When Atlas returned home he lay in his large bed and thought about Fauna's words. He had never had anyone affect him like this. Just as he drifted off the image of Fauna's soft smile filled his mind causing him to smile in turn.
A few hours later the prince awoke to the maids knocking on his door.
Begrudgingly he got out of bed. They helped him with getting his daily attire and left him to the rest. Atlas adjusted his hair in the mirror before heading off down the castle halls. He arrived at the dining room to see his parents eating the various foods surrounding them.
"Good morning Mother, Father" He greeted
"Good morning Atlas, you're chipper," his father, Alaric remarked, taking a sip out of his cup.
"Yes, I slept well and I am ready for my duties," He says, grabbing a handful of orange-looking berries and adding them to his plate.
"You must be excited after all today is training day correct?" His mother, Amira asks
Atlas forgot about that but quickly thought about what he was doing today
"Yes, we are practicing longswords today" Atlas spits out and quickly takes a bite of his fruit.
"Well don't stay too long. I saw they almost had the training yard finished." Amira tells him as Atlas nods.
"Of course!" Atlas said and grabbed a slice of purple bread
"I'll take this with me. See you at dinner Mother, Father" Atlas bows as he bolts out the door.
When the door closed Amira looked at a sip of her tea.
"Alaric I think it's time we begin to plan out his possible engagements." She states as he husband chokes on his food a bit before coughing to clear his throat
"Engagements? As in marriage?" Alaric questions his wife
"Yes, he is at the age for us to look at possible candidates for him. We need a strong woman who will aid him in ruling this city, and to carry on the royal line." Amira explains sipping her tea.
Alaric frowns
"You know he will resist the idea," Alaric states
"He will learn. This is what will and must happen. Now I have already thought about the subject and certain things have come to light." Amira says as she looks down at her plate.
"It's with the other planets isn't it?" He questioned as she quietly nodded. He takes her hand as she looks at her husband.
"My love you knew as well as I, they have been pushing for a union for eons. Maybe this is the time to open those gates and let a union come into play. This could benefit Jericho" he says as she shakes her head
"I understand that but…I am fearful of the power they could hold over us. Jericho may not be as large as their cities, but we are twice as strong. I just don't want Jericho to be lost in time because we let others without good intentions in because of the pressure." Amira explained
"Thankfully Jericho has a Queen who has their best interests. And that Queen has a wonderful husband who will help her in any way he can" Alaric says kissing her hand as Amira blushed
"Yes, she is thankful for that," she says smiling at her husband.
Out in the training yard, Altas swung his sword at his trainer and close friend Castor.
Atlas stumbled as Castor dodged the Prince.
He took this opportunity and swung at Atlas. But he spun around and countered the attack and pushed him back. Atlas started to pant from the sparing.
"Okay, let's break," Castor says as Atlas sheathed his sword and went to drink his water on the side. Castor watched his friend and had a few questions on his mind. But which one to ask first? Suddenly a light went off in his head.
"So when are you going to tell me about your adventures on Earth's surface?" he asked, watching Atlas's form freeze.
"What do you mean? I don't go to earth…" Atlas stuttered
"Oh really? Then why are you sloppy in your movements today? I know you are not 'studying' as you like to tell your mother." He says as he looks over his sword's blade.
Atlas sighs. He knew he had to tell someone about Fauna. It was killing him internally not to share his newfound friendship with the earth girl.
"OK, you are right, but let's talk after training. I'd rather not have his discussion in the middle of the training yard," Atlas admits as Castor smirks
"Gladly, now come on. I have a bet with a few of the guards I'm gonna win the next one" He says as Atlas grins
"Prepare to lose that bet"
In the end, Castor won his bet. Atlas was still tired from talking with Fauna the previous night and ultimately that cost him his victory. Atlas watched as his friend went to the nearby guards and collected his bet. It was quite a lot from what he saw in the Castor pocket.
Atlas rolled his eyes and dragged Castor to the library. He needed a place where no one would suspect he was doing anything to break his mother's rules. He had a secluded study room which was the perfect place to talk about his secret.
Atlas looked around the library before closing and locking the door. Looking back he saw Castor staring at him expectantly.
"Okay, so do you remember a few years ago when I told you about the girl I saw on Earth's surface when my power finally manifested?" Atlas began as Castor thought for a moment
"Yeah.. wasn't that when you got locked away for a few years in the castle and we had to escort you everywhere?" Castor asked as Atlas groaned.
That was an annoying time. His mother went a little overboard when she found him gone one night, thinking someone had taken him.
"Well, I kinda lied. I didn't just see her that night. I actually…..sorta….met her." Atlas says hesitantly.
He watched Castor's face slowly take in the information.
"You met her!?" He exclaimed as Atlas slammed his hand on Castor's face.
"Yes I know it was not the brightest idea," Atlas says as Castor shool his head
"Not the brightest? Do you know what your mother, my Queen will do when she finds out her precious prince has been fraternizing with an Earth girl?" Castor vents as Atlas cringes at his tone
"I thought it was going to be one time…but she was different. She was more than I expected. She is kind, understanding and so…beautiful." Atlas trailed off realizing how much Fauna had affected him.
Castor looked at Atlas's expression of realization and smirked.
"You are smitten with her, aren't you?" He asks
Atlas groaned running his hand through his hair.
"How can I be smitten? We barely know each other. I only have known her for a month how can this be?" Atlas questioned as he began to pace.
Castor gave a hearty chuckle.
"What's her name?" He asks crossing his arms and leaning against the table in the room.
Atlas paused his movements
"Fauna." Atlas sighed
"So what does Fauna look like?" Castor says baiting the prince to start to gush about his crush.
"She has long brown hair, tanned skin, and the most beautiful eyes you have seen. They remind me of looking at Earth from the surface. She has think smile, oh I wish you could see it. Her cheek makes a dimple when she does it and I can't help but stare. My favorite thing is when she's looking at the sky. Her expression of wonderment and amazement of our home and the stars around it I could watch that forever.." Atlas said as he looked back at a smug Castor
"That's what being smitten is my friend. But this is more than that. You are in love with her." Castor states as the Prince walks away and thinks more about Fauna.
Her smiles, her voice with her kind words. Her warm gaze.
"But what do I do? What if she doesn't feel the same?" Atlas asks
Castor only shakes his head
"That is something for you to figure out lover boy. Now it's nearly time for dinner you better go get out of those sparring clothes"
Atlas looked at the time and himself
"You're right. We will talk more about this later," Atlas says rushing out the door
Castor watched his friend run out and shook his head before looking out the window.
"Oh that poor prince…" he says before leaving the room.