Um wow...Hi Friends?

I know, its been a really long time...really long...and I'm giving you a really short chapter...at least for me. But honestly, I had actually written about 6 more pages but I hated them and scrapped them. I really have to rethink that part of the plot and I just couldn't post it.

Anyways, I decided to just post what I had and maybe this is how it will be for now on...short chapters but more frequently...because honestly, I am exhausted. After taking a year off of teaching I had forgotten how overwhelming the job can be...and try juggling that with raising a child and spending time with my husband, while absolutely dying to sit down and write my story. Hopefully it will get better as we move into the school year and I figure out how to manage my time better. Oh, not to mention I was diagnosed with sleep apnea (no wonder I'm always exhausted).

Well, enough excuses...your here for the story (at least I hope you're still here)

Enjoy.

It was well into the night and most of the castle's occupants were asleep after the hawking excursion that had occupied most of the court all afternoon. If there was anyone still awake behind their oaken doorways they were oblivious to Prince Tobias's feet shuffling along the cold stone floor as he shuffled through the dank hallway on his way to King Derek's chambers. The young prince had promised the visiting king that he'd visit his chambers after the day's festivities and he was determined to follow through on his vow.

As he approached the doors to King Derek's chambers he put on the sternest expression he could muster and walked up confidently to the guards. "Inform King Derek that the Prince of Georgia is here to speak with him," he ordered in a voice that eerily resembled his father's.

King Derek's two guard's snapped to attention immediately and the one in charge asked, "At once, Sire."

The knight turned and knocked on the door with a clenched fist before opening the door with one hand. "Prince Tobias," he announced to the room and moved off to the side to allow the prince access to the room.

Tobias straightened his clothing and took a deep breath in an effort still his nerves. For he knew King Derek's faith in him was paper thin and he was determined to fully gain the powerful monarch's trust before he walked out of his chambers tonight.

"Prince Tobias! Welcome," called the young king's voice from deep inside the receiving room. "We've just poured ourselves a fresh glass of wine. Please join us."

Tobias's nerves eased a smidgeon as the monarch's warm tone registered in his ears. He smiled at the visiting king and made his way over to the group that had already gathered by the fire.

"King Derek," the youth said formally with a quick bow. "I would love to."

"Here, take the empty seat by Lord Rossi," the king directed as he handed the prince a glass of red wine he had just poured.

"Thank you, m'Lord," Tobias said graciously, accepting the drink and settling into the cushioned seat. He took a sip of the maroon liquid and glanced at the other people in the room.

Lord Rossi was sitting tall and proud in his high-backed chair. The man looked self-assured as always with a curl to his lips and a pipe clenched between his fingers. Next to him sat the bubbly blonde beauty, Lady Penelope. The buxom woman was inspecting him suspiciously with her sparkling blue eyes as she nibbled on a piece of chocolate. Finally, the stoic Sir Hotchner was perched on the edge of his chair with a razor straight back. Tobias wasn't sure if the knight's stiff posture was a symptom of his rigid suit of armor or his distrust of the prince.

Derek brought his golden goblet up to his lips and peered over the edge, his keen eyes eagerly observing how the other's sized up the prince. In contrast, the Prince of Georgia had averted his eyes toward the roaring fire while nervously twisting the stem of his glass in between his thumb and index finger – bearing the scrutiny he knew he deserved.

A particularly loud pop of the fire broke the guarded silence, causing a few of the occupants to jump in surprise.

Lady Penelope let out a nervous giggle and reached for a fresh strawberry off the tray next to her. Before she brought the sweet fruit to her pink lips she smiled and said, "How does this evening find you, Your Grace?"

Tobias blinked, surprised to be addressed so politely by King Derek's friends. "I-I am well, my lady. And you?"

"Tuckered out after all those hours of bouncing up on down on that saddle," she said with a smile.

Tobias smiled weakly, "I despise long rides too. They always leave me achy and sore. It's not worth it if you ask me…that's why I don't mind staying back to mind the castle."

"And is that what you did today? Mind the castle…," Rossi asked with a raised eyebrow.

"M'Lord?"

The older man smirked, "Did you mind the castle or the king that your father has stolen from us?"

"Lord Rossi!" Sir Hotchner hissed, incensed that the Italian had laid all their cards out on the table already.

"What? According to King Derek he already knows who Spencer is. Why tiptoe around it?"

"Because we don't know if he can be trusted," the knight scowled, standing up from his chair in an unconscious effort to use his height to intimidate the timid prince.

Derek was purposefully remaining silent throughout the exchange in order to force Tobias to prove his credibility to Spencer's closest friends.

"True. What say you, young prince? Why shouldn't Sir Hotchner skewer you on his blade and throw your lifeless body to the hogs we saw outside in their pen? You know the true identity of your father's slave – a man you must be loyal to due to blood. How do we know you won't run out of here after our discussion and rat us out?" Rossi inquired with a hint of menace in his voice.

"I won't," Tobias uttered meekly, cowering under the old man's scorching gaze.

Sir Hotchner scoffed at the prince's weak declaration, "I think that says it all." The ringing of steel filled the chamber as the dedicated knight unsheathed his sword. The polished blade looked like it was made of molten rays of sun as it reflected the orange hues of the fire.

The tip of the sword was aimed straight at the young man's heart as the steady hand holding it inhaled a great breath in anticipation of his next movement.

Aaron's arm drew back in preparation when Tobias cried out in alarm, "I won't! I swear!"

"Why? Why should we trust you?" the knight bellowed, his eyes flashing in triumph.

"B-because I h-hate my father. He-he is a ruth-"

"Ha! Everyone hates your father – yet they all kowtow to him. You'll have to think of something better than that," Rossi rebutted.

"B-b-but –" Tobias stammered, looking at Derek in desperation. When the king didn't move a muscle and just kept watching the scene unfold, Tobias turned back to the soldier wielding the sword in front of him. "I-I-I –"

"Enough! Your sniveling is pathetic," the older man stated with disdain. "Finish him, Sir Hotchner."

"Wait!"

"Why should we?" Sir Hotchner prodded, thrusting the tip forward just a tiny bit to intimidate the boy even more.

"B-b-because –"

"Because what? Speak fast for my steel is swift," Aaron warned as his eyes narrowed intensely.

Backed into a corner and desperate to prove his worth, four words slipped past Tobias's lips uncensored, "B-because I love him."

The room was still. Each person was processing the sincerity they heard in the boy's declaration of love.

Derek was the first to move after the echoes of Tobias's admission faded away. He was quick to stand up from his chair and walked over to Sir Hotchner with his chocolate orbs trained on the prince the whole time. Once he reached his friend, he placed his hand gently on the hilt of the sword and pushed it down, lowering its sharp point away from the young man's chest.

Once the weapon was secured at the knight's side once again, Derek allowed a smile to erupt on his face and said, "Excellent. Now let's get to work."