homebound. (earinor & akira)

"But your highness...!", Edward let out like a beaten dog. He didn't trust that Logan character, nor did he like him very much and on top of that the prince already joined forces with him. Of course he would, he wasn't as strict or stiff as Edward and the prince probably fell for that laugh and the reckless attitude. How much trouble would that person even mean? Much more than he was worth probably. Edward was sold for a fight and even if he won, he probably gained nothing now that that guy decided to accompany them. What if he tried to steal their stuff when they were asleep, or worse the prince! Edward had a good nights rest last night, but he imagined that he wouldn't be sleeping the following nights. Logan started laughing again and shook his head. "Do you even know how to hold a knife?", he asked the prince. Edward had shown him, a little bit, but he actually didn't even want him to have a knife. If he cut himself it would bleed for hours maybe, Edward didn't want that, but the prince was also right when he said he needed some protection himself too.

"Me not robbing you has nothing to do with being stupid. I might and I don't care much about honor, but you're right. Before I rob you, I'll probably tell you. I'm not a thief after all.", Logan replied with his nose held up high in the sky. He seemed almost proud, then again Edward couldn't say if this guy cared about anything. "Excuse you why?", Logan replied. "Did I say something funny?" Did he? What even was the normal pay of a mercenary? Then again, this guy seemed to enjoy fighting, so maybe he simply hoped there were more people spotting the young prince and that in turn would mean more fights for him and it didn't cost him one bit. The prince got his hood on again, Edward had his still on and Logan just rode ahead with no care in the world, even though he didn't even know where they went. "The sea, huh? That's not the way to the border.", Logan pointed out, but he obviously didn't care. "The prince wants to see it.", Edward simply explained and kept close to the prince. "Please stay close to me.", he asked him as well, but for now he put away his sword. "Do you need a little break?", Edward also asked. They rode quite a bit through the forest, maybe resting somewhere would be good for the prince. "So you're Eddie and you're... what's your name again? Cecillianus? That's too long...", Logan mused meanwhile.

Edward didn't trust Logan, that much was clear. How could he? He didn't know that person and he tried to drag the prince back home and even talked about selling him to somebody who'd pay more than the king. He seemed like someone who only thought about himself and someone for whom money was worth more than honor. He was kind of charming maybe and maybe he just knew how to win over the young prince for himself, by telling him that he also wanted to see Thria. Only because someone said it, didn't mean he meant it and all of a sudden some food and a comfortable bed at night were enough for this guy? He also was right when he pointed out the prince had all his money with him obviously and it was there for the taking. "Not just a knife?", Logan repeated laughing, for him the prince must have looked like a child just now. "What else can you hold then?", Logan asked, entertaining what the prince seemingly wanted to talk about while still riding ahead and turning them his back. He wasn't scared of Edward at all and he believed the prince to keep him for now, that was obvious.

"Well I already get to fight him anyway, don't I?", Logan answered with a grin as if that was the whole reason he went after them anyway. Edward didn't answer him, he also had no say in the matter anyway, the prince already promised him a fight, without that armor. "Let's just say that I might like you for running away like that.", the blonde laughed and Edward was still trying to make sense of him. There was something at the tip of his tongue, but even if he remembered, he'd probably not say anything if he didn't have to. "He should though...", Edward mumbled. Logan ought to be respectful in front of the prince too, but Edward already knew that he was the only one here thinking this. "N-no... I don't need a break.", Edward uttered and constantly kept his eyes on that guy, just in case he was going to try something stupid. "Cecil, huh? That's better, yes, little sheep.", Logan nodded and looked back over his shoulder. "You know it's mean to whisper literally behind my back and it's annoying to talk to someone I cannot see. You don't need to keep such a distance either. I'm simple. I work so I can drink, eat and sleep somewhere warm. I have that now right away and I don't have to drag you somewhere first. This is much easier than stealing you away, or dragging you back home."

"Well then you should just try it! But I guess we have to find an axe first, the two of us are probably too boring with our swords, huh?", Logan answered with another laugh and tilted his head towards the knight who shot him an almost angry glance, or something of that sorts. "No!", the knight announced untypically loud, probably because he was worried the prince would chop off his own head. Would he? Probably not, for that he'd have to actually lift a heavy thing like that up. "So there is nothing you can do, that we can't do?", Logan asked concluding the princes statement and it was probably true. Especially out here were his status didn't get him very far. Especially since he wanted to stay hidden. Logan probably could have taken ahold of the princes horse and run off with it. It probably carried some of their fortune, enough probably, but Logan wasn't a thief and for now this adventure seemed like fun. Thria, huh? He never visited there in all his years, but it sounded intriguing. He could still change his mind along the way, but for now he got food and a warm place to sleep every night, so why would he complain? If they were lucky some bandits would try and rob them!

"As long as he's up to it? You better order him to be, we had a deal, right?", Logan asked almost grumbling, but then smiled again. "We can find some suitable stick instead of using our swords. I won't damage him too much, don't worry." Did he just talk about the knight as if he was some thing, some property? Yes he did and he'd not hear that man complain, Logan was sure of that. Maybe he tried to get something out of him, who knew. "Running from your father, dummy. The little chase was over way too fast, you're lucky you met me and not someone else who doesn't care about little fun journeys.", the blonde answered, knowing that he just got another glance shot by the knight, because he called the prince dummy. He heard the knight sigh after the prince told him he could call him by name too, Logan guessed he told him exactly that a lot of times already, but he still didn't do it. "Your hair is white and fluffy, like that of a sheep.", he then explained his sentence and chuckled because Edward was caught in the crossfire as well. "I... what...? No! Of course not...!", the knight let out and mumbled more and more the more words left his lips. The prince wasn't very considerate of him, was he? Now he even rode forward and next to Logan even though Edward probably hated the idea. "I'm from a little town north-east of the country.", Logan answered and he didn't have to ask where his new found travel companions were from. Not that he had told them the truth just now.

"You don't have to hold any weapon.", Edward simply answered as he always did. Again he questioned if the prince even felt save around him, after all he wanted to wield weapons and he hired a stranger for more protection just like that. Edward was worried too, if the kings whole army came around, he wouldn't be able to do much, but whether it was just him alone, or him and some guy, that didn't really change their odds. "It doesn't hurt him to be able to defend himself either.", Logan answered and Edward already knew that the two of them would probably never agree on anything, but Edward wasn't someone to argue a whole lot and thus he just shut his mouth and took his words as they came. The prince however already agreed with Logan on many things and accused Edward of some more stuff. "Aren't you good at anything?", Logan wanted to know. But it seemed like Edward was better at having manners and what more was left for a prince? "Mh... it doesn't really matter, I suspect your dear knight to be very faithful and since we agreed on a fight he'd lose his honor if he didn't fight me, isn't that right knight?", Logan asked and Edward just shot him a short glance that looked more than a beat puppy than anything else probably. "Don't worry, I'm not out to break anyone.", Logan then nodded and was silent for a few moments. "We should rest somewhen later right? And I hope you give me some of the food you got from the bakery. Anyway, that would be a good place for our fight and afterwards we eat and continue on. You wanted to reach the coast and you want to go north, so we should try and reach Ilief today and find a place to sleep there.", he blonde explained though it sounded less like a question and more like he already planned their whole journey. Edward didn't say anything, he'd need to look at the map and Logan probably knew more about traveling than Edward and Cecil combined. And since the prince already put his faith into this man, Edward just hoped he didn't lead them into a trap.

The prince was always quite cheerful and seeing him laugh over an insult was a little bit odd, but also not that much. He was way too nice and trusting, but Edward didn't want to reprimand him, especially not in front of Logan. As long as the prince had fun too, it was fine. "A... ray of sunshine? What...?", Logan suddenly asked and for once it seemed like he didn't really know what to say, neither had he expected the prince to say something like that. Sure, he generally was in a good mood, but he praised even him too much, didn't he? "Well... I bet people don't say what they think very often when around you.", he then explained. People had respect, not necessarily of the prince, but of his father and thus they were nice to him. Logan didn't care about such things. "I'm honest...", Edward answered meanwhile and since the prince asked him to, he found his place next to him so the prince rode in between Logan and him. "I doubt we ever met.", Logan explained, even though Edward had his suspicions too, but he couldn't point his finger on it. "Nothing interesting at home, that's why I left. I don't want to stay at one place, so I travel and earn my money with some mercenary work, because I enjoy fighting. That's all."

“What if I want to? I’m not a little kid, Eddie! I can try and protect myself!” Cecil wasn’t sturdy, protecting himself would be more viable if he called it running for his life or trying to outsmart his enemy by dodging any blow he could - but even that seemed like something out if a myth, a story about an invincible hero and the young prince was fairly aware that he was made of flesh and blood, not of words and dreams, and that a well-placed hit would mean his end, as well as one that just cut deep enough. “I’m not sure. Not that I got to try a lot, I’m just average or mediocre at everything at this point, but that doesn’t mean I can’t improve.” And improve he would, at least at some point - Garrett hadn’t been a strong and dashing prince from day one either, well, dashing maybe but strong? Hopefully not! Cecil doubted himself often enough, especially when he stood in direct contrast to his siblings, his family, and seemed to stick out like a sore thumb among them - and despite him being radiant, completely snow white, they all overshadowed him in no time. What else did he have going for him aside from his looks? “Then I’m relieved … and how on earth do you know where we got our food? How long have you been following us?”, Cecil chuckled, almost amused and completely unaware of the danger that seemed to emit from Logans presence alone - well, he was fun though, right? Or was Cecil just easily entertained?

Whatever the case, Ilief sounded like a nice place to take a break and it also seemed as if Logan was dying to fight Edward with all that he had. Somehow, the prince felt sorry for not standing up for his own knight more and trusting him to take on Logan, but he also very much would have hated it if Eddie had gotten hurt because of him and his equally stupid decisions. “What? Does that sound weird? Look, you do shine like a ray of sunshine, and you seem to be fun to be around, isn’t that something one would associate with the sun?” Was it the blonde hair, the grin that Logan sported or the realization that, much like the sun, Logans radiant presence was something that Cecil would burn himself with if he stayed too close to him for too long? “That’s true, but Eddie’s right too! Whenever I want to do something that, in his eyes, is not a good idea, I have to pester him for what feels like forever. Given, he’d not insult me, but he has his own opinions.” And he only wanted the best for both of them, which clearly backfired thanks to the young princes recklessness - and therefore, he offered Eddie another smile, apologetic as can be. “You’re probably right, unless you find your way into noble homes for festivities. Maybe I saw someone that looks similar to you?” Logan didn’t strike him as the type that fancied rules at all, why on earth would he stride into a place full of haughty people? “That sounds fun and harsh at the same time. Doesn’t that mean you’ve seen lots of things? Any interesting stories in particular?”

Wasn't Edward here to protect the prince? He didn't understand why he so desperately wanted to do that himself, especially since he very well knew why no one wanted him around any sharp edges. Edward doubted Logan could know about it, it wasn't like the royal family told everyone about the youngest princes condition aside from the obvious. How could someone like him take care of the prince, even if not on purpose, Edward was sure that Logan meant nothing but trouble and that at some point he would hurt the prince. "And you want to improve with a knife? Or an axe, or a lance? No offense, but before that maybe you should simply work on your strength, you almost look like a child. Your riding could use some work too and I saw your knight help you on your horse, can't you even do that alone?", Logan wanted to know. In some way he seemed to like the prince, because he didn't fancy any rules or the monarchy itself and him just defying his father, just like Logan did even though he never told anybody, was likeable. On the other hand this prince still relied on his knight way too much and it was almost like Edward was his slave, which Logan very much despised. "I noticed you last night in the tavern, naturally I followed you out of town.", he then explained while shrugging his shoulders, like that had been an odd question and quite obvious.

"Well I guess that is some sort of compliment.", Logan suddenly laughed out loud. That was something he never heard someone say about him before, but it kind of fit, didn't it? He had not much care for a lot of things and he lived from day to day. He wasn't out to betray the prince either, it actually sounded fun to join him and see where his travels would lead for a while. "Does he?", Logan questioned with a smile, but the question itself sounded very serious. However he just shrugged his shoulders over it and when he tried to look past the prince and to the knight, he didn't see much more than the hood the knight still wore. "Oh, I don't think I'd like any noble gatherings. All of that is just stiff and annoying I imagine.", Logan grinned, actually he knew it was, but he had left his previous life and his family behind, he didn't want to associate himself with them and it probably was also the other way around, given that they announced him dead. "Harsh? No. I mean I'm not invincible, but even if I get hurt during a fight, that's just how it is. I've probably seen most of this kingdom though, so Thria sounds interesting.", Logan explained and looked at the prince directly. "What kind of stories would you like to hear?"

Cecil wanted to protect himself, that had been apparent for a while now and while he’d admitted that he didn’t want to rob Edward of the only duty he still could very much call his own, Logan wasn’t wrong either. Who would put their faith into someone like him, about as useless as a piece of parchment, crumpled up and thrown into the corner of a room. What was he supposed to do, though? Asking Eddie for training always had resulted in an almost defiant ‘no’ and whatever Cecil wanted to do to surpass it, to change his knights mind, it hadn’t worked once - the people that actually did try to teach him anything had been so soft and careful about it, he wasn’t sure if he actually could call it practice for anything at any time. “I … that’s not it! I’m not asking Eddie to do these things for me, he just wants to give me a hand, but I’ll have you know I can get on and off my horse on my own. As for my strength, I’m sure you’re right.” There were little things he actually had to do himself and maybe, just maybe he was jealous of those who didn’t have any people to help them and had to rely on their own strength. He was just like a helpless kid, wasn’t he? Logan was right, hit the nail on the head and Cecil felt bad for having to admit it. “So you just run after people that seem a tad bit interesting to probe your theory right? That doesn’t sound like a safe business practice.”

What if he ran after the wrong person, landed himself in a trap or worse, pursued somebody that outsmarted him in the first place? Cecil wasn’t sure, he didn’t dare ask and that only meant that he either had some respect for Logan or didn’t want to seem like a gloomy person - something he wasn’t at all! “I’m glad you like it, then.” That he was, especially since he wasn’t even trying to unnecessarily flatter the blonde, actually. What Cecil wanted, he didn’t know himself but he figured that it was something at least - maybe the trust of a complete stranger, or some sort of reassurance that, no matter what, he’d not be left alone. “Very much so, he’s just more of the silent type, isn’t that right, Eddie?” He seemed to be awfully silent right now and Cecil almost felt bad for focusing all of his attention onto Logan, somebody he barely knew, yet radiated with an air of confidence and reliability - or maybe not, after all, the promise of an adventure without any details was enough for Logan to change his mind. “They can be fun, if you stick with the right people. But I get that you maybe would prefer not to, not that I fancy them myself either.” Cecil liked them, he liked being with his friends, but in the end, they could visit outside of an event, a gathering like that, and those who stuck to him like glue and marbled at him usually didn’t even like him all that much. In the end, it all boiled down to how many favors one could get from someone that actually had power, didn’t it? The world of nobles was actually shallow. “Given, Azenad isn’t big on his own, Othidor isn’t that big either, but together it seems kind of vast. But even something like that will get boring at some point, so Thria does seem like a nice alternative. I agree with you on that, and here I haven’t even seen everything there is of my own home.” That was sad, but at least he got to travel for events and nobody locked him up at home all the time. Wasn’t that something too? “Hm, any mythical beasts that you’ve spotted for real? Not that I think they exist, but if they do; that’d be fun too. Hm. Or any interesting stories at all? I’m happy with anything.”

Edward felt increasingly bad listening to the conversation the prince and Logan had, questioning all that Edward wanted to remain, like him protecting the prince and helping him with all kinds of things. After leaving the castle at least that should remain and the white haired noble additionally was too fragile to simply wield a sword himself. It was better for him not to try and defend himself should someone threaten him directly, it was better for him to simply oblige, because if he got hurt, it turned ugly very quickly, more quickly than for anyone else. All the knights and soldiers working for the king knew that, but someone like Logan or some bandit didn't. Anyway, Edward didn't want it to get that dangerous for the prince anyway, he was here to protect him, right? Yet the prince didn't even want to let him fight this guy, because he feared Edward would lose. He didn't have much real experience, but he was trained nonetheless. "Well good then, but you could... you know, train a little. Hold up a sword as long as you can, do some situps, stuff like that.", Logan suggested and he sounded almost ready to train the young man he wanted to sell just minutes ago. "I knew who you were when you sat in the booth behind me yesterday. Not you necessarily, but I noticed Eddies blue hair, so I listened in and with that it was pretty clear who you two were.", Logan grinned and Edward finally looked up. So it had been his fault all along? "I'm sorry your highness...", he expressed while also crawling even deeper under his hood as it seemed and yes, he used the title, because he really, truly was very sorry and embarrassed.

Suddenly the prince even included him in the conversation somehow and Edward had to admit that he wasn't simply silent, it was more that speaking in front of the prince was fine, as long as he had something to say, but speaking in front of Logan was much harder. He wasn't even sure if his chest tightened just because this stranger was there, or also because he didn't trust him at all. Maybe he was jealous too, because the prince apparently trusted him, because he talked to him so much and because he thought Logan would win against his knight even though he never saw him fight. "Yes...", he mumbled therefor. But if the prince would listen to him they both wouldn't be on this journey and they most definitely wouldn't have let Logan join. "Why Thria of all places? Because you think your fathers soldiers cannot follow you?", Logan wanted to know. If they didn't know where to look, they probably wouldn't even try to cross the mountains, why would they assume the prince went there? "There are no mythical beasts! That's why they are called mythical.", Logan then laughed, afterwards he thought about a good story. "Hm... there was one time when I joined in for a fight against a whole bandits layer and...", Logan started and the story went on for some while. He was talking about their strategy, about his comrades and the fight itself that ended up being very bloody. Then he started another story about some merchant that hired him, but turned out to sell people, not goods and Logan decided that he was not having that. Edward thought he would have taken the money regardless, but apparently not. Anyway, he talked and talked and during all that time he led them through the forest without trying to get back to the road. Eventually they left the woods and ended up on a meadow full of wild flowers where Logan stopped.

"This looks like a nice place for a break!", Logan decided and got off his horse to tie it to a tree. Then he walked around the edge of the forest, eyes on the ground, but Edward didn't mind him much. Instead he got off his horse too and led it and the princes to another tree to tie them to. Afterwards he offered his hand to help the prince off his horse. Once the prince stood on his own two feet Edward searched their bags for a blanket which he then spread out on the ground. He made sure the prince could sit there in the shade and not in the sun, he still was red around his nose from all the traveling anyway. He also looked for the food they bought in the bakery and brought it to the prince. "Catch!", Logan yelled suddenly and Edward looked up to catch some stick before it hit his head, not sure what to do with that now. "I was promised a fight. No real swords, no fists either and we don't try to hurt each other, right?", Logan grinned and as if to show his good will, he even got rid of his sword to lay it on the ground next to the prince. He even ripped off his armor, but told Edward to leave his on. Why was this guy so motivated? He got a stick of his own and while he passed the prince he put a hand on his head to mess up his hair a little. "You can be our referee, but I'll be mad if you favor your knight."

Edward didn't have many more stories to tell to the prince, he already knew all about the journey with his father and he had heard those tales more than just once. Of course he'd be glad to listen to Logan now who had so much more to tell and who could talk about actual fights he seemed to have a lot of. When he traveled with his father, Edward didn't have to fight anyone, he just trained with his father sometimes, but that was it. He never had to actually fight for his life, or for someone elses. Now he looked at the stick in his hand and he wasn't quite sure if he wanted Logan to know, that he was probably worse than him, on the other hand Edward wasn't even sure if he should try his best, maybe it was better this Logan guy underestimated him, instead of knowing exactly what to expect. Either way he had to fight him, because the prince promised the blonde and Edward had to maintain the princes honor. He wouldn't deny Logan his reward, or whatever it was and thus he weighted the stick and did a few swings to figure out how it lay in his hand. Logan who got rid of his metal armor was still very big and broad, more like Francis, less like Edward. He himself was tall, but not that brawny.

"No stabbing with a sword, not with the ones the two of us use.", Logan meanwhile explained to the prince and while he waited for the fight to begin he whirled the stick in his hand like a showoff. "More like striking, but I don't care about the rules. Make them up referee." Logan grinned at Edward, the stick loosely in his hand, even when the knight got ready, as if he didn't think he was a threat. Edward however never had been the one to attack first and thus the two of them just looked at each other. "I suppose you're ready.", Logan then said, just to make it clear but as soon as he finished his sentence he dashed forward. Edward was sure that he wasn't as fast with his armor on, but without Logan was. Edward, despite having no real fighting experience however trained every day of his life. When he brought the prince to bed and changed shift, he'd train, sometimes he'd train during the day with the prince watching and thus he wasn't just some phony, he still knew how to fight and he still had good reflexes, even though he might have slacked a little since they started traveling. He held up his sword - or stick in this case - and he was surprised neither of their sticks broke. Edward was sure that if they'd both used swords, the blow would have been even harder and it would have travelled through his whole body. They were just using sticks, but on the other hand, if that would have hit Edward, he probably would have been black and blue for weeks.

Logan wasn't done yet, but he didn't continue with another big blow, apparently he hoped to end this instantly, but since he hadn't he decided to not use all his strength up for useless attacks until he was tired. Instead the following attacks were done with less strength, but quickly. Logan wasn't just strong, he was also smart while fighting, that much was clear to Edward immediately. After some strikes just defending, Edward decided that he had to attack too. Logan even seemed a little bit surprised, but grinned at the fact that he had to block Edwards stick two times, before dodging the third one, leaving Edwards stumbling for a second. He just so managed to block another attack from the side afterwards and backed off a little to regain his composure. "Where have you been trained?", Edward wanted to know, but instead of an answer there was another attack. Logan was sure that he'd win if he just didn't give Edward time to breath, at least it seemed like it and while Edward had to grasp for air at least a little bit, Logan answered in a way that didn't give away he was fighting right now. "Life?", was his witty response, "Less talking, more fighting." Edward however thought more and more that there was something off and that he knew this guy. "Let's test your footwork then.", Logan smiled before Edward could ask another question and his attacks stopped being predictable easily, while he also started to try and circle Edward. Eventually there was another big attack, after which Logan gave him and Edward some space. Right after however Logan, who stood in between Edward and the prince now, retreated another step back and shortly after hit the prince on his head. Not hard, not at all, just a little bonk. "And now your prince is dead.", Logan explained with a smile, while Edward didn't even know what to say or think. For a second he imagined drawing his sword which still hung around his hip, and to just walk forward and make Logan a head shorter. Those were unusual thoughts for him, but he was angry for obvious reasons. "Come on, don't stand there like that. I didn't want to ups-" Even Logan was surprised by the sudden dash and the strength in Edwards attack that followed and made him stumble and eventually fall to the side and on his butt. Edward however disregarded him completely, let go of the stick and instead kneeled down in front of the prince. "Are you alright?"

Edward was once more embarassed to say the least. As the princes knight he should have protected him from this guy, especially since he still didn't trust him. He shouldn't have let the prince be vulnerable like that, he shouldn't have kept his eyes only on Logan, but in the end fights weren't always fair, especially not out here. In the castle there had always been someone to look after the prince when Edward couldn't, but out here he was the only one. Wasn't he the one that couldn't sleep the last few days because he was so worried to leave the prince out of sight? And now he immedietly did and if Logan had been anyone else, maybe the prince would actually be dead, not just announced it. Ultimately that probably was what Logan wanted to tell him in a weird vagabund way. Edward was still angry at him, even though the hit didnt look very hard. What was this guys intention anyway? Now he sat on his butt and rubbed his arm, but Edward didn't mind him one bit. He was sure fow now he wasn't a threat and even though he probably should have thanked Logan for opening his eyes, Edward didn't want to, he didnt care how childish that was.

"I'm so sorry.", he instead said towards the prince whom he sat infront of now. The white haired noble came closer and put his elbows on Edwards knees, forcing him to look up. Edward carefully put his hand on the princes head to feel the spot he got hit at and whipe away some hair from the princes forehead, to see if there was anything visible and if the prince flinched by some touch of this. "I'm not hurt.", he also answered the princes question and was surprised Logan didn't have any witty to say anymore, but his focus lay on the prince anyway. "I... I guess... I should have paid more attention...", Edward mumbled apologetic and lowered his head. "I'm fine with that outcome.", Logan comented from the side and threw his broken stick back to the forest edge before standing up. "Your knight is stronger than he looks. That was fun, but..." Logan looked at the knight once more, then shook his head and apparently decided otherwise. "No, nevermind. That was enough lessons for today. Either way, we should at lest train together, I bet you haven't done that in a while." Edward didn't answer. He disappointed his prince, didnt he?

The prince seemed fine, no blood, but also no bump on his head or anything that hurt him, yet Logan did not have any right to do something like that. Edward also knew that he was at fault as well. He didn't pay attention to the one and only job he had, protecting the prince and from now on he decided to not look anywhere else but to the prince and his surroundings, to make sure he remained safe. Still Edward felt incredibly bad for disappointing his trust in him, even if nothing had happened. No wonder the prince invited a stranger to protect him, there was no trust to be had in someone like Edward, not now anyway. The knight removed his hands from the prince until he made sure that he was alright, but even though he told him that there was no need to be sorry, Edward still was, replied nothing though. There was nothing he could say anyway. Again the prince voiced his concern about Logan hurting Edward though, as if the knight wasn't capable of defending himself against one single person he just knocked off his feet with one last blow. The prince meant all this well, but it somehow hurt Edward.

The prince put even more weight on Edward, it was almost weird how that applied physically and figuratively, but Edward didn't waver, he just remained in front of the prince and took his weight upon him, not sure what he was going for. Was that really fun though? No, not really, Edward didn't enjoy any of that. He didn't enjoy being forced into a fight with a guy he loathed and he didn't enjoy being embarrassed in front of his prince, because he couldn't do the one job he had. He didn't like being replaced by some guy that talked about selling them to the highest bidder and he didn't intend to thank Logan for something like that, even though the prince seemed like he expected him to. Of course Logan did something that warranted some hate from Edward. "He had no right to...!", Edward started. Logan had no right to touch the prince, let alone hit him with a stick, but it seemed like the prince thought otherwise. Why wouldn't he like someone that was so much more experienced and open than Edward though. "I'm sorry.", Edward mumbled, simply because he felt like that was expected of him and up until now he didn't even shot one glance at Logans direction. Now he did for only a moment. "I can train on my own. Thank you very much.", he finally answered Logan, then looked away again and after the prince let go too, Edward stood up. Logan didn't seem to mind all of that too much and at least he shut his mouth for most of that little banter, or whatever it was. Now however he stood up as well and answered the princes question. "We should eat something. I had no time buying my own lunch, since I had to follow you, but I also know you bought something from the bakery, so... Can I maybe have some?"

Cecil was enjoying himself in some odd way or the other. The bonk on his head had hurt, if only for a second, but judging by the face he was given and the act Edward put up, it wasn’t actually the prince that got hurt in the process but his knight, not physically, as he denied, but maybe mentally. He looked at the flowers in his hands, the one he was carefully tying to one another in hopes of making a crown out of it - a garland seemed tacky, and he was sure that neither of his travel companions would appreciate something like that all that much. Given, maybe Cecil was overthinking, but he looked up to offer Eddie an apologetic smile. “To hit me on the head? I’m hardly a prince out here, but theoretically it was foul play. I wasn’t your prince, I was your referee, so no actual prince died anyway.”, he elaborated, a chuckle spilling from his lips that thankfully weren’t chapped just yet, though, Cecil didn’t even want to envision that. Wherever he went, danger loomed and if the current danger they were facing was Logan, they’d have a problem for sure. “Are you? You don’t need to be.” Was he good at reading people? Not entirely, but Edward seemed like an open book to him - an act like that had never fooled the prince, especially not when his friend usually was of the stoic type. Given, it seemed almost obvious that Eddie would turn Logans invitation down.

Now he sat there, all the while the two not-knights stood there, seemingly aimlessly, and Cecil was trying to stick his hand into the sunny area, out of the shadows, to grab some more flowers and incorporate them into that little thing he was making. He wasn’t good for fights, not strong enough or even witty enough, but he did his best in all other aspects, even if his best barely was ever enough - it felt as if he was making a mess of the few things he knew and he was fairly aware that he could have spent all day braiding Edwards hair at home, doing nothing much, but by the gods, that got really boring after a while - and this way, he had more time to come up with something as well! “Only if you ask nicely … I’m kidding, of course you can.”, the prince answered Logan, looking up to smile at him for a second, only to grab Eddies pant leg shortly afterwards. This poor fellow had just gotten up, had to endure humiliation and some odd other things, and Cecil was the one that tried to cheer him up and somehow managed to make it so much worse in such a little amount of time, it was astounding. “Before you grab something to eat, Eddie, can you put this on for a second? I want to see if it fits you or if I need to adjust it before I go on.”, he informed his friend, before he handed him a brittle crown made of daisies, violets and some sort of plume, or whatever it was that Cecil had grabbed by chance. If it didn’t fit Eddie, he’d just have Logan try it on, though … that probably wouldn’t sit right with Eddie, which meant it wouldn’t be a good way of handling a situation like that to begin with. What a pain. Was he jealous of Logan?

"You are still the prince.", Edward disagreed almost silently, because he didn't want to involve Logan any more in this. The prince didn't care and Logan was probably not remorseful, so why did Edward even try arguing? Instead he probably made himself look like a child by talking back and ignoring Logan to the best of his abilities. He didn't quite know why he got so annoyed by him and in hindsight he couldn't even say what he felt during their fight. He never had fun with fighting. He was not too bad, but it wasn't something he enjoyed, unlike Logan, or his older brother, or the crown prince for that matter. For Edward it was his job, nothing more and if he'd been someone else, he probably would have picked another occupation than being a knight or a soldier. He didn't know what he wanted to do in his life, but if it weren't for the prince he held so dear, he'd probably try something calmer. Up until now his life had been very calm though. Sure, he had a lot of things to do and not everything was easy, but there was never immediate danger looming over him or the prince. Out here he worries, especially since the prince put his trust in about anyone as it seemed, yet it wasn't Edwards place to disagree. He voiced his opinion once and that was enough. He wasn't sorry, but he didn't say it, instead he just nodded yielding at left it at that.

Logan probably had some witty comments on the tip of his tongue, but he wasn't an complete idiot and thus he didn't try to provoke Edward more than he already had. At least now he was able to hear his voice for once and he actually said a few more words, not one of them whispered like before. He truly didn't want to upset Edward, all he wanted was giving some inexperienced knight some advice. After all he was the one that had to look after the prince, even though Logan apparently was here to help now. "Can I please have some?", Logan still asked more nicely with a grin, ignoring the sour mood that emanated from Edward. But he soon got pulled at again and Logan watched Edward take the flowery crown to put it on his head somewhat hesitantly. Well Logan wouldn't judge, but he felt like Edward thought he would. "What? Crowning only one of us? I thought there was no winner!", Logan instead complained, not really meaning it, he just felt like Edward had enough to be angry about already. "Though technically, Edward is the only survivor, so I guess that counts." Logan shrugged his shoulders while he got another look from the knight. "How is this?", left the knights lips since the prince wanted to check something. Logan felt his gaze lay on him all the time and the blonde just backed away from the prince a little, raised his arms to show he wouldn't do anything and then crossed them behind his head and turned away from the precious noble.