Chapter Two

July 14th year of our Lord 1540

5:30 AM

Melford Hall

"William!... Will! Wake up! You must wake up now!"

William twitched and quivered feeling a pair of hands gripping firmly upon his right upper arm jerking him back to the conscious world. His steely blue eyes parted and fell upon the impatient figure. "Thomas… What is causing such urgency? Mother said we do not have to wake until dawn…"

His twin Thomas lessened his grip upon his brother and backed up to give him some space. "Yes, I remember but father is leaving for court early. I just thought if we managed to catch him before he left, we might be able to convince him to fetch us in a few days so we can finally accompany him to court as well. I strongly believe we are finally old enough."

William was still in the process of waking up. This was far too much to deliberate mentally so soon after being jostled awake. The part of his brain that was alert enough to process information allowed himself to mentally agree with his brother. At this point in their lives they were thirteen years old, though it could be argued that they were still boys, many boys in their age group and social class were already betrothed securing a prominent future for them. All in all, William and his brother had lived sheltered lives as compared to their peers. Perhaps it truly was time for them to expand their horizons.

"Very well, I will quickly dress and meet you downstairs," he promised his brother as he slid out of bed. Thomas nodded at this and smiled gently before he exited his brother's bedroom leaving him alone to get ready for the day ahead.

As William stripped his nightshirt off his slim body there was a knock upon his door. "Young Master? May I come in and assist ya?"

"Yes Peter, you may. I would appreciate that very much."

The door opened revealing a boy who was two years William's junior. Peter was a scrawny boy with dirty blond hair. His clothes were constructed of a simple fabric fraying a bit at the edges here and there. Being the son of the most favored personal maid and servant of William's own mother, he was quickly entrusted to the position of taking care of one of her own sons. If he proved his own loyalty to the family through dedicated service William's family would invest money back into him and buy him some proper clothes befitting the servant to the household of a lord's family.

However, Peter had been his personal servant since he was nine and had not left his side since. William saw him more of a brother then a person who society saw as worth little more then the dust that covered their streets.

William watched as the younger boy took the nightshirt from his hands and proceeded to go to his wardrobe, his thin preteen form finally free from the confines of the stiff upper-class clothing. However, after putting the worn nightshirt in its proper place, Peter then drew out the intricate everyday garbs for an upper class male for his master. If there was even the slightest chance that William and his brother Thomas would go to court this day, Peter would make darn sure that his master went to court looking in such a way that it would turn even the king's head to look at such a dapper young man. William would make his lineage very proud indeed.

"Are ya excited sir?" Peter could but help but ask. If today was going to be his master's first day in court, it would be a momentous day indeed.

"I am nervous if I am going to be truly honest, but it is going to happen sooner or later, and it would be nice if that day came soon so that I may begin to have experience earlier in my life…" William admitted then. "Although, I would prefer if it if you came along, it would put me more at ease."

Peter looked up at him and studied his master. His eyes then shifted nervously downwards as he worked on getting his master's clothing onto his slim physical form. "I'm happy ya think so highly of me, but I'm not exactly suited fer such a place, I mean the king an the whole court is there an' well… I think I would jus hold ya back o' somethin' like tha. Maybe after I get more experience like the olda servants I can finally accompany ya to the palace someday," Peter smiled brightly causing his soft green eyes to sparkle out of his joy.

No matter how "lowly" little Peter may be, William greatly disliked hearing the boy verbally call himself such a title was so undeserving in his mind. If people were allowed to receive titles based on their inherent goodness, there was no doubt in his mind that Peter would be King. However, there was not a single society on Earth that worked that way, it was a shame in his mind but even a thirteen year old boy knew that would not be practical way to run any society. "Perhaps, though you will always be worthy in my mind Peter, but I respect your decision if you do not feel confident enough to attend quite yet," he was being more then honest, he never had any desire to make Peter uncomfortable.

The manservant bowed his head smiling gratefully, "you are too kind, I am so grateful." The boy's nimble fingers twitched and fumbled then as he prepared his master for the potentially important day. He swallowed stiffly trying to fit the buttons through the holes to close up the second layer of the top of William's outfit, however whenever he got close his hands would jerk and twitch in such a way that he had to start over completely with one, or several of the buttons. "Oh blimey! I'm so sorry sir! Please forgive me!" He sputtered out as he bowed his head, which only succeeded in him undoing all of his process on that piece of clothing.

William studied him with his own steely blue eyes that were softened with the kind emotion he held for the boy. "Peter… Peter. Please look at me," he instructed in a gentle voice. Peter visually fidgeted then before he dared to finally look up at his master. He quizzically gazed into William's eyes once he gained enough courage to do so. "Deep breath, I believe in you… Do not put any unneeded stress upon yourself; this truly is not different from any other day," William then managed to have a smile appear upon his thin stiff lips.

"But if I screw up…"

"You will not screw up, come now, you can do it," William insisted. He knew Peter too well. The boy was anything but a negligent screw-up, just lacking confidence that's all.

The boy nodded stiffly then, he took a deep breath as instructed by his master until he felt his heart slow down and he made sure his fingers became more steady as they worked. This time they were much more steady and efficient as they should have been before he made a fool of himself. At this pace he finally managed to finish and William looked more then proper. William even approved after glancing at himself in his very own full-length mirror. He did not approve of the modern high class's taste in fashion however, all the frills seemed entirely unneeded and seemed to do nothing but get in the way of practical tasks.

"Now that we are done, I should hurry up, Thomas must be having a fit from waiting…" William said gathering up the things that he needed to keep at his side at all times, such as his coin purse and pocket watch, he did not need much else since his father would be there as well. He could not think of anything else he would need. If they were truly going to go to court, he had Peter prepare a bag with some clothes and other necessary items he would need for a brief stay. For now, he quickly hurried down the hallway and down the grand staircase to meet up with his brother, who was currently partially hanging upon their father's horse pleading for him to allow them to come with him. He tried to keep it all refined, but he ended up giving into his childishness as he practically begged for their father's permission.

"Thomas, rise yourself from your lowly begging and behave in a manner that is more suited for your stature, prove to me that you are worthy if you truly desire to come." As their father spoke, his powerful voice overpowered anything that William or his brother could have summoned up with their own voices, thus both fell silent then.

Thomas backed from their father's horse and he stood up straight, as a true gentleman of the court would do. He then cleaned his throat in order to make his still-developing voice steadier then it would be otherwise. It was only then did his eyes meet the expectant gaze of his father and spoke. "Please Father, William and I would love nothing more then to come along with you to court, so that we may finally understand our standing in this society and how our great kingdom operates. It is something we need to do eventually in our lives, the sooner we do it, the sooner we can start truly learning." Thomas even finished it with one of his charming, but gentlemanly smiles.

Their father scrutinized Thomas to see if his son was being sincere and not just kissing up to him. His eyes then shifted to William who was the more emotionally collected of his two sons. "Very well, you two may come with me and stay the first few days before the business is conducted with the king."

Thomas cheered as collectively as he could while William smiled then as both of the boys felt the true sensation that they were truly taking a new step in their lives. It was exhilarating.

Their father then sent for the servants that were standing beside them to gather up his sons' things and put them onto the traveling carriage that would be behind them as they journeyed across the landscape of the British Isle.

William took this time to glance up to the upper floors of the house and it was then in the smoothest part of the panes of the glass of the window that he saw Peter's face gazing down upon him. Even considering the distance and the impurity of the glass he could see that Peter was already sad from his absence. It did not make him particularly happy to part ways with his friend either. This was the first time in years that they would be, but it was only for a few days as father said. He lifted his hand and waved at him summoning up a small sad smile of his own. Despite the sadness between them, Peter smiled as well and managed a wave of his own before William was helped onto his horse.

The raven-haired male looked back one last time at Peter before starting down the long road to Hampton Court Palace castle where the king and the court waited their arrival.

The trip to Hampton Court Palace lasted the full day. William considered himself lucky however since other noble families had to travel much longer, Melford Hall was as close as a noble family could get without being sucked into the chaos of the city.

When William's eyes finally landed upon that Heavenly place he was shocked that such a picture-perfect place had such a tumultuous history connected to it. Hampton Court Palace used to belong to Cardinal Wolsey, King Henry the Eighth's most trusted advisor until he could not properly arrange the annulment between the king and his first wife, it was then that all Wolsey's assets, including Hampton Court, was relinquished to the crown and Wolsey himself was sent to the Tower of London. It was there that he was sentenced to the same fate as many before him, however he was spared that death and died of a mystery illness when he was within the confines of the Tower. William, even at his young age, thought that was a merciful death compared to the people that Wolsey had condemned to die at the gallows, that is, if the execution that he had attended when he was young was anything to go on.

William hopped off his horse still rather intimidated by the large structure, but he became even more so at the realization that the building he was gazing upon was the summer residence of the King of England, he was in there at just this moment! The young book oriented teen hardly knew how to contain himself or his thoughts in general.

He was only stirred from such thoughts when his father placed his hand upon his shoulder. He glanced at the hand and then up at his angular face. Being a tall man it took some effort for the young teen to look at his face. "Are you ready William?" he asked as softly.

William could only nervously nod in response and he glanced at his brother who was gleaming and verbally fawning over the palace and the grounds themselves. William also overheard various verbal quips from his brother on how he would impress the king: "Oh! Imagine if there was an assassination attempt on the king. I am so ready to tackle that bastard to the ground in front of the entire court. I can only imagine the glory that would bring upon our family name after I save the king from almost certain death!"

William felt a soft laugh come out of his lips, which was luckily obscured by the sound of their carriage's driver getting down from his seat and then opening the carriage door for the family. The boys' father got out first then helped his sons get out safely, first the excited Thomas, and then the more restrained William. The two boys followed their father up the stairs and to the giant double doors that separated the tedious and trivial world from the one of luxury and purpose. His father strode over the guarded threshold without any hesitation. Thomas followed right behind him without a second thought or consideration. William, however, felt like he was the only one that was daunted by the prospect of entering this strange world. He had spent his entire life thus far preparing for such a moment, but now he was here he felt so inadequately prepared. Only the tug on his arm from his brother reaching out and grabbing him to pull him inside woke him up from his overwhelmed state.

"Come on William, we have to make a good first impression now that we are here, and standing there like a drunkard is not the way to do it," Thomas grinned at his brother, who just forced himself to give a nod in reply as he followed his brother silently inside.

Upon arriving in the entrance hall, their luggage was taken to the guest wing of the palace by some bustling lower servants. A higher stationed manservant beckoned them to follow as he led William's family to the grand hall where there was currently an evening feast going on in the king's honor. It was something that happened most nights, but that was just one of the many perks of being king, he could have as many feasts as he willed to have. He just had to snap his fingers and all those around him worked tirelessly to make it happen.

Even though he was more then well informed of the mannerisms of court life, because his father had told him and his brother many times, but nothing could have possibly prepared the young man for the sights and sounds that rushed over him the moment those doors to the grand dining hall opened.

A vast room spread from the doorway where William's family stood. The room had a dark wooden floor that complimented the dark wood of the richly decorated hammer-beam ceiling of the room. The walls were covered in stunning and intricate sixteenth century Flemish tapestries depicting the biblical scenes of Abraham. A set up of two rows of long tables were set up parallel to the longest walls leaving an large empty space between them. The chairs faced this empty space, where the entertainment would be if anything was happening at this current time. Another long set up of tables was propped up on a dais making them perpendicular to the other tables. In the center of the chair setup at this row of particular tables was a grander seat that was much grander and beautiful then all the others. The detail to the wood was exquisite and the green material upon the seat cushion was breath-taking, even William noticed this from the opposite end of the room. He was aware that the only reason he was able to observe the cushions quite closely was because there was no one currently sitting in that grand chair. In fact, not many people were sitting down currently at the moment. Most of the lords and ladies stood about the room gossiping and chatting with one another as a small group of musicians played a cheerful elegant tune that set the mood for the dinner.

William's steely blue eyes flicked around feeling mesmerized by all the new things and people that were surrounding them. Thomas looked up at their father the moment after he realized the grandest chair was currently empty, "Father? Where's the king? I want to see the king."

"Compose yourself Thomas, he will be along shortly, I have no doubt about that. Please go find a place to sit at one of the regular tables since everyone will be sitting shortly momentarily."

William glanced at Thomas before he headed to one of the tables and sat down. The entire time he ensured his posture was proper and perfect so that he may be able to represent his family in a positive light. Thomas took a moment of glancing around, clearly drinking in the sights before he settled down enough to sit down by his twin brother.

Servants bustled in as discretely as they could as they began to tend to setting up the tables as every kind of food imaginable was placed down before the guests' eyes. Though they were quite used to this pampering, the noblemen and women reveled in the luxury that being in the king's presence provided them. All the guests took this cue to start sitting down in all their proper places.

William watched each of them with some intrigue. He was not going to take any of this for granted; he was going to learn as much as he possibly could from everything that was around him. It was then his eyes landed on her.

Sitting at the table that was parallel to his, but across the room, was a pretty young woman. The first thing that drew William's eyes to her was the sweet musical laugh he hard heard from where he sat, but her bright magnetic smile was what made his eyes stay upon her. He observed that she had pale delicate skin, shining bright brown eyes that matched her gorgeous and silky looking reddish brown hair, which only showed because her proper English headdress sat farther back on her head then what was seen as culturally proper. She was no doubt a well off to do lady despite her slight transgression with her headdress because she had on of the most gorgeous dresses he had ever seen. The boy felt a sudden surge of jealousy as he spotted that the smile was pointed at a male companion that was seated down next to her.

William, even as a young teenager, a gentleman was not supposed to feel this indecently about women that they were not properly introduced to yet. Still, he did nonetheless.

His eyes stayed locked upon her until he felt a sharp jab to his ribcage courtesy of his brother. He rubbed it and was about to give his brother a piece of his mind, but Thomas spoke first. "Why are you staring across from you when you are going to miss the real sight to behold," he chattered excitedly as he motioned to the double doors that were now held open by the palace guards. There in the middle of the doorway stood a rather over weight man garbed in the finest silk and fur clothes. His most defining feature was his bright red hair which shown around the brim of his fine hat and the neatly trimmed beard. As the man walked across the room to the dais, William noticed that the man walked with a limp and he had to use a walking stick to move without the aid of another person. The man lumbered over to the grand chair that was the center focus of the room. William's breath hitched. This man was the king. He was the ruler of everything William had ever known.

King Henry's eyes surveyed all his guests with his piercing eyes, but a small smile had taken hold of his lips at the joyous scene. He made a few welcoming remarks before he allowed everyone to start eating. Though he had tried his best to listen, the words were greatly muted to the boy's ears. He just stared. However, his heart did cease in its regular pace when the king's eyes met his own. Out of a gesture of humility and shyness he averted his eyes quickly downward.

"Lord Campbell! Are these the twin boys that I have heard you praise constantly?" The king's voice carried easily across the room to William's father's ears.

"Yes Your Majesty, these are my two beloved boys William and Thomas. I thought it was about time to bring them into your presence and glory," their father said with a respectful bow of his head.

This caused the king to let out a roar of joy filled laughter in response, "they look like they will be fine future gentlemen to carry on your family name."

William looked at his father then. He never thought he had seen his father beam with that much pride before in his life.

The festivities had continued after the meal. There was dancing in the open areas of the room. Other guests amused themselves by continuing to converse with the others as everyone tried to gain favorable attention from the king.

William, however, felt quite exhausted from all the new experiences. He withdrew away from the other guests and into the nearby courtyard. He found a nice stone seat that was placed among the gorgeous garden. He felt relieved to have the pressure of all those prying eyes momentarily off of him. It was so overwhelming that he needed time for it all just to sink in slowly. None of it felt quite real yet. It was too surreal for him to take in all at once.

He did not find it strange that his mind eventually rested upon that young woman. Her smile had been the most enchanting and beautiful feature of another being that he had ever seen. If only it was pointed at him. If only, somehow in all of his inexperience with the opposite sex, he could make her look into his eyes and smile at him as gloriously as she did to her male companion.

Then, as if out of his wildest fantasies, a figure had cast a shadow over him, which caught his attention quite quickly. He looked up and saw her standing there beside him. He looked at her in utter wonder; he had no idea if she was even the real thing or a figure just made from his imagination and deepest wishes.

"You are new here, are you not?" she asked him with a sultry tilt of her head.

"Yes actually, my… my father is Lord Campbell, I am his son William," he bowed his head, but he quickly stood up, took her hand and kissed the back of it, "the pleasure is all mine."

She let out one of her beautiful laughs; "I have been in court many years now. Since this is your first time shall I give you some tips and advice?"

William's face softened considerably in joy, "if you would not mind, I would rather enjoy that actually."

The young woman smiled and she sat down beside him, and smoothed out her skirt over her lap.

The two of them chatted about the court, then their conversation turned into something more fun in nature. She even graced him quite a few times with her gorgeous enchanting smile.

Up to this point this had been the greatest day in the young man's life. It certainly was the high point. If William had been aware of the tumultuous misfortune that was to quickly follow, perhaps he would have avoided this woman at all costs. Because this young woman, with the smile he so adored, was the very beginning of it all.

Author's Notes:

I'm so sorry this chapter took so long to come out. College has been a challenge this year, so that had been the main hinderance. Then I intended to get it done over my winter break but I had some family emergencies that needed my attention more. Hope you all understand 3 and I promise that the next chapter will not take this long to come out.

Also, you have obviously noticed the time switch from the previous chapter. This fic's setup will be alternating between the past and present every other chapter. Thus the next chapter will be back in "present" Kuroshitsuji time, aka the Victorian Era. I do hope you enjoyed reading about young William and experience him in a different period of his life, and a different light 3