The Sorcerer and the Witch-King's Heir

So they didn't make it to the ridge that day after all, and in the morning they discovered they were out of food. "I'll go hunting," Michael said gleefully. "I was a good hunter, back home." "With what bow?" Leo said, laughing at him. "I'll make a snare!" Michael declared. "You can lend me one of your knives--" "Daggers," he corrected. "And I'll cut some vines and catch some rabbits! You'll see. That will get us through to tomorrow, and it will be faster going down than coming up. Come on," he wheedled. "Let me take care of you." "Oh, I see," Leo said, raising his eyebrows. "Is that how this relationship is going to work? You taking care of me?" "Is this a relationship?" Michael said. "Wait, are you asking to court me? You'll have to ask my mother's permission first." Leo went very still. "I thought you said your mother was dead." Michael's whole demeanor changed in the blink of an eye. "Yeah," he said quietly. "Yeah, she is. I forget sometimes...you know? I think she's still there, waiting for me, in our cottage." Leo didn't forget, not for a single instant, but he nodded in sympathy. "I'll be back before you know it," Michael said, coming to crouch down in front of him. "Can I borrow your dagger please?" Leo handed it over, and forced a smile. Michael leaned in to kiss him, then jumped to his feet and danced off toward the trees shouting: "look out rabbits, I'm coming for you!" When he was gone, Leo walked back to the bedrolls where they'd spent the night and picked up one of the shining, golden hairs. He broke it in half, and threw one piece into the fire, whispering a word over it. The other he put in his pocket. Then he sat down to wait. ** Michael returned, true to his word, with two fat rabbits. They skinned them and roasted them over the fire that Leo had made sure was built up in anticipation. They ate their fill and wrapped up the rest. The next day dawned bright and clear. They broke camp early, and made it to the ridge by noon. Michael was strangely subdued for most of the walk, frequently consulting his map and making course corrections. They stopped in the late afternoon to eat the rest of the rabbits and drink the rest of the water. As Michael stood up, anxious to be on his way, Leo reached out for him. "We're kind of a hurry here," Michael said, grinning down at him. "I know. Just...just answer me one thing." "Anything." "When this is over...what will you do next?" His brow furrowed in thought. "I don't know. I haven't really thought about it. I can't exactly go home, can I, not with the evil cabal after me and all that. Maybe I'll change my identity, go into a trade. Maybe I can throw myself on the mercy of parliament, offer to help them in exchange for protect. Why?" He looked down at him. "Oh. Oh, Leo." He sat back down, angling to face him, taking both hands in his. "Leo, meeting you was the best thing that ever happened to me. This, in spite of everything, is the happiest I think I've ever been. I'm not going anywhere, not unless you want me to. I'm not going to run off into the sunset and abandon you." Leo smiled weakly. "Promise?" "Promise," Michael said, and kissed him. It was a good kiss. It made him feel better. "I mean, it is a little weird that you're eighty years old," Michael said, with an evil grin, "but I'm willing to overlook it." "I'm not eighty years old," Leo protested. "I'm pretty sure you used the words 'functionally immortal' last night," Michael countered. "You could be even older. You could be centuries." "I have twenty years of memories," Leo grumbled. "I'm pretty sure that makes me "functionally" the same age as you." "Whatever you say, old man." Michael got up, and offered his hand. "Maybe we can run away together, go to another country where magic is legal. We just have to do this one thing, make sure the realm is safe from any other lost relatives I might have. Sound good?" "Sounds good," Leo agreed, and got to his feet. ** They found the tomb at sunset. It was very old, completely overgrown by moss and ferns, and they walked past it twice before they realized it wasn't just a boulder. It took the rest of the daylight to clear away the brush blocking the passage and free the rock slab that served as a door. The passage inside was long and smooth, damp with seeping water and algae growth. Michael took a deep breath. "Wait for me?" he asked. Leo was surprised. "I'll come with you," he said. "That's what you wanted me for, right? It's best not to split up." Michael was already shaking his head. "I'm the heir," he said. "If there's any traps, or tests, you could be in danger for being an outsider. No one has been in here in years. Stay here, and watch for the cabal. If they sneak up on us while we're in the passage, that could be worse." "Okay," Leo agreed hesitantly. "Just...be careful." "I will." "Come back to me." "I will." Then the prince was gone, and Leo was alone in the darkness, standing guard over a centuries old tomb, that held a secret artifact that could destroy the world.