The messenger boy with the copper collar stood beside the door and announced the new arrivals. "Queen Meulin of the, uhh, Forest Kingdom, and, ah, Princess Nepeta." The poor boy's stammer increased and he blushed violently. Eridan smirked to himself at the boy's obvious fear of him.

The Queen of the Forest was proud and stately, striding into the room with a spear clasped in one hand. Her green eyes gleamed, the same shade as her flower-crowned mass of hair. She wore only simple leather breeches and waistcoat over a thin blouse, and sandals on her feet, but she looked more like royalty than Eridan ever had. He knew she knew it, and his purple eyes narrowed behind his delicate spectacles even as he pasted on a welcoming smile.

"Wwelcome, your majesty!" he said, standing and holding out his hands. "It's lowely to see you again! How old wwas I last time? Eight? That time you wisited Mother? Wwell, no matter, you're here noww. I hope you had a good jour-"

Eridan stopped, his eyes sliding past Queen Meulin to her daughter. The princess was seventeen, and very beautiful.

Eridan had loved before in his own thirteen years, or thought he had. He was as fickle as a cat, falling hard and fast one day and forgetting the girl's name the next. Now, he saw the little princess's soft green spikes of hair and her deep green eyes and the slight crookedness of her canines which showed when she smiled at him, and his heart filled with desire yet again. He greeted Queen Meulin with a perfunctory kiss to the hand, and made a beeline for Princess Nepeta.

"Most pleased to make your acquaintance, your highness Nepeta - may I call you Nepeta? Call me Eridan. Or Eri, if you like." He grinned and winked. Nepeta blinked at him, returning his smile because there was nothing else she really could do.

Meulin cleared her throat, reminding him of her presence. "Your Majesty, the meeting?"

"Yes, yes," Eridan said, waving a hand. "Feferi! Duty calls, I'll be in negotiations wwith Her Majesty all day. Look after Nepeta wwhile I'm busy." He looked the girl up and down, and clapped gleefully. "Take her to Mother's room, draww her a bath! Find her some nicer clothes, jewwels, perfume, something wworthy of her station! Take her out into the city and showw her the beauty and ciwilisation of Amethyst! Oh, you'll just lowe it, Nep, I knoww you wwill!"

Nepeta's pretty face creased in a slight frown, which Eridan failed to notice, but she obediently followed Feferi.

Eridan's orders were followed; Nepeta was bathed and groomed until her short emerald hair was smooth and gleaming, her skin scented with roses, stripped of her simple tunic and leggings and dressed in a white silk gown and gold jewellery, all of which had belonged to the late Queen and should by rights have belonged to Feferi.

"How can I ride in this?" she complained, pulling at the skirt.

"What, you've never ridden side-saddle? I'll show you!" Feferi said, smiling. "It's easy."

Feferi offered to lend Nepeta a horse, but the princess assured her she had brought her own mount. Feferi waited outside for Nepeta to return from her retinue, and was astonished when she came back with an enormous leopard. Feferi's own horse Sepia whinnied and reared, but the leopard ignored it, and Nepeta ran forward to soothe the horse. She had an impressive way with animals, and the horse relaxed under her stroking hands and soft whispers. She introduced the leopard as "Pounce de Leon, the best kitty in the world!", and refused to allow Feferi to put a saddle on the creature for fear of causing it discomfort. Feferi smiled. She could certainly see why Eridan liked this girl, she was adorable.

The princesses rode out into the city, a handful of soldiers in front to clear their way. The city glittered in the morning light, bedecked with green flags celebrating the Forest Kingdom's visit at the instruction of the king. People smiled at them as they passed; Feferi was liked much more than the fickle and violent king. Nepeta's leopard caused a few stares, but it was as well-behaved as a good horse, and even allowed some brave children to stroke its head. Feferi and Nepeta chatted as they went, and despite their brief acquaintance soon felt themselves to be fast friends.

By noon, they had reached the outskirts of the city, surrounded by smaller but no less beautifully-kept houses and shops. Eridan would not allow so much as a hint of ugliness within his city; that was for the peasants outside. Tiny gardens packed with rows of vegetables glowed with healthy green, bringing a smile to Nepeta's face. They were about to turn around and head back to the palace when Sepia stumbled on the cobblestones and threw a shoe. Fortunately, at the end of the very street on which they were walking lay a farrier's shop. Feferi dismounted, smiling, and led the animal to the shop door, over which hung a sign reading "ZAHHAK: BLACKSMITH AND FARRIER".

The ring of the doorbell brought a crashing sound from within, and a shout of "Yes, I'm coming!" followed by the sound of heavy boots. The door opened, and Feferi's breath caught in her throat.

The smith was young, maybe twenty, and strikingly handsome, tall and strong, eyes hidden behind smoked spectacles. His bare arms gleamed in the forge's light, and his long sweat-soaked hair was a beautiful shade of deep, shining blue. He took his glasses off and polished them, revealing eyes of a similar shade.

"Your Highnesses?" he gasped, and dropped to one knee. "Oh! Forgive my rudeness, I would never have expected-"

"Rudeness forgiven!" Nepeta giggled, offering him a hand. He kissed it, and she frowned. "I was trying to help you up, Mr ... Zahhak, is it?"

"Yes, ma'am, yes," he said, nodding and pulling himself up, putting as little weight as possible on Nepeta's hand. "What brings you to my humble shop?"

Feferi nodded at Sepia, and flushed slightly as the young man looked at her. "Um, my horse. Her shoe came off?"

"Ah, of course. Easily fixed, ma'am," Zahhak said with a nod, patting the horse's neck. "She's a beautiful creature, isn't she?"

Feferi blushed, and wished that one day Mr Zahhak would say the same of her.