Hylas smiled as he clicked his tongue, shaking his head as he carried the steaming pot of porridge over to the table. "If you run off with a new assassin because you're sore over the thought of me not liking you…I think that says something about what you think of me." A playful, confused look crossed his face for half a moment as he considered Cas' statement, which surely had to be a joke. 'Like him'? He hadn't considered the entirety of his thoughts towards Cas. Cas. A kind man. Driven, like me. Smart, and occasionally funny. Those were all agreeable qualities in people, as far as he knew. And there is that strange feeling that I can't name. But I've probably just never heard of it. He did like Cas, then. But there was no way he'd confess to such a thing. His face softened back into a fonder look, and with the settled smirk of a challenger, he tilted his head to the side. "I didn't think you'd care if you were liked by your most hated one," Yours truly. The thought of the prince carding through observations and opinions of him was a strange phenomena in his mind; foggy pictures and imagined sounds of Cas' thoughts echoing through his mind. How could he do such a thing? Killing all those people while letting himself smile, after? Perhaps if I can get him comfortable I'll find a weakness. I'll sound kind and curious, and make him feel interesting and— Hylas had to tear himself away from the collapsing thought. Serve breakfast. Go on. His hand obeyed, spooning the sweet-smelling boiled grain into their wooden bowls. Though he smiled, he was dancing on the edge of self-sabotage in his rehearsed words. "You wouldn't…care if I liked you or not. I mean, you know politics; you are politics." He shrugged innocently, trying to preserve the lightheartedness of their banter in his grey words. "Kingdoms— people keep each other alive. It doesn't matter if one's a little more crooked than the other, right?"
"I like to think that the person I will be spending days with in close contact likes me at least somewhat. Makes the time less boring." He replied, watching closely as he served up breakfast and moved around the living space, noting the slight far off gaze that showed for a brief second. Cas didn't… hate Hylas, no. He might not agree with and still be cautious around him due to their past interactions but he didn't hate him. Hylas had shown he was more than just an assassin. At least, he hoped it wasn't all a ruse. Cas took a moment to ponder his last words. In a way, Hylas was right. No kingdom was ever going to be perfect, that was a dream only fools believed. Arguments and disagreements were bound to happen, people in power were greedy, selfish pricks the majority of the time, only looking out for themselves with a thirst for money. Scandals, backstabbing and lies were bound to arise in all kingdoms, even his own. As long as for the most part, kingdoms could agree and unite on one front when the time is right, no, it didn't matter deeply if one was more greedy. Cas didn't like the idea, but it was the unfortunate truth of the world around them. He'd met many men who only looked out for themselves. Who lied and cheated to get their way to the top of the ranks, the hunger for power, to command, to rule was a great demon. Politics was a ruthless battlefield. Navigating play after play and trying not to get yourself or your people in trouble was difficult at times. Cas worked hard to make Eirus a true kingdom, a kingdom of peace. He knew others didn't have the same goals at heart but… he supposed if in the end, there was peace between all, it didn't matter a whole lot, "In a way, yes, you're correct." He replied eventually, shrugging softly, "But, as long as there is peace and a sense of unity then… that's what matters, even if some men are snakes."
"Well then it's settled," Hylas said, losing the breath in his lungs as he sat down before the prince and faced the reality of his strange objection. Hylas couldn't let himself admit the fact that he liked the prince. When he felt his cheeks beginning to warm, he took a sip from his flask, as if the sun had broken through the clouds and risen into the air of the kitchen space. The water was cool and soothing, but it was nothing for the warm uneasiness inside of him. "You agree that if…two…kingdoms can take care of each other while one is…" A gentle nod and a gesture to himself, "…rather adverse, then perhaps…they could come to a peaceful arrangement…" There was a hopeful look in Hylas' eyes as he bit his lip, hoping to all the Gods that his analogy was understood and might be accepted. "An arrangement…to ignore the worst in order to continue enjoying…the best?" The best in each other. Hylas shrugged a little shyly, holding Cas' gaze for a long moment before the green became too much and he reached for his serving of porridge. What terrible side of Cas was there to ignore? To his knowledge, he was the only guilty party at the table. With another round of quiet humiliation, he realized that beyond his need for the prince to trust and tolerate him, a part of Hylas truly wanted Cas to like him.
Cas offered a small, nearly shy smile to Hylas' words. Sure, he might have been kidnapped, nearly killed, and had to bargain with his life, not a small fact to forget so quickly, but hearing at least a little of how he felt about the whole ordeal, "Yes, that arrangement sounds perfect." Hylas had offered a sanctuary, offered to help him, bought him food, given him clothes and a bed to sleep on. It made Cas' curiosity grow even more about the man. how could someone so… so kind? commit such heinous acts? All of it just didn't add up in his mind, and he was going to find out more, he wanted to know more. To find out what lay behind those gorgeous eyes and silken laugh. Scooping up his porridge, Cas was quiet for a few moments, letting his thoughts wander about Hylas, questions forming, trying to fill in the gaps of who he was underneath the rough exterior he showed. Different to how Cas had imagined the Raven to be. He supposed on the outside, he was like the stories. Cunning, cold, heartless, but Hylas had shown he was more than that, and it still took Cas by surprise. Not even in his wildest dreams had he ever thought he would be sitting across from the most feared assassin, sharing breakfast and laughing with each other of all things. Joking like nothing had happened and everything was okay. Maybe he was going crazy, "As long as the other kingdom can keep cooking great meals, that is."
Hylas replied in a flurry of quiet laugh and shy-smiled mumbling. "If by great meals you mean boiled grain and sugar, of course. That can certainly be arranged." He was wordless after that, looking down at his porridge with the smallest smile. Hope, He realized, his thoughts alive with sudden realization, I feel hopeful. He ate in comfortable silence. The warm, softened grain quieted his dull hunger, and the fresh smell of mint and sweet herbs billowed up in curls of steam. Hylas knew no name for this dish, but he had known it in the years before he became a killer; the happy years while he was still with his family. From the day they harvested the softgrain to the mornings they boiled it, for a child, the delightful mush of powdered mint and sweetness had brought excitement to his mornings. He could still remember the days his parents would wake him at dawn, whispering "Hylas. Hylas we're going to watch the sunrise. I've cooked your favourite. Wake up now," and quietly his father would pick him up and they would walk up a grassy hill. Wrapped in wool blankets, they fed their tired son and watched warmth erupt from the horizon. Now, under the overcast worry of death and betrayal was the rising crest of light. There were moments in his life that snuffed out the mere idea of true and genuine goodness in the world, but looking at Cas and hearing his words poked at the embers of some strange feeling. What bright eyes, what lyrical voice. Hylas had long grown out of his desperate naïveté, and after all the 'good' nobles and knights that he had found to be drug lords and slavers, he knew what a kindly facade looked like. But with this young prince he could see no malice, no matter how hard he studied the odd colour of his gaze and how pensively he considered a twitch of a smile, a gentle press of a frown, or the rising illumination of an anticipated laugh. Hylas wanted to think it was Cas' good looks that made him seem so welcoming, and yet his body language lacked the practiced consideration of a noble presence. Soon Hylas' bowl was empty and his thoughts had gone with his hunger. Warm and satisfied, he leaned back in his creaky chair and extended his arms in a catlike stretch, drunk on the dusty sunbeams filtering through the windows. He yawned and stood slowly, rotating his shoulders and hoping to wake himself up. "Right," Hylas said, "Breakfast done. Let's get to work."
The dish, though simple, was delicious that Cas' bowl was empty within minutes of digging into the bowl. It wasn't the fancy, glazed pastries and bowls of fruit delicately displayed in the dining hall, but it was good. He caught no glimpse of Hylas peaking at him over his bowl, but even if he had, he wouldn't have cared, his cheeks might have warmed, however. Hunger satisfied, Cas sighed, looking to Hylas as he spoke of work, "I'll um- clean up first." He offered, standing to move the bowels to the basin. He really did not want to start writing the letter. What if he missed something? What if the letter didn't reach home in time? What if Zaros found it? What if- Cas shook his head softly, brushing it off as trying to flick hair out of his face but really trying to stop the neverending 'what if's' starting to overtake. Calm. It would be fine, right? No need to panic in front of Hylas. Maybe after the cleaning was done he'd have some idea of how to start the letter. So many things so little time. How was he going to explain how he survived Hylas? It wasn't like he could mention his name, tell his father that he showed mercy and was the one who helped him write and deliver the letter. If there was a sure-fire way to seal Hylas' death, it was that. Cas didn't want to lie, he didn't like lying, even more so when it was to his family but he had no choice, backed into a corner like a scared dog. As he placed the bowls in the basin, reaching for the last of the water he didn't use in the morning, Cas was glad to have something to do with his hands as a distraction, "Since you cooked it's only fair." He offered a smile over his shoulder, albeit a little forced this time.
"Oh. O– Okay," Hylas nodded, watching Cas as he headed for the kitchen corner without a second thought. He knew that for a prince, Cas was suspiciously helpful with chores and housekeeping, but offering a second time was a quiet surprise. "Well. The…ink and parchment are on the desk. I'm going to head out to the woods to set some traps and…find some dry logs to chop for firewood," He said, brushing back his hair before reaching for a dusty brown cloak that hung wrinkled over the edge of a bookcase, "If you're thirsty, there's a well around back. And there are the plums if you get hungry." Hylas made his rounds around the room, emptying his rucksack to make room for rope, wire snares, his flask, and a few knives. On his belt, he hooked a sheathed hatchet and his raven dagger. The familiar act of packing knives made feel like it wasn't animals that he was hunting, though the grave mindset only lasted for a moment before he remembered the task at hand. Standing in the doorway, he leaned on the frame as he took in the sight of the prince scrubbing a pot. "I'll be back before lunch," He said with a smile, looking over the prince's— his own wrinkled shirt and Cas' unbrushed hair turning fiery in dusty sunlight. The shirt looked better on him, oversized and effortless graceful in its clumsy gravity. His gaze swept the floor a little shyly, "So don't run off with anyone while I'm gone. Think; what if they're a terrible cook?" And with that and a breathless chuckle, he left for the woods.
Cas chuckled softly as he listened to Hylas leave. Doubt any other assassin would be as good looking, too. He focused his thoughts away from his beautiful companion, back to the dishes before his mind wandered elsewhere to the thoughts of work and letters and political strategies. In a way he was glad of the kidnapping. Without it, he never would have learned of the plot against the continent but at the same time, the months, even years, of work ahead of him had a small part of him wishing Hylas had gone through with the job. He prayed to whatever God that was listening it didn’t turn out like the last war, that he wouldn’t lose anyone he loved or cared about. Not again. Guilt sprung up faster than he could stop it, rising like a tide and consuming his emotions. Cas did his best to stop the growing thoughts and memories, trying his hardest to focus on the last of the dishes in his hands. He was glad Hylas wasn’t around to see the trembling hands and worried face as he calmed his racing heart and spinning head. Young and stupid, he wouldn’t make the same mistake twice. Not in this war, not when the entire continent was at stake. He couldn’t afford to. If only he’d known that back then. It was a good few moments before Cas rallied himself to finish his task, swallowing the lingering guilt as he placed the clean pots to the side. Letter time. There was no putting it off anymore, he had to start. What would Hylas say if he returned and had done nothing? Being suddenly aware of the need for Hylas’ approval of his work had his cheeks red hot as he moved to the desk, clearing his mind to stay focused on what needed to be done. He picked up the parchment and ink, moving so that he could sit in the sun, maybe that would help him focus.
After setting up a few snares around rabbit trails, Hylas wandered through the wood with eyes looking out for thin, fallen trees that would be easy enough to hack through. In one of the collapsed chambers was pile of thick logs under a tarp, waiting to be split with his bigger axe. But to build a fire, they needed mid-size pieces over kindling, and soon Hylas was dragging a young river birch into a clearing and marking an arms length for every cut. Between two thick tree roots, the wood was set down and elevated. Hylas raised his hatchet to deal out a heavy chop. Soon he was bringing down his axe in hard, repetitive blows, losing himself in the foggy muscle memory of kneeling and forcefully striking a single point. He gasped when he ran out of wood to cut, and his gaze flickered left and right before realizing that he'd cut up the entire tree without a single passing thought or observation. Again, He thought, shivering and shaking his head at himself as he rounded up the thin logs. Such gaps in his thinking were common when he was stuck doing some that made him remember. Sometimes looking at a cooking knife or skinning a rabbit was enough to pull him away from reality and send him somewhere timeless. Since realizing this fact, he'd taken to counting in his head to stay present. But this time, he hadn't. With so much happening, the silence of his mind had been replaced by a dense, terrifying cloud of sharp voices and rapid colours, and so much of his routine had been disrupted. As Hylas tied the thin logs together, he was determined to sort himself out. If not for his own sake, for the sake of the continent. So he kept moving, returning to the safehouse two hours later with a rucksack full of wild vegetables and mushrooms, a heavy bundle of wood, and hare slung over his shoulder.
Using what Cas assumed was an old plank of flat wood he found in the court, he'd set himself up against the plum tree, situated in the grass as he eventually got to work starting on the letter. He was glad of the extra parchment because figuring out how to word the thing was harder than he had presumed it would be. The afternoon sun warmed him up nicely, rolling a sleeve to his elbow as he wrote, chewing on the pit of a plum he'd devoured not long before. The sweetness was a good distraction. Luckily, he'd only discarded one piece of parchment, ink scribbled on both sides and scrunched up, tossed across the court in an angry throw. After that, he didn't want to waste any of the recourses, knowing Hylas wouldn't buy him anymore was she to waste it. It was way the current piece laid out on his makeshift desk, didn't have much in the way of writing, only a few sentences which read,
Father, I am writing to inform you that I am alive, well and safe. I cannot tell you where I am in fear of this letter being found, but I can assure you I am quite alright for the time being. It is a long story, one I hope to tell you in person soon, but on the night of my birthday, I had the unfortunate encounter with The Raven, who was poised to kill me. I am safe from him now, but there is a larger matter at hand.
How he was going to explain Zaros, how he found out, and what their next moves were he didn't know. By the time Hylas returned, he was picking at the wildflowers next to him, fashioning them into a chain as he thought about what he was to write. The blue, purple and pink flowers stood out in the bright green grass, their petals soft and delicate to the touch. He knew he should get back to work, but the simple chain soothed worries of war.
Hylas stepped into the courtyard with a a frown and a smile. "What are you doing?" He asked, a little out of breath as he dragged himself and his wares down the powdery stone steps. He dragged down the heap of wood with an exhaustive grunt, and slung off the hare in a careless shrug. Hylas was in need of rest, and the perfect shady spot— previously Hylas' favourite spot —was taken. As he got closer to Cas, his amused theory was proven. Playing with flowers! Of course. He gazed down at the prince with the smile of sarcastic parent, shouldering off his rucksack with a heavy wince. We need to warn the continent about a colossal war and this fool is— Hylas sighed, taking a seat in the long, feathery pelt of grass and looking from the prince's flowers to his still face. Oh, you are a fool. Hearing that thought with such affection in his mind made him consider the cause. What was so tender about a simple chain of flowers? Perhaps it was the imagined delicacy of his hands that went into it. The weak, knotty circled of weeds was unimpressive, but the dedication in those desperately tied stems made Hylas think of Cas' focus. He wanted to know what Cas looked like in such a pure, impassioned moment, almost regretting not being there to witness it. Did he slouch and hunch his shoulders without thought? Did he frown or bite his lip looking down at the frail-petaled wildflowers picked and fashioned into a loop? There was a rare innocence in Cas' expression, a shy indifference that compelled Hylas' look into confusion. "Is your crown back home not good enough?" He dryly teased. His thoughts were still considering the soft strangeness of his work, and he unconsciously lacked the wavering lightness in his tone to convey playfulness.
Cas glanced up to Hylas the back to his chain with a small pout, cheeks turning a soft pink as he tried to explain what he was doing and why he wasn't working. All that came out at first was a quiet, "I got distracted…" He tied the ends of the chain together. The crown wasn't the best, but Cas was quietly proud of it. At Hylas' question, he bit his lip, looking from his creation to the assassin sitting across from him, "No- I mean yes but- I mean- I just-" He shrugged, placing it gently on his head delicately. He probably thinks I'm an idiot now. There was nothing wrong with his crown, maybe a little heavy but he hadn't even paid a thought to it while he was picking the flowers, gently weaving it into the pattern with the alternating colours. Hylas had been off doing actual work, and here he was, doing nothing, again, making an idiot out of himself. Time had gone by quicker than expected, Cas hadn't thought Hylas would have been back so soon. If he'd known, maybe he wouldn't have gotten distracted and written a little more. His cheeks reddened further at the thought, gaze shyly flicking between Hylas' confused face and his hands, with nothing to fidget with, he picked at his nails, both out of embarrassment from being caught and nervousness, "I have- I have written some of the letter," He said quietly, "So I haven't just been, you know." He gestured to the flowers now atop his head. Get it together. He'd get back to it in a minute, he'd just needed more time to think about how to go about it. Nothing wrong with that, right? Cas knew he'd done nothing wrong, but he still couldn't help but be embarrassed.
Hylas studied the circlet of flowers for a long moment, then with a smirk, he scoffed and stood to leave. Silly, frail thing. I'll teach him how to make a proper one that can hold up against the wind. He shook his head as he went up the crumbly steps to the front of the monastery, disappearing around the corner to where he knew the wildflowers grew strong in the shade. He knew the flowers with the yellow, squarish petals had the best stems for weaving into crowns. During the week-long festival of light in the spring, villages in Valthea organized parades of flower-crowned townsfolk to march up the long roads and gather in the square of the nearest city. Hylas remembered the many years of watching blue-frocked girls giggling as they threaded green stems into summery country crowns. It was only after watching them do so from afar that he had understood the clever pattern of creating the tight braid. He stepped back into the courtyard with a smile and a thick bouquet of yellow wildflowers. "I'll— I'll show you how to do it properly," He softly told the prince, sitting down beside him and looking up to meet him with a quick smile. His hands moved slowly as he crossed two flowers and gently loop one stem under and over to the side, mumbling a quiet "Up…over. And…on top of what we just did…mhm," as he gently guided the prince's hands.
Cas let Hylas guide him, cheeks red hot as they worked to make the flower crown. He had never been very good at the practice, but it still brought joy even if the crown fell apart a few moments later. There was nothing wrong with his own crown, but he didn't protest as Hylas hands slid over his and guided his movements to create the ring of yellow flowers. Hylas was surprisingly gentle, Cas hadn't been expecting him to know, or even offer, to show how to make a 'proper' crown. We need to get back to work. He thought, gaze flicking between their hands and the wildflowers before them. He had to get back to the letter. He had to continue to work. He'd wasted enough time making the first crown and now making the second… but words failed him as they worked in comfortable silence. Festivals back home had crowns of silver beads, not flowers. So different and yet still required the same skills needed to make the thread of beads and flowers. When the crown was finished, Cas glanced up at Hylas, smiling softly, "Now we're matching." Hylas' crown was better, his own was far below the standard but he took quiet pride, "Thank you, for teaching me." He wanted to know how Hylas had the skills to create something as beautiful as himself. Has he spent hours as a child making them? When had he had time now to create crowns? Was it a way to relax? His quiet curiosity grew, wishing to learn more about the stranger sitting so, so close to him now.
Hylas shrugged, taking the sturdy flower crown off his head after the moment of Cas' notice. I don't want him to see me as ridiculous or…childish. He had tried so hard to seem interesting and sophisticated at the ball, and between the unappealing strangeness of who he was, he wanted to at least seem vaguely serious. "Of– Of course. Yes," Hylas said, nodding as his hands shyly retreated and his gaze was compelled to the side. The slow spread of embarrassment crept over his nose and cheeks as he realized the stupidity of his attempt of doing something simple. "Thank you for teaching me" He said. Gods, why do I involve myself with every fickle chance at impressing him? Braiding flower crowns…It's pathetic. "How's…the letter coming along?" Hylas asked, hoping to weasel out of his spiralling thoughts, "Written to ready the noose for me yet?" He laughed, but after realizing the severity of the joke, his smile fell. Maybe he has. And how would I know? I can hardly read. I'd never catch it. A silent moment passed. "I'm– I'm just wondering. You don't have to tell me anything, really. But I can help with um, describing… where we are if that's important."
"Right yes, the letter," Cas' thoughts for quickly dragged away from crowns and handsome assassins to the letter he needed to be writing, should have been writing this entire time. He grabbed the letter sitting beside him, handing it to Hylas. His handwriting was neat, delicately drawn across the page in elegant letters conveying their message of urgent action. Well, eventually it would, the measly few sentences only described that he was alive and nothing else so far, "There's um- no mention of you. Well… not in a way that would have you killed or- or compromise your identity." He sighed softly, rubbing his face with one hand to try and clear his thoughts a little more, "It's hard to compact everything we need to say into a short letter. And it can't include too many details in case we get found out which makes things even harder." Cas chewed his lower lip, feeling stress being to build back up before he could stop it. He needed all the help he could get right now, and if Hylas was offering to help then he wasn't going to turn that down. Any chance to spend a little more time with him before he got on to completing his other jobs for the day.
Hylas accepted the letter with intense dread. He nodded as he regarded the ink-scratched page with false interest, trying to catch and pin down the first few dancing words before immediately giving up and moving his eyes in meaningless lines of consideration. With his cheeks warming and embarrassment clouding his thoughts, he hummed and handed the letter back to Cas with a nod of quiet approval. "Mm. Yes. Thank you…for that." The awkward laugh that followed seemed to lighten the mood, and in his attempt to forget his shame, Hylas pivoted to a new thought. "You could say that…I'm— Well, me as Hylas, not the Raven, of course. A merchant or…farmer…a merchant-farmer? Who's granted you refuge in Valthea. Say that I found you in the woods on my journey home and freed you while the Raven was hunting." Hylas shrugged, picking at the squared petals of the flower crown a little nervously. A breeze pushed into the courtyard and tickled the grass with a sway. In a long stretch of thoughtful silence, he considered the current reality of their situation. Cas was a golden prince trying desperately to save lives, and Hylas was a selfish killer hoping to live a little longer. Ouch. Here they were discussing their plan to lie to the King of Eirus. Here I am braiding fucking flower crowns. Hylas tried to smile, but he couldn't bear to look Cas in the eye while he was thinking of the mess he'd dragged him into. "Look, I know it's hard, protecting a murderer and all, this— lying is is unfortunate but necessary." Another shrug. Hylas wanted to kick himself for shrugging. It wasn't as if this was something he could be indifferent or ignorant about, and again, he sighed with the wind. "But I'm just…sorry, I suppose."
Cas opened his mouth to reply, however closed it a moment later, turning his attention to the letter in hand. The prince chewed the inside of his lip, thinking over his next words with careful consideration. Sorry? He was sorry? He'd never thought to hear those words sound so sincere from Hylas' mouth. An odd feeling rose inside him and he tried to ignore it as he scribbled down the next couple sentences of the letter, using Hylas' suggestion.
I was lucky enough to escape with the help of a wandering merchant who found me in the woods. The Raven was off hunting at the time and fortunately, we were lucky to cross paths. He had given me sanctuary until I return home. War is coming. A war greater than the last and we are running out of time.
"I-" Cas glanced sideways at Hylas, then down at the letter, "I can't say I know what it's like to- to be in a position such as yours." He said quietly, "But… I know you did what you had to, to survive. To make a better life for yourself." Cas' head was the best chance Hylas had been given at living a life away from murder and blood and a ledger coated in red, "And I suppose, the war was coming whether I was alive or not so, I guess I should thank you for not killing me." Cas fiddled with the soft grass beneath him, needing something to do with his hands, "And helping me with- with the letter and-" He gestured to the sanctuary around them, "There's no need to say sorry, Hylas, truly."
"The last time I said sorry—" Hylas thought of their journey through the forest; the silence and shame that drove them apart when Cas found out who he was, "—You said you should kill me where I stand. That fact still remains." A part of him couldn't take the kindness that was being offered to him. It felt unsafe, like holding poison in his mouth and wondering if he should swallow. He hated the soft, sympathetic look that graced Cas' perfect features, and was disgusted by how unguarded he felt by looking at him. Was this pity? Or a snobbish fawn over the perils of poverty? Even if it was a genuine kindness that prompted the reply, Hylas refused to believe the prince was thinking with a clear head. He stood with a frown, his eyebrows threatening to quiver into a pained expression. "You're…You're letting empathy get in the way. How can you thank me? For…" He tore a hand through his hair and took a few steps back. For not killing him? Is that so much that he has to thank me? And his gratitude; he must feel…indebted to me. Me, a killer. That's horrid. This was wrong. He was being swallowed into a trap. Hylas turned to face the hall, thoughtlessly moving away from Cas as if he could escape the feeling by physically leaving the source. "Of course there's a need to fucking…say sorry," He breathed as he marched down to the bedroom that housed the heavy logs and shut the door.
Cas watched him leave, stuck to his spot on the ground in silence as the echo of the door shut and disappeared within moments. Stubborn ass. Knowing Hylas better now, hearing at least some of what he had been through had prompted the sympathetic reply. Before, he'd known nothing, raging with raw emotion over who Hylas was, simply forming opinions from stories and not facts. Hylas had shown kindness. He could have killed him days ago, could have killed him then, instead, he'd offered food, clothes, a place to sleep and was helping him, nothing like the merciless killer Cas had thought him to be days ago. A part of him was still reeling over the idea that Hylas was The Raven, that this was all a trick to find out what he planned to do before he finished the task assigned, stealing the plans away and running - surviving - the war coming their way. Cas hadn't lied when he'd spoken in earlier interactions, he should kill Hylas. After all, he'd done, the years and lives were taken from those even Cas knew, he should kill him or turn him in. He'd be a hero. But thinking back now, Cas couldn't do it, not now that he knew Hylas, if only a fraction more, from when they had first met. Maybe he was being unreasonable, too kind. Cas leaned his head back against the tree and closed his eyes, drinking in the afternoon sun as he thought over everything. He did have a need to thank Hylas, not being dead and buried was enough to thank him. He could ve six feet under and instead, was basking in the sun worrying over what an assassin thought of him. Gods, it's too fucking complicated. Why couldn't things be simple? To drag himself out of his thoughts of Hylas, how the rest of the day would go, he turned back to the letter. Get it done.
Hylas let out a heavy exhale as he stood behind the door, staring at it with a pained intensity. His worry had curdled into anger towards himself, and he took a moment to rub his face and settle. Gods. It was all so painful; the truth. He didn't like facing it and disliked feeling sorry for himself even more. Now would be a good time to cry, He thought, helplessly focusing all of his energy onto the specific wound in his mind. Come on. His frown was deep and determined, but he knew that nothing would happen. With an exhausted sigh, he leaned back on the dusty rock walls and quietly sulked until his mind was clear enough to move on. This was childish. Normal people didn't run away from kind, beautiful princes when they got too close. "Just…fucking…" He whispered to himself. Get over it. Hylas turned to the tarp cloaking the heavy logs. The far wall of the bedroom had crumbled out into the fields, and with what he thought of as calming breaths, Hylas rolled the heap of wide logs out onto the grass. Panting, he dragged the cloth-wrapped axe out of the bottom of the pile and carried it with him as he hopped outside. Now he was determined to work and get his mind off of Cas and himself. Just have a bit of quiet time. Yes. He nodded to himself as he brought all the wood outside of the monastery, where a wide stump waited to steady splitting wood. Hylas tossed away the knives on his belt and rolled his sleeves up to his elbows, overwhelmed with simmering emotion. He fought off every thought he had about Cas, trying to do with every memory of his gentle smile and worried eyes as he looked at him. Remembering to count, he readied a log and brought his axe down hard, splitting the wood into three and wrenching the axe free with a rough breath.
Cas discarded the flowers on his head, placing the one Hylas made gently to the side with a sigh before picking up the quill and ink. Write, Caspian. Write! The next hour or so passed with the prince lost in his thoughts, scribbling down on the parchment sitting in his lap words of strategy and politics. He'd need to go home soon. There was no time to wait around in the monastery. He- they if Hylas chose to join him - would need to make the few days journey home through the lovely Valthean countryside and into Eirus, and Cas knew if they wanted to make it back a day or so after the letter got there, they would have to leave Hylas' secret hideaway sooner than he knew they both wanted. By late afternoon, Cas had finished, not exactly happy with what he'd written by satisfied enough that it included the necessary information. The sun had sunk further by down, casting the court in the shade of the plum tree, the gentle wind rustling the leaves as he stood and stretched, bones creaking from sitting for hours. There was still ink and parchment left if they needed. Cas hoped they didn't, but just in case. The prince sighed, running a hand through his tangled mess of curls as he reached to pick up the letter and supplies, wandering back into the living quarters to place them back on the desk. He'd been so caught up in politics that he'd forgotten all about Hylas and their last conversation, until now. Cas hoped he was alright. He hadn't looked alright when he left but.. boundaries. He sets the boundaries. Even though he wanted to check up on the assassin, decided against it. No need to make him angry or fuck up now they had made it this far.
Hylas felt comfortably detached as he slammed down the chiselled edge of his axe, keeping himself in reality with his counting while letting his thoughts smooth into a worriless hum. His anger had dissolved into a nameless ache, and with every swing and crisp split of a log, he could feel the severity of the conversation melt away. Now he could calmly think of his next steps between the violent crashes of iron and wood. Fuck it, He thought with an itch of restlessness, I'll just walk into the courtyard and…talk. Impulsively, he left his post and jogged up to the front steps. "Cas?" Hylas quietly called, though saw that no prince sat under his plum tree. With a soft frown, he shook his head and jogged back. What was I thinking? He knew he was bad at speaking to people, but how could he have wanted to improvise as well? It was that strange, fluttering urgency in his chest that told him to act and quickly think of clever replies when Cas was near. Hylas scoffed at his own pathetic need to impress and stopped in his tracks. Cas is probably inside. He looked at the windows of the living room, though couldn't see in with the light reflecting off of it. Probably busy with actual, important work. Probably forgotten the whole conversation by now. Probably wondering when food's gonna be on the table. Hylas sighed and combed a hand through his sweat-slick curls, turning back to his woodpile with a pensive look. Hmm. He rolled his sleeves back up and cursed the relentless afternoon sun as he took the axe in his strong hands and readied his next swing.
From his spot in the living space, Cas faintly heard Hylas calling his name, but by the time he had fully registered it, Hylas had already returned to his post. A small frown etched into his features as Cas walked back into the courtyard, chewing the inside of his cheeks as he glanced around to find the assassin. Why'd he call me? Was something wrong? Did he just want to talk? Cas contemplated turning back around and heading inside, but the fluttery feeling and the quiet want to talk to Hylas compelled him to trace the steps of the assassin, making his way quietly through the monastery where he could hear the faint sound of Hylas working. Cas prayed that they were okay after their last conversation. Writing had distracted him for a while but now with nothing to focus on, he was quietly worried Hylas was going to yell at him. Hylas wouldn't just call him for no reason, right? At least he hoped they could talk, or even just enjoy each others company again. The sight of him in the sun, hair glistening with the light and the sweat from chopping wood, muscles working hard to split the logs, had Cas stuck to his spot in the soft grass for a good few seconds before words came back to him. Gods. Gods he looks so- The prince cleared his throat, glancing away from Hylas to the side to hopefully hide the red on his face, maybe he could blame it on the sun, "You called?" He said, scratching the back of his neck as he turned his gaze back with hopefully a little more composure than he had a moment ago.
Hylas flinched mid-swing, his axe falling weakly and clumsily notching itself into the stump. The voice broke his unguarded focus and as he turned, he softened his raised shoulders. "Cas," Hylas sighed, pushing his hair out of his face as he recovered from the quiet shock of his noiseless presence. He managed to sneak up on me. Or…how long has he been there? "Uh. Yes." Hylas stepped away from the axe, shyly folding his arms on his chest as he neared the prince. Perhaps it was the all blood rushing around from his recent activity, or maybe it was the quiet scare of hearing a voice behind him, but Hylas could hear his heartbeat in his ears before the waiting prince. Where was that swell of impassioned impulsivity? Now that the prince was actually here and facing him, Hylas felt a flutter of nerves and the thought of dragging up their petty disagreement was mortifying. He wanted things to be teasing and lighthearted again, like their dinnertime banter of freak accidents and replacement assasin-cooks. It had been a childish swordfight of clever comebacks and shy smiles, and because of his own complicated sensitivity, things escalated. Now, he wore a look of regret, dark eyes dropping to the ground as he mulled over the current of feeling flooding his chest. What had he planned on telling him? He could ask him if he was angry, if he'd bothered Cas by calling for him, if he might carry in some firewood, or if he wanted some space. Should I apologize? But he couldn't handle any more pity. He wanted to do right by him, but Hylas would not have the prince smiling sadly at his inability to accept kindness. "What I was going to say is…" He began, shifting on his feet as his gaze flickered around. His shoulders raised mid-shrug, and he wore the faintest smile of hope as he asked "Are you…hungry?"
Cas raised a brow slightly, looking over Hylas as a smile twitched his lips. Was he nervous? Wasn't like him to not make eye contact. He'd even seen surprised to see Cas standing there. Did he not think he had heard his quiet call? Hylas always seemed so present, so aware of his surroundings that Cas presumed he'd just caught him in the split second he wasn't focused. He quietly wondered what was flicking around in his head before he managed to speak, and the prince was glad to see a smile, albeit small, back on the assassins features, "A bit, yes," He motioned back to the monastery behind him, "We could get some lunch?" He'd make a note to tell him about the finished letter later. It wasn't the time to bring it up after the note had been the source of their little disagreement anyway. Besides, it wasn't important right in the present moment, Hylas' raven didn't seem to be insight and Cas knew he would have to give the letter a couple more minutes of his time to make sure everything made sense and contained all the necessary information they needed to convey. Now he was focusing on something other than strategy and politics, he realised he hadn't eaten in a good while and felt his stomach grumble softly at the thought of something to eat. After last nights dinner filled with laughs and jokes, he wanted that again, to put their disagreement and his words behind them and move on, "That is if you're not too busy." He wondered what Hylas would have looked like while working, disappointed he didn't get to see him work and only witness the aftermath. The prince rocked on his heels, smile growing ever so slightly as he gave Hylas another once over as subtly as possible.
"We could," Hylas said with a shy nod, smiling though his gaze avoided the figure of the prince, "I'm not busy at all." His coyness was out of his control, and though he knew he needed to ease into an explanation, he couldn't resist the chance of pleasing the prince with his cooking. It's all I can do that isn't killing, I suppose. He sighed and looked to his stacked pile of wood, feeling an idea brewing. More than a chance to apologize for his entire existence, Hylas wanted time with Cas uncoloured by war and the horrifics of his deeds. They needed to find a way to speak to each other without going into the emotional side of things. If Hylas wanted to be seen as anything else but the Raven in Cas' eyes, he'd need to put in effort. "I've chopped…plenty of firewood. I thought that maybe we could…take it in and…use the hearth to start a slow-cooking stew for dinner." A way to soften the tension between them and prepare their dinner in advance. Cas had proven more than willing to find a place in the kitchen, and Hylas thought that Cas might even enjoy having company while he learned something new. "I could…teach you something. If you like. After I—" His gaze fell and he bit down a smile as he shrugged, "—Or…we prepare lunch?"
Cas smiled, nodding softly as he closed the short distance between the two of them, "Sure, we can prepare lunch." Together. He wasn't as strong as Hylas, but he could still carry his weight in wood inside. Teamwork, they'd proven to be an efficient team from last nights dinner preparation, and maybe this afternoon would give Cas a chance to learn a little more about the dark-eyed stranger before him. Picking up a couple logs of wood with a small grunt, Cas bit his lip, head backing towards the monastery and hoping Hylas was following behind. He hadn't cooked in a long time, at least not properly. Chopping vegetables and stocking fires were as far as his cooking expertise went. Compared to Hylas he had the skills of a child just learning what a stove was. He was eager to learn, though hoped Hylas had a little patience with him when it came to domestic chores. Normal life skills weren't a common practice when it came to being royal, a fault Cas could point out when he got home. If he ever had kids he'd make sure to remember so they wouldn't end up like him.
Hylas carried his axe in one hand and a few split logs in another. He'd come back for the rest later. Now, he could only think of what might come out of their shared time in the kitchen. Could he make him laugh? Or make his eyes light up in casual wonder? Hylas thought of Cas and his delight all the way back to the living room, where he leaned his axe on the wall and dropped off the wood near the wide hearth some steps to the left of the stove. "Right," He sighed, heading back out to retrieve the last of the logs; his smile growing at the anticipation of getting to work with Cas. The living-kitchen room was warm and soundless as gathered a few tools and dusted off a small cauldron. It's been a while since I've had the means to make a long-lasting meal. He was suddenly aware of the silence that had formed in his animated focus, and he paused to settle back into his bashful self-awareness. "Lunch is going to be simple," He said with a nod, resting a heavy pan on the flat top of the furnace and turning to Cas with his quiet smile, "And you're the fire man, so build me a fire, won't you?" He dashed away to a shelf of his near-depleted supply of ingredients and picked out all he needed to make their midday meal. Sweet dough, kerol leaves, hmm hmm, thyrr bark, that spice, yes. "Then I'll tell you all about my plan to poison you through my fantastic cooking."
Cas dropped the logs by Hylas' letting out a soft chuckle at his comment, "Yes Hylas, as you wish Hylas." He joked, though went to grab some kindling and matches to get the fire started, "I'd sure hope you don't poison me, though I wouldn't be opposed to dying from a meal as good as yours." Better than being stabbed, anyway. He knelt before the hearth, placing the logs meticulously while combing it with the kindling. Shouldn't take long to start the fire, hopefully, it wouldn't take long to make lunch, too. But, Cas supposed for cooking as good as Hylas' he could wait. As he stoked the fire, sitting crossed legged as he waited for Hylas, Cas watched him move with a smile, "Wouldn't it be counterproductive to tell me your plan though?" The prince tilted his head to the side, "Sounds like bad assassin work to me." He teased. It was still a wholly real possibility for Hylas to kill him, but joking around like this, it felt like their past lives slipped away into nothing. Let's just hope that we can stay like this for the rest of the day. They were just two men, having lunch together. A strange thought, but Cas found himself liking the idea a little more every time it popped up in the back of his mind. Cas brought himself back to reality, blinking a couple of times to pull himself out of his impossible thoughts.
