Chapter 25

"General Vanget, I didn't come here to sit around in the fort all day watching," Eliena informed the commander at dinner. "I intend on fighting."

"Your highness, that wouldn't be wise," he told her.

"I don't believe you have the authority to tell me that," she replied sweetly. Numair and Daine snorted, hiding their faces behind their cups. Vanget frowned, knitting his brows.

"Your highness—" He sighed. "Your highness, I'm afraid I cannot allow you to go into the field." Eliena leaned back in her chair, smiling easily, and tossed her hair back over her shoulder.

"You know, General Vanget," she remarked, casually picking at her nails. "I'm not sure my parents would like to hear that." She looked up to meet his eyes. "If you know what I'm saying." The commanding general swallowed. He had faced many an army, but this teenager was worse than dealing with them all!

"Yes, your highness," he swallowed. Eliena pushed her chair back and rose.

"So, it's settled, then? I'll be commanding in the field in the next battle. Thank you for being so cooperative, General Vanget. I'll be sure to put in a good word to my parents," she said. "Excuse me." The princess walked out and General Vanget looked tired.

"It won't get any better," Daine told him. "She's always like that."

"Wonderful," Vanget remarked. He gave them a withering look. "You're her friends, is there anything you can do?"

Numair replied, "General, Daine and I have long learned that what Eliena wants, Eliena gets. And if Eliena doesn't get what she wants, she will go to every extent to get it."

VVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVV

Dear mother and father,

Everything is going well here. General Vanget has allowed me to command in the field. He's really a good man. Treats everyone fairly, polite, a good fighter, everything you want in a commander!

I trust everything is well at home. Tell Thayet not to worry, Raoul arrived safely. Buri sends her love to Liam, as Raoul sends to Thayet. Daine and Numair send you both regards. Tell Leo I said hello, even though I wrote him a letter.

I can't believe its already mid-April. I've been here nearly a month and I haven't written! I'm very sorry to you both, I was preoccupied. We've been winning every battle we face here at Northwatch, but some of the other forts aren't having as much luck.

I love you both, and I'm doing my best to stay safe!

Love always,

Your daughter,

Eli

Eliena folded the letter and addressed it to her parents in her precise hand. Satisfied, she took another paper and wrote:

Dear Leo,

I always hate addressing letters. Especially to you, because I never know how to address it! Dearest Leo? Leo? So, I settle for the normal one, as always.

I wrote my parents a letter. How unhappy have they been at how long I've been here and my lack of letters? I know Numair sends reports almost daily, but I keep forgetting! And, all right, I probably should've been writing them at the same time I wrote you, but can you blame me? I know you'll DIE if I do. Mother and father will mourn, but they won't die. Then again, maybe you wouldn't either… anyway.

Oh, I wish you were here so I could talk to you in person! Numair and Daine are great and all, but they disappear shortly after dinner, and come back all giggly. Are we like that? I hope not. I almost always go to bed early, because there isn't anyone to talk to. Buri is almost always talking battle tactics, or further training the Riders—including Evin. I wish you or Neal were here!

Well, I had best go now. I hope to see you soon—I miss you!

Love always,

Your Eli

Smiling, Eliena addressed the letter and kissed it. She rang for a servant, who appeared. "Yes, your highness?" She handed him the letters.

"See to it that these get to Corus as soon as humanly possible. Thank you." She dismissed him, and shut the door. There was never anything to do at night! It was only about eight o'clock, and she was already thinking of going to bed. Eliena sighed at how pathetic her life was becoming.

VVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVV

A week later, Eliena was talking with Evin and Buri when a soldier appeared. "Excuse me, your highness, but letters for you." Eliena took them and smiled. One was addressed in her father's handwriting—it was so similar to her own that she couldn't miss it—and the other was written in Leo's scrawl.

"Thank you. Excuse me, Buri, Evin." She walked away, hearing Evin say, "I wonder what's so important about them that she just leaves us like that."

"One was from her parents—I recognized the king's writing. The other's from Leo, couldn't you tell?" Buri replied.

Eliena found an out-of-the-way spot behind the headquarters and sat down, thankful for her dark breeches. She opened the one from her parents first.

Dearest Eli,

You're right; we weren't thrilled that it had gone so long without getting a letter from you. But hearing that you're commanding makes it easier to understand. Your mother says she doesn't believe a word of what you're saying about Vanget. She seems to be under the impression that you threatened him in some way to get you in command, and that you promised to put in a good word. I can't help but agree with her, Eli.

We have a surprise for you—by the time you get this letter we (your mother and I) will be on our way with Leo to drop in. Partially as a visit (which your mother claims is to keep Leo sane), and partially to boost spirits.

I thought you'd like to know that Lord Wyldon is trying to talk us into letting some of the older pages go north to help, but we've refused. No need to lose more when so many were killed in the Immortals War several years ago. And, from what you've said of a few third and fourth year pages, I'm not sure I would trust them in war quite yet.

See you soon. We love you.

Father (and mother)

Eliena grinned. Her parents were coming? She probably should've been upset, but she wasn't. As she held Leo's letter, her smile grew. Leo.

Dear Eli,

I know what you mean with addressing letters. I'll just follow your lead on that one.

Your parents were ticked off that you weren't writing them, but were noticeably happier at seeing your letter. I know I'm always happy to get a letter from you—it means you're still ALIVE. I don't know if I would ENTIRELY die if you were to be killed, but certainly a part of me would. It would happen in your parents too, Eliena. We all love you a lot, if in different ways.

I'll stop writing here, because there isn't anything I can say in this letter that I won't be able to tell you about the day after you get it. (I KNOW your parents told you of our upcoming visit.) I love you, Eli. Don't die before I get there!

Love,

Leo

Eliena sighed and leaned back against the building. Leo—her Leo—would probably be there the next day. She missed him—all of him. His touch, his kiss, the way he looked at her… all of it. Eliena was sick of watching Numair and Daine act like lovesick teenagers when she had a betrothed so far away.

She stood and dusted off her rear end. If Leo was going to be there, she'd better straighten up her chambers!

Author's Note- kind of filler-esque, but I liked it. Eli's growing up! I got 5 new CDs earlier: Chris Brown, Ne-Yo, Raven-Symone, The Fray, and Landon Pigg. Oh, and the new Meg Cabot book, "How To Be Popular." It was more than I expected… oops. So now I've blown my allowance AND owe my dad 26 bucks. Again, oops. REVIEW.