“Fergus…” Louis whispered while hiding under the table.
“Yes sir?” Fergus whispered back, as his eyes were only focused on the door.

“Are they gone?” Louis said. But he got no response.
“Fergus? Fergus!” Louis looked behind and saw a pair of black boots. Louis crawled out of the table and saw Maximillian standing right in front of him.

“A-ah! My daring brother! How are you?” Louis walked towards his brother with the intentions of hugging him. But before that, his hands were stopped by Maximillian, who had a stern look on his face.

Louis chuckled nervously. He knew what his brother was upset about.

“If you came to fight with us, that would have been very helpful indeed, Louis.” Maximillian pushed Louis’ arms back to him.

“Oh brother! You know I cannot fight! I would die before even drawing out my sword.” Louis whined as he gestured towards his sword that hung beside his waist.

“Maybe you should first start to learn how to actually draw out your sword.” Maximillian rolled his eyes and looked towards the door.

The ambush that happened this evening came back to his mind. Arthur, and the enemy soldier who killed himself. All of this happened to replay in his mind continously. Before he knew it, Maximillian started to take big steps towards the door. He planned on going to the royal library to gather at least some information about the enemy and their hideout.
He searched through books and books, pages and pages. But found nothing!
Maximillian got frustrated and threw a book across the table, making it fall down to the floor.
Maximillian ran his fingers through his black hair and closed his eyes. He decided on going to pay a visit to Arthur and see how he was doing.

He walked towards the room Arthur was resting in, and knocked on the door gently.
“Come.” Arthur’s voice was heard from inside.
Maximillian opened the door gently and closed it behind him.

“How are you doing, Arthur?” Maximillian went to sit beside Arthur on a wooden chair. A small smile was graced upon his face.
“Better.” Arthur replied and turned his head away to look at the window.
Silence enveloped in the room. None of the brothers spoke.

“Hey, listen. I think….i think we should go, tomorrow morning, to father.” Arthur finally broke the silence and looked at his brother, who had a confused expression on his face.

“Arthur, your injur-”
“I’m fine brother. It’s just an arrow.”             
“You sure?” Maximillian asked.
“Positive.” Arthur smiled. Maximillian smiled as well. He found it funny that Arthur’s smile was contagious at some point. Well, It was once in a blue moon that Arthur actually smiled genuinely.

Maximillian chuckled at his thoughts and shook his head in disbelief. Arthur stared at him with a confused and terrified look. Maximillian noticed this, and straightened up his composure.

“Well then. We shall leave early in the morning.” Maximillian smiled gracefully.

                        ~~~~~~~~~

“Get ready the horses!” Maximillian ordered to his soldiers. Arthur was feeling much better the next morning but he was still limping a bit.
“You sure you’ll be fine? It’s a long way to father’s palace.” Maximillian asked Arthur with worry visible on his face.

“I’ll be fine, Max.” Arthur placed his hand on Maximillian’s shoulder for reassurance.
Arthur mounted on his black horse, that had a red mask. Maximillian helped him climb up, since he was still in a bit pain.
Maximillian then proceeded to climb up his own white coloured horse. Both of them set off for their father’s palace.
It took about an hour for them to reach there. But once Arthur took a glace at the palace, he wished he had gone back. He became nervous and gulped hard. Maximillian stared at Arthur and smiled. And somehow that smile was enough for Arthur to forget his worries.

The guards at the entrance stared at eachother. Arthur and Maximillian both knew this would happen. It was odd for the royal families to arrive without their own guards near by. But this was a confidential matter and both of the brothers knew it was best to arrive alone.

“We are the Princes of Zorro and Kaneria. We are here to meet the King with a confidential matter in our hands.” Maximillian announced in a deep voice.

One of the guards nodded at him and went inside. Maximillian and Arthur both looked at eachother nervously.
Soon enough, the same guard came back outside.

“You may enter. Let me escort you inside.” The guard said and turned to go inside with the Princes following him.
“That will not be needed.” Arthur said in a loud voice, enough for the soldier to hear.

The soldier turned abruptly towards them.
“As we said, this is a confidential matter. It cannot be taken easily. We will head there alone.”
Arthur continued seriously and Maximillian smiled.
“After all, this isn’t the first time we came here.” Arthur mumbled and avoided eye contact with the soldier and stared at the palace again.
Without any response from the soldier, Arthur made his way inside. Maximillian followed closely behind him.