The knock on the door that morning had been expected. An inevitability. Still, it didn’t stop Lily from nearly jumping out of their chair when it came. He had been at his desk. Idly doodling nothing as he waited.

A knock was akin to footsteps. Distinct from person to person. The speed, the force, the volume, it all varied. They could recognize their parents’ easily. Yet, the parent at her door now was not the one she expected.

It came again, more hurried. She winced. “Coming!” she called, standing up. She wasted time fixing up her hair in the mirror before she finally went over and cracked open the door. 

“Morning sunshine,” Solas greeted her, alone. A warm look on their face. “I was worried you weren’t awake yet.”

Lily sighed through her teeth. She opened the door more, “Sorry, I was drawing at my desk. Very focused.” She straightened up, keeping her expression as casual as possible. “Did you need something?”

“You weren’t at breakfast this morning.”

He bit back a groan. “I woke up late. I wasn’t all that hungry,” he explained.

They chuckled softly, “I guess that makes sense. In all seriousness, I wanted to talk. Care to take a walk with me to the garden?”

There it is. “Sure, give me a second.” She shut the door, striding over to her boots. I know what to say. Don’t panic. She slipped them on. Talking to Solas was easy. She returned to the door. The two walked down the empty hall without another word.

Lily held her hands firm. Resisting the urge to dig her claws in. A question gnawed at her mind. In spite of the tightness around her throat, she voiced it, “Are we just talking, or will mother be joining us as well?”

“Just us. Your mother is busy with something,” Solas told her. 

Oh thank the stars. Her shoulders slumped. She was grateful to be walking behind them, out of sight. “Makes sense. She usually is.”

“Were you worried about talking to her?”

He cringed, ears pinned back. “Maybe a little…?” he said. “She didn’t seem all that happy with me last night when I came back.” Honestly she never does.

Solas looked back at her, sympathy written all over her face. “She wasn’t, admittedly. Can’t say I was either, but that’s a discussion for the garden.”

He swallowed the whine that rose in his throat. Ears pulled back. Mom is upset with me… great. His mother was one thing. Solas was another entirely. It never felt good if she was disappointed in him.

They continued their walk in silence.

The two of them sat in one of the grass clearings of the garden. Surrounded comfortably by flower bushes and shrubs. Secluded from prying eyes. 

Lily shifted on his legs. No position felt comfortable enough, but he had already committed to where he was. Maybe it would help keep him alert. Let's get this over with. He clicked his tongue. “What did you want to talk about?”

“Don’t want to enjoy the sun first?” Solas teased. Gentle as ever. Though her expression fell to something that was a tad more strained. She always seemed to hold back. Yet the next words out of her mouth were straight to the point, “You’ve been going out a lot.”

“You encouraged me to-”

“Which I don’t mind,” her mom continued, holding up a hand. “However, you’ve been going out late, in the dark, alone. You rarely left the castle a year ago, let alone do anything like that without telling us. We’re worried.”

We’re worried, the words repeated in Lily’s mind with a growing scowl. Are you both worried, or is it just mother making a fuss? He held his tongue.

“It’s not like you to keep things from us. I know you’re an adult now who wants some privacy, but I’d still like to meet in the middle with all this. Please?” 

He couldn’t help but sigh. His throat felt like he had gargled nails. You can do this. “Are you guys going to make me stop if I tell you?”

“Not unless you’re doing something dangerous,” she assured.

Who gets to decide what’s considered dangerous? “I didn’t tell either of you in the first place because I thought you would stop me.” I knew you would. His ears drooped. It was still a possibility they tried.

“Lilium.”

His name drew his attention. He met her magenta gaze, eyes so close to his own.

“I won’t be angry with what you're doing, I promise. I just want to know what. So your mother and I don’t have to worry so much,” Solas' tone was soft. It carried the warmth of sunlight that beamed down on them. He looked over her closely, and all he saw was honesty. She was always honest with him.

He always planned to tell her, yet all the same, it felt as if his composure melted. He squeezed his hand over his lap. This will be easy. He began reciting his script. “I-… I met someone. On my kingdom tour. I mean obviously I met a lot of people but- you know what I mean,” he stumbled over himself. He would have a toothache after this. “Their name is Will. I met them at Tide Point. The last night I was there I snuck out to the beach. I- I didn’t expect anyone to be out there. But they were. We ended up talking.”

He didn’t have to continue. That should have been enough. It was all the important context. He couldn’t stop. His mind raced. “We talked a lot. Then it just kept going and going. It was odd at first. They didn’t talk to me like I was the Prince or anyone important. But part of that was relieving too,” he admitted. Claws dug into his skin. “It felt so serious. Then it wasn’t.” When had that feeling stopped? How fast had she lost sight of her goal made of glass? Easily shattered to dust.

He was so wrapped up in his thoughts he almost missed the silence. Did I say too much? 

Thankfully, Solas spoke up, “So you made a friend?” He could hear her smile.

“That would be the short version, yes. I’ve been going out to see them,” he huffed. A friend. Willis was his friend. Was he allowed to say that? Was it okay for them to be friends at all?

“You’re allowed to have friends,” his mom pointed out. Like she could hear the thoughts that ran through his head.

Am I? He kept his expression level, even as he dug deeper into his hand. “I know that’s not the only issue.”

Solas gestured vaguely, her face scrunched up for a moment. “It might not be that dangerous to go out so late. I know you’re more than capable of taking care of yourself,” she said. “But still, I worry. Is there a reason you’re sneaking out in the middle of the night? Other than going behind our backs?”

He grimaced at the latter half of the question. Focus. “Less people. I don’t like going out when I know there will be a lot. They tend to stare,” he admitted, shuddering. That was the worst part of leaving the castle. “Being under the night sky is nice, too.”

Solas hummed. She shifted, finger tapping the warmed grass. She opened her mouth, as if to say something, but nothing came out. Instead, her expression dropped, eyebrows furrowed. “Lilium-” She reached a hand out to his, attention drawn to the fact that he was nearly bleeding.

“Ah- sorry, sorry,” he hissed out the apology. Releasing the death grip he had on himself. He shook out his hand as he became acutely aware of the sharp sting his claws left. “Nervous habit.”

“Hey.”

His attention snapped to Solas. A deep frown on her face. Don’t look at me like that.

“You aren’t in trouble. It’s okay for you to go out and do things. But we need you to communicate with us,” she said softly. “Especially since it seems to have been stressing you out.”

You don’t know the half of it. He took a deep breath. “Okay. I can do that,” he muttered. His shoulders ached at the weight of that agreement. He grit his teeth. “I’m going out again to meet them. A week from now.” The words felt bitter on his tongue.

He flinched when she placed her hand on his injured one. “Thank you for telling me.” 

All he could do was nod. He was ready for this conversation to be over. It was rapidly becoming harder.

“There you two are.”

Lily yelped, whipping around to be greeted by his mother. How long has she been here? Was she listening?

The other held a plate in her hand. She raised an eyebrow, the shadow of a smile on her face. An odd look for her. “You’re jumpy,” she observed. She offered the food to him before he could respond. He took it wordlessly. Avoiding her yellow gaze when it fell on his hand.

“You shouldn’t sneak up on them like that. It's cruel,” Solas chided. Though she smiled as she spoke.

“He’ll live,” Clover retorted. Her attention turned to him. “I had something made up for you since you missed breakfast. It’s not good to skip meals.”

“Thank you.” He picked at the over easy egg yoke with the fork. In spite of his stress, hunger began to claw at his stomach.

“Did you come to join us?” Solas asked the question he wouldn’t dare.

He felt an odd relief when his mother sighed. “Unfortunately not. I got everything prepared, but now the delegates are actually here. You know how they are this time of year.” She pinched the bridge of her nose. 

“Do you need me to come talk to them?” 

“Please. Before I throw them out.”

Oh thank the stars. Freedom. It was over.

Solas stood up from her spot, stretching her arms above her head. “They aren’t that bad, you know. Have some patience,” she offered.

“It’s hard to do that when they worry over nothing. It’s not even the first yet! I swear they push up this meeting sooner and sooner every year,” Clover rolled her eyes. “Soon enough we'll be having it the first of August.”

“Well the faster we sort it the faster they’ll leave,” Solas patted them on the back. Before looking down at Lily, “Remember what I said.”

He swallowed roughly, “Yeah.” He tried not to focus too much on the way his mother’s expression shifted at her words. Irritation melted into a hard stare. Thankfully, though, she didn’t say a word.

The two got a few steps away before a thought crossed his mind. “Hey-!” the words left him before he could regret it. He forced them out. “Could you guys tell Delphine to come meet me here? If it’s not too much trouble, it’s okay if you don’t have the time-”

Solas stopped him with a raise of her hand, “Of course, it’s no problem.” The look on his mother’s face said otherwise. Yet they left without protest.

Everything hurt.

“So it went well?”

Lily hummed at Delphine’s question, mouth full. He swallowed the toast. “As well as it could,” he shrugged. “It didn’t last long. Solas seemed fine with everything I told her. Don’t know about my mother, though.” 

“Did she take things well when you returned last night?” he asked, before taking a final bite.

“Mostly? Honestly I think she would have been high strung no matter what I told her,” they admitted, groaning. “They started bickering over the whole ordeal and dismissed me pretty quick. I guess it could have been worse. Still not happy about it though.”

Lily offered a tight smile, “Thank you, again, for doing that for me.”

“It’s my job,” was all she said in return.

It’s her job. Is that all it is? Lily frowned at the thought. That is why they spoke in the first place. It was her job to listen to him. Nothing more. He hummed, “I know, but I also know it was hard for you. You could have said no.”

Delphine’s focus was locked on the grass. She glanced up at him for a second. Green eyes met his. “I’ll keep that in mind.”

“If it means anything it shouldn’t happen again. I’m going to be more open about when I’m going out,” he assured. Unfortunately. He set down his empty plate.

They sat up, ears shivering, “Are you sure that’s a good idea?”

“It’s better than them having you spying on me again,” he retorted. Her eyes widened as he continued. “This way they shouldn’t involve you again, and I won’t have to be stressed about sneaking out.”

“That’s nice. Though I have to ask, do you have more plans?”

He raised an eyebrow at her, “What do you mean?”

“What are you going to tell them? I doubt this is the last time they’re going to ask about what you are up to,” she pointed out. “Do you plan to keep lying?”

“Obviously. It won't be hard.”

“But what if you get caught?” she pushed.

“Then I will cross that bridge when I get there,” he waved his hand, sighing. He grabbed the fork from his plate, twirling it between his fingers. “I won’t get caught. I gave them an answer and they were fine with it.”

He saw her eye twitch. 

He held in another sigh. “If I do, I’m taking the blame. All of it. I won’t let you get in trouble.”

The promise was met with a blank stare. He let her gather her thoughts. Though all that got him was an “Of course.”

They’re still upset with me, aren’t they? He kept it to himself. His jaw burned. He shook his head, sighing. After a moment, he grabbed his plate. “Are you busy today?”

That got him a snort. Though Delphine was quick to put a hand over her mouth. Red crept onto her cheeks. Her demeanor softened. “I’m only busy if you tell me to be,” she pointed out.

“Ah- right,” Lily cleared his throat, own face warmed up. He stood. “I’d like to go out with you. Get some fresh air.”

They followed his lead. “Really? I’m not saying we shouldn’t. I’m just not sure it’s a good idea to talk to the Queen right now.”

“It’ll be fun after we get past that part,” he said with a wave of his free hand. He nodded his head, “Come on.”

“Alright. You will be the one to tell her, though.”

“Of course.”