[Automatic] (An Aarmau AU)

[Chapter 19] Breaking Promises

"How'd you sleep?", Aaron asked as I took a large bite of my pancakes.

"Good", I responded, grabbing another piece of pancake. "It was kind of weird sleeping in such a large space, and such a large bed"

I ate another piece of pancake, savoring the amazing taste. We mostly ate in silence, as all we really wanted to was stuff our faces. To quickly, breakfast was over, and I was standing with Katelyn and Aaron outside the dining hall. 

"So while you're here", Aaron told me. "You're aloud to do pretty much whatever you want. If you want to leave and go into town, or explore around the castle, you can. The only place that is off limits is the east wing where we do all our business. You can ask the staff anything, and they will try and help you"

He looked over at me, smiling slightly. "Got it?"

I nodded, already thinking about my plans for the day. "Good", he told me. "Because I would love to show you around, but sadly my father needs to talk with me today"

"Oh no", I joked, a silly grin on my face. "You have to be a prince today instead of just being my personal arm candy, whatever will I do" 

He laughed. "Well, I'm hoping I won't have to be a prince for to long today, then maybe later I can accompany you to town to get some dinner?"

I giggled, and Katelyn rolled her eyes. "That'd be great", I told him. 

He smiled, and started walking towards the east wing. Katelyn turned to face me, a mischievous grin on her face. 

"What?", I asked. 

"Oh nothing", she teased. "Now come on, I have your genius mind all day to help me in the shop" 

***

I spent most of the day building things with Katelyn in the shop. There was nothing that currently needed fixing, so we just messed around all day. One of our most proud inventions was when we had fixed an old toaster, so that it lunched the toast into the air after cooking it. 

I looked over that the clock and saw it was already four o'clock. I remembered what Aaron had said about going to dinner, so I called it quits and started back to my room. I had completely destroyed the poor outfit I had decided to wear, and I wanted to wear something nice.

After finally finding my room, I went into the giant closet and started looking at the various dresses available to me. They were all very pretty, but none of them were really me. They were covered in lace and sequence, but there was one that I finally found in the back of the closet, that was absolutely perfect. 

It was a black dress, with long sleeves and white stripes. I quickly put it on and found it was the perfect size and length. I paired it with a pair of knee high boots I found, and for the first in a while, I actually like the reflection I saw in the mirror. 

I eagerly went back down the first floor of the castle to wait for Aaron. I mindlessly played with my hair, and pulled on the dress. I hope Aaron didn't think I was trying to hard, up until this point he had only seen me in cargo pants and sweaters. What would he think of a dress like this? 

I was so lost in thought, I didn't hear Aaron's voice at first. It was coming from the other room, and shortly after he talked another voice responded. I recognized that second voice, every one in Falcon Claw would. 

I carefully peaked in, making sure not to get spotted. Just as I thought, Aaron and his father -The King Of Falcon Claw- were talking, or more like arguing. I stood on the other side of the wall, and carefully listened to what they were saying. 

I knew it was wrong, and it was invading their privacy, but Aaron seemed genuinely upset, and I wanted to figure out why. 

"You can't", The King yelled. "You are a prince! It is inappropriate for you to be doing stuff like this, when you should be getting ready to be king"

"All I do it prepare to be king", Aaron yelled. "That's all I've been doing for the past ten years. You never let me have any friends, or do anything a normal child would do, and now you're trying to take away the only thing that makes me happy anymore"

The King seemed to take a deep breathe, regaining his composer. "I told you she could stay here until her house was deemed safe, then I want her gone and only back for official business. Nothing more and nothing less" 

"Fine then", Aaron said, his voice cracking. "If you won't let me see her, then I'm not going through with the marriage treaty"

"Aaron-"

"I'm not joking dad", Aaron said, his voice completely serious. "If you won't let me see her I will refuse to go through with the marriage treaty"

"Stop being so immature", The King snarled. "You're putting the safety of the entire continent of Ru'an at risk over some girl"

"Yes", Aaron said, his voice not wavering even one bit. "If you let me continue to see her, I will go through with the marriage treaty and not complain about any of it. But if you ban me from seeing her I will completely refuse"

I heard the King sigh. "Fine, but you better stay true to you're side of the deal or I will have her sent to O'Khasis in the blink of an eye" 

Aaron must have nodded his head, because there was a few seconds of silence. "I have to go now", the king said. "I will be contacting Shad and telling him the marriage treaty is on" 

I heard his foots steps as he walked out the other door, and I felt my legs slowly give out till I was sitting on the floor. Marriage treaty? Being sent to O'khasis? Shad?  I felt my heart crumble as I realize what Aaron had just done, he had agreed to a marriage treaty, he was getting married.

Before I even realized, I had stood up and was running down the hall. Tears were streaming down my face as I ran up flights of stairs trying to find my room. Staff members tried to ask if I needed help, but I just kept running.

I some how made it to my room, and collapsed onto my bed. I ripped the boots off my feet, and throwing them into the back on the closet. I look at myself in the mirror, and realized how stupid I was, I wasn't meant to be in this dress, I wasn't meant to be here. I was nothing more then a pathetic mechanic who had gotten lucky.

I crawled into my bed and started crying. I don't know how long I cried, it felt like hours but it could have only been minutes. All my doubts and fears were beginning to come true, and my facade was slowly wearing away.            

I was falling apart, and I could do was cry. 

Hey guys, so it's been a minute. 

I'm sorry for the lack of updates recently. Highschool orientation stuff is hell, but I'm slowly getting through it. Not to mention I'm also terrified of going into highschool so that adds to all of it.

But in all seriousness, I hope you enjoyed this late chapter, and don't forget to vote and comment! 

I hope to see you in the next chapter!

-Lizzy C.