A/N: here it is...finally. sorry it took so long!

First Impressions

I rolled over in bed and groaned as Shella drew back the heavy curtains that covered the entire wall opposite my bed to reveal a bright blue sky. Crisp sunlight poured in through the wall of windows, and I burrowed deeper into my silk sheets and down comforter.

"M'lady, you must wake up. It's already third gold. I know you're tired from traveling, but you don't want to be late for Court. The first impression is the most important, or at least that's what your grandmother told me, and I'm here to see it's a good one." Shella became much more outspoken, even a little bossy, once we reached Remalna-city.

She was right, of course. I had never thought that riding in a carriage and sleeping in small inns could make a person as tired as I was. The journey had only taken four days, thanks to the wonderful spring weather. We had just arrived late the night before, and I had not thought I would be asked to come to Court on my first day in Athanarel.

Shella pulled the covers off of me and I shivered in my nightgown as I swung my legs over the side of the bed and sat down at the table beside the fireplace. "I wasn't sure if you would want lunch or breakfast, so I thought these meat pies could hold you over 'til tea." She said, obviously feigning a cheeriness she did not feel.

"Thanks, Shella. I had trouble getting to sleep last night. I'm just not used to this place yet." I said, beginning to eat hungrily. There was an awkward silence as Shella began to make my bed and lay out my dress for Court. I looked towards the wall of windows. "Can you believe they would give me such a room? You would think the daughter of a retired knight would not be worthy of this view."

"There are people of less rank than you in this castle, m'lady and you'd do well to remember it. I've heard that some of these court ladies aren't always as ladylike as they let on. You'll want to watch your back until you make some trustworthy friends."

"How is it that we've been here less than a day, and you already know more than I do?" I sipped ale from the most intricately carved goblet that I had ever seen.

Shella gave a rueful smile and shrugged. "Servants talk."

I finished my meal and began to dress. The gown that Shella helped me into was such a light green that it almost seemed white. It was embroidered with small flowers all along the full skirt that just brushed the floor. The bodice fit what curves I had very snuggly, making me more self-conscious than I usually was. The low neckline was lined with a froth of lace that my mother had sewed on, laughingly, at my request. I couldn't help my modest nature.

Shella brushed out my long, strawberry blonde hair, and tied in several green ribbons to match my dress. Long hair had always been the style, or so it seemed to me. My mother told me that it was a style started by Queen Meliara, who is known throughout the Remlana for her beautiful red hair. After I secured the intricately painted fan Carine had given as a parting gift around my waist, I looked up at Shella. She stepped back and took a good look at me from head to toe. "That'll do, m'lady. You look beautiful," she said earnestly. A bell clanged somewhere from the depths of the palace, calling all of the nobles to Court. "I've figured out where the Great Hall is, m'lady, so just follow me." Shella said to the worried look on my face.

As we walked down the magnificently decorated hallways of the palace we joined many other lords and ladies walking towards the Great Hall. I noticed several of the ladies who looked to be about my age cast curious glances my way, no doubt wondering who I was. I was just telling Shella that I could find my way from there when I heard someone calling my name from behind me.

"Lady Adalaine! I'm so pleased that you've decided to come to Petitioner's Court on your first day here. I apologize for not meeting you upon your arrival, but I was feeling poorly last night. My name is Christianna of Nettle Creek, not so far away from your own Laurel Lake." She said in a cheery torrent of words as her hands flicked her fan into a sign of earnest friendship.

"Hello," I said, a bit lost, deciding on the fan sign for formal greeting.

"'I'm the lady in waiting who sent you the letter." She said, obviously wondering why I hadn't figured out who she was.

"Oh, yes." I was having trouble finding the right words to say. Her animated presence seemed to fill up the whole hallway and burst through the open windows.

"Of course you are a bit disoriented, I'm sure. You'll like Petitioner's Court once you get the way of things. Oh, they're going in now. You can come and sit with me." Before I even realized what was happening, Christianna had looped her arm through mine and was ushering me through the large, ancient doors.

As they closed behind us, I stopped and stared. I had heard many stories about the goldenwood tree that grew up out of the raised platform that used to house a throne and through the ceiling of the Great Hall, but I had never imagined such beauty. There were rows of plump cushions on each side of the room, and through them ran a large aisle down which the petitioner's would walk. Kneeling at writing tables at the base of the raised platform were King Vidanric and Queen Meliara.

"Things are a lot more casual now than they were when Merindar was on the throne," Christianna told me. "They used to have to stand in the most uncomfortable clothes. I'm so happy that things have changed, and we get to kneel in these comfortable dresses. I think the fashion is most becoming. Come now, I'll introduce you to Her Highness."

"Her Highness? But surely I'm not fit to –"

"Don't be silly. She won't order your beheading, I promise." Christianna laughed merrily at her joke. "And here we are." As we walked toward the king and queen they both rose nimbly to their feet. I stood a head taller than the petite Queen Meliara, but King Vidanric towered over me. "Your highnesses, may I please introduce to you Lady Adalaine of Laurel Lake, daughter of the esteemed knight Sir Riordan Adair." I can say that I was quite pleased with my performance of a flawless curtsey meant for royalty as my fan flashed the sign of great respect.

King Vidanric smiled down at me with captivating gray eyes and gave a regal nod. Queen Meliara dazzled me with a grin, and I was completely taken aback by her beauty as she said, "what a pleasure it is to have you at the Palace Athanarel, Lady Adalaine. You are most welcome here."

"Thank you, Your Highness."

"I hope to have another chance to speak with you, but at the moment I fear we shall be late in starting again. Are you ready Vidanric?" She turned to her husband who was kneeling again and shuffling through some papers.

"I believe so. It was nice meeting you, Lady Adalaine." I dropped another curtsey and Christianna led me to a cushion near the front, telling me that it was much more interesting if you could see the petitioner's and not just listen to them.

Until that point I hadn't even thought about having to kneel in my gown, but thankfully my grandmother had thought of everything and the dress I wore was meant for doing just that. I followed Christianna's lead and was able to sit down rather gracefully.

The first few petitioners were rather trivial, two farmers arguing over the placement of a fence and another pair asking for the roads to be paved in their village. I spent the majority of that time observing Queen Meliara. Her graceful stature had taken me by surprise. I had heard tales told and songs sung about her beauty, but even more about her escape from capture during the rebellions. I had imagined a rather burly woman, worn from her adventures. I of course realized just how wrong I was.

The last petitioner drew my attention. He was rather young, only a little older than I was, and looked worn and ragged. He walked like one who has been in the saddle for days on end, and I took pity on him.

"Highness," he said, giving a hurried bow, "I come from the border, a small town called Tyrine that neighbors Merindar." There was an audible rustling as ever courtier leaned forward a bit further at his mention of Merindar. The young man looked about him until everyone was still and continued. "Our militia has their own network of spies." He looked over his shoulder at us, took a deep breath, and whispered, "Of which I am a part." Queen Meliara gave him an encouraging nod and he went on. "They Merindars are building their own army. We can see them practicing from our posts."

King Vidanric looked up from his constant writing. "How large is this army? Is it not possible that it's just a guard to protect Merindar from bandits?"

"They're much too large a number for our humble militia to handle, and that's far more than is needed to just protect. They're getting ready to attack." Many of the women sitting around me gasped.

King Vidanric nodded. "This shall be dealt with. You look terribly weary from your journey. Ask a servant to lead you to the kitchens for some refreshment. I'm sure there is room for you to rest here for a day or two, and by then we may have an answer. We thank you." With that King Vidanric neatly stacked his papers and stood. "Let us go and discuss the matters at hand." He told us grimly, then walked towards a door to the side of the room. All of the courtiers around me were standing up, the women smoothing their skirts, and the men brushing their trousers. We then filed into a small antechamber. In the center was a long rectangular table with stools for us to sit on.

As soon as everyone had filed in, some unseen servant closed the door and King Vidanric, sitting at the head of the table, began. "The first petitioners can wait. We must decide what to do about Merindar. Any ideas?"

"For sixteen years they've been peaceful. I don't understand why they would become aggressive now. Perhaps the people of Tyrine are just looking for some special attention?" An impressively handsome man who was sitting next to the king replied.

"But why would they want to lie, Russav? Why would they make someone ride day and night to get here if the matter was only trivial? I say we take him seriously. You can never be too cautious." Queen Meliara said.

"I say we send a full riding to go and check them out…show them who's boss." A man bearing a striking resemblance to Queen Meliara said. Several of the courtiers chuckled, and the man gave a sheepish smile as the woman sitting next to him put her hand on his arm, as if to tell him to be serious.

The conversation went on for several minutes. I noticed that it was mostly the men who spoke, the women seemed to want to leave the matters of impending war to the men. I had drifted off in my own thoughts, studying each of the courtiers sitting at the table, trying to match names to faces as they addressed each other. And then the voice of King Vidanric brought me back.

"And what does our newest arrival at court think of the situation? Lady Adalaine?" I was totally taken by surprise. I had planned on just observing, I hadn't even thought about making a comment.

"Well…" I stammered, trying to think what it was I would do if I were the ruler of the country. "I would send some of my own trusted spies to look at the situation before I sent in any soldiers. If the information is true, I would then send as many soldiers as could be spared to squash out the enemy." I hardly realized that I was talking until I had finished. I had been looking down at the table, and now that I looked up I saw that many pairs of eyes were on me. Many of them were smiling, and others looked taken aback.

"I'd say that sounds like a good plan to me!" The man I figured to be Branaric, Queen Meliara's brother, said jovially. Queen Meliara was beaming at me with a strange look in her eyes. King Vidanric sat in silence, looking thoughtful.

He then looked at me and spoke. "I agree with Lady Adalaine. I think I should send some of my own people to see if this claim is true. All who agree…"

"Aye!" the majority of the people sitting around me said in unison. I wasn't absolutely sure what was taking place, but before I knew it everything had been decided and we were adjourned.

"That was very insightful," Christianna was telling me as we walked out the door, but a light touch on my shoulder made me turn. It was the queen, with that same smile on her face.

"I'd like it if you would join me for a short walk if I am not interrupting anything…" she said in an upbeat tone.

"Oh, not at all!" Christianna and I both answered at the same time. I wished her good day and began my walk with the queen.