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San Gabriel, California – Present Day
The university lecture hall was filled with a multitude of bright and eager faces, all looking toward the tall author who towered over almost everyone that he met. This specially scheduled session had already been moved into the largest auditorium, yet there were many leaning up against the back wall, everyone apparently ready to be enthralled by all things Viking.
“So, tell me, what is one thing that you know about Vikings?” The smooth baritone voice filled the room, as the author held himself with a perfect posture that could be attributed to his physical fitness, or some random genetic blessing. Either way, that may have helped to contribute to the overflowing room in which he sought to teach his lesson. “No need to raise your hand, you can call out your answer.”
“They’re from Norway.” Warm hazel eyes landed on the student who had been brave enough to speak. A soft smile graced his lips for just a moment before he kindly responded.
“Well, yes, some are. But not all. Can anyone tell me what other nations they herald from?” A sea of nervous glances was the only response. “Alright, let’s start at the beginning. The people that came to be known as Vikings were from several different nations. Some of which have significantly different borders than when the Vikings ruled the seas. The nations that are most closely associated with them are, of course, the current day Scandinavian countries of – Denmark, Norway, and Sweden. But due to their skill as accomplished sailors, their longboats took them as far west as Vinland, which is present day Newfoundland in Canada, as far south as Northern Africa and the Byzantine Empire, and far east into Russia. They had settlements and colonies in Iceland, Greenland, England, Ireland, Finland, Germany, and the Faroe Islands.”
The author paused as he took a quick sip of water, and then asked, “Can anyone tell me anything else that they know about the Vikings?”
“Um, wasn’t Odin the most powerful God in the Viking pantheon?” The timid voice was shaky at best, and Sam smiled warmly before he responded, not wanting to break the spirit of the shy inquisitor.
“Well, there is a complicated answer to that question. He is often heralded as Odin All Father, and he is generally credited with many amazing and inspired works. However, that is only because the true creator allowed it to be that way.” Sam watched as a multitude of students seemed to sit up straighter, either captivated by the knowledge he was about to impart or wanting to get a better look at the body that had just been exposed as he had taken off his suit jacket.
“According to the lore, Buri was the actual creator, well, of the entire world and all of its inhabitants. And his creation story, to put it mildly, it’s quite extraordinary on its own…”
*****
The Vast Void – Eons Past
Audumbla was the ancient primordial cow, who wandered the realms in search of green pastures, and of course, a good salt lick. One day in her wanderings, she approached the coastal cliffs of Niflheim that had a tempting accumulation of salty sea brine. For three days and nights, she stood there and feasted on the salty treat. As the sun set upon each day, a little more of a body was revealed. By the end of the third night, Audumbla let out a low lulling cry, and Buri rose to his feet. Audumbla wandered away then, and Buri would never see her again, but to this day it is said that she may be found grazing in the greenest of meadows and the saltiest of lands.
Buri wandered the land upon which he had been awakened, finding that it was devoid of all forms of life, including both gods and mortals. After many years, he determined that he should fill this barren land, and as such he began to create. First came his son, Borr, who simply appeared one morning, fully grown. Buri tried to teach him, to guide him, but Borr had little patience for his father’s lessons. As such, he wandered too far off lands, only to return with his new wife, Bestla in tow. The most remarkable note about her was that she was a giantess from Jotun and a direct descendant of Ymir. Borr and Bestla had three children, Vili, Ve, and Odin. The brothers would fight together and slay Ymir, using his corpse to form Midgard, which would come to be known as Earth.
Buri found this land to be far more hospitable than the barren wasteland that he had spent the majority of his time in and determined that he needed to fill it with every kind of creation. For many centuries, he spent his days crafting every form of animal and fauna, taking the fertile land, and populating it with a glorious variety of fascinating creatures. But it was simply not meant to be. Sooner than Buri would have cared for it to come to pass, his grandson Odin assumed the throne. His decrees were meant to be obeyed with unquestioning and blind loyalty. As with all forms of extremism, war soon broke out amongst the cosmos, and in short order it spilled over to Midgard.
Buri retreated then, hiding himself away. Having never really adapted to living with others, he was more content to create and see them flourish, as opposed to interacting with them. He hid himself away, camouflaged his powers, and remained alone. Speaking to no one, he was simply wandering through his beautiful little corner of Midgard, uncaring of the mocking moniker that his grandson had bestowed upon him, Buri, The Hermit God.
And it might have remained that way, except for one extraordinarily magnificent Viking warrior, one bad map, and one very determined and exceptionally tricky, great-grandson.
*****
Off the Coast of Vinland, 859 A.D.
Sam stood tall, hands braced on his hips, as he shifted with the gentle rocking sway of the flat-bottomed longboat beneath his feet. He looked up at the stars again, before returning his attention back to his map. It was then that a frown marred his normally smiling visage. Sam knew that something was wrong, but for the life of him, he could not say what it was. He and his men had been sailing for a month already, and they most certainly should have come across their intended destination by now. Yet, the land that had been described to Sam by the traveling minstrel, as they had sat around the table in his father’s longhouse enjoying the evening meal, was failing to appear.
Sam looked at the map once more, feeling thoroughly discouraged. Now that night had fallen, the sun-compass that they used to navigate was useless. But Sam was quite adept at reading the stars, and on a cloudless night such as this one, he should easily be able to maintain a general heading based off of his position relative to the North Star. The most frustrating aspect of this situation was that Sam was quite certain that they were indeed still on the correct path, yet the land they sought remained as elusive as ever. This left him with one of two options: carry on, hoping that they would find the land that they were seeking eventually, or turn back and return home. They had brought along enough supplies to feed the men manning the longboat for three months, and as they were only four weeks into this journey, they could still sail on for another two weeks before the situation became dire enough to force his hand.
The low, lulling murmur reached Sam’s ears then, and he cocked his head to the side, listening intently for a few minutes, before the wide dimpled smile finally broke free and would let anyone who happened to be watching him know, that he finally had the confirmation that he had been seeking. Land was near. Enough land that a colony of Atlantic Puffins could be heard as they settled down and rested for the night, the little black and white birds tended to nest near the shoreline, and that was cause for concern as that also meant that the land Sam sought might be too close, especially in the dark.
“Light the torches! Deploy the oars!” His orders rang out across the still night air, and within moments they were being obeyed. But it was still too late. The longboat jolted as the first rocks began to scrape the wooden hull, and then the alarm was sounded as the sound of creaking timbers gave way to rushing water. The torches were flaring to life then, the wool-wrapping having been dipped in the tar-like pitch, before the sparks from the struck together flint caught the highly flammable material and brought light to the all-encompassing darkness of a moonless night.
The shadow of the shoreline rose up sharply in front of the run aground longboat, and Sam ordered that the main sail be lowered and secured. Cedric leapt from the boat, and landed in the waist deep water, and soon all of his fellow mates had disembarked and were helping to heave the boat higher, while they continued to propel it forward, looking for a break in the rocks, so that they might land it upon the shore. The oars were placed on the ground, one in front of the other, as the long boat was eased from the water, rolling along the makeshift dock.
“Cedric, Harald. Scout the area.” Sam watched as his warriors faded into the inky blackness, blades at the ready, eyes adjusting so that they could complete their task without the benefit of a torch. Sam turned his attention to his longboat then, knowing that its repair was of paramount importance. He found Leif, with his torch held high, examining the hole. Sam waited just a moment, before Leif spoke, “We will need to replace several planks, but she should be seaworthy within a few days.”
“Thank the Gods!” Sam breathed out the exclamation with a lighter heart, knowing that the damage had been incredibly minimal. The repairs to their only mode of transportation would be started immediately, lest they become marooned where they had landed. The main concern was whether or not there were any hostile natives who would attack them upon their discovery. If this was the land that the minstrel had spoken of, it could very well be devoid of a human presence, virgin land ripe for the taking. Sam smiled then, eager for the arrival of the dawn, so that he might be able to explore his current surroundings and learn all the secrets of what he had discovered.
*****
Gabriel rose from his bed as the dawn’s first light streamed through his shuttered windows. He could hear noises coming from the opposite end of his house, and knew that it could only be one individual, his great-grandson Loki. The only other being in all of creation that he could tolerate being near for any extended period of time. Loki was also the only other being that knew of Gabriel’s true identity, and his reasons for having sought anonymity in this far off and somewhat desolate corner of the world.
The stark physical beauty of the place was unmatched. The bounty of nature on display was incredible in its variety. And the absolute lack of human life was just the way that Gabriel preferred it to be. Ever since the day that Audumbla had freed him from the salty prison that Lucifer had trapped him within, Gabriel had lived a solitary life. At first, simply moving as far away from anything that could be tied back to his father’s creations, to escape his brother's notice, but then, once he had realized that his efforts had been proven to be entirely successful, Gabriel had indulged and given into his own creative urges.
Once Gabriel had started, he had found it difficult to stop, and what had begun on a lark, quickly gave way to the creation of an entire people. Complete with a pantheon of Gods for them to worship and seek guidance from. What Gabriel had not planned on was that some of his creations would be as powerful as they were, and that they would embrace the backstory he had hastily written for them so literally. Borr had been easy to distract, so that he didn’t question all that his father did. But when he finally returned, with children in tow, that was when Gabriel had fled. He had watched from the sidelines as Odin had joined with his brothers and slaughtered Ymir, their many times removed grandfather.
Gabriel had been unable to pass up the opportunity to populate this newly fertile land, and it was then that he had first been discovered by Loki, who had been currently disguised as a mare, as he wandered this land that Odin had supposedly created. Gabriel had tried to escape his notice, but Loki was possessed of gifts and talents that Gabriel had never intended for any of his descendants to have, and in very short order, he had been discovered.
Theirs had been an uneasy truce, Gabriel wishing to remain in hiding, Loki frequently needing a secret place to heal from the unanticipated consequences of his latest misadventure. But recently, Loki had been trying to get Gabriel back into the world, claiming that he could help Gabriel to become totally undetectable to those that he was secreting himself away from. Gabriel had simply smiled sadly, as he shook his head, trying to assure his progeny that it could never be that easy.
“Aw! Good morning! So good of you to finally rise.” The sarcastic tone filled Gabriel’s ears as soon as he sat up by the firepit that was located in the center of his home. He rubbed the remaining sleep from his honey-gold eyes, before he took one last hearty yawn, and turned to face his uninvited houseguest.
“If you find my hospitality to be less than welcoming, you know where the front door is. Nothing keeping you here other than your own sheer perversity.” Gabriel accepted the bowl of oatmeal, noted the near obscene amounts of honey that covered the dish. “And to what do I owe this treat?”, he asked as he dug in, savoring the amazing sweetness as he spooned the first bite into his mouth.
“Oh, nothing really. Just wanted to stop by, check in on you. Make sure you hadn’t expired of extreme old age in the night.” Gabriel shot Loki a withering glare that was lost as soon as the next spoonful of honey drenched oatmeal was placed in his mouth. There was something different about it, and Gabriel was having a hard time putting his finger on what it was.
“The honey comes from a far-off land that has these amazing flowers. The locals call them ‘poppies’ and they actually smoke them for the high it can give them. I’ve treated myself a few times, and I have to admit, it was one of your more brilliant creations.” Gabriel smiles to himself, as he thinks back on the day that he had stood in the first barren field, wanting to fill the space with something that was gorgeous to look at, but would also provide entertainment once ingested. He had never thought that they would end up smoking it, but then again, a limitless imagination had perhaps been the finest gift that he had ever given to all of creation. Some might call it free-will, but Gabriel knew better, so he let go, not wanting to draw any unnecessary attention to his meddling. Always so damn cautious when it came to the possibility that his actions might cause his original family to be able to find him.
“So, I’ll ask again, what brought you here? Because the whole just wanting to check up on me doesn’t pass the sniff test.” Gabriel watched as Loki tried not to look guilty as hell for a single moment, and then he was grinning. The broad mischievous smile that always spelled trouble for the recipient.
“Well, I may have orchestrated a surprise for you.” Gabriel stopped chewing, swallowed hard, raised a light-brown eyebrow, and waited. Loki squirmed for just a moment, before he responded in a rush, “Well, I came across a homestead on my travels, and there was one among them that I thought you would enjoy. And once I knew that his proclivities lined up with your own, well, I may have posed as a traveling minstrel, given them a map, helped to guide them here, and now they may have crashed into your rocky shoreline in the night.” Loki was staring intently at his own food by the time he had finished.
“The impenetrable shoreline, with so many sharp and jagged rocks, that all who dared to approach would be torn asunder. Is that the shoreline you’re speaking of?” Gabriel watched as Loki nodded at his angry words, “And how did they get past my defenses?”
“I may have breached your incredibly well thought out defenses in the night, removed a few rocks, added some of those puffins that you love so much, and guided the ship in, leaving it only somewhat damaged instead of utterly destroyed.” Gabriel is staring at Loki, his mouth hanging open. The violation that had been perpetrated upon him, by the one soul in all of creation that he had entrusted his secret with, Gabriel threw down his bowl, and got up to begin pacing furiously as he ran his fingers through his soft, light-brown hair.
“I can’t believe… I know what you are… but to have… done this… this… to me! The only one… who has ever… protected you… sheltered you… I just… I mean… how?” Gabriel felt the warm hand on his arm, turned to meet the dark brown eyes of his only confidant, saw the hurt and sorrow that lived within the unflinching gaze.
“I can’t stand to see you alone any longer. To remain isolated from all the magnificent creatures that you had a hand in creating. Please,” Loki fell to his knees as he continued, “please, just take a look. One look at the boy. If you don’t want him, I’ll return them all. Make them forget. And you can go back to your solitary existence.”
Gabriel turned away, knowing that Loki was sincere in his desire to help him meet anything that wasn’t simply yet another unique and interesting creature that was dreamt up in a fit of boredom. Someone that could fill in the aching hole that had been growing in Gabriel’s chest since some time before he had been trapped in the salty brine by his duplicitous brother. One of the very last betrayals that Lucifer was allowed to perpetuate upon the cosmos prior to being placed within his very own cage.
Gabriel resumed his pacing as he thought about the proposition that had been placed before him. How his life might change. Possibly for the better, but also potentially for the worse. The problem with becoming attached to any of his creations, or at this point, a creation that was several hundred generations removed from the original creation that helped to spawn its ancestors, was that they are temporary and impermanent. Fragile and too easily broken. Gabriel ran the risk of giving his heart over to a being that may only naturally live to be a hundred years old, and then what? After having spent almost no time together, after having fallen hopelessly in love with this transitory being, Gabriel would have to go back to being alone.
“Let me take care of that for you.” Loki’s words fell into Gabriel’s ear, and he turned to face his great-grandson. “I can weave a spell, it’s not immortality per se, but it will allow you to spend the rest of your natural life with him.” Gabriel closed his honey-gold eyes, breathed deep against the crushing weight that seemed to be expanding within his chest, and realized that Loki might have a point. That the eons of being divorced from all of his most precious creations hadn’t done him any favors, that he could truly benefit from rejoining this world, even if it was on a trial basis.
With a disgruntled sigh, and a snap of his fingers, Gabriel was quickly cleaned up and dressed in his finest furs and soft leather attire. “Just know, that even if this does work out, I might still wreak havoc upon you, maybe let Odin and Thor know where you are, because I deserve a good laugh every once in a while.” He watched as Loki grimaced at the mention of his brother, but then quickly seemed to move on, almost excited at the prospect of helping Gabriel rejoin the world.
“Come. We must hurry. The attack will begin soon!”
*****
Sam raised his mighty sword and blocked the powerful blow, the steel ringing out loud and clear in the still morning air. The band of marauders had appeared out of nowhere, seemingly having materialized out of thin air just a few hundred feet from where he and his men had camped after having been run aground the previous night. Given that Cedric and Harald had been quite certain in their conclusion that the nearby land was completely uninhabited, bearing no signs of life at all, Sam had to wonder at the appearance of a heavily armed group of men that seemed so intent on their total and utter destruction.
A few of his men had fallen already, and Sam was now facing multiple threats on all sides. With a cry that would have been worthy of the most righteous berserker, Sam let loose a fury that he generally kept tightly leashed, not knowing the display that he was unintentionally putting on. Unaware of the honey-gold eyes that watched him from the nearby tree line, just knowing that his very life depended on being able to defeat these mysteriously appearing warriors.
*****
Gabriel watched as the tall Viking shouted his warning cry to all those who threatened him. Gabriel was absolutely mesmerized as he saw the magnificently muscled form of the lean warrior fight back against the myriad of attackers.
“He is spectacular, isn’t he? Just a work of art given form. Don’t you think so?” Gabriel couldn’t find any motivation to glance away, even for just the slightest moment, as Loki’s question went unanswered. Gabriel drew in a harsh breath, as he watched all of that flawless golden skin flex over the bulging muscles that had clearly been earned through hard labor and diligent practice. His skill with a sword was unmatched, and Gabriel watched with wide eyes as one attacker after another fell beneath his superbly wielded weapon.
“Truly, he’s simply glorious. And just wait until you speak with him, he has a brilliant mind that is simply unmatched.” Gabriel couldn’t tear his eyes off of the young man, for even the moment that would be used to respond to Loki. He knew what Loki was doing, knew that it was truly coming from a place of love and genuine concern, but for all of that certainty, Gabriel was still scared. One of the reasons that he had isolated himself was because of those that he had deeply cared about, those that he had loved, well right up until the moment that one had betrayed him, and the others had never even bothered to look for him.
Gabriel was mesmerized by the Viking that fought before him. His intention was clearly only to defend, until his men had started to fall, and then he had started to slaughter all comers. But their deaths had been quick and assured. No one was lingering, no one would be tortured after. There was a way about him, a careful precision, and as Gabriel continued to stare at the stunning form that was on display, that wasn’t what was swaying him.
No, what was making Gabriel consider Loki’s offer was the gentle heart that beat within the wide chest. The spirit that saw to the care of others before he tended to his own needs, a deep and abiding love for all that he held dear, the ease with which he would share his knowledge and expertise, allowing all to benefit from his hard-earned gains.
Much as it pained Gabriel to admit it, Loki had been correct. This young man would be worth the potential pain, grief, and misery. Even if Loki was unable to carry through with his promised pseudo-immortality, to have eighty glorious years with this Viking warrior, well, it would be enough to last Gabriel the rest of his eon’s long life.
“Would you please stop reanimating those corpses and allow them to end the battle?” Loki grunted out an acknowledgement of Gabriel’s request and with a snap of his fingers, all of the marauders disappeared, right along with Cedric, Harald, Leif, and all of the men that had accompanied Sam on this journey. Gabriel watched as his Viking slowly turned in a circle, hazel eyes frantically searching for everything that had been there but moments before. Then Gabriel saw how Sam was clutching his head, and sinking down to his knees, and in the next instant, he fell to the sand. Totally oblivious to the world that continued to spin around him.
“You sent them back, right? I can assure him that his friends are safe and sound?” Loki only looked vaguely hurt at the implication before he nodded. “Alright, now leave us alone. I have to go and introduce myself.” With a snap of his fingers, Loki shimmered out of existence, no attempt whatsoever being made to wrangle the wide smile that played upon his lips. Gabriel sighed deeply, and then wondered how he should try to ease his Viking into his new and utterly unprecedented life.
*****
The tantalizing aroma tickled Sam’s nose, as he lay stretched out on the comfortable pallet, which rather shockingly was long enough to fit his massive frame. He opened his eyes slowly, trying to take in the unfamiliar surroundings, as the last memory that he was absolutely certain of involved a horde of marauders, a battle to save his men, and the hope that their boat might be repaired before another roving band of hostiles came upon them. His being was snuggled up under a luxuriously warm fur, while his stomach rumbled as if it were preparing to launch an attack of its own, had not been on the list of possible outcomes as he had swung his blade at his nearest attacker.
Sam listened intently, and once he was reasonably sure that he was presently alone, he sat up and began to absorb his current situation. The dwelling was large, impressively so as a matter of fact. The fire pit in the center was ringed with two layers of stones, and the cauldron that hung from the iron frame would hold enough food to feed a small army, or one rather large Viking for at least a day, possibly two. The timbers that supported the pitched roof were at least ten feet tall on the edge of the dwelling, and nearly twenty feet tall in the center. Sam observed a fair-sized pen for animals near the door, for the smaller livestock, such as goats and chickens, that needed to be tended frequently, especially during bad weather.
There was a large table that could easily hold a dozen men, flanked by four split log benches, two on each side of the wood-planked table. Along the far wall was a rack that was currently drying various meats, judging from the look of it, primarily deer. Further down the wall was a loom, a tapestry well on its way towards completion. Sam turned to look behind himself and caught sight of another wooden rack that was covered in drying clothes, belonging to someone that was much smaller than Sam, and a pile of furs that seemed to gleam in the late afternoon light that was slanting through the open doorway.
A throat was cleared delicately just then, and Sam looked back towards the doorway that had been empty but moments before. There stood a man. He was slight, and Sam guessed that it must be the current occupant of the dwelling as the clothes drying on the rack should fit him quite nicely; he had a headful of light sandy brown hair, soft features, a small frame, and the most unobtrusive presence that Sam had ever encountered. Having grown up amongst a people who were known for their feasting, drinking, brawling, and otherwise generally rambunctious behaviors that could easily last for days at a time, this was well outside any of Sam’s previous experiences.
“Who are you?” Sam watched as a shiver seemed to race down the spine of the diminutive man who stood there, somewhat frozen in place, as all of his senses absorbed the rich fullness of the powerful Viking that was staring at him so intently. Sam saw the hard swallow, heard the harshly drawn breath, and noted how the delicate fingers tightened around the frame of the opening. He took it all in as he wondered where this delicate being had come from, to have had the strength to have built this dwelling, the stamina to have gathered the necessary supplies, the skill to have stalked and killed a deer, the wisdom to have fashioned some means that allowed him to bring the carcass back to his home, so that he might be able to turn it into food to be eaten during the depths of the winter months.
Sam absorbed it all and then waited patiently, knowing that he was probably very intimidating, even only sitting up as he was, his size was hard to overlook. But then the man spoke, and Sam could only revel in the soft voice that washed over him. “I am the one who lives here.” Sam waited, but nothing else was forthcoming, and those honey-gold eyes were watching Sam with a weariness that was, truth be told, a bit disconcerting. Especially when Sam had done nothing purposeful to intimidate the little man. So, he decided to employ another method to coax out an answer.
“My name is Sam,” he said softly, as he raised a large hand and placed it against his broad chest. “I was sailing for a distant land, when our longboat ran aground.” He paused to smile then, the warm one that was utterly charming and deployed his dimples to devastating effect. “We were on the beach when we were attacked. Do you know what happened to my men?” Sam saw his eyes narrow, then he seemed to gather himself before he spoke in that softly gentle tone once more.
“My name is Gabriel. I have lived here many years, but the marauders that attacked you and your men were not real. It was an illusion conjured by Loki. He is the one who brought you here, after he posed as a minstrel and gave you the map, made sure that you would wreck on the rocky beach.” Gabriel stopped talking as Sam stood, intently looking into each and every corner of the dwelling, seeking to find the Trickster God that had sent him out into the wilderness. But he stopped and turned back as the gentle words washed over him. “He isn’t here any longer. He sent your men home, said that he would make them forget you, so that they wouldn’t search for you. That you were to live out your days here, with me, as a boon for all of your years of service.”
“What actions have I taken in service of Loki? Certainly, none that I am aware of.” The heartfelt protest filled the room, and Sam watched as Gabriel shrank back once more, but as Sam gave him a more thorough inspection, he had to wonder what the exact cause of Gabriel’s apparent fear was. Because as Sam focused on the delicate being, who clung to the doorframe as if his very life depended upon it, the driving emotion didn’t truly appear to be fear or fright. It was more a sense of desperation, as if something that had been long kept had been taken away, or possibly, something that had been long sought had finally been found.
*****
Gabriel braced himself once more, as he took in the Viking warrior that had been deposited into his suddenly enlarged bed. A magnificent specimen of corded muscle, sheer brawn, long limbs wrapped up in the most incredible sun-kissed skin, the softest looking chestnut brown hair that fell well past his broad shoulders, and a face that was conveying all of the warmest emotions. The beautiful kaleidoscope eyes that were so focused on Gabriel, letting him know that he had been found to be entirely pleasing to the massive giant that now lounged in his home, the full lips that were curving into a warm smile as they sought to ease the worry and tension that Gabriel was so obviously telegraphing to the world.
But Gabriel couldn’t help it. He had been alone for eons with only sporadic visits from his great-grandson Loki to keep him company. He had settled himself in Vinland while the glaciers had still been retreating from the last ice age, knowing that it was far enough removed from his progeny that he wouldn’t need to be overly concerned with being discovered. But this was different. Gabriel had promised Loki, told him that he would give this Viking a chance, and now…
Well, now the only thought that was roiling around in his frazzled mind was how quickly he could persuade this incredible being that he would indeed be happy with Gabriel for the rest of his days. That he needed to forget about his family and simply embrace a new life here, with one who was perfectly capable of simply willing it into existence. That with a quick snap of his fingers, he could make it Sam’s one true heartfelt desire that would override any other motivation, any other thought that might tumble through his pretty little head, any other deep and driving belief that could help to take him away from the one being in all of the universe who found that he was simply tired of being alone.
But not so tired that he was willing to rejoin the society that he had spent the better part of forever avoiding, like the many plagues that his brothers so enjoyed inflicting upon the inhabitants of this precious little world. Which was a whole other kettle of fish. Who would have thought that a damn primordial cow would find and free Gabriel from his prison? That he would then go on to anonymously create so many incredibly vibrant and majestic creatures? And that one of those creations, would help to craft a people that would one day produce a being of such joyous integrity, with a burning desire to aid all those he happened upon, to simply strive to selflessly make this world a better place for the enjoyment of all who inhabited it?
The odds were simply staggering, but then again, if anyone knew how many games could be played to twist fate and destiny to deliver that which was desired above all else, it was Gabriel. With a sincere smile playing about his soft lips, he advanced into his dwelling, approaching the Viking who towered over him. Who, if Gabriel were actually as he appeared to be, could break him in half with very little effort on his part. The words of invitation that fell from his lips were gentle, as he motioned with a slender arm for Sam to join him at the table, as he then ladled up two bowls full of the savory stew that Loki had prepared for them just that morning.
Gabriel noted how Sam’s eyes followed him, not with suspicion, but rather with curiosity. One who was a true believer in the Gods that he worshipped and would simply accept the fact that one of his deities had taken a personal interest in him, and that even though he was widely heralded for his general mischievousness, when he made a sincere promise, it was kept. This was new for Gabriel, and as such, he had to pause for a moment and try to determine if Loki hadn’t simply conjured Sam in an instant of frustrated ambivalence. That the Trickster God hadn’t been overwhelmed by the weight of his many misbehaviors and was trying to make amends as best as he knew how. But as Gabriel carefully examined the Viking that sat so patiently in his dwelling, it became clear that he was the genuine article. No illusions, no shadow games, no petty trick that was being played on another.
Just an incredible being who loved with all of his extraordinary heart, who worshipped that which he believed in freely, and who simply cared about his fellow man.
Gabriel placed the large bowl in front of Sam, with the spoon sticking out over the edge near his hand. He watched as thick fingers grasped the handle carefully, before he stirred the stew, closed his eyes and inhaled deeply as the smell wafted over him. With a quick glance towards his host, Sam scooped up a spoonful and raised it above his bowl, patiently waiting for Gabriel to match his actions. A little nagging thought began to scratch around in the back of Gabriel’s mind, but he dismissed it, as he quickly mirrored Sam’s actions. They both took in the first bite of the stew and matching groans were the only response that they could impart, not knowing that the final part of Loki’s plan had just been put into place. How they were now linked, how they would never again be able to live without the other, and how they would come to know a love that would surpass even the wildest imaginings of a God whose entire reputation was built upon his ability to think up new, interesting, and creative endings for all those that he felt the need to deal with.
*****
The rest of the day had flown by, at least as far as Sam was concerned. Gabriel had shown him his entire island, one that was just off the coast of Vinland, that until recently had had a completely impenetrable rocky shoreline, but one that was also blessed with a spring that supplied all the freshwater that they could ever need. The woods on the island were thick, and hosted an entire array of wild beasts, from deer and antelope to beavers and badgers, rabbits and foxes and so many more that Sam had never laid his well-traveled eyes upon. The uniqueness of some of the creatures was startling, but Gabriel assured him that they would do him no harm. Especially the platypus, a strange creature that seemed to be made entirely from spare parts that had been left lying around at the end of the day.
But now, Gabriel was holding Sam’s large hand within his own much daintier one, as he held the flaming torch aloft in his other hand, while he guided Sam towards the entrance of a well-hidden cave that was but a few dozen feet from his dwelling. Sam could feel the humid air bellowing up from the hole, hoping that his sneaking suspicion would be proven to be correct. “Careful, the steps can get slippery.” Gabriel’s warning floated back to Sam as they descended the path into the underground chamber that opened up to reveal the hot springs hidden within. As Gabriel lit several torches that were hanging from hooks embedded in the wall, Sam took in the carved ledge that ran around the outside perimeter as he set down the finely woven wool towels that Gabriel had given him to carry down. Sam saw Gabriel hesitate then, as if he were uncertain as to what came next, so Sam turned his back on the gracefully delicate man he was now going to be sharing so much of his life with and began to peel out of his clothes.
The laces that secured his tunic slid free easily, the leather that had been used to craft them had been carefully treated until it was butter soft. Sam eased it over his head and folded it before placing it on the bench, and then he sat and worked on removing his leather boots. These were made of much sturdier leather than his tunic, but the quality still shone through easily as he wiggled them back and forth on his large feet until they finally slid free. Sam stood as his fingers fell to the laces that secured his breeches, that hung low on his narrow hips, and had begun unlacing them when he heard the sharply drawn breath, looking up quickly to see what had caused it, only to find a pair of honey-gold eyes that were watching every single movement of Sam’s thick fingers as though his very life depended upon it. Sam stared boldly at Gabriel, as his fingers slid into the waist of his pants, before he began to shimmy out of the soft leather. Watched as Gabriel’s eyes widened, as his breathing grew shallower, as his own fingers stilled, and as his soft pink tongue flicked out to wet his dry lips.
Sam knew the picture that he would present, knew from all the comments that he had heard growing up that he was of a size and shape that was not often found on other men, knew from the single minded focus that was being given to him that Gabriel was like Sam, in that the soft female form didn’t hold the necessary appeal for him, in that the body he craved wasn’t what was generally socially acceptable. But it was complicated, and greatly depended on the views of the local chieftain as to what was allowable, and that which would end with banishment upon discovery. Sam had always been careful, saving when he would indulge in his desires for when he was far from home, with a partner in a land that found it to be as natural as breathing.
Judging by the expression on Gabriel’s face, he was in no way, shape, or form opposed to that which Sam found to be his preferred method of whiling away the hours in the arms of someone that he felt an urgent connection to. The slow smile that spread across the pouty lips indicated that Gabriel was more than satisfied by what Sam had to offer, and that he would be more than happy to help Sam get closer to him in every meaningful way.
But now Sam waited, as he stood there loose limbed, letting Gabriel look his fill at the body that had been refined in combat and countless hours spent exercising with his men, practicing so that they would be victorious as they charged into battle once more. Sam watched as Gabriel seemed to realize that he was being waited on, that nothing further was going to happen until he slid off the remainder of his attire. The blush that crept up his cheeks was entirely too adorable, and Sam wanted to say something, but he refrained, not wishing to cause the delicate being any discomfort.
Then it was Sam’s turn to look his fill, to find absolutely nothing lacking in the form and figure that was revealed to him. While he may be delicate, he was also lightly muscled in a way that left Sam reveling in the fact that he would not need to contain his strength for fear of hurting his partner. His shoulders were narrower than Sam’s, but really, whose weren’t? His slim chest tapered down to a narrow waist and hips, but as he turned, Sam drew in a sharp gasp as he took in the delectable swell of an entirely amazing ass. Set high, and with barely any jiggle, indicating a firmness that Sam would be able to grasp as he drove into Gabriel, hopefully for hours on end. Sam was smiling as Gabriel turned back to him, and immediately went scarlet as his blush completely engulfed him.
“Come here, little one. Let me get a better look at you.” Sam watched as the full body shivers coursed up and down the gracefully curving back, as his arms couldn’t seem to decide what they should do with themselves. Whether they should shield him, or hang loose at his side like Sam’s were, not feeling the need to obscure the view in even the slightest. When Gabriel had stopped in front of Sam, standing with his head turned to the side, Sam reached out and gently grasped the slightly trembling chin with his warm fingers, turning and raising his head until warm hazel eyes could meet honey-gold orbs, then he smiled gently as he spoke, “You have no need to feel shame or distress. You are a wondrous sight to look upon and I am an incredibly lucky man to have been granted such a stunning gift.”
Sam gathered Gabriel closer then, picked him up with his powerful arms, not stopping until their eyes could meet, felt the slender arms wrap around his long neck, took in the trembling sigh that escaped past the slightly parted lips, and then he asked, because he needed to know. “Have you, um, done this before?” The flaming blush was all the answer that Sam was going to receive, “Good.” Sam purred, “Now you’ll only know the purest pleasure as I make you mine.”
*****
Gabriel could hardly breathe properly anymore, as he was held tight against the spectacular body that was his new soon-to-be Viking lover. Gabriel may have been playing up his lack of experience, after all he had created an entire Pantheon of Gods, the fact that it had been done asexually did seem to be a vaguely important detail just now, but it’s not like he had never witnessed the many acts of coitus that had been perpetuated by his creations before he had sealed himself away on this lonely little island. So, as he had been engulfed in arms that boasted bulging biceps that would be able to break him in half if he was actually as weak as his form suggested, he drew in a shaky breath, and hoped that he hadn’t made the singularly most regrettable mistake of his entire eon’s old existence.
It seemed as if Sam’s glorious gaze was looking directly into Gabriel’s soul, as he held him so securely, as if he were seeking all the answers to all the greatest mysteries of the cosmos. Gabriel had to wonder what Sam would say when he told him that his new lover was actually in possession of all of the answers that were darting about in that wildly curious mind of his. But then Sam was leaning in, and his full lips were pressing so gently to Gabriel’s own, that he just stopped thinking for a while, just let himself feel all the new sensations that had never been his to remember. As Sam walked them to the edge of the hot spring and gently lowered them in, all the while his sleek tongue was still gently plundering Gabriel’s mouth, seeking every hidden depth that he could find.
Gabriel found himself straddling two very well-muscled thighs as the water lapped up to just below Sam’s amazing pecs, and still he would not surrender the mouth that he was exploring so thoroughly. But now his massive hands were beginning to glide up and down Gabriel’s back, tenderly mapping out every curve and valley, each swell and dip, until they sank well below the line of the water. The thick fingers that began to knead the firm flesh that he found, massaging the gentle swells, caressing each cheek as his fingers began to seek out the hidden opening, the soft pink pucker that would need to be thoroughly prepared if Gabriel was going to enjoy anything that was going to come after. Gabriel hesitated for just a moment, as he decided that he wouldn’t lend any kind of a magical assist, just trusting that Sam would make sure that Gabriel was ready before he speared him open on the supremely magnificent cock that was getting harder and larger with each passing moment.
Just then Gabriel felt it, the first tentative swirl, as a large fingertip barely pressed in, before pulling back and caressing the soft pucker once more. Over and over, Sam’s fingers would advance and retreat, until finally one breached Gabriel, sliding into the relaxed opening to the first knuckle. As Gabriel stiffened, he heard the soft assurances, being whispered in that glorious baritone so near to his ear, promising that Sam would never hurt him, that he would make sure that Gabriel felt nothing but the most toe-curling pleasure. His delicate hands cupped the chiseled jaw of his Viking, as his honey-gold eyes searched for a moment, gazed into the hazel depths that met and held his gaze with such care and concern being communicated to him, and then Gabriel’s eyelids fluttered shut as Sam’s thick fingers sunk in even deeper. Helping to prepare him so that when they finally came together, he would know only bliss.
Full lips found his own once more as Sam’s fingers began to pump in and out, so very carefully. The heat from the hot springs was proving to be incredibly beneficial at this moment, helping to ease tight muscles, as another finger was added. But then Gabriel lost track of all of that, as he wound his fingers through the chestnut brown hair that crowned his Viking’s head, his nails scratching softly as his mouth was plundered once more. Gabriel was beginning to move about now, no longer able to hold still, as the tendrils of heated sensation began to unfurl from the base of his spine, helping to drive him higher, and then one massive hand moved, and Gabriel discovered that Sam’s hand was truly a most talented creation. As the long fingers curled around his throbbing cock, as they smoothly stroked once, twice, three times, and then, it all went white for a moment, as his release was ripped from him, as his lithe body writhed, as his muscles clenched, and as he clung to his lover, surrendering himself completely in that moment.
Sam’s arms moved then, pulling Gabriel close, before large hands on his hips helped to raise him up, and then, oh dear sweet merciful… The head of Sam’s rock-hard cock was beginning to press into Gabriel’s clenching channel, easing in so slowly, barely more than a half-inch at a time, until after an exquisitely agonizing amount of time, Gabriel was finally fully seated. He was barely able to breathe as he was filled as full as he could ever hope to be, wondering if he would ever be able to walk again without a slight limp or hitch in his step. But then the gently whispered words began to penetrate his racing mind. Soft and soothing, as they offered comfort and reassurance, as they told Gabriel how incredible he felt, as they assured him that Sam had never been held so tight, that if he lived for another million years, he could never hope to find anyone as truly spectacular as Gabriel.
More achingly tender kisses were freely exchanged, as Sam clutched Gabriel tight in a gentle embrace, as he held him so very carefully, offering the protection that Gabriel didn’t need, but that made him melt just a little at the thought of Sam being so willing to offer it anyway. Eventually Gabriel moved his hips, to try to see what would come next, he heard the groan, felt the powerful body below him clench, and then hands were on his hips, and Sam’s beautiful hazel eyes stared directly into his lover’s honey-gold orbs, unblinking, simply taking in all that Gabriel had to offer in the moment. With a soft sigh, Gabriel leaned in and offered more kisses, thinking that he might never be able to get enough of them. He could feel the long fingers curl around his hips, and then he was being moved, so slowly at first, and he was honestly glad that Sam was being so considerate. Allowing him to adjust, to feel, to learn all that he had never known before this moment.
But he soon began to crave more than just the soft tenderness and gentleness that Sam was giving him, and with another careful roll of his hips, just as Sam was pressing in as deep as he could go, the sharply drawn breath, along with the bitten off curse, let Gabriel know that he was onto something.
“Please, make me yours. Please.”
*****
Sam heard the gentle plea, knew that he couldn’t deny it, even if his very life depended upon it. He looked at the delicate being that he held so close, knew that he would never be complete ever again without him, and then began to give him everything that he had so politely asked for. Sam shifted on the bench, drawing his lover in closer, heard the broken sigh, knew he was hitting that magical spot that was buried deep inside, and began to eagerly thrust up into the amazingly exquisite velvet crush that was surrounding him so perfectly. That seemed as if it had been made just for him and no other. Sam felt the hot breath on the side of his neck, as Gabriel gave a shaky exhale every single time their hips would come together, as he mumbled out fervent words every single time that Sam was buried as deep as he could possibly go, as he clung to his Viking lover with a ferocity that Sam wouldn’t have believed he was capable of.
But Sam was beginning to feel something tighten in his chest, beyond his rapidly pounding heart, aside from his deeply gasping breaths, there was a pull, like a tether that was being strung, helping to ensure that Sam would always, always, be able to find Gabriel. That no matter where he was, or how many miles separated them, he would be drawn to him like a moth to an open flame. And nothing would ever be able to keep them apart.
Gabriel’s fingers were clenching in Sam’s long hair, as Gabriel was crying out, having gone rigid once more, as yet another release was ripped from his delicate body. Sam felt the fluttering clench go even tighter for a moment, and then he threw back his head and shivered through his own climax. Feeling each silken pulse as it shot deep into the graceful figure that clung to him so desperately. Sam’s arms came up and out of the water, wrapping around his new lover, holding him with such care and tender devotion. Knowing that even if this was not how he had ever thought that he would encounter his destined love, he couldn’t have been happier over the events that had occurred to make it come to pass. That even if he had to do it all over again, he would make the same choices so that he would always end up here, holding the amazing man that he hadn’t even known that he had been searching for.
“I love you. So much.” A soft kiss to the side of Gabriel’s neck accompanied his gentle declaration.
Dazed honey-gold eyes raised up, before a soft smile played across ravaged lips, “Yeah, I love you too, darlin’.”
They had stayed in the hot springs until they had remembered how to walk, and then Sam had eased out of his lover, carefully washing them both, before he stood tall and guided them from the water. The towels had been softer than any that Sam had ever used before, and he marveled at the skill it must have taken to create them. Gabriel had simply demurred, said it was nothing special, but Sam wasn’t about to let that stand. “No, it is an impressive feat. Just because it wasn’t accomplished in the heat of battle, that doesn’t mean it is any less grand.” Gabriel had curled into his side, arm wrapping around Sam’s narrow waist, before they made their way back to his dwelling.
They both ate more of the tantalizingly superb stew, neither knowing that it would only taste good to them, that anyone else that wandered near would wonder at the horrific stench that was emanating from the cauldron in which it slowly bubbled. They retired for the evening, still gloriously naked, covered in one of the many sinfully soft furs that Gabriel had crafted, and before too long, Sam was once again making love to his other half. Cherishing the delicate body that he found in his charge. Adoring the precious being that was just as in love with him as he was with Gabriel. Tenderly worshipping at the altar of Freyja, willing to offer her anything so that he might be able to carry on with this perfect life. From now until the day he died.
Whispering words of heartfelt devotion as they gathered each other close. Knowing that he was now complete in a way that he had never thought he would ever be.
*****
The days passed quickly, as they are wont to do, especially when those that were living through them wished that they would linger. But with each passing day, their bond grew ever stronger. Gabriel refrained from disclosing to much of his actual identity and background, simply saying how he had sheltered Loki from time to time, when the Trickster had incurred the vengeful wrath of Odin and Thor, thus leading to the God feeling the need to repay the debt that he felt he had accrued. Sam had stopped trying to figure out what service he had done for Loki, it just seemed to slip his mind from one day to the next, and then it simply vanished altogether.
Before they knew it, Sam was a moderately old man, having attained the esteemed old age of sixty years. They were no longer as physical as they once were, but they always held each other close, as they snuggled together at night. But this night was different, Gabriel wasn’t quite certain how he knew, but he just did. He held Sam tight that night, not knowing what the dawn would bring, but just knowing that it would be terrible.
*****
Vinland – 894 A.D.
The wooden bench had been thrown across the length of the island, and it still exploded from the force of landing on the rocky shore. Their beloved dwelling was in pieces that were no bigger than a small child, and most everything else that had ever stood on the island that had been their home was a smote ruin. Gabriel could feel the change in the air, as Loki materialized but a few feet away from his distraught form, but the Trickster had been anticipating the nature of this visit, and so not one, but three hundred Loki’s appeared at once. Gabriel couldn’t focus long enough to begin to figure out who the proper one was, so he simply screamed to the assembled masses, “Where is he? What did you do with him?”
They all spoke as one when they responded, “This was the end of his natural life. He was given a proper burial.”
“NO! You said you would make him immortal! You promised…” Gabriel collapsed as the words could no longer make it past the lump in his throat, as he could no longer bear to consider what his life had become. That he was broken, after having fallen in love with a mortal. A being who was eon’s old, had become enamored with a being that lived for no more than the blink of an eye in cosmic time.
“Pseudo-immortal, I believe is what I said.” All of the Loki’s flinched at the roaring scream that erupted from Gabriel’s ravaged throat. “Calm down, lest you draw the attention of those that you wish to remain hidden from.”
Gabriel paused for just a moment, recognizing the wisdom in his great-grandson’s words, but also knowing that if he could no longer have Sam by his side, he would gladly allow his original family to find him so that they might put him out of his misery. Yet before he could say anything as foolish as that, he felt a warm hand on his shoulder, and turned to see the warm brown eyes looking into his own, a deep sorrow resting there. “Sam is alive, but I also knew that you would stay here forever, that you would never leave this island. So, I sent him away. He woke up young and lacking all memories of his previous life with you. But he will know you when you find him. You are bonded, and if you concentrate, you will be able to find him.” Gabriel could only stare back, mouth agape, as he pondered this turn of events. “And before you ask why, it was because this world needs you. And you need this world. In order to live a life worth living, you have to be out in it. You will find Sam, and then you will live a life, and then he will vanish again, and you will find him again…”
Gabriel turned away, clutching himself tight, arms wrapped around his narrow waist as he began to sob. Knowing that Loki was probably right, about all of it. But now was not the time for him to be able to recognize the wisdom inherent in the well thought out plan. No, now was the time for a burst of emotion, a palate cleanser if you will, and Loki was just the kind of perfect target that Gabriel was willing to sacrifice on the altar of his emotional grief. With a snap of his fingers, his great-grandson was no more, but he would rematerialize soon, hogtied and at the feet of Thor. Not that Gabriel knew that there was a current rift between the brothers, but the odds were ever in his favor.
With a deep calming breath, Gabriel focused and sent out a pulse, searching for his missing half. And like a beacon in the night, he could feel the pull, helping to direct him back to that which he needed to find. It took longer than he would have liked, but he repaired the island, gathered all that he would need for his journey, and ensconced himself into the boat that had originally brought Sam to his very doorstep. The travel was slow, so tediously slow, but after a little over seven months Gabriel sighted the coast of the island off in the distance. It was just under fifty square miles of tropical jungles, on what would one day be called Rodrigues, that was one of three islands that made up the Mascarene Island Archipelago, deep in the middle of the Indian Ocean; but to Gabriel, it was going to be his new home for the foreseeable future. Just as long as Sam was there to live with him on it.
Gabriel drug the longboat up and out of the water, and then set out, searching high and low for his lost love. Knowing that he was nearby, just not knowing where. The pull was almost more than he could bear, and after just a few short hours, Gabriel jogged over a hill and saw the small home in the clearing before him.
It was perhaps because he was simply too overjoyed at the prospect of being reunited with his Sam, or maybe because he was becoming less afraid of discovery, but with a warm smirk firmly fixed on his full lips, he laid down a blessing on the land on which he currently stood. And to this very day, the valley and region is known as Petit Gabriel, although when the Portuguese explorers were asked why they had named it that, they had been at a loss, simply stating that it was something that they felt compelled to do upon discovering it many years later in 1528.
The tall figure appeared in the doorway, wearing little more than a loincloth given how hot the mid-summer day was, but Gabriel would have recognized him anywhere. With a joyous cry they were running towards each other and then Gabriel was being snatched up and held tight against his Sam once more. The Sam that he had first met, who was all powerfully muscled grace and sinewed strength. The Sam who no longer had any gray hairs on his head, the Sam who was young, energetic, and took no small amount of pride in his ability to make Gabriel come screaming at every given opportunity that presented itself. They fell to the ground, wrapped around the other, unable to keep their hands from exploring what both had missed so terribly for the previous seven months.
Sam took Gabriel, right there in the grass that led to what would become their home, and Gabriel was so overjoyed at finally being back with his Sam, that he couldn’t even be bothered to come up with a complaint to voice in that moment. Just took it all in, held on tight as the magnificent Viking that he had fallen in love with worshipped every single inch of him. After, as they lay in each other’s arms, wanting to never let the other go for fear that they would never find them again, Sam’s smooth baritone rolled over him, and asked the inevitable question. The query that Gabriel still hadn’t thought up a proper answer to. “What happened? I went to sleep in our bed, and then I woke up here. Naked and alone.”
Confessions. What a way to start their reunion.
“So, first things first. Loki may have had a trick or two up his sleeve when he introduced us.” Gabriel’s honey-gold eyes met the kaleidoscope hazel eyes that had never failed to fascinate him in all the years that they had been together. Saw that Sam was attentively waiting for more information, so that he could process, and use his amazing intellect to potentially puzzle his way out of this conundrum. “We will be together forever, but when you reach the end of your natural life, you are taken away, and left somewhere that I need to find you. But you will be young and renewed, and you will simply need to wait where you are until I can reunite with you.”
Sam looked up at the leaves in the trees that were swaying gently in the breeze for a few minutes, as Gabriel gnawed on his lower lip. He knew what this meant, he had learned the hard way years and years ago already, Sam had an understanding of so much more than his mortal body should ever be able to grasp onto. “So, who are you really? That Loki would do this for you?”
The question was not cold, his tone didn’t hold any hostility, but Sam was obviously onto something, and like a dog with a bone, he wasn’t going to give it up until he was satisfied. “I am Gabriel. I am.” Gabriel had propped up on his elbow as he spoke, looking down into the face of his greatest love, “But I am also more. And I created much of what you knew and were taught as a child growing up on your farm near the fjord.” Gabriel watched and it took but moments for the light of understanding to register in Sam’s eyes. As it all became clear.
“Well, you can’t be Odin, because as much as everyone likes to attribute all of creation to him, he simply took credit for others’ hard work. And if Loki owes you a debt, you must have sheltered him, when he angered one of the multitudes of other Gods, and the only God powerful enough to do that, would have to be… Buri.” Sam’s wide smile was near blinding, as he took in the look of pure, unadulterated dumbfoundedness that was emblazoned across Gabriel’s face, that he had figured out the correct answer.
“Just… how… I mean… really?” Gabriel could hardly believe that Sam had figured something out that had remained a mystery to the rest of the universe, but then, he really could believe it. His Sam was no dummy, which brought Gabriel no small measure of pride. Loki had been absolutely correct when he had surmised that his great-grandfather would want someone with a mind, as well as a killer body, when he had arranged their introduction. If his misbegotten offspring were still alive, he was going to have to rescue him from his brother. Well, at some point, no real rush.
“I guess the next logical question is who’s Gabriel?” His honey-gold eyes rolled over and met the smirking visage of his one true love and knew there was going to be no getting out of this one. Well, almost no way. Gabriel wriggled his way down Sam’s long body, and was just about to latch his hot, wet mouth onto his favorite appendage, when strong hands caught him and hauled him back up. “I’ll let it go for now. But one day, you’ll tell me. Agreed?” Gabriel could only nod, and then he found himself rolled, and Sam was showing him just how talented his tongue could be.
*****
Their days were filled with sun, picnics, long leisurely swims, Gabriel getting an irresistible eyeful as Sam climbed the palm trees for coconuts, and Gabriel indulging and creating a few animals. Sam had laughed when he had first spotted the dodo, but Gabriel had vigorously defended his creation, asserting that even the oddball creatures had a place in this world. His beloved platypus had made the trek as well, and soon there was a successful colony on the little island. But as before, the years passed, their love grew, and now that they both knew what was coming, they clung desperately tight to each other every single night, until the night that Sam simply began to fade away. Leaving Gabriel bereft, a sobbing wreck as he screamed his anguish into the unforgiving dawn.
Loki was smart enough to not reappear while his great-grandfather impotently raged, and Gabriel set out in the morning, headed towards he knew not where, only knowing that he would not stop until his love was once more held close, as he wrapped his arms around the single most important being in all of creation.
*****
The cycle repeated, endlessly, from the time that Gabriel had met Sam in 859 A.D. through all of the turmoil of the Normandy invasion, the demise of most of the Viking empires, the multiple Crusades, the general misadventures of Marco Polo, the reign of Genghis Khan, the Bubonic Plague sweeping across Europe killing millions, the discovery of the Americas by Christopher Columbus (a little late, but who’s counting), the colonization of the Western Hemisphere by the Spanish Conquistadors, Johann Gutenberg using a printing press to help mass-produce the bible, Martin Luther nailing his proclamation to the door of a church in Wittenberg and starting the Protestant Reformation, the English Renaissance being overseen by Queen Elizabeth, Shakespeare putting pen to paper and changing the world, and a feisty little nation gained its first colony in Jamestown, Virginia.
Death began to stalk the globe when gunpowder spread from being used to make festive decorations that color the night sky, to a weapon that will propel projectiles across great distances at incredible rates of speed. It spread from China to Europe and the death toll that could be directly linked to that one event was simply astronomical. War after war stalked the globe and all of its inhabitants, culminating in The War to End All Wars, which was better known as World War One, which introduced the advent of chemical warfare, leading to the pain and misery of World War Two that left a shattered world in its wake.
Gabriel had taken it all in and been utterly shattered, time after time. Sam, never one to sit idly by, had tried to broker peace on more than one occasion, but men being the brutal beasts that they most times were, never seemed to listen. Yet through it all they had been by each other’s side. Sam fading away in the middle of the night every forty years or so, and Gabriel finding him in the quickest and most effective manner possible. It was no longer like that first time, when it had taken Gabriel nearly seven months to sail halfway across the world to find his love, now he could find Sam in just days or if he were very far flung, a couple of weeks.
They had circumnavigated the globe multiple times, and Gabriel was always enthralled by how Sam interpreted everything that he witnessed. How it was never boring for him, how it was always a source of amazement, a source of wonder that needed to be thoroughly explored. Even once Sam had finally discovered Gabriel’s true identity, realized who he was hiding from, the lengths he would go to so that he might remain anonymous, Sam hadn’t loved him any less.
As much as Gabriel may have begrudged Loki his ‘fun’ at his great-grandfather’s expense, in the end, he had been proven to be correct. That Gabriel had needed to stop hiding himself away from the rest of the world, that he needed to integrate, to be a part of the world that he had helped to create, to marvel at the splendor of all of his varied creations, even the non-majestic ones, those that were ridiculed by most of polite society, but were the ones that Gabriel was most proud of.
But during all of the long years, Gabriel had forgotten that his great-grandchild could sometimes hold a grudge, and be rather impetuous, which had led to the current situation. Gabriel had been unable to locate Sam. But it had extended far past a few days, or weeks, or even months. It had been two years since the last night that Sam had faded away as he had held Gabriel close. Staring into the honey-gold eyes of his dearest love, whispering how he couldn’t wait to see him when he was young once more.
When the morning had arrived, Gabriel had focused, really concentrated all of his energies. But unlike every other time, there was no pull, no tether that seemed to be drawing him to a far-off land. He continued to try to ascertain his precious Sam’s location, for most of the day, before he finally summoned Loki, but as luck would have it, Loki was not willing to be drawn in for a family reunion. It had taken time then, having to seek cooperation from others who were seeking his progeny, but eventually, Gabriel had managed to track him down. In a far-flung corner of the Milky Way, on a godforsaken little excuse of an asteroid, in a cave that reminded Gabriel of something straight out of The Empire Strikes Back, simply without the mutant space worm that was threatening to eat them all at any moment.
“Well, look what the cat dragged in.” The greeting grated over Gabriel’s already frazzled nerves. It had been several months already, and he was getting a little desperate, needing to see Sam once more, to hold his love.
“Any particular reason you made me track you down to the ass end of the universe? And on a bad sci-fi set recreation at that?” Gabriel’s honey-gold eyes focused on Loki, searching for any clue that might help him to solve this mystery.
“No, not really.” Loki turned away for just a moment, then whirled back as he clapped his hands together, “Oh wait! I remember now! I never promised you that it would be easy. I promised you pseudo-immortality, and you have been finding your precious little Viking in mere hours most times. Not very challenging if you ask me.” With a raised eyebrow and a flourish, Loki began to disappear, but Gabriel was not about to let his only lead vanish without a trace. With a flick of his wrist, Loki was quickly bound, unable to leave the asteroid until Gabriel released him.
“You clearly haven’t been paying attention if you think that the lives that we’ve led have been easy. You picked Sam out because you could recognize that he was an incredibly amazing mortal, who would be capable of accomplishing great deeds, and yet, now you decide to keep us separated. Why? What possible reason could you have?” Gabriel asked as he continued the pacing that he was hardly even aware that he had begun to do. He was simply trying to search for any hidden clue that had been overlooked, any ambiguous wording that could be brought up as a reason for this new twist in the overall scheme of things.
“Oh, I don’t know. How about that pesky apocalypse that your true brethren keep going on about.” Gabriel whipped back to look into the cold brown eyes of the Trickster God, one that he had helped to create when he had started down the path of filling an empty void. “What? Didn’t think I would figure it out? If your precious Sam could puzzle out a solution, why would you think that no one else could as well?” The sneer was all that Gabriel needed to see to know that Loki was well and truly pissed.
Gabriel felt the cold clench of fear twist in his gut. He had always known that this day might arrive, but he had also never thought that he would now have something that was so very precious and delicate that was in dire need of his protection. Because, even as spectacularly amazing as Sam was, even he wouldn’t be able to stop a God on the warpath. Or any of Gabriel’s brothers for that matter. Without Gabriel to protect him, he would be lost. And that was something that Gabriel simply could not allow to happen. Not in this lifetime or any other.
“Well, if I know you as well as I know I do, you want something. So, spill. What is it?” Gabriel squared himself up, knowing that Loki would be no match for him, were he to unleash his true powers, but also knowing that once he did, Michael and Raphael would zero in on his location in just moments. Seeking that which had been lost and feeling the urgent need to bring Gabriel back into the fold.
“Immunity. I’ve made more than my fair share of enemies over the years, and Thor has gotten too clever by half. Not to mention that Odin is wanting to clear all of his accounts before he kicks off to Valhalla. So, what I need from you is what you were seeking oh so long ago, a sort of divine witness protection program that will allow me to be forgotten and go on my way. Free to do as I want, when I want, how I want. Got that? Or do I need to repeat it for you?” Loki was smirking now, clearly feeling that he had all the power in this dynamic. That Gabriel would be forced to give him all that he asked for, and probably more, once Loki got himself into trouble again.
If Sam had been there, he would have felt an obligation to warn Loki that the smiling visage that Gabriel was presenting to him was not one that he ever wanted to see. Not if he was hopeful that he would survive the encounter. But Sam wasn’t there, and that was entirely the point.
Gabriel didn’t feel any remorse for what he did then, knowing that his great-grandson would escape one day. Far, far, far into the future. Long after all the wars had been fought, and all of the vast cosmos had been returned to what it once was. With a thought Loki was remanded to a corner of the universe where he would never be able to harm another living being for the rest of his immortal life. And if Gabriel was feeling generous, he might even retrieve him back before his 50 billionth birthday. Maybe.
*****
“I know my lectures can be absolutely riveting, but are there any questions before I begin to wrap this up?” Sam smiled warmly as he looked out over the lecture hall once more, suddenly feeling a strange pulse that ran through his body. He looked up and met the honey-gold eyes that he would know anywhere, the soft smile that had graced the lips of his love on more occasions than he could possibly count. Time seemed to stop then, and Sam found himself tearing up the stairs of the center aisle, as tears began to stream down his cheeks, unable to control the powerful emotions that were driving him forward. Forcing his long legs to take the steps three at a time.
And then he was standing directly in front of his love, the delicate archangel that had always fought to come back to Sam, no matter the odds that he might have to overcome along the way. Always overcoming any obstacles that may have risen up to challenge him. As his powerful arms wrapped around the narrow waist, as his full lips came down, and as he felt the sheer bliss course through his body as he was once more reunited with his other half. The utterly radiant smile that spread across his face was a sight to behold, and as he gathered his love close, he could hear the soft sobs that accompanied all of the gentle kisses that he had missed so very damn much.
Sam pulled back, and raised a finely trembling hand so that he might wipe away the tears that were streaming down his beloveds’ face, “What kept you?” Sam felt the delicate fingers grasp his own, as Gabriel pressed his face into the palm that was now cupping his jaw.
“Oh, you know, the usual. Traffic, cranky relatives, a threatened apocalypse, promises of death and dismemberment.” Sam’s gorgeous hazel eyes narrowed for just a moment, before he leaned in and stole another kiss. Then he freed his large hand and pulled out the handkerchief that he had taken to always carrying on him, as their reunions had come to be notoriously tear-filled events. “But don’t you worry your pretty little head about it. I handled it and I think I can fix our problem.”
“Our problem?” Sam asked as he continued to gaze into Gabriel’s eyes with a whole host of love on display. “What problem was that exactly?”
“That silly little one where you fade away and then I have to track you down. I think I know how to fix it.” The smile he received made it all worth it then. “Now, finish up with your devotees, and we can get this show on the road.”
Sam looked embarrassed for a moment, “Well, you weren’t showing up and I needed to do something. Teaching others about a noble people didn’t seem like such a bad idea at the time.” Sam felt the small hands cup his jaw, and then drew him close for a chaste kiss.
“It sounds like a marvelous endeavor. Teaching these kids about one of the greatest mortals to have ever lived a full life on this vibrant little rock.” Sam felt the blush creep up his cheeks, but then he was all cleaned up, and headed back down to the front of the class. With just a flick of his wrist, the normal course of time resumed and after just a few follow-up questions, Sam thanked everyone for attending his lecture. Once the door had closed on the final attendee, Sam turned back to find Gabriel standing right there, impatiently waiting.
“What do you think about me bending the rules? Just this once?” Sam pulled his love close, as he whispered in his ear, “If you don’t, I might be arrested for disturbing the peace.”
“Well, we can’t have that, now, can we?” With a snap of Gabriel’s fingers, Sam found that they had been transported back to his rented house. A plain and drab, two-story wood frame that had been left to deteriorate, and that Sam had been working quite diligently towards bringing it back to its former glory.
“So, what first? Maybe a game of Parcheesi?” Gabriel gasped as he was manhandled onto the bed, and then all he could do was hold on tight.
*****
They lay there, gently clutching one another as they were wrapped up in each other’s arms, fingers tenderly caressing now well-sated flesh, trim nails scratching softly, nibbling kisses being exchanged freely. Gabriel was snuggled into Sam’s side, one arm around his trim waist, one leg thrown over his narrow hip, as his head was bent back, while he continued to enjoy Sam’s relentless plundering of his mouth. Sleek tongue soothing now, no longer insistent or demanding.
The sudden crush as Sam tightened his hold on his love forced a trembling exhalation out of the delicate body that he held so very carefully. “I was so worried, when you didn’t find me right away, I feared that your luck had finally run out and that something truly terrible had happened to you. That I had been left all by myself, to live out this one final existence, and then to die all alone. I think that’s why I wrote the book, trying to impart all of the knowledge that I could before I faded out of existence one last time.”
With a soft cry, Gabriel surged up and threw both his arms around Sam, burying his face in Sam’s long neck, as hot tears began to stream down his face. “I don’t know what else I might have done, but I would’ve found you. I wouldn’t have left you, even if it was the very last thing that I ever did. Even if I had to ascend and reveal myself to my brothers so that I might be able to save you.” Gabriel, for the very first time finally used his strength on Sam, hearing the oomph as he hugged him tight, knowing that he would never again be able to function without his precious Sam by his side.
“I think I have a solution. But I need you to agree to it, because the ramifications would be eternal.” Sam stared into the tear-filled honey-gold eyes, ones that he had come to love with every single fiber of his being. Knowing that Gabriel would never offer such a radical solution unless he was certain that it was the best way to keep them together, because Sam wasn’t sure that he could endure what had happened over the previous two years ever again. It had felt as if a part of him had died, as if he were walking around with a thousand pounds of dead weight strapped to his back. It had almost been more than he could bear, but he had endured with the hope that Gabriel would be along at some point. That there was a logical explanation for the delay.
Because Sam had known, absolutely, positively known, that Gabriel had not abandoned him.
“So, tell me all about it.”
*****
Gabriel painted the very last symbol onto the golden sun-kissed skin that he knew so very well, probably better than his own at this point. It hadn’t been an easy decision, but it was one that they had reached together. And one that would allow Sam to always stay safe, even if something were to happen to Gabriel at some point in the future. The plain copper bowl was laid out, filled with various plants, roots, wildflowers, and a vital organ from one currently imprisoned lesser demi-god.
Gabriel spoke the incantation, as he threw the handful of grace into the bowl, and with a magnificent rumble and the flickering of every single light in a ten-mile radius, the spell was cast. He watched with wide eyes as Sam was enveloped in the bright shaft of light, accentuated by Gabriel’s very own archangel grace that had been added to the mix, to bolster the already potent spell. After another moment, the grace was absorbed, and as Sam’s eyes opened, they flashed blue for just a moment, as the angelic grace took up residence within its new home.
But then Sam was crying out in pain as Gabriel’s hand came in contact with his broad chest, and various Enochian sigils were etched into his ribs. He felt the strong hands that helped to hold him up as Gabriel repeated the warding to his own vessel, swallowing down his screams as he realized that Sam had actually been downplaying his pain. But then he was being pulled in close, and full lips found his own as a chaste kiss was exchanged.
“So, now what?” The soft question, in that amazingly rich baritone caused a shiver to rush up Gabriel’s spine, as he contemplated for a moment.
“Any damn thing we want.” The answering smile that was accompanied by the world’s most amazing dimples was all that Gabriel would ever need to see for the entire rest of his existence, in order to know the joy that he would never surrender.
“Are we going forwards or back?”
“How about I surprise you?”
*****
Sam opened his eyes and couldn’t stop the mile-wide smile that was fighting to break free. They stood on the rocky shore, looking towards the house that he had woken up within on that long ago day. A dwelling that it had taken Gabriel many years to build without the assistance of any of his grace fueled powers. One that they had turned into their very first home.
One that was filled with so many joyous and happy memories. One that could never be taken away from them, for it now existed outside of time. In their very own personal universe.
“Hmmm. You know what I’m thinking about right now?” Sam shivers as that soft voice washes over him.
“No, what?” Sam actually has a fairly good idea, seeing as how Gabriel is staring at the mouth of the cave that will lead to the hot springs that they had spent so many long hours at a time enjoying to the fullest possible extent when they could.
“I’d give you a hint, but I know you already know. So instead, the last one there has to scrub my back!”
Gabriel took off at a dead sprint, but it didn’t matter. Sam’s long legs quickly ate up the ground, and he picked up Gabriel just as they neared the mouth of the cave.
“How about we simply recreate our very first adventure?”
“Oh, now you’re talking!”
What had started as a simple plan to draw a lonely old curmudgeon back into the world, had now come full circle. As one they would share this world, help to better it for the benefit of all, and never, ever let a moment go by in which they didn’t let the other know just how much they loved them.
As it was and ever shall be.
The End