Wonshik's eyes widened as he clapped eyes on the people, or rather person, stood in front of him. “Let them go,” he ordered lowly, widening his stance. He knew he could fight. His father had been a soldier who had taught him the ways of many weapons and in turn he had showed the others, plus he was a hunter. Jaewhan and Sanghyuk flanked him, bowstrings pulled taut.

"Kill them!" The leader of the bandits yelled "Peasants are worthless to us." 

The small group of men advanced towards, them with their swords drawn. “Wonshik, go!” Taekwoon called out again, struggling as the man holding his arms put his nose to his pale neck, inhaling his scent. He growled and leaned away as far as the tight grip on him would allow, swinging his leg back and catching his captor in the knee hard. The man grunted in pain but his grip didn't slacken. Instead, he turned to the men with Hongbin and Hakyeon, who was still lying on the floor, stunned. "Get them in the carriage!" He ordered them "Now! We'll continue this elsewhere."

"Ah!" Hongbin cried out in surprise when he was suddenly, dragged towards the vehicle and thrown roughly inside, his head hitting the opposide side of the interior hard. Hakyeon was picked up and carried kicking and screaming before also being tossed on top of his brother, followed swiftly by Taekwoon, who was a little too preoccupied with watching the battle commencing outside to put up much of a fight. The door was slammed and locked from the outside.

Wonshik fought effortlessly, alternating between shooting his arrows and using his dagger. Jaewhan was also doing well, a small smile gracing his lips as he knocked yet another man to the floor and Sanghyuk, having run out of arrows quickly, had resorted to using his bare hands to ward of his attackers. However, the elder's smile soon disappeared when he looked up "They're getting away!" He screamed as he caught sight of the carriage speeding away. He knew the princes were inside. 

Eyes now full of a new determination, Wonshik dropped his own weapons and picked up a sword from one of the men lying dead on the ground. With a cry, he charged at the only bandit left standing and swung it violently. The bandit laughed and blocked the blow with his own blade. The two dissolved into a quick and ferocious performance, lunging for each other in a fight to the death. "Go and get the horses!" Wonshik shouted to his friends. They looked at him as though they were about to argue and he huffed "Go!"

The bandit charged at him again and swung his sword, Wonshik narrowly dodging it and landing a blow of his own. The man hissed in agony as a large gash opened up on his arm. He fell on his back and Wonshik quickly stood over him, kicking his weapon away while pointing his own at the bandit's throat. "Where are they taking them?" He demanded.

"You'll never.... get to them... in time- ah!" The bandit gasped between the pain of his arm and fear of having his throat slit. Wonshik lowered the tip of the blade a little more "Where?"

"Wonshik!"

His head snapped up to see two chestnut horses running towards him, and Sanghyuk's hand extended downward towards him. Without a second thought, the elder grabbed it and pulled himself up behind the younger man. They galloped off into the trees in the direction Jaewhan had seen the bandits were headed. 

*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Taekwoon and Hakyeon grunted as they rammed their shoulders against the door. "Almost there," Hongbin encouraged. They panted and tired a few more times, trying to ignore the painful jolts shooting down their arms. But it was no use- the lock was too well made. Hakyeon groaned and slumped down on the seat opposite his youngest brother, head in his hands. Taekwoon sat down beside him, breathing heavily and removing his jacket, rolling the gold tassels of his epaulets between his fingers. They stayed in a hopeless silence for a few moments while Hakyeon tried to think of other ways to escape.

"Do you think those peasants are alright?" Taekwoon wondered out loud. His older brother sighed and gave a small shrug, still trapped in deep thought; he couldn't let those ruffians take them. "I don't know," he admitted honestly "They seemed like they could handle themselves though- we are indebted to them all." Hongbin nodded in agreement before turning to Taekwoon with curiosity in his large, brown eyes "Brother, do you know them? You called him by name..."

Taekwoon opened and closed his mouth, unsure of what to say. He couldn't tell them that Wonshik had spoken to him at the ball. He was a peasant, for God's sake. It was forbidden for peasant's to even look at royals for too long let alone start up a conversation with them, touch them... "I am vaguely aquainted with him," he said nochalantly "I remember him from one of our public appearances in the town. It is important for a prince to know his people, am I right?"

Hongbin paused, nodding slowly. He supposed but it was still a little strange to him. However, he had no time to question it further as Hakyeon got to his feet again, grabbing Taekwoon's jacket from him and wrapping it round his hand. "What are you doing, brother?" 

The elder didn't answer as he drew his fist back and punshed the window, causing a large crack to appear. He hit it again and again until the glass shattered, a few shards raining down on them all, and turned to the younger men "Come on," he ordered, reaching through the gap and unlocking the door from the other side "We're going to have to jump!" 

He took Hongbin's hand, who grabbed Taekwoon's, and led him to the edge. They all looked down and instantly felt sick as the sheer drop they faced. Taekwoon scoffed "After you!" 

*~*~*~*~*~*~*

"I see them!" Sanghyuk yelled as they chased the carriage. It wasn't good- they were on the grand bridge separating the woods and the barren lands over a deep ravine. "No!" Wonshik cried, eyes widening dramatically. The bridge seemed like it could barely support the carriage. "Go faster!"

Sanghyuk nodded and urged his horse forwards, causing Jaewhan to do the same. But his steed was older than his friend's so he ended up a pace or two behind- she wasn't as speedy as she used to be. They bolted along the bridge just as the window was busted open, a fist poking out of the hole that was now created. It s down and unlatched the door, throwing it open.

"This is our chance!" Wonshik shouted "Go!"

They rode up alongside the carriage, struggling to keep pace, and spotted the three princes standing on the edge, looking down into the ravine with terrified eyes. Sanghyuk steeled himself and forced his horse to squeeze in beside the carriage, being careful not to draw the attention of the bandits sitting up front.

"Hey!" He called, making them all look at him "You're all going to have to jump, okay?"

Hongbin looked at him like he was crazy "What?"

"We'll catch you!" Wonshik told him. He shifted his gaze to Taekwoon, who was staring at him with watering eyes from the wind beating his face. The price bit his lip and turned to his brothers, giving Hongbin's hand a comforting squeeze "I'll go first."

"Taekwoon! No, it's too dangerous!" Hakyeon hissed, grabbing him before he could move.

He sighed and pried his firm grip off his arm "It'll be okay," he assured him, not at all confident in his own words. He gulped and came to the front of the group, looking down at Wonshik.The peasant smiled and held out his arms "I promise, I'll catch you. Jaewhan will get your brothers, I swear."

A deep breath and a slight push back and Taekwoon launched himself out of the carriage, squeezing his eyes shut. He felt strong arms wrap around his torso and swung his leg up over the horse, clinging onto Wonshik for dear life as to not fall off. He slowly opened his eyes and his gaze met a relieved smile. "Are you okay?" The peasant asked. 

The prince nodded wordlessly and turned round just in time to see Hakyeon leap onto Jaewhan's horse, followed by Hongbin scrambling up and gripping his eldest brother's waist. However, that wasn't the only thing that happened: the bandits had finally noticed their prisoners escape too. "No! Get them back, damn it!"

The second bandit nooded at his leader and picked his dagger from his belt, clambering out of his seat and onto the side of the vehicle, struggling with the break-neck speed it was going. Wonshik gasped and Taekwoon panicked.

He grabbed the peasant's sword which was hanging at his belt, raising it and stabbing it at the wheels, the blade catching and being torn from his hands. It twisted itself round the spokes, throwing the carriage off course. The bandit lost his footing and fell to the ground, hitting the bridge hard before both Sanghyuk and Jaewhan's steeds trampled him.

The carriage (despite all the leader's efforts to keep it straight) hit the railing of the bridge, smashing it to pieces. He screamed as it went over the side, disappearing into the mist below as the noise got quieter and quieter. Until the only sounds that could be heard were the pounding of hooves and heavy, laboured breaths. Sanghyuk pulled his horse up short and caught his breath. "Everybody okay?" Jaewhan called, coming up beside him. They all nodded and the horses were turned around, cantering back to the forest. 

When they reached it, they stopped and Wonshik got down, offering a hand to Taekwoon, which was accepted gratefully. "Thank you," the prince mumbled, stooping into a small bow "I am within your debt, me and my brothers. What may I offer you? Gold, a title, perhaps?"

Wonshik smirked and shook his head "Your name?"

The prince froze and his eyes shifted from the ground to the peasant in front of him "T- Taekwoon."

"Ah, so you're that one; it makes sense."

Taekwoon frowned and Hakyeon came forward "'That one'?"

Jaewhan chuckled and shook his head "That is how the townsfolk know you all: The bold one," he pointed at Hakyeon "The handsome one," Hongbin, much to his disgust. "And the reclusive one." Taekwoon spluttered and Wonshik couldn't help but laugh, clasping a hand on Sanghyuk's shoulder.

"Don't worry, my second guess would have been the handsome one but you are so shy." Taekwoon blushed a deep pink at his words and the sweetness of his tone.

 Seeing his brother's discomfort, Hakyeon stepped in "What are your names then?" He asked, raising his chin and folding his arms. 

"Kim Wonshik, my prince," the young man bowed.

"Lee Jaewhan, 'highness."

"Han Sanghyuk... sir."

"Thank you," Hongbin smiled, fully showing off his brilliant dimples and white teeth. Hakyeon nodded and bowed, quietly, putting on his 'regal' act; this wasn't a casual situation, in his opinion. Taekwoon ducked his head and linked his hands behind his back "Yes," he smiled awkwardly "Thank you."

The three peasants shared an amused glance and Sanghyuk chuckled, striding back over to his horse. He her muzzle lovingly "Don't thank us yet."

"Why on earth not?" Hongbin asked, eyes darting round nervously as if he was expecting a fresh new band of thugs to emerge. 

Wonshik grinned teasingly "We haven't gotten you all safely home yet, have we, your highness?"

This was so hard to write... ^^'

Thank you to all my readers, subscribers, and commenters- you guys really keep me motivated <3