Warning: This chapter contains violence, mild language, and sexual content. Proceed with caution.

Knock. Knock.

Tiz slowly opened his eyes and sat up yawning. He turned his head to his window hearing someone or something knocking on it. He waited until he heard the tapping again making sure it wasn't the wind. It was dark and snowing outside. The wind blew violently making the tree branches hit the window.

Knock. Knock.

He slowly got out of bed holding a silver sword behind his back. He placed his hand on the handle of the blinds and quickly pulled them up revealing a familiar figure. His mouth dropped opened once he knew who it was. Tiz gently placed his sword on his desk and quickly unlocked the window pulling it up. He stepped back as the familiar figure climbed up the window entering his room. Tiz pulled the window down locking it then pulled the blinds down. He turned his body around facing the man he loved.

"Alternis…!?" He whispered placing his hand on his armored cheek.

"I missed you so much." He whispered placing his hand on Tiz's hand. "I snuck out of the castle without the guards noticing."

Tiz placed his other hand on his helmet and pulled his helmet off revealing his face that was covered half way with a black mask. He tossed his helmet on his bed. He pulled his mask down revealing his lips smiling.

"Did you get hurt?" Tiz whispered with a concerned tone. "I had been so worried about you!"

"No, not even an army can take me down." He whispered caressing his hair. "I know Tiz."

"Are you leaving for war tomorrow?" He sobbed embracing his knight.

"Sadly, yes. It's a suicide mission." He said lifting up his lover's chin seeing tears streaming down his face.

"That's not fair! You already finished all your duties!" Tiz sobbed pounding on his lover's chest.

"I know Tiz but this is my final mission then we can run away together." He said wiping his lover's tears away using his thumbs.

"Will you promise me you will return?" He sobbed.

"Do not be afraid for I shall return." He said pressing his forehead against his lover's.

Tiz tightened his grip around his knight for the last time.

"How long will you be gone?" He asked feeling his tears renew.

"For one day. If you see a herd of horses coming, then you know I returned." Alternis said.

"Please come back unharmed." He whimpered resting his head on his lover's chest.

"I ask you Tiz." He started. "One last night of our love."

Tiz nodded and felt himself being picked up from the floor. He rested his head on his knight's chest as he led him to his bed. He gently laid Tiz down on his back who had his arms above his head. Alternis quickly removed his armor and kicked off his boots leaving him in black boxers and a black shirt. He pushed his helmet off the bed. He climbed on top of his lover feeling his hands resting on his sides. Both males stared into each other's eyes then shared a passionate kiss. Tiz's hands moved around through Alternis' hair tangling his fingers into his hair. Alternis slipped his hand under Tiz's shirt rubbing around his stomach making him moan in the kiss. He trailed his hand over Tiz's chest rubbing his fingers over his nipples. He slightly pinched them making Tiz gasp in the kiss. He slipped his hand down under Tiz's boxers wrapping his fingers around his lover's shaft. He pulled his stiff member out moving his hand up and down. He increased his pace making Tiz moan loudly in his ear. He kept stroking until Tiz couldn't take it anymore.

"Alternis…someone will hear us…!" He whispered into his lover's ear.

"Sorry, I can't control myself." He said places kisses on his neck.

Tiz squeaked as he felt teeth digging into his exposed neck. He clutched Alternis' shoulders feeling his teeth biting through his skin. Slowly the mark turned red and showed teeth marks. Tiz snuck his hand into his lover's boxers grabbing his erection. Alternis stopped what he was doing and sat up. He watched Tiz pull his member out of his boxers moving his hand up and down. Tiz rubbed the tip of his erection loving the moaning escaping from his lover's lips. He kept rubbing the tip in circles feeling a pulse. Alternis pulled off his shirt letting it drop on the floor exposing his muscular chest. Tiz used his free hand grabbing the waist band of his lover's boxers. Alternis stretched his legs letting Tiz remove his boxers. Tiz quickly removed his shirt and boxers. He gently pushed Alternis to lie on his back and climbed on top straddling his legs. He placed his hands on Alternis' thighs gently rubbing in circles. He stopped what he was doing taking a look at his lover's body loving every detail of it. He loved the muscles and scars he saw on his body he earned from fighting so much. He found the scars a rare beauty knowing he was loyal to him. He placed his hand on the left side of his chest and rubbed in circles. Alternis placed his hands on Tiz's hips. Tiz smiled knowing what his lover wanted. He slightly lifted himself up positioning himself over his lover's manhood. Tiz squeezed his lover's wrist knowing it was going to painful from not stretching him. Alternis slowly lowered him down feeling his lover's entrance being stretched out on the tip of his manhood. He groaned feeling Tiz grip his wrist as he moaned in pained. Alternis lowered him half way making it less painful.

"No…" Tiz panted with one eye opened. "I want you..." He groaned. "All the way inside me…"

He panted pressing down on his length making him tilt his head back biting back a scream from the pain. He adjusted himself feeling how warm Alternis was inside of him. He knew tomorrow he was going to be in so much pain but didn't care. Alternis held Tiz's hands and got up sharing a passionate then laid back down. Tiz waited until he couldn't feel any pain anymore and began moving his hips quickly, bouncing, and rocking on Alternis' manhood.

"I love you…" Alternis moaned.

He rested his arms on the bed sheets; feeling the bed slightly shift and creak. He closed his eyes enjoying the slight pain he felt on his thighs from his lover bouncing on him; making his thighs turn red. The sound of his lover's bottom slamming on to him made him impossibly hard. He groaned letting his lover go on his own pace loving the moans escaping from his lover's lips. It was becoming so much pleasurable. Tiz felt a wave of pleasure going threw his insides as his moanings and pantings became louder. Sweat flowed down on his face, on to his shoulders, down his belly and all he could do was moan out his lover's name. His body felt like it was on fire. He didn't care if anyone could hear him. Alternis gripped his lover's hips and began thrusting him into harder. He kept thrusting hearing his lover screaming out his name. The simple act made him pick up his pace going harder and faster. Alternis sat up holding his lover in his arms. Tiz wrapped his arms around his lover's back; digging his nails into his skin as his lover pulled in and out. He moaned loudly into his Alternis' and felt himself reaching his climax. Alternis gave one last hard thrust both of them shouting out their lover's name as he released his seed deeply inside him. Tiz sighed feeling a hot liquid in his insides. He panted heavily resting his chin on Alternis' shoulder. Alternis lifted up Tiz's chin and shared a long, passionate kiss. He gently laid his lover on the bed and slowly pulled himself out. He crawled over next to Tiz's side and wrapped his arms around him pulling him close to his body. Tiz sighed and held Alternis' wrist and closed his eyes falling asleep in his knight's arms. Alternis kissed the back of Tiz's head not ready to leave his lover for tomorrow. He lied to Tiz not wanting to worry him that he was actually going to be gone for a couple of months to a year and the death rate was high. Tiz will think he's dead. Alternis let a tear roll down his cheek and decided to write a letter to him for tomorrow. He closed his eyes tighten his grip around his lover. He didn't bother pulling the covers over them because of how hot their bodies were.

"I love you, Alternis." Tiz sleepily said.

"I love you too, Tiz…" Alternis said in his sleep.

Morning.

Alternis woke up feeling his lover's body pressed against him. He sighed letting go of his lover and quietly got out of bed without waking him. He stretched his arms and bent down grabbing his clothes that were scattered on the floor. He quietly put his clothes on and began to put his armor on. He looked at his lover that was still asleep. Alternis shook his head and pulled his mask over half his face then put his helmet on. He grabbed a piece of paper and began writing his note. Five minutes passed and Alternis turned his head back to his lover for the last time he thought. He turned his head back and quietly opened the window; pulling the blinds up; unlocking it and stepped out closing it. He placed a trap on the window just in case someone tried to break in while he was sleeping. He covered the window with a blanket so no one could see his nude body. Alternis walked on the deep snow and looked it up seeing it was cloudy outside. He sighed and kept walking until he saw his horse that was tied to a tree. Alternis untied the rope from the tree and mounted on his black stallion. His horse reared and sprinted through the snow.

Tiz slowly opened his eyes feeling cold. He gasped and sat up realizing Alternis wasn't with him; holding him in his arms. He held back the tears and looked down at his naked body remembering last night from making love. His bottom hurt from slamming on to his lover and so did his entrance. He got out of bed his back aching and moaned from the pain. His body felt sore. He bent down picking up his clothes and tossed them into the dirty basket. He opened his closet and got fresh clothes out. He pulled a white collared shirt, black boxers, and brown trousers on. He closed his closet door and turned around seeing a note with a rose on his desk. Tiz pulled the chair out and sat down reading the note. He covered his mouth as tears streamed down his face. He shut his eyes tight and pounded the table feeling nothing but hatred and sadness. He got out of his seat throwing random objects he could grab against the wall violently. He looked up screaming on top of his lungs with his eyes closed; his hands clutched together.

"A couple of months!?" He cried."A COUPLE OF MONTHS ALTERNIS!?"

Tiz fell on his knees with his head down letting his tears out. He sobbed to himself worrying he would never see his lover again. He hated being alone and keeping their love a secret. He just wanted Alternis for himself but the emperor had to lie and take his lover away again to fight in a pointless war after he promised his freedom.

"They will send me a letter if you die in combat?" Tiz sobbed.

Tiz slowly stood up and began to feel sick. He covered his feeling like he was about to throw up. He ran into the bathroom kicking the door opened and threw up in the toilet. He spitted out vomit and slowly straightened himself feeling light headed. He looked at himself in the mirror noticing his face was turning pale. He turned the faucet on throwing cold water in his face. He turned the faucet off and sighed. His body began to feel weak. He held his stomach and began walking back to bed. He got on the bed and laid on his side feeling light headed.

Knock. Knock.

"It's Agnes, Tiz!" She said knocking on the door.

"Come in!" He moaned.

Agnes unlocked Tiz's door Edea gave her and entered his room noticing he was on his bed groaning in pain. She shut the door and locked it. She looked around seeing dents on the walls and broken objects on the floor. She slowly walked closer to Tiz and sat down on the edge of the bed staring at his back.

"I feel sick…" Tiz groaned.

"You must have a cold." She said feeling sad.

"Did Edea leave?" He said turning on his back.

"Yes. She left without telling me." She whispered while fiddling with her fingers.

"Alternis lied to me…"

"Edea lied to me too…"

"They didn't want us to worry but they didn't have to lie to us."

"I wish she didn't…I'll go crazy if I lose her…"

"I'm really hungry right now…"

"Let's go eat then."

1 month later.

Alternis sighed leaning his head down as his horse kept walking along the snow. He met up with his knights not wanting to fight in the war. He straightened himself up as he reported in to the captain. The captain handed Alternis the reports of his mission. He read them carefully and nodded. He reared his horse and sprinted then stopped once a familiar figure raced up past him riding a white stallion.

"Edea!?" Alternis breathed.

"I didn't think you and I were going to be partners for this mission." She said.

"What are you doing here!?" He exclaimed. "You should be back home with Agnes!"

"I was forced into this war like you Alternis." She stiffened. "I would be home right now."

"It's pointless…"

"I know…Agnes is probably worried about me…I lied to her…"

"I lied to Tiz to…"

Edea looked up at the sky hearing an owl howling. She raised her arm up and waited for the owl to land on her arm. She noticed the owl was carrying a letter. Edea smiled knowing it was probably from Agnes. The owl landed on her arm and Edea took the letter.

"You should do this to." She said opening the letter. "This is how Agnes and I are communicating that way she knows I'm alive."

"I should. What does the letter say?" He asked while petting his horse.

"Hm…she's saying your boyfriend has been acting strange lately." Edea placed her hand on her chin. "She says he's been throwing up, gaining weight, eating uncontrollably, and been nauseated."

"It must be a cold or flu." He said feeling a little shaken up.

"That sounds familiar but I could be over exaggerating." Edea scoffed.

Alternis chuckled.

"What do you think it is Edea?" Alternis asked getting off his horse to stretch.

"Hehe. It sounds like he's carrying a baby." Edea laughed.

"…C-C-Carrying a baby?" Alternis felt his heart drop.

"Yep! But don't be ridiculous Alternis! Men can't get pregnant!" Edea laughed getting off her horse.

"…R-Right…only women can get pregnant." Alternis swallowed hard feeling sweat flow down his face.

"Are you alright Alternis?" She said trying to study his armored face. "You seem worried."

"Yeah…I just need to take a walk…" He murmured.

Just as Alternis was about to walk, an arrow pierced through his arm. Edea quickly spun around; crouching down wondering where the sniper was. She jumped out of the way as a rain of arrows were in the air. She hid behind the tree feeling a sharp pain on her arm. She looked at her arm seeing her clothing was torn and bleeding. She huffed and ripped the torn off. Alternis grunted placing his hand on the arrow trying to yank it off. He turned around seeing nothing but trees and snow. He looked up in the trees seeing troops hiding and aiming at him.

"Edea, get back on the horse and get out of here!" Alternis yelled.

"No way! I'm not leaving you behind!" Edea shouted breathing heavily.

A group of assassin's wearing all black came out of their hiding holes under the ground and surrounded Alternis. The assassins had crossbows and bows aiming at Alternis' head. Alternis gripped his dark blade. He knew was out numbered. Edea turned her head seeing Alternis was surrounded. Before she could move, a blade was pressed against her neck. Two warriors grabbed Edea by the shoulders confiscating her weapons and shoved her forward making her stumble.

"What a bunch of amateur warriors." One of the assassins's said. "Your captain and the rest of your squad are dead!"

Edea was thrown on the ground next to Alternis. Both of them had their armor removed leaving them in their freelancer outfit and had their hands tied behind their backs. Alternis and Edea were sitting next to each other's backs holding hands by using their pinky fingers. They knew their suicide mission was just beginning. Alternis' arm was screaming in pain from the arrow that was still pierced in his arm. The assassins forced them on their feet and shoved them forward. Alternis felt the tip of their blade pressed against his back as he continued walking in the snow. Both of them kept walking for hours without stopping. Alternis would fall on his knees from losing too much blood then the assassin's would whip his back each time he fell on his knees. He forced himself to get up and continue walking with his body screaming in pain. Edea watched in horror feeling sad that she couldn't do anything. She wondered why they wouldn't whip her when she would stop. She stared directly at Alternis' back and arms seeing long, red, whip slashes. His clothing was torn to where you could see his bare flesh. After walking for a couple of hours later, Alternis and Edea were led into a kingdom. Edea stood next to Alternis seeing he was breathing heavily. She saw his body shaking violently from being whipped too much. Half his clothes were torn and blood stained.

"My Lord, we captured the emperor's best knights." The assassin said bowing down.

"Best knights my ass." The warrior scoffed shoving Alternis forward.

Alternis lost his balance and fell on his stomach making everyone inside the kingdom laugh. Edea frowned watching Alternis move on his side breathing heavily. He had his teeth clenched together with blood trickling out of his mouth. He grunted and slowly got on his feet slightly bent. She saw the king was wearing a golden mask and wore a black tux. Edea had a bewilder look on her face from what the king was wearing. He had brown hair spiky hair.

"Best knights huh?" The king said stepping forward to Alternis.

Alternis kept a straight face.

"Lets battle then." He said holding silver lance. "But first."

The king leaned forward stabbing Alternis' hip making him groan. The assassin cut the rope freeing Alternis' hands. He clutched his fist ignoring the pain he felt. He moaned and grabbed the nearby sword that was kicked towards him.

"Lets see how tough you are now!" The king laughed and dropped his lance. "I don't need this."

"That coward!" Edea thought feeling her blood boil.

Edea watched Alternis tumble forward swinging his blade sloppily. He was so weak he could barely stand on his feet. She watched him stumble back breathing heavily as the other knights laughed at him. After so many misses from swinging the blade, the king grabbed Alternis' sword arm and punched Alternis in the face knocking him down on his back. He chuckled and stepped forward kneeling down.

"You failed. You're nothing!" The king yelled and stomped on Alternis' face. "Get them out of here!"

Edea was led inside the dungeon. The knight led her inside her cell while Alternis was dragged and tossed inside his cell harshly. He groaned in pain and sat up crawling over towards the wall. Edea walked over and reached her arm through the bars trying to grab Alternis' hand. Alternis slowly turned his head and scooted closer towards Edea's cell. He reached over and held her hand. Edea rested her head against the cold bars holding back her tears. She looked up seeing a square hole with bars on it and heard a howl. Edea gasped and stood up seeing her owl flying around outside the dungeon. She reached her hand out telling her owl to land on her hand. The owl howled and flew over to where Edea's arm was and landed on her hand. Edea brought her owl inside her cell and quickly wrote a letter to Agnes and Tiz with the paper she had in her pocket. She tied the letter around her owl's legs and let it flew away. She sat back down and held Alternis' hand. She knew this was the first test of surviving as prisoners. She gasped as the door of the dungeon slammed opened. Two knights wearing sliver armor came in unlocking Alternis' cell door. They kicked the door opened and harshly grabbed Alternis by his hair and dragged him out tossing him on the ground. Both knights began hitting him with a block of wood. Edea shut her eyes and covered her ears unable to stand Alternis' screaming. She could hear them throwing hot water on his wounds, kicking him, shoving him against the wall, just basically torturing him. Tears streamed down Edea's eyes while she still had her eyes shut tight. The screams of pain were becoming unbearable. Alternis was thrown inside his cell again unmoving. Edea finally opened her eyes and crawled over holding Alternis' hand. He turned his eyes that were red and groaned in response. She looked at his body seeing too many wounds. She wondered how long Alternis would last.