When Phillip was done speaking with the Queen and seeing Aurora, he descended the tower again.  His younger brother Lief was standing at the foot of the stairwell, waiting for Phillip.  He leaned heavily against the corridor wall, favoring his right leg that he had wounded in the battle.  He was just as tired as Phillip felt.

Lief stood upright again when Phillip came into the corridor, "You should be resting that leg."

"And you should be resting your shoulder," Lief countered.

"I will.  I just needed to see her first."

A look of sympathy crossed over Lief's face, "I know."

The two brothers walked down the hallway.  Lief seemed to be surreptitiously scanning the castle.  His dark blue eyes slanting this way and that.  Phillip raised a brow. "Either you're being overly cautious about our surroundings or you're looking for someone."

Lief glanced at his older brother guiltily.

"Ah, it is someone then."

Lief didn't get a chance to reply as they were ambushed by an ensemble of women.  They were greeted by the head of the party, "Prince Phillip.  Prince Lief," A woman with long heavily braided brown hair smiled at them.

Phillip was the first to bow and respond, "Princess Briarlee, how lovely to see you.  You look exquisite as always."

Princess Briarlee, the younger sister of Princess Aurora blushed a tad but still spoke honestly, "I wish I could say the same for both of you.  You look as if you'd had quite the outing."

"Indeed, we did.  Fighting demon faeries will do that to you."

"I have no doubt," the princess said.  She paused for a moment as if she wanted to say something to Lief but thought better of it, "I'd love to stay and gossip with you lot but I'm afraid formalities will have to wait until later.  I'm on my way to see Aurora."

"I was just there.  Your mother was too."

Briarlee smiled gratefully at Phillip, "It is good of you to see her.  I know Mother appreciates it.  She still talks about how you two would have been good together."

Phillip looked troubled for a moment but shook free of it, "Your mother has always been kind to me.  But my brother and I won't delay you any longer.  Your mother mentioned dinner tonight so we will see you there."  Phillip turned to his brother and raised his brow.

"Yes, we'll see you at dinner," Lief finally spoke.  His voice came out more raspy than anything.

Briarlee looked at Lief, "Very good."  Then she curtsied to the two princes before striding away toward the tower.

After she was gone, Phillip looked at his brother, a smirk igniting on his face.  "So, we found the someone."

Lief rolled his eyes, "Don't act like that.  It's insulting."

Phillip chuckled, "What is insulting little brother is that you barely are able to speak to her.  How do you expect to have a relationship with someone you can't even hold a conversation with?"

Frustrated Lief clenched his jaw, "I can talk to her just fine if you shut your mouth once and awhile."

"Me?" Phillip placed a hand over his chest where his heart would be, and opened his mouth in mock shock, "I had no idea I was impeding on your love life Brother."

Lief pushed Phillip's good shoulder, "Shut up."

Phillip laughed and put his arm around his brother, "I love you too little brother."