After watching Magnus' car disappear over the horizon, you decided to proceed on your way, through the country lane that would direct you back to the city. The birds were chirping happily in the trees, the sun was shining, the rolling hills of the landscape around you was beautiful, yet you felt empty inside. A dawning dread was forming in the pit of your stomach with every step you took. You'd told Magnus what Tom had planned, and just hoped that he wouldn't find out you'd betrayed him.

By now you were sweating heavily, your breath becoming laboured as you baked in the sun. The road just kept on going for miles and miles. Just when you thought you'd reached the end of it, you'd get to the top of the hill to see it stretching far off into the distance even further.

Just as you felt like collapsing, a building appeared on the horizon. Staggering down the path, you stumbled towards it. As you grew closer, you saw that it was a old house, the the wooden beams and faded white walls. You could smell the horses as you got closer, their whines and neighs audible from the barn behind the building. When you finally got close enough, you could see a wooden sigh hanging about the door, and realised it was an old county pub. Not noticing the passed out drunk with his head buried in the bush outside, you pushed open the heavy wooden door and stepped inside.

The dark, dim candle lit room was full of men, drinking and cheering loudly. Most of them were in there separate groups in different corners of the pub, slumped over tables or standing in groups. Their tankards clinked loudly against each other as they merrily cheered the group in the centre of the pub who were causing the most amount of fuss.

At the centre table, a large barrel of beer was pouring out it's contents through the tap, the men surrounding it cheering loudly as they filled their bellies. Laughing the loudest out of this group was a young man, who lay on the floor beneath the barrel, letting the dark liquid fall straight into his mouth. Spluttering and laughing, he was egged on by the men around him as he drowned himself in the booze.

All this soon stopped as they heard the door behind you shut. Just like out of a cartoon, everyone in the pub stopped, frozen, all theirs heads turning to look at you. Some of them spilt their beer, others just stood their drooling, gawping at you. But the person who most caught your attention, was the one on the floor. He lay there, eyes locked on yours, even as the alcohol continued to pour out of the barrel onto him, soaking him even more.

"Can I help you deary? Your looking a little lost", a elderly lady piped up, tottering over from a table in the corner, several empty tankards in her hands. You assumed she must be the barman, or the owner of this pub, or tavern as it was called on the outside. "Yes, erm, could I have some water please", you asked her, tearing your eyes away from all the men gawping at you to look at her.

You followed her over to the corner of the tavern where she handed you a wooden cup of water. All eyes followed you, the men still staring. Some of them even creeped a little closer just to get a better look. "Psst! She ain't nothing to ya. Away!", she hissed at the men, fanning her hands at the. Reluctantly they drifted back to their groups and resumed the drunken slurs of talking before the place was filled with laughter and arguing once more.

As you sat at the wooden table, drinking, you couldn't help but feel like you were being watched. Glancing over your shoulder, you saw the man who was on the floor, still lying there, not taking his eyes off you. Even though the alcohol from the barrel had stopped flowing, he still lay there. One of the men in his company booted him in his side, causing him to grunt in pain, startling him out of his daze. The man gave him a wink before quickly dashing off to escape, before the man hurtled a stool after him.

Brushing back his soaked hair, he flashed a grin at you, readjusting his soaked black shirt. You felt your cheeks blush as you caught a glimpse of his chest, glistening in the light due to it's wetness, not to mention the way he was looking at you, biting his lip. As you turned away, pretending to take interest in your cup, a chair dragged across the stone floor next to you, and the man in question plopped himself into it.

"I don't believe I've seen a beauty like you in these parts before", his husky voice asked in barely a whisper as his hand trailed up your own, resting on the table. "I'm just passing though", you replied a little unsure, not wanting to look up because you knew what would be there. Sure enough, his hand reached across and lifted up your chin so you looked into his eyes. Beads of swear and beer ran down his face, his brown hair dripping all down him. His eyes looked mischievously into yours, licking his lips.

"My lord! My lord!", the shrill voice of the landlady shouted, quickly scurrying away from the door towards this man who refused to turn around to her. "Three men of the court are outside, my lord. They beg your attendance", she said loudly, enough for everyone to shut up and listen. His eyes widened and his head snapped around to look at her, his brow frowned. "Must they?", he growled, annoyed. "They come from your father!". The whole pub waited in silence as the mans jaw tightened in frustration, his eyes scanning across everyone in the room. "Send them in, annon", he sighed sadly, brushing his hand back through his hair.

The whole pub erupted into commotion immediately. Men ran for the back entrance, some headed towards the wooden staircase to the rooms upstairs. Several drunken ones stumbled and fell down into the cellar, until there was only the landlady, you and this curious man left. After checking everyone was hidden, she nodded to the young gentleman, before tossing his a red leather jacket from behind the bar.

"Darling, kiss me", he said quickly, shoving on his jacket as the landlady made her way to the door to let the men in. "What? No", you stammered in surprise. You had no idea who this man was, and you'd only just met him. No way you were just going to kiss him, regardless of how attractive he looked right now. You didn't have time to register what was happening though, until it was too late for you to do anything about it.

Grabbing you around the waist, he pulled you onto his lap so you straddled him, before roughly slamming his lips onto yours. Instinctively, you tried to pull away, but he held onto the back of your head, pushing his lips tighter against yours. As much as you wanted to protest and back away, you found yourself wrapping your arms around his neck, your fingers pulling against his wet hair. He grunted as you pulled it, casually letting your other hand slip through his shirt to rest onto his wet, muscular chest. He let out a soft chuckle, before he let his lips slide lower, kissing down your neck and along your collar bone. You gasped at the magic in his lips as it set your skin on fire, but also because his other hand had slipped under the skirt of your dress, and tightly gripped your bottom. You were both like wild animals, moaning and groaning, desperately trying to kiss the life out of the other. The heat in his kiss was pure bliss, and neither of you wanted to stop.

A cough made you both stop, freezing on each other lips as out of the corner of your eye, you saw three men, their arms folded, looking seriously at the two of you. As both of your separated apart, awkwardly looking at them, it dawned on you that they saw you making out with this stranger. You blushed as the man you now sat on top of chuckled awkwardly also, looking between the men.

"Good fellow. Upon what request does my father instruct you?", he asked, smiling at them innocently as if nothing had happened, but his hand that continued to stroke your thigh told you otherwise. "Forgive me, my liege. The king requests your attendance at Parliament upon your charge and command to the throne", one of the three men said, shifting their gaze away from you. You frowned slightly, wondering why they were talking so strangely. "Ah, I will anon. So I bid thee good morrow", he said, flashing a smile at you, waving a hand to dismiss the gentlemen.

"Sir, he bid instruct us we take you post haste. The king, your father demands it!", the man shouted, making you both flinch. His jaw clenched as his grip on you softened. "I shall, anon. Good morrow, kind sirs. Will you give us leave to go?". The three men looked at each other, before back at the two of you. "Good morrow then, Prince, my lady", the elder man hissed, annoyed before they turned on their heel, and left the tavern. Both of you breathed a sigh of relief as the door shut, a kiss being placed on your forehead as you collapsed into his chest.

"Prince", you whispered in realisation, as it clicked in your head. That was when he took your hand, and kissed it gently, bowing his head to you. "My lady, indeed that I am. But please, call me Hal", he chuckled. Again he kissed your hand, before stealing a kiss from your lips. "Does the fair maiden have a name, to whom i shall request upon my appointment as king?", he asked between kisses, breathlessly. "Y/N", you managed to reply as he kissed your neck, running his hand through your hair.

After one last, long kiss, he effortlessly lifted you from his lap and seated you on top of the table as he stood. He ruffled his hair and readjusted his jacket, raising an eyebrow at you when he saw it had magically become unfastened. "I shall see thee again, fair Y/N", he whispered into your ear as he leant in for one more kiss. Taking your hand, he pulled you outside with him into the shining sun, his horse waiting for him. Effortlessly, he mounted it, and giving you one last smile, he winked, and set his horse off, racing down the country road, disappearing into the horizon.

[Hope you like this one. I know I'd have him as my prince ;) Remember to leave your thoughts and comments. Share the love xxx]