Morning want as normal that day. Breakfast was the same; the tension in the air was thick. It perhaps wasn't the best circumstances but they weren't fighting. Oh, the fighting. Xander hated every minute of it. Just as he'd thought he had a new brother or sister to befriend something would happen. That had come to a halt at the very least. He could finally take the breath he held.
After the meal was done the crown prince headed for the door when his father's call stopped him in his tracks.
"Xander, we are going out today. Be at the gates in an hour." He explained stiffly.
"Where to?" the boy asked as he bounced on his heels. Father hadn't taken him anywhere in a long time. Not with the madness that swirled around the castle's court.
"You'll see. Now go." He responded. He didn't need to be told twice. He was going on a trip; that was all the motivation he needed.
An hour had passed and Xander found himself waiting for his father at the front gates with his advisor, Iago. There was something off about the advisor the blonde thought perhaps it was the unpleasant smirk that was permanently on his face, or perhaps it was the grease that clung to his hair. Either or, he was not someone to be in one's company. That the lordling knew as a fact. Don't make eye contact, don't breathe wrong. Anything could set him off. The mage could smell fear, the prince told himself. The king arrived not a moment too soon. Finally! They were beginning to leave. The further the better, even if it was only temporary.
The carriage ride was awkward. "The Sorcerer was to blame. He and Xander's father spoke of things that flew over Xander's head or didn't concern him." The boy settled on looking out the window at the passing scenery. The terrain passed quickly. The carriage pulled up to a building with a large tower. The building seemed to be in terrible condition. Cracks crept up the walls and shingles from the roof seemed too blown off in a storm at some point.
The door was opened by a butler and flanked by two maids. It was an odd place for castle staff to be. Where were they? What was so important to come to a decaying building with an odd placement of staff? The father and the mage were greeted by a man in ebon armor.
"Your highness, prince Xander, and Iago welcome. I take it you are here to check up on her?" The man greeted. The monarch answered with a simple grunt and gave his coat to one of the maids. The child followed suit.
"So, how is it? Has the rat been tolerable?" the advisor sneered.
"She's been good. She really is well behaved, more than expected from a child her age" the knight replied.
"Humph, a well behaved child is rare. Xander is one of the few exceptions to said rule" The king scoffed. He really thought that he was well behaved? It was becoming more and more uncommon for the king to say anything about his children, let alone a complement. Xander was thrilled.
The four came to the tower. They climbed the spiral staircase and came to the door. The ebon clad man opened it. The iron door squealed almost with either a delight or fear. Upon entering a small girl was seen sitting on the bed.
"Little one, can you come here for me please?" The caretaker asked the child. She perked up at the man's voice but visibly shrank when her wide eyes fell upon the sorcerer. Slowly she toddled over to the call and took the hand the knight held to her. Both the noble and his dog sneered. The mage circled around her. She clung to the old man. Upon closer inspection, Xander realized how small she really was. "Come" Garon walked to the door. "There are matters to discuss." The redhead looked to her warden with worry. He ruffled her hair gently and said something to her. The adults left the room. The children looked at each other nervously. Who was she? The prince knelt down to the girl's height.
"I am Xander, Prince of Nohr. I am pleased to make your acquaintance" the blonde introduced himself. The girl stretched her hand out to the boy nervously.
"Xander!" the boy's father called. He looked at her in disappointment.
"I, I have to go… I hope we can meet again..." He added before going to the door
"Sorry" The boy sighed. That didn't go as he'd hoped it would. How rude, he didn't even ask her name. Perhaps his father would know. He hurried down the stairs to the adults.
"What took you so long boy?" huffed Iago.
"I thought that I should introduce myself, isn't that the polite thing to do, father?" The lordling asked. Gunter wanted to say something but it died in his tongue.
"In most cases yes but in this case, the girl doesn't deserve it" the king responded. How could that be so? The girl that he'd just met was no more the five at the most. Not much older than Elise. How could she have possibly committed any sort of foul deed to have her cooped up in a tower?
"She is a daughter of the Hoshidan King who met his end this spring. I happened to be in Cheve at the time and I found the poor little thing stranded and alone. The king's men were in such a fuss over him, that when they left they must've forgotten her. I couldn't leave her there. I brought her back with me. However a daughter of the enemy is an enemy none the less, no matter how young she is." Garon explained.
"Is her stay only for a short time then?" The boy asked. He was going to reunite her with her family, right? The king only shook his head.
"What have I said about rebellions? To salt the earth before the seed can grow. This is no different" He hummed. But this was another person, not a plant or a rebellion.
"If she must be here then we will be friends. Me and the little princess" vowed the prince. The father sighed.
"Oh! And Father? What is her name?" the blonde replied.
"She is a prisoner! Our prisoner! Remember that boy!" snarled the mage.
"Iago, enough." The lord chastised his servant."Son, Her name is unknown to us and even if we knew it, we should use it. In time our enemies will come for her. She's ours now and we will mold her to our needs. The last thing we need is to be invaded. That would cause strain on the people. We can't have that, now can we Xander?" He eased his curious son.
"Yes papa, I understand" The boy replied. He didn't like it. He didn't have to. I wasn't his place to question his father. He has his reasons. To put the already struggling people of Nohr at risk all for one little princess would spell ruin. This left him with the same question. What were they going to call her? They couldn't continue to call her "Little Princess" forever. Besides, that was a mouthful to say every time.
"W-what should we call her then?" He asked again.
"I'll tell you what. If you can come up with something, that's what we'll call her." The man responded. Xander's eyes widened and he bounced on his heels in excitement. He was going on a quest! To find the most perfect name for his perfect princess! Iago looked to his king in sheer horror. He sputtered uselessly.
"When you come up with something, can you tell me? After all we wouldn't want to confuse the dear now would we" the knight asked the bouncy boy calmly. The prince nodded.
"Can I tell her?!" the boy asked his father. The king shook his head and merely replied
"We have to get home before dark. Besides why not surprise her?"
