Chapter 8: Dimitri

"What do you know about Rose's lady, Lissa?" Christian asked me as we prepared our horses for a ride.

"Not much." I replied honestly. I looked over to him as he saddled his horse. "Why?"

Christian was pale, so pale that it was hard to miss the light pink flush that covered his cheeks. "No reason."

"Why do you want to know about Lady Lissa, Christian." I pushed.

He looked up to meet my hard gaze, and scoffed, looking back at the side of his horse. "She just seems nice is all."

I felt a smirk cover my face. "She is joining us for dinner this evening."

"She's what?" His eyes widened in absolute horror.

"Father wishes to get to know Rose and her ladies." I explained, buckling my saddle. "They will all be taking dinner with us tonight."

"You couldn't have mentioned that sooner?" His voice was strained, his movements stilled.

"Would it have made a difference if I had?" I swung myself into my saddle. "Father will have your head if you don't show up tonight."

"I was going to show up regardless." He snapped, swinging into his saddle.

"No need to get snippy." I jested, my horse trotting in place under me.

"Can we just go? I would actually like to get a chance to ride before we must be back for dinner." He steered his horse out of the stables, with me following closely behind.

We road for what seemed like no time at all, the heat of the summer sun causing out clothing to stick to our skin with sweat.

"We should head back soon." I called as we road over a grassy field.

"Must we?" Christian called, slowing his horse to a gentle trot. "I wish that I could just keep riding."

"You'd fall of the edge of the world." I chuckled. "If we don't return before dinner we will be hunted down and slaughtered."

"Father would never have you slaughtered." he laughed turning his horse. "Not with an alliance with the turks within his grasp."

"Maybe not." I agreed. "But if we miss a family dinner, my mother might just hunt us down herself."

His blue eyes widened in horror. "Now that is a scary thought."

"We best be getting back then." I grinned at him.

"Lead on." He called, waving his hand with a flourish that few knew he possessed.

"Such flourish, Brother." I teased. "I'm sure that if you present yourself to Lady Lissa as such, you will make her weak at the knees."

I laughed, urging my horse into a gallop towards the high stone walls of the castle.

"You're late." my sister, Sonya, hissed as she walked hastily down the hall towards Christian and I. "Mama looks ready to murder the both of you."

"We were not presentable when we arrived back from our ride." I sighed as she dragged us towards the dining room.

"Well, maybe, you shouldn't have gone riding in the first place." she seethed. "Is your hair wet?" her mouth fell into a gape looking between the two of us

"We were sweaty." Christian sighed. "We couldn't very well show up for dinner smelling as bad as me did."

"Well we hair is hardly better." she growled, shoving us through the opening door.

Rose sat to the right of an empty chair, chatting with my sisters in her emerald colored dress. Her face lit up in a warm smile when she saw me.

"I have found them." Sonya's voice floated through the room as she pushed through Christian and I.

"Wherever have you two been?" my mother smiled, her voice tense. "I thought I told you to be on time."

"Hello to you too, Mama." I sighed place by a light kiss on the top of her head. "We went out riding and lost track of time."

"Boys! Take a seat." My father ordered, his voice booming over the table. His blue eyes glowing fiercely.

I moved to my seat, next to rose. She grinned at me, obviously trying not to laugh.

"I was wondering when you were going to make an appearance." She grinned, leaning back slightly, in her chair.

"Yes well, if Christian had his way, we wouldn't have." I pulled myself closer to the table. "How was your day?"

"Well." She nodded, a smile still gracing her face as she pulled a roll from her plate. "Karoline showed me around the Castle some. I read some, saw a little bit more of the gardens. The usual princess stuff. And your's?"

"You know, riding, Christian wanting to gallivanting off into the sunset. The usual prince stuff." I grinned back, reaching for the wine.

"Don't." Rose grabbed my arm, her eyes wide in sudden horror.

"What's the matter?" I asked, pulling my hand back.

"Don't drink the wine." She all but whispered.

"Why not?" I looked back at the goblet in front of me.

"Just trust me. Don't drink the wine." She looked back at her food.

"How are you two getting on, then?" My father asked, looking between Rose and I.

"Very well, Your Highness." Rose replied, lightly, a tense smile sitting on her face.

"Well, I would just like to say that Princess Rosemary has been an absolute delight." Karoline grinned. "Dimitri, will you be escorting her to the wedding?"

"Um…" I looked nervously at Rose. "I plan to, that is, if she will allow me."

"I would be so honored." She smiled at me, pulling the roll she had grabbed apart nervously.

We ate the rest of the meal in relative peace, with Rose tearing apart more rolls than I cared to count. I could hardly help wondering what was causing her nervousness. And more importantly, what was wrong with the wine?

Hey guys! Here is chapter 8! So, this took a little longer then I had anticipated but I finally got it done! Also, good news. I am currently on break from school so I hope to be getting more writing done and possibly get some more of my stuff out there.

Also, guess who got to meet Richelle Mead? That's right! Me! She was amazing and nice and she gave me some great writing tips. So yeah, she's pretty cool. Anyway, lets get to the sneak peak for next chapter.

"Are you alright?" Lissa asked as we sat in my room that night. The other's had retired for the night, leaving just Lissa and I alone in my room. "Youwere so tense during dinner."

"It was just a stressful dinner is all." I half lied, pulling a thick blanket over myself. "You know, dining with the royal family and all."

"No, it was more than that." She moved to sit next to me. "What's wrong?" Her green eyes filled with intense worry.

So there it is! I'll have that up as soon as I'm done with it (Don't know when that will be). I love you all so much!

ThePeridotMoon