Here's Chapter Three. Enjoy...

Chapter Three: Bound to Blood

One Year Later…

"Hide-and-Seek! Hide-and-Seek!" The Prince jumped around tirelessly as he looked to his friend.

"Come on. Whenever you want to play a game it's always hide-and-seek. Isn't there a different game ye wanna play?"

The red-eyed boy looked to the thief and grinned, "Catch?"

This made the thief grin and then nod, "Alright, you try and catch me again. You're getting better at keeping up with me."

As the thief ran off he thought back to the first meeting with his friend. The Prince had been able to follow him, and even after they had set him back at the castle, each week from then on he had been able to make his way to the secret hide away, and had never been caught. Each week came time for new chances in teaching the Prince to fend for himself, and the thief was amazed at how quickly the young child had learnt. He was now able to pickpocket off guards without any realisation, and after a brutal lesson in weaponry, he could hide any weapon and draw it at will without any hesitation.

The Prince, after counting to fifty, ran away in search of his comrade, with a pair of eyes following his every move. The King and Queen had noted their sons disappearing acts and after talking with his attendant, who had no idea where he ran off to all the time, had come to the decision that he must be followed. Now every time the Prince crept away, his attendant followed, and had been since a week before.

"Caught you!" The Prince ran into his friend and tried to tackle him to the ground. "See. You can't run away from me, I'm too quick for you."

With both boys laughing in glee, the attendant used that time to send for the guards he had waiting and in no time, ten big and burly guards surrounded the two boys.

"You know, Your Highness, you shouldn't befriend thieves." The attendant came into view of the two boys and smiled evilly.

The Prince stood up and glared to his attendant, "What do you want, Boris? He's my friend, we're just playing."

Boris smirked and issued a quiet order to his guards, who picked the nine-year-old thief up from his feet and started to carry him off towards the palace. The Prince threw his arms at the guards holding him and began to scream, "You can't do this. He's my friend! He's my friend!"

The thief was brought into the magnificent throne room where he awaited his judgement. The guards holding him threw him to his knees, in respect for royalty. The King and Queen, elegantly dressed but with scowls on their face, entered the throne room. Both King and Queen walked slowly to their thrones and seated. The King scowled as he noticed the thief in his presence, while his wife leant back and sighed. "We try to do all we possibly can to bring our son up with only the best influence, and then we find out he would rather befriend a thief and run away at night." She turned to the Prince who had been brought in over the guard's shoulder and motioned for him to come forward. With tears running down his face, he ran over to his mother and hugged her in hope for comfort. "No. I expected more from you than this, my son."

The King, watching from the side, leant over and placed his son on his lap, "Your mother is right, son. You are going to be King one day. You can not go running off when you please, and especially not with thieves."

With tears growing in his eyes the Prince buried his face in his father's tunic. A small muffled voice was heard from him, "But he's my friend…"

The Queen sighed as she stood to her feet. The King followed suit with his son in his arms. "Guards, bring the thief forward." The guards pulled the thief forward and stood on either side. "Show me his wrist." The guard on his right took the thief by his right arm and pulled his sleeve down until his wrist was exposed. One diagonal line was revealed and scowls crossed both parents' faces. "A common thief, a criminal. Boris. Step forward."

The young Prince's attendant came forth and bowed. "Yes, Your Highness?"

"You said you saw this rogue teaching our son some inappropriate methods of fighting?"

Boris bowed his head slightly in reply, "Indeed."

The King placed his son in front of him with a firm grip on his shoulders. "I want him brought away and punished. Have him be given the royal insignia. I will not have a thief bring up my son."

A scream left the Prince's mouth as he tried to run forward to help his friend. The thief was brought away until only the King and Queen were left standing with their son crying in plea for him. The Prince looked up in despair and burst out in tears again. Admidst his bawling he tried to appeal for his friend, "Why? - He wasn't hurting me… He's my friend… You can't do that- I won't let you!"

With his outburst finished he threw his arms down and ran out of the room. The King went to follow, but the Queen held him back, "Let him go, honey. Let him calm down by himself."

The King sat back down onto his throne and sighed, "But what if he was right? It was true that the thief wasn't hurting him-what if we could trust him…"

"… a thief? Darling, the only way we could trust him would be for-" She paused as the thought struck them both. The idea was forming in their heads, but they knew all the dignitaries would never agree with it…but it would only be for a little while. If he doesn't meet our standards, we will get rid of him. But with a vow… The King sat up abruptly and sent for his guard. "I want that thief brought to me. Bring him to me later tonight. When the Prince is asleep. I shall see him then in my study."

The guard bowed in response and left the room. The Queen put a hand on her husband's shoulder and led him from the room. "Do you think you are doing the right thing?"

"I don't know…"

Darkness was falling when the thief was abruptly pulled from his prison cell and brought through the palace. With no idea where they were going the only thought running through him was that there was not going to be a short drop and a sudden stop for him. The very idea of him being hung for befriending the Prince sent shivers down his spine. After several turns his anticipation rose when two doors swung wide open to reveal the King's personal study. With heart racing the thief did all he could from trying to get out of the guards grip and bolting for the exit. On a stool, placed in front of the hearth for warmth, sat the King. When the door had opened he had stood and was awaiting the prisoner to be brought forward. He sat back down once the doors were shut and motioned for all of his attendants to leave the room. Only his personal attendant stayed.

"Voltaire, can you bring him here?"

His attendant walked over to the dirty boy, and put a firm hand on his back. Leading him over to the King, he was placed in front of him, so the King could view him better. "My wife and I have been talking and it seems that our son wants you to be let free. Can you think why that is?"

The thief took a hesitant step forward and said softly, "I'm his friend, sire."

The King leant back with in amusement and chuckled softly, "I didn't think the day would come that my son, the next in heir to the throne, would befriend a thief."

"I'm sorry your Highness?" Voltaire stepped forward in disagreement, "Are you saying that you are allowing this-this-"

"Yes, Voltaire, I think I am."

"But-but-Your Highness…" The King raised a hand for silence and stood up.

"I am only allowing it on one condition." The thief's eyes grew wide at thought that he would be let free and still be allowed to be friends with the Prince. "You are not to steal ever again. Do you understand me? And I am not just saying this because it is my kingdom you are stealing off-" The thief nodded and smiled in recognition of the small joke, "But I don't want you to teach my son anything about thieving, or your way of fighting. That is not the way for a Prince to behave. There is also one other condition to this, if you want to be able to stay here in the palace." His eyes flew wide… a thief? In the palace? A proper room with proper food... The King watched the thief's face for his reaction. What he saw set another chuckle to leave his mouth. "So you agree? You want to stay? Well there is only one thing you need to do. I want you to vow. You are to vow that you will not steal, or teach my son any more thieving techniques. You are to watch my son and protect him. If anything is to happen to him, I will lay blame on you, do you understand? Now I am giving you a big chance, for a thief. If you don't think you could do it, or you don't want to, I can always-"

"I will!" The interjection stunned the King and Voltaire stepped forward with arm raised. He was about to teach the miscreant the proper ways to respect a King when the King himself stepped in.

"Voltaire! You are not to touch him. He is to make his vow, and then a cot will be set up in his charge's room. He will be treated like any other dignitary, I have given him a chance for a new life and with this vow his crimes are to be forgotten." The thief rubbed his right wrist. The King, noticing this, took his wrist and held it in view. "You have this tattoo so you will remember your vow. Now, are you ready?"

Looking into the King's gaze the thief slowly nodded his head as he swallowed back the doubt. To vow, would mean that he would be in debt for life. Avarians didn't go back on their promises no matter what. They would do anything to keep their vows sacred. Anything…

"I'm ready…"

From behind the door, another young avarian watched. The Queen had sent for him knowing that because he was small he could fit into tight places and listen in with no fear of being caught. Even being caught wasn't a problem, because he would very easily get away with it. His grandfather was a highly renowned noble, and a good friend to the Royal family. With his parent's death, when he was young, he had been brought up by his grandfather and although he despised his grandfathers forever-daily-happiness he would do anything to please him, even watch a street rat like this thief, in front of him, for the Queen.

He turned back to the scene in front of him and watched intently. The thief was pledging a vow of protection to the King, promising to keep the Prince safe until he was crowned King. The young avarian noble, thinking that he had seen enough, ran off to where the Queen awaited his news. He ran into her bedroom and bowed in front of her. Sitting next to her was his grandfather, also waiting for what he had to say. The Queen smiled to him and motioned for him to sit on the ground to catch his breath.

"Please, tell me what happened. What did he do?"

The young noble sat where he was and looked up to his Queen, "The King made him vow. He said that the thief had to promise to protect the Prince, and that if anything happened to the Prince, he would be blamed. He has the crown on his tattoo. If anything happens to the Prince, he'll be brought to you and the King."

The Queen nodded her thanks and turned to the elder noble for advice, "Do you think this is right? That boy is a thief, and he is allowing our son to learn from a miscreant such as he."

"I'm not sure, milady. Maybe it will turn out better than expected. He is only young. Let him choose his own friends. You won't be there for him all the time, so you need to let him learn from his own mistakes. But then again, it might not be a mistake at all."

Looking to him softly she sighed and turned to her old friend's grandchild. "Brian, can you do something for me?"

The avarian nodded his head in response, "Anything."

"I want you to make a vow to me. I want you to vow that you will protect my son aswell. You are to watch that thief and make sure that if anything does happen, you will protect my son and bring authority to whoever is responsible. You are to watch that thief, that he doesn't do anything against our law. He may be welcomed here now, but that won't mean that he is no longer a thief. He is to be watched and watched very carefully. Understood?"

With mouth agape he slowly nodded his head. He didn't trust the thief either and the Prince was a very good friend of his. To be held with such a responsibility overwhelmed him. "Yes. I'll do it. I'll make the vow."

And as Brian made the vow, they never saw that though the door was only ajar a tiny bit, it was enough for a certain thief to hear from. With a stern look on his face he turned away and headed down the halls for the Prince's room. He was bound to the vow; bound to his friend, bound to blood…

"Tala? Are you deaf! I said, what about you?" Mariah stood there with hands on hips glaring at him after several moments with no answer. She stormed back over to where she had been seated moments ago and leant against the wall. "Were you even listening to us? Everyone was giving their theories about what happened to the Prince, and I decide to ask you and you ignore me." Tala stayed where he was and didn't move. Mariah's eyes narrowed down as she saw his response, "Are you going to answer or not? What do you think happened to the Prince?"

Avarians hate to lie…

"I… don't know."

Sooo... how did you like it so far? You're welcome to review each chapter seperately... I wouldn't mind. But please, PLEASE review...