AN- all rights to this song goes to Beth Crowley!

Etho's POV-

Icy particles hang in the air as the council panicky stares at me, waiting for my input. My breath froze as I sighed, adding to the icy haze. The map on the table, cracked from the chilling temperature, is covered in boats, and flags representing the war escalating on the southern border of the kingdom. The council stays quiet as I contemplate their ideas, the cool of the castle war room air beginning to seep into my skin as I reach a hand out and pick the flag representing our main troops, still stationed in the castle, awaiting my orders.

I know this enemy. At least I knew them. A long time ago before they were taken from the land of Hermitcraft. And here he was again.

I look up at the council, still surrounding the wooden table in the stone war room, pillars raising to either side of my seat, casting shadows into the edges of the room where I know ice has cracked the stone. Xisuma sitting on my right, his helmet visor lightly frosted over from his breath. Standing beside him is Iskall with his green hoodie flipped up over his head to ward of the chill as Keralis, who stands across from him shivers in a light, blue jacket while leaning over the map. Cub, across from me, is whispering to our tech expert, Mumbo about possible new contraptions for the war. I could see Beef standing just in the shadows, his arms folded as he leaned on the wall.

When I don't move again, still staring at the flagged piece in the hand, a frown hidden under my black scarf, Xisuma shifts, "my king. We need to act soon. What are the orders?"

I sigh at the title and place the piece down by the borders of our land. Xisuma nods without waiting for me to say anything and begins to stand but I grab his arm. He turns to look at me as I stand, "I'll lead the armies this time."

I can see the worry in the council's eyes but they don't object. I expected as such, they would never disobey the king, and they know of my reputation as the greatest fighter in the lands, most having fought at my side before I took my father's place as king.

I never wanted the throne, but as the eldest brother in the Slab family, it was my duty. In ascending to the throne, I had lost my best friends even though they stood around me in council. No more Etho, no more casual punches to the arm, no more battles together. They could call me that, do that, and trust me to a greater degree as the crowned prince, but now I'm their king.

And worst yet, I'm going to war against him. I trained with him many years ago, when we were boys. Prince vs noble. Strength vs talent. Lover vs lover.

We know all of each other's moves

Then he was gone. Taken prisoner in our teenage years in the war of Hermitcraft. Trained under King Bdubs, quickly becoming the armies second in command, next only to Doc. I knew I had lost him to that kingdom and now they were here to take our land. Our archenemy, if you wanted to be melodramatic, had returned to finish what they had done when I was young. But I was no longer immature, inexperienced, naive. I was not my father, and I would never let what happened to his home happen again.

As the council and I walk out of the war room into a hallway that is just as icy and cold, Beef walks up to me and places a hand on my shoulder. I turn to look at him and I know he can see the pain in my eyes. He knows who we are going against. Beef knows him and he is the only one to know of our secret.

Beef says nothing as I turn away and walk away.

In this twisted dance we do

I stand in my room as servants help me strap my armour to my arms and legs. A fire crackles nearby, fending off the cold air, but does nothing to warm my aching heart. My sword sheathed at my hip and a quiver tight against my back are a heavy reminder of what I am about to do. I can't stop thinking about him and I begin to feel... something? I had to control my emotions. I needed to be the stoic king I had become and ensure that our land is safe. That is my first and only priority but I can't ignore my heart.

But we stubbornly refuse

I know what I used to feel, but my father trained it out of my body. He never hated me for my sexuality, but he trained me until I understood my place. Breaking my mind and body in more ways than one until I became the perfect son. The perfect prince. The perfect king. But the thought of him stirs everything back up. I begin to chant silently what my father had said to me hundreds of thousands of times, "this is not my duty. Never was. Never will be. My duty is to the people. I have no say in it. I was chosen as king. This my duty."

To admit what this might be

It doesn't take much longer before I mount my horse and lead the army out of the castle gates, Xisuma on my side as the army general, Iskall on the other, our Hermitcraft flag strapped to his horse's saddle. I pick up the pace as I settle into the movement of the horse's gait and listen to the thunder of dozens of horses behind me. Many carrying our most skilled warriors, others pulling our supplies.

I've travelled this road many times, just as I have travelled every road in my kingdom. My father made sure I knew the roads better than I knew myself, "your duty is to the people. Your duty is to the kingdom. You are no longer Etho. You are the crowned prince."

'Cause I've been down this road before

I shake my head, clearing the lectures of my father from my mind. I try to focus on the war ahead but every thought slips my mind until only one is left. Him. I hadn't seen him in about 8 years now, but his smile under his knight's helm is as fresh in my memory as it every would be.

Don't trust my instincts anymore

My mind snaps back to reality as my horse rears in fear. And arrow shivers in a tree trunk not two feet away. My battle instincts kick in, clearing the knight from my mind as effectively as amnesia. I grasp the arrow and yank it from the wood and examine the feathers. It's Bdubs' army. I turn my attention to the direction it come from, gazing into the shadows of the forest we have been traveling through, to see someone pull back another arrow, the metal flashing in the filtered sunlight. In one deft motion, as I drop from my horse as the arrow zips above me.

Xisuma and Iskall turn to the forest, motioning some men to take the attacker.

And it's easier to ignore

I watch as Beef and Cub chase after the man as my heart picks up. Could it be? There's no way he would have come this far alone. He is the second in command and I knew Xisuma would never send Iskall out alone, his too valuable.

I can hear someone talking to me. I shrug off my thoughts and glance to the noise. I can see Xisuma talking under his helmet, but I hear nothing. My ears are ringing. Not from nearly dying, that has happened more times than I could count, but because I could almost feel him. He felt so close, and that attack just made me feel that much closer. I breath heavily under my face covering, a chill setting into my bones, but not from the weather.

The fact that you unravel me

"My king! Etho! Are you okay?"

I nod at Xisuma as my brain registers the sound and hop back onto my horse as Cub drags one of the enemy spies in front of me. I swallow harshly but sigh in odd relief as an unfamiliar face stares at me, scars cover his face that is visible under his white helm. A sheath strapped to his hip as Beef hands me his sword and bow, "what should we do with the assassin?"

I stare at the man kneeling in the snow-covered path under the weight of Cubs hands. His eyes scan my face as fear replaces his previously stoic face. His unfamiliarity fades as I stare into the icy blue eyes, "tie him to my horse."

What do I do if you're no good for me

Cub blinked a couple times, probably wondering why I didn't kill him or at least tie him to the carts in the back of our company, but he quickly hauled the man from the path, tying a rope around his gloved hand then the saddle of my horse. I glance down at Bdubs' knight as the knight stares at his shoes.

I would have usually killed an assassin on the spot but this felt, different. I knew my knights would talk. My reputation would decrease and they said 'the king's going soft' or things along those lines, but this man shouldn't die cause deep down, I know that he could have killed me. He missed on purpose.

But I might be good for you

So, I'll keep him alive. Not comfortable, but alive.

I didn't want to admit it, but this knight reminded me of him and my heart began to hate even making him run beside my horse as we neared our prechosen destination. The clearing above the other army's camp came into view and I dismounted my horse as my men began to set up our camp.

I stand one side of my horse and he stands on the other as I gulp in air, my heart beginning to shatter more than it has ever before. I thought losing him was the worst I could ever feel, but staring at the white and blue tents in the field below made my heart pound wildly. He'd be down there somewhere. Was he looking at our arrival with the same feelings? Does he still feel the same?

Why do I crave your love so desperately

Still holding the horse's reins, I walk around to face my new prisoner head on. I ignore the pain in my chest, turning away from the enemy army. I stare at the knight, watching his chest heave from running beside me. Sweat trickles down his exposed neck, freezing in the winter air. I place my stoic, emotionless face on and stare him in the eyes.

"Cub. Remove his helmet."

Cub rushes from where he was watering some horses to my side, first untying his hands from the horse so False could lead my horse to the water as well. I cross my arms over my chest, trying to look angry or unamused, but more to hug myself as the pain builds up in my heart.

"Remove his helmet."

Cub reaches up and slips the knight's helm off and I clench my teeth so hard to crack my jaw. The knight's curly hair slips into his blue eyes as he looks at his boots. It's him. How did I miss it before? But I have to play it cool. I slip my sword from its sheath and place the point under his chin, flighting a tremor in my arm, and lift his eyes to mine. I will my eyes to stay emotionless.

"Wels," I spit through my teeth as I fight my instincts. His eyes look into mine and my heart shatters, but this is not my duty. My duty is to the people.

When I don't even want to?

My hand stays steady as I fight my own self, "Go."

It's the only word I can muster. It's the only thing I can do. Cub glances between Wels and I before untying the cord around the knight's hands. I keep my sword under his chin as I watch him rub his sore wrist. He takes one glance as me, his eyes filled with terror and pain.

I can't kill him, but he can't stay here. I'm taking a huge risk in letting the enemy go, but seeing him again, I know my heart hasn't changed. The stoic man my father trained me to be has crumbles in a matter of minutes.

My defenses are down

Wels steps tentatively away from my blade. I don't move other than to lower my sword to my side. He continues to walk backwards a couple steps before turning to sprint away. Cub stands beside me, staring at me in confusion. Then I collapse.

I've lost all resistance

I know it's not the kingly thing to do. I should have killed him right there. I should have hesitated. I should not be showing emotion but I can feel the icy sting as tears freeze on my face as I sit in the sticky snow. He was right in front of me. He was right there. I drop my sword in the snow, the metal glaring in the sun and snow. My heart is running away to the enemy. This is worse than last time when he was taken by force. This was his own choice. He could have stayed.

And when you're not touching me

Who am I kidding? I forced myself to appear emotionless and apathetic to him. He probably thinks I don't know who he is. I look up, my vision blurry from uncontrolled tears, just as he walks into the camp below us. I watch as he disappears into the main tent, probably to report on his scouting mission.

I feel a hand on my shoulder and I stiffen, quickly wiping my eyes and stand to greet the individual. Beef's worried expression comes into my field of view as I close my eyes and will my heart to heal in the few moments I have. After one last glance at the tents below, I give Beef and Cub and nod and walk into our army's camp.

I can feel your distance

Meetings happen. Dinner in served. Our plan is finalized. I do my duties as the king, meeting each knight and making necessary decisions for the coming battle, but I feel numb. I keep the stoic, strong king as my front, masking the ache inside. We attack tomorrow and we will win, but at what cost? Our men are willing to give up their lives, but am I willing to kill Wels?

Don't think that way Etho. Wels was the one who walked away today. He could have stayed.

So if you're gonna leave

But I couldn't stop myself from hating myself at the same time. I told him to leave. I made him think I hated him. I was the one who drug behind a horse all afternoon. I was the one who didn't save him when he was first taken.

Wherever you go please take me

I was the one who could have gone with him. I could have taken him away from this war, this battle.

At your side is where I'll be

I have a duty to the people. I have a duty as the king. But what about the duty to myself? Is that nothing? Will I really kill Wels to protect my kingdom? How was one look at him all it took to remove the 8 years of training from my father?

Wherever you go please take me

Would Wels kill me to protect his kingdom?

Wherever you go please take me

Thoughts swarmed my head as I lied down for the night, knowing tomorrow was going to draw the lines of not only my people, but of my heart. The moon shone through the tent above me as a light winter wind brought a shiver to my spine. I tossed back and forth on my cot knowing that being tired tomorrow will do nothing but make this battle worse.

Wherever you go please take me

What do I believe to truly be most important?