An Azure Catastrophe

Aramis was leaning against his balcony fence looking at the moon when he felt a warm touch on his shoulder. It was a familiar and reassuring sensation, but sadly, tonight, it would take so much more for his worries to go away.

The night was wonderful. The moon was reflecting its pale blue light on the water behind the castle, and it was illuminating the whole kingdom. You could see a village from far away. It was a beautiful sight.Well, it would be if it didn’t mean something so horrible.

The hand on his shoulder slowly made its way down on his arm and then to his hand, he felt fingers interlocking with his own. Aramis took them and squeezed them tight. He then felt a hot breath on the pale flesh of his neck. It was a familiar sensation, a sensation he craved for. But right now, none of the familiar comforts could drown his undying apprehension. He knew that no one would believe him, but he had to try. He couldn’t let this happen. Not if could do something about it.

Soon, the hot breath on his neck was replaced by hot lips. They were moving on his skin deliciously, craving for more, but he wasn’t really in the mood for it right now. His boyfriend probably sensed it because he detached his lips from Aramis’s neck and took him in his arms. His head resting on the shorter man’s hair. With his arms warped around his waist, he whispered in his ear ″ Are you okay? You seem worried.″. His voice was husky probably because he just woke up, but Aramis could hear the worry in his voice. The young man was rarely worried and usually, his worries were justified.″ The moon. I have a bad feeling about it.″ His voice was low, as much as he wasn’t sure if his boyfriend heard him. However, when he whispered a reply in his ear, he knew he did.″ It’s the one? The one you told me about?″. Aramis turned his head to looked at his boyfriend’s amethyst eyes and whispered ″Yeah″.

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6 years ago...

Aramis was walking on a dirt road, slowly distancing himself from the castle. He had seen enough of the capital for a while. He had explored all he could, and he needed a change. That’s why he was, alone, on his way to a village in the countryside. Where he has never been before. He wanted to feel normal for a bit, being away from the royal expectation.

He wanted to go far away, where no one knew what he looked like, where he could walk without anyone bowing at his sight. So, he left. Alone this time. He wanted a bit of time for himself. He needed to think about certain things and having someone with him would have thrown away his plans.

An hour later he was entering a forest, the sun was still high in the sky, so it didn’t look that scary. It almost looked welcoming. He saw between the trees a couple of small animals and he could hear different sorts of birds singing a sweet melody around him. Yeah, it looked quite welcoming. He slowly made his way in the forest, making sure to take a mental note of where he was going, so he could take the same way to return later.

The landscape was truly wonderful. The colors were bright, and the sun rays were making their way through the leaves of the trees and illuminating the whole place with its warm light. People were right when they decided to call this place the most beautiful forest in the kingdom. Aramis had never seen anything like this in his life. It was breathtaking.

A couple of hours later the forest made it to an end and Aramis could finally see the village, he could feel the excitement growing in him as he got closer to his destination. He double-checked he had hidden everything that could expose him as a member of the royal family and began his walk towards the small village. He didn’t want to be recognized, so he had put on something simple and had discarded every piece of jewelry he owned for his journey. Well, all of them, except for one. He had, with him, his family neckless; a sharp blue crystal laying on a silver chain. He didn’t have the heart to leave it behind. The necklace was very important for him and even though it could easily be recognized, the person who gave it to him told him to keep it on him at any cost. He couldn’t disappoint her. However, he did hide it in his shirt. It was precious, and losing it was not an option.

An hour later, he was finally there, and he could see the first houses rising from the ground. There weren’t many people for the moment, but Aramis guessed that most villagers would be in the center of the small-town. When he entered the hamlet, the first thing he saw, was a middle-aged man sitting, his back leaning against one of the houses. He didn’t look very healthy. His beard hasn’t been shaved in a long time, his clothes were dirty and the bags under his eyes were showing the lack of rest he must have. The sight was saddening. Aramis slowly approached the man and took some money out of his pocket. It was the least he could do.

When he bent over to put the money in the man’s hat, he saw his gaze snape over something on his neck. When he lowed his, to look at the same place he saw his necklace. It must have slipped when he bent. He moved his hand towards the necklace, but the man had been faster.He tore off the precious jewelry before the young prince could react.

When Aramis finished processing what happened, the thief was already running away from him. ″ Hey!″ He yelled before going after him. He couldn’t lose his necklace. Not like that. He ran as fast as he could, but, unfortunately, the man was quite fast for his shape, and above everything, he knew the village way better than him. He tried to run faster, but there were more and more people getting in the way, and he didn’t want to disturb them. The man, him, didn’t care a bit. He was shoving everyone out of his path.

Luckily after a moment, Aramis was on the verge of catching him. His hand was almost touching the man’s shoulder when he suddenly tripped trying to reach him. He felt a sharp pain in his ankle as he was falling to the ground. The thief turned his head towards him, probably to see if he had enough distance, too distracted to see the guy he ran into.

He was tall and muscular, and he didn’t seem pleased with the situation at all. ″ What’s happening here?″ He said with a slightly angry tone in his voice while grabbing the thief by the arm.″ There’s a stranger running after me.″ The look on the man’s face seemed to harden at the thief’s words. ″ I wasn’t talking to you, Meliorn.″ The mysterious man increases the strength of the grip preventing the thief from getting away. His gaze then turned towards Aramis who said ″ I’m sorry sir I didn’t mean to disturb you.″ While pointing his finger towards Meliorn he adds.″ This man stole my necklace, and I was trying to get it back.″ The man gave the thief a hard look before taking the necklace of Meliorn’s hand and loosening his clutch around the older man’s arm.

When he had, finally, been freed from the strong grip, Meliorn turned around and disappeared in the crowd. ″ I’m sorry.″ the man said.″ Meliorn keeps tormenting anyone who has the misfortune of putting a foot on the village ground. I’m going to keep an eye on him.″

Aramis looked up at the handsome young man before him. He was still on the ground his ankle shouting wave of pain through his body, and he didn’t seem to be able to get up. ″ Are you okay?″ The boy asked him. ″ I think I sprained my ankle.″ He responds with frustration visible in his eyes. Look like his journey would have to end earlier than planned.″ Do you need help?″ The man asked him before handing him his hand.

Aramis took it and the man pulled him off the ground. The sudden strength made him lose his balance as he fell on the taller man’s chest. He looked up and locked his gaze with the man’s hypnotizing dark purple eyes. The man looked back at him and Amaris’s breath started to accelerate.″ I’m Aramis. You are?″ The man observedthe shorter one’s face and whispered.″ Kaiden. I’m Kaiden.″.