They followed the dark tunnel, before sunlight erupted into his eyes. But it wasn't just the sunlight; it was the endless gold of the City.
It looked like they were down an alley way, between a few houses. Meo led Tulio out of it, into the City's square, where they were met by nearly everyone in the City.
There was a silence, and then a loud cheer. Tulio tightened his hold on Miguel as the Chief stepped forwards.
"Chief!" Tulio gasped, slight relief overtaking him. The Chief tried to take Miguel in his arms, but Tulio held tight to him.
"We need to take him to the Healing Temple" the Chief tried to reassure him. Tulio could see the worry in his eyes.
"I'll take him, just show me the way" Tulio said. The chief nodded and led Tulio though the crowd and to a small temple, at a fast trot. Tulio had to run to keep up with him, but Tulio didn't care. He would run to the edge of the earth to save Miguel.
They ran into the temple and were met by three women in white robes. Along the walls were beds with white sheets on.
Tulio had only ever had an experience with medicines and doctors once before. That was when he was about ten. His father had been really ill and the village doctor came to their small house. The doctor couldn't really do anything, as their family couldn't afford the medicine care. His father died that night.
One of the women led Tulio over to a bed, and he lied Miguel gently down. The women pushed Tulio aside and started to tend to Miguel's snake bite.
Tulio watched, feeling helpless.
"His going to be make it…right?" Tulio whispered. He felt a pair of strong hands on his shoulders, as the nurses didn't reply.
"Have hope, Lord Tulio" the Chief said. Tulio looked at him.
"Chief, surly you have realised that we are not Gods, why are you still calling us Lord?" he asked, confused at the way they were treating them. The Chief looked at him, with kind eyes.
"You have saved us, from them white demons, and from our most terrifying tradition…Sacrifice" he replied, "You have done more for the City of El Dorado, then any God has ever managed to do"
Tulio half smiled, and then looked at Miguel again. He looked even paler now, and a nurse was gently washing his face, removing the blood and dirt.
"My Lord" came a voice from behind the Chief and Tulio. Tulio turned around, and was met by Chel.
But it wasn't Chel. This woman had short hair; it only flowed to her shoulders. She also wore a dress that revealed less of her body and hanged loosely on her. Her eyes were kind and gentle.
"Chel?" Tulio asked, uncertainly. The woman smiled, shaking her head.
"No, I'm Thel" she answered, "Chel is my sister"
"Oh" Tulio said, smiling weakly and taking her offered hand.
"Thel is out new High Priest" the Chief told Tulio. Tulio's eyes widen.
"You're the one that had the version, you brought the soldiers out to us to show us the way back" Thel nodded, looking slightly confused.
"Yes, but I can't see why Chel didn't" she said, puzzlement in her voice, Tulio frowned.
"What do you mean?" he asked.
"It was her that found the other entrance into the City when we were just children" Thel replied, "You see, me and her are gifted with being able to see versions and the truth in certain things, and a version showed her the second entrance" Tulio looked at her, shocked.
"You mean…she knew how to get back into the City? We could have gotten back sooner, before…before…" Tulio whispered, looking back at the unconscious Miguel. Anger began to boil in his heart. Thel placed a hand on his arm.
"I am sure my sister had reasons for hiding the truth" she told him, and then left the hall.
The nurses had cleaned the wound, and had used leaches to suck the vermin out. They had also wrapped it in clean bandages. One nurse came to Tulio's side.
"Time can only tell now, my Lord" she said, worry in her voice.
"Thank you, for everything" Tulio whispered and walked to Miguel's side. A chair was positioned next to the bed and Tulio sunk into it. The Chief again placed his hands on Tulio's shoulders.
"I have to go now, Lord Tulio, but I will come back to check on Lord Miguel's health" he said. Tulio nodded, not really listening. The chief silently left and Tulio took Miguel's cold hand.
"Miguel…please, please don't die" Tulio begged, tears coming to his dull, tried eyes again. He leaned closer to Miguel and brought Miguel's hand up to his lips, gently kissing it.
"My life isn't worth living without you, I am nothing without you by my side…please, don't leave me, not now…I'll do anything…I'll fight the whole Spanish army if I had to, I'll even jump into She-balba…I'll do anything just to keep you alive" Tears ran down Tulio's face and he closed his eyes, bowing his head, "You are closer to me than anyone I've ever met…I love you, Miguel"
Tulio wrapped his tears away and looked at Miguel. He was pale, but his breathing at steadied slightly. Tulio gently stroked Miguel's golden hair out of his face, and kissed him on the forehead, tenderly.
Tulio drawback as he heard footsteps behind him. Chel had walked into the Healing Temple. She looked sad, and her skin had seemed to have paled a little bit.
Tulio felt angry boil in him again and he walked over to her.
"How is he doing?" Chel asked, looking only slightly concerned.
"Why would you care?" Tulio growled, in a bare whisperer so not to disturb Miguel. Chel looked up at Tulio, confused.
"You knew all along, you knew" Tulio answered her puzzled look, "Miguel could have died, he could still die"
"Tulio…" Chel whispered, looking at her feet.
"What if Thel hadn't had that version?" Tulio asked, his voice rising, "Huh? What then?"
"I couldn't come back her, I just couldn't" Chel told him, tears coming to her eyes. Tulio glared at her.
"Oh, and that makes it better, you didn't want to come back here, so Miguel could have died, it doesn't matter, as long as you didn't have to come back here"
"No…no, of course not" Chel told him, trying to make Tulio see she was sorry.
"Why are you even here?" Tulio spat. At this, a large sob escaped Chel's mouth and tears started to roll down her face.
"Tulio…?" came a small voice from behind them. Miguel's eyes were half open. Tulio made to go over to him, but Chel caught his wrist.
"You were never going to be able to forget him" she told him through her tears, "I see the truth…I knew you and Miguel were going to be at the entrance stone, I knew start away you were not Gods…and I knew where your heart truly lies" with that, she let go off Tulio's arm and walked out of the temple. Tulio watched her go, angry still running thought him.
"Tulio…" Miguel whispered again and Tulio went to him and took his hand.
"I'm here" Tulio whispered, smiling weakly at Miguel, and stroking his face. Miguel's eyes were only half-open, but he was looking at Tulio. He smiled faintly, tightening his hold on Tulio's hand slightly.
"I was so scared" Tulio told Miguel, tears coming to his eyes.
"I wasn't going to let you have all the fun" Miguel said quietly, his voice harsh and slightly broken. Tulio smiled, and then leaned over, gently pressing his lips against Miguel's.
It was just a quick, soft kiss, but Tulio could feel the love being exchanged in that single touch. He draw back, studying Miguel. Miguel now had his eyes closed, his face completely relaxed.
Tulio smiled again, before lying his head down on the bed. He fell asleep, still holding Miguel's hand.
X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X
"Do you feel better, Lord Miguel?"
"Yeh, thanks"
"My father said that you were not a God, because Gods do not become ill or sick, is that true?"
"Yes, I'm afraid so"
"My father says that is doesn't matter that you're not Gods because you saved us twice"
"Yeh! My mama says that are just as good as Gods in her eyes"
Tulio was listening to this conversation with his head still resting on Miguel's bed. His eyes were refusing to open.
"Do you know what I'm looking forward to when I get out of here?" Miguel asked. Tulio heard his companions shake their heads.
"Playing ball with you lot again" Miguel told them.
"Didn't you enjoy playing ball with them big players more?" one asked.
"No, I enjoyed it a lot more with you, it wasn't as dangerous" Miguel answered, and everyone laughed.
"Shh, you're wake Tulio" Miguel whispered, silencing the laughter. At the sound of his name, Tulio lifted his head and opened his eyes.
"Too late" he yawned. Miguel's bed was surrounded by four young boys. He recognised one as Meo.
"How are you feeling?" Tulio asked, stretching his arms behind his head. Miguel nodded.
"Fine, I think I could walk around if these nurses weren't keeping me here" he winked at one of the young nurses who was just finishing redressing his leg. The nurse gave him a sly smile and walked off.
The boys and Miguel laughed, while Tulio felt a twinge of jealousy go though him. Miguel noticed and took hold of his hand.
"Do you want us to go, Lord Tulio?" Meo asked, also noticing his lack of laughter. Tulio smiled as Miguel started to stroke his hand with his thumb.
"No, you have every right to be here, you saved Miguel's life" Tulio told him. Meo blushed as the three boys around him looked at him, admirably. Miguel turned to him.
"What's this?" he asked. Meo didn't reply, but one of the other boys.
"He showed Lord Tulio the way back to the City on that big horse" he said, really excitable. Miguel smiled at Meo.
"I owe you my life" he told the boy, who blushed deeper, "The Great Warrior Meo!"
"Yeh! The Great Warrior Meo!" the other boys started to yell, starting a war dance.
Tulio and Miguel started to laugh, as the boys danced around Meo.
They continued to talk to the young boys, until the head nurse shooed them away, telling them that Miguel needed his rest.
But Miguel wasn't sleepy. In fact, there seemed to be a lot of energy in him and was bouncing around.
"Please, I just want to walk around for just ten minutes!!" he begged one of the nurses, who was certainly checking his temperature.
"Five minutes?" Miguel asked when the nurse didn't reply. She laughed and sighed. "Fine, I'll found you something to stable yourself with" she said.
"Don't worry, I'll help him" Tulio told her as Miguel throw the cover off him and swung his legs over the side of the bed. Tulio help Miguel up and Miguel leaned heavily on him. Tulio lead Miguel outside, slowly as Miguel was limping badly.
It was now getting dark, the sun just setting. Tulio saw Miguel's eyes light up at the sight of the golden city. The dying sun made the gold shine bright and Tulio could see the reflection of it dancing in Miguel's emerald eyes. Miguel's eyes looked over the whole city, before finally coming to a stop on Tulio.
"I guess we're stuck here now" Miguel said, quietly, but happiness rang in his voice. Tulio nodded, not breaking his glance on Miguel.
"I guess we are"
"Are you ok with that, though?" Miguel asked, uncertainly.
Tulio took hold of Miguel's hand, stilling holding him upright, and squeezed. He then hugged Miguel, gently kissing his neck. Miguel let out soft moans, as he hugged Tulio back, leaning even more on him. Tulio worked his way up Miguel's neck, and onto his chin, before he came to a stop by Miguel's lip.
"I don't care where I am, as long as I'm with you" he breathed on Miguel's lips, before gently kissing him.
The sun set as the two men kissed.
Miguel had his greatest adventure in his arms, and Tulio had his most valuable piece of gold in his.