Our hope

Chapter 29: Royal

"I am so sorry my love." The Prince whispered as he took the rebels hand. On their own the Rebel didn't really move. They were still kind of out of it. Just floating there like a sleepwalker does. The Prince started tearing up himself thinking how hard this hit is partner. There was a clear attachment the Rebel had the Prince just didn't to his own family.

He could only guess what it was like to loose a loved one. He would probably die from heart break if anything happened to the Rebel. The Prince was able to snap them out of it enough to sit on the horse. They sat behind the Prince wrapping their body around his. As they walked back the Prince would rub and kiss the rebels hand that were over his chest.

"We're going to need a lot of time." The Rebel mumbled into the Prince's ear. They almost sounded hollow in with exhaustion clear as day. They sounded as bad as the Prince felt now that everything was delt with.

"I know dear, we will have plenty of time together now. I promise." The Prince hugged the arms around him the best he could. The afternoon sun was blazing down on them, they were only saved by the cloud cover over head. As they approached the city they decided to go a bit of a long way to avoid the crowd.

The rest of the army returned in triumph, the Prince didn't want the joy to be ruined by the weary and exhausted couple. By the time they got back to the castle it was already dark. Sir Theo delt with the Captain of the guard as the Prince and Rebel handed the horses back over to the stable kids.

Now the Prince was not only feeling the mental exhaustion that happened right after they started their walk back. Now there was the physical exhaustion of late nights, early mornings, and regular high stress that caused him strain over the past week. A request was made for food to be brought up to the room for the next few days as the couple recovered. The next morning all the royals were set to go back home; at least for the ones who were still in the castle.

The wedding was going to have to wait for another time. The coronation was needing to proceed in the next few days unfortunately. This was something the Prince was not fond to hear when he got the rough schedule for the next week. All of this he was informed by the heads of staff who said they would take care of everything.

The Prince was thankful that all he and the Rebel got to do now was sleep and relax. The Prince stripped both himself and the Rebel out of their day clothes. He found their most comfortable night clothes before settling by the fire. Water and tea leaves were brought up along with what was made for dinner that night.

The Prince was thankful he was able to eat real food again even if it was after only one night. The provisions that were made the last night and morning were dried and made to last. This was warm and full of flavour. They ate in total silence with the only sound being the soft crackle of the fire.

"What do you need from me love?" The Prince asked softly when they were both finished with their food. The sun was well down by now with the night bringing in a chill through the balcony.

"Can we cuddle while we sleep?" The Prince chuckle, like the Rebel even needed to ask for that.

"Of course we can my dear. I wouldn't have it any other way." He pulled the Rebel out of their chair and led them over to the bed. The Rebel was sat on the closer side of the bed, which happened to be the prince's side. The Prince moved to pull the heavy curtains across the entrance to the balcony. The room would warm up nicely as they let the fire burn out. It was the only light in the room.

This would make it dark enough that they wouldn't wake up until someone else disturbed them. Both were ready to pass out from the long day and night full of stress. It was the kind of tired that you can feel in your bones and days later as you try and catch up. The type of tired that would make you drop right on your feet.