Walking right around without a care. (for firsttsurugi)

[justifiedhime]

With an accomplished smile gracing her lips the Princess and Heir to the throne of Seyruun signed off the final document with a flourish, her signature quite possibly the only pleasing sight upon the dull-looking parchment. With the quill set aside and the rest of the papers gathered together she tapped the bottom of it against the desk to tidy

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Two Weeks Later . . .

[firsttsurugi]

"Embrace your dreams..."

The royal guard quirked their heads in mild confusion to the blond's words. They had concluded their day of training just now. He had been working with them for about a week now...if he was keeping track of his days correctly. He needed something to do, after all. And something to take his mind off of the potentially very real fact...the very blunt reality, that he very well might have not been returning home anytime soon

[seyruuned]

It had taken a bit of persuasion, but after finishing all of the required duties that involved tending to state matters ahead of schedule, the Princess of Seyruun was granted permission to take leave of the castle for some time in favor of taking to the castle grounds. With a gracious bow of her head and a warm smile on her lips, Amelia was soon hurrying off down the halls and through the stairwells as quickly (and royal-like at that) as she possible could without attracting too much attention

[firsttsurugi]

"... I'm awake," he spoke softly, smiling behind closed eyes. Cloud was often aware of his surroundings, even when relaxed. It was the life of a hardened fighter that molded him the way that he had been. He was prepared for anything, could sense that someone was near...but a hunch told him that there was nothing to worry abut as this person stopped by.

It was just them for now... Talking, staying silent, sitting there beside her as he let the day drift by after helping the royal guard... It mattered not to him.

It seemed like she needed a break from her duties too. A Princess to the end, maybe she had found the time to just be Amelia for him. Just as he could just be Cloud for her.

[seyruuned]

A gentle warmth touched her cheeks as she smiled, almost sheepishly for just that split second

[firsttsurugi]

As she hoped that she wasn't disturbing him due to his need for rest, he blinked up as if she had grown a second head or something. Rest? ... From that kind of training session? No offense to the guards, but he wasn't exactly from this world as far as swordsmanship was concerned. Instead of voicing that, however, he merely opened his eyes ad shook his head. "MmMm. I wasn't resting. Just relaxing." How sweet it was, how she just wanted to see him.

No obligations unlike Atia... Just to see him. Just to see her. As Amelia's eyes drifted upward, so did his. The patches of light and shadow felt good...and the sun wasn't even in his eyes. All he could see...all he could feel? It was light. If he could help it...he'd hang onto that. For as long as he could.

"Thank me enough?" he sounded honestly perplexed by her statement. He was...well accustomed to the kingdom by now. Living in a castle, no collar, peaceful moments, peaceful days despite the times he longed for home. With Amelia here? A friend met and salvaged in Atia, and deepening

[seyruuned]

It was a conversation that could only end in the two of them going in circles and it was enough to earn a giggle from the princess, her fondness for the soldier only growing.

The friends she made were ones that were kind and true. Ones that she knew she could count on no matter what - Miss Lina, Mister Gourry, Mister Zelgadis - all of her dearest friends she treasured far more than the entire Kingdom's treasury combined.

"I suppose we both have a great deal to be thankful for, don't we?"

[firsttsurugi]

"And a lot to make up for," he outwardly mused.

[seyruuned]

Again the Princess looked up at the tree branches, this time closing her eyes as a gentle breeze caused the leaves to flutter and strands of her violet hair to brush against her cheeks. It was such a simple moment in time, but comforting none the less, just as much as this spring day was for her.

"But more than anything, I'm just glad that you're all right, Mister Cloud. I was worried about everyone on Atia when I came back home and I couldn't help but hope that the others were somehow able to return to their homes, their families..."

The sunlight that did manage to shine through the branches bounced off the gems on her wristbands just as another breeze passed their way.

"I know this is not a world you are familiar with but I promise that we will find you a way back to your loved ones."

[firsttsurugi]

"Seems wherever I go, I have to leave something behind," like loved ones. He didn't shout his proclamation for the world to hear, but there was a rule in life that he always stood by, accepting his destiny to fight. It would never end, but it was his own fault for carrying the burdens as he did. The legacy of heroes...it'd continue on. For Cloud? It was difficult to think he left people behind in Atia, and so the same went for here, if he ever left this world too...

"I pity you. You just don't get it at all. There's not a thing I don't cherish!"

"I'll miss you when I go," he said as if it wasn't much of a big deal to say. The dulled metal of the wolf on his shoulder pauldron seemed a little brighter under the peeks of light that shone through the branches...

[seyruuned]

"I would miss you too," Amelia responded without even missing a beat.

And for that split second that followed, just the thought of the swordsman leaving the kingdom brought a pang of pain to her heart. One of her hands rose to rest over her heart as she looked down once more as she scolded herself mentally for even thinking something so selfish.

[firsttsurugi]

"... Amelia?" he looked over to see the look of burden upon her face, the hand over her heart. With a bit of a grunt as he sat more upright against the tree, he shifted, focused on her with an elbow resting on his knee. "You okay?"

[seyruuned]

At once she snapped out of her thoughts and lapsed into a sheepish laughter, her hands waving it away as her cheeks flushed in embarrassment. "Oh, I'm fine, really!"

[firsttsurugi]

"Amelia..." she had done this to him a few times already while he had been here. Though he never pried, merely speculated. He held his gaze firm to her, brilliant mako-infused eyes trained on her as if seeking out her feelings deep inside.

"..."

[seyruuned]

The Princess felt her cheeks grow warmer. She never could look away whenever Cloud looked at her like that, only meeting his gaze with her own innocent shade of blue.

"It... it's nothing..."

She never was a good liar.

[firsttsurugi]

And in a surprising move, after another moment of silence dragged itself out between the two, Cloud reached forward, a hand gently placed upon her shoulder as he smiled light.

"I know you don't want me to go."

[seyruuned]

What was once red was now a rather vibrantly bright shade of red spreading across her cheeks. Why om Seyruun was she acting in such a way? Swallowing hard she did her best to smile warmly at him despite the increased beating of her heart.

"I shouldn't think like that though. It's so selfish of me to want you to stay here!"