Chapter 2
The remainder of the day was boring for Lexine. She sat in the chair next to Colton, listening to their parents talk about nonsense gossip. When the time for dinner came around King Griffin joined the party, adding his own comments to the conversations. After dinner everyone retired to their rooms.
Lexine undressed, with the help of one of the maids, and put on her nightgown. She sat down and brushed her curly brown hair as the maid got her room ready for her to sleep in. Lexine dismissed her with a friendly smile and a thank you when she was done.
She now laid between the covers of the lavish king size bed. She was reading the book her tutor had given her to study. She yawned. The books her tutor gave her were always a bore, but she read them anyways. She wanted to be the most knowledgeable queen to rule Astarsia. There was a light tap on the door. Lexine got up and peaked out from behind the door. It was Colton.
He smiled at her. "Hello, Lexie."
She smiled back, "What can I do for you Colt?"
His smile spread wider, "I don't know, it depends. What you are wearing behind that door?"
"Colton!" Lexine's cheeks turned a bright red.
He laughed and put his hands up as if to surrender. "I was only joking. No need to panic."
"What do you really want?"
"My mother wanted me to extend an invitation to stay tomorrow night as well. She wanted to make sure you had enough time to think about it before your mother leaves in the morning."
"I will have to think about it, but be sure to tell your mother thank you for the invitation."
Colton smiled, "I will. Good night Lex."
"Good night Colton."
The next morning Lexine got dressed with the help of the same maid. When she left the room, the maid was tending to the bed; Lexine said a polite thank you and left. Breakfast consisted of only Lexine, her mother, and Queen Elizabeth, Lexine was the last to arrive to the table. They said their round of Good mornings before Queen Elizabeth asked Lexine if she was staying the night again.
"Thank you for the invitation, but I think it be best if I returned to Astarsia. I need to meet with my tutor, and stand in on my mother's meetings."
Elizabeth's face showed sorrow. "I am sorry you won't be staying with us, hopefully we can pull you away for another visit, and this time, let's not let it be another year."
"I agree we must see each other sooner next time." Abigail said.
The table grew silent as the women ate. "Where is Prince Colton this morning?" Lexine asked.
Elizabeth swallowed, "I believe he and his friends are training somewhere. I will have to get someone to fetch him before you leave, so he can say his good byes." The table grew quiet again before Abigail started the conversation up with a meaningless tidbit of gossip.
As breakfast was drawing to a close, Queen Elizabeth sent a servant to get Colton. The group of women waited in the great hall for him to arrive. The older women gossiped while Lexine just casually looked around, not paying any attention to her surroundings.
A few minutes later Colton arrived. His hair was in disarray. His clothes were dirty and wrinkled, and Lexine noticed a few drops of sweat on his upper brow. "Good morning everyone. I am sorry for being late, and for my appearance. Lysander, Duncan and I were practicing for the tournament coming up."
His mother nodded in acknowledgement of his apology. "It is all right. I just thought you might like to say good bye to our guests. Sadly, they are leaving us now."
"Well, then I say good bye, and wish you a safe journey back to Astarsia. I hope to see both of you very soon."
Elizabeth smiled, "Yes, maybe you could attend Colton's dueling tournament, it is the week after next."
The invitation was directed at Lexine, but Abigail answered. "Lexine would love to go. Hopefully we will not be too busy that day."
The mothers gave a quick hug goodbye as everyone said fair well. It was a long trip back to the Drachen's castle and Lexine was dreading another half days journey of sitting tall as the coach bounced up and down.
The journey was long and afterwards Lexine's back ached. Amanda Stout, Lexine's best friend, was waiting for her when they arrived. As Lexine exited the carriage, she was immediately bombarded with questions, "So how was your trip?"
"It was fine." Amanda was the only person that Lexine could talk to informally with her mother around. They had grown up together, and Lexine couldn't stand it when Amanda called her princess or your majesty, it just sounded wrong coming from her best friend. Amanda had always been taller than Lexine, but not by more than an inch or two. Her long dirty blonde hair reached to her elbow. Lexine had always admired her dark brown eyes; they were warm and honest.
"How was Prince Colton?" Then in a whisper she asked, "Are his ears still big?"
Lexine giggled, "No, he is actually quite handsome. He has really grown up."
"So, did you two-" She stopped talking when she saw Abigail's eyes fall on her. "Never mind."
Lexine smiled. She grabbed her friend by the hand and half dragged her in the opposite direction of the castle and into town. As they walked along the busy coble stone streets Amanda continued to interrogate Lexine once more. "So, what I wanted to ask was if you two, you know, did anything."
"If me and who did what?" Lexine was a little confused at the question.
"If you and Colton did anything."
Lexine went through what they did, still not knowing what Amanda ment. "Well we talked, and then we sat down and talked with our mothers."
"That's it? Nothing else?"
Lexine shook her head, "No, what else would we do?"
"Oh, never mind." Amanda shook her head in disappointment.
"Um, excuse me." A deep voice interrupted their conversation, both girls turned around. "Hello, I am Prince Pierce Searls. I was wondering if you two lovely ladies could point to the nearest inn."
Amanda giggled; she had never seen a guy as handsome as this one. He was taller than both girls by at least a couple of inches. The sunlight caught his natural blonde highlights in his chestnut brown hair. Lexine answered first. "Hello, Prince Pierce, I am Princess Lexine Drachen."
Pierce gave them a dazzling smile, "Well then it is an honor to meet you, Princess." His deep brown eyes looked straight into Lexine's.
"And you, Prince. This is my friend, Amanda Stout." He smiled at Amanda. "May I ask what you are doing in Astarsia?"
"I am just passing through. I am on my way to Covia, just east of here."
"Well, a prince should not stay in an inn, even if it is for only one night."
Pierce smiled, "Then where do you suggest I stay?"
"The castle, with my family."
"It would be my honor to stay with your family."
"Then it is settled."
The three of them walked back to the Drachen Castle.
