CHAPTER THIRTY-SIX-Back in the Enchanted Forest, Queen Snow White and King David's Castle, Training Area

"So Leif, exactly how much training have you had?" Oliver asked the prince, who was looking over the range of weapons to choose from.

"Like with weapons?" Leif timidly picked up a longsword.

"No, with pillows, OF COURSE I MEAN WEAPONS!" Oliver shouted.

Leif, ignoring the outburst said, "In that case…not really any." He shrugged, absentmindedly swinging the sword.

Finally too fed up with the stuck up Arendelle prince, Oliver drew his bow, sending an arrow right past Leif's head, barely missing his ear. Leif dropped the sword in shock, and spun around to face Oliver.

"What the hell was that for? You nearly killed me!"

"I was merely getting your training motivation started. You have to start somewhere." Oliver gave the sword back to Leif, and went to pick out one for him to use.

"Why do you care so much?"

"I don't care about you. I care about who you can use these fighting skills to protect. I care about Kendra…" Oliver turned away quickly, wondering why he just let that fly out of his mouth.

"I'm assuming by your tone that you don't mean in the best friend kind of way," Leif pried.

"Does it matter?" Oliver mumbled.

"Considering you are talking about my girlfriend, yes, it does matter."

"You don't have to worry about me getting in the way of your oh so perfect relationship. You know what? I respect Kendra and her choice to date you. It doesn't even matter that I think that you two are in no way, shape, or form compatible," Oliver spat.

"What do you know about relationships? Your best one seems to be with that mess of dirt and sap you call a home," Leif glared.

"DO NOT insult me or my home. Just because I don't live in a castle doesn't mean that you are better than me."

"Isn't that the definition of royalty?" Leif smirked.

"I am royalty, you spoiled ice brat," Oliver growled, secretly wishing he had been slightly off aim with that arrow.

"Yeah, son of the Evil Queen, so high and mighty," Leif mocked.

"THAT'S IT!" Oliver tackled Leif to the ground, holding both of his arms against the dirt and pinning the rest of his body down with his knees.

"GET OFF ME YOU THIEF! KENDRA IS NEVER GOING TO FORGIVE YOU AFTER SHE HEARS ABOUT THIS!" Leif struggled underneath the weight of the slightly older prince.

"What in the realms is going on?" Liam came bursting into the arena, pulling Oliver off of Leif.

"That miscreant attacked me," Leif shook an accusing finger at Oliver while he got up, brushing the dirt off of his uniform.

"Don't act like you didn't provoke anything," Oliver spat.

"Well, if you didn't-"

"Leif! Enough! You are a guest in this castle. I assume you know how to act like one. You may be in a courtship with Kendra, but that gives you no right to disrespect anyone in our court. Oliver can be a hothead, but he is still your superior during your stay here. Are we clear? " Liam scolded.

"Yes…" Leif scowled at Oliver.

"We will have to put off any training we planned, due to the fact that you two evidently have differences you need to work out. It is bad form to fight one another when you are mad. It leads to injury. Oliver, my father needed someone to help out down at the docks in Kendra's absence. Would you be up for it?"

"Of cour-"

"I can do it." Leif interrupted.

"Someone with experience and not currently dating my sister," Liam stressed. "My father would most likely rip your head off before the day is done."

"I better not keep Captain Jones waiting. See you around, Liam." Oliver slung his bow and quiver back over his back and headed out of the arena and towards the docks.

"Are you going to fess up and tell me why you and Oliver were fighting?" Liam asked calmly.

"Oliver was carrying on about how he was going to take Kendra from me," Leif replied.

"We both know that isn't true. Sure, he may care about Kendra, but he has too much of a sense of honor to try and take her away. You see, my mom has this special thing, she calls it her superpower. Well, it just so happens that I inherited that superpower. Do you know what it allows me to do?" Leif shook his head. "It allows me to tell when anyone is lying, and you are in fact lying."

"I didn't-"

"If you think my father is intimidating, I am here to tell you that her twin brother can be a whole lot worse. I don't have to tolerate you. If you plan on sticking around, you better change that attitude, because I will be talking to Kendra about you and Oliver's little conundrum. Like it or not, she has known Oliver for a whole lot longer than she has known you. Yes, Oliver has feelings for her, but she isn't aware of them as far as I know. You better put that issue behind you and focus on treating my sister like the pirate she is. Kendra is not some princess you can coddle and force into a life she doesn't want. If you truly want to be with her you better seriously think about how much that crown of yours is worth."

"You want me to just give up my crown?" Leif sounded startled.

Liam sighed, realizing his harshness. "I just want you to think of her first, even if it isn't what you had in mind. Kendra is different and she is going to take probably a lot more work to keep up with than you will have time for in your position. Sometimes loving someone means letting them go and sometimes it means going after them. My relationship with Colette has been far from perfect. We've had to make sacrifices for one another. It's just part of it. You have to admit, the both of you have changed a lot since you began your courtship. I won't tell you what to do, but can you at least try and make sure you are doing what's best for her?" Liam pleaded.

"I assure you, I love Kendra and will do whatever it takes to make her happy, even if that means she no longer wants to be committed to me," Leif sighed. "Well, I better go get cleaned up for dinner." Leif gestured towards his grime-covered clothing. "Liam?"

"Yeah?"

"How did you know that Colette was the one?" Leif asked timidly.

"I don't know. I just kind of knew. I think it started when I realized that I needed her just as much as she needed me. At first, I always thought that I was the thing that held her together through the magic lessons and other rocky areas of her life. I never thought that I would need her to be my rock, but she supported me to the end while I was working towards becoming a captain in the royal guard. I'm sure you will know when you find the person you are meant to be with, even if it isn't Kendra."

"Thanks. I just wanted to know," Leif sighed.

"No problem. Let's get out of here, snowflake," Liam led Leif back into the castle.

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