Nathaniel started crying softly and Lloyd held him close. "I'm not going to tell father." Lloyd said. "He'd stop me. I know he would. He'd say I'm being too soft, but it's my duty to protect the people. You understand that, right?" Nathaniel nodded weakly.
Ellis sighed softly. "Just be careful. I'm not the only person who would be upset if you died." he replied, looking up at the prince.
Lloyd nodded. "I'll be careful… but like I said, I'm not going right now. I need to heal at least a little more."
Ellis nodded a little bit. "Alright."
"This whole situation is getting out of hand, and it's my duty to handle it. You understand that, right?"
He nodded again. "I understand. You just…I've said this so many times, just please be careful."
Lloyd nodded in reply. "I will. You guys promise to stay inside?" He asked. Nathaniel nodded weakly, still crying.
"Not like I'm going to be moving much anyways." Ellis said wryly.
"You know what I mean. I don't want anyone else getting hurt if I can do anything to help it."
Ellis nodded slightly. "Yeah, I get that."
Lloyd sighed and lay his head back on the wall. "I just don't know when I should go out…"
Ellis sighed. "Not until you're healed."
"But that could be ages! More people could get hurt!"
"Yes, but if you go out there injured, you could die!"
"I could die if I went out healthy as well! I can't waste time waiting."
"Lloyd. You aren't thinking straight."
"When am I ever?" Lloyd sighed, staring down at the ground.
Ellis snorted. "You know what I mean, your highness."
Lloyd ran his fingers through his hair, wrapping his wings around himself a bit. "I can't just let people keep getting hurt…"
"Right, but you can't sacrifice yourself."
"If that's what I have to do to protect my people, then that's what I'll do."
"Lloyd. Stop and think for a minute."
"I am thinking. My life is less important to me than the lives of many."
"Lloyd, you are the prince." he said. "You can't…you can't die."
"And what kind of prince would I be if I just stood idly by while my people were slaughtered?"