Zach walked with her, hand in hand and in a good mood. When Edrea withdrew her hand, he looked at her and bowed. "Good night, My Princess. Have sweet dreams," he smiled at her and continued on his way, tossing the Fire Fruit up in the air and catching it as he walked and whistled a random tune that was lighthearted as he felt. As he continued down the hall, he caught sight of Ardor and the young guard and walked straight towards them. "Hope you weren't too bored," he grinned at the guard.
"Oh, no, Prince," the boy bowed deeply. "Haem kept me company," he smiled gratefully at the Prince. The Gao made a happy purring sound and nuzzled Zach's leg. Zach chuckled and handed the fruit to the furry lizard, who took it happily and bit into it.
"I am terribly sorry to ask you this, Prince," Issomo bowed again to him, too embarrassed to look at the Prince's face. "But can Haem stay with you? I am afraid pets are not allowed in the barracks. Maybe when Haem is older... But he is just a little one now..."
Zach looked down at the Gao and returned his gaze to the guard. "I don't mind," he said, smiling. "If you ever guard the doors to outside, let me know and I'll have him hang out with you those days," he suggested.
Issomo smiled happily. "I would love that, Prince. Thank you so much," he bowed. "But it is late. You should head to your bedchambers."
"I quite agree," Miria said, walking towards them. She smiled at Issomo as he bowed deeply. "You may stand, Guard. My, look how young you are! You can't be an aurora older than my son. You must be very talented to be guarding the Orian castle."
"Majesty," Issomo blushed. "I am not so great. My father is one of the High Guards," he explained.
"Well then. Perhaps I can convince him to have you keep watch over my son," she smiled and giggled a bit at Issomo's bewildered expression. "A young man should not spend all day pent up in one place. At least looking after Zach will give you some exercise."
"Y-Yes, Majesty. As you wish," he said. He doubted his father would allow such a thing. But maybe he would grant the Queen her wish...
Zach smiled. At least he'd get someone to hang out with while the Princess - his Princess, he joyfully thought - was out doing her Princess-y things. And Haem would be happy, being able to hang out with both of them. "Well, goodnight, Issomo," he smiled and bowed to the Guard, who bowed deeply back.
Miria followed Zach and the Gao back to Zach's bedchambers. "So, what happened," she asked her son as the chambermaids began undressing Zach to put him in his night clothes.
"What do you mean," he asked her, though he blushed as he knew what she was talking about.
"The whole garden was glowing," she pointed out to her son. "What happened?"