Chapter Text
Kevin had been walking in the woods for an indefinite number of days so far. On a map, the distance was exactly one mile from the edge of town to the outer castle wall. If you walked the wall from the border of the city to where it curved to surround the castle, this distance could be physically proven. The cartographers had gotten it right, but Kevin had been warned that once he was in the forest the physical properties of the space outside of it became entirely irrelevant.
He had confirmed this in his first hour here. No amount of running or slashing plant growth in his path made an end to the forest visible or comprehensible. There were creatures too, black masses of shadow with claws that shined and caught glimmers of his torch. He’d been granted 3 enchanted items to bring with him, and as many non-magical tools as he could carry.
His chosen magical tools were:
- A torch that could never go out- advertised to shine in rain or underwater conditions. Not like it mattered in the forest. Its waterproof qualities remained untested as the canopy of the trees far above him was too dense to let in any light, let alone rain.
- A never-ending roll of healing gauze. He hadn’t needed it yet, but rumor had it that the further you went into these woods, the more dangerous the creatures became. The ‘healing’ in the name was deceptive, Kevin tried some on his wrist before entering the forest, it did nothing. He was told that it would prevent infections at least, he hoped they were less hyperbolic with that claim.
- A Jar of nourishment. The sludgy contents were infinite, when Kevin rested he watched the surface of the liquid creep upwards to replenish what he’d taken from it. It tasted like ash, and the thick goo caught in Kevin’s throat most times, but he had never felt hunger or thirst. It could last him as long as he lived.
He figured that was all he truly needed, of course he carried his sword and wore thick armor, but having a constant source of light, food, and bandages for his wounds seemed like the right call to Kevin.
“Hello?” Kevin heard before he saw the well.
“Hi?” He crept over to the crumbling stone cylinder. Peering over the lip as if a harpy or siren waited to burst out at him.
“Who are you?” Deep inside the well, beneath the surface, was a blonde man looking up at him.
“Kevin? Who are you?” He asked, but of course he already knew.
“Kevin is a stupid name for a knight.” The man scoffed.
“I can’t imagine your name is fitting for a prince either.” Kevin huffed.
“Prince Aaron is a fine title.” He pouted. Kevin swung his leg over the side of the well. “What are you doing you idiot?” Prince Aaron screeched.
“Coming down to save you, how did you get in this well to begin with?” Kevin had honestly expected his journey to be a lot more dangerous and harrowing, but he’d found the prince in what couldn’t have even been 7 days.
“I’m not ‘in the well’ , fuck, I’m never getting rescued if it’s up to you.” Aaron groaned.
“What do you mean?”
“I am in my bedroom, in the castle.” He rolled his eyes. “You can only see me because a portal of sight has been cast on my ceiling.”
“Oh.” Kevin sighed. “Pleasure to meet you.”
“I wish I could stay the same. I would give up if I were you.” Aaron wandered out of view, with him out of the way, Kevin could clearly see a carpeted floor.
“I think I’m good.” Kevin swung his leg back over so he could sit more comfortably.
“Did they even tell you what your reward is if you manage to beat the odds of your own incompetence?” Aaron said, still out of view.
“Yes.” Kevin replied. A blonde head popped back into view.
“You’re a man.” Accusing eyes squinted up at him.
“As far as I know, yes.” Kevin stretched.
“This is a woman’s quest.”
“It was not written out anywhere if that is the case. I was let into the forest to try.” Kevin hummed.
“Only women have tried.” He sounded more confused than angry.
“Can’t claim that anymore can you?”
“What do you plan to gain from this?” Aaron crossed his arms.
“If I read correctly, I was promised a husband.” Kevin unscrewed his jar of slop and choked down a mouthful. He swallowed the sound of him gagging for Aaron’s sake.
“That’s absurd. You’re a man.” Aaron glanced at the jar and raised an eyebrow.
“Mhm.” Kevin closed it again and held it over the edge of the well for Aaron to see properly.
“There has never been 2 kings of one kingdom.” Aaron squinted to see the jar, but elected to ignore it.
“Correct, you would be king, I think my official title would be consort.” Kevin stored the jar back in his rucksack.
“That affords you no political power.” Aaron gesticulated wildly, he started to pace in and out of Kevin’s line of sight.
“You really know your stuff.” Kevin mused.
“I don’t need your sarcasm.” He said somewhere out of view.
“But you do need my help.” Kevin stood and looked around the clearing. “How far am I?”
“5000 miles.” The lie was obvious.
“Then I had better get going, don’t want you dying alone before I make it out of these woods.”
“No, you should give up.” Aaron sounded farther now.
“Then you’ll die alone anyways. How many women have attempted this trial?”
Prince Aaron was silent.
“Because I know that none I have spoken to have any interest in spending an unknown duration of their life risking it to marry you.” It was true, since Katelyn returned from her trial to resume her studies, nobody had entered the woods. Kevin was the first in 8 months.
“Why is that something you do want?” He couldn’t see Aaron still, but he sounded closer, and like he was speaking through gritted teeth.
It was Kevin’s turn to say nothing. Aaron afforded him the time to formulate an answer, but truthfully Kevin wasn’t ready to lay his cards on the table.
“I am going to continue on now, any advice you are generous enough to give me?”
“No.”
And that was that, Kevin laughed humorlessly and pushed deeper into the trees.