It had officially been one month since Virgil's home had been attacked. They were two days away from the edge of the Dark Realm and an unknown amount of time until they reached the base of the villains who had done this. Logan had already written the letters that would be mailed to Roman's parents and Virgil's uncle so they could be sent at a moment's notice. They had decided they'd send the letters via birds, it would be quicker and more reliable than the mail. At least, Roman claimed it'd be more reliable. "Birds are loyal," he had reasoned.

The group was slowly making its way through the forest, a canopy of trees above them protected them from the harsh brightness of a slowly setting sun. A cool breeze blew through the path, gently lifting leaves and dirt off the ground, and making overgrown grass and bushes dance slightly. The few clouds in the sky were wispy, thin, and stretched out across the blue it sat on. If you paid close attention then you might be able to catch just a whiff of the not-so-far-away ocean. Birds sang as they built their nests, Squirrels squeaked as they raced up trees, bugs skittered across the ground as they searched for food. It was a very pleasant day, that was something no one could deny.

Virgil was slightly behind the others as they walked, Patton in front and paving the way, and of course Logan and Roman in the center and speaking to each other. All of them held the reins of their horses in their hands, choosing to give them somewhat of a break from carrying them. The new couple was having another debate about some jam and which flavor was the best, Virgil himself thought the jam was stupid and not worthy of discussion (though if either of the two knew Virgil thought the jam was stupid they'd have his head) and so had refused when they asked him for his two cents' worth.

Virgil sighed tiredly as he stopped for a moment to take a drink from his water bottle. He'd gotten a crappy amount of sleep these past couple of days. When he was with Remy he had slept fine -amazing even- even if he had felt slightly guilty that Remy had to sleep on the floor, but now that seemed like a distant dream. He had gotten three hours of sleep last night, his body was not happy about the amount of exercise he had been doing, though it was hard not to notice the effect the exercise had on his body.

He froze when a vision suddenly flashed through his mind, the flask falling to the ground in his surprise and fear. Arrows. Somebody was going to shoot an arrow and it was going to hit Roman. He was going to-! Virgil jumped forward, releasing the reigns and grabbing both Roman and Logan by their hands, and pulling them back. The boys yelled in surprise, nearly tripping over themselves in an attempt to stay standing.

"Virgil!" Roman said, a little bit angry a little bit distressed, "What's the matter with you?"

'Vision' he signed quickly, the other's attitude changing rapidly.

Logan took a small step forward, "What did you-" But before Logan could finish another scene was shown to him. Virgil quickly pushed past the other two and just about tackled Patton to the ground, make them yelp in concern, and wheeze slightly.

"Virgil!" the others chided as they rushed to help the other two stand.

Virgil quickly freed himself from their hold and took a few steps back, "Kiddo?" Patton asked, "What's wrong?"

Virgil shook his head as yet another vision came, this time depicting an animal attacking Logan. In response, he moved to shove Logan out of the way and right into Roman, who barely managed to catch his new boyfriend.

"Virgil! Stop playing around this isn't funny!" Roman said angrily.

Again, Virgil shook his head. One hand gripped his hair tightly as, again, he saw another warning. Attacked by robbers. No. Fall into a trap. No. Earthquake. No. Bear! Wolves! Bees! No! No! No! Dangerous spell! No. Logan dying! No! Stop! Stop! Stop! The visions and the real world were clashing, what was happening? He didn't know what was real! His head was pounding terribly, unused to receiving so many visions at once and wanting to simply shut itself down yet not able to. Sounds were muffled, he didn't know what anybody was saying! He wasn't even aware of his own movements anymore!

Roman! Roman was gonna hurt them. Turn on them or-! Virgil's hands went to his belt and he tried to unsheath his sword only for the other prince to suddenly jump forward and disarm him. Virgil could barely make out Roman saying how the sword wasn't safe in his hands but he didn't understand! Roman was attacking them?! No! No! No!

Virgil panicked, eyes wide as he began screaming in terror and pain, trying to get his sword back from the other prince but failing. Roman looked angry. Was this another vision? What was real were any of these actually gonna come true? He could hear the muffled sounds of the others trying to calm him and trying to get him to stop but he didn't, he couldn't.

What was going on?

The sounds of horses and voices yelling made Virgil panic even more. What was that?! Roman shoved Virgil to the ground and demanded he stay behind them as he and the other two circled around him. Virgil couldn't stop himself from listening and curling up on the ground, he grabbed at his hair and whined as images and snippets of scenes continued to soar through his head far too fast for him, whimpering softly at the pain they each caused.

The sounds of voices were getting closer until a large group had broken through the trees a few paces away from Roman. The other two quickly adjusted to stand protectively in front of the youngest prince when they appeared. "Crown Prince Roman!" A voice said loudly, almost demandingly.

Romans's head tilted in confusion at the sight of a familiar man, "General Tafe?" he asked with confusion.

"Is everything alright? We heard yelling." The general asked, as if his presence here wasn't something to be surprised over.

"What are you doing here?" Logan demanded, receiving a glare from the general that made Logan step back slightly.

"The king and queen sent us."

No. Virgil wanted to warn. No. Lying

"Why?" Roman asked, "My parents promised they wouldn't send soldiers."

"Well, word reached them of the trouble you and your friends were having and the danger you were in. We were sent to protect you-"

"Roman he's lying!" Patton said loudly, "Ann told me-"

"Ann? The mute prince right?" General Tafe said, "He's the one writhing on the floor behind you? Is he really trustworthy?"

"Yes!" Patton insisted, "Roman, Logan, you two can't listen to"

Attack. Gonna be attacked and-....

Death.

Fuck he had forgotten how much it hurt to see somebody's death.

Virgil sprang to his feet, barely managing to stay standing, as he grabbed Roman's sword out of his sheath. Virgil quickly pushed in front of the wall composed of his friends and was about to attack when something- someone- suddenly grabbed him by his arms and pulled him back. Virgil screamed as he attempted to swing the sword and kick at whoever was holding him, but everything hurt so much and he didn't know what was real or wrong or fake or true and-.

"Stop!" Roman demanded, "You're scaring him, let him go."

"Prince Roman," General Tafe cut in as he unmounted his horse and tried to approach Roman only for Patton to jump in front of him protectively, "Prince Virgil has obviously become a danger to you and your friends. Please, let us take care of it-"

"You'll let him go right now!" Patton yelled, "You're just making it worse, let him go now!"

Logan, who had until recently been watching Virgil with confusion and trying to figure out what could've triggered such behavior suddenly looked up. His eyes landed on a cloaked figure near the back, hands, and mouth moving in sync with each other. Logan stood taller in surprise before shouting a spell of his own sending it flying towards the cloaked figure. As soon as it did Virgil stopped screaming and went limp in the arms of those that held him, though he was still wide awake. "It was a spell," Logan muttered, "You were forcing him to act that way, weren't you? You knew it would distress and hurt him, and make him react defensively."

"You were what?" Roman asked with a growl of anger.

General Tafe scowled slightly before sighing angrily, "Crown Prince Roman if you'd let me explain-"

"Let him go, all of you. Release him and back away." Roman tried to step forward to help the other prince only for Tafe to step in his way.

"They won't listen to you, they are under direct orders to do no such thing," The general claimed

Roman glared at the group in front of him with burning anger, "I am your prince, your future king, and you will do as I-" before Roman could finish Tafe had knocked him to the ground with a bored look. Logan instantly moved to help him stand again as Patton jumped forward.

"Logan, don't be foolish. Make sure Prince Roman stays still."

"I will do no such-"

"You will do as I say or suffer the consequences," Tafe directed a well-practiced glare at Logan and it took all his willpower not to shrink back. Logan eventually nodded and kept a hand on Roman's shoulder, silently asking him to remain still. Tafe smiled, "The king and queen have asked us to accompany you for the rest of your journey. It is not your decision anymore, it is an order. There has been political trouble between the Light Realm royals and what is left of the Dark Realm government. As such the truce has been called off and Prince Virgil is now a prisoner of war-"

"No!" Patton cried out, trying to jump forward just to be stopped by soldiers.

Tafe continued as if nothing had happened "The Light Realm will search for the attackers if only to prevent such things from happening to them and then it will be decided what is to become of the Dark Realm."

"I do not believe such an ord-"

"Any attempt to disobey will result in the immediate removal of one's title and family name and be charged with treason. The proper precautions will be taken to ensure the Crown Prince's safety, even if it means restraining all of you. Is that understood?"

They were frozen and quiet as they stared angrily at the man in front of them. None of them knew what to say or do. They didn't really believe Tafe or his miniature army of soldiers, but they were outnumbered and any attempt at fighting would instantly be squashed. Not to mention that they were still holding Virgil, and the prince was obviously in no condition to run much less fight.

"Good," Tafe said with a nod as he turned away and began to bark orders, "Search the mute for weapons and tie his hands together. I wouldn't trust him further than I could throw him. Please disarm Marques Patton and Crown Prince Roman as well please."

The soldiers took Patton's arrows and bow from him and attempted to take Virgil's sword from Roman, "You can't take this sword, it doesn't belong to me."

"I'm sorry your highness, we're under direct ord-" Before the soldier could finish Tafe had already made his way over and took the sword from Roman himself.

The general examined it for a moment, even giving it a few swings before looking to Virgil. The poor prince had his bag and sword sheath taken from him, his hands were currently being forced in front of him to be tied, "This is yours?" General Tafe asked, Virgil attempted to sign his response only for a soldier to suddenly hit him as punishment.

"Ann! Why would you do that you B-holes!" Patton shouted, once again he tried to run and help Virgil, and once again was held back.

"If he won't speak with his mouth he won't speak at all," Tafe answered, "Is this your sword?"

Virgil glared at the man defiantly, keeping his mouth shut and obviously silently stating that he wasn't going to speak. General Tafe took a couple stepped forward, about to ask the question again before Logan stopped him, "It's a family sword," Logan said, "Virgil's father is dead and the sword is to be passed down to the next king of the Dark Realm. Virgil is holding it for his brother until then."

General Tafe stopped in front of Virgil as if thinking over a response before he turned to Logan with a warning, "No magic Croft, don't try anything."

"Yes sir," Logan said, his voice sounded almost plain yet anyone who knew him wel enough could make out the anger in his face. Roman slipped his hand into Logan's and pulled him back gently as he muttered for Logan to do his best and stay calm.

Tafe smiled smugly at this, directing the look to Virgil before whispering so only the prince and the soldiers holding him could hear, "I'll warn you now your highness any attempt to perform an escape will quickly be squashed. I don't know how you've managed to get this far in your journey without being scathed, but I will assure you you're streak of luck ends here. Do not test me, you will lose. Misbehave and I'll kill that imbecile Patton, you two seem rather close."

Virgil's eyes flickered with worry as he looked up at the general with anger. He and Patton knew the truth, and hopefully, Patton would find a way to pass the message to the others without the general catching on. He briefly wondered if the General knew he knew, but figured the General wouldn't have threatened him in such a fashion if he didn't. Regardless, Tafe continued to smile as he moved away from Virgil and towards the center of the group and command everyone to start moving again.

Roman, Logan, and Patton were all but forced onto their horses, other soldiers taking the reigns in their hands to keep the horses in their control. Virgil's horse and all his belongings were in the possessions of others. Meanwhile, Virgil himself was pushed and shoved forward, barely able to remain standing.

He hated the contact, how these complete strangers pretty much always had their hands on his shoulders or back or something, and how they forced him forward faster than he was capable of with his hands tied and his current lack of stamina. He didn't even like the others touching him, he definitely didn't like this.

He forced himself to stay calm, trying to push back the familiar feeling of an impending panic attack as one of the soldiers once again shoved him to move faster. The others shot Virgil worried looks, and he could see them trying to whisper to each other only to 'politely' be asked/ordered to stop talking. Roman at one point, again, tried to use his title as Crown Prince for assistance but it proved useless and Logan muttered something barely intelligible about families or something.

Regardless of what was going on ahead of him though, one thing was for sure. General Tafe would not hesitate to hurt any of them if it came down to it. They were all, far from safe.