CHAPTER TWELVE

The music finished with a flourish of the strings, and applause smattered through the room. The young knight I had been dancing with bowed and I curtsied, as we were supposed to, and then I was on the arm of some Duke Whatsit from who knew where and off again. I actually liked the dancing. I was comfortable with the steps now, and it had become fun. The small talk was less than thrilling, but I managed to get through it. I found myself partnered with Eran next. He was, not surprisingly, very light on his feet and in rhythm with the music.

"Is this as awful as you thought it would be?" he asked. I shook my head.

"No. I love it."

"You're not a bad dancer," he said a while later with mild surprise.

"Did you expect me to be?" I said, then added, "Don't answer that; I already know."

"You constantly surprise me."

"May I?" asked a smooth voice from my elbow once the song had ended. I turned and smiled at Mensonge.

"I'd be delighted," I said. Eran smiled at me, bowed, and headed off, and then Mensonge took my hand and swept me into a waltz. We sailed through the room, and, somehow or other, ended up out on the ballroom balcony. I glanced up at him. It was dark out, and his profile was drawn in stark contrast with the light from the ballroom. My breath caught in my throat.

"Are you all right?" he asked. I swallowed and nodded.

"Fine. Just dizzy. From the spinning."

"Perhaps we should sit."

He guided me gently to a bench. The moonlight sparkled on the ocean off in the distance like little diamonds, and the moon itself was almost too full and beautiful to be real. The air smelled of sea salt and roses, and I breathed it all in.

"Isn't it beautiful?" I said, twisting around to look, one arm leaning on the marble railing.

"It suits you," he said.

"What does?"

"The beauty of the night. You have a grace akin to it."

"Oh," I said stupidly, then, "Thank you." A flush had risen to my cheeks. I looked away from him.

"May I ask you a question?" he said softly. One of his hands brushed a curl from my cheek. I bit my tongue.

"Yes."

"It's rather personal."

"That's all right."

"The man you were dancing with, Eran is it?"

"Yes."

"You are good friends?"

"I suppose so. He's teaching me languages, and we get along well."

"Are you…" He hesitated. He seemed almost nervous; it was not a look I was familiar with on him. "More than friends, perhaps?"

"No," I said. "No, just friends." There was a pause. "Why?"

He said nothing for a while, then took my hand. "You enchant me," he said. I became very aware of how close he was sitting. His fingers pressed into mine. "I spend so much of my time with courtiers and nobility, but I have met none with your elegance and beauty. And you are so unlike others of your station."

"I am incompetent," I said. He laughed softly and shook his head.

"No. You are full of vitality and life. Being around you is like stepping from that crowded ballroom into this fresh night air. You awaken me. I do not know how else to describe it."

"Oh," I said. He was looking down at me with a penetrating gaze. His words still ran through my head. "I don't know what to say," I said.

He kissed me then. It sent a shockwave right down to my toes. I'd been kissed before, but never like this. His mouth was soft and warm and tasted of honey, and when his hand brushed my neck my spine tingled. He pulled me close until our bodies were pressed together; his was warm and solid. He pulled slowly away.

"Don't say anything," he whispered. The sound was like music. He kissed me again. I'm not sure how long we sat there, but I do know that by the time we stood to go back inside, I was floating. The daze didn't leave, and as I sat late that night, brushing the curls out from my hair before bed, all I could see was his face in the moonlight.

We spent hours every day together after that. He read me poetry --- and managed to pull it off without sounding like a complete idiot --- and showered me with flowers and compliments. I had always found that sort of attention irritating, but with him, it was natural and very welcome.

Lisette was, not surprisingly, less than thrilled.

"Not everyone is like Rochelle," I said. She shook her head.

"He's part of her court, that's all I'm saying."

"But ---"

"If you want to make this decision, you're welcome to make it," she said. "I'm not sure I would have wished it for you, but you're old enough to realize what you're getting into."

I let the subject drop. Pearl was hesitantly supportive, once saying that she thought a "friendship" between a prominent member of Desviado's court and the princess of Merlana could perhaps prove beneficial towards healing the hostilities between the countries, and Ryne said nothing. His response was the most parental of the three --- lots of grilling Mensonge about his plans for the future, goals, priorities, and values. Mensonge answered all his questions beautifully, of course. He was equal to any situation.

Life in general continued on its way. Guests for my birthday celebration arrived in a steady trickle. Some stayed at the palace and some lodged in the town, but all spent great amounts of time up in court. I enjoyed the diversity, and was constantly dazzled by the array of kingdoms and peoples I had never before heard of. Hidden nations, it seemed, were all over. There was a society that dwelt in the mountains of Tibet, living in caves and small undiscovered valleys. Another group lived deep under the waters of Loch Ness. These people were amphibious; along with lungs, their necks had sharp red gills. The Loch Ness monster, a woman from there informed me over dinner, was a sort of guard dog, keeping people distracted and far away from the town. Other societies lived underground or deep in rainforests, and some posed as "native peoples" of Africa and Asia, keeping to themselves and privately using magic and maintaining commerce and contact with the other hidden countries. Then there were the islands and continents, Merlana and Desviado among them, disguised and guarded by different brands of magic. With all this company, it was some time before I managed to get back to the kitchens. When I did, I was greeted with a great deal of contempt.

"Bored with the princes?" Erica asked when I entered.

"She's too busy with her lover," said a younger girl. Erica rolled her eyes.

"He's nice," I said. "And I'm sorry I've been gone."

"He's nice," Erica mimicked. She handed me a rolling pin, and I set to work with the cookie dough spread on one of the tables. "I warned you he'd sweep you off your feet."

This wasn't quite what I had expected. I frowned.

"We get along," I said. "I don't like him because he's so suave, I like him because…" But when I tried to think of a reason for my affection, nothing came right to mind. "Because," I said again. "He's kind. He doesn't boss people around."

"That's true," said a girl. "I dropped some stuff in the hall and he helped me pick it up."

"Common courtesy," said someone else.

"Not for a prince," the first said. "Especially as Desviadan."

"Exactly," I said. "And he's good to talk to. We agree on a lot of things."

"I wonder why," said Erica. I shook my head.

"No, he's sincere."

"I hope you're right," she said. "For your sake."

I knew I was right. The weeks went by, and I only fell more in love with him. He was gracious and clever and considerate, and interested in me. This, I had to admit, was part of the attraction. Men had always looked at me --- which was generally much more uncomfortable than flattering --- but Mensonge did more than look and flirt awkwardly. He talked to me on equal terms, valued my opinion, and thought I was beautiful. It was very flattering.

I began to fall in love with Merlana, too. With Mensonge as escort, I was allowed into the town on occasion, and reveled in the odd little shops, picturesque streets, and friendly people. There was a warmth about them that couldn't be concealed with curtsies and by-your-leaves, and I was soon friends with shopkeepers and housewives and the young scholars that studied at the king's university. My old home and life receded into the distance, and I found I did not miss it.

Part of this was thanks to Eran. He continued patiently with our lessons, even when I was busy daydreaming about Mensonge and couldn't concentrate, or complained extensively about how stupid it felt, talking to trees. The complaints lessened with time, of course, as I began to comprehend what was being said and how to listen.

You're silly, one of the trees in the glade informed me one day after I had said that I felt silly trying to connect with the moss. I jumped.

Who are you?

The little tree to your left, she said. I'm the cute one. The old tree I had spoken with before cut in. His voice was as familiar to me as any person's.

Lindo, he said sharply. The princess is in a lesson. I told you not to disturb her.

I looked at the little tree. It was small and graceful, with glossy little leaves. As I looked, one of the branches fluttered. Eran raised an eyebrow at me.

"I thought you were concentrating on the moss," he said.

"I was," I said. "That tree started talking to me."

Lindo, she said, almost huffily. My name is Lindo.

"Her name is Lindo," I said.

Eran laughed.

Excuse my granddaughter, the old tree said. I felt Eran's mind tune in; he was talking to both of us. She is one of the youngest of my family and feels that without constant attention she'll wither and die.

"She's fine," Eran thought. "If she will get the princess to pay attention to her lesson, I am grateful."

"Hey," I said. He shrugged at me. I turned back to the tree. "What's your name?"

Sabio. The rest of my family is around us, or much of it, anyway. If you'll look around, I'll introduce you. I nodded. This is my daughter, Oferta.

A soft, gentle voice entered the conversation, belonging to a slender tree to Sabio's left. Hello, she said. Welcome.

My grandson Arte.

Another tree, slightly twisted but beautiful, greeted me in a whispery tenor.

Then Lindo, of course, and Alto, Listo, and Alegre.

Different voices filled my head with each name. I said hello, and then the grandchildren began talking. As I listened to them, I became aware of other sounds. The moss beneath me was humming a folk song I had heard a few days previous, birds called directions to one another overhead, and a squirrel mother was scolding her son for teasing his sister. I sat still and listened, barely moving for fear of losing it. Eran touched my hand softly.

"What is it?"

"Listen. There's so much noise."

"You can hear it?"

I nodded.

"Feel where you're at right now. Feel it deeply enough that you can return to this state later."

"There's too much going on."

"You'll learn to filter it. For now, just make sure you can get back."

I did as he said, let the feeling settle into my bones and breath. Carefully, I closed off the sound until I could hear nothing but the wind in the trees --- just the sound, not what it was actually saying --- and then opened my mind again. I found that my understanding came in levels. First I could hear the trees, then the moss and other plants around. Deeper than that, I could hear the animals and the voices on the breeze, and then the rock, and then far off, the sound of Marea singing. There was so much going on; after a while I closed off all but the trees and let my mind settle. Eran gave me a questioning look, and I nodded.

"I think I've got it."

A voice came into my thoughts as though from a great distance. I listened more closely until I could hear the voice in the wind. It was Mensonge; he was looking for me.

"I've got to go," I said. Eran raised his eyebrows. He looked more amused than annoyed. I shrugged.

"Fine, then," he said. "I'll see you later."

"Thanks." I smiled and slipped away. Mensonge was in the palace courtyard, scanning the people. I slipped my arms around his neck.

"Hi."

He turned around.

"I was looking all over for you," he said. "Some of the lords and ladies are getting together a game of lawn tennis. I heard you were a good player."

"I'm passable," I said modestly. Truth be told, I had taken to this particular court sport quite well. He raised an eyebrow.

"Always the demure one, my lady. Come. You can instruct me in the game; I fear I am very bad at it."

I found this to be a complete lie. He was as good at tennis as he was at everything else. His perfection might have gotten annoying if I hadn't liked him so much.

We tossed the ball back and forth across the net. An odd little idea crossed my mind, and before I quite knew it, I had opened my thoughts.

I couldn't hear much from him. Well, Eran had said he couldn't read just anyone's mind unless their defenses were low. He wasn't angry, as far as I could tell. Or sad, or riotously happy…

Or in love.

I hit the thought away with the next ball. It bounced off and disappeared. Of course I couldn't read his thoughts; I was as much in love as he was. No doubt it impaired my judgment.

"Princess," he said after the game was over --- which I won, by a very slight margin. "You look lovely when you're out of breath."

I laughed. "That sounds ridiculous."

"But true," he said. "Much of love is ridiculous, is it not?"

I had to concede. He took my arm and we went for a stroll in the garden.

"Oh," he said, in a voice that was a little too casual. We stopped and he fastened a rose in my hair before we continued. "I forgot to tell you."

"What?"

"There has been news from Empress Rochelle."

Long pause.

"And?"

"She intends to arrive here within the fortnight."

"Oh."

"Is the news unpleasant to you?"

"No," I said. A little feeling in my gut said I was lying. I ignored it. "Why should it be?"

"There has been tension between our nations in the past."

"And the past is the past," I said. "There is no need to dwell on it if doing so would only cause more difficulty. No, I shall be glad to meet her."

He kissed me. As always, the touch filled me with a warm, sweet sensation. It was quite enchanting. Whatever tension created by the news quickly fell away, and the world was tinged gold once more.

A/N: Sorry about the long space between updates! End of school year crunch.

Bingo7 --- Thanks! I'm glad you're connecting with her.

teenchic2004 --- It is indeed! I don't know where half the people in my head come from. Glad you liked the last chapter... and that Marina and Eran are bouncing off one another appropriately.

porkypick --- Lol, then we're all good. :)

Allyp --- Minor keys... sounds like you, lol. I wish I knew enough about theory to do that... Mensonge isn't "summer rain" so much as "evening musk," methinks. Although perhaps the "summer rain" smell could be added for special occasions. Also, listen to your mother. She's wise.

Audra Laudargue --- Shh! ;) And thank you!

InChrist-Bilios --- Lol, glad you're back! Hopefully I didn't scare you off with this long lack of update... I'll be better in the future. And yes, Marina's voice/music will come into play later.

EVERYONE --- how interesting is this story? Because it could be wrapped up in the next few (well, I'm kind of wordy, so probably a few plus some) chapters, or it could go on and get kinda involved. I'm not sure which way to go with it, so cast your votes/sound off! Any ideas/thoughts/criticisms/etc. are always welcome!