When Winter was first born, it was bound for them to be the best of friends.
Both of their fathers-Evret & Garrison were guards in the palace and were very great friends. Jacin was only two when Winter was born.
And boy did those two have a blast.
Winter was always the one who initiated games, and was the one that pumped Jacin to be excited with her. You could've easily said that opposites indeed did attract, because even at a young age Jacin was the more serious one while Winter was the bubbly & cheerful one.
"Trouble, what have you got us into now?"
Winter as always shrugs yet giggles at this, pushing his shoulder playfully. "Nothing Jacin," she would say in a sing-songy way.
When Princess Selene was deemed dead, Jacin took the comforting role with Winter. Granted, he himself was upset by the news but Jacin never really was one to express his feelings, at age seven and Winter being five, he already took on these traits as being a protector of Winter.
Winter cried so hard, for a whole week straight. And when her father was on duty, Jacin was always there to keep her company, to comfort her when she needed it the most, and made sure she was alright.
There were times when Jacin was holding her little form in his small embrace, knowing very well that words wouldn't be the key to calming her, but his very presence alone. He would stroke her curly, black hair without hesitance, and when she felt well again they would proceed with their little games around the palace, whether it'd be hide-and-seek, tag, or Winter's favorite and to Jacin's dread, dress-up.
"Why do I have to be a knight trouble?" the ten-year old boy asks.
"Because," an eight year old Winter stomps her foot, "you're supposed to rescue me from the dragon! Oh no, please my knight and shining armor, come save me!" she gasps.
Jacin would play the role without questioning her, enjoying himself also but would never admit to it. He would swipe his sword towards the imaginary dragon in her room. "My princess, I've found you, you're free again!"
"Oh my knight," Winter would say dramatically, "you saved me!"
But what was different about this game of dress-up was when Winter decided to wrap her arms around Jacin's neck, and Jacin would wrap his around her waist, and they would lean in for a play kiss until-
Winter pressed her finger against Jacin's lips, "we have to wait until we get married." Winter winked at him.
Jacin took into account how her voice became serious when she said that, not joking, and although he couldn't say it for Winter, he could sure say it for himself that that was the day he started to fall in love with this certain princess.
His princess.