[center][h2][color=royalblue]Leon Fords[/color][/h2][h3]
[color=royalblue]Prince of Krieg-Königreich[/color][/h3]
[img]https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/236x/81/7a/63/817a6331137f5aadeb6584f6ce121e33.jpg[/img][/center][hr]

	[color=royalblue]"So, you ready to meet a bunch of royals?"[/color]

	"You know you and your family are already to much for me. It's not like I'll be speaking with any of them. I'm only going to be there as your closest bodyguard. How did you convince your father to let me come anyway?" Leon was in his personal gym training with his best friend [url=http://cdn01.cdn.justjared.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/kit-premiere/kit-harington-game-of-thrones-season-3-premiere-party-14.jpg]Bartram[/url]. In twenty-four hours the two would be standing in the ballroom of the Castle of Aciras. [color=royalblue]"It was more my mother than I. She knew I'd feel more comfortable having someone I was close to by my side."[/color] Bartram was Leon's closest friend. Both born just a few days apart. Bartram was the son of King Herrick's younger sister.

	The only reason Bartram was at the position he had was because he worked extremely hard and his friendship with Leon. The to went back and forth over the details of the coming event when King Herrick walked into the room. Both men instantly saluted their King. [color=sienna]"At ease."[/color] The two then slid effortlessly into the hold stance as if done thousands of times before. King Herrick walked over to his son, [color=sienna]"Leon. Today do not view me as your commanding officer. View me as your father. I want to speak with you on common ground."[/color] He looked at Bartram and signaled for him to exit. Bartram saluted and then exited the room swiftly. Leon then adjusted to a more personable and comfortable stance. [color=royalblue]"What is it you would like to discuss, father."[/color]

	The father looked at his son then walked over to the window producing a cigarette. [color=sienna]"You have yet to tell me your thoughts on the arranged marriage."[/color]

	[color=royalblue]"It is my duty as the heir to Krieg Königreich to follow the laws and regulations set before me. Part of those regulations is to do what is best for the kingdom. If you see that what is best for the kingdom is to marry another royal of your choosing then I am bound by duty and honor to follow such command. I am willing and ready to do what I must for the Krieg no matter what."[/color] Leon hoped that his answer would appease his father. He had no idea what the man was thinking or why he was asking such a question. Never before had the man asked Leon in this form what he thought on a command.

	[color=sienna]"That is not entirely what I meant. What I want to know is if you will be satisfied. I raised you the same way I was. Where power and love were the only things that truly and ultimately mattered. If you just simply accept the marriage as an order you will be completely casting out love. I want you to try and love the woman I have selected for you. I know more about you than you think. I also care more about you than you would like to believe. So, do as I ask. Not as your king or as higher officer. Do it as I am your father. Try and love the woman. Don't treat it like a mission."[/color]

	Leon was honestly surprised. He has rarely ever seen this side of his father. The only times he has seen it was when it was directed towards his mother or sisters. Never to himself. King Herrick truly loved his children, but Leon felt he didn't. [color=sienna]"Now onto the next thing I would like to speak to you about. I know we had discussed that I would be coming in two days, but an issue has arisen and I have no idea of when it will be settled. So, it may be a few days until I can join you and your mother in Aciras."[/color]

	[color=royalblue]"Is everything alright? What about mother? Will she still be coming as planned."[/color]

	[color=sienna]"Nearly. Her flight will be moved to arriving just a few hours before the event. You will still be departing on time. I have also had files E-mailed to you. They are dossier on specific royals that you will be meeting. They are more in depth than the information you have had access to. I want you to familiarize yourself with these individuals and attempt to become friends with them. It is much easier to become allies with friends than it is with acquaintances."[/color] King Herrick put out the cigarette and then walked to the door parting with, [color=sienna]"Good luck, son."[/color][hr]

	Leon was sitting in the Krieg's royal families private plane with a few dossier laying in front of them. Many notes marked throughout the pages of the files and a few highlighters in the trash can already. Leon was engulfed in looking over one when Bartram came up to him and sat across from the prince. "You are really taking this seriously."

	[color=royalblue]"I need to. All of the royalties in these files have the potential to be great allies to the kingdom. With their help I could quite possibly end the wars we are in. One or two may be able to help make it a peaceful end as well. Others have the technology, money, and medical knowledge we lack. I feel they also would be ready to assist in removing the terrorist threats we have."[/color] Leon would do almost anything if it meant ending the war that existed in his land. He also hoped to eliminate the thought that his kingdom was only there for war. If these soon-to-be rulers could help with that then Leon would do his best to make them his allies.

	"Who is among the select group of oh so lucky individuals that King Herrick wants you to befriend?" Leon picked up one of the Dosser's and said, [color=royalblue]"There's actually only a few. I guess he wanted me to be focused on a specific few that had more value than the rest."

	"First there is Princess Willow. She will one day be ruler of Aciras. I don't think I need to explain to you why that would be a good ally. These Dossers are good. They say that she likes to spend quite a lot of time in the Library. I suppose that's why father sent a few books with me to give her. I haven't looked at them and I'm already certain that she will either have already read them or they are something boring."[/color]

	He put the Dosser on Raven down then picked up the one that had the name Elizaveta Romanova printed across it. [color=royalblue]"This one here is interesting. The Grand Duchess of Noslainia. Her backstory is an interesting one. She could be a valuable ally for a few reasons. They have a large number of citizens and as a result a large military as well. She is also betrothed to Nikolai Johanssen. He has wealth so there is the potential financial backing from him. I do believe I should focus on the Grand Duchess. According to the dosser I have more in common with her than the prince."[/color]

	He then pulled up a dosser which he had yet to print off of his laptop that dealt with Feora Swinth. [color=royalblue]"I have been digging up information on her already to see if there were any common points to talk on. The only thing I can relate with her on that I can find is the size of our kingdoms military's. I couldn't discover who she was betrothed to, but I hope he will be someone I can get on the good side of. Princess Feora's military would be very helpful."

	"Another one is Liviana Traianus."[/color] Leon scowls as he says the name, [color=royalblue]"Apparently father wants me to attempt to use her in order to get friendly with Prince Edwin. I don't think I'll be able to use her like that. At least there was a legitimate reason for befriending Elizaveta, but my father wants me to just use the poor girl. I highly doubt she even gets anything out of her arrangement. Other than that there are no key notes to mention of the others."[/color]

	"You gotta admit one thing about all this. Your father [i]and you[/i] are to thorough on some things." Leon smirked as he looked up at his friend, [color=royalblue]"Says the man who spends two hours on his hair before going to a party."[/color]

	"Hey, this hair doesn't just happen." The two laughed and the rest of the plane ride went rather smoothly.[hr]

	Leon woke up early in the hotel room and got ready in his basic uniform. Due to being the heir he wasn't yet aloud to join the military ranks until he was married and had either a son or daughter. So, he was only limited to the basic uniform. It was still kept much cleaner than some generals and he wore it more than most would expect. He was proudly waiting the day he could fight for his Kingdom like the kings before him, but he dared not let anything look out of place.

	He walked into one of the rooms that his security team was using as an head quarters. Having many enemies and terrorist that didn't want you alive meant if you didn't take security seriously it could be dangerous. The small HQ was buzzing with excitement and Bartram noticed Leon and told him, "Your arrival will have to be a little delayed. About two hours north of here there was a ping for facial recognition of a known terrorist from Schrecken von Glaube. We are gonna wait her til we receive word that all is clear."

	[color=royalblue]"What about my mother? Isn't she still in the air?"[/color]

	"Don't worry. She just landed a few moments ago. They diverted her from coming here just in case. They took her to the back-up hotel. She will most likely arrive at the castle much later than you." Leon sighed in relief, [color=royalblue]"That's good. When should we expect to be able to leave? I don't like being late."[/color]

	"At most it will take an hour. Don't worry. You won't miss to much."

	[color=royalblue]"Alright. I suppose I'll look over the dosser's once more. Contact me when it is time to go."[/color] It didn't take long for the all clear to come through the proper channels and they were off. It had taken about 45 minutes for the clear to come so Leon knew most of the other royals would be there by now. Once they arrived Leon opened his own door. He couldn't accept someone opening the car door for him. It didn't feel right to him. As he walked up to the castle Bartram was close behind him doing his job. He could quickly switch from joking to serious just like Leon. The ones of import were the King, Queen, and Princess of Aciras. As important was someone standing beside them was Niklas König. Leon had not been informed the man would be there. The fact was probably extremely difficultly hidden from him.

	He looked to the King and Queen and spoke, [color=royalblue]"It is such a pleasure to be standing here in front of you your majesties."[/color] Leon bowed before the King and Queen. Once he rose he continued, [color=royalblue]"As the prince of Krieg-Königreich I would like to extend apologies for the lack of my father and mothers appearance. Father sends his regards and says it may be a few days before he is able to come. For my mother complications came up during her flight that caused her arrival to the castle to be pushed back. She should be here within an hour or two. As a thank you for being invited to your kingdom I present to you a ceremonial blade only made within Krieg-Königreich. My parents and I hope that relations between our kingdoms continue to be smooth and peaceful."[/color]

	With that he turned to Raven and bowed before her as well then returned to his hold stance, [color=royalblue]"It is a pleasure to meet you as well Princess Willow. As a gift to you I picked out a few books sold from writers in Krieg-Königreich. I hope that they are to your liking."[/color] Leon then turned to Niklas and looked at the man, [color=royalblue]"It is a pleasure to meet you Prince König. I hope that we can get to know each other very well over these next few months."[/color]

	Leon then walked past the four to the castle followed by Bartram. The other guards departed as Leon didn't want to disrespect Aciras' ability to protect him so he only wanted to bring one guard with him. When he entered the ballroom he saw many faces. All but two he recognized. He decided the best course of action for him right now would be to stand at the side and watch how the royals reacted with each other. Observation was one of the best methods of Intel gathering.