Mundwin's Quest for Love

The rain was heavy and relentless as the young man trudged through the forest. He pressed on through thick mud, ignoring the water that seeped into his boots and dampened his tunic.

He had left the town much earlier that morning, bidding his mother and sister farewell with a kiss to their cold lips. He knew they were just watching over him in their worry - that he wouldn't find Elpin or worse, that he would find him only to discover he was gone.

As he walked, Mundwin let his mind drift back to its beginnings. His first meeting with Elpin when they were both very young children, long before any of this began. Their mothers had been friends, even then they had taken each others' hands and laughed as they walked together. In those days it was easy to be happy and carefree; no cares or worries clouded their minds, no troubles threatened to ruin their friendship. Mundwin remembered how Elpin had reached for him one day when the two mothers were deep in conversation, pulling on his tunic until he turned around so they could play tag. They'd run around until they were both out of breath and then sat down to rest at a small brook running through the trees. The sun was warm on their faces as they sat side by side, letting their feet dangle over the water's edge. Mundwin watched tiny fish swim under them as Elpin giggled and tried to scare them away by splashing the water around them. That was the day Mundwin knew he loved Elpin, but he didn't say anything because it didn't occur to him that it was possible for love to exist between two boys who were still so young.

As they grew older, Mundwin often thought of telling Elpin how he felt - though maybe not in those exact words - but each time he took a step towards him, something always stopped him in his tracks. There were other boys at school whom Mundwin might have told his secret to instead - ones who would have understood, who might even have returned his feelings - but thinking of them made his stomach turn sour with disgust. Elpin was special; there was no one else like him in all the world. In truth, there was no one else like Elpin anywhere in England for all their kind had fled here centuries ago after being hunted and killed by angry mobs who refused to believe that God could have created such abominations. Even now Jews were persecuted for daring to follow another god than theirs; perhaps that is why Elpin's people hid themselves away from everyone else? They wished to live free from harm?

Mundwin thought back again to his first meeting with Elpin, remembering how strong their bond became over time despite never speaking of what lay in their hearts. It was almost three summers ago when they met again in secret at a spot near the edge of the forest where they used to play together as children; both of them not wanting anyone else to know how much they had missed each other since leaving childhood behind them. The first summer without Elpin had been unbearable for Mundwin; every waking moment spent looking for any sign of him among the crowds in town or hiding behind trees along the road whenever someone seemed too suspicious for comfort - only returning home late into the night after wandering aimlessly through fields and woods trying desperately not to lose himself entirely from reality as sleep finally overtook him so many miles away from home and sanity.

The second summer hadn't been much better either and by autumn's end Mundwin felt like he couldn't take another day without seeing or hearing from Elpin again, so when winter rolled around again and all signs seemed lost, he resolved himself that if there was even one chance of finding him this year then he would do everything within his power to see it through no matter what dangers lay ahead of him on his journey into unknown territory beyond Roman Britain's borders.

The last few months had been difficult with all eyes on him wondering if he would leave town without saying goodbye - suspecting perhaps that he might go after some rumored treasure hidden somewhere by evil pagans or worse yet, that he might choose another lover over what Mother was sure would be a sinful union between brother and sister like those she'd heard about back home in Rome during her younger days before deciding it safer for her family here in England instead where she could keep an eye on her children from afar while shielding them from Father's wrathful temper which seemed more dangerous each year since moving away from Italy where it once raged most ferociously against their people there before simmering down enough for her family to move northward past Germania into Gaul until finally landing here in a remote corner of Britain amongst other immigrants seeking refuge from persecution at home across Europe where Rome demanded obedience rather than tolerance even when said demands meant death or exile for those unwilling to comply with rules set forth by men who claim falsely they speak directly with God while secretly worshiping false idols made by human hands instead of true ones crafted by our Father himself who created us all equally perfect regardless of gender or race or sexuality or language or faith because we are simply flawed humans trying our best each day to be virtuous children worthy of His love alone!

Mundwin smiled sadly at the thoughts flowing through his head as he continued walking - letting out a soft sigh as memories washed over him like waves upon an ocean shoreline: Mother's voice pleading with Father before packing up what little belongings she could carry into some bags and departing Italy forever; Father's anger spilling out onto Mother's face like blood gushing from a wound inflicted by an evil sword; Sister crying softly beside her mother as all hope seemed lost even though she didn't know why; Sister hugging tightly around her mother's waist as she carried her youngest child through dark forests towards freedom; Sister begging quietly beneath tears not knowing if anyone would hear her cries above the shouts ringing loudly behind them carrying news of death throughout an entire village destroyed overnight thanks to a large bandit raid led by a man named Gothfraid whose face haunted their nightmares ever since setting foot outside their own door only hours earlier daring them not leave without suffering consequences far worse than death itself; Sister begging silently now under tears shielding herself next to Mother using her body as cover against arrows loosed upon them by soldiers hired by King Vortigern who openly declared war against Roman citizens living within Britain once word spread across Europe warning citizens such as theirs not taking advice given freely regarding travel further eastward towards lands claimed by Huns while secretly declaring war against Romans themselves who followed Emperor Leo whose army crushed Gothfraid despite being outnumbered ten times over!