The Alliance Arrangement

Untitled Part 3

P.O.V. of Caitlin

"So, tell me, Sir Ronald, the man who can make fire, where are you from?" I ask, tilting my head with a smile when he looks confused at me, "I know you're not from around here. I would have recognized you."

He breaks into a small smile, "You're right, I'm from Starlaborotia and I'm only visiting the Kingdom of Frostfields for a short time."

"Oh?" I raise find myself pouting at the fact that he would not be here long. Wanting to keep talking I ask him, "What brings you here?"

Almost immediately he seems to sober up, and his mood turns a slight bit glum. "My father, he wishes to arrange a marriage for me here." He sighs sadly.

"I know how you must feel." I admit, my eyes downcast, "My own parents are doing the same for me." My shoulders droop just the slightest, "They had always told me I would be allowed to choose and now they are taking even that away. Going back on their word."

We wallow in our shared self-pity for a while until a snowball hits Ronald directly in the chest and we are startled out of it. "Oh dear!" I laugh as I look at the mischievously smiling children, "I think they would like us to take part in their snowball fight." In the middle of my laughter, mostly at the disbelieving look on his face, I find myself hit in the chest with a snowball as well and now it's his turn to laugh.

Laughing we work together, making our own snowballs and small wall to hide behind, gently throwing them. After the children, all tired out and the snowball fight has come to an end I turn to him, "Say, Ronald, do you have a place to stay? And someone to show you around the town?"

"I do have a place to stay, however I do not have an escort to show me the city."

"Why then, won't you allow me to show you around this lovely city?"

"I'd be delighted if you would show me your city." He offered me his arm and off we went.