Find me a Love so Sweet

Sparring in the Morning

The ledge was small, but he could fit.

He heard the crashing of waves and shells breaking against the rocks bellow. If a fall from the height didn't kill him, the waves surely would.

The ledge was marble, which meant it was slippery. All of the marble was, it was one of the perks of having a castle by the water in the summer.

He hugged the palace wall. He could see Gold Tower balcony, out of the corner of his eye. He panted, gripping the ledge above. He felt marble break under one of his hands. He clung to the ledge with on arm, half of his body now dangling over the coast line.

He pushed off the wall with one leg, and dove towards the balcony.

He landed on carpet. His eyes flickered open, to find himself on his bedroom floor tangled in layer of sheets, sweating heavily from his nightmare.

Tedros climbed up, with a groan.

Looking over the sunless bay, he couldn't even see a sliver of sunlight escaping over the horizon.

He looked over at the clock in the corner of his bedroom. 4am.

The Commander would be awake.

=====

Tedros and Chaddick sparred in the centre of the dusty arena.

"What have you told your father of your new princess?" Chaddick puffed.

Tedros saw an opening in Chaddick's lung, and took it. "I told him that she was beautiful. Left out the part about her being an ex-fish."

Chaddick deflected, Tedros's strike. "You don't think he'll recognise her?"

"No, he doesn't remember faces," he paused. "I'll just tell him I met her in the market."

"The market?" Chaddick said, striking at Tedros's leg. "Doesn't he know you were gone like all day yesterday?"

Tedros deflected. "I don't think he noticed I was gone."

"Have you talked to Merlin?" Chaddick asked, re-gripping his sword.

"No," Tedros said. "He's been busy."

"With what?" Chaddick panted.

Tedros shrugged. "Apparently, the Lady Lilith has been having nightmares. He's been working on a sleeping draft."

"Same one he gives you?" Chaddick said, lunging for an opening.

Tedros deflected. "No. Not as strong."

"What were her nightmares about?"

Tedros furrowed his brows. "A sea witch or something."

"Like the sirens?" Chaddick asked, recalling their nightmare experience with sirens not that long ago.

Tedros shook his head. "I'm not sure."

Tedros saw sun peaking into the arena, setting the rafters aglow, and making the dust in the air visible to the boys.

"Well, Commander, I have to get ready for breakfast," Tedros said, running his fingers through his hair.

"I hear the Lieutenant will be joining you," Chaddick said. Tedros tensed. The Lieutenant was a mysterious man. When ever you said his name, it suddenly felt like he could hear you. Tedros didn't know exactly where he came from, to Tedros it seemed like he just appeared.

"Great," Tedros said, sarcastically.

Chaddick shook his head. "I don't know what it is with him, but I just don't tru-"

The doors to the arena opened. Tedros flinched, expecting to see the Lieutenant standing there, but Tristan smiled back at him.

"Hey, dude," Tedros said, aching with relief. "I was just heading to breakfast."

Tristan nodded and picked up a sword. "Alright, then. Commander?"

Chaddick shook his head. "I was just going to get cleaned up-"

"Are you scared you'll loose?" Tristan teased.

Chaddick scoffed a laugh. "Oh, you're on, Tristan!" he said, raising his sword. The two charged at each other and Tedros pulled out from in between them, and slipped out of the arena.

====

"You really shouldn't be waking up so early, you know, Tedros," Edward said, helping Tedros with his cuff links. "It's not good for you, and it makes you go to sleep too early."

"I'm surprised you care for me so much," Tedros jokes to his man servant.

Edward rolled his eyes. "I only care, because if you fall asleep at dinner, your father will somehow make it my fault, and he'll have people throwing rotten vegetables at me in the stockades."

"I'd quite like to see that," Tedros said.

"You have seen it before," Edward said, remembering an incident involving a dog tearing up Arthur's feast, and somehow that being traced back to Edward. Somehow.

"Are you still dating Fae?" Tedros asked.

"Yes."

"Is she Lady Lilith's chambermaid now?" Tedros asked.

"Yes, with Derrida, Swiss and Mona."

Tedros frowned. "Lilith has four chambermaids?"

"Plus the two she bought with her from Foxwood."

"Huh," Tedros frowned.

Edward peered at his schedule. "We better get you to breakfast to avoid the whole throwing rotten veggies at Edward thing."

Tedros nodded. "Lead the way."