A/N: Seventh reviewer gets something special... You will have to see what it is! So, please, review! And, no, I won't give you it if you leave a few reviews in a row, whether or not you were meaning to get the something special... Yes, it might actually be worthwhile, this reward. ---oooh aaaah---
Raissa
Sneaking away to the window, Raissa peeked out. She saw a red headed boy walking in the gardens with her soon to be lady-in-waiting, Isa. She frowned, but was curious. Is this the notorious fiery prince she is being forced to wed? She squinted, trying to get a view of his face. As she was reprimanding herself for trying to break the rules set by her country, she stopped. Who cares about my country's stupid tradition? If I want to see my future husband, I should be allowed to. After some time, she gave up. Her chambers were far too high up to see anything clearly.
She strolled her private room of her chambers, looking at the artwork on the walls for the thousandth time during the month she had been in Pondeira. They were all of Aldria, an attempt at making the Aldrian feel at home, Raissa guessed. She had to admit, they were very well done. They captured the beauty of her country. This only made her feel more melancholy. She missed her country, and she was not about to see it for a very long time.
A rustle of skirts alerted her to a visitor coming through her open door. Isa curtsied. Raissa smiled at her. Isa had been a nice comfort; a friend where she knew no soul. "How are you this morning, Ray?"
"Bored." Raissa sat down on her bed, but smiling at the use of her new nickname. "I can't wait another couple weeks to see this prince I'm supposed to marry. The tradition bears no good luck. I don't see why you can't help Richard and I meet. You know him well enough- you told me yourself that you've been friends since childhood!"
Isa sat down next to her mistress, her dark curls bouncing. "I don't want to risk it. I'm not afraid of my king getting angry, it's your family I do not need getting vexed. I am glad to have a good lady friend, I do not want to get dismissed from your services already."
"But I can tell them it was my idea, that I purposely tried to meet him on my own. Besides, they will never know anyway." Raissa frowned, knowing fully well it wouldn't work out. She sighed. "Tell me again what he's like."
"He's a great friend, loyal to the bone, loving, but also has quite a temper. His hair truly shows it. It's like a rich mahogany, but with the intensity of a burning fire. His eyes are brown, they look like a puppy's eyes. He's tall and lanky, not very muscular, but strong, I suppose. All in all, I think he's plain. Then again, I have known him all my life. I can't really say." Isa raised her eyebrows. "Ray, I've told you this how many times before?"
Raissa didn't reply. "He sounds like a beast," she simply put, not revealing her true curiosity.
Her friend laughed heartily. "I told him you thought of him as a barbarian and beast. He was truly appalled." She kept laughing. "He's also expecting a spoiled, loud, and whiny snot."
Raissa gasped. "What?"
Isa wiped her watering eyes, her laughter subdued. "It's true. I told him he was wrong and he merely scoffed at me."
Raissa shook her head. "He truly is a beast. I wish my country wasn't so poor, then we wouldn't be in this predicament."
Isa smiled sympathetically and stood up, holding out her hands to Raissa. "Come, Richard will be gone all day, we have no risk in running into him. We can stroll through the gardens again or visit the menagerie if you wish." She looked truly hopeful. "Please? You need to get out of this stuffy palace."
The princess nodded and agreed that she indeed needed to get out of the palace. They two young women strolled the palace grounds all day, enjoying their freedom. Raissa found the menagerie intriguing. The many different animals interested her, especially the large cats. They were fearsome yet beautiful, like the surrounding landscape. However, their small cages saddened Raissa. How can they live like that, all boxed up? I've been here only for a month, yet I feel like I'm encased in a box!
In the garden, Isa told embarrassing stories of the prince and of his childhood. It made them laugh and lightened Raissa's mood.
Soon the sun was low in the sky and the duo had to return back because the prince was soon to be back and dinner was to be served within the hour.
Chatting with Isa during a rare private dinner without the king and queen of Aldria, Raissa spoke of her pets she had in Aldria. "Muffin had the sweetest disposition no other pony could-"
A knock on the door interrupted her sentence. "Come in," she called.
A messenger bowed. "Prince Toulouse requests the presence of Lady Isa in the library after dinner."
Raissa noticed a deep blush in Isa's cheeks, like a young girl in love. "Tell the prince I shall meet him, if the princess allows me to take leave."
The princess nodded and the messenger left to give the prince his message.
Isa stuffed her mouth full in a very unladylike manner, more like a nervous mouse. "Prince Toulouse, oh?" Raissa asked. "You blushed when that messenger said his name. You like him, don't you?"
The blushing girl nearly choked. "I couldn't! He must marry some princess or fancy, rich heiress. Liking him would be fruitless."
Raissa shook her head. "Not if he doesn't wish it. He is not the Crown Prince, he does not need to worry about whom he marries. My younger brother did not want to marry the girl our father suggested. Instead, he chose one of my old school friends as his sweetheart; a lesser woman than even you."
Still, Isa shook her head. "He cannot. It is not possible, it is different here. Besides, he does not like me that way."
"Really? Why on earth did he request your audience?"
"He must have brought back some new books from Farthdell he thought I would find interesting. He knows my love for reading."
Raissa shook her head. "Alright, whatever you say. I must say, though, that you shouldn't give up on all hope."
Isa smiled meekly at her friend, and continued eating.
After dinner, Isa excused herself and left to the library, looking quite flustered. Raissa smiled after her friend, knowing fully well she was not telling the whole truth about her affections for the prince. Sighing, the princess picked up the book she left laying on her desk.
After an hour or so reading at her open window, Raissa heard hoof beats pounding outside. She quickly looked out and watched the rider longingly. She loved to go riding. Since her stay in Pondeira she hadn't gotten a chance. I must get Isa to take me to the stables one day. She must get over her fear of horses sometime. She looked closer at the rider and noticed that he had red hair.
Two weeks…. I can't wait that long.
