Finley's POV

"Christopher, take cover!" I yelled to my partner and friend. The Shibais warriors had more men than expected. This was supposed to be an easy battle, but we were ambushed. We could still win this; we were not the kingdom with the strongest warriors for nothing. It would just be harder than expected. They knew this too, which is why they were trying to do as much damage as possible without any clear game plan. They were attacking recklessly, not fighting to win but to kill as many of our men as possible.

"To your left, Finn!" I turned to my left and saw a Shibais warrior charging at me with a spear. I raised my shield just in time to deflect the thrust and countered with a swing of my sword, catching him under the arm where his armor was weakest. He fell to the ground, clutching the wound.

The clash of steel and the cries of battle surrounded us. Christopher fought beside me, his sword moving with lethal precision. We had been in this deadly dance for what felt like hours, cutting down enemies as they came at us. The Shibais were relentless, but they lacked discipline.

"Form up!" our commander shouted. "Push them back!"

We rallied, forming a tight shield wall, and began to advance. The Shibais, realizing they were outnumbered and outmatched, started to retreat. Normally, we would pursue them, but we needed to regroup and tend to our wounded. The commander led us to a site where we could rest and make camp for the night.

Christopher and I, along with a few other knights, were tasked with finding food. We sheathed our swords and set off into the nearby woods.

We agreed to split up, with Christopher being my partner. We found a couple of fruits, some which we knew and others we hoped were not poisonous. We also found a rabbit unfortunate enough to be our meal for the night.

"Today was rougher than expected," Christopher spoke for the first time since we left the campsite. I walked for a bit before turning to face him, his face having a certain glow in the moonlight. This was a man I loved, and I know what you're thinking, but it's not like that. It can't be like that. I can't love a man in the way you're thinking, so I do not love him in that manner. I just love him like a...a brother, yeah like a brother.

"Yeah, it was. They had more men than the last time, very surprising. Even when we defeat them, they could end up being a problem." Christopher nodded in agreement before moving closer to me, his shoulder on mine. I took a deep breath at the proximity. This is normal, Finn, it's normal. Friends and acquaintances come this close all the time. I just don't like physical contact—yeah, that's it—and Christopher is a sucker for contact. The first time we met about two years ago, he pulled me in for a very awkward hug. We became fast friends thanks to him and have been friends ever since.

"It's really sad we lost some men, but I'm glad you're still here, Finn." He looked up at me—I was a couple of inches taller—and stared me in the eye. I'm sure it's just my eyes playing tricks on me, but it felt as though we were moving closer. Our stare was broken when we heard the voices of the other knights. I didn't even realize we had gotten back to the campsite. I moved back and put some distance between us. I'd have sworn I saw hurt in his eyes, but I wouldn't because it was night and I must be seeing things.

We went back to the rest of the group and dropped what we found. Everyone retired for the night after eating our thankfully not poisonous fruits.

I was drifting off to sleep in our makeshift tent when I heard footsteps outside. I drew out my sword, ready to attack. In came my friend, however, and I let out a sigh of relief. I looked at him expectantly while he crawled further into the tent.

"I...I don't mean to disturb, but um... Could I lay here for the night? I can't sleep." He was having nightmares. He didn't need to say it, but I knew. Christopher always had these terrible nightmares which kept him awake. They were as a result of the bad childhood he told me about and his time as a knight. It wouldn't be the first time we'd share a bed because of his nightmares. I beckoned to him with my finger and he came forward, finding his way to my side and snuggling in tightly. Brothers, right?

We stayed in that position for a while, neither of us moving until Christopher started wiggling in ways that made a part of me start to rise. It must be the cold. He did it again, leading to a soft moan escaping my mouth without permission. I placed my hands on his hips, unsure whether to push him away or pull him closer. Can't tonight just be one of those nights we don't speak about in the morning?

Commotion outside, however, took that decision away from us. We rushed out to see what was going on. We were under attack. I wielded my sword but saw that Christopher didn't have his. He didn't take it coming into my tent.

"Stay here, okay? My spear is here, but you're better with swords, so just hold it in case something happens, okay?" He started to protest, but I wasn't going to let him get hurt. "Just do this for me, okay?" He nodded resignedly and stayed back. The Shibais had come to attack us and they were certainly not going to leave here alive and complete.

Most of us got ready quickly and proceeded to fight. The battle lasted for what seemed like hours and finally, we had decapitated enough men to leave the rest ready to surrender. I was about to sheath my weapon when I heard a voice from behind me.

"Finn, behind you!" I turned to see Christopher and a Shibais warrior who held his sword and was about to attack. What happened next was blurry. He went from aiming his sword at me to sending it right through Christopher's chest.

"Noooo," the pained voice didn't sound like mine, but it had to be coming from me. I stabbed the warrior repeatedly without remorse, running to Christopher's side and holding him in my hands while blood pooled around us.

"Stay with me, please. I'll find a way to fix you up." I wasn't sure how I was going to, but this couldn't be the end. It just couldn't.

"I...I am afraid this is the end for me," he managed to let out. "I... I love you, Finn." This sounded like a goodbye. He didn't want to say goodbye, not like this. I shook my head, not willing to let this be the end.

"Kiss me," he whispered. I obliged immediately, not caring who saw. Lifting my mouth off his, his lips curled up into a smile, and he went limp in my hands. No, no, he can't die. He can't be dead. But even as I said that, I knew. I knew he was dead. He was dead because he was trying to save me. He was dead because of me.