The Royal Engagement

Chapter 14

Heavy drops pattered onto the lush green of the translucent leaves, before sliding gracefully to its tip and plopping onto Amy's head. It had come to a point where mere drops that occasionally fell from the make-shift leaf shelter above them had managed to drench her hair to its current strawy and unkept state.

They tried to top off another layer of leaves but, the leaves were far up on the high branches of trees that they'd have to unskilfully climb to reach – the slippery coating of rain didn't help support their amateur attempt to clamber onto higher heights either.

So, they were stuck under a small tent of sticks and leaves, shivering as they huddled together in their soaked attire. There was no fire to keep them warm, no food to give them energy nor any water to keep them conscious.

The fleeting first days filled with hope and determination of finding their way back home were quickly diminishing like the mighty flames of a fire under the power of a light shower that could soon turn into a ravaging storm.

Charlotte let out a shaky breath; accompanied by a small puff of hot breath as it mixed in with the cold air. It was the harsh winter winds of the north that crossed borders onto the tropical forests in the CottonCloud Federation to make the temperature turn cool and misty.

They had to constantly keep moving away; further south with the hope of stumbling into a town or search party to avoid freezing to death. But, at times like this, when the whether betrays them by making the conditions too risky and difficult to travel, they must do whatever they can to stay warm.

Amy groggily shifted her head to look upon the devastating sight of her friend: arms clutched tight enough around her legs for her nails to dig into her skin; face buried into her bent legs like a ball – everything to conserve as much body heat as she could.

Amy then took a scan of herself: comfortably wrapped in Charlotte's arm's coat, whilst she cuddled against her side to leach off her warmth...

Was it fair she always got special treatment from Charlotte? She didn't think so... It had always been in her right mind to return whatever favour Charlotte would give her, or let her share in the comfort...

But, what was she meant to do if she never allowed her to?

Amy sometimes thought Charlotte pitied her or thought of her as a damsel more than her friend – that she needed to be the knight to rescue her. It was nice to have a protector as strong as Charlotte by her side of course, but it comes to a point where their friendship began to lose the special meaning that roots from obligatory mutual exchange of actions to make each other happy. It was Amy that was always receiving and Charlotte always giving. It didn't feel like a friendship anymore...

All she felt was guilt and helplessness...

She couldn't even remember when Charlotte's obsession with keeping her safe and happy began. It just emerged from nowhere one day and she continued to do so without ever giving an in-depth reason as to why...

Once more, she reluctantly attempted drape some of the coat onto Charlotte's back as well. Maybe, her preoccupation with keeping warm might have her not notice? Of course, she should've known better that Charlotte; being the Princess of the CottonCloud Federation, was trained since birth to never be off-guard and always be aware of her surroundings...

Which, inevitably caused her to throw Amy a furious and intimidating glare as soon as she felt the lightest brush of the coat. "AMY! I SAID, I WAS FINE!" she snapped, her shrill voice echoing through the air. Even birds could be heard flapping away, frightened by the dangerous tone of her voice. Amy was no difference, taken aback by her friend's sharpness. She scooted away, dejected and nodded before letting the silence fill with the sound of raindrops again.