You Must Find One

I walk down the hall towards my father's office, Liam walks behind me sticking to my tail. Father had summoned me to talk with him yesterday, about something he wouldn't say but I had a feeling I knew exactly what.

I open the door to his office and walk in, Liam bows to father before entering the room to follow me.

"Ivory," he says with a smile," please sit."

I do as he asks sitting in the chair across from him.

"What is it you wanted to talk to me about, Father?" I ask pretending not to know.

"My dear, I'm not getting younger, you know this. Your almost 20 years old, you need to get married. I let it go on the back burner after the James' incident, but it's been a year and a half, it's time. If I were to die tomorrow this whole castle would break into chaos."

"I know, I just," I don't say anything as I study the carpet under my feet.

It had been a year and a half, in few months it would be my birthday. The third anniversary, since the James incident. For me it was still so soon, but Father was right.

"Dear," he says, and I look up at him," I know that it's not ideal, but I will never marry you off. I just want you to make a decision, at least have an idea. You don't even need to get married this year, all I ask is that you find someone who will get engaged to you before I am unable to rule."

"Yes father, as you wish."

"Oh and," he adds," you don't have any work this month, I want you to focus on this."

I was surprised, a month was a long time for him to not have any help," if it is what you wish,.. I'll be on my way."

"Goodbye dear," he say.

"Bye father," I walk out the door Liam following me.

"You know," he starts," I'm always available if you aren't able to find anyone," Liam says with a smirk.

He has been slowly eassing into his old habits. He did well after he learned, holding back on it, even now he is still careful of what he says to me.

"I'm sure," I say," you never give up do you?"

"Nope," he says," I doubt you'll have any trouble finding someone willing. There are more people than you think," he says with a sigh," it's only that I'm just the most upfront."

"A blessing, and a curse," I say.

"Story of my life," Liam sighs," you got to be thankful to whoever left me on in the woods as a baby, it really helped shape out my messed up personality," he says as a joke.

"Liam, everything happens for a reason. If you didn't get left then, where would you be now?"

"Probably working on a farm, married to a woman who would pail in comparison to your beauty."

"You say that as if I'm supposed to be the standard."

"You're my standard."

"Well then you better think about lowering the bar a little. If you want to be married."

"I'll think about it after you marry," he says.

Today I had to go watch the guards train, but even if I wasn't supposed to work, I was going to take the time to watch so I could think.

"Liam," I say shifting my eyes over to look at him.

"Yes Ivory?" He answers with my name witch I had gotten used to over the past year.

"I need to talk with you and Cloud later today about something."

"You can tell me now if you'd like," Liam says," we can always go to Cloud later and then talk."

"As much as that would be convenient, this is something I'm only going to say once, it also needs to be a private discussion between the three of us."

He looks suspicious before he opens his mouth," did something happen Ivory?"

I avert my eyes, I was always bad at lying, which wasn't a good quality for someone of my status.

"Liam," I hesitate," we'll talk about it with Cloud."

As we walk outside towards the guards dorms, I feel myself shiver. I cross my arms over myself to try and keep warm.

"Are you cold, my lady," he asks formally since we were now outside and it was hard to see who was lessoning.

"I'm alright, it's just a bit chilly today."

He unclips his cape from his armor and wraps it over my shoulders,"there, that should help."

I can feel the small burn on my face, I look away my hand blocking his view of me. If anyone say this right now, their mind would probably jump to wild conclusions. I can hear him chuckle at seeing me embarrassed.

"It didn't make you to hot, did it my lady," he teases.

I push him away a little since he invited himself closer to say that to me.

"You're such a flirt Liam," I say trying to look as unfazed as possible.

"Yes, I'm sure that's what my lady would call it."

My face falls a little when I see the tree in front of the guards dorm as we passed. I never walk here because every time I see one of those trees I think about him.

"My lady?" Liam ask causally.

"I'm fine really Liam, don't worry about me I'm only thinking."

We arrive after the walk to the open courtyard used for the guards to train in.   Standing off to the side dueling with some trainees was Cloud.

"Come, let's go talk with him," I say to Liam as we walk across the field.

As I walk people notice me and drop to a knee as I pass. I didn't want to make a scene, but I guess it can't be helped. I get to Cloud who hasn't noticed me yet since he was faced away.

"Cloudio?"

He snaps around and instantly, and was about to kneel to me, but I take his hands.

"No need for that please stand, I'll only bother you for a moment."

He stands, then I see him look to Liam's cape around me, then he looks to Liam.

"Of corse my lady what did you need from me?"

"I need to talk with you privately later tonight."

"As you wish my lady," he bows.

He was always formal with me, always a calm mask he used to hide his emotions away. It was hard to read him, the older he got the more shut off he became and I never under stood why.

"Thank you for your time," I say before I walk off with Liam.

Liam stays quiet until we leave the area," oh that's right, my lady."

"Yes Liam?"

"A package arrived for you, I think the woman said it was a dress for the ball tomorrow."

"Good, I was starting to get worried that it would be late."