Vellen had woken up first. Of course he had, he was too accustomed to getting up before sunrise to train. Only this time, he let himself stay in the inn's bed, and watched Tennet sleeping next to him. 

He had to wake him up. They had to get going, if the prince was to meet his betrothed on time. 

Vellen reached out and brushed a strand of Tennet's long hair out of his face, relieved that that was all it took to wake him up. Tennet groaned and curled up more tightly in the scratchy sheets, pulling the blanket over his shoulders. 

A quiet chuckle escaped the guard. "Good morning." 

"It's still dark." 

"Not quite. We should get going." 

The prince took Vellen's hand in his own. "Just... let us pretend a little longer." 

How could he say no? Vellen conceded and laid back down, letting his prince lean against him. 

"This isn't pretending, Ten. It's indulgence." 

"Whatever the name we give it, we need to let go of it once we reach the capital." 

Vellen used their quiet embrace to knot elegant braids into Tennet's hair. He helped him change into his formal wear, polished his crown, strap on some armor and tie a cloak around his neck. The sword at his side was only decorative, the light in his green eyes replaced by a weariness Vellen wished he could ignore. The guard made sure his own armor was on securely, picked up his halberd and clasped the cuffs around his ears that marked him as the prince's guard and nothing more. 

"All of this feels like we're wearing f*cking costumes," Vellen muttered. "The prince and the guard. That's how they'll see us, how we need to be seen. Titles, and nothing more." 

Tennet sighed and stood in front of Vellen, reaching out to run his fingers on the guard's jaw, tilting his head up so he could catch his gaze. "We're going to have to do a lot of growing up today..."

Vellen took a step back, picked up his bag and left the inn, dropping the coins needed for the room and dinner that night, alongside a hefty tip. The inkeeper was nowhere to be seen, and maybe that was for the best. 

The walk towards the capital was too strained, too quiet. They barely spoke over their shared lunch, too afraid to break into words they'd regret. Only once they were back on the road did Tennet take Vellen's wrist, stopping him in his steps, stroking the inside of it as he had so often. The prince bowed to his guard and lifted his hand, pressing his lips to that spot on his wrist. 

The moment felt frozen in time, until Tennet pulled Vellen into a tight hug. 

"I need you to be my friend today, Vel. You've barely said a word all day. I can't lose the one I've loved from the shadows all my life without my friend there with me. Please don't abandon me before it's time."

Vellen sighed and hugged Tennet back. "I won't. I vowed my presence to your reach, remember? I intend to keep that promise above my discomfort." 

"Then talk to me. About anything at all." 

Vellen spent the rest of the walk talking about anything he could think of. Rumors between some of the guards, stories he found entertaining, tales about flowers that could grant wishes and what his bookshop would look like, had he not grown up to be a guard. From time to time, he glanced over at the prince, and adapted his stories to brighten the smile on his face, or to ease the fear that only became more and more apparent until, there it was. 

They were a stone's throw from the capital's gate. Soon, they would join the main road and people would recognize them both. Fanfares would announce their precence. Tennet's breathing became shallow as he looked at the castle in the distance. Vellen took his hand and exhaled shakily. 

"Do you remember our handmade cabin, Ten? Where we'd play until sunset and hide away from the other kids? Do you remember seeing the castle in the distance and knowing that going back there meant duty, and that our imagination would need to quiet down for the evening?"

Tennet nodded slowly. 

"Remember how it was always okay in the end?" 

"It was always okay." 

"Right. This will be okay, Ten. I never was too far for when you needed a moment, and I still won't stray after you're married. It's my own duty to-" 

Tennet interrupted Vellen's words with an urgent kiss, one that was a little too bruising and desperate. Vellen pulled away, only long enough to realize that 

well,

that was it. 

That was their last moment. 

Midnight would strike too soon, the illusion would fade back into shadow. 

"I lov-" Tennet interrupted him with another gentler kiss. 

"Don't say it. I do, too. But please, don't say it. If you do, I might abandon it all." 

They both knew it wasn't possible. Their home was falling apart, it would be treason of the highest degree. The prince would be a villain, the guard would be executed. 

"I-..." the prince started. "Was that our last?" 

Vellen shook his head. It was time. "Do you want me to do it?" 

Tennet couldn't help but let out a laugh, remembering his guards' same offer years before on his birthday, and even longer ago as children. He nodded slowly. 

Vellen pulled Tennet into one last kiss. Gentle and firm, adoring and awful, all at once. Tennet held the guard's wrists, Vellen held the prince's jaw. They pulled away from each other slowly, at the taste of tears and the need for air. 

"Thank you for joining me, Vel..." the prince managed with a smile, before taking a step back and stepping onto the main road, his head held high, his crown bright on his head. Vellen sighed and started walking, falling into a rhythm a few paces behind him, his halberd ready in his grasp. With each step, their sense of duty settled between them, keeping them apart in every way that actually mattered. 

Vellen barely remembered walking through the palace to meet the princess, nor did he remember introducing himself to her and her guard. All the remembered was catching Tennet's glance as he and the princess were taken to their own quarters, where they were to get to know each other before the betrothal party the next day. His green eyes were steady as he vansihed behind the gilded glass doors. 

The princess's own guards took him out for drinks. They would soon be his new collegues, after all. But their names, their roles, their words all faded into the sound of the crowd. Vellen didn't know how he managed to keep pretending he was fine, but his mask must have convinced them all - not once did they ask if he was okay, as he had hoped. 

Of course he wasn't okay. 

But they had both made vows they couldn't run away from.