It Was Enchanting To Meet You. || DNF

26. Hunting him down.

Wind smacked Wilbur's face violently as he rode his horse, moving at a quick pace through the treeline as he desperately needed to reach the castle, Techno, Tubbo and Ranboo reluctantly following behind.

The brunette threaded a hand through his overgrown, curly, brown locks stressfully, inhaling the sour scent in the atmosphere that gave him an unsettling feeling in his stomach, but he paid no mind to it.

"Are you sure it's his?" Tubbo questioned for what seemed to be the hundredth time, excitement lingering in his tone. Wilbur side glanced him, his lips pressed together in a thin line. Irritatedly, he responded with, "Yes. Stop doubting me." Tubbo's expression immediately dropped, his features laced with mere sorrow, confusion and misunderstanding. "I'm sorry, Wil, I'm just really happy," the boy muttered, a sad smile lacing his lips. The brunette enternally cursed himself for letting the small things get under his skin, especially in times like these ; when they needed one another. Tubbo was like a brother to Wilbur, they all were. They were all family.

"I'm sorry, Tubs. I'm just really stressed about everything that's happened during the past few weeks," Wil responded truthfully, sending brief glances to the boy who rode his black horse a few meters behind him. The brunette watched as the other's face immediately lit back up, clearly grateful for the apology. "It's okay!" He responded, his cheerful, happy demeanor shifting back. Wilbur couldn't help but let a small smile tug at his dry lips. He was so thankful for family that was understanding, as his old mates weren't the best at that.

"Up ahead, stay close," Techno suddenly announced, pointing at the palace that was now slowly coming into sight. Wilbur, along with the other horse riders, nodded, knowing that they'd have to get through a mob of unroyal civilians without being held back or separated from each other. They had no time to waste or delay. Swiftly, they entered the village, the one situated in front of the castle, hurriedly rushing the villagers out of the way in hopes of creating a clear path. Within mere seconds, shouts and calls for them were heard, some being praises while others being insults. Not everyone knew the truth about what goes on in the palace and the royal community, but that didn't mean that they were fond of them either. But luckily, they successfully made it through, the brunette letting out a sigh of relief as he listened to his own heartbeat pound in his ears, the galloping horses neighing every now and then.

"Steady now, boy," Wilbur warily directed his horse, his words coming out unknowingly to himself as he scratched the back of the animal's ear, earning a pleased sound. The more he inched closer to the gates of the castle, the more nerves knotted in his stomach. The Brit's breath hitched as he watched the Royal Guards open the gates, leading them to the other side of the brick bridge that seperated the palace from the rest of the land. Wilbur's horse came to an abrupt stop once they crossed, causing him to jump off his saddle without a second thought.

The brunette's heart rate sped up, placing a trembling hand over his chest as he clutched his shirt. The more he inhaled and exhaled, the more he felt his lungs heat up inside of his ribcage. It was as if every breath he took would somehow be his last as he got lost in his thoughts. An eerie ringing overwhelmed his hearing, causing his jaw to clench as he squeezed his eyes shut, tears threatening to pool while everything finally started fully processing in his brain ; After so many days of nothing but stress and anxiety, they finally found something that could bring the boy he considered his brother home.

The brunette was overwhelmed with the sudden several feelings that flooded his veins, making him tense and nervous, yet relieved and excited.

Wilbur's knees were close to buckling as he gripped the shiny, clean walls of the palace, struggling to find the entrance. "Don't worry, I've got you," Techno suddenly spoke from behind him, understanding that the feeling was too much for the other to handle. The pinkette slung one of the brunette's hands over his own shoulder, hoisting him up by the waist as Wilbur's head drooped down, bouncing ever so slightly with every aggressive turn they made as Techno led them to the main room. Soon, both boys could see the large, glittering, golden doors of the aforementioned room, and so, with the remaining energy the British man had left, he stopped limping and stood still, causing the pinkette to turn to him with a confused expression on why he had stopped walking.