Abscond || Joshler

{12}

Later that evening, Tyler had finished fixing supper for the knights, and went out to the porch to watch the roses bloom from the forest. At the same time, he looked down on the engagement ring that Josh had given to him, and it made him miss him even more.

Tyler was so happy to now be engaged to marry his best friend; the man he had loved all of his life, and was so overjoyed at the thought to spend the rest of his life with him.

But at the expense of waiting for his return.

He didn't understand why Josh left him, and didn't know the reason behind it, but he tried to hold onto hope that he would come back, and they would begin to start their new life as man and husband.

While contemplating these thoughts, Gerard came outside to see him.

"Sweet ladybird, wherefore art thee all high-lone?"

Tyler looked up to him and slightly grinned.

"Forgive me, Gerard, I just needed some time to myself?"

"Wouldst thee mind if't be true I satteth with thee f'r a while?"

"No, of course not."

The knightly man sat next to the child and kept him company.

"What's troubling thee, Tyler?" He asked.

The boy didn't want to tell him.

"N-Nothing."

Gerard didn't believe him.

"Don't forswear to me. I knoweth at which hour something is not well enow."

Tyler knew Gerard could see through him, but he didn't want to tell him. He looked back down to his ring.

When the knightly man saw the ring on his finger, he knew immediately.

"Thee misseth mast'r Josh, thy newly betrothed?"

The boy began to weep.

"Yes, Gerard."

The knightly man put his arm around the child.

"Anon, anon, mine own dear ladybird, th're is nay needeth to weepeth."

"I just don't understand why he had to leave me so soon. I am happy that he wants to marry me, but why can't it be now?"

"Because he wanteth to maketh thy liveth bett'r."

"How?" Tyler asked. "He can't do it by leaving me after proposing to me."

Gerard brought the child close to him.

"Tyler, I knoweth thee don't concur with what is happening, 'r wherefore Josh hast hath left us so anon, but thee wilt believeth yond that gent is doing what is most wondrous f'r thee, and 'twill all beest w'rth t at the endeth."

The boy started thinking about what Gerard told him, and he began to understand what he was meaning. He wished he could know why Josh was leaving him, but looking at the future between him and his new husband, he knew it wouldn't matter once they were married.

He looked at his knightly friend.

"You think so?"

"I knoweth so, sweet ladybird."

Tyler smiled, then leaned over and kissed Gerard on the cheek.

"Thank you, Gerard."

The child got up and went back inside to the join the other knights for supper. Gerard sat there; his hand pressed over his cheek where Tyler kissed him.