I walked out with mother on my right arm to the front doors of the castle, they were opened by two doormen dressed in white pants and white tucked in long sleeved shirts.
Waiting just outside the doors was the carriage prepared beforehand.
The white horse drawn carriage came into view as we got to the landing of the palace building, scurrying around the compound were servants getting things done and ready, they all stopped as soon as they saw us.
"Morning, Your Majesties" rented the air from different directions as they all bowed and curtseyed slightly.
"You all may rise"Mother said smiling at them, she turned to me and patted my arm still entwined with hers.
I went up to the carriage and patted waves, he was my best horse and has been bred in the castle since it was a colt, with spotted white skin showing how well it's been taken care of, he was a proud one, he neighed as I patted his head.
"Hello wavey", I said softly, rubbing around it's face affectionately.
"I see you're still obsessed with that horse sir", a voice said behind me.
I turned around finally noticing the figure standing there.
"How are you doing Ferdinand?", I asked smiling broadly.
Ferdinand was my childhood friend, "best friend" to be precise but our different status made us see less of each other as we grew older.
"I'm doing well, Your Majesty", he said bowing slightly with exaggerated mockery in his eyes.
"Psst, get over it you fool", I laughed and we clapped backs..
It's been months we've last seen or even spoken?
He held the carriage door as we got into it, the interior was richly designed to suit royalties, even more so. I'd have preferred riding in a cart all the way to the Oak Dom, more fun as I tried imagining how our supposed future in-law would react to that..hehehe.
"I hope you have fun Ar", Ferdinand hissed by my ear, his eyes dancing mischievously enjoying my misery as I climbed aboard the carriage.
"I hate you" I hissed back while landing a side punch on his arm.
I got in enjoying the look of pain on his face as he tried not to wince.
"Arden, when would you remember you're the future king of the Snow Dom and behave accordingly?", Mother asked shaking her head slightly as she said that.
I just smirked, parted the silk curtains covering the windows and sat back on the cushions enjoying the view of houses and trees sliding pass. The horses trutted at a medium pace, we had set out early in order to get to the palace on time.
We passed through town, seeing it once more gave me a feeling of nostalgia, these were my best parts of the kingdom when the responsibilities of the kingdom were not on my shoulders.
Running along the cold and wet grounds, playing hide and seek with the other children,catch and handball also. Snowballs and race competitions were also my best games.
"Give me the ball, it's my turn now", 11 year old me screamed and cried at a boy of same age but larger than me.
"Come and get it", he said in a sing song way smiling widely and enjoying himself as he got farther away from me, the ball in his outstretched arm. I ran towards him and tried reaching for it but his height gave him an advantage.
"Give it to him..NOW" A lanky tall boy said walking towards us.
The ball sailing through the air and landing few feets behind me, I went to get the ball and looked up when I noticed the second boy approach me.
He had rough ink black hair that stopped just below his chin, with shaggy dark eyebrows, lips chapped and dried probably because of the cold with piercing blue eyes.
"Hi", he said. " I'm Ferdinand, what's your name?".