My eyes lit up as Blake led me out the door to a stone path way that led down to a wooden dock, but I couldn't tear my eyes from the bluest of blue water, that moved and flowed with so much vigor that white foam was forming on top "we have much grander entrance and exit but this is the closest to the throne room."
"Interesting." I muttered entirely entranced by the ebb and flow of the water that just kept going until the giant gate surrounding the back of the castle blocked it's path momentarily before continuing out to the horizon "that's…."
"I know" Blake said and his voice seemed so far away "it's something else." I looked up at him and he gestured to the stairs deciding to the wooden dock "would you like to get closer?"
For once I didn't bother to hide the excitement, and instead let him guide me to the dock which, like a lake dock, had a slight sway to it. However, unlike a lake that was relatively calm and quiet, unless there were boats on it, the sea in front of me was loud and active, with not a boat in sight.
I glanced down at the water and clenched my fingers momentarily before pulling back, "what's wrong?" Blake asked from behind me. He had let go of my hand so that I could get closer to the water but he was still there.
Resisting the urge to bite my lip, I looked back at him attempting to ignore the guards and my maids even farther behind him.
"I want to touch it but that's not very Princess like."
"Neither is it Prince like but I understand the impulse." Blake admitted smiling before gesturing down the dock ramp, "there are stairs down there that lead to a beach where we can do an unprince and unprincess like thing and touch the sea."
A hopeful smile touched my lips, "but to make it more prince and princess like we can talk as we walk."
My smile diminished slightly as I remembered my mission, "I suppose that is something we should do." Blake made no comment on my failing smile and instead held his arm out to me again. I tucked my arm inside of it and let him guide me across the dock.
"So what's it like being a Princess?" Blake asked, and I glanced at him out of the corner of my eye to see him smirking.
"What's it like being a Prince?" I bantered back, my smile returning slightly.
"Touche, but I asked first."
I nodded then reluctantly admitted "quite underwhelming most days" before taking a breath and proceeding into the lie "needlepoint, meeting with ambassadors, and volunteering at the orphanage."
"That doesn't sound underwhelming. Well maybe for a prince but for a princess that sounds quite normal."
"Met a lot of princesses have you?"
"Unfortunately. I am almost glad that to have the opportunity of arranged marriage."
"Almost?"
"Well the arranged marriage wouldn't have happened if not for the war and-"
"-And the war my father started was just plain wrong." Blake didn't say anything in response, and I was glad that this was one thing I didn't have to lie to him about. However, as he was helping me down the stairs he looked up at me "I can't say for your father's reasoning, but I can say that war is never an easy choice, for any monarch, including your father."
My mouth dropped open slightly as I fought my surprise for a response, but before I could offer one he was looking back at the steps making sure it was safe for me to continue to descend.
Who was this man I was to be married to?