Aleia mounted her white horse with grace. She had mastered side saddle since the incident at the first procession she'd been to. The procession was short, just a quick ride through the main streets of the city. After that they dismounted and went to the games.
The first game was horseshoes. The queen wasn't very good, the king was alright, and Aleia won every time. Then they went to where players fired a shotgun to the bullseye. The queen declined from playing. Aleia thought she probably should, but decided not to. She raised the gun and fired. It hit the bullseye, every time. Most of the king's were there, or almost there, but not as good as Aleia's.
"The princess is certainly a good shot," they heard one man proclaim.
After a spending a while longer in the area, they went to the center of the city, where their thrones had been set up for them. They sat in them and watched as the girls got ready to dance around the May pole. They were all kinds of bright colors, pink, purple, blue, light green, yellow, and white. Their ribbons were also bright and spring-looking. They began to dance around and around, making intricate patterns with the ribbons. Everyone applauded when they were done. Then it was time for the speech.
Aleia got up nervously she hoped her voice would be loud enough. Looking out, she could see Raoul and Josh mixed in with the crowd of faces. They smiled encouragingly.
"Ladies and gentleman," Aleia started, "on this spring day, I would like to tell you something. There is a group of people, who you will never hear anything about. You'll never know who they are, or what they've done for you, or how much reward they deserve. It must remain ever a secret, to guard the secrets they hold. These people protect the royal family and the entire nation of Tressar. They find out information, save us from war, and die to save your lives. Many of them have sacrificed everything for you. Family, friends, everything. Their lives are on the line for you everyday. Everything they do is sworn to secrecy. They can't talk about to relieve the stress. They can't do anything. They could quit any time they wanted, but none of them have. Because they do it for you. Their people, their country. It's what matters to them. As a princess, and heir to the throne, I would like to adopt their attitude. To put you first, not myself. And I would hope that every one of you would do the same. Now I would like to remember those who are never remembered. They must remain nameless, but let this be their name to you: your protectors, your saviors, your strength."
For a moment, all was silent. Aleia desperately hoped her speech was alright. It was obviously not what the people had been expecting. Then they broke into applause, loud, cheering, thundering applause. Aleia smiled and moved backwards, towards her parents. They got up from their thrones to move to her.
The queen came over to Aleia. "Well, that was certainly a different kind of speech then we've had before, but very good. And I'm sure the people will love you for it. Even if they don't understand who the people you mentioned are, they will be glad of your giving the glory to others and not yourself."
The royal family began to walk back towards the castle, to prepare for the "finer celebrations." Meaning, of course, tea with the nobles. Apart from the speech, it had been the part Aleia was most dreading. Courtiers were so much crueler than peasants. However, she was determined to not embarrass herself at it. She really didn't see how she could, her speech had gone so well. The people were still cheering and smiling and waving.
When they finally got to the castle, Queen Lydia and Aleia went to the courtyard, where the tea was to be, to examine everything. All the tables were set just right, with colorful flowers and fine china. After seeing to it that it was alright, they went to wait in another room. This time, the entire royal family was to enter after all of the other guests, instead of just the king and queen.
The king soon came to the same room as them. He smiled at Aleia, but it looked a little forced.
"Your speech was wonderful," he said.
"Thank you," Aleia replied.
The king nodded. He looked a little uneasy. "Are you feeling alright?" he finally blurted out.
"Yes, I'm fine," Aleia said slowly, wondering what the matter was.
"Are you certain—you look a little flushed."
Aleia shook her head. "I assure you, I'm quite well."
The king frowned and looked around. "Well, if you don't feel good, at any point, you can leave. In fact, you don't have to go the tea at all."
"Ardahn!" the queen said, quite surprised at the king's words.
The king looked at his wife. "I don't want her to get sick," he said.
Queen Lydia frowned and shook her head. "Sometimes I don't know what gets into you," she said.
Aleia frowned slightly. There was something odd about the king, but she couldn't figure it out. It seemed that whenever she asked a few more questions about it, he just got angrier. She recalled the time he had gotten so upset when they spoke of his sister.
"What was your sister like, Father?" Aleia asked.
King Ardahn raised his eyebrows. "My sister? She was—" he seemed to have difficulty speaking. "She was fine—nice, I mean. Wonderful. Very sweet. Such a shame..." he trailed off.
"What happened to her?"
"She drowned," he said quickly.
Aleia nodded, but kept looking at him.
"Your majesties, it is time for your entrance," a steward came in and said.
Aleia walked just a bit ahead of the king and queen. She came down the stairs gracefully, with the king and queen right behind her. They all found their seats at the table. Aleia sadly recognized the blonde haired and piercingly blue-eyed man next to her. The duke. Of course.
"So you did come."
"Oh, yes, I wouldn't miss it. It's really too bad I didn't get to hear your speech, though. I hear it was quite something."
"It went well," Aleia replied.
For the rest of the time, the duke was fairly quiet, rather unusual for him. He did seem to be watching for something, though. Aleia was glad that they were outside; no spinning wheels could come tumbling through the ceiling. The tea and cakes were delicious, everyone was polite, it all went quite well.
Shortly, everyone started to get done with their tea and began to walk around, taking turns about the courtyard. Aleia looked around for someone to talk to, she really didn't have any friends among the courtiers.
A few people seemed to be talking about her again. How she was just standing there so dumbly with nothing to do and that she really seemed quite a dull princess. Aleia didn't like it. Above all, she did not want to be considered dull. If they knew she was a spy they'd think better. But they didn't, of course, and wouldn't.
"Oh!" someone shrieked from across the courtyard.
Aleia quickly turned in that direction. Several people had gathered in a small area. They kept glancing at something in front of them, then back at her, or at least in her direction. Aleia went over to see what it was, as did most everybody.
When Aleia saw it, she felt like throwing up. It was a painting of herself, lying on a bed, a spindle nearby, and a drop of blood on her finger. Aleia wished she could faint, but she didn't. So she ran, as fast as she could, she had to get out, she didn't care where. She tried desperately to calm herself by saying she was only asleep in the painting and it was just some sick person's way of frightening her anyways, but it didn't help.
Eventually she stopped; she couldn't run anymore. She needed to just breath. She let herself sob, she didn't feel like being brave anymore.
"Aleia," it was Raoul's soothing voice from behind her.
"Raoul," she tried to wipe away the tears. "What do you want?" her voice broke in the middle of the sentence.
"I want to help you."
"Well, you can't, nobody can! I'll die in August, Raoul, I will. And don't look at me, I don't want you to see me crying!"
Raoul obeyed and remained where he was. "I think you need to get away from the palace."
"Well, that's the obvious solution isn't it? Just leave. I'm sure my parents would let me," she said with grim sarcasm.
"Let me talk to them."
She turned around rather shakily. "Fine," she shrugged.
He nodded and walked back the way they had come. She watched him go, wondering if it would be at all possible for them to agree. After a moment longer, she too started back to the castle.
