Wish I Could Love You Out Loud

As soon as they were hidden away in the thick of the woods, Henry and Aubrey clung to each other. Henry kissed Aubrey's face. "I was so, so very worried about you." he managed to say between kisses.

"I know." said Aubrey. "I overheard the Book Brothers talking. You told them the truth about us, Henry. Why?"

"Aubrey, the truth had to come out. I've sworn them to secrecy. I don't think they'll tell anyone else."

"They'll tell their mother." Aubrey pointed out. "I don't think anyone could keep anything from Agnes."

"She's a wise old bird, that one." Henry said with a smile. "She knows the secret too. I didn't tell her; she figured it out on her own. She said her brother was- was like us." As Henry remembered the unhappy fate of that couple, he squeezed Aubrey tight. He took many deep breaths to calm himself down, trying to fight off the memory of being frightened for Aubrey's life. He finally let him go. "Now, where were you? I went off to look for you and all I found was your basket and assumed the worst."

Aubrey gave Henry's hair a soothing stroke. "Andrew's been looking for me." he said. "And he found me. He assumed I'd just blithely go home with him. When I didn't, we got into a fight. You would've been so proud of me, Harry! I've gotten so much better at fighting with the scimitar lately. But, I didn't really want to hurt Andrew, and he knew it. Henry, he threatened to slit his own throat if I didn't go with him! So, I did."

"I'm sure your family was glad to have you back."

"They were. They wanted me to marry Jane right away. So, I pretended to be sick. Told them I ate some bad mushrooms."

"How clever of you." Aubrey said admiringly.

Aubrey smiled and blushed. "Well, they wrapped me in blankets and put me in the divan. Mum made me drink a medicinal tea. Well, when everyone was gone, I slipped out the window. Anna caught me, I'm afraid. I didn't tell her everything. She's too young to understand it all anyway. All she knows is that I've joined up with Robin Hood. Well, not long after I made my escape, that tea started to do its job. I had to go off into the bushes before I soiled myself. It was about then that I overheard the Book Brothers talking about how upset you were by my sudden disappearance. They also mentioned little Edith. Has she got a suitor now?"

Henry smiled. "Edith came looking for me. She found Luke and now Luke wants my permission to court her. He seems like a good sort. You know, if he does court her successfully, maybe she'll stay here with us. She says the rest of my family is moving away. I'm afraid I've brought great shame upon them." Henry bowed his head sadly.

Aubrey cupped Henry's chin and kissed his lips gently. "We both knew that there was no way we could be together without making sacrifices, Henry." He kissed him on his forehead, nose, eyelids and cheekbones. Henry felt himself heat up as lips fluttered against his skin like butterflies. He could smell the sweet scent of Aubrey's hair as they pulled each other close. He ran his hands over the back and shoulders of his beloved. Funny, here he had thought he was the stronger of the two, and now he felt weak kneed and helpless, craving Aubrey's warmth and strength. He leaned back against a tree and pulled Aubrey with him.

"Take me, Aubrey." Henry gasped breathlessly. "Take me here and now."

Aubrey smiled. "Did you miss me so much?" he asked, slowly opening Henry's tunic and feeling the warm flesh inside.

"Very much." Henry gasped.

"I wasn't even gone a full day." Aubrey said, teasing at the ties of Henry's trousers. "You must want me real bad."

"It...it wasn't the sex I missed."

"Well then!" Aubrey feigned feeling insulted and turned away. Henry smiled and grabbed Aubrey's arm, pulling him close.

"Oh, Aubrey, it was you! It was everything about you! The idea that you were hurt, lost, scared, it tore me up. You're my heart and soul, Aubrey."

"Oh, Henry." Aubrey held him close. They could feel their erections rubbing together. Aubrey unlaced Henry's ties and let his long, heated rod of flesh be exposed. Aubrey gave it a gentle stroke up and down the length with his finger. Henry quivered and moaned. He would've fallen over if the tree hadn't been supporting him. Aubrey smiled at his love as he slowly undid his own trousers. He exposed his own stiff member and gave himself a long, teasing stroke. "Remember our first time in the barn? You told me never to deny myself pleasure." Aubrey hummed his delight as he stroked his own cock as Henry watched.

Henry could feel a fine sweat break across his skin as he watched Aubrey touch himself. He heard the soft moan Aubrey let out as he ran a free hand down his chest and over his stomach to cup his sac as the other hand pulled on the swollen cock. "I'd never deny you pleasure, Aubrey." he gasped. "But, would you be willing to share your pleasure with me?"

"We don't have any water or oil." Aubrey pointed out. "But, I think I can make us both feel good." He laid his penis next to Henry's, flesh to flesh. He tried to take them both in one hand, but they were too big together. "Help me out here, Harry." Two hands joined two cocks together. The sensation was enough to make them both tremble with want. "Ready?" Henry nodded. Both hands pulled at once as hips thrust. "Oh, that's so good, Harry!" Aubrey cried out. "Oh, Harry, I love you!

"Mmm...Aubrey, my Aubrey...I love you so much." Henry whispered as he shared a deep pleasure with his beloved. They both sighed and moaned as they rubbed their most sensitive flesh together. They kissed lovingly as the tension built. They picked up the pace with their hands, feeling their pleasure rising to a peak that they would gladly leap from. They moaned, heaved and panted until they both cried out, dousing each other in semen.

"You got your cum all over me!" Aubrey laughed as he leaned against Henry.

"Yeah? Well you got /your/ cum all over /me/!" Henry retorted.

Aubrey looked down at their softening cocks, both covered in glistening semen. He smiled as he admired the erotic image. It was impossible to tell which slick, shimmery issue came from which lover. Their seed had mingled just as their hearts and souls had. They were together forever, never to part.
*********************************************************

Will had gone into Nottingham to look for Aubrey. Donna accompanied him. They decided The Blue Boar was a good place to look for information. "Say, Will," Donna said as they approached the bar. She reached into her pouch and brought out a penny. "Here. I should've given you this when you gave me the knife."

"Why's that?"

"Agnes says that if someone gives you a knife as a present, the two of you will quarrel. Had I given you a penny in exchange for the knife, we wouldn't've quarreled."

Will smiled and shook his head. "I still would've insulted Aubrey and you still would've gotten mad. Donna, do you, well, do you fancy Aubrey?"

Donna laughed out loud. "Me? Fancy Aubrey? Oh, no! First of all, he's a bit young for my taste."

"Didn't you run away from home so you wouldn't have to marry an old man?"

"Well, I don't fancy a man who's too old either. Five and twenty is just right." This just happened to be Will's age. Donna continued in a low voice. "And Will, there's something else I think you need to know about Aubrey." She came close and whispered to him. "He fancies Henry."

Will screwed his face in disgust. "His own brother?"

"Will, do you really think they're brothers?"

"Even if they're not, it's still...well...." He lowered his voice. "What exactly would two men do?"

"Would you like a full, detailed description, love?"

"Never mind." Will approached the bar. "Two ales, please."

"Your kid brother old enough for ale?" the barman scoffed, motioning to Donna, who scowled at him.

"My money says he is." Will said plainly. The ale was served. "My money also says you might know something of a young cloth maker named Aubrey." Will paid for the drinks and slipped in an extra farthing. "About so high, long red hair and green eyes."

"Aubrey the Dyer's Son?" said the barman. "I know of him. Not much of a drinker, but his father and brother have popped in from time to time. He and his chums was gonna come here for a party to celebrate his wedding to Jane a William's, but that bastard Henry Shepherd ruined everything."

Will and Donna shared a look. "What exactly did he do?" asked Donna.

"Something you're much too young to hear about, lad."

"I'm one and twenty years old!" she snapped.

"One and twenty and your voice hasn't broke?" scoffed the barman.

"My friend speaks the truth." Will said. "And my other friend would like to know the details." He slipped another coin over the bar. The barman quickly took it and pocketed it.

"Well," The barman got close and spoke of low tones. "Just as the lads were going to go out for their night of revelry, they found poor Aubrey bent over one of the dying vats with his trousers 'round his ankles and Henry Shepherd givin' him a good buggery up his arse!" Will's eyes popped open in shock. Donna smirked at him and raised an eyebrow. "Turns out Henry had been havin' these unnatural urges towards Aubrey and just went wild and forced himself on the poor lad. We had ourselves a good public whippin' in the square that day! I won ten pounds for predicting when he would scream. He looked strong and brave, but he was also young and whips hurt like billy-oh. I knew twelve was about all he could take. He got thirty nine and damn near passed out. Edward the Smith's Son gave him water. Got a jawing out from both parents for it, I've heard."

"They whipped him?" asked Will.

"Oh, that was for his secular crime of rape." the barman explained. "I have a little trouble recalling what happened next."

"Will this refresh your memory?" Will gave him another farthing. It disappeared quickly into the barman's pocket.

"Well, they was gonna burn Henry Shepherd alive at dawn for the unholy crime of soddomy." the barman said, tinged with both delight and disappointment. "Usually, they burn soddomites in pairs, but as Aubrey had been forced into it, they let him go. But, strangest thing, there was no burning on the morrow. Henry's cell was empty when they went to collect him, bars on the window sawed off. Little bugger must've had a file or something hidden on him. He was long gone. What's more, Aubrey was gone too! Lots of speculatin' was goin' on 'round the town after that. Some people thought Henry broke out and kidnapped Aubrey. Some thought Aubrey just ran away in shame, maybe went lookin' for someplace to drown or hang himself. Well, Aubrey's brother Andrew went looking for him and what do you know, he found him! He was in here not long ago telling me all about it. Of course, I don't know if Andrew would like me telling strangers what he told me."

Will sighed and silently put another farthing on the bar. It quickly disappeared.

"Well, Andrew found Aubrey out in a meadow on the far edge of Sherwood. Strangest thing was, not only was the lad alive and healthy as a horse, but he was pickin' posies, just pretty as you please, not a care in the world. According to Andrew, Aubrey actually put up a fight when his brother told him he had come to take him home. Somehow or another, the lad got his hands on this great curved sword and somehow learned how to use it. To my knowledge, that lad never lifted anything heavier than a loom shuttle, but Andrew was amazed at Aubrey's skill and strength. If he found someone out in those woods to teach him how to use a sword, he must have been a master! Wouldn't surprise me too much if Robin Hood himself had been tutoring the lad."

"I understand Robin Hood is a master of the bow and arrow." said Will. "But, he does have men who are skilled in other weapons." Donna hid her smile behind her ale.

"That may be." the barman acknowledged. "Robin Hood has been known to help out people in need of money or protection. Could be he decided to help poor old Aubrey out. He should've stayed closer to them, though. What if Henry had found him instead of Andrew? What's more, I suppose no one thought to tell Aubrey which mushrooms were poisonous. As soon as Andrew got him home, Aubrey grabbed his belly and passed out. Andrew woke him up by splashing water on his face and he admitted to eating some strange mushrooms. His mum went to get him some medicinal tea. And that was all Andrew could tell me last he was in here." The barman went to tend another customer.

"Just last night," said Donna. "Aubrey and me were helping Agnes make dinner. She told us how to tell an edible mushroom from a poisonous one. He knows the difference. He had to've been faking it."

Will nodded. "He put up a fight before being taken back to Nottingham, then pretended to be sick when he got here. Perhaps our lad is already on his way back to Sherwood?"

"That's what I think." said Donna, taking a gulp of her ale.
*****************************************************

"What do you mean, 'gone', girl?" Mistress Weaver yelled at her daughter.

"I mean he's gone, Mum!" Anna answered. "He's not here, is he?"

"Don't you back sass me, young lady!" Mistress Weaver scolded. "Where did he go?"

"He went to Sherwood, Mum. He said something about his heart being out there."

"Oh, of all the ridiculous things!"

"He also said he joined with Robin Hood, Mum. Aren't you glad? Aubrey's joined with...."

"A wanted outlaw!" the woman wailed. "If Loxley wants to loll about in the woods and rob wealthy noblemen, that suits me fine but he needn't drag my son into it! Anna, why didn't you stop him?"

"I'm only nine." Anna reminded her mother. "I couldn't do very much, could I?" Indeed, Anna was barely four feet tall where Aubrey was almost six feet tall.

"He was sick, poisoned, weak as a kitten!"

"He was faking it, Mum. Mum, Aubrey told me to tell you that he loves you and Dad and Andrew, but he can't stay."

Mistress Weaver collapsed into a chair. "Oh, Aubrey!" she wept. "Just when we had you back you left us again!"

"He said he fell in love with someone. Mum, do you suppose there's girls among the Merry Men? I've heard that Maid Marion is...."

"Oh, don't you start getting any wild ideas now!"
*************************************************************

As the sun set over Sherwood, Friar Tuck conducted a wedding ceremony.

"Do you, Rolanda Bones of Ruttlandshire take John Little of Lincoln as your wedded husband? For better or worse, for richer or poorer in sickness and in health, do you swear to love, honor and cherish him all the days of your life?"

"I do." said the woman clad in white silk and holding a freshly picked bouquet of wildflowers. Everyone was so focused on the wedding couple, no one noticed the two young men who held hands and gazed in each others' eyes.

"Do you, John Little of Lincoln," said Friar Tuck. "take Rolanda Bones of Ruttlandshire as your wedded wife? For better or worse, for richer or poorer in sickness and in health, do you swear to love, honor and cherish him all the days of your life?"

"I do." The tall man said fondly as he gazed upon his bride.

"Do you have the ring?" Tuck asked Robin Hood, who produced the ring that had been stolen from the abbot. "John, put this ring on Rolanda's third finger on her left hand and say 'With this ring, I thee wed.'"

"With this ring, I thee wed." Little John put a ring on his bride's finger.

"Then by the grace of the Father, the Son, the Holy Spirit and Our Holy Lady, I pronounce you man and wife." Friar Tuck made a sign of the cross over the couple. Little John scooped Rolly up in his arms and kissed her. "You may kiss the...oh, never mind."

Alan a Dale played a merry tune on his lute and everyone began to dance and cheer in celebration. Agnes and Ellen served up food and drinks. Everyone wanted to hug and kiss Rolly for luck and shake Little John's hand in congratulations. Hours later, Little John thanked all his friends for their support. He announced he was taking his bride to visit his family in Lincoln, but would be back in two weeks. Since they were traveling by night, would anyone agree to accompany them to Lincoln as torchbearers. There were many volunteers. Rolly whispered something to her new husband. "Aubrey, if you're not exhausted by your earlier adventure, would you and Henry come along?" They agreed.

By firelight, Little John lifted his bride onto the back of Storm Cloud, the strongest horse in the band's herd. He took the saddle as Aubrey and Henry mounted a pair of horses. They were handed a torch each and flanked the departing bride and groom as their friends applauded and shouted out good wishes upon them.

A few hours later, they reached the town of Lincoln. Little John gave them a bit of money. "You might want to spend a night at an inn. We'll be staying at my sister's house."

"Thank you, John." Henry said, shaking his hand. "And the best to you and your beautiful bride."

Rolly hugged Henry and kissed his cheek. "The best to you and Aubrey too." she whispered quickly. She winked at Henry's confused look. She gave Aubrey a hug and a kiss on the cheek. "May you two be as happy as we are." she whispered. The married couple departed.

"Henry," said Aubrey. "I-I think Rolly knows our little secret."

"Well, I didn't tell her." said Henry.

"The cleverness of women." Aubrey said in awe.

"Clever, perhaps." Henry said, running fingers over Aubrey's neck. "But, not terribly attractive. The troubadours can sing all they like about milky hands and snowy breasts, but I much prefer hands that can hold me tight and a broad, firm chest." He let his hands toy with Aubrey's hair. "And hair the color of cedars and eyes like the fields in summer."

Aubrey smiled and caressed Henry's cheek, glad that the streets of Lincoln were empty at this hour. "And I prefer someone with strong arms, a brave heart, hair the color of wheat and eyes as blue as cornflowers."

"You know, we could save money by telling the innkeeper we only have enough for one room, but we don't mind sharing."

"I don't believe we've ever done it at an inn, have we?" Aubrey smiled broadly.

Henry quickly kissed Aubrey's cheek. "Let's go, love. Before it gets an hour later."

"Henry," Aubrey stopped him a moment as they approached the nearest inn. "I want us to be together forever. Like Rolly and John, like Robin and Marion. Even if I have to love you in secret, my love for you is deep and enduring. This...this is forever, Henry. I'll never part from you."

"Oh, Aubrey," Henry stroked his hair and gazed into his eyes. "You are my home and my heart. When the day comes that I breathe my last, it will be your name on my lips and the memory of our first union to comfort me. I love you, Aubrey. I always will. I'll never part from you."

They kissed tenderly in the darkness of an alleyway before practically running to the closest inn.