𝕋𝕙𝕖 𝕃𝕚𝕖𝕤 𝕆𝕗 𝕋𝕙𝕖 ℕ𝕒𝕞𝕖𝕝𝕖𝕤𝕤

ℂ𝕙𝕒𝕡𝕥𝕖𝕣 10- Mushroom Hunting

(Ash's P.O.V)

I happily walked, chatting mindlessly with Aaron, flirting not so mindlessly with Arlo and trying to get Annabella to notice me. I know, pathetic.

"Hey, Arlo, I was wondering if you were an artist," I said, barely suppressing my grin. "Yes, actually," he responded. "I'm not surprised, because you're so good at drawing me in" I snickered and arlo grinned.

"Can't say I think any different about you" Arlo replied, at the same time Annabella rolled her eyes.

"Ooh look, there's one!" I said happily, kneeling down to pick one of the mushrooms. Here was where I could really help. I touched the mushroom, letting energy make it ripe and big. Plants were my magic.

I picked the mushroom and put it in the basket River gave me before we left.

We continued along, picking many Meláni mushrooms. I of course used my magic to grow most of them. The forest was beautiful, reminding me of how much I love to go on walking in the forest.

"How full are your guys baskets?" Aaron asked, showing his mostly filled basket, with loads of mushrooms.

"Mine's full," I mentioned, looking at Arlo and Annie. Arlo showed a filled basket.

"The basket I got is still very much not filled." Annabella said, showing a few of the mushrooms, at their normal size.

I shrugged, though wondering why Annie didn't pick the ones I grew. It didn't matter too much. She's just making more work for herself.

As I continued walking with the group, I looked toward Annie. She and Arlo were talking with each other.

"Why would our parents want us to get married? It's so stupid!" Arlo grumbled, annoyed.

He acted a lot different then he did yesterday at the royal meeting.

"Royals often get married off. It is not that uncommon." Annabella responded.

"Yeah but we're teenagers! They could have waited a bit!" They said angrily.

Annie smiled awkwardly, "It's not that much of a surprise."

"I guess I just thought they would wait a bit longer..." He frowned.

I agreed with Arlo. We were all a bit young to get married. However I also think Annabella had a point. No matter what, we were all going to be married off eventually, that's what always seems to happen when you're placed high in society.   

I sighed at this stupid fate. I know our stupid royal families wanted to marry their children off to royal families, but they should at least give us a choice within the royals.

Whenever I tried to confront my mother about this lack of practicality, she danced precariously around the subject, conveniently deciding she needed to do work as soon as I brought it up.

"You should probably hurry and fill your basket, Annabella-" "princess-" "-and then we can go back to the cabin." I said ignoring Annabella's correction of 'princess'. 

Then I saw the hurt look on her face at my subtle coldness. I sighed, slowly imagining what it would be like to be her.

Her kingdom was the one who was most proper. She must have grown up knowing she would be married off. She ran off with us, and she probably regretted that she did. She was probably wishing to be back to her comfortable, safe home.

"Here, you can have mine, and I'll pick up the rest on the way back." I said.

I can pick up the one's I grew and didn't pick up, and anyway, it'll take less time for me to just do it.

She looked sort of surprised and it made me laugh a little. As I took the basket, our finger's brushed. Her fingers were cold and smooth. I met her eyes for a second before tearin my gaze away.

What was that feeling?