The Swan Princess

Chapter Two: Melted Hearts

For years, King Gast and Queen Molly continued to have Aeris and Cloud meet though they knew that they hated each other they were sure that one day, if they sat down and talked, they would fall in love eventually. However, the Kingdoms of both heirs were not holding their breath for they wished the same as their leaders. It was obvious to everyone that Aeris and Cloud would disagree about almost everything except that the very thought of summertime was dreaded. Now, as the youngsters reached their teenage years, both Kingdoms waited to see what would happen.

It was hardly a surprise when Aeris boarded the ship and kept away from everyone else, she had always been against her arranged marriage, and, the longer the arrangement went on for, the more withdrawn she became.

"Aeris?" her father addressed her as she leaned over the banister and stared at the ocean, mesmerised by the dolphins swimming beneath the surface and occasionally doing flips by the side of the ship.

At her father's voice, she turned her head to show her matured, heart-shaped face and her emerald eyes sparkling with youth. She had began tying her hair back into braids with a pink ribbon, for it was far too long to leave down all the time but there was always the few strands that escaped and fell around her face.

She managed a small smile at her father before turning back to the water below her. She didn't have to be a mind-reader to know what he was about to say to her, it was the same every summer.

"I don't understand why you won't give Cloud a chance," he began with a sigh.

The Princess frowned. She could not understand how he had the right to be upset when it she was the one who was being forced into a marriage with a man she did not want. She gave a sharp exhale of breath, the force sending her side fringe fluttering up as she moved off the railings and turned to walk away, her pink dress fluttering gently in the breeze.

"Aeris please don't walk away!" the King begged with a tedious tone as he looked up at her. The brunette whirled around, her eyes blazing in anger.

"Why do you not give me my own choice of marriage? I don't want to marry Cloud!" she yelled, ignoring the way the sailors turned their gaze towards them curiously.

She folded her arms over her chest and turned her head away, a frown still on her face. Gast rubbed his forehead roughly before finally standing away from the banister and stepping towards her, taking her hands in his.

"Cloud, is a good man Aeris. He really is, even if he does not act like it around you. However, did you ever think that you are merging your hate of the marriage with your hate for each other? Perhaps, you do not hate each other at all but the idea that you couldn't find each other on your own."

The girl remained silent, her face still turned slightly to the side, avoiding his gaze. However, Gast knew that she was thinking his words over and he gave a small smile, moving a hand to brush the hair from her face. She glanced at him then, their eyes locking for a few seconds.

"At least try and get along…please?" he pleaded.

She moved her lips to the side as she glanced at the floor before she gave a slow nod and a sigh. Gast's smile grew slightly and he whispered a thank you before walking away.

Molly gave an agitated sigh as she entered the room to see Cloud and his best friend Zack playing video games. The Prince was not even nearly presentable enough for Gast and Aerith's arrival. She clicked her tongue and folded her arms across her body as she kicked the door shut, the slam causing the boys to look up.

"Why aren't you ready yet?" she hissed, her eyes narrowing.

Cloud just shrugged his shoulders before turning back to the screen, pressing the buttons repeatedly with building frustration. Zack cast a nervous glance around before placing his controller down and standing up. He bowed politely to the Queen before hurrying out of the room, leaving a scowling Cloud behind.

"Aeris is going to be here in less than an hour! Make yourself presentable!"

"Mum, I can do so much better than her, I'm sure!"

"Enough!" she interrupted, her tone showing she was not going to stand for his whining or arguing. She shut the door and Cloud slammed his controller down on the ground and gave a long growl of annoyance as he started laying his clothes out on the bed for him to meet the Princess.

Aeris looked up blankly as the turrets reached her view and gave a longing sigh at the realisation that she was here for yet another summer. Now that she thought about it, she thought it would be highly unlikely for Cloud and herself to ever be released from this torturous arrangement unless they fell for each other. That brought her thoughts back to earlier on when she had promised her father that she would at least attempt to get along with Cloud.

She scowled softly at this thought as she accepted her father's hand, stepped out of the carriage, and made her way up the large white marble steps that led to the oak doors of Cloud's castle. She did not even have to look up to know where everything was, having spent almost half of her life here. However, one thing was different and that was the fact that her father was leading her to the large dining hall instead of the gardens where the two usually greeted each other.

"Dad," she sighed, causing him to glance at her.

"What is it sweetheart?"

"I can't keep your promise,"

"What do you mean?"

"Cloud is so immature!" she cried but Gast just gave a small chuckle before he gently pushed her inside the room.

She blinked as she processed what he had just done and turned to yell at him, only for him to shut the door in her face. The silence meant she could hear the lock being picked and she huffed, folding her arms in annoyance, her back to the opposite door that she could just hear opening. Knowing it would be Cloud, she prepared herself for the insults…, but none came.

Curious, she turned her head to see Cloud staring at her. His eyes were wide as they fixed upon her face, causing her to blush faintly and turn her eyes to the floor. Still, he did nothing but stare and though she was flattered, the Princess was getting annoyed.

"Stop staring!" she muttered, her eyes still lowered.

The Prince blinked as if only just realising what he was doing and he was soon blushing like her. Neither of them noticed the way Molly was standing on the top balcony practically squealing with joy with Gast beside her, reminding her they couldn't be caught. Nor did they see the way Zack was peeking through the windows with a small frown on his face.

"Sorry, I…I…" Cloud stammered, the blush intensifying and Aeris had to resist the urge to laugh. She quite liked this new side to Cloud, not the Cloud who had tried so hard to be so much like his best friend. She guessed that this was what her father had meant about Cloud being a decent person, Molly must have wrote to him to say how he had become more himself lately.

"Would you…like to go for a walk?" she asked softly, tilting her head to the side and kneeling so that she could see into his lowered eyes.

The blonde blushed again as he looked up with wide eyes before he glanced around and gave the slightest of nods.

And so, the courting of the two young heirs began.