"Are you sure I can't change father's mind brother? I could wed her in your stead." Scott kind soul that he was give one last attempt before going down to the horse's.
"No Scott, you know we can't. I'll be alright, for everyone I will be the best prince I can and carry out our father's plan." Scott looks at his brother pained,
only Scott knows of his brother's love of men. Stiles could not bring himself to tell his father even if it might have gotten him out of the wedding.
"But what of your happiness brother? How you think so little of our father, that you think he wouldn't care that you'll be miserable if you go though with this?"
Closing the last of the boxes, servants carried them out, as Stiles flopped down on his bed for the last time.
"Brother I love that you would try to fix this but there is nothing to fix. We ride this very hour to the border and wait for night,
then we start into the Great Desert for a Two and half week crossing if we don't get lost or have a werewolf raid."
Stiles on the bed looking at nothing, eyes glazed. "But-" Scott didn't get to argue has the King and Queen came into the room.
"Stiles are you ready son?" Noah, looking more father than king with worry filled his eyes.
"Scott are you sure you want to go with him? The desert is a long way to go and back." Melissa whisperers to her son, reluctant to loss both her sons today.
"We are ready father, all is packed we were just about to change and head down." Noah nods and smiles at his sons his takes Stiles hands brings to his lips to kiss then kiss's his forehead. "My son how you have grown, I would see your party all the way to the eastern kingdom if I could." A tear falls from Stiles eye.
"I know father, I know. We will be fine, you have ten of your best hunts men joining us, we will be there by winters end just as we planed."
Scott hates the sad look about his beloved brother. Turning to his mother, Scott kiss's her forehead and hugs her tight knowing,
that this is the only time he'll have for such a show of love."I will not leave my brother's side mom, I can not." Nodding Melissa kiss's her child.
"Be safe my little one, keep your brother safe." Scott nods. "I will, I will be back soon." Melissa let's go of her son with one last kiss upon his bowed head and moves to hug Stiles. Noah moves for her and go's to his second son. "We will miss you both, a year ago I did not think I'd loss both of you this day.
Take care my son." Noah kiss's his son's hands and forehead just as he did for his first.
"We will miss you as well father, all of you." Scott kiss's his father hand and watches as they both leave.
Stiles and Scott get dressed in splendent grab to parade out of the citadel. Once they make it to the border gate they change into their traveling gear,
heavy white cloths to cover any skin. Now they wait, it's late after noon, the sun is a couple hours from setting.
Scott wishes there was something he could do for his brother but it's to late now. They eat in silence silence, something Scott thought Stiles was not able to do.
A hour after sunset they mount the horse's to ride out.
"My lords will you not ride in the carriage? It would be safer for you there." The head guard, looking at the desert with worry.
"Not right now. When we need to sleep we will go to the carriage until then we will ride with the men. Unless you'd liked to be send back home in said carriage?"
Stiles sneers at the man 20 years his elder, for treating him like a child. Stiles's boyish face, rounder then Scott's, makes him look the younger of the bothers.
Though they both have big eyes 'puppies eyes' Melissa always said.
The head guard yields, they make no more delay and head into the Great Desert. The first thing the princes notice is how cold it is,
everyone Stiles talked to said the desert burns hot, but harsh cold winds are blowing sands over them as they ride, not stopping till it's midnight.
They eat again in the silence that's eats at Scott's insides, hearing laughter filters to them from the rest of the wedding party a little ways away.
"Let's sleep for the night brother, I'm tried." Stiles takes Scott's hand without waiting for a answer, making his way to the coach.
They sleep till midday. they eat in the coach. "It's a wonder we've been able to keep trade open at all. Don't you think Scott?
The Great Desert is clearly named well. Did you see all the stars last night it was more than at the castle, right?" Scott smiles sadly,
at his attempt at sounding normal. For Scott. "Yes brother, and the sky's a lighter blue." Stiles looks out the small window and nods. "Your right, it is."
silence falls Scott moves over to sit on the same side as his brother and puts his arm around him.
Leaning into each other they sit like that till dinner. After eating they mount there horse's and ride. Tomorrow's the first real stop for camp,
at a oasis they ride though the night sun blinding them. It's midday before they make it to the oasis. They let all the horse's rest,
everyone drinking they're fill. Scott helps with the horse's, Stiles takes a book from the carriage, finding a quite spot leans back on a palm tree and reads.
"Brother? Were are you? Stiles?" Scott finds his brother laying on the ground with a book on his face. Scott smiles and shakes his head taking the book.
"Wake up it's time for dinner." Stiles turns over and grumbles about sleep and little brothers. "Come on I know you'll thank me later, up we go!"
Stiles squawk and fails making Scott drop him with a thud. "Are you awake now?" Stiles rubs his back and glares at Scott.
"Yes Scott I'm up. Now why don't you kiss it better?" Giving his brother a devilish grin. Scott laughs looks around and ducks a quick kiss on his forehead.
"That's not were it hunts Scotty." Stiles whines with a pout, Scott ruffles his hair. "Too bad, that will have to do." They go eat.
Unaware of the burning eyes watching them from behind a dune.