The Misplaced Prince[COMPLETE]

Peace...for now

"Where are you taking us?"

Joshua didn't answer, leading Kasey and Dick through a less trod path out of the castle. She exchanged a look with Dick, who shrugged, before returning her eyes to Joshua, letting them run over his length as he walked ahead of them. She sighed in sheer visual pleasure, grinning unrepentantly when he turned to catch her staring avidly. A wicked smile flashed in response.

His already elegantly trim physique had given way to muscles the more intensively he trained with Shrader and the rest of the soldiers, imparting a lithe ruthlessness to his every movement. Added to that was his increasing proficiency with magic as Ventus worked both him and Dick to the bone, and there was a new magnetism to the Prince that hadn't been there before.

Overhead sconces flared magically to life as they followed Joshua through a narrow corridor built specifically to allow royals and officials to pass through undetected, and they emerged long moments later on ground further from the rest of the castle. Joshua led them to a distant hut, one of the many on the outskirts of the castle for occupation of various games keepers and gardeners, and knocked on it purposefully.

Kasey's brows rose when a young, rosy cheeked maid opened the door, already expecting Joshua. She held a handful of wildflowers bound in a hasty bouquet.

"Is it done?" Joshua grinned, and she immediately blushed, answering in effusive affirmatives, absolutely moon eyed. Kasey shared an amused look with Dick.

The Prince didn't seem to realize the effect he had on people. Joshua was still convinced that Kasey was the key to him being a good ruler, but he appeared to possess something that had made all Kohls' before him wildly popular with the people. A silent confidence, and easy charm while talking to people that made them trust him. In the past two months he had worked to integrate himself within the new world, listening and observing everything in his path with keen absorption, and everyone adored him for it, flourishing under his attention.

She selfishly envied them for his presence, his smiles. So much of his time for the past two months had been divided between learning the realm and his training with the soldiers and Ventus. The remainder of it he had dedicated--understandably--to figuring out a way to find Tony, whose disappearance still weighted like a heavy stone in her heart. The three Sanchez's went from libraries to shamans to old cities to find clues, so far to no avail, and often at night Joshua fell asleep with his head in a book, weary after a long day.

That he did it in her arms kept her from aching with longing for him. The times were tough, but one day they would be better...and she would have Joshua all to herself. She could wait.

She was surprised out of her reverie when Joshua turned to her, ushering her in the hut. Bemused, she turned to him questioningly at the doorway, but instead of explaining he extracted a wildflower from the bouquet, tucking the white bloom in her flaming hair. A roguish grin appeared his face.

"What's going on?" Kasey demanded, spying a bunch of women inside eying her disturbingly critically. Her eyes fell on a white dress lying upon a bed, and she shot Joshua a wide eyed look, "Joshua?" she ignored the startled gasps of the women to have their Prince addressed to informally. He would always be Joshua to her.

"You'll see. And hopefully...you won't kill me."

Joshua left Kasey gaping at him from the cottage, taking a snorting Dick with him to a different direction.

"Only you," Dick chuckled, "would spring an unexpected wedding on Kasey."

"I'm hoping a grand wedding hasn't been her dream since childhood."

"Likely not." Dick laughed.

Joshua considered it, "Well, she'll have that too. But for now...we'll make do with a hasty one."