Chapter 2

With no effort Eva got herself out of the dress, popped herself in her night clothes, and lied down in bed.

Today sure was one of those days that you become lazy. She absolutely did nothing exciting. Like most of days. Everyone is keeping an eye on you. And if you don't got guards, you were expected to tell exactly where you were going, with who, when you'll be back, what you will buy or eat.

Pff..

She would rather go somewhere whenever she wanted it. Live adventures. But no, if there is something dangerous here, a guard will protect her. She almost got used to it.

And she didn't want that.

With a sigh she tugged the blankets closer, as she realized she had let the window open. With a jump she got out of her bed again, and walked over to the window.

She leaned down a bit, as she watched at the grass-fields not very far from here. She can remember she run there, when she was little. Playing hide and seek with Aikka.

Sure, mom and dad know she had a close relationship with Aikka. But they don't really believe it when they say they're not in love with each other.

That's a parents job, always be worried. But the king knew how to solve it. Eva was soon 16, then it was legal to marry.

Her mother, the queen, thought different. Her husband has plans to arrange a wedding for her little girl. The queen herself would love it if she could choose someone.

But, then again.. the queen herself hasn't chose who to marry. It was already arranged before she knew it.

Not that she doesn't loves her husband. But there are 3 ways of loving. Loving your family, loving your soul mate, or loving your friend.

And this case.. well, it was between loving your friend and loving your family. Not real love. Maya knew that she would rather chose her husband herself, but she cant say she regret it. After all, she became a queen of a whole land!

She just wasn't sure Eva was going to give up her freedom.

Meanwhile, Eva shut the window just before she heard a whistle. She peeked her head out again. Aikka grinned up to her. "Making a late night Eve?" In his hands were a few robes, and a horse followed him.

"Not to late." She said grinning back. "Who's the beauty?"

"Our newest prize!" He said petting the horse on the head. "Her name is Kiona."

"Again?"

"Kiona."

"Super. Nice name. And she is meant to be for.." Eva questioned. Aikka smiled again. "For you mademoiselle! But she's pregnant, so you have to wait a little longer before you can first try her."

"How long?"

"I'm not quit sure, they didn't told me. But looks to her belly.. I think a few more weeks, till 2 months."

Eva was quiet for a second. "Are you going to sleep?" She asked softly. Aikka shook his head. "Nope, I'm not done with the stables yet, gotta clean them first."

"In this hour?"

"Orders."

Again she thought. "Okay, wait a second." Eva said. Aikka saw her disappearing from the window, and a few seconds later she appeared again. She smiled, as she opened her window further.

With ease she stepped on the rim of the walls, and climbed down by the help of a plant. The last step she almost fell, so Aikka left the horse alone to catch her, what wasn't necessary. This caused that he felt down with her on top. "Very smart idea Aikka." She laughed. Aikka smiled. "Cant blame me for trying."

They both got up again, and after Eva inspected the horse from wherever her beauty was, they walked over to the stables.

Molly made an incredible hard sound when Eva came in. Eva smiled. Luckily she didn't wore a dress like normal times. She just grabbed some easy clothes. The shirt was made of a dress that was to small for her. A scissors and Eva can do miracles. And the pants was made by a maid in the palace, not for her, but for her brother. She took it when he died. It was comfortable. And her hairs weren't in the normal way. (BTW: she has longer hairs then in OSR, and it's curly.) Normal way, meant that it was all fashioned up. Nope, it was tight up in a lose ponytail over her shoulder.

Aikka had to admit, she still looked stunning. Even without the glamour of her body.

"You do Molly's? She tries to kick me when I get in."

"Cause she don't want you to find our secret." Eva said winking. Aikka didn't bothered further, there were many things he didn't knew. And he was glad for it.

With a few stuff Eva opened the door, got in, and was attacked by a puppy-eye scene of Molly. "Dear lords, what have you done now…" Eva said when she saw it. Molly didn't respond. She just continued to watch. Eva understood where it was about. "You're so not getting something to eat." Okay, eyes were normal, as Eva walked in further, and started to clean.

Eva grinned, they were done. "Any idea of how late it is?"

"Well, to late for you. I thought you would be in your bed now, sleeping and have princess dreams."

"Like..?" she asked a bit suspicious.

"About me, of course." He said it like it was one of the most normal things in the world. Eva however, blushed. She soon got a grip on herself again, and responded. "And you're dreams?"

"Guess about what." Aikka said sneaky.

"About Lisionna." Aikka shuddered. Lisionna. It was the daughter of a friend of his mother. She was.. ugly. To say it in one word. And she liked him. While he tried to escape. Good luck Eva helped him once, she pretended that he was her boyfriend. And when Lisionna knew that Eva was a princess, and Aikka would be the next prince, to her thoughts, she never came back again. Of course that had something to do that they left to another country. Never she contacted. It was hilarious.

Eva smiled, she got him there. "I was thinking of another person." Aikka continued, looking straight forward. Eva grinned as she jumped for him, causing Aikka to turn from direction.

"Who?" She said giggling. Aikka didn't respond, he also closed his eyes. Eva punched him softly on the arm. "Who?!" She asked again. Aikka had reached his little house next to the stables, and opened the door already.

He wasn't prepared for the extra body weight. Eva nearly jumped him over, screaming. "WHO?!"

Aikka quickly covered her laughing mouth. "Idiot! They're gonna hear you!" This didn't stopped Eva's laughter.

With another sound, all blood drain of Eva's face, as she silenced immediately.

"Who's out there?"

It was one of the most-hated guards under the teens and kids. Lord Toros. He was a very big man, with very black hair, and very light eyes. Like a cat.

He was terrifying. She had nightmares of him when she was young. Sure she will be grounded if she was caught by him. Aikka quickly recovered his state as he pulled Eva inside, and pushed her right into the corner. "Stay there and be as quiet as possible." She nodded when she covered her mouth, making sure she wouldn't outburst in a laugh.

Aikka quickly made his clothes look like he had a dream. His hair got ruffled up to. A loud bonk came on his door. He ignored it first.

Then another bonk. Another ignore.

Then 2 bonks right behind each other. Aikka's voice turned sleepy. "Wai..t.." he said, as he made a sound like he just came out of his bed.

He opened the door, looking up. "Toros. What brings you here?" He said, rubbing his eyes.

"Someone here with you?"

"Well, I could use some company. But I'm not that lucky." He joked. Toros looked in his house a bit. It wasn't big. It had a bed, a kitchen. Aikka bathed in the palace.

"All right then. Good night."

"Night."

The door shut with a slam. Eva wait to come out till she was sure he wasn't there anymore.

"Eva?" She heard when she couldn't hear footsteps. Her hand raised. Another few seconds. The footsteps were back. That bastard. He doesn't trust him! But they faded away again. She came out. Aikka smiled. "Never trust a guard."

"THAT WAS AMAZING!" Eva practically yelled. But she made sure it wasn't loud to hear. Aikka grinned. Eva continued babbling. "You should join a theatre? What are you doing here?!" She regret that she said it.

She knew exactly why he was her.

"Forget that." Eva continued. Aikka shrugged. "No big." She smiled. Aikka blinked at her, and then mentioned to his bed. "I should go sleeping, gotta get up early tomorrow." He explained.

Eva nodded. "I will go then.." She felt that the silence that was there uncomfortable, but she shrugged it of with a wink. "Goodnight."

"Night."

A knock on the door. Silence. Another knock on the door. Another silence.

Again, the third knock knocked.

Eva sighed, got her head out of her pillow, opened her mouth..

"In."

The maid came in with her breakfast on a plate. Eva frowned. "Breakfast at bed. What are they up to?"

Ellie laughed. "Nothing, they ordered me to make lunch on bed for you."

"Lunch?" Eva asked, not quite awake. Then she widened her eyes. "Is it already afternoon?!"

She nodded. "You slept long, and when we tried to wake you, you threw your brush to me." She chuckled. "So we decided to let you sleep for another hour or 2."

"But why on bed?"

"The king and the queen are visiting one of their royal friends."

"Which?"

"They did not said."

Eva nodded, and dropped herself in her heavenly soft pillows again. Today was again a lazy day. Maybe she should go ride in the village, just looking around a bit.

After finishing the cleaning up in the stable of Dusty, Aikka took a deep breath. It was a hot day today, and working in the stables wasn't getting any better.

Aikka figured that the king and queen were gone, and no guard will come in here. Eva would probably gone with her parents. So he took his shirt off. Normally he was forbidden to do it, but hey, no one's around.

A cat walked by the stables, looking around a bit. The horses didn't care, there were allot of cats here.

Aikka also didn't mattered, as long as the cat didn't hurt the horses. A drip of sweat fell of his face, and he rubbed it with his hand.

He again grabbed his rake and started to push the hay out of Kiona's stable. Since he was to caught up in his work, he didn't heard the giggling behind him.

"You know you're defying one of the laws." A female voice said. Aikka quickly turned around, and sighed relieved. It was only Eva. It wasn't that bad, they'd swim together often.

Eva decided to make it a joke. "But hey, it's hot here.. for me it's 2 times."

Aikka blushed. "That's so unfair." Eva smiled. "Just put your shirt back on before I'll jump on you." She said with a devilish grin.

Aikka sighed and bowed for his shirt. In a second he got it on again.

"So.." Aikka said. "How's it?"