Disclaimer: I don't own (sadly) any of the characters, just Aileen and the
plot.
The arrogant dark-haired young man strode confidently through the palace. Heir to the throne of the Copper Isles, he had every right to be arrogant, every right to treat everyone else as though they were lower than him. His hair had been freshly greased and braided into the complex loops that were the latest fashion on the island, and he wore his finest navy-coloured cloak, with a copper breastplate showing his royal insignia of a crown with crossed swords passing through the middle. He was the type of man ladies flocked towards, and being the heir to an island kingdom helped his status considerably. He was on his way to the ball his parents had organized to introduce him to the newest arrivals worthy of such an upstanding young man. As he entered the ballroom, he cast an appreciative eye towards the young ladies waiting nervously to make his acquaintance. One in particular caught his eye. A raven-haired beauty, she showed no outward signs of nervousness as she waited for the prince. As opposed to the pastel- coloured gowns that were in fashion, she wore a startling, eye-catching ruby-coloured dress with a plunging neckline. A pair of ice-blue eyes met his, and the prince realized he had been staring. He quickly averted his eyes to the tapestry hanging just behind the young woman, but he had the uncomfortable feeling his ruse had been seen through, and that this mysterious girl knew exactly what he had been thinking. The band struck up a song, and the prince sighed and dutifully offered his arm to the first girl in line, a blonde, blue-eyed twittering girl who looked as though she couldn't carry on an intelligent conversation if her life depended on it. As though proving his point, she proceeded to speak of his prowess in the fighting arts. The conversation would have been interesting, as it spoke of the prince's favorite topic: himself, and not to mention flattering, if he hadn't heard the next girl in line making these same points to this girl as he walked in. After several boring dances, during which he was forced to make polite conversation, he reached the raven-haired beauty he had noticed earlier. "Prince Rikash" she murmured as she curtsied, sounding as bored as Rikash felt.
"May I ask who I have the honor of addressing?" he inquired.
"My name is Lady Aileen" she replied calmly.
"Of." Rikash was puzzled. Most young ladies took the opportunity to state their home immediately, as though they thought the amount of land they owned would impress the prince.
"Of a home of no consequence whatsoever." She smiled up at him. "I want you to get to know me for me, not for the amount of people my ancestors killed to get their land."
"Well," Rikash said dryly, "That's certainly an interesting way of looking at things." They danced for the rest of the night, causing Aileen to earn the eternal enmity of every other eligible girl there. When Rikash at last made to leave, he wasn't surprised to see Aileen follow him discretely.
"You do know this will be all over court tomorrow?" He inquired, his contempt of court gossips showing plainly. "Of course I know!" Aileen looked shocked. Isn't that what I'm here for? To show everyone that you're not the innocent little crown heir they think you are?" Rikash grinned at her words, his amusement of her fire showing through. When they reached his rooms, Rikash held the door grandly for Aileen to walk through.
"Hmmm.very nice!" She said appreciatively. "One could get used to this very easily."
"Would you care to.become better acquainted with some of the.errr.areas of the room?" Rikash winced inwardly. That was probably the most ridiculous thing ever to escape his lips, but something about this girl shattered his normally calm demeanor. She threw him completely off balance, and even worse was that she seemed to know it. Aileen raised a thin black eyebrow.
"That.doesn't even deserve comment." She mock glared at him. "What do you think I'm here for, anyway?" She smiled when she saw him squirm.
"Well..errr.." She laughed at the prince's obvious discomfort. She gave him a soft kiss and was rewarded with his gasp. "It's time someone put you a little off balance," she told him in a husky whisper.
A/N: Sorry about the cliffhanger.Please review!! If there's any interest, I'll definitely continue, please let me know!!!
The arrogant dark-haired young man strode confidently through the palace. Heir to the throne of the Copper Isles, he had every right to be arrogant, every right to treat everyone else as though they were lower than him. His hair had been freshly greased and braided into the complex loops that were the latest fashion on the island, and he wore his finest navy-coloured cloak, with a copper breastplate showing his royal insignia of a crown with crossed swords passing through the middle. He was the type of man ladies flocked towards, and being the heir to an island kingdom helped his status considerably. He was on his way to the ball his parents had organized to introduce him to the newest arrivals worthy of such an upstanding young man. As he entered the ballroom, he cast an appreciative eye towards the young ladies waiting nervously to make his acquaintance. One in particular caught his eye. A raven-haired beauty, she showed no outward signs of nervousness as she waited for the prince. As opposed to the pastel- coloured gowns that were in fashion, she wore a startling, eye-catching ruby-coloured dress with a plunging neckline. A pair of ice-blue eyes met his, and the prince realized he had been staring. He quickly averted his eyes to the tapestry hanging just behind the young woman, but he had the uncomfortable feeling his ruse had been seen through, and that this mysterious girl knew exactly what he had been thinking. The band struck up a song, and the prince sighed and dutifully offered his arm to the first girl in line, a blonde, blue-eyed twittering girl who looked as though she couldn't carry on an intelligent conversation if her life depended on it. As though proving his point, she proceeded to speak of his prowess in the fighting arts. The conversation would have been interesting, as it spoke of the prince's favorite topic: himself, and not to mention flattering, if he hadn't heard the next girl in line making these same points to this girl as he walked in. After several boring dances, during which he was forced to make polite conversation, he reached the raven-haired beauty he had noticed earlier. "Prince Rikash" she murmured as she curtsied, sounding as bored as Rikash felt.
"May I ask who I have the honor of addressing?" he inquired.
"My name is Lady Aileen" she replied calmly.
"Of." Rikash was puzzled. Most young ladies took the opportunity to state their home immediately, as though they thought the amount of land they owned would impress the prince.
"Of a home of no consequence whatsoever." She smiled up at him. "I want you to get to know me for me, not for the amount of people my ancestors killed to get their land."
"Well," Rikash said dryly, "That's certainly an interesting way of looking at things." They danced for the rest of the night, causing Aileen to earn the eternal enmity of every other eligible girl there. When Rikash at last made to leave, he wasn't surprised to see Aileen follow him discretely.
"You do know this will be all over court tomorrow?" He inquired, his contempt of court gossips showing plainly. "Of course I know!" Aileen looked shocked. Isn't that what I'm here for? To show everyone that you're not the innocent little crown heir they think you are?" Rikash grinned at her words, his amusement of her fire showing through. When they reached his rooms, Rikash held the door grandly for Aileen to walk through.
"Hmmm.very nice!" She said appreciatively. "One could get used to this very easily."
"Would you care to.become better acquainted with some of the.errr.areas of the room?" Rikash winced inwardly. That was probably the most ridiculous thing ever to escape his lips, but something about this girl shattered his normally calm demeanor. She threw him completely off balance, and even worse was that she seemed to know it. Aileen raised a thin black eyebrow.
"That.doesn't even deserve comment." She mock glared at him. "What do you think I'm here for, anyway?" She smiled when she saw him squirm.
"Well..errr.." She laughed at the prince's obvious discomfort. She gave him a soft kiss and was rewarded with his gasp. "It's time someone put you a little off balance," she told him in a husky whisper.
A/N: Sorry about the cliffhanger.Please review!! If there's any interest, I'll definitely continue, please let me know!!!
