No matter what people tell you, being a prince is a drag. Being the heir to the throne is even worse. In fact Julias would much prefer to be one of the commoners he watched whenever he found a spare moment to hide from his attendants. He'd like a normal life outside of arranged marriages and being followed like you're some dog needing a walk on a very short leash.

In fact that was the reason why he snuck out of the castle so often, just to pretend for an hour or two he wasn't on of the most important people of the lands just to be a 'kid' for once.

In reality he was coming of age in a couple months on his sixteenth name day. It didn't matter much to him nothing would change, he'd still be arranged to marry that foreign Princess who hung around the castle for him to get aquainted with but he never really enjoyed being around her much, not how he should, how his friends say he should and how they would be. Julias was simply... not interested in her and really didn't want to marry her but he would have to, for the duty of his country.

Julias was obviously not a normal prince, something his ten year old brother told him almost daily. He disliked being Prince and heir to the throne and he rebeled against his parents in the largest way he could without offending anyone important. The only way he managed though was to grow his golden brown hair long so it sat nicely at his shoulders surrounding a slim oval face with hazel eyes. Many of the times in court it was tied back with a hair tie, but he wore it down as often as he could.

A small satisfaction of open rebellion always welled up a small sense of pride in his chest.

Today though he hadn't managed to escape yet as he vaguely listened to the King, his father prattle on about appearances. Julias stared out the window watching the almost ant sized commoners walk around the market. Hazel eyes dreamy as he wished he was down there with them.

Being a commoner was just as bad being a stray dog: no one would care less if you died.

Jack Edward had been there. The almost eighteen year old smith had been working hard ever since his parents kicked him out and into a guild.
The man was mostly called by his second name.
The dirty blond hair was cut short and the icy blue eyes were filled with mischief.

Happy whistling he walked past the horses that stood on the market. Checking their shoes and harness as he passed by. It was his job to keep these animals happy and healthy.

The young man was on his way to shoe the horses of the royal family, something he did with pride. Not only because one or two days at the castle paid well, the animals and people were grateful.

His eyes gazed up to the castle and he smiled. As if he had seen the prince near the window, his gaze straight at the young prince.

"Julias, are you listening to me?" the King demanded causing Julias to jump after watching one of the commoners approach the castle wall. Vaguely shrugging it off thinking it was another come to ask for something at court he turned his eyes to his father.

He was a burly man with a wild black beard and ice blue eyes, his gut stuck out more than his chest but he still held himself with pride and walked with a grace Julias couldn't understand because of the man's girth.

"Yes father," Julias said with a bow forgetting his courtesies for only a moment. "I mean, Your Grace."

He lowered his eyes to the ground, his etiquette master will be forcing him to remember his courtesies towards once more. He was not allowed to speak to him as a father when the attendants were around still.

"Then why must you keep your hair long, you look almost like a girl in breeches," the King replied ignoring the slip.

"I like it," Julias replied with another shrug.

As the mere commoner fixed a horses sore foot he could hear a cart approach. He looked up and turned his head to the sound.
The horse happily played with the boys blond hair as a "thank you".

The carriage was pure white with gold, four white horses had pulled it. A few knights got in a row and one opened the door gracefully.
A young princess stepped out, allowing her white dress to flow perfectly fine around her well formed shape. Her beautiful long golden locks curled behind her back.

Edward saw how the girl got escorted to the inner parts of the large castle. He spat out a broken iron nail and then shrugged. "Rich girls and their stupid beauty." he grumbled as he got back to shoeing the horses of the royal family. He got dirty fast, soon black smears of soot were on his cheeks, arms and clothes.

Julias boredly stood at attention as the King begin to fuss all over again. Being a Prince was quite boring, it was listening to your parents prattle repeatedly about small things, sit in conferences, study etiquette and the only fun thing was learning sword play in the yard by the Master at Arms and riding.

"May I go now your Grace?" Julias asked when his father finished complaining becoming amused at the exasperation apparent on his father's face.

"Bah! Fine," his father waved his hand with a shake of his head. "I've tried, it's the best I can do for her. Go! You're giving me a headache."

Julias smiled and bowed before walking out into the grounds his attendants following behind him like eager puppies. Well all but his etiquette master who fell in step with him on the way towards the stables.

"What was that in there Julias, you shown much disrespect to His Grace not only by calling him father but not even deigning to properly listen!" Richard complained, he was the only one of his attendants that didn't call Julias 'your Highness' for merely that Julias was thankful for the man, at least he kept him sane when in the castle.

"I was listening Richard, I listened to him the first time he gave me that lecture and the many times afterwards. I can say it word for word, it's always the same boring speech," Julias replied with and indifferent shrug.

When he got to the stables his eyes sparkled as he looked on the horses. Richard would scold him if he were to actually approach them himself without them being groomed first, saying something like 'Princes shouldn't get their clothes dirtied by animals.' Richard was just as predictable as his father, but he didn't allow him to know that. What he would set Julias to do wouldn't be anything normal, that's for certain.

Instead he watched them and noticed the older boy working there a small smile came to his lips and nodded his head in acknowledgement. It was all he could do in the presence of his attendants and especially Richard who would scold him afterwards if he deigned to greet the boy verbally. How he hated being a prince, having to only be able to be friends with other highborn boys they were snobs really and only treated him nicely as friends because he was the crown Prince.

When the prince got to him he frowned. "What are you looking at?" he asked the prince. HE got to one of the rear legs of the horse and got the shoe off. His arms were dirty, but he didn't care. When he was done clipping he let the hoof go and stood straight popping his back.

With a groan he looked at the white mare. "Is it even okay for you to be here? You're the prince right?" he asked straight out as he kinda swung around a red hot iron horse shoe.

His blue eyes looked at the younger male and smiled. "Ah well, I'll shut up." he just talked on, without even waiting for an answer.

The smile stayed on his lips but his eyes darted over to Richard, now that the older boy had talked to him it was only polite to respond without getting in trouble from Richard afterwards.

"I merely came here to watch the horses," Julias replied with a shrug his hazel eyes returning to watch the boy curiously for a moment before darting back to the horses. "I can do whatever I want on my leisure time, whenever I'm permitted it."

Julias loved horses best out of all the palace animals, they were full of grace and elegance he was sure he didn't have and they were beautiful. He was also intrigued by the boy's work, the only physical work he had to do was sword play and sometimes the patterns go boring, but he supposed he wasn't aware just how hard a commoners life could be.. he's heard many of them complain in court for a way to make some of the things easier for them.

Jack finished the horse and got it back to it's stable. Then he sat down on a small bench and sighed, wiping his face with a cloth.
"You like horses right?" he asked as he looked at the prince. "Say what, if you have time come here again tomorrow, I'll let you help then." he said with a smile. "I'm done for today, my back is killing me." he complained. Nothingness he got up and neatly put his tools away.

"Alright," Julias replied nodded ignoring the prodding eyes of Richard who wouldn't say anything till they left the stables and were out of the boy's earshot. He was still a commoner but Richard was kind enough to keep words unheard by those who he was speaking of.

Julias knew Richard would set him to work during the time to be sure he wouldn't be able to go, but Julias' mind was already working a way to get out. There were many hidden passages Richard didn't know of that he could slip in and get to the grounds by.

Jack stretched out and smiled. He patted the princes shoulder, leaving black stains behind. "I'm going to eat, I see you tomorrow, noon, 'kay?" he asked as he walked off whistling happily. Jack was eighteen but he looked and act thirty.
He was carefree and loved to pull a prank. As he passed a guard he just pulled his helmet down and 'stole' his sword.
When the guard started to laugh, Jack threw the blade back, horizontally.

Julias watched the older boy walk off before noticing the mark, with a small shrug he tried to brush it off only to smudge it in more. Well that tunic was ruined, not as if he much cared he could get another just like it made to his specifications.

"You know very well you shouldn't have agreed," Richard told him after the boy was out of earshot. Julias merely shrugged and walked back towards the castle contemplating losing his attendants to change and sneak out of the castle to roam the streets.

"I don't see why I can't do practical work sometimes, being a Prince is boring," Julias said the same argument he usually used.

"You don't think it's practical to be able to learn how to govern the country, learn how to do what and when?" Richard asked speaking more of how Julias' politics tutor spoke to him whenever he made an attempt at getting through to Julias.

"Yeah, yeah..." Julias said walking up to his rooms. "Excuse me, I must change into clean clothes."

"And I can do it myself," he added before his attendants managed to follow him into the room. "You all are dismissed."

"Yes your highness," his attendants muttered and scurried off to do whatever they did when he wasn't around. Richard stood there looking indignant before he said the same utterance and left.

Julias turned to his wardrobe after closing the door, yes he needed something better to do than stand around looking at things. He opened up the hidden compartment in the back and pulled out worn brown breeches and a tan shirt, or what he liked to call his peasant clothes.

After changing he washed off the powders and lines that generally were used by girls but he found practical uses for them himself. They brought out his eyes and the color of his hair much better but now after messing his hair only those who knew him well would recognize him.

Grabbing a faded black cloak he threw it over his shoulders drawing the hood over his head. It was loose enough to hide his face when he needed. The tapestry in the back of his room hid a passage way which he used now to get out of the castle grounds cautiously.

The smith had seated himself in front of his house as he ate his food. He enjoyed his simple meal of stew with bread. It wasn't anything fancy, but it tasted good.

After he had finished he had handed the bowl to his mother. "It was lovely..." he smiled and nuzzled her gently.

Then he got out again with a yawn. He rested back against the wall as he closed his eyes and crossed his arm. "Hmn..." he mumbled as he started to doze off in the evening sun.

The town had always been his plce to escape to since he was old enough to remember the passageways to get away. Not many in town paid much attention to another and none would expect him to be the heir walking the streets ungaurded. He was safe enough to walk with the hood down once he got to the streets that weren't directly connected to the the ones leading to the castle.

He always wondered though how safe the palace really was if one of such importance as he could sneak out and in at any point of the day without having to wait for the change of guard. It bothered him, but not enough to actually bring it up so his father wouldn't get those passageways blocked up.

Today he merely needed a stroll to think, other days he'd look in the market stalls to see what they were selling. On strolls he generally kept away from the busy streets just thinking about problems. His father was pressing him more and more about his looks, he disliked being crown prince and wanted to do normal work. He had that chance tomorrow but Richard would do his best to stop Julias from being able to go... but once he got there Richard wouldn't be able to respectfully pull him away.

The sounds of little kids playing he found his way to an out of the way in with children playfighting with sticks tied in the shape of swords. A smile played at his lips as he watched what they thought was swordplay.

Perhaps he would manage to sneak away to the stables before Richard could assign him anything, he hoped so.

((sorry it took me a while.. Halloween week was hectic))

The young man walked around town. Also getting to the kids playing with stick swords. Smiling he then looked ahead a bit, finding the prince and winking at him, flirting with the young man.

Jack had been straight for a long time, he couldn't find satisfaction however with the woman. They didn't please him, didn't give him the right things he needed when injured or ill, which rarely happened.

His blond hair had been tamed a bit at the end of each day. He looked more mature then he actually was.

Julias had hardly noticed the man he'd been speaking to earlier and upopn recognizing him blinked in surprise. He hadn't expected to bump into him in the city, there is generally too many around to bump into someone you only met the once.

He recognized the flirting almost instantly and he blushed slightly diverting his eyes for a second. Only instinct kept him from acting like a young girl, instead he walked up to the man with a small smile.

"I'm sorry, but I didn't ask your name earlier," Julias said in a polite tone only realizing that it was true. "Mine's Julias anyhow.."

Julias expected that the boy known his name but said it out of respect anyways... the formality that was in his voice at the castle almost deminished outside the walls amongst the people he wished he could become part of.

When the younger come to him he smiled and gently took his hand and shook it gently, his rough and sore hand felt warm.

"Nice to meet you Julias, I'm Jack" As he said that he bowed lightly and kissed the prince's hand gently.

The young smith was surprised that the other could act like that outside the castle, so not formal. With a smiled he looked at the prince before letting go of his hand. "So what are you doing around here?" he asked.

"And you," Julias said in a quiet voice as Jack introduced himself. He let his hand drop slowly to his side. The warmth of those callused hands on his soft and powdered ones was almost comforting.

Looking at the children play once more as he thought of a small response he decided the truth would be best. "I needed to get out of the castle... I generally dislike it in there so I escape to come to the city to think and do what I like without a trail of retainers."

Smiling he looked at the kids. "Come on, I let you ride on one of my horses." he smirked as he patted the boys shoulder gently.
"I'm glad you're not one of those snobs." he said and looked at the other. "You know, you're quite nice, figured it out earlier.."

His face brightened a bit, it was quite obvious he loved horses and he wouldn't give up the chance to ride even if three of those horses Jack was working with were his own.

"Well.. I try not to be," Julias replied looking up into Jack's eyes and smiled back.

Jack took the others hand and guided him down the streets. Soon he came to a paddock and got oer the fence. "Wait here, okay?" he said before hopping off to get one of the horses. He came back with a big horse. It was dark brown and had long dark mane. His feet were white and had lots of hair.

"This is Goliath. He's my best horse. " he said and then gestured the other to get over the fence.

Julias let Jack hold his hand with ease and enjoyed the touch. His small hand held onto Jack's with a comfortable grip, something he wasn't known to do for the most part. Not that many grabbed his hand in such a way, but the one he was to marry constantly tried and he would normally pull away. She was much too clingy and he had no interest in her what-so-ever.

When Jack introduced Goliath Julias smiled once more and climbed to the second rung of the fence and pushed himself up and over with his arms landing neatly on his feet. He approached Goliath with the same ease he had with any horse and patted Goliath's muzzle. "Hello Goliath, aren't you a beautiful boy.."

Realizing he was talking to the horse like he would to a human a blush crept to his cheeks as he looked to Jack. "Er..." At a loss for an explaination he kept quite for a moment and continued to stroke the horses muzzle and neck with idle hands.

Jack smiled as he had helped the boy off the fence. When the other was talking to the horse like that he smiled.
"Don't worry, I do it all the time." he said and gently touched the others shoulder. "Want to ride him around the paddock?" he asked as he looked at the young prince.

Jack smiled, he had never met anyone who talked like that. He couldn't help to feel warm and fuzzy with the prince.

"I would love to," Julias replied the embarasment of before gone once Julias knew Jack wouldn't care if he spoke to animals like humans or not.

Julias began to wonder what it was that was up with him, he had only met the older boy that day and yet he was much more comfortable with him than any other. If anything it was further proof that he was born into the wrong social standing..

Smiling Jack got the other to the side of Goliath. "Come on, I'll help you up." he smiled. Then he looked at him and smiled friendly. "I'll give him a rope so you can steer him, he's easy to ride, just be kind to him." he explained briefly.

"Of course," Julias nodded his head tilted to the side as he looked at Jack. It almost seemed as if the boy expected he couldn't ride at all, something he knew much about. He'd almost perfected steering a horse without use of his hands or reins, something many knights didn't even know how to master and it was a most useful skill when fighting from horseback.

He moved to where Jack was anyways and allowed the boy to help him up. Sitting a-horse he looked as comfortable as when he was standing on firm ground and it would be quite obvious he knew how to guide a horse with gentle care and kind orders.