Lawrence and Oli Buchman suddenly arrive at the Palace. They both get out of the carriage. Lawrence gazes at the enormous Palace.

Oli: Welcome to the Kings Palace Lawrence Sunderman.
Lawrence: Thank you, sir.
Oli: It's alright if you're nervous you're not use to this kind of thing.
Lawrence: I'm fine.
Oli: Right let's go meet his Majesty.

They start hiking up the many stairs in front of the palace.

Lawrence: Does his Majesty like British people?
Oli: With that green jacket you better hope he doesn't mistake you for a Russian.
Lawrence: Why does he not like Russians?
Oli: Long story.
Lawrence: Please tell him that I'm not a Russian.
Oli: Don't worry I will.

They eventually get to the top of the stairs and two Prussian guards stare at them.

Oli: We are here to see his Majesty may we please enter. We are on important business.

The two guards open the doors to the palace. Lawrence and Oli enter the palace and the two guards carefully close the doors. Lawrence and Oli suddenly hear footsteps approaching them. Frederick promptly walks over to them.

Oli: Your Majesty...
Frederick: I see you have arrived, General Buchman and with a friend...who reminds me of certain people.
Oli: He's not a Russian your Majesty. He's an Englishman.
Frederick: I see. What is your name?
Lawrence: Lawrence Sundermann your Majesty.
Frederick: You remind me of someone. So why is he here General?
Oli: He wants to travel with the Prussian Army, your Majesty.
Frederick: Yes he may travel with us. You may stay here tonight Lawrence there are spare rooms upstairs. Now it's time for us to go to the meeting General.

Frederick and Oli promptly walk down the hallway. Lawrence starts walking up the stairs. When he gets to the top of the stairs he notices Voltaire gazing out the window. Lawrence slowly approaches Voltaire.

Lawrence: You must be Voltaire.

Voltaire suddenly glances at Lawrence.

Voltaire: How do you know my name?
Lawrence: General Buchman told me.
Voltaire: I have heard about him an excellent General. *whispering* But not as marvelous as my dear Frederick.
Lawrence: Are you alright?
Voltaire: Yes I'm fine.
Lawrence: I can tell when someone is not alright.
Voltaire: Fine your right I'm not fine. I have feelings for someone but I don't know how to admit it to them.
Lawrence: Do you want to tell me?
Voltaire: No...I don't think I should tell you because you would possibly tell them.
Lawrence: I promise that I won't tell whoever you love that you love them.
Voltaire: Fine but come to my room. What I say to you in there you must not tell anyone.
Lawrence: Alright fine.

Voltaire and Lawrence stroll down the hallway and after a couple of minutes Voltaire opens the door to his room and he walks inside.

Voltaire: please shut the door behind you I don't want anyone to hear what I have to say.

Lawrence enters the room and gently shuts the door behind him.

Lawrence: Alright I promise not to repeat what you say to anyone.
Voltaire: I...I love Frederick.
Lawrence: You love the King?
Voltaire: Yes I love him and I want to tell him but I don't know how and I also really want to kiss him. But he's the King I can't just go up to him and say that I love him.
Lawrence: I understand that. It would be hard to tell a ruler of a great country such as Prussia that you love them.
Voltaire: I'm scared that I won't be able to hold back these feelings and I accidentally kiss him. I love him but I don't want to make our friendship awkward.
Lawrence: You will be fine just relax you can hold back those feelings.
Voltaire: Have you ever loved someone this much that you just have such an urge to kiss them?
Lawrence: Yes I've had this feeling multiple times but I know how to control myself.
Voltaire: It's so hard for me. I'm around him almost all the time. Jesus Christ, I've never had such an urge to kiss him. Putain! (Fuck!)
Lawrence: Are you alright?
Voltaire: No I need to kiss him. But I can't.
Lawrence: Do you need time to relax?
Voltaire: Yes. But please don't tell anyone especially Frederick. That I love him. What is said in this room stays in this room do you understand?
Lawrence: Yes.
Voltaire: Before you go may I know your name?
Lawrence: My name is Lawrence Sundermann.
Voltaire: Sundermann...that name sounds familiar.
Lawrence: My uncle Peter Sundermann was a guard here. You might have met him once he mentioned you.
Voltaire: Yes, I remember him. Very loyal to Frederick always prepared to protect the King.
Lawrence: I'm also prepared to protect the King on this journey.
Voltaire: You look like someone that Frederick considered a great warrior.
Lawrence: He did say that I remind him of someone. But I don't know what he means by that. Who would I remind him of?
Voltaire: Possibly a soldier he was close with.
Lawrence: Who though?
Voltaire: I'm not sure I don't get a chance to go to the battles that often. Frederick worries that I would get myself killed. But whoever you remind him of I'm sure he will tell you eventually.
Lawrence: You're right Voltaire he will. I also have heard that there is a shooting range here. I wouldn't mind testing out this rifle. I might see you later Voltaire.
Voltaire: Yes Lawrence.
Lawrence: I will leave you to relax and calm yourself.
Voltaire: Alright.

Lawrence opens the door he walks out into the hallway and then closes the door behind him. He prepares to walk down the hallway but he feels someone grab his shoulder.

Frederick William: Russian bastard.
Lawrence: I'm not Russian and I'm not a bastard. Now let go of me or else.
Frederick William: You little Scheiße. (Shit.)
Lawrence: What you're going to kill me for not obeying your orders?
Frederick William: I am a Prince of Prussia you dirty piece of Scheiße (Shit.). You will obey my orders Russian bastard.
Lawrence: Or what? You're going to murder me in the King's palace. You know that he wouldn't be happy with that.
Frederick William: *grabs a dagger off his belt and puts it up against Lawrence's throat.* I will kill you...

They both suddenly hear footsteps coming towards them.

Lawrence: So Prince of Prussia you want to kill me when there is about to be witnesses.
Frederick William: Don't get smart with me Russian bastard!

Frederick suddenly notices them he stops and glares at Frederick William. He quickly walks over to them.

Frederick: Fred what do you think you're doing!
Frederick William: Scheiße. (Shit.)
Frederick: Don't swear at me boy.
Frederick William: I'm not a boy and you are not my father.
Frederick: Your father is dead and I promised your mother that I would take care of you.
Frederick William: Why is this bastard here?
Frederick: enough of the foul language.
Frederick William: Fine why is he here?
Frederick: He is a guest. He is not Russian I heard you calling him that. He is an Englishman. Now no killing him and please put that knife away. You need to control your violence and your foul language I have had enough of your swearing you are only a boy.
Frederick William: I am not a boy I am a man I'm fighting in this war.
Frederick: Just because you are a soldier and a Prince that gives you no right to kill my guests. Now release him and put away the knife.
Frederick William: At least I'm not like your father who use to beat people with his cane he didn't care who it was.
Frederick: Lawrence leave us...

Frederick William lowers his dagger and lets go of Lawrence. Lawrence promptly walks off. Frederick glares into Frederick Williams eyes.

Frederick: Come with me I don't want us to speak here.

Frederick and Frederick William promptly walk down the hallway together. They both enter Fredericks room and Frederick closes the door and he glares at Frederick William.

Frederick: You dare remind me of that.
Frederick William: My father told me about what happened.
Frederick: He would have told you not to mention that in front of me.
Frederick William: Why only you?
Frederick: That is none of your business.
Frederick William: He did do that to you didn't he.
Frederick: Get out...

Frederick William stays silent and he stares at him.

Frederick: That is an order...
Frederick William: You do not give me orders.
Frederick: I am your King. I can give you orders and you will listen.
Frederick William: You are not my father.
Frederick: Get out!

Frederick William promptly walks over to the door he opens it and he walks out into the hallway. Frederick walks over to the door and he slams it. He then walks over to his bed and sits down.

Frederick: merde. (Shit.) Why would my brother tell him? He knew what happened to me how I was abused. He knew what happened to my only friend Katte.

Frederick suddenly hears a knock at his door.

Frederick: Who's there?
Voltaire: Frederick are you alright?
Frederick: No Voltaire. I wish to be alone.
Voltaire: I just heard yelling and someone slamming the door. I wanted to make sure that you're alright.
Frederick: I'm not alright...The Prince reminded me of what my father use to do to me.
Voltaire: Jesus Christ.
Frederick: I will talk later Voltaire just go back to what you were doing I will be fine.
Voltaire: Frederick...
Frederick: Just go I don't want to get annoyed at you as well. You're my friend and I don't want to upset you.
Voltaire: Alright, I understand.

Voltaire walks off back to his room. Frederick slowly takes his hat off and he gently places it down beside him. Frederick glares at an old cane in the corner of the room.

Frederick: Why did I even bring it. Why would I want to remember? He hated me he never loved me.

Frederick gets up and walks over to the cane. He grabs it and he glares at it.

Frederick: You never loved me. You wanted your son killed that was me. You executed Katte. My only friend.

Frederick suddenly snaps the cane in half and he throws it onto the ground.

Frederick: I will never forget what you did to me...But now I'm someone you wanted me to be a King who wages war. I just want peace now I have had enough of all the death. You probably enjoyed war but I don't. We will never see things the same way.

Frederick walks over to his desk and sits at it and he starts preparing to write up his battle plans.

A Few Hours pass it is now late in the night.

Voltaire who is trying to sleep notices that there is a dim light in the hallway. He slowly gets out of bed and grabs a white robe off the wooden hanger. He puts it on and then grabs his wig off the bedside table and puts it on. He strolls into the hallway and he notices the light coming from Fredericks room. He strolls through the hallway and into Fredericks room. He stares at Frederick who is still working at his desk he notices how exhausted Frederick looks.

Voltaire: Frederick...you need to rest.
Frederick: Voltaire I need to finish my plans.
Voltaire: Frederick it's late. You're tired I can tell. His Majesty needs to be well-rested for this war.
Frederick: But I need to have good battle plans. I don't want any more bloodshed.
Voltaire: I know Frederick...
Frederick: I'm not like my father...he probably enjoyed war. He wanted me to be like him. I'm not like him I don't like seeing so much bloodshed.
Voltaire: I know. But you need to take care of yourself. I worry about you you're my friend Frederick.
Frederick: I know Voltaire...
Voltaire: There is also another reason why you're not sleeping isn't there?
Frederick: I...I'm worried about you Voltaire. I don't want to lose you I've already lost one friend.
Voltaire: Frederick I can protect myself. The Prince helped me with using my pistol.
Frederick: Yes but Voltaire...I know that you can use a pistol. But war is still dangerous. I don't want you getting hurt.
Voltaire: I know. But Frederick I want you to take care of yourself and get some rest. Don't worry about me I promise you that I will be fine. Please get some sleep.

Frederick stops writing and he puts his quill down. He stares at Voltaire in silence.

Voltaire: Please Frederick...I care for you as a friend.
Frederick: Fine...I've finished with my plans but I'm not sure which one to go with.
Voltaire: You can figure that out tomorrow Frederick you need to rest.
Frederick: Fine...I know it's late...

Frederick gets up out of his desk and grabs his lantern then he walks over to the bedside table and puts the lantern down on it. He then sits down on his bed and stares at Voltaire.

Frederick: You may go Voltaire I need to get ready to sleep. You also should be sleeping it's late as you said.
Voltaire: I'm sorry about what happened between you and the Prince I'm sure he will apologise eventually.
Frederick: Voltaire...you don't need to be saying sorry for that. But yes I'm sure he will apologise eventually.
Voltaire: I will leave you to sleep, Frederick.
Frederick: Good night my friend.
Voltaire: Good night Frederick.

Voltaire leaves the room quietly and he gently closes the door behind him. He quietly walks to his room he enters and closes the door behind him.

To be Continued...