forum Kingdoms and crowns - oxo - romance

Started August 18, 2021 by @CaseyJ group

tune

"Nothing at the moment, if I think of anything else I will send for you" The King nodded.

"Very well. I will take my leave. Good day, Your Majesty." Fiel bowed and retreated from the room. He was pleased with the way the discussion had gone, but now he was ready to find Prince Lukas again. He set off down the hall, headed for the library where Lukas had said he would wait.

Lukas was sitting in the library with his head on the desk, asleep. He had a book in front of him, his journal, and had been writing in it, the journal was open and visible to anyone who walked by.

Fiel came in quietly, not seeing anyone in the room except Lukas, who seemed to be asleep. He approached, unsure whether to disturb the young man, and completely without thinking he glanced down at the words on the pages of the open journal.

The journal page was a spill on Fiel, and his kingdom. It was disorganized at best, but generally had a description of Fiel, one saying that he was attractive and such. It had a sketch of Fiel and his wings.

Fiel's eyes widened and he immediately felt both embarrassed, and ashamed for reading Lukas's private journal. He didn't really know what to think about the way Lukas had described him as attractive, but he couldn't just ask about it…..then he'd have to admit he'd been snooping. So he stood at Lukas's side in distress, totally lost on what to do.
Finally, he decided to pretend he'd only just walked in and stepped back a few paces. He coughed gently, trying to get Lukas's attention.

Lukas mumbled something before putting his chin on his hands and slowly opening his eyes, "I was dreaming, it was very nice and-" He realized who he was talking to and stopped, blushing slightly. He picked up his journal and put it back on the shelve between random books. "um..anyway, how did it go?" He faced Fiel.

Fiel sat down across from him, determinedly not mentioning the book or the blush. "It went very well. Your father says I'm welcome here and he wants to accept the alliance my kingdom offered him. My mother will be very happy to hear it." He let out a breath—he hadn't realized how nervous he was until the meeting was over. "Now, it seems I'm free to remain here for a while until I have the strength to fly back home. Perhaps a few days, if that is not too much of a bother."

"well it does not bother me" Lukas smiled slightly, "I kinda hope you don't have to leave soon. I mean, you are a very interesting person..not uh..nevermind" He said quickly. "um, what do you want to do?"

Fiel gave Lukas an oddly piercing look, but not an unkind one. The truth was, he'd taken a liking to Lukas from the first moment he'd seen him. Something about his decidedly not-regal way of acting and speaking made Fiel feel calm and at-ease, and it intrigued him. He'd been to one or two kingdoms already, and none of the royals his age had been nearly as friendly.
So, he smiled back at the young man. "I was wondering if you had any gardens or woods here by the castle?" he asked. "I think I could really use some fresh air and a little walk. Would you show me around a bit?"

Lukas nodded, silent for a moment, "Yeah, we have a garden right near the woods actually," He said standing up. He stretched with a yawn, walking towards the door. And leading Fiel out to the garden.

(I'm here now! I had to be at work this morning, shoulda warned ya)
Fiel walked after him, taking a deep breath of the fresh, warm air. "The weather is so calm here. Is it always like this? What kinds of seasons do you have?"

"Uh average ones, no extreme weather, it's…nice" Lukas smiled as he walked into the garden, it had rows of flowers and bushes and trees, and a small section that had stones with words in a strange language in a circle. Lukas walked over to a rose bush and ran his fingers gently over the flowers, "it is very calming out here. I think my father has forgotten it exists" he sighed.

"Well, I feel rather sorry for him then," Fiel remarked, inhaling the smell of roses. "He's missing out. This garden is like the ones we have back home, but with different plants. It's wonderful. Do you think I'd be allowed to take some seeds back with me, when I leave? My older brother would be thrilled to try growing them."

"Yeah sure, I mean we can talk to the gardener about getting seeds, he probably has plenty" Lukas smiled. "I love it out here, not as much as in the library, but it can get a bit stuffy in there after a while, so this is a great place to take a good book and read under the shade of the trees" he sighed happily, looking at the roses.

"I can imagine. I prefer being outdoors myself, even in our palace where most of the windows don't have glass and many rooms don't have roofs. I like being able to see what's around me, if that makes sense." It was so warm and sunny that he unbuttoned his dark blue jacket and shrugged it off, then rolled up the sleeves of the white shirt underneath. He wished he'd brought a cooler change of clothes…..he hadn't known what to pack when he set off from home. "What season is it now? Is this summer?"

Lukas looked at Fiel for a moment before blinking, "Well, it is almost summer, it is very late spring, which is why the flowers are so beautiful" He picked a rose and handed it to Fiel not thinking about it. "It is probably going to get warmer in the coming weeks".

Fiel accepted the flower in confusion and nodded, admiring the delicate petals. "I see. I'm sure I'll manage…..I'm just not very accustomed to a climate with no cold sea winds. It doesn't help that Tarilonans naturally have a high body temperature because our metabolism is so fast." He suddenly worried that he might sound like he was complaining and glanced at Lukas apologetically. "It's nothing, of course. I just thought I'd explain in case you notice I don't seem to feel the cold."

"that is interesting" Lukas smiled and started walking again, towards the trees so that they would be in the shade, "I like the cold more, it is better weather for … hugging. Or being close to others, when it is hot no one wants to be touched." He shrugged.

That's an odd thing to say, Fiel thought to himself, then paused. Or maybe he's just lonely…..I would be too, in his situation.
"I suppose you're right," he said aloud, joining Lukas under the tree. "I'm sorry, Lukas, but can I ask you something?"

"go ahead," He said picking at the bark on the tree, not sure what Fiel wanted to ask him, but not worried about it.

Fiel chose his words thoughtfully. "I'm starting to understand that it isn't your favorite thing to talk about, but…..do you have any other family? Or perhaps good friends? I admit I've barely talked with you for an hour, but to me your life here seems…..rather isolated And if I may say so, rather unhappy as well. Is that true?"

Lukas frowned slightly, more so to himself, "the servants… they are my friends…I think…" he muttered, sitting down. "I don't have any other family, just my mother and father." He sighed, leaning his head against the tree and closing his eyes.

Fiel couldn't imagine having no brothers or sisters. He himself had eight, and many relative of one kind or another. The thought of bearing his royal responsibilities all by himself, without even the love and support of his parents, was enough to put a twinge in his heart.
"I've met your father now," he said softly. "What is your mother like? Does she ever come out here to the garden?"