Part 1
A sharp looking nobleman with a short, salt and pepper beard enters the candlelit study. Another distinguished elderman, Æthelwulf, rises to greet him.
"Brax! My old friend. What brings you to my castle this time? More wheat? More wine? Need saved from barbarian raiders, again?" Æthelwulf chuckles. Æthelwulf had a slightly longer beard and robes were slightly looser than Braxatherses', but they were both about the same age.
"Wulfie! Barely, Plentifully, and Hardly, to answer your questions; but we have more important matters to discuss." Brax responds.
"Well, what is it? Here, this may help loosen your lips." Wulf takes out two exquisite crystal goblets and pours them both a very expensive wine. Then they relax on either side of a very ornate wood desk, decorated with scrolls, candles, and some silver jewels.
"Although I seem to recall they're quite loose already." Wulf said under his breath.
Brax rolled his eyes at the jab. "Come now Wulfie, this is a serious matter. I found the perfect solution to our little spat in the hinterlands."
"What spat?" Wulf huffed and smirked. "One season some of our villagers raid yours, the next season yours raid ours, it's just a little game! It hardly matters. Besides, if they become too idle they turn their wrath and boredom towards us."
"Yes but the King grows tired of it. We've both been passed over for higher ranks in the court because he views our little 'spat' as a distraction and if we can't control our houses then he will see us both as weak." Brax said.
Wulf slumped in his chair and sighed.
"So that brings us to Alexerses and Æthelcole." Brax said.
"Our sons? What have they got to do with this?" Wulf quizzed.
"Well they are both about marrying age, and people are starting to whisper. And to put a stop to that, the union of our houses would bring peace to the valley. It make us both look strong to the court, and if they inherit both of our lands after we pass.." They both paused and looked grim at the thought of their own passing, but he continued, "They would surely be strong enough to rule as King and King." Brax finished.
Wulf looked stunned, not even knowing where to begin. "My Cole hasn't shown any such inclinations, and besides the law says.."
Brax cut him off. "My scribes have read the law thoroughly, and it only says Cópenere and Belufenere, or Lover and Beloved. It says nothing about man and woman. Besides, there are well known whispers about Cole staring longingly at the blacksmith, and perhaps the smith has pounded more than his iron if you catch my drift."
Wulf nearly spit out his wine. "Cole would do no such thing!! Besides, one of my farmers said he saw Alex sneaking off with some of his carrots, and later found a broken pile of them next to his bed. Maybe Alex was hungry, but not in the usual end." Wulf retorted.
Brax was starting to get defensive. "Ok Ok, we've both heard some rumours. So let's not pretend that either is some sort of lass-slaying knight. So, they both satisfy their... predilections, with one another, and our lines will both rule the kingdom. So it's really just a matter of which one will be the Cópenere."
"Well, obviously, my Cole would be, he's older.. And.. taller!" Wulf badgered.
"Yes, and a better horserider, so he would be a better Belufenere. And Alex is a better archer, and jouster, so clearly he is meant to be the Cópenere." Brax argued. "And if he's anything like his father, more... 'equipped' for the role."
"Nonsense, all of these things are meaningless. There's no telling what pleasure they seek in their chambers from these rumours. But now we have rambled on long enough and I'm growing weary, your Alex will be the Belufenere and I'll give you 400 pounds of silver as the dowry. However if Alex fails to uphold his end of the bargain, we'll demand 800 pounds of silver for the embarrassment." Wulf pushed.
Brax sighed, 400 pounds of silver would double his entire wealth. "Done. But there is one more thing my scribes told me, for the union to be legal in the eyes of the court, they have to consummate an Ærung, or unaided emission, on their wedding night, to prove the Belufenere is a virgin."
Wulf shook his head and couldn't believe what his friend had talked him into. He had no idea how Cole would react to the news that he had been betrothed to another prince. The two men debated long into the night about their plan as the wine emptied and the candles dimmed.
Part 2
The next day, Wulf entered Cole's chambers to tell him the news.
Cole's chambers were high in the castle, with an open window facing outwards where he could see mountains and valleys on the horizon. He had an enormous draped bed with silk sheets. Across the smooth, lightly colored stone floor was strewn various princeling undergarments, and his ceremonial armor stood propped in the corner. In the middle was a steaming hot bath that his servants filled for him whenever he wanted, which was this morning.
Cole was muscular, broad shouldered, and in his late twenties. He had ear-length black hair that he kept shaggy, and usually kept a light, black scruff around his jaw. He had well defined arms and fuzzy abs from his days practicing sword fighting. Cole was sitting in the bath while he was rubbing oils over his tanned skin.