Chapter Text
George paced the castle hall anxiously, biting his nails and running his hand through his already messed up brown hair. His fancy clothes, which he wore for the special occasion, were slightly ripped and stained with blood but he couldn’t bring himself to care.
He could still hear the river rush.
Knights and castle servants hurried around, paying no mind to the distraught prince. Except the two guards that were ordered to look after him while the others tried to solve the situation. Were there more assassins, who sent them and most importantly, in George’s opinion, where was the prince's personal knight?
Sighing loudly, letting everyone in the room know how much he hated the whole situation, George rolled his eyes. He was sitting by his desk, in his room, staring at a young man wearing a ridiculous white mask with two black beady eyes and a smile, hiding his face.
George did not feel like smiling.
Next to George stood Sapnap, his best friend and stand-in personal knight for the past year and a half. The raven haired man had a friendly smile on his face but under it, George knew Sapnap was just as distrusting and annoyed as George.
“This is Dream, your new personal knight,” Sam, head of the royal guard, introduced, gesturing to the tall man next to him. Dream bowed, and George could catch a glimpse of dirty blond locks falling over the mask. The green hood of his cloak covered his head and hid his armour that George caught a glimpse of. Netherite. He was also taller than Sam, which was a rare sight.
“It’s nice to meet you, your highness,” Dream said, standing straight.
George refused to answer. He felt like a child throwing a tantrum, but he felt like it was justified this time.
Sam sighed, rubbing his temples, exhausted.
“Your highness, I know you’re not happy about this, but it’s their majesty’s order.”
“I have Sapnap to protect me.”
“-But with the rumours of a possible assassination attempt, his majesty wants the best knight possible to protect you and keep you safe,” Sam added, ignoring George’s protests. He’d already been listening to them all week ever since the prince heard about getting a new knight.
“We all know who the best one in this kingdom is,” George reminded. “And it’s not him .” George pointed at the new knight.
“You wound me, your highness,” Dream piped in but shut up as George glared daggers at him. Prime, George hated that mask, he wanted to rip it off. But that would be way too rude. The man had to have his reasons for wearing it.
Groaning, Sam stared at the ceiling.
“George, please at least give him a chance.”
Frustrated, George crossed his arms. He knew he should give in. Eret had enough worries without George’s safety added to the list.
“One week.”
“Thank you, George,” Sam said, letting out a relieved sigh. “Behave,” he added, pointing at Dream, eyes narrowed.
Dream nodded, bowing to George again before following Sam out of the room.
“I’ll give him a tour today but starting tomorrow, he’s all yours,” Sam told George before closing the heavy oak door behind them.
As soon as they were gone, George slouched in his chair and massaged his temples, eyes closed.
“I hate this.”
“I know, George. But I’m sure it’ll be fine. He’s here only for as long as the threat,” Sapnap comforted, patting his shoulder.
“How do they even know he’s any better than you?”
“Well, I heard he beat Sam and Punz. At the same time. I’m pretty sure that makes him better than me.”
George hated that he was right. That was impressive, he couldn’t get around that.
“And it’s not like we won’t be able to hang out anymore,” Sapnap added, grinning. “I’ll come around just to bother you so much you’ll be happy that I’m not your personal knight anymore.”
“That’s a good point.”
“Hey!”
The next day, as soon as George stepped out of his room to go have breakfast with his brother, the King, Dream was there waiting for him. He wore his netherite armour, which Goerge thought was a bit much and had to be heavy, with a dark green cape on his shoulders. The white mask was still on his face with a smile.
“Good morning, your highness,” Dream greeted with a small bow.
Taking a deep breath to remain calm, George decided it was time to set things straight.
“Dream, right?”
The knight nodded.
“Okay. Let’s make sure we’re both on the same page. I don’t like that you’re here, filling the place meant for someone else.”
“I’m aware.”
“Good. Second, I don’t trust you.”
“I can tell.”
“Good. Just- Do your job. Then we’ll get along fine enough,” George said, running his hand through his hair. He knew he was being rude, but something gave him an odd feeling about Dream. He couldn’t quite put his finger on it but he’d figure it out eventually. So for now, he didn’t trust the young man.
“As you wish, your highness,” Dream said, giving a little bow again. His words were slightly more quiet than before but George shook his head and decided not to think about it now.
Dream followed him to the dining hall silently through the bustling hallways of the castle, and George noted that he could barely hear the other’s footsteps. He once glanced behind him, only to find the knight right where he was supposed to be even though George was so sure he wasn’t.
Once they reached the dining hall, Dream opened the door for him, but didn’t step in after George.
Turning around, George raised an eyebrow at him.
“You’re not gonna eat?” George asked, confused.
Dream tilted his head as he stared back at George. The prince really disliked not being able to see the knight’s expressions.
“Do your knights usually eat with you?”
“Personal knight, yes,” George said, the title feeling wrong. “So does Foolish, Eret’s knight.”
Dream was quiet for a moment before shaking his head.
“I’m good. I’ll wait for you here.”
George frowned.
“Aren’t you hungry?”
“Not really.”
Nodding, George hummed.
“Suit yourself, I guess.”
The door shut behind him and George walked over to the large table, where Eret and their personal knight Foolish were sitting. The two were chatting but stopped once they noticed George.
“Good morning, George,” Eret greeted him with a smile, as George sat down across from them.
“Where’s Dream?”
“Insisted on waiting in the hall. Said he wasn’t hungry or something.”
Eret frowned, but nodded slowly.
“Well, I guess he can do as he likes.”
As he began to eat, George made a mental note to grab at least something for Dream later. Just because he didn’t need his knight passing out from hunger while on duty.
The week went by far too quickly although it was a little awkward at first, George calling Dream Sapna p a few times out of habit. It seemed to amuse the knight but he stayed silent when George glared at him. Not to mention how the knight was very quiet, only to suddenly try and crack a joke, startling George.
Dream followed him around to his meetings and lessons, but still refused to join the meals. Instead he chose to either wait outside or stand nearby George’s chair. George did realise that the reason why was probably the mask. He was curious about it but George was decent enough not to ask even if the curiosity was killing him.
When he wasn’t working, George spent time in the garden, reading or just loitering around in peace. The knights he had known since he was a kid, like Sapnap and Punz, joined him if they weren’t busy with their own duties. It was nice and part of George’s usual routine. Just now Dream was there, usually standing or patrolling around the garden, shoulders tense as he kept an eye on their surroundings. While George understood that it was his job, it was tiring to watch. Despite his somewhat chatty personality, Dream never actually relaxed as far as George could tell.
Mostly George hated that he had slightly warmed up to Dream due to the knight’s stupid jokes. Even Sapnap could tell, grinning at George when their eyes met after George smiled at a witty comment Dream made.
He was surprisingly good company when it was just the two of them. Not that George
was ever going to tell Dream that. He still didn’t trust him fully.
Sapnap had managed to become good friends with Dream within the week despite having had only a few interactions as well. The two chatted when they could and even trained together occasionally.
It made George’s chest feel tight but he didn’t say anything. He was glad to see his younger friend be happier again.
“Dream, I want to go to the lake,” George decided one day at the start of the second week. It had been quiet, no attempts on George’s life so far. He was confident that it’d be safe enough. Sitting by his desk, George had been reviewing some documents. The dark oak desk had been covered with them but now George had organised them to two neat stacks.
Dream turned to him, sheathing his sword, which he had been sharpening, and pocketing the whetstone. Standing up from where he’d been sitting on the window sill, Dream walked over to sit on George’s desk. George barely grabbed one stray paper away before the taller one sat down on it. The little shit.
“It’s outside the castle walls.”
“Yeah, but like, right outside,” George argued, tilting his head and hoping to win the other over with a few blinks and a pout. It worked like a charm on everyone else. Sapnap called it his “pretty privilege”. It was about time he learned if he could use it against his new knight.
Dream was silent for a while, which was quiet unlike the knight. Dream was very quick to hit him with a come back. But this time none came as the knight stared at him with the black beady eyes on his mask. How did he see through that?
“Fine, we can go,” Dream eventually caved, shoulders slumping.
George stood up quickly, a bright smile on his face.
“Thank you Dream!” George exclaimed, touching the other’s arm briefly as he passed by him.
“Yeah yeah, just a week ago my very existence was offending you,” Dream said under his breath and chuckled, following the excited prince outside.
The two walked the path that went around the lake, George happily throwing some food for all the ducks that followed them in the water. It was a beautiful day, the sun shining brightly through the canopy of the trees surrounding the lake. A slight breeze made sure it was pleasantly warm instead of too hot.
“I wish we had time to go swimming,” George hummed, chuckling as one of the ducks stood right in front of him and honked loudly at him.
“Cute,” George chuckled, crouching down.
“You have a meeting with your brother and his advisor soon,” Dream said.
Groaning, George fed the duck the last of the food he had.
“Don’t remind me, I’m not looking forward to that. It’s so boring.”
Dream hummed.
George expected a witty reply from him but Dream was silent. The other was awfully quiet today. Glancing up at the other, George noted that Dream was looking at the lake.
“Dream, are you alright?” George asked, frowning, as he stood up. “You’ve been tense since we got here.”
Dream shook his head, despite the fact that George could see how tense his shoulders were and he had his hand on the hilt of his sword all the time.
“I’m fine. But I think we should head back soon.”
George glared at him suspiciously.
“Do you think there’s someone out here?”
“No, not necessarily. But the chance grows the longer we’re here.”
“Alright then, we’ll head back,” George relented.
“Prince George, how are you? We haven’t talked in a while,” Schlatt, the King’s advisor, greeted when George stepped into the meeting room, Dream right behind him. To George’s surprise, Dream followed him in, despite usually staying outside during meetings. Saying they were too boring and would bore any intruder to death.
“Hi Schlatt. I’m doing well,” George answered, deciding to push Dream’s odd behaviour away from his mind for now to concentrate on his duties. “How are you?”
“I’m doing well, your highness.”
“Don’t worry George, this won’t take long,” Eret assured, appearing from the side room, spreading a map on the table. “Just a basic update on the villages nearby that needed help last month.”
George nodded, stepping closer to the table to get a better look, and to listen to Schlatt start talking about statistics. He was somewhat aware of Dream stepping closer too, on his left side. Partly blocking George’s view of Schlatt.
Nothing out of the ordinary happened during the meeting. The villages were doing much better now but Eret decided to continue the assistance they’d been giving for another month. They also added one more village to the list.
At the end of the meeting though, George caught Dream glancing at Schlatt, but he couldn’t tell what it was about because of the knight’s covered face. But his shoulders were tense, his fists opening and closing behind his back, only visible to George. Schlatt hadn’t paid any mind to Dream the whole time, which wasn’t really out of character for the advisor.
“Dream,” George said, catching the knight’s attention once they were out of the meeting room and the other two’s hearing range.
“Yes?”
“I almost feel like you don’t like Schlatt.”
Before Dream could answer, George continued.
“He’s been a huge help to my brother, he is one of the most loyal people in the castle. You better treat him with respect, okay?”
“Of course, your highness.”
That day was supposed to be wonderful.
It was George and his fiance’s third anniversary in a relationship, one year since they got engaged. His fiance told George the night before that he had prepared a peaceful yet memorable day for the two of them and George couldn’t have been more excited to spend it with his lover.
George was up early, going through his wardrobe to pick the perfect, casual yet nice outfit for the day. He went with his favourite light blue blouse and black tight fitting pants and a royal blue cardigan in case it got chilly. After making sure his hair was combed nicely, he left the room to find his fiance, who had disappeared somewhere before George had woken up.
“Probably to do some last minute preparations.”
He found his fiance in the dining hall, looking just as handsome as ever. He was wearing a white tunic with a dark green vest and brown pants. Smile on his face was warm and fond.
“Ready to go, my love?”
That day was supposed to be unforgettable.
That it turned out to be, just not in the way George had hoped.
Sounds of swords striking against each other filled the air, pained groans as metal met flesh. Two men already laid down on the ground, alive but immobilised. The cold rain beat down, obscuring vision and making the grass slippery under their boots. It was so dark.
George flinched as his fiance parried a sword trying to strike him. The sound rang in his ears. Glancing behind, the river ran, as rowdy as a stormy sea. The violent rushing prevented George from hearing their voices very well.
Two men left. Just two. They could get out of this alive. His fiance was the best knight in the kingdom. Even though he was slightly injured, if the blood on his side was anything to go by, he could take these men down. George believed in him.
A yell from the tree line brought up more hope for George, and he turned to look its way. Schlatt stood there, sword in hand, before running towards and attacking one of the assailants..
“Take George to safety!” George’s fiance yelled at the older man, who after only a moment of hesitation, grabbed George’s arm and pulled him away from the fight. None of the enemies tried to stop them, hacking they’re swords against George’s fiance’s sword. Before they passed the tree line and George lost sight of him, he saw his fiance lose his sword only to summon his battle axe.
He can’t lose with ‘Nightmare’ by his side.
They told him they never found the body.