Many days later, after the boys had been taught how the inn worked, they were set to their own tasks considering they didn’t have the money to actually pay for the room or food they were using and eating. Theo was put to helping patrons to their rooms while Tristan was made to serve them as they ordered food and drinks; he was becoming quite good at pouring beer and chopping bread. He never knew how tiring work like this could be since he never actually had to do any of this stuff before. In the last few days, his mind has been taken over with thoughts of what they were going to do to help get him on the throne but with not many solutions to choose between he was stuck in the inn. Of course there was the upside of being stuck here and that was the fact that Theodore was also stuck there but Tristan was fine with that, his crush was becoming more unbearable and he had to bite his tongue more times than he could count to stop himself from telling Theo about his feelings. Though, Theo hasn’t been helping any as he’s been purposely getting closer to Tristan and was letting himself study the prince more than he’d like to admit.

It was all to see if he could be sexually attracted to the same sex, and although he thought Tristan was a handsome man he didn’t think the other men that Tristan gawked at were good looking or handsome. Maybe it was just the prince he was attracted too? He didn’t know, all he knew was that he was very confused – and frustrated.

“Theo, stop frowning like that or you’ll scare away people!” Alissia called as she walked over to Tristan to help him prepare for the day ahead.

Surprisingly, it was only Alissia and Micah that spent all their time working at the inn and only had another two people that came to work every now and then; but Theo was quite in awe at the fact they could run this big place with just the two of them. Micah was in the back kitchen, getting ready to cook the food the patrons order when they come down or enter for the first time.

Today was one of the days that the other workers would turn up and Tristan was nervous about meeting them, in the off chance that they recognise him as the prince even though his hair had grow considerably since he left his home. Though so has Theo’s, his snow coloured hair now hung to his shoulders and he’s been refusing to let Alissia or Micah cut it like Tristan had.

Tristan was brought out of his thoughts when the large doors to the outside world opened, letting in a gust of freezing wind that rivalled against the heat from the fire places in the giant room. Quickly storming into the inn and letting the doors slam behind them were two people; a boy and a girl and although they were shorter than him; they were older than Tristan and they were definitely related; they had the same blond hair with bright blue eyes.

Tristan watches as Theodore’s eyes grow wide as the twins shed off their layers of clothes and both their features come into view; they were both very beautiful people and suddenly Tristan felt territorial over his friend as the girls eyes meet with Theodore’s and sends him a wink. What Tristan doesn’t realise is when the boys eyes wander down his body and back up to his face, Theodore’s body stiffens with distrust and he’s feeling just as territorial, so much he goes over to Tristan and stands beside him with his arms crossed.

“Alissia, Micah! Where are you both?” The guy calls out, coming to lean against the counter in front of Tristan and Theodore giving them both a once over before turning his attention to the red heads that come out from the kitchen with grins.

“Welcome back you two, how was your few days away?” Micah asks, shaking the boys hand while Alissia engulfs the girl in a hug.

“It was absolutely wonderful, although the long trip has worn us both out and we’d like to head to bed as soon as possible.” The girl tells him and smiles towards the white haired man behind the red head.

“Well, you can do that later! We need to introduce you to our newest workers.” Alissia starts, gesturing to the two boys behind her. “This is Theodore and Tristan, they’ll be staying with us for a while. And you two, this is Julia and Justin. They’ve been away for a while but normally work here too.”

“Nice to meet you!” The blonds exclaim at the same time before glaring at each other playfully.

“You’ll get used to that eventually; they’re twins so it’s normal.” Micah explains and Theodore nods while Tristan shrugs and they turn to each other before focusing on the twins.

“Why don’t you two head on up to find yourself new rooms while we continue working?” Alissia says when she notices the slight hostility behind Theodore’s golden eyes. Once the twins were out of sight and they were sure they wouldn’t hear their words, Alissia turns to Theo. “What’s with the glaring?”

“I don’t trust them.”

“Why not? They’ve worked here for many years, they’re harmless.” Micah says, causing Theo to look at him with narrowed eyes.

“I just don’t, there’s something about them I don’t trust.” Theo replies confidently, looking to Tristan for a moment before moving to add more wood to the flames.

“Ever since he told you about the premonition, he’s become so suspicious and closed off. Do you know what’s wrong?” Micah asks Tristan, causing the younger man to look at him with a shrug.

“I wouldn’t have a clue.”

“How’s winning his heart going?” Alissia suddenly asks, making Tristan look down with a sigh.

“He seems to be letting me flirt with him; which is completely different to what it was at home but then he gets all weird and doesn’t talk to me for a while.” Tristan tells her with a wistful look towards the golden eyed boy who is talking to one of the people who are also staying at the inn. A smile breaks out over Theo’s face as he begins talking to an elderly woman and Tristan feels his heart race; he loved the blonds smile more than anything else.

“Maybe it’s a shock to him to be letting a man show his attraction for him.” Micah offers, leaning on the counter with his head in his palm to watch Alissia as she goes over to Theodore when he gestures for her. He’s as love struck as I am. Tristan thinks to himself as they both lean on the counter and watch the red head and the blond help the woman with whatever she needs help with, the princes face growing warm when Theo turns towards him and grins at the brunet. “Give him a little more time and he’ll shower you with affection.”

“You think so?” Tristan asks, rolling his eyes at Theo sticking his tongue out at him.

“Of course, he might not know it yet but he definitely has feelings for you too,” with that Micah walks out the back, leaving Tristan on his own to deal with the customers that want food and drink.

Alissia sticks with Theo for a while after they’ve helped the woman, pulling him to sit at a booth when it was clear no one wanted to talk to them again. He grunts when she shoves him into the leather lined chair and stares expectantly at her until she speaks.

“So how’s it going with Tristan? Feeling anything yet?” She asks and Theo looks down at his hands.

“Well, I guess. I’m not entirely sure what I’m feeling.” Theo answers truthfully and she nods.

“That’s okay, it’s not going to happen straight away but don’t stray from him and don’t let women entice you away from the feelings you’re developing for him,” she tells him and he looks at her for a while before agreeing, staying seated when she gets up.

Tristan stays at the bar until late in the afternoon until Alissia tells him to spend some time with his captain since he was still sitting alone and looking slightly more miserable as the day wore on; so Tristan does just that though instead of sitting in a seat beside Theo, he plants himself on Theo’s lap harshly and effectively startling the blond out of his thoughts as his hands land on the prince’s hips to steady him.

“Don’t frighten me like that!” Theo exclaims, watching Tristan laugh slightly at his expression.

“I didn’t think I’d scare you that much.” Tristan says, grinning widely at Theo.

“Well you did.” Theo huffs and leans back in the chair to put some distance between their faces but not making the brunette get off his lap. Normally he would’ve pushed him away by now but having him this close brought strange warmth to Theo’s chest. “Why are you sitting on me?”

“You looked comfier than the chair.” Tristan tells him, smirking at the smaller man.

“Aren’t you worried about being rejected?” Theo asks quietly and Tristan chuckles, moving off his friends lap into the chair to his right though he leant in to be close to Theo so their conversation was slightly more private.

“I think you might’ve once rejected my advances but lately, you’ve been letting me flirt and be close so I don’t think you’ll reject me.” Tristan answers and Theo looks away for a moment before turning back to the brunet, leaning in so their faces were close bringing a startled gasp out of the other.

“We’ll find out one day I’m sure.” Theo murmurs, his lips catching the attention of the brunet as soon as they move and the blond smirks before pulling away and seeing from the corner of his eyes the twins walk back down the stairs. The girl makes a beeline straight for the two boys while her brother heads over to help Alissia with whatever she was doing, Julia sits in the other seat beside Theo and looks the golden eyes boy over while Tristan crosses his arms over his chest with a huff.

“So, Theodore right?” She asks and Theo turns his eyes from Tristan to her slowly, trying not to glare at her harshly. He nods. “I’m intrigued about your eyes, why are they the colour they are?”

“I don’t know, my mum had the same eyes.” Theo shrugs, looking at Tristan briefly when he stiffens.

“They’re quite amazing,” her voice was beginning to grow lower in tone and Theo raised an eyebrow at her in question.

“What do you want, Julia?” He finally asks her in irritation.

“Isn’t it obvious by now? I want you, Theo,” she answers and Theo rolls his eyes, looking to his friend who is now staring at his hands awkwardly. He looks back at the blue eyed girl with a sneer.

“I don’t have time for you, I’m busy,” he growls out and she looks taken aback.

“You’re just sitting here with your friend.”

“He’s not just my friend, now go away.” Theo’s arms cross over his chest stubbornly as she stands with a huff, turning away with a flourish of long blonde hair and goes over to her brother. The blond male glaring at Theo while the girl talks to him.

“Why’d you do that for?” Tristan asks quietly and Theo spares him a glance.

“Because; maybe my mother was right, maybe it’s time to stop playing around with women.” Theo says truthfully and Tristan has to hold back his grin when the golden eyes of his friend shimmer lightly against the candle at their table.

“Well, never thought I’d hear you say that.” Tristan laughs as Theo shrugs with a chuckle.

“You’ve obviously noticed by now that I haven’t been brushing off your flirting and have been quite welcoming to it.” Theo tells his friend whose eyes widen slightly at the admission, his eyes widening when Theo continues to talk, “I’m not saying that it’s going to happen right here, right now but there might come a time where I welcome you into my life differently to how I welcome you now.”

“You mean…” Tristan trails off when Theo smirks at his nervousness.

“Yes Tris, I mean intimately.” Theo’s eyes blaze brightly for a moment, as if admitting something like that makes his soul shine through his eyes and Tristan feels his cheeks heating at the look in those golden orbs.

What they don’t realise is the four people standing at the bar are watching the two very closely; the twins frowning at their interaction while the red haired couple looked fondly at them. It was clear by the way the two boys were looking at each other that something big was just admitted between them and the older couple couldn’t be happier for them; with everything that has happened to the two, they deserve a little happiness.