Time seemed to pass slowly in what Nicola felt was the most crucial moment he'd ever faced. If he let Samuel die in this instant, he'd never be able to forgive himself. He wasn't concerned with what was going through the minds of his father, the guards, or the civilians around him, nor did he care about the consequences of his actions. His only focus was on saving the man he loved, and he'd think about any issues that followed after he was sure Samuel remained alive.
Nicola put every last bit of his energy into the swing of that sword, throwing himself forward with the force of it. Within fractions of a second, he saw Samuel falling, and he knew the lever had been pulled. Samuel's fate was to be determined in mere moments, and it seemed that fate was in his favor. For Nicola's sword had successfully cut through the rope. He'd done it. He had saved Samuel from the noose.
After the rope was severed, the sword fell onto the stage, and Nicola had stumbled into the open doors of the stage floor that Samuel had fallen through as well. The brunette sat up and coughed, after having landed on his chest. He scurried over to Samuel, who was laying still on his back.
"Sam?" the prince smiled, cupping the blonde's face in his hands. Samuel coughed, landing on his back having knocked the breath out of him, and when he looked up into Nicola's eyes, the prince almost broke into sobs.
"N-Nicola, I-"
"I know, Sam," the older boy interrupted, petting the blonde hair of the man laying before him. "You love me. I know that now. And I promise I'll never doubt it again." He bit his lip, trying to keep composure. The relief he felt was overwhelming.
Samuel's feelings were the same. It was surreal, the moment he realized he was alive. He was so sure, back on that stage, that Nicola wouldn't make it in time. Yet, here he was.
"My God... I'm alive. You...you saved me."
"I couldn't let you die Samuel. Not after all we've been through. You may have lied to me, but I was blind to think you didn't love me. You came back for me, didn't you?"
"I did," nodded the blonde. "I couldn't bare the thought of you not knowing my true feelings. I may have lied to you about many things, but loving you was never one of them." He sat up in pain. His body still ached from the treatment he received in prison. Nicola helped him sit, his arm supporting Samuel's back. "After you left, I chased after you. But when I arrived outside the palace I was captured and thrown in prison. Nic, it was awful in there. Do you have any idea how they treat the prisoners? There are corpses in there. They beat me, and one of them removed his trousers and tried to make me- I...I can't bring myself to say it." He shook his head, refusing to admit everything that had happened.
"Mio Dio... My guards treated you this way? I know the officers from the other kingdom were monsters, but in my kingdom? How can this be?" the prince ran his fingers carefully along the recent wounds on the younger teen's chest, frowning. "This is unbelievable."
"Nicola, it doesn't concern me right now. I'm just glad to be alive. Thank you." He smiled up at the prince holding him.
"No, don't thank me! It wasn't a choice. I love you, Sam." Nicola held Samuel tighter and pulled him in for a long, overdue kiss. The crowd near them grew quiet in shock. By now, Nicola's father had made his way through the large group of civilians in time to witness the act himself. As if he wasn't furious enough, his blood boiled and his face reddened upon seeing his son in such a state with this criminal.
After their lips parted, Samuel opened his eyes and his face paled. Nicola knew upon seeing the blonde's face that his father must've seen them, and this thought was confirmed after he heard his name shouted from behind him. The brunette winced from the volume and turned to face his father, who was standing out in the rain. The prince was well aware that he and his lover couldn't hide under that stage forever. He was afraid of what the king might have in store for he and Samuel, however he stepped out from under the stage with his chin up, not showing his father any fear.
"Father, I had to-"
"Enough! I won't hear a word from you. Your actions have embarrassed me plenty, and I won't have your words make a mockery of my authority as well. Guards, escort my son and the criminal to my carriage. We're going to hold a private confrontation at the palace. There's no need for a public event now that Nicola and this street rat have already made a show of themselves." The king began to walk to his carriage, his guards doing as they were instructed.
"Get your filthy hands off of me, stronzo!" Nicola squirmed out of the grip of a guard, disgusted in all of them after the information about the prison that Samuel shared with him. He stormed over to Samuel, shooing them away from the blonde as well. "Don't any of you bastards touch him!" Nicola grimaced at the state Samuel was in. He helped the handcuffed man to his feet, assissting him on their way to the carriage as the guards followed them.
In the carriage, two guards sat on either side of the king, and across from them a guard sat in between Samuel and the prince. For the most part, the ride was silent. Samuel would occasionally cough due to his body's battered state. After a long fit of coughing, Nicola spoke up.
"Per favore, father, he needs help!"
"I did not allow you to speak, child."
"I'm not a child! I'm an adult who knows what I want, and I want Samuel to live."
"He deserves to die. He's a traitor to the crown and a thief," retorted the king.
"I know we see different sides, and we'll talk about it at the palace, but by God father, he's choking! For heaven's sake, at least remove the rope from his neck!"
"Let him choke," the man scoffed, "Let it be your punishment for defying me, boy."
"F-Father!" Nicola gasped, outraged at his own parent's sudden apathy. He had always been a kind man. Even after Nicola's mother passed away, his father had kept the sympathy that she had taught him to have. Before the prince could protest, the guard sitting between them cleared his throat.
"Um, not to advise you, Your Highness, but perhaps this treatment does come on as a bit cruel and unnecessary. I believe the Kingdom would be pleased to find the criminal punished in a more humane way. It does seem against the nature of a King to allow anyone, even a criminal, such a sorry death. My apologies for interrupting." The guard lowered his head in respect, awaiting the king's response.
The king breathed deeply, examining the three before him: the cherry-faced felon gasping for breath, the humble guard suggesting mercy, and his nervous son, waiting for a reply. Looking at Nicola, the king still wondered why the boy showed such deep concern for the outlaw stranger. Nonetheless, he'd question him about that later.
"I suppose you're right, brave officer. It would be against my kind nature to let any man perish in such a way. Besides, I have questions for him that will come later. You may remove the noose."
A heavy sigh of relief from Nicola was heard, and the guard quickly loosened and removed the rope from Samuel's neck. The coughing didn't stop immediately, but it was less severe and had ended after a few moments.
"Thank you," Nicola smiled to the guard who had helped his lover.
The guard nodded as a 'you're welcome' and turned to Samuel. "Are you alright?" he casually whispered to the blonde.
Samuel looked up, and was able to find himself smiling at the face he saw. Richard.
"Yeah, thank you," said Samuel, then turned his head to look at the ground again. He didn't want Richard to get into trouble for being too friendly. Soon enough, they had arrived back at the palace, and the men exited the horse-drawn carriage. Samuel and Nicola were being escorted by the guards up the palace steps after the king, when suddenly Samuel's exhaustion got the better of him. His pace up the steps was slowing, and he began to pant.
"Hurry yourself, Williams. Do not keep His Highness waiting in the rain," one of the guards urged, giving the blonde a nugde forward. Samuel stumbled, unsuccessfully attempting to pick up his pace. He began to cough again, and was thrown into another coughing fit similar to the one in the carriage. Nicola whipped his head around to check on Samuel behind him.
"Is he alright?" the brunette asked with worry. The unconcerned guard didn't answer. Nicola bit his lip and continued up the steps, trusting that Samuel would be okay. They reached the palace front doors, and they were opened for the king and his company. The group entered the palace, and Samuel had only gotten about 20 feet in when he felt the need to daringly speak up.
"I don't mean to be disrespectful, but I'm feeling very unwell..." said the blonde as he felt his head become dizzy.
"No one asked you to speak, criminal," said one of the guards.
"No, I feel ill. Please, I think I need to sit and rest for just a moment-"
"Quiet down," warned the guard once more. Nicola had turned to see what Samuel was fussing about, taking notice that he was walking a bit wobbly.
Samuel gulped. His vision was getting fuzzy and his light-headed state was only worsening. Within seconds he began to stumble, and it was obvious he was about to faint. Nicola ran to him, only to be stopped by the sword of the guard escorting Samuel. He gasped, horrified at the disrespect.
"Cazzo, out of my way!" the brunette insisted, glaring at the guard threatening him. The guard hesitated, and Samuel fell to the floor unconscious. After Samuel fainted the guard sheathed his blade, and a furious Nicola brushed past him, sure that he had even seen a smirk on the guard's face. Nicola knealt down to Samuel, working on waking him up. His father had walked over to them and quitely consulted with the guard.
"I never ordered you to pull a blade out on my son. If you threaten him again the next one in the noose will be you," the king said matter-of-factly.
"Y-yes sire," replied the guard.
"Father, something's wrong! He needs help!" Nicola panicked.
"Nicola, do not overreact."
"No, father he has a fever!" said the prince, feeling the fallen man's forehead. "Please, he's sick!"
"And what do you expect me to do?" the king asked his son.
"He needs care! You can't ask him questions if he's dead, si?"
"I suppose not. Fine, we'll send him to the prison for now so he can rest alone," offered Nicola's father.
Richard, the guard, saw the astonishment on Nicola's face at the suggestion, and decided to step in before the prince's anger got the better of him.
"Your Highness, if I may step in... The prisons are no place for an ill person. The conditions are poor. It's cold, filthy, and there's not much food or water. A sick man requires a warm, clean space, and plenty of water at least. It would not be wise to send him to the dungeons unless you do want him dead," said Richard, the interests of both the prince and Samuel in mind. He remembered being back in that prison cell with Samuel when he snuck the blonde some food and water. He knew that Samuel was truly a good man at heart, and didn't deserve the treatment that prisoners received in those dungeons.
"You raise a valid argument, young man. But as a guard, surely you must realize we need to keep him contained," replied the king to Richard's suggestion. "He is a criminal."
"Absolutely, you're correct, sire. As a matter of fact, I was one of the guards who monitored Williams's cell. It may be that he has commited crimes, but after watching him in the dungeons, I can undoubtedly say that he wouldn't hurt anybody, nor would he try to escape. Besides, with his current state, he doesn't seem capable of such things. However, of course as a precaution you could assign me to keep watch over him."
"Yes, I'm sure with his weak state one guard will be enough. I'll have you keep a close watch on him and his room, but just in case we'll keep the palace walls heavily guarded," the king permitted.
"You mean he can stay?" Nicola's eyes lit up with relief. "I promise father, I will take care of him. You won't have to worry about a thing."
"Good, because I won't be responsible for the well-being of a criminal. You may tend to him if that is really what you wish. I just do not understand your concern for this thief," his father scoffed. "But, that is something we'll be discussing. Go on, get him a bed while I gather my thoughts. And remember, he is anything but a guest in our home."
"Grazie, father," Nicola sighed. The situation Samuel was in wasn't good, but at least his father had some sympathy left, it seemed. "Guard, please help me remove his wrist cuffs."
"Of course, Sir Nicola." Richard knealt down and took a ring of keys from his belt. He found the one for the shackles and unlocked them, finally freeing Samuel's wrists, which were red and sore. Richard readied himself to carry the unconscious teen.
"No, let me. My clothes are already muddied, there is no need to dirty your own attire as well," suggestd Nicola as he lifted Samuel up in his arms.
"Of course. After you, Your Highness," Richard bowed.
Nicola nodded, holding his lover close, and led the guard down a hall to the guest rooms. Nicola, of course, chose the room closest to his own. He would've wanted to have Samuel in the comfort of his own room, but he figured that being sick, the man needed plenty of space. Nicola laid Samuel down in the bed of the room, and found that Richard left momentarily. When he came back, he had a wet washcloth, which he folded and placed on Samuel's forehead to cool him.
"What is your name?" Nicola queried. "You seem to be the only officer that cares about Samuele. Why?"
Richard turned to the prince. "My name is Richard. I care about Samuel because someone needed to when he was down in that prison. As royalty, you don't have many opportunities to meet with commoners. As a guard, I meet with commoners all the time, especially ones considered criminals. After the years I've learned to look for the good in people, and it wasn't hard to find the good in this man before you. He may have done criminal things, but Samuel is no evil man."
Nicola smiled at the guard's words, gazing at Samuel. He was so beautiful while he slept. "He needs to be bathed," Nicola chuckled. He ran his fingers through his blonde hair as a gesture of affection, even though Samuel couldn't feel it.
"On his way to be hanged..." Richard paused, giving thanks that the hanging didn't actually happen, "Samuel said that he desperately needed to see someone. Was that you?"
"...Yes," Nicola confirmed.
"He said that he was in love with this person."
What an intrusive guard!
"This...is also true," replied Nicola.
"And you love him in the same fashion?" asked Richard seriously.
"Si, I do. What's it to you?"
"Well, I do believe in God, and-"
"I, too, believe in God. However, unlike many men, I do not force upon others what I think is what God wants. And if you are going to judge me, then you must know that you too will be judged for the criticism you bring upon others. You, a simple man of this world, are in no place to judge me as if you are God - nor is anyone else."
"Your Majesty, you misunderstand. I meant that, as a man of God I believe that you should not be ashamed. As you said, no one has the right to judge you. But I must go on to say that in not being ashamed, that includes in front of your father," Richard bit his lip, knowing Nicola wouldn't take the suggestion lightly.
"My father? Are you a mad man? He'll have me hanged- no, worse, burned! He'll ridicule me in front of the whole Kingdom! He'll disown me as a son!"
"Come now, Prince Nicola. You know your father is a sympathetic man. And after all the turmoil you put him through when you ran off, the least you owe him is your complete honesty, yes?" The guard nodded.
"I...suppose so. Dio, he'll have my head I know it..." the brunette sighed. "I will tell him. I know I'll have to eventually. But, please, I need to wait until Samuel is well. If my father doesn't allow me to live here anymore...God forbid we have to leave when Samuel is in such a condition. He would certainly die."
"I understand. It was not in any sense a command, Your Highness, just a suggestion." Richard rummaged through the small dresser in the room, finding a clean set of men's simple guest attire, which were quite pyjama-like. He sat the outfit on a chair next to the bed. "Here is a clean change of clothes for the gentleman. I suggest you clean up as well."
"Yes, I should change... Will you please fetch a clean set of bedding while I do so? There's mud on this blanket now, and who knows how many years the same sheets have been on this bed," chuckled the garnet-eyed boy in exaggeration.
"Right away Your Grace," Richard gave a small bow, escorting Nicola out of the guest room. Richard went to fetch the bedding, and Nicola went to change in his own quarters. Nicola came back and, with some difficulty, removed the unconcious teen's dirty clothes in exchange for the clean set. Before buttoning up the shirt, Nicola took notice to something he considered concerning on Samuel's chest. Just in time, Richard returned with the new bedding.
"Ah, there you are," Nicola said as he picked up Samuel, "Go ahead and change the sheets while I have him. Then everything will be nice and clean for him," Nicola smiled. Richard took note of the fact that he hadn't seen the young prince smile that way in, well, possibly ever. The man began changing out the dirty bedding when Nicola looked at Samuel's chest beneath his halfway-buttoned shirt once more.
"Richard, I'm aware you're no doctor, but perhaps you could ease my curiosities. I've noticed some slight discoloration on Sam's chest that is, well, quite off-putting. But maybe I'm being superstitious?"
The guard finished tucking and flattening out the blankets, "Go ahead and lay him down and I'll take a look, sir."
Nicola did so, and un-buttoned the shirt a bit more. "You see? Isn't it a bit strangely colored around this area?" said the worrisome royal, pointing to the deep lacerations on the blonde's chest.
"Hm..." Richard rubbed his chin, "Well, sir, I'm not the most educated man. I do believe it's just dirt around the area. Being in that prison, you can imagine the kind of filth he was exposed to. They don't usually let prisoners bathe, either. So, I think with a good bath, the skin should be clear as day."
"Thank you, I'm sure that's all it is," nodded the prince.
"Well sir, not to advise you, but I'm sure you're exhausted. Why don't you have an afternoon rest before seeing your father?"
"That's a wise idea. I think I'll stay here though. I can rest in this chair. I'm just really not prepared to leave him alone yet, he deserves to have me by his side," Nicola sat in the chair next to the bed, taking Samuel's hand in his own.
"I understand Your Majesty. I'll be right outside the room if you need a thing. Ah, one last thing before I step out, though." Richard sat a key on the nightstand next to Nicola, "I grabbed both copies of Samuel's room key. Don't tell your father that I gave you one, alright?"
"I wouldn't," Nicola assured him. Richard nodded and left to guard the room from outside.
Nicola ended up finding that he was more tired than he thought. Sitting next to his laying lover, he began to doze off slowly, until finally he rested his head near Samuel's arm on the bed, letting himself sleep.