Yay! I've finished another chapter! I've begun to read them through carefully now, and I don't put up a chapter until I have another one behind it, so that I can change things as needed. That's why the updates are not as regular. They will probably be mostly over weekends.

But I'm glad so many people liked the beginning!

naughty little munchkin: Yay! My first reviewer! I am going to try switching points of view, whether by chapter or within the chapter, I don't know. You should go for it. I think that this story is one of the easiest to manipulate. I'd certainly read it.

rainkisser: Another story? But, seriously, if you do write a story like that, I could probably hug you. All your stories are so great. :cD And I also use 'QAWINKY-DINK'! w00t!

Tiger Lily21: Hmm... Nope, just coincedence, I guess. But, there is something interesting about the names in Fiona's family. See if you can guess. ;c)

fell4adeadguy: I'm sorry! I'm sorry! I'll try and make this story extra good to make it up to you, okay? XcD

Glaze: Haha! You are about half right. Or a quarter. Anywho, I'm sure you'll figure out half my story based on this here chapter. You're a quick one!

Dragonblade Goddess: Awesome. I hope it meets your expectations.

Dreamer at Heart: Darn those teachers and their 'computers at school must be used for classroom type work' and such. This story isn't going to be exactly like the 'Twelve Princesses' but it does have a couple similarities.

Thanks for all the pre-emptive support!

whoa-bam!

Lulai

Chapter Two: A Meeting

Lady Fiona Fer Havara had no idea why a meeting was called in the solarium, but she wasn't going to sit there idly. After receiving the summons from her eldest sister, she had gathered a load of mending and brought it to the room.

Fiona rather liked the solarium. It was very bright and sunny. She made a mental note to come to the room more often. She could do her sewing there.

As she had the fortune to be the first one there, she chose her seat carefully. She sat down on a cushion by the bay window and pulled her basket up beside her.

She shook out the first skirt and sighed. Genevieve. She set about stitching the long rip down the thigh.

The sisters filed in, in small groups. They said hello to Fiona who smiled at them softly, her needle flashing in the sun.

"Are we all here?" Annabelle asked, after looking around.

Daphne nodded. "Yes. Bernadette is the only one who isn't able to come as she didn't want to leave her children."

Annabelle nodded. She began to pace, a habit she only did when she was nervous.

"I have disturbing news," she started. "I have received word from Uncle Edward that he is returning shortly." Her lips pressed together. "And the King is accompanying him."

"And?" Daphne's twin Elizabeth asked.

"And, I would like it known that I do not want to see any of you in the King's presence without Fiona or I chaperoning you."

"Why?" Harmony asked curiously.

Annabelle stopped pacing and gave a stern look to all her sisters. "If you have all forgotten, he had quite the rakish reputation."

Genevieve shrugged. "He has been a veritable monk since he ascended the throne."

Annabelle sighed. "You do not trust a wolf to look over sheep merely because he hasn't eaten one in a while."

Iphigenia frowned at her sister. "You do not trust us enough to be able to resist the King's said charms?"

"No, Nia, I do trust you. All of you. It's King Jarrod I don't trust."

Josephine looked decidedly amused by the entire situation. "I'm probably too young for King Jarrod to even take notice of me."

"Nevertheless," Annabelle said. "I do not want any of you around him without myself or Fiona."

Fiona felt her heart sink a little despite herself. She knew she was no great beauty, but she would like to think that maybe the king would want to ravish her as well.

Fiona shook her head and concentrated on the chemise in front of her.

"Who brought the missive?" Cassandra asked, her voice belying her hopefulness.

"Geoffrey, I believe," Annabelle replied.

"Geoffrey," she breathed. Annabelle covered a smile with her hand.

"I want a formal approach before anything happens," Annabelle said in a semi-serious voice.

"Of course, of course," Cassandra agreed, but her expression was still dreamy.

"Now, I would like to remind everyone here about our obligations," Annabelle said. "We cannot let the king find out about us."

"Of course not," Nia said with a wave of her hand. "We shant let anything slip, almighty overseer."

"Then I would like you all to prepare for dinner," Annabelle said brusquely with a clap of her hands.

The sisters went their own ways until only Annabelle and Fiona were left.

"Thank you Fiona," Annabelle said.

"For what?" she asked, her needle flashing faster the only indication that she was irritated.

"For understanding."

"Of course." This time, Fiona couldn't keep the bitterness out of her voice. "I'm glad there is someone around here that the king wouldn't even think of scandalizing."

"Oh Fiona," Annabelle said, sitting down beside her. "I didn't mean it that way. You are just so much more level headed than the rest of us. I know you'll keep us all in line."

Fiona gave her sister a smile, even though she was still a little wounded inside.

"That's my girl," Annabelle said, hugging her quickly. "Now, I must prepare for dinner. I will see you there."

Annabelle held open the door and Fiona's cat quickly skidded in between her feet.

Annabelle smiled at her. "Someone to see you," she said before closing the door behind her.

Fiona set down her mending and held out her arms. Mittens jumped into them and pushed her head against her breast, purring.

"Hello, Mittens," she said, stroking her blond head.

She sighed softly, still petting her cat. She thought that she was over this small problem.

"I just want to be unique like the others," she confessed to her cat. She had to smile at the irony of that statement.

"Mrow?" Mittens responded.

"I even named you 'Mittens'," Fiona said. "As if that wasn't the most ordinary cat name in the world."

She left the mending basket tucked neatly beside the window and walked to her room, still holding her cat.

If only she wasn't so… ordinary. She wasn't an eyesore, but compared to her stunningly beautiful sisters, Fiona was plain. She rather liked her dark hair with its highlight of red, but it was always pulled back into a tight bun at the nape of her neck. Besides, the colour didn't seem to do much but clash with half her wardrobe.

She pushed open the doors to her rooms, artfully in shades of lilac. She loved lilacs. They were her favourite flower.

She glanced in the mirror. Her walking had pulled the bangs that she had cut in an effort to get noticed a year ago out of their clips. She let out a frustrated breath and set Mittens down on the vanity. She pinned the errant locks of hair back into place. In a few more months they would fit back into her bun.

She brushed the white cat hair off her chest.

"Milady," called her maid Elsie, "do ye need some help ta get inta yer gown?"

"Yes, please, Elsie," Fiona called.

"Oh, milady, isn't it excitin'? Tha king's comin'!" Elsie announced flouncing into the room. "Ye'll have ta wear tha silver dress. It goes so well with yer eyes!"

Fiona smiled in acceptance. The dress was actually more grey than silver, but Elsie was right. It was the best dress she owned. Her eyes weren't exactly grey either. They were actually blue on the outside that turned to green around her pupil, but from a distance they did seem a murky grey.

She could barely contain another sigh. If only her life echoed her eyes. She seemed to be murky and dull both from a distance and from close up.

But as Elsie pulled on her dress, she felt a glimmer of hope. She gave a little half-smile. Maybe this rakish king would shake things up a little. They certainly couldn't get any duller.