And here's chapter two! Plans are formed, and new people are met. I hope you all enjoy it.

Disclaimer: I don't own Lord of the Rings or any of Tolkien's characters. I do, however, own Serian and anyone associated with her. Borrowing is allowed, but only with permission.

Chapter Two

Plans

Serian was still fuming ten minutes later when she heard a knock on her door. She had started on getting the tangles out of her hair and hadn't gotten very far, which didn't help her foul mood. "Go away!" she shouted, not caring how rude she sounded.

"Ser? It's me." The sound of her cousin's voice made her sigh. She didn't want to take her anger out on him. He was too nice. And he really didn't deserve it.

"You really shouldn't be around me right now," she called, more calmly this time.

The door creaked open, but she didn't turn away from her mirror. "I'll take my chances."

Kemen approached her slowly from behind, taking care to not make any sudden moves. He knew that Serian could be quite a force of destruction when she wanted to be. Without saying a word, he pulled up a chair and sat behind her, but a little to one side so he could see her face in the mirror. He then selected a section of her hair, and began working to untangle it with his long fingers.

The two of them sat in silence for several minutes, and Serian took this time to surreptitiously watch him in the mirror. Unlike most other people she knew, Kemen had dark hair and eyes. He preferred wearing darker colors as well, which only made his pale skin look even paler.

Right now, she could see his dark eyes looking at her hair, but they weren't focused on the task. His fingers moved gently, yet firmly through her hair, detangling the knots, but she could almost see the thoughts turning in his head. "Please say something," she murmured quietly.

He looked at her in the mirror, "What is there to say?"

"He wants me to marry him."

"I know. I figured they would try this again."

She frowned in confusion. "Again?"

He nodded, and focused back on her hair again. "They tried to do this when you two were little. But Eric's father didn't like the terms."

Serian had always known that Kemen was older than her, but she could never tell by how much. Sometimes it seemed like he'd been alive for many years, then other times he would do something that made him seem much younger. Then there were the times when he would mention something that made it seem like he had been certainly at least old enough to remember clearly.

"Now Eric is trying himself." She yanked angrily at a knot in her hair, and winced as the strands instead came loose from her head.

"Yes."

They were quiet again for a long moment then, and Serian was reminded that Kemen had always seemed to be able to get the tangles out of her hair much easier than either herself or her maid.

"I won't let it happen," she said finally. "I just won't."

"Serian," Kemen's voice was almost reproachful. "There isn't much you can do. You know your parents won't let you say no. What else is there to do?"

He was right, of course. Her parents wouldn't let her say no. So she'd have to do it without them knowing.

~~~.*.~~~

Serian point-blank refused to leave her room for the rest of the day. Dinner was brought to her by one of the servants, to whom she apologized for the extra work. He assured her that it was no trouble. Serian was well-loved by all of the staff, and she was counting on that love for her slowly-forming plan.

The next few days, she avoided Eric by staying out of the castle all day. She spent her time either riding Swan, or spending time with the villagers, which she did fairly often anyway. The people loved her as well, which did make her decision a bit painful. However, part of her couldn't help but think that it didn't really matter that much. Even if she did marry Eric, she wouldn't be ruling her people. She would be standing at his side while Eric ruled his people. Kemen would be ruling their people, not her.

Her parents had already planned a ball for her birthday, but now it was to be an even bigger event, meant to announce and celebrate her betrothal. The entire village was excited, and nobles from the other villages in the kingdom began arriving as the big day drew closer. Serian was forced to abandon her evasion tactics in favor of allowing the servants to fit her for her dress and discuss her hair and other party things.

The day before her birthday, Serian's best friend finally arrived. Moiria lived on the far side of the kingdom, so they didn't get to see each other often, though they always kept in contact through letters.

Moiria had golden-brown hair that was so straight, the two girls used to joke that the locks didn't know if they were supposed to be straw or hair. The teasing, however, had not been even remotely detrimental. When they were children, they used to have their nurses braid their hair together, so they had to walk with their arms around each others shoulders. The two were inseparable, and Serian was counting on her child-hood friend to help her in her scheme.

Moiria was just as appalled as her friend at the plans that her parents had made. When Serian told her of the plan she'd made, Moiria was more than willing to assist. That night, they slept in the same room, as they always did. However, this time, they weren't sure if they would ever see each other again.

~~~~.*.~~~~

The twentieth birthday of any royal person was, of course, bound to cause a great deal of excitement. And even more so when the royal in question is so well-loved by her people. Carts had been arriving all day bearing gifts of food, sweets, and trinkets. There were even a number of beautiful horses that had been raised specifically to serve the princess.

Serian watched all this commotion out her window as servants buzzed around her, straightening her dress, fussing with her hair, and fastening jewelry on what felt like every exposed part of her body. Of course, it wasn't quite that bad. A beautiful necklace of pearls and diamonds set in silver was fastened around her neck. A matching bracelet draped down her left hand and fastened around her middle finger. On her right hand, she was permitted to wear her favorite sapphire ring which went well with the gown of midnight blue that she'd been squeezed into. Her hair fell down her back in perfectly arranged curls, though it was pulled back from her face by braids on either side of her head which were decorated with flowers.

Moiria was dressed in a similar style, though she favored red and gold rather than blue and silver. She was the day while Serian was the night. It had long been this way, and, even now, Serian could not imagine it ever being any other way.

Finally, the time came for Serian to make her entrance into the ball. As they had always done, Moiria walked only a few steps behind and to Serian's right. They were so close that their hooped skirts were touching, the velvet clinging to each other just as the girls did.

Serian was announced with great fanfare, and she entered the ballroom to much applause. To her great disappointment, she was immediately scooped up by Eric, who insisted on the first dance. Serian was very polite as she turned him down. "Thank you, but my cousin and I have a tradition in that we each get the first dance at our birthdays. I will, however, permit you to take the one after." With that, she walked over to Kemen and he took her hand for the first dance.

The remainder of the ball was nearly insufferable as Eric continued to hog each dance, barely letting any of the other noblemen a chance to enjoy her company. Kemen was only able to manage one other dance, and that was because Serian insisted on it as it was her favorite. During the entire evening, Eric was overly polite and flattering. He complimented her jewelry, her dress, her hair. He even seemed to like that she and Moiria used opposing color schemes. It was really, quite irritating.

The worst part of the ball was when her parents brought everything to a halt to announce her engagement to Eric. The entire room erupted into cheers of congratulations. After that, there was absolutely no getting rid of Eric. He was practically fastened to her side.

As the ball wore on, Eric finally managed to get her alone by leading her out onto one of the balconies. "I have something for my bride-to-be," he said, reaching into his pocket.

"Well give it to someone else, then. I'm certainly not marrying you."

He gave her an angry look. "Our parents have finally come to an agreement about us. And I am determined to enjoy it. I suggest you do the same, or you will find yourself very unhappy for the rest of your life."

Serian couldn't say any more without giving away her plans, so she stayed silent. Eric nodded determinedly and pulled out the little box that was hidden there. When he opened it, the ring that was revealed was so big that no amount of glitter could make it attractive to Serian.

Smiling like he had just given her a great gift, Eric took her left hand and slipped the ring onto her ring finger. "I had the royal jewelers make it just for you. Nothing less than the best for my bride."

Serian didn't say a word, she simply turned and marched back into the ball, more determined than ever to carry her plan out to completion.