VI

The rest of the day seemed to lag. Tulio and Chel had gone to the chief to tell him about their wish to marry. The chief was more surprised than anything. "I will announce it at the feast tonight," he assured them. "We should begin preparations immediately."

Tulio smiled as Chel hustled off to see about a dress. "Thanks for doing this for us, Chief," he addressed the large man.

"My Lord," the chief began with uncertainty. "Have you not only know Chel for a few days?"

"Yeah," Tulio answered. "But I know I want to be with her, I love her."

"Ah…and what does Lord Miguel think about this?"

Tulio narrowed his eyes spitefully. "I don't care what he thinks."

The chief raised his eyebrows in surprise. "The two of you have had a disagreement?"

Tulio told the chief about what happened in the garden earlier that day with Miguel and Tzekel Kan. "It's outrageous, I can't believe he could be that stupid," he said angrily once he finished the story.

The chief was shocked. "My Lord, you did not believe Lord Miguel? I most certainly do."

Tulio gave him a strange look. "Why?"

"Tzekel Kan is no fool," the chief stated. "If he wants something, he almost always knows how to get it. If Lord Miguel had not gone willingly to him, he would have indeed cornered him."

Tulio frowned and looked away. "Oh."

"Why was Lord Miguel in the garden alone anyway?"

"He was mad at me. I…said some things I shouldn't have and he overheard me." His frown deepened as he looked back at the chief. "I really didn't mean any of it."

"Perhaps you should speak with him," the chief suggested with a small smile. "Apologize? He cares for you a lot more than you may think, my Lord."

Tulio looked at the ground momentarily in thought, and then looked back up at the chief. "I should…thanks."

"Of course," the chief said happily "I will see you at the feast this evening."

Tulio nodded and walked away, sighing to himself. I know I should apologize to Miguel, but what do I say? Sorry I ruined your life…our friendship?

"Tulio, where are you going?" Chel asked, coming towards him.

"Um, I have to look for Miguel."

"Why?"

"I have to apologize."

Chel took a step back and looked at Tulio in confusion. "For what? Asking to marry me?"

"No," Tulio answered quickly. "For pretty much everything else that's happened today."

"Hmm," Chel thought out loud. "Well, you're not going to find him in the temple, I was just there. Maybe he's with Thelina."

"Who?"

"The healer," Chel said casually.

"What? Did he hurt himself?" Tulio asked, genuinely concerned.

"No, probably not. But I saw them being pretty cozy with each other earlier."

Tulio narrowed his eyes. "Cozy?"

"You know, hugging and stuff," Chel said. "He seems to get bored with one person after a while."

"Yeah," Tulio said flatly, beginning to walk towards his temple.

"Tulio, I just said he's not up there."

"I know…he doesn't deserve an apology."

Miguel actually was in the healing temple; he found solace there. He sipped at some form of hot tea Thelina had made for him while he watched her check all her supplies. He looked over at a man sleeping on one of the cots, realizing that it was the same man who had eaten the poisonous berries. "How is he?"

Thelina looked over at the man. "He will live," she said confidently. "He did not eat many berries, but it was still enough to do harm, I have extra antidote in case something like this happens again." She smiled and sat down next to him. "How are you feeling?"

Miguel frowned sadly. "Like everything is my fault."

"Nothing is your fault," Thelina assured him. "Lord Tulio's choice to marry Chel is not a wise one, but there was nothing you could do to prevent it."

Miguel nodded and looked over at her. "Will you…go to the wedding with me? I don't think I can do it alone."

Thelina smiled warmly. "Of course I will; I would be honored. The weddings in this city are very beautiful. If it were different circumstances, I believe you would find it enjoyable."

"Maybe I'll get to see another one someday. I plan on staying here."

Thelina beamed when Miguel said this. "That is wonderful!"

Miguel smiled at her enthusiasm. "You really know how to cheer me up."

Thelina smiled once more and stood up. "The feast will begin shortly. Will you attend with me? You haven't eaten all day."

Miguel thought about it for a moment before agreeing to go. I guess it can't hurt anything.

Miguel guessed wrong about the feast. He thought good food and seeing all the people would cheer him up, but the second he saw Tulio and Chel arrive together his heart dropped. Tulio looked so happy and Chel looked so fake that he couldn't stand it.

The chief stood in front of the great fire and addressed everyone. "Lord Tulio and Lady Chel will be married the day after tomorrow!"

The crowd cheered loudly and Miguel frowned. "So soon?"

"It does not usually take long to plan for a wedding here," Thelina explained. She nudged a plate of fruit towards him. "You need to eat."

"I'm not really hungry," he said.

"Miguel, I enjoy your company in my temple, but I do not want you too end up as my patient."

Miguel smiled a little at her. "Alright."

Tulio picked up his drink and scanned the crowd. His eyes landed on Miguel who, to his surprise, was smiling a little. He then noticed a lady next to him who looked like she was trying to get him to eat an apple.

"That's Thelina," Chel pointed out, following his gaze.

"Oh," Tulio said. He felt a small twinge of jealousy when Thelina reached over and tucked some hair behind Miguel's ear. He noticed then that Miguel turned and locked eyes with him for a moment. He non-intentionally glared, causing Miguel to frown and look away. He felt guilty immediately afterward and frowned himself.

Chel watched the whole interaction and grinned to herself. By the end, Tulio will feel so guilty that he will just fall over dead when I kill Miguel in front of him. Tzekel Kan won't even have to get his hands dirty. She looked back to Tulio. "I'm going to get some more wine."

"I'll go with you," Tulio said, getting up to follow her over to the wine table. He looked back and was surprised to see that Miguel and Thelina were no longer at their table.

"Good evening, Thelina," Chel said, causing Tulio to look in her direction.

Thelina, who had just gotten wine and was returning to het table, stopped and turned towards them. "Good evening Chel, Lord Tulio. I suppose congratulations is in order."

"Thank you," Chel replied.

"Wasn't Miguel just with you?" Tulio interrupted.

Thelina looked at him. "Miguel has retired for the evening. He was not feeling well so I told him to get some rest."

"Oh," Tulio said, sounding a little upset.

"You and Miguel seem to be getting rather close," Chel probed. "Maybe someday you two will get married."

Thelina saw Tulio stiffen at the comment. "Miguel's heart belongs to someone else," she claimed, glancing up and meeting Tulio's gaze. "Someone whom he loves very much, but unfortunately does not love him back."

Tulio looked away, a guilty expression on his face. That isn't true.

"I must return to my temple," Thelina said. "Good night to you both."

Tulio remained where he was as the two women parted ways. He then quickly rushed over to Thelina. "Wait."

Thelina stopped and looked at him again. "Yes, my Lord?"

Tulio hesitated for a moment. "Where is he?"

"In your temple," she answered. "Please, Lord Tulio, do not bring him any more grief. It will be burden enough for him to watch you marry that woman."

Tulio frowned and nodded, watching her walk away. Poor Miguel, I didn't mean to hurt him so much. I still need him; I care about him too much to let him go.

A short while later, Tulio and Chel went to the temple to go to bed. Chel went straight to bed while Tulio went towards the back. He spotted Miguel sleeping on the same pile of cushions he found him on the night before. He wanted to talk to him, but he didn't have the heart to wake him up. Maybe I'll catch him in the morning before Chel and I go to do the wedding planning. He looked down at Miguel's face and noticed the bruise where he had slapped him earlier. He frowned and touched his cheek lightly, pulling away when Miguel shifted in his sleep. Deciding that he didn't want to wake him, he quietly stood up and walked over to the bed. Chel was already asleep when he crawled in next to her. With a small sigh, he closed his eyes and fell asleep.

Tulio tossed and turned in his sleep; he was having a nightmare.

'You cannot win," a sinister voice called out.

"Who are you?" Tulio yelled, whirling around.

"You cannot win," the voice repeated.

"Show yourself!" Tulio yelled louder.

"You will lose," the voice said.

Tulio saw a light suddenly, and then two small boys. He recognized them as himself and Miguel when they were younger. They looked so happy with each other.

"You will lose," the voice repeated.

Tulio saw the image warp; the two boys were now the adult versions of himself and Miguel. Miguel looked so warn and sad. The image of Tulio turned to face him. "I hate you!" he screamed in Miguel's face.

Tulio gasped. "No! Miguel, that's not true! Don't listen to him!" he yelled desperately. He felt a pang of guilt in his chest when Miguel looked to the ground and sobbed. "Miguel, it's not true!"

"You will lose him forever," the voice claimed.

Miguel's voice contorted in pain and he fell to the ground. He writhed and screamed in pain as the image of Tulio simply watched.

"No!" Tulio screamed, looking to the image of himself. "Do something! Help him, please!" He watched as Miguel continued to scream in pain. "Why can't I help you?" he cried, falling to his knees. "NO!"

Tulio gasped and sat straight up, breathing heavily. He was filled with dread, and he leapt out of bed and ran back to where Miguel was sleeping. He was relieved to find him alive, curled up in a ball on the cushions. "Thank god," he whispered, kneeling down next to him. Miguel shivered a little in his sleep, so he reached for a nearby blanket to cover him with. "I don't know what I would do without you," he whispered again. He was too anxious to go back to bed, so he crawled onto the cushions next to Miguel. At least I can watch over him here. I'll talk to him in the morning; beg him to forgive me. I can't lose him. The horrible words from his nightmare echoed in his mind as he watched Miguel sleep.