Chapter 6.

Stefan's perspective

"Ah, there's no need to kneel before me. Arise miss," the prince hastily ordered.

The hooded figure nodded and slowly rose, "As you wish your highness."

"Please-call me Stefan. You've saved my sister's life, you have every right to call me by my first name," the prince smiled.

The cloaked figure coughed quietly and stuttered, "Ok Stefan... It's an honor to meet you and all, but I just wanted to tell you I'm not a girl," the last words came out as more of a mutter. The other looked the side, abashed.

"Pardon?" Stefan's eyebrows shot up. He scrutinized the other's face. His or her face was rather feminine and angelic.

It can't be.

Stephan acted more out of impulse rather than logic, forgetting all the manners that were nailed firmly into his mind as a child. He reached for the hood of the cloak, causing the other to flinch. Stefan ignored the other's reaction and took hold of the silky emerald material and pulled off the hood. All the doubt that originally lurked in the dark corners of Stefan's mind were washed away by the boy's appearance.

Robyn's perspective

Robyn quickly pulled his hood back up and his face flushed red as he indignantly looked away from the prince. He wasn't entirely sure why, but it irritated him that the prince actually had to remove his hood to ensure he was a boy. Did he really look that much like girl?

"Well, I should leave soon. I have to be home by two. Farewell your highness," Robyn's tone out came a bit harsher than he intended it to sound. He felt a little guilty, but he brushed away the feeling and started to head towards the village.

"Wait! Please, come back!" Robyn paused and turned around. The prince was running after him with a surprisingly desperate look on his face.

"Isn't there anything you'd like in return for saving my sister's life?"

Robyn sighed, "No thank you. The princess is still alive and that is enough of a reward for me," the adolescent smiled at Katrina, who bashfully looked up to him.

"Then may I request my reward since I did save you from falling," Stefan smirked boldly.

Robyn stared at the prince, speechless. The nerve of the prince was shocking.

"I want you to come to this place at least once every week at ten in the morning to meet me."

Robyn almost blurted out, "No! And why on Earth would you want to see me again?" but he refrained himself from doing so by swallowing down his words of protest. Of course, Stefan was a prince, and princes usually got their way. Disobeying a prince's word was a despicable crime- well, according to all the books Robyn had read about royalty. He forced himself to look up at the prince, whose eyes seem to be challenging Robyn to say no.

"Al-alright then," Robyn murmured unwillingly.

"And may I ask for your name?" Stefan looked at Robyn curiously.

"Robyn, just Robyn," he answered hesitantly. He reminded himself to keep the rest of his secrets locked away in the chest of classified information in his mind. He wasn't planning on letting the prince unlock that chest any time soon.

"I should really get going now," Robyn quickly walked away. He knew that it wasn't proper to speak to the prince in this manner, but it also wasn't proper for the prince to take off his hood without asking for permission.

"Farewell Robyn, I'll see you a week from now," the prince called after him. Robyn looked back at the prince and waved briefly before he disappeared into the boisterous crowd of villagers.

It took thirty minutes for Robyn to walk all the way back to the manor. Once he was under the hole, he saw Penelope's head peeping from above.

"Robyn! You're back!" she exclaimed, "Give me a few seconds, I'll get a ladder."

Robyn heard the dragon scurry away for a few moments. It wasn't long before he heard her footsteps running back .

"Watch out, I'm lowering the ladder down the crack," the dragon grunted. Robyn waited patiently for the dragon to finish. He climbed up the ladder and then hugged Penelope after he was out.

"Whoa, what's with the gushy feelings?" Penelope laughed and patted Robyn's back.

Robyn looked at Penelope miserably, "I met a prince."

"Ah-uh, sorry, what's so bad about that?" Penelope scratched her head.

Before Robyn knew it, he was spilling everything out to Penelope. The dragon nodded and uttered a few "ahs" and "ohs".

"Well... that's um. Interesting?" Penelope didn't know how to react.

Robyn sighed loudly and ruffled his hair with his hand as he paced around the room, "What am I supposed to do? I have to meet him again!" Robyn crossed his arms and let out a huff. He hated how the prince basically forced him to come back next week. Not because he disliked visiting the village but because he hated being treated like some pet that served its master. Robyn already had one "master", and one was enough.

"Meet who again?" Robyn and Penelope whirled around to spot Hobie hopping down the stairs.

Robyn looked pleadingly at Penelope to explain.

"Er... well, you see..." Penelope stammered and nervously looked back and forth between Robyn and Hobie.

Robyn averted his gaze to the ground while Penelope informed the rabbit about Robyn's encounter with the prince. Hobie remained silent and his nose twitched once in a while as he listened carefully.

"Oh Robyn..." Hobie sighed.

"I know, I know, I was too conspicuous... But I couldn't have let the Katrina die, could I?" Robyn murmured. The adolescent's eyes filled with uncertainty and his face became troubled.

"It's dangerous to go out to the village on a regular basis because Gothel may find out... however I guess Penelope and I can help. You did well Robyn," Hobie smiled wearily.

"Well? How did I do well? By drawing my attention to myself and potentially endangering the prince's and my life?" Robyn laughed softly.

"No Robyn. You did well in saving the princess' life. I'm proud of the selfless man you've become," Hobie patted Robyn's foot like he usually did.

"Me? A man? Hobie, don't tell me that you think I'm that old already!" Robyn jested and picked up the elderly rabbit, spinning Hobie around while giggling.

"Oi! Put me down Robyn!" Hobie protested, "I swear I'm getting too old for this! Penelope, save me!" the rabbit hollered at the dragon who chuckled.

"At your service my furry friend!" Penelope mocked a valiant tone and grabbed the rabbit from Robyn's hands.

"My goodness, thank you," the rabbit wiped his lopsided ear out of his face.

"We should probably go, Gothel will return any minute now," Penelope carried the grumbling rabbit and walked up the stairs.

"Ya coming Robyn?" Penelope asked.

"Yes, I just need to take off my cloak," Robyn's voice was slightly muffled. He let out a satisfied sigh after he managed to pull the cloak over his head.

"Ok, I'm coming!" Robyn raced up the stairs laughing as he caught up to his friends.

Stefan's POV

It was around six in the evening, the *Great Hall* was filled with the sounds of merry chatter and occasional laughter which resounded rambunctiously. The warm orange candles that hung from the high stone *barrel vaulted* ceiling added to the comforting and cheerful atmosphere. Stefan's father, King Fredrick, sat on the grandest chair in middle of the high table which rested on the platform above normal ground, where the rest of the Lords and Ladies were seated. The King's children were seated on each of his sides equally. King Fredrick stood up the the noise quelled. He laughed heartily and spread his arms.

"My good and loyal subjects! May you enjoy this feast so graciously bestowed before you in honor of my son, Prince Thomas. This day marks his tenth birthday. Rise my friends and participate in this toast to the health of Prince Thomas!" the King's voice boomed throughout the Hall. King Fredrick's eyes twinkled and his subjects obediently rose to their feet with their glistening goblets filled with wine raised.

"Hear, hear!" the Lords and Ladies chanted. Everyone took a sip from their goblet and then seated themselves.

"May the feast commence!"

The Hall buzzed with enthusiastic chatter as the subjects started to dig into their meal. King Fredrick clapped Tommy's shoulder as he beamed proudly.

Stefan allowed himself to take a few bites of his palatable meal. He realized that he still couldn't stop grinning to himself.

"Why are you smiling Stefan?" Tommy asked, looking up at his brother, puzzled. The ten year old shoveled a large piece of beef into his mouth and continued to stare at his brother.

"I've made a friend today," Stefan stared at his favorite crimson banner of a Griffin hanging from the wall. It was suspended in the middle of the air along with the other colorful banners displayed.

That wasn't entirely true. Stefan was positive that Robyn was still offended by his rather rude behavior this morning. Stefan chided himself when he remembered how impolite he was. The prince frowned slightly. It was quite unusual for him to be ill-mannered, but... it was the first time he had seen another boy that was around his age. Of course, Tommy was a wonderful brother but Stefan had always wished to have a friend that could understand him better. When Stefan saw Robyn, he knew that he to take extreme measures to ensure that he could see him again. He didn't want to lose a potential friend.

"So, this friend of yours, what is he like Stefan?" Ailith, Stefan's twin, smiled mischievously at her brother. She rested her face on her hands.

"She-I mean he saved me!" Katrina piped up, eager to contribute to the conversation.

"Saved you?" Ailith leaned towards her younger sister curiously. Katrina must have remembered that if she mentioned the incident, especially with her father around, she would be in great trouble.

"Uh, yeah! Oh, Ailith! Look! I think Lucio wants to talk to you!" Katrina quickly changed the topic, hoping that her sister wouldn't ask anymore questions.

Ailith's head whipped in the direction of the chef's young Spaniard apprentice, who was smiling warmly at the her.

"Excuse me for a moment father," the eldest princess lightly set her hand on her father's forearm.

"Ailith my dear, where are you going?" King Fredrick's eyebrows rose slightly.

"I have some matters I must attend to," Ailith looked at her father pleadingly.

"Oh! Ah-I understand, go ahead my dear!" the King awkwardly stuttered and gave small nod. Stefan observed his father and sister's exchange inquisitively.

Ailith nodded back and rushed out of the Great Hall. Stefan noticed Lucio following the princess. He shook his head and he felt his lips turn up slightly.

Although Ailith was his twin, they barely resembled each other. Whereas Stefan had light brown hair he inherited from his deceased mother and blue eyes from his father, Ailith had ebony hair like her father's and light brown eyes constantly filled with mischief like their mother's.

"I hope that she doesn't get into too much trouble with Lucio," Stefan sighed to himself.

"What did you say big brother?" Tommy asked with his mouth full. The youngster was currently trying to tear off a chunk of his drumstick like a ravenous dog.

"Nothing you should worry about Tommy," Stefan ruffled his brother's hair, who protested loudly but gave Stefan a huge grin.

Author's note-February 13, 2015

Ailith and Lucio are not actually from the movie, they're just figments of my imagination. I wanted there to be at least another female character other than Gothel (who is the antagonist). My cousin was my inspiration for Ailith and as for Lucio... I'm learning Spanish in school so I thought that it would be cool to have a Spanish character in my story too.

Have a wonderful weekend everyone!

-Halean

Great Hall: The meeting/dining place in a castle.

Barrel Vault: (it's rather hard for me to describe in words. It's easier to get the picture by looking up it up online (sorry guys!))