Welcome to Gaia! ::

Theo lifted his own head when hers lifted as well. He blinked at the feel of her hands holding his face, her thumbs brushing against his cheeks. At her words, his mind flashed back to everything that had happened when he had been away, to one instance in particular.

His head spun with exhaustion and pain as the fire shot up his leg. And yet, as he looked down, there were no flames, only a small knife sticking out of his thigh. He no longer had the strength to scream out in pain. He didn't have the strength to cry either. His cheeks were already sticky from where previous tears had mixed with the layers of dirt on his skin.

"You think you're so tough, don't you?" He didn't even bother raising his head at the now familiar voice of his captor. His head snapped to the side as the man's fist made contact with his face before it rolled back into the slumped position it had been before. "You won't be able to keep this silent treatment up forever. We will break you and you know it." He did know it and it scared him.

As the man left, he listened to the sound of his heavy footsteps followed by the sound of the door slamming shut. Once again he was plunged into darkness. He didn't move, the chains that held him up his arms remaining silent. He had given up trying to escape. They hadn't fed him at all, only given him enough water to stay alive and even that had been drugged, though he suspected that was for their amusement rather than for any specific gain.

If not for the chains, he would have been laying on the floor. His injured leg had given out on him, the other leg as well. His body ached and his head pounded. Yet the only thing he could think of was that he was grateful his family couldn't see him like that, that Elizabeth couldn't see him like that.

Theo forced himself out of his memories, trying to push the thought away. That was in the past and it couldn't hurt him anymore unless he let it. And he wouldn't let it. "You'll never lose me," he murmured, pressing a kiss to her forehead.

She may not have been aware of the audience around them but he was. Casting a glance at Donovan, he watched as his brother nodded before quietly ushering everyone else out of the room, claiming that they needed some 'privacy'. It would have been easier simply for Theo and Elizabeth to leave the room but he didn't plan on moving from that spot. At least not for a little while. His body still ached and he needed to wait until his legs stopped pounding before he even considered trying to walk again.

Theo watched as she looked around at the people leaving, his own eyes never leaving her face, and not only because he couldn't turn his head. When she turned her attention back to him, he blinked when she kissed the tip of his nose before smiling at her words. "I have missed you too," he murmured. "more than you know." When he had been in that awful place, the one thing he had longed for was to be in her arms again, to be with her. He had missed her so much, it had felt as if his heart had literally been breaking. Sometimes, he would pass out and wonder if he would wake up again or if his breaking heart would kill him.

But he didn't have to worry about that now. He was back and he would never leave her again. Although, he knew he would have to leave her when he finally got around to bathing and getting his injuries looked at. He didn't want her to see them even though he knew she would eventually.

Theo frowned as tears started to well up in her eyes. But, before he could even think of brushing them away, her arms were back around his neck and she was pressed up against him. He held back a pained hiss, not wanting to upset her. The fact was, as soon as he'd gotten back after being rescued, he'd come straight to that room, not allowing anyone to see to his injuries because it would postpone him seeing her and Donovan more. He glanced over at his twin to see him ushering the final people out before looking back at them.

Donovan turned away from the door and looked from Theo to Elizabeth and back. He could see the pain in his brother's eyes but suspected it had to do with his injuries. He was very much aware of the wounds, smelling the blood even though the wounds had stopped bleeding. Elizabeth, he didn't know what to think of her expression. He couldn't tell whether her frown came from anger, sadness, concern or something else entirely.

He didn't want to have to split them up but he knew Theo had to see someone about his injuries. Reluctantly walking closer, he cleared his throat awkwardly. Despite having his other half home, his heart ached. Elizabeth had been Theo's wife first and so her marriage to himself was now void. That hurt more than he would ever admit or let on. He loved Elizabeth but he loved Theo more.

"Theo, you should let someone see to your injuries," he murmured quietly. "They could get infected."

Donovan watched as Elizabeth pulled herself away from Theo before telling him to listen to him. He didn't say anything as she wiped the tears from her eyes before kissing Theo and standing. When she looked at him, he looked right back at her. Neither said anything and she brushed past without a word to him. That was fine by him. He didn't know what to say anyway.

Once she had left, he walked over to Theo who was still seated on the ground. Reaching down, he helped his brother stand but Theo had to lean on him to keep from falling. Donovan slid his arm around behind Theo's back, under his arms, while Theo wrapped an arm around Donovan's shoulders. Slowly, the pair made their way from the room. People outside paused to watch them but no one approached as they steadily made their way towards the nurse's office. Perhaps they understood how important it was that they get to where they were going. Whatever it was, he was glad for it.

By the time they finally did reach the nurse's office, Theo was breathing heavily and Donovan could feel his brother's pain from the tension in Theo's body. As they stumbled into the office, the nurse wasted no time in seeing to the young prince, tsking often at the condition of his body. Donovan just stood back, watching with an unreadable expression on his face.

Donovan grimaced at the look of pain and determination on Theo's face as the nurse sewed shut the larger wounds. Like usual, he had refused painkillers. Knowing how stubborn his brother was, Donovan hadn't even attempted to change his mind on that matter. So, he leaned back against the wall with his arms crossed and his mind racing. Theo was back. It was a miracle he would never have dared to hope for. Theo would be king with the perfect queen. And him, well, he would go back to his prior position as the Crown Prince's younger brother, and everything that came with it. For a moment, his heart clenched in terror and he rebelled against the thought but he pushed it away. If Theo was safe, it was worth it.

The nurse saying his name pulled Donovan from his thoughts. He blinked, taking a moment to register what she was telling him. When she told him it would be best for Theo to get cleaned up as quickly as possible, he nodded. Even though the wounds had been cleaned, Theo was still filthy and it wouldn't take much for infection to set in. So, ignoring his brother's protests that he could do it on his own, Donovan helped Theo out of the room and towards the nearest bathroom.

Once inside, Donovan closed the door and, ignoring the glares he was receiving from Theo, he plugged up the tub and started to run a bath. "I can do it on my own, you know. I'm not an invalid." Donovan snorted at his brother's words, looking over at where Theo was seated on the closed toilet seat. His brother may have claimed that he could do it on his own, but Donovan could see the way he was starting to sway from exhaustion.

"Obviously," he drawled sarcastically before turning his attention back to the tub. Once it was full enough, he turned off the water before standing and turning to Theo who blinked before his eyes narrowed back into a glare.

"Don't even think about it! I can undress myself!"

"You can't even sit up straight without swaying by yourself!"

The twins glared at each other, both as stubborn as the other. Usually, Donovan was always the first one to give in, being the more submissive of the pair. This time, however, his concern -and love, though he wouldn't admit it- for his brother refused to let him back down. After a minute of glaring at each other, Theo finally looked away, muttering angrily under his breath.

Trying not to rub in his victory, Donovan helped Theo undress and get him into the tub. Without his clothes, Donovan could see very clearly the injuries that lined Theo's body, even through the layers of dirt, blood, sweat and anything else that had stuck to his brother's skin. Donovan's eyes narrowed as fury burned inside his chest. He hoped that whoever did this to his brother burned in Hell.

Theo hissing in pain pulled Donovan from his daze. He grimaced but forced himself not to act. It was just the warm water against the wounds and he knew it was necessary but he still hated that it cause Theo pain. Grabbing a cloth from the shelf, he smiled as Theo's continued to mutter angrily under his breath while Donovan cleaned the layers of filth off him. Theo had always been painfully independent while Donovan had always relied on him. In fact, he was sure they'd been in a situation like this before, though their roles had been swapped.

"Theo," he said suddenly after cleaning off the dirt around an injury on Theo's shoulder. "I'm glad you're home."

Theo paused, looking at Donovan in surprise before smiling back at him. "So am I."

The rest of the bath proceeded in relative silence, broken only by the sound of Theo's occasional muttered curse when Donovan scrubbed a bit too hard, necessary though it was. Once he was clean enough, Donovan helped him get out and dried off. Seating Theo back on the toilet lid, Donovan left the bathroom only long enough to disappear into one of the guest bedrooms and grab a clean pair of clothes. They always kept extra clothes in the guest bedrooms in case someone's outfit was soiled during their stay and they didn't have a change.

Returning to the bathroom, he helped Theo get into the clothes before the twins slowly made their way to Theo's bedroom. At that point, Theo had nearly passed out from exhaustion and Donovan realized for the first time how much more than him Theo weighed, even after the effects of the obvious neglect he'd suffered. Then again, it wasn't overly surprising. Though both were the same height, Theo was big in build while Donovan was lean.

"Come on, Theo. Not far now. You pass out now, I'm going to have to drag you the rest of the way," Donovan ground out through clenched teeth. But, finally, they did make it there. Pushing the door open with the shoulder that Theo wasn't leaning on, he all but dragged his brother over to the bed, dropping him down on it beside Elizabeth. "Your husband's fat," he puffed between panting breaths.

Donovan rolled his eyes at her words about his insults. They were not idiotic and they were not insults. They were observations. He stood back and watched as Elizabeth sat up and kissed Theo's temple. Jealousy burned in his chest but he pushed it down. Elizabeth was Theo's wife. Not his, Theo's. He had no right to be jealous of him, no right to want something that wasn't his.

When she thanked him, he shrugged. "No thanks is necessary," he told her. "After all, he's my brother. What else could I do?" He could have done as Theo wanted but they would still have ended up in the situation they were now: Theo clean and passed out from exhaustion. If they'd done it Theo's way, it would have just meant more work for Donovan.

When she dropped her gaze, he looked away as well. He hated that it was so awkward between them now. It wasn't fair. Turning his gaze to Theo's unconscious form, he considered that thought. What wasn't fair was that they had all suffered when Theo had gone missing. Donovan had suffered but then forced himself to try and look on the bright side. He had finally gotten the girl he loved. And then she was taken from him. But he had gotten his brother back. He knew it was well worth it but it still hurt.

He looked away again before saying, "I guess... I guess I'll leave you to it then." Turning, he walked back to the door and out.

Theo didn't awaken as Donovan left, not even when Elizabeth shifted him into a more comfortable position. He was exhausted after his ordeal and the subsequent exertion added to the emotional reunion with his wife and brother. His mind drifted from unconsciousness to sleep as he laid there. If he wasn't so lacking in energy, the sound of clothing being removed probably would have leaked into his subconscious and woken him but even that could not wake him. That would have to wait until he had recovered some of his energy.

As he slept, his mind was completely blank, far too exhausted to dream about anything. Not even nightmares invaded his deep slumber, which was for the best. He needed all the rest he could get. It was going to take a long time for his body and mind to recover from what he had gone through and sleep would do him nothing but good.

As he laid there, he didn't move at all except for the steady rise and fall of his chest. The damp locks of hair she'd brushed to the side had fallen back over his face but it didn't seem to bother him too much as he slept on. Occasionally he would take a deeper breath but other than that there was no change.

The head chef raised his head from the meal he was preparing when he heard a knock at the door, an unusual sound at the door of a kitchen. Glancing over at the other cooks to make sure they were doing what they were supposed to, he walked over to the door and opened it, his eyebrows shooting up when he saw who it was.

"Ah! Miss Elizabeth! Long time, no see! We heard what happened today at the coronation, about Prince Theo's return. How is he?" Of course, the kitchen staff knew all the rumors that were floating around the castle, even if they weren't in the slightest way true. It was always good to know what people were saying.


He almost smacked himself in the forehead. "Forgive me. Come in, come in!" He stepped aside to let her enter the kitchen. They weren't very busy. If the coronation had gone as planned, there would have been a big feast but, with all that had happened, it was back to business as usual. For now, at least.

"You must be hungry. Is there anything in particular you want?"