#relue

It... it wasn't one of my ships. And then your writing, and then this, and uh. Anyway, I guess this is some kind of tragic fairytale AU. (it isn't long!)

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"I don't like this," Blue muttered, shadowing Red as they stalked through the castle halls. His heels clicked on the polished floors, and glints of armor and a crown kept catching Red's eye in the mirrors. 

"I, Red, the prince and heir of Hyrule, do solemnly invoke the sacred Wall of Thorns."

Red tried to ignore the warm presence at his shoulder. This was not the time or place for dreams, especially silly dreams like taking Blue's hand, or leaning against Blue's chest, or dragging him into one of the closets they passed and—

Army, approaching. Danger, imminent. Blue, bodyguard, not boyfriend. Not now, not ever. They'd run out of time. It hurt. 

"This castle and all therin will be protected from harm by the Thorns of Nayru, caught in time just as their prince."

"Nobody likes it, Blue," Red answered. He hoped his voice didn't shake, or that Blue would take it to be fear of the coming storm rather than anything else. They slowed in front of the large door just ahead, decorated with wrought iron in the shape of thorny rosevines. 

"I don't want to let you go through with this."

"But you will, because there's no other way. You agreed about that." Red unlocked the door, and Blue helped him to push it open. It felt heavy, in more than one way. His steps slowed as he approached the raised dais in the center of the dim, circular room. 

"The land will be blessed and forgotten by all but its inhabitants until I may take possession of the throne once again."

It wasn't strictly tall enough for him to need help, but Red held his hand out anyway. "Help me up?" 

Blue's hand was warm under the soft leather of the glove. After Red stepped up, Blue followed, and Red had to actively avoid his eyes, or he'd get lost. They didn't have the time to waste. 

Red sat on the richly appointed bed and looked at his hand, still clutched in Blue's. "You don't have to be here right now."

"You're not going to keep me away." 

"I know." He'd been so sure that he'd have time with Blue someday. But Blue couldn't be… he couldn't lift the spell of he was trapped inside it with the rest of the castle. With the rest of the kingdom. 

"The spell will lift only when one who can be considered a soulmate bestows upon me true love's first kiss." 

Red picked up the small book on the night table and lit the candle, all with one hand. 

"This spell is irrevocable, impenetrable, and absolutely binding."

He'd been so sure. He started reading the spell's activation, even as hoofbeats sounded in the windows. 

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