“I am so sorry my love.” The Prince whispered as he took the rebels hand. On their own the Rebel didn’t really move. They were still kind of out of it. Just floating there like a sleepwalker does. The Prince started tearing up himself thinking how hard this hit is partner. There was a clear attachment the Rebel had the Prince just didn’t to his own family.


He could only guess what it was like to loose a loved one. He would probably die from heart break if anything happened to the Rebel. The Prince was able to snap them out of it enough to sit on the horse. They sat behind the Prince wrapping their body around his. As they walked back the Prince would rub and kiss the rebels hand that were over his chest.


“We’re going to need a lot of time.” The Rebel mumbled into the Prince’s ear. They almost sounded hollow in with exhaustion clear as day. They sounded as bad as the Prince felt now that everything was delt with.


“I know dear, we will have plenty of time together now. I promise.” The Prince hugged the arms around him the best he could. The afternoon sun was blazing down on them, they were only saved by the cloud cover over head. As they approached the city they decided to go a bit of a long way to avoid the crowd.


The rest of the army returned in triumph, the Prince didn’t want the joy to be ruined by the weary and exhausted couple. By the time they got back to the castle it was already dark. Sir Theo delt with the Captain of the guard as the Prince and Rebel handed the horses back over to the stable kids.


Now the Prince was not only feeling the mental exhaustion that happened right after they started their walk back. Now there was the physical exhaustion of late nights, early mornings, and regular high stress that caused him strain over the past week. A request was made for food to be brought up to the room for the next few days as the couple recovered. The next morning all the royals were set to go back home; at least for the ones who were still in the castle.


The wedding was going to have to wait for another time. The coronation was needing to proceed in the next few days unfortunately. This was something the Prince was not fond to hear when he got the rough schedule for the next week. All of this he was informed by the heads of staff who said they would take care of everything.


The Prince was thankful that all he and the Rebel got to do now was sleep and relax. The Prince stripped both himself and the Rebel out of their day clothes. He found their most comfortable night clothes before settling by the fire. Water and tea leaves were brought up along with what was made for dinner that night.


The Prince was thankful he was able to eat real food again even if it was after only one night. The provisions that were made the last night and morning were dried and made to last. This was warm and full of flavour. They ate in total silence with the only sound being the soft crackle of the fire.


“What do you need from me love?” The Prince asked softly when they were both finished with their food. The sun was well down by now with the night bringing in a chill through the balcony.


“Can we cuddle while we sleep?” The Prince chuckle, like the Rebel even needed to ask for that.


“Of course we can my dear. I wouldn’t have it any other way.” He pulled the Rebel out of their chair and led them over to the bed. The Rebel was sat on the closer side of the bed, which happened to be the prince's side. The Prince moved to pull the heavy curtains across the entrance to the balcony. The room would warm up nicely as they let the fire burn out. It was the only light in the room.


This would make it dark enough that they wouldn’t wake up until someone else disturbed them. Both were ready to pass out from the long day and night full of stress. It was the kind of tired that you can feel in your bones and days later as you try and catch up. The type of tired that would make you drop right on your feet.


This is why it was a matter of seconds of when the Rebel wrapped themself around the Prince they were both asleep. They would take as much time as they needed to get back to this new normal. The Prince took a little more time to fall asleep their brain not getting the memo that it could shut down now. As he started dozing he thought of what would come after. When the Prince woke up he was sitting on a blanket on a grassy hill.


“Hey star, how was your nap?” The Rebel asked coming out of the woods that was a few meters from where the blanket was set up. The Prince blinked looking around at his surroundings. It was a warm summers evening with the sun sitting just below the tree line. This was on the other side of the small clearing they had found.


“I um.” He said as he felt a breeze on his face. “I guess it was good. I had a terrible nightmare though.” The Rebel continued to walk over till they sat down right beside the Prince.


“What was it about?” they ask taking one of the princes hands in theirs.


“You were gone, and I almost lost the whole kingdom. Then you came out of no where and saved me but…” The Prince thought back to just a few hours ago looking at the bleeding body of the Rebel leader. The last hateful look in her eye sent a shiver down his back.


“Again. Baby we have to find something to get your mind of that silly night terror. I’m right by your side and mum is taking care of the castle. We are all fine.” The Rebel pulled the Prince into a big hug while they were still sitting. This basically pulled the Prince’s head to lay in the rebels lap.


The Rebel smiled down while brushing their hand through the Prince’s hair. They did this once before a long time ago. Watching the sun set while just being together. The Prince was calm, everything was ok again even if he didn’t know how he got there. They could be happy now.


When the sun was down and settled the Prince and Rebel got up to get out of the bugs. They followed a dirt path in the forest for a bit before coming to the front of a beautiful cottage. The Prince stopped for a second taking in the sight. The Rebel chuckled at the reaction before giving their hands a tug. The Prince was pulled to the front door then through it.


“Just a bit surprised love?” The Rebel teased lighting the hearth by the bed. It was a one room cottage with a small stove by a window and cabinets. They were filled with fresh vegetables and a few meats that had been cleaned and put in casings. There was even a fresh rabbit that was hanging by a hook just outside the window. On the other side of the room was the hearth with the bed off to the right against the wall.


It was the place the he always imagined taking the Rebel to lay low if their jobs ever got to be too much. An escape of sorts. That was if they could leave their jobs, not really something you can pick up and leave easily. The place was small and cozy and everything he wished he had with the Rebel. As he was spinning around looking at everything the Rebel was watching with a smile. When the Prince realized he was being watched he stopped with a blush on his face.


“Sorry, I just forgot how perfect it was.” The Prince decided to figure out what was dream and what was real life later. The Rebel chuckled smoothly walking at to him.


“It’s alright love. You did have a hard nap this afternoon.” The Rebel walked over slipping their arm around the Prince’s waist.


“You feeling tired still?” They asked very close.


“A little.” The Prince admitted sheepishly. The nightmare he had took more out of him then the nap gave.


“Perfect. I am not letting you out if my sight.” The Rebel pulled the Prince towards the two chest that were sitting against the wall. One was for the Prince and the other for the Rebel. They stopped the Prince beside the bed before taking his jacket off. The Prince let it fall off his arms letting they grab it and toss it on the couch that was sitting in front of the fire.


He let the Rebel undress him for the first time ever with nothing but love in their eyes. When he was redressed in bed clothes the Prince returned the favor. It felt more intimate then anything they had done before. It was even better then the version from his dream with both of them just there.


 That night it felt as if things had always been like this. The night was sweet and warm, the Prince woke up when the Rebel left the bed promptly going back to sleep. It wasn’t until the cabin filled with a deep cooked smell that the Prince woke up.


“What do you have cooking up there darling?” The Prince asked slipping out of bed. The Rebel smiled from the stove.


“Just a little something for us to start our day with. We only have a couple days to just be us before we have to get to the real work. I want us to enjoy it.” The Prince walked over standing beside where the Rebel was stirring a pot. It was a mix of oats, but it smelled sweet.


“What are you making?”


“Just a bit of oatmeal. After I want us to go out for a little walk around, see what we can see, just generally enjoy the quiet.” The Prince walked behind the rebel, wrapping his arms around them and humming in contentment. He was going to ask what happened at some point in time, but it was just so good right now. He didn’t care if it was real or not, it was just wonderful to have.