Phillips POV:
"TAKE THAT!" i shouted, bringing my sword down upon my opponent in one swift arc, making him stumble to the side as he feebily tried to block my blow.
"you're getting slower dear brother" i taunted smirking as my brother launched himself at me, bringing his sword up to clash with mine.
"Nay it is you who is getting slower!" Matthias laughed, jumping up as i swiped at his feet. "i nearly confused you with an old woman" he chided, ducking as i swung at him again.
"all words and no actions matthias!" i smiled, parrying his sword as he came at me.
"i have yet to see such actions from yourself phillip" matthias teased, jumping back to allow more space between us.
I ran after him, following him through the halls of my fathers palace. "why are you running brother? to afraid to actually face me?" i laughed as he suddenly ducked behind Anna who had just so happened to step out of a room carrying a basket filled with linen.
I moved around her but Matthias was making sure to keep Anna between us at all times. "you're majesties, i do beg that i be allowed to step out of this little show of brotherly affection" Anna sighed, rolling her grey eyes in amusement as she watched me trying to gain an upper hand.
"Oh anna and here i thought you were on my side" i taunted, laughing as she stumbled sideways when Matthias accidentally bumped into her.
"To correct that assumption you're highness, when my life is in danger say now for example i am definitely not on your side" she huffed, leaning the basket on her hip and tapping her foot impatiently.
"BOYS!" Matthias and I both stopped and looked down the hall to see our mother standing there with her arms crossed over her chest, her brow pulled up in disappointment.
"Leave Anna out of you're childish games. You're father would like to see the both of you in his study" she added rolling her eyes as she turned on her heel.
I looked back at Matthias seeing him smile at me just at the same time i did. We both dropped our swords and bolted down the hall, racing one another.
"not so fast in the long run hey there brother?!" Matthias teased, shoving me slightly. I laughed pushing him back as we crashed through the halls nearly bounding into my fathers chambers.
my father looked at my brother and I as we tried to hide the fact that we were both breathing heavily.
"I see that the two of you have been rampaging again" our father laughed, shaking his head as he moved to sit at his desk.
"Not rampaging father, merely a little brotherly competition" i smiled, straightening up and placing my hands behind my back.
My brother did the same, his breathing alittle eratic. "Well as much as i would love to see this brotherly competition i have work for the two of you." He sighed his voice turning serious.
"i need the both of you to ride out in a weeks time to meet with the Lords and Ladies. They need to be escorted here to sign the waver of protection and allegiance to me"
Matthias and i both nodded. "I send the both of you, because when i am gone, they will be sworn to the two of you. And as princes and rightful heirs to my throne i need them to trust that we will protect them if they do so."
"yes father" I breathed Matthias following my lead. with a wave of his hand my father sent us on our way.
Anna's POV:
After my little encounter with the two princes i took the linen's out to the little creak behind the castle a place where fresh water was brought down fromt he mountains daily.
I sighed taking the cloths and dumping them into the water, soaking them before i began to scrub at them with the soap i had brought out with me.
I hummed a lullaby i heard when i was a kid while i worked, stopping short when the soap slipped from my hand and disappeared into the water.
I let out a sigh, brushing my hair from my face as i placed the linens back into the basket before bunching up my skirts and stepping out into the water.
I reached down into the water my hands skimming over the muddy ground and rocks below the surface, trying to find the little bar.
"Well what do we have here?" i heard a voice coo from behind me. I stood up straight, turning quickly to see three knights watching me attentively.
their gazes made me shiver despite the warm air, and i knew that weren't here to have a friendly conversation.
"What is a pretty thing like you doing out here so...alone" one murmured a smirk pulling at the edges of his lips while the others chortled with amusement.
"I'm doing my job, which is more than i can say for the likes of you" i spat, hiding back my flinch when i realized i over stepped my boundary.
The knights smirks turned to glares the three of them pulling out small daggers. "you've insulted us chamber maid, and i think that its time you apologized" the one spoke up again that predatory look creeping back into his eyes.
"not in this lifetime or the next" i glared.
"then i guess we will just have to take our apology any way we please" he smirked, lunging forward into the creak.
I turned quickly and made a run for it fear spreading through me at the thought of what they would do if they caught me.
I could hear them splashing through the water as they followed. I glanced back glad to see that the little armour they had on was holding them down.
I climbed out of the creak, the bottom of my skirt soaked with water and mud. I spied the stables and made a run for it, seeing as that were the only shelter near by that didn't require me wading back through the creak to get to the castle.
I was panting glancing back every so often to see that the knights were still following and were slowly gaining.
I made it to the stables minutes later, sweat dripping down my face. i slammed the door closed, locking it in place so that it would keep the knights at bay for atleast some time.
I turned to see a stable girl i knew "Anna?" Clarissa frowned, wondering why i was breathing like i had been running for my life. I ran towards her, grabbing her and pulling her away from the door.
"why are you running?" she asked. "some knights have been following me" i breathed pulling her down behind some crates
"they haven't seen you" i panted, looking around in fear. "go out the back and run back to the castle." i motioned, pushing her towards the small trap door.
"come with me" she breathed looking at me in fear. i shook my head. "there's no way the both of us will make it" i murmured.
"go! i'll keep them busy but you must go now. go!" i encouraged. she nodded and disappeared out of sight.
