Author: CrazedHumor

Title: When the Warbler Sings

Rated: M, for future sexual situations, language, and violence

Length/Status: One Chapter/Incomplete

Summary: Two princes from rival kingdoms have made names for themselves across the land. Not only with high stature and accomplishments, but good looks and quick wit, caught by the attention of the townsfolk and suitors. However, what the rest of the kingdom doesn't know... wont hurt them. As these young men become fast friends during their training and classes, they grow closer through mutual understanding. Years seem to tear them apart and they're shown to be enemies, until they find out the identity of their counterpart and become what they once were. Their feelings unfold, hidden from one another until they find that they're forced to take a wife after pressure is pushed upon them by their kingdoms and family, when their elders decide to go to war with each other. It's duty for their kingdom, the people who reside in it, and their family line against each other's one downfall: Falling in love with the opposing prince and best friend. AU

Note: First chapter, including the prologue (which is short), take place as they're children. The telling of how knights and princes come to learn their lessons, based on the time period, I'm almost certain, are inaccurate. I manipulated how things worked to fit the story. Also, the color of his eyes have been changed on purpose. This is your warning.

Dedicated To: Holly (after2am), the Nick to my Jeff (and beta). And Nikki, the Jeff to my Nick. I love you both exponentially.


Prologue: A Meeting of Twisted Faith

He ran through the streets, taking in as much air into his lungs as possible. How long had they been running? He didn't know distance, but it had to have been nearly a full five minutes. His small heart was thumping against his chest and his arms were moving on either side of him, trying to propel him forward faster and away from the larger men in silver. He could hear the clanging of metal behind him, the deep shouts calling for him over his shoulder, the hitting of their feet against the gravel and rock of the streets that wound around the center of the town.

'How had they even spotted me? No one knew I was out. I made sure of it..'

Chest heaving, he rounded a corner, knocking over a stand of fruits and the squawking of chickens surrounded him, feathers catching in the cloth that hung loosely from his body. His feet slipped more than once and he felt himself fall forward and onto a barrel full of wine, crashing it into the wall and causing the rim to crack and bleed the dark contents across the ground. His feet grew wet, but it wasn't the time to worry as he glanced over his shoulder and saw the men coming around the same corner he had just come from. He threw himself up, speeding off with soaked feet and running until there was no trail to leave. As he pushed forward, he felt the dirt on his face slide with the sweat that gleamed from his pores, running down to his chin and dripping onto his tattered and torn robes.

He finally reached the end of the market, scanning for any place to hide from prying or searching eyes, until they landed on the small blacksmith's shelter. There was a wall that separated the eyes of those on the road to that within and it seemed like the perfect place to take a moment's rest. Skidding forward, he kept his focus on the entryway and huffed with his mouth open, just as he felt his arm being pulled.

His heart sped up ten fold, thinking that he had somehow been caught by one of the men. There was light and then there wasn't. A door slammed and he heard a lock slide into place. The grip on his arm hadn't loosen. The tips of the person's fingers dug into his skin as he was held onto and then pushed against the wall next to the door. Only, when he looked down, blinking at the difference in light and adjusting his eyes to see, he found that the hands were not at all large and gloved as the men's had been. Instead they were small and somewhat… like his own.

Breathing evening out, he looked up to meet the other person's gaze. A boy. Who also seemed to be his own age of six or seven and was holding up a finger to his lips and shaking his head. He pressed closer, and the boy's eyes leaned into the small crack of the door, peering outside and giving him a better look. He seemed blonde. Darker than most kids who went out in the sun and hung over half his face. His skin was the same, covered in patches of dirt, not too unlike his own. Then again, so did the rest of the children in the village. He was almost the same height, if not a little taller and lankier than himself. And his eyes… they glowed against the light outside. A bright blue that seemed to be widened in both excitement and concern at their current situation.

When the other boy finally pulled away, the sounds of the men rushing past receding until there was no more, freeing his own shoulder from being pinned against the wall, he took in their surroundings. It seemed to be an empty shop. Half riddled with empty baskets and containers, the floor was covered in places with broken weaves and shards of wood as though it had been robbed as of recent. His eyes began to sting and he lifted a hand to rub at them, only causing more pain as the salt of his sweat leaked through his lids. He spotted a pail not too far away, and he rushed to bed over, scooping the water and splashing it onto his face to get the dirt and sweat from his eyes and stop the watering.

"What's your name?"

He continued to smother his face in the cool water, the need to rid himself of the sting overwhelming him at the sound of the voice in front of him. "I'm Nick," he said through his hands. Letting his rough accent free, he returned the question. "An' who might you be?"

He didn't look up, but he could feel the boy shrug at his question. "'M nobody."

Pausing, he glanced up with one eye squinted closed. "Well… you're standin' there. And you look like somebody. So, you've gotta be somebody." Then he returned to his task, taking the last of the dirt from his hair now, for fear that that too would fall down his face.

The other boy cleared his throat and he heard the sound of feet padding against the ground. "Question is, is why you were runnin'…" The feet stopped and he could see them just beyond the bucket he kneeled over. "You've to have done somethin' if they were going after you."

Nick finally stood, eyes closed and he reached down to bring his tunic to his face to wipe away the excess water. Chuckling, he dropped the cloth and shook his head to shed the droplets clinging to the dark strands on his head. "I don't have to do anythin' to get their attention," he muttered with an eye role. When he looked up, he found himself regretting his action as his gaze met the other boy's. His expression, which was slowly turning into realization, was followed by a hand that came up to point in his direction. "No," Nick somewhat shouted.

Running forward once more, nearly tripping on the pail, he brought his hand up to cover the boy's mouth before he could speak. "You mustn't tell." He hadn't even thought about the outcome of taking off the dirt. Not that it had come to mind when he had been pulled into an unused shop by a random boy off the street. "They can't know I'm here." He pushed his hand further against the boy. "Promise you wont shout. Or tell." He felt the boy nod against his hand and he watched the blue eyes for a moment before slowly letting his hand fall to his side and taking a step back. Watching him with worry eyes for a minute or so, he finally brought his hand up with a small smile.

"I'm Nick."

He watched as the other boy's eyes flickered from his face to his hand. There was the slight twinge of panic taking over his stomach as he stood there. The boy could easily turn around and signal the guards down to take him away. He could be found out by the whole kingdom in just a few short seconds if this boy decided to let the words slip from him.

A hand rose up to meet between them and there was a sloppy playful handshake as the taller of the two let the corner of his lips curl up slightly.

"'M Jeff."


A/N: So there it is. The start of it all. I felt like the Niff fanfiction community needed a little... something. Tell me what you think! (Also, Holly didn't beta this chapter. So blame me for mistakes. I was impatient.)