"Do I have really have to wear this? Everyone's going to stare at me."

"Your father said you must, it shows of your—"

"I know, I know. It shows everyone that Autumn is a strong, proud people that don't need fancy "get-ups" to empress people. I just for once wish he'd let me wear a dress. Mother wears dresses."

"Yes, but she is not Autumn-blooded. Her countries people dress much differently than we do."

"Fine."

"Is that Meira?" I ask one of my guards.

"Yes, that is her majesty, your majesty." How he says that with a straight face, I do not know.

She is in a floor-length gown that seems to be made of silk. It is a deep blue, trimmed with crystal snow flakes at every eye and seem. Her white hair is pulled back and up at the top resembling a snow covered hill and the rest of it hangs down freely except for a few braids mixed in and one that wraps in a loop around her head and looks almost like a crown by itself.

Jealousy stems in my stomach at how beautiful she looks. I look like every other Autumnian here, but I'm not even a soldier. I'm just dressed up to look like one in my best brown breaches, gold-plated chest piece, and plain brown boots. I'm even jealous of how white and perfect her skin is and the fact that she can have long hair, whereas i must have this chin-length hair that flips out at the ends.

"Queen Shazi," she greets me on her approach. She is young, but still older than me and I feel bad for the brief animosity I felt towards her a moment ago.

"Meira," I return the greeting.

"Thank you for inviting, Mather and I to your kingdom."

I hadn't even noticed Mather until then and a whole new bout of jealousy hits me.

"Such fine men you have in Autumn," I hadn't meant to say that aloud and I'm guessing my eyes have just grown twice their size.

Mather blushes and looks down, avoiding my eyes.

If she is embarrassed she does not show it at all, "They are not all like this one, but yes, we are very lucky in that manner." She bows her head. "If you'll excuse us, we have not eaten all day."

"Of course," I nod. As they leave I make a silent promise to myself that one day I will be as great a queen as she.

~theeShadyLady~

A/N: Yeah, I slipped some Matheira in here, deal with it. :P