The nightlife was beginning to finally spring into life. Most of the shops closed at sunset with a few still shewing stragglers out. The larger tavern across the city began filling up with locals and travelers while the smaller pubs stayed hidden for those who enjoyed a quieter night. Amid the nightly celebration stood Noah alone. Well, more so wobbling around outside a tavern. At some point, Theo and Noah had gotten separated by the overflowing crowds coming and going into the tavern. Which wasn't good given Noah could barely stand.

It was now several hours after the initial first drink and Noah was completely wasted and lost. Needing to make his way back, Noah wobbled out into the streets to the cool air hitting his face. He looked in each direction hazily remembering which way back was. Slowly Noah walked away from the laughter and cheering straight into what he thought was a wall. It in fact was not a wall but a very tall, very buff man.

"Hey, idiot, watch where you walk." His voice was gruff and firm. He looked down at Noah who was squinting at the giant-looking man, but that could've been the alcohol.

"Look here, giant man." Noah sloppily poked the man in the stomach thinking it was his chest. "I've got to get back up that path and your big ass is in my way." And he pointed towards the path to the king's palace.

This caused laughter to erupt from the man and his friends. "Kid I don't know what delusions you've got running around in that head, but ain't no one getting into the palace. Go home before I decide otherwise." He said in a mocking tone.

"I'm trying to." Noah slurred. It was becoming harder and harder to speak. "Just move out of my way you bastard." Noah tried shoving the man out of the way. He lost his footing and slipped.

The man's smile dropped at the insult. He bent down to Noah's levels. "I don't think you understand my warning." His voice became deeper and more menacing. "Go. Home."

Noah smiled and rolled his eyes. "So menacing. Now move." Noah wobbly stood up and tried again to shove the large man out of the way but Noah didn't stand a chance. Noah huffed and balled his fist. "Gods, can you not understand a basic demand? Move your fat ass."

As Noah went to move around the group, one of the others grabbed him by the upper arm. He turned and was with a fist to the face. The sickening crack of bones echoed throughout the night. Noah hit the ground holding his face. Warm liquid smeared across his face and hands. He couldn't think straight from the mix of alcohol and a broken nose. His vision blurred and he was even more unstable on his feet now.

The man bent down and picked Noah up by the color of his shirt. Noah couldn't really tell who was who at this point as the alcohol was in full swing. "You'll learn not to aggravate people bigger than you." He tossed Noah back to the ground. The rest were waiting for what would happen next. "Let's have some fun." The man said as he gave the first kick to Noah.

Noah groaned in pain as he heard his ribs break. As soon as the kick happened, it seemed like it was the opening of the floodgates for the rest to follow. Noah bent his knees tightly to his chest trying to become as small as possible as the attack kept coming. Through the haziness of the alcohol and bloody nose, Noah knew he was in some serious trouble.

Theo was still stuck inside the tavern as more and more stuffed themselves in. He couldn't move let alone breathe in the crowd and grew more worried. The pit in his stomach kept telling him something bad would happen if he didn't find his brother soon.

A barmaid noticed Theo and waved him down. "Hey, kid! You doing, okay?"

"I'm trying to get out and find my brother." He struggled against the current of the crowd. "It's a little challenging."

She smiled and held out her hand. "I gotcha kid." He took her hand and she yanked him up on the bar. Several protested but she waved them off as Theo made his way across the bar towards the door. "If you all don't let this kid out, no one gets drinks tonight!"

He thanked her and pushed his way through the remaining crowd with the help of a few customers as well. The night air greeted him and he finally breathed a sigh of relief. However, that wouldn't last too long. A group of men were laughing and carrying on as they walked past Theo. One shoved him and glared his way.

"Sorry," Theo mumbled

The stranger smiled with an evil glint in his eye. "Yeah, you better or you'll end up just like him." He pointed to a body on the ground of some drunk.

Theo looked over but didn't give it another thought. "Yeah alright." He let out a sigh not knowing where to start his search. The body of the barely breathing drunk stayed in the corner of his eye and something pulled at him. He tried ignoring it but the feeling grew until he couldn't ignore it anymore and went over to check on the poor sap. As he walked closer his breath hitched and his stomach sank. "Oh, Gods."

There lay Noah in a mess of bruises and blood. Theo sank next to him lifting Noah's upper body into his lap. "Someone help! I need help!"

Many around only ignored him, but the yelling caught the attention of two guards.

"Alright alright. That's enough from you two." One guard said, clearly annoyed.

Theo looked up. "I need help."

"You need to get out of here or we'll arrest you."

The other guard peered around Theo seeing Noah barely breathing. "Hey Joshua, they need help." Joshua looked around Theo and saw Noah.

"Shit," he mumbled. The two guards bend down to grab Noah but Theo stopped them. "Kid, we're trying..."

"Ciro."

"What?"

Theo held Noah tightly. "Go get Ciro. He's a friend. Go get Ciro."

The two guards exchanged glances and Theo prayed they believed him. After what felt like an eternity one ran off towards the path up to the castle while the other stayed with Theo and Noah.

Theo hoped he made it to everyone in time.

~~~*~~~

Since it was an occasion for many guests, Lorcàn had made arrangements for a large feast in the main dining hall. It was an extravagant dinner full of all kinds of foods to try and smells to take in.

The hall itself wasn't anything too grand. There were large windows lining the walls that would give a grand view of the wilderness beyond but now it reflected life within the dining hall tonight. A decent-sized table stood in the center of the room with platters of various foods, waiting for the dinner to begin. Gabriel and Ciro were in deep conversation. While many were trickling in finding empty seats, the atmosphere filled with a sense of joy. Much different than what it had been since the meeting.

A figure caught Ciro's attention as they entered the hall. He turned and was met by a red-eyed Melosa. She glanced over at him but no more than that. It was clear she had been crying.

"Don't do anything you would regret," Gabriel said slowly.

Ciro gave a quick look around and shook his head. "Wasn't planning on it."

As Melosa moved quickly through the hall no one noticed the guard that appeared behind her. He searched the growing dinner crowd for someone he had never met.

"What are you doing away from your post soldier?" The guard swung around seeing his captain walking his way and he was not happy.

The guard braced himself. "I was sent for Ciro, sir."

"And why do you tell where you sent him?"

"Well sir, it's quite an emergency..."

The captain scoffed. "One that you couldn't handle?" He took a step closer almost nose to nose with the rather stressed soldier. "If you can't handle the drunks in the city, then WHAT MAKES YOU THINK YOU CAN HANDLE BATTLE!"

Several eyes fell on the outburst and the soldier felt his face go red. Both Ciro and Gabriel turned towards the commotion and seeing who was the cause of the disruption, Ciro glanced at Gabriel. They decided the walk over hoping this wasn't something serious.

"Is there a problem?" Ciro traded glances between the two.

The captain smiled, shaking his head. "My soldier was just leaving. Just a little issue down in the city he can clearly handle."

"But..." He was cut off by a stern glare from his captain.

Gabriel placed a hand on Ciro's shoulder as he stepped forward into the conversation. "What exactly was the emergency?"

"It is royal guard business." The captain stood proud with his nose pointed upward. "Not the business of a..." He gave Gabriel a glance over. "Civilian."

"I don't appreciate the disrespect of my brother, Captain." Ciro narrowed his eyes and lowered his voice. The captain's eyes widened in horror. His face went ghostly white as he swallowed hard. "It may serve you to go sit down before you offend me even more." Gabriel let his hand drop from his brother's shoulder as he squeezed in reassurance. Ciro let out a deep breath before turning to the soldier. "What was the emergency?"

"This kid was yelling for help and he told us to come find Ciro." He explained.

Ciro's eyes were trained on the soldier waiting for what he said next. However, he wouldn't get the chance before Gabriel jumped in. "What did he look like?"

The soldier shrugged. "I don't know. He was young but I didn't get a good look at him."

Gabriel rushed forward pushing the unsuspecting soldier into the wall. "I'm not going to ask again. What did this kid look like? Think long and hard." Ciro tried pulling Gabriel off but he only shrugged off Ciro's attempts.

"He... he had brown hair and looked to be sixteen, maybe seventeen. It was dark and I was more concerned with the body he was holding." The soldier rushed out. Gabriel pushed off him as he turned back to Ciro with a worried expression. "We've got to go now."

"Show us where they are," Ciro demanded and the soldier nodded.

All three rushed out. Ciro accidentally rammed into someone and as he looked back to apologize, he saw it was Lorcán looking quite confused.

"Get the hospital wing ready now."

Gods help what they were running into.