Ilena was roused from her sleep when Noctis gently nudged her shoulder. She lifted her head and gave him a quzzical look. He pointed out the window to the Lucis skyline rushing past them. She looked past it to the airships in the distance. Nifleheim airships. She pursed her lips. Ilena knew her brother didn't enjoy the idea of a peace treaty with them, like she did as well. It wasn't that they didn't like peace; they didn't trust Nifleheim. Why would their enemies of so long propose a treaty when Lucis had just caught wind of rumors of military advancement? Their father was too trusting; he still believed in good faith.
They slowed for a checkpoint which they and their entourage of vehicles easily bypassed. The royal group was approaching the party/ball/event, whatever you wish to call it. It isn't a party, Ilena thought, everyone hates each other.
She sighed and shifted a bit. The dress she donned was uncomfortable. She hated dresses. She hated the make up. She hated looking like a stereotypical princess. Most of all, she hated political gatherings of this sort. Ilena wasn't much of a socialite and she always said or did the wrong thing. That's why having Gladiolus there would make it so much easier. Gladiolus always made things easier on her;he was her shield. It was true, as an Amicitia, he was supposed to guard both Ilena and Noctis, but the warrior's obvious partiallity to Ilena was evident. He was her best friend. She cared for all members of their little group though; Noctis, Gladiolus, Ignis, and Prompto. She loved them all.
Ilena hadn't even noticed that they'd arrived at their destination until her brother exited the car and her own door was opened for her. She got out and smoothed her dress. Her eyes met Gladiolus's and she flashed a smile, which he returned. One by one their posse gathered.
Ilena stuck with Noctis, them being the royal siblings and all. They entered the room proud and strong. One hundred pairs of eyes all turned to look at them at the same time. Ilena's stomach did a little flip.
Over the course of the night they separated and mingled as little as possible. You're going to get a few jackasses who can sense your awkwardness and prey upon it, but besides that the event had gone pretty well.
Ilena was currently standing, back against the wall, with her hands folded in front of her. She hoped she could just melt into the wall and diappear but she had no such luck. The princess of Lucis spotted the princess of Nifleheim draw near and she had to suppress a groan.
"Are you enjoying yourself princess Caelum?" Stella Nox Fleuret asked with a smile.
"Yes, very much so," I just love surrounding myself with foreign dignitaries who probably want to kill me and my whole family.
"You needn't lie, you look bored to tears. I've never had much tolerance for political parties myself,"
"Well, we all have to make it through them,"
Stella chuckled, "How do you cope?"
Usually me and Prompto do stupid shit together and hope no one notices. "I try to look as uninteresting as possible,"
Stella laughed for real that time. She excused herself, saying she wanted to catch Noctis as he went upstairs. Ilena watched as she followed after him. She smiled when she felt a familiar presence next to her.
"And what are you doing, sneaking up on people like that, you creeper?" Ilena turned to face her great-sword-wielding Amicitia.
"Coming to make sure you hadn't bailed like last time, princess," the last word he said with sarcasm and gently bumped her for good measure.
"I didn't bail I got lost," he laughed at her words. That infectious smile couldn't help but lighten Ilena's mood.
She leaned her head against him; an affectionate gesture that he gladly accepted. He loved that he was her closest friend. If there was ever anything wrong, Gladiolus was the first she would go to. Of course that left him with the messy job of explaining to her brother and father but it was worth it. He loved her. He had made his feelings apparent to the princess but while she accepted them, with open arms might I add, she didn't seem to return them except in small affections that were already the norm between them. Could it really be that she felt nothing for him? No. That was impossible, she had to feel something.
It was then that Gladiolus noticed that she had begun to lean on him more. He looked down (she was only 5'1'') and saw that Ilena was nearly asleep in his comforting presence.
"Come on missy, nap time's later," he nudged her so that her eyes opened fully.
"I'm so bored. Can we go home now?" she whined.
"Dance with me,"
"What?" she looked at him incredulously. He was the one that had taught her to dance in the first place but she knew he didn't really enjoy it very much.
"Come on, it'll help you wake up" he grabbed her hand and tugged her out in the middle of a few couples who were swaying to the soft music. He took her hand in his and placed his other hand at her waist while she put her free hand on his shoulder. It was a simple, formal slow dance that no one would think it was weird for a guard and princess to be doing. However, when he pulled her closer to him so that Ilena was almost pressed against him she was sure they were getting a few looks. Ilena didn't care; for the first time that night she was enjoying herself. They stared into each others' eyes, moving with the music, and she tried hard not to blush.
Her Gladiolus was a handsome man after all, with strong features and hazel eyes. Even the scar that marred his face only showed his fierce determination to protect her and her family. She'd become so dependent on his always being with her it honestly felt weird if the brute wasn't trailing behind her. She didn't have to be the perfect princess around Gladiolus; she could act stupid, make jokes, and play pranks with her friends(mostly with Prompto). In all truth they were all just a bunch of kids messing around whenever there wasn;t something 'royal' going on. Ilena had become so reliant, so attached to those times. And in almost every fond memory she had of those times, Gladiolus was by her side.
She loved every second of their dance, every second with him against her. She could feel his strength in his arms as they cradled her. Eveything was finally perfect. That is, until a Nifleheim airship crashed into the building.
