Boy Of The Ball ~ A Ryden AU

Ryan (8)

(Soz for the frequent updates, but man, ever since I decided on the ending, I've been superrr pumped to write this, heh. Also, two things. 1.) I know basically NOTHING about how people in medieval times talked. I know the basics, like they didn't use contractions (ex, do not to don't) back then, which is why the speech is like that. Sorry bout that! And 2.) I've been making all of these Ryan's POV recently b/c I can lol. It's his POV for this chapter for a very, heh, special reason. I'll do Brendon's again soon.)

Brendon mounts the steed, but I hesitate.

"Are you sure it is safe?" I ask, my hands twitching, and he nods. "Quite sure. It is my own, and I have had it since I was a young boy."

"And we will not be followed?"

"As long as we go the way we are supposed to, we will be fine."

I nod, gulping, but my legs feel stuck, frozen. Brendon sighs, softly, sliding off the horse and standing next to me, his hands on my shoulders.

"I will not let anything hurt you. I promise."

I nod shakily, and then sigh. "Are you sure this is what you want? You will not be wealthy. No one will know you. You will be.. equal. A commoner. Like me."

Brendon nods without hesitation. "Yes. Yes, I want this. I want you. In fact, I have something for you." He says, and he pulls out a ring, with a ruby glistening in the middle. "I know that men cannot marry, and I am not foolish to ask for your hand. I do not deserve it. But I got you this. It is a family heirloom, and you will look much more beautiful than me wearing it. Traditionally, when woman are proposed to, a diamond ring is given. But rubies are infinitely more expensive, and more precious. And you are more precious to me than any wedding, any woman, or any crown." He says, grabbing my hand and slipping the ring on.

I stare at it for a moment. "Brendon, my darling, thank you. But I do not need any ring to symbolize our love, because I am already yours. And true love, like ours, is worth so much more than a diamond ring."

Brendon smiles, simply kissing my knuckles. "I agree. But still. It makes me happy, seeing you wear it.

And of course, the second he says THAT, I decide to never take it off.

"Now. Come. Let us ride." He says, pulling me onto the steed, and I wrap my arms around him, the horse beginning to gallop.

We don't know where we're going. But we have each other. And that is enough.
•
We are resting, somewhere in the woods. Riding all day has been exhausting, and Brendon, who has been doing all the work, is leaning against a tree, his eyelids drooping. My head is in his lap, and I smile up at him, blowing him a kiss.

It is beautiful out here. The sky is beginning to grow light, because we are traveling at night and concealing ourselves during the day. Crickets and birds are trilling, and the ground is dotted with wildflowers and clover.

"You know." Brendon says suddenly, his voice heavy with exhaustion. "The clover is beautiful. It reminds me of you. Delicate, but outshone by the colors of the flowers. But every bit as lovely."

I feel a blush creep up at my neck. "I am not beautiful."

Brendon looks astonished. "But you are! I cannot bear your beauty, sometimes."

I blink up at him. "Well." I say slowly. "The crickets remind me of you. Their song. You have an enchanting voice, you know."

"But you have never heard me sing."

I giggle softly. "Before we met officially, I heard you singing in the palace. I made a habit of creeping around, listening to your voice."