For the first time in a long time, Charlie woke up on his own terms. More well rested then he ever remembered being, he rolled onto his back with a stretch. Forgetting for the time being what the day was, and allowing himself to enjoy the time alone.

It could well be the last moments of privacy he would have for months.

The peace was soon disrupted by the sound of his stomach rumbling, he had not eaten since he had first been put into the cell and now his body was letting him know about it. Charlie sighed, knowing that he could hardly go for a hunt.

He doubted that the guards were going to bring him steak for breakfast either.

Pulling his chains as far as they would let him go, he pressed his muzzle to the gap in the cell door, which allowed a very small amount of light from the outside world through. "Hello?" He asked with some caution.

Someone on the other side of the door audibly jumped at the sudden appearance of a wolf at the door, and he was rewarded with a smack to the muzzle with a butt of a gun.

Recoiling from the blow, he let out a surprised whine at the unexpected pain.

The same source of the original sound started swearing vehemently on the other side of the door. Something Charlie hadn't expected from a guard, he twitched his ears forward. It was the voice of a woman. Whereas every guard he had been assigned so far had been male.

She turned out to be full of surprises, "I'm so sorry." She whispered in a clearly panicked tone. "Did I hurt you?"

Biting back the retort which first lit his tongue, the girl seemed genuinely apologetic. A first for the palace guards. He shrugged his shoulders and sighed, "I'm fine, but who are you? Where are the numb-nuts who brought me here?"

Her laughter seemed to light the darkness, "As much as I want to disagree, I cant." She answered simply, trying to keep her amusement in check but it was too late. "They are saying their farewells upstairs, I was asked to keep an eye on you."

"What is your name?" Charlie couldn't explain the need he felt to know, but he did.

"I'm Briar," her voice was hesitant. As though she was careful as to what information she wanted to give out but then decided that a name held no power.

"I'd say nice to meet you, but..." This drew another chuckle from the woman. The sound made Charlie want to devote every moment of his remaining days making her laugh. "Can I ask a favour?" he asked when she had finished.

Another note of hesitation, "Sure..." she replied uncertain.

"You're not very good at this, what do you do normally?" Charlie asked, forgetting his hunger.

"I'm one of the healers," she admitted. "They told me you weren't in a position to do something stupid and that they wouldn't be long," her voice lowered a little, the annoyance coming through her tone. "What did you want?"

Blinking back to reality, "I'm starving. Is there anyway that you can get me something to eat?"

"I really shouldn't, I could lose my job for this."

"Father needs all the healers he can get, you wont lose your job for feeding a prisoner some table scraps." I could lose my life if I don't get fed, but he didn't voice the last part out loud. Someone else could lose their life if I don't.

She seemed to think for a moment, but thankfully her healer instincts seemed to surface and she let out a low sigh. "Ok, I'll get you something. But for the love of god don't do anything stupid."

Like what exactly? Charlie couldn't help but think, looking down at the chains binding his paws together. "I wont," he needed to keep this stranger on his side if he was wanting to eat. Plus it was an opportunity to see her face.

Quiet fell, disturbed only by the gentle taps of her footsteps as she walked away, Charlie's tail wagged a little at the prospect of food. He waited as patiently as he could, but he could feel his skin begin to itch with excitement.

Charlie scented Briar before he heard her, or rather he smelled what she was carrying. His heart leapt into his chest, and his stomach began grumbling even louder then it had been.

"Back up," he heard her cautious warning from the other side of the door.

Going as far from the cell door as he was capable of going, he sat like a well behaved dog at the edge of the cell. His tongue beginning to loll from his mouth as he watched her enter. It snapped back when he saw something he hadn't expected.

Her eyes were as gold as the throne room, unnaturally so. It could indicate only one thing.

"You're a witch."

"And you're a wolf," Briar replied shortly. It was clearly something that she was used to hearing and was used to defending herself about it. "Now do you want your breakfast or not?" Her eyebrow was raised.

The growl of his empty stomach was enough of an answer for her, as she put the plate on the ground and slid it over to him. Careful not to get any closer to him then was absolutely necessary.

By the time it crossed him to thank the woman, he had scoffed half of the food down. He lifted his muzzle quickly, and muttered a hurried thank you as he tore down into what remained. He sat down and passed it back.

"I thought most of the witches were fighting against father," he said honestly. Curious as to why she had stayed when she had a clear opportunity to get out of here.

"Most," Briar replied picking up the plate and straightening up. "That's the key term there."

Charlie's curiosity got the better of him, he knew he had no place to be asking questions. "Why?"

"I've lived here all my life, I've worked here and my friends are here. Why would I fight for a different sight just because of what I was born as?" She answered as though it was the simplest thing in the world. "What would you do in my position?"

"Run while I still could."

Honesty rang true in his tone, and part of him wished that it could be that easy.

"Well, I guess I should be glad that I'm not you. For more then the obvious reasons," she added the last part hurriedly as she turned to the cell door. She would have opened it, had Charlie not said something further.

"Briar?"

She turned back with a sigh, her eyebrow lifted still in expectation for what he would say next. "Yes?"

"Run while you can."

His words received no response, as she shut the door behind her and made her way back into the world of light. Charlie watched her go in silence, and he settled back down on his side. Waiting for whatever the day would bring him.

The sound of the door being shut hard shook Charlie from his sleep, he looked up to figure out who the intruder was. Settling down a bit when he scented who it was, but not entirely certain of if it was a friend or foe.

"We're heading off soon," Robert's voice was entirely cold. No inch of emotion otherwise to be heard. "I've been told to bring you to Arthur."

Father's orders, Robert didn't need to say it for Charlie to guess. "No."

If Robert had once cared about the opinions or wishes of his brother, he no longer did. He unchained the wolf and grabbed him by the scruff of the neck.

Sitting down hard like a disobedient puppy throwing a tantrum. Though he had his reasons for not wanting to see his brother, to find out what state he had left him in. The idea of meeting his brother sickened him to the very stomach.

Grabbing Charlie by the chin in an act of power that was rare to see from Robert. He let out a low growl, the anger rippling through his tone so much that it seemed to vibrate the very air around them.

Charlie didn't dare try to get out of the man's firm grip so he had no choice but to stare into the eyes of a wolf whose anger almost rivalled his own. In that moment, Charlie barely dared to as much as breath.

"You are going to do as you are told, like it or not." He breathed, anger seeping through every word. "Do you understand me?"

Only able to nod, fear keeping him from being able to produce even a single word. His eyes wide his shock keeping him from losing his temper. For the time being at least, that was going to help nothing.

"And if I so much as smell you putting a claw out of line, I don't care what dad promised you. Death will be merciful after I am done." He then threw the wolf back to the ground and picked up the chain. Proceeding to drag the wolf like a dog on a leash.

Before he reached the door, he looked back with a death like glare. "Shift."

Not needing to be asked twice, and fearful as to what would happen if he refused. Charlie was on two legs again, the chains tight around his neck and wrists. He followed Robert in a subdued manner.

Unused to this side of Robert, it scared him. He had always known that his brother had a temper, but this was something else entirely. It seemed entirely unnatural on the kind and laidback Prince.

Part of Charlie wondered how much like the King his brother had become over the years.

Following in silence, Charlie was lead through the corridors and down towards the hospital wing of the hospital. The smell of death, injury and illness overwhelmed his senses to where it was hard to concentrate, but he did. For the sake of every unfortunate soul who found themselves in this dreaded place.

Robert paused abruptly, and opened a door to their left. Revealing a mostly dark room, and a young man sitting with his back to the door.

In spite of the strong smells, Charlie was very aware of who this man was. "Arthur?"

He spoke as though he had no right to, which he didn't feel he did. Caution seeping through his every word, as he braced himself to find out what the damage truly was.

Arthur turned, at first it wasn't entirely clear how bad it was. Bruises covered his face, and one of his eyes was almost swollen shut. It wasn't as bad thanks to the healing, but from the way he moved, Charlie knew that the injuries were worse then the face value.

He could see the wheelchair sat a couple of metres away from the hospital bed.

Less like a warrior and more like a boy in his injured state, he didn't say anything for a moment, and Charlie braced himself for a tirade of hatred. One which never came.

"Charlie," the word was hoarse and it seemed to cause the young man pain to say something so simple. However, there was no hatred to be heard when he spoke which took Charlie by surprise.

Unsure of what to say, he took a step closer. Robert moved to yank him back, but Arthur shook his head firmly.

"I'm sorry," Charlie whispered. Pain underlining his tone despite the fact it had no right to considering what the older brother was now going through.

Arthur reached forward and pressed his fingers to the chin of his brother. "You have no reason to be, none of this was your fault." He spoke surprisingly firmly, considering how close Charlie was to falling apart in that moment.

"None of this has ever been your fault," the last words were vague, but Charlie put it down to the pain he was suffering. "Promise me you wont blame yourself,"

Too late.

Unable to bring himself to refuse Arthur's request, Charlie simply nodded his head.

"Good," Arthur spoke again. The pain lighting his eyes for a short moment, and the colour flooded from his face as though he might pass out. Charlie reached out to steady his brother. "And one more favour?"

Nodding as firmly as he could bring himself to, Charlie carefully held his brother in his arms as though he were a child. "Anything?"

"Win this damned war."