A/N: Yeah. So. This is going to end up being longer than 3-5 chapters. Just a head's up.

"Why doesn't Arthur have to do lessons?" Alfred grumbled and laid his cheek down on the desk. He poked at the piece of paper in front of his face, letting his pencil fall limp between his fingers. He was supposed to be working on the set of basic mathematic problems Yao had given him, but Alfred was much more interested in finding Arthur. He had seen his new playmate at breakfast, but then Arthur had disappeared when it came time for lessons. Alfred didn't think that was very fair.

"Arthur will have lessons just like you do, your Highness, but I thought he might like some time to adjust to palace life before then."

"But it's nice living here. How much time can he need?"

"I know you are eager to get to know him, but I think a week is a reasonable amount of time to wait, don't you?"

Alfred huffed noisily. "I guess. But what will he do all day?"

"I'm not sure, your Highness." Yao tried to get Alfred's attention back on his work by straightening the paper on his desk, but the young royal refused to lift his head.

"He'll be all by himself! Yao! What is he going to do all by himself?"

"He's not by himself, your Highness. Arthur has servants to attend to anything he needs, just like you do. Perhaps they will give him a tour of the palace."

Alfred lifted his head up at that, then cupped his chin angrily in one hand. "I hope they don't."

"Why not, your Highness?"

"Because I want to do that!"

Yao laughed.

"Don't laugh at me! I'm being serious!"

"I'm sorry your Highness, I know you are. Perhaps if you finish your lessons early today, you can ask Arthur if you may show him around the palace?" Yao pushed the paper towards Alfred once more.

Slamming his hands on the table, Alfred grabbed his pencil and started scribbling as quickly as he could manage. Squinting in concentration, it took only a few minutes for him to finish every problem on the page.

"I'm done!"

Yao shot him a skeptical look. "Now, your Highness, I hope you didn't rush through and make mistakes. You'll just have to go back and correct them."

"I didn't! Look and see."

Alfred watched as Yao checked his answers. Yao frowned and tucked some of his hair behind an ear before looking back at Alfred.

"Well, your Highness, it appears that you have all the correct answers."

"Told you so. Can we go see Arthur now?"

"If that is what you wish, your Highness."

Alfred whooped loudly, excited at the prospect of finally getting to spend time with the mysterious new house-mate, and that his lessons would be over for the day. Running ahead despite Yao's admonishments ringing out behind him, Alfred tore through the hallways leading to Arthur's room. He knew which one it was because he'd heard Yao telling the maids to get the room above the garden ready the day before Arthur had come to court. He'd thought that maybe it meant another Jack or somebody else important would be coming to visit, but Alfred was glad it was Arthur. When other Jacks came to visit it meant that Alfred would have extra lessons, and they wouldn't be easy like mathematics.

Arriving at the door to Arthur's chambers, Alfred tried to catch his breath before knocking cheerfully. One of the maids opened the door and she bowed when she saw Alfred.

"Your Highness. How may I help you?"

"Can I see Arthur? I want to show him the palace!"

The maid looked over her shoulder into the room, biting her lip. "Your Highness, I'm not sure- Oh! Jack!" Yao had finally caught up to Alfred, wheezing slightly and cheeks coloured.

"Jack, I was just about to tell his Highness that I do not think it wise for Arthur to go on a tour of the palace today."

"Why?" Alfred whined.

The maid stepped out of the doorway to whisper something in Yao's ear. Alfred tried to hear what she was saying, standing on tiptoe to get closer, but he couldn't understand a single word.

Yao nodded his head briskly. "I understand. I expected this."

"I think he just needs time." The maid inclined her head awkwardly, wringing her hands.

"Yes, well, let me know if anything changes." Yao gripped Alfred lightly on the shoulder, manoeuvring him away from the door and down the hallway.

Halfway back to the study, Alfred wriggled free of Yao's grasp and started walking backwards in front of him.

"Yao, why can't I see Arthur?"

"He isn't feeling very well, your Highness."

"Oh. Did he throw up again?"

"No, your Highness, he is not that kind of sick."

Alfred frowned and stopped walking. "What kind of sick is he?"

Yao rubbed the back of his neck thoughtfully, then knelt down in front of Alfred, robes pooling gracefully on the white marble floor.

"Do you remember how you felt when your esteemed parents passed away, your Highness?"

Alfred looked at his shoes and nodded. "I was sad. And I didn't feel good. Like I was by myself and it made me hurt all right here." He rubbed a hand down his torso, crossing his arms around his stomach.

"That's how Arthur feels."

"Did someone in his family die?"

"No, your Highness."

"Then why does he feel sick?"

"It's complicated, your Highness. Someday you will understand. Let's leave it at that for the moment and return to our lesson. Perhaps if Arthur is feeling better in a few days, you can take him around the palace."

Alfred nodded solemnly and remained subdued for the rest of the afternoon. Arthur didn't come out of his room for dinner, so Alfred knew he must be really sick.

Taking the watercolour paints the Jack of Hearts had given him for his birthday and folding a piece of parchment, Alfred began to make Arthur a card. He wasn't sure what kinds of things Arthur liked, but he knew flowers were supposed to make people feel better when they were sad over something, so he drew a large sunflower on the front. On the inside of the card he wrote "Feel better soon!" in his fanciest handwriting and signed his name. He blew on the card to make sure all the paint was dry and then hid it.

Alfred waited until it was well past his bedtime, after the maid had tucked him in and gone to sleep in the adjacent room. He pretended to be asleep until he was sure everyone else in the castle had gone to bed and then he quietly tiptoed out of his room, card in hand.

The palace was scary and dark at night, but Alfred swallowed his fear and padded his way barefoot through the sleeping halls. He almost ran back to his room when he heard a loud thump, but it was only the palace cats playing on the staircase in the main hall. They really weren't supposed to be inside since they were meant to be ratters, but they liked to sneak in from the kitchen and run around. Alfred wondered briefly if he could catch the big white one and smuggle it into his room to sleep with him, but he knew Yao would be angry, so he just settled for giggling as the cats wrestled playfully with one another before continuing on his mission.

It seemed like it took hours to get to Arthur's room. When he finally got there, Alfred checked to make sure the card was still alright and then slipped it under the door. He waited for a few moments to see if anyone would open the door, but then realized that no one would see the card and give it to Arthur until morning.

Suddenly and very painfully aware of just how dark it was in the palace, Alfred bolted back to his room, trying to get through the door as quietly as he could and diving back into the safety of his bed. He panted heavily under the covers for a few moments, then a silly grin broke out onto his face imagining how happy Arthur would be when he read his card.

Arthur didn't come out of his rooms for the next three days. Alfred was ready to break down the door and see if he really was sick and Yao was just lying to him, but Yao and the maids and other servants kept patting him on the head and saying things like "He'll come around in his own time" or "He's just fine, your Highness, don't fret" or worse they would just laugh and smile at him like they knew some big secret. He hated getting patted on the head. It made him feel short and not very grown up at all.

The worst part of waiting was that Alfred didn't know if Arthur had ever gotten his card. How was he supposed to feel better if he didn't see the card? Or perhaps Arthur had seen it and it hadn't helped him. Alfred was beginning to feel seriously worried for his new friend. Well, he hadn't seen enough of Arthur to know if they were friends or not, but Alfred didn't hate Arthur, so friend was close enough.

On the fourth day of waiting for Arthur, Yao decided to try and lift the young royal's spirits by taking him out to practice his horseback riding. Alfred wasn't quite coordinated or strong enough to manage completely on his own, but he still thought being led around the giant grassy paddock was great fun. He only ever got to ride the smallest of the older mares since she was so gentle, but he knew that someday he would have a horse of his own and he could race around like Matthew. Alfred was almost jealous that his half brother was so good at riding even though he was only three years older, but then again, Matthew got to spend so much more time with the horses. Matthew would also never be King, so Alfred figured it was a fair trade off.

As he walked through the hallways, Yao trailing behind and already warning him to be careful when they got to the stables, Alfred glanced out the great glass windows letting in light from the garden. No one was out there except for a maid gathering blooms in a basket, but something under one of the big flowering trees caught his attention. Alfred leaned onto the windowsill and squinted, gasping in delight when he saw who was sitting beneath the tree.

"Arthur!" Alfred waved through the window enthusiastically though Arthur didn't look up.

"Your Highness?"

"Yao! Arthur's in the garden!" Not even waiting for a response, Alfred tore down the hallway, determined to finally see Arthur again.

Arthur had trouble sleeping the first night. His eyes felt itchy and heavy, but no matter how many times he took a deep breath and closed them, he couldn't convince them to stay shut. It wasn't that his mind was a frantic mess like it had been earlier. Instead he seemed to be overcome by a strange calmness, content to just lie in his new bed and stare at the new ceiling above his head in his new home.

The maid was shocked to find him awake when she came in the next morning. Arthur lied when she asked him if he had slept well, not wanting to worry her, but the maid turned his face this way and that with one hand, obviously unconvinced. She didn't say anything, laying out Arthur's clothes and making his bed.

Breakfast was painful albeit uneventful. Arthur nibbled on some toast with marmalade on it, mostly ignoring his porridge. While he wasn't feeling very hungry, it seemed that Alfred's appetite was in no way effected by the change in living arrangements. Arthur had barely choked down half a piece of toast and Alfred was completely finished with his bowl of porridge and had moved on to eating the crusts of his toast and then licking the marmalade off the middle. Arthur cringed at the thought of the sugar Alfred was ingesting; from what little contact Arthur had had with him it seemed that Alfred was inexcusably energetic at all times of day. He doubted the syrupy marmalade would help.

Alfred started humming to himself as he licked off his sticky fingers. The humming got progressively louder until Yao, who had foregone food in favour of tea, rubbed his temples and shot Alfred an annoyed look.

"Your Highness, may I suggest that it is too early for this much noise? If you are finished, why don't we move onto your lessons?"

Arthur watched in silence as Alfred pulled a face but agreed and wandered out of the dining room.

"Arthur, you will be expected to join our lessons as well, but I think perhaps it would be best if you had some time to adjust to your new home first. You are excused for the day. The servants will see to anything you need." Yao's smile was friendly enough, but his nod of dismissal was curt, so Arthur merely said a quiet thank you and returned to his rooms.

When he returned, the maid was sitting in the front room embroidering a handkerchief. She smiled brightly at Arthur. "I've finished unpacking your things, dear. You play the violin?"

"Yes, ma'am."

"Oh, that's wonderful! Would you mind playing for me, perhaps? I would love to hear you."

Arthur shuffled his feet and shook his head.

"Still tired, are we? I understand. Well, would you like me to show you around the palace?"

Again, Arthur shook his head.

The maid sighed and patted the cushion of the sofa next to her. "What if you come sit with me for a while? We'll keep each other company until you feel up to something. How does that sound, Arthur?"

Arthur sat gingerly next to the maid , hands beneath the back of his thighs and knees together. The maid smiled at him and returned to her work, humming a light tune that was far more pleasant than the tone deaf droning Alfred had serenaded the breakfast table with. Arthur watched as she pulled the needle and thread back and forth through the handkerchief, the beginnings of a bluebird forming in the stitches.

"What are you making?"

The maid looked over in surprise at Arthur, then turned the embroidery hoop towards him. "Oh. It's going to be a present for my daughter. Her birthday is next week."

"How old is she?"

"She's about your age, actually. Her name is Katharine."

Arthur was quiet for a moment as the maid returned to her stitching.

"Ma'am?"

"Yes, dear?"

"If I may ask... what's your name?"

"My name is Anne, Arthur. I would like it very much if you called me that. I think we could be great friends."

"You've been so kind to me, Anne. Thank you. And the handkerchief is pretty. I know your daughter will love it."

Arthur felt his cheeks get hot and he ducked his head down. He liked Anne and wanted very much for her to like him for more reasons than that he would one day be Queen. So far, she was the only friendly soul he'd met beside Alfred, and Arthur wasn't quite ready to face him.

Anne looked at him with sparkling eyes and patted him on the arm. "You are a sweet boy. Tell me, Arthur, would you like to learn to do this?" She gestured to the embroidery hoop.

Admiring the way the bluebird seemed to be alive on the muslin, Arthur chewed his lip for a moment before nodding. Anne wrapped an arm around his shoulder, giving it a firm squeeze as she began explaining the process to Arthur.

The next two days, Arthur felt too tired to leave his rooms. Anne fussed endlessly over him, concerned at how pale he had become and the dark circles growing beneath his eyes. She ordered him to rest in bed, bringing him his meals and watching him like a hawk to make sure he finished most of his food. Arthur practised his embroidery while he rested, and soon he was making small designs in the fabric. It was something soothing and mind-numbing to do while he waited for some miracle to suddenly make him feel better.

"Arthur? I have something for you!" Anne entered his bedroom and flourished a sheet of paper.

"What is it?" Arthur was propped up against the headboard, just now getting the hang of making small ivy chains on his handkerchief.

"Read it and see!"

It was a small card with a messy sunflower painted on the front. Arthur opened it, his eyes widening as he read the message and the large, loopy signature at the bottom.

"His Highness left this for me?"

"Yes! Isn't that sweet? He's worried about you Arthur. We all are. We just want you to be happy."

"I'm sorry."

Anne didn't say anything, but kissed the top of his head and left him to his own devices. Arthur stared at the card for a long while before setting everything aside and slumping down into the mattress.

On the third day since his arrival, it was obvious that Anne was desperate for some sign of improvement in Arthur. She came bearing two old looking books and set them in front of Arthur who was sulking on the bench by the bay window.

"I thought you might be interested in these, Arthur. They're collections of faerie tales. I know you have the Gift, so I thought perhaps..."

Arthur perked up and looked at the books, admiring the flowing illustrations on the covers. "Thank you, Anne!"

"Now, now, wait a minute. I hate to be a worrywart, but I think it would be good for you to get some fresh air. I was thinking of cutting some flowers in the garden. Would you like to come with me? You can bring the books and read while I work and I'll be right with you the whole time. Does that sound like something we can try, Arthur?"

As much as he didn't want to leave his room, Arthur was much more curious about the contents of the books and in short order found himself seated beneath a sweet smelling tree while Anne collected the best blooms in her basket.

He was just about to turn the page and begin the second story in the book when he heard someone calling his name. Arthur was shocked when he looked up and saw Alfred running towards him grinning like a fool.

"Arthur! Do you feel better?" I wanted to see you, but the maid said you were sick and Yao told me to leave you alone. And then I made you a card because I wanted you to stop being sad. Did you get the card? Do you like sunflowers? I didn't know, but I thought you might!"

Dumbstruck by the onslaught of questions, Arthur's mouth hung open for a moment, torn between fleeing and remembering that this was the future King and he needed to bow. He was about to stand up when Alfred decided to sit down next to him and peer into his lap, the book now abandoned and the pages fluttering slightly in the breeze.

"What are you reading?"

"Your Highness! There you are!" Yao came puffing up to he pair beneath the tree, hair and clothing slightly out of place.

"Sorry, Yao, but look! Arthur's better!"

"I am glad to see that, your Highness, but perhaps we should leave him be and continue on to the stables as planned."

"But I want to stay with Arthur! Can't I?"

Arthur was completely overwhelmed and could only shoot glances between Yao, Alfred, and Anne who was smiling openly as Alfred settled himself defiantly next to Arthur.

Yao gestured to Arthur as if to say that the decision was his and Alfred turned to him expectantly.

"I... I don't mind if... I don't mind if his Highness wants to stay."

Anne chimed into the conversation, wiping her hands on her apron. "I'll watch them, Jack, as I am sure you have important things to attend to with Deck Council meeting only a few months away."

Yao nodded and told Anne what time to have the boys back in the palace before he bowed and took his leave.

"So what are you reading, Arthur?" Alfred leaned back against the bark of the tree, totally comfortable even though just inches from him, Arthur's heart was racing.

"It's a book of faerie tales, your Highness."

Alfred wrinkled his nose at Arthur. "Don't call me that. Everyone calls me that. Just call me Alfred, okay?"

Arthur swallowed thickly. "Yes, alright, Alfred. Do you... do you like faerie tales?"

"I do! I ask my maid to read them to me all the time!"

Smiling at Alfred's endless enthusiasm, Arthur set the book across both of their laps. He couldn't help but to be kind to Alfred; the poor boy had no idea why Arthur was here, after all, so it wouldn't be fair to treat him badly because of what was going to happen in the future.

"Should we... would you like to read them together?"

"Yes! That sounds fun! Can I read first? We'll take turns!"

Arthur laughed and nodded, biting his lip as Alfred started to read the story out loud. It was so different from what Arthur was used to; having someone so excited to be around him, having someone who cared so much about him right away and without a second thought. Maybe Alfred would grow out of his good-natured naïveté, but despite Arthur's dismay at their impending marriage, he found himself warming up to the idea of at least having Alfred as a friend.

Glancing up to see Anne beaming down at the cozy pair he and Alfred were making beneath the tree, Arthur realized that if he was only willing to look, he might be able to find many a friend in his new home. And if he was ever going to survive the ins and outs of monarchy, he was going to need all the friends he could get.

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