Wren searches for any sign of Artemis’ capture. He traverses the woods until daybreak where he morphs into his disguise to join the villagers. Among them, he asks questions about the kind boy from at the meat shop and where he went. The first few didn’t know, but then a woman replied, “The king’s soldiers escorted him out of the shop yesterday. I didn’t hear what they were saying, but he went with them along with his fiance.”

...fiance? Who--MAGGIE!

Wren isn’t sure if he’s furious or somewhat relieved to know Artemis isn’t alone among the knights. Why couldn’t it have been someone else? Like a kind old woman with an affinity for cats? That isn’t what’s most important. If knights arrived to take Artemis then they headed east to the ports. The king’s men would never take the Jolly Road. The rich travel by sea.

Wasting no time, Wren excuses himself. His disguise dissipates once he’s far enough away from the village. Wind howls around his form and beneath his feet. The wind gives him speed like no other, bursting through the trees or into the sky. No horse, carriage, or ship can outrun him. He’s the breeze that whistles in the west come morning and howls in the east by noon.

The eastern port is a hellscape to Wren. Too many mortals crammed into a city wreaking of sewage and despair. The poor beg on street corners while merchants spend endless gold in the brothels. Once Wren would eagerly mask a disguise to join in the festivities, but he has far more pressing matters. Searching for Artemis among the chaos of sounds and smells isn’t so easy. Eidenswill is small and the woods are his. Finding Artemis there has always been easy.

Donning his disguise, Wren walks the docks in search of the king’s sigil. He’s fairly certain he remembers what it looks like. Then again, he has slept for four centuries. The royals may have decided to revamp. Not that it’d help. Mortals have ghastly taste.

If the ship carrying Artemis sits at the docks, Wren can’t find it. There are dozens unloading their cargo or loading passengers while even more wait in the harbor. Standing still, Wren heaves a long breath and whispers upon the breeze, “Where is he?”

The wind hums. Sails suddenly billow from a powerful gust that crashes over the docks, then out to sea. Faster and faster until it returns with news. Artemis’ ship has already set sail. The wind will get him there before nightfall.

☾ ⋆*･ﾟ:⋆*･ﾟ:✧*⋆.*:･ﾟ✧.: ⋆*･ﾟ: .⋆ ☾

Artemis learns he isn't built for water. The ship rocks, so does his stomach. He has already thrown up twice and sees a third time in the future. His body misses firm ground rather than the constantly moving boards beneath his feet.

Maggie sleeps, having passed out not long ago. She tried to stay awake, but they had a long and unusual journey. The soldiers never spoke to them or offered any form of explanation during the day and a half of travel to the docks. Maggie and Artemis kept each other company. In the beginning, he was upset that she put herself in harm's way. Now he’s somewhat grateful to have her at his side. It’s comforting to have someone to speak to. Trivial conversations set aside the confusion and slight horror of their capture.

Artemis’ stomach surges once more. He clutches the bucket for dear life, leaning over like he’s about to hurl. The door squeaks open. He raises his head to request a soldier to bring him bread or something to set on his stomach so he doesn’t dry heave. It isn’t a soldier in the doorway though.

“Wren?” Artemis whispers. Is he dreaming?

Possible-Hallucination-Wren shuts the door. His cold gaze lands on Maggie’s sleeping form, then fixes on Artemis.

“Are you…” Artemis shivers, either from the Maybe-Hallucination or his upset stomach. “Is it really you or is the sea getting to me that badly?”

Wren rests on the balls of his feet. He presses his palm to Artemis’ forehead. The sea sickness is gone instantly.

“What do you think?” Wren asks, smirking.

Artemis sets aside his bucket to throw his arms around Wren. The prince grunts, but doesn’t hesitate to return the gesture. He presses a kiss to Artemis’ neck, whispering against the goosebump covered skin, “When I arrived, you were gone.”

“They showed up without warning. I couldn’t have stayed even if I--” Artemis quiets when Maggie stirs. Wren waves his hand at her and she somehow goes more limp, sleeping like the dead.

“What did you do?” Artemis asks, pulling back to look Wren in the eye.

“Ensure we won’t be interrupted,” he replies while rolling his eyes. “I made sure she’d stay asleep until morning, like I did with your mother. She’s fine, although… I should make her sleep for a century.”

“Wren, we talked--”

Wren snarls. “Fiance.”

Artemis’ lips pucker like he sucked on a lemon. Wren falls back onto his butt, crossing his arms like a petulant child. He sticks his nose in the air when adding, “I never took you as the type to cheat.”

“Maggie said what she could to get them to agree to letting her come along,” Artemis explains, scooting closer so his knees touch Wren’s. He grasps the prince’s hands to hold between them. “She didn’t want me to be alone and I’m glad I’m not.”

“Did you think I would leave you alone?” Wren asks, his voice laced with dejection.

“No. I thought you’d find me one way or the other, but I didn’t know when. I couldn’t contact you either.” Artemis tugs the prince’s hands to get him to look at Artemis. “You don’t happen to have a magical leaf that can let us communicate long distances, do you?”

“That’s ridiculous. I’m not some fairy godmother.” Wren scoffs.

“How did you find me?” Artemis asks.

“When I returned, you were gone. I searched nearby. There was no sign of another fae capturing you, so I asked around the village. I learned you were taken, traveled to the docks, and the wind found you out at sea.”

Artemis isn’t sure he can wrap his head around being followed by the wind.

“Why are they taking you to the king?” Wren inquires.

“I’m not sure. They showed up saying they were searching for a boy who could traverse the Grim Woods.” Artemis rests a hand over his eyepatch. “If that’s the case, I can only guess the king wants to use my ability for something.”

“Something ludicrous, no doubt.” Wren runs his fingers through his hair. His eyes darken, gazing at nothing in particular, then peering at Artemis. It makes him shiver. This time it has nothing to do with sea sickness.

“I will come to the capital with you,” Wren says sternly. “I’ll get rid of one of the guards and take his place.”

“By get rid of, you don’t mean…?”

“Kill him? Of course. What else would I mean?”

Artemis frowns. “Can’t you knock him out and stash him in a closet?”

“On this ship that will be checked at the docks?” Wren argues. “No. He’ll be discovered.”

“...bewitch people to make them think you’ve always been a part of the crew?”

Wren grinds his teeth. “You are making this exceedingly difficult.”

“I don’t want someone simply doing their job to die because you want to steal their pretty face.”

“Who says I’ll go for someone with a pretty face?”

Artemis stares at Wren for a long moment, enough for Wren to huff and grumble, “As if I’d take on a form beneath me.” Waving his hand dismissively, the prince adds, “So be it. I’ll glamour a soldier to hide away until we leave. He’ll be very confused, but unscathed by the end of this. Is that acceptable?”

“Yes, thank you.”

“I’d tell you to thank me with a kiss but your breath could be used as a weapon.”

Artemis scowls. “I got seasick.”

“I saw that.” Wren stands and brushes off his trousers. “I’ll return with a disguise and something to rid you of that rancid breath.”

“Can’t you--” Artemis twirls his hands. “Magic it away?”

Wren doesn’t reply. He disappears into the ship. Chuckling, Artemis grabs a pillow and the extra blanket from the bed to lay out on the floor. He rests there, waiting patiently for his prince’s return.

☾ ⋆*･ﾟ:⋆*･ﾟ:✧*⋆.*:･ﾟ✧.: ⋆*･ﾟ: .⋆ ☾