Chapter 37

"Eli!" Daine called, spotting Eliena coming from the pages' and squires' dining hall. Eliena turned, black ponytail hitting her in the face. Eliena shook her head and wrinkled her perfect nose as strands got in her mouth.

"Ew. Hi, Daine." She stopped so her friend could catch up. "What's up?" Daine simply held out her left hand. "Great Merciful Mother!" Eliena snatched the girl's hand and held the ring closer to her face. "Gods, Daine, is that a…oh, Goddess!" Eliena's excited violet eyes met Daine's sparkling blue-gray ones. "Are you betrothed?" Daine nodded eagerly. Eliena squealed and gave Daine a bear hug. "Congratulations!"

"Thanks," Daine said.

"When did this happen? Why didn't you tell me earlier?" Eliena demanded.

"It happened right after you left…and I haven't seen you since then! You've been off with Cressida or something," Daine replied. Eliena shook her head.

"I haven't seen Cress since yesterday," she told Daine. "I was helping go through Rider recruits, and then getting pointers from Liam, Eda, and Hakuin." Daine nodded—Liam was Liam Ironarm, the Shang Dragon; Eda was Eda Bell, the Shang Wildcat; and Hakuin was Hakuin Seastone, the Shang Horse.

"Oh." Daine nodded.

Eliena's eyes danced wickedly. "What were you doing all day, friend mine?"

Daine blushed furiously. "I—ah, um, I was, ah…" she cleared her throat. "I was with Numair." She turned a deeper pink. "But not… not doing what you think…" Eliena laughed and slung an arm around the girl's shoulder.

"Not to worry, Daine, I get what you mean." She hugged Daine again. "Listen, I have to run. I have to go convince my parents that Cress would make an awful match for Kaddar." She waved and went off, leaving Daine to go back to her rooms alone.

Eliena knocked on the door to her parents' chambers. "Come on in!" Alanna welcomed. Eliena went in and shut the door. "Hello, Eli." Eliena stood in front of her parents—who sat side by side on the bed, reading—and put her hands firmly on her hips.

"Uh oh, Eli has her 'serious face' on," Jonathan joked. "Congratulations on your engagement, by the way. And to Daine and Numair and Leo too."

"Thank you. Now. About Cressida…" Eliena began.

"She's decided to run out on the agreement?" Alanna asked coolly. "Or is she getting you to get her out of it?"

"Alanna," Jonathan warned. "What is it, darling?" he asked Eliena sweetly.

"She cannot go to Carthak, understand? She would make an awful empress and Kaddar will hate her," Eliena insisted. "I suggest, if you wish to send any lady, send Lady Talia of Blue Harbor. Tali is my age—I met her during the presentations—and she's more down to earth. She's more like me, I suppose."

"But you and Cressida are very alike," Alanna commented. "That's why we picked her. And is Lady Talia set to inherit or marry?"

"No. She's the youngest, like Cress. And Cress and I are similar in faults only. Tali is similar in my…better points." Eliena grinned. "And, besides, Talia is gorgeous."

"I know her," Jonathan remarked. "Sweet girl." He turned to Alanna. "I think it's worth seeing if it's at all possible."

"Sure." Alanna shrugged. "Whatever you want."

"Tired, mother? You usually aren't this passive," Eliena noted. Alanna shook her head.

"I frankly don't care much about this kind of thing," the Lioness admitted. "Battles and Ordeals and such are what gets me interested. Speaking of Ordeals… Leo's is coming up at Midwinter. Yours would be too if you'd been a page." Eliena rolled her eyes.

"Mother, don't start," she said. "You know that's not my style. And, what other knight is helping father in Leo's Ordeal? Do you know?" Alanna nodded. "Please don't tell me its you."

"The king and queen cannot both instruct in the Ordeal, unless the squire is female," Jonathan explained. "And, besides, neither of us particularly wants to sit vigil." Alanna shuddered.

"Once in that Chamber was more than enough, thank you," she said. Jonathan nodded. Eliena frowned as her parents' eyes glazed over—they always looked like that when speaking of their Ordeals.

"Anyway," Eliena cut in. "What else about Ordeals?"

"Right. Your mother was thinking maybe you'd like to be knighted," Jonathan ventured.

"Don't lay this all on me!" Alanna exclaimed. "You mentioned it first!"

"A knight heir is best," Jonathan continued. "And you practically had the training with your mother."

"You can best any of those squires. I'd be willing to bet that no one else will have a problem with you being knighted," she said. "There's only one problem."

"The Ordeal," the king and queen said together.

"Why is that a problem?" Eliena asked.

"The Chamber tries to break you," Alanna replied, eyes glazing again. "It picks up on your fears and weaknesses, using them against you."

"You'll never be the same," Jonathan agreed, his blue eyes distant. "It's a doozy, that Chamber."

"Father, did you just say the word 'doozy' without joking?" Eliena wanted to know, overly sweet. "You don't think I could handle the Chamber?"

"I don't know… it worries us," Alanna replied. She turned to Jonathan, eyes normal. "'Doozy', eh, dearest?"

"Dearest?" Jonathan looked at his wife in disbelief. "Since when do you call me 'dearest'?" Alanna grinned and kissed him.

"Ew! Wait until I leave the room!" Eliena ran out, slamming the door behind her. Her parents laughed. She poked her head back in. "So, Talia is going to Carthak and I'm becoming a knight. Sounds good. Bye!" She shut the door again. Alanna and Jonathan exchanged a look.

"Did we confirm either of those?" Alanna asked.

"No, but you know Eliena," Jonathan replied. Alanna shook her head.

"She's going to be some queen, that one," Alanna remarked.

"Is that good or bad?" Jonathan wanted to know. "I'm leaning toward…interesting."

Author's Note- this chapter was kind of…random. I'm FEELING kind of random. Anyway. Just to give you a head's up: I'm leaving on Sunday for a week of sleep-away camp. I'll probably come back with updates. I come back Saturday, but probably won't update because I have a horse show the next day. OK? Just FYI. Now, REVIEW.