The walk wasn’t as bad as Lily expected. It was easy enough to see where he stepped with the light he created. Even still, he kept a healthy distance between himself and the river. For both their sakes. 

He fidgeted with his sleeves as they went on in silence. Every little noise, from the river to the wind, was deafening. He couldn’t help but glance at the other on his right. Again, and again, and again.

“Aren’t you going to ask me more about what happened?” Lily blurted out. His whole body shivered.

Wills flinched. Their head swiveled to him with wide eyes. “Oh- honestly I was waiting for you to talk. I figured you would when you were ready,” they admitted. Their gaze drifted. “It’s alright if you’d rather not right now. I understand.”

He grit his teeth, sighing through them. He rubbed a hand against his face. “It was going so well, you know? Sure my mother was… my mother about me going out. But she left me alone about it.” He thwacked a rock straight into the river. The splash resonated. “She sent Delphine to see what I was doing? Didn’t trust me to be honest? She can’t be serious. It’s ridiculous.”

Willis hummed, “Is she usually like this?”

“Of course not! At least not distrusting me. She’s always breathed down my neck over everything,” Lily explained. He gripped his sleeve like his life depended on it. “Things were going well. I like coming out here, seeing you. I don’t- I don’t want to lose that.”

They smiled at him. “Aw, you care about me.”

“That is not what I said.”

“Yeah sure,” they said. He resisted the urge to smack their arm when he caught them rolling their eyes.

“I care about the freedom,” he retorted. The trees around them began to thin out as he continued. “I care about the stars and the moon and the ocean and- and…” his words got caught in his throat. Focus drifted to their arrived destination.

Their guiding river blended into the calm waters of the ovular lake. Its expansive waters reflected the glittering stars crystal clear. Even more so than the ocean. “It’s huge.”

“Well yeah. Never look at a map before?” Willis teased.

He bumped them lightly, scowling, “Of course I have! It’s different in person. A lot different.”

“It is. Come on,” they tilted their head, beckoning him. He followed them around the shore.

“Where are we going? I thought this was what you wanted to see?”

“It is! But we need somewhere to sit,” they nodded ahead to the lone deck near the center. “Wouldn’t hurt to sit somewhere that isn’t the sand.”

Lily frowned, “You’re joking.”

“No?” 

They came up to the deck. The wood was worn and weathered. Covered generously in green. There were a few holes scattered throughout. “You’re joking,” he repeated, gesturing to the mess in front of them. His boot came down hard on the withered surface. It rattled. “We step out there and we will be going for a dip.”

“You can’t swim?” they asked in that sickeningly sincere tone.

He scoffed, “Of course I can! But if my mother catches me coming home soaked I won’t hear the end of it. She has always been weird about me being around water. Plus, I’m supposed to be on a walk.”

They shrugged, “Maybe you got caught in the rain.” Despite his reservations, they stepped forward carelessly. The wood below creaked.

“Wh- Willis!” Lily snapped. His claws found their arm, yanking them back. The light he held dissolved. They yelped, stumbling. “No one has touched this deck in 50 years! Maybe longer. Don’t be- …you know.” He bit his tongue. Be nice.

“It hasn’t been that long!” they said. Though after a moment they added, “Probably.” Their eyes wandered down to where he held them. Looking over his hands. He swallowed roughly.

“Just-” he huffed, letting them go. “Give me a moment.” 

He stepped to the start of the deck, taking a deep breath. Hands held out, warmth spread throughout his body. It gathered in his palms as he crouched down. Fingertips pressed down, the magic shot through the boards in a sharp wave. His ear twitched at their gasp. He stood wordlessly, brushing his hands off. 

“What did you do?” Willis asked. They towered over him, leaning directly into his personal space.

He leaned back. Their faces were far too close. “Re-enforcement spell. The wood will be stronger for the next few hours so it can hold our weight.”

“Oh! That’s smart. I don’t think I’ve seen a spell like that before,” they said. Once more they walked onto the pier. It made a small noise of protest, but didn’t complain beyond that. They held their hand out to him. “Come on.”

Lily stepped out, eying the aged wood. It made no shift beneath him. Still, he tread lightly.

A snort caught his attention. “Do you not trust your own spell?” the other Prince asked. “Come on.” They trotted to the edge, head held high. Their steps thumped loud and clear.

“I do. I’m simply being cautious,” he defended himself. Following at a casual pace. “No one is perfect at spell casting. It also left me a bit tired. I’ve never used it on an object this big.”

“Perfect time to sit down then!” They took a seat, legs dangled over the edge. They patted the space next to them. A grimace fell over their face, ears pinned back.

“What?” he asked. He sat down, legs crossed.

“It sure does feel exactly how it looks,” they said with a look of pure disgust.

“Gross?” he offered.

“Yes. Very gross.” They wiped their hand on their dark pants.

That aside, Lily took in the view. Stars peaked through the clouds to shine down on them. The moon was new, yet he could still catch a glimpse of its shadowed surface. The waters reflected it all. “I see why you wanted to come out here.”

“It’s nice right? Calming,” Willis said. They leaned forward. 

He hissed, putting a hand to their chest to push them back. “It’s like you want to fall in.”

The other didn’t say anything, instead looking at him with an odd expression. He felt warm. “What?”

“Nothing,” they said. Thankfully shifting their attention elsewhere. Their face then painted a different picture. Lips pulled in a tight line. “Will you have to stop coming out here?” they asked suddenly.

He flinched. “Why would I?”

They shrugged. “It sounds like you’re pretty close to getting in trouble with your mother. I don’t want to be the cause of that.” Their expression turned grim, eyebrows furrowed. Hands held tight. They opened their mouth, but no words came out. He waited. Eventually, they got it out, “I know how people can be sometimes.”

What’s that supposed to mean? He brushed the question aside. “If I get in trouble, it will be my own fault,” he assured. They didn’t seem convinced. Still, he continued, “I won’t get caught that easily. I wouldn’t be doing this if I wasn’t prepared to lie my way out of things.”

“Okay,” they sighed. “Just… be careful.”

He nodded in return. “I’m always careful.”

That got a weak chuckle from them. “I’ve noticed.”

He was tempted to huff and puff about the comment, but he set his ego aside. There’s something more important to do. “So, I know we haven’t really gotten the chance to talk tonight, but I should probably head home soon,” he admitted, eyes on the water. He took a deep breath before his next words. “Before I do though I just- I want to apologize for the other day. I’m sorry for yelling at you and for being mean.”

All he got in return was an owlish stare.

He must have made a face, as they composed themself quickly, shaking their head. “Like I said before, it’s okay. Not really a big deal, it happens. I know you didn’t mean it.”

“You don’t know me,” he replied sharply. It felt harsh to say, but it was the truth nonetheless.

“That’s not true,” they countered just as fast. He turned to them, and they met his gaze. He shivered. “Sure I don’t know your deep dark secrets or anything but… there’s plenty I know about you Lilium.”

“Like what?”

They leaned back, humming. They clapped their hands together. “Well, your name is Lilium. You’re named after stargazer lilies. You’re 20 years old, born on the summer solstice. A prince just like I am.”

He frowned, “Those things don’t count-”

“You like to draw nature. Especially things from your garden,” they continued, cutting him off swiftly. “You like to stargaze. A lot of things seem to scare you. Even if you say you’re just being cautious.” 

“But you’re open to being scared, or else you wouldn’t be out here. You’re competitive and seem to find that a little embarrassing. You think you’re mean, even though you’ve apologized several times for something you didn’t need to.” They paused for a moment, “Should I continue? I could keep going.”

Lily huffed. His whole body buzzed with warmth. “No, I think you made your point.” He crossed his arms.

Willis’ expression softened, “I might not know you that well. But I know enough that I’d like to get to know you more if you let me.” He added quietly, “I might not be freedom, or the moon, or the stars, but I think I could be a close second.”

I’m going to be sick. “You’re such a sap,” he muttered. His jaw ached. Words were lost. It would be proper to respond. Say anything else. Instead, he stood up. “With the whole thing going on with my mother it might be better to wait a bit before we meet again. How about a week from now?”

At that they looked ready to argue. Yet all that left their mouth was, “Alright. Same time? Same place?”

He nodded.

“I look forward to it.”

He gave them a stiff pat on the shoulder. “Goodnight Willis.”

They smiled, “Goodnight Lilium.”

Lily tread lightly down the eerie halls of the castle. He resisted the urge to run. The more noise he made, the more attention he would draw. I just need to get to my room. Simple. An easy task. He turned the corner.

Damn it. There his mother stood, right next to his door. He could cut the tense air around her with a knife. Stay calm, he hissed to himself. He approached as naturally as he could. Easier said than done.

She didn’t turn right away. Yet when she did her sharp yellow eyes pierced straight through him. “Where have you been?” Ever straightforward.

Stay calm. “I was on a walk,” he explained, far less confident than he liked.

If Clover noticed, she didn’t say. “You’ve been going on a lot of those.”

Stay calm. “I want to enjoy the night and weather before it gets too cold.” He stopped in front of her. 

She moved suddenly. He couldn’t help but flinch when she slipped past him. “Don’t stay up too late. You look like you need the rest.”

“Okay.” It took all his strength not to run and slam the door of his room.