Chapter 34

Daine found Numair and brought him back on Wingstar. Eliena, despite the protests of her father, her mother, and the chief palace healer, Duke Baird of Queenscove, waited for Daine and Numair on Legann's tower. She was in a lightweight dress with a warm cloak to guard her against the chilly breeze blowing in off the water. It amazed Eliena how being so close to death affected her body's thermometer. Usually, this would have been perfect weather, but now she was freezing. Her father assured her it was only temporary, explaining that she had been burning up with fever, and it was simply her body getting back on track.

"Daine!" Eliena jumped and waved to her friend. Wingstar landed.

--Shouldn't you be resting?—the dragon asked. Eliena nodded.

"Probably, but there was no way I was missing seeing Daine," Eliena replied. Wingstar shook her head, muttering about how she didn't understand why human kits didn't obey their elders. "How is he?"

"I am fine," Numair remarked from behind Daine. He got off and helped her down, holding her just a moment too long.

"OK, explain right now," Eliena commanded, pointing at Daine and Numair's intertwined fingers. Daine blushed. "Now, and I mean it!"

"Something, ah, happened on our way to the Dragonlands," Daine revealed, twisting her free hand in the bottom of her shirt.

"I can see that," Eliena said. She threw her hands in the air. "Why do I always miss all the fun?" Numair chuckled.

"I'd hardly call Daine practically dying by falling down a crevice fun," he told her. "And I wouldn't define fun as a battle, either."

"She was dying," Daine explained. "The magic was killing her."

Numair looked embarrassed. "That was partially my fault. I angered him and Inar stopped shielding his magic."

"No. He obviously didn't have the strength to keep fighting you and hold the shields," Eliena corrected. "You just helped yourself in defeating him. Which I assume you did, as you're standing here now." Numair nodded.

"I did. And now I suppose I have some explaining to do to your parents," he remarked. Eliena turned and saw her parents, looking very ticked off, standing behind her.

"Go gentle on him, please," Eliena told the king and queen. "He's probably weak still."

"Oh, we'll see how gentle we go on him when we get some answers," the Lioness remarked, eyes serious. "Come on, Numair." Numair, looking like a child who knew that he was about to get scolded for doing something, followed the king and queen.

"I'm so glad you're OK, Eli," Daine said, hugging Eliena.

"So am I!" Eliena replied. "I want to be queen!" Daine laughed.

"I'm exhausted," Daine commented. "Are you going to keep me up talking or can I go to bed?"

"Given the day's events and the amount of resistance I got to come up here, I think I had better get my butt in bed before mother, father, Duke Baird, and everyone else comes after me to do so," Eliena replied. Daine laughed.

"I'm glad to see it hasn't done anything to your personality, Eli. I don't know what I'd do without you."

"Neither do I. So you should thank my mother for saving me."

"Believe me, Eli, I will."

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"You're crazy," Neal told Eliena back in Corus.

"I thought you knew that already," Leo remarked. "I've known it for years."

"Oh, shut up," Eliena said.

Neal, Eliena, Daine, and Leo were in Eliena's room—with the door partially opened. Eliena was on her back, lying over her covers on her bed. Daine sat in one of Eliena's armchairs, while Neal and Leo were on her window seat.

"So, Daine." Neal turned to the girl, who was blushing.

"Yes?" Daine asked.

"I hear you had quite the…adventure getting to the Dragonlands." Neal had a wicked smile dancing on his face.

"Leave her alone, Neal," Eliena said, throwing a pillow at the soon-to-be page. "Don't pry at her private business."

"You pry in her business all the time," Neal retorted. Eliena looked at him.

"Yes, well, I'm a girl. And you aren't," she explained. "At least, I hope you aren't a girl!" Leo laughed so hard that he had to clutch his stomach from pain. Neal glared at Eliena.

"You will pay for that, El. Mark my words," he threatened.

"I don't think you want to make threats to Eli, Neal," Daine said. "Remember, she's bested her mother in fencing before."

"Never mind," Neal gulped. Eliena laughed.

"Eli, you have no idea how good it is to have you alive," Leo commented. Eliena sat up and smiled.

"Oh, I think I know better than you think."

THE END…for now

That's the end of "Alternate Princess." In a few minutes, I'll be putting up the sequel, "Eliena." I know the plotline for that already. Thanks for all the awesome support… and I hope for your CONTINUED support in the next Eliena story!