A/N

Here you go. Here's Cassia's chapter. I'm having a hard time with Chapter 14 (which might actually turn into two chapters *sobs*), so I decided to just write this. I think it works.

This is dedicated to Zweolf. Thanks for the comments and support!

Friends

"Good gods, Cassia, those girls are awful," Hitomi murmured close to her ear as they walked away from the group. "Do you think everyone here is like that?" Taking advantage of the break between songs, Hitomi had excused herself to prepare for meeting the king, and Cassia was grateful to escape with her.

Now she looked up as Hitomi tucked an invisible hair behind her ear and swiveled her head to look around. They neared the refreshment tables before she thought of a response. "I think King Fanel has a way of making social climbers lose their inhibitions in an attempt to get a reaction," she said.

Hitomi laughed and met Cassia's eyes, "Do you think it's him or the Fanelian vino?"

"I think those girls definitely love the vino, but I also think their parents raised them to believe their looks are the key to happiness. In my experience, the king is rather immune to physical beauty."

"Isn't that the opposite of most kings? Don't they usually want a beautiful queen?" Hitomi asked, looking down and fingering the green filigree on her golden dress.

Cassia's eyes followed her hands and enjoyed how the light danced off the fabric. She reached for a little cookie on the table. Was Hitomi wanting encouragement, she wondered as she bit into the mint wafer and eyed her acquaintance. Hitomi had large, pretty eyes, a straight nose, and well-formed lips. Her figure was lovely and her dress was made for her in both color and fit. Hitomi definitely wasn't lacking in good looks, though in Cassia's opinion, she didn't come close to King Fanel's level of beauty. Admittedly, she didn't know anyone who could.

Cassia was comfortable enough in her own skin, but she knew she wasn't much to look at. Short and stout and dark-featured, she had long accepted her role as the sturdy friend in her relationships, both physically and emotionally. She and Hitomi had met earlier this year at a spring ball in Egzardia, where Hitomi had won over one of Cassia's acquaintances for what turned out to be just for the season. Tonight, Hitomi had found her soon after her dance with the king, and Cassia had been relieved to have another companion as disinclined to gossip as she was. Hitomi, like herself, preferred a more intimate crowd. They'd been having a fine time admiring the Fanelian artwork carved into various pillars before those other girls had pulled them in so as to mine them for gossip. Cassia hoped they hadn't gotten much out of them.

Hitomi took up a mint wafer for herself and looked away as an older male guest jeered at her. "So what do you think makes him this way, Cassia? Do you think his childhood was traumatic?" she asked as she guided her with a finger pressed to her shoulder away from the table and the man. "The king looks downright miserable every time I spot him."

"Other than being orphaned young, I don't know. I think he's simply very private and very introspective."

"Boring, right?" Hitomi cast a smile and a wink her way.

Cassia blushed and smiled sheepishly. In reality, she didn't mind being bored with King Fanel, especially since he was so nice to look at.

Hitomi laughed at her. "You know him relatively well. How many times have you met now?"

"Three," Cassia answered, trying not to sound too self-satisfied as she plucked a little pastry off a new table. "And I wouldn't say I know him well. That's not easy to do with someone as reticent as he is."

"So…may I ask? Do you like him?" Hitomi's eyes bounced off of her. "If he were to propose to you after the gala, would you accept?"

Cassia's heart skipped and the bite she'd just swallowed dried up in her throat. She coughed, her face growing uncomfortably warm.

Hitomi wrapped her smooth, gloved hand around her arm and pulled her to another table filled with flutes of pink, bubbly vino and glasses of water. She reached for one of each and handed the vino to her. Cassia took a sip and let the warm liquid moisten her mouth before she swallowed the spicy drink.

"I apologize for being so forward, Cassia. Perhaps what Brigitte said has me thinking," Hitomi said after a sip of water, her expression sober.

After another rather unladylike swig of the vino, Cassia blinked up at her friend. "You're referring to her jibe about me 'enjoying my marriage to him'?" she asked, grateful the coughing fit masked the true reason for her blush.

Hitomi's answer was to smile weakly and discard her glass on a tray while her eyes scanned the distant ballroom.

Setting down the now-empty flute, Cassia took a breath and motioned for Hitomi to move away from the tables. "She was just saying that because she's jealous that I had a positive experience," she said. The idea of a beautiful girl like Brigitte being jealous of someone like her was a new idea to Cassia, one that made her want to shout with pride that she could get along with the king when these other, more refined ladies couldn't. But she swallowed her pride and said aloud what those around her certainly thought but were too polite to say. "Nobody really believes that King Fanel would choose me," she said.

Eyebrows knitting together, Hitomi's face pinched. "Don't say that about yourself. You get along with him better than average, if I had to guess," she added.

With a derisive laugh to hide her true feelings, Cassia said, "That doesn't mean he wants to marry me."

"But do you like him?" Hitomi asked softly.

Cassia could only stare, mouth gaping. "Honestly?" she asked with a breath, looking up into Hitomi's sincere face.

"Of course," Hitomi said with wide, expectant eyes.

Chest burning, heart racing, Cassia licked her dry lips. "I feel…" she began, swallowing. "I feel as if he and I would understand one another," she said simply, before turning away to press her cool hands to her warm cheeks.

"Oh," she heard Hitomi say quietly.

When Cassia turned back to her, she saw that Hitomi's face had fallen and she was watching her with downcast eyes. Quickly, Cassia grabbed Hitomi's arms. "Oh, Hitomi, don't worry. I don't think he will propose to me. You still have a chance with him," Cassia said quickly, wanting to make her friend feel better. "Besides, I think I would be miserable as a queen." She wondered if Hitomi might notice that she didn't say she would be miserable as his queen.

Her friend's eyes scanned her face before she shook her head and smiled. "That's silly. You'd make a very wise and grounded queen."

Cassia shook her head derisively. "No, I couldn't handle the social expectations. I don't know how King Fanel does it. I would be a disappointing, invisible queen."

"You mustn't speak of yourself like this, Cassia," Hitomi said seriously. "You are more capable than you think. Yes, being a queen is a big job. It's an intimidating prospect, to take upon oneself the responsibility and the well-being of an entire people, to deal with the politics and traditions on top of the other burdens. But think of how beautiful Fanelia is. Consider how many opportunities there would be to help people."

For a moment, Cassia stood stunned and staring as the lines of her friend's sincere face blurred a little. "You've really thought about it, haven't you?" she asked her. The vino must be taking effect now as the next words slipped off her tongue too easily. "So if he were to propose to you after this, would you accept?"

For a brief moment, Hitomi's eyes enlarged and her mouth dropped open before she collected herself and lifted her chin in what Cassia thought was a very regal pose.

"See, you look like a queen right now" she said before Hitomi could respond to her question.

Hitomi's hand crept to her flushed neck as she looked away.

"I'm sorry, it's the vino," Cassia said, rubbing her friend's arm. "You don't have to answer. Perhaps you need a glass yourself, Hitomi. It will help you relax."

"No," Hitomi said, shaking her head. "I mustn't. I don't handle vino well, and I need to keep my wits about me for this dance."

Pressing her lips together, Cassia gave her arm a squeeze. "You're more nervous than you should be. Just be yourself. He'll either like you or he won't," she said, cringing a little at her own honesty.

Luckily Hitomi laughed.

"Come on, you need to get in place. This song will be over soon, and you're next."

Nodding, the blonde gripped her skirts and stepped briskly ahead of her, sliding around a standing group of people and in the direction of the alcove at the back of the ballroom.

Cassia struggled to keep up. "Hitomi, don't you think you are taking this too seriously?" she asked her friend's straight back.

Hitomi slowed and stepped aside to wait for her. Her lips were pressed into a tight line. "Of course this is serious to me. Unlike those other girls, King Fanel's life isn't a game for me to play," she said, her eyes flashing. "Besides, I genuinely love Fanelia," she added, her voice softening.

"Doubtless that will show to him," Cassia said consolingly. "He needs someone like that, you know."

Hitomi shook her head. "What if he needs someone like you? Have you ever considered that?"

Taken aback, Cassia had to force her feet to keep moving. "Hitomi, you don't need to try to make me feel better. I'm not queen material. Look at me. I'm not tall or beautiful or elegant."

"You said so yourself that he doesn't care about those things. I for one can't have a conversation about energists with him."

Cassia laughed. "If it makes you feel any better, that's the only thing we've talked about. He has no interests in common with me otherwise. He can't talk about art or horse racing or water conservation."

Hitomi tried to smile, but it faltered as she wrung her hands. They were coming to the little alcove with the raised platform where girls waited for their dance with the king. She imagined Hitomi's chest was as tight and her insides as fluttery as hers had been when she waited her turn. Perhaps her hands were even sweaty, though she didn't think someone so beautiful could sweat. One of the king's advisors was posted in the alcove, and Cassia pointed him out.

Before Hitomi could step forward and introduce herself, an older woman in a sleek, silvery blue dress approached and intercepted her with a hug.

"Hitomi, my love, how are you feeling?" she asked, pulling back to grip Hitomi by the elbows.

"I'm well, Mother," Hitomi said, but Cassia saw her eyes glance towards the dancing king.

"I've been having a lovely time chatting with some friends from Daedalus. Have you prepared yourself? Did you have a mint? Have you had some water?" Her fingers fluttered over Hitomi's hair and dress as she spoke. "Have you met anyone interesting? Please tell me you didn't have any vino—you know how you are when you do. They have lovely pastries, have you tried them? I don't know why you insisted on coming and how you managed to get a dance with him, but the pastries alone are worth it. But I haven't seen the king smile all night. He might be nice to look at, but I'd like—."

Cassia was beginning to be impressed by Lady Kanzaki's breathless endurance when Hitomi stopped her.

"Mother, please. I need your encouragement right now," she said, meeting her mother's hazel eyes.

Cassia watched with a little pang of jealousy as Hitomi's mother smiled apologetically before kissing her cheek tenderly. "Yes, my love. You look beautiful. I have faith you won't run your mouth nervously."

Hitomi laughed and glanced shyly at Cassia. She returned her mother's kiss and stepped away towards the advisor and held her hand out for the formal greeting.

Too late, Cassia noticed the fingers of her closed hand were turned up—as if she were expecting him to take her hand for a dance—and she cringed inwardly for her friend.

The advisor, a good-looking man with cropped brown hair and a cream formal robe, eyed her with mixed sympathy and skepticism. Hitomi's smile must have won him over though, because he smiled at her and politely rotated her hand downwards for the less expectant formal greeting. Covering her fist with his hand, he greeted her. "Advisor Hassom," she heard him say as he inclined his head a little. "I welcome you, Miss Kanzaki. Please come with me to be presented to King Fanel." He released her hand and guided her closer to the edge of the floor, still on the raised platform. They stood speaking until the music ended.

Hitomi's mother hadn't said anything to her and had pushed her way closer to Hitomi, so Cassia made her own way to the edge of the dance floor just as the music ended. People were mingling and the partnerships on the floor were rearranging. Hitomi stood about eight people to Cassia's right, and though she fidgeted a little with her hands, Cassia could see she chatted easily with Advisor Hassom.

Soon, King Fanel stepped out of the crowd to the left and Cassia's eyes drew to him automatically. Tall and achingly handsome in his white uniform, his hair was slicked back, putting the beautiful angles of his face and the sharp, handsome lines of his jaw and brow in full relief. She sighed as he deposited his former partner—a lithe brunette Cassia knew to be from Daedalus—at the edge of the crowd. After a stiff farewell to her, he stepped to a nearby pillar where a little table sat manned by a servant who handed him a refreshment.

Cassia memorized the sinews of his neck as he tossed back a glass of tonic. She admired his hands– obviously masculine even gloved in white as they were– as he adjusted his sleeves and well-fitted jacket.

When he turned back towards her on his way to Hitomi, she stretched herself to her full height and smiled up at him, hoping he'd see her in passing and acknowledge her. He passed close, too, so close she could almost count his long eyelashes and almost touch his broad shoulders, but he didn't so much as glance her way. Instead, his sharp cinnamon eyes were aimed in Hitomi's direction. Though the stern set of his face didn't soften, Cassia couldn't help but feel a little pang of jealousy that his eyes had never looked at her with such intensity. Just as she caught a whiff of his earthy cologne, she snapped her head around to see if Hitomi noticed the king's approach.

She hadn't, she was too busy chatting with the advisor right up until the king stood before her. Now Cassia held her breath as Hitomi gathered herself—her face tinted with just the right amount of color and her lips parted and her eyes wide and bright, just like she imagined a princess in a fairy tale—and put out her upturned, closed hand—getting it right this time. King Fanel covered it with his and inclined his head as Advisor Hassom performed the brief introductions.

Strangely enough, Hitomi's face glazed over then, though she still opened her fingers to accept the king's hand. He took her and began to guide her in a dramatic arc onto the floor. Chest burning with the need for air, Cassia gasped just in time to catch a glimpse of Hitomi's face as she turned. Her eyes were now alert and glittering, a breathtaking smile lit her face, and her shoulders and chin lifted almost in joy as she walked at Van's hand.

When the flourish of their song began and King Fanel settled her in place before him with his other hand on her free arm, Cassia stared at his profile as he met Hitomi's eyes. Her stomach dropped when his beautifully shaped lips parted and his angular cheeks reddened just a fraction.

With a sigh, she watched as they began to dance, and she tried not to be bitter that whatever nervousness Hitomi had previously experienced had dissipated, replaced with an effortless uprightness and an animated charm that obviously captivated the bedazzled king. Cassia's heart squeezed painfully and she clasped her hands together. Even though she didn't always have a view of the couple, Cassia couldn't help but see that Hitomi met the king's eyes with an ease that had nothing to do with her nearly equal height. Every time she saw them, they were staring.

He replied back to her, too, and as he spoke, there was no hint of the neutral set to his mouth that had characterized his conversations with her– something she had once taken pride in– or the severe way he pressed his lips together when he danced with most every other eligible lady. No, Cassia had to admit that the king's face actually relaxed while Hitomi—judging by the animated way she was speaking—told him a story. They passed close by at one point, and she heard him say something about a bird called a Draconian, and away they went again, weaving through the crowd as if no one else existed. Neither of them even looked her way or at anyone else as they passed.

Cassia, used to being overlooked, had never felt quite this small and invisible. She could barely swallow, her chest hurt so much. As she blinked back tears, she lost sight of them again, except this time, it turned out, for good. Even after she'd wiped her eyes with her handkerchief, she couldn't find them again.

Behind her, there was a low commotion, and she turned. Another advisor—perhaps the head minister judging by his tall hat and billowing white robes—was rushing through the crowd. "Hassom!" he hissed, his large face reddening as he bustled forward. "Have you seen Tal? I need him right this second."

"I think I spotted him near Balgus, but that was during the last song," Hassom said, looking around as well.

"What have I hired him for?" the minister exclaimed as he stomped away, presumably in Balgus' direction.

General Balgus? Cassia knew who that was and wondered what was going on. Was King Fanel in danger?

No, the music continued playing and the dancing kept on as if nothing unusual were happening. Hopefully, Cassia glanced around again, wanting to catch sight of the king and her friend.

Then her ear caught a nearby conversation.

"What do you mean the king escaped with her?" a woman asked.

"Yes, they disappeared behind a pillar! Now nobody seems to know where they are," complained the young lady next to her.

"Maybe our king will finally get his first kiss," a man added with a chortle.

Cassia gasped. The room around her stilled and she no longer heard the music of the orchestra.

King Fanel had slipped away with Hitomi?

She'd never heard of him doing such a thing. She'd heard of him leaving a partner mid-dance, but never of him escaping with a lady.

And it had to be one of her friends.

Mouth dry, head heavy, she lamented to herself. He'd never slipped away with her. Was he really so taken by Hitomi? Was charm really so important to him? Was he really so shallow after all? How had Hitomi gotten a dance with him anyway? She said they'd never met before.

Cassia let out a shuddering breath and turned away from the painful sight of the bereft ballroom floor. The song and dance still continued, but she didn't notice it.

She'd wanted to be encouraging to Hitomi, but she didn't think this would be the result. Her heart hurt and her vision blurred. She had to get away.

Lips pressed tight, eyes stinging, she wove carelessly through the crowd towards the refreshment table. Nobody either noticed or complained as she pushed past them.

Perhaps another flute of vino would help. Perhaps it would help her forget the way the king didn't look at her. Perhaps, she thought with no small degree of ire, it would help her turn really, truly invisible.

A/N

I hope you enjoyed seeing Van through Cassia's eyes. That was fun to write. Unfortunately, the poor girl got her heart broken. I'm sorry about that.

Question: Do you really think that things went down between Van and Hitomi as magically and romantically as Cassia saw them?

What do you think was going on in Hitomi's mind through their conversation before the dance?