So before I begin this chapter I would like to share that there will be 16 chapters in all. Some may not be as long as others, but there will definitely be 16. I've gotten some pretty positive feedback since I posted chapter 9, so I'm glad you guys are still enjoying the story. Here is the chapter for you all!

10

Tulio was stretched out on his back on the cot. He was staring up at the ceiling, unable to sleep due to his worry about Miguel. The pain in his head was fading; thanks to whatever herbal drink Thelina had given him when she prepared her own tea. He glanced over to the cot she was sleeping on, wishing she would wake up and tell him it was okay to go look for his partner. He sighed, wishing he could know if Miguel was okay, when he heard the curtains rustle. Looking over, he saw that the chief had returned. "Chief."

"Lord Tulio, how are you feeling?" the chief asked, quietly so as not to disturb Thelina.

"A lot better," Tulio answered, slowly sitting up on the cot.

"Excellent," the chief said with a smile. "Have you gotten any more sleep?"

Tulio shook his head. "I'm too worried about Miguel. I probably won't be able to rest until I know he's safe."

The chief frowned. "I assumed so."

"Please, can I go to him now?" Tulio asked.

"My Lord, I-"

"I know I'm going to have to fight Tzekel-Kan," Tulio interrupted. "I'm prepared to do whatever I have to save Miguel."

The chief sighed. "Then there is nothing I can do to stop you. But there is a force keeping anyone from entering the temple."

"I'll find a way in, nothing is going to stop me."

"My Lord, the woman is missing as well."

Tulio narrowed his eyes. "Chel wants Miguel dead. There's no way Tzekel-Kan would allow her in the temple." He sighed and looked away. "I still can't believe I fell for her act."

"She was most convincing," the chief said.

"Miguel saw right through it all," Tulio said, a sad look in his eyes. "If only I had listened…"

"You must stop blaming yourself, Tulio," the voice of Thelina suggested.

Tulio turned to see her sitting up on her cot. "Are you okay?"

She nodded slowly and stood up. "I want to come with you to get Miguel."

"Absolutely not," Tulio stated. "It's too dangerous."

"But you're going to need help," she pleaded.

"Thelina," Tulio stopped her. "Miguel cares about you, a lot. I can't let you get hurt again, or worse."

"Lord Tulio is right," the chief said. "It is too dangerous."

Thelina looked like she wanted to argue, but she sighed and sat back down on the cot. "Okay," she said quietly. "But please be careful."

"I will," Tulio said, turning back to face the chief. "I'm ready."

The chief nodded. "You're regular clothes have been brought to you if you wish to change."

"Yeah, "I'd like that," Tulio said, realizing he was still in his wedding attire.

The chief and Thelina stepped out while Tulio changed. Once he was finished, he folded the wedding attire and stared at it. He wondered how differently things would be gone if he hadn't agreed to look for El Dorado. No matter what, it would have been just him and Miguel. He wondered if all this chaos hadn't happened if he would have even realized his feelings for his partner.

"He loves you," Thelina said quietly as she entered the temple again. "It was the last thing he said to me before he collapsed at the wedding."

"We wasted so many years," Tulio said quietly.

"What do you mean? Haven't you always been together?"

"Yeah, as friends," Tulio replied, looking at her. "Partners in crime, brothers even. But never as lovers." He sighed and turned away again. "I think there were times that I felt something towards him, but I kept telling myself if was wrong, that two men aren't supposed to love each other. Then there were times he tried and I pushed him away. But he never once left me alone because he was mad…not like I've done to him. I don't even know how I'm going to apologize to him, there's nothing I can say to express how sorry I am."

"Don't fret about that now, Tulio," Thelina said with a small smile. "Hasn't him staying with you all these years made you believe he has already forgiven you?" She put her hand on his shoulder. "He came to your wedding, even if he do not approve of it."

Tulio's frown deepened; he didn't wanted to be reminded of the wedding anymore. "He almost died because of me. I couldn't live myself if-"

"Tulio," Thelina interrupted, putting her finger to his lips. "He will be okay, everything will be fine. Now go, bring him back."

Tulio nodded. "For you."

"For both of us, Tulio."

"I don't deserve-"

"No, you don't," Thelina interrupted. "But you love him, and he loves you, and that's all that matters."

Tulio just looked at her for a moment before responding. "Okay," he said quietly, reaching out to embrace her. "Thank you," he whispered. He pulled away and turned to walk out of the temple.

"Please keep him safe," Thelina prayed to the empty space around her. "Bring them both back alive." She walked out of the temple and joined the group of people to watch Tulio walk up the steps to Tzekel-Kan's temple.

*** EL DORADO ***

Miguel whimpered a little in his sleep, and curled tighter into himself. He was dreaming about a time in Spain when a con he and Tulio had worked went horribly wrong. They had almost been captured as they raced across a rooftop. Miguel had been injured by a guard and tried to conceal it from Tulio. That never worked of course.

"That was too close," Tulio panted, leaning against a wall.

"Not the best idea to use those loaded dice," Miguel stated, clutching his side tightly.

"Are you okay?" Tulio asked, pointing to his side.

"Yeah, just a cramp," Miguel lied. An arrow from one of the guard's crossbows had actually struck him, but he didn't want to slow Tulio down.

We should get back to the cabin, Tulio said. "It'll be dark soon."

They began to walk back to their cabin, Tulio talking about how to improve the con so they wouldn't get caught again. About five minutes into the walk, Miguel started to feel dizzy. The heat of the sun and the injury on his side was draining him. He stumbled and almost fell, but Tulio caught him. "Sorry, I tripped."

"Miguel, are you sure you're okay?" Tulio asked, noticing that Miguel was still holding his side.

"Yeah," Miguel said shakily.

Tulio frowned. "Okay," he said with an unsure tone. He put his arm around Miguel's waist to support him.

The pressure to his injured side sent a jolt of pain through him. "Ow!" he yelped, grabbing his side again.

Tulio was startled and pulled his hand away, gasping when he saw blood on it. "Miguel, you're hurt!"

"I'll be okay," Miguel said, his vision blurring. "I just…I just need to sit down." He suddenly toppled over, unconscious.

Miguel woke up some time later to find himself on the bed in their cabin. He noticed his side was poorly bandaged, but at least it wasn't bleeding anymore. He looked over to find Tulio lying next to him, just looking at him. "Tulio?"

"I thought you weren't going to wake up," Tulio said tiredly. "It's the middle of the night."

"Did you…carry me here?" Miguel asked quietly, almost embarrassed.

"Yeah. Why did you lie to me?"

Miguel frowned. "I thought you would want to get out in a hurry, I didn't want to slow you down."

"Yeah, I would have liked to move a little quicker, but I would rather you not almost die in the process." Tulio sat up on the bed, pulling his knees up to his chest and sighing. "Sorry, I didn't mean to sound harsh. I just thought I was going to lose you, it scared me."

Miguel's frown deepened, and he slowly sat up. "I'm not going anywhere, Tulio."

Tulio looked over at him, a serious expression on his face. "You can't promise that…neither can I."

"Wherever you go, I'm going too."

Tulio looked at him sadly. "I don't want anything to happen to you."

"I know," Miguel said quietly. "I'm sorry."

"You don't have to be sorry," Tulio said, reaching over to brush some stray hair off his partner's face. "Go back to sleep. I'll be right here when you wake up."

"Promise?"

Tulio smiled tiredly. "Always."

Miguel frowned in his sleep. There were many times after that when Tulio hadn't been there when he woke up. He would be upset for a while, but it would be better when his partner came back. This time he's not coming back, though…he's gone, forever. "Tulio," he whispered brokenly. He felt a hand on his forehead suddenly, realizing it was the high priest.

"My, you're burning up," Tzekel-Kan said with concern.

Miguel didn't respond to him. He felt sick, and for a moment wished that the antidote was wearing off and he would die after all. He just wanted to be with Tulio.

"I'm sure I can make something to lower the fever," Tzekel-Kan said, flipping through one of his many potion books.

Miguel heard him walking away, not even wanting to know what concoction he might make. "Just let me die," he said quietly.

"Absolutely not!" Tzekel-Kan said, closing his book and walking back to Miguel. "You're going to stay here with me, forever."

"No," Miguel said flatly.

Tzekel-Kan reached down and Miguel up to face him. "I love you."

"Well I don't love you," Miguel said, struggling to get loose. "Let me go."

"I will not."

"Let go!"

"Never!"

"He said let him go."

Tzekel-Kan released Miguel in surprise, turning to face the new intruder. "Impossible!"

Miguel's eyes widened and he smiled. "Tulio!"

TBC