Roman sighed. He was ready for this. He was. All he had to do was go up to his terrifying mother and tell her that he wanted to marry a servant boy. A servant boy. Roman sighed again, trying to ignore the growing pit of anxiety in his stomach. He jumped when he felt a tap on his shoulder.

"Are you nervous?" Virgil asked, blanched white even though he didn't have any make-up on.

"A little, yeah." Roman replied. Virgil slipped his hand into Roman's and squeezed, trying to reassure the prince. Roman smiled slightly at the shorter boy but jumped as the doors opened and the queen entered the throne room. Virgil's hand scuttled out of Roman's as he eyed the queen fearfully.

Although he'd never admit it, Roman envied his mother slightly. She could enter a room full of people and the chatter would die away. She carried herself in such a way that showed that she didn't need a man. She was strong on her own. She didn't need a man and she certainly didn't need the bastard who had run away as soon as he realised she was pregnant. Her wine-red and silver skirts rustled as she climbed the steps to the throne and sat down.

"Well Roman?" She asked, her voice firm but with a slightly soft tone that Roman had learnt to take as 'you can speak but I'm not really up to listening to you'. Roman took a deep breath. No going back now.

"Mother, this is the boy I want to marry." He said strongly, putting an emphasis on the word 'boy'. The queen glared at Virgil, surveying the boy who was shrinking into himself. There was a pressured silence in the room. Roman broke it with a slight cough. "Mother?" He asked.

"Is this... servant boy going to show in the boy you want to marry?" She asked. Roman held in a sigh. At least she hadn't taken badly to the fact that Roman was gay.

"No, Mother. Virgil is the boy I want to marry."

"Well, that simply won't do." The queen said firmly, standing up as if the matter was finished.

"Your Majesty?" Virgil asked quietly and cautiously. "If you are worried about me being a gold digger, I really don't-"

"I know very well that you aren't a gold digger, boy." The queen said imperiously. "I've been watching you and my son for the past few days. And believe me, I know full well what a gold digger looks like." Pain crossed the queen's face briefly before she turned her back on the two boys.

"Mother, why can't I marry Virgil then?"

"Because it has to be someone with a title, with a station, Roman." The queen said. "I'm sure that this boy is very nice but what's he got? Roman, be realistic. You can't marry a servant. He'll give nothing to the kingdom."

"But Mother-"

"I'm sorry Roman but my mind is made up." An odd expression crossed the queen's face. Pity, maybe? But then she turned away from her son and left the room.

Virgil looked down, feeling the pain of what the queen said. She was right. What could he give to the kingdom? Without a job, even with a job, he was nothing. Absolutely nothing. He hadn't even realised he was crying until his eyes focused on Roman crouching in front of him and wiping away his tears.

"Shh, it's alright Virgil. We'll find a way around this. I promise." Roman promised, smiling kindly. An odd thought stepped into Virgil's head. The thought made him laugh slightly.

"This is kind of like in A Midsummer's Night Dream."

"Huh?" Roman asked, standing up.

"Hermia's father won't let her marry Demetri so they decide to run away. I just drew comparison, that's all."

Roman's face broke into a wide grin, the worry clouding his eyes clearing. "Virgil, you're a genius. We can run away!"

"Princey-" Virgil's eyes went wide as he clapped his hands over his mouth. Roman let out a laugh.

"Princey? I like it." He said, laughing slightly. Virgil swallowed slightly and took his hands away from his mouth.

"Roman," he said slowly, "I never suggested that we run away."

"No, I did."

"Do you realise how dangerous it is? If we get caught, they'll have my head!"

"That's the thing, Virgil. We won't get caught."

"You can't promise that Roman."

"No. But I can certainly try my best." Virgil searched Roman's eyes, looking for anything that might suggest he was joking. There was nothing. Virgil sighed.

"Roman, this is insane."

"No, it's genius." Roman said firmly. "Look, do you trust me Virgil?"

"What?"

"Answer the question. Do you trust me?"

Virgil closed his eyes, letting out a sigh and turning the question over in his mind. Yes was the simple answer. He would trust Roman with his life.

"Yes, I trust you."

Roman nodded, smiling. There was a steely glint in Roman's eye that Virgil hadn't seen before.

"I trust you too. If you can, meet me in the rose garden at midnight. If you aren't then..." Roman trailed off, the spark in his eyes washing away. Virgil grabbed Roman's hand and squeezed it tightly.

"I'll be there. For you."