Dolce slammed the book down in front of Elwin as he sat in the big servants dining hall, trying to enjoy a meal in peace. It was unlike her to show up here, as resourceful and busy and hidden away off to herself as she was, like a possum. Even still, they saw more of each other then they did of their busy parents.

“A good one, eh? I have no idea what it says.” She pulled up a chair across from her brother and stole a hunk of warm buttered bread from his plate. “Yum.” She bit into it with relish. Dolce's blond hair was pulled into a ponytail and looked like it badly needed a wash and her cloak was splashed with mud and who knew what else.

Unlike Elwin, who put in at least an attempt at being a dutiful son, studying the trade of his parents when invited, or helping out with a big banquet, checking in now and then, Dolce was her own creature making her own way, even at only fourteen. His parents had wisely chosen to have no further children after this one.

He looked down at the book. At first it didn't look like much, with it's cracked leather binding that seemed as though it wanted to turn back to dust. Elwin turned the page and was looking at hand inked words in a flourishing script, one he could only recognize a few words here and there in.

“I don't know what it says either.” Elwin said, only vaguely interested. He took his remaining piece of bread and dipped it in the soup, taking a big bite, lest she take the rest off him.

Dolce looked perturbed. “You aint even looking at it. Look how old it is.” She flipped further in and stopped at a luxuriantly painted dragon, clearly getting the better of a tiny knight at it's feet. She flipped again, passing quickly by more illustrations of fairies and creatures of all sorts. “Your little man will go crazy for this book, trust me.” She slid a slip of paper across the table to him. “I got it from a guy at the docks and I told him you'd pay.” She grinned. “And don't forget my twenty percent finders fee!”

Elwin looked at the bill. It was a little higher then what he would have thought, but the royal accounts would pay for it. He had discretion over Prin's money, in such that these little treats could keep him happy and entertained, but he was afraid of over doing it that it would be taken away. “Ten percent.” he said.

“To your own sister! Oh fine. But I can do math, I know what ten percent of that is.” She warned. “So how is he anyway? Still spending all your time up there?” Dolce did not speak to clearly about who she was talking about, since the topic was an open secret and somewhat forbidden, especially in a crowded dining room.

“He's alright.” Elwin said. “And what do you mean by that anyway?”

“It's just,” Dolce sighed and gave him the lets get serious look. “I know how it is you really feel, and I think you need to cut it out, okay?” She spoke softly and leaned close, to avoid prying ears. “You know if you continue like this he's just going to die and leave you devastated. Better to just start pealing away now and soften the blow.”

“You need to mind your own business. I'm all he has.” Elwin considered lowering the finders fee to five percent, just out of spite.

“You know mom and dad are trying to find you a rich girl to marry?” Dolce continued. “I guess they might just pull it off with their connections and you being, you know, I don't know, handsome and stuff I guess.” She added begrudgingly. “Cause you look like me, haha. But how are you going to pay attention to your wife when your heart is with another?”

Elwin stood up from the table. “Of course I love him he's as much of a sibling to me as you are, more even.”

“If you say so.” Dolce rolled her eyes. “If you say so, brother. I'm just trying to give you a heads up, really about the marriage plans. In case you didn't know, that's all.” She put her hands in the air.

*

Perhaps in direct defiance of his sisters statements, or perhaps as something he would have done anyway, Elwin soon found himself with his feet back on the tower staircase. Bringing the newly acquired book, and a basket of supper goods that he intended to see for himself were eaten.

Although the things that she said were bothering him. Was he that obvious? Who else thought the same as her? Did his parents also have those thoughts, and that's why they wanted to hasten him into marriage?

This time when he reached his friend's door he knocked softly and waited a moment before entering.

The prince was asleep, with a riot of books all around him, one of which was laying open on his chest. Elwin knew he was the prince's best loved person in the world, but even he couldn't compete with books.

He leaned down and removed the heavy book from where it didn't belong. Prin let out a little sigh, either of relief for the burden being lifted, or disapproval at the loss of the book who was to say.

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He did have a pretty face, one that reminded Elwin of the fairy stories they had heard growing up, particularly the one of the girl with skin as white as snow, hair as black as coal, and lips as red as blood. How had that tale worked out for her? He couldn't quite remember if it had gone well or badly. Something, something, perhaps her heart had been cut out and eaten by a boar.

Elwin shook his head hard, if he was to go around putting stock in omens and stories he would be no better then the superstitious old biddies in town.

He put his hand on Prin's shoulder. “Hey, time to wake up? It's supper time, and I have a present.”

The prince lay still for a moment, acting like he wasn't listening until the word present was uttered. Then his eyes opened wide as a child's. This worked every time.

Elwin smiled at him, he really never changed, which was comforting somehow. He put some extra pillows behind Prin's back and helped to prop him up in a sitting position.

“What is the present?” Prin asked, his words interrupted by a coughing fit. Just a small one though, nothing out of the ordinary.

“How about eat something first?” Elwin suggested. He laid things out on the small table; bread, and cheese, and wine, (he knew his friend was not much one for meat, so didn't bother to bring any). He cut a slice of crumbly perfectly aged cheese onto a piece of bread. “Or how about this?” He pulled some pastries out that he had grabbed, freshly baked and just cooled. “Chocolate and cream.”

Prin smiled wanly, clearly not really wanting it but, took the pastry from Elwin.

“You can't live on other people's adventures alone.” Elwin teased, gesturing to the books around them.

“Oh, if only!” Prin took a bite of the pastry and chewed it for a long time. “I feel like it really is what I am living on. Didn't they used to say I wouldn't make it this long? Didn't know what rich food I would have, did they?”

Elwin laughed. He didn't say anything to acknowledge the comment on longevity although it made him cringe inwardly. He typically ignored and brushed off such things, since he couldn't really bare to think of it. “Speaking of,” He took the little book out of his satchel and placed it in front of the prince. “Dolce found it. She sends her regards.”

“I haven't regarded her face in quite some time.” Prin said wryly. “I thought she forgot I exist. If she comes for a visit, she can have some --” He trailed off in the middle of whatever it was Dolce could have, to stare in curious wonder at the leather bond book. He opened it with reverence, careful to hold the pastry well away. “Oh my goddess, do you have any idea how old this book is?”

“Pretty old, I imagine.” Elwin said, wondering if it was a real question or rhetorical. He reached over and flipped to the dragon page.

“It's-it's written in the script from the between times. I think.” He looked at the dragon like it would fly off the page and into his face like an overgrown mosquito.

“Isn't that three or four hundred years ago?” Elwin was skeptical, perhaps the book was a reproduction. But whatever made the prince happy was good enough for him so he wasn't going to say it. Maybe Dolce deserved the full twenty percent finder's fee after all.

“Maybe more.” Prin picked it up turned it here and there in his hands admiring the leather cover and binding. “I think it has been rebound, see how there are extra holes here where the old threads were? I guess that is only natural. After all this time.”

“Eat.” Elwin urged.

The prince took another bite of his pastry. “It really is quite good. Is this a new recipe?”

Elwin blinked, he had thought that Prin was talking about the book still. “Could be. I snagged it from the kitchen just now. Mom and father didn't even see me, they were too busy preparing some big spread for a banquet or something that is going on tonight.”

“Oh?” Prin asked.

“Who knows what it's about.” Elwin wondered. “Same old kind of thing I imagine.” He always tried to make anything going on in the castle, which of course Prin would neither be invited to, nor able to attend, sound as dull and tedious as possible.

“I'm sure my brother and sister will be there.” Prin said. He stopped looking at the book and a wistful expression came momentarily over his face.

Elwin was quite sure that if he had been required to attend such things he would have hated them but, there was something to be said for the courtesy of being asked.

Prin had never even met his brother and sister, but Elwin kept him periodically updated, as the need arose.

“Callimodeus is getting very tall and big,” Elwin gestured out to his sides to show a rather stout looking fellow. “His features are even more unfortunate then ever. I think he has the queen's wide forehead, I hardly see how there is even room for hair at the top, and the king's broad face. His features are pulled in too many directions.” He made the awfullest face he could imagine.

“Really?” Prin asked. He laughed skeptically.

“But his looks are nothing compared to his personality. He shoved a little serving girl down onto the cobblestones for daring to look in his direction.” Elwin said, on a roll.

“Oh no!” The alarmed expression on Prin's face, made Elwin want to quickly make amends with the wholly invented little girl.

“She was alright, not to worry! They took her into the kitchen and mom gave her a cold rag for her sore knee and a piece of pie. She was all smiles a few moments later.”

Prin probably didn't believe a word he was saying but he had the decency to look relieved anyhow on her behalf.

“Anyway, little miss Diamondwise has a personality just as bad as her brother. She throws a tantrum at the slightest provocation and ruins her dresses by rolling around in the dirty mud when she doesn't get her way.” Elwin said.

Prin laughed, enjoying the imagery.

“Her features are more pleasing though, luckily for her.” Elwin said. “But she's nowhere near as cute as you are.” He added softly.

“I'm cute?” Prin smiled.

There was no mirror in the room, so, Elwin realized with a shock, it was probably a legitimate question since the poor prince had no idea really what he even looked like.

“Very.” Elwin said. “The cutest.” He hoped that out of everything he had said, Prin would at least choose to see the truth in this one. Not that it mattered much, since he would never be leaving this room, would he?

Prin gave his friend a teasing smile. “You seem to think so anyway.”