Sherian frowned down at the book, trying to force himself to concentrate and failing miserably. Finally deciding to throw it all in he tossed the book to the floor in frustration and strode over to the tiny window.

Beautiful was the only word to describe the view, utterly breath taking. It seemed as if the whole world stretched before him, tantalisingly close and yet forever out of reach.

Sometimes when the loneliness became unbearable he would gaze outside wondering what life would have been like if he had been born under different circumstances, born free. But no noble was truly born free and this was doubly so of him.

Laughter and chatter filled the court yard below, the air of festivity managing to infiltrate even his dark corner of the castle. It was the heirs sixteenth birthday, a time of great celebration. The entire kingdom was on holiday.

They never celebrated his birthday. Sometimes he would wonder if they even remembered that he existed. The throne should be his, the festivities for him and yet he wasn't bitter, just frightfully alone.

His parents knew best. He knew that his parents knew best. They had their reasons for isolating him from the rest of the world. It was for his own good. They were just protecting him. But it hurt so badly to be locked away like a common criminal. Like some dark secret never to be voiced.

He should have been at court with his family and dozens of friends. He should have been having fun instead of being a prisoner in the tower, the highlight of his day when the servants brought him his food and talked briefly.

It had not always been like this. It was only a few months ago they had thrust him into the tower, but even when he was free there had always been the burden on his shoulders that his parents did not love him. They did not wish for him to be their successor.

They never once told him what he had done wrong to deserve such treatment. Just murmurs of 'it's for the best". Sometimes it was so hard to believe that they were right,

Turning from the window he gazed down in slight shock, lying scattered on the pillow of his bed, crimson catching the light, was a flower. No, not just any flower it was a rose, he had read of such plants but never seen one before. Even as a child he had been forbidden to enter the gardens but now. The petals looked so silken soft, red as blood itself, such a wondrous thing; with curious fingers Sherian reached out to grab the treasure, eyes widening with shock as he pricked his thumb, watching as a tiny droplet of blood trickled down his hand the world spinning around him, dragging him under, who was he to disobey as he slumped forward into the magickal sleep.

"I forbid you to leave," the king commanded, fear etched on his features.

"Love you too Dad," Laine murmured shifting his pack from shoulder to shoulder. "But I have to go and you know I do. Someone needs to find out what happened to my brothers. Discover if they are still alive."

"But you're only 18, far too young," he protested.

"No younger than you were when you became King I must go though, Alahn and Deran need me. I have to find out what happened. If they're dead honour says that I must avenge them. I need to be able to put our minds at ease."

"But child, what will I do with all my sons gone?"

"I promise I will return," Laine whispered softly. "But I have to go. I love you father but the only way you can stop me is chaining me up. I need to find out what happened to them."

"Then do as you wish, but I cannot give you my blessing."

A tear trickled down Laines cheek as he strode for the door but he knew that he had made his own decision.

Legend had it that the greatest of all treasures lay beyond the thorny thickets, within the walls of the castle of thorns itself. His brothers had believed the legends, each seeking their fortune, that one adventure that would make heroes of them.

No one who entered the castle ever returned to tell the tale. Not even his brothers.

All about the castle was shrouded in mystery, the most popular tale, the one his brothers favoured as being most likely, was the one that claimed a beautiful young princess lay within the castle; that it was her enchanted sleep that cursed the castle and the forest and the surrounding lands. It was rumoured that when a prince were to kiss her she would awaken and be that mans forever.

But Laine figured the tales for nonsense. All he knew for certain was that the castle was dangerous. He had no desire to win himself a princess; what need had he of a bride anyway? No, all he wanted to do was to find and rescue his brothers.

It took weeks to read the village nearest to the castle and days to walk to the forest of the roses. No villager would guide him there and all animals feared to tread those dangerous paths.

Despair filled Laine's heart at his first sight of the forest. How could he ever hope to break through those tangled branches, escape the wicked barbs of thorns? He had not even taken a sword with him, let alone an axe. In fact the sharpest item he had was the small knife he used for skinning his food, he had no faith in it's ability to get him through the forest unscathed.

Fire perhaps could do it, but he was loathe to do such a barbaric thing as to kill all those plants and destroy whatever might be lurking within their depths. Yet there was no other solution, was there? Unless… Reaching out he plucked a single rose from the thorny grasps, hope and prayer forming one word upon his lips, "please."

And his request was answered; no words just deeds as the forest untangled itself before his very eyes, a winding path leading ahead. To the future. To his destiny.

And from that point the journey to the castle was easy, perhaps too easy. Blessed or cursed Laine made his way through the roses, an hour, a day, a week, time passed how long? Who could tell for strange do the hands of the clock shift in lands of magick, and where was more magickal than this enchanted castle.

Finally he stood and gazed upon his goal, icy fingers trailed down his spine, every instinct telling him to flee, yet like a fool or a hero, he walked on across the drawbridge. The great doors were already flung open as if in invitation, nervously he stepped through, every moment expecting them to clang shut behind him.

But there was nothing. No sound, not even a whisper of a breeze, nowt but the hollow echoing of his own footsteps as he edged his way through the shadowy corridors.

He should run and save her, perhaps she would know what fate had befallen his brothers. Perhaps they would be with her?

Or it could be a trap devised by whatever demons had cursed this place. Gathering all his strength, all his willpower, he ignored the voice and continued walking.

A maze of tunnels in the form of corridors spread out before him, winding him round in circular routes. Lost, thought that implied he had a set destination in the first place other than the simple dream of finding his brother.

Hopeless.

Despair.

Perhaps if he travelled upwards, find some vantage point, a tower he would be able to better see the layout of the castle. Find an idea of where best to begin searching. He climbed stairs, up and up, the sounds of screaming growing somehow louder, yet he could have sworn he was moving away, not towards, the noise. After seemingly endless flights of steps the stairs opened out into an alcove, a door of oaken wood before him, slightly ajar, tempting, crying for him to walk in, and that voice again pleading with him to rescue her.

Something tugged, he stepped closer. A clank of metal. He glanced down. A key by his feet, slowly he reached down to pick it up and then stopped. It must be a trap, or perhaps not. Ignoring the key for the time being he moved towards the open doorway and peered in.

Captured beauty, the butterfly held in the jar, a snow white princess, with silvery gold hair, manacled to the stone wall of the room, gown torn to revealing shreds.

"How did you get here?" words slipped from Laine's tongue before he could stop them.

"The demons," she sobbed hysterically, "please let me go. I can help you escape."

Such beauty, what more could a man wish for? What more could a man want? Yes they would flee the castle and he would take her back and make her his bride.

"I'm looking for my brothers," he managed to blurt out, the words feeling like lead upon his lips.

"Dead," she cried with despair, "they're all dead. Please help me. I don't wanna die too."

He took a step forward. She looked up, from beneath those tangled tresses, emerald shards of eyes. Cold.

Screams of abandonment filled his ears. He ignored them and continued, gasping for breath pounding up the flights until finally almost at the top he reached another door. Trying the handle he found it locked this time. Glancing down he realised he had picked up the keys from the stairs below. How? Another trap?

The door must be locked for a reason. What fool would open it? Yet the key slipped into the lock all too easily. Perhaps he would find answers now. Old hinges creaked open as he stepped into the room.

The soft fragrant smell of roses clung everywhere, almost overpowering his senses despite sweet fragility. The room was dark, loneliness seemed to hang upon the air taking upon tangible qualities. Shelves of books lined the walls almost claustrophobically. Striding over to the window Laine flung the curtains open, sending reams of dust into the air, gasping at the view. Beautiful.

Finally tearing his gaze away he cast a cursory look around the room and found himself transfixed again. A breathtaking creature lay asleep, curled within the crisp folds of white sheets, ebon waves spilling around the most stunning face Laine had ever cast eyes upon. He stepped closer, fingers reaching out of their own accord to lightly touch the sleepers face. Alive, yet not so. Asleep, yet not so.

This was the castles treasure, could there be any doubt about that? Yes. He was unsure. What about the girl below? Who was she? Why had no one rescued either before? He should leave the room now. Search the rest of the castle for his brothers. But instead he just stood their unable to move, unable to think of anything but the taste of this lips.

It was a trap. It must be. He shook his head, ripping himself away from the spell placed upon him. He didn't want to kiss anyone let alone a complete stranger who might as well be dead. Who probably was a demon trying to ensnare him.

But that face seemed carved out of innocence itself. Just one kiss. It couldn't hurt could it? Besides perhaps the legends were right.

He leaned down and lightly brushed his lips across the sleeping beauty's cheek.

Blue eyes fluttered open, wide with surprise, an instant later Laine found arms wrapped tightly around him, slender figure pressed against his own. Slender figure that he doubted belonged to any woman. Slowly he unpeeled the other from around him.

"You shouldn't be here," a soft musical voice declared, sweetness and light itself, utterly entrancing in it's lilting. "No one should be here. They'll get angry when they find out."

"Who's they?" Laine replied, eyes narrowing suspiciously.

"My parents, no one is allowed to enter the tower. The guards shouldn't have let you."

"The guards?"

"By the door, to stop all the people getting in." Or me getting out. Those words however remained silent. "I think I hear screaming. Poor thing. I wonder what's happening."

"You do know the castle is deserted?"

"Deserted? It can't be. It wasn't yesterday. Who's screaming? You should go helping her." Sherian rose shakily to his feet, making his way towards the window. "Why are you here?"

"To find my brothers."

"You should ask the Captain of the guards to help."

"The castle's deserted. It has been for centuries. There is no captain of the guards. No one but you, me and that screaming girl."

"Impossible," the word died upon perfect lips as the prince gazed out the window onto the tangled rose strewn ruins of his city. "Impossible," the word came out second time barely a whimper. The curse. His parents. Impossible.

"Where are my brothers?"

Sherian stood trembling by the window, his entire life shattering before him. Everything was gone.

~~~

Sherian trembled, unsure of what to do. For what seemed like the first time in his life he was free, and yet he wished he could somehow turn back the clock and return things to how they were. His entire world was gone. There was nothing left. But he was free. Sherian glided towards the door, stomach churning with fear as he took his first step out into the outside world. He drifted down the stairs, uncertain of where he was going just spurred on with the knowledge he had to escape. Had to know that what the other boy had said was the truth. He would find someone. It would be okay. He tried desperately to stop the thoughts; the tears that threatened to assault him.

Slowly through his thoughts muffled sobs broke out. The whole world passed in a dream like haze. He opened the door, a soft gasp at the sight of the poor girl before her. She spoke but somehow he did not hear her words. With barely a thought he stooped to pick up the key that had somehow managed to be left so carelessly on the floor, and undid the manacles.

Laine charged down the stairs, grabbing Sherian, throwing him hard against a wall, "where are my brothers?" he yelled.

The dream shattered.

"I don't know," Sherian replied, quaking with confusion.

"They came here. They never returned. Where are they?" he cried again.

"They're dead," the girl replied, her voice haunted as cold as those eyes. "All who come here die."

"Then why didn't you?"

She burst into tears again, "I don't know."

Sherian gathered his courage, shoving Laine away from the girl. "Leave her alone. It's not her fault. If... if you want I'll help look but I don't think that they're going to be here."

"I want to leave," the girl sobbed.

"After we've found his brothers," Sherian decided. "It'll be safer if we stick together." Safer from what? The castle was empty wasn't it? Wasn't that what they had said?

They searched the castle room by room. It was a slow, agonising process, helped not one bit by the virtual silence that surrounded them.

"Just the dungeons left to go," Laine murmuered. "Perhaps..."

"No," Sherian cried in protest, grabbing Laine's arm instinctively. "I have a bad feeling."

Laine brushed away the hand, anger flaring in his eyes. "Are my brothers down there?"

"I didn't... I... they shouldn't be..."

"He's right. You shouldn't go down there," the girl agreed. "He's been steering you away all day. He wouldn't do that if it was a good place."

"You've been trying to stop me going there? Why?"

"No, I haven't."

"Liar, she's right you have. You kept finding other places to explore. Everywhere but the most obvious place."

"I didn't."

"It was you that killed them wasn't it?" Laine shook Sherian hard.

"No..."

A punch was thrown, Sherian slammed against the wall. "Liar. What did you do with them?"

"Nothing."

"Maybe they're not dead. Maybe they're alive in the dungeons."

"Don't go down there," Sherian cried, unable to explain the feeling of dread gnawing at him. He could feel in his bones that there was something dreadful hidden down those stairs.

Laine ignored him and descended.

Sherian watched with frightened eyes before turning towards the girl. "How did you get in the castle? I've never met you before. Why didn't you die like all the others? Why were you chained up?" the questions came softly.

"I don't know," she replied.

Sherian sighed deeply, stepping over to a window, reaching out to pluck one of the blooms. A flash of memory hitting him as he grazed a fingertip against one of the thorns. "I know you," he accused.

"You just said you didn't," she reminded him. "I don't think we've met."

He looked at her, studied those cold green eyes, a shiver trailing down his spine. "I remember you. I dreamed of you."

The girl just tilted her head at him, listening, all trace of tears gone from that pale, too perfect complexion.

Sherian touched the petals of the flower in his hand, "Rose," he murmured softly. "I dreamed of Rose."

The girl laughed, seemingly amused.

"But you're not her. Those eyes. You're different except for those eyes. Like stone, inhuman..." he fumbled through the memories, a name forming within his mind. "Aubrey?"

The power of the name rippled through the air, the girls form shimmered, becoming one with a red haired, stunning fey with such a cruel malicious smile. "Now what did you have to go ruin the fun for?" Aubrey tilted his head backwards, addressing the flowers at the window. "Sending him dreams so he knew who I was. Do you think you're that clever Rose?" He turned back to the boy and laughed. "Well it looks like this fun is over. With no 'princess' to rescue there will be no more handsome princes showing up here for me to play with. They're down in the basement by the way, all frozen solid, which they wouldn't be if your friend had lifted the spell properly."

"What do you mean?"

"Oh I'm meant to spill my entire plan to you now am I?" Aubrey yawned looking remarkably bored all of a sudden. "You're meant to be the one gifted with wisdom. I should let you figure it out. They always screwed up with their gifts though. It was a really good plan. Princes come from far and wide to find a princess, the only one they find is me chained up, or asleep or whatever," he chuckled, "they rescue me, I turn them to stone and put them in the basement. Of course the spell could be broken with a kiss mind you, these things can always be broken. But then no real prince in his right mind is going to think that kissing the pretty youth in the tower is actually going to break the spell now are they? Well that was until that friend of yours showed up. But he just didn't do it right. He broke your enchanted sleep, he didn't break the other princes."

"Why not?"

"Oh come on, figure out that part for yourself."

"He's going to have to kiss them all to wake them up?" Sherian asked, trying to take in all this.

"Oooh that's a good one," Aubrey replied. "Now that would have been fun. But no, I think Rose would have complained that was stretching the rules a little too far. These little scenarios need to have some sort of order, otherwise they'll all gang up on me, won't you dearies?" he was speaking to the rosebush again. "She won't answer, you can bet she's listening though. It just required a proper kiss. Since he gave you a half-hearted peck on the cheek... well you know," by now the fey was grinning.

"So to undo the spell properly I have to kiss him? On the lips?"

"You catch on quick don't you? Of course," he smirked, "you don't have to. In fact it would be better if you don't, since if you do Roses prophecy will take effect and I don't think your friend will be happy with being forced by magic to spend the rest of his life with you."

"What?"

"Rose, clever thing that she is figured that you were a girl. So naturally she decides you should be marrying the person who helps lift the spell. However you can walk away now. No one's going to stop you. There's a whole wide world out there for you. You break the spell here however you're doomed to spend the rest of your life with him, and he'll hate you for it. He'll resent the spells effect even whilst he's whispering sweet nothings into your ear."

"But his brothers?"

"They were fools. All the princes were fools. They're none of your concern. Leave them where they are. It'll serve them right for being tricked anyway."

"He loves his brothers. He came here to free them. He..."

"Fine suit yourself. Do what you want. Just don't say that I didn't warn you of the consequences." Aubrey stalked towards the window. "You're beginning to bore me you know. Better make your mind up fast." And with a snap of his fingers Aubrey was gone.

Sherian stared into the space where the fey had once been, oblivious to the footsteps approaching.

"They're stone. They're all stone," Laine yelled. "What did..." he trailed off. "Where's the girl?"

"She wasn't a girl, she was the faerie that started this whole mess," Sherian replied, that much he had managed to garner. "She says..." he sighed deeply wondering exactly what he should tell Laine? Should he give the other prince the choice? Did he actually want to throw away his newly found freedom to help people he didn't even know? People who had had the chance to save him and yet had chosen instead to be tricked by a wicked faerie. But no they hadn't chosen and he was partially to blame for their predicament.

With trembling footsteps he approached Laine before he could think better of it. The spell was his to undo. Every moment anticipating the punch that the other prince was sure to throw, he tilted his head back and claimed those lips in a soft sweet kiss.

Brutal hands pushed him away. "What are you doing?"

"The spell. We have to break the spell," Sherian whimpered.

"What?" Laine asked but already his question was answered for from within the basement the dull murmur of voices began to erupt. "My brothers!" and without a backward glance at Sherian he was off down the stairs once more.

Sherian trailed after. So many people, so many strange faces, more than he had ever seen before in his life. All muttering confused words, trying to make sense of the situation.

"Laine what are you doing here?" A bear like man asked, enveloping the younger prince in a hug. Tears poured down Laine's face, "Deran, oh it's so good to see you. Alahn," he called as his other brother approached.

"What's going on little one?"

"Oh it's a long story, I'll explain on the way home," Laine dismissed. "We should be going in case the spell returns."

"But what about the princess?" Deran asked. "We came all this way to find her."

"The castle is cursed, there is no princess here."

"The stories?"

"Just stories, without a shard of truth," he didn't want his brothers staying, discovering the humiliating truth of the situation.

Alahn chuckled, "sure but you had better tell us what happened."

Laine nodded, wondering how he would explain when he didn't even know what had happened himself.

"Laine?" Sherians voice trembled.

"What?" Laine snapped, angry that anyone dared to butt into this private reunion.

Sherian winced. He glanced around at all the other confused men. Perhaps he should speak with one of them instead. But he didn't know anyone. He was scared. He didn't know anyone but Laine and he didn't even know that prince very well. "I don't have anywhere to go," he mumbled the pain filled admission.

Laine gave him a look of pure hatred.

Deran however smiled, "it's okay. The more the merrier. Where we're going any friend of Laine's is a friend of ours."

"He's not my friend," Laine protested.

Alahn chuckled, ignoring Laine. "So do you have a name, kiddo?"

"Sherian," he glanced down at his hands nervously. "You don't mind if I come with you?"

"I'm Alahn, and that's Deran," a friendly arm was cast around his shoulders, "like Deran says any friend of Laine's is a friend of ours. So do you think we should be going then? Someone should stay and sort out all the others, I'm sure they're feeling about as confused as we all are right now."

"Let someone else do it," Laine muttered. "I'm sure it will all work out. They'll be able to sort something out between them. Let's just leave and go home. This place gives me the creeps." Already he was walking to the door.

With a sigh, a shrug and a look exchanged between them the other two brothers followed. Alahn paused, turned round, flashed a smile at Sherian, "come on kiddo, it is going to be all right you know?"

Sherian sighed; somehow convinced this wasn't the way it was meant to end. He mumbled those words to himself, hoping they would prove to be true, "it's going to be all right."