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Chapter 2-Preparations

Dragging her feet, Sarralyn slowly made her way back to her rooms- slowly, that is, until she saw Lady Alanna and Queen Thayet in the corridor ahead. She picked up her pace; the Lioness was not known for her patience. It puzzled Sarra to no end that Alanna and her son Alan were so much alike, while Marishk was so laid back, joking all the time. Sarra liked Marishk- a lot. She was afraid to say anything, though- better to stay his friend then be rejected.

"Hello…" She greeted the two women hesitantly, hoping they were not there to help her dress.

They were.

Figures, she thought with a sigh.

Lady Alanna turned at the soft sounds of her footsteps. "By the Goddess, girl, where have you been?"

Thayet put a gentle hand on the irate knight's arm, smiled at Sarra, and called "Daine! We've got her!" over her shoulder.

Daine stuck her curly head around the door frame to peer crossly at her daughter. "Sarralyn Onua Salmalin! Get in here! I was about to call for a search for you- what took so long?"

Mumbling, trailing feeble excuses, Sarra followed her mother in to her room. She looked in dismay at the beautiful gown on her bed as the Queen and the Lioness squeezed in to the small bed-chamber after her.

"Ma, I can't-" Sarra began.

"Sarra!" Alanna interrupted sharply. "You. Will. Wear. That. Dress. If I have to dress fancy-so do you. Now get moving!"

Daine nodded, looking at her daughter. "Even Alanna will be wearing a dress, Sarra. Imagine that!" She laughed, and Sarra let out a reluctant giggle.

"After all," said Thayet, also smiling, you want to look pretty for all the young men, right?" She leaned over so that Daine and Alanna, now arguing over how to do Sarra's hair, couldn't hear her, and whispered in Sarra's ear with an evil smile, "Especially young Marishk."

Sarra flushed deeply, the rosy colour showing even under her darker skin, much darker then the ivory of the Queen's.

Alanna turned to look at them. "What?"

"Nothing!" Thayet said quickly, hiding her broad grin under a perfectly manicured hand. "Daine, if you like, I'll help Sarra with her hair and dress, so you can get ready. I'm already finished." With a sweep of her hands she indicated her wine coloured evening gown, elegantly coiffed hair, and perfectly arranged jewelry. Sarra sighed-what was the point in wishing for affection from Marishk if the Queen was so beautiful? What boy would ever fall for her? She wondered. It was not fair.

"Sarra?" The Queen was smiling at her, and her mother and the Lioness were gone. "Shall we proceed?"

Sarra looked at her, then sighed again and asked, worried, "You didn't tell Aunt Alanna- or my mother- did you?"

Queen Thayet picked up the gown of Sarra's bed and held it out to the girl. "No, I wouldn't do that to you- I'm not that cruel!"

Sarra took the gown and went behind the Yamani screens in the corner of her room.

"I know what would happen if our favourite Lioness found out about you two." She grinned again. "Then again, you will have to tell her eventually, when something happens. Not that it will, both of you being shy and all."

Sarra started. "Shy? Marishk?" She laughed. "Your Majesty, are we talking about the same person?" She finished changing and came out from behind the screens.

"The Marishk who likes you? Who likes you very much? I think we are."

Sarra stared at the Queen in shock. "What?!" Marishk would never like her. He sighed after the beauties of the royal court, not his best friend the almost-16-black-robe-mage. He was 18 now, tall, sarcastic, handsome…

"There you are, youngling." Thayet had finished her hair- it was as elegantly done as her own. She handed the girl a necklace as the seventh bell tolled.

OOH whats going to happen? Ahh even i dont know and im writing it! oh well...