Liamterra chapter 2

Liamterra

Jo B

purplefox@usfamily.net

Rating: NC-17

Spoilers: none

Keywords: M/Sk SLASH WIP

Disclaimer: The X-Files characters are the property Chris Carter,
1013 productions and Fox Broadcasting. No money is being made
from their use.

Summary: AU. Mulder is abducted and carried through a gateway to
another dimension, where magic is real and mythical creatures
exist. Skinner follows, and the two men must make a new life for
themselves while they search for a way back home.

Authors Notes: This is a sequel to my story North Woods.

Special thanks to my beta-readers Lyrical Soul, Nicole, and Dawn
for the excellent job of beta-reading.

Feedback is always welcome. Any constructive suggestions are
appreciated.

WARNING! This story contains explicit Sex/Romance between two
men. Turn back now, if the subject matter offends you.

Okay to Archive: MTA, DitB, Slashing Mulder, all others please
ask first.

Web site: http://www.slashingmuld er.com/JoB/

Chapter 2 Mage Skinner by Jo B

Kallen The palace at Anlon

"No, you need to free your mind and let your heart and inner
spirit guide you! Call on the powers of the air!" King Pyralis
barked. They had been at it all morning. Although, he could sense
tremendous energy emanating from the large human, Skinner hadn't
even succeeded at moving a small rock.

Skinner stood naked in the courtyard of the palace. He was
shivering as the cold wind stung his flesh. And the frozen
granite was painful against the soles of his bare feet. Pyralis
said he wanted Skinner to feel the elements against his naked
flesh, but five hours in the freezing temperatures were having a
negative impact on him. "It is useless! N-no way can I move a
rock with my mind! It's freezing out here! I can't even feel my
dick! Can we go inside now?"

Pyralis was at his wit's end. Any first level apprentice would
have been able to move that rock by now. "Fine, Sir Skinner. If
you want to call it quits we shall. However, I shall be giving
Fox to my brother Kiros, since it is obvious that you cannot
protect him from the predators who would want to claim him."

"No one touches Fox!" Skinner's eyes flashed dangerously. Without
thinking, he fixed his gaze on the hated rock. Instead of moving,
the rock exploded into a thousand tiny pieces. His eyes widened
in shock as he realized what he had just done.

"Well, does that mean you don't wish to call it quits?" Pyralis'
eyes sparked with delight. Destroying the rock the way Skinner
had just done was a talent only a mage of the second level could
accomplish.

"No. I don't want to call it quits," Skinner said, stunned.

"Fine, we shall commence again after the noonday meal. I'm sure
your mate will wish to prepare a hot bath for you before we
dine," Pyralis said.

"Thank you for your patience, Your Majesty."

"You're welcome, Sir Skinner."

Skinner turned and limped back inside the palace. Mulder was
waiting for him just inside with a heavy woolen cloak, which he
wrapped around Skinner's cold, tired body.

"Walter, are you all right?"

"I-I'm f-f-fine, Fox," Skinner said shivering. "I b-blew up a
rock...can you believe it?"

Mulder grinned softly, he had been worried about his lover
getting hypothermia; it was comforting to see that he was all
right. "Yeah. I always knew you'd be good at blowing up things.
C'mon, big guy, I'll run you a hot bath."

Skinner started chuckling.

"What?"

"King Pyralis said, you'd give me a hot bath."

"Walter, you just spent five hours out in the freezing cold with
only your thoughts to keep you warm! Of course I'm going to run
you a hot bath!" Mulder snapped. "I don't know what the point was
to your freezing your nuts off! Except to give those elves, Relyo
and Zeyro, a cheap thrill!" Mulder was not happy. The two elves
had stood in front of the window overlooking the courtyard and
made all sorts of appreciative comments about *his* lover's body
and size.

"Fox, you're jealous!" Skinner's eyebrows arched up in disbelief.

Mulder glared at him. "You're my lover, Walter, and I don't
appreciate anyone ogling you! So, yes I'm jealous!" The agent
pushed him up against the wall and kissed him long and hard, much
to the amusement of the few servants outside their room. Ending
the kiss Mulder growled, "You're the best thing that has ever
happened to me, Walter Skinner, and I won't allow anyone to ever
come between us! Got it!"

"Yeah. Got it." Skinner grinned brightly; his whole being was a
tingle from his lover's declaration of love. It was beyond him
how he could have waited nearly seven years to tell Mulder how he
felt about him. "Fox, no one will ever come between us. You have
my word on that. I've never loved anyone as much as I love you."

Mulder grinned sheepishly. "Come on, Walter. I'll run you that
bath. Jonathan said the noonday meal will be ready in a half-
hour. He offered to have it sent to our room, if you're not
feeling up to eating in the main hall?"

"If you don't mind, I'd rather to eat in the dining hall. We need
to find out as much as we can about these people, and we can't do
that by hiding in our room."

Mulder knelt and turned on the tap, starting the tub filling, he
added just a touch of bath oil. He didn't want Walter smelling
too good.

Skinner watched him with amusement. He wasn't used to someone
doting on him. His eyes wandered around the room and landed on a
pile of heavy, black leather garments and chain mail stacked on a
table by the door. He walked over and picked up a mail coif from
off the top of the pile and examined it. It was chain mail meant
to be worn over the head. The coif covered the back of the head,
neck, ears, and forehead, with an opening for the wearer's face.
Skinner set it down and picked up a black steal codpiece. Laying
next to it was a pair of gauntlets, and a pair of black boots.
"Fox, what is all this stuff?"

"Those are my warrior's threads! Cool aren't they? Prince Kedar
is going to teach me how to fight with a sword and shield this
afternoon. The elves promised to teach me how to shoot a bow and
arrow," Mulder said, grinning up at Skinner's stunned expression.

"Fox, I don't know. Sword fighting can be awfully dangerous if
you don't know what you're doing," Skinner said, touching the
quilted leather tunic and leggings.

"That's why I'm getting training. We'll need to be able to
protect ourselves in this world, and I don't think Pyralis is
going to give you back your rifle any time soon. Besides you were
almost out of ammo anyway." Mulder walked over and took the cloak
off Skinner. "Sir Skinner, your bath awaits," he said, bowing.

Skinner rolled his eyes. He didn't like the idea of Kedar
teaching his lover how to fight, but he agreed that they needed
to be able to defend themselves. "You're right, Fox, we'll both
need weapon's training," he said, lowering his cold body into the
hot water. He sighed in contentment as the heat soaked into his
cold flesh and closed his eyes.

Mulder watched him with a warm smile on his face.

***

Zaltaria The palace at Mei

King Kiros waited impatiently for his brother to answer his
summons. After an hour his face appeared in the reflection pool.

"Dear brother, what is it that you want?" Pyralis asked.

"Okay, Pyralis, you win. I'll do it," Kiros said, holding his
head proudly. It took a lot for him to agree to his brother's
demands. However, his desire for the beautiful human outweighed
his pride and dignity.

"You'll do what?" Pyralis smiled.

King Kiros wanted to scream at his brother's smug expression.
Instead he recited the demands Pyralis had made to him in order
to win Fox. "Present myself before you and your life mate in
chains, prostrate myself at both your feet, and beg forgiveness
for killing your son. Then I'll go through the three perils..."

Pyralis smiled sweetly. "Oh that...sorry, dear brother, but that
offer is no longer available. I've grown quite fond of Fox and
Sir Skinner..."

"That's not possible! You've only had them for a day!"

Pyralis smirked. "How long did it take you to fall in love with
Fox, dearest Kiros?"

Kiros frowned and sighed. "Point taken." He had fallen for Fox
within mere moments of gazing upon his face and hearing his sweet
voice. "What can I do to convince you to give him to me?"

"You aren't listening, Kiros. You cannot have him. Fox is under
my personal protection."

"You know this means war, Pyralis!"

Pyralis chuckled. "We've been at war since our fathers died, so
what else is new? I'll see you in Kali, brother!" He shouted as
his image disappeared.

Kiros closed his eyes against the pain in his hearts. He couldn't
lose Fox not now that he was so close to having him. If he must,
he would assemble the largest army this realm had ever beheld and
attack Kallen. He'd kill everyone in his brother's accursed
kingdom if that was what it took to claim his love.

***

Kallen The palace at Anlon

King Pyralis took of sip of the spiced wine. "Fox, Jonathan was
telling me that Kedar is going to give you weapons training?" he
said.

"Yes, Your Majesty. He was kind enough to offer your son's
services, and supply me with the appropriate clothing."

Pyralis didn't miss the starry-eyed looks Kedar was giving
Mulder. This wouldn't do, the King thought. He looked down the
table at the other goblins they were all besotted with Fox. His
eyes finally rested on his champion troll. "Fox, I think it is
best that Weapon's Master Tor taught you how to fight."

Mulder's eyes followed the King's down the table to the ugly
troll who had his chest puffed out with pride that his King would
chose him to train the pretty human. Mulder shuddered, at the
prospect of being alone with the creature. The troll's head was
immense, his nose alone was almost the size of Mulder's head. Its
hands were over-sized and looked like they could crush granite.

Prince Kedar stood and left the dining hall in a huff. King
Pyralis was about to order a guard to bring his son back when
Jonathan's hand on his arm stopped him.

"Let him go, Pyralis. He cannot help what his hearts feels,"
Jonathan said softly.

"I will speak with him later," Pyralis said.

Skinner turned to Zeyro and asked, "What is Feronia like?"

Zeyro was more than happy to answer the sexy human's question
about his home. "It is a large kingdom, much larger than Kallen.
It is mostly forests, rivers, and mountains, and is plentiful
with wild game, and fruit and nut trees. Our capital is Grania
Glen; it has the biggest marketplace in the realm, where you can
find almost anything for sale. Queen Zoe has ruled our kingdom
for nearly two thousand years. She is believed to be the oldest
elf alive," he prattled on excitedly...

Mulder was only half-listening. His eyes kept wandering around
the table at the other guests who seemed to be mainly focused on
him, like they had been yesterday. When he met their eyes, they
would smile at him and tip their mugs in a salute. Only Tor the
troll was paying more attention to his meal than he was to
Mulder. Maybe the King's choice of Tor as his fighting instructor
was a good one. Mulder just needed to overcome his fear of
trolls.

Tor belched then set his mug down and stood. "Come... Tor begins
your training, Lord Fox."

Mulder looked down at his half-finished meal and sighed, pushing
his chair back. He rose to follow Tor. Skinner's hand on his arm
stopped him.

"Do you want me to come along?" Skinner asked.

"No. You have your mage training this afternoon," Mulder said,
leaning down. He kissed Skinner softly on the lips, then turned
to follow the troll out of the dining hall.

The two elves also abandoned the rest of their meal. They wanted
to watch Fox's training.

"Master Tor, don't you think it would help Fox's focus if he were
to practice in the nude?" Relyo asked.

Mulder glared back at the elf and continued following Tor toward
his and Walter's bedroom.

"No," the troll said, his voice serious. "We don't want Lord Fox
to lose any important body parts. It is best that he practices in
full armor." Tor turned back to Mulder as they reached his room.
"I will inspect the armor that his Royal Highness has given you."

Tor frowned as he examined the light weight chain mail. "This
will allow you to move agilely in combat, but it will not stop a
thrust of the sword or a well-placed arrow. I prefer plated
armor, but you are lithe and would do well with the chain mail. I
shall first teach you how to protect yourself with your shield,
then how to hold your sword." The troll paused looking him up and
down. "I think you would do well with throwing knives, too."

Mulder nodded looking down at the stocky troll. It was obvious
that the creature knew his stuff. "I'd appreciate anything that
you could teach me, Master Tor."

The troll grew more serious. "You need a squire. Has His Highness
chosen one for you yet?"

Mulder shook his head. "I don't think that would be necessary.
I'm quite capable of getting dressed by myself."

"All knights require a squire. Tor recommends his son Jahr. It
will be good training for him to serve one of the nobility. That
is, if you'll accept him as your squire? Most humans are
prejudiced against trolls," Tor said, watching Mulder closely.

"I'm not a noble..."

"But you are. You carry yourself with more poise and grace than
any of the human nobility that Tor has ever lain eyes on. Jahr
would be honored to serve you," the troll said.

Zeyro interrupted, with a twinkle in his eyes. "I can find you
many elves who would be more than willing to act as your squire,
*Lord* Fox."

Mulder rolled his eyes, he could just imagine what he'd be in for
with an elf as his squire. Not wanting to offend Tor, he said,
"That is all right, Zeyro. I think Master Tor's son, Jahr will
work fine as my squire."

Tor smiled or at least as close as a troll could come to smiling.
"I will have Jahr accompany you back to your quarters this
evening. He will be quite comfortable sleeping in front of the
hearth." Not giving Mulder any chance to reply he went on. "Don
your armor and meet me down at the training grounds." Tor turned
and stomped out of the room.

"Wait!" Mulder looked at the two elves nervously. "What did he
mean sleep in front of the hearth?" he asked.

"*Lord* Fox, you just acquired yourself a squire and a title. It
is your responsibility to see that he is fed and given a
comfortable place to sleep. Most squires sleep in their master's
room so they are able to attend to their master's every need,"
Zeyro explained.

"Oh, shit. Walter is going to kill me," Mulder moaned.

Relyo chuckled. "Don't be silly. Sir Skinner loves you too much
for him to take your life."

Mulder glared at Relyo. "If you two wouldn't mind leaving, I
would like to get changed," he growled, having just about enough
of the two small elves.

"He's a bit grumpy, isn't he, Relyo?" Zeyro asked as the two
elves strolled out of the room together.

"Humans are a moody race," Relyo said, following him.

***

Skinner was having greater luck casting spells and moving objects
with his mind this afternoon than he had been that morning.
Blowing up the rock had freed something within him that had been
in the way of him using his mage powers. Pyralis had taught him a
couple of incantations that would be useful when he and Fox were
on their own.

King Pyralis picked up a square leather pouch with a long strap
attached to it and handed it to Skinner. "This is your spell
book, Sir Skinner. In it, you will record all of the spells I've
taught you, and any you may learn throughout your lifetime. The
strength of a mage is what is written in the pages of his spell
book."

Skinner pulled the heavy book out of the pouch. It was hundreds
of pages long and they were all blank. "What are the symbols on
the front cover?" His finger traced the designs.

"Those are the four elements: earth, water, fire, and air. I'll
teach you the powers of all of them. You'll need to learn them if
you are to become a great mage." Pyralis looked toward the west.
"The sun is setting, Sir Skinner; it is time that we call it a
day."

"Thank you for your instruction, Your Majesty," Skinner said,
bowing.

"Jonathan and I would like to invite you and your mate for a
drink in our chambers after the main meal this evening," the King
said.

"We'd be honored, Your Majesty." Skinner bowed again and waited
for the King to depart before he walked toward the palace. His
genitals swayed between his muscular thighs as he strolled
quickly across cold the courtyard. He wasn't as cold as he had
been this morning. One of the lessons this afternoon was a spell
that would keep him warm. Skinner was disappointed when he walked
through the door that Fox hadn't been there to greet him like he
had been this morning. Instead Zeyro stood there with a cloak.

"You are one well-endowed human, Sir Skinner," the elf leered. "I
can't for the life of me see how the pretty Fox can painlessly
accommodate someone as large as yourself."

Skinner blushed as he wrapped the cloak around his large frame.
"You wouldn't happen to know where Fox is?"

"He's still practicing shield techniques with Master Tor," Zeyro
said, looking past Skinner outside as the sun dipped below the
horizon line. "He should be coming inside now. Master Tor never
instructs once the sun has set."

Skinner hurried back to their bed chambers, making it there ahead
of Mulder. The torches on the walls were already lit. He set his
spell book on the desk by the window, then rushed to start the
bath water, taking time to light the candles on the ledge of the
tub. Skinner went to a cabinet and pulled out the bottle of
honeyed wine and goblets he had discovered there this morning. He
carried those back to the bathtub with him. The bedroom door
opened and Skinner turned to face it, smiling as his lover walked
into the room. His smile faded as he took in Fox's totally
exhausted face and slumped body. Then his eyes fell on a young
troll who was carrying a large shield and some chain mail.

"Fox?" Skinner said, setting the wine and goblets down by the
tub. He rushed to his lover's side.

"God, Walter, every inch of my body aches. Who'd have thought
learning to use a shield properly would be such hard work?"
Mulder groaned.

"My Lord, may Jahr help you off with your boots and clothes?"
Jahr asked.

Skinner glared at the squat little troll.

Mulder touched Skinner's arm in warning. "Be nice," he whispered,
then turned to Jahr. "Jahr, this is Sir Skinner, my life partner.
Walter, this is Jahr my squire. He's sorta going to be living
with us..."

"WHAT!?"

Mulder elbowed Skinner in the ribs. "Be nice!" he hissed. "Jahr,
you may help me with my boots."

Jahr set Mulder's mail coif and gauntlets down on the table, then
stood the heavy shield against the wall. Mulder lifted his foot,
and the young troll straddled his leg. He pulled the boot off,
setting it aside and did the same with the other. In the
meantime, Mulder unclasped the chain mail, slid it off, and
handed it to Jahr. The troll was too short to help him remove it.

Skinner stood in the nude, watching his lover slowly strip with
the help of the troll. Mulder had looked magnificent in the chain
mail, black leather boots and the black-quilted leather tunic. He
thought his lover looked like an ancient warrior King more so
than a mere knight. Something about the way his beautiful lover
carried himself was extremely regal. Skinner tried to pinpoint
what it was, but he decided it was the overall package, not just
one feature.

"Walter, don't you think you should turn the water off?"

Mulder's voice pulled Skinner out of the trance he had fallen
into and the large man looked back toward the bathtub. He swore,
and to Mulder's amazement, used his mage powers to turn the water
off.

"Slick trick, big guy," Mulder said, groaning as he removed the
last of his warrior garb from his battered body.

"It's easy once you get the hang of it." Skinner grinned. Then
his grin turned into a frown. A large bruise covered his lover's
right shoulder and another purple mass was spreading over his
upper thigh.

"Do you think I might be able to learn?" Mulder asked wistfully.

"I'm not sure if it is a learned talent or one that you are born
with," Skinner answered distractedly, holding his hand out to
Mulder who limped over and took it. "You're sore aren't you,
baby?" Skinner touched some bruises that ran up the length of
Mulder's left arm.

"Walter, I hurt in places that I never even knew I had," Mulder
sighed as his lover helped him into the hot bath. "Master Tor is
Jahr's father," he said, sinking into the water up to his chin.

Jahr looked around the opulent bedroom. He had never been in a
room more elegant. "My Lord, would you like Jahr to give you a
massage after your bath?"

Mulder smiled at the ugly little troll. He had lost his fear of
the creatures as throughout the afternoon Jahr's father had
relentlessly taught him how to defend himself against any sword
blow with the shield. "Jahr, I'm fine for tonight. Why don't you
get yourself settled in by the hearth."

Jahr bowed, "Thank you, My Lord."

"You've picked up this Lord and squire routine pretty quickly,
Fox." Skinner observed.

"Not really, Walter," Mulder said, moaning as Skinner started to
massage his stiff muscles. "Jonathan came out to see how my
training was going and he filled me in on how to treat a squire."
Mulder smiled. "Jahr is really sweet, isn't he?"

Skinner leaned forward and whispered in Mulder's ear. "He the
ugliest thing I've ever seen. How are we going to have sex with
him sleeping across the room?"

"Looks aren't everything," Mulder said, glancing over at Jahr who
was unfolding his bedroll. "Walter, I asked Jonathan for a
screen, but I think we may have to get used to an audience. Once
we are on the road, there will be hardly any privacy."

"He's not coming with us, Fox!"

"I don't want to argue, Walter," Mulder sighed tiredly, resting
his head on Skinner's chest.

"Tell me about your training? Like how you got this bruise,"
Skinner asked, placing a hot washcloth over the bruise on
Mulder's shoulder.

"A centaur did that..."

"You fought a centaur?" Skinner growled.

"I didn't really fight him. He had a wooden sword and I only had
a shield. Tor needed someone taller to teach me some of the
moves. The centaur's name is Eachann. He is from Feronia, the
same kingdom as the elves, Relyo and Zeyro. I wouldn't mind going
there; it sounds like an interesting kingdom."

Skinner leaned back and pulled Mulder up onto his lap. "I thought
we were going to Frye to ask for Queen Charmaine's help in
getting back home? Are you saying that you want to explore
first?"

Mulder wiggled against the hard muscle pressing into his ass. He
turned sideways so he could rest his head against Skinner's
shoulder. "It's not everyday that an opportunity to explore an
alternate dimension gets dropped in our laps."

"Don't forget that you have a crazy goblin king after your ass,
Fox. I think our main priority should be finding a way to get
back to our dimension..." Skinner's fingers stroked Mulder's
nipples, and he bent down and kissed the side of Mulder's head.

"We can explore as we search for a way back home." Mulder sighed
contentedly, his finger's combing through Skinner's chest hairs.
"Walter, we have to get ready for the evening meal."

"If you rather skip it..."

"No. It's important that we go. Besides, I never got to finish
lunch...I'm starving!"

Skinner's hand crept down and he started caressing Mulder's ass.
"I have a different hunger, Fox," he purred, as his finger probed
his lover's anus. The bath oils had made their skin smooth and
supple, so his finger easily slid inside. Skinner spent several
minutes finger fucking his lover, listening to Mulder's breathing
grow shallow.

Skinner pulled his finger out as Mulder turned and straddled him.

"Do you want me to feed your hunger, babe?" Mulder purred
huskily.

"Yeah, babe, feed me," Skinner sighed.

Mulder reached behind him, grabbed Skinner's stiff cock, and
positioned the head against his aching opening. He looked into
his lover's brown eyes as he bore down, grimacing slightly as the
cockhead popped past his sphincter muscle. Mulder closed his eyes
and rested his forehead against Skinner's as he sank down on the
thick shaft until his ass rested against his lover's full sacs.
He stayed that way for several long minutes, enjoying the feeling
of being filled, and delighting in the sound of his lover's moans
in his ear. He placed his legs on the sides of Skinner's thighs
and wrapped his arms around the broad shoulders.

"Fox, move...you're killing me..." Skinner's hips were pushing
up, trying to get some friction going against his sheathed cock.

Mulder chuckled. "Patience, grasshopper." He pulled slightly off
the large man's cock and sank back down. Skinner sighed
appreciatively. The water splashed up over the sides of the
bathtub onto the marble floor.

Skinner's fingers went around Mulder's hips, and he helped his
lover as he rose and sank back down again. They started to pick
up speed and momentum with Skinner now thrusting up to meet
Mulder each time the younger man sank down. Mulder let out a loud
cry as Skinner's cock bumped against his prostate. It didn't take
long before Mulder's cock was spurting white come between their
bodies. Skinner came moments later, just as Mulder's orgasm was
dying down.

"Hmm, that was nice," Mulder sighed, closing his eyes and resting
his head against Skinner's warm chest. He didn't want to pull off
his lover's cock just yet. He was soothed by its presence inside
of him, they were as one this way.

Skinner's arms wrapped around Mulder, holding him close as he
too, closed his eyes. They stayed that way until the water
started to cool. When Skinner opened his eyes again, he was
startled to find Jahr staring down at them, his beady eyes wide
with curiosity. "Jahr, it's not polite to stare," Skinner said
calmly.

"Jahr apologizes, Sir Skinner. Would you like Jahr to clean the
mess you made?" he asked, indicating the wet floor and burned out
candles around the bathtub.

"Yes," Skinner said, nudging Fox awake.

Mulder grumbled, then sat up straight. He was still straddling
Skinner's lap with his lover's penis still sheathed inside him.
He didn't remember falling asleep. Mulder leaned down and kissed
Skinner then slowly pulled off his cock. A loud grunt from behind
him startled him, and he whipped around to see Jahr with his
mouth wide open, watching him.

"Jahr, it's not polite to stare," Mulder said, echoing Skinner's
words.

"Jahr begs his Lords' forgiveness," the troll said, bowing.

Mulder stood and stepped out of the bathtub grabbing a towel.
"You're forgiven, Jahr, just don't let it happen again." He
smiled slightly at the young troll's attempts not to stare at
him.

Skinner climbed out of the tub after him, and the two men quickly
dried and dressed. Jonathan had found a tunic, breeches, and hose
that would fit Skinner's large frame, until Isaac the tailor
could complete Skinner's and Mulder's new garments. To Mulder's
delight and amusement, his lover's clothes were a rich purple
with gold buttons. When selecting fabric from the samples Isaac
had brought, Skinner had insisted on the boring gray, dark blue,
and black fabrics. Mulder was thrilled to see his lover in a loud
color.

Skinner brushed his hand over the soft velvet fabric of his
tunic, secretly enjoying how the satin lining felt against his
skin. He gazed at his image in the mirror and thought he cut a
fine figure, even if he was blurry. Skinner had been having
difficulty seeing through his glasses over the past day. He took
them off and cleaned the lenses with a soft cloth and placed them
back on, but the image was still blurred. Skinner looked around
the room baffled; it was all blurry and out of focus. Could his
eyesight have gotten worse? He pulled his glasses off, worried,
and glanced over at Mulder, who was sorting through their meager
possessions. He was about to call to his lover and tell him about
his worsening eyesight, when he realized that he could see Mulder
clearly without his glasses. He looked back at his image in the
mirror, which was also clear.

"Fox, is it possible for a person's vision to improve overnight?"

"Not that I know of, why?" Mulder looked up at him. He stood and
carried an intricately woven silver choker over to the desk.

"It's the damnedest thing, but I can see better without my
glasses," Skinner said, setting his glasses on the desk next to
his spell book. He sat in the chair and picked up the fountain
pen and opened the bottle of ink. He was going to record the
spells he had learned this afternoon. He looked at the object his
lover was fiddling with. "What are you doing with that?"

Mulder exposed a small wire. "It's a tracking device, Walter.
Colonel Henderson had intended to use it to find me after I was
abducted through the gateway."

"What do you intend to do with it now?"

"Nothing. I thought, if anyone from our world does find their way
through the gateway, they'd be able to find us if I kept the
device on me." Mulder looked closely at his lover. "Walter, I
liked how you looked in glasses. This is going to take some
getting used to."

Skinner frowned. "You don't like how I look now?"

Mulder bent down and kissed him softly on the lips. "I love how
you look. You're as handsome as ever. Just different. Actually,
Walter, you look quite a bit younger without your glasses."

"Thanks, babe. You're good for my ego." Skinner opened the book
and dipped the pen into the ink. Mulder watched him as he started
to write some strange words down on the page.

"Walter, what are you doing?"

"This is my spell book. I'm suppose to record all the spells that
I learn throughout my life in it. King Pyralis says a mage's
strength is tied to their spell book."

"You've already learned to cast some spells?" Mulder asked,
intrigued.

"Yeah. Watch." Skinner turned to the hearth. The fire had turned
to embers, he recited an incantation and a bright blue blaze
erupted inside the hearth.

"Wow!" Mulder walked across the room to the hearth and stared at
the fire. "What's fueling it?"

"Nothing. It is mage fire. It will last about an hour before it
flickers out," Skinner said, "and I learned a spell for finding
fresh water."

"You have been busy. Are you sure I couldn't learn to cast
spells?" Mulder asked wistfully.

"I could ask King Pyralis if it is possible that you might have
some ability."

Jahr walked timidly across the room, looking nervously at the
mage fire inside the hearth. Of all the intelligent life in the
realm, trolls were the only group that did not have any mages
among their people. "My Lord, Jahr is done cleaning. Is there
anything else that you have for Jahr to do?"

"We are going down for the evening meal shortly. You may attend
to our needs there, then have your dinner with the other
squires." Mulder had watched the squires who had been present at
the two previous meals. They had served their masters, and when
done had taken a seat at the servant's table to eat.

"Thank you, My Lord," Jahr said, bowing. He was enjoying the time
he had been spending with the pretty human. Jahr had been
terrified at first when his father told him that he had squired
him to a human. Humans hated and feared trolls. However, when he
met Lord Fox, he was no longer terrified. Jahr saw only kindness
within his new Lord's multi-colored eyes, and he got a warm
feeling listening to his Lord's musical voice. Jahr wanted to
serve and please his new Lord. The other human, Sir Skinner,
frightened Jahr a little, but he could sense gentleness within
this human, too.

Skinner was cleaning his pen and putting it away when the dinner
bell chimed throughout the palace. It was only their second
dinner here, and already they were falling in with the daily
routine.

Jahr followed a respectable distance behind his two Lords. He
held his head proudly when he walked into the palace's main
dining hall. The royal table ran the length of the room. At the
head sat the King and his life mate. Sitting on the King's right
was his eldest son, Kedar, and next to him were all the other
princes. The seat next to the King's life mate was open, and to
Jahr's amazement, his Lord Fox sat there with Sir Skinner sitting
to his left. Jahr hurried to fill their mugs with honeyed-wine.
He stood behind their chairs and made sure they had only the best
meats and sweetest cakes.

Mulder turned and smiled at Jahr. "Jahr, Sir Skinner and I are
pleased with your service. Go and enjoy your meal with the other
squires."

Jahr was the only troll at the squire's table. All of the other
squires were goblins or elves, they looked at him with envy.

"How did one so ugly become a squire to one of the most beautiful
creatures in the realm?" the goblin Kiaran asked. The whole
palace had been abuzz with gossip about the mysterious humans.
Most of the gossip said they were both royalty from some foreign
kingdom beyond the great ocean.

Jahr looked timidly down at his meal. "My father is Lord Fox's
weapon's instructor."

"Someone like Lord Fox should have an experienced squire to
attend to his needs," Kiaran stated rudely.

"Shut up, Kiaran," Calyr said. He was an elf and squire to Sir
Relyo who was also his uncle. "What is your name, troll?"

"Jahr."

Calyr smiled at the timid troll. "Your father is King Pyralis'
champion troll. You must be very proud of him. If you are as
dedicated to duty as your father, I can see why you were chosen
for such an esteemed position as squire to Lord Fox."

Jahr sat up straighter. "I wish to do my father and my family
proud. It is an honor serving Lord Fox; he is a kind master."

Calyr licked his lips as he glanced over at Mulder. "It must be a
joy to help him undress and touch his warm flesh..."

Jahr blushed thinking back on the intimate scene he'd witnessed
between his two masters. "We must not talk about such things."

"Why not? We are all friends here. We like to discuss our lords.
You take my lord Relyo...he is an awful cheat at cards," Calyr
said.

Jahr shook his head. "It is not proper to gossip."

Calyr looked over to the main table at Mulder again. "I bet he
has a beautiful body... and sacs as ripe as two sweet plums..."

Jahr's eyes flashed dangerously as he growled, "Do not talk about
my Lord in such a manner!"

The elf backed off. The timid troll was more than capable of
snapping his neck with one hand. "I didn't mean any offense,
Jahr."

Jahr backed down, and went back to quietly eating his meal.

***

The Lone Gunmen's headquarters

Scully sipped from the cup of tea Byers had brought her. She
watched as the three men ran the results of the black ops
surveillance of Long Lake, Minnesota through their equipment. She
sighed tiredly, "Guys, it is getting late. If you find
anything... could you please contact me?"

"Sure, Dana. Don't worry. We'll find a way to get Mulder and A.D.
Skinner back," Byers said.

Scully grabbed her bag and walked despairingly down the steep
staircase. She glanced up and down the dark deserted street,
before walking quickly to her car and sliding behind the wheel.
She started the engine and drove off, never seeing the man
lurking in the alleyway across the street from the gunmen's
headquarters.

Krycek stepped out from the shadows, and stared up at the
windows. Illuminated by the glow of the computer monitors.

"Mulder, what have you gotten yourself into now?" he grumbled.

Krycek had been in a foreign prison for the past year and had
only just broken out. He had headed directly for Washington D.C.,
the only thought on his mind was to see Mulder again, if only to
catch a glimpse of him through his apartment window. To his
horror, he had discovered that Mulder had been abducted by the
black ops and then a bigfoot had carried the man he had secretly
lusted after for the past six years, through a gateway into
another dimension. The worst part, he found out that Walter
Skinner had followed Mulder through the gateway and the two men
were lovers. He should have killed Skinner with the nanocytes
when he had the chance.

He sighed. If the gunmen did find a way through the gateway, he
would go and bring Mulder back himself.

***

Kallen The palace at Anlon

Mulder crawled under the covers and laid carefully on the cool
crisp sheets. His whole body ached. The bumps and bruises from
his earlier training were making themselves known.

Skinner climbed into bed behind him and molded himself to
Mulder's body. "Would you like me to rub some more liniment onto
your bruises, babe?" he whispered.

"No. I'll be fine. I've had worse bruises in my life. Just hold
me," Mulder murmured tiredly, scooting back into Skinner's arms.

Skinner kissed his shoulder. "What are you practicing tomorrow?"

"More shield practice. Master Tor said he might let me hold a
wooden sword," Mulder chuckled.

Skinner smiled against his back. Wooden swords. He had been
worried about his lover's safety at the hands of a troll, but he
now saw that Master Tor was taking great care with his student's
safety. "Good night, Fox. I love you."

"Love you too, big guy," Mulder murmured and drifted off to
sleep.

Jahr laid in front of the hearth listening to his two lords. He
was happy. He had secretly enjoyed the envy on the faces of the
other squires that he was Lord Fox's squire. Meeting his father's
proud, approving eyes during the evening meal caused his heart to
soar. He waited until both his lords' breathing indicated that
they were asleep before he closed his eyes and joined them in
slumber.

***

Kallen The palace at Anlon

Five days later.

Mulder deflected the sword blow with his shield. Then with
surprising agility, he spun and flipped backward over his stunned
opponent's head, delivering a death blow. Or what would have been
a death blow if their sword blades weren't covered by rubber
protectors.

Tor clapped loudly. "Very good, Lord Fox. You are a natural
swordsman. Tor was right not to insist on your wearing the heavy
armor. Tor has never seen anyone perform such a move as you just
did."

Mulder smiled. "It was a little something I learned from watching
Xena." It didn't hurt that the gravity was less in this dimension
allowing him to jump higher than back on Earth, he thought.
However, he noticed that though the creatures in this dimension
seemed to be denser in mass, they weren't able to perform similar
feats. It made him feel sort of superhuman.

"This Xena must have been a powerful warrior," Tor said.

Mulder chuckled, but didn't have the heart to tell him that she
was just a television actor. Tor wouldn't have understood anyway.

"I think we shall spend a little time this afternoon with the
throwing knives." The troll motioned for his assistants to set up
the target.

Mulder was getting very good with the knives. He had always been
a top shot in the FBI, and didn't find throwing knives or
shooting a bow and arrow to be that much harder.

Skinner and King Pyralis quietly entered the training grounds.
Skinner was, for once, fully clothed. Pyralis no longer thought
it necessary for his apprentice to practice in the nude. They
stood and watched as Mulder threw four daggers into the center of
the target in a perfect formation.

"He is good," Pyralis observed.

"Fox has always been good at hitting a target," Skinner said,
admiring his lover.

"Master Tor," the King called.

"Your Majesty," Tor said, bowing deeply.

"Mage Skinner is in need of weapon's training. I would like you
to train him in the afternoon." He raised a hand when Tor was
about to protest that he had Fox in the afternoons. "You will be
training Fox in the morning, but he will be spending his
afternoons hunting with me and my men."

Skinner was now the one who protested. "Your Majesty, my mate
doesn't enjoy hunting animals for sport."

"We don't hunt for sport, Sir Skinner. All of our kills are sent
to the kitchens where they are prepared to feed the household."
The King looked the large human in the eye. "This will be good
training for Fox. He will learn to ride a war horse and kill from
its back. To be honest, Sir Skinner, I had my doubts about your
mate's ability to become a warrior. But he has shown
extraordinary skills that have even amazed Master Tor."

***

Balendin The palace at Fergal

King Baldwin accepted the sealed letter from the elf Ango, one of
Grand Mage Zendl's apprentices. He broke the seal and unfurled
the document. His breath caught as he read it, and he turned to
his Queen. "Cali, the time of the prophesy is at hand."

The Queen's eyes widened in surprise. "I've never thought it
would happen in our lifetime, my love." She looked up at the
marble slab that had the prophesy carved into it above the throne
room's doorway.

~ Out of the starlight, the savior shall step. Brave and strong
and tall. His bald scalp shining with the light of a thousand
stars as he does battle against the evil infecting the lands. At
his side, a mighty warrior prince blessed by the Gods in face and
wisdom. His beauty will melt men's hearts and make the fair
ladies swoon.

Along his quest, the savior shall be joined by the three wise
men, a lady of fire, and a cunning green-eyed thief. Together,
they will free the people of the realm from the cruel tyranny and
fear enslaving them. Opening a brave new world, with peace and
contentment for all. ~

"Do you think it could really be him this time, my husband?"
Queen Cali asked. Throughout the centuries imposters have come
forward with shaven heads claiming to be the savior of the
legend. But a few nights in the dungeon usually had stubble
growing back on their scalps. True baldness was almost unheard of
in the realm. The temple priests all shaved their scalps in
worship of the prophesized savior. In addition, some of the
nobility had followed suit throughout the centuries, with dreams
and fantasies that maybe they were really the savior of legend.

"Grand Mage Zendl says that it is he, and that the warrior prince
is with him," the King replied, stroking his blond beard
thoughtfully.

"Where is the savior now?" Cali asked anxiously.

Baldwin reached out and took the petite hand of his blond-haired
queen. "He is staying at the palace in Anlon."

"Oh my, not with the Goblin King Pyralis," the Queen gasped. "My
husband, you must go and rescue him! The goblins will kill him if
they find out who he really is!"

"Cali, my army isn't strong enough to fight the goblins. If this
is the true savior, he will find his own way here, and the
warrior prince will keep them both safe," the King said.

The King's steward stepped into the throne room, bowing deeply,
he announced, "My King, Sheriff Raghnall seeks an audience with
you."

"Show him in," the King said.

A stout man with graying blond hair tied back in a ponytail, and
dressed in black stormed into the throne room. His black cloak
furled out behind him. He was followed by two brutish guardsmen
who were dragging a badly beaten man in irons. "My King, I seek
your decree in placing this poacher to death!"

Baldwin gave an indifferent glance at the bloodied peasant,
befouling his throne room. "Just what was he poaching?"

"He poached a rabbit!" the Sheriff growled.

The peasant cried out, "Please, My King, have mercy I have a
family to feed..."

"Quiet, peasant!" the Sheriff barked, hitting him with a riding
crop.

The King looked angrily at the peasant. "You know the penalty for
poaching is death, yet you did it anyway! Raghnall, hang him
inside a crow's cage along the main road as an example to other
peasants who dare forget their place and steal from their King!"

"Please, mercy!" the peasant cried loudly.

Queen Cali covered her ears. "For heaven sakes, Sheriff Raghnall,
cut out his tongue!"

"At once, My Queen." Sheriff Raghnall turned to his guards. "Do
it!"

One guard forced the man's mouth open, then the other reached in
and yanked his tongue out and sliced it off with a sharp blade
with practiced skill. He tossed it into the fire blazing in the
hearth.

The Queen turned back to her husband as the peasant was dragged
out. "We must make plans to properly greet our savior once he
arrives in our kingdom. Just think, dear husband. Shortly, the
realm will be free of the goblins, elves, and other monsters
infesting it, and we shall be free from their cruel tyranny
forever."

"Yes, my sweet wife, then our kingdom will prosper, like it has
been prophesized." The King smiled, watching as a servant cleaned
up the blood left behind on the floor by the peasant.

***

Liamterra

Mage Mo looked into the reflection pool inside his brother's
keep. Unlike his, it was a large room with plenty of light coming
in through the windows. Mo preferred his smaller dingy room. The
light hurt his eyes, and he squinted as he watched the images in
the water. "The pretty Fox is turning into a fine warrior. Soon
he'll be able to best the greatest knights in the realm."

Grand Mage Zendl looked at the image of Mulder on horseback,
riding along side King Pyralis, and smiled. "He already can, Mo.
I just wish Cy'Lyarian would spend more time following our
savior, Mage Skinner, than the pretty Fox."

Mo smiled. "Cy'Lyarian is infatuated with the pretty Fox. Maybe
you should make him tiny for a night as a reward to our little
Faerie for good service."

Zendl frowned. "Mo, he belongs to Mage Skinner. I will not take
the chance of offending him. If I did, we might never get back
home to Earth."

Mo rolled his eyes, it was a long standing argument between them
what the last line of the prophesy meant. Zendl thought, 'Opening
a brave new world with peace and contentment for all' meant the
gateway to Earth would be opened. He didn't agree. "Very well,
Zendl, we will treat the pretty Fox with reverence."

"Thank you, brother."

***

End of Chapter 2 - Mage Skinner

Chapter 3 - Death from Above and Below