Blue Blood

A Night To Remember

"So um, heh . . . D-do you want to dance?" Rody asks shaking a bit in my hand.

I gulp and nod leading us down the velvet staircase. Streamers hang from the ceiling and purple lights flash from unknown spots. Music plays from various boxes around us but it's music I've never heard before. The bass is high and seems to mimic my heart beat.

We navigate to an opening in the crowd of dancing party goers, which just so happens to be the middle of the dance floor. This is so weird.

My mind drifts back to the day we left out on our journey and I asked Rody if he knew how to dance. Hopefully he does better now then he did before.

Slowly and cautiously he places a hand on my shoulder and one in my hand as I place a hand on his waist. He smiles at me, nervous, but happy. My smile hasn't gone away since I've seen him and my legs feel numb.

We slowly start dancing as the music continues to rage on. I don't care if this kind of music is supposed to get you to jump around, we're gonna slow dance through it.

He steps on my foot and apologizes quickly.

"It's okay, really." I laugh gazing at him lovingly. I shouldn't, I know, but I can't help it.

He blushes and moves his arms around my neck. I place my now free hand to his waist with my other one. I can't tell the difference between my heart beat and the music anymore and I love it.

A thought crosses his mind and he shakes his head smiling.

"What?"

"It's just . . . I'm really happy. Like, genuinely happy."

I look at him a bit confused. His face twists to a near sad expression and I pull him a little closer.

"Mags I . . . I'm not always happy. I pretend to be so that everyone else is but the truth is . . . A lot of the time I'm not. Sometimes it's really hard to fake a smile. It's so hard to get out of bed in the morning but . . . With you there, everything is a little bit easier. Thank you."

I pull him close into a hug and I don't ever want to let go. I suspected this for a long time but now it's finally confirmed.

"Thank you, for saving my life."

He nuzzles in closer to my neck. I can feel his heart beating heavy against mine and this feels right. His gentle breaths against my neck, his arms wrapped around me, our bodies swaying to the music, it all feels so good.

I put my mouth up to his ear. "Everything is going to be okay. You don't have to pretend around me, I understand how you feel. We can work through this, together." I whisper.

I lean in and place the softest kiss I can against his forehead and let it linger for a moment. He smiles, a real smile, and holds me tighter.

We swing with the music for what must be hours though it only feels like minutes. I never want this moment to end, to let go. My back and torso don't even hurt anymore, all I feel is love and joy. This is the best day of my life.

Some people next to us look at us and smile, saying how cute we are. I couldn't agree more.

"Magnus."

"Hmm?"

"What are we gonna do?"

"What do you mean?"

"I mean . . . After this. Our journey isn't over and we can't stay here forever . . . What are we gonna do?"

I sigh and give it some thought.

"We'll keep moving. We'll complete our journey, come home, I'll make you your sticky buns,"

He laughs at that.

"And then maybe . . . I don't know maybe we could go on another journey together but whatever we do, I hope I get to do it with you."

He smiles against my shoulder and sighs happily. Then the smile fades.

"What if . . . What if I don't want to go back home? What if we just stay out here forever?"

"We can't do that."

"Why not?"

Roman, what kind of a question is that?

"Our people need you, your father needs you, someday you're going to be king."

He mumbles something inaudible.

"What'd you say?"

He sighs. "Look I . . . I want my people to be happy and safe but . . . I'd be a terrible king. I wouldn't know where to start."

I shake my head. "You'll learn. Did you think your father just woke up one day a perfect king?"

" . . . No . . ."

I smile and squeeze him. "You'll be a perfect king, I just know it. People from miles around will come just to see you and see what a wonderful person you are."

He scoffs a laugh but drops it there. Suddenly someone screams. Our heads jolt up at the ready and look to where the scream was. Then there's another then someone yells, "It's the Maston border guards!" Everyone starts screaming and running and my stomach flips. Someone just died.

I grab Rody's arm as fast as I can and we run to the rooms where we changed in to grab our stuff. I throw everything in a bag sloppily and rush out just as an arrow whizzes past Rody's cheek leaving a small cut on his face. I grab his hand and drag him through the crowd of frightened people. A Woman lies dead on the ground with her throat slit. Another person lies on their stomach in a pool of blood.

One of the soldiers lunges at us but I catch his arm and throw him as far as I can while Rody fights off another guard. He manages easily and we keep running. A soldier in front of us aims at us with a crossbow. I close my eyes and wait for the arrow.

A loud crash is heard and a shriek of a neigh. Edima bursts through the doors toward us, jumping over the bodies and the soldier turns his sights on her. I charge at him full force but he already gets a shot off and someone yells out in pain.

I wrestle with him for the bow and end up winning and knocking him out with a heavy right hook. Behind me I hear the galloping of horse.

"Grab on!" Rody screams to me atop Edima, extending his hand.

I'm able to grab on without them stopping and get on behind Roman. The door to Maston is too crowded to fit through and we end up crashing through the window. Edima lands the small drop and races off without the soldiers even noticing we left.

I realize now that those people probably took the fort while the guards where gone and decided to have a party like the insane people they are. Gods why did I let myself believe that everything was gonna be okay!?

Edima grunts as she runs faster and faster into the forest. A big spot of red grows on her shoulder and my stomach drops. I can't lose her.

After riding for awhile we stop in a small clearing and hop off. It doesn't look like a soldier route so we should be okay. Immediately upon getting off I check Edima for cuts or arrows. I look all around where the blood is but I can't find a cut.

"Edima's okay, the bloods mine."

My heart stops. What.

"I couldn't let her get hurt so I stepped in the way."

I look at his arm and it's covered in blood. He winces and holds it tightly with the arrow still in it.

I run up to him and order him to sit down. I tear though the bags and find some bandages.

"Why would you do that, why would you DO that!?" I gasp at him.

"Because, I knew how much she meant to you."

I examine the arrow and see that the cut is deep.

"I couldn't let you get hurt Mags . . . Not again."