Chapter Text
The rain was beating down on tommy's back. He was tired but if he didn't keep running dream would find him. The sound of his breathing overpowered his every sense. He couldn't feel his feet, his hands, nothing of his felt real. his head was pounding, his lungs screamed for more oxygen yet due to his panic and the ringing in his ears from the explosion he refused to rest for even a moment. The rain was so loud Tommy couldn't tell if he could hear others footsteps or not.
As Tommy ran he found a kingdom, one full of people with music playing that could be heard from far. as he approached the walls he collapsed in the mud as a guard looked at him. his mouth moved but the words that forced from his throat he could not hear. The rain pounded on his back filling his ears with water and noise. looking at the guards he couldn't see them in the dark of the night but he could feel the judgment.
As he laid in the mud a horse's hoof landed next to his head and the sound of feet hitting the ground beside him piqued his interest. looking up he saw a wolf hybrid with a blood red cape. The rain made it hard to see, paired with the exhaustion and Tommy could barely keep his head up before he went down. It was as if he was asleep but he could still hear everything. his body was lifted from the mud and he could feel his limp body being transferred from arms to arms.
he heard yelling, words slurred together as the horse went through the city. The music came from several places, and despite the rain it seemed many people had decided to celebrate something. as they rode a soft voice whispered in his ear. “We've got you boy,” the man whispered in his ear, his voice soft and sweet in his ear. As they rode through the village Tommy heard more and more.
“My king, we can't keep him,” the soft-voiced man said, his voice full of sorrow at not being able to keep tommy. The other man, presumably with the blood red cape, responded with his voice loud; it filled the air even with the music. “nonsense, he was harmed and you saw how he just collapsed after I got there. He can't be alone” the voice was pretty with an, albeit, terrible Scottish accent. Tommy could feel the soft voiced man hold him tighter.
When the horse came to a stop tommy's limp body was handed down from the horse into another man's arms. The sounds of someone getting down from the horse and then being led away were so quiet Tommy might've missed them if he didn't know what to listen for. He had been around horses his entire life; the quiet jingle of the saddle was something he could pick up anywhere.
The sound of boots on polished flooring was a sound he wasn't as familiar with. sure Eret invited him in sometimes but not enough for him to understand what material was under him. quiet whispering and movements were not something tommy was accustomed to but the noises were so loud in the large halls. The sound of a door opening broke him from his spur of thinking.
a soft bed was under him quickly and before he could think he was asleep. His body had exhausted all his energy and the feeling of a warm soft bed silenced his mind and he fell into a dreamless sleep. Even if the sleep was dreamless it was far from good. the wetness of his clothes, the sand scraping his body, his hair drying, he had the worst sleeps before but this one was far from the best.
waking up in the morning to soft silk pajamas, and a fluffy blanket tommy wondered if everything from the past few weeks was a dream. maybe he was back in l’manberg again with will beside him and tubbo on the floor next to the bed. maybe exile was just a dream and the war didn't happen.
forcing his sore body up, Tommy looked around, he spotted a maid at the foot of his med laying out several outfits. the one he normally wears, a white and red shirt with jeans and far too many accessories. another outfit that looked to be a plain black shirt and jeans. The maid looked at him and smiled.
“good morning boy, it is still early morning if you wish to go back to sleep the king is yet to be up.'' She sounded so sweet. His voice soft to match her frame, soft curves and pretty brown hair in a bun to keep from her face. she went over to the side of the bed and felt his forehead with her hand. “your not warm so i would say your not sick”
Tommy looked at her like she had grown a second head, where was he? The king was in erets castle, no no, no one in erets castle had a scottish accent. and the halls were not so… pretty. looking around he saw many paintings, stained glass windows, and so many medical beds. “i… thank you miss ill um.'' Tommy tried to stand up but his legs were unstable.
holding onto the bed he made his way to his clothes and looked around for somewhere to chance. “where might I change?” he asked and the maid smiled. “Follow me” she led him to a small bathroom, which had a bathtub, a shower, and a few other things to make it comfortable for all. He got dressed on shaky legs before walking out to see the maid making the bed.
Tommy had always had bag legs, having to use a cane on his worst days but today it felt like he would collapse at any moment. He walked over and smiled at the maid. “that you for this but i must be off” the fear bubbling in his gut made his mind and body churn. he had to force the bile bubbling in his gut down his throat again.
Before the maid could respond, the wide ornate doors swung open to show two men. One in a blood red, fur lined cape with a pretty crown that could rival technos, the other wore a simple outfit that honestly didn't look all that royal. “hello! there you are boy” the man with the cape spoke with a terrible scottish accent. he walked closer and smiled at tommy putting an arm around him. “so boy i see your up and walking so, why don't we go for breakfast”