Dedication- this chappie is dedicated to Abiona Marchand. One, cause she's a super faithful reviewer, even when her Inbox is crowded with updates. And cause she's so darn cool. You rock-es my sock-es, Molly!

Chapter 18

Eliena stood outside some special Ozorne-only room, anxiously smoothing her butter-colored skirt. She was all dressed for dinner, in a simple, yet beautiful, dinner gown. There was no showy skirt or anything, as it was for dinner. The dress was cut in a day dress style, but it was slightly lower cut and had different sleeves. The sleeves were attached at her shoulder and wrist, but the rest was open and balloon-y. It was very nice for the heat.

She could hear voices inside the room. Kaddar was telling Ozorne that Eliena had agreed to the marriage and that it could be announced that evening at dinner. He had also promised to bring up the release of both Numair and Daine, though Eliena wasn't holding her breath for the former. She knew from stories she had heard that Ozorne was not exactly a reasonable person. It was quite possible that he wasn't human, from all the stories.

The door opened and Kaddar walked out. "Well?" Eliena asked nervously. He smiled slightly.

"It's being announced at dinner," he replied. "And said that we will discuss the release of Numair. He will 'talk' to Daine's kidnappers." Eliena nodded. If that was the best she could do, then so be it. "Now, shall we?" He offered her his arm and Eliena took it with a deep breath. Breathe, Eli, she told herself. You'll live. You can do this. You are a princess, by the Goddess! Suddenly, she wished her parents were there. And that she had never come to Carthak.

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"Eli!" Daine whispered. Eliena sat up and grinned.

"Daine! You're back!" she stage whispered. Daine nodded. She went and sat beside Eliena.

"Where's Numair?" she asked.

Eliena's face fell. "He was arrested. For crimes against Carthak." Daine's eyes widened.

"He was what?" she demanded.

"He's going to be executed," Eliena replied softly.

"Oh, Goddess!" Daine exclaimed, hand flying to her mouth. "No!"

"I know," Eliena said.

"We can't let it happen, Eli! We can't…" her voice drifted off as she looked at Eliena. "What's wrong?"

"I'm engaged, Daine," Eliena whispered.

"What?"

"To Kaddar. It was the only way you'd be let go. And I may save Numair by doing it."

"Eli, you can't! What about Neal? And Leo? And Tortall?"

"War would cause a lot more damage than my marriage will, Daine. And, besides, I may save two friends to marry one." She smiled, but it was weak and sad.

"Oh, Eli," Daine said, her eyes filling. "You can't."

"I thought about it, Daine, I did," Eliena insisted. "I thought about my family's reaction, and then about what was best for my country. And this was it."

"Oh, Eli." The girls hugged, and cried into each other's shoulder. "You're brave, Eli. You really are."

"Sometimes I wish I weren't," Eliena confided. "I wish I had never come. Then this wouldn't have happened."

"It would have anyway," Daine told her. "You'd just find out about it later, and be in Tortall when you found out."

"But we could avoid it by having me marry quickly," Eliena reminded her.

"Your parents would never agree to that and you know it," Daine said.

"That's true." Eliena laughed hollowly. "But, still."

"I know." They were quiet and Eliena's eyes filled again.

"I wish I'd never been born." The tears slid down her face and she buried her head in her pillow.

"Oh, Eli, no!" Daine cried. "What would I do without you here? I would be so bored without you, Eli, I really would. And life would be much less interesting for everyone." Daine hugged Eliena. "And, besides, then this would all be on Lianne. Or a princess who wasn't born because you were."

"I know, Daine, I know, but I don't want to go through with this! You're safe now, and Ozorne will never let Numair go… Now that you're safe, I may as well ship back to Tortall and have mother and father do damage control."

"No," Daine said sternly. "No. You're not laying this on your parents. You know what your mother says. Once you make a promise, you have to stick with it, even if it's the last thing you want to do."

Eliena sighed. "You're right."

"Well, it has to be my turn sometime!" The girl erupted in giggles, but there was a hesitancy. Something had changed, and it was something big.

Something life changing.

Author's Note- we shall see what happens now, shan't we? I expect it to be dramatic, but even I can't predict what my brain will come up with and my fingers will produce!

Oh. If you want to read my AJ sonnet or get a copy of the story I was gonna publish, say so in your review. For the former, I'll post it in the next update. For the latter, tell me to send it to your email, and I'll attach it. REVIEW!