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Elliot nodded, following the other and tightened his hand around the other. "You'll be fine," he murmured, lowering his head and kissing the covered shoulder. The walk was short, but the white ears perked hearing a familiar voice.

"My prince!" He wasn't a loud call to attract attention, but loud enough for Elliot to hear, eyes turning and focusing on the empty blanket where Ipo sat, waving and smiling. The hare was wearing his vest and rolled up pants, and that was it. Not even shoes. "Is something wrong?" He asked, looking up at the heir worridley.

"Your clothes." He responded, sitting down.

"It was hot! And I got lost in the forest so I stripped and then someone came and led me here. I don't know where they went. Really short." He murmured, looking around the crowd.

Silver eyes slid toward Lily as though saying "He's wearing his clothes".

Elliot couldn't help but chuckle, knowing he had a point.

"I would wear what now?" He asked, looking at the two.

"Falian clothing."

"They look nice. Did you struggle?" And laughed as his prince sighed. He hit right on the mark! The hare quieted down as Leo addressed everyone in the clearing, and soon sat silent beside the white-haired prince.

Silver eyes scanned the crown, focusing on genders, species, the vocabulary being used. He'd always planned his words, going at it with nothing made his stomach twist, but he showed no signs of his nerves, listening politely. Communing with the trees truly sounded wonderful, Elliot was somewhat sad he wasn't Falian. But, some people were never ready to commune, perhaps it was best he was not a native. How disappointing it must be to never commune.

The meeting was nice, people were speaking silently among themselves, listening or talking to Leo, this was organized despite looking otherwise. When someone called Leo's attention Elliot didn't turn, still looking at the crowd. It was only when the question involved him did he turn, looking at the woman. Ears, horns, horn pattern, a deer. The sudden silence and attention made him look around, all the eyes of Falia were on them. Taking a breath he turned to the woman and listened to her accusations. If she had these thoughts, there was little doubt that other Falians had the same doubts. Elliot felt the worry building, nerves twisting tighter.

Birch interjected suddenly, no doubt having many years over the deer along with wisdom. But Leo's destiny to leave? Elliot was not so sure that was true, Leo had returned to his people, though the prince would admit, he did not want the Falian leaving him at all. Leo spoke and Elliot looked down. Leo would return to Falia, that is what Elliot wanted to hear, yet at the same time the very thing he wished not to.

Then his name rang through the trees and the prince looked up, ears lifting. "You are correct in saying we must travel through Retian borders, however please understand Reta has opened their borders to Nalenyr because we have alliances to the north east," the Country of Ixyll, Nalenyr was a landlocked country so quite a lot of seafood was delivered from the colder northern oceans. "Travelling back through Reta will, in a sense, comfort the king in knowing my company and I were not kidnapped. Taking an alternative route would increase Reta's defenses and paranoia on attacking a country they hardly know of." He hoped to cover all the bases on travel.

Now the next part, the part Reta knew of but no words were said, and what Falia knew but what they would wish not to hear. But how to word it properly? "Leonard," how could he word it to not stir Nix's memory? "Was under the Retian king's care and was handed off into mine, he will not attack that which he kept safe." Lies, Elliot had little doubt that b*****d would harm Leo. Not to mention many of them knew Leo had been kidnapped, everyone but Nix. he could feel his heart pounding in his ears, how could he word it? Instincts, he could go on instincts.

"In the situation Nix is kidnapped," would Falia go to war? "The country and kingdom of Nalenyr will do all they can to retrieve her." Would his father scold him for his bold words? For some reason the thought of the Prime Minister watching the flowers crossed his mind and he almost grew irritated. But he was subtly offering an alliance with Falia, very few kingdoms liked Reta to begin with, they had conquered too much, many countries were on edge. "Until then, please trust myself and my guards to protect her. I promise she will be safe in our company." Oh god, had he said too much? Too cocky? Too inexperienced? had he covered all the bases? Silver eyes were clashing with gold, a strong air being given around the Nalenyrin, he needed them to trust him.

Elliot sat tall and straight, hardly even blinking as the demon threatened him. Demon clan, the prince had guessed as much, such physical traits were rare or nonexistent outside the treeline. The boy was intimidating, but the prince would not waver. He didn't speak, Nalenyr was a peaceful country, one of the pacifists of the world, but the way he smiled almost seemed to say "I dare you to try." Old magic they may be, but abilities were still a form of magic, and the army trained hard both body and mind. A threat was a threat though, even with Leo's outburst.

Then the deer spoke up and people cheered her. Was it wrong for Elliot to think that was immature, that her thoughts were wrong? The prince was willing to go to war for Leo just as she would, but hearing it from someone else made him reflect. It really was childish, there were better ways then war to ensure someone's safety. He would give them credit though, they were all willing to go so far for their long lost prince using such archaic magic. Would his country go so far? Should he be ashamed to doubt his own country? This country and his own were two completely different cultures. This one relied on family while his own relied on themselves, to each their own. Should he be ashamed of it?

"Please-!" Ipo started, ready to interject, but Leonard silenced everyone and the hare sat next to his prince, looking over at him. Did the people trust Elliot? Yes, he seemed rough around the edges and within the past two weeks he'd seen that his prince was no more mature then himself sometimes, but he truly meant well, his heart was in the right place. The teen listened to the Falian, remembering the horror that poor boy went through, his uncle, his father. A bentien was worse then a whore. Ipo may not have been smart when it came to political ties or alliances, but pain he understood. Not wanting war he understood. "Please trust my prince." he murmured as Leo finished, though only Elliot heard him.

The lynx had little time to comfort the hair, the Dryad representative placing her hand on his shoulder before bringing him to his feet. When walking in he hadn't noticed the amount of people, instead focusing on Ipo and sitting down, but looking now... there were so many. In every direction there were so many species, almost twice as many as when he first arrived. In his own country he never saw so many people in one space so small.

Wait the bond between mates?

Elliot looked at Birch, trying to interject but she wouldn't even let him move his lips, continuously talking. No, no he and Leo were not mates! They were friends! It was flattering they considered him and Leo much like how Leo's parents had met, but they weren't! Silver eyes looked at the crowd and the stares were varying in emotion from accepting to not so happy. Ipo's was one of happiness and acceptance. He turned to Leo in hopes of answers but he looked just as shocked as the other prince. What was happening?! they were not family they were friends! Leo only thought he loved Elliot and Elliot was, well...

His brain stopped his argument as Birch closed her announcement. The trees acknowledged himself and Leo as mates? Why did everyone accept them as mates? His own face was slowly filling with color and his ears lowered, man pinching the bridge of his nose in embarrassment and confusion. He couldn't accept his feelings, but it was difficult to do so when he cared so much for the other, yet hated himself for what he loved. But for some reason the hatred which normally filled his being was small and seemed nearly illogical considering all that had happened. He'd taken in Leo, removed that stick from his life, treated him gently and brought him back to see his family just so he could see him smile and be happy.

"So it is said so shall it be!" Ipo exclaimed, gently clapping. "This is so wonderful, I've never seen anything so beautiful."

Elliot couldn't even look at Leo. Were they just married?!

Elliot lightly frowned at the dryad. "We are friends. We have both agreed to this"' he whispered, but the woman would have none of it. She was right, all the arguments had indeed died down, and Leo could indeed separate in the future to return to his kingdom. Elliot took a breath. "I intended for us to stay for a week, and this is the second day so Leo still has five more days to stay here in Falia. I did not want to rush his decision on him staying or leaving." But it seemed pretty obvious he would be going back to Nalenyr and Elliot was incredibly happy with that, he just couldn't show it.

Ipo was so happy! His two favorite people just eloped in a completely different country and would be together for life! It was so romantic, he wished his brother had been here to see it. Actually, Kashi might ruin it, but then again his twin was very soft-spoken, so maybe not. the tug at his vest made him look at the child before grinning, picking her up and spinning happily. "Yay! You're coming with us and you get to meet my brother and the triplets and you'll have so much fun!" Ipo knew what she was feeling, just like Elliot was subduing his happiness this girl was doing the same to hers, so Ipo would be happy for her. "We're going to have so much fun!" he sang.

"Ipo," Elliot groaned, watching him prance around like the rabbit he was. Where was Tsume when you needed him? Oh, and speaking of Tsume, how was he feeling about all of this?

The hare had to stop, feeling slightly dizzy and sat down, still singing happily. "and you can meet the king and the Prime Minister as well! They're such lovely men. And you get to see where Elliot and Leo sleep, and the triplets will tell you all you need to know about their brother and the castle for playing, but they're older then you by a little bit. Oh and you'll look so cute in the frilly dresses!"

Elliot bowed back to the people he caught bowing to him. "Ipo, we will no doubt reach Nalenyr by nightfall, it will take a day or two for her to adjust to the culture shock, and then my sisters." Though the man doubted his sister's would be so gentle with a newcomer. "But she will be able to attend their party--" he stopped, looking at Hasta. the demon was apologizing to Leo.. did he think marrying Elliot was bad?! Elliot could provide and love just as well as he could! Oh, but he was getting angry over nothing, and Birch mentioned a party. A party for what? He let Leo deal with it, looking between him and Ipo, unsure what to really say.

How was it he ended up being the one with no one to chat with? Looking back over at Leo he saw Tsume being pet and he narrowed his gaze at the other.

"Dog pile on the mutt!" Ipo cried suddenly, holding Nix to his chest and collapsing onto the wolf familiar with his back. "Tsume will you come to the party and to Nalenyr?! You get to meet my brother and he's so very quiet like Leo."

Elliot felt very, very angry at Hasta, this demon looked young but openly admitted to being old. Why did everyone have some form of romantic affection for the Falian? It was unfair, why did the gods give him so many suitors to compete with?! He could feel the ice forming at the tips of his fingers but he rubbed it away quickly. The gods were cruel indeed. and to be a familiar was to be intimate with your person regardless of your feelings, and the prince felt he could never achieve that level of intimacy.

Then the gold eyes were back on him and Elliot looked up from analyzing the embroidery on his shirt. The first words that came to his head were 'you must be joking' but that was quite rude. He smiled, "I have lived this long without a familiar and I've no doubt I can live longer. I apologize, but I currently have no need for one." and he had no reason to bring more love interests toward Leo. Tsume was enough.

Ipo smiled, not at all comforted by Nix's words. "Yes, a very hot bath, but I can assure you I'd be tough to eat. Stringy meat and all, nothing like a rabbit. I'm a hare, less tender meat." he explained nervously, though smiled at Tsume. "Wuff wuff?"

Elliot nodded his head toward the demon watching him disappear with a small amount of awe. Just right into the shadows he went, down below. He wondered what it was like to be in a shadow if felt at all. Did one just move through it like under a bridge or was it an entirely different world all together?

Feeling Leo he wrapped an arm around the other, unaware of how together they actually looked. He felt annoyed hearing of the other, but hid it best he could. This was Leo, an adored prince, he should have been more jealous then angry. "Hm? No I'm not angry, merely jealous.' He pointed out. "You are loved by so many I feel that I may have no time with you." and chuckled, kissing his head. "The past is the past, had you accepted him as a familiar I may not have had the joyous occasion of meeting Demon King Hasta." and laughed softly, kissing the other's cheek. "Although I must ask, will Tsume be with us or will he stay here? I'm sure there's room on top of the baggage rack for him."

Elliot didn't falter, it felt nice to piss off the other for once instead of the other way around. "But wolves work better in packs, Tsume. You're all alone right now." And grinned behind Leo's back before looking at Ipo. "Are you all right?"

"I've felt better. Why do you continuously make him angry, my lord?" And looked up, Nix on his back as he lay flat on the grass.

"Well I could ask you the same thing." If Ipo wasn't annoying someone he was trying to hook them up with his brother. Really, Kashi would find someone in due time. Looking back at Leo he nodded. "I already included Tsume in the travel, you mustn't worry. I was merely poking fun at him. He may sit next to Henry if it so pleases him, Ipo can sit on the baggage card and Nix will sit inside with us."

Ipo pouted, muttering about the stupid baggage cart. True the thing had an additional seat, but it was always so high and bumpy and Tsume would bite at his feet! But it made sense, royalty got the carriage. How unfair.

"At least pretend to have respect and ride beside Henry, this way you can easily hear if I talk about you." Elliot sneered back as the mutt growled. Leo was trying so hard to keep the peace between them but each one had a short fuse with the other for their own reasons. Leo was trying so hard so Elliot stayed silent and looked away from Tsume, but the nicer Falian offered to take the other sight seeing and it interested him. "Unicorn lake?"

"What sort of sights are there?" Ipo asked both Leo and Nix, mostly Nix since she'd been here the longest. But a Star lake? "I want to swim with the stars! prince Elliot may we swim with the stars? Oh please, please, please, please, please!" He whined, clinging to the other. "I don't care if I have to swim naked!"

"It appears the children want to swim with the stars.' Elliot mused, prying the hare from his waist.