NOT EDITED
PUBLISHED ONLY ON WATTPAD

Louis Tomlinson
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It was a couple of hours later. We had managed to escape Matthew's guards and those royal guards who didn't have a choice but to obey if they wanted to live. I had dried tears on my cheeks and wherever did they fell, the skin around my eyes red and swollen.

I had cried for Edward. For all those people we had to leave behind. Who knows what will happen to them? I should not have left. What was I thinking?

I did not think. I just acted.

It had been a pure instinct to run off with Harry. It was all hopeless and then he was there. Like a light in the darkness. Love in hate. Strength in weakness. He made me want to not act my ace and to be brave. I shot a man. For him.

I did not even recognize myself.

"Louis? Please eat and drink water."

Harry had been trying to get me to eat bread and a bit of meat that was left from the crew's lunch yesterday for an hour. I refused because firstly, he would not eat with me and secondly, why should I eat when Edward and the rest of the people I left in the palace could not eat?

I was not special. And I did not want to be treated like I was special.

"No, Harry. I will not eat."

"Babes... Please."

"You should eat. Surely you two had gotten much less food than I," I snapped at him. It was a little white lie. I did not get as much food as a royal usually ate. I only got one meal for few days, like a prisoner. Not surprising, since I was a prisoner.

He sighed, putting the food on the table. "I'm going to check how Murray is and get someone to clean Edward's wound."

"I will do it. Just bring me warm water and new clothing. Do you have plants on the ship?"

"No, we don't have plants."

"Not even with the medical stuff?"

"We don't have 'medical stuff'."

"Are we going to stop at the coastal village?"

"Yes. I will ask Zayn when. Why?"

"I want to go search for plants. I have read about some healing plants. They would help Edward to recover."

"Really?" he asks hopefully.

"Yes."

"I'll tell him to hurry," he sounded almost in tears. "I don't... We don't... It isn't known how long can he..."

"How long can he suffer for," I finish his sentence. "How did this even happened?"

"From what I was told... They were running, killing those who attacked them. They went around the corner and the person jumped in front of them, surprising them all. They didn't have time to react before he shot Edward in the chest from close. The wound was so severe that they thought he had died immediately but Edward is a fighter. He will fight and he will come back to us."

★★★★★

After Harry bought me warm water in a bowl, a rag and a new bandage, I removed the old one. I carefully cleaned around the wound and the would with the rag, Edward letting out a hiss in his sleep when I went too deep into the wound but I had to clean it.

"Louis." Someone cleared their throat as they called my name.

"Hm?"

"I know a trick my mother showed me. You press a hot knife or anything metal to the wound, it's typically used to stop bleeding or prevent the wound from becoming infected."

"Do it." I finally looked at the person, it was Liam. "He is still bleeding, less than he did before but bleeding nonetheless."

"Okay. I'll be right back." Liam left and I looked at Edward. He looked peaceful now that I was not cleaning his wound.

"I am sorry," I whispered my apology to him as I started to go through his hair with my left hand, the right hand still holding the wet rag. "I am sorry you got dragged into this. I am sorry my father killed yours and Harry's father. Actually, I'm not sorry for yours, he raped your mother. Who is to say he did not do it again, even kids? I am sorry you were capture and tortured. You do not deserve this. None of this. You should have been a lord. You would be good lord. Even better king. You would rule with Harry. Or you two would have separate kingdoms and argue constantly, threatening with battles and wars but then you would dine together and be good again. I would not be needed. I am not needed now. I should just go... Threw myself of the ship or something. I do not know. I ruined everything. Like I always do. Please, forgive me." I leaned down to kiss him on the forehead, a lone tear falling on it. I moved away from him and went to look out of the small window.

Edward Styles
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I heard him. I heard everything they had said but couldn't react to it. I hated it. Louis was still crying, Harry's voice was breaking when he was talking — a sign to me that he wasn't letting his own tears fall.

I could feel the hole in me, the damage it bought but I could also feel it healing and closing itself, healing.

I felt the wetness of Louis' tear making its home on my forehead, drying into the skin. It sounded weird, but I felt better and lighter. I felt like everything would be okay and I relaxed, letting myself go to sleep, but I heard the door opened — it pulled me from my half-sleep.

"Hey, little one." It was Harry. I didn't know if he went to Louis or sat elsewhere but I knew we were all safe. With the silence that fell upon us, I finally fell asleep.