The rain outside pelted the glass panes of the floor to ceiling windows in a matter that sounded like a melody all it's own. Asteria had been staring at the rain for so long that she hadn't noticed that Aderas had joined her in the library for the first time since he'd given her the job.
"Asteria." he murmured gently.
"Do you think it's raining where they are?" Asteria asked.
Aderas knew better than to ask which 'They' she meant. "Not likely. Weather on the sea is different than those on land." he murmured glancing at the windows, in the grey skys of Garren.
"From the last report we got they are near Saokrona's borders." Aderas said.
"Zathrian has never been farther than Zabia." Asteria mused.
Aderas watched her for a moment, frowning before he decided he'd had enough.
"Asteria." He said gently, putting his hand out. "Come with me."
Asteria looked at where he stood with his hand out. She paused for a moment before taking his hand her skirts rustling as she rose. He held her hand close to him until she was clasping his arm and led her down the hall.
"Where are we going?" she asked. "You need a moment to take your mind off your worries. I'm taking you to where I go to take my mind off things." Aderas said.
They walked down two floors and entered an archway that was guarded by an iron-wrought gate that resembled vines of ivy crawling upwards. Aderas pushed the door open, and they both entered a garden of sorts, with vibrant flowers around ivory columns, lined by crystal blue waters that seemed to come from nowhere, in the middle of the oval room was an old oak tree that reached far beyond the ceiling, a domed circle had been cut in the ceiling and the rain from outside trickled down the tree, into the crystal clear water that circled the tree in a built in moat that circled the tree.
Asteria let go of Aderas's arm, looking around in wonder. There were flowers from every corner of the Six Kingdoms, as far as the icy forests of Belmora, and as close as Zabia's famous black Lilies. Aderas went to his favorite bench that lined the windowsill watching as Asteria flitted from flower to flower gently touching the colorful petals, sometimes bending closer to smell the fragrance. She turned to look at him in delight.
"This is your favorite place." she asked.
"It's peaceful." Aderas mused, glancing towards the gate. "It's the one place no one had ever bothered me." he whispered.
"No one except Kailani," he added as an afterthought.
"You miss her." Asteria said approaching him slowly a smile on her face.
Aderas looked up at her, smiling ruefully. "This place is hers. i gave it to her after helped me with something." he trailed off uncertainly.
Asteria smiled. "The Battle of Vonstein." she finished for him.
He flinched slightly. "You know about that?" he asked.
"The battle that solidified your rule. There is not many of your people who do not know your story." Asteria said looking around the garden once more. Her eyes landed on the tree, with a wistful smile before she looked back at Aderas.
"We met in the forest." she said quietly. She remembered that night clearly, she had needed a break from the ongoing negotiations of the sale of the estate, and she'd been worried for her brother.
In truth she shouldn't have been out in that forest, without an escort, she'd been hot in the tavern so she'd left her jacket, and the white dress she'd worn that night had seemed sheer in the light of the moon, she'd already untangled her hair earlier in the meeting so it trailed behind her in waves. She'd been soaking up the moonlight, making wishes to the stars, when Aderas had appeared in the forest. Looking like all the prince's from every dream she'd ever had.
"At the time," Aderas said breaking her out of her thoughts, "I'd thought you were a figment of my imagination. A fae creature come to life." he confessed.
"Until I showed up in your throneroom." Asteria said with a rueful smile.
"My guards might be overly suspicious of newcomers." he said with a sigh.
"Yes. Well." Asteria muttered.
"I never thanked you for all you've done, for me." she said quietly.
"I wasn't always a King." Aderas reminded her. "There was a time when I suffered at the hands of accusing fingers." Aderas said quietly.
"Before you were the General." Asteria asked, sitting beside Aderas on the bench.
"I never wanted to be King." Aderas said softly. "But when I became one, I promised myself that I would help if I could, and if I couldn't I would figure out why, so I could one day do better." Aderas said, he looked at Asteria softly. Even though she'd been in the castle for so long he still wasn't used to her fae-like looks. No doubt a remnant from her mother's line of aristocratic beauty that the Empire of Orion was famous for. He looked at her now and all he wanted was to lean over and press his lips to hers. To kiss her eyelashes and hold her so close that they were one person.
Instead he pulled at one of the curls that framed her face. "Your brother will return. Until that day, I'll take care of you I can promise you that." Aderas softly.
"And how are you going to find time to do that?" she questioned.
Aderas smiled ruefully. "Just because you don't see me, doesn't mean I'm not there." Aderas said running a finger down her cheek, nearly closing his eyes with pleasure as she shivered at his touch. He stood up knowing that if he remained so close to her he would do something unkingly. Something he would regret. He turned away from her his throat working as he struggled to find strength. He'd never felt this wanton desire before. Not since the war.
"These flowers are beautiful." Asteria said, moving to another side of the garden.
"Those aren't in full bloom yet." Aderas said, looking at the dark blue circular flowers.
"And yet they are as beautiful as a fully bloomed rose." she replied.
"They are midnight flowers." Aderas explained.
"In fact we are saving them for the Midnight Ball." he said.
Asteria turned to him with a brilliant smile on her face. "Another ball?" she teased. She'd been in the castle to know that almost every other week there was some ball or the other in the castle. Each more lavish than the other. She'd already noticed maids moving up and down throughout the Castle in a way that made her think a ball was about to commence.
"Whatever is needed for my courtiers." Aderas muttered. "The Midnight Ball however is one of my favorites. It's to celebrate the solstice. When the nights become longer." he said, turning to look at her thoughtfully. "You should come."
"I don't have a dress." she said with a laugh.
"I'll arrange one it will be more fun to go with you on my arm." Aderas said with a mischievous smile.
"What will your courtiers think?" Asteria said ruefully.
"Exactly." Aderas said with a smile. Aderas knew he was probably making a mistake. But it was just a ball. What harm could a dance or two possibly do?