Everyone froze at the sudden command. The scarred man and his accomplice both paused at the intruder. Aurelian's heart seized for half a second before beating frantically, his eyes locked on the figure at the end of the cave. He knew that voice. He loved it. The figure walked in along with a thousand soilders. Draven. He doesn't stop, doesn't look at anyone else. His gaze only on his beaten husband. Before Draven could reach Aurelian, the scarred man attacks. Draven didn't waste a second and defended the attack. "You were never to find this place", the scarred man yelled and raised his sword, aiming at Draven's head. Draven reflex was fast asleep he blocked attack with his blade. Just as fast he slashes the scarred man's leg. The scarred man falls to one knee but Draven didn't stop there. "This is for having the guts to take and hit him", he declared and slash the man's throat. The scarred man falls to the hard ground with a heavy thud, blood rushing out of his slashed throat. The impact was not enough for him to die but he was trembling on the ground In pain, clutching his throat.
Amidst the chaos, the grand duke had escaped through another exit. When Draven finally turned to go unshackle Aurelian, the scarred man's accomplice had a dagger to Aurelian's neck. "Stay back, Crown prince and tell your knights not to try anything", the man said tightening his grip on the dagger. Draven's jaw clenched so hard one might think his teeth would snap. "Careful now, you don't want to hurt my husband", Draven says, taking a single step back. "You trailed the Grand Duke, didn't you?" The man questioned and Draven's answer was immediate, "he let his guard down". The man laughed, a twisted sharp sound, "You know your highness, your husband has soft lips". Draven hand coils around his sword, his gaze never leaving the dagger at Aurelian's throat. "That's not even the best part...his skin is soft too", the man paused, looking down at Aurelian before adding,"I wonder what you'll do if I should get a taste of your husband right in front of you..." The words barely left the man's lips finish before it became his last words. While trying to taunt Draven, he had left an opening and Draven hurled his sword right at the man's heart. The man dropped dead almost immediately, his body going limp.
Draven finally approached Aurelian and unlock the chains binding him. As the heavy chains fall to the ground, Aurelian launched himself right into Draven's arms sobbing. Days of holding his emotions together finally coming apart in the sanctuary of his husband's chest. Draven dropped his sword, his arms wrapping tightly around his Consort, "shh it's okay now, I'm here, no one will ever touch you again, I promise", Draven promised, comforting Aurelian. The soilders move to apprehend the scarred man and the body of the other man while others search around for the grand duke.
Draven carries Aurelian all the way from the cave at the edge of the border to the palace, refusing to even rest. Orders were given to find the grand duke at all costs and seize him. Even at the palace, Draven doesn't leave Aurelian's side as the palace servants rush to feed him, clean him up and address him. The moment Queen Amara and Elowen sees Aurelian, they burst into tears while embracing him but even still Draven kept a hand at the small of Aurelian's back. The imperial Physician was summoned to do a check on Aurelian and treat his injuries. Word also quickly spread that Aurelian had been found and the Grand Duke was a fugitive.
Draven doesn't talk about the incident or about what Aurelian went through. He doesn't want his husband breaking down so he deliberately avoids it. Later when the kings summoned Draven, his words were definite, "I've never seen My Love this broken and for that I will not let this go, everyone involved will pay dearly, whether by serving time in the dungeons or with their life because this...this is far from over". No one in the room dares objects.