Disclaimer: It's all Sherwood Smiths, not mine.
Chapter 2: Self Pity
Danric turned toward Russav and said flatly, "She heard and now she's even angrier with me. Did you see the way she stormed out of here? Oh gods!" He moaned placing his head into his hands. Looking up at Russav he said, "I love her yet can never have her. Everyday now my parents pressure me to find a bride, so that we may be crowned queen and king of Remalna."
Trailing off Danric felt anguish coursing through his body making him feel an almost physical pain. "Remalnans can't wait forever, they need leadership. They need a king. And I cannot be that king without a queen by my side and the only queen I could love hates me. What will become of Remalna because of my foolishness in scorning the only women who could be my queen? Soon my parents will force a marriage upon me whether I'm agreeable or not. Then I will live out the rest of my days in misery; a forced marriage is no way to govern a country. No partnership could be based in that." Danric stopped trying to get his mask back in place he was hardly ever this open with anyone including his cousin.
"Whoa, calm down Danric," Russav said clearly a little panicked at his normally calm cousin's breakdown, "It's not as bad as that. She loves you; you just need to tell her how you feel. She won't tell you. She's as skittish as the hill folk; you have to go to her." "Russav, you are an eternal optimist," Danric said with a sad shake of his heard, "Come on, we have to go. My parents are expecting us for dinner; they're looking forward to seeing you."
Chapter 3: Wandering
"Damn it!" Meliara thought, "I can't believe it. How in the world could I have ended up lost? Lost!"
Mel looked down yet another unfamiliar corridor. This was getting monotonous. She silently cursed herself for her foolishness in going through the first door she had found. Mel turned a corner and found herself standing in front of a curtained doorway. Sighing she pushed the tapestry aside, hoping it would lead her back outside or at least to someplace she recognized. Peeking through the now uncovered doorway she saw it was a personal suite.
"Brilliant, just brilliant." Looking around she saw the room was on the second floor so there wouldn't be any door to the outside. How in the world had she ended up on the second floor anyways? Taking another look she saw a steaming pot of tea sitting on the writing table. That meant the room's occupant would be back at anytime, so she had better scat. Even as she thought this she was staring fixedly at the two tea cups set out on the table. She really wanted a nice cup of tea. All this wandering had made her dreadfully thirsty.
"Besides," she reasoned, "If I stick around I can ask the occupant for directions." Of course it would be more likely that she would turn bright red and scuttle out of the room stuttering apologies, but hey here's to self-delusion. Walking over to the table she poured herself a cup of tea. Taking a sip she settled herself on the cushions I front of the fire. After all since she was making a terrible fool of herself she could at least be a comfortable fool.
Please Review! This is my first fic, so I'm trying to get some feedback on how to make it better.