Part One – Prince Phillip Arrives

"I know you, I walked with you once upon a dream."

…that voice. Soaked and shaking like a leaf, Prince Eric did his best to sit up, trying to get his bearings. The inside of his mouth tasted like the salt of the sea, and when he breathed, everything from his nostrils to his lungs burned.

"I know you that look in your eyes is so familiar a gleam."

There is was again! That beautiful voice, so strong and resonating. Though his mind was foggy, he knew he needed to find its source. Prince Eric stood onto two unsteady legs, visibly trembling, his aching muscles strained painfully in protest, but he ignored them. He rubbed his eyes, which were also scratchy and painful with the salt water, and looked around. He surprised by the greenery he was surrounded in. It looked to be a woodland area of some sort, but much denser than anything Eric was familiar with. He legs gave out, and he fell back into the shallow pool of water he had awoken in.

"And I know it's true that visions are seldom all they seem. But if I know you, I'll know what you'll do, you'll love me at once, the way you did once upon a dream…"

It was the loveliest singing voice Eric had ever heard. It was lovelier than any woman, and it clearly belonged to a man. The voice came from beyond the trees, but not too far that Eric wouldn't be heard. And although he hated to interrupt the beautiful song, he called out-

"Hello? Is someone there, I believe I need assistance." His voice sounded far closer to a croack than he was expecting, he was worried for a moment that the man would take him for some wicked old witch, or evil forest spirit.

He heard the rustle of trees as the man approached, and sighed with relief, flopping back, exhausted, into the water.

Prince Eric watched as the figure emerged into the clearing. He was a clean, handsome young man, with light hair, and a strong jaw. Eric immediately recognised him as a noble person, but couldn't place who he was exactly. He was dressed in a fine brown tunic, and a long red cape, and a maroon riding hat with a sing feather stuck to the side – the kind of clothes one would only see on a person of stature. Not to mention, trailing behind him was a decorated white horse.

"Goodness!" he exclaimed, "Sir, are you alright? You're drenched, come quickly out of that pool." The man put an arm around Eric's waist and assisted him move up the bank onto the soft grass. Eric shivered in the cool air. "What happened to you?" The man asked, placing a gentle hand under Eric's chin to get a better look of his face.

"I-" Prince Eric turn away from him to cough, his mouth and throat were still bone dry and his attempts to produce saliva were in vain. The man noticed this to, quickly holding a container of water to his lips, and encouraging him to swallow. Eric swallowed quickly, enjoying the way it eased his dry aching throat. "Thank you," he coughed violently again, but quickly recovered, "Thank you so much, I promise you will be rewarded."

The man waved a hand dismissively, "I assure you, no reward is necessary."

"As the prince, I could have it no other way," Eric insisted.

The man looked shocked, more than he ought to have, most of Eric's subjects as least had some idea what he looked like. "Prince…?" he questioned slowly.

"We haven't met?" Eric frowned, quickly shaking it off and extending his hand, "oh, well, yes. I am Prince Eric, it's a pleasure to meet you…. er, what was your name?"

"Prince Phillip," he said, slipping his hand into Eric's.

Eric blinked in surprise, pulling back, "I'm sorry? What?"

"I am Prince Phillip, son of King Hubert. These woods are a part of the far reach of our kingdom. You must have travelled very far to come here, for I'm sorry to say I have never heard of any Prince Eric," he said, bowing his head, almost in shame.

Eric shook his head, "This is… all so confusing. Last I knew, I was in my own kingdom, on my own ship near the sea. To get anywhere near the woods in my kingdom you must travel for miles and miles, certainly not a distance I could make overnight."

Prince Phillip gave him a sympathetic look, and spoke in an optimistic tone, "Not to worry, my prince. I will take you home to my castle, from there you will catch your bearings, and together we will figure out how you came to be so far from your home. We welcome any agreeable kingdom, and won't hesitate to act favourably towards you and yours."

Eric smiled dully, focusing on the prince's lovely voice rather than the confusing questions batting around in his head. "Thank you, I am forever in your debt. Had you not found me, I don't believe I could have survived these woods the night."

"There's a chance you might not still," Prince Phillip said, looking over Eric with worry, "If you keep those damp clothes on, you will catch an illness, I fear. Should you be willing to take them off, I have my cloak, and a blanket strapped to my horse I could use to cover you while we journey back to my castle."

Eric hesitated, it wasn't at all appropriate to undress himself under the eyes of another prince, under normal circumstance he would even be embarrassed to wear his simple sailing clothes. But these were not normal circumstances, and Eric knew the prince was right. Grimsby had told him many stories of sailors who'd kept their cold clothes on for too long, catching awful throaty illnesses which would end in their deaths.

"Yes, yes, of course you're right. There would be no protection of modesty on my death bed."

Prince Phillip looked away politely as Eric slowly peeled of his wet and chilled clothes, leaving him standing bare in the midst of the forest, he knelt by the pool of shallow pool and gently washed the salt water from his body. Once he felt clean enough he turned back to Phillip, lightly tapping his shoulder.

"Do you mind if I take the cloak straight from your back?"

Prince Phillip, unhooked it, still not looking to him. "Of course, go ahead, please take it."

Eric awkwardly wrapped himself in the material, finding that it didn't cover him very well. Prince Phillip turned around, and Eric noticed that his eyes lingered far longer than they ought to have, but honestly, he didn't mind.

Prince Phillip smiled sheepishly, "Let's go then."