((Wow, Chap 3 finally up!! I know, I know, it's VERY Mary-Sue-ish, but, hey, everyone needs a few vices, as our beloved Belgarath repeatedly states. I'm just out to have a little fun, is all. Oh, and anyone notice my chapter titles aren't very creative? I apologize for that....Oh well, read on, and some people may pick up on a foreshadowing here... hopefully, anyways, I was rather obvious...Oh yeah, almost forgot, all chars 'cept Aidan and her mother belong to David Eddings, and the lands are his too. I'm keeping the road sign, however. And the car.))






"WHAT?!"

"I said Prince Geran of Riva will be attending the ball tonight."

Aidan groaned.

Polgara the Sorceress, Duchess of Erat, Daughter of The Eternal Man, wife of The Man With Two Lives, and mother of two, calmly regarded the newest in her little flock of lost sheep.

"You really shouldn't groan, dear," she advised. "It absolutely sets my teeth on edge."

"But-"

"Are we really going to argue?"

"Why me?"

"Don't ever say that again."

Aidan stared at her, eyes suddenly going very wide. "Oh, my God....."

Polgara glanced at her placidly. "And which one was that dear? There are several, you know."

"You-- you-- you're just a character in an imaginary world, and I-- I'm hallucinating.....This is insane....I .... You.... How did.......Necessity......Final EVENT...... Korim........ Imaginary..... should.... no need....."

Polgara rose from her chair, walked over to the trembling girl, and rather sharply slapped her cheek.

The girl's eyes focused, and she stared at the sorceress with a mix of hurt, indignation, and submission. "What did you do that for?"

Polgara sat down and continued her needlework. "Since you boast that you've studied us for years, you'll remember how Vella slapped Ce'Nedra out of a bout of hysterics on the search for Geran. I decided maybe this was another time when shock treatment was a good idea." She paused, a smile threatening her lips.

"Something funny?"

"I'm sorry, dear. You just remind me somewhat of what Garion may have been like had he been born a girl, that's all." She smiled, obviously reliving those quiet years on Faldor's farm.

"Lady Polgara?"
"Yes, Aidan?"

She hesitated. "Do you think Geran will like me?"

Somewhere in the distance, a bell tolled, and Polgara smiled. "I'm sure of it, dear. Now, let's get you into something nice. I believe a have a blue dress that will make you look absolutely stunning."

~*~

Girls, Prince Geran decided mournfully, were out to get him.

Everywhere he went, hopeful girl after hopeful girl waylaid him in thier low-cut gowns, proclaiming in sibilant whispers how they had worshipped him from afar, how they had not seen another boy since they first laid eyes on him. This, Geran suspected, was a lie.

"All hail Crown Prince of Riva and Next Guardian of the Orb, his Highness Prince Geran!"

Geran really wished they would stop doing that whenever he walked into a room. Yet he still entered the hall filled with young women and took his customary place at the king's table.

"Hail, Her Grace, The Duchess of Erat, Polgara the Sorceress!"

Aunt Pol stepped in, a strange girl beside her. Geran noticed the herald whispering with her, and then he cleared his throat.

"Hail, my Lady and honored guest of King Korodullin and Queen Mayaserana, Aidan of Namir!"

Geran was oblivious to the introduction of the Baroness of Vo Somewhere as he watched the girl and his Aunt Pol take seats on either side of him, the girl looking suddenly very shy. He also noticed, flushing, that her bodice set off some of her more feminine attributes rather nicely.

"Say something, Geran, don't just sit there and stare. It isn't polite." Geran wasn't surprised that his Aunt Pol would remind him of his manners.

"Yes, Aunt Pol," he responded automatically. He turned to the girl, who was watching courtiers fawn over the royalty with an amused look. "So, hello," he said, trying to make it sound light-hearted.

The girl's attention snapped back to him, and he could see a faint flash of wariness replaced with recognition in her eyes. "Hello, Prince Geran," she said demurely, eyes on her plate. "'Tis an honor."

He made a face. "If you so much as utter a 'thou'----" he broke off, realizing how churlish and improper that seemed. After all, he hardly knew her, and already he was threatening something.

She raised an eyebrow. "Thou."

His lower lip began to tremble, and he widened his eyes, a look he had learned from his mother. "That's it," he quavered. "I'm going to cry."

She laughed. "Isn't it a little unorthodox for the Guardian of the Orb to cry over such a little thing?"

"Ah, that's it then," he said mournfully. "You're almost starting to sound like a Mimbrate."

"Oh, go stuff a sock in it," she said tartly, then her face paled and blushed, her eyes suddenly finding the floor very interesting. "I apologize, your Highness," she whispered.

"Geran." He looked at his Aunt Pol inquiringly, about to talk to the poor girl.

"Yes, Aunt Pol?"

"Tell her she's coming to Riva with us." Her eyes were distant, and her voice as if it came from a mile away.

He blinked. "Yes, Aunt Pol." He turned back to Aidan-- when did he start thinking of her as Aidan?-- and gently tapped her on the shoulder. She raised her face, obviously having gained her composure back.

"I'm sorry, my Lady. I should be apologizing," he said, trying to sound very winning. "As a matter of fact, I am so very sorry, I would like for you to come to Riva with I and Aunt-- I mean, Lady Polgara after our stay here."

She blinked, opened her mouth, blinked again, closed her mouth, and then opened it again. She must have had good face muscles. "I would be delighted, if that's what your Highness prefers."

"My Highness does prefer."

She laughed again, then sighed, suddenly looking very tired and distant. "Do you know, I think I may be getting a little travel-weary," she murmured, blinking slowly. "I---" With that, she collapsed.

Geram automatically caught her, and picked her up, making his excuses to the throng of people. Once enough ladies had fainted themselves, and enough knights vowing to assure thier convenience, Geran headed for the doors, trying not to think about the way she smelled.

That gown was really rather nice.

Geran resolutely pushed that thought out of his mind and marched purposefully forward, ears flaming.


((Hehe. I love doing that to boys. Oh well, R/R and tell me what you think!!))