Chapter Text
“What did you pack?” Arias asked in a whisper. They were leaving, meeting with Arias in Osora’s room for the next few minutes. Last time they’d be in this god forsaken castle.
“Another change of clothes, some PJs, enough money to survive off of for a while and that shoulnt go missing, some food, and some stuff from Celia.” Osora said, as they tied their cloak. “You?”
“Cloak, sword, bandaids, extra clothes, and water.” Arias said, as he grabbed his cloak out of his bag. How Arias was able to sneak his sword through even during guard shift was incredible but Osora wasn't about to ask.
“I left Celia a note during guard change that she shouldn't find until tomorrow at the earliest saying that I was sorry but she should be queen as she would be better than me and how my whole birth situation played out so she'd be fine.” Arias explained, throwing his bag over his shoulders. After Arias finished tying his cloak and putting on his own bag, he kissed Osora's forehead, and whispered,
“You ready?” They nodded, ready to leave this shitty life behind for one while they didn't know what lie in store. Osora knew it would be better than the one he had here as he could love Arias peacefully and wasn't prince anymore.
~
They quickly and quietly slipped out of the castle, making their way north through the forest. Osora kept turning around every few moments, even at the slightest sound or none at all.
What if someone found out our plan? What if I never get away? What if someone finds out about Arias and I after we’re found? He’d die.
“Arias. I have to go back. Go without me.” Osora said, stopping after about an hour and a half of them taking off.
“Why?” Arias asked, stopping for a moment so Osora and him could sit on a log and taking out the canteen from his backpack.
“Are you being serious? What if someone finds out and takes us back to Calaveras?” Osora whispered, not understanding why he was able to now voice the concerns he would usually bury.
“‘Sora. We’ll be okay. No one’s following us. No one knows.” Arias assured, giving Osora a side hug. “But we have to keep walking. Drink some water and then we’ll continue.” Arias said, passing the canteen to the blonde. Osora took some sips before handing it back and he wiped his lips with the back of his hand.
The pair stood up and continued walking.
“I think we should walk for another few hours, maybe 2 or 3. We're about 7 or so miles I’d guess from the castle. I’d like to be about 20, honestly, before we get any rest.” Arias said.
“Makes sense.” The other replied.
They fell into a peaceful quiet after that, the crutching of last years fallen leaves under their heels.
~
It was another hour and a half before Osora told Arias,
“Can we rest for the night, please? I’m getting really tired and we still have to set up the tent.
“Shit, yeah. Let’s go find a place to sleep.” They searched around for a few minutes before finding a place of trees that thickly wooded and they quickly grabbed the “tent” materials Arias had packed.
“I don’t… remember you mentioning a tent that you packed?” Osora said through a yawn.
“Must of forgotten, sorry. It’s not much, I know.”
“We packed in one day, itll get by, Arias.” Osora said.
Once said tent was up, they climbed into their bags that when flattened turned into material that just made the ground semi bearable for the night.
“Only thing I miss about Calaveras right now is Celia and my bed.” Osora muttered, climbing next to Arias, as their sleeping arrangements squished them together since it was a regular two person sized tent and Arias was the size of 1.5 people, making them cuddle. (Not that they didn't want to, don't be alarmed)
“It's only temporary, we'll have our own bed soon.” Arias whispered before Osora was out cold.
~
By day 3 they had a routine set up, take down last nights camp, walk about 50 miles in a day, with periodic breaks, set up their spot for the night, and sleep for about 7 hours before repeating the process all over again. If Osora at the end was tired but Arias knew they had to walk more to feel safe, he would give Osora both bags to put on his back and carry Osora on his back instead of the bag. By day 5, they guessed that they were out of Calaveras. It wasn't for another two days after that did they find any signs of civilization in the form of getting out the forest (finally) and finding a road into a town.
They walked through and while the place seemed nice, they decided to walk for another day or so until they found another city just to make sure they were far enough away from their old lives.
And their first look at the next town, the next day, they knew they were staying.