Virgil wondered what time it was as they walked further from the river. It has to be past midday by now, hopefully they'll get something to eat soon. He was really excited to be able to eat at Daisy's Honey again.
Roman smiled as he held the borrower's hand. Even though they were walking in silence at the moment it was a comfortable one. Virgil made it feel like that, even if the borrower also made the prince want to do stupid stuff to impress him.
He's glad to have befriended Virgil, meeting him was a blessing. He makes the prince feel happy and free, as if he could do anything at all! There weren't many people to make him feel this way.
It was ridiculous that when they had first met, the first thing they did was argue. It was even more ridiculous that Roman wanted nothing to do with Virgil in the beginning, because now all he wants to do is spend his time with him.
"So I was thinking," Virgil spoke up suddenly. "After we get something to eat, do you want to spar?"
The prince blinked for a moment. He wasn't expecting Virgil to say that. But he smiled nonetheless and answered, "That sounds fun. Though, don't get upset when I win."
"Oho, somebody's cocky." The borrower sent him a sly smile, confidence radiating off of him.
"Well, can you blame me? You're so much smaller than I, and I can fly! I have already won."
"You forget princey, me being smaller also makes me faster. Plus, I've been training with Janus for much longer, and before that I've been in many fights."
"I feel like I've caught up with you fast enough."
"You wish! I know I can take you anytime anywhere. And here I was planning on going easy on you."
"Well you better not, though it wouldn't have made a difference since I'll win anyway."
Virgil laughed, "You're too confident for your own good! Oh this'll be fun."
The borrower thought he saw something move in the bushes past Roman, but he shrugged it off the moment Roman started talking again. "I agree! Do you want to wager on it?"
"Sure, why not?" Virgil pulled his hand out of Roman's, only to hold it out for the prince to shake. "What exactly do you have in mind?"
There was a glint in Roman's eye, whatever he had in mind was going to be fun. Unfortunately, before the prince was able to say anything, movement caught Virgil's eye once again in the bushes. He gasped as something shot out at the prince, and he managed to shove him down and cover him in time.
Looking up, he saw a tree branch had tried to impale them, still connected to the bush. They were attacked by a nature fairy!
Virgil sat up slightly, still trying to cover Roman from any danger as he looked around for who it was. A fairy in a black cloak took off from the bushes, flying away.
"Hey! Stop!" Virgil shouted, immediately chasing after. He had to catch them to know exactly what they tried to do, since it seemed obvious that the target was Roman. At the very least, he wanted to find out who it was so he could warn the king and queen.
Virgil climbed up a tree, half aware that Roman was following him. Luckily, he was faster so he stayed in front of him, he'll be able to protect the prince that way.
He pulled out his knife and continued to race after the hooded figure, he could just make out dark blue wings with black lining the ends of them. Though, the black looked almost like there was paint on it, like blotches splattered just the ends..
The fairy lifted a pale hand, and the branch that Virgil was on shook violently. The borrower slipped and grabbed onto a leaf that was on the branch, only for it to break off to send him falling further. Luckily, he saw a branch under him and landed on it, ignoring a spike of pain that went up his leg from his ankle.
Roman didn't miss Virgil stumble a bit before chasing after the fairy again. He made a mental note to make sure he was okay before he continued to follow.
The borrower jumped onto another branch, stumbling a bit before climbing higher in the tree. Once he was at level with the fairy, he ran at full sprint at them.
The fairy turned around for a moment, though their face was hidden by a wooden mask. They lowered themself onto the branch, right next to the body of the tree, and made a sharp hand movement going upwards.
Virgil gasped as a spike shot to him from the branch. He managed to move to the side on the branch just enough to miss it, but he lost his balance. He would have fallen off of the branch if Roman didn't catch him.
They both turned to the fairy, who had pulled out a folded up piece of paper. A spike shot up from the tree branch and impaled the piece of paper before the fairy turned to the tree bark.
Virgil gained his balance on the branch and tried to run to the fairy, but the tree opened up and the fairy stepped inside. Before the borrower could reach them, the tree closed back up. The only proof that the fairy had gone inside was a new knot in the tree.
"Dammit!" Virgil growled, reaching the spot just a second too late. The fairy probably was moving inside the tree, getting away somehow. By the time they get another nature fairy and come back, this one will already be gone.
Roman reached him and put his hand on his shoulder. "Hey, it'll be okay! I saw their wing color, and we know what magic they used. Surely we should be able to find them!"
The borrower sighed, disappointed that he had failed. He looked over to the piece of paper and pulled it off of the spike. He opened it and felt his blood run cold. It was a simple message that read in messy writing, "I can hurt the prince anytime I want."
"Oh," Roman said after reading it, landing on the branch right behind Virgil.
"Whoever that was, they won't get away with it. Are you okay?"
"I-I'm fine, thanks to you. Are you?"
The borrower disregarded his ankle and sighed, "I'm okay. We need to get back immediately and tell your parents."
YOU ARE READING
The Borrower and the Fairy Prince
Fanfiction*Completed* Virgil has never had it easy, not since he was kicked out of his home by his own father. He's struggled to survive, and has fought for food. He sees what should have been an easy meal, some berries on a tree hanging over the river. It sh...
