content and warning edited as of April 11, 2011; no author's notes added.
Warnings: Slash if you squint, not-quite-squinting gives you preslash; Male OC
Amadeus was, at the ripe young age of fifteen, working as a stable boy for the royal family. He dressed plainly in brown breeches and a white flannel top, and he was very good with animals. His favorite by far was the caramel horse in the third pen, whom, he later found out belonged to the prince himself.
During the second week of his stationing at the palace, Amadeus had been dragging in a barrel of hay and a sack of feed when he realized that someone else was in his work area.
He set down the barrel and approached the stable of the caramel horse, dragging the feed along with him.
"Hello?" he asked, puzzled. It was rare that anyone other than himself was at the stables.
The other person, male, judging from his attire, was stroking the horse's mane. He turned and greeted the stable boy.
Amadeus bowed, flustered. "Y-your Highness, I-I didn't expect to see you here."
"I'm just going to take her out for a ride; I thought it would be better if you were informed," said the prince. Then he smiled, "So you wouldn't think she was stolen or anything like that."
Amadeus gave a tight-lipped smile of his own. "Of course, your highness."
Together with the prince (although he kept insisting the should do it himself) the stable boy readied the mare.
"I never did ask your name," stated the prince as he fastened the last strap of the saddle.
"It's Amadeus, sir," said the stable boy.
''Well, Amadeus," said the prince, "You can call me Char."