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[ To hell with studying. ]

Asriel lifted her upper half, propped by her arm. A long haired man, dark haired and dark eyed but tanned and well-built, stepped forward before giving one hell of a galant kneel before her. "Asriel," he murmured, looking up her as she was caught off suprise. She glanced at Alister before looking down at him. Cameron rose, giving a friendly smile. "You may not remember but," Cameron murmured lightly, staring at her clenched hand. The pocket knife ahd caught his eye and his smile grew bigger. He was a much more gentler, kindlier person in front of Asriel, his playful, almost flirtasious manner hidden by the dark depths of his smile. Asriel watched the trail of his eyes to her hand where she was gripping the knife. She looked up. "You!" It was the guard who gave her the knife! A sort of joy filled her, her face lighting up. "Thank you," she explaimed, bowing her head. Cameron gave a laugh. Royalty bowing to a mere knight; a funny prospect as that was for him.

Asriel was elated, more than happy to have such a companion. If it weren't for Alister's rather frail look, Asriel might've not noticed him but she did and quickly came close enough to put a hand on his forehead. "You're burning up," she whispered, her face now full of concern. She backed away, her hands sliding down his arms. She looked him in the eye, an apologetic expression on her face. "I'm sorry Alister," she murmured, squeezing his hands as she took them into her own. "I...It's all my fault. You're right, I'm just too stubborn. I wouldn't let anyone inside. I was scared I might be hurt and betrayed. I wasn't used to the kindness you showed me the week that I was here. And eventually, I just...snapped. I didn't want it; you trying to understand me, me having a happy life. I blamed it all on you and ran away." She squeezed his hands again. "I'm such a coward," she admitted, shrinking a little but decided to let out with it. "I only made matters worse for you and me and I know we could've been happy if I had only tried harder." She let go, glancing away before back at him with a somber smile. "My wings have already been torn Alister. What good is a bird if it cannot fly with damaged wings?" She summed up her breath. "I'm going back there. If I can't use my wings, I'll use my legs. And these legs weren't exactly made for running away." With that, she headed towards the castle, stopping to glance at Alister. "I mean, since whenever did I take the easy route anyways. Come on, we need to get you to the doctor," she stated. "Cameron, help Alister. We're headed back." It was a decision she was ready to make and she would walk forward with confidence.

Asriel gave a soft laugh and smiled. Alister, though as distant and controlling as he was, truly was dependent on the need of comfort. it was funny how someone so strong could look so fragile. Yet it only reminded her that Alister was clearly sick. She too had a slight fever but that would go away with time, she supposed. The trio entered the castle, though they quickly earned attention, much to Asriel's dissapointment. Asriel stayed close to Alister since he seemed to have said so himself, but it didn't stop the line of guards awaiting them. "Halt," one of them shouted. However, Alister's presence didn't stop them from grabbing Asriel's arm and tugging her away from the two. Cameron, though he wanted to be utterly careful, lifted Alister's arm off of him and stepped forward, sword unsheathed and in hand, pointed to the guards. "Don't lay a finger on her," he yelled. The guard was caugh by suprise but immediately had the other gang up on Cameron. The group in the hallway tussled for a bit, a whole lot of yelling and grunts heard until a hard tap on the stone floor with the king's septor. The group froze.

With a mere wave of his hand, the guards straightened themselves and backed up a long the walls, leaving the three in the middle. Cameron rose, after being beaten to the ground. Asriel stood there, watching as the man stepped forward gallantly, his presence releasing a most powerful aura, much different than the one when they were seated at dinner. Asriel's eyes widened, almost paralyzed by that piercing stare. "Come," he ordered, looking at Asriel. She paused and looked to Alister, who looked very sick by then. She desperately wanted to keep his promise; after the way he said it and looked at her so weakly, oh how Asriel wanted to keep by him. She looked dwon at the floor and shook her head. "Alister, I'm going to have to break our promise. But! I'll come back for sure. I won't break that promise. Trust me," she stated and walked past him. The king immediately turned and walked back down the hall, Asriel following in his shadow. She glanced behind her shoulder, watching Cameron's dumbfounded face and glanced back at Alister. She'd definately make sure she wouldn't break her promise, not wanting to dissapoint Alister.

Cameron didn't dare speak back tot hat man, he too was frozen. was it fear? cameron didn't know but his gut was full of displeasure. He glanced at the guards who said nothign but ooked down. Cameron then rushed forward, catching Alister and called for a doctor. Alister would be treated in their room and there he would rest. Cameron sat in a chair next to the door, in deep thought as Asriel was left to speak with the almighty King of North.

"Ho.....ey......on..." Was heard on the otherside of the door.

Asriel spoke quietly to Cameron as they spoke outside the door. After several minutes, Asriel entered. Alister seemed to be sleeping. That was a good sign. She sat next to him, watching his sleeping face. What the king had said shook her. Her face was pale. She gave a huff and buried her face in the sheets. Too much to handle... Asriel looked up at Alister and patted his shoulder before making the necessary preparations, avoiding many of the servants and setting up something suitable.

When Alister would awake, he would find himself laying in a carriage, his head in Asriel's lap as she looked out the small window. Cameron sat on the other side, kind of jealous but kept it to himself with an irritated look. Asriel's ocean blue eyes watched as the surroundings around her faded, her head propped up by her elbow which she situated on window. Alister was still getting better but he was well enough to travel the doctor informed her. And after what the king had told her, well, Asriel was eager to leave.

Asriel said nothing, still staring out the window. She looked deeply in thought, changed even, and remained like that for many moments. Cameron stared hard into Alister's eyes, as if he were unlocking a puzzle. The carriage was filled with a grim atmosphere then, as if this carriage were the ride to hell. However, Cameron pierced the silence with a small chuckle and a smile, leaning back in his seat. Asriel made no motion to move or speak. "We're going back to Eureka..." he commented, his face full of both relief and of satisfaction. Asriel finally moved then, lifting her chin and placing her hands in her lap. "Your father cleared up the misunderstanding," she murmured. She wouldn't tell Alister anything else of what his father said and though Asriel wanted to be utterly honest with him and tell him everything, she refrained from spilling. Even if she had to anger him or dissapoint him, she would refuse to tell him about it. She glanced up at him and gave a reassuring smile, as if to tell him everything was alright.

Cameron exchanged looks between the two before giving a slight rown. "Hey!" He crossed his arms, leaning back into his seat. "You forgot to tell him that we're going to Eureka for your honeymoon!"

[ I thought this would be a good way to give this rp a good little break from being overly dramatic. Sort of like comic relief before things get serious and action packed in the near future. ]

Asriel heard Alister's afterthought but said nothign about it. Much to Alister's dismay, it was Asriel who thought the idea of a honeymoon. But she'd leave it up to him to think what he wanted. The carriage stopped then and the carriage was quiet and still. Cameron gave a shrug and opened the door, getting out first. He stretched in the sun, a bit more comfortable on his own turf. Asriel had gotten out as well but didn't nearly feel as comfortable as Cameron. This place gave Asriel wretched memories.

The sun was hot in the southern country. The palace was not too far from the ocean, a mere half an hour walk from there, so the cool gusts of the ocean was soothing. The capital was large, the palace in the center of it, and was surrounded by rectangular shaped houses. They were taller around the middle and thinned out as one got farther from the palace walls. The capital was riddled with fine artisans and vendors, workers and entertainers, bustling with business and life. However, inside the walls of the palace, where the trio was currently located, the place was still if not for the beautiful women who roamed the halls. The castle was light and curved, crafted by the finest artisans. However, this was not the 'home' where Asriel lived. A dark, different looking tower hung to the side of the palace, tall and grim looking. Asriel refused to look at it.
Cameron walked forward, giving a small wave to the guards as the grand doors of the palace opened. Asriel stood still though, hesitating in going inside to meet that man. She looked to the floor, searching desperately for some sort of confidence.

Asriel jumped a little, finding that warmth in her hand in the form of a palm and fingers. Asriel looked at Alister who gave a look of reliance. She looked away before pulling her hand away. Though she trusted and liked Alister enough, after all that they've been through, Asriel still couldn't bring it in herself to be close to him just yet. She looked back at the grand doors that had opened especially for their arrival before retaking Alister's hand and pulling him along gently so that he wouldn't fall over. Coming back to the castle, well, she never thought of doing so. The what was supposed to be familiar region was as foreign to her as Demetria. The sun beat down on them so the shade that casted over Asriel when she neared the doors was soothing, giving her a little sense of reassurance of her being there. Alister's hand, though she'd deny it, helped a little as well.

Eventually they had entered, but in a place very unknown to Asriel. The ceiling was high and the castle was open. There were very few halls since the castle seemed to be very open and spaced. The palace consisted of several grand buildings, all connected together with bridges and coverings and the such. She looked to the right, in the general direction of the tower before a maid wafted them forward. However, the maid looked nothing of domesticity. Her clothes were sort of revealing, silks and filmy fabric covering her body. Her dark hair was bounded in a braid riddled with tropical flowers. Despite the beauty the palace contained, its atmosphere was nothing of the such.
"Ah, blue eyes...That must be the princess. But I thought she was married to..." The murmuring of the guards that hung around the place was intentionally whispered loudly so as to echo and rebound to the two. Asriel looked at Alister, disliking how the guards were speaking ill of him. By now, Asriel was used to it, ridiculed by them, but no, she didn't want to show Alister how humilating of a life she lived here.

She held a snarky grin, motioning them to climb a set of stairs. "The King said he'd liked to meet with you later. He has been informed of the prince's condition and recommended that he take rest before meeting. Until then, I shall lead you to our guest room." The maid had no sense of formality in her tone.

Asriel let the maid guide her for she didn't know the walkways of the place. It was disgracing to think she didn't and squeezed Alister's hand at the thought. "Wait..." Asriel stopped, looking at the maid who looked a little suprised at Asriel's outburst. "I'll show him to the room." She didn't look the maid in the eye and simply tugged Alister past her, walking down the strange hall. The guest room was this way...right? The maid gave a small laugh. "Stop dawdling around. The guest room is that way," she remarked, pointing the other way. She gave another laugh. "Could it be you have no sense of direction, dear princess?" Asriel shrank then, the servant's words haunting her. "Better yet, you know how to get back to your annex right? Why don't you two just use that room?" Asriel reddened and squeezed Alister's hand. Despite Asriel's stubborness and temper, Asriel could not find any words to say to the servant as she continued to laugh and humiliate Asriel. She pulled Alister away, down to the direction the maid had pointed. The maid's laughter faded as they went further. Asriel remained silent, walking ahead of Alister a little so that he couldn't look at her face. She remained silent and their walk was silent until an ajar door came into view. Asriel let go of Alister's hand and entered the guest room.

It was a large room, the bed to the right and a lounge to the left. There were wide, open windows, allowing the sea breeze to blow in and rustle the light curtains. A table riddled with fruit made the room seem more colorful. Asriel stepped forward, looking around before turning a little. "Is this suitable..." Her voice was a little faint but she told herself to remain firm. "Alister?" She finished in a more reaffirming tone.

[ Hmm... I was thinking wintery, medieval castle of the north and a sort of arabic, tropical palace of the south. The north would have claim to the mines, forests, and ores that riddled their territories, and the south would claim the coasts. So, you know, they'd be equal. ]

Asriel collapsed on the couch, putting her hands over her face as she breathed through her fingers. "I hadn't meant for it..." She muttered and peaked through her hands to see him still leaning against the door. She sat up, leaning over and plucking a grape from its vine, popped it into her mouth. "As you already know," she paused, leaning back into the couch, "I'm the shame of the royal family." She had already admitted it long ago to herself and had already hinted to Alister about how she lived in exile. "So the servants here treat me a bit different. But..." Asriel made a tight fist. "I...I never want them to..ever make you feel like you're an idiot...just because you're with me. You heard it, right? Though they didn't say it directly, they insult me in front of you like you are a victim or that you were foolish to ever be with me." She blushed, embarrassed. But what she said was true -- she wanted to protect Alister and have him live a happy life like he wanted to have in the first place.
Asriel calmed though, placing her hands into her lap, her hair falling over her shoulders as she looked at her knees. "My grandfather...is worse. But please, don't think wrongly of him...Or the servants and the people...Just...Please love my country. Passionately!" Asriel gave him a hard look.

[ Funny. Alister staring at the fruit and then looking at Asriel is just like begging for her to give him some grapes. Alister, you dog! ]

Alister was a strong person. She admired that a lot. She gave a hefty sigh and looked at him. "And here I was, worrying." She looked at the table laden with fruit, watching as Alister strugled to do the simplest of things. She took a handful of grapes and offered them to him. "But I guess it is. It'll be a good place to recover from your fever and from your wound." It was a pleasant time, sitting there. Sure, it was sort of akward but with Alister's words, she felt a bit more reassured. "You know...Alister," Asriel mumbled, looking up at him through her lashes. "I'm really thankful...Always...with such encouraging words never spoken to me before. And here you are so easily giving me the courage I need. I should've met you a long time ago!" She gave a faint smile, looking a bit happier in the end. Alister made her feel a bit comfortable in being in a place she was disliked so greatly.

Asriel didn't look him in the eye as she leaned a little bit closer to him like it was all so casual. She cleared her throat, looking up at Alister's face, at how he looked down at her so warmingly and was about to give what may have looked to him like a kiss before the door slammed open and Cameron popped in with no sense of boundaries. He seemed drunk as he squeezed himself inbetween the two. "Howdy, guys? You two enjoying yourselves?" He commented. Asriel pulled away quickly and stood, walking to the window. "Was.." Cameron laughed. "What did you say, princess?" Asriel said nothing. Cameron just laughed, making hismelf comfortable on the couch next to Alister.