The New Prince

Chapter 12

Chapter 12-Offers and Consequences

Erin walked alongside of Keith quietly as they headed toward the lake. He had given her a tour of the castle and the gardens as they themselves caught up with conversation. Unfortunately, he couldn't take her to the villages as it was too late in the evening. Instead, he took her to his favorite place. He wanted to go there anyway to relax and maybe think through what bothered him about the kidnapping situation.

The moon shined brightly, making the lake twinkle as small, rippled waves surfaced across the water.

"Is it always windy on Arus?" Erin finally asked to break the silence that's existed since they left the castle's interior.

"Just at night during the month or so before autumn hits." he answered her as Erin placed her arm around his.

Erin looked around and began paying particular attention to some specks of pink, red, and purple dots that flew around the lake, "What are those?"

"Fireflies. On Arus their wings light up in different colors at night." Keith answered. "They come together toward the end of summer to search for a mate."

"So it's tonight?"

"No," he shook his head, "They begin the search for their perfect mate a couple of weeks before the first day of autumn. On the first autumn night, they choose their mate and that is the one they will matestay with for life."

Erin smiled, "That is so interesting and they all light up like that?"

"Yes, you should see it on that night. The sky is filled with fireflies everywhere; and they light up brightly."

Turning to him, she told him, "Must be beautiful here."

Keith nodded in approval. "Yes. In the summer, flowers bloom by the masses. It's like the planet becomes one huge garden. But my favorite time of the year on Arus is the winter. You should see the snowball fights Lance strategically plans every year for us." he told her smiling. "Last year, he tried to trick the princess. It was pretty fun, the look on his face when she got the better of him…priceless."

"How?" she asked probing him.

He looked at the lake, for a moment lost in thought, "Pidge managed to create a snowball gun. You know how the kid is. He's full of imagination. Anyway, when he heard Lance's plan to ambush the princess, he wrapped the gun as a gift and left it at the princess' room with a note that said she would need it to protect herself from the "trickster Red Lion pilot"." They both laughed at the name.

Keith continued speaking as he thought back, "The night of our outing, Lance excused himself, telling everyone that he needed to take a call from his family and would meet us later. Well, to make a long story short, when Lance was about to attack, Allura turned around and blasted him several times, making him fall over. He looked like a freaking snowman by the time she was done with him." he finished laughing gregariously.

"You sound like you had fun." Erin told him, looking into his eyes.

"She was cunning and ruthless." he answered with a small laugh, enjoying the recollection for a moment.

"You told Pidge to leave her the gun didn't you? Keith, I know you too well."

"But it was his idea to wrap it into a present." He winked at her.

At that moment, old feelings began to flush back into her. Without thinking, Erin turned and kissed him. He pulled back at first, but then slowly relaxed and allowed himself the small pleasure.

"I...I forgot to thank you for saving me." she She told him after she finished kissing him.

"That's your new way of thanking someone? Erin, if that's it, then I'd be glad to save you every night." He answered sheepishly.