A/N I am so, SO sorry! I didn't mean to take two months to get this up, and I promise that I will take a much shorter time next time. Seriously. Anyway, thank everyone for reviewing, and incase any of you like incredibly sappy stories, you should go read my sappy story, "And Then She Met the President's Son," which is the funnest story to write cause it's so cheesy, and it sadly has almost as many reviews as this one, with half the chapters. Thank you! Enjoy! (Oh, I have a random urge to do a disclaimer and copyright.)

Copyright © 2002 by Tessandra

Disclaimer: MWA HA HA! Everything is mine!!!! (Well, except for the prologue . . . and Bast, oh, and the whole Friends of the Fairies idea - but BESIDES that . . .)

The following afternoon saw the five of us in good spirits. I do not know about the rest of our party, as the lady I was playing - whoever that was - kept aloof from the servants. A new feeling, as in my regular life, this type of servant looked down at me with scorn.

I nudged Dewdrop to the right a little, so I rode alongside Aiven. "Aiven," I whispered to him, and we let our horses fall back from the nobles so they did not overhear us. "How long shall we stay at court?"

"A week," he responded immediately. "Then we shall go to Bast."

"We?" I questioned, raising my brows. "Since when is it we?"

"Since it was foretold," he said, quietly and solemnly. When I looked sharply at him, I saw his hazel eyes were glazed over, staring into the netherworld. Or at least, not this place. I swallowed hard, shivering, and decided not to press him. It was mildly disturbing when he went all Seer- ish on me, speaking of the future in that voice that was so certain, so - well - unearthly.

I was silent as we rode the next few miles, thinking on our upcoming destination. The second capital I had ever been in. Hopefully I would leave it in a happier manner then being exiled. "Aiven?" I said to him, and he turned to me. "What is the royal family like?"

"Why do you think I would know?" he asked, eyes wide. "After all, I'm just a youth."

I glared at him. "You are so incredibly not helpful!" I said angrily, but softly. Had I been walking I would have stomped my foot. "What is your rank? These nobles bow to you - what of the rest? I don't even know this family's rank. Dammit, Aiven, I don't know anything!"

"I'm inclined to think so," he said smoothly, a grin on his face. I scowled at him.

"About. Court," I got out from ground teeth. "I know lot's of stuff. Loads."

"Hmmm," he said agreeably, which annoyed me even more.

"I DO! Just because you're so special and have some special rank that can hardly be expected to be known to me since I'm just a thief which means I know absolutely nothing about court life, well, that isn't any reason to - uh -"

"Yes?" Aiven drawled, raising an eyebrow. "Anything you'd like to add to that rant?" I flushed, knowing I had been ranting. Not only had I made no sense whatsoever, but I hadn't had a point either. "And if you do have something to add, please don't, or at least wait until a time when you can be more discreet."

"Fine," I muttered, glaring. I urged my horse up a bit, and soon became involved in a discussion on the types of show fabric with Lady Jainalii. I liked her more then I would have expected. After awhile our conversation drifted to an end, and I let my mind drift off, too.

My thoughts had gone everywhere but the road in front of me, as Dewdrop walked on. Then suddenly our train stopped. I clutched the mare's reins as I raised my head, re-entering the physical world. As I did this, my senses were assaulted.

Sprawled in front of me was Lonyar, capital of Sontái. No wall surrounded it like Cyri was surrounded. Houses and shops, people and animals and carts were everywhere, moving in every direction. Merchants selling their wares, shouting above the crowd, while children's screams of laughter could also be heard. The clatter of hooves on pavement accompanied the many horses, donkeys, and other animals. Music could be heard floating from the street corners, musicians hoping for a coin or two. The dull roar of the crowd was beneath it all, as it had always been and would always be.

And then there were the smells. Those of flowers and rich perfumes were mixed right in with unwashed bodies and piss. The scent of fresh bread wafted by, followed by another foul odor. The grime was clear on the unwashed bodies, excluding the nobles and rich merchants.

A servant ahead of us shouted out for the road to clear, as the peasants grumbled, staggering off the rode and giving us evil looks as we rode by.

I was in my element.

Only it was usually me standing down there, shooting resentful looks as the nobles rode past. I was not adverse to slipping a hand in there pocket when they slowed, so I was glad I was atop a horse rather then in one of the wagons or walking along side it. I felt a bit of nostalgia as I picked out some of the more obvious thieves in the crowd, cutting purse strings left and right. I had done that -

** - "Laeli, catch!" Johen shouted, tossing the pouch to me. I reached out a hand to grab it, the weight surprising me, and the leather bag bulging with coins. Johen laughed as he swung away from the foreign lady in her fine carriage. He caught up with me, dressed in silks like a bed boy, and we dashed away, the howls and shaking fist of the foreigner following us. He grabbed me and kissed me, twirling me in the air as we laughed hysterically. "Now," he said, plucking at his yellow fluffy sleeves, "I ought to get out of these." Fresh gales of laughter followed -**

"'Tis a awe inspiring sight, isn't it?"

Years of practicing being silent kept me from shrieking out as I spun my head around, mouth forming the word "Johen,". . .

Lord Kieran smiled at me from his seat on his traveling gelding; he had assured me that he usually rode a stallion, but not on long trips. Not that that made any sense to me - what use was a horse if you did not ride it? Anyway, my startled eyes met his calm blue hazel ones before they swung away to take in the scene in front of me.

The palace rose up in front of me, a magnificent structure quite unlike the one in it's bordering country. It was large and airy, with stone columns and marble towers. The palace of Sontái had nothing of the fortress feel Yvonhe's castle did.

"It is gorgeous," I said with a smile, meaning it.

"You will only be staying for a week."

"And you will be staying the rest of the autumn season."

He inclined his head. "Lady Chantaviene always holds a ball for the eligible young nobles on the eve of her son's death every year, which is coming up this week. It is a spectacular event."

"Seems rather morbid."

"I suppose. But it is for the memory of her son, and his betrothed. It was very tragic - he died in battle, and the minute she learned of his death she took a dagger to herself."

"That makes it no less morbid."

He shrugged, then turned to catch me eye, riding so close our knees brushed. "M'lady . . . I would be honored if you would come to the ball with me as your escort."

I looked at him, taken aback. 'But what about Aiven?"

"What about him?" Kieran scowled. "The two of you are not to be wed, are you? You barely get along together!"

"I - I will - must talk with the Seer about this - but . . . well, I would be happy to go with you if I could. Can." I smiled my most bedazzling smile, to block the way I'd stumbled all over my words. I was sure I had not answered the way one should when being invited to a ball with a noble, seeing as it had never happened to me. I did not want to go to this ball. I had never learned ballroom dancing - or any other kind of dancing, for that matter. What use was it to a thief? Though I could surely charm my way through half of it with my beauty and gracefulness, I did not relish the chance that I might stumble around like a country bumpkin - which I most assuredly was not.

I did not particularly want to go with Kieran either. And there was no telling how Aiven might act if I did. Of course, it might be fun to go with Kieran just to spite Aiven. I was like that.

"My thanks, Lady Damslae," Kieran said, and urged his horse forward.

"What were you and Kieran talking about?"

I spun around - well, as much as one can on a horse. I was suddenly angry with Aiven for surprising me like that. "What business is it of yours? You're not my keeper!"

"For now I am."

"Gods, - "

"Lord Seer!"

We both spun, to be greeted by half a dozen knights. Their armor glinted brightly in the noonday sun. The foremost knight rode forward. "Lord Koilun. Lady Jainalii." He inclined his head.

"Sir Renain," Lord Koilun greeted him, also nodding slightly.

"As soon as this was done, the knights switched their attention to Aiven - and to me. "My Lord Seer! This is an unexpected delight." He waved a hand of dismissal, and the other knights quickly dispersed, though most lingered in the vicinity, obviously eager to listen.

Aiven inclined his head slightly. "Sir Renain. Indeed, I had not expected to come. How fares your family?" That was a ridiculous question for a seer, I thought. But then, who ever cared about my opinions?

"They are well Lord Seer. I thank you for your concern."

"And your sister? She was wed this last winter. Give her and her new husband my regards."

"Indeed I shall." Then, on an entirely different subject, "Have I the honor to be the first to welcome you - and your lady - back to court?"

"Oh, but it is my honor to be greeted by you. Ah, I have been sadly lacking in manners; this is the lady Damslae. I am her escort to her uncle in Bast; her father has entrusted her to my care."

"Obviously a man of good bearing - after all, who better to entrust their daughter to then yourself?"

"Certainly, who better?"

They had a good laugh at this - I'm sure it was absolutely hysterical. Really. I personally, had no idea why they were laughing like one of them had said the cleverest thing in the world. Somehow I didn't thing they were joking about how Aiven wasn't even close to being the best escort - but I wasn't sure the knight had the wit for that.

Incase it wasn't clear, I'm not exactly fond of nobles.

After men had their laugh, Aiven managed to rid us of our horses ("No!" I screamed, 'I don't want to leave Dewdrop!" causing Aiven to give me a harsh look, an apologetic look to the grooms, and dragging me off, this time with me laughing at the surrounding people's faces. But truly, I was a little sad to leave Dewdrop. Just, not that sad.) and sweep the two of us into he castle without anyone else coming near us.

My first view of the inside of the castle was not spectacular. We were in the servants' hallways, their staircases and passages. Every time we pasted them they wold give Aiven a nod and smile, like they were used to seeing him. Needless to say, this only served to confuse me even more.

Aiven pushed aside a tapestry and stepped into the finest room that I'd ever seen, much finer then what I'd seen of the fortress castle of Yvonhe. Granted, I hadn't seen very much of it, but still.

We were in a sitting room, richly furnished. A gold gilded table sat in the middle of the room, with intricate carvings on it. Suspended above it and in the four corners of the room were small chandeliers, about two feet in diameter. The carpet beneath our feet was deep and of all shades of blue, in an oriental design. The two windows reached from floor to ceiling, and blue curtains framed them. Chairs were scattered about the room - dark green velvet, outlined by tall deep brown wood, whose legs and backs were carved in as much detail as the table.

"A well decorated room," I said, sweeping my eyes from the first of two life-size paintings to he other. One was a hunting scene, while the other was a portrait of Kiyra - younger by several years.

"I had that commissioned when I realized I was going to be spending much of my time here," Aiven said, noticing where my eyes lay. "She's they only one that would sit down long enough for the painter."

'This is your room," I breathed, still trying to take it all in. Certainly the crown could not afford for all of his nobles to have rooms like this.

"No, it's my cousin's," Aiven said sarcastically, breaking the mood. I glared at him, tempted to ignore him as he beckoned for him to follow me to another room. I resisted, and entered an elegant, completely impersonal bedroom.

"This will be you room for the week," Aiven informed me, like I couldn't guess.

"No, really?" I drawled."

"Yes, really," he snapped, eyes flashing. I stepped back, taken aback by his mood. "You'll fine clothes in the wardrobe - chose something nice. We'll be presented to the king at supper." He left.

Presented to the king. I hadn't had a whole lot of good luck with kings, and Aiven probably thought I was going to embarrass him. Well, I wouldn't. I'd look absolutely beautiful, act like an angel, and then go to the ball with Kieran. So there.

It wasn't until I was looking through the dresses that I took time to wonder how there came to be closet full of dress in my size that matched my coloring. My face turned red as I realized Aiven must have ordered them; I'd rather men stay away from what I wore. But they were already here, and my other clothes weren't yet; besides, these were much nicer then any of them.

An hour later I was dressed in a gold silk gown, the lower half slightly puffed, with the hem embroidered with tiny pearls. The bodice was embroidered with pearls as well; a diamond design, with pears at all the points. A square neck, as was the style, was a little below my color bone. The sleeves were round, then narrow to my wrist. I let my flamboyant red hair unbound, except for the top layer that I caught in a bun, held in by a gold threaded net. I put on a pair of gold shoes, that would only be seen when I was climbing stairs. All I needed now, I thought as I considered myself in the mirror, would be some red jewelry. I didn't really need any cosmetics; they would take away from my gold eyes, which were definitely by best feature - that and my hair. I looked like a porcelain doll, I decided. I wasn't sure I liked being trapped in all this silk and lace and jewels, even more then on the trip here.

"Aiven!" I yelled out, sticking my head through the door, trying to make myself heard through the parlor and past the closed door to Aiven's room.

"What?" he hollered back.

"Go to Lady Jainalii and ask her for some red jewelry."

"Ask her yourself."

"I can't! I don't know where our suite is, let alone where their rooms are."

"Ask somebody!"

"Aiven, I'm not going to wander around the palace corridors asking random people where Lady Jainalii's rooms are!" "And I'm not going to go around the palace corridors half naked!"

Oh. That did present a problem.

"Well . . . then do it later."

"Fine!"

"Fine!" I shouted back. I little surprised he had given in so easily.

Sometime later I heard a thunk against my door. After waiting a moment, I got up, opening my door in time to see Aiven's close. In front of me was a bag.

I was, I decided, gorgeous. I had put in two ruby drops, and a gold chain with a ruby suspended from it hung around my neck. Red garnet bracelets were around both my hands - that was all.

"You, " I told myself, "Are a vision. A slightly crazy vision, considering the fact that I'm talking to myself, but a vision none the less."

Rooms, no matter how beautiful, can become extremely boring when you have nothing to do, especially when you're waiting to be introduced to a king. I sat in a chair for several hours, writing about everything that had happened. But soon my hand grew tired, and then my pen ran out of ink, so then I was again left with nothing to do.

"I hope you're ready for dinner," Aiven said, his voice coming from directly across the door.

"What? Now?" I said in a panicky way, sitting relaxed in my chair. "I still half to find a dress - shoot, where did those earrings go?"

"I don't believe it," Aiven said in disbelief, swinging open my door. He stopped suddenly, staring at me. I returned the favor.

Gone was the country boy, or the obnoxious young man that had traveled with me for weeks. In front of me was a mystical lord, dressed as richly as a king. His white robes seemed to twist and blow, though the windows were closed. A silver pendant hung from his neck, a rune unknown to me, lost in time. He wore a circlet on his head, silver like the pendant but with a metallic gleam, sending off all colors of the rainbow. He looked distant, thoughtful, and as far out of reach as a star from the earth. He looked like a prince.

"So, do I pass?" I asked, a little shy of this stranger who stood in my companion's place.

He nodded. "You look nice," he choked out, and he seemed a bit more like Aiven just then.

"You don't look half bad yourself," I returned, which was an understatement.

We left the room, traveling the main hallways of the palace this time. I took his arm, still a little shy, wishing he would make some sarcastic remark, or an insult, or anything I could recognize as him.

"Where is everyone?" I whispered, a little intimidated by the passageways, empty except for us and the occasional servant or guard.

"At dinner," Aiven whispered back.

"Everyone?"

Aiven nodded.

I could tell we were close to the main hall when I began to hear a roar of noise. It was almost deafening by the time Aiven and I reached two tall, golden doors with had a dozen soldiers standing before them. The doors had the crest of Sontái upon them, along with many other designs, and were at least fifteen feet tall. They were closed, but still smells drifted through, and the sound of laughter, booming voices, and the clatter of silverware.

"Lord Seer," one of the soldiers said, a look of awe on their faces. They all bowed low. Apparently everyone knew Aiven. "Are you ready to be announced?"

"We are." Aiven answered, and one of the guards knocked a rapid pattern on the door.

A blare of trumpets startled me as they sounded right in front of us. In the silence that followed, a voice declared, "My lords and ladies! Your Highnesses, Your Majesties! May I present, Lady Damslae of Brientlon, and the lord Seer Aiven Torryien Caunlahsta of Sontái!" A very loud cheer followed, almost drowning out the second blast of trumpets. I swallowed, and made my clutch on Aiven's arm - Aiven Torryien Caunlahsta - relax.

The golden doors swung open.