Alfred walked through the halls, fingers trailing against the cold walls. He was tired; he'd been training all day. This day in particular was harder than most. It was cold, wet, and the wind sent chills that would cause him to shake for moments on end. Oh how he hated winter.

Spring sure was taking its time rolling around, and he was growing sick of the chill. He let out a long sigh as he turned the corner, running right into somebody.

"Watch it." Oliver's voice was full of distaste.
"Oh, sorry…" Alfred looked up, seeing Prince Oliver before him. "Forgive me." He bowed his head.
Oliver cocked an eyebrow, taking his hand away from the library door. "You're a new knight right? What are you doing in these corridors?"
"I am just heading to the library to read..." He stated. For some reason, he didn't want to tell the man before him about his meet-ups with the younger prince.
"And Francis gave you permission to be here? I trust you never take the books from the library to your dorm, correct?"

Alfred blinked, he had never been told this. "I-I'm sorry. I didn't know."
Oliver rolled his eyes and entered the library, gone in an instant.
Alfred waited a few moments before he entered. He had never met the older prince in person; he'd only seen him from afar. This was definitely not what he expected, though.

Arthur was huddled by the fireplace with a novel Alfred didn't recognize. "What are you reading? I haven't seen that book before." He asked as he walked up to the Prince.

Arthur slammed the book shut. "It's nothing, very boring." He placed the book down on the other side of him, underneath the blankets that covered his legs.

Alfred moved towards the fire in an attempt to get warm, draping the other blankets over his shoulders. "Okay then…" Alfred gave him a curious look.

Arthur sighed. "You look exhausted… I can't believe it's still this cold."

"Yeah, I can't stand this weather; I cannot wait for winter to be over." To prove his point he shuddered once more.

"You're later than usual. Did training go longer that it regularly does?" He questioned.

The other boy ran a hand through his hair and sighed. "Not for the rest of them… I-I haven't been showing much improvement lately, so Francis is having me put in extra time." He allowed himself to fall back against the stone wall that was propping Arthur up. "That and I ran into your brother on the way here…"

Arthur cast his eyes down. "I'm sorry to hear that. You saw Oliver?"

Alfred nodded. "Yes, and I feel like he doesn't like me all that much."

"Oh nonsense. Oliver likes everybody. He's just a little shy is all." Arthur pulled the covers up over his shoulders.
"If you say so… But I'm not too sure…"

"What did he say? ... He sometimes defaults to how he thinks a prince would act because he isn't too sure how to act around new people."

Alfred went on to explain the happenings between himself and the prince.

"That's rather odd; he usually doesn't do that… He's nice though… We're very close actually."

"… I had a brother. I don't go a day without missing him." A sad smiled placed itself onto Alfred's lips.

"You did? … Did he… Die in the attack?"

"Yes, he did, along with my mother." He let out a depressed sigh. "I'm glad you have such good relations with your brother."

"… Yes… I'm glad for it too…" Arthur sighed. "The winter needs to end soon… It's too dark." He attempted to change the subject, sensing Alfred didn't really want to talk about it.

"I agree; I never did like winter." Alfred yawned and rubbed his tired eyes.

"You look like you need some serious rest… Why don't you turn in early?"

Alfred pouted, and then turned his head to face the fire, hiding the blush that formed on his face. "That may be a good idea, but I like being here, talking to you."

"Well, I'm glad you enjoy my company." At that moment, Oliver rounded the corner, spotting the two boys sitting by the fireplace.

Alfred looked down and played with his fingers. "Oh hey…"

Arthur smiled at his brother. "Oliver, what brings you here? I thought you weren't feeling well today?" He questioned.

Oliver glanced at Alfred. "I was, but I felt like I needed to move around before the meeting."

"Ah, I see… You've met Alfred right?" He gestured to his friend beside him.

Oliver nodded. "Yes, I do believe we have met."

"Right, you remember him then. Alfred had become a good friend of mine." He smiled. "I have decided to make an effort to get to know all of the new recruits…" He sighed. "If I don't have the humanity to do that, what kind of a king would I end up being?"

Oliver smiled. "How many times have I told you before, you're going to be a great king, Arthur." He gave his brother an encouraging pat, and then turned his eyes to Alfred. "I saw you in the throne room once before. You're the strong one." His head cocked to the side curiously.

Alfred blushed and Arthur laughed. "Yes, he is but I'm afraid he's awfully bashful."

Oliver chuckled. "I haven't had the chance to properly introduce myself. I am Prince Oliver." He bowed to the boy politely. Alfred stared; this was definitely a different view of the prince.

Arthur waited for Alfred to respond before stuttering, "Oh… Alfred you don't need permission to speak."

"R-right, sorry… I spaced out. I am Alfred, no title." He bowed, trying not to expose his surprise at the other prince's politeness.

"Oh, Arthur, as I mentioned before, Father wanted our presence at the meeting; it starts in... five minutes?"

Arthur's eyes went wide. "I completely forgot!" He scrambled to his feet. "Good night Alfred!" He straightened his jacket while running out of the library, Oliver following close behind. "I swear Oliver, what would I do without you?"

"Without me, you'd forget about the meetings." He chuckled as they raced down the halls.

Alfred sat there for a few moments. That happened so quickly. He was alone… as always… He shook the thoughts from his head. "Ugh." He muttered. There was no point in sitting there now. That's when he noticed Arthur left his book. It looked like it was relatively old. He supposed he would return it to Arthur later that night.

He cleaned up the mess that was left behind; he always felt bad when they left it for the maids. After folding the blankets, he placed them in an out-of-the way corner before taking Arthur's book and leaving the library.

The two princes were not late, but they were the last to arrive. As they entered the conference room, they ducked their heads and made their ways to the seats next to Francis. He glanced at them. "Good thing you arrived, any later and the king would have had your heads." He whispered before the king began, calling order to the room. The princes grinned at each other briefly.

The meeting was boring at best, and they were both glad to call it done. Arthur let out a sigh. "So… What have you been doing Oliver? I haven't see you around lately… what on earth do you occupy yourself with during the winter?"

"I have been studying and such, nothing much."

"Studying what?" He questioned hoping to get a more descriptive answer.

"I have been studying politics and foreign relations, so that when you are king, I can help guide you in the right direction." He stated plainly.

"I appreciate that… You'd be a better king than I any day."

"No. How many times do I have to tell you, you will be a fine king, a great king, you just need some time to get the ropes tied together."

"I'm trying…" He sighed. "I do hope it stops snowing by my birthday…"

"Is your birthday really so soon?" He smiled teasingly. "And sixteen at that? But you're only just a baby."

Arthur blushed. "I'm not a baby… Young… But I cannot afford to be a baby."

"So you don't feel ready to be king just yet? You don't suppose you could lead this country to glory?" He spread his arms wide to emphasize his point.

Arthur sighed. "Well… I'm still trying to grip it… I don't understand what is going on with the world… I don't know the issues or the causes. I am lost."

"You will get it with practice, I promise. I will help you." He smiled.

"Well… All of this confuses me… I think I might turn in early tonight… I should apologize to Alfred for abandoning him so suddenly."

"Do you meet with that boy often?" He smirked. "I knew you had a crush."

Arthur turned to his brother with wide eyes. "What?! No! no… nononononono!" He blushed. "That's crazy, we're both boys, that's not… that's not normal!"

"Then why do you blush like a bride at the thought?" He chuckled at his brother's discomfort.

"Because that's just… weird… Boys don't… do that? … What about… Sex?... How would that work?!"

"There's more than one way to have sex, my brother." He chuckled as Arthur's mouth dropped. "You're so young."

Arthur stuttered for a moment. "You… Don't leave me hanging like that! What?!" A few people looked at them and he covered his mouth. "Maybe someplace more private…"

Oliver rolled his eyes. "I'll leave it to your imagination." He walked away with a small wave and a bow.

A blush began to creep onto Arthur's face as he chased after his brother. "Honestly Oliver!"

"No no, if you can't figure it out, I wouldn't want to destroy your innocence." He gave a sly smile and chuckled.

Arthur pursed his lips. "But… but… My imagination would be worse!... My curiosity is piqued now, you wanker!" He whispered hoarsely. "Just tell meee!"

"Well, when you ask like that." He smiled pretending to think about it. "Nope." Again he turned and walked away from the curious boy.

"Oliveeer!" Arthur whined. "Please?" He would never admit that… He really was interested, mainly because for some reason, he found the idea of having sex with a man almost more appealing than the idea of being with a woman.

"No, I don't think I will tell you. You should head to bed, it's late."

Arthur pouted. "You've never held back on me before… erm... If I told you my idea, would you tell me if I'm right?"

"Let us just leave it to your imagination, let it run wild." He opened the door to his chambers. "Goodnight, my little brother, or perhaps you're not so little anymore, being curious of such crude things."

"Don't say that!" Arthur blushed. "It's… How did you find out anyways?!"

"I know a lot of things Arthur. Now go to bed." He chuckled as he closed the door.

Arthur pursed his lips but didn't argue; instead he began treading back to his room. The worst thing was that now his imagination WAS running wild! He sat on his bed and took off his shoes with a hug, sprawling himself on his bed, his shirt half open. "Ugh." He looked out the window at the dark sky. He could figure it out, but why did he want to? That stuff was gross… Right?... right… and yet for some reason, a man's legs wrapped around his waist seemed a lot more appealing then… Nope! He stopped his mind from thinking that. He was not going to go there.

Arthur lay in bed for a while, until there was a soft knock at his door, barely audible. He sat up. "Yes? Come in." Only Francis would come this late he figured.

"It's me, Alfred." He opened the door slowly. "I brought your book; I didn't wake you up did I?"

"Oh, no you didn't wake me…" He glanced at the book, he had completely forgotten about it. "Thank you… I shouldn't be leaving that thing around…"

"Yeah, do you want it? Or should I set it on your desk? What do you want me to do with it?" Alfred stood at the door awkwardly.

"Oh, just bring it here, are you feeling alright?" Arthur held out his hand for the book. "Go ahead and come in, we're friends aren't we?"

Alfred nodded. "Yeah, I'm fine; I just hope you're not mad at me for having your book. I didn't look through it… Though I admit I was kinda curious…" He rambled on as he handed the book to the other.

"What? Oh no, you're fine… and the book is nothing really." Arthur took it from the other. "Sorry for just running off like that." He couldn't help but be embarrassed about the previous events, even though he knew Alfred didn't know he had been fantasizing just a moment ago about what sexual contact with a man would be like. A sudden thought crossed his mind… Alfred. A blush exploded on his face and he cleared his throat. "Say… What were you saying earlier about how your training has been going?"

"I told you, didn't I?" He let out a huff. "It hasn't been going." He sat down next to Arthur on the bed. "I haven't improved, not one bit. I don't know why; I really have been trying."

Arthur frowned. "Not at all?... What has Francis been doing exactly? Maybe it's time to switch methods?"

"I've been fighting, working on my strength; we have been switching up almost every day!" Alfred exclaimed. "I wonder if Francis will just give up on me…"

"Don't get discouraged, that could prevent you from moving forward."

"Maybe… I-I want to make Francis proud, but…" Alfred sighed leaning back onto the bed.

Arthur let out a sigh. "You look exhausted… Just keep trying…" He wrapped his blanket around himself and gave another one to Alfred. He chuckled, "Remember when we tried to get these?"

Alfred nodded. "And you said this place wasn't haunted."

"Well… We still don't know what it was… We can't really confirm that it was a ghost or not, can we?"

"You're so skeptical." He chuckled. "It was probably a ghost. I mean what else could it have been?!"

"A prank?... I don't know…" He laughed. "We were scared to death though… SO I would feel kind of lame if it wasn't a ghost."

"Yeah… Though-" A chill ran down his spine. "That's such a scary thought…"

"Ghosts aren't scary… There're just sad… They want something… I wonder how we could find out what it wants."

"I don't know." Alfred said with a low sigh.

"Should we try to find out?... That makes me a little nervous though…"

"…" Alfred bit his lower lip.

"You really don't like ghosts do you?" Just then the door rattled again.

Alfred found himself grabbing Arthur's arm, pulling himself close to the other boy. "What was that!?"

"I… I… Don't know." Another rattle and a bang, Arthur began to cling to Alfred as well.
"Whatever it is, it's right outside my room. Did you lock my door?"

Alfred jumped to his feet, and dashed to the door, clicking the lock shut, and then sliding to the ground with a fearful shudder. "Remind me to lock the door next time."

"How was I supposed to know something was going to be outside my door?!"

"I-I don't know." Alfred took a deep breath. "Can I stay here for the night?..."

Arthur blushed, of course this would happen the night he was having strange fantasies. "Yes, of course, that would be fine." What else was he supposed to say, when he looked at those puppy eyes?

With that answer, Alfred let out a sigh of relief; he wouldn't have to walk back to his room alone. "Thanks." He stepped over to the bed, sitting down next to Arthur. "Things have been pretty strange lately huh?"

"Considering everything that has happened since our new knights came in, I'm pretty sure nothing will ever phase me again."

"That's very true…"

Arthur blinked. "So you know then?"

"Know what?"

"About Felic… Never mind." Arthur stopped himself, before he could give the knight away.

"You mean Feliciano? What's up with him?" Alfred asked.

"It's nothing…" There was another rattle at the door, Arthur let out a small yelp.

Alfred clung tighter to the Prince. "Heh, some knight huh? I can't even protect my prince."

"Oh nonsense. You have a phobia; your reaction is perfectly acceptable."

"I shouldn't be afraid. Knights should be brave." Alfred sulked and glanced out the window.

"It should be the same with princes right?" The two boys could hear more banging and even heavy breathing on the other side. "… It would be nice… If we are able to live through the night."

"R-right." Alfred wrapped himself into the blankets and moved so he could lean his back against the wall.

Arthur sat next to him as the door kept on rattling. He pulled the blankets over his head, hiding himself from whatever was out there. "We're pathetic." He muttered.

"Just a bit." Alfred couldn't help but laugh.

Arthur pressed his lips together. "Again I will ask; should we go see what it is?"

"Maybe a good idea…" Alfred glanced at the door.

Arthur nodded. "We can't cower in here forever…" He tiptoed to the door, stood in front of it, took a deep breath, and pushed it open, then released the breath. "… Nothing's out here…"

"Nothing?" Alfred peaked just in time to see a hint of black clothing pass around the corner.

"… A ghost?" Arthur questioned, not seeing the clothing. "Only ghosts disappear like that, right?"

Alfred took off down the hall. "There was a person!" He called to Arthur.

Arthur looked up. "Somebody?... But I didn't hear… Wait!" He chased the other around the corner. "Alfred wait! Don't run off on your own like that! It's dangerous!" He called, but soon, the knight was out of his sight.

"I'll be right back!" Arthur could barely hear the voice. He clenched his fists. "That's a bad idea Alfred! When stuff like this happens the worst thing you can do is be-" Arthur stopped; he didn't know which way the boy went. "… Alone… Damnit!"

As Alfred pursued the person, he came to a dead end; his eyes darted around for something, anything that he could find to tell him he wasn't just seeing things. 'Where'd it go?' He asked himself. He could hear Arthur shouting from behind him, but something moving caught his eye. He stepped forward to inspect it. It seemed relatively normal… but then its shape began to contort, growing in size, spreading its wings… Alfred's eyes went wide. "…D… Dragon?!" The beast released a burning fire from its nostrils. Alfred was frozen in fear, it was definitely a dragon.

Alfred searched himself for a weapon when he came to his senses, but found none on his person. He cursed under his breath, and then questioned his next set of actions. Before he knew it, the dragon charged at him. Staring dumbfounded, he could feel himself slowly fading. 'Stop, stop, stop' He urged himself.

The wings spread menacingly and Alfred heard a blood curling scream; he would never know if it was his own or that of another, because that is when he blacked out.

When he came to, he was in Arthur's room. "Why?" He checked himself to see if he was still alive. "What happened?"

Arthur was leaning over him; he adjusted the covers around the younger boy. "You… got a little too scared… It was nothing though…"

"Nothing? But the dragon?" He sat up, pressing his fingers to his temples when pain shot through his head.

"Dragon?... Alfred there was nothing there… You were attacking Oliver when I found you; he said he came out after hearing noises… I think you may have imagined it and scared yourself."

Alfred looked over seeing Oliver in the corner of the room wearing a worried face. "But- there was…" Alfred looked down at the blankets clenching his fists around the ends of the blanket. "I swear, there was..."

"It has been a long day Alfred… You're exhausted and paranoid… Poor kid… Get some rest."

"I-"Alfred leaned back and closed his eyes. "Fine."

Arthur sighed. "Alfred… does that dragon… Still haunt you?"

"I used to hear its calls, but never before have I seen it…" Alfred looked over at the other.

"… Right… Go to sleep then… Just stay here, there's nothing to be afraid of anymore."

Alfred nodded before he drifted off to sleep.

Arthur sighed. "Poor boy… Are you alright Oliver?... Don't worry about him; he gets really weak after blacking out… Probably won't happen again for quite some time."

"I seem to recall that piece of information for the first day I met him. I do hope he will be alright." Oliver smiled to himself.

"Right… But are you alright? He can get pretty bad when he blacks out."

"Yes, I'm fine, he didn't touch me."

"Honestly?... Well okay… I'm just… Going to let him stay here tonight."

"Alright, good night brother." Oliver stood and left.

Arthur watched his brother go, and then sighed before lying down, looking at Alfred. "… You're quite something Alfred." Arthur lay down next to the boy, but he wasn't able to sleep much, instead he just watched over his friend. It was the first time the two boys spent the night together, though it wasn't the traditional way. The moment wouldn't leave Arthur's mind for a long while.

The next few days, the palace was busy with workers. Every person had a job. Arthur didn't have a moment to spare. He couldn't meet Alfred in the library as often. Alfred was also busy. He and Francis have been working hard for his improvement. Finally the day came. It was Arthur's sixteenth birthday.

Hey guys, we are back! Sorry it took so long for the update, we've been busy with school and such.

But lucky for us, we have a head start on chapter 4, and 5. :D

Please, pretty please with a cherry on top, please R&R they make us soooo happy, and that way we are more inclined to update in a timely manner. I don't think there is much else...

Oh we sadly do not own Hetalia. The story is ours, the characters are not.