Finding Strength

Gifts Bestowed

** Jessica's P.O.V **

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Ritty was here!! Here best friend Ritter Pierce, Crown Prince of Donagon was finally here!

It had been a week since her parents told her about the arranged marriage, that was the important thing General Lovell told her they needed to talk to her about that afternoon when he found her laying in the forest. Her best friend was her future husband. When she turns 16, she will be married. Her ladies in waiting put her in an emerald green dress embroidered with silver dragons in an attempt to make him like her at least a little. It had a boat neck line and didn't show the little bumps on her chest that indicated she was starting to become a women and should expect full blown puberty soon.

Her hair was intricately braided with pearls and pulled into a bun, hoping to make her look like the princess she seldom acted like. She was truly excited and blushed at the image in reflected in the mirror. Ever since learning that they would be married, she was filled with insurmountable joy. Had she always had such feelings towards him? Perhaps, and today was the day he would hear the great news!

"I'm so happy I get to see him, this is going to be the best birthday ever!"

She beamed with joy as she turned to her brother, who had entered after she was at least in her dress and having her hair worked on.

"Just remember that you need to save the news for dinner tonight, let his parents tell him. Hopefully he will take it well."

Nathaniel stated as he smiled over at his adorable little sister.

"Why wouldn't he?! This is great news!"

Nathaniel's smile faltered as the servants gave him a worried look, shortly before he cleared his throat.

"Ah. Yes. Well.. not everyone is overly fond of the idea of an arranged marriage, some prefer to marry for love."

He answered with a strained smile, hoping she'd understand. But then.. she was taught that this was all she could hope for in life, unlike men who usually had a say in their prospects.

"Love...? Do mommy and daddy love each other?"

She asked inquisitively, having never given the subject of love much thought before.

"Err... I'm sure they're at least fond of each other, but I doubt they loved each other when they were married."

This conversation was getting more and more uncomfortable for him, but he wasn't just going to blow off her questions like so many others did.

"Do you love your girlfriend?"

Jessica asked suddenly, making the eldest of the servants gasp and look over at Nathaniel with an accusing look.

"Your highness! A girlfriend, really, do you your parents know?!"

Nathaniel's face flushed beat red as Jessica giggles, earning a glare from her brother before he cleared his throat.

"Erm. Yes, I think I might love her. I planned on officially asking her to court with the permission of her parents and mine..."

The elderly servant put her hands on her hips as all focus was now on him.

"Nathaniel Tannar Cloudsinger. If she's of noble blood and you've done something to ruin her purity, you better take responsibility and marry her before her parents complain to yours!"

He nodded quickly and looked to the side, clearly embarrassed.

"Yeah, well anyway... don't mess this up Jessica, this is your only chance of marrying someone decent when you're older."

Jessica frowned and looked at her reflection again, suddenly a little jealous of her brother.

"I will make mommy and daddy proud."

***

Ritter's P.O.V.

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Ritter tugged at the neck of his shirt that hugged him a bit too tight, making it feel suffocating. He hated royal affairs and would much rather be training with the other soldiers, training his dragon, or sleeping. The only thing that made this bearable was that he'd see his friends, Nathaniel and Jessica again. Honestly, no one made him smile more than the princess. She was too kind, but she was a welcomed breath of fresh air compared to the usual noble kids he met. As crown prince, he was held to a standard that often left him feeling emotionally drained at the end of each day. It was something he and Nathaniel had in common, allowing him to feel like he wasn't alone in the matter. He craned his head to look for the pair of pale blue eyes that he was searching for and found them at the other end of the hall. Gods, she was wearing such a pretty dress, would she be able to do anything fun in that? Her eyes met his, which actually happened to be a bright emerald green that stood out against his tanned skin from being out in the sun all the time and his chocolate colored hair that had been combed and styled to look more like a prince and less like a guy who tended to sweat a lot in the sun. Being young that he still was, his build was slender and lean with the promise to fill out later when his body caught up to his growth spurts.

Being 14, he recently discovered a love of large t**s. The image definitely helps when he tries to deal with his morning wood and the random hard-ons he'd get when the breeze blew just right. Have you ever tried to address a commander with a random tent pitching in your pants for no reason? Talk about humiliating. It was like it wasn't enough that his voice would randomly crack. Still, despite the stark lack of jugs, Jessica was looking rather cute-

Ew. Gross. Stop it.

He mentally slapped himself for thinking that way about his best friend, but it was too damn late. He didn't have to look down to know that his little pecker was betraying him again. What was worse? She was heading this way!

Shit, s**t, s**t!

He had to do something and quick, before he had to go answering why his pants were looking funny. Panicked, he adjusted himself so that it would lay flatter and thanked the gods that his father let him wear baggier pants despite all of his mother's fussing. At least now it wouldn't be so glaringly obvious.

By the time she came over, he had regained his composure and gave her a tense smile.

"Hey there, Jess!"

He greeted her questioning gaze as she eyed him.

"Hey Ritty! Are you okay?"

Ugh. He hated that nickname. He tried to get her to stop calling him that on so many occasions, but he eventually gave up. He sighed and rolled his eyes.

"Yeah, I'm fine. This shirt is just buttoned too tight, that's all."

He heard her giggle and offered her a smile as she held out her hand.

"Let's go somewhere else, then! then you can unbutton your shirt a little and breathe."

Her offer definitely sounded much better than loitering around here.

"Sure, where were you planning on escaping to this time?"

This outta be good, she usually picked some cool spots.. like the beach!

"The mines!"

What?! Did she just say the mines? That was new...

"Any particular reason?"

He asked, raising a brow at her. It wasn't like he wasn't interested, he just wanted to know why she picked that place of all places.

"I met some nice kids whose parents work there! They said if I visit, they'll give me one of the gems they mined because apparently it looks different before they're made all pretty."

She explained as she took his hand and started to lead him out.

"Hmm... That does sound pretty cool..."

***

Jessica's P.O.V.

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They picked their way through the mines with a miner's help, until they finally came across the kids that she had mentioned.

"Diane! Nicholas! I made it! I brought my friend, I hope that's okay?"

She, the princess, asked commoner children whose parents worked in the mines. That was simply the kind of person she was, even though by birthright she could invite whomever she pleased.

"Of course!"

Diane beamed as she pulled out a chair that was set next to a simple table with a cream colored cloth over it. Asmeirians mined differently than other nations, thanks to their gifts from the gods. They didn't have to hammer away at stone until their hands bled to get the ores they wanted. Most of the miners here were actually very gifted in the element of earth, some even had some extraordinary sub elements! Diane and her brother Nicholas had parents with such sub elements, they were able to manipulate crystal. This family of geomancers weren't the kind that would stand out at first glance, with rather ordinary features and ginger hair. However, get them to show you their abilities and the next thing you know, you're staring at a garden of crystal flowers of varying colors. These miners send a sort of shock wave through the stone to "see" what sort of minerals lay beyond before deciding where to lead their tunnels next. So, naturally, Asmeiria isn't lacking in the riches department. A lot of the gems they mine are then enchanted by bored housewives to make trinkets, like a ring that glows so you don't have to carry a candle around in the middle of the night and get wax everywhere. Asmeirians enjoyed their creature comforts, like showers and self moving carriages. They shared what they knew to Donagon, but they didn't rely quite so heavily on these pricey magic stones. Instead, they researched the things that Asmeirians made work with their magic. They learned simple indoor plumbing, they learned minerals like copper were good for channeling lightning. It was a strange mix of magic and science that was ever changing with their close relationships and young Asmeirians testing the limits of the powers they were born with.

Diane set a few rough looking stones that looked strange compared to most rocks. One was dull, dark green and jagged. Another was pale blue and white, looking like a rough version of the moon. She lay at a few others, but these two were the ones that drew the attention of the two royals.

"Father said I could keep these; but since you've been such a great friend, I wanted you to have one. You can have one, too, your highness!"

Diane addressed Jessica and Ritter before they looked over the stones. Ritter took the raw emerald stone and Jessica decided on the aquamarine. She contemplated her choice before handing her Aquamarine over to Ritter.

"Here. It kind of looks like my eye color, right? You should keep it so it reminds you of me!"

Ritter smiled and took it, before handing her the emerald. He found the gesture to be quite endearing and decided to follow her lead.

"Then, take my emerald for the same reason. It's only fair."

This made her heart flutter a little as she took it and held it close to her chest.

"I'll treasure it, always!"

At this moment, Nicholas made a gagging sound while Diane was admiring the scene.

"Ugh. Gross. Take that mushy s**t outside."

Diane gasped and whipped her head over to her brother.

"That's a bad word! I'm gunna tell dad you cursed in front of the princess!!"

Nicholas paled at that and shook his head vehemently while waving his hands.

"Gods, no! Don't do that! Please don't tell!!"

Diane contemplated it for a moment, before giving a mischievous look.

"Fine... but only if you come play tag with me!"

"Uh... I can't, I really should be--"

"FATHEEEEERRRR!!! NICHOLAS-"

"I'LL GO!"

He sighed in defeat as Jessica giggled, and a burly ginger haired man that was clearly the father of Diane and Nicholas came over and gave them an exasperated look. His gaze landed on the royals in the break room and prayed silently to the gods that his son didn't do anything shameful as he gave a quick bow to acknowledge them.

"What did your brother do this time?"

He inquired, shooting a glare over to his notoriously mischievous son.

"He said he'd play tag with me, can he take his break and come play?"

She asked, keeping her word about not ratting him out if he agreed to play tag.

"Only for a little while, and then he needs to return for training.

"Yes papa!"

Diane hugged her father tight and started to clean up her things on the table.

"Can Ritty and I join? Tag sounds like so much more fun than a stuffy party in the palace..."

Jessica asked, earning smiles from both siblings.

"Yes!"

"That would certainly make it more fun than just playing with my slow-poke sister!"

Nicholas agreed as his sister elbowed him.

"Then it's settled; the forest, or the gardens?"

Ritter added, wanting to select a good place to do this.

"The forest. The flowers in the gardens make me sneeze a lot."

Admitted Nicholas as the group started to make their way out of the mines.