Quinn blinked wearily in the light of the dawn shining in her window. It was only dawn, so duh, Sage was still asleep. Quinn felt warm and safe so she just closed her eyes and barely even realized they were now tangled up... again

Sage really wasn't aware of much for a while. He just knew he was warm, and felt safer than he usually did. So, if he could get a decent night of sleep without nightmares, then he'd take it. No questions asked.

For the first time in her life, Quinn fell back asleep after she woke up. She was comfortable, and tired, and those two out together resulted in sleep

Sage stayed asleep for quite some time, and when he did wake up, he sort of felt guilty about cuddling like this...he wasn't sure if the girl had wanted that. She'd barely let him lay down near her in the tent. He sighed, not really wanting to move, but gently trying to pull himself away from the girl.

Quinn woke up as soon as he moved, sidling away. She nodded at him, quickly getting yo into the colt air. She could not BELIEVE she fell back asleep... that never happened. Quinn peered out the window. The storm was over. As soon as she saw that she ran into the bathroom, changed into her now dry clothes, and, without waiting for Sage because she's knew he would know where she was, tiptoed to his room before jumping out the tall window and landing in a crouch. It hurt her knees and ankles a little, but not enough to stop her from running to the Stables to check on Sahara. Sahara greeted her with a whinny, sticking her head Ives the stall door. Quinn breathed a sigh of relief.

Sage could feel a bright blush growing over his face when the girl didn't seem to mind being wrapped up with him. He covered his face with his hands and groaned when she left, wondering what the heck was wrong with him. Eventually, he sighed and forced himself out of bed, and wandered down to the stables sleepily. His bed head was probably pretty bad, and his shirt was messy, with the top button undone, forming a decent vneck, but he didn't particularly care. "told ya she'd be fine," he hummed when he got to the barn, yawning again before patting Chaos, who was in the stall next to Sahara.

Quinn glanced up. "Oh I knew she would be fine, it was your horse I was worried about." She teased, stroking Shara again before saying, "We should be getting back." Just at that moment she heard footsteps, and two of her mothers guards appeared at the only entrance to the barn. The shorter one cleared his throat. "Quinn, Sage, Queen Victoria (couldn't think up another name lol) has asked for us to bring you to her. Please come with us, or we will make you." Quinn's eyes flashed with fear, and she balled her hands into a fist. "Let's just follow them, please?" Quinn asked Sage quietly. She didn't want to fight right now.. and even if just Sage broke out her mother would whip her. The guards started walking so Quinn followed into the great hall where her mother and Sage's father were standing. Quinn's mother started, "Since you two have been gone for over a month, we decided to move the wedding a day early. You will be married today at noon. Good thing it's still early. Now get ready." Her mother explained, walking down and grabbing Quinn by the arm, tugging her into a near passageway. "If you ever leave me sight for that long again, I'll kill you. You can't run away for the wedding, rat." She hissed, squeezing Quinn's arm tight enough that she got bruises, and her hand went blue. Once the queen released Quinn she glanced at Sage before practically running up the stairs to get away from her mother.

Sage chuckled lightly, noticing the footsteps and turning before Quinn, though they noticed the guards at about the same time. He frowned slightly, suddenly very nervous as to what his father wanted. He nodded in response to Quinn's comment, definitely not wanting to fight. Well, he wanted to fight....but he couldn't fight his father. Too many bad memories kept that from happening. He'd do anything to keep his father happy with him. He gawked at the pair when they said they be married early, only sprinting away when his father glowered at him. "What are you looking at, dog," he growled, advancing on him, and sage paled and ran, praying his father didn't follow him. He found an outfit laid out on his bed....no doubt the choosing of his father's. He sighed and put it on reluctantly, and jumped when his father appeared behind him, then froze when he felt his father's heads on his shoulders. He understood that...if he moved, he was dead. His father slid something cold and heavy around his neck, a chuckle rising in his throat. "Do anything stupid, and you'll get the shock of your life," he hissed to sage, turning him to face him before grabbing his face. "Be a good dog, or I'll put a leash on that collar and a muzzle on that face of yours," he growled before stomping out. Sage was left there, terrified of the thing on his neck, and his father who held the control to it.

(Sorry if it sounds like I'm copying you lol. I just think your idea sounds good haha)

-

Quinn sat in the corner of her bedroom, shuddering. Her arm throbbed, and she was terrified her mother would come at any second. She glanced at the dress laid out on her bed. It was a dark emerald green with black lining. Very... floofy. Quinn made a face, standing up to take a shower before she put it on. Then her mom came in.

-

"Quinn, I won't have you disobeying now will I?" Her mother sneered. Quinn backed away, terrified that her mother would whip her again. "Please, wear this as a token of my hatred to you." She snarled, grabbing Quinn's threat and holding her still while she put a small necklace around Quinn's neck. Her fingernails were so long they dug into Quinn's neck, and, before long, blood dropped down onto Victoria's hands. "Be a good girl." She hissed, leaving quickly.

-

The necklace suddenly tightened, squeezing Quinn's throat tightly till she knew she couldn't get it off. As soon as she tried, it grew tighter, drawing blood. Blood trickled down her neck and onto her black clothes, so she stopped quickly. It loosened just enough it didn't cause agony. Quinn knew her mother would kill her if she had blood stains down her neck, so Quinn very quickly stripped, took a quick shower, and put on the dress. She dried her hair extremely well, brushing it out. Her heart thumped in her chest and she felt like she was going to choke. "No wonder... people call these things.. chokers..." he gasped for breath, leaning over the bed to get some air. Her door suddenly flew open and a knight walked in. Quinn yelped, stumbling backwards.

-

"It is time." He said gruffly, grabbing her by the arm and hauling her outside. He dragged her down the hallway and pushed her into a little room, which, she heard, he locked. That meant this was behind the ballroom... which meant the wedding was in a couple minutes.

(Lol no it's all good!)

Sage sort of just stood there for a while, trying to stop the panic that was rising in his chest. Eventually, he forced himself to take a step, halting as he expected the collar to shock him, as his father had said. When nothing happened, he took another heasitant step, moving like that until he got to the bathroom, where he could comb his hair and get ready for the wedding. He shuddered at that thought. He wasn't ready for this ....he wasn't ready for any of it. How would this all go? He was terrified. Not only for himself, but for Quinn. The things she was getting into were awful, and he hated how this was going. Once he finished, he just stared at his reflection. He looked tired, and worn, and was definitely a bit pale. He jumped when a knight barged in and dragged him out to the stage, where he supposed he was supposed to wait for his bride to walk down the isle. He saw his father there, holding up a remote. He grinned before pressing a button, making Sage gasp and almost double over, choking, at the shock that nearly made him pass out. So that was what was at risk. Well, he wouldn't be doing anything his father didn't want him to. He knew that much.