IM BACK OH MY GOSH YOU MISSED ME just kidding ill stop ruining the story and let you read now.
Chapter 20
That night, I dream of headquarters. The team meets in the rec room, wearing their casual clothes, so something tells me this isn't an official meeting or mission. Robin, Wally and Artemis lie crashed on the couch, while Megan curls up in the cozy chair and Superboy sits on its arm, his arms crossed and contempt written all over his face. Kaldur stands in the center, hands posed thoughtfully as he considers the team's next move.
Focus snaps back to him when he finally speaks. "This is serious. If she didn't pick up on her communicator she's got to be in some kind of trouble, or it's been taken from her."
Robin stifles a yawn. "Or she was just busy with negotiations. She can't exactly interrupt a peace conference to say hi to us. Can we go to bed now or what?"
Kaldur shakes his head. "Not until we decide a course of action. This is our teammate, and on this team, no one gets left behind unless absolutely necessary."
Megan sighs. "Look Aqualad, I understand why you're worried. But she's only been gone a day and a half and we haven't received any urgent distress signals. I agree with Robin; just because she didn't pick up a few hours ago doesn't mean she won't tomorrow."
Kaldur's face goes stormy. "This is serious. What if she's in trouble and the communicator was taken from her?"
Artemis rises, her hands thrown up in anguish. "You need to stop panicking, Kaldur. She's a teammate. If she was a relative or a civilian, sure, I'd be going straight down to rescue her, but the simple fact is that she's a teammate, and anyone who's on this team knows how to take care of themselves. She'll be back by Monday morning as promised, and it's only Saturday night, so calm down."
Kaldur, clearly agitated, tenses his muscles, and I want to run over and soothe him, tell him I'm all right and that I'll be back just a day late, but he remains frozen in frustration. "And if she dies? If she is in trouble and we can't help her? The longer she stays down there the more likely it is she won't come back."
Superboy rises and shrugs. "So she's gone for a few days, so what? The longer she's gone the less time the rest of us get to spend watching the two of you fawn all over each other without getting anywhere. Just admit you have feelings for her and that's why you want to go searching."
Megan slaps him in the arm, but the comment has already escaped him. A hushed, awkward silence descends over the room, tension spread thick among the team. All eyes rest on Kaldur, who stands silent, clenching one fist while gazing at the ground- this time, frozen with fury.
My eyes pop open, the dimmed morning sunlight from outside streaming into the hospital chamber, and I sit straight up, sore but flexible enough to move without a lot of discomfort. My breath comes in short, ragged gasps, emotion pumping through my veins.
Why couldn't I have slept long enough to hear his answer?
Rubbing my eyes, I spot the bottle of Faerie wine on the table- Paae must trust me enough to leave it here without danger of overdose. I down a quick swig, nothing substantial, and let the taste linger in my mouth before heaving myself out of bed.
Today, I party.
A knock comes at the door, and Saterina and Paae enter cheerfully. "Hey! We got your room cleaned up! Ready to go back and change?" Saterina asks happily. I note that the cheerful attitude is a little overdone, but don't comment and simply nod with a smile.
The two help me back to our rooms, and at our slower pace I finally take the time to examine the palace decorations. Beautiful marble dragons, edged with gold leaf, line the hallways, and the ceilings curve upward into shimmering arches that nearly blend in with the ceiling of the cavern. The tile floors shine, reflecting the walls in their polished, brassy faces, and each door is intricately decorated with its own wooden carving. Some doors are plainer, simply wood and bolts, and Paae and Saterina inform me that they lead to the servants' quarters or to the kitchen. I ask where the royalty stay, only to be informed that all the royal chambers are upstairs.
We've nearly reached our own rooms when a figure appears from nowhere and crosses our path suddenly, causing all of us to trip and collapse in a heap on top of it.
Cloaks and skirts tangle, and we take a few moments to reorganize ourselves before flipping back a square of purple fabric and revealing our attacker.
Paae and Saterina gasp and immediately sink even lower than they already are. "Your Highness," Paae blurts respectfully, stumbling in her words, and I note how flushed her face becomes.
I glance to my left to find the most handsome man I have ever seen staring right back at me. His black hair, shaved down to his head and cut neat and smooth, rests perfectly below a small gold crown engraved with Gaelic symbols. His blue eyes shine with soft shyness and his prominent chin tilts upward in the perfect regal manner. "Arrietty, this is Prince Jadir. Your Highness, may I present the apprentice of the Kasa goddess Hana, Miss Arrietty," Saterina mumbles, and I can practically hear the curses under her words. I doubt she wanted us to meet the Prince right about now, particularly since Paae is now too flushed to possibly be thinking rationally.
The Prince scrambles to his feet and bows elegantly. "It is a pleasure to meet one so grand," he says calmly, salvaging his dignity with a voice smoother than silk. "I am honored to make your acquaintance."
I rise, far less dignified in my hospital gown and unsure of what to do. Saterina mouths the word "curtsy", so I do, fighting to choose the correct words. "The pleasure is all mine, your Highness. I have heard much about you from your mother and from Paae." I bid my friends to rise, and they do, although the color does not fade from Paae's cheeks as she nervously avoids looking at the prince.
His ears prick up at Paae's name, and when he glances at her his gaze softens even further. "Lady Paae. It is wonderful to see you again. The palace has been lacking a positive element since you went away." She smiles gratefully and thanks him, her face now so flushed it has changed to a becoming lavender. Finally they make eye contact, and a flash of energy passes between them. I can sense the heat radiating from both sides, the flashes of lightning escaping their eyes, and I smile softly at their obvious passion for each other.
Saterina clears her throat, and they both jump a little. Prince Jadir glances at his pocket watch and starts a bit. "I must be going. I'm actually very late for an organizational meeting for the celebration." He reverses his gaze back to Paae. "I've missed our rooftop conversations, Lady Paae. Please feel free to join me this evening. I would much desire your company."
With that, he departs, Paae gazing longingly after him until Saterina slaps her. "I'm sorry," she murmurs. "He's just so kind and shy. It's so endearing!" Saterina shakes her head. "I know. I know you care about him. But you have to remember where you stand, how the odds are stacked against you. You are a servant and he is the Prince. And the only way for royalty to marry commoners is…" "…for someone to wish it at the end of the ceremony, I know," Paae agrees sadly. "But it's hopeless, so I'll just put him out of my head."
I pat her shoulder. "If it's any consolation, letting the two of you be together would be my wish," I say eagerly. She brightens. "Well, I doubt that. You'd probably ask to return to your family or something, but it was nice of you to say that anyway. Now come on, let's get you ready to party!"
We run the rest of the way back to our rooms, smashing our way into mine and dumping the contents of all our suitcases on the bed.
"What to wear, what to wear…" Saterina murmurs thoughtfully. I examine her dresses carefully, not wanting to be too risky since she's married, but in the end we all still agree on a spicy red dress that accents the highlights of her skin. Strapless and at least three inches above her knees, but it's a special occasion, so we help her wriggle into it anyway and slip on some sleek black high heels to match. "Can't I have a little jewelry?" she asks desperately, gesturing to the exposed flesh between her neck and her chest. Paae rolls her eyes and rummages through the box on the dresser, clasping a thick black necklace with a ruby chain around her throat. "Satisifed?" she asks sarcastically.
I rummage through Paae's bag until I find the color I'm picturing, and there it is: sky blue, medium length and flowy enough to dance in but tight enough to set off her curves. "You don't need any help catching Prince Jadir's eye, but just in case, let's make sure you look memorable," I say cheerfully, tossing it at her and hunting for jewelry while Saterina covers shoes. I find a sapphire bracelet-necklace pair and clasp them on her neck and arm while she slips into glittering blue flats.
"Now for you!" both of them squeal gleefully, and I sigh. Dressing up for concerts was never my favorite aspect, but dancing can't be too bad, so I open my arms. "Have at it, ladies! There's a silver minidress in my bag that should be alright," I tease, and they squeal again and dive for my suitcase.
"Close your eyes," Saterina orders, and I obey. For several minutes I hear only scuffling and the shifting of fabric before I'm guided into a chair. The two of them run brushes through my hair, and I hear the snaps of several different clips before the cold metal of a pendant settles in the hollow of my throat.
"Alright," Paae whispers breathily. "Open."
I open my eyes and gasp at the sight before me. I never knew I could be this beautiful. The silver of the minidress glitters and glints in the light, reflecting my eyes, and my hair waits half-up and half-down in a swirling golden masterpiece. A simple silver chain leans gracefully against my neck while being pulled down by a square green stone the color of my eyes.
"What do you think?" Paae asks nervously. I whirl around and grin. "I think it's time for us to hit the dance floor," I say cheerfully, and they boo at my bad joke as we flee the palace and join the energetic crowds in the center of the cavern.