"So." Guts started, "You've got your kingdom now."

"It seems so." Griffith said coldly, not sparing Guts a glance.

"Judeau told me I should thank you for inviting me to your wedding."

"You're welcome."

"I didn't finish." Guts said, "I'm not thanking you."

Griffith was quiet, waiting for Guts to continue.

"I'm returning the favor."

Griffith obviously had no idea what he was talking about.

"I'm getting married." Guts clarified, if not awkwardly, he still wasn't sure how to feel about the whole marriage situation. "To Casca. You're invited."

"I see." Griffith said, still distant. "Is she pregnant?"

"What?" Guts asked a bit too loudly, "No, I mean, I don't think so?"

"So she went through with her promise," Griffith said, "To be honest I never thought she would follow through, but that was because I figured you would never fight her and I knew I never would. Well I hope her wedding doesn't distract her too much from her duties, I know Princess Charlotte became terribly single minded during our engagement. Although," Griffith thought aloud, "She and Casca are quite different."

"You could say that again."

"What are you going to do after your wedding?" Griffith asked.

"My plans haven't changed much, I figured I'd go continue my quest."

"You would leave your new wife?"

"Well, no. Casca's coming with me."

"...I see." Griffith seemed even more withdrawn. "And Casca knows this?"

"It's why she wants us to get married in the first place." Guts said, "She cares too much about your reputation to 'soil it with debauchery'."

"She always was so loyal." Griffith said dismissively, like somehow because she was marrying Guts she wasn't.

"She is loyal, Griffith." Guts said, feeling the need to defend her feeling, to make Griffith understand how much of a big deal this was for her, for both of them. They loved Griffith, but this kind of life was stifling; Impossible for Guts, and grating on Casca. "She would die for you." He finished.

"And what about you, Guts. Would you die for me?"

"You know the answer to that." He dismissed.

"No. I don't. I said you belonged to me, and you walked away like it was all nothing."

"I don't belong to anyone!" Guts snapped, "Least of all you."

Griffith was taken aback, he'd never been on the receiving end of Guts' anger since he beaten him those years ago.

"So to answer your question," Guts continued, "If you commanded me, I wouldn't, but if my friend needed me…" He sighed, "What kind of person would I be to refuse."

"...Guts."

"Yeah, whatever." Guts said, trying to dismiss the sentimental mood, "So the wedding's in a week, you can bring whoever, but its a mercenary wedding, so the reception may not be to your more noble friend's tastes."

"Guts, they aren't my friends."

"Yeah, I know."

You don't have any friends

For me to call a man my friend, he must be equal to me in all respects.