Blue.
All he could see was crystal blue.
A lazy white cloud floated against the clear blue sea above and the late spring breeze brushed against Ehren's small frame. He lay there in the courtyard, the lawn slightly overgrown as the blades tickled against his soft face. Usually the middle of the week was when the gardeners would cut the lawn, so Ehren couldn't help but take advantage of the almost 'wild' feature growing in the palace grounds.
"Ehreeeen!"
He lifted his dark head of hair up. Under the shade of the pavilion surrounded by a gaggle of handmaidens, a woman in an extravagant blue dress waved at him.
"Ehren!" the Queen called out to him. "There you are! Get off of the lawn! You are late!"
With that, Ehren groaned and threw his arms dramatically above his head. He rubbed his arms into the grass like as if he was making snow angels in the winter last. "Five more minutes?" he pleaded. "Please?"
Suddenly an older boy stood above him, the sun shone brightly behind the boy's golden mane. His brother grinned above him as he leaned forward and hoisted Ehren off the ground, "Up we go!"
Ehren giggled wildly as his brother threw him onto his shoulder like a sack of potatoes and spun around. Gregor's laugh was infectious as the two boys spun with Ehren's arms outstretched, free. He felt the blood rush to his head and his body weightless against the force of the wind. It was exhilarating.
"My Lords!" Lady Luise, their mother's most favoured handmaiden to the royal princes and the boys had affectionately named her Lulu, stormed over to them. She hiked her dress to her knees as she climbed through the long grass. "Enough!"
Gregor's laugh died down a little but the grin was still plastered to his face as he put his younger brother back onto the ground. They wobbled out of balance and fell back into the dirt. With one look at each other, the boys burst into a fit of giggles.
"Little Lords," Lulu scolded as she grabbed their arms and pulled them back onto their feet. "When your mother calls for you, you are to report to her immediately! Understood?"
Ehren felt Gregor's warm hand pat the top of his dark head of hair. "We understand," Gregor apologised. "We're sorry."
Lulu exhaled sharply and gave a nod, "Right then."
She turned around and led the way back to their mother waiting patiently under the pavilion. Gregor roughly brushed the grass out of Ehren's hair. "You've got grass all over you. Mother's going to be mad."
Ehren shook his head side to side, like the cat they had pranked by pouring a bucket of water on a few seasons ago, the loose blades floated down. The Queen pulled a disapproving frown.
"Ehren, look at you!" she exclaimed as she gestured to his clothes. "Your new clothes that Lady Luise made for you are filthy! My sweet child, you have to be more careful! You are a prince, not a common boy. A member of the Royal family should not behave in this manner!"
Ehren lowered his head and stared at his shoes, his cheeks flushed red. He didn't like it when he upset his mother. Gregor placed his hands protectively on his brother's smaller shoulders.
The Queen sighed, closed her eyes and opened them. This time, her expression was gentler. "I suppose there is not much we can do about it. Ehren, you were meant to meet Matron Hannelore ten minutes ago at the north garden. And Gregor," she addressed her eldest. "The Lord Commander has instructed for you to continue your squire training this afternoon. Now off you go. I expect you to both be bathed and dressed before supper tonight."
