There's only one way to become champion

Gannicus pushed his hair back and worked it into a braid. He'd forgotten anything to tie it back with but he wasn't inclined to go back to the house just to find something. The braid would hold a while, and when it gave out he would braid it again. Maybe he would find a long lost piece of baling twine if he was lucky.

Aster and Bran were out and about with him; they had spent the day roaming the property and working on the barn. It was his day off; he knew to expect Krem home before Hild based on the notes left on the counter. Aster was sniffing at rodent holes but Bran was laying in a puddle of sun.

By now he'd patched all of the gaps in the wall of the barn; the sun was coming in through the open windows. They could be pulled closed and latched at will, but airing the building out still seemed a good idea, at least until the weather turned.

Most of his work today had been making sure the loft was sturdy, repairing gaps and structural issues up there so that they might store hay when they had livestock. Gannicus had never imagined a settled life like this for himself, not after the Romans took him. But this was what he might have had if not for that. Perhaps not a house as large or land like this, but a quiet home and a herd of to keep.

Aster rushed by him. Gannicus turned and he smiled when he saw Krem standing in the doorway of the barn.

Gannicus knew the holiday was important to a lot of people in Darrow. It fell about the same time of year as the Roman Saturnalia and it was not far from the solstice his people had celebrated. He knew, now, that people often exchanged gifts this time of year, and he'd thought for quite some time about what he might give Krem and Hild.

His mind kept turning back toward the same thought, despite the weight it might bring. He would just have to be clear about his intentions, especially since he imagined Hild and Krem would both be familiar with what he wanted to give.

For Hild he had a lighter torc, the ends crafted into ash leaves; he also had a bracelet for her. Krem's torc had loose spirals on the ends.

He only hoped the reception went well and took a breath before he knocked on the door.

Krem had been a dangerous distraction and a delicious sort of motivation all night. Gannicus came to fight: he was good at it, and he reveled in it, and for a few moments at a time he could forget all his confusion and sink into something so deeply familiar.

It didn't hurt that he'd done some drinking before even showing up to the gathering.

They watched each other all night, sharing in triumph or defeat. And at least once they'd fought each other - though Gannicus could hardly call it that anymore. They had wrestled, and it had nearly turned into something else right there in their chosen arena. But they parted, drew out the moment, the excitement of watching each other.

So when Krem caught him after a victorious bout, Gannicus went with him, eager. He grinned, bright and a bit bloody, and pressed hard into a kiss. His lip was split but that hardly cooled his passion.