Amina was suddenly overtaken by exhaustion, the past few days insanity hitting her small frame all at once, causing her eyes to droop as her body leaned more and more on Nero outside her room. She felt his chest rumble with slight laughter as he scooped her off the floor, Amina too tired to protest. Nero thought this every time he felt her slight weight in his arms but she really needed to eat more. He decided to go downstairs to rouse the staff into making a hefty meal once he deposited her on her bed.
The sun was still high in the sky as Amina drifted off to sleep, Nero covering her gently with far too many blankets for this time of year. His clumsy care made her smile as she fell deeper and deeper into exhaustion. Nero sighed as he watched her body finally release the tension it had been holding since the day they met. He stroked her silken hair before traveling downstairs to ensure dinner would be sufficiently prepared.
Amina dreamt of hazy childhood memories; she was running through an unfamiliar rose garden as a very small child, her hair and dress billowing wildly behind her as she sprinted with glee hiding from a small boy she loved to play with. Her mind couldn't recall his face, as it was a blur in her dreams. They were playing hide and seek so Amina ran as far and fast as she could until she found a good enough spot to crawl into and hide from him. She covered her quivering lips with both her hands to silence her excitement as she heard the boy's counting coming down to its end. Suddenly there were whispers behind her as she hid silently in the bush.
"When will you finally kill him? He is but a child, it cannot be that hard! My child should be in his place already!" the woman screeched, her painted red nails digging into her palms as she balled them in frustration. Amina couldn't see their faces but she had heard the woman's voice before. Her small mind tried its best to remember but failed.
"Our child, my queen. Do not forget he is also mine," the man growled.
"Yes, yes. How could I? After all, his power and looks all come from you," she clicked her tongue before continuing, "when will our child finally become crown Prince? I have waited long enough."
"Patience, my beloved. Patience. We must strike when the time is right. The king is still not completely in your hands nor the kingdom in mine. I must raise my minions strong before we attack and rid ourselves of that annoying King and his child." Amina held her breath, fearing for her life as she listened to them. Even her three year old brain could work out she was in danger if she was caught listening in on this traitorous conversation. She had to tell mommy and daddy. Her entire body shook in terror as she waited for her moment to flee.
"Yes, you're right, dear. I will try to be patient with you, my love," the woman purred, stroking the man's face.
"I always am, my dear. How else would I rule the underworld if not so?" The man chuckled, capturing her hand to kiss it, his red eyes shimmering with malice as he reveled in his power. Suddenly his ears perked at a rustling nearby. They both stopped, their heads turning toward where Amina was hidden. Tears pricked her eyes as she fought to stay calm but her terror won as she became a statue, rooted to the spot in fear, unable to move away.
"Reveal yourself now before I come for you. You don't want to have me find you first, trust me," the man whispered with a toothy grin that sent chills down Amina's spine. She was about to leap from the bushes and run when the boy appeared, taking the blame as he stood behind where she hid, nudging her with his foot and shaking his head to signal for her to stay still and quiet. Amina cried as she held her hands tighter over her mouth, her tears soaking her hands and dress.
"I'm sorry to interrupt you and your guest, my queen. I was looking for the prince as he said he would be strolling through the gardens after lessons but I have yet to find him in any of them. Have you seen him, my queen?" The boy answered, calm and resolute.
"Oh, my dear boy! I apologize for my guest scaring you, he's just overly protective of his queen," the woman replied with a smile that made Amina's stomach churn.
"As he should be, my queen," the boy quickly answered. The woman's toothy grin widened as she told him she hadn't seen the prince and she and her guest would be taking their leave. The woman turned to leave as the man leaned in close to the boy's ear to whisper, "Best to keep this between us, my boy. We will meet again," squeezing his shoulder a little too tight before leaving with his woman.
The boy stood, watching the couple leave until he was sure they wouldn't hear.
"Mia," he called, reaching out his hand. She cried in relief as the boy called her name.
"Mia," he said again, his voice sounding deeper, rougher. She trembled at her name being called when she heard it again, more clearly.
"Mia!" Amina's eyes shot open as she looked for the boy only to find Nero at her bedside, trying to rouse her from her slumber.
"Ner..Nero?" She whispered, looking around at the unfamiliar, dark room before settling on his handsome face smiling down at her.
"Are ya hungry? Dinner is ready," he reported as he stroked her face, finding it wet with tears.
"What's wrong? Did ya have a nightmare?" Nero asked, his brows creasing with concern as he held her face in his hands. Amina let go of the breath she hadn't realized she was holding before laying her hands atop his.
"Yes… no… it was… I don't know. I think I remembered something from my childhood. It wasn't exactly a nightmare but it wasn't exactly pleasant either. There was this boy…" she trailed off as her mind tried to recall his name or face but failed. Nero frowned before changing the subject.
"Well, I'm here now and you're okay. Put your shoes on and come down with me so we can eat. You need to fill up before your first lesson."
"First lesson? Today?" Amina questioned, seeing the sun hung low in the sky as dusk approached.
"Today, sweetheart. So make sure you eat your fill before we go out back to spar," he finished with a wink as he pulled her up out of bed onto her feet. Her muscles groaned in protest but she quickly obliged him and slipped on her boots to follow him, her stomach grumbling as the smells of meat and bread mixed in the air to remind her how hungry she was. She blushed at the embarrassing sounds her stomach made as Nero burst into laughter, hurrying her to a table and setting a plate towering with mounds of food enough for three of her to eat their fill.
"Ro, this is too much!" She protested.
"RO?" She heard a familiar voice ask incredulously behind her. Oro lifted a brow as he stared at the two who quickly became red.
"Where's my cute nickname, Mia?" Oro asked, slipping into the seat in front of her, grinning from ear to ear as the staff scurried to serve him the best food and wine.
"She never gave you permission to call her that, Prince," Nero growled, spitting his title at him from across the table. Oro glanced at his friend before focusing his attention fully on Amina.
"I-I couldn't dare call you by a nickname, your highness."
"I give you permission to, Amina. May I call you Mia as well?" Oro prodded, earning a rumble of distaste from Nero who clutched his fists beneath the table. Amina furtively glanced between the two men standing off, desperately trying to figure out what was happening before she opened her mouth again.
"Your high-" she started but was quickly cut off by Nero who pointedly announced they should eat now before their food became cold. Silence stretched between them until Amina's stomach growled again and Oro finally decided to eat, signaling to the other they were allowed to eat now, as they had to follow proper etiquette with prying eyes around them. An awkward air surround the trio as forks clattered on the tableware. Nero quickly grabbed Amina's plate to cut her meat for her before returning it to her. She blushed as she savored it, along with the fresh fruit and salad served with it.
Drinks flowed freely as the silence became heavier when suddenly Nero set down his last class after polishing the last of his strong drink and announcing it was time for Amina's training.
"What? Training?" Oro questioned, wiping his mouth and setting down his utensils.
"Yes, your highness, I asked Nero to help me train to defend myself," Amina answered, following suit and getting ready to leave.
"Nero, you agreed to this? Are you serious?" Oro swung his incredulous gaze to the commander who glared down at him.
"I did," he replied simply, gently grasping Amina's slender wrist and pulling her beside him. They stride away, leaving Prince Oro in a stupefied silence.
"That man barely wants to train his own knights… she must have him wrapped around her little finger," Oro remarked under his breath, chuckling to himself as he walked back to the men's room alone.