Enter, Prince Lazarus!

"You can be rather annoying at times-- Always having to help you..." She sighed dramatically and slouch in annoyance as they reached the door to his room. 

She opened the door and walked over to his bed, dropping him onto the sheets. She sighed and walked over to the chair in the corner, flopping into it. "You're really heavy-- are you feeling a little better at least? I don't wanna carry you anywhere else."

As she sat in the chair, she admired his room. Her servants quarters, although it was fairly above average, was nothing compared to this mansion he called a room. She sat in the chair as he rearranged himself, studying him. She could see something in his eyes, although he was in obvious pain, she could see a glint of something else he was trying to hide. It was almost as if he was enjoying the care she was showing him.  

No, I don't know you...yet. "Consider this payback. You was worst," he stated just before they entered his room.

 His room was a room fit for a king, instead of a prince. The theme were blue and white. The crescent moon was engraved in the form of mini statues, paintings, along the blue curtains, his king size bed spread and twelve pillows, even the floor and ceiling had the symbol. 

Hopping toward the bed proved to be more exhausting then the prince cared to admit. The long walk had tired him, but he wasn't regretting the walk at all. Being able to be close to Iyana again was his sole reason for putting himself in pain. Now he just needed to come up with more ways to annoy her into loving him. 

Dominick pulled himself into a sitting position. He heard Iyana dramatic fall into a chair. Such a drama queen. He pressed lightly on the side of his stomach.

Yep, she did manage to fracture a few. "That's really to bad," the prince said in a causal tone. "I enjoyed carrying you around. You fitted perfectly into my arms. Do me one more favor, my honorable princess."

 He turned his gentle gaze in her direction. A smile on his face. "Grab the first aid kit out the the bathroom. It should be in the bathroom closet."

 He turned his gaze to his shirt. He began to slide his white silk shirt over his head. The prince knew how to treat his own injuries due to extension training before his capture by Iyana's father, and later he was able to put his training into practice after hurting himself several times and treating other members of Iyana's staff. 

Iyana sighed softly as he told her to get the first aid kit, standing up slowly. She walked into the bathroom, admiring the state that it was in. It was rather large, clad in tones of blue and white, much like the rest of the castle.

After tugging his shirt off, he frowned in annoyance at the injury. "This will take awhile to heal." He knew he would have a hard time performing his duties, but he would have to bear with it. 

She caught her image in the bathroom mirror and stopped for a second. Her hair was starting to fall out of her once-neat bun that was placed at the top of her head. She sighed softly and took all of her hair out, letting it fall. She turned around and noticed how much it had grown since she was taken from her kingdom, it was a few inches longer now, falling to her mid-thigh. She pulled it so it draped over her shoulder gracefully.

I'll braid it later... She thought, walking over the the closet in the corner of the bathroom. She opened the door and looked up and down the shelves until she found the kit.

She walked into the room and stopped, examining his shirtless figure. His well-built, muscular chest proved to be a distraction. She blinked and walked over to him, sitting on the corner of his bed. "You really are enjoying this--aren't you?" She asked, opening the kit.

Focus on his injury, he muttered to himself. His face frowned in pain as he had once again pressed the tender area for the second time to see how tender it was. With Iyana approaching at the side of his, he glanced at her momentary. A second look had assured him of the very thing that was different about her: her hair was hanging loosely in front of her. 

 Dropping his gaze, he felt slightly flushed. He wasn't sure rather it was from the injury or Iyana. The latter he was a bit more sure about. Taking out the required items he needed, he returned his gaze to her.

"Enjoying what, princess?" He flashed her a mischievous smile. He returned his gaze to his injury. After applying all the necessary treatment, he began to unwrap the tape. 

 Sitting on the edge of his plush bed, she studied her hands, suppressing a rising blush that threatened to erupt onto her face at any second. At his words, he glanced up and was taken by the smile that spread across his face. She looked down again and muttered, trying harder than ever to get rid of the heat rising to her cheeks, "You know perfectly well..."  

Pausing, his smile turned into a grin. "Hey." He lightly tossed Iyana the wrapping tape. "Take some responsibility, and wrap that tightly around me. It must be tight." He shifted on the bed until his sat Indian style in front of her, waiting patiently.

Why is he so attractive...? She asked herself, cursing. It was something about his personality, the way he acted-and she was sure his looks played a part in it too-that let off an attraction that she couldn't quite resist. Not that I'd ever admit it... She kept in the thoughts until his voice broke the silence, she whirled around and grabbed the tape.  She saw his smile and sighed, scooting towards him. "Like you aren't perfectly capable of doing this yourself..." She mumbled. 

He did know what she was talking about. He enjoyed having the princess do things for him. In his mind, he had pictures her loving them or will love them soon enough."Nope. I'm a helpless prince. You're stronger, remember?" He said happily.  

She began to wrap the tape around his wound, her hand brushed his chest and she fought back yet another blush, doing all she could to avoid eye contact with Dominick. "Umm..." She stammered, "This is a really nice... bed... room...?" She said, trying to start up some kind of conversation to break the ever-so-awkward silence.

 He watched Iyana begin the simple process of covering his injury. He studied her face, the part he could see as she focused on the task. I wonder if she ever done this before? A warmth entered his eyes as he felt her fingers brushed softly against his skin. 

Her face still retained a certain glow, despite the trauma she's has been through. No blush. I was at least hoping to get that. He frowned a little with the thought. It's been a year or more, since he last seen the princess blushed. The blush haven't been for him at the time, but now that he had her to himself. He hoped he could see it. The nervousness in her voice brought him from his inner sulking. "My bedroom?" The comment surprised him, at least coming from her. "I guess it's nice. I haven't been here in five years..." He trailed off, his mind thinking-remembering. 

Iyana continued wrapping the tape around his torso.

"This room is too big for me. It's fit for two people. My parents always wanted the best for me, much like yours, only they're a bit extreme. I actually prefer the room I was assigned to back at your palace." 

The comment about his preference took her by surprise and she glanced up at him, finishing off the wrapping.  

His smiled again. "If you like my room so much: you can always join me." He teased fondly. "Though my future fiancee may disagree." He chuckled.

 Iyana couldn't stop the blush that erupted onto her face. She looked at him for a few seconds before looking down and ripping the tape, rather harshly. "Umm... yeah," She said, pushing her blush back down. The comment got her good, and she couldn't help, but chuckle slightly, although the future fiance comment kind of threw her off. She never really thought that Dominick would belong to anyone else. She felt a spark of jealousy that she couldn't quite explain.

Yes! The second he saw Iyana's blush he was grinning from ear to ear. His grin short lived however with a rip of pressure had him wincing. "Couldn't get on any tighter?" He commented and relaxed his body a little.

"You always know what to say, Dominick... but what would your mum think about me outside of my servant quarters at night?" She said slyly, looking up at him.

Truth be told, she wouldn't mind staying the night in a marvelous room like this, but she wasn't one to admit something like that. She tore off the tape and ran her thumb across the last strand to ensure that it was on tight.  
 Returning to observing the formal princess, he smiles returned. Her question was one that made him both dumbfounded and happy. Was she consider staying? "Well, she would first give me an ear full on interacting intimately with the help. My father will congratulate me later with a pat on the back, but if you want to stay. I hold the power to say who leaves or remain in my room." He took her hand, which had finished pressing the tape into place. He covered her one hand with his other. "My decision to allow you to stay or not has one condition. One would have to ask me to stay." He tilted his head slightly. "Well, Princess?" Ask me, Iyana. Just ask. He gaze intensely into her beautiful face.

Iyana blushed softly as he took her hand but pushed it back down, personally she hated her blush, it bugged her. However, she couldn't stop it as her hand felt good in his. His soft but callused hands were pleasing and, despite her usual behavior, she didn't pull away. She looked down slightly and bit her lip. 

Dominick's gaze remained on Iyana. He barely noticed that the change in her behavior. For, he was accomplished to seeing this side of her in small bits and pieces at random times back at her kingdom. This expression of hers was something he always found to be intimate between just the two of them. Nervous-that's a good thing. The biting of her lower lip was a sure sign that she was either nervous or uncertain about something. He wasn't sure if her hesitant was good or bad. Did she really hate him like she has stated numerous times, since he stole her from her home?

 "Umm... I suppose that, um." She said sheepishly. She glanced up and stopped when her eyes met his, she loved how they almost sparkled when the light hit them just right. She smiled slightly and ran her free hand through her hair.

Just as her gaze met his, he remained unchanged for fear that his smile or comment may frighten her enough to rebuke his invitation. When she smiled, the corners of his own begin to form a smile. A smile in which he kept in check. However, her next words made him more happy than he had been the pass few days.  

"Dominick," She said quietly, "Would you let me... Um, stay... tonight?" She wasn't exactly sure how to word it perfectly, and it came out rather awkwardly, but at least she got her point across. She blushed again and looked down, not sure how to act in this type of situation. Is what I'm doing right? She wondered to herself, I mean... Her train of thought stopped as she looked up at him once more and got lost in his eyes.

 I can't believe she... The thought interrupted with her gaze. She was clearly waiting for an answer. He grip tightened lightly in her hand. A small lift and a pull, he leaned toward Iyana. "You don't know what you're asking, do you?" 

She held his gaze and waited for an answer expectantly. How she was acting was so unlike her, it was surprising. Her demeanor had changed drastically in the few days that they had been here. She mentally scolded herself for becoming so... soft. She ought to change that. She's becoming nothing like the Iyana she knows...  

Those thoughts continued to swirl around her brain as she waited for him to answer, although she was fairly certain what the answer was going to be. As his grip around her hand tightened, she felt her train of thought melted away, and a blush rose to her face when he leaned closer. "I suppose I don't know what I'm asking..." She said softly, leaning a little closer as well.  

He smiles before continuing. "I would be most honored." His head angled slightly to the side. Just as his lips came inches closer to hers, the door flies open with a bang.

 Her heart began to beat slightly faster as his lips came closer to her own, only to be startled with a loud bang. She quickly pulled away and suppressed her blush.

"Hiding from me! "The strong voice of a male roared.

Dominick's gaze darted in annoyance as he pulled back. "Go away. I'm busy," Dominick said coldly as he released the princess's hand. To Iyana, he sighed softly. "Can you get me a shirt from the closet? " He moved to stand, as the new presence makes his way over to the prince.

Long blonde hair, green eyes, and a lighter complexion than Dominick,  Lazarus had returned from an oversea expedition after hearing that his close cousin had returned. "And I see you are flirting with the help?"

She pulled her hand back and stood up at Dominick's request, coolly walking to his closet located in the corner of his room. She looked through the selection, almost laughing at the things his parents expected him to wear. She shuffled through the shirts as she listened to the brief conversation. She took a shirt out and walked over to Dominic's bedside, an amused smirk played out on her face. Flirting... right.  

"What I do is my own business. I think I told you to get lost." He glared at the other as he held out a hand for the required item.

She handed him the shirt and studied Lazarus, she could definitely see a resemblance between the two. She remembered the other servants talking about the King's nephew returning from an expedition... this must be the so called Lazarus. She wanted to say something, but decided against it considering she could get in serious trouble for speaking out against a royal. She simply stood at Dominick's bedside. An innocent look hid her sarcastic demeanor as she watched the conversation unfold between the two. 

Lazarus watched as Iyana. Wonder who she is to have Dominick taking such an interest in her. Ah, well he'll tell me just what trick he's up to once she's gone. Maybe I can even get a good laugh.

Taking the shirt, Dominick glanced at Iyana, pondering what she was thinking about. He shoved his arms into the shirt with as little movement to his damaged ribs as he tried to suppress his irritation.  Lazarus, meanwhile, was beaming with joy. His cousin's temper was always something he enjoyed.

"I came all the way here to see the captured prince of the Crescent Moon."

Iyana watched Lazarus with quite amusement. She could get used to being around him, he reminded her of one of her relatives from back home. The thought saddened her slightly, although not as much as it should have.

"You want to tease me or mock me?" He turned to Iyana, whom trance of thought was broken by his closeness, where he stepped in front of her. Facing her, he said. "Button my shirt, please."

She grabbed the edges of his shirt and began to button his shirt together. What's your game, Dominic? She thought. You're being so open with Lazarus.

Lazarus snickered. What are you trying to hide from me, cousin? He fold his arms across his chest. "No. I only wanted to welcome you back."

After she finished, Iyana stepped back again, but this time kept a slight smile on her face. They definitely were an interesting pair. She found it hard to imagine them playing together when they were kids.

Dominick sighed irritatingly. His eyes closed for a few minutes, before opening them. "Alright, cousin. Let's talk." He smiled gently at Iyana. "Your invitation will have to wait until later, princess." He frowned a little, but continued with his small talk, despite  Lazarus watching the two. 

"Its too bad to because I was going to make you regret defeating me. Until later, I guess." 

A light blush colored Iyana's cheek, causing her to avert her eyes.

He reached over and took her hand, holding it for a few minutes before letting go. "You may go now."