Thirteen: Stay Close 

After Floryn made quick work to drag the heavy dresser back over the hole in the ground, him and the prince raced through the dark tunnels. Floryn led the way; hand tightly wrapped around Everett’s thin wrist. He would have fallen over the occasional large stone or rock if it were not for the unforgiving hold Floryn had on him.  

The prince felt as though he was gliding with how elegantly Floryn moved, but the prince’s energy was finite, and he was growing tired rapidly. He could feel his lungs start to burn as he gasped for air, and his legs started a bothersome tremble. His ability to keep going was depleting by the second. 

“How long do we-” Everett heaves, “have to go?”  

The assassin looks back, a glint set in his eyes. It was obvious to him then that the prince would not be able to keep up. He slows his pace until he is jogging slowly behind the prince.  

“What are you— Hey!! Put me down!” The prince flails with surprise as he is lifted bridal style into Floryn’s arms. The act is done so easily and with grace that Everett could have missed it if he were not paying attention. 

It was like he weighed nothing at all!  

“Would you rather keep running, princess?” Floryn says, a purr low in his throat. Everett shuts all the way up, letting out a wince when Floryn leaps perfectly over a rock. Everett nearly flies out of Floryn’s arms. “Hold onto my neck.”  

“O-okay…” Everett wraps his hands around Floryn’s hooded neck. The material was soft beneath his hands, breathable for situations just like this. It bothered Everett that Floryn always seemed to be prepared for every situati0n. He wished he could be more like that. 

With the prince being carried, Floryn gains plenty of speed. So much speed that Everett can hear the wind he leaves behind him. So much speed that it seems unnatural.  

He was an elf, after all.  

“I don’t understand!” Everett starts once they have clearly gotten out of range of the guards. Floryn has slowed his pace considerably, performing a simple jog instead of running at full speed. Everett was sure he could have kept going at that pace if he deemed it necessary, but it just no longer was. “Why would my father send the guards to search for me if he wanted me dead?”  

This question seems to aggravate the elf assassin, and he just shakes his head. His grip tightens slightly on Everett’s legs, who grunts at the pressure. Why did he have to hold on so tight? 

“Sorry.” He breathes, leaning down to set Everett back on the ground. “You can probably walk on your own now, anyways.”  

Everett swipes his hands over his clothes a few times to get any dust off, turning his chin up.  

“Obviously.” He scoffs, not missing the flash of amusement in Floryn’s eyes.  

The tunnel lightens up as they continue walking. A steady, upward slope has begun, and cracks form in the wall that let in dazzling sunlight. Oh, how Everett loved to feel the gentle sun on his skin.  

“Your father ordered me to kill you, but he never stated why.” Floryn begins, taking the lead again and accommodating his speed for Everett’s slower walking. “And... that guard saw us headed for the Noble’s District. It was likely reported to him that I took you there against your will.”  

“He is scared.” Everett says confidently, not able to hide the joy in his tone. “He is ashamed that he does still need me, since that baby is still unborn. I am his only living heir, after all.” Everett pauses. “But then... why order my death?” 

Floryn has nothing to say; he only shoots back a sympathetic look to the prince. It was true, the King’s reasoning for wanting Everett dead made no sense to either of them. And even more confusing, if the King did want his death, why would he send the guards to search for him? Was it guilt? Did he regret his choice to have his son killed? Was the king ashamed that he did love and care for Everett, in an odd, unhealthy way?  

If that was the case, Everett did not want his love. 

⊹₊⋆☁︎⋆⁺₊⋆ ☀︎ ⋆⁺₊⋆☁︎⋆₊ ⊹ 

“So, what can elves do?” Everett asks once they reach an exit to the tunnel. By the looks of it, they had walked through it all day, and now the sun was setting in the sky. It had not felt that long, since Floryn had kept him entertained with idle chatter. It was strange that their conversations filled the space so easily now, when they had only just met one another. Was it normal to form connections so easily with strangers? Everett had no experience with making friends, but Floryn made it so simple. 

“What do you think?” Floryn grunts as he pushes a dead, heavy log back over the tunnel entrance.  

“Can you do magic? Cast spells? Make potions?”  

Floryn scoffs, clicking his tongue.  

“I am an elf, not a wizard, remember?”  

“That means nothing to me when I don’t know what elves do.” The prince says stubbornly, finally deciding to take a look around at where they were. The edge of the Elfswood forest stared Everett back with dagger-like eyes. Why exactly were they here, of all places? He speaks up, voice trembling at the implication that they may have to travel into the woods. “Where are you taking me?”  

“Slynebel.” 

Floryn’s hometown. 

“And this is the place you spoke of, the one you lived in? The one that was dangerous for me.” Everett follows Floryn as he strides confidently towards the forest. Everett hesitates at the edge, remembering the Mushrai. A pang of disgust swirls through his stomach. He did not want to see one of those fungi freaks again. 

Floryn rests a hand on his bow, turning over his shoulder to glance at Everett. He gave him that irritating, longing, sweet, irresistible look once again. Everett pointedly chose to ignore it. Maybe it was a Fae thing, and they just happened to look like that no matter what. 

“It is the largest elf city in the Fae woods.” Floryn admits, almost shyly. “It will be dangerous to travel there, as the forest likes to play tricks on any humans who enter.”  

“The forest plays tricks? How can a forest play tricks?” Everett asks, unconvinced. 

“Did anything strange happen when you encountered the Mushrai?” Floryn leans on a tree, crossing his arms over his chest. He had a patient look in his eyes, a stern one that said, you will understand the danger of this forest before you enter it. 

Everett blinks a few times. 

“Well, the castle did disappear...” He turns away from the elf, embarrassed that he, once again, seemed to forget an important detail such as that. 

“Great, so you seem to understand how careful we must be when traversing the Fae Woods.” Floryn pushes off the tree with one hand, pulling his bow out immediately and stepping over the thickets guarding the edge of the woods. Everett follows him, holding back his complaints as the thorns scrape at his calves.  

“What am I meant to do?” Everett mumbles, feeling as though he must keep his voice low in case any Mushari could hear him. He felt that they likely already had. 

“Stay close to me.”  

The prince’s heart speeds up when he hears that husky, comforting voice mumble back to him. He could do that; he was fairly certain. In fact, it sounded like the easiest thing to do in the world.