Ohmigosh! I just looked at my reviews. I know it's been, like 3 months and I'm soooo sorry! I got busy, but I promise that now I will begin writing more, because y'all's reviews, are soo sweet! thanks for the encouraging feedback!

Chapter 8

Alek looked up to see that there was a girl standing in the doorway, about his age. She had short blond hair and a slight build, but she was fairly tall, maybe just a little shorter than him. She stood ramrod straight and panted a little, as if she'd ran to get here in time.

Alek stood, feeling no emotion for this young princess. He bowed, and she curtsyed, and they went through all of the royal gestures a proceedings expected of them, before sitting down around the little table once more.

The older princess stared at her hands and fidgeted a little in her seat, and the queen shot her a dirty little look before turning back to Alek and saying, "This is Princess Diana Marie Sara Elizabeth Jane the third."

Alek saw Diana grimace at the use of her full name, almost as if she were afraid of it. All the while, Alek stared at the princess, who still hadn't looked into his eyes. In fact, he had no idea what her face really looked like, just that her hair looked a lot like-

He cut himself off, trying to push down the feelings that came with her name and her memory. He was doing this for her sake after all.

"It's nice to meet you, Princess Diana. I am Prince Aleksander of Hohenberg." he said, a little smile along the corners of his mouth.

He saw the princess look up through her eyelashes, but not enough for him to see her face or eyes. He smiled a bit wider, as if encouraging her to look at him.

She seemed to become more confident with his smile, because her head came up just enough for him to see her features.

Barking Spiders! he thought, using Deryn's slang for this moment. He thought it was appropriate.

Because the girl sitting across from him could've been Deryn's twin sister. They looked exactly the same. There were only two differences: Deryn's muscles and scars and Diana's timidness.

Deryn was the most outgoing person he'd ever met, a girl who wasnt afraid to give it to him straight and speak her mind, whereas Diana was meek and timid and looked terrified of saying anything.

Diana also looked pampered and like she hadn't had to do any work a day in her life, where Deryn looked tough and durable.

He realized he had been staring because the young princess' cheeks turned a light pink color and she bent her head to stare at her hands.

Clearing his throat, he said once again, this time, just tring to make conversation. "Princess Diana, it is a pleasure to make your acquiantance."

Diana glanced up through her lashes, looking a bit troubled. Her eyes held a sort of indecision about whether she should return his greeting or stay silent.

It was quiet for a moment as he watched her inner battle with herself, before he saw some sort of resolve in her and she opened her mouth to say something, when they were both startled by the sound of the grand doors being slammed open.