Chapter 2
"You have no idea how nervous I am!" Eliena confided. Neal hugged her from behind.
"Don't be," he told her. "This is nothing compared to the stuff you normally do."
Eliena stood at the top of the grand staircase with Neal. Alanna and Jonathan had agreed to let Neal court Eliena, and they were announcing it that evening at the pages welcoming ball. It wasn't really a ball per say, because the women dressed in simple dresses instead of ball gowns, but they called it a ball anyway. Eliena wore a vibrant red dress that left a modest amount of bare skin above the neckline. Her sleeves sat just off her shoulder and puffed out slightly before securing around her arm. The skirt was had a lot of room—enough that she had a piece to go around her wrist that attached to the skirt. Her black curls were in a low horsetail and set over her right shoulder. She fiddled with her hair, twisting it around her finger and even chewing on her nervously every once in a while.
"Calm down," Neal whispered in her ear. "You're fine." Eliena nodded. He put an arm around her waist to comfort her, and she leaned against him.
"Ready?" the herald asked. Eliena nodded. She and Neal stepped forward and Jonathan rose.
"May I have your attention please?" All eyes turned to focus on the king. "Her majesty and I are pleased to announce that Nealan of Queenscove is courting our daughter, Princess Eliena of Conté. Eliena? Nealan?" Everyone turned to face the staircase, where Eliena and Neal were descending, Eliena looking nervous behind her brave appearance. People clapped, and cleared a way for them to the dais. Eliena sat on her throne, and Neal knelt before the king and queen.
"Treat Eliena with the respect she deserves, and remember who she is," Alanna told him.
"I will, your majesty," Neal replied somberly. He looked up and Eliena almost laughed. His eyes danced wildly. She hid her mouth with her hand. Neal rose and bowed, before going to stand behind Eliena.
She rose. "My parents and I would like to welcome the new first-year pages to the palace. We hope that you will be very comfortable here. On behalf of my parents, the king and queen, and myself, we wish you the best of luck in achieving you goal: getting your shields. Tortall prides itself on our devoted army, led by some wonderful men—and women. Work your hardest and you will doubtlessly reach knighthood. Gods bless you all. Enjoy the evening." She sat down and people went to mingle.
"Nicely said," Jonathan whispered. "We'll make a queen out of you yet."
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Holding hands and swinging them, Eliena and Neal walked back to her chambers. The ball had recently ended, and Neal was permitted to escort Eliena to her rooms now that he was officially courting her.
"I'd say that went well," he remarked.
"I suppose. I hate balls though," Eliena replied.
"Me too." They laughed. Too soon, they reached Eliena's door. "Well, here we are."
"Yes, I suppose we are," Eliena murmured. She opened her door and stepped behind it. "Thanks, Neal."
"No good night kiss?" He pouted.
"Oh, you." She pecked him on the cheek. "Happy?"
"No." He stepped into the room boldly and scooped her up, kissing her hard on the mouth. Eliena was shocked, but found that Neal was an excellent kisser. She had only ever really been kissed once in her life—by Numair—but she quickly decided Neal was better than him, mostly because Eliena really, really liked Neal. She wound her arms around his neck and kept kissing him back.
Neal pulled back. "If anyone comes in, we're in a lot of trouble," he whispered. He put Eliena down and she locked the door.
"Better?" she asked, back against the door.
In reply, Neal walked toward her and kissed her again. Eliena put her arms back around his neck, kissing him deeply. Her fingers got lost in Neal's light brown hair, feeling how silky the strands were. Neal took good care of himself. Neal ran his finger along the neckline of her dress, making Eliena shudder. She pulled him closer, enjoying the heat of his body against hers.
Suddenly, a face flashed in her mind. It was Leo, shaking his head. She remembered that… it was in Carthak. Leo had been disgusted that she had kissed Numair…
Eliena yanked her head back, whacking it against the door. "Ow!"
"What's wrong?" Neal asked.
"I'm not sure…" Eliena replied, she had a faraway look in her eye. "Just… go."
"What? Why?" Neal wanted to know. "Is something wrong?"
"No. Just… go. I'm… tired, I guess. That's all," she replied, unlocking the door. Neal left, kissing her briefly.
"See you tomorrow, then," he said. Eliena nodded and shut the door behind him. She locked it again, and changed into her nightclothes. She didn't go to bed yet, though. She lit a fire in her fireplace and curled up in one of the armchairs near it. Ever since she had nearly died, she had gotten cold very easily.
She watched the flames flicker and dance as she thought. Why had Leo's face entered her mind? Was it some kind of sign? Eliena rubbed the sore spot on her head absently, chewing on her lip. Neal was the one courting her. But, thinking about it, Leo's face had been in her head a lot recently. He was at Pirate's Swoop with his parents, but was coming back in a week. Eliena couldn't help but think about how disappointed Leo would be when he found out Neal was courting her. Leo had always watched out for Eliena, like an older brother, even if he was only a few days older. He'd always made sure she was OK. He'd even disobeyed her father to make sure she was fine when Inar Hadensra's magic had almost killed her.
Eliena toyed with the ember stone around her neck, thinking about her future. She would be queen, of course, and whoever she married would be king. Would Neal make a good king? No, of course he wouldn't. Didn't that make the whole courtship a folly, knowing that nothing could ever come of it? Leo would make an excellent king, one part of her said. She shoved that away. Leo was one of her best friends. She couldn't marry him! It might ruin what they already had. But… then again, look at her parents. They had been close friends first, and then lovers, then husband and wife. But they were different, and lived in a different time. They could conduct everything in secret, Eliena couldn't. She had chosen to live in a more public way than her parents did. Looking at her ember, she remembered that she would be more than queen—she would be a great god one day. She would eventually be a goddess. A goddess!
Eliena sighed. It was too much to think about. She tired more easily, but her mother assured her it was part of the healing process. Eliena hated not being able to keep her strength for long. She pulled her hair out of its horsetail, letting it spill free. She shook her head, loosening the curls, before pulling it back up. She folded it over and secured it in what was being called a "bun" by the women who wore it. Hers was looser than the ones ladies in court wore. She stood up and turned down her bed before blowing out the candles. The only light was the fire blazing in the fireplace. Using her Gift, Eliena grabbed some of the warmth and bound it to her nightshirt to keep her warm. Satisfied, she put out the flames and crawled into bed.
Tomorrow was a new day, and she would need her energy to keep up with the pages.
Author's Note- hm… well… I know what SOME of you are thinking. I think. Whatever. Now, REVIEW.