A/N: Update! Yay! Sorry it's been a while since this got updated. I've had a lot going on. This chapter is more Noah-centric.

Special thanks to Bloodylilcorpse for reviewing!:)

Don't expect the next update for a while.

Enjoy!

"If you're wondering why I called you two in here, you can stop now."

Noah was pacing as both twins entered the large library at the same time. It was multiple stories, taking up an entire tower of the castle, with floor to ceiling books, ladders, winding staircases, and tables with soft chairs for hours of reading if one wished.

"If it's about the guard in the infirmary, I can explain that one," defended Mal.

"It's not about Izzy, although I am mad about that, and slightly impressed. This is about...your past."

"Our past? What about it?" asked Mike.

"Nothing for you to be concerned about," Noah snapped back. "However, I know you two have been sneaking into town. And it needs to stop. If people found out who you really were…." He shook his head. "I don't think Eva can fend off a whole village."

"What is there to be concerned about? Why would people storm this place? It's a pretty small castle."

"Because…." Noah tried to argue, but gave it up. "Ugh. Just… don't do it again, or you're out of here." He turned on his heel, his cape flying behind him, and he walked away from the two twins, who looked at each other in confusion. They walked back out together, back up to their bedroom.

"Cody says hi!" Mal shouted over his shoulder at Noah as he walked away with Mike.

Neither twin saw Noah blush.

"Dealing with those two. I swear, it gives me a headache just thinking about it."

Noah was at the bar in the village, dressed down in plain clothing so he didn't look like nobility. He was with a few of his friends, including Owen, a chubby baker, Eva, one of his personal bodyguards but also a great person to have if in a bar fight, and a generally great girl to have around, if you don't make her angry, and Ezekiel, a farmer whom no one really liked, but always came to these kinds of things anyway.

"Ahh, I'm sure it's not that bad. They're both still teenagers, Noah. You just have to be patient," Owen figured. He had never met Noah's younger cousins, but he could tell by the way Noah described them that they were a bit of a handful. I mean, Noah's only in his early 20s.

"No, it IS that bad. Your girlfriend got creamed by Mal in five seconds yesterday." Eva disagreed. "And he bent a sword Cody spent a month on in half like it was putty."

"Izzy...got beat up by a teenager? Wow, I've underestimated him! Now I kinda wanna meet him… Or maybe I'm thinking about Mike…"

"You don't wanna meet Mal. Seriously. Mike's okay, but he goes along with everything Mal says. It's hard to trust someone like that." Noah reasoned.

"Anywho, how ARE things with this armorsmith you always talk about? He seems like a nice guy, based on what you say," asked Owen, always one to want to know what's going on in Noah's love life.

"F-fine, who wants to know? It's not like I actually wanna date him…. And I can't. He works for me, it would be too weird," Noah replied quickly, then sadly.

"Come on, Noah, you should go for it! It's not like he's seeing anybody else."

"I don't know…. What if people found out? I'd lose the respect people have for me, my parents would freak, and if Mike or Mal found out…." He put his head down on the table, letting his long hair fall around his head, not wanting to think about it.

Eva started to gently pat him on the back. "You shouldn't have to deal with this. Yes, you're their closest family, but that still doesn't mean you deserve to take on so much responsibility." She put his head upright, and gave him a small, rare smile.

"You should get out of there for a little while, have some fun!" Owen declared.

"I think I'd rather be holed up in my library for eternity." Noah retorted.

"Well, if you change your mind, we'll be here." Owen grabbed his smaller friend and hugged him until he couldn't breathe, then let go and walked out of the bar, waving as he exited.

"I gotta go, eh? Beth'll kill me if I'm not back soon." Ezekial finally spoke, then stood up and followed Owen out.

"So… Ready to head back, Eva?" Noah asked his guard and close friend.

"Yeah, this joint is depressing when that fat chunk of butter's not around. Let's go."

Noah laughed, and the two left.

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