crown of sorrow

@ ghost-

Amarille sat up just enough to take a few gulps of the cold water, releasing a breath she hadn't realized she'd been holding as she laid back against the pillows. She closed her eyes as he ran his fingers over her hair and caressed her cheek, finding the actions to be rather soothing, even if they did make her heart flutter. While she was a little upset that he wasn't going to sit with her, she knew he probably didn't really want to be dealing with her anxiety at the moment, so she simply nodded as he wished her well before shifting to get more comfortable in his bed. It wasn't long before she was sound asleep, face nuzzled into his pillow as she slept soundly, having needed the sleep desperately.

She only woke hours later when Caspian came to her side to wake her, groaning softly into the pillow as her eyes fluttered open, taking a moment to remember what had happened. Her eyes widened a bit as she recalled her panic attack, sitting up quickly as she looked at the prince apologetically. "I-I'm so sorry! You should have just sent me on my way, I would have been fine. I'm sorry to have imposed, especially after such a long journey to get here." She apologized quickly, feeling awful.

(I'm not 100% what do to with Rainier right now, so I figured I'd come back to him once it was dinner time)

Caspian was startled by her outburst, raising his hands to her shoulders to try and calm her back down. "Calm down, Amarille, it is quite alright." The prince couldn't help but chuckle. The princess had shit straight out of her sleep and immediately began shouting at apologies, almost as if she had been dreaming of it. It wouldn't surprise him to learn that sleep wasn't a perfect escape from her stresses and worries. He was sure she had nightmares of them often, especially this past week.

"You seemed to be sleeping so well that I may have let you doze a bit longer than you should've. A maid just came by the door and told me dinner would be in about an hour. They wanted me to let you know that they have your bath waiting for you." In honesty, the time had certainly slipped from the princes' focus. He had been lost deep in many thoughts, considering what might happen if the princess learned of his curse or wondering about if he didn't fit in here.

He was doing his best to hide his insecurities behind a smile. He reached for the princess's hand, helping her to her feet. "Would you like an escort back to your room?" He hoped to have time to clean up and perhaps change out into something a bit more comfortable, but if Amarille wanted his company back on the way back to her room, then that would be that.

---

Isolde sunk into the hot water of the bath, finding it relaxing after the long day she had had. It wouldn't be long before she had maids banging down her bathroom door, insisting it was time for her to dry off and let them dress her. Another dinner she would have to endure, but this night would be different. It was a special night since Prince Caspian would be joining them. Even though he wasn't her suitor, Isolde still knew that she had to dress the part and dressing the part meant layers of hot fabrics and corsets cinched so tightly she wouldn't be able to breathe.

Almost as if on cue, a maid came knocking at the door, startling the princess in such a way that she splashed water on the floor around the bath. Grumbling under her breath, she stood to her feet and stepped out of the bath, wrapping s fuzzy white towel around her body. Without waiting for an answer, the maids allowed themselves in, bringing in a fluffy baby blue dress that made her stomach churn. It was obvious her dress had been picked by someone who hadn't been happy she wore black to welcome the prince.

Within the hour, the princess was dressed and her hair was braided in large bunches down her back. There was no use in arguing the way she looked to the maids, they had less say than she did.

With about half an hour before dinner would start, Isolde found herself wandering down the feast hall, mostly out of boredom. The grand dining hall was still being plated and she could hear shouting from the door that led into the kitchens. Stopping a servant that crossed her path, she asked him to fetch her a drink, hoping he would know to sneak her something to help her get through this dinner.

@ katahdin

@ ghost-

Amarille relaxed a bit as he reassured her, letting out a tired sigh as she nodded. "I'm sorry if I startled you.. I shouldn't have yelled." She apologized softly, although she smiled a little when he admitted to having let her sleep a little longer than she should. "Thank you, Caspian.. I appreciate it." She murmured, giving his hand a squeeze as she stood, shaking her head when he offered to escort her back. "No, I can manage on my own. It'll give you some alone time to get ready before dinner. Thank you, though." She said as they walked toward the door, hesitating for a moment before pressing a brief, chaste kiss to his cheek before hurrying off down the hall to her rooms.

Once there her maids helped her out of her dress and into her bath, where she scrubbed her skin clean and washed her hair thoroughly before her maids returned to help her out and get her dry. She sat in front of her vanity wrapped up in a dressing robe, waiting for the maids to finish towel drying her hair before they brushed it out and began to braid it again into the neat hairstyle she'd had before, although they'd convinced her to dress in something much more cheerful this time, and even went as far as weaving some delicate white flowers into her braid in lieu of a crown. She even decided to pick out a more cheerful dress, figuring her advisors would say something if she continued to only wear black. Once everything was settled she steeled her nerves before heading to the dining hall, although she made sure to take her time getting there.

---

While the princess was busy bathing Rainier had a few meetings with his fellow advisors, discussing how the meeting between Caspian and Amarille had gone, as well as the next steps. Amarille had already been told that she was to marry the young prince, but officially, Caspian would have a few weeks to 'court' her before officially proposing, which Amarille would of course accept. From there, the marriage would take place in approximately three months, in order to allow time for preparations to be made and invitations to be sent out, although many of those preparations were already being made despite the two royals not being engaged yet. It was exhausting work, pretending to care about Amarille's happiness, and by the time he returned to his room to bathe he was fed up with all of the politics of the court. He wanted the throne, he wanted it now, but he couldn't give away his magic and risk his position, even if he could easily trick her into marrying him with a whispered spell.

After his bath he dressed before heading to the dining hall a bit early, content to listen to the servant's gossip and mentally prepare himself for this dinner, although when he spotted Isolde he smirked. "Princess." He greeted as he approached her, bowing politely. "You look radiant as always."

Caspian lingered at his door, his face burning hot as he watched the princess disappear down the hall. For a moment, he could breathe and assure himself that he had put his best foot forward. He had somehow managed to chip down a good portion of the wall she kept up to guard herself at that was something to celebrate. A few hours ago, the princess didn't want to even speak to him and yet, she had just left him with a soft kiss on his cheek.

The prince stood in the doorway long enough to be spotted by one of his own. A man dressed in earth tones and silvers, with the Ellis family sigil sewn over his breast pocket hurried to his side, fabrics and different blouses to wear thrown over his arm. The prince was escorted back into his room, the servant apologizing once for being late to ready him. The prince was quick to dismiss the man's apologies, leading him into the adjoined bathroom.

Stepping out of his room, Caspian was dressed in various deeps shades of blue, a light weight cape draped over his shoulders that was held together by golden chains that ran over his chest. He had never been so well dressed before in his life. His fingers ran over the embellishments on his vest as he escorted himself down to dinner. He glanced around the hall, hearing whispers and stealing little glances from some of the maids that were hard at work cleaning the floors. His face began to heat up again and the prince could only turn his head down as he made his way down the staircase. It wasn't often he found himself the center of a girls attention, back home he was always revered as a monster. All the girls of his kingdom had heard the tales of the terrifying man who was a prince by day and a beast by night.

---

The servant had just returned with the princess's drink and she found herself turning to greet the adviser with the glass pressed to her lips. Before offering him any sort of pleasantry, Isolde glanced down at her dress and cringed, feeling like a puffy balloon, not to mention the tulle around her collar bones was beginning to become itchy.

"Advisor," she greeted him, deciding it was best to keep her first name teasing for times when they were alone. The princess took another sip of her wine, letting her eyes glance over his outfit, dark blacks and purples pieced together a nicely fitted outfit and it was obvious to her that he had just washed up, his dark curls held back in perfect place, and glossy. She had never spoken to the advisor so much in the span of one day, and here they were again and so they would be later. She couldn't help that she felt on alert, for a moment, terrified, wondering if the parliament had some sick plan for her. Like wedding her off way to early to get her out of the castle. The idea caused her shoulders to tense and teeth to grind down.

Yet, Rainier did bow to her and it was something Isolde liked to see. She enjoyed the power and perks that her lineage gifted her, but not the responsibility that came with the crown. She was sure she didn't have to mention how badly she wished she did not have to attend this dinner, the thought of laughing at stupid joked and entertaining powerful men at the table while she watched some prince from a far away land woo her sister... She could gag. "Are you still sure you want to join me tonight?"

@ katahdin

@ ghost-

As Caspian passed one particular hall he could see Amarille standing a bit further down with one of her advisors, the tall older man talking to her quickly. It was impossible to discern what he was saying on account of how quiet he was being, but it was obvious that Amarille was uncomfortable, and that the man seemed angry. Amarille opened her mouth to speak, managing to say a few words before she was silenced by a slap to the face, the man uttering a warning before he disappeared down the hall. She turned, holding a hand to her reddening cheek to ease the sting as she continued on her way toward dinner, eyes trained on the carpet so no one would see the tears she was fighting to keep at bay. When she spotted someone's boots up ahead she lifted her eyes to see who it was and froze when she realized it was Caspian, heart dropping into her stomach. She quickly lowered her hand from her face, clearing her throat as she tried to compose herself.

"Prince Caspian.. Those colors suit you. Would.. Would you like me to accompany you to dinner?" She asked, once again hiding behind her mask of formality. She'd opened up to him earlier, and she'd been scolded about it by her advisor, and when she'd tried to defend herself she'd gotten slapped. If she could avoid their abuse by remaining formal, then she would.

---

Rainier chuckled at her cringe, thinking it funny that she didn't like the dress he'd helped pick out for her. The Parliament needed her to be cheerful and happy throughout this process, someone who was excited to see their sister taking over as Queen and then marrying. Everyone had a part to play, especially her.

"Of course, I'm happy to accompany you this evening, your highness." He said as he straightened, offering her a little smirk as he noticed the wine in her hands. "Unless I'm mistaken, you're too young for that." The King had allowed the princesses to drink a glass of wine on holidays growing up, but other than that he hadn't wanted his children to become fond of the drink. The Queen's sister had died after drinking too much, and the king was afraid that his daughters would suffer the same fate, even if it was an irrational fear.

"What was that about?" Caspian didn't even give Amarille the chance to begin explaining before he grabbed her hands, trying to comfort her, worried over how her court was treating her. "I don't think that's a suitable way to be treating a princess, a soon to be Queen."

The young prince could feel the rage beginning to bubble up in his chest, the way his words seemed to scorch his throat. It was better to remain silent on the matter, with it being his first day here, it didn't seem like the best idea to go chasing down the advisor who thought it was okay to lay a hand on her. He wouldn't overpower her, but when he was king, he would have half a mind to replace the lot of the parliament. "Are you okay?" His shoulders eventually slouched as he tried to dispel the burning anger coursing through his body.

Linking his arm with the princess snd keeping a tight grip on her hand, he refused to let her pull away from him. If he truly felt his presence bothered her, he would let her go, but he couldn't just pretend like he didn't see the abuse she just endured. He let the princess begin to lead them in the right direction, but he never dropped his gaze from the beauty.

---

"I'm in mourning." Isolde was quick to lay rest to his argument there, tipping the glass in his direction. "Just one, so I can get through this night without rolling my eyes or cutting our new king with my sharp tongue." Bringing the goblet back to her lips, she let her eyes trace Rainier's face, searching for any sign of anger or annoyance. "After all, you want a cheerful princess this night, right? It's important. Or I guess you could assert your dominance," the princess slightly held the goblet out to him.

She crossed her arms over her chest, loosely holding the goblet as she watched the servants disappear from the table. It was all set and looked beautiful, huge bouquets of flowers decorated the table and a long gold and blue table cloth ran along it. It was much fancier looking than a normal nights dinner, that was for sure.

@ katahdin

@ ghost-

Amarille was surprised when she didn't tense at Caspian's touch, how his hands around hers helped relax her, ground her. A small smile appeared on her lips as he spoke. She could tell he was upset, that he was holding back for whatever reason, likely because it wouldn't be proper of him to start ordering people around before he was king. But it was sweet. No one outside of her family had ever shown her this much affection, and even if it was only to get on her good side, she appreciated it.

"Thank you, Caspian.. I'm alright." She assured him as he linked his arm with hers, giving his hand a little squeeze as they made their way toward the dining room. She didn't want to talk about it, not right before dinner, and she hoped that he'd understand enough to not push her too much. She slowed further when she spotted her sister speaking with Lord Irving, a little frown forming on her lips. She knew her sister didn't like the idea of her marrying, and likely had already decided to hate Caspian, but she hoped that she'd be willing to give him a chance, as she truly thought that he was a good person.

---

Rainier chuckled at her comment about Caspian, smirking as he looked down at her. "The young prince isn't to your liking?" He asked curiously. He wondered why she was so against her sister's marriage. It wasn't like she was being the one married off. He shook his head when she held the goblet out to him. "One drink won't be the end or the world." He smirked, turning when he heard someone walking down the hall. He was surprised to see Amarille walking arm and arm with Caspian, especially after how cold she'd acted toward him earlier.

He bowed as the future Queen approached, offering the girl a polite smile. "Your highness, you look lovely. Prince Caspian, how do you like the castle and our kingdom? Is everything to your liking?"

"There's nothing wrong with the prince. I don't think." Isolde chewed on the inside of her cheek. "Chalk it up to bring overprotective." It was easier stating that, then trying to actually explain how she felt to Rainier. Her sister was being forced into a position that she wasn't ready for, being forced into a marriage that she wasn't ready for. She loved her sister and couldn't help begin to feel heated when she thought about the situation. Amarille was never free to have fun with her, never free to sit the crown down for even an hour. It wasn't fair, and she also just missed her big sister.

She was relieved when her sister and the prince approached them, noticing the small frown her sister was trying to hide.

Caspian instinctively squeezed Amarille's hand gently, Rainier's company alone enough to cause the hair on the back of his neck to stand up. "Yes, it is a lovely castle. I cannot wait to make it my home." The prince did intend to put his foot down early with the royal court. It was clear they held no respect for Amarille and possibly none for her sister, either. He fully intended on making sure that all changed when he wore the crown.

Isolde looked between Caspian and Rainier, noticing how his face seemed to tighten. Clearing her throat, Isolde brushed a stray hair away from her face and stepped away from Rainier and closer to her sister. "I thought you'd like to know I've decided you shouldn't feel obligated to join me tonight." The princess kept her voice low, but decided it was best to keep her new company a secret. "I can tell how tired you are, sister. Rest after dinner, there will be plenty more chances for me to drag you off into danger." Isolde couldn't help but giggle, knowing her sister knew she didn't truly mean any real danger.

@ katahdin

@ ghost-

Rainier hummed in agreement at the princess's statement. Caspian seemed nice enough on the outside, but he had heard some strange rumors from abroad that he'd been keeping to himself. He wasn't sure whether or not to believe them, only time would tell, he supposed. But if they were true, he'd be able to use this chaos this prince would bring to his advantage. He gave a polite nod at the prince's words before moving over to speak with a group of parliament members who had begun to arrive, figuring it best to leave the royalty alone for a bit.

Amarille squeezed his hand in return, resting her free hand against his arm gently, as if to steady him. She could tell that he wasn't very fond of her advisors, particularly Lord Irving, but she hoped he would come around to them eventually. They weren't all bad, some were genuinely nice. But more often than not those weren't the ones ordering her around. She smiled a bit as her sister stepped forward, excited to hear about her day, although when she said that she should stay at the castle instead of coming to the festival her smile faltered. It was true, she was exhausted, but denying an invitation and being uninvited were two separate things, and it hurt a bit to think that perhaps her sister no longer wanted her there with her. Clearing her throat she nodded, offering her sister a small, knowing smile at her teasing. "Of course.. Be safe, Isolde." She murmured, before looking to Caspian. "Should we sit? Or would you like to talk to some of the Parliament members before dinner?"

Isolde hadn't meant to hurt her sisters feelings, but she couldn't risk her Amarille forcing herself to go. She knew her sister didn't want too and the thought of trying to actually have fun with Rainier hanging over her shoulder... that just wasn't something she was willing to put herself through. On top of the fact that she knew Amarille despised the man, it didn't seem like a very good idea.

Caspian motioned towards the table, feeling it was better to get more acquainted with her sister than some scheming politicians. "Let's sit, after all, they seem to be having a very sensitive conversation." He laughed, believing to himself that nothing the parliament could be speaking of was very important at all.

The prince followed Amarille and her sister over to the dining table. He took a seat next to Amarille, watching as the seats for the queen and king were left empty. He felt a lump in his throat as he sat down in his chair, staring at the empty seats for maybe a few seconds too long. It was quite tragic and the empty seats where two loving parents should be sitting did have quite an ominous effect over the room. It only saddened him more to think of how they died, their bodies lost at sea forever.

Isolde watched as the prince stared at the chairs, only breaking her gaze once he broke his. The princess took the last sip of wine from her goblet, before setting it down a few inches away from her plate on the table. "So, Prince Caspian, how do you like my sister?" It was her job after all to embarrass Amarille, what kind of younger sister would she be if she didn't try? "Isn't she beautiful? She does snore though." Isolde cracked a smile, glancing over towards her sister, hoping she wouldn't get too mad.

"Don't worry," Caspian laughed, looking over at the princess to his side, "I'm sure I snore louder."

@ katahdin

@ ghost-

Amarille nodded as Caspian led her to the table, taking her seat at his side. She felt good sitting next to him, his presence was definitely calming, and he seemed like a nice man. She found herself thinking that she would mind having him as her husband, even though it was definitely weird to think such a thing. She barely knew him. She frowned a bit as she caught him looking at her parents empty seats, tensing a little as she realized that within a few months the two of them would be sitting there. She didn't feel like she belonged there, but she knew it was her duty, so she didn't have a choice.

She looked up when Isolde asked Prince Caspian asked how he liked her, giving her sister a frustrated look as she continued to talk, her face flushing red as she said that she snored in her sleep. "Isolde." She murmured, frowning disapprovingly at her sister. Her younger sister had always been one to tease, and she didn't mind it most of the time, but now was certainly not a time to be joking around, particularly at her expense. She blushed brighter as Caspian turned to look at her and said that he snored louder, sinking a bit lower into her chair out of embarrassment.

"I think approve of him." Isolde laughed, feeling pleased that it seemed the prince had a sense of humor. She couldn't go letting her sister marry a killjoy, could she? Looking to her left, she noticed the parliament members coming to take their seats at the dinner table. A servant came up to Isolde's side and refilled her goblet, this time however, with water. Looking down the table she glanced towards Rainier, wondering for a second if it would be possible for her to escape the castle before he could come to join her. Did she want to?

Dinner started without a hitch, Isolde kept her teasing to a minimum and for the most part, stayed pretty quiet. She asked the prince a few questions about where he was from and made a few jokes about how he should introduce her to one of his brothers, but other than that, she let the lovebirds enjoy their meal.

After about an hour, Isolde was relieved to see a few of the advisers rising from their seats. They bowed to the princesses and Prince Caspian before taking their leave from the feast hall. Isolde had been waiting the past twenty-five minutes for someone to leave the table, not wanting to be rude by being the first. "Well," Isolde tossed her napkin over her place before looking across the table at her sister and the prince, "I guess I will see you at breakfast? I will see you in the morning, sister. Goodnight, your prince." Isolde bowed her head politely in his direction, before pushing herself up from the table. From the corner of her eye, she glanced down the table towards where Rainier was sitting, noticing him still deep in conversation. Maybe that was a good thing. Isolde left the table, excusing herself the hall and returning to her chambers.

---

Caspian watched Isolde leave the table, nodding his head to her out of respect and then watching her go. "Your sister is quite something, isn't she?" He still held a light chuckle in her voice, "She seems nice." A faint blush still resided across the princess's face, but Caspian thought it was an adorable look. He glanced down at his plate before looking back over to her, tucking a stray curl behind his ear. "How about we follow her lead, she did let you off the hook from the carnival after all. Maybe that means you have time to entertain me?"

Rising from his seat, the prince offered Amarille his hand. Guiding her away from the table, he rubbed his thumb over her knuckles, still unsettled from what he had witnessed before dinner. "Where's your favorite place in the castle besides your room? Why don't we go there?" The prince thought it was a good idea. If they were in the place she loved the most inside the castle, shouldn't she be the most comfortable? Before she could answer, he wondered where it could be. A library, the gardens, a secret room no one knew about her? Their home was so large the possibilities seemed endless. He suspected it would take him years to explore every inch of the castle, its hundreds upon hundreds of rooms and secret passageways.

@ katahdin

@ ghost-

Shortly after the future Queen and King left Rainier excused himself, making his way to his rooms, where he changed out of his formal attire into something much more casual. Something that wouldn't draw attention to him in a crowd. Once he was dressed he made his way to Isolde's room, realizing that the princess no doubt wanted to sneak away without him. Knocking on the door he waited for her to answer, thinking it better than simply barging in.

---

Dinner went by quickly, with only a few tense moments where members of her parliament said something that set her on edge, usually when she voices her opinion on some law or policy that they disagreed with. But she was able to distract herself listening to Caspian's laughter, the young prince seemingly always cheerful. She looked up from her half eaten dessert when Caspian spoke about leaving, having hardly noticed her sister depart. "Oh, yes.." she murmured, setting her fork and napkin down on the table before standing, wishing the remaining nobility a good evening before taking Caspian's hand and allowing him to lead her away from the dining room.

She was still trying to come up with something for them to do when he mentioned showing him her favorite place in the castle, the princess coming to a stop as she thought over where she could take him. There were a number of places that she could take him, but her favorite... "Alright." She offered him a faint smile before leading him through the halls. Before long they reached a locked doorway at the end of a hallway in a wing of the castle that was most certainly abandoned, and after producing a tiny key from a pocket in her dress she unlocked it, pushing it open. The room inside was just a simple bedroom , the decorating far less intricate than the rest of the palace. Leading him inside she shut the door, moving to grab a box of matches so she could light a few of the candles scattered around the room. "It's just an old bedroom, but I like this part of the castle best. It's quieter, and no one ever comes down here... And there's a nice view of the city from the windows here." She explained a bit sheepishly, pausing to look at him. "It gets cold in here though, and we won't be here long enough to start a fire.. We can go somewhere else, if you'd be more comfortable?"

Caspian entered the large bedroom, surprised by the interior. It felt like he had stepped into an entirely different castle. The colors were muted and dark, a thin layer of dust had settled over much of the furniture and it appeared no one had touched anything for years. "Who used to stay here? Do you know?" The prince walked further into the room, over to the large open window. Peering through the dingy glass, it was clear the room did have a beautiful view of the kingdom. Caspian could see the winding road through the garden his carriage had taken, below the kingdom with it's stacks and stacks and buildings.

"We can stay here for a while." Caspian pulled out the chair next to the windows, glancing up at Amarille, motioning for her to take the seat. It wasn't a surprise why a room like this would be her favorite area of the castle. An abandoned room, in a just as much abandoned wing of the castle, a door that was locked that she had the key to... It was clear that this was where she would go to escape when she wanted no one to be able to find her. He felt his heart skip a beat, overjoyed that she seemed comfortable enough to share this with him so soon. His hands ran along the back of the chair as he leaned against it, letting his eyes scan the room, from the wallpaper to the stylized ceiling. "Besides, we're not very likely to be interrupted here, are we?"

---

Isolde had already had enough time to change from her dinner attire to something much simpler, much less regal appearing. The thought to leave Rainier behind had crossed her mind plenty of times while she just sat around her room, giving him a little bit of time to show. Her fingers had nervously been picking at her corset she could feel under her dress or running through the ends of her dark hair she decided to just leave down.

The princess jolted, feeling a sick feeling rise in her stomach when she heard a knock at her door. Isolde's nervousness was almost borderline fear though she wasn't sure why. A voice in her head was constantly repeating that she could trust Rainier. If her father had, why couldn't she? Rising to her feet, Isolde was slow to make it over to the door, propping it open for the adviser.

"I almost left you," she teased. Before stepping out of the way for him, Isolde kept her hand held tightly on the handle of the door, her eyes running over his suit. Dark, simple, perfect. She had to make sure he wasn't wearing anything to flashy, but even once she realized what he wore was acceptable, she still found her eyes wandering.

@ katahdin

@ ghost-

"I think my great great grandparents used this wing of the castle.. I don't think this was their room, but it's my favorite of all the rooms." Amarille explained quietly as she watched him move around the room, fiddling with her fingers nervously. What if he didn't like it? What if he laughed at her? "The rest of the castle is nice, but.. it can be overwhelming sometimes. It's older here, quieter." She murmured, moving over to a dusty old bookshelf to run her fingers over the spines.

She looked up in surprise when he said that he wanted to stay here for a while, nodding slowly as she moved to take the seat he pulled out for her. "It does get awfully cold here, though. I don't want you to get sick your first day here because of me.." she offered him a faint smile before looking out the window nervously.

---

Rainier had almost wondered if she'd already left, but his worries disappeared when Isolde opened the door for him. He smirked at her teasing, letting his eyes take in her appearance, taking down her body as he admired the simple dress she wore. "I'm insulted. I'm right on time." He teased a she stepped into her room, smoothing down his jerkin when he noticed her looking him over.

"Well, we both certainly look the part. Shall we?" He asked. "I'm curious to see how you get out of the castle."

He watched her fingers touch every single old book on the shelf, speaking quietly, barely above a whisper. Caspian hadn't been sure of what he would expect when he arrived at Tarennor. The kingdom was beautiful, the staff had all been inviting to him, and he did anticipate that the princess would have her guard up, but he hadn't seen this coming. The moon was hanging in the night sky now and Caspian was alone with Amarille in an abandoned portion of her home. In just the few hours he had been hanging over her shoulder, he had seen first hand how her life had come to treat her.

Amarille seemed to have a loving sister, perhaps hard headed and lost in the clouds, but loving. The staff and citizens he had met in passing seemed to hold her in high regards, but it was obvious how lonely and hard her life was becoming. Advisers picking at her like vultures, trying to pull her in every which direction, all because of the crown that now sat on her head. The villainous old men just saw her as a puppet, a means of carrying out their own will. It turned his stomach.

Caspian found it endearing that she seemed worried over his well being. "Don't worry about that, Amarille. I haven't been sick a day in my life." He reached across the table to grab her hand, his deep emerald eyes completely trained on her. He wanted to stay where ever she was the most comfortable. The prince was already scheming in his head, intentions to keep this kingdom strong and prosperous and plans to ensure the court knew who was truly in charge; the queen. Just the thought of that man slapping her across her face was enough to get his blood boiling all over again. "I'm sorry you're being rushed into something you're not quite ready for."

---

"I don't think you'll find it quite becoming of a princess." Isolde shut the door behind Rainier and locked it, before glancing from him to the balcony. Taking Rainier's arm, she pulled him over to the glass doors and outside. "This isn't the only way I go, but it's definitely the quickest." The princess pointed to the thick, large vines that were growing up the side of the castle, heading all the way up the wall from the ground. "Can you climb?"

The soft wind blew through their hair, Isolde watching the way it rushed through his dark curls. "I don't climb all the way down. Just to that window there." She leaned over the guard of the balcony, pointing to a darkened window a few feet below them. "That is a window leading into the kitchens. From there, I just leave out the same door that the kitchen receives deliveries. Out that door is a straight walk to the south gardens, right to the gates."

The princess had many ways of escaping the castle. The way she was showing Rainier now did happen to be the easiest and the fastest. She could pretend to be heading to her room, lock herself inside and then slip away for as long as she wanted, with no risk of being seen. The look of complete shock on his face was enough to get a little giggle out of her. "Come on. If I can do it, I'm sure you can. Look at those strong hands." She could never go long without teasing. Grabbing on to the vines near the doorway, she hiked her dress up and climbed onto the sides of the balcony, before beginning to climb down a few stories to the kitchen window.

If Rainier wanted to follow her, he could. If not, she'd go alone.

@ katahdin

@ ghost-

Amarille looked at their joined hands on the table, swallowing around a lump in her throat when he apologized for something that wasn't his fault. "It doesn't matter if it's happening now or five years from now.. They'd still marry me off to some prince, and in five years whoever they find might not be as kind as you.." She sighed as she met his gaze, offering him a weak smile. "I suppose in some ways I lucked out... You could be just like everyone else." She knew he'd understand what she meant without having to go into all of the details, which she especially didn't want to do. So she focused on the feeling of her hand in his, the way his thumb brushed over her knuckles soothingly.

"Are you looking forward to being King?" She asked softly after a while. For centuries before her and her sister there had always been a male heir, so this would be the first time in hundreds of years that the King wasn't born into the Tarennorian royal family. She could only imagine the pressure he was under, while also hoping that once he was King the pressure her parliament was putting on her would lessen.

---

Rainier listened intently as she explained how she got out of her room without anyone knowing, absolutely shocked to hear that she put her life at risk every time, just to enjoy a few hours outside of the castle. He wasn't particularly looking forward to following her down, but he supposed that if he fell he could always use his magic to save himself. Although then he'd have to worry about Isolde knowing about his magic, but he'd figure it out.

He chuckled as she commented on his strong hands, giving her hand a squeeze before watching her start the climb down. He waited until she was a safe distance down the vines before he too began to climb down, making his way slowly while also paying attention to where she was. He didn't want her to die, not until he'd married her and killed off her sister. He couldn't lose the crown when he was so close to getting it.

"I think so." Caspian cleared his throat, squeezing her hand gently when he thought about it. He was the eldest among his brothers and yet, the last to marry. Being looked over by his father when it came to choosing an heir still left a bitter taste in his mouth. Once upon a time he had been thrilled at the idea of ruling his kingdom, but the more years passed, it lessened. He was finding that pursuing happiness was a far better initiative than drooling over a crown.

He nodded when she spoke of lucking out with him, finding the same to be true on his side. The prince had met more maidens than he could care to remember during the many trips his family had taken and the many balls they had thrown. More often than not, the princesses he met all had their noses turned up, more concerned with their appearance and riches than anything else.

Leaning further forward on the table, Caspian played with the princesses fingers. "I think we've both found a bit of luck." He teased her, a smile playing on her face. "I'm more excited to see where this all takes us than the crown it will place on my head."

---

Isolde used her foot to flip open the latch on the window, watching it as it shot open. Glancing up to see Rainier trailing her on the vines, she slipped inside the dark and empty kitchen. Smoothing down her dress, she stepped out of the way, watching as he climbed back into the castle only a few seconds later.

"You're a natural, maybe you'll have to join me more often." She teased, her invitation holding no real weight. Leading him out of kitchen and taking a left, they came upon the back door that the kitchen staff used for deliveries. Pushing it open, the pair found themselves walking out into the south castle gardens. From here, it would be a bit of walk, but they'd be out of the kingdoms walls and onto the fairgrounds in no time.

As the pair walked out into the dark gardens, Isolde couldn't help the nervous pit in her stomach. A voice in her head was telling her it was a dumb idea to be taking him with her, that no good would come from it. "Have you ever been to a carnival, Rainier?" The question might've seemed like another joke about him never having fun, but it was a serious one. The princess couldn't even imagine a much younger boyish Rainier enjoying himself at a carnival.

@ katahdin

@ ghost-

Amarille watched as he leaned forward, dark eyes focused on their joined hands as he played with her fingers. Her heart was beating loudly in her ears, especially as he said that they were both lucky to have one another. Surely he was just saying it to get on her good side. He couldn't possibly mean to imply that he might feel something for her after only spending a few hours with her. She offered him a small smile, shrugging as she looked out the window, not wanting to look at his face as she spoke.

"I know exactly where this will take us.. In three weeks you'll ask me to marry you, I'll say yes. In just over four months we'll be married, and you'll be crowned King of Tarennor. After that you'll change laws and make decisions however you see fit, and I'll sit by your side and give you heirs, and that's how we'll spend the rest of our lives." She murmured, slowly pulling her fingers from his. She wasn't ready for any of it, but she knew she had no choice, and she could only hope he'd continue to be kind after they were married.

---

Rainier climbed through the window shortly after she did, huffing as he smoothed out his jerkin, chuckling as she teased him. "Thank you, your highness. I have to say, you're quite the little monkey yourself." He teased with a smirk, following her through the kitchens and out into the gardens. He was doing his best to memorize the route she was taking, already planning on posting more guards in these areas to prevent her from escaping in the future. The last thing he needed was something bad happening to her on one of her little adventures.

"Once or twice, when I was younger." Rainier answered as they approached the fairgrounds, smirking at her. "I had to sneak out as well. Although never as dangerously as you have to.'

Caspian grimaced, his brow pulling together as she jerked her hands away. He tensed his shoulders and sat back straight in his chair. "No, that's not where this will lead us." He said it so assuredly. The prince knew what it felt to have the pressures of the crown on his shoulders, but he wanted to break the system. "I will ask you to marry me when the time is right, you will say yes if you want too." He kept his voice stern, hoping she would take his words at face value. "The rightful queen of her kingdom will rule as she sees fit, with her king by her side to keep her balanced. And we will produce an heir when it is time, not just because we are wed."

The prince wasn't even ready to be a father himself. He still had a long life to live, with tons of time to become a father. He didn't want to rush into having kids until he was ready, and he had forged his own name as a king.

"Please don't think I'm going to force you into anything. Just because there are some snooty men in frilly collars trying to persuade your every decision, doesn't mean I'm going to add onto that stress once we're married." He held his head high, trying his best to convince here. "I want to share the load, not weigh you down with it."

---

The lights and sounds from the festival was all that was needed to get Isolde's blood pumping. Almost trembling from excitement, she felt her heart speed up. There was just something about enjoying the normal, every day things, pretending to be a normal person... It was so much easier to breathe when Isolde was pretending she wasn't a queen.

"You snuck out, huh? Wouldn't have expected that from you, you seem so straight laced." The pair entered the festival and the first thing Isolde noticed was the wafting scent of desserts and greasy food. "How about we get a sweet? It is after dinner, after all." She smiled up at him, wishing instead she was enjoying the fair with her sister, but she wasn't going to let her new company damper her spirits. For all she knew, maybe she could have fun with Rainier.

@ katahdin