Dylan was walking through the gardens, mind wandering. The princess had matured splendidly but this was more of a business trip than anything. Catching up with an old friend some and celebrating a birthday. He looks at the morning dew on the vast array of flowers, the sun not even above the treeline quite yet.

    A soft melody drifted through the air like a whisper on the breeze. the prince followed it to a large willow tree. Brushing past the branches, he finds Aura in a nightgown and hard-bottomed slippers, a blanket tucked around her frame and a sketch pad resting on her knee. She was humming a soft song as her pencil created a beautiful image on the paper.

   Aura shifts and hair falls in her face, hiding her eyes which he hadn't quite seen before then. Dylan steps forward and gently brushes the hair back, tucking it behind her ear. "You are a wonderful artist," he says softly.

   The princess jumps and looks up at him with wide turquoise orbs swirling with emotions. "Dylan! You gave me a terrible fright. You should not sneak up on a girl." She looks at her drawing pad and says "father only tolerates the art because it keeps me occupied, but nevermind that. Sit, what are you doing up so early?" Aura shifts over some on the stone bench where she was sitting to give him ample space.

   Dylan sits beside her and hums. "I could ask you the same thing princess, though I personally enjoy the fresh air in the mornings and the gardens here are magnificent." He looks at her and smiles. "What are you drawing?"

   "My mother's favorite place to visit. It's hard to remember all the details but I try." Aura closes the sketch pad and tucks the pencil into the sketchpad spine. "I miss having someone to talk to. I mean I can talk to Jarred, but it's not the same. I'm glad you came, it has been too long." 

   Dylan chuckles and looks at the branches of the willow tree, leaning back against the trunk of the tree. "It is wonderful to be back. I did miss being around the character of a little girl you were." He nudges her lightly with a smile.

   Aura laughs softly and pokes him lightly. "You were also a dork, and as far as I can tell that hasn't changed. But you at least were nice to me. The sons of some of the lords would pick on me when adults weren't around." She sighs slightly and closes her eyes. The fire flashes in her vision and she jumps, sitting up with a fearful look in her eyes for only a moment. "Well, I should get going, meet you in the library later." Quickly the princess hurries off, not looking back at him.

~+=+~

   Aura was sitting in a  hot bath, letting it soak away her stress. This morning was much more eventful than she planned. Dylan found her outside, in her nightclothes, singing and drawing. Something no one is supposed to see. It was very embarrassing, something very telling from the light blush still tinging hot cheeks. 

   She sinks further into the warm water blanketed in rose petals and pockets of bubbles. There was a knock at the door and then her personal maid and best friend came in chuckling. Willow was in her twenties and basically an older sister to Aura. "I heard someone had a little date with the prince this morning~" Willow teases, getting the princess's outfit for the day set out. 

   Aura groans and glares at her. "Don't remind me, it was absolutely embarrassing he found me like that. And it wasn't a date." She sighs and looks at the ceiling, studying the various grain patterns in the wood. "Do you think..."

   Willow smiles and nods. "I do, he seems quite infatuated with you despite the fact that he tries to insist he is just here to reconnect with a friend." The maid braids the princess' hair. "And he would treat you right, unlike most of these foreign suitors coming to win your hand. Thankfully you have the bloodright to the throne and since the start, the bloodright is the true ruler of the kingdom."

   Aura smiles slightly and stirs the water with a finger, imagining a possible future with Dylan. He was handsome and kind, and her thoughts would run wild while getting ready. She definitely could enjoy a future with her childhood friend.

~+=+~

   At the boarder of the kingdom, a black carriage rolled through the passage toll. Metal tinged like little bells as a man passed hollow marbles back and forth in his hands. His black eyes pierced those he looked at, observing from the shadows. 

   "My prince, your plan will work out perfectly, but I was informed of a slight hiccup." A general dressed in armor was talking to the man inside as his horse rode alongside the carriage. "The princess will be the rightful ruler of her kingdom if you marry her, it is by their laws. And we have spent all day studying for loopholes, but there are none." 

   The man looks to the general, chuckling. "That is the least of my concerns General, and you know this. So why are you informing me of this again?"

   The general looks forward and says "the prince who was destined to be betrothed to her has already arrived at the castle, and is getting along well with the princess. There is a possibility that you have some competition my lord."

   The man stops for a moment, the clinking of the marbles stopping. He processes this information them chuckles. "My father already almost destroyed their family once, and I will finish it. There are more ways then one to get rid of competition general." He smirks, looking at the invitation on the seat next to him. "Unbelievable really that this girl should fall for anyone but me. No woman has been able to resist my charms before. She will be my wife, bear my children, and in the end she will have an accident and I will rule the throne. The Netherlands will be ours."