The Dragon and His Prince{ManxMan}

*Chapter 23

Marius

The palace was tense.  With the king on the mood of the century and the Prince matching due to their butting heads, nobody was safe. Not even I.

"How long do you think it'll last?" Zyandra panted on her back on the sparing grounds.

"Zavian seems triggered, the king hit a nerve with his blatant disregard for the wrong lord Greene is doing."

"Really? You don't think it's the whole 'he won't have this crown' bit?" I chuckled as she looked at me.

"Zavian is more worried about a world yet to be as free as a bird than being king, he does however recognize that being king makes it easier." She nodded and sat up.

While I had caught her up on what had happened on our trip to Pilgra the girl had yet to share how her time without us had been. I tilted my head as I studied her heave.

"I have news." I smirked.

"Go on."

"I am engaged." I coughed the water I sipped from the mug, my eyes wide.

"What?"

"Mother arranged it, while you were gone, she had the de Beville family visit, I'm engaged to be wed early next year." She frowned.

"Oh, Zy..."

"What will I do?" Her eyes reddened and shone, I knelt beside her then and hugged her. "I don't want to be married. I can't be a wife," she shook her head. "Not yet."

I sighed then realising her manner had made so much sense. From the moment we had arrived, her seemingly closed off nature, she hadn't been eagerly waiting with questions and smiles, even now as we engaged in the sword dance, she hadn't put her all. She had...given up.

She sobbed then and I shushed her, feeling sad for the free spirited young girl I thought of as my own.

My riding had gotten better but she was still ahead of me despite our year difference. The girl raced across the fueled with a smile on her face, she lowered her chest, allowing her horse to pick up speed and she giggled with glee.

"She will be the death of me." I looked down at the prince who watched his sister with a soft smile. He had grown over the few years, taller and more muscled despite only being 14. He looked up at me, his cornflower blue eyes lit with glee only I could see.

To the worth he was stoic and reserved, unapproachable but to me, I saw it all, the feelings of anger, the angst and just as much happiness. He narrowed his eyes and I felt myself flush before hoping off the horse. I brushed through his main then and watched the prince walk off.

I followed close behind blissfully, enjoying the fresh outdoor air. Over the last 4 years I had grown used to my role here in the castle, my role beside the prince. It was easy because he let me do what I want as long as I stayed out of trouble. It took a long time, close to a year before I stopped flinching when he raised a hand to scratch his head to take a leaf off my hair. It was hard but I was glad he kept me despite my unease.

We came to a stop near a clearing, beyond it lay the vast green earth, spread out beautifully and around this time, spring, small bright flowers were beginning to emerge from the ground like magic.