Author's Note: Hey! Just wanted to let you know that I posted the first three chapters of my new story The Search for Rioridan! Go check it out! However, I am still going to keep up with Venitia. I fear, however, that it is wrapping up. *Sniffle* I will miss it. New chapter, though, for now. Yay! Also, just a quick question…why is it in The Two Towers that Legolas' eye color changes? Did they just forget to put is contacts in or what?
"Oh no! The note!" Venitia panicked and ran back through the hallways, desperately searching for the note.
"Hello, Venitia," she heard Almira's voice say.
Venitia slowly looked up. Almira was standing triumphantly over her, with a piece of paper in her hand. Nooooo, thought Venitia.
"I was just walking down the hall, when I saw a little flutter of something to my left. Naturally I went to investigate and much to my surprise, I found this. Funny. It's a little love note. At first I thought it was for me, but how silly, of course it was for you. And you had it in your pocket the whole time. How sweet," she said mischievously.
"Almira, just give it to me."
"Oh, but it is so beautiful…I love you with so much of my heart…" but she was abruptly cut off by Venitia knocking her arm and grabbing the note.
While Almira looked stunned, Venitia sneered at her, then turned on her heel and left. Instead of going to her room, she went to the library. She made a fire and sat down, not looking at the note.
Tapping her teeth with her nails, she suddenly lifted her arm and made for the fire. No! No, I can't burn it. It's too…pretty. It's practically a work of art, she reasoned in her head. Happy, she put the note in a safer pocket and sat back down.
She had hardly been sitting there for five minutes when she heard a rustle, meaning someone had come into the room.
"I'm sorry, Venny. Obviously just because I have had an easy love life doesn't mean that everyone has," Almira said in a fake-sorry voice.
Venitia only rolled her eyes and didn't answer.
"So…who is it?"
"Excuse me?"
"Oh come off it, Venny. Who sent you that note?"
"Almira, go away," Venitia said, starting to get annoyed.
"Oh, come on. It is rather pretty, even if Teagan could do one prettier," Almira said, the last part under her breath.
"Oh, please," Venitia said.
"You can't deny it; he is so handsome. And so charming and debonair and captivating. Oh, this is such a strange feeling, to be in love!"
"It sure is," Venitia said very softly.
"What was that?"
"Nothing."
"I mean, he just touched me and it felt like it was meant to be this way, you know? Like the whole world had finally become clear and yet hazy, and oh, I don't know! It's so confusing!"
Venitia smiled to herself.
"Then we danced, and his eyes went right into me, into my soul! I swear, those eyes could make me swoon like I never thought I would!"
Venitia laughed softly, partly because Almira was being so dramatic and partly because it was all so true.
"Oh, Venitia…who is it?"
When Venny only made a grunting noise, Almira persisted, "Please? Please please please! Tell me!"
Venitia finally sighed. "I don't know who it is, alright? I have no clue," she said, standing up and pacing about.
Almira's eyes widened. "How romantic! A secret admirer! This is so exciting!"
"No, it's not," Venitia said impatiently.
"Yes it is! Oh, one day he will come to you when your alone in the garden with flowers in his hands and throw himself at your feet and profess his undying love to you!" Almira said excitedly, acting it out.
Venitia started to laugh at this, and Almira stopped from twirling in the center of the room.
"What? It could happen!"
"No it couldn't," Venitia said, still laughing hard.
"Oh, you're so negative about everything."
"I am not!"
"Fine, then you're so negative about love."
Venitia couldn't argue with that. "Well…I have a right to be, don't I?"
"Yes, I suppose so. But forget Thaddeus, he's over and long gone. I happened to realize how handsome your trainer was. What about him?"
"He's gone, too," Venitia said, not bothering to hide the bitterness.
"Oh. I did not know that. Sorry," Almira said, feeling bad.
"That's alright…He was handsome, though, wasn't he?" she said, feeling like a love-sick teen again.
"Oh, yes. He was so tall…"
"And strong…"
"And those eyes!"
"And his hair…" Venitia giggled and plopped back down in her chair.
"Maybe he was your admirer?"
"I doubt it."
"It could happen!"
"He is not that poetic…you read the note right?"
"Well…yes."
"I highly doubt he wrote that."
"You never know. Sometimes people have talents inside them that they never show."
"That is true."
"Oh, but it would be exciting, wouldn't it? If he came back on a great white horse, and swept you off your feet."
"Not for awhile though…is your head still in the clouds, or did you manage to see the inches of ice covering the ground?"
"Oh, I saw it. But still…true love will conquer all," Almira said.
Venitia only made a 'hmph'.
"Oh, you're no fun. I'm going to find Mother…maybe she will actually enjoy my ideas," she said, then left.
***
The winter went on, just as cold as everyone thought it would be. Venitia turned 21, and they went through the whole ball ordeal again.
February was winding down, and the weather was easing up. During the winter, Venitia had wandered around, and had taken to languishing about the palace, most often in the library. Her family was worried, but hoped that spring would bring new hope.
One day, near the very end of February, Venitia was walking through the front hall for no particular reason, when the butler stopped her suddenly.
"Your highness," he said, bowing.
"Yes?"
"This letter came for, your highness."
"Oh! Um, thank you."
"Of course."
She took the letter he handed to her. He scurried off and she was left alone in the hall. It had no markings, only her name in black ink. Furrowing her brow, she flipped it over and opened it.
I will come for you. So far away, my love for you has never been defeated. I hope to bring my love to light, and soon.
Venitia stared wide-eyed at the page. She searched the envelope and the letter itself to see if anything could be seen, but no, only the message. Puzzled, she headed back to her room.
*Alright, so it doesn't end in the best of places, but I need to do some serious thinking before I go on. Don't forget – The Search for the Rioridan! I need ideas and help!
