They woke up to birdsong and each other’s arms.

“I’m not going,” the prince repeated for the thousandth time. “I’m not going to the engagement, Vel, this is too perfect.” 

“Ah yes, laying on the floor, under a large sheet of plastic, stones digging in our backs.” 

“You know what I mean, I know you do.”

Vellen finally sat up, stretching his arms over his head, his neck, his shoulders. He glanced back at Tennet, staring at him. 

“Cheeky.” 

“It’s not like I could freely look at you these past years.” 

“And what is it exactly you’re looking at?” 

“Just all of the little details. The scar from when you got scratched by that branch in the forest, when you were rushing to pick up stones to make our fort. A little birthmark over here. A small imprint of a stone you may have slept on. Up here, where I kept kissing you last night is slightly marked.” Every time Tennet mentioned a spot, he ran his fingers across it, very lightly. 

Vellen leaned into the touch, only slightly. “Is it vain to say that the only things others have mentioned were muscles?” 

“Depends, why bring it up?” 

“Because you didn’t, and I appreciate that.” 

“They’re not what make you, though. You would be just as beautiful to me without them.” 

Vellen looked at Tennet with a grin, failing to conceal his reddening cheeks. “You say that to everyone, it’s a part of your princely contract, I’m sure.” 

“Nah, only to the knight who escorts me to my fiancee.” 

“What an odd rule.” 

“Confuses everyone, every time.” 

“Every time?” 

“Yeah, my father, his mother, her parent…” 

Vellen chuckled and stood, detaching a corner of the tarp from the trees that held it up. He only got dressed once everything was packed. Tennet insisted on helping Vellen into his armor, clicking clasps shut, pulling belts secure. With one hand holding his halberd and the other clasping the princes’, they got back on the road, each step bringing them closer to having to let go again. 

To their credit, they only got distracted by each other once, as they sat for a meal. Tennet had simply kissed Vellen’s cheek, laid his head on his shoulder, and drifted off to sleep. Vellen kept watch as his prince rested against him, their hands still entwined. 

“What I would give, to capture this very moment, and be able to replay it for eternity…” the knight muttered, praying the words would reach whatever shattered god may still hear them. He let ten minutes pass, fifteen, twenty, before waking Tennet up with a gentle stroke on the cheek. The prince woke up with a sharp inhale. 

“I slept?” He groaned.

“You did.” 

“How long?” 

“Only twenty minutes or so. It’s why I woke you.” 

“Your pauldrons aren’t even that comfortable.” 

Vellen chuckled and soon enough, they were back on the road, only stopping once large stone ruins lay scattered around them. 

“Fernsworth… we might as well stop here for the night, at least it will give us cover from the wind.” 

The pair found what was likely once a house, and set down their equipment. Hesitant, Vellen kept his halberd in hand. 

“Let’s go exploring?” The prince asked. “I’m not sure how much we may find, but there was supposedly once a temple to the moon goddess up on the hill to the north.” 

“Do you think-” 

“Maybe?” 

“Then let’s go find it.” 

They both knew the stories - stories of an ancient land, thousands of years prior, where several gods existed and interacted with mortals. Temples to these gods were everywhere, and each city had its own patron. But eventually, these gods faded to obscurity as the civilizations on the continent changed. Some became stronger, some fell apart entirely. Fernsworth was one such town, that was torn apart by drought. 

“I can’t imagine this place without water, it’s so lush…” 

“I mean, it’s been over a thousand years since the ones who lived here fled.” 

“Then I’m sure that if there are any spirits here, they appreciate the visit,” the prince walked forward, climbing the rather sizeable hill on which the town was once nestled. Eventually, he stopped, looking at the ruins around him. Stones were laid out in what was once likely a large structure, now barely an echo of the past. 

“It’s here.” 

“Are you sure?” 

“Yes. Yes, absolutely.” 

“And?” 

Tennet bit the inside of his cheek and sat down amongst the rubble, and pointed east. “That way was the altar of some kind. And… I think I’m getting a name. Or maybe two? The Moonmother… and something about a star in the morning? A morning star? I’m not sure.” 

Vellen wasn’t used to seeing Tennet practice magic. Most power and abilities had dissolved along with the gods, but most royal lines still carried the slightest bit of magic in their blood, that took years of practice to hone. Most of the princes’ studies on the subject had been very secretive, and while the king was known to have abilities that pertained to the elements, Tennet had always been far more intuitive with something more spiritual. 

The other children would ask if it was ghosts he was talking to, and every time, he’d reply the same thing: he didn’t know. 

Vellen watched as Tennet summoned the smallest ball of light over his open palms without struggle. 

“Your magic looks stronger here.” 

“It is. It’s difficult to explain…” the prince reached out to his knight, who approached him, barely grazing his fingers with his own. Vellen sat down behind Tennet, so their backs were pressed together. He felt Ten start to tremble, and lean back against him. 

“Are you alright, Ten?” 

Tennet chuckled nervously and nodded. “Since you joined me, the light got brighter.” 

Vellen sighed and let his head fall back onto Tennet’s shoulder as the prince kept meditating on the spirits surrounding the temple, on the gods that were all but forgotten. The sun set, the birds quieted, and the pair sat there, enjoying the silence. Soon enough, he felt Tennet lean his head on his own, and weave his fingers through his curls. 

“If I could vow myself to you here, now, I would…”

Vellen bit his lip, trying to ignore the emotions clawing at his heart. Instead, he stood and pulled the prince up so they were standing. 

“Shall we keep exploring the town?”

The prince followed his knight through the ruins, their laughs resonating through the night as they climbed over broken walls, crawled through rotted doors, discovered remains of the town that once must have been vibrant and lively. They helped each other up shattered stairs, sharing stories of the lives that could have once been lived within the ruined walls, so many years ago. Eventually, they came across a rather large room, with high walls and the remains of shelves and a stone floor. 

“Can you imagine, all the events held here?” Tennet asked Vellen. “The dances, the parties, the weddings, the birthdays. I mean, look at this here-...” 

Vellen watched Tennet explore the room, a glee on his face he recognized from when they were children, a joy he so rarely showed in formal company. He glanced back to Vellen, stars in his eyes as he kept exploring, not minding the state of his clothes or long, sleek hair. Every part of his demeanor reminded him of the fun they had as children, everything they had to hide once he started being reminded of duty, duty, always duty. 

Vellen had always loved Tennet, and a part of him he both adored and despised was sure he always would.

The knight finally stepped into the room, stopping in a patch of moonlight that shone through a gap in the roof. 

“Come here, Ten.” 

The prince joined him in the moonlight, smiling. “What is it?” 

Vellen exhaled and knelt to one knee, holding his halberd at his side.

“Wait, what are you-” 

“Let me do this, please. I understand you cannot vow yourself to me, and that is not something I can hold against you. But I can, and I have, as your knight. But when I did, I was making a pledge to my prince. Tonight, I vow myself to you, Ten. My friend. The one I’ve loved from the shadows for as long as I can remember.” 

“Vel-” 

“I vow my blade to your vengeance. I vow my armor to your safety. I vow my title to your crown. I vow my life to your soul. And I vow… I…” 

Tennet knelt down in front of Vellen, tears brimming his eyes despite his smile, hands gently holding his knight’s face. 

“I vow my…” 

The kiss was as true as his promises. Vellen took a shaky breach and let himself slip into a deeper kiss, leaning in closer, keeping his stance. Tennet pulled back to kiss the tears from his cheeks, his forehead, his temple, and pulled him into an embrace, rubbing his back. 

“I- I vow my distance to your duty.”

“You changed the words to the knighthood ceremony.” 

Vellen let out a laugh and rolled his eyes, breaking composure and dropping his weapon, clutching onto Tennet. “And I mean every word. To your highness, and to you”. 

“But will you let me approach it? If I need a break from duty, if I need a moment to feel like myself?” 

“I ah… I guess I vow my presence to your reach?” 

The prince chuckled. “Do you?” 

“I do.”

Tennet exhaled deeply and moved to hold Vellen’s face in his hands, pressing their foreheads together, their noses barely brushing. 

“I do, too. I can’t promise the rest, as they’re not my role to play, but I vow my presence to your reach, too. Every moment I can.” 

Vellen finally broke into messy tears then, and all but fell against Tennet, letting him hold him, mourning everything wonderful he knew they could be if they were just a little more selfish.