Arrangements

Ryan looked in the mirror one last time before heading down to the throne room. His future bride would be arriving soon.

Anna woke up and looked out the window of her carriage. The land was full of browns, oranges and reds. Much different than her home country. She sighed as she could see the castle off into the distance. "I sure hope he isn't some kind of horny perverted jerk that will only make an object out of me." Anna said to herself. After some time the carriage entered a gate and pulled up to the castle coming to a stop. A few moments later a servant opened the door and held out a hand to her. She carefully stepped out of the carriage and was lead into the castle.

Ryan paced back and forth nervous. "What if she is a spoiled brat or, or everything to be handed to her on a silver platter and everything to be perfect?" He sighed as he continued to pace around the room. He heard a bit of commotion from outside the room and quickly stopped. He turned as the door opened slowly and a beautiful young woman entered the room. He smiled as he approached her.

She smiled softly as she stood in front of him her long red hair falling down her back. She wore a long maroon gown, revealing much of her chest, with a detailed necklace tight round her neck. "My god he's gorgeous" Anna thought to herself. He stood in front of her his long dark hair about his shoulders, with a deep blue collard shirt and loose fitting pants.

Ryan reached down taking her hand he pulled it up and kissed it softly, her hand warm in his. "You much be Anna, I am so happy to have you here." He smiled at her warmly.

She bushed slightly as he kissed her hand and smiled back at him stareing into his light brown eyes. "I expect that you are Ryan then?"

He laughed softly. "That I would be." He looked around the room quickly then back at Anna. "Would you like to walk with me out in the gardens?"

Anna smiled and nodded. "That sounds nice."

He offered her his arm and lead her out to the gardens sending the servants away. "Well first off I would like to apologize on behalf of my parents, they couldn't be here and wont be for about another week. They had business to tend to in another country."

They continued to walk threw the gardens making small talk. As they came to the pond in the middle he lead her to the bench and offered her to sit down. Pulling her dress forward she sat down. Ryan sat next to her and looked out at the pond. There were two ducks swimming together at the other end. He looked over at her and smiled. "So what was your country like?"

“There is a lot of green” Anna laughed softly. “Everywhere you go there are trees and flowers. The air is filled with the aroma of the flowers. I’ve actually grown to dread the flowers and their sent. I have allergies and I’m always stuffy and sneezing. I can’t stand it. That’s one of the good things I noticed about your country. About and hour in I cleared up and I can breath. It’s so nice to be able to breath for once.” Anna laughed softly. “So do you enjoy the colors or do you dread them because you have to see them all the time?”

Ryan smiled. “I like the colors actually. I also get my fill of green here in the garden.” He leaned forward resting his elbows on his thighs and looked out at the lake letting out a small sigh. “It’s so peaceful here. I usually come here when I just need to sit and think, or when I just need to get away from it all.” He leaned back as he ran his hand threw his hair, pushing it out of his face. Ryan looked over at Anna and smiled softly. “So would you like to see the rest of the castle?”

Anna smiled softly. “Of course. That would be nice so I don’t get lost.” She laughed softly as she gathered her dress so she could stand up.

Ryan laughed with her and stood up offering her his hand to help her up.

Anna took his hand standing up then linked her arm back in Ryan’s.

They walked back into the castle threw the ballroom. “Well as you can see this is the grand ballroom. Over there are stairs that lead to the second and third floors of the castle. Although this place looks big it really isn’t. For the most part the rooms are rather large. On the bright side though you don’t have to use these stairs to get upstairs. There is a second flight of stairs at the end of the hall.” Ryan lead Anna out of the ballroom into a long hallway. “To your left is the library and too the right is the grand dining room.” He opened the door to the dining room and allowed her to walk in first. There was a long table in the middle of the room lined with chairs. There was a rather large picture hanging on one of the end walls and two doors at the opposite end of the room. Ryan walked towards the doors at the opposite end of the room holding on open for Anna to go threw. The people in the kitchen stopped what there were doing and looked at Anna and Ryan.

A heavy round face gentleman looked up and smiled. “Ah, Ryan how are you my lord?”

Ryan smiled. “I am great, thank you. Boosto I would like you to meet Anna.”

Boosto smiled at Anna, bowing slightly. “I have heard much about you. Welcome. If you are ever hungry or in need of a snack don’t hesitate to come down here and help yourself. Young Ryan here spends a lot of time here.”

Anna smiled. “I will keep that in mind.”

“So Boosto what do we have for dinner this evening?” Ryan asked as he wandered over to a pot on the stove slowly lifting the lid and peering in. “It smells good.”

Boosto smiled. “Only your favorite stew master Ryan.”

“Is it ready?” Ryan asked as he walked back over next to Anna.

Boosto nodded and sent them out of the room. “I’ll send some out for the two of you in a couple minutes.

Ryan opened the door for Anna as he thanked Boosto. He walked over to the table pulling a chair out for Anna and taking the seat next to her. Moments later a servant walked out setting glasses in front of them and poured wine in each of them. She was closely followed by another servant with a bowl of the hot stew for each of them. Ryan picked up his glass holding it in the air as he smiled at Anna. She quickly caught on and did the same. “To a great future.” Ryan said as he tipped his glass slightly towards Anna.

Anna nodded as she gently tapped her glass against his and taking a sip of the wine.

Ryan too a sip of his wine before setting the glass down and picking up his spoon and dipping it into his stew. Taking a bite he smiled. “This stew is amazing as always. Boosto does such an amazing job.”

Anna took a bite of her stew and nodded in agreement. They made light conversation as they ate, laughing softly. Once finished a servant came and took their bowls away. Ryan stood up and smiled at Anna. “Shall we finish our tour?”

Anna smiled. “Yes that would be really nice.” She allowed Ryan to help her our of her seat as she wrapped her arms around his. Opening the door for Anna she walked back out into the hallway.

Ryan looked around. “Ok so that was the kitchen and the grand dining room. The next two doors on your left lead you into the dining room and then the kitchen. On your right we have a rather large bath house and restroom followed and linked to the pool. It is one of three indoor pools in this country. On the left is the study followed by the door to the basement and last but not least the stairwell to the next too floors. But first…” Ryan pushed one of the two large doors leading to the pool open and stepped inside behind Anna. “This is the largest room in the castle.” There were numerous large bay windows wrapping around the room allowing all the sun light to come in and light the room during the day. “Sometimes I like to get up before the sun rises and come down here to watch it. it’s a really beautiful thing to see if you haven’t ever seen one.”

Anna smiled. “I’ve never watched the sun rise. You’ll have to bring me down here to watch it with you one morning.”

“I think that might actually make it more enjoyable.” Ryan smiled at her softly. “Well all we really have left is up stairs now.” He followed Anna out of the room pulling the door shut behind them. He walked a couple feet ahead of her and went up the flight of stairs. Coming to the second floor he stopped. “This floor is usually for our guests. There is a rather nice sitting room at the end but no one ever really does anything on this floor except clean it.” Ryan turned and headed up to the third floor of the castle. Once he was finally at the top he walked out into the open room. Anna followed close behind him looking around shocked as they entered the third floor. Ryan walked over to the big bay window and looked out at the country side. He rested his hand against the frame along side the window looking down below. “I usually spend much of my evenings up here. I love watching the sun set.”

Anna walked over to the window and looked out at the country side. She stepped closer to Ryan. “This really is a beautiful country.”

Ryan smiled. “I’m glad you think that after all one day you will rule this country at my side.” Ryan rested his free hand on the small of Anna’s back.

Anna stepped closer to Ryan leaning into him slightly. She smiled softly as she felt his hand slip around and rest on her hip.

Ryan noticed that Anna was getting more comfortable around him and moving closer. He slowly turned to face her and wrapped his arm loosely around her. He ran his hand threw her hair gently caressing her face as she stared into her eyes. He trembled as he leaned in and kissed her gently on the lips. He pulled away slowly as he blushed a deep red.

Anna reached up and caressed his warm face as she smiled up at him gently. She took a step closer to him and ran her fingers threw his hair gently. Stepping up on her tip toes she leaned in to kiss him once more, feeling an explosion of butterflies in her stomach.

Ryan quickly pulled her body against his and held the kiss for moments longer. Pulling away from her slowly he smiled. “So…would you like to see your room?”

Anna slowly released Ryan. “My room?…Oh yeah of course we wont sleep in the same room until after we are married. How silly of me to forget that.”

Ryan smiled. “Actually it will always be your room. It allows you to have your own space and a way to get away from the world.” Ryan took her hand and lead her to the first door on the right side of the hall. He slowly opened the door and allowed her to enter the room first.

Anna looked around in amazement. “This room is much bigger than the room I had at home. I love the colors. Who decorated it?” Anna walked around the room looking. There was a large closet on the right side of the room and a very large bath room on the left.

Ryan smiled from ear to ear. “I’m glad you like it my mother had it redecorated just days before she left with my father. If you ever want to change it feel free to do so, after all it is your room.”

Anna walked over to Ryan and hugged him. “Thank you.”

Ryan hugged her to him and smiled. “Your welcome but you really should thank my mother when she returns. So would you like to see my room?”

“Sure.” Anna took his hand and followed him out of the room.

“Oh and over on that side of the hall is my father and mothers rooms.” Ryan pushed open the door to his room and walked in with Anna following close behind him. “I’ve been in the mood to have it repainted lately but I don’t know if I want to go with a deep blue or a light shade of grey.” He walked towards the windows in the corner of the room. “I actually used to have your room at one time but after we had the garden put in I changed rooms. I really enjoy being able to look out over the garden from up here.”

Anna smiled. “It sounds rather silly but I’m not one for having a lot of windows in my room. I kind of like the dark.” Anna sat on the edge of Ryan’s bed and looked around the room. “I think you should go with a deep blue.”

Ryan nodded in agreement. “Well I don’t like a lot of light in my room either that’s why I have theses.” He tugged lightly on the ropes holding the curtains a back allowing them to cover the windows and darken the room. He walked over to the bed and sat down next to Anna. “So what would you like to do now?”

Anna sighed softly as she layed her hand gently on top of Ryan’s. “Actually I wouldn’t mind going to bed right about now. It was a really long trip and I’m still rather tired.”

Ryan nodded and smiled. “Okay no problem. If you need anything at any time of the night my door is always open. Just feel free to come in and wake me up.”

Anna nodded and stood up from the bed. “I will keep that in mind.”

Ryan quickly stood up opening the door for her and following her out of the room. He stopped in front of her door and hugged her lightly then kissed her on the cheek. He pulled away from her slowly smiling. “Good night my princess.”

Anna quickly leaned into Ryan and kissed him softly on the lips as she wrapped her arms around him.

Ryan smiled as he kissed her back, wrapping his arms around her and holding her close. He slowly pulled away from her and smiled.

Anna smiled as she pulled away. “Good night my prince.” We opened the door to her room and went in closing it behind her. She opened her closet to see that her things had been all put away and organized for her. She pulled out a short white night gown and busied herself with getting her dress off and undoing her corset. After a short time she climbed into bed and pulled the warm blankets around her quickly falling asleep.

Ryan smiled as he walked out to the lounge. He paced around the room a bit thinking to himself. “What if I can’t be as good of a husband as I want to be or I can’t make her as happy as she should be.” Finally he threw himself on the couch and let out a long sigh. He looked out the windows at the setting sun as he slowly dozed off. A couple hours later he woke up to find it dark. Quietly he went to his room, pulled off his clothes and climbed into bed pulling his blankets up around his waist, quickly falling back to sleep.