"Are you ready?" Ray asked, startling Lillian from admiring Orion.
"Yeah. I'm ready." She leaned closer to him. "You know that we are only visiting the town beyond the wall right?"
"I know." He whispered back, "We just need to put on a show for the princess. Besides, wouldn't you want to see the kingdom from the clouds?"
"Can we do that?" Lillian asked, a little more excited than she intended to.
"Of course." He laughed, turning to Vaille. "Now, princess. If you will excuse us, we will get going."
"Of course." She said, smiling at them, "Do have fun. Think you will be back in time for supper?"
"Pardon me, Lillian." He gently put his arms around her waist and lifted her, like she weighed nothing, to Orion's neck. Sitting there, she felt like she is in a warm, soft bed and it took everything in her not to lay down and fall asleep.
She instead diverted her attention to the Princess, "I don't know. But I think we will be back by then. Don't you think so, Commander?"
"Just call me Ray." He said, then pulled himself up behind Lillian. "Don't wait for us, Princess."
Orion began to move his cloud-like wings, Lillian almost lost her balance as she felt herself slip but Ray caught her before she could fall off.
"Are you ok?" He asked, placing his arms at her side to stop her from slipping in the future.
"Yeah. Just fine." She nervously said, waving to the princess as they flew away.
At first, Lillian felt scared, closing her eyes as Orion picked up speed but once he slowed down she finally opened her eyes and gasped at the view around her.
The sun was still high in the sky as they passed the clouds that Lillian attempted to touch. They only felt like moisture but she can now say that she has touched clouds. Though she would prefer Orion to those clouds any day.
They flew above the clouds to see the town below them get smaller and smaller, the people walking about look like ants. Lillian looked a little off the edge but she still felt her fear of falling crawl up her spine.
"Beautiful, isn't it?" Ray said, startling her again. His eyes are closed as he let the wind mess with his hair and face.
"Yeah." She responded, the sun never looked so close nor did the sky look this clear. It is a different feeling as riding an aeroplane that's for sure.
"I love coming up here," Ray said while Orion glided gently. "I would like to apologise for my behaviour in the meeting. I was very rude, I don't know what came over me. I'm not usually like that."
"Oh, it's no worries." She said, remembering what the King told her. "I wasn't myself either. Must have been the tension in the room."
"Could be," Ray said, thoughtfully. "I hope we can start over now. I am a little intrigued by you, if I am being honest."
"Are you going to purpose for marriage again?" Lillian teased. It's nice to see him get flustered.
"No, no." He said, covering his face with his hand. "I apologise for that. I do not see you that way, it just ... came out."
Lillian breathed a sigh of relief, "Oh, thank goodness." She laughed.
Thank you, author!
"Does the idea of marrying me disturb you that much, Lillian?" Now it's Ray's turn to tease her.
"No. You are a good person, attractive and with a lot of accomplishments. You are the perfect husband material." She said plainly, losing all her nervousness.
Ray felt his cheeks go red again the longer Lillian talked, "Ok. Thank you for the compliments."
"Has no one complimented you before, commander?" She asked, turning a little to face him.
"Not like this." He said, covering his face with his hands. "You really are an interesting person, Lillian."
"Thank you." She tried to flick her hair but remembered that it is in a bun.
Now if only men in my age group think the same thing.
"You really aren't interested in me, right?" Lillian asked again, trying to confirm.
"Yes. You are a beautiful person but I do not hold any interest to you in that way." He smiled when he saw relief wash over her. "You needn't worry about me."
"That's great. So … can I ask if I can consider you a friend then?"
"Of course, you can," Ray said instantly, eyes shining. "You can be my little sister too!"
Huh? How did we get there?!
"Uhhhh … y-yeah." She stuttered through her words, turning away from him. Little sister? I don't mind considering him 'brother', but little?
How can she say that she is much older than him now? He looks so excited to get a younger sister, Lillian couldn't bear to tell him anything else.
"I'm so happy." He said, pulling her into an embrace from behind. Resting his chin on her head, he began to speak, "You know, I always wanted siblings but my parents died before I could get another sibling and no one wanted to associate with me because of my history."
"Have you always been on the battlefield?" Lillian asked, feeling strangely comfortable in his arms. Could it be because she knows he wouldn't hurt her?
"Ever since I could hold a sword I have been training. I always had this 'gift' at strategy and combat. It is the death of my parents that made me come to the palace." His voice vibrated against Lillian's body.
"It must have been very lonely and scary." She said, reaching up and patting his head. He reminds her too much of her own brother and her heart hurt more for him.
"It was. I wished every night that I at least had a brother or sister with me. But I had no one." He fell silent as they both watched the clouds pass them.
"Well, you have me now," Lillian said in a cheerful tone as she tilted her head up and smiled at him, trying to lighten the mood.
Ray stared at her with surprise for a second then a smile came on his own face, "Yeah." He patted her head, eyes glittering. "I guess I do."
"Hey, want to try something?" He suddenly said in a loud voice.
"What? What is it?" Lillian grabbed Orion's fur to stop herself from falling.
"I've always wanted to do this with a sibling." He stood on top of Orion still making sure Lillian was fine.
"W-what are you doing?! You'll fall!" Her body moved by itself as she grabbed his legs, closing her eyes shut.
"Let's jump, Lillian." Ray bend down, took her hands in his and grinned.
"Look, I understand the sentiment here but I have no intention of committing double suicide with the person I consider my brother," Lillian said, looking at him like you would a naughty child.
"Double suicide?" Ray tilted his head, "We aren't going to die, Lillian. Don't worry. Your older brother promises you this."
"Well, 'older brother', you wouldn't be asking your younger sister to jump even if you knew you could protect her." Lillian retorted.
"Come on, it'll be fun. Or … are you sacred."
"Of course I am scared." Lillian shouted, "Can't you see me trembling?"
"Lillian." Ray looked at her with his wide mint green eyes, "Trust me here. I promise you that you won't be injured. Alright? I just … want to show you something."
Lillian sighed, she didn't want to keep saying no to him. He will protect her, she does not doubt that. What she worries about is herself. Will she let him when the time came to it?
Go ahead. What have you got to lose anyway?
"Fine." She said, smiling up at him. "I'll be trusting you then."
"I won't betray your trust, Lillian. I promise." He wrapped his arms around her, "Ready?"
"As ready as I'll ever be, I guess."
Lillian leaned into him and shut her eyes as she felt their bodies tilt to the side, away from all feeling of the steady ground beneath them.
I change my mind. Ichangemymindichangemymind.
She gasped as she tightened her grip on Ray's shirt, still too scared to open her eyes as they turned upside down and the air started blowing from above them, not her sides or feet.
"Ray!" Lillian shouted, not hearing anything from the guy.
"Hey, I'm here! Don't worry and open your eyes!" He said voice laced with excitement.
"Nope! No way!"
"Lillian! Come on! You made it this far! I got you!" His arms were still wrapped tightly around her.
Right, he's right. Ok, I can do this. I can do this.
Lillian slowly opened her eyes to see Ray's shirt in front of her. Still afraid to move too much, she looked up at Ray who was looking at her with a wide grin on his face.
"Look!" He said, staring forward.
Summoning all her courage she looked to her left and saw the sun with the clouds, as the sky turned all shades of orange, blue, pink and purple.
"Wow." She gasped out, still grabbing onto his shirt but more relaxed now.
"Beautiful right?" He took one hand out, making Lillian grip harder. "Don't worry, I'm still here."
He used his free hand to wave across the sky, making everything move like in a time-lapse video. The clouds swirled and played with the hues of the sky as the sun slowly sank lower.
The view took her breath away, making her forget that they were falling until she tilted her head up and saw a house slowly getting closer.
"Uh, Ray!" She braced herself, getting ready to use her magic but Ray only laughed as something white appeared beneath them.
Lillian felt a light impact as they landed on Orion, Ray beneath her still laughing.
"How was that?" He asked, looking at Lillian, a playful look in his eyes.
"That was amazing." She said, getting off him. Her hair is clearly a mess now but it is a surprise she didn't lose her bonnet.
Lillian carefully removed her bonnet to fix her hair but with the wind blowing, it was near impossible to do.
"See, I told you." He said, taking her bonnet. "Hey, Orion. Let's rest for a bit."
Orion gave a soft purr and landed on some clouds, resting there.
"Better?" Ray asked as Lillian continued to fix her hair.
"Yes. Thank you."
"Hey, I have to look out for my younger sister after all." Ray stood up and looked over the edge. "Which house do you wish to visit first?"
"There will be one house at the end of the town. I want to go there." Lillian placed the last pin in her hair and took the bonnet from Ray.
"Alright. You hear her, Orion." He said, patting him.
With a soft purr from him, they were there in a second.
Alright. Time to get to work.