Chapter 26

IMPORTANT AN- I'm struggling with the final pairing. There are several different directions I can go: Eliena/Leo, Eliena/Neal, Eliena/Numair, Eliena/new character, or I could possibly make it Eliena/Kaddar. So. This is the Final Pairing Poll: WHAT DO YOU WANT THE FINAL PAIRING TO BE? (Some of you have made it clear—MSB and Abiona Marchand, I'm looking at you—but I want you to tell me in your REVIEW anyway.) OK? Got it? Good.

Why must my birthday fall in the social season? Eliena wondered. She was turning sixteen, and was forced to have her Court presentation exactly on her birthday.

Eliena had grown into a beauty rivaling Thayet's. Eliena's black hair snaked halfway down her back and her violet eyes were surrounded by long lashes that Eliena had learned to use to her advantage. She was lean, but strong and curvy. She had her father's nose and chin, but her mother's height: Eliena stood at a final height of 5'5''.

The buzz around Court was that Eliena would make a wonderful queen—someday. The comment was always followed by making the Sign Against Evil, as Jonathan's parents had died early, causing Jonathan to become king in a tough time and to much gossip.

Eliena took after her mother in many respects: her sharp tongue, sharper temper, colorful vocabulary, and skill with weapons as well as hand-to-hand combat. Alanna had taught Eliena the use of war weapons from the time her daughter could hold them. Eliena had also been taught by the Shang Dragon-Liam Ironarm-from the age of six, and might have gone off to Shang if she wasn't the heiress. The Dragon had always jokingly called the princess "the Tigress" as a play on Alanna's "Lioness." (Liam and Alanna had become friends on her quest for the Dominion Jewel.) The nickname for Eliena was taking hold in Court as she constantly proved her abilities.

Eliena also took after her father: she had a reasonable head on her shoulder (unless she lost her temper), a good sense of right and wrong, a commanding presence, a friendly nature, and charm. Eliena did to men what her father did to women. She made almost every boy she met drool over her, as her father made women swoon. (AN- how many of us know that Jonathan causes drooling? My hand is up.) Eliena also had her father's pride, which caused problems.

She had trouble forgiving people. They always had to prove that they deserved it. The future queen's trust was hard to gain. Once it was lost, it was very difficult (but not impossible) to regain.

"Hold still, Eli." Eliena's grandmother, Eleni (Myles's wife and George's mother), was making sure the dress Eliena would wear for her presentation that night fit the girl properly. Eliena sighed and stopped fidgeting.

"Oh, Eli," Daine gasped. "Look at you!"

"May I?" Eliena asked Eleni.

"Go ahead," her grandmother replied. Eliena turned to the three-way mirror and inhaled sharply.

The blue-violet silk glittered with tiny diamonds perfectly sprinkled on the skirt and bodice. And expanse of beautiful tanned skin stretched from part of her bosom up through her neck, giving Eliena lovely canvas for jewelry. Her shoulders and arms were bare except for the loops circling her upper arms- decorative sleeves. The silk progressively darkened as it neared the ground, never losing the blue and purple coloring. Eliena's hands rested gently on the full skirt. She swished it and found it was easily moveable. She ran her hands of the curve of her torso, feeling how the bodice hugged her graceful curves. Eliena had never felt more like a princess.

"Here." Eleni helped Eliena to put on thin-heeled blue-violet silk shoes. Eliena grew three inches in the shoes, and the skirt of her ground kissed the floor. Her violet eyes shone.

"I love it," she murmured. "Its beautiful."

"You're beautiful," Daine told her friend. "You'll be the prettiest one there!" Eli turned to her fellow sixteen-year-old.

"You do have a gown, don't you?" the princess asked. Daine nodded.

"And it fits. Don't worry, Eli. I've been taken care of," she replied.

Daine might not have had a presentation if it weren't for Eliena. Daine assured Eli that she didn't need a presentation, but Eliena wouldn't let her friend be left out. The king and queen had agreed and had seen to all the details. Daine had gotten sour, saying that no one could compare to Eli, who would undeniably be the center of attention. Eli had overridden Daine, who agreed in the end.

"Do you have an escort?" Eli asked. "I mean- a presenter?" All girls coming into Court for the first time needed to be presented by someone- usually a man. The girl's father typically stepped in for the role, but Daine didn't know her father.

"Numair," Daine replied. Her eyes glittered. "He offered and I accepted. Who's presenting you?"

"Both my parents," Eliena replied. "Mother's going to wear a dress-father's making her. And they're going to make a speech." She made a face. "And they have to approve all men who wish to dance with me. Its time like this when I don't want to be a princess."

"You think they wouldn't approve some?" Daine asked.

"Yes," Eliena replied. Daine raised an eyebrow. "OK, no. But I don't want to dance with all the men who ask me."

"So come up with a way to signal that to your parents," Daine suggested. "So they can make up an excuse."

Eliena thought it over. "Sounds good," she decided. "Thanks, Daine. Grandmother, am I done?"

"Yes, I'll help you out of the dress," Eleni replied.

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Eliena stood at the top of the grand staircase. All the other girls had been presented, except for her and Daine. Eliena was waiting for her parents to come. Her black hair was pinned up into an elaborate updo and had sapphires glittering in it, as well as a thin silver crown. She wore diamond earrings and a diamond necklace. On her right ring finger an amethyst ring-a gift from her Uncle George-glittered from inside white gold.

"Where are they?" Eliena asked impatiently. She was tapping her foot nervously. Daine and Numair exchanged an amused glance. Eliena had never been a patient girl.

"Just relax," Numair told her soothingly. "Do you want my to use magic?"

"No," Eliena replied emphatically. "I just want my gods cursed parents to get here!" Numair shook his head and Daine squeezed Eliena's hand reassuringly.

"Don't be nervous, El," Daine said.

"I'm not," Eliena retorted. Under her breath she added, "I just want to get this over with!"

Numair kissed her forehead. "If its any consolation, you look beautiful, Eli," he told her.

"Thanks," Eliena replied with a smile. Her little romance with Numair hadn't lasted the boat ride back to Tortall. They'd had a long talk about it, and both decided it was for the best. Numair treated Eliena the way he'd treat a younger sister, and she was still his student.

"Hey!" Daine poked him and smiled impishly. "That's the fifth time you've told her that. And I haven't heard a word."

Daine wore a twilight blue silk gown. Eleni insisted there was no other color that Daine could wear as beautifully. It was made of light velvet and had wide straps sitting on her shoulders. The neckline was square-cut, dipping as low as Eliena's dress sat-a modest place. Daine wore a simple silver chain with a diamond dangling from it and diamond earrings. A diamond bracelet dangled from her wrist. Her smoky brown curls were half pulled up and held with a diamond clip. The rest were tamed and falling around her shoulders. George had also given Daine a ring- hers was amber set into white gold.

"Daine, you look beautiful," Numair told her. "You rival her highness!"

"Oh, stop." Daine blushed. "Don't flatter me."

"Its true," Eliena insisted. "I won't be the only one getting bombarded with dance invitations!" Numair's eyes flashed-but only Eliena noticed. Hmm…

There was no time to ponder it, however, as the king and queen appeared at that very moment.

"Sorry, Eliena," Jonathan said, kissing his daughter's cheek as not to mess her lip rogue. "We were caught up a moment." He glanced at the herald. "Are we ready?"

"Yes, Your Majesty," the chief herald replied, bowing deeply. "Shall I begin?"

"Please," Alanna told him. The herald faced the ballroom.

"If I may have your attention please!" The room fell silent and the path to the dais holding the thrones was cleared. "Black Robe Mage Master Numair Salmalín and Veralidaine Sarrasri." Daine took a deep, shaky breath and descended the stairs. Eliena silently cheered for her friend, who made it down without tripping. Numair and Daine stood beside the dais, Daine's eyes revealing her anxiousness for her friend.

The second door to the Grand Stair swung open, as it did for royalty. Eliena, with her father on her right and mother on her left, stepped up. Her parents held each of her arms. "His Royal Highness King Jonathan IV of Conté! Her Royal Majesty Queen Alanna of Olau and Conté! And the future Queen of Tortall, the birthday girl-" Eliena smiled, "-Her Royal Highness Princess Eliena of Conté!" Eliena drew in her breath and smiled. She floated down the steps with a natural grace and beauty. Her parents went forward and Eliena paused, allowing them to get to their thrones. There was a smaller throne in between the king and queen's- she knew it was for her. Daine curtsied and Numair bowed, Alanna and Jonathan acknowledged them by inclining their heads.

"Eliena?" Jonathan called. Eliena began the walk to the dais, with the men and women bowing and curtsying as she passed. Finally, she stood before her parents. With a perfectly executed curtsy, she stepped up onto the dais, faced the crowd, swept her skirts, and took her throne as the future queen.

Author's Note- well. I liked writing that chapter. It felt good. REMEMBER THE AFOREMENTIONED POLL! Click the button and REVIEW!