Royals AU ~Sanders Sides~ Prinxiety

"I Can't Go Back."

TW: Cursing

The three teens rode until dawn. By the time the sun began rising, they had slowed to rest their horses and cover themselves with disguises. They found a stream and Remy led their horses to it while Virgil and Emile went through their packs. Remy had been too distracted to grab anything but his glasses, which he had put on before exiting the palace.

Remy's glasses were made special by the palace witch. His Sight was so strong that if he wasn't wearing those glasses around another Witch, he'd go blind. The power of Sight was always a mystery to most, but Remy had explained all he knew to Virgil.

Sight was where a person- either a Witch or not- has the ability to See Witch spells and auras. Seers were extremely powerful, sometimes born with the ability to absorb and recreate a Witch's powers, but often not the best with their own magics, if they were born a Witch. A Seer was the bane of any unregistered witch. 

As the horses rested, Virgil found a private place to change into more common looking clothes Emile had brought for him, and he and Emile hid their royal markings (the hair and cat features). Remy was dressed casually enough and didn't really have any signs besides the glasses that he was anything other than a commoner.  Their cloaks were dusty and brown, Virgil's a darker black. The disguises were all thanks to Emile, of course. 

They covered Virgil's saddle markings with dirt. Virgil had no idea how to survive under cover, and he never would have thought of all of this, so he was extremely happy to have dragged his friends along with him.

"What do we do now?" Remy asked an hour later. They appeared to be three young travelers, but they had no plan as to what they would do now. Virgil had refused to return home to where he could get nothing done.

"Maybe travel to Threnton? We could talk to people, find out their side of the story! Maybe we could stop the war!" Virgil said enthusiastically. Emile looked down with a grimace, scratching the back of his neck. Remy looked away, biting his lip. The silence became very uncomfortable.

"Really? Seriously, what's so wrong with wanting peace around here!" Virgil exclaimed, getting up and pacing around his friends.

"Virgil, they sent assassins after you!" Remy finally burst. "I don't think they'll be okay with you waltzing through their territory, and I don't think they're open for the ideas of peace.

"You don't know it was them!" Virgil yelled back, his pupils slitting in anger. "If fact, it probably wasn't them!"

"What if it was though. What would you do then?" Emile whispered, still not looking up at the young prince. 

"Then I want to know why! I grew up with this war, and I have a right to know why I'm not even allowed outside my own walls." Virgil said, his voice dangerously quiet. 

"Not allowed?" Emile asked, finally looking up.

"Yeah." Virgil replied, his annoyance almost tangible. "Sure, I am quiet, and yes I'm not all that outgoing. But that wouldn't stop me from going outside at least a few times! Did you seriously think I willingly stayed inside those cursed walls for seven years?"

"I didn't know," Remy whispered. Virgil ran his hands through his hair, his hood falling back and revealing his black and purple hair and ears as he let out a growl.

"Of course you didn't. Because my father made it that way." Virgil hissed, fighting to keep his anger in check. But after years of suppressing his emotions, they all came tumbling out. 

"He's the most freaking powerful man in this century! What ever he says goes. The words that come out of his mouth must be true, because what kind of king with a name like Deceit would ever lie?" He demanded, tears now pricking at his eyes.

"And- and sure, he's a good king. But he and I both know damn well that he's not a good father. I act like everything's fine because that's what he tells me to do. He's always ordering me what to do with my life like I'm just some puppet to serve him without question. I honestly doubt he'd even let me fucking breathe if it didn't benefit him to have an heir." Virgil's voice cracked, and he stopped abruptly, locking his hands behind his neck and staring at the slowly brightening morning sky and fought the incoming tears. 

"Murderers are sent after me and I have no clue as to why. And all he has to say on the matter, guess what? All he said was, 'Step one toe out of line, and you'll know just how powerful I am,' that's what he said. He never cared as me as a son. I'm just another 'loyal subject' to him." Virgil informed his friends quietly. He turned to look at them, and they were shocked to see the tears falling down his cheeks. "I can't go back there."

"Alright," Emile was the one to break the silence. "So we move forward then. Why don't we try one of the villages before we risk crossing the boarder, okay? Maybe we can get another view point of things from the citizens too."

Virgil closed his eyes, breathing deeply. As he calmed down, he let his hands drop back to his sides and wiped away his tears.

Remy stood and walked over to the smaller boy, gently cleaning Virgil's face with his tunic sleeve and placing Virgil's hood back over his head. "You'll find your answers, mkay? After all, you have us, gurl! It'll be fun! Now, get that beautiful smile of yours back out here. There we go." Virgil offered a soft smile up at the enthusiastic boy.

"Better?" Remy asked softly. Virgil shrugged, and Remy muttered something to himself before pulling Virgil into a quick hug. In a flash, the ever cuddly Emile was there too, and the three of them just stood their in each other's embrace.

"It'll be alright." Emile promised. "We'll be together for it all."

Virgil nodded and pulled away. That's when he noticed Remy's blush, and Emile's arm still wrapped around the taller boy. Virgil had to duck his head to hid his smile, those two would make a cute couple.

"So we go into town, and what? Just ask around about the war? That certainly won't attract unwanted attention." Virgil told no one in particular.

Remy chuckled. "I think my title as lord of sarcasm is being threatened here!" He exclaimed melodramatically. Emile snorted and Virgil smirked.

"Well, we can brainstorm on the move." Emile offered. 

"Good idea." Virgil nodded, and the three of them rounded up the horses and mounted up before heading out, following Emile to the nearest village.