Agatha waltzed through the ballroom watching the tall stranger, leading her many royal partners away from him. His charm couldn't be matched, it seemed downright wizardly, but that was what she was so worried about,
"Magic," Agatha sighed, Eadric snapped to attention, his hair long over due for a trim danced into his eyes,
"What did you say?!" His voice was harsh and he had a gleam in his eyes that scared her,
"Nothing, I just didn't recognize one of the guests, that's all,"
"Oh," his voice soffened but his grip on her waist tightened, "Alright,"
•••
Magic was what Agatha was so frantic about. Magic and those who practiced it had been eradicated from her father's kingdom shortly after her mothers death. Her father was certain that her death was the doing of magic, nothing the healer tried had curered her sicknesses. After three weeks of being held up in her room, Agatha's mother passed in child birth, taking the new born baby boy with her. King Bennet was torn apart so terribly that he took his anger and sadness out on the kingdom, ripping away all the magic that made it so strong and beautiful. He was so worried magic would continue to cause peril and grief to his life, fearing for his daughter's life, he took no short cuts in annihilating it and everything in relation.
•••
The music came to a stop and Agatha excused her self from the Prince, Eadric. Even though he was dashing, Agatha had decided that night that he was not right for her. When they were kids she loved to play with him when he and his father came to visit, but as he grew older Eadric became distant, growing cold and sarcastic.
As she skimmed over the crowed, looking for another partner for the next dance, she glimpsed the wizardly stranger, catching his spooky, gleaming eyes and holding his gaze. He turned, excusing himself, and started towards Agatha almost immediately,
"Good evening, Princess Agatha I presume?" His accent was foreign,
"Yes, and you are?"
"Aegeus Equoline," it may have been foreign, she wasn't sure, "care for a dance?" He offered his hand,
"Well, actually I have to b-" and before she could finish, the music bounced to life and he swept her into motion, gleefully and yet gracefully circling the dance floor. The entire time Agatha was entirely entranced with him. His hair was so black it seemed impossible. His eyes, ice blue, chipped to grey at the jagged edges, and he wouldn't stop smiling. He looked almost stupid. Except that too seemed impossible. He had a sense of wit about him and yet seemed rather severe and serious, but still kind. Agatha was, in every way enamored with the sight of him.
"Aegeus, where are you from? I've never seen you at the other parties my father has thrown, are you visiting family?"
"My dear, you may question all you like, but my answers will come as soon as... YOU CAN CATCH ME!" With that he took off laughing up the grand staircase to the second balcony, disrupting the many couples waltzing, annoyed with his childish behavior. Agatha was so shocked at first she froze, but the days of her childhood were well spent sprinting around, tagging the young stable boys and knights in training. That was not what Aegeus was betting on. He did not expect that even with Agatha's delayed reaction that she would be right on his heels, dress hiked up to the tops of her stockings, mischievous grin spread across her face, pushing him out into the night air of the roof top gardens, when he finally glanced back. Be it his shock of her speed, immediately wiping off his smirk, or an uneven stone, the next thing they both knew, Aegeus was pinned down, on his back by a Princess in a twenty pound green dress with wild brown curls and eyes like emeralds.
"You," He gasped for air, still smiling "win,"
"Good. I didn't want to have to beat you at arrows too, it is very unlady like," and with that she rolled off him onto the cold stones, crossing her legs and letting her dress pile up around her. Aegeus glanced at her and shook his head still smiling, while he righted himself and faced her,
"I grew up in the country side with my uncle and aunt. My father died when I was very young and my mother couldn't raise me and run our kingdom. She could have kept me in the castle and all, but she wanted me to get attention and a good education and to have friends. So I lived with my aunt and uncle in a small town where I went to a prestigious little school and made some friends. I visited her often, but it hasn't been until the last year that I have lived with her. Does that answer your questions?" He finished,
"Yes. Mostly. Except one... can you beat me to the dessert table?!" Agatha jumped up, running back inside and Aegeus groaned while he sprinted after her.
"Ha! I won!" Aegeus laughed, jabbing a finger at her,
"Only because you slid down the banister. You're lucky my father didn't see you, he would have been cross," Agatha folded her arms in front of her glaring,
"Hey, do you think he would be any happier that you were running around like a wild dog?" Agatha grabbed at his wrist, twisting it as she shoved him into a pillar with her arm jammed into his neck,
"Take. It. Back. Now," she was almost growling at him,
"I take it back! I take it back!!" She let go of him smirking, "I was only joking, I meant no disrespect, Princess,"
"Cut it out smart alec, my dad's just spotted us and if he starts talking he will never stop," Aegeus looked nervous, and as Agatha turned whispering "run," Aegeus was already gone.
