Chapter 39

—Interlude—

Before they turned ten, Eliena, Leo, and Cressida had been nearly inseparable. But there was one other, one who only Eliena knew. His name was Samuel Fletcher, and he lived in the Lower City.

Eliena had met him when she was five. Leo had been sick, and George had been in Corus. Eliena had been clamoring to see the City, but Jonathan and Alanna were unwilling to allow their first born into the Lower City without someone who knew their way around. The person they knew best who could supply that role was George, once the King of Thieves.

Alanna and Jonathan knew bits and pieces of their excursion, but not that they had ended up at the Dancing Dove for lunch. Eliena had been amazed at all the people who knew her Uncle George. Samuel—a year older than Eliena, with big clear blue eyes and eyes like fine ale—had come over to her and said, "Ye look familiar." Eliena had looked at George, eyes wide. She wasn't supposed to tell anyone who she was.

"Does she now?" George asked, adopting a common lilt to his speech. "I can't imagine why. Th' lass an' I have never seen ye afore." Samuel looked at Eliena skeptically and stuck out his hand.

"I'm Samuel Fletcher. Me da is over there." He pointed to the "throne." Eliena nodded.

"My fa—da, is…" she glanced at George. "This is my da."

"He don't look like yer da," the boy remarked. He looked at Eliena. "And ye don't talk like yer from th' City."

"George, my ol' friend! How are ye?" Samuel's father exclaimed from his seat. He rose and came over to embrace George. "Its been t' long!" They left, talking animatedly.

"Who are ye?" Samuel asked Eliena, crossing his arms over his chest. "A cause I know ye aren't from th' City." Eliena bit her lip and glanced over at George. He seemed occupied enough.

"You have to promise not to tell," Eliena whispered. Samuel nodded, eyes wide. "I'm Eliena. As in Eliena of Conté." Samuel's eyes widened even more.

"Ye mean yer th'—th'—th' princess?" he asked quietly. Eliena nodded. "Ye aren't kiddin', are ye?" Eliena shook her head. "No, I spose ye aren't. Yer eyes are like yer ma's." Eliena nodded. "So… me friends call me Sam."

"My friends call me Eli," Eliena replied.

That simple conversation had started a long friendship between the two. Sam had known almost everything about Eliena's life—mostly through letters. When she could, she escaped to the Lower City to visit with Sam in the common room of the Dancing Dove. They would laugh, and Eliena became common just for an hour or so. She danced, drank ale, and escaped from the hassles of her name.

Unfortunately, Eliena hadn't seen Sam since her presentation to Court. Which meant it had been a good two years without letters or visits to one of her best friends.

—End interlude—

The morning after Eliena had revealed her cold feet to Leo—he'd just walked out—she decided to pay a little visit to Sam Fletcher. Crossing her fingers that he would still be at the Dove, she put on breeches and a white shirt. Pulling her hair into a horsetail, she went to the stables.

"Where are ye goin'?" Stephan asked as he saddled up her large chestnut pony, Chubby. Eliena mounted and smiled at the head groomsman.

"Now, Stephan. Don't you remember our agreement? No questions." He shook his head and she trotted off. The gates opened for the princess without trouble—she was the princess!

Eliena arrived at the Dancing Dove after only a little confusion. She stabled Chubby and walked into the inn. All eyes were on her when she walked in, but her violet eyes scanned the room for one man alone. And there he was…sitting on the throne that had once belonged to his father…and George.

"Sam!" Eliena cried. Samuel Fletcher, the Rogue, turned to look. No one in the Dove had called him by his first name in almost a year. His ale colored eyes caught sight of a pretty girl he knew he'd seen before. Her black curls were pulled back in a horsetail, accenting a beautiful sun-kissed face lit with violet colored eyes. Her tan breeches hugged shapely thighs before being tucked in to dusty black leather boots at her knees. Her white shirt, cut in the new, more feminine style, showed womanly curves.

There was only one girl he knew who looked like that. But, it couldn't be.

"Eli?" he asked, standing up and striding over to her. "Eliena, is it really ye?" Eliena nodded. Sam scooped her into a bear hug. "Gods, its been t' long, lass!" Eliena laughed as he spun her around, hugging him fiercely.

"I know, I know. Life's been crazy. I'm sure you've heard," she replied, smiling. Sam nodded.

"Ye know I have." He hugged her again. "When did ye get so beautiful?" Eliena blushed.

"When did you get so tall?" She held him at arms length, looking up at him. "Gods, you're nearly as tall as Numair! And, Mithros, Sam, you're handsome!" He laughed—the women of the Dove told him that often enough.

"I'm six-foot-two," he told her. Eliena nodded. "Here, come wit' me. We've lots t' talk about." Eliena nodded again and allowed Sam to take her hand.

She had to work very hard to ignore the tingling sensation that she got when he did so, however.

Author's Note- I believe I have an apology to make, so here it is:

I apologize to all Eliena/Leo shippers, because this story WILL NOT end up Eliena/Leo. And a SPECIAL apology to princess of the rogues and Madame-S-Butterfly, because I lied to you. Sorry!

Now, REVIEW.