Done 9

Six let him lead her back into the dining hall. Her mother was seated at the table. Anais hovered beside her, concern evident on his features. Six immediately felt guilty for causing her distress. Then she shoved that emotion down where it belonged, emotions could get you killed. She wasn't that weak yet, bad enough she had shed tears in front of the prince.

He led her to a seat that was next to his. She noted with some amusement that he was between her and his father. Nuala was on the other side of her father, but she kept glancing at six. Her mother was on six's other side. She leaned over and said "I'm sorry I should have warned you, but I just wanted a moment alone with him" six reached out her hand and rested it over her mothers.

Her mom clung to her hand and pulled her closer. "please never scare me so again" said her mom. Six nodded and patted her hand. The king seemed non plussed by his ordeal. He cheerfully announced their engagement to the whole room. Six downed her wine in one gulp and signaled for another. Maybe she could get good and plastered and could ignore the conversation taking place about her. She glanced around the room at the other guests.

She paid close attention to the women. They all looked like painted fluff to her. All glitter and no substance. Was that what she was destined to become? Over her dead body, would she ever be that. Despite Nuada's promises she had her doubts he could ever keep them. She knew he might try, but it was ultimately his people that would kill her spirit.

She glanced at his father. The years showed clearly on his face. The lines etched around his eyes from years of woe. Decisions regarding other people's lives and duty to his people forsaking his own. She couldn't be that. She didn't want to be that, call her selfish but she wanted her own life.

She finished her second glass of wine and waved for another. The king waved the servant back denying it to her. Six frowned, so she was reduced to the role of a child, she couldn't help but resent it. Nuada watched her with a worried look. She wore a wooden expression on her face. When his father asked her a question she pointedly ignored him.

Nuada touched her hand "my lady, will you not answer him?" said Nuada. Six turned to him "excuse? I'm sorry what was the question?" said six "I asked dear lady how long you intend to wait to provide me with grandchildren?" said the king "is never long enough?" said six. The king's mirthful expression fell. The hall went silent in shock. Nuala's hand went to her mouth.

Nuada shook his head in disbelief, he thought she had learned. The king bit his bottom lip and regarded her. She met his eyes calmly. If this was her only way of defying him she would use it. The king smiled at her boldness. "the fates may hold different views fortunately" said the king "unless of course they didn't make me fertile" said six

The servants were bringing in the food now. They set a plate of it in front of six. The king frowned at her statement but six could see it raised doubts. "Father I'm sure they didn't want to limit their resources thus" said Nuada. Six frowned at him and picked up a piece of fruit from her plate. She ate it, ignoring the other glances of the guests. The king hadn't touched his plate yet, it was obvious they were all waiting for him to eat first.

Even Nuada and Nuala hadn't touched theirs. She reached for another piece and Nuada stayed her hand. "the king eats first, have they never taught you manners?" said Nuada. She set the food down and picked up a fork. His hand still rested on her arm in a familiar gesture.

He was attempting to hold her hand. "remove your hand from mine" said six. She said it softly so her mother wouldn't hear. Instead he tightened his grip and smirked at her. She smiled back at him, hers held no mirth. Then she stabbed his hand to the table with her fork.

He yelped and pulled it free with a string of swear words. "are you mad?" he yelled at her. She smiled at him and picked up a grape from her plate. "perhaps, perhaps not but you will maintain your distance from me until I say otherwise" said six

He grabbed one of the cloth napkins and pressed it to his hand to stop the bleeding. She noted he now sported wounds on both his hands. That would hamper him in a fight, sufficiently that she could probably take him. "Enough!" yelled the king "you will show some manners in my hall" said the king.

Six smirked at him, his yell hadn't fazed her. Her drill sergeants had louder voices. She leaned back in her chair and gazed at him impassively. "My apologies your majesty I am simply not ready for that level of familiarity as yet" said six the king frowned, she had the right to tell him no, for the sake of propriety. His son's only infraction had been to touch her yet again.

"I see I'm sure my son would have heeded your wishes should you but inform him first" said the king "your majesty forgive me I should have schooled her better, I thought her manners would be suffice for this occasion, it is my fault not the girls" said Anais. six turned towards him. He glared at her and she frowned at him. She had manners it was the prince who was feeling her up. She ground her teeth ooh she hated this double standard shit.

"that is understandable my old friend no harm done" said the king. Anais leaned back; his glance at six told her she wouldn't be hearing the end of it tonight. The king poked a fork into his food and lifted a bite to his moth. The rest of the party waited until he swallowed before doing the same.

Nuada wrapped the napkin around his hand tightly and began eating. His hand smarted from her stab. He still admired her courage; few talked to his father like that and lived afterwards. Even he wouldn't have dared that level of bravado. If she had been born a male in their culture what a warrior she would have made. She might have been good enough to best him even.

He glanced at her. She was eating silently her vision fixed on her plate. She seemed to be mixing the dishes together and picking at the result. "Is there something remiss?' he asked softly though he only leaned in so far.

Even though he had her weapon she was till dangerous, she had proven that with the fork. She glanced at him and took a bite. She made a face like she intended to hurl and forcibly swallowed the food. "no I'm fine" she answered. "Would you prefer something else?" he asked. She shook her head no; she wasn't even really hungry so why put them to so much trouble.

She refrained from stating that this was the worst tasting food she had ever had. Nuada frowned he was trying to be kind to her. Obviously her earlier candid behavior was over. He drank some of his wine. He signaled for her to receive another glass. The servant came over," yes my lord?" said the servant "bring the lady something else, she can't stomach this and another glass of wine so she can wash her palette" he ordered.

The servant took the plate away from her and walked away from her. She ate the grape still in her fingers before turning to glare at Nuada. "forgive me but I saw the faces you were making and thought you might prefer something else." Said Nuada

The servant walked into the kitchen carrying her plate. He set it down and another kitchen helper scrapped it of into the trash. "Who's plate is that?" asked the chef "the prince's betrothed apparent vagrae is a acquired taste for my lady" said the servant. He was arranging a plate of fruit and meats. The chef grabbed the sauce he was putting with them and poured something in it when the servants' back was turned.

The mistress had paid him good money to poison the future princess. He wasn't going to waste the opportunity. The servant picked up the plate set the sauce cup on it and carried it out to her. The chef smiled, he was going to be a rich man.