A Prince and His Knight

[Tinker Bell]

Devan felt his cheeks get a bit warm when Kai softly kissed his hand. As Kai fell into sleep Devan's thoughts started to wander a bit. Although he stayed focused as well. He just kept thinking of Kai. He really loved him? Devan never really understood the knight. He just knew that he cared. Never had he thought this. Would everything work out between them? Or would his parents forbid it? He didn't think that they would. He hoped they would understand. He looked down at Kai, a soft smile on his face. It was rare that someone saw him smile. It made Devan feel special.


Then morning started to come. Reluctantly he let go of Kai's hand. He wanted to make them breakfast. So he got the fire going again. He dug through the bags to find something nice to make. It was simple, but he made a good breakfast out of some of the things they had, but he didn't use too much either.


After it was done he went back to Kai. He didn't want to wake the knight up though. He liked seeing the soft smile on his face. "Kai," his voice was soft as he reached out to touch his cheek lightly. He was so peaceful, he didn't want to disturb him.

 

[Quatre Winner]

A delicious smell had filtered in through Kai's dreams, slowly waking him as his stomach reminded him of its emptiness. But Kai didn't fully wake until he heard that sweet voice, and felt the brush of fingers against his cheek. Instinctively, he started to pull away, but then relaxed when he saw it was the prince. A slight, pinkish hue colored his cheeks, and he was surprised at himself for leaning into the prince's hand a little. But then, why not? The heady warmth of last night hadn't left him yet, even if he wasn't sure it was real or not.


Sitting up, Kai stretched a little, then followed his nose to the fire, where a few of the sausages and some bread and an egg was toasting on the small pan he had brought. Kai gave another rare smile, though it was a rueful one.


"I should have woken to cook you breakfast, my prince." he said, "But thank you." Almost automatically, the knight reached out to straighten Devan's clothing and smooth his hair down. Yet, feeling that lingering difference between then, he pulled back slowly, looking conscious. Was last night a dream? Kai had a lingering fear that it was, but he couldn't bring himself to ask. It would have sounded so weak and stupid…


"Any sign of the beasts from last night?" he asked instead.

 

[Tinker Bell]

Devan smiled a bit when Kai woke up. Then Kai said he should have been the one to cook. "I can cook." He mumbled quietly. His mother was born the daughter of a baker before his father met her and they fell in love. She taught him how to cook as well. Not that he got to do it much as he got older. A prince shouldn't cook according to most people. It made Devan upset that he couldn't cook like he wanted to. That was why he decided he would cook now when there was no one to tell him that he shouldn't. Not that it seemed to work out that way, as Kai basically sad the same thing everyone else did.


Devan didn't get it. He was still a person. Shouldn't he be expected to do all of the things other people did? He didn't want to be held on some pedestal like everyone was afraid he would break. Devan could do more than people thought, he wasn't made of porcelain. He felt his face get warm when Kai fixed his clothes.


It was fairly normal by now, but this was different. After last night, everything was different. But he didn't want Kai to stop like he had. Focusing on the question, he shook his head. "No." Was it possible it had moved on?

 

[Quatre Winner]

"I don't doubt your ability to cook," Kai frowned a bit. This was somewhat true- he'd never thought about the prince and cooking together, so he had no opinion on it before. "But you have more important things to think of than menial tasks like that."


As Kai watched Devan's face, however, he saw that familiar streak of stubbornness, and a bit of discontentment, that he knew well. Devan often disliked being told he couldn't do things, or shouldn't. The prince never wanted to try anything wrong, but he would indulge in things that might not have been appropriate for a prince. Like cooking. On the other hand, it was a useful skill to have for such situations as they currently found themselves in. Kai decided it wasn't worth arguing over, as part of his reason for not wanting the prince to deal with such a menial matter was because he wanted to serve Devan all his days. Even in small things was the knight eager to do what he could for the boy he loved. But perhaps he had better let the prince be a little more independent…


Frowning slightly, the knight lapsed into silence, watching his prince with uncertain eyes. The longer he was awake, the more he wondered if the night before had just been a protracted yet glorious dream. The whole thing certainly had a dreamlike quality about it, including talk of magic. But Kai was too introverted and embarrassed to ask Devan if he still loved him, so he said nothing for awhile. When Kai spoke, it had nothing to do with the love that burned in his heart, and shone behind his eyes.


"Once we've eaten, I will go check on the horses. If they are still there…" Which he doubted.

 

[Tinker Bell]

Devan knew there were more important things, of course. However, he never got the opportunity to cook when he was home and he took the chance to do it now. Besides, it was methodical and it helped him think. Not that he figured out a way to stop this yet. Or even hold it off. He was at a total loss.


Then he noticed Kai just staring at him. After a moment, his cheeks started to turn a light pink. He was used to Kai looking at him, but not like this. It felt different. He looked down after a moment. Then Kai spoke again. "Okay." He really hoped the horses were okay. He didn't think these creatures were after animals. Unless the people took them to escape on.

 

[Quatre Winner]

(UGH...this site! I haven't been able to get to my messages until now. I'll post tomorrow after work. I'm so sorry about this!)

 

[Tinker Bell]

((I get it...it's all good.))

 

[Quatre Winner]

That pretty shade in Devan's cheeks made him look more attractive than ever, but at the same time Kai was guarded and unsure of their current relationship, so he refrained from reaching out to touch the tempting skin.


Instead, he averted his gaze and stood up to go check the shattered window. Pale light from an overcast sky was gleaming through the narrow space between the cabinet and window frame. But even with the morning dawn Kai could see little evidence of their nighttime visitors. Only teh faint impression of footprints he could not quite make out, but they didn't seem human. Nor did they seem like anything else that he had seen before. A chill ran down his spine as he remembered the scratching and snuffling noises from the night before. Kai half expected something inhuman to leap out at them through the window, or when they pushed the bedroom door open. The bed still held it shut.


Knowing they would have to go out sometime, and that he'd need a closer look at those footprints, Kai got himself as used to the idea as possible. Though not eager to meet one of those things, he was far more concerned with the prince's well-being. That would never change, no matter if Devan loved him.


Almost at once, the knight's mind shifted gears completely, so much so that he was surprised at himself for losing focus on the mission. But he couldn't help thinking of Devan's words last night, and wondering about it more than ever. Turning to look at the prince over his shoulder, Kai frowned thoughtfully. His more powerful emotions were hidden once more behind a mask, but Devan had the power to remove that mask at any time.


"You spoke of magic last night, and creatures- I see no sign of them, but would they return in daylight? Is there some spell you can use to protect yourself?" Kai had multiple reasons for asking such questions, and they didn't all have to do with the mission. If Devan confirmed that the discussion of magic had happened, maybe everything else had, too.

 

[Tinker Bell]

Devan wanted to go look outside, but he was afraid of what he'd see. He didn't want to see destruction. Then Kai turned back. Devan nodded at the first question. It was a definite answer, he could answer those. The. He kept asking things.


"I don't know if they'll return. I don't know what they are yet." What they were would determine everything. Then he asked about keeping himself safe. "There aren't many self-protecting spells and they are very tricky to cast. Half the time they don't work. But the spell I cast on you is like a dome. It protects anything inside it. So if I stay close to you I am protected as well." He didn't mean like attached at the hip or anything, but the dome wasn't too big.

 

[Quatre Winner]

Kai seemed to latch onto this, and his steps were swift as he made his way back to the prince, kneeling down next to him. Some of his old fire was back, and with it his determination to protect Devan at any cost.


"If that is so, then I will remain near you at all times…if it can be helped. Until you are able to protect yourself with the right spell." Taking the prince's hand in his, Kai squeezed it gently. "You must find a spell for your own protection, somehow. If we are on horseback and anything happens…"


The knight lapsed into meaningful silence, looking directly at the prince in something like his old manner. It wasn't accusing, exactly, but the kind of look that let Devan know he would be watching. Kai's attention was only drawn away as the food finished cooking, which brought up the whole idea of Devan cooking, which brought up last night's confession….


Suddenly, the knight's expression became troubled. At least, as troubled as his calm mask ever allowed it to be. Devan could usually see through it since he knew Kai so well. The knight was thinking of the closeness that was now required because of the magic, and his forthright nature was telling him they would have to broach the subject at some point.


"Your highness," he started, paused, and looked away for a moment. "Was there anything else we discussed last night that needs to be brought up now?" Kai wasn't sure if that was the right way to put it, but now he found himself holding his breath, waiting for the prince's answer, and afraid it might be something along the lines of, 'Oh, nothing important. I can't remember.'

 

[Tinker Bell]

Devan bit his lip when Kai told him that he had to find the right spell. He was trying. He had sort of seen this bit coming, so he had been constantly running through them in his head, listing the pros and cons of each. "I will." He promised softly. He didn't want to worry Kai.


After the silence, Kai asked about last night. He was a bit confused. Then he figured Kai fears it was a dream. To be honest, if Devan hadn't watched all of Kai's movements since he woke up, he would have thought it was a dream too. He just didn't know how to say any of this. Was there anything he really could say.


Another moment passed before Devan leaned forward slowly. Softly he kissed Kai's cheek, finding himself lingering just a bit. It was the only thing he could think of that didn't make him feel awkward. So much was held in the soft kiss and he hoped Kai understood it all.

 

[Quatre Winner]

Devan had given his promise, and whatever Kai thought of him sometimes being a scatterbrain, he had more faith in the prince's abilities than it probably seemed. That was the main reason for Kai pushing Devan about his forgetfulness, less-than-stellar abilities with weapons, and sometimes too-kind attitude toward others. In reality, he saw the prince for the truly amazing person that he was, and so couldn't bear for him to even seem any less. It was probably the wrong way to go about things, but then Kai wasn't perfect himself and he knew it. He just wasn't sure how else to be on the subject. That, and how to deal with his own feelings.


As the prince's soft lips met his cheek, he found himself frozen to the spot, his heart-rate increasing dramatically. That was all it took, just one little peck, and everything from last night flooded back. It was true…. It hadn't been a dream. As Devan pulled away, he would see in those normally stern blue eyes a softened expression, and a light blush over the knight's cheeks. Yes, he understood.


Kai found himself grasping one of the prince's hands, though he didn't remember moving his arm. Honestly, he didn't know what to say, but perhaps nothing needed to be said. Kai was one that believed silence was golden. Rather than let any words pass his lips, he pressed them to the prince's hand, inside his palm.


The moment lingered over them, and a warmth seemed to stretch from Kai's chest, enveloping everything in softness. It would remain there, in the back of Kai's mind, even with the grim job they had yet to do.


"Let us eat, my prince." My love…he thought, wondering at how he dared. They would have much to discuss on the subject of love, but not now. Kai was content to let things be as they were anyway.


(Warning- Kai will become very cuddly once he gets used to the idea of love. He's kind of starved for it without knowing xD )

 

[Tinker Bell]

Devan was honestly a bit shocked to see him blush. Kai never blushed. He never really knew him to. The fact that he'd been the one to do it was a bit more shocking to him. He never thought he'd have that sort of effect on his stoic knight. His knight. That thought made him smile a little bit. He didn't know why he liked it so much. Maybe because he had been waiting so long to even think that. It didn't matter that he was open with his emotions. Right now, Kai still wasn't. At least not completely, he didn't want to push it too far and push him away.


It was his turn to blush when Kai kissed his hand. Then he mentioned the food. Devan took it off the fire so it would't burn.


((Yay))

 

[Quatre Winner]

The pan of food was set on a cooling block inside the massive fireplace. Kai dished up what he was going to eat, after the prince had taken his share, and dug in, realizing just how hungry he was only when the food touched his lips.


"Very good." he said after swallowing, a nod directed at the prince. Though he still felt he should have done the cooking, Kai didn't wish for it because of the food's quality. In fact, he had to admit that the prince made better egg toast. Maybe he should let Devan cook their camp meals if it pleased the prince to do so?


Kai found himself watching Devan, as usual, but with different feelings than before. There was a kind of budding contentment in the silence between them, close to how comfortable they usually were with one another, but not quite. Kai was sitting close to Devan than usual, his knees touching the prince's, though it was partly because of the whole 'magic shield' thing. Now the knight felt like he had to maintain physical contact, even though he wasn't sure that was necessary. Or he was finding an excuse.

 

[Tinker Bell]

Devan wasn't really that hungry. He was never really very hungry. That was likely part of the reason he was so small. Well, relatively anyway. He was often told he looked like a kid when he stood next to Kai, but he didn't ever really care. He knew physical strength wasn't his forte and it didn't have to be. As long as he was happy he was fine.


He was happy when he was with Kai. He knew that when he couldn't physically defend himself, however rarely those occasions were, Kai was always there. He knew that he was, but he didn't realize how much he needed him. Even the closeness, despite the fact that physical touch wasn't needed to keep him safe, made him feel safer. So he didn't say anything.


His mind had several different thought trains that seemed to be running at the same time. One was of what these creatures could possibly be and how to stop them. Another was of Kai and how everything seemed to change and stay the same between them. The third was of spells to protect himself. Kai's voice interrupted all three and he looked up. A tiny smile came to his lips. "Thank you." He liked knowing he was good at something. Especially something that benefited others.

 

[Quatre Winner]

Kai nodded at the thanks and continued eating, though he never took his eyes off of Devan. When it looked like the prince might not eat all his breakfast, Kai murmured encouragement. Devan would need all the strength and sustenance he could get. Kai was even prepared to give more of his own food, if necessary. Whatever it took to make sure his prince was healthy and ready for the day. It was going to be a long one.


Breakfast went fast, and mostly in silence. When they were finished, Kai got up and cleaned and re-packed everything they had brought with them. "We can go for another week if we're careful with the food." he said, looking through their stores. The meal they'd just eaten, though filling, hadn't been much. They couldn't afford to waste anything.


Kai took the prince's sword and tied it around Devan's waist, as he usually did when they were together. This time, though, there was a strange warmth in his chest, and the pit of his stomach. It spread through him slowly as he pressed against Devan to wrap the belt around his slim waist. Kai was glad Devan couldn't see his face at the moment, as it rested agianst the prince's little shoulder. Heat radiated from his face, and he was sure he was blushing.


With a force of will, Kai made his body calm down, so that when he pulled back to buckle the prince's belt, only a tiny bit of pink remained in his cheeks. "Are you ready to go?" he asked, his tone even.

 

[Tinker Bell]

Devan had wondered if Kai was going to make him eat all of it. As expected he did. Then Kai cleaned the dishes used while Devan managed to get his hair to lie flat. His hair usually never wanted to cooperate.


When Kai started to tie the belt, Devan's face lit up. His cheeks stained red. This was different now, although he still liked it. He looked up at Kai when the other pulled back. It seemed his cheeks were stained as well, but not as bright as Devan's. He looked down and nodded a bit. "Y-Yeah." He mumbled quietly. "I'm ready."

 

[Quatre Winner]

Honestly, Kai loved the way the prince's hair stuck out, even if it did give the impression of childishness. He found it charming, and always wanted to run his fingers through the soft strands. However, the knight always refrained from such things. What if Devan didn't like it?


Kai was thinking of this very thing when he started to reach up to the prince's cheek, without realizing that his hand had moved until it made contact. Calloused fingertips grazed Devan's skin, then retracted as the knight drew back, looking conscious. His fingers felt warm…


Needing something for that hand to do, he reached down to pick their bags up, hoisting them easily over his shoulder. One hand was still free, and with this he drew his sword. Kai was quite strong, in spite of his youth and wiry build.


"Come on, then, and stay close to me." he said to the prince. Though it sounded like a command, and was, his voice still had a note of vulnerability. If anything happened to Devan he'd never forgive himself.


Using his foot to hook around the leg of the bed that blocked the door, Kai gave a quick movement, dragging it away by degrees. The wood frame squeaked on the stone floor, slowly, as Kai stood beside it, ready to kill anything that came through from the other side.

 

[Tinker Bell]

Devan felt his cheek get warmer for a split second. Then Kai's hand was gone. But not before Devan had instinctively leaned into the touch just a bit. He watched as Kai easily picked up the bags. A slight feeling of envy settled into the pit of stomach before he got rid of it. He was always been envious of Kai's strength, wishing he had that sort of strength. However he knew it didn't truly matter. Not in his kingdom. People took him seriously here. Outside of it was a different story. He was seen as feminine and it was hard for people to see him for the prince he was.


He was drawn back to reality by Kai's voice and he looked up at the knight. He nodded and stepped just a bit closer. Spell or not that was where he felt safest. The bed was moved out of the way and Devan's mind instantly thought of every defensive and offensive spell he knew. He was prepared for just about anything.

 

[Quatre Winner]

Kai had his sword ready, his feet planted firmly on the wooden floor, and every muscle prepared. Even one-handed he was an excellent swordsman; their bags would just be another weapon for him. Cautiously, he toed open the door, blade raised, but nothing came through. Even when he peered out into the dim hallway nothing leaped at him. There was not so much as a peep from anywhere, nor creaking, nor any sign of a living thing. In fact, the complete silence was almost eerie.


With all senses on alert, Kai stepped into the corridor, only looking back when he was sure it was safe. On the outside of the door were deep gouges, which continued down into the floor. It looked like the damage a dog would do when it wishes to enter a room, except teh dog's paws would have to be the size of dinner plates. Kai bent down to examine the marks, frowning, then stood up again to look for other signs. Nothing so far, but the hallway was short.


"Keep me on one side and the wall on the other." he told Devan. It would be easier to defend him that way.

 

[Tinker Bell]

Devan seemed to hold his breath as the door was opened slowly. Although there was nothing. That was the creepy part. The town was usually relatively lively. He'd been to this one before and it used to be filled with people. He did just what he was told, going in between the wall and Kai. His eyes kept glancing around. He looked at the gouges on the door and felt panic sink into his stomach. Whatever this was had to be huge. Maybe the size of a bear.


How were they supposed to fight a magical creature the size of a bear that had killer claws? He tried to calm himself down to think. There had to be something. He would need to get into this creatures head, figuratively of course, to find out what it was thinking. If anything at all. His eyes wandered everywhere, knowing there had to be some sort of clue somewhere. "Maybe this thing is just scared?" He tried quietly, talking more to himself.


"Maybe someone outside the borders terrified it and sent it inside? That would cause it to lash out at anything that looked like the one who caused the fear, so now it's attacking anyone."

 

[Quatre Winner]

Kai pressed closer to the wall as they reached a corner, placing his left hand against teh prince's chest very gently as though to still him, while he peered out with his sword at the ready. He didn't give an answer until he saw that all was clear, and kept his voice very low.


"I don't know… If it was so scared, why would it come all the way into the Inn and try to get to our room?" Kai supposed the prince's suggestion was possible; these creatures were wholly unknown to him. On the other hand…


As they reached the end of another hall, checking inside abandoned rooms on the way, they came across the first dead body. It lay just inside the door of the last room at the end of the hall, face-up, throat and torso ripped open. Quickly, Kai grabbed the blanket off of the nearby bed and threw it over the corpse, trying to keep Devan from seeing what had happened. It was the innkeeper who had let them in last night; so far he was the only one besides them who hadn't made it out.


Kai felt his stomach rebel, and knew he would never forget the sight. Yet he was a knight, and had been in battle many times before this. Though horrified beyond measure, that, and the prince's need for him to be strong, kept Kai from losing control.


(I leave it to you whether or not the villagers who are being transformed choose to kill while in their altered form, or if it's even them to begin with. It could go any way.)

 

[Tinker Bell]

Devan looked up when Kai stopped him. He wanted to stay with him as he went into the room, but something told him to stay in the hall. Until a few moments later when he looked inside. He knew whatever this was killed, but he never thought it would be like this.


He didn't make any move to take the sheet off. He'd rather be left wondering than remembering. He knew that it was likely the innkeeper. This room in any inn was the one the innkeeper stayed in. "Is it him?" He asked quietly. He had stayed by the door, not wanting to step closer.

 

[Quatre Winner]

Kai met his gaze an nodded once, not trusting his own voice. He had to be strong for Devan, whose tender heart would naturally bleed over even a relative stranger. To prevent him dwelling on it, Kai got between the prince and the door, shielding him from the sight while passed to the end of the hallway. Both arms were wrapped around the prince the whole time, until they came to the heavy wooden door that led to the large main room of the inn.


Kai halted, once again pressing Devan gently against the wall, his sword raised as he nudged the door open. Nothing happened, not even the faintest stirring of a living thing besides them. The smell of smoke and ale and bread still hung heavy on the air, as though last night's town gathering and discussions by the fire were ready to commence anew. But there was another scent that left a tang in their mouths, and they soon realized why. Lying under tables, and on the floor, were at least five bodies, strewn about with broken crockery and the sticky residue of mixed blood and ale. In the wood floor, on the bar, and that side of the door were the same sorts of deep gouges, as though made by rending claws.


The whole scene filled Kai with a cold, sick feeling in his stomach, and he instinctively pulled Devan's head against his chest to hide his eyes.


"Don't look….don't look." he breathed, starting to navigate a path through the bodies with the prince gathered in his arms. That was what made it so horrible, not just the death, but the fact that the prince was with him.

 

[Tinker Bell]

Devan felt himself get pulled into Kai. He started to walk with him, almost not wanting to know if anyone else had died. He barely got a look at the people in the room before he was pulled into Kai's chest. He shut his eyes tight as he relied on Kai.


He didn't want to see it. Although the glimpse that he had gotten wasn't going to go away. He was more determined than ever to get whatever these things were. Or thing. He had to figure out if it was only one or if there were more.