Fairytale AU
Not sure if this is more fairytale or legend or what, but here's what I got!
1. Princes Michael and Max, and Princess Isobel were born to rule their small, enchanted realm. Everyone in the country knows their people have mysterious powers, and while in some folks this has bred fear and mistrust, they've maintained political peace with most other realms through diplomacy and humility.
2. When they were children learning to develop their natural abilities, their tutors quickly realized Max and Isobel's powers were different; the power to heal or to kill, the power of mind control were inherently dangerous, and they knew the pair would be seen as a threat by other realms. So they kept the twins' abilities a secret, passed Max and Isobel off as powerless anomalies, and raised Michael to rule and protect his kingdom, as well as his brother and sister, above all.
3. Which promptly blows to shit when 17 year-old Max heals Princess Liz Ortecho during a tournament for the princess's hand. A stray arrow strikes Liz in the belly, and before the eyes of half the country, Max brings the dying woman, whom he's loved his whole life, back from the dead. He and Isobel are swiftly imprisoned and put on trial.
4. Michael tries to be diplomatic; he meets with the realm's security council, headed by Lord Jesse Manes. But Lord Manes is power-hungry and cruel, and he's always felt threatened by Michael's people and their abilities. He challenges Michael to a duel; the winner determines the fate of Michael's siblings. Michael having the advantage of his youth, Jesse elects a proxy for himself: his son, Sir Alex Manes.
5. Alex has always known he was different, that he didn't experience love the way others did. He cherished his friends with all his heart; Liz and Maria were like family to him, but he didn't yearn for them like his brothers did for the women at court. But when Alex sets eyes on Prince Michael for the first time, he understands why songs and epic poems are written about moments like this; Michael is the most beautiful thing Alex has ever seen and he aches to know him. And the very next moment, Alex's cold, calculating father tasks him to kill or be killed by the prince. Either would suit Lord Jesse well.
+1. The night before the duel, Liz wakes Alex to tell him she's developed a plan to free Max and Isobel, and asks for his help. He agrees, but when they reach the dungeons they find Michael in the midst of his own escape plot. Michael's, however, was a tad less elegant, and in a matter of minutes they're fleeing together into the woods, narrowly escaping capture. Max, Michael, and Isobel plan to return to their realm to defend it from Lord Jesse, who now has his own military and Liz's realm at his disposal. They agree to take Liz and Alex with them, even though none of them trust that Alex isn't loyal to his father. Michael especially is determined not to be manipulated by the son of Lord Jesse; not by his dark eyes or his sharp, cutting wit, or the way his lips part softly when Michael looks at him.