Chapter 5 Wedded.

When I woke up, I saw Mia and Tom was asleep, so I just sat up and looked outside. It was still dark.

I entered my Orb and added a light filter to my Magic vision. It worked as a photo lens gathering light and made it so my eyes adjusted so I could see in minimal light. I even added an infrared spectrum that allowed me to see in total darkness and a zoom function to look at things in the distance.

When I open my eyes and activate the magic sight, I see Charles tending to the campfire. I look around and I could see just as good as daytime, I look over towards the open field that had less to no light, there was a lot I could not see. i activate infrared spectrum and I could see clear as day again. Except from a red color, it was perfect. I even tried my zoom and could see water drops on the grass from far away… I played around with it and it was easy to change and activate all I needed to do was to think what I wanted, and it changed automatically.

After a while, the others woke up and we eat breakfast together as we chatted. Charles said we were about half a day away from the city. Mia got excited and asked him if we could go shopping. He apologized. And explained that we had to go to the school first. The king have arranged to meet us there around midday and the horses needed rest after the trip.

Mia nodded smiling, but I could tell she was disappointed. After breakfast we packed up and started to move again. Mia just resumed her training. And I prepared with Tom for our arrival. He had taken a waterskin and some towels with him. I started to clean myself as he went over the details of the meeting. The deal was that i would grow a vine tree like a have done at home to help fend of the darkness beasts. In exchange Me and Mia was allowed to graduate from the academy for free.

Tom and Charles was not allowed to stay since they were guards of another kingdom, but the royals would be providing guards to us. we would get a room in the academy that would also work as an embassy office as long as I stayed there. Dad had explained that before and told me that it was like a borrowed piece of land that I was the ruler over until I left. We would arrive two days before school started so we had time to settle down.

After I was done cleaning, I changed into my formal attire preparing for the meeting. After a couple of hours of listening to Tom repeating everything to make sure the first meeting would go smooth, we heard Charles knock on the forward hatch. Tom opens it and Charles inform that he see the city.

Tom starts to rush and put on his armor. He had forgotten it when repeating everything to me. I helped him strap it on and double checked that everything was in place before I sat down next to Mia.

She checked my attire and smiled at me with a nod. I could not help to smile awkward at her for resembling mom when she did that as we entered the city.

"what are you smirking for?" she asked me.

"eh… you just reminded me of mom for a second." I giggled to her and saw she blushed from my comment and turned towards the window.

I just giggled and looked out the window. We have slowed down to almost walking speed and I could see the street was full of people working or shopping. They seemed happy and content as they walked. Tom started to fiddle around his bag and pulled out a coronet and hands it to me. Coronet is a crown for the prince to wear signaling that I was the next in line for the throne. Mom had trained me relentless on that since I looked cute in it. I made a disappointed face to Tom as I put it on.

"your mother said you would probably forget it at home, so she made me bring it." Tom giggled to me.

"I must not have hidden it well enuf." I smirk to him.

The wagon made a turn, and I could see some guards standing fully armored the wagon came to a stop and Tom waited for Charles to open the door. Charles opens the door and Tom steps out and to the side. I make myself ready to exit when he announced me.

"His Royal crown Prince Austin of Terrentil!" I heard Tom announce.

I step out of the carriage down on the ground and see the king and queen looked a little stunned at me. Mia exits the carriage and stands to my side and a little behind me. I walk over to the King and bow greeting them.

"Thank you for having me over to your lovely Kingdom King Paul of Embar and Queen Frida of Embar." I straightened up and smile to them.

"Welcome to the kingdom of Embar Prince Austin of Terrentil." Paul bow to me.

"welcome Prince Austin. We did not expect you to be this young." Frida smiled to me.

"Sorry that I did not meet your expectations Queen Frida." I smiled awkward at her.

"oh… dear no. I meant that it's good to see young people strive for knowledge Prince Austin." Frida looked a little pail at me.

"if you do not mind Prince Austin. Can we do without the royal formalities after you swear in the guards?" Paul ask me looking awkward at me guiding his hands at 10 guards and 2 maids standing lined up to the side.

"yes, King Paul if that makes my presence more tolerable." I smile to Paul and bow before walking over in front of the guards.

"I Royal Prince Austin of Terrentil ask dee men and woman to server under me granted by his Royal Highness King Paul of Embar her in Embar until I leave, or King Paul call you back to his side." I stand straight stated to them in a formal voice.

"We will serve his Royal highness Crown Prince Austin if he wishes it." They say in unisons and kneels down to me.

"I accept your loyal service. Thank you for answering my call." I bow to them until they stand up and walk over to the king.

"thank you for lending me aid King Paul and Queen Frida." I bow to them formally.

"it is our pleasure Prince Austin." Paul smiles at me and Frida smiled with big eyes to me.

"so now that the formalities are over This is my liaison and fellow student Mia from Terrentil. And my Royal knight escorts Tom and Charles." Mia curtsy and Tom and Charles bow as I introduces them.

"welcome please relax." Paul bows to them smiling.

"welcome. You must be tired let get you settled inside." Frida bows and gestured us towards the building close to us. It looks like a big mansion connected to the academy as we walk towards it.

Paul and Frida guided us inside to the biggest part of the mansion that had 4 bedrooms connected to a joined living room. It was smaller than the living room at home, but it was cosy. We sat down on the fully padded sofas and I must admit after 3 days in the carriage the sofa was like sitting on a cloud. The maids brought over some tea and biscuits and they were a little stunned that I thanked them when they handed me tea.

"this will be your embassy until you return too Terrentil Austin. I hope it will serve your needs." Paul smiled to me.

"yes. It is perfect. Um… I was expecting your daughter to join us to. Did something come up." I asked.

"um… she had to prepare for school so she could not make it sadly. But we will send her over to greet you once she have time." Frida smiled awkward at me.

"yes. I understand. School should take priorities." I smile at her.

I told Paul about the markings in the wood that we saw on the way here and Tom said that they would take an alternative route back in the morning and it would only take 2 extra days. And that they should make the road of limit until they could investigate it. I told them about the vine tree and after I informed them how high it was, they needed some days to find a better spot for it and give out a statement so the people would not be scared. Paul and Frida said their goodbye for now and went home. Leaving us finely able to relax. Mia found her room to relax a little before dinner.

The Royal Knight Mitch introduced himself as he came inside and gave a report that the horses had been stabled and given water and food. I told him to be easy with me after a long trip and take a seat. Tom informed him on his duties to protect me and Mia. and I asked if it was possible to go shopping tomorrow since the planting of the vine tree was delayed. He said that would not be a problem so long we had at least two guards with us per person. And he asked if it were possible in the future to have a day in advance for shopping trips so he could make sure that the guards got enuf sleep and so he could coordinate with the kingdoms guards.

I told him yes and that if there where illness or guards that needed free time that he was free to even wake me up if needed. And that I would try to the best of my abilities to follow his recommendations for security, but he had free rein to station them as needed. He smiled and thanked me for trusting him my understanding before leaving.

"I must say you are shaping up to be a fine king someday." Tom patted me on the shoulder.

"eh… why do you say that? I only stated what was best for security like you and dad though me." I asked stunned.

"yes. But watching over royal kids is hard for a young knight. He might have expected you to throw a tantrum if he asked for permission to control his guards. And other royal kids are not so understanding what it takes to do protection duties." Tom smiled at me.

"yes. I still remember when you sleep walked out of the house. I thought at first you had found your fathers liquor and was going to the bar." Charles laughed.

"eh… royals do that… don't they see they not only risk their own safety but there men too?" I asked stunned.

"don't ever change." Tom hugged me smiling.

"Nana might have infected you with the hugging plague." I giggle to him.

"um… would you be angry if I courted Nana?" Tom asked blushing a little.

"no uncle. Me and mom have been trying to get you two together for a long time…" I smile at him.

"I told you to chase after her…" Charles smirked at Tom.

"but I don't know if she feels the same way yet." Tom said pouting like a 3-year-old.

"she does… every time you left the room, she would glance towards you. And if you were close to her, she started blushing." I giggle to him.

"r…really. And that means she likes me?" Tom asked looking at me seriously.

Charles buried his face in his hands mumbling how dense he could be. I just nodded to him. And watched him fall back in the sofa. Staring in to the ceiling. I asked Charles if there was other means of transportation other than horse in the world. He said that horse and carriage was the most normal one. He had heard some people far south used a horse looking animal with long legs in the desert as he looked at me confused. I asked if there was any flying mounts. But he just started to laugh at me. A maid came and said that dinner would be ready soon so I walked over and knocked on Mia's door she opened it and I informed her that dinner would be ready soon. She still looked a little sad.

"oh… I have arranged for us to go shopping tomorrow if you like?" I said and smiled to her.

"really? But I thought we had too much to do tomorrow?" she looked at me with big eyes.

"I talked with Mitch and he said it would be fine as long as we have 4 guards with us. and the vine tree got delayed remember…" Mia jumped towards me and hugged me. I was a little startled, but she hurried and let go of me I could see she had a tear in her eye.

"thank you… i…il just change into something more comfortable." She smiled at me and walked back in her room.

"please don't tell me you are as dense as your uncle…" Charles held his face in his hand.

"eh… no. but that don't matter. I am probably going to be betrothed to some royal princess or something." I said smiling awkward at him.

"what? But… the deal was… eh…" Charles stopped talking.

"deal..." I asked looking at him.

"eh… nothing forget it." Charles said looking down.

"spill it." I look at him.

"all I can say is that we don't have those rules in our kingdom. We don't meddle in the affairs of love." Charles said avoiding my gaze.

"you mean i won't be promised away to someone…" I ask still looking at him.

"I though you and Mia was already betrothed. Didn't you say that they invited you over for tea or something?" Tom asked us looking confused.

"that's what you meant at the tea party when we were young!" I looked at Charles in shock.

"Tom! I told you not to say anything…" Charles looked at Tom firmly.

I just fell backward in the sofa in shock… Charles looked towards Mia's room and hurried over to me. He explained that they agreed to not meddle with us and to let things go natural. Beside we had already stated that we were friends back then… and were too young to understand what they were discussing. But then rumors spread and they were afraid that it would push us away from each other so they held a meeting at town square to get them away… he begged me not to tell Mia who would get angry at them for setting us together…

At this point I just nodded, and he sat back down at the sofa looking worried at me. The maids bring in tray of food and Mia came out smiling and sat down next to Charles. I could tell she was nervus and avoided looking at me… crap… I think she heard it… I straighten up and we eat dinner together and chatted like normal… I acted like nothing, but my head just focused on the dang plot twist…

After dinner I walked over to my room and started to unpack my luggage. One of the maids had offered to unpack for me but I just told her that it would make me feel more at home if I did myself. She just bowed and left me alone. Tom and Charles had gone to bed and Mia had gone back to her training. I just finished unpacking and laid down on top of my bed.

This reminded me of my old world when I went to college. I had gotten a dorm room at the school. But back then I shared a tiny room with a classmate. He was a loud person and he snored so I would often walk into the library to study or take naps depending on if he had extra loud days. This was by far a much bigger room… I held my tail looking around feeling the emptiness of the room.

I got to find a faster way of travel… even a ship would be faster than a horse but Terrentil was not near the ocean like Embar was. I heard Mia talk about going to the ocean for the first time and she was so excited… Mia told me that Embar only was a short walk away from the ocean and the city had expanded so much that they had built a shipyard there. Eh… that's it… if I can find a way to hold the ship in air I can travel back home to mom and yell at her… betrothed my ass…

If I use a balloon system it should float but then again… one bird pecking on that think and yep… gravity gets… gravity… I think I read something about a spell pulling something towards the user with gravity direction spell… the one that invented and tried that spell fell to his death after trying to fly holding on to a cloud with the spell then stepping of a big tower… yep. He was smart…

Anyway, nobody messed with gravity spells after he fell… I should make parachutes just in case… anyway I also read about the uses of magic stones that store a spell inside it… wonder how much I can tweak that one…

"what are you doing?" Mia asked as she sat down on the bed looking nervus at me.

"trying to find a faster way to get home so I can yell at mom…" I said still thinking of the magic stones.

"yell at her… only you would make something amazing just so you can yell at your mom…" I heard her say more nervus to me…

"how long have you known?" I just shift my eyes and look at her.

"eh… um… a while…" I saw she was wondering if she should hide it or not, but she lowered her head and looked on the floor. I just kept quiet…

"I overheard dad and Tom discus it at home, we have thin walls upstairs and they thought I was asleep… do you want me to go back home?" Mia looks at me nervus.

"no… I just want to yell at my mom for keeping secrets from me…" I smirk at her.

"aren't you going to yell at me?" Mia blushes…

"don't it bother you? I mean being promised away like that?" I turn my head and look at her.

"no. we are still young, and we don't know what will happen in the future. Beside it feels nice to know I always have someone to turn to is things gets difficult…" I see Mia's cheek blush more.

"oh… haven't thought of it like that…" I turn my head and look at her.

"I can go home if you want me to… I have packed after I heard dad talk to you…" she looks down on the floor. I caught a glimpse of a tear in her eye when she turned away.

"you would leave me alone and get replaced by a stranger…" I ask her seriously.

"no, I didn't mean that… I just… I…" she turned to try and explain to me, but tears started to go down her cheeks…

"I don't know how you feel…" she mumbled looking down on the sheets between us…

"your only seven. And I will turn seven in a week… we are too young to think about marriage and starting a family…" I say to her honestly…

"that's not what I asked…" she mumbled again and looks up at me blushing with her eyes full of tears.

"if you're asking if I would marry you or a stranger… then I would choose you…" I said blushing looking up at the ceiling…

"but you did not answer my question…" she said soft to me.

"eh… to be honest I only found out an hour ago that we were betrothed… um… and I cannot say that I am in love with you… but I like you and only time will tell if we are meant to be together…" I try to explain to her the best way I can…

"you like me…" I see she looks at me stunned.

"is that all you heard?" I asked and see she turned red in her cheeks.

"no… but you said you like me… you have never said it like that before…" she lay down next to me.

"like that?" I asked confused…

"eh… yes. like you actually considering it." I feel she hold my hand…

"what are you doing…" I look at her confused…

"feeling if it feels right… mom told me that if you hold hands and close your eyes you would feel if it was right." She explains to me looking nervus at me… I just nod and see she closes her eyes…

I close my eyes and try to feel… her hand was shaking… but it felt warm… I could see my orb glowing in the darkness… there seem to be a light forming above it. I move closer and notice that two golden fox rings had locked together and started to shine green ever so slightly… it felt warmth radiating from them. and a sweet scent came from them. it smelled different but also familiar to me. two crowns formed on top of the rings. Then a warm wave erupted and mad me open my eyes. And sit straight up in bed.

"the fox sigil." Mia sat straight up beside me looking stunned on a spot in front of her.

As I looked on her I notice her ears had changed color. They had an orange color before. But now they turned more to a golden color… Crap… I see she turns to me and look up on my ears…

"your ears changed color…" Mia looked stunned at me.

I lift my hand up forgetting that Mia was still holding on to it… I got it up to my check my ears but stopped when I notice a golden ring on Mia's hand… it was the same one I saw above my orb… Crap…

"that's the ring I saw above my orb…" Mia said looking stunned at my hand that was facing her.

I turned my hand and saw the same golden ring on my hand… CRAP…

"say Mia… what did your mom say about holding hands…" I look at her feeling I already know the answer…

"um… that it was an ancient ritual to check if the gods approved… um like if we are compatible I think. Mom used to read this love story book to me when I was young…"

"did it mention a spell?..." I ask hoping I could just break the spell…

"n…no. you just close your eyes and ask one of the gods in your head…" she looked at me confused.

"let me guess… you asked Mamma Nature?" I took my other hand over my face and …

"um… yes… was that wrong?" she asked me nervus…

"no honey… I think she engaged us… that or…" I froze when I started to think about it…

"Honey… Engaged…" Mia looked at me in shock…

I close my eyes and enter my magic orb…

"Mamma Nature!" I called out… when I did her female form appeared in front of me…

"congratulation..." Mamma flew over and hugged me.

"um… mamma. Please say that you can break the engagement…" I say as she hugs and cuddle with me…

"Engagement?" she pulled me in front of me and looks at me confused…

"was that not the ritual?" I asked stunned…

"yes. when you are without witnesses. But there was a man looking at you two. So, I wedded you. did you like my present." Momma smiled to me and held up my hand with the ring on it looking at me with big smiling eyes… Double CRAP…

"eh… yes… but she was just checking if we were compatible." I smile awkward to her.

"oh dear… you should have done it without witnesses…" Mamma look stunned at me…

"is there no way to break it of?" I ask her.

"when you ask a Goddess, you should always check that you have it right… our words are final. And we don't go back on our words… but you got a beautiful wife…" Mamma smiles awkward to me.

"oh… thank you…" I smile awkward back to her.

"she is a sweet girl… and I did check both of your hearts…" Mamma sits me down in the chair…

"but we are too young to start a family…" I say stunned to her.

"yes. but never too young to fall in love… there is a difference child. And being married is not just about starting a family. It always start with to people not wanting to be alone…" Mamma smiles to me.

"thank you mamma." I smile to her.

"remember to take your time to get to know each other… you will see that my decision was correct. Oh, before I go... your flying ship…" She smiles to me.

"I know… use gravity to hold up the weight instead of holding it down…" I smile back feeling shocked of the news…

"there you go and make me proud again." she hugs me and wave goodbye before disappearing.

I sat down and looked out into nothingness. Gathering my thoughts. Well, I just got married… I wonder if this is what they call a shotgun wedding… well I cannot break it off, and we have our entire life to figure out who we are together… well they got their wish… I exit the Orb holding my eyes closed…

"well Tom. What do you think mom will say?" I open my eyes and look to the door.

"c…congratulation on your engagement." I see Tom smirk at me.

"but w…we cannot be engaged…" Mia say looking at Tom walking towards us smiling.

"that's right… we are not engaged." I just state to them.

"w…we are not…" Mia said looking a little sad.

"but I thought the engagement ceremony went flawless…" Tom stopped and looked at me.

"yes. if there were no witnesses we would be engaged…" I smirk at Tom for peeping at us.

"witnesses… oh no… did I…" Tom fell down on his knees in front of us.

"what… I don't understand… what did he do?" Mia asked me.

"Princess Mia. Since he bore witness Mamma Nature wedded us. Have fun Telling mom…" I smirk to Tom looking more and more pail on the floor.

"wedded us… Married us!" Mia said out loud in shock.

"yes Dear Wife." I smirk to her for doing an ancient ritual.

"b…but we are too young." Mia's face redden looking at me.

"well, I talked to Mamma Nature. And she explained that a goddess's word is final… you two just made us married. She even gave us wedding rings as a gift." I just smile at them turning white as I explain to them holding up Mia and my hand, showing the rings we got.

I sit there smiling at them… No way am I suffering alone on this… plot twist… Bring it on! I am not going out without a fight…

I stand up and helped Tom and Mia stand up. And guided them to the living room and sat them down on separate sofas. I walked over to Charles room and knocked on the door. I heard he stumbled out of bed and open the door. I just held out my hand and guided him to the sofa where Tom was sitting. After Charles have sat down I look at the tree fixing my posture.

"since you tree have all been hiding secrets full knowing I have a Goddess watching over me. the implication of the betrothed has indeed ended." I say out loud to them.

"ended… you were not supposed to tell her…" Charles said but I just held up my hand waiting for him to stop talking.

"well Goddesses are not to be taken lightly and may this serve as a warning for everyone involved. As it stands. Mia did the engagement ritual on me that you and your wife teach her." I sat down next to Mia and hold her hand smiling at her. She blushed and looked down on her lap. I could see she smiled a little. Before I looked back at Charles.

"eh… yes…" Charles answered my questing look.

"well as it was explained to me by Mamma Nature herself. When you do that ritual with a witness you are wedded." I stretch my had at Tom. Charles looks at the pail Tom before looking back at me.

I stood up and guided Mia to stand up beside me.

"so, Mamma Nature wedded us and even gave us rings as a gift." I said holding Mia's and my hand up to him.

"wedded?..." Charles looks at me stunned.

"yes. From this moment, I present to you. her Royal Princess Mia of Terrentil." I stated out to them smiling at Mia who were blushing, but she fixed her posture to match mine.

"p…princess…" Charles said looking stunned.

"yes father. Next time please teach me the entire ritual. Have fun informing Queen Telly." Mia smiled at him turning pale…

I sat Mia down on the sofa and walked out to the kitchen and asked the maids if they had any sweets or cakes. She nodded to me and I asked them if they could set up a tray and join us in the living room. She said they would have it ready soon. I walked back and sat down next to Mia who giggled at me and glanced over at Tom and Charles who looked white. The maids entered with a tray and stood next to it. I gestured them to sit down. They looked confused at me but sat down on the other end of the sofa next to Tom and Charles. I fixed up two plates of cake and gave them and poured tea in cups and gave them. they looked confused at me. but they sat still as I served everybody. I sat down next to Mia again.

"sorry about the confusion. But we just got married and I thought it would be better to celebrate with more people and since we are staying here it would be rude of us not to get to know those who take so good care of us." I smile to them holding Mia's hand."

"congratulations my Prince Austin and Princess Mia." They said at the same time. I guess they are trained to expect everything.

Me and Mia sat and talked to Vicki and Molly. They were born in Embar and been trained by the royals since they were kids. we chatted for a long time.