Wearing Away Nightmares

It was only a few minutes from Adrastos' place to the park. The driver parked the car at the entrance and walked out to open the door the royal couple. Aurelie got out first and looked around the park. It was a nice day to be out. She was finally going to have a walk and she was happy. Jet lag was killing her at the moment. Around the park was people playing music, artists drawing and people selling things.

As Aurelie waited on the Prince, she spotted an ice cream seller. She smiled and waited quietly. The driver came up to Aure and asked the regular questions. Aure answered back the same way. She smiled as she listened to some of the music playing.

She smiled when he came over. But was even happier that he was getting ice cream just like her. She gave a little jump up and down and told the seller, "I would like strawberry cheesecake please! Thank you Adrastos." Then the seller nodded and fixed their orders. In a matter of minutes, he was done and handed the ice cream over. Aure took a bite into her ice cream and gave a satisfied smile.

She walked away from the seller and began to walk with Adrastos, "So I hear that you were given a welcome speech at the University today..." Aure was certain that Adrastos was going to ask where she heard it from. But before he asked, she said, "I heard from my sister, Magali. You know you're number fan." She giggled, for Adrastos knew what she was talking about. Magali, or Mag for short, knew almost everything about the Prince. And she fanataized that she was going to marry Adrastos one day. Aure took another bite of her ice cream and giggled some more.

She giggled as he said something about Mag. She couldn't help it, "Yes it is scary. But you have to remember she's only 9. And if she saw me now with you... boy I would be dead in a matter of minutes!" She walked the paths and was enjoying the music and mingling of the other people. But most importantly the company and warmth of Adrastos. But what bothered her the most was that some of the people that were mingling was ones that were talking about them. They knew them the Princess of France and the Prince of Greece. It's a rare sighting and people were taking it in.

Aure turned her attention back to Adrastos. She gave a weak smile, "I have but I gave up on that years ago for I thought you didn't like me the same way. But I don't dream of ever afters, to be honest with you I fear love... I feel like I'm the one that will mess everything up. Sorry..." She took another bite of her ice cream and her face began to turn red and it was looking toward the ground. She look absolutely cute at the moment.

Aure looked up to Adrastos. She wasn't meaning to be cute but it happened. When he tried to lean in for a kiss and got a nose full of ice cream, Aure giggled. She got some napkins and began to help the Prince. Once done she said, "You're so clumsy and don't try... cause I'm not going to kiss you..." She joked while repeating the phrase he just said, "Then again..." Aure tip-toed and kissed the Prince. Once done she noticed that he still had some ice cream on his face. She took her finger and took it off and then ate the ice cream. She smiled and giggled.

This moment could last a lifetime in Aure's book. She felt safe by the arms of the Prince. When they were this close she could smell him, sense him and feel him on the emotional level. The world around them was frozen and wasn't there. It was just the two of them.

When Adrastos faced Aurelie she looked into his eyes, "I want to say 'more'. But we have to be honest Adrastos it is fast but we've known each other almost all our lives. Why not say 'more'?" She smiled and cupped her hand on his cheek, "I love you too. I've loved you for years..." She then put her finger on his lips, she giggled, "I love it when you babble when you're nervous." She kissed his cheek.

"That's a yes to more, Adrastos. And don't worry you're not coming to strong. I didn't answer your question." Aure smiled and then found a trash can for she was done with her ice cream. Near by was a few people playing guitars and they actually sounded good. She came back over to Adrastos and smiled some more. "Do you want to sit somewhere or continue walking? Maybe we can look at some of the things people are selling. To come to think of it I have to buy Mag something... I promised." She began to think of what to get, her mind was racing but nothing was making sense of gifts at the moment. The only thing on her mind was Adrastos. "You know, I'm trying to think about something to get her but my mind is completely filled with... you." She blushed.

She laughed with him as he put his arms around her. Aure laughed even more when he made his joke, "You know if I found a complete clone of you she would perhaps be the happiest girl in the world. And the best sister." This was her joke. She looked at the things just as Adrastos did but that brass jewelry didn't catch her eye until Adrastos pointed it out. She gasped a little, "This is perfect! Thank you!" She messed with the jewelry and found a ring, bracelet, and necklace match and said to the seller, "I would like to buy these please. How much?"

"Nothing ma'am." He said.

"Are you sure? They have to cost something!" Aure said politely.

"Yes, I'm sure. The cost is nothing for the Princess of France, a great ally your country is." The man said. People began to gather around. They knew somehow this was the Princess and Prince walking around them.

"Well, thank you about this and my country. But please take this money. Please..." Aure begged him to. And finally he did. She was relived. Aure looked back to Adrastos as they continued to walk. "That was close..." She said with a smile.

Aure was just as surprised as Adrastos was with the crazy woman. Soon both of them wouldn't be able to breathe. Next thing Aure knew was that she was taken from the woman's arms and tossed about some college guys. Each one grabbing her waist and pulling her close to them. Her eyes widened as she saw what was happening. Although the Princess knew they were drunk by the smell of them.

Then one of the guys got a good grab of her. He pulled her in too close and said, "Ah.. the Princess of France! You're a pretty one aren't you?! Why don't you give me a kiss?!" The guy began to pull her in more and more. Aurelie screamed and yelled, "Adrastos!" But she couldn't see him for the guy was keeping her face straight with one of his hands. His other hand around her waist and now clutching her butt. Aure couldn't move, the drunk college guy had a good hold of her. The Princess screamed again.

It was close. The college dude's lips were just centimeters from Aure's. She was trying her hardest to push from him but her strength wasn't enough compared to him. When Aurelie heard Adrastos yell it was music to her ears. And soon she free from the guys grip. She was thrown down to the ground by the college dude and she remained there. She didn't watch what happened to Adrastos for she was massaging her jaw and her butt. Once the college dude's left Aurelie looked up to Adrastros and she stood up. She went over to him and put her arms around his waist and she began to cry into his chest.

"I was so scared... I really was..." She paused and gave a sniff and a smiled to the Prince, "Why is it that you're always saving me? My knight in shining armor..." She then pressed her forehead into his chest and she remained there.

Aurelie took a step back from Adrastos. She then stood still. She found the boys running off and were scared for their lives. But Aurelie wondered why... but she was also giggling in a way too because of their running. Aurelie looked up to the Prince and gave a grin. She remained quiet and gave a nod to his sentence.

She walked along side him in silence. She wanted to say something to him but her mind wasn't working quite as well in the past couple of minutes. Occasionally Aurelie looked up to Adrastos and then back to the ground. This moment was nice but she was wondering why the crowd was keeping their distance. Normally that didn't happen. But since Aure didn't see Adrastos she didn't know what to think. Thankfully music began again and the silence wasn't as bad.

Aure smiled up to him, "Mag is fine. And yes is her chirpy self. She's being her normal self, crush on you, I'm her idol, school, friends, so on and so on." She took a pause and took a deep breath. She then looked around too. The crowd of people were backing off. After Adrastos said his words, it was Aure's turn, "Yes, very awkward." Aure looked to the sky, clouds were coming in and thunder could be heard from miles away. "That's odd, how the weather changed so quickly. Maybe I'm just not used to it hear yet..." She grinned then.

"Oh the rain isn't so bad..." Aure said with her hands behind her back, clasped together. She looked up to the sky with a smile on her face. Then she began to speak, "It's odd how life works out. Since I was little I've always loved water. And I never knew why, until five years ago on this very day." She took a breath and continued, "Finding out I was the reincarnation of Akemia was the scariest thing I ever found out. But once I knew everything made since. About how I have always loved water and I could never escape it." She giggled and felt several raindrops begin to fall. Aure moved one of her hands and soon none of the drops were hitting either of them, "There now we won't get wet for several moments."