.

Faster and faster, the water fills the muddy fields around them and Asdel finds himself soaked and dripping. Looking around for a shirt to put on he shouts.

“Should we go back to the others?”

The sound of the rain fills the air and Asdel can’t hear Jeon’s reply. Looking around, he finds a shirt lying on the floor, although it has gotten wet at least it will give him some form of warmth.

Putting it over his head, Asdel turns and shouts.

“Jeon? Should we…” Stopping, the young boys eyes shoot open wide and his jaw hangs low.

“Jeon?” He shouts.

His friend lies on the ground, his face planted into the mud and a small, wooden handle and steel axe lays implanted into the back of his skull. His body is still twitching as the blood from his head pours into the rain and the mud.

“What the fuuu… urgh!” Asdel grunt as he a hard object smacks the back of his head and forces him to the ground.

His face planting in the mud and a banging in his head from the pain, he picks himself up to see Jeon’s eyes still open and flickering.

The rain pouring down forces Asdel to wipe his eyes but before he can he feels a grip on his wrists.

“Get up boy!” A man shouts and Asdel is roughly dragged onto his knees. He is a solid inch or so dug into the wet ground as he looks up and sees a giant of a man holding him.

He is as thick as an oak tree and has a black beard that goes down to his chest, his hair long and unkept.

“What do you..” But before Asdel can finish he feels a harsh fist strike his face.

With his head hanging low in pain and shock, he can hear muddy footsteps coming from around him. The cold of the rain makes his body tremble.

“What do we have here?” A husky voice says and a harsh grip appears onto Asdel’s hair and yanks his head up. Managing to open his eyes, standing in front of him is a huge monster of a man.

Giants aren’t real, they’re only fairy tales, but this man, he must be a giant.

“You are in the wrong place at the wrong time boy.” The giant in front of him shouts. His face covered in a thick red beard, his teeth yellow and rotten and he is wearing fur over him that has become drenched from the rain.

“Please…” Asdel goes to beg but his face is met with another crashing hit, directly on his left eye and his head hangs down in pain.

It feels as though his eye is falling from his socket, unable to see out of it from the sheer force of the hit.

“Grogon, see to the other.” This giant in front of him shouts.

With any strength he has left, Asdel fights to stand up but is easily stopped by the black haired giant that’s holding his wrists.

“Please! Let me go!” Asdel shouts into the rain.

His pleads only met with another fist to his face. His entire left side feels numb and lifeless.

For a moment, Asdel keeps his eyes closed, at the mercy of these men he feels helpless and weak. Then, he feels a thick finger on his chin, lifting his head up. Opening his eyes he meets the cold, black stare of the red headed giant smiling back at him.

“Oh little boy, I must’ve hit you really hard if you think that’s happening.” He said.

Those words caused more tears to stream down Asdel’s face.

Is this it? All of the pain and suffering I have gone through, just for it to end like this?

His eye throbbing, the pain caused worse by the tears pouring out and stinging into his cuts.

“Urgh!” Asdel grunts loudly as he is struck again by the tough fist.

Time and time again, Asdel feels this giant striking him, his face, his stomach. It finally stops, Asdel spits onto the floor and claret red just pours out of his lips. The pain is too much for the young boy.

“Not much meat on this one.” The black haired giant shouts out.

“No, but there is more than enough on his friend over there.” The red head giant says with a laugh.

After that, Asdel hears the sound of bone cracking, with one eye swollen shut Asdel can just about see out of his good eye that another giant has ripped the axe out of Jeon’s skull.

“Now listen here boy.” The red headed giant says, staring at Asdel, “We are going to carve up your friend over there. He will make do for a couple of meals.” The others start laughing whilst Asdel’s body trembles in fear.

The rain is still crashing down, yet it isn’t cancelling out the sound of the axe crashing down on Jeon’s body a mere few feet away. Like the sound of chopping wood, over and over Asdel can hear the axe landing down on his friend.

“After we are finished with him, we are going to carve you up. You don’t have much on you, but you can make a nice stew.” The giant laughs in front of him.

Everything that’s happened the last few weeks, all of the pain, the endurance, it is all building up inside of Asdel. Knowing that this is the end, he doesn’t care anymore, at least the pain will end.

With the last of his strength, Asdel pushes his back up, staring at the red haired giant. The rain soaking every inch of him. The moonlight being the only thing helping the boy to see. He inhales one last time before screaming out into the darkness.

“JUST DO IT! FUCKING KILL ME!! DO IT!” His screams forcing blood to spit out of his mouth.

The red haired giant clearly shocked by his outburst, a moment of horror in his face that turns into a smile as Asdel’s chest is heaving up and down. His breath turning into mist in the air.

“You heard him boys.” The giant says, raising his axe into the sky, the glimmer of the moon shinning off of it and Asdel closes his eyes and waits for his pain to end.

A warm splatter of thick liquid hits across the back of Asdel’s head and slowly pours down his temple.

What? Asdel thinks, opening his eyes and seeing the red haired giant taking a few steps back.

A thud echoes through the rain behind Asdel and he feels his wrists freed from their grip. Staying on his knees, he turns his head and sees the black haired giant on his knees with an arrow piercing through. Blood dripping down as his eye looks as Asdel in horror.

Staring at this giant, Asdel sees movement coming from behind. His one good eye coming into focus he can see it’s the other members of the scouting party.

How did they know? Asdel thinks for a second until he sees another arrow soaring past his head.

He jumps to the ground in panic, holding his hands over the back of his head as he forces his face into the wet mud.

A few seconds later, he can hear the other scouts footsteps growing closer and Asdel hopes it is now safe. Picking himself up, he can see the one of the giants on the ground next to Jeon’s body, if that is what you can call it. This giant has cut off each of Jeon’s limbs that are placed around him.

“Fuck!” Asdel hears a grunt coming from behind. Turning his head he can see the red headed giant limping away, an arrow going through his calf as he drags it along.

Looking down, Asdel sees the axe in the giants hand next to Jeon. Leaning down, he pries the dead fingers away from it and picks it up. Turning his stare back onto the limping giant, Asdel slowly walks over to him.

Growing closer and closer, the red headed giant can’t move fast and it takes only a few seconds for Asdel to reach him.

“Ahhhhh!!” Asdel screams and brings the axe crashing down onto his calf, cutting the arrow that is going through him in half and striking down into his bone.

“Fuuuuuucckkk!!” The giant screams out in pain as his body comes crashing to the ground.

Asdel isn’t able to keep hold of the axe as it’s lodged deep into his bone. Looking down at the red headed giant letting out cries of pain, fumbling in the mud.

This is no giant, Asdel thinks, He is just a man.

Wrapping his fingers around the handle of the axe, Asdel grips it and yanks it out of his calf.

“Ahhhh!! Please no!!” The red headed man screams.

The young boy stands over his body, his eyes filled with red and his body shaking. Only rage is in Asdel now, pure, unadulterated rage.

Gripping the handle with his two hands, Asdel brings it above his head, blocking out the moonlight.

“Nooo!!” The man shouts and Asdel brings the axe down. The man’s arm reaching in the air in defence and but with Asdel’s force he cuts clean through the man’s forearm and watches his hand flop onto the ground.

“Ahhhh!!” He screams out in agony.

“Fuck you!!” Asdel shouts out and again brings the axe above his head. In one swift strike, he plants the axe directly in the centre of the man’s skull and watches his body twitch beneath him.

Placing his foot onto the man’s chest, Asdel grips the axe again and pulls it from his face. The sound of cracking bone follows as he pulls it out.

Once more, Asdel brings the axe down on the same spot, crashing further into his skull. Again, he pulls it out and strikes his face.

“AAHHHHHHH!!” Asdel screams into the night.

Again and again, Asdel brings the axe down onto this man’s head. Two or three strikes later the sound of hitting bone has gone and is replaced with the sound of hitting mush. Whether it’s the man’s brains or the mud Asdel doesn’t know and doesn’t care.

The mist from his breath is getting heavier with each strike, over and over onto this man’s head.

“Fuckkkkkkkkkk!!” Asdel screams and releases the axe sending it flying into the air.

Holding his hands up, the pouring rain is quickly washing away any blood that has been splattered onto him.

Finally, raising his head, he looks to the side and can see the rest of the scouting party stood around him in a circle with their weapons in their hands. Each of their faces in utter shock.

His chest heaving up and down, Asdel goes to speak but everything just turns to black.