Amalia walked toward Joren and just before reaching him turned and winked at Kel. Then, she continued past Joren giving him a timid look and shy smile, two actions that were much out of her character.

Joren took the obvious hint and said, "Excuse me, miss, but I was wondering are you new here?"

Amalia nodded. "I arrived a few days ago."

"Ah, I thought so. I usually know most of the faces here, and I hoped I wasn't starting to lose my touch," Joren stated smugly.

"Well, I guess you don't have to worry about that, then," Amalia answered, with a smile. "Though, you'll never have a name to put to the face if you don't ask."

"Forgive me. I am Joren of Stone Mountain, and you are?"

"Amalia of Molonia: lady in waiting to the Queen of Tortall."

"Excellent, that means that I'll see you whenever I come to the castle," Joren stated.

Amalia raised her eyebrows and twisted her mouth into a teasing smile. "It's awfully presumptuous to assume that I would want to see you."

Joren looked slightly taken aback before realizing she was teasing. "Well, I didn't really think you had a choice in the matter due to the fact that we would inhabit the same area and I have eyes. So, whether or not you choose to look at me, I will most definitely see you."

"I think that would be all right with me," Amalia decided. "But right now, you're going to have to see me leave because I'm supposed to be spending time with a friend of mine right now."

"Out of curiosity, who might this friend be?" Joren inquired.

"Jealous already? That's not very becoming," Amalia teased.

"Who said anything about jealousy? I said 'out of curiosity' not 'out of jealousy'," Joren pointed out, slightly miffed.

"Well, there's no need to be jealous, the friend is a girl. Do you know Keladry?"

Joren smirked. "I know her. Not very well, I must admit."

"Then maybe you might want to join us?" Amalia questioned, with an innocent smile.

"No, I have to be doing something as well. I will be 'presumptuous' enough to hope, however, that I will see you later."

"I think I would like that. Goodnight," Amalia told him, before giving a slight curtsey and walking back to Kel.

Joren watched her for a moment before striding out of the page's wing.

________

"Is he gone?" Amalia asked Kel when she reached her.

"Yes, he just walked down the hall."

"Okay, let's go back to your room then."

The two girls returned to Kel's room and shut the door.

"So, did you learn anything?" Amalia asked Kel, sitting down on the bed.

"Yeah, that Joren is even more disgusting when he's pretending to be nice," Kel stated.

Amalia rolled her eyes, giving Kel and exasperated look. "Be serious!"

"I'm sorry, but I really don't think this is going to work."

"What? Why not?

"Because, I don't want to have to flirt with men I don't like and I don't want to play games with them. I just want them to like them for who I am."

"So, do that. I didn't do anything out there that wasn't in my character except for initially getting his attention. You just have to loosen up a little and be willing to talk instead of staring emotionlessly off into space all the time."

"I don't do that, I just don't enjoy pointless small talk," Kel stated.

Amalia gave an exaggerated sigh before lying down on the bed and throwing her hand across her forehead. "I can't work like this!"

Kel gave a small laugh and shook her head. "It's not the end of the world you know. I'm sure that most girls would really like your help but I just don't think I could do any of it."

"Oh no, you aren't getting off that easily."

"What?"

"Just because you don't want to learn how to behave like a lady doesn't mean I'm not going to dress you up like one."

"What?"

"That's right. You said I could help you and I am. By the time of the ball, I will have you dress like a real lady and you will have the manners and poise of a lady."

"By the next ball? What does it even matter? I have to serve at the ball. All pages serve."

"Oh, you leave that to me. Be ready, tomorrow, because right after dinner we're going to get started," Amalia stated, getting up. "But for now, I have to go. Goodnight."

Amalia walked out of the room before Kel could protest anything that she had said.