1 A Dream and a Letter

"Mat? Will you promise me?" Her pretty face was like sunlight on a rainy day, having radiance that melts the heart.

" Promise me that…." Her voice became inaudible and she completely dissipated like smoke. Fear replaced joy and sadness filled the rest.

Timothy opened his eyes and clutched his chest. It was painful, like thousands of needles pricking through his heart.

It was the same dream again. For as long as he could remember, that dream kept haunting him from time to time. In the dream, there was this woman- a beautiful woman whose presence was unmistakable. The dream was pleasant at first, giving the feeling of warmth. But as the woman slowly disappears, an inexplicable pain surges through his heart. It was an agony, borne of sadness and longing.

Timothy looked around. It was almost sunrise so he decided not go back to bed. Although no one would judge the third prince of Castonia for waking up late, he wanted to be an example. In this cruel world, the people's respect was a resource every leader should have.

Timothy wiped his face with a cloth. The coarse fabric absorbed the wetness of his skin. He then decided that it was time for the morning march. The men won't hate him for making them do it so early right? Well it won't kill them to be industrious every once in a while. If he, the third prince of Castonia who was raised at the palace, could wake up before sunrise, so could they.

"James! Erik! Wake up. Bring me my armor." Timothy called his two squires. His squires' room was just beside his. After a while, someone knocked on his door.

" It's us your highness" A voice came from the other side. It was James. Timothy opened the door. His squires still have a sleepy look.

"We..We are very sorry your highness. It looks like we failed you again" James stammered. The lad lowered his head, clearly ashamed to look at him. It was commonly the duty of a squire to wake up before his master does, but Timothy doesn't mind.

"Don't be sorry. It's his fault for waking up so early" Erik gave him a small grin as he entered his room with the armor.

" Oh? Is that the proper way to talk to your prince?" Timothy raised his eyebrows as he allowed Erik to help him with the armor.

" Prince?" Erik looked at him with questioning eyes "How many princes do you think wakes up before sunrise?"

" How many princes do you think are as good looking as me?" Timothy smirked. If Erik's going to play with words, he'll show him how eloquent his opponent is.

" Dammit Tim can you please be a bit lazier? Your family's sigil is the white lion but you act more like a rooster. " Erik complained while fixing Timothy's chainmail.

He ignored Erik and commanded James, "Tell General Marvin to change the watch and prepare the men"

"Your servant shall do as you will your highness!" James saluted in a very stiff manner and left. Timothy and Erik looked at each other.

"He's so… polite" Timothy couldn't help but shake his head.

"Ah don't worry Tim. He's been here for a month. He'll learn to 'adjust'"

"By adjust you mean disrespect me like you do? No thank you" Timothy chuckled. He doesn't need another Erik. One is enough.

"Oh I'm touched. So that means I'm your one and only best friend" Erik laughed but then his expression turned serious. "You woke up earlier than usual. Same dream again?" There was a hint of worry in his voice. Tim was a little touched.

"Yeah. I don't know Erik. I've been trying to understand what the girl said after but she always disappears. And then I feel…sadness." Timothy clutched his chest. He had been trying for years to understand the meaning of his dream. If it was just a random dream, he wouldn't be having it every few days. And the emotions…they felt so real and vivid.

"Well, I hope you stop having that dream in future. It'll also be good for my sleep." Erik let out a gentle laugh.

"You can sleep for as long as you like when you're dead. Let's go." Timothy stood up. It was a little dark but he knew his way around his room. He went out and headed to the castle grounds. The coldness of the morning greeted him.

"So how many rounds of marching are we doing this time?" Erik asked as he followed Tim.

"Depends on the weather" He lied. Smirking, he turned his head towards Erik. Sunrise was still about half an hour away so most of the soldiers were asleep. But with General Marvin's call, it shouldn't take them long to wake up.

"Ha! Who are you kidding? It depends on your mood. You had that dream today. I can only feel pity for them."

"Oh so the demon squire still feels pity?" Timothy playfully asked. He was well aware of Erik's reputation among the soldiers. They nicknamed him the 'demon squire' because of his strict attitude.

"Who are you calling demon squire, rooster prince?" replied Erik. And yes, the garrison also gave him a nickname- rooster prince for his habit of waking up so early. It was actually a good nickname, he thought, queer but good.

But before they could reach the castle grounds, a soldier went to him and saluted. The soldier balled his hand and put it in his chest. This was a common salutation to a person with a higher authority.

"Report!" Timothy's voice was crisp "What's so damn important for you to interrupt me from giving my men their daily gift?" he said mischievously.

The so-called gift he was talking about was the daily march he and the garrison do. They would march every morning from the castle to the nearby village in full armor. Marching in full armor was not difficult at first, but it drains the stamina. How many rounds of marching? Just like what Erik said, it depends on his mood.

"A letter sir!" The soldier answered

Timothy doesn't care about letters. Being the third prince, he receives a few of them every day.

"If it's from one of the nobles, give it to me later. If it's from the other castles give it to Squire Erik. If it's from Baron Randy from the nearby village throw it." He shrugged and explained to Erik "He always invites me to dinner trying to secure some royal favors. He sent me dozens of letters already it's getting annoying."

Erik gave him a weak smile as if indicating that he would do the same.

"But the seal is golden sir! I thought you might want to read it as soon as possible" the soldier insisted.

Timothy was shocked. "The seal is golden?" he repeated as if confirming he didn't misheard the soldier "give it to me" he grabbed the letter.

Letters with a golden seal meant one thing- the sender was a royal. Timothy looked at the letter and saw the seal. His eyes went wide. It was a letter from the King! His father, the King, never wrote him a letter before. In fact, his father rarely talked to him. The old man treated him like he doesn't exist and even exiled him to this castle near the border. In the past, whenever the King had orders for the castle, he would write to General Marvin. But now the King actually wrote him a letter! A hand-written letter that took effort to make. Timothy was overjoyed.

With a smile, he broke the seal and opened the letter. But after reading of the contents, his face contorted.

"Erik" he called

"Yeah?"

"Father…um..ordered me to come home…" said Timothy

"Well you will be recalled sooner or later. You should have known that already. Why are you so surprised?" Erik questioned.

"And I'm getting married"