The heater kicked on once it sensed movement I glanced around the room there was a fake fireplace opposite from the giant king size bed. The bed was a occupied, but that didn't worry me. My feet rejoiced in the warmth of the carpet and much prefered it to the chilling forest floor. There was a chest by the feet of the bed, which I sat on. There was a table and chairs but they weren't as close to the heater.

I smirked, he was sleeping so peacefully but not for too much longers if I had anything to say about it.

"Brice." I whispered.

He didn't stir.

I sat down next to him and watched for a moment before finally poking him.

He rolled over and I groaned, I really wasn't in the mood for this.

"Brice, it's me." I said, slightly louder.

He sat up and turned around and his eyes meet mine.

"Artemis." He said quietly.

Then before I knew exactly what was going on, I found myself wrapped in his warm embrace. I melted into his arms, he was my best friend and I didn't know what I would ever do without him. Probably go insane.

"Artemis, you're freezing,let's get you into some warm clothes. You can wear this until yours dry." Brice said.

He then headed over to his closet and dug out an oversized green shirt and pair of pants.

"Brice, I'm fine, don't worry about me." I said.

"Go get changed into the clothes, you need to are stay here until you are dry. Prince's orders." He said.

"You worry way too much." I said.

"Go." He ordered in a serious tone.

I then entered his posh bathroom and closed the door. I rung out my thin black hair and glanced quickly at myself in the mirror. I was a mess which was to say the least. I was skinny, dirty and in need a bath. A wet wipe bath would have to do for the moment, I never had anytime for much more sadly. My brown eyes danced around the bathroom at all of the luxuries Brice had as the prince and heir and while I was jealous, I still prefered the forest.

I made my way out in his clothes and he placed a fuzzy warm blanket over my shoulders and lead me to the fake fireplace which he had turned on.

"I was worried about you. This storm was pretty bad and I am glad to see you safe. And I'm glad that you didn't drown." Brice said with a hint of a smile.

Brice was not the typical blonde oblivious prince that you hear about in fairy tales who is only skin deep. He is a redhaired, fiercely protective and as loyal as they come.

My eyes meet his green ones and we shared a sweet smile.

"I'm okay. I didn't drown. I'm just glad to see you too." I managed to say.

He put his hand on my knee and I looked down and blushed. The two of us had liked one another since we were teenagers and had been best friends since we were born. Then, as Brice so eloquently put it, 'She went and got herself banished.'

"How have things been here?" I asked.

"They've been alright. Mom's still sick and is gradually getting worse by each day. Father's getting more and more vacant and steadily getting angrier. I miss you and I wish you could stay" He asked.

"The rebellion needs me. Your father's taxes are going up and he is continuing to banish more people. We are getting more and more recruits and I have to train them, which keeps me pretty busy. That and your father would kill me on sight. Otherwise you know I would be here for you." I said.

"I wish I had a different family."

"Your mom is a total sweetheart."

"That's true. My dad on the other hand is a piece of work."

"Family is always complicated."

"I half wish my dad would banish me. Then I could live with you and then I would not have to deal with all of this family drama and nonsense."

"If you weren't his only child and heir, I actually would not put it past him. But because you are,I think that you could get away with, well, almost anything."

"That's true."

I shivered, even with the blanket, fireplace and dry clothing, I was still a bit cold.

Brice noticed and sighed.

"Come over here Artemis." He said.

"I'm okay." I said, still shivering and my teeth started to chatter.

"No, no you're not. I'm the Prince and I order you to get over here and warm up." He said.

"I haven't listened to the royal family since I was five." I said quietly.

Brice's face immediately darkened as he realized what I was referring to.

"You know that I'm sorry about that. If I was any older at the time, I would have tried my very hardest to stop that from happening." He said.

"I know that you would have. And like I've been saying since I was five, it wasn't your fault. You could not have had influence on it." I said

Brice then came over and wrapped his arms around me.

"We're a mess, you and I." He said.

"We are." I mumbled.

"I do have some information that you will find useful." He said.

"What do you have for me?" I asked.

"Well, my father is getting very frustrated and is starting to have more soldiers trained and he is recruiting from the village. I also know that he is planning over the next few days to increase his search parties in the forest." He said.

"Anything else?" I asked.

"I've never seen my father as mad as he is at the moment. You should be on your guard." He said.

"I know your father and what he is is capable of. So, don't worry about me. I've slipped out of tighter situations than this."

"Be careful."

"I know my limits. I also know both the forest and the castle better than anyone else. If and when I need to disappear, I do."

"It might be best for you to disappear soon and stop ambushing the soldiers."

"I can't do that Bri, the point of a rebellion is not to sit and hide but instead do something about the evil powers. No offense."

"None taken, I'm pretty much used to it by now."

The two of us then just sat there by the fireplace in silence for a couple minutes. I felt safe and happy which was something I hadn't felt in a while. It was refreshing.

"I have something for you." Brice said,

"Brice..." I stopped as he handed me a picture.

It was the two of us, I was about twelve at the time and he was maybe fifteen. We were out in the garden. The photograph had caught us in the middle of a water balloon fight, laughing. It was as if we didn't have a care in the world. At the time we were oblivious to the oppression that was going on just outside of the daunting castle walls. We were just living in the moment and I suppose, there was nothing wrong with that.

"I love it." I said as I smiled.

"I knew that you would, you don't like much when it comes to gifts, but there was no way you would say no to this." He said.

"Is my jacket dry yet? I would like to put it in a jacket pocket for safekeeping." I said.

"It looks like it's dry, and so are the rest of your clothes." He said.

"I'm going to go and change into them real quick." I said.

"Don't leave yet." He said.

"I won't." I promised.

I changed quickly and folded up Brice's clothing and brought them back out. The two of us then worked on making the room look like I had never been there, which didn't take more than a minute.

The silent castle was not so silent anymore and I could already hear the clip clop of thick boots. They started up the stairs and I knew it was time to go.

"Don't go Artemis." Brice said as he grabbed my hand.

"Oh stop being dramatic." I said.

The footsteps drew closer and Brice whirled around, hearing the footsteps for the first time.

It was time for me to go.

"We can't meet here. Tomorrow meet me at the old meeting spot in the woods, around this time." I said.

Brice whirled back around.

"Artemis...I wanted to tell you..." Brice started.

I knew what he was going to say but I wasn't ready to hear it. I leapt smoothly from the window landed silently on the cool courtyard and dashed across the courtyard silently. I flew back through the guard's house down towards the village and I flew past the village, back to the river that entered underneath the kingdom walls. I noticed the river had gone down a bit but it was still up to my quads. I was one of the only ones who could fit through the water gate. I then made my way back to the forest, back where I belonged.

So, what do you think of Brice and Artemis so far?