Royalty {RANDY}

1

The forest was a forbidden place.

You were not suppose to go there, as that was the border between two very powerful kingdoms, and those caught there would be slaughtered.

However, the idea gave Rye an adrenaline rush.

As he crept through the woods, the darkness covering everything, he didn't think of the fact that if be was caught here, he would die.
The trees in the forest were muddy mahogany, covered in moss that crawled up the bark like parasites. Bushes littered the forest floor, covering several different animal homes. It was rare to find a plant here.

Rye looked around, his eyes scanning the scenery for danger. Every nook and cranny was scanned for any sign of a stalker or someone who had caught him. However, when he saw noone, he propped his foot up on a knot in the tree and hauled himself up the branches, until he was consumed by the greenery.

He poked his head through the branches, the air somehow icier up here than it was down below. This tree was special, as he and his best friend had build a flat wooden platform for them to sit on without being uncomfortable.

It seemed as though Rye was here first this time, so as he took his seat on the platform, he looked in the distance. Clear as day, the two kingdoms were seperated by a forest.

One side had a huge stone castle, heavily guarded by barbed wire and guards on the walls. It had cracked, old stone bricks with only two or three lights coming from inside, the rest coming from the torches the knights were holding. It gave off a dystopian vibe.

On the other side was a white palace with gorgeous, quartz coloured walls and golden trims. It was bright with lanterns and life. You could clearly see people in the windows, moving and dancing, and Rye could see some children from his kingdom playing in the water fountain in the courtyard.

He wished he could tell him the truth. That he wasnt from just a wealthy family in a village, he was a Prince. He lived in that exact palace, and he was about to go to war. He could be killed and he would never know, because he had lied and told him he was from the village up north.

He wished he could tell him the truth, about how he lived there. But he didn't want to risk him telling anyone the secrets he had shared about his life, his mental health... Deep down, Rye knew he would never do that, but it didn't calm his worries about his secret getting out.

"Thinking again?" A soft, southern voice asked as he plopped down next to Rye.

Rye turned his head to face his friend. "Yeah, I am."

His best friend, his lifeline - Andy. The other boy moved some of his poofy blonde hair out of his eyes. His eyes were a warm blue, and it reminded him of the lake behind the palace where the villagers fished. He had soft, milky skin with beauty spots dotting it, with gentle pink lips that spoke the kindest and truest words.

"Wanna tell me what you were thinking about?" Andy asked, pulling his satchel off his shoulder and opening it up, rustling around inside.

"No." Rye answered. "But you know I'm gonna tell you anyway."

Andy smirked as he pulled out a bottle of wine. "I know."

Rye blinked and his eyes drifted back to his palace.

"I wish I lived there." He said suddenly. Andy uncapped the wine and took a drink before pointing at the brightly lit royal chateau. "There?"

"Yeah." Rye said as he took the bottle from Andy and took a drink, savouring the sweet, burning taste on his tongue and throat.

"Me too." Andy mumbled. "It seems so warm and welcoming."

"It does." Rye agreed as he capped the wine and handed it back to Andy, before the other boy rested his chin on his shoulder.

"Hey, Rye." Andy mumbled.
"Yeah?"

"Tell me about where you're from."

Rye froze up in anxiety, and Andy sensed it. "Oh, you don't have to-"

"No, its okay." He said, having to think of a lie on the spot. "I'll tell you someday, only if you promise to do the same."

"One day."

Andy removed his chin from Rye's shoulder. Suddenly, the blonde boy broke into a grin. "Come on."

Rye frowned in confusion. Whenever Andy smiled like that, it meant they were about to do something dangerous and disobiedent.

"Where are we going?" He asked as Andy swung his satchel over his shoulder and started to climb down the tree, the branches shaking uneasily. "Andy!"

"Do you trust me?" He asked, looking up the tree so their eyes collided, like chocolate and blueberries.

"Yes." Rye answered without hesitation, and Andy broke into another smile. "Come on then."

Rye grabbed onto the bendy branch that would lower him onto a solid one due to his weight, before he hopped down.

"One day that thing is gonna snap and I'm gonna laugh at you." Andy said and Rye swatted at him. "Mean."

Andy offered Rye his hand, which the brunet took, intertwining their fingers and tugging him with him.

They walked through the forest, occasionally hiding in a bush when they thought someone was coming, but it was just their anxiety. This was terrible to do, because if Rye got caught by an enemy guard... That would end terribly. He didn't want Andy to get hurt.

However, he knew Andy could handle himself. The boy was sneaky, dangerous. He could steal, he could fight and could most certainly sneak past undetected. It didn't stop him from worrying, though.

"Andy where are we going?" Rye asked for the millionth time. They had been walking for ages, the kingdoms weren't even in sight anymore.

"You, sir, have no patience." He told the other, before stopping. "Okay, eyes closed."

"What? No, you'll stab me with your dagger or something." Rye protested with a laugh. Andy didn't even keep weapons on him, but had told him about his village's high security.

"Just do it." Andy ordered. Rye rolled his eyes before closing them tightly. He felt Andy take both his hands in his, before they started to walk. Rye felt something like a leaf tickle his face. Then another, then another.

"Open them." Andy whispered.

Rye slowly opened his eyes, a bit afraid, before he snapped them open fully.

It was a small, beautiful pond surrounded by weeping willows. The leaves tickled the water, making soft ripples when the wind blew. Stunning little fireflies swarmed the pond, lighting it up like starlight.

"Oh my God." Rye whispered, his eyes scanning the area and drinking it in.

"I come here to release stress." Andy told him as he stood next to him, taking his hand. "I felt like my favourite person should know about my favourite place."

Rye smiled brightly, taking Andy's hand and intertwining their hands. Their palms kissed, and Rye had an urge to run away. Just take Andy and go. They were best friends, they could do anything as long as they were together. They couldn't be stopped if they left at night, if-

"You're thinking again." Andy told him. "What's bothering you?"

"I don't want to live where I live anymore, Andy." He whispered, turning his head to look at the other boy. "I don't want to."

Andy squeezed his hand. "I don't want to live in my home anymore either."

Rye considered proposing the idea of running away, but he decided against it. He didn't want to say it and Andy think he was crazy. Despite Andy being his best friend and he knew he would never judge him for anything, he was still scared of rejection. That's why it took him so long to tell him about his sexuality.

However, when he looked to his side and saw the blond boy, he knew it didn't matter. Nothing did. Because he would always have Andy, right?