Chapter 18
(Learning)
It was just after 9am when Sarah and Ari arrived in the library to meet Master Arium, who would instruct them on court etiquette. As they entered the two noticed a tall thin man with long pale blonde hair facing the window looking outside.
"Do not underestimate things of this world. Because something does not appear dangerous does not mean it isn't." The two women watched as the man elegantly turned to face them.
"You're an elf." Ari said noticing his ears were pointed at the top.
"I am." The Master teacher replied. "Come and join me." He told them and gestured to two empty seats on the other side of the table where he'd placed a few books.
Reluctantly Ari followed Sarah over to the table and both young women sat down. "I'm sure you know I am Master Arium." Sarah nodded but Ari just watched; feeling no answer was needed.
Arium internally frowned. While Sarah seemed calm and even eager to be there, Ari was clearly wary of him. He'd been warned the Dark Elf Princess was angry, but hoped it wasn't as bad as he thought. Unfortunately the girl radiated anger, even if she wasn't striking out.
"Let us begin with when you curtsy." The teacher began.
Amador walked through the halls wondering what he was going to do. The dark haired prince was very attracted to Ari but didn't know how to approach the girl. He wasn't entirely sure if she hated men. She definitely didn't like fae.
The High Prince entered the garden and sighed as he sat down on a bench. "How do you approach a girl like Ari?" He asked himself.
"Very carefully." The High Prince jumped seeing Lola, Brandy, and Jenna. The three girls giggled as the high prince blushed before he could stop himself.
"Awe how cute, a prince is blushing over Ari." Lola said as if it was the cutest thing she'd ever seen. Amador glared at her and the redhead quickly fell silent.
"Lucky for you, we're here." Brandy announced and took a seat next to the prince. "You want Ari's attention you have to do it her way."
"Her way?" The High Prince said clearly skeptical.
"Prank her." Jenna announced.
"Prank her?" He said astonished. "How would that help me?"
"Look, you can't approach her like you would most girls, Ari isn't like other girls." Brandy explained.
"Too bad you don't have basketball, if you were any good it might catch her attention." Lola commented.
"Our sporting events are very different." Amador admitted.
"That's it!" Jenna said. "Prank her and teach her a competition from here!"
"That's brilliant!" Brandy replied openly excited. "She seemed to have an interest in archery." The brown hair girl suggested.
"Even if I get her attention, I'm still Fae. She clearly wants nothing to do with us." Amador said disappointed.
"Yeah well whether she likes it or not she's fae as well." Lola replied.
"Evelyn has done a pretty good job of making her hate your kind." Jenna admitted.
"You have to show her all Fae aren't bad." Brandy told him. "Take her mind off of what you are, show her who you are."
"I've never done that before. Women throw themselves at me, I've never had to work for one before."
"And that can work to your advantage." Lola announced. She smiled seeing the prince raise an eyebrow at her. "Teach her something and prank her before the ball. Then at the ball let other women fawn over you and see how she reacts."
"Oh that's a good idea!" Jenna said excited by the prospects.
"Yeah but you'll have to get started quickly. The Goblins might even help." Brandy announced.
"The Goblins?" The prince thought for a moment. "She does seem to enjoy those mischievous creatures doesn't she?" Amador rose to his feet. "Thank you ladies, you given me something to think about." The trio smiled and watched the prince walk away.
"They'll make such a cute couple." Lola sighed happily.
"Yeah but he's going to need help getting through Ari's stubborn nature." Jenna warned.
"If nothing else we lock them in a room with each other and see what happens." Brandy said with a shrug. The three thought for a moment. "Maybe not, Amador might not survive." Jenna and Lola nodded in agreement.
"We could make a comment every now and then about how nice he is." Lola suggested.
"It's going to take more than a few comments. It's too bad we can't make Evelyn come here and admit what she did." Brandy replied.
"No but we can remind her that Evelyn is the one that lied to her and raised her under a false pretense." Jenna told the other two girls. "It's time Ari gave the Underground a chance." The other two teenage girls nodded in agreement. It was time to force their friend to come around.
For the first time since he'd been charged with teaching etiquette to Amador and Jareth the Master teacher was glad when the tutoring session was over.
Arium rubbed a hand over his face exasperated. The blonde girl had questioned everything and given her opinion on far too much. Jareth didn't even give him as much trouble. He and Amador may have fallen asleep at times but at least he'd never had to dodge writing instruments! Ari had started fiddling around with writing instruments and lost control of more than one that ended up getting flung his direction. The teacher couldn't even be sure it was accidental.
"Somehow I think my sons are looking like angels compared to Soren's daughter." King Riodan commented.
"Majesty…I didn't think anyone could top your sons but she is clearly beating them and it's but the first day!" Arium said clearly frustrated. Gesturing to the sporadic fallen writing utensils he added, "It shouldn't look like a war zone!"
"Perhaps you should see this." The king produced an orb and allowed the Master to see the indignities he had suffered at the girl's hand.
The High King smirked watching the teacher's reactions to what he had befallen him and his son. Watching himself in the orb the king had to admit it did look amusing.
"I must confess I'm surprised she isn't in a tower or even the dungeon." Arium commented as the orb went blank.
"Dahlia thought it was hilarious. Even when she got pelted with water balloons." King Riodan informed him. "I must admit looking at it from this point it is amusing." The king sighed and walked over by the window.
"Evelyn has her hating Fae, Arium. That's one of the reasons I sent for you." The High King turned and faced him. "You know have the ability to make people look past things and see truth. You're an elf and not fae, you have the best chance of reaching her."
"Perhaps it would be better if I tutored them separately. Lady Sarah seems far more accepting than Princess Arianna."
"Jareth is in love with Sarah as you know." The master simply nodded. 'I think Amador may be falling for Ari." The king couldn't stop a chuckle at Arium's very shocked expression. "I know he's attracted to her, even if he doesn't realize it."
"What are you going to do?"
"Nothing. As surprising as it is I find myself liking the girl. She's strong Arium, she'd make a good queen someday."
The thought of hitting his head on the table crossed the teacher's mind as he listened to the King of the Underground. It was going to be hard enough to teach the girl basic etiquette and now he'd been made aware the girl could possibly one day be Queen of the Underground.
'Could it get any worse?' The pale blonde elf wondered.
"Excuse me Master Arium, there seems to be a problem." A guard said hesitantly at seeing the Kings presence.
"Would this be a normal problem or a Princess Arianna problem?" King Riodan questioned.
"I would lean toward her highness didn't like something he said, or she learned." The guard said hesitantly.
"Lead the way." The king said. He looked at Arium. "Brace yourself."
King Riodan and Arium stood in opened mouth shock. How the hell had she plastered all his books to the ceiling of his room?
"And she might one day be Queen?" The master groaned. Unable to help himself the king started laughing and then disappeared before he could be scolded by the teacher.
Ari stood smiling at the terrace looking out into the garden very pleased with herself. It hadn't been easy to convince the Goblins to help her do something to Arium but in the end they'd caved.
"You're smiling." Brandy said walking up. As the blonde girl turned to face her the brunette internally groaned. 'Do I even want to know?' She wondered. Finally too curious she asked. "What did you do?" Ari started laughing. 'Not good.' Brandy thought to herself. 'Not good at all.'
Author's note: Hi everyone. I'm sorry this is sooo late. I planned on having this up much sooner but my comp had issues and had to go in. Unfortunately not all the chapters were able to be saved and I had to start from scratch. Which required, remembering what I had written. I apologize. Anyway hopefully everything will be smooth sailing from now on. The next chapter will focus on Sarah and Jareth. And Arium and Ari. But it will focus more on Jareth and Sarah. I will try and get it up by Wednesday night.
