Warnings: Oversleeping and simpering court ladies

Chapter Eleven: Reintroduction

Once in my rooms, Ashleigh was at my side in a trice, along with a dozen other of the palace servants. They managed to convince me to walk to the great tub in the bathing room, and I sank gratefully into the hot water.

"Milady, we'll have you cleaned and then you can sleep." Ashleigh poured warm water over my head, making sure that my hair was fully saturated.

"That feels so good." I mumbled, sinking deeper into the water. Ashleigh's fingers massaged the soap into my hair and I could feel the suds running down my cheek.

It was wonderful to be clean!

She laughed softly. "Step out, if you would. There's a towel right here, and I'll put the heat stones in your bed." She closed the door quietly and I stumbled out of the tub. One of the dozen servants that Ashleigh had brought with her wrapped the fluffy towel around me. I snuggled into it as she dried me off, delighting in the feel of being clean.

"Milady, turn your head this way, please." I looked at a maid who held a comb as if she were ready to fend off the flaming hoards. She combed out my dark hair gently, as one of the others slipped a fine robe around my bare shoulders.

At last, I was dry and my hair was combed. Yet another woman approached me with deference, proffering a nightshift. "If milady would hold up her hands…" I did so and she slipped the warm fabric over my head.

"This is so…lovely," I said, suppressing a yawn. "Why do I get this treatment now, and not before?"

"Would you like me to answer that?" Ashleigh stood in the doorway, a wry smile on her lips.

"No, don't. I'm not sure I want to know." I chuckled softly to myself and yawned again. "I could sleep for a long time," I grinned sleepily and slipped under the heated covers.

"You probably will," I heard Ashleigh murmur as she took the last lighted candle with her out into the parlor and shut the door to my sleeping chambers.

I stayed awake for only a little while longer, and then the dream world claimed me.

I woke when someone gently touched my shoulder. I snuggled deeper into the covers and dragged one of the pillows over my head.

"Princess, please, rise." I groaned as Ashleigh shook me again. "Milady Elensar, the King has requested an audience with you once you have risen."

"But I'm not supposed to leave my rooms until Lord Raven came to see me." I mumbled into the bed.

"I think an order from the King overrides that." Ashleigh added, "He says that you are to come to his study."

"Oh." A sudden thought struck me. "What am I going to wear?" I wondered at that; it sounded far too superficial to be myself talking.

"We'll find something, have no fear." Ashleigh patted my shoulder. "Up. Marilyn is waiting for you to make you look alive."

"Right." I squirmed out of the blankets, which were wrapped around me, and shivered as my bare foot touched the stone floor. I snatched the robe that was draped over the bedpost and shrugged it on.

"Milady, please come this way." Marilyn stood at the door to my dressing chamber, holding the door open. "I think I've found something that will fit you quite nicely."

"What's it?" I asked her, still partially asleep.

"It's a lovely afternoon gown of hunter green." She smiled as I gaped. "What?"

"It's afternoon already?" I ran my fingers through my hair until they were caught in a knot.

"Yes, milady. You did sleep for quite some time." Marilyn suppressed a smile. "Now," she continued briskly, "For your dress. Hold up your arms." I did so, and Marilyn dropped a black shift over my head. "Next layer," she said as she efficiently laced up the shift.

I obediently held out my arms, and she slipped on the green overdress. It had ties lacing up the side that were as black as the shift was.

"This way," Marilyn ordered as she took my arm and led me to the mirror on one side of the room. "Sit." She pushed me into the chair. She then proceeded to plait my hair neatly into two sections that trailed down my back.

"Looks nice," I commented, glancing in the mirror. "Thank you."

"Of course, milady." She motioned to a maid standing inconspicuously in the doorway. "Would you like some lunch?" She asked, laughter tingeing her voice.

"Yes, please. Now that you mention it, I'm quite hungry." My stomach chose that moment to loudly augment my words. "See?" I laughed, and picked up a glass of herbal tea, gulping it down in one long, unladylike gulp. "Thank you much," I ate the first scone in the same manner as I had drunk the tea, but the next two scones that followed were consumed much more slowly and with far more delicacy.

"Milady," Ashleigh appeared in the door and curtsied. A young man stood next to her in Delrina colors. "The King has sent a page to summon you to his study at once. If you would be so kind as to go with Page Oselt, he will lead you to his royal highness." She curtsied again.

"Thank you," I didn't even bother to glance at the page, just walked out of the room, trying to act as if I had not just been released from the stocks.

"This way, milady." He directed me down a hallway to my left. "If you would follow me?" he stated, with a slight emphasis on follow.

"Of course, page." I stifled a yawn, and began to wish that I hadn't eaten my lunch quite so fast.

He led me straight to Adrian's study, which was large compared to mine, and bowed out as quickly as protocol allowed. He looked as nervous as I felt.

"Princess Elensar," Adrian stood as I entered the room. I curtsied gracefully, praying that I wouldn't meet my lunch again. "Please, sit." He gestured to a chair by the fire with one hand, and led me there with the other.

"Thank you," I murmured, being cooperative and not rebellious for once.

"Princess, my advisors and I wish to discuss with you your future. Are amenable to that discussion?" Adrian paced in front of me, his hands clasped behind his back.

"I- I suppose so." I looked at my hands, feeling slightly dizzy. Then, my eyes traveled to the three men who were Adrian's advisors.

Lord Raven stood, "Princess, you have not met my co-advisors. Let me introduce to you Count Briar Fendarth of Lath," he motioned and a pale young man stood and bowed to me. I nodded in return. "And this is Lord Nethal Mari of Quisling."

"Charmed to meet you, Princess Elensar," he said, bowing to me, his light hair flopping in front of his eyes.

"Charmed," I murmured repressing back the distinct urge to throw up at all the sycophantic mannerisms of the advisors. More accurately, I repressed the urge to just throw up.

"Now, Elensar," Adrian chose a chair for himself and stared at me blandly, a trace of a smile around his lips. "Your little spectacle a few days ago in court did not exactly sit well with the Council, the nobles present and the petitioners, my subjects. You were subject to much ridicule and gossip during your recent sojourn in the stocks as well. The visitors that came by to visit you and offered you their sincerest sympathies did not mean well at all."

"I knew that." I said, an acerbic edge to my words.

"Not all I say is for your ears only, Elensar," Adrian reprimanded me placidly. "Now, your reintroduction into court is a delicate procedure, shall we say, and it will take much finesse on all of our parts. You have made yourself out to be quite the fool to my court, and they will be loathe to let you forget it." Adrian gestured to Lord Raven, who promptly took over.

"Now, Princess, do you understand fully the situation that we are in?" He smiled kindly at me.

I smiled back, although with less effort to make it look real. "Yes."

"Good." He was not phased in the slightest, per usual. "As his highness has said, this requires extra finesse than the day to day maneuverings that occur. There are some guidelines that you should try to follow. You must not insult the King to anyone, and especially not to his face with so many persons present. You must be polite at all time, and you must, absolutely must, be careful of what you say."

"Why?" I saw Adrian smile out of the corner of my eye.

"Well," Briar took over, "Many thing that are said by courtiers have double meanings. Insinuations will be everywhere, and not all of them flattering and not all of them blatant. As it is, you have a certain lack of…subtlety in your speech so this may come as a challenge to you." He smiled kindly, and continued, "Therefore, you must learn to grasp the language- for it truly is a language of its own- of the court. You must be able to speak and understand it within a heartbeat, or at least provide a reasonable facsimile of understanding."

"This sounds positively charming. You know," I smirked sardonically, "I've always wanted to be an actress!" I gave the Advisors the most vapid smile I could while getting as many eyelash flutters per second as humanly possible.

"Outbursts like that," Raven said sternly, "Will have to go."

"That," I replied, indignant, "Was not an outburst in any respect."

"She's right, you know," Adrian added dryly. "Especially," he continued, "If the spectacle she put on for the entire Council is any representation."

Lord Nethal stifled a chuckle, and I glowered at him.

"Well, besides my so called 'outbursts', what else must I not do?" I flopped back in the chair, reveling in its softness.

"It's not what you mustn't so, it's more along the lines of what you should do. Are you following me?" Lord Nethal flashed me a winning smile.

"Perfectly." I rubbed my neck and pled with the ceiling to save me.

Nethal looked somewhat put out, but continued anyway. "You must attend the social functions of the court, which entails going to balls, dinners, picnics and the like. You must go to them joyfully and willingly, or at least appear to." He held up his hand to stop a sardonic comment from me. "You must also extend invitations and host your own parties, teas and such. Again, this must have an air of willingness on your part." Nethal smiled ingratiatingly, "Is this clear, Princess?"

"As clear as a court lady's mind." I tried to appear as innocent as possible.

Lord Raven cleared his throat as Briar and Adrian choked on laughter. "Princess Elensar, that is quite enough impertinence from you, young lady."

I instantly turned defensive. "And who are you to tell me what is enough?" I sneered at him. "I don't believe that it is in your position to reprimand me like you just did, especially without all the fancy trappings of your frilly language. I am a Princess, and not under your command. Remember that, nobles."

Adrian's lips twitched and he smiled. "Mayhap my advisor cannot, but I can. Enough is enough, Elensar, and I have had quite enough of your childish behavior. You will follow the directions and advice that my advisors have given you."

"But," The word was barely out of my mouth before Adrian cut me off.

"No buts about it, you will do these things, order of Adrian Theylell, King of Delran." His forehead creased, as I was about to object. "By my command, Elensar; you cannot forswear it."

"Fine." I stood slowly, and waited impatiently for it to stop spinning as the blood rushed to my head, "I'll see you at the next petty court function." I swept a disrespectful curtsey and sauntered out of the room, so tense I felt as if would break should someone touch me.

"Princess Elensar Kelledy." I stopped as Adrian called my name. "Come back in here this instant."

I stayed where I was, not taking too kindly to being treated like a child.

"Elensar, must I drag you back here?" Adrian had that silvery edge to his voice that would terrify any other person. It just infuriated me more.

"No." It was a simple word, and yet so many contradictory meanings.

I heard him sigh in exasperation. "Does that mean that no, you won't come back here, or no, I don't have to drag you."

"You decide." I stalked off, quite annoyed with their patronizing attitudes.

Adrian was by my side in the space of a breath. "I suppose it means that I do have to drag you back." His fingers closed around my wrist, digging into the softer underside of my arm.

"Hey!" I was shocked more than hurt at the mild pain he caused. "Let go!" I tried to pry his fingers off, but to no avail. He had quite the grip on my arm, and it was getting tighter by the second.

"Elensar, come with me." His hand was still clamped quite tightly around my wrist, and it was beginning to hurt. I shuddered as the bones of my wrist were compacted to an unbearable size.

"No." I sulked, glaring up at him sullenly through my eyelashes.

"Fine." He twisted my arm behind my back so quickly that I had no time to fight back.

I gasped with the pain, and a few tears trickled down my cheeks. "Damn it! You're hurting me!" I crumpled to the ground, hoping that the ploy would force him to release my arm or break it. It worked, and folded myself in a tight little ball.

"Elensar." Adrian sounded impatient.

I chose not to respond.

"Get up." He knelt down and grabbed my arm again, this time hauling me upright. "Now."

Again, I was silent.

"Well, well, well, what have we here?" A smooth voice surprised me and I looked up. Lady Ilea stood before me, a decorative fan waving lightly in her hand. "Is this the Princess defying her King?" She giggled, a high-pitched tumble down a haphazard scale.

"He is not my King." I retorted, throwing Adrian off balance as I used him to pull myself up. A small tug on the hem of my gown reminded me of all the pleasantries and orders that had been discussed such a short while ago. "Well, what I mean to say, Lady Ilea," I imitated her fluting laughter. "I mean to say that he is not my King at all, for there is only one who could truly be my King." I simpered and continued as her face morphed into a mask of polite curiosity. "Alas, he is far away, in my dear home of Meridian."

"Who, if I may be so bold as to ask, is the lucky man?" Adrian coughed politely as Lady Ilea gave way to her curiosity.

"Why- my father! Who else would be worthy of such a high honor?" I smiled slightly, a triumphant edge to my next words. "Not even the good King Adrian can match up to my father." I was all wide-eyed innocence, naïve and virtuous.

"I…see." She hesitated and then went on, "Elensar, oh may I call you Elensar dear? Good! Well, Elensar, would you be so kind as to join my beloved sister and me in our solar this afternoon for a tea? We would be absolutely delighted to have you." She fluttered her fan, affecting fear of my rejection.

Another tug on my hem, and I changed the biting remark I had into an acceptation of her oh-so-generous invitation. "I would be ecstatic to." I fluttered my eyelashes, lumping sugary-sweetness into my words. "So, I'll see you around the third hour of noon?"

She hesitated again, "Yes. Please do that." Then, her attention turned to Adrian. "Oh, Adrian darling, I really must see you sometime soon. Perhaps, after you are done attending to the business of the Kingdom?" She smiled prettily, her blue eyes filled with glittering affection.

For the first time in my sojourn in Delran, I saw Adrian doubt himself. "Y-yes. Of course." He stuttered and looked strangely at her. I attributed it to complete embarrassment over me.

"Oh good!" She smiled again, that flirtatious baring of teeth, and bustled off.

"Oh Adrian darling," I mimicked Ilea. Then I reverted back to my own tones, "What are you doing?"

He was staring after the direction she had gone, a look that I had seen focused on me several times. Every inch of his face had lust engraved deeply into the skin, from the curve of his lips to the expression in his eyes.

"Adrian?" I tugged on his hand to get his attention.

He turned toward me with a smoldering fire lighting his eyes. "What?"

I smiled imperiously, if a bit shakily, "Escort me back to my rooms."

"No." He smiled back, the bored lilt dominating his voice once again. "You do not have my leave to depart."

"I think that after handling that situation with Lady Ilea, I deserve a break." I nodded self-righteously.

"What situation?" He scoffed, "That was nothing more than daily life!"

I pouted sullenly. "It was not daily life for me. When I was home, I was the Youngest, and therefore did not need to throw parties daily. When I did, oh when I did," I grinned, remembering, "They were wonderful. I was the one who gave the invitation of course, not the other way around. This was an experience, for sure. Now, do I have your leave to go or not?" I tapped my foot angrily. He didn't say anything or make a move to stop me. "Fine." I whirled around, grabbed my skirts in my clenched fists and ran.

"Have it your way, then, Elensar. See what happens then." I heard him laugh, and once again, I was utterly petrified of the power that he had over me.

Once in my rooms, I made my way to the study and collapsed into one of the chairs.

"Would milady like some refreshment?" Ashleigh appeared at my elbow, and I nodded silently. She brought cold juice in a goblet covered with the little jewels of condensation.

"Thank you." I sipped the liquid while contemplating the morning. I had been backed into a corner, told specifically what I could and could not do, with more of the latter than the former, and arranged a social function with one of the snobbish court flowers. "Ashleigh," I called.

"Yes, Princess?" She was as attentive as ever.

"I have to go to Lady Ilea's solar the third hour of the afternoon. I'll need something new to wear, as it will be afternoon and not morning. What would you suggest?" I tucked my feet up underneath of me and looked up at her.

"Well, it will be something a little on the fancy side," She started out, and then paused to regale me with an assessing gaze. "Maybe a deep red. Yes, I think I know just the dress! And, milady, you must be there at least ten minutes in advance, or else your most charming hostess will consider it a personal slight to her dignity." Ashleigh raised her eyebrows suggestively and rolled her eyes.

"Yes, of course. Thank you ever so much." I flashed her a grateful smile.

"Why don't you find something to entertain yourself with while I go get your attire ready, if you don't mind me telling you that." She curtseyed deferentially.

"No, not at all. It's good idea, and I am desperately in need of entertainment." I got up and walked to the bookshelves that lined the walls.

"I'll have someone send up your noon meal, milady." She was gone before I could say thank you.

I scanned the titles written in an elegant script on the bindings of the books. "Ruminations of Time, Mysterious Contemplation, sounds like philosophy," I said, making a face.

I skipped to a new set of shelves and grinned when I read the title. "Ah, sweet romance! A Night in his Arms should do for me," I paused to ponder another choice, "Or maybe Kisses of the Rogue?" I giggled and pulled out Kisses of the Rogue.

I was still curled up in a soft chair when a servant brought up my noon meal. "Thanks," I said absently, still engrossed in the daring adventures of Miriam and her secret lover, Tym, the brash Rogue.

I picked at the food, eating a few bites here and there, and seasoned the food with giggles and romantic sighs as appropriate to the text.

"Milady?" Ashleigh called from the door to my dressing room.

"Yes?" I reluctantly put the romance novella down.

"It is time for you to ready yourself for your afternoon activities." She stepped out of the doorway so I could get by, and then directed the dressing ladies to work their magic.

Marilyn was part of the group of ladies, and she told me how beautiful I looked in the afternoon gown that they dressed me in. "You look absolutely superb, Princess." She beamed up at me.

"Thank you, although I think that is more your doing that through any means of my own." I grimaced good-naturedly.

"Ah, milady, you sell yourself short. All I do is dress a pretty girl up." She smiled pushed me towards the door. "It is truly time for you to go."

"I suppose so," I groaned, and stepped out the door and sauntered to Lady Ilea's solar.

Author's Note: Well, I'm sorry that this update took a little longer than I anticipated. I was busy recovering from a trip to a water park…Sixty-five degrees and raining is not the ideal time to go, even if there won't be any lines. I hope everyone enjoyed this chapter and I thank everyone who reviewed the last one! Review again! :o)

Oh- also, go read my other story in the Fairy Tale Section: "I am Gone"

Thank yous:

LindyLou78: Thank you again for betaing "I am Gone" for me- I really appreciate it! :)

Turwen: I hope you had a good vacation! Thanks for the compliments and the review!

Miss Piratess: Yep, she does ask for trouble. No doubt about that!

Littlelambug: Wow, thanks for all the praise of this story! I'm glad my romance isn't too corny; I was afraid that since I have little or no experience in that area that my romance wouldn't be real enough. (Did that make sense? I hope so.:)

Lilred-07: Thanks!

MapleRose: Don't hold your breath waiting, you've got some time to wait before he bothers to mention it, I think. :oP

No myridon: I don't know if she learned her lesson or not, but she probably did. At least, I hope she did. :o)