A/N: Can you believe it? Chapter fifty! That means only five chapters to go… But don't worry, a sequel is in stock, probably coming sometime in 2019.

Chapter Fifty: Ready to Run

Bang. Bang. Bang.

Chaol groaned, rubbing his eyes. What time was it? Probably not late, but he'd found himself falling asleep earlier and earlier recently.

That's what happens when you keep agreeing to do extra shifts and teach extra training sessions, he grumbled to himself.

Bang. Bang. Bang.

He hated people waking him up when he was trying to sleep.

"Coming," he yelled as he flopped out of his bed. Who was at his door?

He glanced out the window. It was already dark! Of course, it was autumn, so it was getting dark out earlier, but still!

He stumbled through the darkness and to the door, pushing it open and squinting into the light. "Wassup?" he mumbled, still mostly asleep.

Dorian broke down sobbing as soon as he saw Chaol, who was completely shocked.

"Oh, hey, it's okay," he said, pulled out of his tired haze.

He led Dorian inside and closed the door behind the two of them, at which point Dorian just held onto Chaol tighter and cried even harder.

Chaol, only in his bathrobe, tightened the not on his thin clothing choice and wrapped his arms around Dorian's back, holding the boy close.

"It's alright. Whatever happened, it's going to be alright," he murmured in Dorian's ear. "What did happen?" he asked, realizing that he still had no clue.

But Dorian didn't answer. He just stood there, clutching Chaol like his life depended on it. So Chaol let the why of everything slide and directed Dorian to his own bed, lying down next to the prince.

"You're going to be just fine," he said. "But you need to get some rest."

Dorian nodded silently and yanked off his shoes. He tossed his coat to the side, curling up on Chaol's bed, closing his eyes without another word.


"I've said it before, but I'll say it again: This happens way too often," Chaol groaned as he sat up.

"I disagree," Dorian said. "I kind of like it! I mean, if we're talking about spending the night together and not the tragic happenings of life."

Chaol snorted. "No, I mean the spending the night. And you just like it because you have a crush on me."

"That is not true," Dorian said, slightly hurt. "I like spending the night with you because you're my friend and I like hanging out with you! Although," he added, "not as much recently."

"About that…" Chaol grimaced. "I'm sorry about what I said about being gay. I believed it then, but I'm starting to see that I was wrong, and if you'll give me a chance, I'll really try hard to understand."

"Alright," Dorian sighed. "I can't stay mad at you forever."

The two hugged, but then Chaol remembered something.

"As for the 'tragic happenings of life,' I'm sorry about that, too. And, about that… what happened last night? You seemed pretty upset."

Dorian looked down at his hands and grudgingly began to explain the conversation with his father the previous night.

"Dorian, I don't know what to tell you," Chaol said, sighing. "You should have kept lying; he would have believed you! How could you have told him the truth?"

But before Dorian could answer, there was a knock at the door.

"Saved by the door," Chaol muttered as he went to answer it.

There, in the doorway, stood Queen Georgina.

"Hello, Chaol," she smiled. "I can call you that, right?" she asked as she walked into the room, her dress trailing behind her.

She paused when she saw Dorian laying in Chaol's bed half undressed.

"Well, I have to say, I didn't know that you two were…"

"We're not," Dorian quickly said.

"Alright," she responded, seeming to accept it. She sounded like she was very worried.

"Why are you here, Your Majesty?" Chaol asked.

"Please, call me Georgina," she responded.

"Of course," Chaol said, sounding like he probably wouldn't stop.

"I am here because my son was not in his room and I didn't know where else he might be besides here. And yes, I did check the library," she added as Dorian opened his mouth. "And the garden. But, listen, my reason for being here isn't simply that I couldn't find you. I heard what happened with the king."

Dorian grimaced and nodded.

The queen wrapped her arms around Dorian and said, "I wouldn't be surprised if he kicked you out. I'm sorry to say it, but it's true."

"I know," Dorian said. "I knew that as soon as he started talking. As soon as I said he was right."

"And why did you?" Georgina asked. "Why did you after begging me not to?"

"Because I'm stupid," Dorian grumbled. "And because of him. I mean, you didn't see him—he wouldn't've believed me even if I'd sworn to my grave that he was wrong."

"You're not stupid," Georgina said. "You're just like every other teenager out there." Dorian grimaced at that. "If you do get kicked out," she continued, "I'm afraid there's not much I can do. I'm sorry, I really am, but my husband will make sure of it."

"I've got it covered," Chaol butted in. "I have a house just outside of Rifthold that he can use if he needs. And if the situation requires it, I'll take him as far away from here as I possibly can."

"You would do that for my son? And throw away everything that you've worked for here?"

"All I've ever wanted is for him to be safe," Chaol shrugged. "And if that means ditching everything here, I'm willing to do it. I think that a life away from this kingdom would be nice, actually. And besides—I'd do anything for Dorian. He's my best friend."

Georgina cocked her head. "Are you sure you're straight?"

Dorian let out a laugh, and Chaol just shook his head, amused.

"Because I think you'd be good for my son," she smiled. "And I'm glad that he has you. Do you swear you'll always protect him?"

"I do," Chaol responded.

"Good. Then when you must, get him as far away from here as you can, but don't ever stop working to put that bastard of a king where he belongs—in jail." She gave a small sniff. "Because after everything he's done… after everything he's done, he is most certainly not the man that I married, the man that, while I never loved, I always believed could be good."

Dorian put his hand on his mother's arm. "Listen, I hate to break the moment, but don't I get any say in this? I want Chaol to stay here! He has his dream job and everything; Chaol, I can't ask you to do this."

"You don't get a say in it," Chaol said, putting a hand on Dorian's shoulder. "I know that this all sucks and everything, but if you have to go, you have to go, and I'm coming with you no matter what you tell me. My dream job is keeping people safe. I can't do that here anymore."

"Fine, okay," Dorian sighed. "But what about the murders and everything?"

Chaol looked at his feet. "Someone'll figure it out eventually. Maybe not as quickly as I would have, but they will. I bet that Jeydon or Jamie could."

"I need to go," the queen said. "I'm sorry that I can't stay for longer." She kissed her son on the cheek and shook hands with Chaol before exiting the room.

Chapter Release Date: August 27, 2018