I awoke to the tingle of something tracing patterns on my back and my pillow moving up and down as if it were breathing. I glanced around me and then up into Aiden's eyes, he was smiling. It was then that I realized I was laying on him and not my pillow. I felt myself starting to blush.

"Good morning, Ari." He said, kissing my forehead.

"Good morning, Aiden." I said shyly.

I saw the sun as already very high in the sky; it was much later than when I normally woke up.

"Aiden, what time is it?"

"Around 10 I would say, why?"

"Oh it's nothing. I just don't normally get up this late. I was planning on taking the whole day to explore."

"It's not very late, you can still explore today."

"I suppose. I'm just wondering why Alicia didn't wake me." I said, still confused.

"I asked her not to, I thought you would like to sleep some more. Are you very disappointed?" He asked, seeming somewhat embarrassed.

"No, I'm not disappointed. I'm very glad I got to sleep late, I haven't slept much in the past few months." Oops, did I just hint to my husband that I didn't want to marry him? And that I hadn't been sleeping because of it?

"I understand, I didn't sleep much either before you came." He said, picking up a lock of my hair and twirling it in his fingers.

"Well then, I guess it's a good thing we both sleep late." I said, trying to lighten the mood.

"I've been awake for hours; you're very pretty when you sleep, by the way." He said nonchalantly.

I blushed and ducked my head, "Thank you."

"Well since my wife slept so late I'll call for breakfast to be brought here for us. Would you like to go riding after breakfast?"

"Yes, that would be nice." I said as I got up to go to my dressing room to change.

"As I recall from my mother's attempt at designing your wardrobe, there should be a very pretty green riding outfit. It would please her if you wore it today."

"Perfect. I love green." As I said this Aiden laughed.

"Good, then you'll love the gown she's designed for our first ball together. Although the outfit I am to wear to match it is a bit off, I think." He said, still chuckling under his breath.

"I'm sure it's fine, your mother has wonderful taste."

"Ah, you defend her. Must be another reason she chose you." I laughed knowingly at this. I hoped Aiden would tell me the truth soon; I wanted to know everything about why I was here. And I couldn't keep secrets for long. I had once told my sister that one of my playmates wished to court her, even after I had taken an oath not to. He wouldn't talk to me for a week; that was the longest week of my life.

Alicia was there to help me into my riding outfit and to fix my hair. She was intending to braid it and then put it into a bun, but I asked her to leave it hanging loose.

When I was changed and my hair done I went back into the bedroom, here Aiden was sitting at the table where we had had tea the other night. He stood when I entered and I saw that he too was wearing a riding outfit, a green one that matched mine.

"We match."

"Yes," he said laughing, "Mother also likes to match outfits, and Father is always saying she takes too much joy out of being the same as her husband. To which she replies that it is her outfits that his are fashioned to match."

I laughed and went to take a seat at the table. Aiden poured my tea and then his. We ate and talked and laughed for a while and then Aiden stood, offering me his arm.

"Ready to go for our ride, my dear?"

"Yes, let's go." I said, taking his arm.

He escorted me to the stables, pointing out where certain things were and where the castle grounds ended. We entered the stables and two, already saddled horses, were waiting for us. One, a beige horse, and the other, a black horse. Aiden helped me onto the beige horse and then mounted the black horse.

"Is there anywhere you would like to go?"

"I noticed a lake yesterday, could we go there?"

"Yes, we can go there if you wish. Do you like the horse, her name is Jovi?"

"Yes, she's very beautiful and not too wild." I said, patting the horse's mane.

"I'm glad, she's yours."

"Mine?"

"Yes, yours. A wedding present from me."

"Thank you, Aiden, she's lovely."

"You're welcome, dear one." He said and turned to smile at me. I smiled back and we continued on our way to the lake I had seen yesterday.

We spent the rest of the morning and most of the afternoon at the lake, talking and getting to know each other. Aiden, I discovered, loved to ride and spent most of his days in his study talking with foreign dignitaries. He didn't like that part of his day so much but he accepted that it was part of his duty as Crown Prince, so he did it. He also had read many books I had never even heard of; he wanted me to read them. Aiden had traveled all over; he loved to travel with his father and mother. He liked to go to balls, but only if he didn't have to help his mother plan them.

"Ready to get back to the castle?" He said, just as the day was starting to end.

"Yes." I said simply.

Aiden helped me mount Jovi and then mounted his own horse, which I didn't know the name of.

"Aiden, what's your horse's name?"

He chuckled, "His name is Clovis."

"I like it." I stated.

"He's a wonderful horse. I think the name fits him somehow."

When we finally arrived back at the castle we immediately went to change for dinner with the king and queen.

"Good evening, Your Highness." Said Alicia as I entered my dressing room.

"Good evening, Alicia."

Alicia helped me get ready and did my hair while I sat thinking of what my life would be like. I could hardly wait to get to know my new family. I felt so different from when I came here just a few days ago, it was shocking and yet I felt so content to like my life here in Sarr. Aiden and his parents had welcomed me with opened arms, especially his mother. She seemed to accept me for everything I was and even though she knew I was uncomfortable here at first she tried to make me see that Aiden truly did love me, despite the fact that we had only met once and I didn't even remember him.

"Are you ready to go down, Ari?" I heard Aiden say form the doorway.

"Yes, just one second longer."

I got up from my chair and went to take Aiden's arm so he could lead me to the dining room.

After dinner Aiden and I went back to our room, we changed and talked some more over tea. I felt a tradition in the making. Tea before bed while we talked about every little detail of our lives. Together and separate.