#lokexaries

((So by fluff I took it as the term you use when the couple is being all cute and such and also the mattresses are supposed to be fluffy like Aries clouds only not pink, hope you enjoy!))

It all began on a stormy evening; the ruler of the Celestial Kingdom was busying himself with his many stacks of paperwork while his son was flirting with one of the maids again. It was just how every day went in the castle until a soft knock was heard at the door, barely a sound, almost unheard if it wasn’t for a maid walking past the giant doors of the castle. Even then she hardly registered the sound until about the fifth consecutive knock.

“My, my, at this hour?” she asked herself pulling one of the double doors open to discover a young woman with pink hair soaking wet staring at the ground.

“My heavens! Goodness, get inside dear, you’ll catch a death of a cold!” the maid said pulling the young woman inside.

“I-I’m sorry…Please help me, my coach, it fell over and, and the driver, he, he…” the young woman softly yet frantically said unable to finish the sentence grabbing onto the maids arm.

“It’ll be alright now. Now what is your name?” the maid asked smiling kindly at the young woman. The pink haired girl seemed to relax at the gesture and smiled a little.

“I am Princess Arielle Ramulus of the Aries Kingdom, ma’am.” Arielle said looking a bit bashful, “I’m sorry…” she apologized looking down.

The maid was taken aback, she didn’t expect a princess to be soaking wet and looking so tattered.

“The Kingdom of Aries?! That’s all the way across the continent, why on Earth would you be all the way here?” The maid gasped now coddling the princess.

“Come Milady, I’ll show you to the king.” The maid hurriedly said pulling Arielle along.

“B-but, but…” Arielle stuttered as she got pulled along trying to make herself look as presentable as she could be.

“Don’t worry deary, the king may seem scary but he really is quite a softy, it’s the prince you have to watch out for,” the maid said turning towards Arielle with a wink, “he’ll steal your heart with a simple grin.” She went on as Arielle blushed a little. - “Your Highness we have an unexpected visitor.” The maid said standing straight next to Arielle who was trying her best to look regal and royal as she was taught, but found it hard due to her growing fatigue. The king looked up from his stacks of paperwork to look at the two women in front of his desk. His face was stoic and he had an aura of authority about him, Arielle shrank a little feeling nervous.

“I-I’m sorry for any, any trouble I may cause you, I am, I’m Princess Arielle Ramulus of the Aries, Aries Kingdom.” Arielle stuttered out bowing feeling her face light up with embarrassment.

“My coach and driver were lost in the storm as the made a turn…I was lucky enough to escape, but, but the driver wasn’t…” Arielle said solemnly, looking down as she rose ashamed feeling it was her fault for the death of her driver, “If I may request your hospitality for the night, I wish to rest as the coach was lost between the Fiore Kindom and your Celestial Kingdom my Lord, I’m sorry.” Arielle apologized looking down still.

“The Fiore Kingdom! That’s a 5 day journey! Your Highness we must let her stay!” the maid exclaimed.

“Silence Gertrude.” The king stated as he stroked his long moustache that seemed to defy gravity, “My dear princess, of course I-” the king said but was interrupted by the prince.

“Father I have something I must discuss with you…” Prince Leo stated as he barged through the doors of the king’s study, he seemed to lose focus on the question as he stared at the soaking woman in a frozen awe. The pink-haired princess was in a similar state staring at the prince in awe, a small blush forming on her cheeks.

“Of all the-Never mind, Son this is Princess Arielle Ramulus of the Aries Kingdom.” The king said moving towards his son who was still frozen in awe.

“Leo, say hello!” the king whispered into his ear as he nudged Leo a bit to get him to move. Leo stumbled at the surprise force against him and found himself in front of the princess.

“My-my lady, it’s, it is a pleasure to meet you’re a-acquaintance. I am, I’m Pri-pirnce Leo of the Celestial, Celestial Kingdom.” Leo awkwardly got through as he took Arielle’s hand and bowed, giving it a small peck. The awkwardness was not missed by his Father as he gave a look of interest, Gertrude had a knowing smile and walked over to the king as Leo got up and both young adults looked anywhere but each other with a slight blush on both their cheeks.

“My Lord, if I be so bold, I dare say those two are in love.” She spoke quietly smiling all the way.

“I do believe you are correct, but if he were to marry her, how could I know that she is a real princess?” the king whispered back as the two young adults kept making awkward eye contact with each other.

“I know just the test your Highness, I will place a pea under 12 fluffy mattresses and if she wakes up with a sore back she’s the real deal! Any real princess should be delicate enough to feel something like that.” Gertrude explained as they both looked on at the lovebirds who now had faces as red as tomatoes.

“Brilliant plan Gertrude, see to it that the pea get under the mattresses.” The king praised and dismissed her to fulfill her plan.

“Ah, my dear princess Arielle as I was saying before our interruption,” the king gave a pointed look to Leo, “I shall grant your request and allow you to stay here for the night.”

“Thank you for your kindness, I’m sorry if I caused you any trouble.” Arielle curtsied in respect.

“Leo my boy why don’t you be a gentleman and show this young lady to her room.” The king suggested with a smile that was almost sly. However Leo appeared to be too giddy about it to care, he offered his arm to her, which she accepted with a sweet smile, and they left through the wooden doors.

“Don’t fret my dear princess I shall see that you arrive to your room safely.” Leo dramatically said walking away from the door, he knew what his father was doing but paid no heed; he could court her without any help from him. Arielle giggled at his dramatic flair and boldly, to her consideration anyway, leaned her head on Leo’s shoulder. He tensed up a bit but relaxed.

“I-I’m sorry, am I too forward Prince Leo?…” Arielle apologized but received a chuckle.

“You’re fine, I like it, besides you can call me just Leo, no need to add ‘Prince’.” Leo said with a bashful smile. Arielle’s blush deepened at the sight of his smile.

“Y-you can call me Aries then,” she said just as bashfully but smiling still, “I was sort of named after my kingdom so my nickname is Aries.” Aries said looking away embarrassed.

“That’s cute, I like it, Aries.” Leo chuckled a bit as they kept walking down a great hallway lined with statues of guards in shining armor.

“Th-thank y-you.” Aries said blushing even more, her heart was beating like a humming bird’s.

The couple continued to walk until they reached one of the tall wooden double doors, as the ever gentleman Leo opened the door for Aries allowing her to walk in. A fire had been started beforehand and the warmth of the room was well welcomed to Aries, she quickly walked to it to warm up her soaked form.

"Thank you Leo for bringing me safely to my room." Aries smiled at Leo, she then noticed his side was wet, "Oh! I’m so sorry! I got your clothes wet from when you guided me! I am so sorry I shouldn’t have walked so close to you!" She exclaimed worryingly looking over him.

"No, no it’s fine! I’m okay I’ll live!" Leo chuckled walking over to her, he then grasped her hand and bent to kiss it.

"Goodnight, dear Aries." He bid farewell and walked out through the doors. Once he left Aries noticed her sleeping arrangements, a bed with 12 fluffy mattresses on it. They looked as soft as a cloud and just as fluffy as one, walking around the bed’s perimeter to examine it she didn’t see Gertrude walk in.

"Milady I have brought you some clothes for you to sleep in." She said walking around the bed to find Aries.

"Gertrude!" Aries shrieked in surprise, "I-I didn’t hear y-you…" She said trying to calm down.

"My apologies Milady! But I bought you some clothes to sleep in so I may dry the ones you have on." Gertrude apologized as she gave the nightgown to Aries.

"Thank you." She said taking it gladly, "A-and would you m-mind helping m-me out of my d-dress and corset." Aries bashfully finished looking down.

"Of course my dear! You don’t even have to ask!" Gertrude cheerfully said going towards Aries back to help her out of the many layered dress she wore that was now heavier due to the rain. "Now Milady I also have brought a ladder to help you up to the top of your bed." She finished as she took the last layer off and was now working on the laces of the corset.

"Oh, u-um, thank you…?" Aries questioned, "May I ask why I have 12 mattresses? It’s very strange-I’m sorry! I don’t mean to insult your hospitality!" She quickly said feeling ashamed for her insult.

"Oh no offense taken deary!" Gertrude laughed off, "the king just thought you might want some extra bedding after traveling so far!" She explained.

"Oh, I see, how thoughtful! I must thank him in the morning." Aries cheerfully said and breathed a sigh as the corset came off, she then put on the nightgown she was given.

Once she was properly dressed for bed Aries found a ladder leaning against the bed for her to climb, she wearily climbed it as the exhaustion came back to her from the rush of feelings she got from Leo. She smiled as she got into the bed remembering his over dramatic actions; as she tried to get comfortable she kept feeling a lump on her. No matter the position she felt the jab of the bump and couldn’t fall asleep, it was going to be a long night for her. - “Milady it’s time for you to dress for breakfast.” Gertrude cheerfully said as she opened the doors and walked straight to the curtains to let in the morning sun. Aries groaned as the light burned her still opened eyes, they were rimmed with dark circles from lack of sleep and her back hurt from the lump in the mattress that never went away. She slowly climbed down the ladder to the floor where she turned to face Gertrude only to regret it as her balance was thrown off and she had to hold the the bed to stabilize herself.

"Milady! You look exhausted!" Gertrude exclaimed as she started to fret over the princess, she secretly rejoiced though as she knew that this young woman was in fact a true princess.

"You should stay in here to sleep more dear." Gertrude ordered as she shook Aries a little to wake her up.

"What?! I’m sorry I’m awake!" Aries said startled as she looked around in shock.

"Go back in your bed deary, I’ll tell the king you came down with a little cold." Gertrude smiled kindly as she helped Aries up the ladder who was too tired to remember the night she just had on the bed.

"…What?…Okay…" Aries tiredly replied in a mumble and climbed the ladder back up. Gertrude quickly dug for the pea from under the mattresses so Aries could actually sleep, she deserved it.

"I can’t wait to tell the king!" Gertrude squealed quietly as she closed the curtains and left the room while Aries went straight to sleep as soon as her head hit the pillow. - “Ah Gertrude! Where is Miss Arielle Ramulus?” The king asked as he was served his breakfast.

"My Lord the princess of the Aries Kingdom seems to have caught a tiny cold and will be in her room for the rest of the day." Gertrude said with a discreet smile as she emphasized the word "princess".

"What? Aries is sick?" Prince Leo asked looking a bit panicked, he stood up abruptly and practically ran towards her room much to the pleasure of his father and Gertrude.

"Well it appears that two kingdoms will soon be joined together, send out a message to the Aries Kingdom of what has happened." The king gladly ordered as he began to eat his breakfast.

"Right away your Majesty." Gertrude replied walking away to send a messenger happily smiling. - Leo was in front of Aries room in seconds and knocked on the door, he received no answer and knocked again only to get the same reply. His panic grew and he opened the door and went straight to the ladder to make sure Aries was alright. As he reached the top he saw the sleeping form of Aries, she had just fallen asleep a few minutes ago yet she was unconscious to the world. And even with her hair all over the place, her drooling and small snores, Leo thought she was still the most beautiful thing he ever saw.

"Good morning my princess," He quietly whispered and smiled as he climbed into the bed with her. He wrapped his arms around Aries protectively and cuddled up to her, she in return snuggled up to him.

"Leo…" Aries mumbled in her sleep, she had a small smile on her face and Leo felt for the first time what it was to be in love. Engulfed by the fluffy mattresses that they lay on and holding Aries in his arms Leo slowly drifted off to sleep with her.