Florian Laveaux's Arc

Chapter 7 of 10

Florian stood in the eastern tower that evening, the silver ring warm in his pocket. Griffin had given him permission, but BelloSaros still hadn't said anything more about what he wanted. The prince sat at the window, looking out over the training yard below. BelloSaros turned from the window and looked at Florian directly. He said Griffin's permission wasn't enough. If Florian was going to belong to both of them, BelloSaros needed something permanent. Something that couldn't be undone if Griffin changed his mind later. Florian's chest tightened. He asked what the prince meant. BelloSaros crossed the room and stood close enough that Florian could see the gold stitching on his crimson tunic. Marriage, the prince said. Griffin could share Florian with him, but only if Florian agreed to marry Griffin first. That way, no matter what happened between them, Griffin's claim would always come first. Florian's hand went to the ring in his pocket. He hadn't expected this. Griffin had given him permission, but marriage was different. It meant standing before witnesses and making vows that couldn't be broken. It meant choosing Griffin in a way the whole kingdom would see. Florian looked at BelloSaros and realized the prince was offering him exactly what he'd been afraid to ask for. Not just Griffin's blessing, but a promise that would tie them together forever. He pulled the ring from his pocket and held it in his palm. He told BelloSaros he would ask Griffin at dawn. Florian found Griffin in the stables the next morning, brushing down the brown horse with the white-feathered hooves. BelloSaros's armored steed stood in the next stall, its blue saddle gleaming in the early light. Florian walked up to Griffin and held out the ring. He told him everything BelloSaros had said. That the prince wanted them married first. That it was the only way he would share Florian. Griffin stopped brushing and stared at the ring. Then he took it from Florian's hand and slipped it onto Florian's finger. He said yes. They would marry before they became knights. They would make their promise real. Florian felt the cool metal settle against his skin and knew nothing would ever undo this. Griffin pulled him close and kissed him there in the stable, with both horses watching. When they pulled apart, Florian saw BelloSaros standing in the doorway. The prince nodded once, then turned and walked back toward the castle.