Norway

 

1276

 

Seven-year-old Banyan stood before the Norse Gargoyle King, impatiently waiting to hear what his father had to say. When the King finally finished speaking to Banyan’s uncle in hushed tones, he turned to his son and said, “Banyan, you are much too young to realize how important you are. Times are becoming less settled for our kind with King Magnus instilling unified law. Things are no longer as they were, and I have no choice but to send you away. You are going to live with din onkel Gautum. Going forward, you will call him ‘far’, and he will teach you our ways. When the day comes, you will return home, and you will sit on the throne. I want you to do this for me and din mor. Make us proud, Banyan. Do your duty as Gargouille to protect the humans. Do you understand what I am asking of you?”

“Ja, Far, I understand,” young Banyan replied, although he didn’t understand all of what his father had said. All he knew was he was leaving his village to go live with his uncle.

“Good. Din mor has packed your belongings. Go tell her goodbye, and you will be on your way. Never forget, you are a prince, and we love you.”

“I won’t forget.” Instead of finding his mother, Banyan rushed to his room and retrieved his paper, ink, and quills. He had no idea what his new life would entail, but he would always find time to write letters to his mother. He might grow to be a fierce Gargouille, but he would never forget the love his momma showered on him every day. When he entered the great hall, he gave his uncle a smile. He enjoyed when Gautum came to visit, and now, Banyan would get to visit somewhere new.

The journey to his uncle’s village in Holmesvik took almost two weeks. When they arrived, a male and a boy were waiting for them outside his uncle’s home. “Gautum, welcome back.”

“Thank you, Tabor. I’d like to introduce you to Banyan. Banyan, this is my friend Tabor and his son Urijah. You and Urijah will train together. You will eat, play, and learn together. You will be as close as brothers.”

Banyan didn’t have any brothers. He had a younger sister, but she was just a baby. Being the son of the King, he had never had friends of his own, so seeing another boy about his age was like a dream. He ambled up to the smaller male with his long blond hair and bright blue eyes. Urijah smiled, and his crooked bottom teeth made him seem all the more real. Banyan wanted more than anything for them to become friends.

Urijah shyly asked, “Do you want to play?”

Banyan looked to his uncle for permission. “Go on, Sønn.”

Urijah took off running, and Banyan followed after him. He had never been around other kids his age, and he most certainly had never chased after farm animals in the roadway. Urijah teased the chickens, swooping down like he was going to catch them. Banyan couldn’t contain his laughter as he followed his new friend past rows of houses, through tall grasses, and up a hillside. When they apparently reached their destination, Urijah fell down in a bed of purple flowers, and Banyan joined him, rolling to his back. He had never felt so free in his life.

Banyan’s uncle – father – had been right; he and Urijah spent almost every waking hour together and were the best of friends. Winters were spent huddled by the fire with Banyan writing stories while Urijah whittled random pieces of wood. Summer days were whiled away swimming in the fjords. In spring and autumn, they helped the men and women of the village plant crops and gather them in. In the winter, they would lie on their backs as the night sky filled with a wondrous light show. When they were a little older, the two of them spent their spare time at their fathers’ sides learning how to forge weapons.

There was a competitiveness between all the males of their village as they trained with the swords and grew stronger in their bodies while waiting for their initial transition from boy to Gargoyle. That competitiveness wasn’t lost on Banyan and Urijah, but Banyan felt somewhat protective of his best friend and often let Urijah win just so he could see Uri’s blue eyes sparkle. Whenever their fathers talked of them being brothers, something inside Banyan wanted to protest.

By the time their eighth year together passed, Banyan didn’t understand the conflicting feelings he had for Uri. Banyan transitioned first, and his father kept him secluded from the others until he had his beast under control. Those ten days were the worst of his life. Being kept apart from Urijah was worse than the phasing. Physical pain he could endure. It was the emotional torment he never wanted to face again. His beast raged inside, needing to get back to Urijah. While he was sequestered, Banyan wrote a letter to his friend, doing his best to explain what happened during the transition and how subsequent phasing was less painful. He also wrote of his growing feelings and the inexplicable pull to be near Urijah.

Banyan tucked the letter away when he found Urijah had also transitioned and wouldn’t need the pep talk Banyan had prepared. In hiding the letter, he also hid his feelings. That letter was the first of many he would write to Urijah that his best friend would never read.

Where Banyan had no brothers, Urijah had three who were older. He spent his life trying to emulate them, and when he was old enough, he courted females of their village looking for his mate. Banyan had no desire to find a female of his own. He never wanted to settle down and start a family if Urijah wasn’t a part of it. One night, when he and his father were alone, he asked Gautum if two males had ever mated.

“No, Banyan. Whatever is in your head, forget it. What you mustn’t forget is who you are. As the son of the King, it is your duty to find a female to mate with and carry on the Holgersen name.”

“Of course. You are right,” Banyan agreed aloud, but he couldn’t toss aside his feelings for his best friend so easily. He vowed to do his best to honor his father, but that was easier said than done. The longer he remained by Uri’s side, the more sullen he became, and the worse his beast tried to fight him. Eventually, the pain of watching his best friend look to others for nightly comfort became too much to bear, and Banyan decided it was best if he parted ways with Urijah.

After several months of traveling the country alone, Banyan found himself despondent. The separation from Urijah was worse than not having him as a mate, so he returned to Holmesvik and put on a false smile while his heart continued to shred.