Disclaimer: I don't own anything.

Author's Note: Sorry about the delay. I decided kind of last minute to re-read all 6 Harry Potter books before the book came out, and well I had to abandon writing these past couple of weeks in order to succeed. So….here it is…

Meetings With A New Friend?

Tori and Kelly were eating a late lunch out by a tree near the practicing field. They were watching some of the soldiers sparring instead of the larger number of troops.

The blonde haired princess turned towards Kelly, "Where are all the soldiers? Usually this place is full of them."

"The girl who is to marry your brother is coming today; they went to meet her at the entrance."

"Oh. Why?"

Kelly raised an eyebrow but did not turn her head towards Tori, "Why are they meeting her or why are they coming?"

Tori considered the two questions for a few minutes before responding, "Both."

"They're meeting her because it is a courtesy to do so. Especially in arranged marriages. Which you would have known had you listened in class yesterday."

"I was." Tori said.

"Really? I don't think you care much for learning."

"No, it's not that at all Kelly. I don't care much for learning about useless information. Why do I need to know how to sew? It's boring. I'd rather be here sparring." She turned her attention back to the soldiers who were finishing up. "And the other?"

"To allow the two to get to know each other. It will happen with your—"

"Don't say a word. For now I'd like to pretend that I am not betrothed and that there isn't a useless prince waiting for me to marry him."

"Tori you don't know if he's useless or not."

"You're right, so let's never speak of this again." There was silence for a few minutes before the younger girl spoke again, "What about you? Are you getting married?"

The red head had finally turned her head towards Tori, "What?"

"Are you getting married? Don't get me wrong, I love having you here, but you're overage. Will you marry?"

"I haven't met anyone as yet, but I don't want you to worry about a thing." Kelly quickly reassured the girl.

"But Kelly, it's just, well…are you never going to marry? You always seemed like you wanted to."

"Tori, marriage isn't everything."

"I know. But you…"

"Let's not go there alright? I'm happy. And if I don't marry, I don't worry."

"Well, we could switch places?"

Kelly laughed, "Right because I, a red-haired, 8 years senior, shorter woman could take the place of a taller, blond younger girl."

"It was a thought."

The two girls sat in silence until they heard a loud noise coming from the front of the castle. "Must be them." Tori stated albeit without any need. Kelly nodded and the two girls got up and looked.

"You go and look. I have to put away these things."

"You sure?"

"Yes. I know you're curious."

"Thanks."

Tori took off and headed towards the sound. She didn't come into full view of everything because she hoped no one would see her. She watched as the soldiers passed by, and then there in the center was a couch. Cam was on a horse in front of it. They pulled up to the front of the castle and stopped. Tori peered around the corner a bit more and saw her father descending the steps. But there was no Cam waiting there, looking back to the horse Cam had been on she saw it was no empty and he was opening the door and helping a girl out of the carriage. The girl was pretty. She had dark red hair, much darker than Kelly's. She was shorter than Cam, she came up to a little above his shoulder. Her skin was fair. Cam took her hand and led her to their father and Tori watched as the introductions were made.

As the three headed back into the castle Tori saw Cam glance over at her before going in. Tori ducked back and turned to head to the back of the castle when she saw that Kelly was in front of her. "Hiding?"

"I just didn't want to meet her yet."

With a big sigh Kelly silently took Tori's arm and they went to the back of the castle and headed in.

Tori was walking down the hall to her room after breakfast. So far she had avoided talking to Leanne since the day she had come which was a couple of weeks ago. And in addition to that Cam had suddenly become a bit to occupied to carry out full lessons with her. Tori stopped and considered what she was going to do now that she had a bit of free time.

Although Tori wished she hadn't stopped when she felt a hand on her shoulder. She turned and saw Leanne. "Hi, Victoria, right?" It took Tori a second to readjust so she nodded. Leanne smiled, "I'm Leanne."

"Hi."

"So, what are you doing?"

"I was…just walking." Leanne seemed so nice, and Tori just didn't want to lie to her.

"Can I walk with you?"

"Sure."

They turned and began walking. Leanne wasn't as short next to Tori as she had been next to Cam. "Cam's told me about you. I'm sorry I haven't run into you sooner. He says you're quite extraordinary."

Tori raised her eyebrows, Cam thought that. She shook her head, "So how long do you have to be here?"

"I'm going to be leaving soon enough, just finishing my stay here."

"I bet you'll be glad to go back."

"Partly. I love it at home, but there's something else here that's really nice."

Before Tori could stop herself she blurted out, "My brother?" She looked up and over at Leanne and apologized when she saw that Leanne was looking at the ground and she was a bit pinker in the cheeks.

"Well…your brother is definitely…"

"You like him? Really? Even though you're…do you?" Tori refrained from adding in where Leanne was from and left it in the air.

"Yeah. I think I do."

"Well, I suppose that's good for you then."

"Victoria—"

"Tori, please. Don't call me Victoria."

"Alright. Tori." Leanne smiled brightly. "You're betrothed to Blake or Brontë aren't you?"

Cam was talking to her about that horrible event. He was going to die. "If you'll excuse me, I have to go somewhere." And with that Tori hurried off to find her brother.

He wasn't that hard to find seeing as he was either riding, sparring, or in his room reading. She had glanced in his room and saw that he wasn't there, and she knew that no sparring went on at this time of day so she headed for the stables.

Upon opening the door she saw Cam starting to head out having just finished shutting his horses' stable door. She put her hands on her hips. "Cam, why did you tell Leanne about me?"

"Sorry, but she knew that I had a younger sister."

"No, about me and Blake."

"Oh. I didn't."

"Well then, how…she asked about him."

"Well, I didn't tell her." He walked past her with a smirk on his face. "Apparently you're starting to like the idea. That's the first time you said his name."

Tori stood there stunned. Leanne and Blake knew each other. How could Blake have known anyone? And she didn't like him or the idea, she thought both were ridiculous. She slowly walked back up to the castle and retreated to her room. She wasn't to sure what to make of Leanne, but she didn't hate her and if Cam liked her then perhaps she'd give her a try.