Disclaimer: None of the characters belong to me, but to the ever esteemable Sherwood Smith. I'm just happy she lets us use them for our ((sadistic)) fantastic purposes.

I hope you like it! I had fun writing this one! Even if it is plotless!

Er... Elestra's conversational partner changes halfway through. Don't know how to make this any clearer than it is... hopefully nobody get's confused, right? If you do, tell me so that I can improve it!

(Untitled)

"Ugh! Thank goodness that's over. As nice a boy as he is, Lord Dernvar cannot help but step on my feet every time he dances. Perhaps someone else will ask me before the next dance so that I don't have to go through that ordeal again. What do you think, El… Elestra, you're looking pale… Elestra?"

"What?"

"Don't be cross! I said, 'you're looking a bit pale'. Whatever is the matter?"

"Umh… nothing."

"Nothing? But... Who is that?"

"Who?"

"Elestra! Don't play dumb- that man you were staring at near the door."

"I wasn't star-"

"You were too! And I don't blame you, either. He's quite good looking!"

"Tara! Stop jumping up like that! You can see him perfectly well from here."

"Yes, but who is he?"

"I believe his name is Flauvic."

"Why does that sound so famil- Oh! The tree-man, right?"

"Yes…"

"Elestra, are you sure you don't want to go lie down? I've never seen you like this before. Oh no, he's the one that... last year..."

"Actually, I'm quite fine here. What is he doing?"

"That Flauvic man?... Why, he's… coming closer."

"What?"

"Well, if you picked your head up and stopped staring at you feet, you'd be able to see too… Wait, no. He's speaking to your parents. Your mother doesn't look very happy."

"I bet."

"What was that?"

"Nothing. What's he doing now?"

"Umh, actually…"

"I'm very sorry to interrupt, but I was wondering if I might have a word with the Lady Elestra?"

"Why… I mean, if that's alright with Elestra…"

"I... well... Yes, it's fine, Tara. Thank you."

"You have a very pretty cousin."

"Leave her alone, and she isn't my cousin… What are you doing here?"

"Not one to- ah...'beat around the bush', are you Elestra?"

"No. And you failed to answer my question."

"I came to say good-bye… There we go. You're finally looking at me."

"So is my mother."

"I know. She isn't exactly happy to see me here, but for some unimaginable reason, the King took pity on me. She won't stop glaring until I'm safely on the other side of the world."

"Is that where you're going, then?"

"The other side of the world? I hope so. Why?"

"I don't know."

"It's very hard to talk to you when you are staring at the floor like that, you know."

"It's very hard to talk to you when I have no idea why you've come."

"I told you already. I came to say goodbye."

"You came to a country where you are a wanted man, to a party for the daughter of the people who issued the bounties, and all you've come for is to 'say good-bye'?"

"Sounds about right. You have very pretty eyes."

"No I don't. They're brown. Don't change the subject."

"My apologies, of course. Good-bye, Elestra."

"No, not quite."

"Excuse me?"

"You came to my Name Day party. And if I'm not mistaken, that happens to be Lord Dernvar approaching. I hear he is a terrible dancer."

"And…"

"You came uninvited to my Name Day party. As recompense, I require a dance."

"A dance? Won't Meliara get angry?"

"Don't look so frightened."

"I'm not… fine. One dance, and then I'm leaving."

"To the other side of the world."

"Yes. Exactly."

"Fine."

Okay, so the ending is kind of weird. I may continue, but if you've read my Holly Black fic, then you know I'm not one for regular updates. cringes I hope you liked it though! This happens to be my first "conversation" type story, and it's pretty plotless, but there you are... Review if you liked it! Review if you didn't! I want criticism, constructive or not:)