"This is chaos!" Dream yelled, knowing it was out of bounds, but not being able to control his anger. "They killed my mother, the queen, yet we stand here conversating about what to do about a peace treaty!"

The council looked up at him, not very surprised. He was known for his quite large temper.

He was next to his father in a large council room. They sat at the head of it in the two largest seats. Other people of noble status were seated below them.

Banners and green hangings decorated the room, flashing the kingdoms colors. Unintentionally, the decor matched the light shade of Dream's eyes. He gazed across the people his father had put in charge, disgusted.

"Clay," his father warned, the edges of his voice hard. "I loved your mother too, but it is a death sentence to anyone else to yell at me."

Dream looked over at him, seeing the cold look his dad was giving him. Dream got his temper from him, after all. He sat back, taking in deep breaths. "What I'm saying," he continued in a calmer tone, "Is that we should not be even mentioning a peace treaty. It shows that we are too weak to fight for our queen. Other kingdoms will take advantage of that; we will be done for."

The council took in his words carefully, chattering amongst themselves. He was Prince- it wouldn't be smart for them to brush over everything he said, especially when he was proving to be a strict king.

"Suppose we did fight, Clay," the king began. "Where do you think we'll get our resources?"

Dream had been ready for this. He wanted to take advantage of this chance- the only chance his father had given him to speak. "We fought a war alongside the Spring Kingdom fifty years ago. If you don't remember, we aided them a lot. They owe us. I suggest sending a messenger or two to ask them carefully for help."

He watched as the people considered this. It wasn't a bad idea, really. If only his father had allowed him to say something earlier.

Dream was smart, but not a lot of people knew that. He liked it that way. They just thought he was a blood-thirsty fool willing to charge into battle. It gave him an advantage.

"Clay, you are dismissed while we discuss this. I want you to go get some fresh air- go into the village, perhaps. Bring your mask. Be ready for when you return."

Dream wanted to roll his eyes and mutter but he kept his mouth shut. His father was going to have someone beat him when he came back for yelling out. Dream stood up straight, watching the council below him bow as he made his exit.

Into the village? Like he was some sort of trader? Someone of low status?

Dream walked into his room, taking in deep breaths. His father was right- he needed to calm down.

Dream put on normal clothes, maybe a bit above average, but normal enough. He grabbed his white smiley mask and put it on.

It protected his identity when he was out, though it wasn't like he needed a lot of protecting- Dream was notorious for his fighting skills.

He would have made a good guard or commander. Dream often wished he had been born into a different line of people, no matter how bad that seemed.

A respectable one, though. Not a line of losers.

He walked out of the room wearing a long-sleeved white shirt tucked into dark loose-ish pants that had a black belt tied around the top.

The smily face had a feature on the inside of it- some sort of glass. It blocked the outsiders view of him but allowed Dream to see out fully.

He walked out of the castle, the guards letting him by without complaint. They all knew the mask by now, and when he wore it, he was never in a good mood.

The sun trailed on the large kingdom. It was high in the sky, declaring a bit past morning but not yet noon.

It lit up a few strands of his dirty blonde hair, bringing it out. If he wasn't wearing the mask his eyes would be shining.

Dream walked with purpose. He had two daggers hidden at his ankles as well- you could never be too careful.

He left the kingdom gates, and instead of turning to the village, he decided to go east.

Dream made his way down the pathway that soon drifted into nothing. The ground crunched beneath his small black boots. A forest opened up in front of him, the sounds of swaying leaves and birds inviting him in.

Dream padded into the shaded area, well aware of his surroundings and where he was headed. Openings of lights flickered and danced along the ground as the tree tops moved with a breeze.

He took in a breath, already feeling the burning flame that had been lit fading. He was approaching the Grubnaml Kingdom- the opposing side.

He knew people wouldn't recognize him unless he took the mask off. Everyone knew his face- Dream was a popular figure because of his charming appearance- and maybe the fact there were posters of him everywhere. Anyone from Grubnaml would know him.

He heard a noise from up ahead- a twig snapping. Dream immediately got behind a tree, his sharp dagger already in hand.

He could hear someone approacting- the leaves crinkled beneath their feet.

Dream waited until the figure was near him- passing him. Without as much as taking in their dark brown hair and small stature, he threw the dagger.

He heard a gasp as the dagger landed in a trees trunk, barely shaving the person's head. Dream smiled- it had hit its mark.

"Who's there?" He person demanded. Dream took in their accent- were they of the Grubnaml Kingdom?

He stepped out, the other dagger in his hand. Dream looked at the person, not bothering to smile. He had his mask on.

"Me," Dream answered, his voice light. He scaled the person up quickly. They looked- what, nineteen? Twenty? He had soft features and brown eyes that glinted in a soft patch of light that broke through the trees.

He was pretty short- Dream was half a head taller than him. He didn't look to bring any weapon. Dream padded forward as a cat would stalk prey, taking him in. A small necklace dangled from their neck. A small red ruby hung from it, a chain woven around it.

Dream watched the person take a 'brave' gulp. "You missed," he said, turning to pull the knife out of the tree.

"Actually, that was where I was aiming. Wouldn't want to kill the prince yet, would I?" Dream taunted. He watched the person freeze.

"P-prince? I'm not the- I'm not the Prince," George protested.

Dream broke out in a laugh, his shoulders shaking a little. "I'm- I'm n-not the- t-t-the prince," he mocked, purposefully making his voice lighter and trying to copy his accent.

George rolled his eyes. He had heart to do that in front of a potential killer.

No, Dream had other plans. A better way to get revenge.

"You're terrible at mocking my accent," Prince George said, Dream's dagger in his hand. "Plus you just sound like a hobo. Are you from the Ender Kingdom?"

Dream nodded. "Yeah. Why else would I throw a knife at you? For fun? I mean, it was kinda fun."

George watched him, unimpressed. "Why are you wearing that mask? Take it off."

Dream chuckled, making George freeze.

"No, I won't take it off," he said. "You can't bully me like you do your kingdom."

"Me bully my kingdom? Yeah, whatever. Look at your king and the prince. Have you seen them? They are too full of themselves."

Dream felt himself go stiff, aware of the knife in his hand. That wasn't fair. He was not full of himself, no matter if it seemed like he was. Okay, maybe he was a little full of himself.

He watched the Prince, aware of his daring features.

Dream found a small smile pulling at his lips, replacing his slight frustration. Prince George was kinda cute.

Dream felt his heart pound in his ears. He wasn't falling for the Prince. That would be highly inappropriate.

Plus, that wasn't the plan. The plan was get the Prince to become friends with Dream and get information.

"I don't know, you seen like you're pretty full of yourself, Prince," Dream said.

"How did you know I was Prince George?" George asked.

"Your necklace. The way you spoke. Your hair is soft looking- well cared for. You hold your back straight. There's a lot of things, George," Dream replied, now taking the time to take in his features again.

"You're smarter than you look," George said, making Drean snort. "What does that mean? You can't even see me- I'm wearing a mask."

"What's your name?" George ignored him.

Dream lied, using the nickname his closest friends called him. Well, back when he had close friends. "Dream," he replied, sticking his hand out.

George moved to take it but Dream moved his hand at the last moment, bringing it up and taking it though his own dirty blonde hair. "Oh, sorry," Dream said with a smile, leaning back.

George glared at him, humor hidden with the spark in his eyes. "Whatever," he said.

"You know what? I think I won't kill you."

"Thanks. I guess."

Dream stared at him through the mask, watching the way George leaned side to side, his expression neutral. The slight movement of a brow told Dream that he was thinking about something.

"Wanna meet here tomorrow? Same time?" George suddenly asked. Dream watched as his face grew red, and warmth grew on his own cheeks.

Dream smiled. "Yeah, sure," he said. "Be prepared, though. For all you know I might bring an army."

George shrugged. "I don't think so."

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