Chapter 7
Ariana stomped into the bathroom to look at her hair; it had pink stripes in it! Two months had passed since the epic battle of pranks had begun between Murtagh and Ariana, also two months since she started lessons with Murtagh. She hated lessons! He was a complete know it all and always tried to out due her. Now she had to face Murtagh for the entire day with pink hair, I don't even know if it will come out.
Ariana stomped put the door with an irate look on her face, she received strange looks the entire way to the library where the lessons were held. It was a common fact that the two young occupants of the palace loathed each other.
She pushed open the mahogany doors to the library, now Ariana wasn't normally a violent child but she wanted to strangle Murtagh. To her utter disgust, HE was sitting there at the table looking all innocent, sitting there reading a book. Innocent my but! He looked up at the sound of her entrance and smiled triumphantly. Mark, the young scholar in charge of teaching them looked up at her angry expression and then gazed at her hair. He shook his head and pointed at the seat, beckoning me to sit.
The entire lesson Murtagh had a gigantic smirk on his smug face. He passed her notes commenting on her hair and how it suits her. Ariana gripped her quill tighter as she tried not to stab the utensil into his side.
Soon it was time for lunch and Mark escorted the kids to the kitchen for lunch, once in the kitchen they sat at the table across from each other, glaring. Andy came in to have lunch with us as he did some days. He came in and looked at Ariana's hair,
"Ah, the rivalry between Murtagh and Ariana continues." Andy said, at least he got a kick out of the pranks. "But sadly, as much as I enjoy the creativity of your pranks Bells wants you to stop, so shake hands and make a truce." Eww, touch that thing's hand. No one moved. Andy sighed, "Just get it over with before Bella has a fit."
Reluctantly, Murtagh stretched out his hand leaving it hanging in the air above the table. Ariana stared at it for a few seconds before reaching out to shake his hand. As soon as possible they let go and looked like they touched something nasty.
"I don't understand how you can't just get along. You have more things alike than you think." Andy said, massaging his temples.
They ate lunch quickly and headed back to the library. Now, up until this point Ariana actually liked Mark, even if his lessons were boring. He was fair and tried to make things easier, but that was before this lesson. As they walked in through the doors the chairs had been rearranged so that two chairs were across from each other and one was at the end.
"Ariana, Murtagh it has come to my attention and everyone else's attention that you two don't like each other that well." Ariana resisted the urge to snort, big understatement. Murtagh however had no such restraint. Mark glared at Murtagh then continued on. "So, instead of today's lesson we will be getting to know each other better and the good qualities in each other. Does anyone have any questions?" Ariana raised her hand. "Yes Ariana,"
"Do we have to do this." She asked. Murtagh snorted and then nodded his head in agreement. Mark sighed,
"Yes, Ariana you have to do this." Murtagh raised his hand to ask a question. "What is it Murtagh?"
"Can't we jus ignore each other?"
"No!" Mark actually sounded irritated, "You will do this whether you like this or not! Now sit!" He then pointed to the two chairs across from each other. They sat down quickly, not wanting to be yelled at.
"Okay, let's start with what you like and what your favorite things to do are. Ariana you go first."
"Uh, I like Bella's cookies." Ariana said.
"That's not what I meant by" Mark started to say but was interrupted by Murtagh.
"Of course, everyone likes Bella's cookies. They're like awesome."
"Exactly," Ariana agreed. "What about you Mark, do you like Bella's cookies?" Ariana questioned.
"Well, no but," Mark stammered.
"What! How could you not like her cookies?!" Murtagh exclaimed,
"This isn't about me, this about you two! Now I'm glad you both found something in common at least."
"Not really, everyone likes Bella's cookies except you." Ariana protested quietly. Mark almost pulled his hair out of his head.
"Enough, Murtagh what is an activity you like to do for fun." Mark questioned impatiently.
"Eat Bella's cookies." He said softly, Ariana giggled.
"Stop with the cookies already! What besides eat cookies do you like to do?" Mark practically yelled in frustration.
"Pull pranks on people." Murtagh replied.
"I think we noticed that, Murtagh." Mark stated.
"I like to pull pranks to." Ariana said. Murtagh nodded, grimacing at a memory of the many times he was the target of these pranks.
"Well than why don't you combine your devious minds and prank some other people together. At least you'll be working with each other." He muttered sarcastically. Unfortunately for him both faces brightened at the idea, the thoughts of the terror they could bring to the king's castle with the combined efforts of the two most devious four year olds Alagaesia. Of course the idea of working together had some draw backs, or a lot of draw backs but maybe it could work.
"Hey what do you say Murtagh? I won't prank you any more if you help me bring terror among the occupants of the palace." Ariana asked excitedly. Murtagh pondered as hard as a four year old, soon to be five year old, could.
"What do I get out of it? You already shook hands with me because Andy forced us to and you can't do any more pranks on me." Murtagh asked.
"I crossed my fingers behind my back." Ariana stated as if it could explain everything, and to a four year old it could. "Besides it will get the grown ups off our backs."
"But they weren't on our backs." Murtagh said, confused.
"It's called a figure of speech." She explained.
"Hugh."
"Never mind, I mean that they will stop bugging us about not getting along." Ariana replied.
"I accept your peace offering." Murtagh said formally, Ariana giggled and he smiled. For once it was not a 'Haha, I got you with a prank smile' but a real smile. Maybe things would work out after all. Ariana thought as they left the library. Mark just watched this whole exchange with dread and thought that for the first time that for once it would have been better if they stayed enemies.
