"A-alright. I'm trying to be more open to things though. Even if sometimes I feel uncomfortable around you, I don't feel unhappy," he admitted. He offered Kirin a small smile.

"I am glad you aren't unhappy." He said smiling. He gave Cain's hand another light squeeze.

Cain kept smiling, but after a few seconds he reluctantly pulled his hand away. "I wonder...is it time to go? It feels like we've been sitting here a long time."

"It probably is." He said with a slight pout. He really would rather spend the day with Cain then go back and deal with what he knows he has to deal with

"Then we should really go! We don't want some guards coming around to find you and ruining our time together anyway," Cain exclaimed. He had been having a good time, but he was a firm believer in not staying too long at a good point. It always broke if you did, so one should leave while things were good.

"You're right," He said with a smile. He paid for their meal leaving a generous tip for the waitress. He stood and offered Cain his hand.

Cain rolled his eyes. It seemed like Kirin was always offering his hand every chance he got. He took the hand though and smiled. "Hopefully the meeting won't be as bad as you think."

"It will probably be worse." He said as they headed out of the tavern.

Cain laughed as he followed Kirin, although it wasn't a laughing matter. Really, Kirin's attitude was so much like a kid's though. "You shouldn't think like that!" he exclaimed. "Think always, that life can be so much worse. It can. That way you see the silver lining everywhere."

"I hate these kinds of things. I never wanted to be king." He said as they walked slowly back towards the castle.

"Really?" Cain asked, surprised. Although he had noticed that Kirin was the rebellious type, he didn't think he'd hear outright that he hadn't wanted to be king. "I guess I can understand that, but it seems to me that you're a very good ruler."

"I have been told that," He said with a small smile. He let out a sigh. "Sorry I don't mean to dump all my worries and complaints on you."

"I don't really mind. I'm sure I'll end up dumping my share of worries on you at some point. I don't dislike hearing all I can about you," Cain said.

"I am glad." Kirin said with a smile as the entered the castle grounds. He seemed to walk a bit slower as he didn't want his time with Cain to end. He is greeted by many people on their return walk.

(OOC: Would you mind being the princess during the meeting? You can play her anyway you want.)

((sure))

Cain stayed close to Kirin until they were finally back to the castle. He knew Kirin had to go, so he didn't stall though he wanted to. "Good bye. I'll see you after your meeting," he said with a smile before he turned to head back to the rooms.

~~

Annika surveyed the castle with bored eyes. She was meeting with the king here about marriage, though she disliked the idea of something so stuffy. Still, it was a requirement and she headed to the room where the meeting was to take place, her two male attendants following silently behind her.

Aaron, Annika's father follows close behind. He was there to make sure this happened. He was furious that the young king had denied his proposal in the first place. He also knew that his daughter wasn't into this whole arranged marriage thing but it was what it was.

Malika, Kirin's mother is in the meeting room waiting for her son to show. She hoped that he wouldn't bail, she knew king Aaron wasn't a patient man. That was the main reason she was here, to help her son deal with King Aaron.

Kirin got Cain settled into their rooms, he changed into a nice outfit heading to the meeting room. He really wasn't looking forward to this.

((wasn't the mother's name Mathilda?))

Annika and her father made it to the meeting room before Kirin did. The princess nodded her head to Kirin's mother then sat down with a bored and slightly haughty expression on her face. She could feel her father's gaze on her with a fire-like intensity. Her probably knew that if he looked away, she would disappear. The alliance with the dragon kingdom was most important though and she always knew from the start that she would not get to choose her husband. When the young dragon king did make it to the room, Annika smiled out of habit. "Good day to you. Shall we start this now?"

(oh yeah forgot I had named her)

Kirin walked in and looked at the young princess of the neighboring dragon kingdom. He wasn't sure he liked her attitude. "I am sorry to keep you waiting." He said with a slight bow.

"And just what were you doing?" King Aaron said his anger just below the surface. "You should have been here when we got here."

Annika reached over and placed a hand on her father's arm, trying to calm him. "Daddy, don't start yelling so soon!" She admonished softly with a sigh. It was going to be a long meeting. She turned her attention to Kirin. "We don't mind the wait, but let's hurry and get this sordid affair over with shall we? Are we getting married or not?" Her straight forwardness was grating but she was like this only because she didn't want to be here.

King Aaron did his best to reign in his temper, though the young king wasn't making it easy."It seems your father wishes us to be married, and it would make good political sense." Kirin said doing his best to keep his emotions in check, though that had never been his strong suit. Malthida watched her son, she was very proud of him. He was proving himself a great king.

King Aaron relaxed slightly with Kirin's words, but he was still irritated. At least it sounded like the young king would go through with the wedding though.

Annika had to refrain from frowning. Part of her had been hoping that Kirin would refuse because she had no right to do so herself. This marriage would be better than any of her other choices as it were though. "I see. That is good then. It truly is a smart marriage," she said with a polite and emotionless smile.

"And it seems as if it isn't what either of us truly want." He said softly. Though she hadn't shown any emotion he could still sense that it isn't what she wanted. Before King Aaron can say anything he goes on. "Would you like a tour of the castle?" He asked Annika with a smile.

Mathilda was very proud of her son, he was handling himself very well.

Annika smiled a real smile for the first time since the meeting had started. She was glad for the excuse to get away from the stuffy environment of the meeting and the gaze of their parents. "Thank you. That would be most pleasant," she said as she stood back from the table. She quickly headed for the door before he father could find some objection to this.

Kirin followed her. She was something else all together, and he found it strangely attractive. Though he would readily admit that he was glad to be away from her father.

Once outside, Annika breathed a sigh of relief, then paused before turning to face Kirin. "Although you said that you were as uninterested in this marriage as I am, you're staring aren't you?" she asked out with a slight smirk in her voice, though her eyes showed only mirth, not haughtiness.