Kaleth sat with his beloved prince silently as they waited for the warrior to arrive. Kaleth was the favorite slave of the young prince and it was well known that the two were romantically involved, but when they weren't alone Kaleth was still just a slave like any other. He was well-behaved, didn't speak out of turn, and remembered his place. He sat on the floor at the prince's feet. He was dressed a little better than most of the other slaves, but he was practically considered the prince's pet, so it wasn't odd to see him dressed up like a doll. His pale blond hair hung down to his shoulders and was a little messy. His clothes were tight to show off his lithe body, but they weren't terribly uncomfortable.

Kaleth didn't know who this warrior was, but he was supposed to protect the prince. It was an important job because the prince was the only heir to the throne. Kaleth wasn't sure if one man would be enough. The boy covered a yawn and glanced up at his prince.

(( Uhm, are there any names I should use or do I kinda go with it? ))

((You can pick your own names. That's why I specifically didn't name the prince. ))

Kai sighed softly and looked around the room. There were only a few people sitting around after the meeting that had just finished. Most people had wandered off by now, but a few weren't sure where to go. Standing up he instantly attracts the attention of everyone in the room, brushing his growing dark brown hair back from his eyes. "I'd like some time to relax before my company shows up." Catching the hint everyone stands, bows, then makes their way leisurely out of the room. With a smile he turns his eyes to the floor and toward Kaleth, idly ruffling his hair. "Do you think you're ready for this?" Whether people knew it or not a lot of his opinions depended on the head beneath his hands. It had become a habit to ask what he thought, and, so like he had gotten used to, he hummed a soft tune he vaguely remembered from his childhood and waited for an answer.

(( Hope that's okay. ))

Kaleth looked up at Prince Kai. "I'm ready," he said. He didn't particularly want to be the prince's decoy but he wasn't about to object. Besides, few people knew Prince Kai as well as he did. Kaleth's eyes moved slowly to the floor. He sort of felt like he was being abandoned and that Kai did not love him anymore. After all, to be a prince's decoy might as well be a death sentence.

Kaleth wished to be held just for a moment by his lover, but he didn't move towards him. He knew better. In the relationship they had Kaleth would give everything he could and happily receive whatever the prince felt like giving in return.

The prince purses his lips some and lets his brow furrow. Something looked wrong about the face he had grown so used to looking at. He leans down and rests an elbow on his knee, using his other hand to hold Kaleth's chin, turning the face to look at him. Curiously, he searches the boy's eyes. He knew having him chosen as his decoy was the most dangerous thing he could do to him, but the choice had not been his. During their time outside the kingdom he would be forever present, taking himself the position of servant. Letting out a soft sigh he rubs his thumb against one of his dearest's cheeks. "Are you sure?" It wasn't positive that there would be time, but they had until tomorrow to leave, and he thought surely something could be done in that time. Especially if it would help qualm the worry he saw in the eyes his light blue ones were searching.

Kaleth had the look of a frightened rabbit in his eyes. He couldn't hold back anymore. In one swift motion he threw himself into Prince Kai's arms. He was afraid; afraid that he wouldn't make it back home, and afraid that even worse, Prince Kai wouldn't make it back home. Everything about this trip frightened him and he wished it didn't have to be made. A small sniffle came from Kaleth as he tried to hold back his tears.

Letting out a soft sigh Kai pulls him close, arms loosely around his waist. He knew it had been a bad idea, and this nearly cemented itself in his mind, if it wasn't already there. The only problem he had was that there was nothing he could do about it, and he knew that even if he tried tomorrow's trip would go the way it had been planned a week ago. Frowning some he pulls back to look at the other boys face. "Tell me what's wrong." If Kaleth was always there for him to talk to it only seemed fair it should work the other way around, too. It made sense that he was chosen to be the decoy, because if anyone could pass off as him it would be the one who he told everything to. But that didn't make it fair in his eyes and he knew he'd be worried about it as much as he was worried himself. He lightly places a hand on his lover's cheek, trying to calm him down.

Kaleth looked up at Kai. "I... I'm just worried..." Kaleth whispered, "I'm worried something will happen. Something... bad...." Kaleth bit lightly on his lower lip. "Kai... do you love me?" he whispered, "Really love me? I... I don't want to lose you." The white-haired boy looked sadly up at the prince. He knew he could be replaced by any other slave, but he liked to think he was special in some way.

That question startled him quite a bit. What did he even know about love? Though if he had to give a name to the feeling he felt for Kaleth that's what it would be. Smiling a bit he nods and quickly and lightly presses their lips together before pulling back. "Of course. How could I not?" It almost seemed a silly question to be asked, but the situation did make it make sense. "Don't worry. There will be somewhere there to protect us, won't there? And he should be here soon." The prince pulls his suddenly very fragile looking slave close, taking advantage of the last few moments they'd have alone for the next several weeks.

Kaleth nodded his head. Yes, there would be someone there to protect the prince, but there would be no need to protect a decoy. Kaleth laid his head on Kai's shoulder, enjoying these last tender moments they had together. "I love you too," he whispered, nuzzling slightly under Kai's chin. It was a moment of happiness. They often didn't get to spend time like this together but Kaleth always liked it. Kaleth knew the warrior would be here soon and the moment would be over.

He runs a hand lightly through the blond hair, thinking over it. "We'll have to stay close so no one gets suspicious of a slave being guarded. Both of us will make it out of this." Pulling back some he smiles at the face resting against his shoulder. As he opens his mouth a knock on the door interrupts his words. With a slight frown he delicately moves Kaleth back to his spot on the ground and clears his throat. "Yes, come in." Slowly, the door creaks open, and through the slit that was quickly closed walks the warrior.

His eyes looked about the room before settling on the prince and Kaleth. When their gazes met Kai felt a beat in his heart skip. What was that for? Ignoring it, he stood up. "Welcome. You must be Joshua." Still surveying the room the warrior nods. One of his hands rested idly on the hilt of his sword, dark brown eyes peering around from beneath a mop of short, unruly brown hair. Nothing about him was exactly special, but nonetheless Kai couldn't bring himself to look away from him for too long, especially not when he spoke though his head was bowed in respect. "At your service, Your Highness."

Kaleth observed the exchange between his prince and the warrior. He frowned. How peculiar. He saw a slight jump in his lover's look and behavior. This bothered him slightly. He looked up at Joshua the warrior with some amount of hatred in his eyes. He had been here two minutes and he was already upsetting the balance of his world. For that he already hated the warrior, even if he was to protect his beloved prince, he still was mad because he was stealing Kai away from him.

Clearing his throat to calm himself Kai nods and sits back down. "Yes, yes. No need for formalities here." He rests his elbows on his bent knees, chin in both of his palms. He was very interested in this man. "As you know I'm Kai. And this.." His gaze shifts down to the familiar mop of fair hair. "..This is Kaleth. He will be my decoy." Blue eyes inquisitively search the depthless, unattached brown eyes of Joshua. Something about how unconcerned and aloof he was made Kai determined to get to know him.

With a nod Joshua sits down and glances around the room. Pretty sparse living for a prince. It didn't seem to matter, though. His gaze turns to the slave that was indicated. That is the decoy? They looked nothing alike. How did that work? Clearing his own throat he tried bringing that up. "Won't they notice how you two look nothing alike? It would seem almost pointless to try and pass this off." Now, he did a lot of work, but none of them were pointless, and if this was the case he was prepared to walk out of this room right now. But he felt the prince had a right to explain, which he did.

"They've never seen me, only heard tell of my mannerisms. And no one here knows them better than Kaleth." There was a slight hint of pride in his voice which he was able to conceal from the warrior but that was there nonetheless. Nodding some Joshua stands up and walks toward the door. "I'll be at your quarters after our fast is broken. Be ready to leave." With that he left the meeting hall and had his room found, starting preparations for the morrow.

Kaleth watched the warrior leave. He looked up at Kai. "Are you sure he's safe to protect you?" Kaleth asked, "I mean... how do we know he won't assassinate you?" Kaleth looked up at him worriedly. "I don't want anything to happen to you. He'll be the only one who will know that we've switched..." Kaleth chewed on his lip lightly. It was obvious he didn't like or trust the warrior Joshua.

Smiling a bit the prince nods, once more pulling Kaleth up into his lap. "Yes, I know we can. Many people I know speak very highly of his abilities. And when it comes down to it the people who matter will know." The prince ruffles his companion's hair and tilts his head to the side, brow furrowing slightly. "What's wrong?" He had that look about him that said he wasn't happy, and if he could fix that he would try. Kai hated seeing him like that.

"Nothing," Kaleth said softly, "I'm just worried." Kaleth cuddled up to his prince. "Kai... can I... can I stay with you tonight?" The young slave looked up at his master hopefully. He wanted to spend every moment he could with his lover. He was so afraid that he would lose Kai to that muscleman of a warrior. "I want to make you happy more than anything," Kaleth said, his eyes looking up at Kai lovingly.

Kai lets out a small chuckle and nods. "I understand. And yes. Almost time to retire anyway, isn't it?" Rubbing at one of his eyes slightly the prince glances out the nearest window. Already the sun was setting and bringing about the look of dusk, just creeping past the visible twilight. After covering his mouth to let out a small yawn he smiles at Kaleth. "You do make me happy. Very much so." One of his hands rests lightly on the other boy's cheek. "Just don't worry too much, alright? Everything will be fine." His lips brush lightly against his lover's other cheek. "I promise."

Another smile graces his mouth before it drops out of view, his cheek resting on one of the slave's shoulders. "Are you about ready to settle down for the night?" All the prince wanted to do was relax after the long, intense meeting he had been in since supper up until only recently. All the stress was getting to him, and he needed a break before their departure tomorrow.

Kaleth nodded his head. "I'm tired," he whispered, nuzzling against Kai. Kaleth didn't want tomorrow to come. He'd be dressed up in the prince's fine clothes and put in the place of honor so that if anyone chose to attack they'd attack him instead of Kai. But... no one would care to protect him... no one would stop an arrow from sinking into his heart. Kaleth sighed heavily.

"I wish time would stop," he whispered, "I don't want tomorrow to come..." The young slave looked almost tearfully up at his lover.

The words he heard from his lover pierced his heart. In order to avoid this he musses the boy's hair some and lets out a small smile, his voice a whisper. "I know, love. But things will be fine." It was too disconcerting a topic to dwell on, so he moved past it quickly. With a grin he puts one arm behind Kaleth's knees and one on his back, picking him up he stands. "So, off we go?" He could only keep this up until they got to the door, true, but things of this affect usually worked to cheer up his affectionate companion, and the last thing he wanted at this point was to have him upset. It always got to him in a most depressing way, and they both needed cheerful thoughts for tomorrow.

Kaleth's eyes widened and a surprised giggle escaped his lips. "Kai," he giggled, holding onto him tightly. Being held by the prince always did make him feel better and cheered him up. He happily placed a small kiss on Kai's cheek. "Thank you," he whispered, "Let's go to bed." Kaleth couldn't help but think of the way Kai had looked at the warrior. It still hurt a little.

Smiling, he lightly sets his companion down at the door and ruffles his hair. "Yes, it's about that time, isn't it?" Clearing his throat, he resumes his royal stance and makes his way to his room, leaving Kaleth to follow behind him. Once at the door he pauses and glances around. Seeing no one in what should be an empty hall anyway he opens the door to his room himself and waits for Kai to walk in. Yes, it was against protocol, but he was already concerned about the well being of the blond and was willing to do anything to quell that.

Kaleth followed along behind Prince Kai until the door was opened. He hesitated slightly before scampering into the room. He looked up at Kai adoringly. He didn't know what tomorrow would bring. Who knew how long he would survive on this trip, but tonight he could be close to Prince Kai and love him and be loved by him. Kaleth didn't touch anything in the bedroom. He was essentially a pet and he knew better. He always tried to wait until he was invited.

Kai closes the door quietly behind them, locking the doors. It always perturbed him when people just stormed in, whether he was with Kaleth or alone. This was the one place he felt he should have privacy. Turning toward his companion he smiles, running a finger down his cheek before practically throwing himself on the bed. As his eyes close and his hands go behind his head the prince hurriedly kicks his shoes off. This is what I needed.. Opening one eye just a crack he peers over at his lover and smiles, waving him over with a hand. "Join me, dearest." Having him close always made his relaxation time much better.

Kaleth slipped off his shoes neatly before crawling onto the bed next to his beloved prince. The pale blond boy laid down close to Prince Kai, looking up at him in silence but with complete adoration. Kaleth could hear Kai's gentle breathing and steady heartbeat, he wished he could say he felt that calm, but his own breathing was a little shaky. However, hearing the steadiness in his lover made him relax slightly.