The Prince's Shield- An Aarmau prince x guard AU [COMPLETED]

By the River, the Flowers Grow

The Prince and guard landed after about 15 minutes of flying. They stopped at the side of a river. Aphmau carefully let man go, stepping away and reverting her wings into her back.

Aaron took in their surroundings, sitting down next to Storm, who was soaring in front of them the whole time. She was probably leading them in the right direction. Aphmau was plucking small flowers from the ground and placing them in an envelope to take home.

On the other hand, the two meif'wa guards were following the very faint scent of the prince. They followed a river until they heard talking.

First, the voice of their prince. "Why do you need flowers for letters anyways?"

"Well I know you of all people wouldn't expect this but I have friends that I want to write to," Aphmau smiled, plucking a few flowers and putting them carefully into an envelope, "my sweet boys Laurance and Garroth, and their siblings. Plus my parents. They like the flowers I put in the stamps." The two hidden guards moved closer to get a visual. The prince was petting a wyvern, sitting and swinging his feet over the water.

"Why do you still write to your parents? I mean, they sent you away from them so young. Didn't you say you felt betrayed?" Prince Aaron asked, turning to the guard.

"Because they're my parents. Even if what they did hurt me at the time, it was better for me in the long run. I would've starved had they not sent me to the academy. God knows Falcon Claw merchants stayed far from Phoenix Drop so my father had to travel for weeks just to bring home enough food." The prince couldn't help but frown. His parents did nothing to save the outer cities. He tried to reason with them often but they only focused on making the castle beautiful and preparing for wars that wouldn't come. "Of course, now I know some of the most remarkable people I've ever met and that includes you. I'd have never met you. How sad would that be?"

Aaron was ignoring the last bit of her statement. "I think I understand, it's just odd to me."

Aphmau chuckled in response. The sun was shining through the leaves, kissing the pair with speckled spots on their skin.

"That's because you grew up with the world at your fingertips, Princey. It's okay now, I haven't forgotten, but I've forgiven them." Aphmau and Aaron sat in silence for a good while after that. Aaron was contemplating how he would help the poor as a king. Aphmau was deciding if it was worth it to press the flowers she was collecting or stamp them in their current state. Nana didn't realize how intensely she was staring at them until Aphmau flinched and let out a shakey breath, breaking the silence.

"Are you...Are you okay, Aphmau?" Prince Aaron seemed just as alarmed as her, or rather, alarmed about her reaction to whatever happened. Aphmau swung her head in the guards direction but they had already concealed their presence again.

"Sorry...It's just...we might need to leave. We've already been gone for too long and as much as I wanted to at least let you see the outside world, your father would have my head in a basket if he found this out."

"It's okay. Thank you for doing this for me. This place is less tense. I wish we could stay." The two Meifwa's almost felt guilty about having to tell the king where they went since this was the first time they had seen their prince truly at ease. He was always so cold in the castle.

"I don't doubt that I could keep you safe but the king has his personal doubts about my skills. We'll come back once your father has some faith in me, okay?"

"Okay, but are you feeling well enough to fly us back?"

"Of course. Yes, I'll be fine."

"Don't push it, Aphmau. If we come crashing down because you've passed out, I'll personally have your head on a stake."