Birds Of A Feather (continued)

"Cactuses?" said the Queen, completely bewildered. Flo and Felix nodded at the same time. The Queen gave them a funny look. "Dear, we must get you cleaned up." she turned to Flo "And I must speak with you, Florentina." she linked arms with Flo and whisked her away, snapping her fingers. A small man appeared from in-between the golden pillars and he took Felix off in the other direction. Flo looked back desperately at Felix and he did the same.
The Queen led Flo to the parlour. Nearly everything in there was made of glass! Obviously not the chairs or tables but you still had to be careful. Flo sat down, thudding into the chair. Her mother stared out the window. "Florentina." she started "You are coming to an age where it is time for you to start courting."
Flo looked at her like she had had a codfish on her head. "I'm only fourteen." she protested.
"As was I when I married your father."
"But I don't want to get married. I don't like anyone in that way yet...." she rambled on.
"Florentina!" her mother screeched "You are to be married to the Prince of our neighbouring country Terran."
"An...arranged marriage?" Flo didn't want the words to spill from her mouth but they did.
"Of course."
"But I've never even met him!"
"He is a charming young man. Very grown up for seventeen years old."
"SEVENTEEN!? That's three years older than I am."
"My father was six years older than my mother. We will be holding a Royal Ball inviting your future husband and nobility of Terran."
"But mother I-"
"I don't want to hear it. It won't be as bad as you think."
With that said, her mother left the room quickly. Flo sat thinking. She felt like curling up and crying right there. Suddenly she remembered Felix and she ran off to find him, she almost slipped on her way out the door.

She finally found him lying in the staff chambers, his back bandage up. He was reading while she tip-toed into the cold, damp room. She kneeled next to the bed, her hair hanging over her shoulders, touching his arm which made him jump. "Oh, it's just you, Flo." his voice was merely a whisper.
"Why are you speaking so quietly?" she asked.
He pointed overy at a few staff lying on mattresses or straw. All of them asleep.
"Are you okay?" Flo asked. She was full of questions today. Felix nodded. "You hungry?" she smiled and again he nodded. She produced a small bag of sweets that she had stolen from the kitchen two days earlier. Felix scoffed them like they were going out of fashion but Flo wasn't feeling very hungry. Once he had finished he wiped his mouth with the bed sheet. "Are you okay?" he asked. Flo took sometime to answer. "...yes..." she finally said.
He looked at her from side on knowing something was up. "Come on, tell me!" he nudged her arm.
There was a long pause until she cracked. She swished her head round to face him. "I'm...going to be married. Felix's face broke into a smile but Flo could tell it was fake. "That's..great!"
"But I don't want to get married..." she explained. "but mother won't listen to me. She's organised a big ball. Sort of like an engagement party-"
Felix took her hand in his. She looked up to see him smiling. "It's alright! Everything will be alright.." his face slightly dropped.