After making sure his friend was okay, the group set off; Theodore slouched on the front of Tristan’s horse's saddle with his head leaning back against the brunet's broad shoulder as he was still knocked out. Tristan’s heart was still sick with worry as Theodore had now been unconscious for three hours now and even though he would whimper in pain every now and then, the prince wasn’t sure he was going to recover properly. Though he’d still love him the same amount, nothing could stop him from feeling the way he does for the smaller boy.

Tristan tightened his arms around his friend even though he knew the rope tying them together wouldn’t let the blond fall from his grip, his fists closing tightly on the reins as he steered the horse forward, he was positioned between the two red heads, who led the way and the two magic wielder blonds were behind him; Justin had tied the extra horse to the back of his saddle with some spare rope in case Theodore woke up and wanted it.

No one had spoken for a long time, all of them just keeping to themselves and focusing on where they were going. While Tristan had been washing away the blood from Theodore’s body, the other four had spoken at lengths about what they going to do now that the inn wasn’t safe anymore; especially since they couldn’t pack any food or extra clothes. Thankfully Theodore had just managed to grab the boys armour when he ran from their room; though it didn’t help much since he hadn’t been wearing it during the fight.

Tristan tensed when the smaller male shifted in his arms, one of his hands coming up to rub at his tired eyes. The golden orbs opened to find trees passing them slowly on all sides and warmth all around his body, he panicked for a moment before he shifts his back to the side to meet the prince’s green eyes and feeling his body relax at the relief that flooded through him.

“How did you find me?” Theodore asks quietly, resting his head back where it was and bringing a smile to life on Tristan face as he got more comfortable against him.

“You found us actually, I’m surprised you didn’t fall from the horse but I’m glad you got to us. I doubt you would’ve lasted much longer with your injuries.” Tristan murmurs into the blonds ear, feeling him shudder slightly. Its then that Theo feels his body isn’t sticky with blood and opens his eyes to look at his clothes; he had been completely changed from head to toe, raising an eyebrow he turned to meet the princes gaze and the brunette feels his face heat up at the realisation Theodore was putting together.

“Did you change me?” Theo questions and Tristan nods, his face getting darker at the memory as he thought back to when he had entered the stream.

It hadn’t been flowing fast so Tristan didn’t have to worry about being swept away while holding the bulkier male as he began to tug at his friends clothing; pulling the ripped shirt from his now wounded porcelain skin effortlessly. The other four had moved away to give him privacy when Tristan began to fumble with Theodore’s trousers, feeling his face flush crazily at the thought of undressing him while the blond was out cold.

He’d taken a deep breath before holding the smaller man against his body with one hand while the other worked the button and zipper of his pants, pushing them down Theodore’s hips. His eyes only trailed down the smaller males body once as he washed away the blood from Theo’s legs, seeing some cuts along his thighs. He kept his eyes on his face as he brought the blond against him again, lowering to sit on the muddy floor of the stream.

Alissia walked back over with a kind smile as her eyes stayed locked on Tristan green orbs, she had some clothes in her hands and also a large cloth to wipe any excess water from Theodore’s body so the clothes didn’t stick uncomfortable to his skin. The older woman had helped him dry the blond, wondering how he hadn’t woken up with all the vigorous movements; Tristan didn’t feel awkward about the red head helping him since she was Theodore’s godmother and he could see the sorrow in her eyes when she saw a particularly large slash going from Theodore’s belly button to the top left side of his rib cage; luckily it wasn’t deep, otherwise Theodore would be in serious trouble. They dressed the worse of the wounds before pulling a dark shirt over his head and heading to the horses where Micah lifted Theodore up when Tristan was situated, then tying the rope around them to stop the still unconscious Theodore from slipping out of the princes grasp.

“Why are we tied together?” Theodore’s deep voice brings Tristan out of his thoughts and he smiles lightly at the blond even though he wasn’t looking at him.

“Because you were unconscious and we didn’t want you slipping out of my arms.” Tristan answered and Theodore laughs lightly, though stops at the pain in his side.

“I highly doubt you would’ve let me fall from your grasp but thanks.” Theodore murmurs, leaning his head back as he rubbed his side.

“Would you like your own horse?” Tristan asks suddenly, wondering if he was uncomfortable though he smiles when Theodore shakes his head; loving the comfort his brunette friend was giving him, especially after what he endured back at the inn. He would need lots of attention to feel better.

“Oh, Theodore! You’re awake!” Alissia had glanced back to see a small smile on the young man’s face, feeling a grin take over her features as she slows her horse to be beside them. “How are you feeling, love?”

“Sore and tired but I’m warm and comfortable,” he tells her with a sigh, shuffling his shoulders against the prince’s chest, effectively bringing a sigh on content from the taller boy. The woman leant over slightly and untied the rope, stuffing it into the saddle bag by her thigh and leaning over to run a hand through the blond’s hair, she was feeling very motherly towards the boy after he risked his life for them. He opens his eyes and meets the older woman’s grey eyes, just making out the tears evident in them.

“Alissia, please don’t cry. I’m fine, really I am.” Theodore assures the woman but she sniffles at his words, nodding before pushing her horse to walk up next to her husband and leaving the boys to lean on one another.

They rode for another few hours before seeing a small town through the trees, Micah and Alissia voicing that they would go and grab some supplies for when they stop somewhere to sleep; they were gone for an hour before coming back with some extra clothes, a little amount of fruit and vegetables and also some sleeping matts. Tristan was surprised by how much they got and frown when they explained how they had gotten most of it when he asked; they had stolen some of it. They didn’t take too long to continue going.

The ride to wherever they were going was silent with Theodore drifting in and out of sleep as his body wanted him to sleep so it could heal itself properly but he kept jolting awake at some pains that went through his chest. Tristan was keeping a close eye on his friend as he dozed, his head never leaving his shoulder and his back pressing hard into his chest and he almost felt bad when it got dark and they decided to stop for the night in a very small clearing among the trees.

Theo groaned lowly when the horse stopped and opened his eyes to see why they had stopped, coming to the conclusion that they were stopping for the night since they had travelled the night before to get as far as they could. Theo was thankful it was no longer winter as he waiting for Tristan to get off the horse first, following him down after a moment; they would’ve been a lot easier to track if it was still snowy.

“We’ll camp here for the night and set off early in the morning, here’s a sleeping matt for you all.” Micah states, handing them out to everyone as his wife set out to look for some sticks to make a small fire. She came back with some and put them in a pile, though as she started the process of creating the fire the sticks light up before her eyes.  She looked up to see Julia smiling softly with a small ball of flames in her hand, the red head nodded her thanks as she saw the two young boys setting their sleeping matts behind a large bush; obviously for a little bit of privacy and copying their lead, she set hers and Micah’s behind one too. The twins copy them as well.

They all huddle around the fire, eating the fruit and sitting in silence until Julia looks at the golden eyed boy who was happily resting against the brunet as he stared into the fire.

“Theodore, what happened back there? Is he dead?” She asks and Theo feels his heart skip a beat, Tristan placing a hand on his knee as he slightly feels his nerves. Theodore hardly got nervous.

“I spared his life.” Theo murmurs and they all frown at him, the blonde girl leaning forward.

“What do you mean? Why?” She asks again and he leaves his gaze on the fire.

“I had a vision as I contemplated ending his life, I don’t want to divulge what it was just yet but I have my reasons for sparing that man’s life.” He answers quietly, watching Tristan’s large hand squeeze his knee softly in understanding.

“That is ridiculous! You spared him just because you had a vision?!” She exclaims and Theo very slowly lifts his gaze to meet her blue eyes, she inhales sharply at the cold glare set into the golden colour.

“You will not question what I do. If I’m not mistaken, you two are only here with me because you were told of a vision that a seer had to be by my side to help with this fight. I have never had a vision before and I trust them.” Theodore states, his lips in a tight line but Julia scoffs against her better judgement and rolls her eyes.

“It wasn’t just a vision for us; it was a prophecy just like yours was to protect the prince,” she says and he shakes his head, his anger coiling its ugly head in his body as smoke slowly escapes his nose and mouth. Tristan watched in fascination, he had seen this happen at the inn and wondered why it happened. Did it have something to do with his fire powers? He looks kind of like a dragon.

“I don’t care if you agree or not, it was my decision to make and I spared the man’s life for my own reasons.” Theodore replies, his voice stern and left no room for arguing though Julia did obviously not want to give up, the other three were glancing between the two as Tristan kept his eyes on his friend. He could see his hands slowly encasing with the fire the longer Julia argued and despite his better judgement to the pain that would definitely come, he wrapped his hand around Theodore’s and squeezed, that brought everyone’s attention to the fire that was encasing the blonds hands. Tristan kept a brave face as he tried his best to ignore the pain and Theodore desperately trying to remove his hand from his grip, it was like he could sense the brunets pain, as the brunet fixed a glare on Julia when she looked a little envious.

“Don’t question Theodore on decisions he makes when they are his to make, if he wanted to spare the man’s life he can. Who cares? Your destiny is to follow him and help him protect me, not ridicule and be a bitch because he did something you don’t like and is choosing not to fuck you.” Tristan tells her, his eyes blaring coldly at the girl. Everyone was speechless at his words though Theodore felt a spark of pride in his heart and smiled lightly before breaking into a grin and producing a laugh that echoed into the darkness.

Julia looked angry and hurt at his words but couldn’t help agreeing as she looked down at her hands, looking back up to see Tristan still watching her with his green eyes that matched the grass under them.

“Okay, I think it’s best we all get some sleep. We will leave when the sun wakes us.” Micah says, feeling the uncomfortable air return when Theodore’s laughs quieten into giggles. Tristan stands and pulls the blonde to his feet, dragging him to their mats and pushing him down to lay on them, plopping himself down beside him; they could hear the distant sounds of the others moving to their mats once the fire is put out though after a while of laying in silence Theodore rolls over to face the prince, a mischievous smirk on his face.

“So did you undress me?” He asks, watching the prince’s cheeks flush dark red.

“Yes, I had too; you had blood all over you Theodore.” Tristan tells him and watches the blond closely. “I undressed you in the stream at the clearing your horse brought you too, I washed the blood from your body and with Alissia’s help dressed your wounds, dried you and dressed you.”

Theo’s cheeks darkened at the thought of the woman helping dress him but he was thankful since she was fast becoming like a mother to him.

“Thank you.” Theo murmurs, shuffling his mat closer and setting his head next to Tristan’s. They gazed at each other for a long moment, Theodore’s hand lightly grasping the brunet’s fondly as they lay in silence again. He dragged his fingers softly around the prince’s hand, bringing them up his arm until they travelled across his shoulder and into his fluffy brown hair, his fingers curling into the strands tightly. Tristan’s breath caught in his throat at the touch, leaning in to rest his forehead against Theodore’s and at the same time they closed the space between them; the lips connecting in a soft kiss while Tristan brought his hands to Theodore’s hips. Careful not to disrupt any cuts, he lets his hand pull the blond closer to him and braved to make the kiss deeper by teasing the blond’s mouth open. They continued to kiss for what felt like hours but was mere minutes before pulling away, Theo’s hand leaving his hair to find his hand again to grip it gently as he slid close enough to lay his head on the taller boys chest. They were asleep not too long later, Theodore feeling his body pulling him into a very deep sleep while Tristan dozed lightly in case they were attacked.