AN: Sorry if this chapter is kind of stupid, but I wanted to illustrate Geric's and Adalard's relationship, and I'm sick when I wrote this LOL So anyways….. DON"T KILL ME! :3
Chapter Five: Two Men, a Tent, and a Lot of Arguing
They were on the outskirts of Kilendree now, and what an odd assortment they were! A beautiful princess in the garb of a goose-keeper, a harried and jealous prince of a foreign land, and the random tagalong that happens to be the object of the prince's jealousy, all together in one party. Now together they set up camp, and the differences between the two men of the party were so significant, the princess despaired that they might never find how alike they are.
"No, it's smarter to set up the tent over here! That way if rain comes, it will not be affected," argued Geric, eyes fixed menacingly on Adalard, who was just as enraged.
"Idiot, it hardly ever rains in Kilendree. Which you would know if you had any knowledge of the area at all, which you don't. I do have that knowledge, and you still presume to argue with me!"
"Tell him I'm right!" the two chorused in a probably once-in-a-lifetime unison, turning to Isi. Massaging her forehead, she told the both of them exactly where they could put the tent in a highly unladylike manner. Chuckling, Geric told Adalard to put the tent wherever he liked, including his fiancée's suggestion, and went over to kiss his love on the cheek, which she stonily ignored. That is, until he swung her up from the freshly started fire into his arms and spun her around a few times, making her giggle and beat her fists on her chest, telling him to stop. Their lips met, and it was at this point that their "third-wheel" turned away stiffly and pretended to be highly busy securing the already assembled tent.
A few minutes later, Adalard got bored of watching the two lip locked, and quite immaturely tossed a small rock at the back of Geric's head. Irritably, Geric stood and leaped after Adalard, fists shaking with rage. Isi, after watching the two of them struggle for a minute, decided with a shrug that it was healthy for them and quietly resumed cooking dinner from the fish Geric had caught earlier that day. Adalard had tried but… Well, Geric had put him in the water as he took the fish out. If anything, their relationship was just a bit amusing to the princess.
About fifteen minutes later, the two returned for food, covered in mud and bruises. Grinning impishly (Isi was quite used to the forest workers coming in for dinner like this) she handed the ravenous young men their portion and watched them devour it, happy that they at least had a good appétit. They laughed and joked around, and the fighting seemed to have tired out Adalard and Geric. Geric slid Isi into the tent, kissing her briefly.
"Good night, Princess," he whispered, eyes fixed on hers. Twining her arms around his neck, she pulled him down beside her, eyes sparkling with mischievous intention. She tugged his head down to where her lips were, turning his head so that his ear rested against her soft lips.
"I do believe we were interrupted earlier, my prince. Care to help me tire out before bed?" She asked, pulling him even closer. Breathing uneven, he didn't even feel the need to answer. That night, Geric didn't sleep outside.