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The Stars Witnessed How

He Swore

Lord Barron to the floor from exhaustion, they finally reached the other manor of Lord Cosko who had bruises here and there and his daughter who had a bleeding gash on her cheek.

Y/N and Tewkesbury sighed at the same time as the lord of Ferdonia finally caught the attention of help.

"I'm getting sceptical of this project, Lord Tewkesbury. Perhaps we should just stop." Lord Theron said. Everyone turned their heads to him and looked down to the ground.

"We aren't going to stop, Lord Theron. This is what they wanted. To scare us. To make us turn our backs against the change we're providing. Do you want us to just walk away from this without any justice?" Tewkesbury asked.

"He's right, you know? They want to scare us. Do you really want to give them what they want? Fear and satisfaction in exchange for pity and slacking reputation? Do you want your people to speak of you so lowly about how much of a coward you are?" Y/N seconded and stepped up next to her lover.

They shook their heads. "You're all adults yet the youngest ones are telling you what to do. Come on, be better."

A few minutes later, they were convinced to continue once again. "We'll have to sleep for the night. Tomorrow, we'll have to host another fundraiser event."

As soon as the girl finally got to lie on the soft luxurious bed, a knock on the door was heard. She sighed and stood up to open it.

"Good evening," Tewkesbury said in a deep raspy voice. He fiddled his fingers as he nervously looked at her.

"Good evening." She replied and arched an eyebrow.

"Can I — you know."

"Actually, I don't."

"Can I — "

"Can you what, Tewkesbury? Spit it out," she encouraged. The boy nervously chuckled and ran his fingers through his hair as he licked his lips, awkwardly smiling.

He slightly made unnecessary movements with his feet, twirling his toe halfway to the floor and blinking numerously. He then made a sharp exhale through his teeth and mumbled, "Sleep — next to you. I, er . . . I can't sleep in my room. It's too cold."

Y/N rolled her eyes. "You needn't ask, Nitwit. Come on in!"

"Really?"

"Would you pass for a lover when you act like an unrequited crush?"

"I suppose not," he replied as she let out a slight laugh. The boy happily walked in and looked around.

"You know, I had an idea. There's a balcony over there. You might mistake it for a window. Maybe we can try and sleep there. It will be fun to stargaze for a little bit. Don't worry we'll have enough sheets and blankets to keep us warm." Y/N suddenly said.

"I like that idea. Let's do it," Tewkesbury said.

So they did. Once they've prepared their bed on the balcony floor, they tuck their bodies under the thick white blankets with a sigh as their heads hit their pillow.

"Isn't it beautiful?" Y/N asked.

He chuckled and looked at the night sky full of stars that stretched to infinity. He felt comfortable, safe, and undeniably more taken with the exceeding amount of allure that surrounded him. "I think whoever made the night sky took inspiration of you."

"Or you?" She queried. They both laughed. Y/N then remembered something. She sat up and faced her partner with a bewildered look.

"About earlier. When you said 'yet'. What did you mean?" She asked.

He smiled cheekily, "Uh-oh. I knew you would ask me that."

"Is it true?"

It took the boy a few minutes to answer, "It is." He looked at her.

She frowned. "You're only messing with me."

"It is true." He traced his finger to her face, down to the lines of her collarbone — the fabric of her sleeves and stopped right to her hand. "Marriage is a serious matter for me as it is for everyone. Although for me, it's not for the matter of reputation and finance. It's not something I'd just say — it's something I'd fulfil."

Switching the topic in a comedic light, he jested. "You might be as eager as you asked, my lady."

Her eyes widened. Did she really sound that desperate?

"No — pfft! Why would I be — You're annoying, you know that?" She responded and rested her head back to her pillow. This time, Tewkesbury turned his head to her.

"The stars are countless yet I don't think all the amount it could offer could do what you deserve justice." She turned her head to him causing their faces to be just an inch apart.

"The stars won't matter when I have you." Y/N whispered, voice fleeting but sincerity more abundant. He looked at her eyes and switched his gaze to the girl's lips. Tewkesbury then couldn't refrain himself anymore. He slowly leaned in and closed the pestilent gap between their longing facades.

She closed her eyes and cupped his cheeks as she accepted the sweet gesture. The boy's eyebrows furrowed, taking in the moment of perfection.

A few seconds later, they pulled away still staring at each other's eyes. "I still can't believe this."

"I most certainly can."

They smiled and looked at the stars again. Y/N pointed her index finger to a group of stars, "Those look like they form a house!" She exclaimed.

Tewkesbury looked at the stars she was pointing to and chortled. He held her hand. She pulled it away and made her hands look like a mouth.

"Better run, peasant. The shark is going to come after you!" She said and started clamming her hands. Tewkesbury made his hand a person that ran away from the shark as it chased after him.

"Aaaah!" The young lord silently screamed, portraying his tiny little person. "Haha! I've got you now!" Y/N so much in her character, devilishly said and started to make hand movements as if eating the little person whole.

"Nom nom nom nom nom!" She snickered.

The boy laughed along with her. "We're like children."

"Youth can still be forever for those who favour it." Y/N repeated. "It's fun. It's like we're the only ones in the world."

"Thank you," Tewkesbury suddenly said.

"What for?"

"For making me feel free and happy whenever I'm with you. For literally making me feel complete even though we're so close to getting killed. You helped me live life to the fullest." He answered.

She shook her head. "You should be thanking Enola — and the porter you bribed to get you in that bag. If he didn't help you, you wouldn't have met me."

"Yet I still feel like I would meet you even though that didn't happen."

"What are you saying, Nitwit?" She asked.

"Whatever happens, I'll forever be dragged towards you." He said.

"A statement of platitude, but not a lie." She answered

"Think about it, Y/N. What if there's another life after we die? What if we become new people living new lives once again?"

"That would be lovely then."

"But what if we forget about each other?"

"I doubt that. How could I ever forget an annoying boy like you?"

"Fair point." He nudged her knee using his. "But, can you promise me . . . we'll see each other again?"

She smiled and let out a breath. "I promise."

A few minutes passed, they were both silent the whole time. Y/N was resting her head on the boy's chest, listening to the rhythm of his heartbeat. It calmed her down for some reason. Both of them were playing with their fingers.

Suddenly, Tewkesbury spoke up. "Do you ever think of the future? Because I do. It's crazy how I never even thought I would meet someone that would change me so much and then . . . you came along like a skilled robber."

"A skilled robber? Seriously? Of all the things that you could compare, you chose a robber?" Y/N asked in a sarcastic tone.

"Are you not? Sometimes I think of the future and you're just — you're in it. Like, I can see where we're going to live and what life would be after."

"And yet you ask me if I'm the eager one to marry you." L/N joked.

"Maybe I'm the one eager to marry you then, hm?" He looked down to her as she lifted her head to see his watchful eyes.

"Just imagine when everyone finally calls you Lady Y/N of Basilwether or Lady Tewkesbury." He said, cocking his eyebrows.

"Lady Tewkesbury is your mother, and I'm getting the feeling that you're so sure that you're going to marry me."

"Is that so bad?" He asked.

"No," she can't help but smile. The fast beating of her heart was loud enough to be heard by the boy making him smirk.

"Let's say you're already my wife. How many children would you like to have, Lady Y/N?" he asked.

Her flushed cheeks flushed even more. The girl playfully slapped his forehead. "Ow!" He laughed again.

"Maybe two or three, Lord Tewkesbury." She played along.

"I can make that happen. That doesn't seem to be a hard task at all."

"Of course you would say that, you arrogant man. Birth is painful, if you must know."

"Isn't my wife strong?"

"Yet she cannot guarantee you the same strength with producing heirs," she stated.

"Apologies, darling. Now, if we are going to have them, what would our children's names be?" He questioned.

"I haven't decided yet. What do you say?"

"I'd probably think of one once my wife already has."

Y/N yawned. "You're tired already?" The young lord asked.

"I'm not."

"Truly?"

"Yes. Now please continue your 'talk of the future'."

He chuckled, "All right. I'm planning on building a manor for us somewhere quiet and peaceful. Like in the middle of a flower field where our children can play until they're tired. You can teach them your knife-throwing skills. I can teach them about herbs and flowers. Once they grow up, they'll probably be the wisest lords of Basilwether."

"Lords? Only lords? Not ladies?"

"Ah, but of course. How wrong of me to disappoint my wife. Ladies, too! They would be the fiercest warriors to stop those who belittles anyone, especially women. They will get it from their mother." He said as he took her fingers and played with them.

"They would be perfect and unstoppable. Witty, wise and charming just like their mother. They would continue the legacy she and her husband left. They'd change the world to a better version." He said and watched as his lover slowly closed her eyes.

"Goodnight, Lady Y/N."

"Goodnight, Lord Tewkesbury."

He looked at the stars and silently swore . . . to marry the woman he so much adores.

The stars witnessed this and whispered back with no end. He wished someday this won't just be a play-pretend.

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