The 16 year old prince smiled as his friend/ knight came into his room, dressed in armour. William was a great friend, the same age as the prince. He looked back out the window, dawn was approaching. Why was will up at this time.

"Good morning, Will." The prince said.

"Good morning your highness, I saw the light and figured you would be awake." Will said. The prince groaned, why did everyone have to call him your highness or your majesty. Why couldn't they just call him by his name.

"Will." The prince warned and William turned to him and broke into a grin.

"You do realise this is the one thing you actually take seriously?" the prince had to laugh at that. Will had always been a great friend and the prince was grateful. Mainly because some of the knights called him your majesty or sire. Not the ones who knew him very well. They would always treat him as equals, but still respected him. William, well, he would always stand by him and not only treat him as an equal but actually annoy him and tell him off when the prince had made a bad decision. Though, only the ones that William didn't get him into himself.

"Now that is unfair. I take other things seriously." The prince said.

"Ok, like what?" William asked and the prince stopped for a minute to think about something. What else did he take seriously?

"Ruling this kingdom." He replied and William scoffed at the suggestion.

"You spend more time playing pranks on the nobles with me then thinking about ruling this kingdom." William replied.

"Fine, what about using a sword. I take that seriously." The prince said.

"Yeah well, you are better than probably anyone else in the five kingdoms with a sword." William praised.

"Not that you'd know it." The prince said.

"Well, the arrogant sods deserve all those pranks." Will snickered.

The prince started to laugh at the memory lord Barnards face when they turned his hair pink when he was asleep. They had hidden behind the screen and watched as he woke up and saw his hair. Unfortunately they had both been caught.

"Remember lord Barnard?" The prince asked. Will didn't answer for a moment and then cracked up laughing. Yep, he remembered.

"His face!" Will laughed and suddenly the prince was joining in with his laughter.

"We got in trouble for that." The prince laughed.

"Yeah, we both ended up in the stocks for three days." William laughed. "Good to know the king knows how to treat everybody equally."

They're laughter went on for ages until the warning bells sounded.

William drew his sword and merlin grabbed his from beside the bed.

"Whats going on?" Will asked and the prince shrugged. They looked at each other and started to run outside the door. Only to see a terrifying sight. Soldiers were coming up the halls, killing anyone who stood in their way. Neither prince of knight recognised the crest that the soldiers bared. The black backround and red eagle on it was completely unfamiliar. Though one thing was for certain there were too many.

"William, sire!" A voice said and they turned to see a servant running towards them. His mothers maidservant. The soldiers looked up and William and the prince started to run. Pulling her along with them.

"Whats going on?" The prince asked.

"Your mother is waiting for you at the stables. You must leave." She looked at William. "Both of you."

"What about my father?" The prince asked.

"Your Fathers are fighting with the rest of the knights. You must leave before the castle is overrun." She said and before she could say anymore a crossbow bolt was sticking out of her chest.

"Mary!" The prince yelled.

"We have to leave." William said, pulling the prince away.

"NO! We have to save my people!" The prince said. Tears streaming down his face. If this was the fate of the rest of his people he wouldn't leave them. They were his responsibility. Besides, where could he go?

William just sighed.

"Sorry Merlin." He sighed and the next thing merlin knew was a fist in his face and darkness.