Disclaimer: I do not own Tortall or Alanna or Jon or pretty much anything
else except for Stephanie, Briana and Kourem.
A/N: This is my first fanfic, which is why it is so one dimensional. But please R&R because I love to hear back from readers.
Chapter 1: Party
Briana looked out at the sky outside and swore softly in exasperation. The sun had only just set and already she was bored. The party would undoubtedly continue for hours; well into the next day. She looked over at her parents, George and Alanna of Pirate's Swoop, hoping they could leave soon, but they both looked content, laughing and talking with their old friends, King Jonathan and his knights. She sighed and looked around for somewhere to escape to.
She noticed a small alcove nearby. Looking around to make sure that no one was watching her; she quietly walked over to the alcove and disappeared from the ballroom.
The room was the perfect hiding spot. A curtain covered the doorway, and there was a small chair to sit in, with several cushions on the floor. The only problem with it was that it was already occupied by none other than Prince Kourem, King Jonathan's son.
"Oh! My prince!" Briana bowed down low, looking at the floor, "I'm sorry to disturb you. I'll just go..."
"Oh, no! I was just about to leave anyway." Prince Kourem was on his feet, inching toward the door.
"Wait!" said Briana, "why don't we both stay? There's enough room; I can sit on a cushion on the floor. I don't think either of us wants to go back out there." To convince him, she plopped down on a pillow on the floor and looked up at him.
This was the first time Briana got a good look at the Prince. When she did, she froze.
Sparkling blue eyes, so like his father's, looked back at her. They were partially hidden by a few wisps of coal-black hair that fell into his face. No wonder all the young ladies of the court gossiped about him. He was just as handsome as they said.
Briana quickly looked away, and Kourem did the same. A thought surged through her mind before she could stop it: Had he been thinking about her looks? Had he been having the same thoughts as me?
My looks are nothing compared to his, she told herself, he sees many more beautiful princesses all the time, why would he think me pretty?
Briana self-consciously started playing with her long, auburn braid. It wasn't my looks, she told herself, he was just startled by my eyes like everyone else.
Briana had inherited her mother's purple eyes. While it was nice to get all the attention they brought, it was very hard to disguise herself. Someone was bound to recognize her.
To break the silence she said, "Who are you hiding from, Your Highness?"
"Oh, the usual." He laughed. "My mother always wants me to meet someone or other. I get so tired of making small talk. Tonight she wanted me to meet the Lady Knight, the King's Champion, Alanna or something...
"That's my mother!" Briana said, laughing, "I don't blame you for not wanting to meet her. She can be real pain when she wants to!"
"So I hear," the Prince agreed, "Is her temper as bad as they say?" "Worse!" Briana exclaimed. They both laughed. "We should probably be getting back, "Prince Kourem sighed.
"You go, I'm staying here. I've been sitting alone all night,' Briana said bitterly, "no one will miss me."
"I will," Prince Kourem said softly. She looked up at him and their eyes met. She looked away and sighed.
"We should be getting back," she said. She stood up slowly, feeling her face go red, and before he could say anything, she slipped out into the crowded ball room.
A/N: This is my first fanfic, which is why it is so one dimensional. But please R&R because I love to hear back from readers.
Chapter 1: Party
Briana looked out at the sky outside and swore softly in exasperation. The sun had only just set and already she was bored. The party would undoubtedly continue for hours; well into the next day. She looked over at her parents, George and Alanna of Pirate's Swoop, hoping they could leave soon, but they both looked content, laughing and talking with their old friends, King Jonathan and his knights. She sighed and looked around for somewhere to escape to.
She noticed a small alcove nearby. Looking around to make sure that no one was watching her; she quietly walked over to the alcove and disappeared from the ballroom.
The room was the perfect hiding spot. A curtain covered the doorway, and there was a small chair to sit in, with several cushions on the floor. The only problem with it was that it was already occupied by none other than Prince Kourem, King Jonathan's son.
"Oh! My prince!" Briana bowed down low, looking at the floor, "I'm sorry to disturb you. I'll just go..."
"Oh, no! I was just about to leave anyway." Prince Kourem was on his feet, inching toward the door.
"Wait!" said Briana, "why don't we both stay? There's enough room; I can sit on a cushion on the floor. I don't think either of us wants to go back out there." To convince him, she plopped down on a pillow on the floor and looked up at him.
This was the first time Briana got a good look at the Prince. When she did, she froze.
Sparkling blue eyes, so like his father's, looked back at her. They were partially hidden by a few wisps of coal-black hair that fell into his face. No wonder all the young ladies of the court gossiped about him. He was just as handsome as they said.
Briana quickly looked away, and Kourem did the same. A thought surged through her mind before she could stop it: Had he been thinking about her looks? Had he been having the same thoughts as me?
My looks are nothing compared to his, she told herself, he sees many more beautiful princesses all the time, why would he think me pretty?
Briana self-consciously started playing with her long, auburn braid. It wasn't my looks, she told herself, he was just startled by my eyes like everyone else.
Briana had inherited her mother's purple eyes. While it was nice to get all the attention they brought, it was very hard to disguise herself. Someone was bound to recognize her.
To break the silence she said, "Who are you hiding from, Your Highness?"
"Oh, the usual." He laughed. "My mother always wants me to meet someone or other. I get so tired of making small talk. Tonight she wanted me to meet the Lady Knight, the King's Champion, Alanna or something...
"That's my mother!" Briana said, laughing, "I don't blame you for not wanting to meet her. She can be real pain when she wants to!"
"So I hear," the Prince agreed, "Is her temper as bad as they say?" "Worse!" Briana exclaimed. They both laughed. "We should probably be getting back, "Prince Kourem sighed.
"You go, I'm staying here. I've been sitting alone all night,' Briana said bitterly, "no one will miss me."
"I will," Prince Kourem said softly. She looked up at him and their eyes met. She looked away and sighed.
"We should be getting back," she said. She stood up slowly, feeling her face go red, and before he could say anything, she slipped out into the crowded ball room.