Venitia kept on with her training, except now it was not just she and Donovan, since Teagan had so politely asked if he could watch that Venny found it hard to say no.  He sat and watched quietly, but Venitia noticed a change in Donovan.

            He seemed much more reserved and quiet than he had been before Teagan had arrived.  They now had no more conversations or discussed life or politics like they used to.  When she would leave with Teagan, Donovan would always decline going to dinner.

            One day Teagan was called away by his mother while they were reviewing bow and arrow shooting.

            "Excuse me, your highness," Teagan bowed and kissed her hand. "Donovan," he nodded and left.

            "So anyway, you have to keep your hand steady or else…what are you doing?" Donovan asked.

            Venitia had put down her arrows and was leaning on her bow staring at him with a look of contempt on her face.

            "What am I doing? What are you doing, that's the question!" she said.

            He looked puzzled. "I am trying to correct you on your shooting," he said.

            "Not that," she threw her hands up in despair. "I mean, why don't we talk? Why do you not come to dinner? Why do you avoid me?"

            "I do not avoid you, your highness," he said and immediately regretted it.

            "Your highness? Your highness! I thought we were friends!" she said.

            He was also starting to lose his temper. "Well we were until Mr. Fancy-Pants, hi-I-can-make-you-swoon-with-my-teeth came in!"

            "I do not swoon!"

            "You know, I thought you were smarter than this.  I thought you would have learned something from your past, but obviously not!"

            "Don't you dare bring that into this! That has nothing to do with us!" she yelled.

            "It has everything to do with us! You're setting yourself up for heartbreak again, and I don't want to be a part of it!" he yelled back.

            "Well, you could have been a part of it if you had acted before he did!"

            They both froze.  Venitia could not believe those words had just come out of her mouth; they had never talked about the attraction between them, but they both knew it was there.

            "Excuse me," Donovan said, still red in the face.

            "Donovan…wait!" she said, but too late.  He had already run to his quarters on the south side of the field.

            Venitia slowly walked back to her room, thinking hard about what just happened. He cares for me, I already knew that. Yet, why would he take such an interest in her and Teagan? It wasn't like anything had actually happened.

            She made it to her room and plopped onto her bed.  She closed her eyes and saw both Teagan and Donovan.  Teagan was so charming and enticing, but Donovan was so kind and good-natured.  She felt like she really knew and cared for Donovan, while Teagan was just a flirt.  But there was something about Teagan that drew her to him, but what could it be?

            A knock came at her door.

            "Ven? Can I come in?" her father's voice said.

            "Yes," she answered.

            He came in. "Venitia, I wanted to talk to you about something…"

            "I know I overreacted, I couldn't help it! We weren't talking anymore and I just…" she interrupted.

            "Venny what are you talking about?" he said bewildered.

            "Oh! Um, nothing," she lied.

            "Alright…anyways, as I was saying, how would you like it if I threw a ball for Lady Emilia's departure? They leave on Sunday and I thought that we could use a bit of fun, and this seems like just the time to do it."

            "Sunday? This Sunday?"

            "Yes, dear.  Why?"

            "Oh, nothing," she said. So soon? she thought.

            "So? Would you like it?"

            "Yes, father, that would be wonderful," she replied.

            "Well, alright then.  Why don't you go tell Muriel while I go get started on the arrangements?"

            "Of course!" she said.

            She left her room, still in her training gear, and made for her little sister's room down the hall.

            "Mur? May I come in?" she asked as she knocked on her door.

            "Yes," she heard a faint voice say.

            She opened the door and walked in. "Hey Muriel.  What are you doing?"

            "Painting," came the obvious answer.  Muriel was by far the most artistic of the daughters. 

            "What are you painting?"

            "Gimli," her little sister said.  Gimli the dwarf, one of their father's' best friends, was one of the most favorite guests at the palace, especially with Muriel.

            "It's wonderful! It looks exactly like him!" Venny said, and she wasn't lying.  Muriel was very gifted.

            "So, Muriel, would you like to go to a party on Sunday?" Venny asked.

            "A party! I love parties!" Venitia laughed as her sister's' eyes lit up.

            "Well, daddy is having a big party on Sunday for Lady Emilia and her children.  That is their last day with us," Ven said. "Would you like Annette to make you a new dress?" Annette was the most talented seamstress in the kingdom.

            "Oh, can it be red like my hair?" Muriel asked. She was the only child to have flaming red hair.

            "It can be anything you like," Venny smiled. "Why don't you go down to the sewing quarters while I dress and then I'll meet you there?"

            The little girl nodded, leapt off her seat and dashed out of the room. Venitia headed back to her own room.

            When she opened the door, she found her room covered in not red but white roses.  She gasped.  She had not thought of that "secret admirer" since it had a week since the last note arrived.

            She uncovered the note underneath a pile of petals.

            To love is to lose, and as I am about to lose you, I wish with all my heart that you find happiness, even though it will not be with me, the one who wants you the most. 

            Your secret admirer

            "About to lose me?" she said to herself. Then she gasped again.  Teagan! And as I am about to lose you…he was to leave on Sunday! But…somehow it didn't feel right to Venitia that Teagan be the admirer. She dropped back onto her bed and didn't even think of it…for now it was nice to have a faceless admirer.

            "It adds mystery," she said.