Princess Judith woke up one morning, seeing the snow still gently falling down, until her door knocked and in came in Lady Bellwether, a member of her parents' royal court even though Judith can remember Lady Bellwether giving her concerns about the princess's betrothal to Prince Nicholas but her parents were more worried for their kingdom to ignore them.

"Good morning, Your Highness." the sheep greeted.

"Lady Bellwether." Judith nodded her head in acknowledgement.

"Sir Gruff tells me that you haven't been paying attention to your lessons recently."

"He's thinks I'm not, but I really am." she moved her ears, "It's hard not to miss a word with these and his monotone voice."

The lady gave a slight chuckle knowing all too well about how boring the goat's lectures were.

Then another knock came at the door and a maid entered holding a platter with an envelope on it. She was a snow leopard as she smiled at the princess and said, "A letter from his royal highness, Prince Nicholas de Wilde."

Judith's face beamed while she didn't notice Bellwether's own face was wincing.

The rabbit wanted to snatch the letter right then and there but she had to keep calm and composed in present company, she told the maid, "Thank you." and took the envelope.

Once the maid was gone, Judith knew she had to wait for Lady Bellwether to leave before she could read the intimate letter.

"Was there anything else you needed?" she asked.

"Just making sure you're all right with this marriage happening, because it's not too late to get out of it if you don't want it."

"But I do want it, Lady Bellwether, and Nicholas and I both know how important this marriage is to our families, so I'm afraid it is too late to get out of it. As long as he doesn't change his mind, the wedding will happen."

"Understood." she curtsied, "Sorry to have bother you, Your Highness." and she left the room.

Once Judith knew she was gone, she wasted no time ripping opening the letter. She sat on her bed and read it.

I feel for you Carrots, in fact it didn't surprise me when you wrote about Sir Gruff making you write the same line a hundred times. An old goat like that wants mammals to listen to him even if is he's utterly boring… Trust me when I say you won't be the last rabbit in your family he makes to write lines. Though I am wondering why you daydreamed in the first place you're always so focused. Unless… was it me you dreaming about…?

Judith shook her head in amusement at how well he was able to guess that even though she could tell by the way he wrote that he was joking around. That's the amazing thing about knowing someone for over fifteen years. Even in a letter she could tell when the fox was teasing her. She kept on reading.

As for how my parents and I are doing, I am fine as I can be, but on occasion I have had daydreams about you and end up looking out the window wishing for summer to get here already so I can see you again.

Her heart was beating rapidly as she realized the same thing has happen to her. It made her so happy that Nick has done the same recently while they were miles apart.

My father on the other hand… has been unwell but I'm sure it's nothing serious, he'll be better before you know it. My mother is as loving as ever just by taking care of him. Sometimes I envy them. My father has got this wonderful queen and wife by his side and I find myself feeling alone because of that. Summer can't come soon enough! It's maddening!

She giggled, "I know the feeling…" she looked out the window again. To her it seemed summer was taking forever.

But until that time does come, just try harder to pay attention to Sir Gruff and not think about me, even though I know that's an impossible task…

"Oh, brother…" she smirked.

But I know you can do it, Judy… There's no one as focus and clever as you… all the more reason I can't wait for the day we get married… Forever your friend, Nick…

Judith couldn't contain herself anymore as she landed back on her bed and held the letter close to her chest with a dreamy gaze on her face. Memories of her and Nick were swimming in her head, from their first meeting to the one they had last summer.

*Seventeen Years Ago*

King Stuart and his queen were in the parlor with their seven-year-old daughter as they waited for King Piberius and Queen Annabelle to bring in their nine-year-old son, Nicholas. The kings and queens had met a few times to discuss the arrange marriage and now the betrotheds were meeting for the first time and the parents of both were a bit nervous.

Once the fox rulers set foot in the room, Judith was trying to see where her future husband was until she spotted him behind his mother's legs, obviously feeling shy. Judith herself stayed closed to her parents but she became intrigued with the fox as she went forward.

The fox queen gently nudged her son to go on. He slowly walked over to the bunny as she extended her paw.

"Hello! I'm Princess Judith." she smiled at him.

Nicholas stared at her until he took her paw, "I'm Prince Nicholas."

"Do you want to play?"

"Um…" he stared back at his parents who urged him to accept, he faced her again, "Okay."

She did a little jump of excitement and she went into a run while pulling him out of the room.

They went out into the royal gardens, as she was showing him around, she noticed her siblings were watching them at nearby windows. Nicholas noticed them too and they duck out of the view. He asked Judith.

"Are they scared of me?"

"Nah, they're just curious. After all it's not every day one of us has to marry a prince and a fox at that."

"Just so you know it wasn't my idea we get married in the future."

"I know that. It was our parents', I'm only getting married to you because I have to, just like you have to get married to me."

"And you're not upset?"

"Maybe a little…" she admitted, "I had always hoped I would find someone to fall in love with, but when I saw how scared my parents were during the famine, I was scared too. We weren't getting much to eat but our people were starving… I knew then I had to help my kingdom. Even if it means getting married to someone I don't love, so be it."

"I guess I'm getting married for my kingdom too… The war was scary, everyone was scared, even my own parents! They tried to be brave for me and our subjects but I heard things I wasn't supposed to… Then we lost the war and lost a lot of our land, but according to my father, if I marry you I can get new land for our people and more. I can tell my mother was upset they had to put me through this but they couldn't see any other way to help our kingdom. I promised to make them proud by going through this."

She smiled, "Well… even if we can't love each other we can always be best friends…"

"You-you want to be friends with me?"

"Of course I do! We are marrying in the future. We should at least get to know each other first!"

"It's just… I never had a friend before…"

She took his paw, "Well, now you do…" she smiled brightly at him.

He returned it with a half heartfelt smile. "Since we're friends now, can I call you… 'Carrots'?"

"Sure! And can I call you, 'Nick'?"

He smiled while nodding.

*Two Years Later*

Nine-year-old Judith was holding a wooden sword while she and Nicholas were playing in the gardens role playing as a knight and dragon.

"Back you vile dragon!" she said as Nick made a feeble roar. "I will slay thou foul beast!" she made a swooshing sound then Nick pretended to bite her and she made a dramatic scene, "Ah!" she found some raspberries on a bush and smashed them on her dress, "Blood! Blood!" she fell on the ground making gagging noises, then dramatically said, "And… death…" she stuck out her tongue and closed her eyes.

Nick just smirked, "You know you're just milking it…"

She grinned as she got up, "You know usually at this point the dragon would gobble up the knight."

"Not after that show, the dragon would have lost his appetite."

"Very funny." but she smiled nevertheless.

"So what do we do now?"

"I know…" she sneakily said, "Tag! You're it!" and she started running.

"Hey!" he called back and chased after her.

But as he was reaching close to tag her, his claws were close to her face and just as he was about to tap her, she gave out a, "Ow!"

Nick stopped dead his tracks realizing what he had done.

"Carrots… I'm so sorry… I didn't mean…"

She saw what he meant by looking in the garden pond they were near to. She touched her cheek where the scratches were. Then she looked at Nick's frighten face. She knew he didn't mean it. It was an accident.

She gave a small smile, "It's okay… you didn't mean to…"

Nick ended up staring at his claws he didn't think he was capable of hurting anyone especially Judy. He apologized again, "I'm sorry… I didn't want to hurt you…"

She came up to him and held his paws together as she had him look straight into her eyes. "It was an accident… I know you would never hurt me on purpose because you're my friend…"

"I'll be more careful next time, I promise…"

She smiled, "You will. I know you will."

*Five Years Later*

Fencing swords clashed as the princess and prince dueled on in the castle gymnasium. Captain Bogo of the Guard was watching on as he was their instructor.

"That's a poor form, Prince Nicholas."

"Come on, Captain, I'm doing the best I can!" he called out.

The captain turned to the bunny princess, "Normally, princesses are not allowed to fence, but I believe even a princess should have some way of protecting herself."

"And I am grateful, Captain. But it's hard to concentrate with you talking."

The fox and rabbit kept on dueling not realizing an audience of castle guards started watching them.

"You have got to be getting tired, Carrots."

"What… makes… you… say… that?!" she clashed hard on his sword with each word.

He clashed back hard, "There's no shame in calling it quits."

"Oh, yes there is!" she retorted.

More clashing happened as neither one of them was giving up so soon but they were slowly getting exhausted.

Bogo pointed out, "What you two can do is call it a draw since you're both evenly matched at this point."

One of the guards, Clawhauser was smiling at that statement and said, "They are, aren't they? It's no wonder why everyone in the castle thinks they should get married."

The royals stopped dueling at that moment but their swords were still touching as they stared at each other.

She said, "I will if you will."

"Draw?"

"Draw." she held her paw out and he shook it as they secretly thought they would defeat the other next time.

*Ten Years Later*

Judy was hiding up in a tree as she saw Nick was walking around making it seem he was looking for something.

"Now where, oh, where could my Carrots have gone…?"

A sheep gardener was passing by when he heard that, "Your carrots, Your Highness? I didn't think you like them."

"Oh, that's where you are wrong, good sir! I like Carrots very much!"

Judy rolled her eyes when she heard that. Making it seem that he was talking about the vegetable when it was she he meant.

The gardener just gave a shrug and went on to finish his chores.

"Well, I have just about looked everywhere else," Nick slumped against the tree that Judy was in, figuring she had to be there, "I guess I'll just sit here and wait until she decides to go to dinner. After all, even a princess needs to eat."

Trapped. If she revealed herself she would lose the game, but if she didn't, she would go hungry. She muttered in annoyance, "Clever fox…"

Nick was feeling smug about the whole thing. He wasn't going to admit defeat and knew that Judy wasn't going to stay up there forever, true, he could just end the game by telling her he found her, but to him this was way more fun.

Judy pondered at how she was going to get out of this, but then she carefully moved to the other side of the tree where she could easily get out without being seen by the fox. She took the leap but then the next thing she knew she was in someone's arms and looked up to see Nick smirking at her.

"Like I was going to let you get away that easily…"

"Argh!" she playfully slapped at him, "You knew I was in there all along!"

"Yes. Yes I did."

"You can put me down now."

"Now why would I want to do that?" he twitched his brow up.

She gave him a warning tone, "Nicholas, I will call my guards…"

He gave a sight chuckle and gently set her down, "Very well, Your Highness. But permit me to do something for you."

She gave a curious expression, "Such as?"

Slowly he revealed an amethyst ring from his pocket that sparkled when it came into view. She gave a surprised gasp.

"Oh, Nick… it's beautiful…"

He smiled at her, "Princess Judith Hoppson, we have been betrothed for about fifteen years now as it was our duty to fulfill our parents' wishes. But over the years, you became my best friend and companion so it would give me great pleasure if I could make the engagement more official. Will you marry me, Judy?"

She was in daze for a moment before shouting out, "Yes!"

That was all he needed to slip the ring on her finger.

She was in the classroom now and was staring out at the window seeing kids having fun in the snow and wished she could join them instead of being inside listening to Sir Gruff's arithmetic lesson.

"All triangles have three sides, and the relations between these sides are known as ratios. Trigonometry is the branch of mathematics that deals with the properties…"

Judith noticed that her brothers were having fun blowing peas at each other while their tutor was busy writing down the lesson, but once they saw he was turning back they quickly hid the pea shooters.

"Now who can give me one of the three secondary trigonometric ratios? Prince Fredrick?"

"Uh… contagent?"

"Correct. Who can name another?"

Princess Abigail raised her paw and replied, "Secant."

"Correct. And for the last one?"

No one raised their paws.

"Hmm… Princess Judith, perhaps you can give us the last one?"

Judy stiffened, she was so busy watching the window and her brothers she didn't hear what the last ratio was. She sucked in a breath and said, "Cosecant?"

Sir Gruff could only sigh in disappointment, "No, that's incorrect, the last ratio was hypotenuse." he went up to her desk, "I just don't understand how a brilliant mind such as yours, Princess, could be wasting away like this. It's vital you learn this as you will move away to a new kingdom after your wedding so you need all the teachings you can get."

"I'm sorry, Sir Gruff, but when you're apart from your best friend you can't help but feel lonely and want his company."

Abigail piped up, "She's actually quite lucky, Sir Gruff. Back when Mother and Father needed one of us to be part of the arrange marriage to Nicholas, none of us wanted to volunteer but Judith stepped right in. She was going to go through it no matter what and we were sad for her. But now… we realized just how foolish we've been."

Pauline nodded her head, "It's true, the way Nicholas treats Judith every time he comes here is so sweet and amazing, he showers her with attention and gifts that the sisters and I can't help but feel jealous toward her."

Judith was amaze at how her sisters felt about her fiancé. Back when they were young, they didn't want to come near Nick and her while they were playing, but now… her sisters were actually jealous of her!

I'll have to remember to write about this to him… how my sisters are finding him quite attractive… but then she cringed and quickly thought, Never mind, he doesn't need to know that…

This was her betrothed and future husband and she wasn't going to let anyone take him away from her.