Of Love and Curses: A Spifelk Story (Fantasy/Medieval AU)

I Didn't Mean It

Spifey awoke to the staircase he'd been on the day before. Zelkam was nowhere to be found. He thought about what Ivyne had told him. It was just an dream. There's no way. Spifey did not know where Zelkam had gone, but he had and idea: he could have easily fallen down of the side of the stairs into the brambles below. Spifey sighed, knowing it was time to take responsibility for what had happened. He'd go retrieve the physical remains of his friend, tell Skeppy everything, and return to the king with bad news. What would the king say? Would he execute the matchmaker for taking his son away and travelling with him? What if the king had plans to match him up with other women instead? Above all, he felt regret for not saving the prince. If only he'd lied to the fair guy. They'd have made it to Manunt a day earlier. It would have saved them the time of having to wait for Zelk to be able to travel on horseback. Things could have been better perhaps if Spifey didn't feel the need to get cake for his friend, too. So many ways he could have saved Zelkam's life, and he failed to do them all. Especially when he had no reason to not pull back and run to the castle, to beg Johanna to save his friend's life. All the mistakes he made caused him to start breaking down into tears again. It only took fifteen seconds before he heard rapid footsteps, and two familiar arms hugged him from behind. Zelkam. It wasn't just a dream. Ivyne really had been there. Zelk let go and came around to the other side of his companion.
"Spifey, it's okay. I'm fine, see? L-" Spifey cut off the tiger prince by pulling him into a deep, passionate kiss. The move shocked the prince, but he melted into it after a moment of bewilderment.  For one of them, everything was a blur. Spifey just did what came natural, without thinking. He didn't remember any real details. For the other, the memory was vivid. Zelk could feel that the matchmaker had been holding him closely, tightly. Spifey was exploring every inch of the tiger's mouth, not ever wanting to let go. But Zelk had to push him off, taking a gasp of air. "What was that? Didn't you tell me you didn't like me?"
"I didn't mean it," Spifey confessed. "I thought it would be easier to not let you know I felt the same. I thought we would be taking too much of a risk, just begging Johanna to save you, and then running off. But I had lied to you that day about not feeling the same. I do!"
"Evidently," Zelk responded. "I couldn't tell if you loved me or were trying to suffocate me. Now, come on, Skeppy's waiting."
"He stayed here? All night?"
"No, not all night. But I remembered those signals he gave you. When I awoke, I threw one on the ground. It didn't work, so I opened up the little ball and blew the dust. He recognized it and came. He said he wouldn't mind waiting a little while for you to wake up, and while you were asleep, I got myself breakfast." The two walked down the staircase hand in hand, to Skeppy and his horse.
"You two ready? You'll be home in about two days!" The three got on the horse and they went off back to Siodt. The next two days were filled with easy riding, checking out all the cool towns, and eventually, riding up to the castle where Skeppy bid them goodbye.