The Prince got dressed in his everyday white shirt with brown pants. He decided to add his blue dress coat since he was going outside his room. He hadn't been back to the library in a little over ten winters now.


He got is sisters to exchange books when they would check in on him. Even if the older two pretended like he didn't exist the younger two didn't totally hate him. Being the youngest had some perks. As he walked through the shelves; making up his mind whether to stay against the Rebel leaders warning; he started walking down memory lane.


◊◊◊


"Nova." Cathrine sharply whispered from behind. Nova jumped at someone catching her somewhere where she really shouldn't be. She almost knocked over the quill and ink pot on the desk next to them.


"Shit." She said in a hushed whisper. When everything was settled and not in danger of causing more noise than what had already happened, Nova turned to face her sister.


"You know you should be in your room, little sister." Cathrine whispered starting to guide her sister out of the room.


"Yeah, I know." She said following along. It had only been a few months since their mother put her up in her room. The problem was there was nothing to do but read. She started going through the books in her room concernedly quick. She was just trying to switch them around. Charlotte and Elizabeth were having a lesson in the library that day, so it was tricky. Their mother told them to hand her over when she was found outside for any reason.


"Don't worry, I'm just going to get you back without getting in trouble. If you want different books than I will just have to come by every once and a while."


"You should have been coming to see me anyways. You and Annabell." They were the protectors over their little sister. The older two were to worried about taking the throne. Worried about being proper members of the family. The younger two made their appearances where necessary. The youngest didn't exist as far as anyone will soon learn.


"I know we should have star. But we aren't allowed, we aren't to interact with you in any way unless you get out. Now come on; let's get you back to your room." It was just a small request; she went to her mothers room to ask for a short hair cut and to not wear dresses. She would have never said anything if it turned into isolation of the highest degree.


The only time she saw anyone was when her mother came to teacher her how to be a respectable Prince ss. It's not like she would ever get the throne anyways. She would be out of sight most of time anyways. The freedom to walk the castle would be a blessing by now. They made it back to Nova's room without incident or passing anyone at all.


"To help you keep time once a week I will be back with a new book and exchange for two others. That way to can always a little bit of a rotation. At least I will try to; Annabell too. You just need to stay in your room, ok?" Catherine asked opening the door to the room.


"Yes, fine. I guess I can do that. Just try not to forget about me." Catherine smiled before giving her sibling a hug.


"Of course not. We would never. Go pick out some books and I will be right back with new ones." The Prince grazed his hand over one of the first books to leave his room. It had been well over a decade ago now that he was locked up. They had made the system work with the Prince ss having a bit of time to spend with their brother each week.


◊◊◊


It worked really well until they all grew up. His sisters started to take on their royal responsibilities which for the younger two was not much. It was basically all the boring paperwork type stuff that the other two weren't able or willing to do. They basically turned into ladies in waiting.


Now that was all done, it was time to move on to the next step. The Prince walked to the table that he had left the night before; everything laid out and waiting. Turns out there was a big chapter of all the things that his dad had put into law. He was halfway done by the time the Rebel Leader came into the library.


"So have you written the letter you wish for me to pass on?" She said walking over to the table.


"I have decided that I don't want to write a letter. If I am to leave then I wish to do it face to face." The Prince kept his head to his work until he felt the Rebel Leader start to fume beside him.


"What do you mean if?" She asked in a low tone that made every hair on the Prince s body stand up.


"I mean," The Prince took a deep breath trying to control the tone of his voice. "I am not sure I want to leave my partner to run the kingdom without me. I know how much stress and pressure it's going to be, and I want to be their for them." He was trying very hard not to look at the Rebel Leader to find out just how dead he was going to be.


"Ok, I mean you're still not done with the list I need. You still have time to save your skin." She turned around and took a few steps before looking over her shoulder.


"I can't have you messing up my plan, no matter how you twist this to Ace. I will get my way, doesn't matter what you want or say." She walked out making her boots click in the silence of the conversation. He was not safe here; again. The problem was how much was she going to hurt the young Rebel to get rid of him. The Prince now had to decided if he should bring this up to the rebel. They needed to be so carful with this since she still had a whole army behind her.


The royal decided to work through the night. There was several law other than the ones that his dad put in place that should be changed or looked at. He would have all day tomorrow to find those other laws. If he wasn't going to be in the castle much longer the Rebel was going to need all the help they can get. The candles light was not as easy to work in then the sun light that came through the clear dome roof. His eyes were starting to get tired when the Rebel came to find him.


"Love, you in here?" They asked peaking in one of the doors.


"Yes dear. Just trying to get through this. You mother did say she wanted this the day after tomorrow, and I want to go out for the day with you." The Rebel walked over and put themself around the sitting royal.


"Are you almost done star?" They pouted.


"I will be with you all day darling. Can I just have one night to finish up?" The Prince bit out the last part just wanting to get this done to find a way out of everything breaking down. The lack of sleep he was getting right now it wouldn't be helping keep things under wraps.


"Then I will just sit with you. We really shouldn't be alone right now. Then we can spend all day together before my mother finds something else for you to do." The Rebel walked a little to the right taking up another chair at the table. They put their head down in their arms and just watched the Prince work.


It only took one candle length to finish up. The Rebel was sleeping peacefully so the Prince decided to start on the other laws they were going to need. It wasn't worth putting them both in danger to stay here. There was no way that he could do that to the rebel, it was unthinkable. The sun was coming up by the time the Prince was finished.


There was enough dread, anxiety and threat of death for the day that the Prince was no longer tired. The same thing that happened when they started getting closer to the execution a couple days ago. In the past four days he would only have 11 hours of sleep. Something that was surely taking a toll on his decision making.


Because that exact what he needed right now. When the sun came up the Rebel also got up at the room brightened. They looked around a little confused as the Prince gathered up the scroll for the Rebel Leader and the one that he would take back to their room.


"Come on dear, we need to get dressed before we head out today." The Prince pulled the Rebel up making them follow still half asleep.


"Did you sleep at all last night?" They asked starting to take more control of their body.


"No, nor do I need to. I have to much, excitement, to do that. I will sleep tonight when we can both have a peaceful night since this whole thing started." The Prince let go of the Rebel as soon as they were able to walk on their own. They each changed quickly to get to breakfast before heading out for the day.


The Prince made sure to not be seen by the Rebel Leader to keep up appearances. It was clear that this little bit of isolation was part of the plan to get rid of him. The Rebel joined the Prince with one of the lieutenants of the guard Sir Theodor. The Rebel walked up on them having a lively conversation.


"Morning love." The Rebel said throwing one of their arms around the Prince . Just making things very clear. Possessive and protective are two things very close in the rebels vocabulary.


"Ace, you've met Theo, he was one of the few guards that knew about me growing up. He would be the one to bring me my meals."


"That was if you ever ate them. He would normally be so wrapped up in a book you would only eat one per day unless I made him." Theo addressed the Rebel seeing very clearly the relationship between the two.


"So I guess I have to thank you for more than one thing?" The Rebel asked starting to move the small group towards the start of the day.


"You could say that. I was just doing my job. Everyone else is getting ready still if you wish to start walking towards the site. I will be with you too in a moment."


"Right." The Rebel confirmed before walking toward the burned street of houses.


"Right now we are working on getting all the charred remands out of the way to bring new things in. We are getting there but it's going to take another few days at least to get everything out."


"Then I guess I won't be able to dump any of this paperwork stuff on you any time soon then?" The Prince asked with a sarcastic twinkle in his eye. The Rebel chuckled dropping their arm from around the Prince as they walked closer to the area that was already clear.


"No love, not any time soon at all." Not to much after everyone else joined them and started to get to work. There was many town folk but also nobles that were working without much grumbling at all. There was even jokes and playing around within the groups and between groups. The Rebel and the Prince stood back and watched the progress until they needed to step in.


The Rebel took the cross beams having the advantage of height. The Prince was able to point out when something was coming down unexpectedly yelling out warring's in time. They were able to work in perfect harmony helping in way they were best suited for. Most of the time they were wrapped up in each others arms as it was cold enough out to do so without melting like wax to a flame.