Phillip raised a brow at the tiny shove he had received. Ah, really. So disappointing. What passed for royalty these days was remarkable. Anyone with half a political brain would try to at least feign tolerance if they wished for allies. Did she honestly think royal
liked one another when forming political alliances? He wondered if she thought marriages between princes and princesses were based on love as well. But then again she was young. He let out a small chuckled and turned on his heel, heading back to collect his Cinderelle.
Elle let out a small yipe, as if he had stepped on her foot. She sent him a firey glare and pushed him off the flower. "You big jerk!" she hissed, "How dare you!" Bending down to the ground, she scooped the damaged plant out of the ground, as if it were an injured animal. "You have every right to be upset, but don't take it out on innocent things!" she scolded the prince, turning away from him, "And as if I'd help a bully like you! Honestly! The way you garden there is no way you could ever grow anything beautiful! Gardening is about love and compassion. Things you know nothing about apparently!"
Phillip beckoned Elle to him and although she hesitated, she went to him. He grinned over her head at the other prince. "Good luck Charles. Make things interesting for me alright?"
Phillip sat across from Elle in the would-of-been-princess's cottage. He was elegantly sprawled over her couch, watching replant the flower Charles had tried to crush in a hand decorated pot. Her watched her through hooded eyes, lazily watching her every movement. "Do you really need to fuss over it so much?" he murmured just loud enough for her to hear.
She looked over her shoulder at him. "Plants are living creatures," she said softly, "They need to be cared for like any other living creature. And sometimes they need to be 'fussed' over." The ice prince gave her a small smirk and beckoned her over with one hand. She hesitated but went over to him, standing in front of him awkwardly. He reached out and took her hand, pulling her onto his lap. Elle gasped and sat rigid in the half demon's partial embrace.
"Little nymph," he murmured into her hair, so close to her neck, "You treat things to kindly. Sometimes nature must run its course and the strong must be left standing." His eyes were closed now, an arm folding her into him. Elle closed her eyes, face flushed in embarrassment.
"And sometimes the strong must help the weak," she whispered back, "Sometimes it is the duty of the strong to protect the weak." The ice prince chuckled softly.
"Well said," he murmured, drifting off to sleep, "Well said..."
"I-I...really hate you..."
"Mmm...I know...Now sleep... Ellie..."
The odd pair drifted off to sleep in the warm dark cottage as the sun slipped below the horizon.