A BillDip Royalty AU! With Prince!Bill (He's called both William & Bill in this story)

You get no back story or context and the story tends to wander a bit sooo... good luck?

Enjoy and leave a review!

The music from the orchestra filled the ballroom and mingled with the sound of laughter and happy conversation. Women in beautiful dresses were twirled about the dance floor by their partners or standing around the fringes watching in jealousy. In the center of the crowd of dancers was the young prince who had been charming the various princesses that had caught his eye since the ball had begun. Prince William's birthday celebration was a point of excitement for the whole kingdom every year, but this year was different. This was the prince's 21st birthday, the year he would be given the title of 'Crown Prince' and become the heir to his father's throne. As such, the party was far more grand than ever before.

"Prince William." The prince halted his dancing with, yet another, young lady and turned to the servant that had called his name. "The King and Queen have requested your presence."

"Oh yes, of course." William nodded curtly before turning to the princess and placing a kiss on her knuckles, "you must forgive me, my lady, I will return shortly." The princess giggled as the prince released her hand and began to walk away. Once he was no longer in her sight, the prince rolled his eyes to himself. "Honestly, if I have to dance with one more frivolous princess I am going to scream." He thought to himself.

He passed through the crowd until he arrived at the head of the room where the king and queen were sitting, observing the party. He bowed slightly with a smile, "mother, father, you requested me?"

"Oh yes darling," the queen rose from her chair and walked forward to grab his hand, "we only wanted to make sure you were enjoying your party."

He placed a kiss on her cheek. "Of course mother, it's wonderful."

"I've seen you dancing with several young ladies, William," the king had risen from his own chair to join them. "Have any of them caught your attention."

The prince let out a strained laugh and looked back towards the crowd. His eyes rested on a throng of young girls across the room that were looking towards them eagerly. "No, not yet I'm afraid."

"Not to worry dear." The queen patted the top of his hand. "You still have plenty of time."

"I would like to see you settling down soon though, son," The king added quickly after.

"Yes..." William pulled his hand away and turned back to look at the women apprehensively. As they were standing there, a servant hurried quickly over to them and muttered something into the king's ear.

"Excellent! Bring it in!" He exclaimed excitedly before returning to his seat.

The prince looked between the king and the servant who was now hurrying away, "Bring... what in, father?"

"Oh, it's your birthday present, darling," His mother said as she followed after her husband. "We are just as excited to see what it is as you are!"

"Oh," William turned back to the crowd and to his parents a few more times, "yes. I see." He turned back and took his place in his own chair to the right of the king.

The room fell silent as a loud voice called attention from the main door of the hall. Standing in front of the door were two servants, one of whom was the one announcing to the room. "Prince William's birthday present from the king and queen has arrived. Please stand aside and make way." The large doors were pulled open and the previously quiet room erupted in whispers.

A group of eight people had entered the room, between them they were carrying a tall object that was covered in a red cloth. The crowd parted for them as they carried it to the front of the room and set it down in front of where the royal family was seated. Seven of the eight men stepped to the side, while the eighth took hold of the cloth but did not remove it.

"Let's see it then," The king motioned the servant forward. The servant nodded before pulling down on the cloth and removing it to reveal a large cage. Inside the cage sat a boy with his hands shackled together. When the curtain was pulled away, the boy flinched at the brightness of the lights but otherwise did not move from where he was sat, looking down towards the ground. He had a white tunic draped around his shoulders and his arms and legs were adorned with gold bracelets and bands. He had dark auburn hair that was obscuring his face as it fell in front of his eyes.

William stood to his feet in surprise the moment the curtain had been pulled away. He took several slow steps forward before stopping. "It's... a boy?" He turned to the king and queen. They looked almost as surprised as their son was, but masked their surprise better.

"Ahem," The king stood and walked up to place his hand on the prince's back, "yes, he's a... he's your personal servant, William." He pushed the prince towards the cage lightly.

William walked closer to the cage apprehensively. The noise of the crowd kept rising with murmurs and hissed whispers that the prince was painfully aware of. He was uncomfortable with the situation, but he'd be damned if he let himself show it. "Of course," He said loudly and turned with a bow, "thank you for the gift." He turned to the servants standing to the side. "Please, take the boy to my chambers." The servants nodded and covered the cage once more before carrying it from the room.

After a long moment of strained silence, the orchestra began to play once more and the crowd returned to the dance floor once again. William remained staring at the door the servants had left through. After a time, he turned away and returned to his seat beside his father in silence. The king and queen were conversing quietly beside him, but he could not make out what they were saying. He sat, looking out into the crowd blankly, with his chin in his hand.

"Ahem... William?" The king turned to him suddenly causing the prince to look up to him. "Don't you think you should return to the dance floor? I'm sure the princesses are anxious for you to-."

"I need to take care of something first," the prince interrupted him suddenly as he stood. He bowed curtly before turning and walking quickly through the nearest door. Once he'd entered the hallway, the door closed behind him and the music quieted. He walked quickly down the hall and made his way to the door to his quarters. A servant was standing in front of the door and bowed as he approached.

"The boy was delivered to your room as requested, my lord," The servant extended his hand, on his palm was a gold key.

The prince took the key and muttered a thank you before pulling the door open. He halted in the doorway. "No one is to enter, understand?"

"Yes, my lord."

William pulled the door shut behind him and slid the lock into place. He took a deep breath before turning to face the room. In the center of the room, knelt in front of the foot of the bed, was the boy. The shackles around his wrists and ankles were now connected to the bedposts, and he seemed to be shaking slightly. William approached slowly. The boy did not seem to be aware of his presence, and if he was he made no indication of it until the prince spoke, "Are you alright?"

The boy flinched, but did not look up at him. Now that he was closer, he could see the boy more clearly. The golden bands wrapped around his arms and ankles were affixed with gemstones that sparkled in the dim candle light. The white tunic hung loosely from his slim shoulders and was fastened around his waist with a gold sash. He was thin, but not in a frail way. William could see his slight muscle where it was showing. The boy seemed to be around his age, if not a little younger, and was rather attractive. His eyes fell on his wrists and ankles where the heavy shackles were fastened. Around the fringes he could see the redness from where the chains had likely rubbed his skin raw.

The prince sighed heavily and knelt down beside the boy. He reached out to take hold of his wrists, but the boy pulled them away quickly. "Please," William lowered his voice and reached for them again, "I'm trying to help you." This time the boy did not pull his hands away, but turned his head. He unlocked the shackles on his wrists and tossed them aside. He moved to unlock the ones around the boys ankles but his wrist was grabbed suddenly.

"Why are you doing this?" The boy, eyes still low, muttered quietly.

"You shouldn't be chained up like an animal," The prince responded calmly. He pulled weakly against the brunettes grip, but he did not let go.

The boy looked up at him for the first time, the prince could see the small tears pooling in his brown eyes. "That's not what I meant." His face fell again and he released the prince's arm and wiped his eyes.

William moved to unlock the cuffs on his ankles and tossed them alongside the first pair. "Look at me," he commanded.

The boy shook his head slowly. The prince sighed and reached up to grasp the boy's chin, at which he flinched away.

"It's not a request." He grabbed his cheek gently and pulled his face up to look at him. He turned it side to side gently, his eyes resting on a large graze on his cheek. "Did they hurt you?"

He was taken aback when the boy swatted his hand away. "I don't want your help." He pulled his knees to his chest and looked away once more. "I just want to go home."

The prince sighed once more. He was growing frustrated, this sort of defiance was foreign to him but he was striving to be patient. He walked to the wash table to collect a wet towel. He returned to the foot of the bed and knelt down once more.

"Look," he made the boy look at him once more, "I don't want to keep you here any more than you want to be kept here." He pressed the rag against the graze, causing a wince. "But, It's not really my choice."

The boy did not respond at first, only looked at the prince in a puzzled way. "Aren't... aren't you royalty?" He asked quietly.

"Yes, but I'm no-."

"Then it is your choice!" The boy suddenly shouted, smacking the prince's hand away once more.

"Look," William snapped back, his patience fraying, "I can't do anything about what the king and queen decide to do."

"So, it's their fault all of this happened to me then?!" He gestured to himself.

"All of... what?" His voice lowered with concern. Again, the boy did not answer and instead brought his knees to his chest. William took a breath to calm himself and spoke softly, "maybe I could help you more If you would tell me your name?"

The boy mumbled into his knees, hugging them tighter.

"I'm sorry, I couldn't he-."

The boy raised his head slightly, "It's Mason."

"Ah, I see," The prince held the washcloth out to him, "well, Mason, I am Prince William. But you can call me Bill if you would like."

The boy took the cloth and gingerly pressed it against his cheek. "You... you can call me Dipper."

"Dipper?" Bill questioned.

Dipper extended the rag back to the prince. "It's what my sister..." He trailed off, tears suddenly rising back to his eyes.

Bill took the rag from him and set it down beside him. He was unsure of exactly what to do. On impulse, he reached up and cupped the boys cheek gently and brushed the tears away with his thumb. Dipper looked surprised by the action, but didn't refuse it.

After some time Dipper sniffled, moved Bill's hand to wipe his own eyes, and lowered his knees from his chest. He spoke, his sentence interrupted by sniffles, "they... they hit me when I wouldn't move out of the... the cage." When the prince furrowed his eyebrows he continued, "you asked if they hurt me."

"Oh..." Bill crossed his legs and folded his hands in his lap, looking down at them. "I see."

Silence fell between the two and Dipper pulled up the hem of his tunic to wipe his eyes with it.

"Very well," The prince spoke up suddenly, "I'll have it taken care of."

Dipper looked at him curiously. "Have... what taken care of?"

Bill turned his head back to the boy and stated resolutely, "It's not right that they hurt you, I'll have it addressed." Dipper listened, his mouth slightly agape. "Don't worry, that wont happen again, I promise."

"Thank you," Dipper mumbled. The period of silence that followed was only broken by Dipper letting out a yawn.

"It's probably been a long day for you, you must be tired." Bill stood up and extended his hand down to the boy on the floor. "I'll have a room and fresh clothes prepared for you."

Dipper took his hand and allowed himself to be pulled to his feet. He discovered that the prince was at least a head taller than him, making him look up to speak. "I don't think that your people would like that."

Bill chuckled a little and began to walk towards the door. "What do you mean?"

Dipper, who had made no move to follow, looked down and shuffled his bare feet on the tile. "I mean that I am a gift," he looked up at the prince, "I'm meant to be a slave, not a guest."

"But that's... that's not right!" Bill looked outraged at the prospect. "Don't worry, I will have this taken care of."

"But what are you going to d-?"

Bill interrupted him as he reached the door, "just wait here, okay? I'll have food and clothes sent for you. I'll be back shortly." At the apprehensive look from the brunette, he smiled and continued, "don't worry, you'll be fine, I promise."

He stepped through the doorway and pulled it closed softly behind him. He began to make his way back to the ballroom, his idea being that he would be able to clarify the situation to the king and queen and, hopefully, be able to get the boy returned to wherever he called home. He stopped a maid in the hallway and asked her to deliver clothes and a tray of food to his quarters before arriving at the ballroom doors. Two guards who were stationed outside the door opened them for him and he stepped inside, the loud music and talking returning to his ears. He made his way towards the head of the room and noticed the, rather large, group of people standing around the king and queen.

The crowd parted for him as he approached. Standing directly in front of his parents were a man and a woman with a younger woman between them. As he reached them he began to address them but was cut off by the king.

"Excellent, you're back," He stood up from his chair and gestured to the people, "we have someone you would like for you to meet."

"Ah... I see." Bill turned to the people and bowed curtly, but didn't really look at them. "First, I need to talk to you about th-."

"This," His father interrupted once more, "Is the daughter of the king and queen of the Northwest, Princess Pacifica."

Bill turned to look at the young woman, his years of etiquette training kicking in and he bowed again. "It's a pleasure to meet you, princess." He kissed the top of her gloved hand and she smiled back at him.

"Well, William?" His mother stood up next to the king. "Aren't you going to ask her to dance?"

"Oh..." He looked as if he was going to refuse, but the king gave him a stern look. "Yes, of course. Please?" He extended his arm and led her to the dance floor reluctantly. They joined into the waltz that was playing. Bill, preoccupied with the thoughts of the slave-boy in his bedroom, was not paying very much attention to the woman he was dancing with. That is, until he accidentally stepped on the hem of her dress nearly causing them to fall. "Oh! I am so sorry princess, I must have lost my head for a moment."

"That's quite alright," she responded, glancing around them. "You must have been thinking rather deeply?"

"No, no, not particularly," he lied.

She looked as if she could tell he was not telling the truth, but did not remark on it. "You didn't have to dance with me if you didn't want to, you know?"

He nodded his head to where the king and queen were standing watching them across the room. "I rather think I did, princess."

She laughed. "Are you a creature of duty then, prince William?"

He shrugged. The music changed to something a little slower and the crowd on the dance floor thinned around them. "Not all of the time."

She looked at him expectantly, "But?"

"But," he continued, smiling as he glanced around them, "if I dance with you I don't have to dance with them." The princess looked to where he had been referring and laughed at the crowd of women standing on the fringes looking at them with jealousy.

"Oh dear," She giggled, "they seem to resent me, don't they?"

"So it would seem." Bill fought the urge to roll his eyes. "But, I have already danced with most of them more than once. I don't know about you, princess, but my feet get tired of dancing the waltz 47 times." He paused as if choosing his words, smiling again, "And they are not the most invigorating people for conversation."

The song ended and the princess looped her arm through Bill's and began to move towards the opposite end of the room where large banquet tables were set up. "Well then," she said, "allow me to steal you from them for just a little longer."

Bill followed after her reluctantly, glancing towards the door he'd entered through. "I really should go back..."

"Back to what?" She questioned. She released his arm as they arrived at the table and accepted a glass of champagne from a servant with a nod of thanks.

Bill shook his head dismissively as he himself took a drink. "Nothing to worry you with, I assure you."

She looked unconvinced and turned to face the crowd of people still dancing. She looked at him out of the corner of her eye. "Is it about that 'birthday present' people have been talking about?"

"Ah..." Bill chuckled uncomfortably, "So, you've heard about that?"

"It's all anyone seems to be interested in," she looked at him sideways again with a smile, "it seems you aren't the star of your own birthday party, your highness."

He took a long sip from his glass and cleared his throat, turning his head to look at her. "So it would seem."

"So, is it true then?" She sipped her champagne, before continuing, "The king and queen gave you a slave as a birthday present?" She had an edge of disdain in her voice that intrigued him.

"I... I don't think they knew what the gift was if I am honest," He looked at her curiously.

She set her empty glass on a tray that was offered up to her. "What are you going to do with him?"

The prince cleared his throat before answering, "I'm not entirely sure. I don't think it's in my power to let him go, but I do-."

"You have to," she interrupted him, "it's not right."

He smiled sympathetically. "I agree with you, princess. But, right now, there is not much I can do for him except keep him safe."

"Safe?" She questioned.

"Yes," he responded, glancing once again towards the doors, "they've already hit him once, likely more than once if I chanced a guess. When I saw him he was chained up like an animal. It's not right, none of it is." He looked back to her and gestured to the crowd. "But, judging from the reaction, I don't think they agree."

She was silent for a long moment before looking away and back to him quickly. "Unfortunately, I think you're right. Some of the things I have heard said about what they would do with him are abhorrent."

"I don't know what I'm going to do," Bill mumbled a response.

She placed a gentle hand on his arm. "Can I... Can I see him?"

He shook his head gently, "I don't think that's a good idea, princess." He offered up his arm to her, which she took. "I think we should head back now." He lead her through the crowd and back to the head of the room.

As they walked, she spoke to him quietly, "please, William, let me know if there is any way I can help."

They arrived at the chairs and he released her arm to bow to her with a smile. "Of course, princess. Thank you for the dance." He turned to the king and queen and bowed to them as well. "Mother, father, thank you for the wonderful party. I am going to retire for the night, please give my gratitude to the guests."

The king nodded and the queen smiled at him before standing to talk to the princess.

He turned away and walked back to the door at the side of the hall he had entered through previously. He retraced his steps back to his room, finding there to be no one standing outside this time. He opened and closed the door quickly. At first glance around the room, it appeared to be empty, but on closer inspection he spotted the boy laying on a carpet on the left side of the room.

He walked up to where he lay and discovered Dipper was asleep. He had changed his clothes and was now wearing a pair of blue pajamas. Near him was a tray with the remnants of the food that had been delivered. Bill smiled softly and knelt down to collect the tray off the floor. He placed it outside the door in the hallway before returning to where Dipper was lying. Dipper was small enough that Bill was able to lift him from the ground without disturbing him and he carried him to his bed. He lay the boy down on the sheets and pulled the blankets up over him before walking to his closet to change himself into his own nightclothes. When he returned to the bedside, an idea struck him. He walked to the door and pulled on the rope that would ring for a servant, who arrived shortly.

"I would like a guard stationed outside of my room," he ordered, dismissing the questioning look he received from the servant, "no one is to enter or leave my room tonight." He'd decided it would be in the boy's best interest to not be allowed to leave in the middle of the night should he choose to try.

He returned to the bedside and climbed into bed himself. As he was reaching to turn off the light, Dipper rolled over and spoke quietly, "Bill?"

"Yes?" He answered quietly.

"Do I... do I get to go home soon?" he asked sleepily.

Bill hesitated on his answer, he didn't want to lie to him. "I hope so. But don't worry about that now, get some rest and we'll discuss it in the morning." With that, he turned off the light.