Chapter 45

Eliena stood outside with Chubby, debating whether or not to go back in and tell Sam that she wanted him to return with her to the palace. It was a tough choice: leave the dramatic exit or introduce Sam to her parents? Eliena decided to suck it up and she went back in.

"Oh, yer back, are ye?" Aiana growled. "Come back fer more, eh?"

"No," Eliena informed the woman, haughtily tossing her silky black mane. "I've come for Sam, actually. And it's rather rude to assume that everything is about you, Mistress Aiana." Several men snickered. "What is your profession now?" Eliena put one hand on her hip.

"None of yer business!" the older woman snapped. Eliena raised an eyebrow.

"We may be in the Court of the Rogue, mistress, but might I remind you that this is still Tortallan land?" Eliena remarked.

"Eli." Sam leaned down to whisper in her ear, "She's a prostitute." Eliena's eyes widened.

"Is she really?" the princess murmured, violet eyes locked on the woman. She looked at Sam. "Sam, I need you to come with me."

"Where?" he asked skeptically.

"I'm not turning you in, dolt!" Eliena replied, smacking him (lightly) upside the head. "Just come." She held his eyes seriously and he nodded.

"Alright." With a wave to his people, Sam followed.

"Yer maj'sty, who's in charge?" someone asked. Sam fixed his ale eyes on the man.

"Who d'ye think?" The man pointed at Ladyfingers, shaking. Sam nodded. "Ye're a smart one, ye are." He walked out to the sound of laughter. Eliena rolled her eyes.

"You men of the Rogue," she said, shaking her head.

"Wha' 'bout us?" Sam asked, eyes twinkling. Eliena looked up at him, violet eyes dancing.

"Nothin'," she replied, using her commoner accent. "Nothin' 'tall."

"So why am I comin' wit' ye, Eli?" he asked as Eliena fetched Chubby.

"You, Samuel Fletcher," she replied, mounting, "are going to meet my parents." Sam gulped.

"As in th' kin' an' queen yer parents?" he clarified.

Eliena looked at him funny. "Those are the only parents I have, far as I know." She patted Chubby. "Mount up." Sam stepped away.

"I don't thin' I can, Eli. Th' likes a me shouldn't be seen wit' th' likes a them," he explained.

"Samuel Fletcher, I am 'the likes of them'. Are you saying you can't be seen with me?" Eliena didn't sound hurt—she sounded a little put off.

"No!" Sam insisted. "No, that's not wha' I mean'—"

"Sam." Eliena put her hand on his shoulder. Sam met her eyes. "Listen to me. I'm going to be totally honest with you. I'm almost certain that you are going to be the one I marry. Don't look so surprised, its true. You need to meet my parents so they aren't skeptical when—yes, when—I tell them we're betrothed, all right?" He nodded like a young child being told something by a parent. "Good. Now, hop on."

"No. I'll be like a prop'r lord an' lead ye." He smiled devilishly.

"Oh, you!" But she let him.

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"Who's that?" Daine hissed in Numair's ear. A man who looked to be about a year older than her friend had filled her normal place beside Eliena.

"I don't know," Numair replied. He looked at her, amused. "Why, are you jealous, pet?" Daine glared at him. She made her way over to Eliena, who was talking to her parents.

"Hi, Eli," Daine greeted, smiling at the princess. Eliena shifted her attention to the Wildmage. "Who's this?"

"Oh, gods, Daine! I've been looking for you…" She smiled knowingly at Numair. "Numair, Daine, this is Samuel Fletcher. Sam, this is Veralidaine Sarrasri, one of my best friends, and her betrothed, the mage Numair Salmalín." Sam smiled.

"Eli's told me lots 'bout ye both," he told them. Daine's eyebrows shot up. He spoke with a common lilt. Sam grinned. "Yes, Mistress Daine, I'm common."

Daine smiled. "Me too. Eli brought me here from the Gallan border, gods, seven years ago now." Numair groaned.

"I'm getting old," he complained.

"You? Never!" Eliena and Daine assured him together, and then laughed. Sam looked confused, and Eliena pecked his cheek.

"Don't try to follow," she advised. "You'll just confuse yourself." She brushed the hair from his eyes lovingly.

"Replaced me so soon, have you, El?" a voice that dripped with distain asked. Eliena looked up at a fuming Leo, eyes wide.

"Leo." Eliena kept her voice calm and even despite her ex-lover's obvious anger. "This is Samuel Fletcher. Sam, this is Leo. He and I used to be betrothed." Eliena met Leo's snapping eyes. "But now we aren't anymore." She seemed to bear down on him with her gaze, until Leo looked away. Eliena smiled to herself in triumph.

"So, Eliena, are you and Sam planning on getting married?" Numair browsed, easily changing the subject. Eliena and Sam exchanged a glance.

"Well, Master Numair," Sam said, not stumbling over the mage's name at all, "Eli here would sure like t'. I'm still not sure if th' palace is really th' place fer a man like me."

Daine smiled reassuringly. "I didn't think the palace was any place for a girl like me, either, but I've adjusted. Eliena makes sure of that." She smiled at the girl who'd so easily befriended her. Eliena squeezed Daine's hand.

"Are you moving in with us, then, Sam?" Alanna wanted to know, sliding into the conversation with practiced ease. Jonathan chuckled inwardly. The Lioness he'd once known would've had no trouble interrupting—his queen was now more polite, if nosy.

"I don't know, yer majesty," he replied.

"Alanna," she corrected. "If you're to marry my daughter, its Alanna." She smiled. "And, besides, the ex-Rogue is an old friend of mine."

"I 'eard about it from 'im 'imself, yer—Alanna. It was Baron Cooper that got me'n Eli t' be friends in th' first place," Sam explained. Alanna raised her eyebrows.

"Well, then, Baron Cooper has some explaining to do." She turned her violet eyes on her daughter. "Or you do, sweet." Eliena blushed.

"Sam, Leo is George's son," Eliena said, shifting the topic again.

"Are ye really?" Sam asked. "He's a good man, yer father." Leo nodded, still obviously jealous of Sam.

"He is," Leo replied.

"Despite his past." Eliena's comment was obviously directed at anyone who doubted Sam coming from the City meant he wasn't a good person.

"Are you the Rogue?" Jonathan questioned. "You can trust me, I won't betray you." Sam looked at the king.

"I am, Sire," he replied.

"Jonathan," the king corrected. "Same goes as with my wife."

Sam smiled—he was being accepted.

Author's Note- back to school shopping tomorrow. New hair and contacts, too. It's pretty cool. REVIEW.