"Eliena!" several groups of people shouted. Eliena smiled and waved diplomatically, but was headed straight for an empty table. "Eliena! Eliena!"
"This is why I hate eating in here," Eliena grumbled to Daine. "Usually, I eat with my family. But I want to get you settled." Daine smiled at Eliena.
"Thanks," she said. They put their trays down at an empty table, and people rushed over.
"Eliena, how are you?" one boy asked. His hair was silvery blonde and his eyes were muddy brown.
"I'm fine, Thurley," Eliena replied, a fake smile pasted on her lips.
"You look lovely," he complimented. Eliena and Daine looked at Eliena's outfit. She wore a nice pair of tan breeches that were obviously new, a white shirt, and a brown tunic with the Riders symbol in the corner.
"Thanks…" Eliena said.
"Move, Thurley!" a voice exclaimed, shoving the boy away. Another boy sat across from Eliena and batted his long, girlish eyelashes at her. "Hullo, Eli." Eliena laughed.
"Hello, Tyler," Eliena greeted. "Still a flirt, I see." The boy called Tyler leaned across the table and kissed Eliena's cheek. She smiled at him. "I could have you imprisoned for that, impertinent commoner." Her eyes danced. She obviously enjoyed the flirtation.
"But you won't," he retorted. "Because you love me." Eliena rolled her eyes.
"You're right, Mason," Eliena said. "I simply adore you." She glanced over at a table that held a group of boys her age. One of them had emerald green eyes as wicked as Eliena's own. He had a widow's peak, and his light brown hair was swept away from that. He winked at Eliena, who tossed her gorgeous hair in reply, turning her focus back to Tyler, who Daine now guessed was name Tyler Mason. "Leave my sight, commoner." Eliena was only half kidding. Tyler rose and winked at Eliena.
"All right, your highness," he said and walked away with a swagger. Eliena rolled her eyes.
"He was… interesting," Daine ventured.
"Thurley isn't so bad, just kind of clingy. Tyler, on the other hand." Eliena shuddered. "He's very forward. You know, when he first came, he kissed my hand and said I made him want to be a noble?"
"You wouldn't marry a commoner?" Daine asked. Eliena looked at her.
"Of course I'd marry a commoner!" Eliena replied. "If I loved the man, why would status matter?" Daine shook her head. This was a very strange place. "Anyway… oh, hello there." Daine looked up and saw the green-eyed boy standing over their table.
"Your highness, I simply must introduce myself," he said with a dramatic bow. "I am Nealan of Queenscove, student at the royal university." Eliena smiled and rose. Despite her breeches, she still managed a perfect curtsy.
"Pleased to meet you, Nealan of Queenscove. I am Princess Eliena of Conté, and this is my friend, Veralidaine Sarrasri. Would you like to join us?" Eliena asked.
"It would be my pleasure, your highness," Nealan replied, taking the seat across from Eliena.
"Please," Eliena said. "My friends all call me Eliena, or, preferably, Eli. 'Your highness' is too vague for me. I have younger siblings, you know."
"Prince Roald and Princess Lianne are ten, correct?" Nealan asked. Eli nodded.
"You know my family well, Nealan," she replied. "Though, coming from Queenscove, I shouldn't be surprised. I know your father well." Nealan smiled.
"I've heard," he remarked. "Father often tells me that the Lioness's daughter shares her temper. And her tongue."
"Father had tried to break me of it, I admit. But, you know my mother." Eliena shrugged. "Anyway, Nealan, I believe we are neglecting Daine." Nealan focused his green eyes on Daine, who didn't meet his gaze.
"Please, your highness," Nealan said, and Daine felt his gaze turn back to the princess. "My friends call me Neal." Eliena smiled.
"Neal," she repeated. "Would you care to take a walk with me, Neal?" Neal rose and took Eliena's hand.
"I would be honored, Eli," he replied. Eliena bent down and whispered to Daine, "Two of my Rider friends are coming to sit with you. They're very nice. I'll talk to you later." Eliena and Neal went to the courtyard, where they could stroll in peace.
"I haven't seen you often," Neal remarked. Eliena nodded.
"I can't stand all the fawning, so I usually eat with my family. Well, Roald and Lianne are in the City of the Gods, so usually it is just my parents and myself, but they're better company than many of the trainees," she explained. "I don't see you often, either. But I suppose you're stuck in the university with your books." Neal nodded.
"I get tied up in books sometimes. It is one of my faults," he replied. Eliena acted shocked.
"You, Nealan of Queenscove? You have faults?" she asked. "I am shocked, I truly am. Here I was, thinking I was walking with someone flawless!" Neal smiled.
"One of my biggest faults is indecisiveness. I want to be a page now, but father refuses," he replied with a sigh.
"You should do what you want. Besides, if he wants you to learn magic, I can always teach you. I'm taught by my uncle, Master Thom of Trebond, and Numair Salmalín. I know a lot, and I'm sure they'd be willing teachers to someone who wants to learn. Besides, pages see the royal family more often than mage students." Neal looked at Eliena. Her violet eyes danced wickedly and her smile was just as wicked.
"You, Eliena, are wicked," Neal told her.
"And you aren't?" Eliena retorted. He smiled.
"I'm going to have to- you're glowing." Eliena glanced at the bracelet her mother had given her. It glowed when she was being contacted, when there were immortals about, and when there was danger. Eliena sighed and a violet ball appeared in her hand.
"Yes?" she asked. It was Numair.
"Your parents are worried. Where are you?" he wanted to know.
"In the courtyards with Nealan of Queenscove," Eliena replied. Numair relayed this information to Eliena's parents. She heard shouting. Numair turned back to their conversation.
"Your mother says to get your rear end to the royal dining hall right now, and to let the poor boy finish his meal," Numair told her. Eliena rolled her eyes.
"Give me ten minutes." The ball vanished. "If it glows again, tell me what color. Now, where were we?"
VVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVV
"Eliena of Conté, you are in a lot of trouble!" Alanna yelled. "How could you just disappear like that?"
"But I didn't 'just disappear', mother. Daine knew where I was," Eliena insisted. "Besides, Neal and I were having a nice talk."
"Were you?" Alanna asked. "Goddess bless. Is this what we've come to, Eliena? You desert your parents for a boy?" She swore.
"Mother, please. I did not desert you. I was walking with Neal when Numair summoned me. How was I to know you wanted me before that? I don't read minds, you know." Eliena's hands were firmly placed on her hips. Jonathan put his hand on Alanna's shoulder.
"What your mother is trying to say, Eli, is that you can't just run off like that without running it by someone first. We needed to talk to you. And, while it is not urgent, it would've been nice if we didn't have to wait for you to finish your conversation. Now, who was this boy?" Eliena smiled dreamily.
"Nealan of Queenscove. Oh, father," Eliena sighed. "He's so perfect." Jonathan smiled.
"It looks like someone has a crush," he teased.
"Ah, to be young and in love," Alanna sighed. She looked at Jonathan, who put his arm around her.
"Please, you two! When mother was thirteen, you still thought she was a boy!" Eliena said. "Neal knows I'm a girl. And I think he likes me…" She covered her mouth and glared at her smiling parents. "Leave me alone! Mithros, sometimes I wonder if I should move in with Numair!" She stormed from the room and Alanna smiled.
"She couldn't bear to leave us. She loves us too much," she said.
"I think she'd gladly live with Numair, though," Jonathan replied. "He'd let her get away with murder when she bats those violet eyes of hers. Are you worried about her and the Queenscove boy?" Alanna shook her head.
"Neal is a good boy. He's no older than Eliena. They're fine."
Author's Note- before I get chastised about Neal and the university and all that, let me say this: AU. I wanted Neal and Eliena to know each other- wink, wink- and I wanted them to meet in the mess hall. Next chappie will PROBABLY be at the Swoop. And Leo may make an appearance. REVIEW.