Rollan's PoV -

I leant against the railing of a ship. The dark waves splashed below, and the bright stars twinkled overhead. A bird cried off in the distance. It was late, probably after midnight, but I enjoyed staying up late, alone. It was relaxing. My boyfriend cuddled next to me, he had fallen asleep hours before. I caught myself admiring his beautiful features as he slept. His eyelids were closed gently, one of his wings draped around me and the other hung to his side its feathers fluttering slightly in the breeze. Karmo barely snored, his chest rising and falling rhythmically. He shivered a little and huddled closer trying to share my warmth.

I found it hard to believe that only a year before I had fought against him myself. I shifted a little, tiredly I wrapped my arms around him gently and picked him up bridal style. I carried him to our cabin a lay him in bed. "Rollan... your still awake," Karmo rubbed his tired eyes.

I curled into bed next to him. "Yeah, I'm going to bed now, don't worry," Karmo smiled and pecked me on the lips.

"How much longer till we get there?" Karmo asked.

We were on our way to Nilo, his home country. "The captain said we would get there late tomorrow evening," I replied as I ran my hand gently through his hair.

Karmo smiled, "I'm excited, yet nervous, thank you, Rollan!"

"Why are you nervous?" I asked.

"Everyone looks at me strange, Rollan, my old villagers won't know me, and if they do they won't want me around," Karmo replied as I stroked his wings, his wings twitching a little at my sudden touch.

"Karmo, stop, you know that's not true," I kinda lied, I worried about the same thing for him.

"Even this ship's crew, looks at me strange, that's why I had you ask how much longer till we get to Nilo, I walked up to a crew member and he ran away from me," Karmo stated through sobs, he was crying now.

I pressed my lips against his. "Karmo, they just don't know you like I know you, your amazing Karmo," I attempted to make him feel better.

It seemed to work because Karmo cuddled close to me again and soon feel asleep with his head on my chest.

-----

     I awoke to the sound of bird song. Not coming from Essix but from Karmo. I got out of bed, my head still groggy from sleep, I followed the sound to the bathroom, I pushed my way in, Karmo stood at the mirror brushing his hair and happily chirping. I smiled and hugged him from behind. "Good morning, love," Karmo stated cheerily, his breath smelled minty from tooth paste.

     "Morning," I replied. 

     I too began my morning routine. After I was dressed for the day I went to find Karmo. "Rollan will you help me," a shirtless Karmo walked over to me and handed me a thin piece of rope.

He needed his wings tied down so others wouldn't notice, Karmo was actually pretty embarrassed over his bird like features. "Yeah, turn around," I stated and gently tied the rope around his waist trying not to damage any of his feathers.

"Thanks," Karmo mumbled as he hastily pulled on a shirt.

I wrapped an arm around him and pulled him close. My arm rested on his waist. "You ready to head up deck?" I asked, "we'll reach Nilo later today."

Karmo nodded and the two of us made our way to the deck. Karmo was excited to make it back to his home of Nilo. We both leaned against the railing of the ship looking out over the ocean. I still had my arm wrapped around my boyfriend. "I'm nervous, Rollan," Karmo worried.

     "Karmo, there's no need for you to be, please just relax!" I smiled at him and squeezed his hand supportively, "besides, I'll be with you every step of the way."

     "Thanks, love," Karmo cuddled into me a bit.

------

     "Land ho!" one of the crew members shouted from the crow's nest.

     Only a few minutes later the boat safely docked at a Nilo port town that happened to be reasonably close to Karmo's home town. The two of us grabbed our supplies and made our way to the market, some of the market goers cast cautious glances at Karmo. He seemed to notice and quickens his pace. After buying a few supplies we found a trail leading to Karmo's home town. "Rollan, I don't want to do this, please Rollan, I don't think I can," Karmo stoped and turned to face me.

I interlocked our hands. "Karmo, you've always wanted to return to your village after you left... for the conquerors," I tried to convince him.

"I don't know anymore," Karmo hung his head sadly.

"You'll be fine!" I supplied.

Karmo nodded, "you'll be beside me the whole time, right?"

"Of course I will," we began walking again.

Karmo mumbled something but I had the feeling he was half talking to himself so I didn't ask. Finally, we arrived at the village gates. Karmo sighed and I held his hand. With that we walked into his village. "Are you two new here?" some child, who looked to be about five years old asked.

"I am, he's no," I stated and motioned to Karmo.

"Why are you wearing that mask?" another kid asked Karmo.

"Because I look different than you," Karmo informed.

"How so?" the child asked, "can I see your face?"

"No!" Karmo got defensive.

The kid frowned and walked off. "Follow me, we'll take the two of you to our chief," the boy who had been talking to me led the way.

We stopped in front of a cozy yet fancy looking hut. "He should be inside, good luck," with that the child bounded away to his friends.

I nocked on the door and was greeted with a "it's open."

I pushed the door open and Karmo and I stepped inside the hut. Karmo bowed a little so I copied. "Oh, you two must be new, are you visiting?" the chief asked.

"Yes, this is his hometown," I replied.

"Hm, interesting, boy, take off that mask," the chief replied.

"I don't think..." Karmo was cut off.

"Boy, do not deny me, do as I say!!!" the village chief exclaimed.

Karmo nodded and untied his mask and sat it on the ground in front of him. He looked up at the chief after that. "Ah, I know you, Karmo," the chief snarled, he didn't seem happy with my boyfriend, "long time, no see."

"Yes, sir," Karmo nodded.

"In that case you are not welcome here, you are a disgrace to my village, we may not have a rain dancer but we would be better off without you in the first place, now leave my presence!" he yelled at Karmo.

Karmo nodded sadly, replaced his mask and walked out of the hut. I stayed behind a minute. "How can you talk to your own citizen that way!" I demanded.

"Boy, don't pressure me!" He continued, "but if you must know, Karmo hoped to be our villages first rain dancer but after he failed to summon a spirit animal it was impossible for him to achieve this, he was devastated and turned to the bile instead."

I listened and the chief continued, "We were desperate but we would not stup as low as to have a bile bonded boy as our village rain dancer, so Karmo joined the Conquerors instead, the Conquerors later destroyed our village, so now do you see why I simply cannot have Karmo in our village."

"No, I don't see, it wasn't Karmo's fault your village was destroyed and he was bile bonded he practically had no choice but to join the Conquerors," I was pissed, this chief was so rude.

"You fail to see my position and defend that traitor, your just as bad as Karmo, leave me now," the chief stated firmly.

"It would be my pleasure to leave your presence," I stormed away.

I walked back out of the village and found Karmo waiting for me not too far down the road. His mask lay beside him and he sat sobbing. I sat down next to him and cuddled close. "Karmo, nothing's your fault, that chief is just a big bully," I tried to make him feel better.

     "That bully is my father," he sobbed.

     "Your father!?" I wasn't sure I heard him right, what father would speak to their son that way.

     "Yes," Karmo sobbed.

     I lifted my boyfriend into my arms. "Oh, Karmo," I kissed him, "I'm so sorry!"

     I felt a tear roll down my face. Karmo's own father didn't want his son back home with him. I gently wiped a tear from Karmo's face. "Thanks, Rollan, I only belong with you," Karmo cried.

     The sad part was he was kinda right. "That's no true, you have the Redcloaks," I tried to make him feel better.

     "It's not the same."

     That was true. I didn't know what to say or do so I just gently held Karmo, rubbing his back supportively. I would kiss the top of his head every so often. Karmo stood, "We need to get going now to make it back to the boat by sunset."

     I stood too and we both walked hand in hand back towards the ship. Karmo still sobbed but he had me and I had him. We would take care of each other.