Julian:

The gunshots rang through the air and I flinched as one came whizzing past my head. I saw Jasper's dark eyes flit to mine and I gave a gentle nod. He didn't return the gesture, already in full war mode.

"You," he pointed to a small group of men in the front. "Front of the battlefield."

He continued to order us around like chess pieces until it was just me left.

He drew closer and stopped in front of me. "You wil-"

"I'll be your bodyguard."

Jasper's eyes widened and he starred at me in shock.

"Jasper?"

"Y-yes?"

"I love you." And those words felt so right in my mouth. As if they had been hiding there for years, just waiting to be used for him.

A bright smile appeared on his pale face and he wiped some hair out of his eyes. "I love you too."

I gave him a soft smile and moved my horse ahead. "I'll protect you, Jasper. Don't you worry."

His face light up in pure joy and he nodded. "Okay."

I grinned at his joy, feeling good that I had finally set my emotions free. We approached the field side by side and I began to survey the battleground. All around me, our men were falling to the ground. The young and the old, the poor and the rich. Everyone was falling. I searched the crowd, looking for Thomas and William. I spotted Thomas behind a brush, waiting with a pistol for the right moment. But William I couldn't spot.

"Jasper," I called. "I can't find William."

Jasper turned to me and with a very sadden look and suggested, "Look on the ground."

It was as if I could feel my heart stop. But I obeyed and looked to the blood-stained ground. Bodies were scattered everywhere and I searched for that familiar face, for those freckles that covered his cheeks.

And I saw them.

Laying on the ground with eyes wide open and glazed over, William was sprawled on on the ground.

Dead.

The breath caught in my throat only to be released through a dry sob. I began to sob harder as I saw the bullet hole in his forehead. I nearly dropped off my horse when a hand pushed my back onto the stallion.

"Julian, Julian, baby."

I blinked the tears out of my eyes to see Jasper starring at me with worry in those dark eyes.

Jasper:

My heart clenched as I watched Julian sob before me. I wanted to fix things for him and... I could. I could sign a peace treaty and give away a bit of land and the war would be over.

"Julian, I'll end it, I promise."

Julian glanced up at me, tears running down his beautiful dark skin. "I'll end it."

"H-How?"

"I'll sign the treaty," I promised.

His eyes widened and he starred at me disbelievingly. "O-Okay."

I was about to open my mouth when I saw someone fall over in the corner of my eye. I recognized that familiar blonde flop of hair.

Thomas.

Julian seemed to have seen it too as he let out a loud wail. Trying desperately to jump off his horse and run to the younger man. I gripped onto him with all my strength, knowing that if he moved out into the field further, he would only get killed.

"I surrender! I'll sign the treaty!" I shouted as loud as I possibly could and the both sides froze.

The commander on the other side called his soldiers back and so did I.

Many confused faces crowed me but all I cared about was my sobbing love in front of me. "Head back to the castle!" I ordered the men and they instantly scurried away.

I turned back to Julian and held his head in my arms. Both of his close friends had been killed in front of him and he was breaking. Even I mourned Thomas. I mourned him for the many times he had kept me not alone throughout my life and how his still antics had kept me laughing.

And against my chest, Julian continued to sob.