Arizium

Chapter 7

It had been almost three weeks since they had set off to find home, the forest didn't seem to want them to leave though, as every time they got hopeful that they had found the way out, it would just slam closed on them. 

 "What do we do now?" Amaria had asked when they realized that escape was hopeless. 

 "We'll just have to keep walking until we stumble upon a town or trading caravan." Lucius had responded. 

 "I highly doubt any traders come through this godforsaken forest." 

 "Then we'll just have to hope for a town." Lucius had grinned. They didn't really talk much after that, as there wasn't anything to talk about. Occasionally Raven would mumble or twitch in Lucius's arms, but she never opened her eyes. 

 "Why do you think our ambusher spared us?" Amaria asked after they had been silent for a long time. 

 "Hmm?" Lucius replied. 

 "The one that killed our party. They could of killed us, but they didn't. Why spare us? Wouldn't we be more useful dead? Or at the very least as hostages." 

 Lucius thought about that for a bit, "I don't know. Maybe they were just feeling generous." 

 Amaria thought about it as well and said, "Or maybe something was protecting us." 

 "Like what?" He responded, readjusting Raven in his arms. 

 "Like our own magician." Amaria said uncomfortably, looking at the peaceful girl. 

 Lucius sighed, "I hate to admit it, but yeah, maybe." He readjusted Raven again. "Can we stop for a bit? This girl gets heavier by the minute." 

When Amaria nodded, they stepped off of the road. Lucius laid Raven carefully next to him as the twins sat down and caught their breath. Both of them looked extremely ragged, not at all like royalty. It had been weeks since they ever had a full meal. This was total starvation, and it was definitely bad. As they walked, they had gradually taken more and more breaks. Not only did hunger leave you hollow, it also left you extremely weak. If they didn't stumble upon a town, they would surely starve to death, there was no doubt in their minds about that. 

 Lucius laid himself down. He just wanted to sleep forever. Let someone else rule the kingdom, he wasn't fit for it anyway. Nothing mattered anymore. He didn't care if he never returned home. It didn't matter. They probably didn't miss him anyway. Let the people pick the next line of monarchs. They had to be better than him, anyone was better than him. He felt someone shaking him, it was annoying. 

Why can't people ever leave me alone? He thought. I just want to sleep....

 He faintly heard someone talking. He didn't care what they were trying to say. He was so tired.... 

Another shake. 

 Why do people always have to fuck things up? He thought bitterly. Why can't I just sleep? 

 A slap. 

 He opened his eyes very slowly, he barely had the energy to do even that. Someone was sitting beside him. Whoever it was had long, white, tangled hair. His memory was fading for some reason, he knew he should recognize this person, but he didn't have the strength to put a face to a name. He would have the strength if he slept, he knew that for a fact. 

Sleeping makes you regain strength, right? Allows you to refresh yourself. That's what I need, refreshing. He thought Permanent refreshing. 

The person who was over him was crying. He saw that, registered that. He didn't realize why she was sobbing, didn't care. An eternity later he heard a soft thud, he didn't want to know what that was. 

 He closed his eyes again, finally he could sleep without distractions. Good riddance. He thought. 

Sleep came easily. It was a blissful blanket, a soft, dark, embracing blanket.