Royal 5 Seconds of Summer Imagines

Royal!Ashton... kind of

http://5sosandwhatnotimagines.tumblr.com/post/127925104299/royal5sos-kind-of

"It's official. The wedding will be in June." My mother was informing me of the looming day. I was arranged to marry Calum Hood, the prince of Areton. Areton was the castle of our neighboring country.

It's a great honor, that I don't want.

The only reason I am to marry him is to ensure good trade relations and keep our people from war. Maybe I would care more if I had met him more than three times. But I haven't.

He is poised and nice, but I want something more.

I want late night talks, whispering sweet words into each other's ears, staring into each other's eyes. I want sneaking out in the middle of the night to watch the stars in the neighboring field. I want to scream at the top of my lungs. I want dancing in the streets with my hair down, flowing in the breeze and in the movement of the beat. I want lingering kisses, and soft touches on my skin.

I want to escape and never look back.

I never wanted my life to be planned out for me. I never got to choose anything. I want freedom and excitement. Instead, I am sitting in my room, with my hair in a tight bun. The woman I call my mother is now exiting my room. She is no more than a stranger like the people outside this castle.

...

I had a scarf covering my hair and a black trench coat on. I met Michael outside my bedroom who held a single bag. I quickly hugged him and offered him a smile. He was not pleased I was leaving, but he didn't try to stop me. After taking the bag from his hands, I quickly made my way to the main floor.

I memorised every guard's shift a long time ago. They patrol around the castle in intervals that change depending on the day. Being my curious and lonesome 8-year-old self, I started watching the guards at night. I knew a lot of them more than I knew my own parents, so it wasn't like they were going to send me away.

Nonetheless, I kept on my toes. This wasn't my first time sneaking out, but it was my first time not coming back.

...

It had been about a week since I had escaped when I met him.

I still covered my hair with my scarf, and I continued to cover up with my coat. I had been looking through the stands of food. I had bumped into him, dropping my basket like the clumsy person I was.

"I'm so sorry." I dropped to my knees and began picking up the scattered produce. What I hadn't expected was for the person who I had bumped into to help. I learned the people outside the castle walls were no friendlier than some of the people inside the castle walls.

I glanced up at the man bending down to pick up my food. His hazel eyes locked onto mine when everything was picked up. He had long, golden brown hair and he smiled as he offered his hand to me.

"Don't worry about it, it was a mistake." We both stood up, and his hand lingered on mine before he let go. I smiled back at him. His wide grin was quite contagious, and I couldn't help but introduce myself. Of course, I wouldn't give away who I was.

"I'm Y/n. I'm new to the city." No royal last name and not a lie. I have not been allowed outside of the castle walls.

"I'm Ashton, it's nice to meet you."

And that was the start. I continuously came back to that same strip of stands. I was in search of a job. I had a good bit of money due to my savings, but I did not want to use up everything I had.

I saw him working in a stand a couple stands down from me. He was talking to a customer and showing them an item. I smiled to myself at his arm motions and his unforgettable smile. He really had the customer intrigued. They ended up buying whatever he had in his hand and went on their way.

I finished talking to the owner of the stand I was currently in front of. I was looking about working there. I then made my way over to Ashton's stand. When he looked up, I could see he remembered me.

He smiled as he walked over to me, wiping his hands on a rag. "Hello stranger. What brings you here?"

...

It wasn't long before we arranged to hang out. He took me to jousts, and we walked around the town. I can't remember ever laughing as hard as I do when I am with him.

It is so different than my life would have been with Calum. It has been months since my disappearance. Nobody knew where I was.

Except Ashton.

I trusted him not to tell. So I decided it was time to tell him.

I remembered his eyebrows raising slightly as I told him. I told the entire story, and I could see a little disbelief at first. He wasn't a fool. He had read the papers and the missing person reports. The girl drawn on them looked close to how I do. He believed me.

And the best part, was nothing changed. He smiled and nodded his head. He was glad I told him and understood why I hadn't told him before. He didn't treat me any differently.

It had brought us closer.

...

I look back on everything with a smile. I can't believe everything has worked out the way it has. I wouldn't change a thing.

It has been years since I escaped the castle. Ashton and I were married with a kid on the way. The only person I have stayed in touch with from my past life is Michael. He has found a way out of working in the castle as well. Last I wrote to him, he had a girl of his own.

Someone from the outside looking in might not see the story as a perfect fairy tale ending. The princess did not end up with the prince. But is that what every girl really dreams of?

I don't.

I dream of the feeling I have when Ashton holds my hand. He leans in and kisses me slowly, savoring the moment and making it special. I don't forget the little things and I cherish the time we have together. We don't live in a large castle with too many rooms to count.

We don't need that. We have each other and as cheesy as it sounds, that is all we need. And with a new family member on the way, nothing could be better at the moment.