As dawn hit, Nicholas lay awake in his bed. He still had yet to tell the King of his, rather, Judy's proposition. Frankly, despite the fact that Judy made it sound foolproof, he still felt reluctant. Having there be no evidence that it could very well have been a warning shot, proved difficult. He did not want to cause an unnecessary uproar in the Kingdom based upon an assumption. It was a conflicting situation, Nicholas knew, but in the end he couldn't get Judy out of his head. She intrigued him.
'Why must she affect me so?' he thought, shaking his head.
That had settled it. Getting up and dressing himself, he made his way to the main hall, where he hoped to find the King. He did not want to delay this any longer, for it had already been two days since the shot occurred.
Entering the hall, he breathed a sigh of relief at the sight of the bunny King conversing with officials. He thanked the gods that he didn't have to go around looking hopelessly for the King any further. Strolling up to them, Stu noticed the fox and humbly acknowledged him.
"Ah Nicholas, what a surprise!"
"Good Morning your Majesty" Nick replied with a respectful bow.
"Oh no need for that" the King assured with a wave, "And please just call me Stu. We're practically family now my boy."
Nick chuckled. "Of course, as you wish."
"Now what brings you here Nicholas?"
Nick looked behind the King to notice the two officials leaning forward trying to catch their conversation. The fox cleared his throat.
"It is a matter I must speak to you about privately" he said stiffly. The King followed his gaze, and nodded in understanding.
"Of course," he turned to face the other two. "Please give us a moment." They nodded and left the room, leaving the Prince and King alone together. "Go on" the King motioned, urging Nick to continue.
"Ah yes.." he started, once again feeling his nerves get the better of him. He usually dealt with his emotions better, and cursed himself for not being able to control them. "Do you recall when I mentioned that noise in the fields yesterday?"
The King nodded and frowned slightly. "You think it's something more.."
The fact that it was more a statement than a question, left Nick stunned. "Sir?"
"I wasn't sure myself.. but I feel I have an inkling of what you're about to tell me."
Nick paused. How in the world would the King have thought what Judy and himself had been thinking? "I believe it might have been a warning shot," he managed. Stu sighed and made his way to a seat at his round table.
"I was afraid you'd say that. My daughter married a smart one" he joked, albeit him clearly being extremely worried. Bunnies weren't good at hiding their emotions were they?
'Not that she knew when she married me' Nick thought with a slight frown. Shaking his head, he put on a smile for the King.
"What were you going to suggest? We cannot simply act without proof" Stu inquired, rubbing his forehead. Nick took the opportunity to go over everything Judy had told him to say, and with the way the King was nodding and listening with intent, he felt sudden relief.
'Smart bunny.'
"That does sound like an idea with promise," the King mumbled deep in thought. "And I believe it's the only option we have at the moment."
" I understand if it's not a good enough plan but-". Nick stood stunned, "Wait...Really?"
"Very well, I shall start to inform our soldiers. I trust you'll keep this between us."
"Yes of cour-"
"I mean only us Nicholas, no telling your wife now," he jested, still holding his serious tone.
'Oh I don't plan to.'
"I understand your Majesty." The plump bunny smiled. "That's what I like to hear. Please, enjoy the rest of your day. Leave this in my paws." The King stood up, and Nick followed.
"Thank you" Nick bowed. "I hope this works out."
"Yes well, let's just hope we're both wrong about this."
"I couldn't agree more," Nick replied, before watching the King walk out. Stu looked back, and the fox gave him a nod.
"Good luck Sire."
He hesitated.
Nicholas had only ever hesitated one other time in his life, and that had been when asked whether or not he wanted to marry into the Hopps family. Now though, he was hesitating to knock on said Princess' sister's door.
'Don't be such a fool. You promised her' he thought. He couldn't believe he was resorting to having a mental argument with himself. About a rabbit nonetheless. A bunny!
'Promise or not, you also gave word to the King! Pretty sure he 'outranks' her.'
With a shake of his head, he brought down his fist against the wooden door, and tapped twice. 'I'm so going to regret this decision,' he sighed defeated.
'Maybe I should just run for it. She'll think it was one of her brothers' playing a prank on her or-'
The door opened with a 'click' and revealed a grey bunny stood in a surprisingly casual pair of slacks and shirt.
"Prince Nicholas," she said aloud, stunned. "And to what do I owe the visit?"
Nick threw on his cocky grin, masking how nervous he actually was. 'I should NOT be doing this.'
"May we converse in private?" he asked, motioning to the room behind her. Side stepping to make way for the fox, she nodded softly.
"Of course." The bunny was not going to lie, she was wary of the fox showing up at her bedroom door, but curiosity got the better of her. "What is it you wish to speak to me about?"
Ignoring his conscious to not go against the King's wishes, he stepped inside and Judy closed the door behind him. Silence ensued, and Judy suddenly felt extremely uncomfortable. Shifting her weight onto one foot, she spoke up to break the tension. "So.."
"I spoke to your father." Her eyes widened and her black tipped ears perked with intent.
"And? Did you manage to inform him?" she asked. He moved toward her bed, and sat himself down on the edge of it. Judy studied his movement, his expressions. Why had he been so nervous?
"The King informed me not to tell a soul."
Her ears dropped. "Oh.."
She was disappointed, she wasn't going to kid herself. She had felt so important knowing of such things. Things his wife didn't even know about.
"Okay, that's fine. As long as you both have it under-"
"He's going through with it."
"Nick!" she gasped in horror. "You can't go against the King like that!" Judy turned to face away from him, trying to pretend she hadn't heard him. Her gaze fell on the stone floor and she bit her lip.
" I want to tell you Judy.." he said softly. "It was your idea after all."
"Regardless.. if you weren't meant to tell anybody.."
"Your father has the same idea as we do. About it being a warning shot" he informed, standing up. She swirled around and fixed her gaze onto his emerald eyes, trying to figure out if he was being serious or not. Her mouth fell open slightly when she found he was. Very much so in fact.
"Really?"
He nodded in response.
"But how? My father never heard the noise to know what it was."
"Yes, but it seems the way I described it to him the day we heard it, he put two and two together."
"So my suggestion?"
"He's informing his Guard now," he smiled, sighing a breath of relief. Why had he been so nervous to begin with?
Judy's eyes glimmered. "Wow. I can't believe my idea interested my father.." she whispered. Nick took a step forward, bringing himself closer.
"Well, you're no ordinary princess Judith. You're rather intelligent when it comes to strategics.." he smirked. "Which reminds me. How did you come up with it?"
Judy paused and smiled sheepishly. "Promise you won't tell?"
"Absolutely. 100%," he smiled, motioning a cross across his chest. She hesitated, but continued nonetheless.
"I took one of Father's books.." she admitted quietly. Nick let out a bark of laughter and finally closed the gap between them.
"Smart, adventurous and a delinquent! Anything else I should know about you?" he jested.
"Har har," she laughed, rolling her eyes. "I was curious. I had overheard a conversation he was having-"
"AND an eavesdropper!" he interrupted with a smirk, earning him an annoyed glare.
"Okay that's enough! Anyway, he was talking about sending out some of our guards to deal with a small band of criminals threatening our people in the city center. I found it intriguing," she smiled warmly at the thought. "I remember how thrilling and terrifying it has been to sneak into his personal quarter."
Nick chuckled, and found he rather enjoyed listening to her illicit stories. "Quite the tale. I can only imagine how funny you must have looked."
Judy bit her lip and looked down, her smile faltering. "I don't understand why a princess is forbidden to learn of such things, things I love to do, just because she's a... well, a girl" she protested sadly. " I mean, you saw how my mother reacted when she found out I had been sword fighting!"
Nicholas chuckled. "I believe that was because your brother got hurt under your watch," he teased. Judy raised an eyebrow and scoffed.
"Really now? Did you also fail to notice how she reacted when you said it was your idea? She was nowhere near as upset," she argued, as she began to pace back and forth. "My mother was more worked up over the fact that I had been 'playing' with swords than she had been about her own son getting hurt."
Nick took the opportunity he had, to stop the overexerted bunny by grabbing her arm. "Calm down there Carrots, you're stressing for nothing" he assured. She gave him a glare, and shook his arm away. "I told you not to call me that. And don't tell me what to do," she warned, halting her steps.
Nick raised an eyebrow. "Just when I thought we were getting along," he teased with a cocky grin. Her eyes widened and blushed at suddenly realizing they were still in her room, and Nick had been standing dangerously close to her. Judy cleared her throat and averted her eyes.
"Ahem.. yes well, is there anything else you wish to inform me about? She asked folding her arms. He looked up, an expression of forced thought upon his facial features. "No I don't believe I do, other than that you look rather stunning this morning princess," he smiled, looking smug.
Judy blushed, and scowled at the fox. "You need to stop doing that" she muttered walking over to her door. "Now out, if you please. I need to continue getting ready." Nick strolled after her, hands behind his back, and paused before walking out.
"May I inquire what you're getting ready for?" he asked curiously. Judy eyed him. "I must continue my studies."
"Books you shouldn't be reading?" he teased.
Her breath caught in her throat, and she gripped the door handle tighter. "You are not to breathe a word of that Nicholas," she warned, a hint of pleading in her amethyst orbs. He smiled softly, grabbing a hold of her paw. "You have my word," he finished, lightly pecking her paw. She looked down flustered.
"Yes well, thank you.." she stammered. "Good day Nicholas."
"I'll be seeing you soon Judith."
Making sure nobody was following her, she made her way into one of the gardens, where the gazebo stood. She stopped to catch her breath once she reached it, and frantically looked around.
'Why wasn't he here?' she thought, panicking. "Danial?"
"Lilith?" a voice replied from behind the structure. A black furred buck popped his head around, and his golden eyes lit up at the sight of the princess. Lilith smiled in relief, and hopped over to him and straight into his awaiting embrace.
"I've missed you," he muttered, squeezing her tighter, his paw cradling her head. Lilith returned the gesture, and held back her tears. She wasn't quite sure if they were happy tears, or sad ones. Maybe both, she couldn't blame herself.
"I have too my love," she whispered back. Breaking apart slightly, the buck leaned his head down to steal a kiss, and the princess was more than happy to comply. The couple stayed in their state for a while longer, content to just be with each other finally. Lately it had been harder to get away from the palace and her family, especially now that she had settled down with Nicholas. Lilith absolutely loathed not being able to see the one that had stolen her heart, and she was sure Danial had felt the same way. It almost broke her heart when she had to tell him the news she was marrying another, the face he held forever etched into her mind.
"I cannot stay long, my parents will wonder where I've run off to," she spoke up, breaking their mood. Danial sighed, and let her go from his embrace. "Understood."
"But I'll come see you tomorrow! I shall be here at the same time we've agreed upon, no matter what," she rushed, catching the hurt in his expression. With her offer, his spirits seems to lift, and he smiled slightly.
"I shall await your return my love," he replied, leaning for one last kiss goodbye. He hated saying goodbye, it was possibly the only thing he did not look forward to, but with her duties, and how utterly forbidden these meetings were, he'd just have to deal with it. Lilith quickly stood on her tiptoes and kissed him back with as much love as she could muster up.
"I love you," she whispered affectionately, holding his face with her paws. He melted at her words, and couldn't help himself as he stole another kiss,
"I love you too."