AN. -whimper- I'm sorry! I really am! I know I said that I would be able to update once a week, but I had ran into some problems such a small writer's block. Oh yeah. And there was this one instance where I was afraid to touch the keyboard because this spider fell through the cracks of the keyboard. In fact, I don't think even think it came out yet. -looks uneasily at the keyboard- See what I do for you guys? Heh. Anyway, I'm still so very sorry!! Oh.. and THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE REVIEWS!!! I'm so friggin happy I could dance - only I don't know how, and would probably end up tripping over my own feet. -blinks wildly- Ahem.. Anyway, THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU!! MWAH!!

I stared at Cade, wide-eyed, mouth agape. I opened my mouth and closed it again when only a croaking sound came out.

Trent paused in his pacing and muttering and gave me another baleful glare. But even Cade didn't miss the underlying worry that had lain behind the exasperated anger.

I swallowed, attempting to put more moisture back into my dry mouth. I heard what Cade said, but I just had to make sure.

"Run that by me one more time?" I requested hoarsely.

Trent whirled around, amber eyes blazing.

Uh-oh.

"He said," he growled dangerously while advancing on me one step at a time, "you agreed to rescue Princess Aurora from Mount. Eternal."

Damn Mount. Eternal. Trent is going to kill me first before any dangerous creature or booby trap or any damn Sowarocs does.

I was still looking at Trent warily when suddenly he stopped in front of me and his breaths seemed to calm. Slowly, he reached out with both arms, head lowered, bangs shadowing his eyes. He grasped my shoulders firmly and murmured lowly, "Adrian.."

Maybe he forgave me?

Without warning, he started shaking my shoulders violently, "YOU DAMN STUPID SON OF A-"

Luckily Cade tackled him from behind and forcibly yanked Trent away from me.

Good lad.

I shook my head and staggered a little, feeling a tad disoriented. Okay, very disoriented. Losing the fight of balance, I tripped over myself and fell to the cold ground.

After a small wrestle, Cade and Trent collapsed next to me. They were both breathing hard, trying to catch their breaths.

I guess Cade's stronger than he looks.

We finally just settled next to each other on the floor, leaning against the stone wall, just sitting there in silence, pondering about what will happen to the three of us because of four little thoughtless words.

When it was barely light enough to see, Trent got up to his feet slowly and offered a hand to Cade and I to get up.

Running a hand through his mussed hair, he gave a defeated sigh, "Adrian, you better not get yourself killed or I'll kill you myself."

I grinned.

He's back.

"Was that a threat on my royal person?" I raised a haughty eyebrow. "You know, I can have your head for that impertinent comment," I looked at Trent coolly.

"Really," he drawled, "Either way, you need to move your royal arse before we're late," he looked pointedly at the setting sun.

I shot him a smirk before following Cade out the door.

qp qp qp

Dinner was a tense affair with my father sending me glowering glares between every bite, advisors sending me puzzled and carefully-constructed masks of mournful woe, while Queen Isabella did nothing to conceal her looks of glee, triumph, and disdain between looks of mocking simpering.

"So what are your plans for the trip?" Father asked sharply over a glass of red wine.

I looked over at him with thoughtful eyes, chewing with deliberate slowness, showing none of my panicking and frantic thinking.

"Well," I drawled, pausing to take a sip of the wine to stall, "We planned to-"

"'We'?" he quoted, cutting in with narrowed eyes.

"Yes, your majesty," Trent cut in respectfully, "Prince Adrian requested Prince Cade and I to assist him in making plans for his trip,"

Queen Isabella gave a snort of disdain, "So the perfect prince refuses to lower himself to make plans and has to require.. assistance from my son and the son of a duke. Though I wonder, what kind of heir can't even make a simple plan to cross some mountain and to go to a tower?"

"That's enough, mother," Cade glanced over at her sharply with irritation, "You make it sound like traveling to mount. Eternal is the same as stepping over an anthill when any daft idiot can tell you the journey to Mount. Eternal is one of the most dangerous one any person will ever take. So please, just lay off Adrian for once,"

By the end of Cade's intervention, the whole dining room had gone dead silent and was watching Cade and the queen's reaction with wide eyes.

"All people that are not in the immediate royal family are dismissed," Father said tightly without taking his eyes off Cade.

Meanwhile, Cade had looked slightly less confident than before and was squirming a little under our father's intense stare.

The other people that were sitting at the dining table left reluctantly, including Trent, not wanting to miss the 'excitement'. Pretty soon, it was only Father, Queen Isabella, Cade, and I.

I sighed inwardly when I noticed Queen Isabella's darkening eyes, waiting for an explosion.

She stood up slowly, raising a shaking enraged arm, "You.. you.. you - fiend!" she screamed, pointing her trimmed index nail at me before slamming her fist on the dining table, causing many plates and glasses and eating utensils to jump and quiver. "You just think you're so perfect! But you're worse than the devil himself! You corrupt my son and actually have the nerve to use him against me! 'That's enough, mother', indeed! I'll have you know that Cade would have been a better king than you if he was the first-born, not you!" she screamed before bursting into loud noisy fake sobs. Father automatically went to comfort her with a guarded and unreadable expression, not saying anything.

Now that's what you call a drama queen.

I remained seemingly unperturbed while I'm a little miffed that Father didn't say anything at all in my defense. Forget that he's supposed to be my father, but what the queen just said could be counted as treason.

Meanwhile, Cade fumed in anger both for himself and for my behalf. He visibly grew angrier at every word his mother sobbed until he exploded.

"Damn it, mother! It's me who's talking, not Adrian! My words, not his! He didn't corrupt me, or even try to. Rather, you're the one who had tried to corrupt me, saying since I was old enough to understand words that Adrian was my enemy and that if it weren't for him I would be the heir to the throne. In fact, if my memory isn't failing me, you had even ranted at me this morning with one of those speeches just this morning! Well here's news for you! I wouldn't want to be king even if I was first-born, so stop trying to get me to become an enemy against Adrian!" his chest was heaving slightly by the end of his shouting, his icy blue eyes flashing angrily. He stood up abruptly, his chair toppling back unheeded. After sending another glare at his shell-shocked mother, Cade stormed out of the dining hall.

After another moment, I came to a decision in my mind. Coughing a little to get Father's attention, I murmured lowly, "I'll be setting off first thing tomorrow morning," With a dip of my head, I walked off to find Cade.

I had searched his room, the stables, and the fencing area before I found him in one of many towers, gazing off to the distance.

I came up and stood next to him, offering him silent support. He chewed the insides of his cheek and glanced at me with gratefulness reflecting in his now calm unreadable eyes. Cade looked off into the dark, listening to the distant sounds of waves crashing against the rocks.

"You know, I had always wanted a real parent to look up to. Someone who would not only listen to me and give me advice, but would be openly affectionate with me in public. Someone who would inspire me to be someone better. Someone that wouldn't just brush me off when I would have a nightmare. Someone that really loves me. I suppose that was the only reason why I hadn't really gone all out against my mother. Somewhere deep inside of me would just hope that someday, she would transform into this amazing parent that I had always wanted. But tonight was the last straw," Cade's soft wistful voice hardened as he whirled to face me, eyes flashing. "Did you hear her? I know that you know that she was already more than sure that you wouldn't survive the 'mission', and then I would succeed the title. She was just so goddamn happy that 'I' would be able to rule when we both know that she would be the one who will be commanding me on how to rule."

I just silently stood there, letting him get the rants out of his chest while still giving him support and sympathy.

Cade's voice drifted off as we both turned to face the window again in the dark, listening to the waves. "Hey," he said suddenly, "don't get yourself killed, okay? I don't want to be the heir,"

My smile was unseen in the dark as I promised, "I swear I won't."

qp qp qp

I suppose you think I'm being rather odd in not informing my two best friends about my plans. But I swear it's for the greater good. I know them.

If they knew I was going to set off tomorrow, they'll try to do something ridiculous as to delay the journey or to tie me up and lock me in their rooms to prevent me from making the perilous expedition. The worst-case scenario is if they try to follow me into Mount. Eternal.

We had discovered that there's a spell that only allows one person at a time with the intention of saving Princess Aurora on the mountain. The spell will only allow the first person that had crossed some invisible line to cross safely while flinging the rest of the people violently into trees, often causing serious injuries.

I couldn't risk them following me and to end up crumpled under some random tree. That's why I chose not to tell them.

I had gotten up at 4 o'clock in the morning. I had packed light with only the necessary items for the trip. Many people may think that I'm a pampered prince who knows nothing about surviving in the wild, but I had a wonderful tutor who had taught me in aspects. He had taught me the art of the sword, how to use bow and arrows, daggers, rapiers, and more weapons. Surprisingly, he was also the one who had taught me in history, arithmetic, myths, geography, etc. The reason it was surprising was because he was a knight, and most knights don't bother with books, much like his best friend. Anyway, he had sent me out in the woods for a week with nothing but my horse, sword, dagger, and a thin blanket. Needless to say, I had learned more in that one week than 2 years with my father.

For some reason, my father never liked my tutor or his best friend, and the feeling is completely mutual. My tutor and his friend were two of the army of knights King Phillip had sent as compensation. But even through his dislike, my father couldn't deny their skill as knights, and had Sir Kenneth, or Sir Ken, be my tutor. Sir Asher had often helped in the fighting areas.

Slinging over my knapsack over Cassius, my white stallion, I walked him out of the stable, and towards the front gates. The air was crisp, fresh, and bloody cold, causing my eyes to tear up. It was still fairly dark, only a little light from the sun was shed from behind the clouds.

Finally, I reached the gates where the sleeping guards were standing. I have always marveled at their ability to sleep even while standing, and so didn't even bother to wake them up. I mounted Cassius, and I got him to go with a slow trot. I don't want Cassius to collapse of exhaustion half way through.

Speaking of which, isn't Cassius a nice name? I named him myself, and it even has a meaning. Latin, too. It means 'vain', which is completely true. Cassius was also one of the two main protagonists against Julius Caesar. See, I even give you a short history lesson on a name!!

Contrary to what many people might think, I'm not the daft idiot that I was when I was younger. Sure, I have my moments, but doesn't everyone? I admit, that that moment when I agreed to something I don't know about wasn't my best, but I have my moments of ingenuity. The instances of when I daydream during the meetings happen often, and most of the time, my guesswork turns out for the better.

Actually, I daydream quite a lot. And I suppose that would explain why I'm now lost and is riding in circles.

Oh damn. Not even an hour away from the castle and I'm already lost. I fumbled around in the knapsack for my compass and map although I doubt they would help much. I can just hear Trent now if he was here.

Hold on.

I paused in my rifling and looked up. I was sure I heard Trent and Cade's sniggers.

I looked around, trying in vain to look through the lightening woods. I shrugged and turned back to my knapsack.

"It's this way, idiot,"

I looked up sharply.

There they were, Trent and Cade on their horses in front of me, about 5 yards away, eyes twinkling with barely-suppressed mirth.

I gaped.

They waved jauntily back at me with a smirk.

"H-h-how- What- When-..?" I stammered with disbelief.

"How did we know? What are we doing here? When did we start following you?" Cade smirked cockily. I guess the damn kid has been around me too much.

"We overheard some servants talking about your journey. We're here to make sure you don't get yourself killed or lost. And we were following you ever since you went to the stables." Trent grinned, answering my questions in quick succession.

"You can't- The spell-" I tried to make them go back. Geez, aren't I eloquent this morning?

"Yes we can. Our intention of going up to Mount. Eternal is to make sure you don't get yourself killed, not rescuing the Princess." Trent cut in promptly with a smug smile.

"But you can't be sure-" I tried again.

"We won't know if we don't try," Cade interrupted with a cheeky grin.

"ARGHH!!" I growled in frustration. "I won't risk it! As prince, I demand that you two go back to the castle at once!" I scowled, bringing out the prince stature out for the first time.

"Oh?" Trent asked, unconcerned, raising a lazy eyebrow.

"As second-born to the king, I officially denigrate the order," Cade announced imperiously, eyes glinting wickedly.

"As heir to the throne, I officially override the statement," I narrowed my eyes.

"You and what army?" Trent looked around deliberately, eyes shining mischievously.

I groaned. Of course. The only reason they didn't confront me at the gates was because if I saw them then, I would have ordered the guards to take them back to the castle and to chain them to the dungeons to prevent them from following me.

I gave a defeated sigh before protesting half-heartedly, "This isn't fair. Two against one."

The two sniggered before calling out, "So what the hell are you waiting for, a bloody invite?"

I glared at them before reluctantly nudging Cassius towards them. I looked at them. I sighed, "I still don't know why you two are here. I was perfectly well," I said unconvincingly.

Trent snorted, "Yeah, and was that before or after you decided to walk in circles?"

I stuck out my tongue at him.

"Real mature, Adrian," Cade smirked, "And besides, if you die, we die also. That way, my mother won't get the satisfaction of me succeeding the title," he raised his eyebrows at me, hiding his smile as he flicked off a piece invisible flint from his green tunic.

I rolled my eyes before I completely gave in, "Okay, fine. But you better not leave me alone with the Sowaroc when we get there,"

They exchanged looks and coughed, "Right," before laughing at my scowl.

And so we set off towards the dreaded Mount. Eternal although it isn't so dreaded now that I have them riding next to me, laughing at me.

AN. Heh. You likey? I hope the ending wasn't too cheesy. I sometimes have troubles writing the endings for stuff. I also hope that the POV isn't too weird. This is actually the first time I wrote a guy's first person POV, so this is a totally new thing for me. Haha.. I also feel like humming "It's a Small World". How'd you like that Ken and Asher were Adrian's tutors?? Don't worry, they're not dead. I said 'was' because they're not his tutors any more. I just couldn't help putting that in. Besides, I need them nearby when Rory comes back so she can tackle them. Heh heh.. Don't forget to review!! OH!! And that brings me to the next point.. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR REVIEWING!! I've actually gotten some new reviewers!!! Me so happy!! Of course, I still love the people who keep reviewing.. I LOVE YOU GUYS SO MUCH!!! Hm.. I'm not sure if I should do the review response thingy because isn't that against the ff rules?? Maybe I'll do that when I'm done with the stories.. -blinks- Um.. OKAY! THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR READING!! Don't forget to review!!