A day and a half later, Lale sat in a very comfortable, fancy carriage,
still cursing inwardly. Terem sat across from her, smiling slightly. She
liked Terem, he was funny, witty, and quite interesting, but she still
wished she could have staid home.
Lale, how did you get yourself into this mess? She silently berated herself. One persuasive, handsome man and you find yourself in a carriage to place that you swore you would never go. She sighed.
"Is something wrong?" Terem asked her. He asked her in a way that wasn't patronizing, demanding or overly gentle, which she appreciated.
"Oh, not really.I just still have my doubts about court," she answered, and sighed. Terem flashed one of his dazzling, genuine grins.
"Aw, it isn't that bad. Anyways, even if you don't like the people there, there's always me," he said jokingly, still grinning. He looked at her impishly, and Lale laughed. Suddenly, though, the carriage stopped with a halt, almost sending Lale flying. Terem put out a hand to steady her as the carriage driver cautiously opened the door.
"Sir, madam. There is a woman here by the name of Duchess Lorain, who says she knows you, Highness. Her carriage has broken a wheel and she begs you to give her a ride back to the Relmna-city," he said respectfully to Terem. Terem sighed, and nodded.
"Here, Lale, sit on this side of the carriage. Lorain will need that side." he said, his manner implying that she was very large. Indeed, when she did step into the carriage, she was immense. After briefly acknowledging Terem and Lale, she fell asleep, before the carriage had even begun to move.
Lale found herself in a very awkward position. The carriage seats were not very large, though comfortable, and she found herself almost pressed against Terem. She wouldn't have minded, really, except that, well, Terem was just so alluring. She could smell him, a clean, masculine scent, and she could feel his warm breath on her cheek, or nearly. She let out a deep breath, almost a sigh.
"So, Lale, tell me more about yourself.I only know what Beryl told me, which was mainly praises," Terem said, softly as not to wake Lorain. Lale turned her head slightly to look at him and found his face almost touching hers.
"Well.there's not really much to tell. I'm 19, I've never been out of the countryside, and I'm used to roaming around and being free-basically I'm a inexperienced, naïve little girl, " she said, laughing a little at just how pathetic it all sounded. Terem, too, smiled.
"I think you underestimate yourself, Lale. You don't seem so naïve," he said, keeping his warm green eyes on her blue eyes. He smiled as she looked at him disbelievingly. "No, really," he continued. "You seem like you know an awful lot. Has anyone ever told you that when you look right into your eyes, it's like you can see into your soul?" he said suddenly, lifting a hand to Lale's cheek. Lale's breathing rate increased as his warm hand touched her. Suddenly, his face was almost touching Lale's. She could feel his breath on her cheek, for sure now.
"No," she told him softly. "No one's ever told me that before." And with that, he gently, slowly, leaned forward, until their lips met lightly in a passionate yet gentle kiss. Lale felt engulfed in warmness, and she basked in it. Just then, with a snort, Lorain jolted awake.
Terem and Lale pulled apart quickly, before Lorain could see them together. An increasingly flushed Lale looked to the left, out her window, while a thoroughly pale Terem looked out his window to the right. Lorain, not noticing anything wrong, proceeded to talk loudly and in detail about a ball she had recently attended. Lale, trying to pretend that nothing had happened, nodded stupidly along to all the foppish woman had to say. She did not cease talking until they reached the city.
***
Lale stood, her trunks in front of her, at the doorway to her bedchamber. She was astonished by the mere size of it all. Para, a round, kindly woman who was to act as maid to Lale during her stay at Court, smiled indulgently.
"Now, now, dear, I know its overwhelming and all, but we've got to get you ready in time for dinner! It is in honor of you, after all!" Para said briskly. Lale reached to open one of her trunks, but Para shook her head. "No, no, you're sister got you a special dress when she found you were coming. I've got strict instructions to make you wear it," She said, her eyes twinkling.
After bathing and being scrubbed thoroughly, after which she had her hair pulled and tugged into the right position, and finally slipping the dress on, Lale was done. She looked at her reflection in the floor length mirror beside her desk, and suppressed a gasp.
Beryl's dress flawlessly accentuated everything about Lale. The pale blue color set off her darker blue eyes perfectly, and her long, wavy black hair contrasted brilliantly with it. Her pale skin seemed to glow. The slim cut showed off Lale's slender body to an advantage, and hugged her ample breasts in a modest yet jaw-dropping way. Para had clipped moonstones into her hair, and the moonstones reflected light and made her look even more dazzling than she had ever felt before.
Para stood over her shoulder, smiling kindly. "You look magnificent. This is a perfect way to be introduced to Dinner, and there will be a ball directly afterwards, so you'll be seen by plenty," Para said. Lale nodded, swallowed, and made her way to the door. As shy pushed aside the curtain to the room, she saw Beryl waiting for her. Beryl looked at her in amazement.
"Lale, you look astounding! Oh, this is simply wonderful! Hurry now, we can't be late!" Beryl squealed happily. Beryl looked better than she had before, too-Beryl had always been rather homely, though not ugly, but she now looked attractive and radiant.
Beryl chattered on until they got to the ball room, where they would be dining and then dancing. Lale made to go in, but Beryl, distraught, held her back.
"No, no, no! Wait for them to announce us!" Beryl hissed. She tapped the herald nearest them on the shoulder and told him their names and ranks. The herald nodded and blew a short tune on his trumpet before announcing them.
"Now, follow me," Beryl said. She led Lale into the room. Lale's eyes grew large as she saw the large throng of people there. She noticed, too, that they had stopped talking and gasped at her. Feeling very self-conscious, she allowed Beryl to pull her gently to the High table, where, as guest of honor, she would be dining.
"Ah, Majesties! Here, I'd like you to meet my dear sister, Lale. Terem, you know Lale. Lale, this is Queen Meliara, and this is King Vidanric." Beryl said Lale curtsied to each in turn. "Now, Lale, I'll be sitting over there, by the door, if you need me," With that, Beryl swept away, leaving Lale all alone with the king, queen, prince and various other high ranking peoples.
Lale looked at Terem for support. He was looking at her in an astounded, awe-struck way. She smiled at him, and he wiped the look off his face and smiled back fully. He looked especially dashing wearing a black and gold tunic and black fancy breeches. She then looked at the queen, a short, lovely woman. She looked between Lale and Terem and smiled knowingly. Lale felt her face grow hot. She felt the need to say something.
"Um, Queen Meliara, it is wonderful to meet you. I've heard all about you," Lale said, a bit awkwardly.
"Oh, call me Mel, please, my title makes me feel old," she said smilingly. Her smile was contagious, and Lale could not help but smile back.
Lale passed the dinner away happily. After the beginning, she felt no awkwardness, although Terem was sitting night next to her, his knee touching hers slightly. She found that the queen and herself had much in common, and she liked King Vidanric a lot, although he remained rather reserved and quiet throughout the meal. As the plates were cleared away, Lale ruefully thought, Well, I survived dinner. Let's hope the ball goes as well.
***A/N: Yay! I finally updated! I like this chapter, though it's not the best ever. Thanks a ton to the reviewers, and keep the reviews coming, as need feedback. I felt like this didn't have enough dialogue, what do you think? Also, isn't Terem a cutie? I'm sorry to the people who didn't want fluff, but wanted action; there'll be more in later chapters. Anyways, I'll update soon, now that I'm in the mood to write! ***
Lale, how did you get yourself into this mess? She silently berated herself. One persuasive, handsome man and you find yourself in a carriage to place that you swore you would never go. She sighed.
"Is something wrong?" Terem asked her. He asked her in a way that wasn't patronizing, demanding or overly gentle, which she appreciated.
"Oh, not really.I just still have my doubts about court," she answered, and sighed. Terem flashed one of his dazzling, genuine grins.
"Aw, it isn't that bad. Anyways, even if you don't like the people there, there's always me," he said jokingly, still grinning. He looked at her impishly, and Lale laughed. Suddenly, though, the carriage stopped with a halt, almost sending Lale flying. Terem put out a hand to steady her as the carriage driver cautiously opened the door.
"Sir, madam. There is a woman here by the name of Duchess Lorain, who says she knows you, Highness. Her carriage has broken a wheel and she begs you to give her a ride back to the Relmna-city," he said respectfully to Terem. Terem sighed, and nodded.
"Here, Lale, sit on this side of the carriage. Lorain will need that side." he said, his manner implying that she was very large. Indeed, when she did step into the carriage, she was immense. After briefly acknowledging Terem and Lale, she fell asleep, before the carriage had even begun to move.
Lale found herself in a very awkward position. The carriage seats were not very large, though comfortable, and she found herself almost pressed against Terem. She wouldn't have minded, really, except that, well, Terem was just so alluring. She could smell him, a clean, masculine scent, and she could feel his warm breath on her cheek, or nearly. She let out a deep breath, almost a sigh.
"So, Lale, tell me more about yourself.I only know what Beryl told me, which was mainly praises," Terem said, softly as not to wake Lorain. Lale turned her head slightly to look at him and found his face almost touching hers.
"Well.there's not really much to tell. I'm 19, I've never been out of the countryside, and I'm used to roaming around and being free-basically I'm a inexperienced, naïve little girl, " she said, laughing a little at just how pathetic it all sounded. Terem, too, smiled.
"I think you underestimate yourself, Lale. You don't seem so naïve," he said, keeping his warm green eyes on her blue eyes. He smiled as she looked at him disbelievingly. "No, really," he continued. "You seem like you know an awful lot. Has anyone ever told you that when you look right into your eyes, it's like you can see into your soul?" he said suddenly, lifting a hand to Lale's cheek. Lale's breathing rate increased as his warm hand touched her. Suddenly, his face was almost touching Lale's. She could feel his breath on her cheek, for sure now.
"No," she told him softly. "No one's ever told me that before." And with that, he gently, slowly, leaned forward, until their lips met lightly in a passionate yet gentle kiss. Lale felt engulfed in warmness, and she basked in it. Just then, with a snort, Lorain jolted awake.
Terem and Lale pulled apart quickly, before Lorain could see them together. An increasingly flushed Lale looked to the left, out her window, while a thoroughly pale Terem looked out his window to the right. Lorain, not noticing anything wrong, proceeded to talk loudly and in detail about a ball she had recently attended. Lale, trying to pretend that nothing had happened, nodded stupidly along to all the foppish woman had to say. She did not cease talking until they reached the city.
***
Lale stood, her trunks in front of her, at the doorway to her bedchamber. She was astonished by the mere size of it all. Para, a round, kindly woman who was to act as maid to Lale during her stay at Court, smiled indulgently.
"Now, now, dear, I know its overwhelming and all, but we've got to get you ready in time for dinner! It is in honor of you, after all!" Para said briskly. Lale reached to open one of her trunks, but Para shook her head. "No, no, you're sister got you a special dress when she found you were coming. I've got strict instructions to make you wear it," She said, her eyes twinkling.
After bathing and being scrubbed thoroughly, after which she had her hair pulled and tugged into the right position, and finally slipping the dress on, Lale was done. She looked at her reflection in the floor length mirror beside her desk, and suppressed a gasp.
Beryl's dress flawlessly accentuated everything about Lale. The pale blue color set off her darker blue eyes perfectly, and her long, wavy black hair contrasted brilliantly with it. Her pale skin seemed to glow. The slim cut showed off Lale's slender body to an advantage, and hugged her ample breasts in a modest yet jaw-dropping way. Para had clipped moonstones into her hair, and the moonstones reflected light and made her look even more dazzling than she had ever felt before.
Para stood over her shoulder, smiling kindly. "You look magnificent. This is a perfect way to be introduced to Dinner, and there will be a ball directly afterwards, so you'll be seen by plenty," Para said. Lale nodded, swallowed, and made her way to the door. As shy pushed aside the curtain to the room, she saw Beryl waiting for her. Beryl looked at her in amazement.
"Lale, you look astounding! Oh, this is simply wonderful! Hurry now, we can't be late!" Beryl squealed happily. Beryl looked better than she had before, too-Beryl had always been rather homely, though not ugly, but she now looked attractive and radiant.
Beryl chattered on until they got to the ball room, where they would be dining and then dancing. Lale made to go in, but Beryl, distraught, held her back.
"No, no, no! Wait for them to announce us!" Beryl hissed. She tapped the herald nearest them on the shoulder and told him their names and ranks. The herald nodded and blew a short tune on his trumpet before announcing them.
"Now, follow me," Beryl said. She led Lale into the room. Lale's eyes grew large as she saw the large throng of people there. She noticed, too, that they had stopped talking and gasped at her. Feeling very self-conscious, she allowed Beryl to pull her gently to the High table, where, as guest of honor, she would be dining.
"Ah, Majesties! Here, I'd like you to meet my dear sister, Lale. Terem, you know Lale. Lale, this is Queen Meliara, and this is King Vidanric." Beryl said Lale curtsied to each in turn. "Now, Lale, I'll be sitting over there, by the door, if you need me," With that, Beryl swept away, leaving Lale all alone with the king, queen, prince and various other high ranking peoples.
Lale looked at Terem for support. He was looking at her in an astounded, awe-struck way. She smiled at him, and he wiped the look off his face and smiled back fully. He looked especially dashing wearing a black and gold tunic and black fancy breeches. She then looked at the queen, a short, lovely woman. She looked between Lale and Terem and smiled knowingly. Lale felt her face grow hot. She felt the need to say something.
"Um, Queen Meliara, it is wonderful to meet you. I've heard all about you," Lale said, a bit awkwardly.
"Oh, call me Mel, please, my title makes me feel old," she said smilingly. Her smile was contagious, and Lale could not help but smile back.
Lale passed the dinner away happily. After the beginning, she felt no awkwardness, although Terem was sitting night next to her, his knee touching hers slightly. She found that the queen and herself had much in common, and she liked King Vidanric a lot, although he remained rather reserved and quiet throughout the meal. As the plates were cleared away, Lale ruefully thought, Well, I survived dinner. Let's hope the ball goes as well.
***A/N: Yay! I finally updated! I like this chapter, though it's not the best ever. Thanks a ton to the reviewers, and keep the reviews coming, as need feedback. I felt like this didn't have enough dialogue, what do you think? Also, isn't Terem a cutie? I'm sorry to the people who didn't want fluff, but wanted action; there'll be more in later chapters. Anyways, I'll update soon, now that I'm in the mood to write! ***