The Assassin's Crown

Part 20

1593, June 15th

"Oh poor Aerlic, don't you know? You kill the head guard, you become king!" Aaryan boasted over the dying man's body, a crossbow placed plush in his hand.

"You are a monster." Aerlic brushed more hair from Sireno's hair, "a cold blooded monster."

"I'm no monster," Aaryan placed his bow across from the men, "I am a god!"

"Over my dead boy." Aerlic spits venom at the lanky man.

"That can be arranged." a knife inserts into Aerlic's back and he screams.

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2022, August 12th

"You." Sireno's voice was low, unkempt with vengeance.

"Now my dear friend. Let's talk about this." Aaryan stumbled back, his old body unable to protect the shift in weight from the sudden movement.

"You killed me!" the small man unhilted his dagger and menacingly approached the crippled man. His eyes were shaded, grievance and hatred produced from his stern face. Stepping towards the man who ruined his life his eyes darken. The dagger in his hand ticked the old man's body with ear slash, force being added every time.

"Now, I'm going to return the favor, for Aerlic and i."

"You vowed never to become a killer like him!"Aaryan stumbled out as the younger man continued to attack him.

"He is an assassin, he is my lover, my world! You killed him with my sword." footsteps turned into a crescendo of blood droplets along the floor. "He stayed, after 478 years he never gave up on me, even when I tried to kill him. I am a killer, I've just been killing an immortal."

"Sireno, no." a weak voice called from the entrance to the cavern.

"Aerlic!"Sireno rushed past the bleeding man and grabbed onto his bleeding out lover, "im here, i got you. It will be ok. I will be ok. You can rest now. You will be safer once you rest."The man held the taller one in his lap as best he could, "You won't be alone, you will be loved."

"Do you remember?" more crimson leaves the letters mouth as he finally feels the embrace of death on his chest.

"No, but I saw that night."Sireno placed his forehead to the dying man's own. Aerlic reached a sweaty and shaking hand up to sirenos neck holding onto the necklace.

"It's time."Aerlic's hand fell limp. Sireno reached around his own neck, unclasping the necklace. Placing it upon Aerlic's chest he finally unseals the bottle.

"Dear Dove,

Here is the story of your death. My end in how you died. I, Aerlic Montgomery, was hired by the king to assassinate you. Your father found out about us. He sent knews to the king, he told the king about our love life together. The king presented me with a deal, kill you, or be killed myself. I wished for you to be free, so I presented myself with the option of running away with you after faking your death. When you got hit by Aaryan I could not live with myself. So I leave to you, my one love, our engagement rings, and your crystals. Take care of them for me. I love you, forever."

The crystal necklace and rings fell from the paper into Sireno's lap. The small man puts his rings on memories flooding through his mind all at once.

"I love you too." Sireno kissed Aerlic's ring, placing it on his own finger. "I ,Sireno Leofing, will always love you as well." The crystals on Aerlic's chest began to illuminate and shone brighter. Illuminating brighter the rings and crystals matched in light and soon the cave around them had begun to glow. Soon the two men were embraced by warmth and light, their world had become a blinding existent.