Caught In A Storm

Chapter I

" Prince Adrien, I told you we had to seek shelter earlier. Now it's snowing, and the hotels are on the opposite side of the city, we won't make it in time before the snow storm! Your father, the king, will kill me when his Majesty learns, you died frozen! Arghhhh I..." stated Nino, the valet of Prince Adrien as he started to panic.

"Nino! Stop worrying! If I'm going to die, you too. Father won't have the possibility to kill you." Adrien said casually, joking eventhough he was starting to freeze.

"Thank you Prince it surely is reassuring!" Nino responded sarcastically as he readjusted his glasses on top of his nose. His glasses kept wanting to fall off his nose. the snow was accumulating on them as well as fog making it nearly impossible to see anything.

"Look, there is a stall over there! Let's gather our horses and stay there until the storm has stopped." Adrien ordered.

They walked under the heavy falling snow towards the stall. Both sighed in relief as they discovered the warmth inside. The stall was small, there already was a white horse inside, which appeared to be unphased by the visitors and kept munching something. Adrien and Nino made their way inside with their horses. Their heavy winter coats were covered in a thick layer of pure white snow, they quickly got rid of the heavy wet clothes. Nino found some old blankets in a trunk and each one curled up in one of them. 

After eating everything they had left, they decided to take a nap, while the storm calmed down. They were exhausted from the turn of this day. They hadn't slept well for a few days now, the weather getting colder and colder. Even if it wasn't as comfirtable as home, Prince Adrien felt much better here than anywhere else.

Adrien woke up with the sound of a sliding door and light footsteps. His body willed him to fall back asleep and ignore the unknown sound.

Probably Nino anyway...

"I'm so sorry Tikki, I completely forgot to give you something to eat! I was so busy at the bakery. With Maman and Papa gone, I totally forgot. Here I brought you a cookie, your favourite. Let's get you more to eat... Aaaaaaahhhhh!"

Nino and Adrien bolted right up quickly at the young girl's scream. She instantly grabbed a nearby shovel and presented it menacingly to both young men.

"W-What are you doing here? What are you doing in my stall?" She tried to ask menancigly, but it came out with a slight tone of fear as she gripped the shovel tighter in her small, gloved-covered hands.

Nino slowly made his way in front of Adrien to fulfil his duty to protect him (even from furious/scared girls) and calmly explained:

"The snow storm caught us by surprise, we are extremely sorry. We are not here to steal your horse or your supplies; we are just waiting for the end of the storm."

Suddenly feeling like she overreacted, the young girl didn't know how to respond. 

"Oh! U-Umm I-I'm sorry, I should have known- I just walked here and felt the storm- umm- saw the storm-uuh...". She scratched her arm sheepishly.

"Don't be sorry, I would have had the same reaction." Nino stated.

An awkward silence began. Nobody knew what they were supposed to do or say in this particular situation. They stood awkwardly staring at each other, waiting for someone to raise their voice and say something. What better way to start a conversation than to talk about the weather?

"W-well you might as well get comfy; I heard the storm will last long...well it was like that at least last year..."

As if on cue, the men's' stomach began to gurgle. The girl started to quietly giggle quietly behind her hand.

"Come with me, I think you will be better in a real house than with the horses."

She started to walk out, and Adrien and Nino had to run to catch up with her.