Disclaimer: I haven't been able to get this idea out of my head recently. In this story David will be aged 17. Please give me suggestions on how to carry on with this story as I want to somehow add the bandit version of Snow and Ruth's role as Charming's mother into the following chapters.

David's POV

Why did I agree to leave my mother? Why did I have to leave our farm? Looking back on that quite possibly last goodbye between my mother and I, I am now able to understand the poverty we were facing, but if it was to give up my freedom to love, then I am going to have to disobey King George's orders. As poor as my family may be, love is something I can afford and if this is the only way I can show that then so be it. For the last while, George has been forcing me to live under the identity of my dead twin brother, James, and so expects me to answer to that name. Why can't he not just call me David and live with the reality? It would be easier that way! I was standing by the balcony thinking of the bandit I met earlier on today when I realized that George was coming up to torture me again so I quickly wrote a note and gave it to a bird that was flying by before saying that it should be delivered to Snow. George came in just as the bird flew off and I turned round to see him but didn't move a bit.

"I called for you to join me at the table James!"

"It's David!" I answered with a hiss and the slightest bit of attitude.

"Do not disrespect me, boy!"

"Why not George?" I answered while moving slightly closer to him.

"It's father to you! Stop disrespecting me now or I will seriously be teaching you a few consequences. What were you doing there?"

"Why should I tell you? Obviously you don't care! But if you care so much I was sending a love message to a bandit I met today."

"Let me make this clear to you, boy! You will marry Abigail, King Midus' daughter so I can get a large amount of money." He replied viciously.

"George!" I whined. "Why can't I just marry for love?"

"Because I am your father and I expect you to call me that! I also expect to be treated with respect!"

"Sorry George, but I have only ever called one person that and I'll give you a clue, it isn't you." I said with attitude.

I began to turn away from him and then started to walk away. However, I was only a few steps away from him when I felt a harsh grip around my arm and suddenly, the palace guards came in. I looked at George pleadingly and he glared back at me so I knew that I had definitely crossed the line. What am I going to do now? What did he mean by consequences?

"I want you to go and assassinate his mother."

What did he just say? Did he seriously just say that he was sending them to assassinate my mother? No! This can't be happening! I got down on the ground and placed myself in a position that would show that I was begging.

"Please George! Please! Don't let them assassinate my mother!"

"You'll disobey me anyway so I may as well deal with your behavior problems this way."

"No! I won't George! I promise I won't!"

"How did I tell you to address me?"

"Sorry Father! I promise I won't disobey you again! I'll take any punishment you decide to give me! Just don't kill my mother!"

I looked up as George turned to the staff and told them to call off the assassination. However, what he said next really, really shocked me.

"It looks like the boy is ready to endure in his punishment, but I would like you to tell his mother how her son is getting punished and about his attitude, but don't kill her. Can we be left alone now so that I can deal with him?"

They agreed and I took a step back while George turned to see the door close. However, once he turned back to me I knew not to test him again.

"You can go and lie stomach down on your bed! You will learn from this young man!"

I obeyed and did exactly as he asked. To begin with, I was very confused but then I saw a belt being lifted and I clung to my bed sheets. Is he seriously going to use that on me? I haven't been punished with the belt since my father was alive and even my mother has only ever used her hand on me. I closed my eyes as George came over and soon after, I felt the belt hit me three times.

"You do not disrespect me, boy!" he viciously said to me before using the belt on me five more times.

"George! George! I'm sorry!"

"What was that?" he said while giving me three more swats with the belt.

"Sorry father!" I cried before feeling the belt hit me five more times.

"You can get up now, boy!"

I got up and was crying into my sleeve. At times like this I really wish I still had my mother to comfort but I know that unless I sneak out of the palace grounds that will not be possible. After a while, I looked up at George and he fired a disappointed look back at me.

"I'm sorry father."

"I appreciate that. But David; you are grounded to the palace grounds until I can trust that you will listen to me and you will be accompanied by a guard when you are outside. I expect you to stay here for the rest of the night."

I nodded and once the door was closed went back over to my bed. Either way, I'm going to see Snow again, even if I have to break the boundaries.