Chapter Text
Young prince Noah was pouting. Noah was a person of habit, a person of routine. He liked his castle, he liked books, he liked his dog. Noah was not at all interested in changing that. So being told that he was going to be spending the summer at another castle in another kingdom was not something he was thrilled about. Not only that but the kingdom was quite far, requiring both a boat trip and then a carriage ride to get to. To top it all off, apparently he was going to be doing this every summer for the next several years.
None of that was even the worst part. Apparently the kingdom they were going to had a young prince of their own. A prince that he was betrothed to. Noah was none too happy about it. Seriously, he didn't get a choice? He was marrying Prince Duncan? His father had explained it to him as best he could. Apparently if they got married it would unite their two kingdoms.
So now they were headed for the castle. As the carriage opened his father helped him to the ground. In front of him was a blonde in a red dress with a crown on her head. Clearly she was the queen. In front of her was a young prince with black hair and a unibrow. He was wearing a black suit.
Noah felt his father push him forward and sighed. Fine he’d get this over with. He walked up to the prince, who at this point had also been pushed forward. “Welcome Prince Noah, I'm very pleased to meet you.”
Noah bowed. “Pleased to meet you Prince Duncan.” He looked up to see that the prince had retreated back to his mother. Noah rolled his eyes. Yeah he got it. The queen pushed Prince Duncan out to him again and grabbed his hand. He looked like he was going to die as he kissed the back of it. “Yuck.”
Duncan whispered quietly. “I can’t believe I’m stuck with you all summer. I bet you don’t wrestle, hunt, or box.”
Noah huffed. “You’re so conceited. You’re not better than me.”
“Maybe if I’m lucky I’ll get chicken pox and not have to deal with you.” Duncan whispered back. Much louder he said. “So happy you could come.”
Noah, knowing it was expected of him, replied. “So happy to be here.” He turned around and his smile faded. “This is not my idea”
As though echoing his thoughts he heard Duncan say. “This isn’t my idea
“Of fun.” They both finished.
The rest of that summer was horrible. He and Duncan were constantly fighting, and of course all their parents had to say about it was that they seemed to be getting along. Personally Noah was sure they were just ignoring their fighting because they wanted to join their kingdoms. Honestly though if this was who they wanted him to marry good luck with that. Duncan was beyond immature. Especially when he was with his friend Owen. Owen was nicer than Duncan, but he definitely brought out some of Duncan’s more immature tendencies.
So next summer Noah did his best to make the trip take as long as he could. His father called up. “Good heavens child, don't dawdle. We can't keep Duncan waiting.”
He turned to his father and retorted. “I haven't packed or washed my hair. And father, I get seasick.” But it was to no avail as he was eventually forced into finishing so they could be on their way.
Unbeknownst to Noah Duncan as also dreading their next meeting. He had drawn a crude picture of the other prince on the wall and was currently throwing darts at it. His mother opened the door. “They soon will be arriving. Is that respect you're showing?” She asked warningly. Duncan didn’t care what she thought.
He threw another dart as he responded. “You make me kiss his hand again. I swear I'm gonna be sick.”
That summer Duncan did everything he could to lose Noah. It never seemed to work. If this were a sport Duncan would never choose him to be on his team. He and Owen ran up the ladder to his tree house and took up the ladder. Owen smirked at him as he held up a sign that said ‘no nerds’. “You think he'd take a hint and learn to read.”
Noah glared. “This really isn't fair.”
Duncan looked at Owen and they both smiled as they responded. “We really couldn't care.”
Noah went under the tree house and he must have found just the right spot to push because the floor came out from under them. “Guys it's all or none!”
They got in a lot of trouble as a heavily injured Noah walked away from the castle. To be fair though it kind of gave him what he wanted, since Noah had ended up leaving a full week early. So it was worth it in Duncan’s opinion.
Over the next several summers it became very obvious to anyone who even looked their way that they didn’t like each other. They were always arguing and it was clear the entire kingdom knew this. Duncan wished his mother would catch on.
One summer several years later Owen was asking why he hated Noah. “Well he’s always trying to get me to read his stupid books, and he’s constantly flirting with the castle guards.”
“I’m not sure that’s flirting, he’s just talking to them.” Owen frowned.
“Yeah about how immature I am, and how comparatively serious they are.” Duncan huffed. “Is that not flirting?
Owen chuckled. “I think you really sorta like him. Fess up.”
Duncan rolled his eyes. “I’d like him better if he’d lose at cards.”
Yes cards. Duncan didn’t want to read Noah’s stupid books, Noah was terrible at anything physical, and their parents insisted they spend time together. So what they had settled on was playing cards, and Noah always beat him. Always. Duncan didn’t know if he was impressed that Noah was so good at the game or annoyed that he was better at it then him.
Even the one time he thought he’d won… “Four sevens and a ten.”
Noah smirked and showed his hand. It was better than his. “I think I won again.”
He and Owen groaned. “Every time he’s won!”
Noah smirked. “This is my idea,”
Duncan huffed. “This isn’t my idea”
“Of fun.”
More summers came and went. Everyone continued to pressure them into starting a relationship. As they both got closer to being of age, they heard more and more about the kingdom’s expectations for the royal wedding. It wasn’t something either of them were looking forward to.
Noah didn’t like Duncan. He was immature and obnoxious. To be fair Noah tended to provoke him, but still. It wasn’t his fault getting a reaction from Duncan made him feel excited.
Duncan didn’t like Noah. He was so full of himself. He was constantly being snarky with everyone. Even though Duncan found the jokes funny he didn’t like being made fun of. He did kind of like the banter though.