Croak. . .

The princess's eyes shot open from the sound, throwing herself into a sitting position. Her eyesight was poor in the dark room, but it was clear that the sound was coming from her balcony. During the hot summers, Ariella (and many of the other northerners) tended to leave their doors and windows open to let the cold air in. She never thought she'd have to worry about frogs getting in!

Crawling back out of bed, annoyed, Ariella was resolved with giving the toad a piece of her mind. But when she actually saw it sitting, patiently, on the railing of her balcony, she felt her chest constrict with fear. The toad's bumpy skin was enhanced by the moon's glow, and its glistening, never-blinking eyes were unfaltering, staring straight into Ariella's soul. She had to hold in the scream that threatened to force its way out every time the frog adjusted. Gods know, Ariella didn't want anyone bothering her. "Go. . . Go away." She managed a whimper.

The amphibian was silent as it hopped off the railing, moving farther from Ariella and croaking softer than before.

"Are you trying to be considerate?" she asked, almost embarrassed at herself for trying to conversate with a frog.

"Croak," it said.

"Well, aren't you nice." A smile played on the princess's lips for a moment before falling. "You know what? I think I'm going crazy," she said, decidedly. The frog was silent, but it slightly tilted its head, and Ariella could vividly see the confusion in the frog's movements. She heaved a big sigh and said, "I'm a princess. . . who is choosing a man who just wants to spread her legs over a man who'd probably genuinely love her. Why?" she asked, throwing her hands into the air.

"Croak. . ."

"No, that's not why. I'm not picking him because he croaks. . . though, I wish he would," she mumbled, sinking down into a bench. She patted the cushion, looking over at the frog expectantly. Yup, definitely a crazy woman, she thought to herself as she did so.

The toad was reluctant, slowly hopping toward her as if gauging her reactions. He leaped the large distance between the floor and cushion as if it were nothing, though Ariella believed it was probably harder to do than the frog made it look.

Ariella continued to ramble the moment the toad landed on the bench. "Xavier is so kind, but I have goals to achieve, and I won't be able to do that as a princess. . . but my heart bleeds every time I ignore him. I feel like ripping my hair out to punish myself for being so cruel," she lamented, digging her nails deep into her thighs. "That. . . that boorish king doesn't deserve me. He doesn't deserve to be wedded to me, but what choice do I have, Hops?" Her hands flew to her face as sobs escaped her lips, though she stopped quickly when something heavy landed on her lap.

Scared frozen, Ariella peeked down at her legs from between her fingers, heart racing as her eyes met toad eyes. Hops, the nickname Ariella accidentally gave the toad, placed his webbed foot high into the air, circling it. "What are you doing?" she asked, cautiously.

The toad continued to wave its arm in circles before setting it down and doing the same with the other arm. Soon, Ariella couldn't help but slightly chuckle. "Are you trying to cheer me up?"

"Croak!"

Another soft, uncertain, chuckle. "Well, thank you, little Hops." The princess said, bravely picking the toad up and placing it down on the bench again. She had expected him to feel slimy, wet even. However, Hops had felt the opposite. His brown and dark green skin was rough and bumpy but dry. As Ariella pondered about Hop's skin, a yawn burst from her mouth as she stretched her arms into the air. "I'm gonna go to bed, but if you're here tomorrow, I'll tell you a fun story to apologize for being utterly grim," she promised, knowing well enough that Hops couldn't understand her. As she settled back down into her bed, the princess couldn't help but hope that she'd find Hops on the balcony that night.

When the northern monarch woke up the next day, Ariella Lexington felt as if the night before was just a dream. Stepping out onto her balcony, she looked around for the toad but found naught. Disheartened, the ginger royal walked over to her door, locked it, and settled down in her bed once more. She stayed in bed, dozing in and out of sleep for hours until the sudden yet rapid banging on her door became too much for her to ignore.

Swinging the door open with attitude, Ariella popped out a hip at her door's assailant, Edric. Surprised at her brother's sudden and unusual visit, the princess jumped up and embraced him, slinging her arms around his neck. "Brother! It seems like so long since we've last hung out," she exclaimed.

"Yes, well, I'm a busy man," he said, smiling widely as he pulled her away from him to examine her. They lived under the same roof, yet he couldn't remember the last time he had a proper conversation with his younger sister.

"Mmm more like a slaved man," she remarked, almost bitterly.

"Come on, Ella-bella, you know that's not fair."

"It is fair, brother. You never get a break, always locked up in your room or office. Your family deserves to see you!" She huffed.

"I could say the same to you. You've been consecutively missing out on breakfast and lunch each day. Blazing hell, Ariella, you would not even come down to dinner if not for your poor lady-in-waiting. 'Tis the only time I can see my dear sister, and she stays locked away." He huffed back, crossing his arms across his chest with an attitude to match Ariella.

For once, she had no idea what to say. He had made a good point. One that couldn't easily be argued. Instead, she decided to pull out her trump card: dodge and evade. "What brings you to my room, brother?" she asked.

"I've brought your maid. I want her to get you ready for a tea party in the gardens." He left no room for arguments. As he swung open the door, wider than before, Natti came into view. She was standing sheepishly behind Edric as if she had done something wrong. "You should treat those close to you better, Ariella," he scolded.

"I'm sorry, brother."

"I'm not the only one. Natti has been worried sick about you all day because you locked the door, and she couldn't get in contact with you."

A stab to the princess's heart. She dipped her head to her lady-in-waiting before saying a heartfelt apology to her as well. Natti accepted it with a toothy grin before getting her master fitted in a beautiful, flowing western-styled dress and sandals. Her hair was tied into dual buns, placed on top either side of her head.

When Ariella, with her maid trailing behind her, arrived at the garden party, she quite literally turned heads. The tea had already been served, some already receiving a refill from the butler. "Ariella, darling, come sit next to me!" Mortica, the Queen of the North happily gestured for her daughter.

As the princess placed herself in her seat, those around her chatted quickly to the other guests. It was just a simple gathering between the tenants within the palace. Her monarch parents were the hosts while the western delegation, monarchs, and the Lexington siblings played the role of the guests.

Edric and Xavier were in a heated battle of Snowquet. A northern game where the players go against each other, trying to knock each other's balls out of bounds. The main objective of the game, though, was to score a goal in the metal arch that got hammered into the ground at the end of the playing area. One could win two ways; by scoring the most goals or by having the most balls in bounds.

As of right then, Xavier had the upper hand on Ariella's brother, but it was really anybody's game. There was an inkling of a craving to join, which her father picked up on. A sly glint in his eyes went unnoticed until he spoke up. "Edric, Xavier," he began, "why don't you teach the princess how to play?" King Alexander asked, knowing well enough that his daughter knew how to play.

Edric knew this as well, but said nothing. He just stood proud and tall, waiting patiently for Ariella to reluctantly make her way over to him. "I hate Father." She moaned and groaned to him as a smile brightened his features. He was always angel-faced, though.

Restarting the game they were playing, Edric handed over Ariella's baby blue mallet and plastic balls of matching tones. The playing court was expanded as well with Edric hammering in a larger goal at the end of the playing strip. "Oldest first," he teased as usual, placing down his first ball made of yellow plastic.

"You always go first!" Ariella complained.

"Well, duh!" Edric exclaimed, "I'm the oldest!"

Ariella groaned but allowed her brother to play. He hit the ball hard down the middle, but it veered off toward the right of the goal. Xavier went next, plowing his black ball down the middle as well, but he succeeded in keeping his shot straight unlike his northern counterpart.

A sigh of relief escaped his lips and Ariella quipped without thinking. "What? Afraid you were gonna mess up?" she playfully mocked him.

He had seemed shocked when she talked to him, but the look quickly passed as if he hadn't been surprised at all. "Of course not," he started, "do you see how perfect that hit was?" He gloated.

Ariella laughed, rolling her eyes in his direction. "Yeah, perfect," she mocked as she placed her own ball onto the field. Her hit sent the ball flying past the goal, far to its left. Her eyes were widened in disbelief at the distance as if she didn't know her own strength. Sparring had truly been a blessing, she thought.

"And you were making fun of me?" Xavier remarked, cockily.

Princess Ariella's cheek lit up with a red hue as her ears burned from embarrassment. "I meant to do that!" she snapped, sticking her tongue out at the prince.

He laughed at her, elbowing her shoulder gently. "Cheer up, maybe you'll come in second. To me, of course."

"Oi, that would mean I'd be in third, and there's no way that's happening!" Edric added.

As the two princes snapped at each other's heels, Ariella zoned off into her own little world. One where nobody bothered her, and she could just wither away in peace. Quite frequently, the princess's mind wandered off to plains of worry and indecisiveness. Nibbling on her bottom lip and playing with her nails, Ariella seemed quite the nervous wreck. None of the party goers had to be a mind reader to be able to know what she was feeling, for it was all embroidered on her sleeves. A heavy but warm hand gently squeezed her shoulder, pulling her from her daze.

"Are you okay, dear sister?" Edric asked, looking rather concerned.

"Why of course, why ever would you ask?" She averted her eyes, watching as Xavier hit another amazing shot with his ball stopping only inches from the metal goal. He groaned, throwing his hands up in the air in anguish. A chuckle escaped Ariella's parted lips, and she had to smoothly evade his stare. If only the foolish girl had stood her ground, she would have seen the western prince's profusely blushing face and sheepish smile.

Instead, she walked to the edge of the court and placed her second ball down on the wooden plaque; a small hole carved in the center to stop the balls from rolling. With an intense focus, eyeing the projection angles for a particular ball, Ariella lined up the mallet in a rocking motion. Back and forth, back and forth. . . Back and. . . WHACK!

Standing up and smiling proudly, Ariella said, "I'm perfectly fine."

The ball shot forward, matching its master's intensity as it blitzed across the field. Target in sight and eager to please, blue smashed into black. Xavier's ticket to an easy first place smeared across the field, shamefully stopping out of bounds a foot from Ariella's first ball. Her second one claimed its enemy spot as it proudly eyed up the goal in front of it. The princess, with a smug smile, turned to Xavier and said, "I think you'll be the one seeing third if I have anything to do with it."

A serious look darkened the prince's icy eyes. "You do not want to make an enemy out of me, Miss Lexington," he threatened, though there was a hint of playfulness to his soothing voice.

She mimicked the look and replied, "Nor do you."

Now fueled by excited competitiveness, the three young royals got through the third round, leaving two balls in bound for Xavier and Ariella, while Edric had lost two of his own. Ariella had knocked her second ball into the goal, which caused her to erupt in cheers, while the two boys seemed visibly distressed. They shared hurried, hushed whispers before Edric cleared his throat.

"Dear sister. . ." he trailed off and placed down his last yellow ball, "I sacrifice myself for the greater good!" He exclaimed with loud ferocity as he slammed his mallet into the back of his ball. A streak of yellow coursed through the forest of green, plowing into Ariella's only ball on the court. They both sauntered out of bounds, earning an angered groan from the princess.

"Conspiracies! You two have conspired against me?!" She accused, glaring up at her amused brother.

"I don't remember Snowquet being a game for goody-two-shoes," he mocked, bending down to sneer at her, "I can play dirty all I want!"

"Just remember that I know where you live!" Ariella hissed.

"Oooo so scary!"

As the siblings bickered, Xavier placed his last ball and drove it down the middle perfectly, scoring a "snow-in-one". "Sorry, Ariella, but I think you just lost," he said, turning to her.

At the mention of her name, a subtle blush colored her cheeks, but his statement afterwards had her glaring up at him. Pride puffed up her chest. "I still have my last ball. It's not over until it's over," she said, dropping her ball onto the plaque with a loud thump. She concentrated hard on her last swing, using less strength than previously. All she had to do was hit it straight into the goal. Her heart clinging to her ribcage as the baby blue ball rolled through the grass, closing the gap between it and the goal.

Closer. . .

. . . and closer. . .

Until it stopped directly in front of the goal, too close for the three young monarchs to discern whether it was a goal. Edric walked along the side of the court with Ariella and Xavier trailing behind, all eager to see the outcome.

It was Xavier who had the last laugh as they stood adjacent to the goal. The baby blue ball was under the goal, peeking out just before it as if straining against an imaginary finish line. With Ariella's two points to Xavier's three, Edric claimed the western prince as victor.