The Lady of Caraverre arrived in Orynth with a fanfare of trumpets and a black carriage pulled by snow coloured mares. Crowds gathered at the gates to greet her despite the heat, as she was popular with many, for her outrageous ideas and even more far fetched plans. She wore a dark green dress with a low neckline and a gold embroidered hem. From behind her stepped a small girl with hair the copper colour of flame. She wore a charcoal coloured gown and her hair was pulled up in a messy braid with a black ribbon. Evangeline held a golden chain, attached to the end was a small dog with crimped, syrup coloured hair. Evangeline's dog, Fleetfoot. Aelin waved at the two of them frantically from a high, tower balcony. Lysandra looked up and caught her eye. The two shared a wicked grin. Then Aelin turned and raced down the stairs turning corner after corner. Whipping around them with frightening speed. Her ivory skirts trailed behind her. Racing down the corridor and flying down the main staircase she came to a door, and banged on it with all the strength she could muster. After a few seconds it flew open and on the threshold stood Aedion. " She's here." Aelin practically yelled. Grabbing him by the wrist she yanked him behind her as she continued her mad dash through the corridors. Aedion yelped as he was dragged down, yet another, flight of stairs.
As they descended, the corridors became more and more crowded. People leapt out of Aelin's path. Most shot her bemused looks, used to the princess's antics, but some of the courtiers shot her dirty looks. Towing Aedion in her wake Aelin blew past Elide and Fenrys. " Is she always like that?" She heard Fenrys ask. She heard Elides laughter but didn't catch the other girls reply.
Aelin bust out onto the front steps of the palace. Shoving her way through the crowd, she plowed into Lysandra and nearly knocked the other girl over. Aelin hugged Lysandra with all her strength. " Ribs!" Lysandra squeaked. " Sorry, sorry." Aelin muttered, pulling away. "Aelin!" A voice thundered behind her. Oh crap. Aelin turned and gave her most innocent, pretty smile to her father. He stood behind her, arms crossed over his chest. An expression of immense disapproval on his face, Beside him stood that bastard, Rowan Whitethorn. " Release Lady Lysandra." Rhoe ordered. Aelin complied. "And later Aelin, we will be having a very long chat about the meaning of decorum." He turned on his heel and strode away. Rowan shot her a suspicious, hostile look and turned to walk after Rhoe. Aelin didn't know what his problem was but she vowed to herself that she wouldn't waste another minute thinking about him. Lysandra pulled out of the hug she was bestowing upon Aedion, and stared after Rowan's retreating form. " He's hot!"
Aelin hummed in agreement. " Too bad he's a bastard though." Lysandra pressed her hand over Evangeline's ears. " Language!" Lysandra scolded. " There are children present." Evangeline brushed Lysandra's hands away from her face. " I'm not a child, and besides, you say that word all the time."
" And you should never repeat it." Aelin said sternly. Aedion emitted a cough that sounded suspiciously like "Hypocrite." Aelin shot her cousin a dirty look. Aelin bent to embrace Evangeline, while Fleetfoot did her best to climb onto Aelin's lap to lick her face.
Elide greeted Lysandra as soon as she walked through the castle doors. " It's nice to see you again." Elide told Lysandra tiredly. " It's nice to have some somewhat civilised company for once." Aedion and Aelin shot her matching looks of mock hurt. "I need food before I deal with all your drama." Lysandra warned them. " Otherwise unpleasant happenings will occur." Lysandra had the blood of a shifter and the gift to match, so Aelin didn't doubt that she was telling the truth.
"It is good to see you guys though." Lysandra said. " The only people I have time to talk to are the primping courtiers or my ridiculous advisors and they're practically ancient!" One of the young men who had accompanied Lysandra and Evangeline gives her a hurt look. " She didn't mean you Charlie." Evangeline comforts noticing him. Lysandra points at him with a gloved hand. " He is the only one in the manor with any sense." Out of the corner of her eye, Aelin saw Aedion glare over Lysandra's head as he placed an arm possessively over the Lady of Carraverre's shoulders. Lysandra obviously smiled up at him, but Charlie gave an alarmed look and moved to walk further away.
"You must be Galan." Lysandra said curtsying to the Ashryver prince. " I've heard great things about you." Galan nodded his head and grinned at her. " I've heard wonderful things about you too, Lady." He glanced at between his cousins and then gave Lysandra a wry stare. "I'm beginning to wonder if it's all true."
Lysandra laughed. " I regret to inform you that these two grossly exaggerate my talents."
Galan laughed. "Alright!" Aedion interrupted, pushing between the two of them. " I think it's high time that Lysandra had something to eat."
Aelin was down in the training room and Quinn was giving her a run for her money at sword fighting. She was going through the motions when two of the fae females walked into the room. Hassar and the other one called Gwenevieve. Quinn lowered his sword and left, giving the girls some privacy. Wiping sweat from her eyes, Aelin walked to the raining beside them. Hassar dipped her head in a nod but Gwenevieve remained silent. " Are you any good." Hassar asked pointing at Aelin's sword. Aelin snorted. " Am I any good?!" She asked. " The question is, are you any good." Gwenevieve smiles a tiny smile. " Hassar and I are a part of Maeve's royal guard."
" Was that a challenge?" Aelin asked with a grin that could only be described as , shit eating.
Aelin soon discovered that, quiet, mild mannered Gwenevieve was handy with knives. She slashed and parried keeping up with Aelin with little effort. Hassar stood nearby silently observing. Aelin took a swipe at her face but the other girl ducked and rolled out of the way. This went on until Aelin's day was ruined by the people who walked through the door. Rowan, Fenrys and Lorcan.
A/N:
Im really sorry. My chapters are really short. I have literally no time with all the stuff going on in my life. I had athletic and a dance coming up. I try to update as often as often as possible.