A/N: Ugh, rain! So much rain the day I wanted to go hiking! Damn you rain! I guess I'll give you guys another chapter :) Maybe reading the reviews will cheer me up!
Gold: Pesky bank accounts...
Raider: haha :) Scout's just such a teenager.
HP: Scout and Liam are always sweet :) As I'm editing ahead (Search is 100% edited now though some of it I did in the middle of the night so...trying to catch typos and such as I go) I come to parts that I'm just like "Aw I'm going to do a oneshot from this" and then I'm like..."Nope the main story isn't there yet"...most recently this feeling came from a Father/Daughter moment.
AER: Band camp is fun. You must not be doing something right :P Go prank someone and call it a day.
Saberin: I've noticed that (with the exception of Harry Potter with his mother's eyes...something the movies got SO WRONG!) how we envision characters tends to stray from the author's version. Like...in the Selection they say America has red hair. I read this, I see the girl on the cover, I look at castings every time she releases it to TV or film...in my head America has brown hair. I guess our own images get mixed up other people we associate the character with and it gets mixed up.
Disclaimer: I'm not John Flanagan. And still not Australian.
Scout boarded the wolfship behind Kineta and her mother. The sailors took care of the horses while the three women were shown to the room used to house those who hired the ship. The Wolfwill had taken a new captain just a few years ago. Svein, Oberjarl Erak's son, stood at the helm looking particularly rough. Scout made a mental note to avoid him. Though she'd been to the sea numerous times she had never set foot outside of Araluen in her memory. Her parents told her she'd been to Hibernia for Sean and Kineta's wedding but she'd been too young to remember it now. The voyages she'd been on had always been on fishermen's ships just off the coast of Araluen. Her mother drank ginger tea to fight seasickness both she and Scout's grandfather were infamous for. Scout's short trips led her to believe she hadn't inherited the unfortunate trait. She actually liked the constant motion. It was like being rocked when she was a small child.
The room had two beds just slightly bigger than the one Scout had slept in at home. She and her mother shared one while Kineta took the other. They sat facing each other so they could stay out of the crew's way until they were safely at sea heading for Hibernia.
"What is Hibernia like?" Scout asked.
"It has green hills and lots of lakes," Kineta answered. "Sean and I have been slowly moving the capitol to a more central castle on Loch Crest. I think you'll like the new castle even though we won't be moving there for another eighteen or so months. Your quarters have a balcony overlooking the loch."
"Loch?" Scout asked as she turned to her mother.
"Lake," Lina translated for her. "A really big lake. Sailors say they are as deep as the sea."
"Until then you will get to stay in the rooms Princess Caitlyn used growing up."
"Everything's changing so fast," Scout whispered.
"I'm going above deck for air," Lina announced as she picked up her crutches. "You two have fun bonding."
Kineta leaned towards Scout once Lina was gone. "I'm happy you're going to give this life a chance."
"I'm not making any promises," Scout said defensively.
"Of course not." Kineta straightened up. "Now tell me, have you learned to dance?"
"Of course I have," Scout answered. Lady Sandra and Aunt Alyss had taught her formally in addition to practicing at home with her father when Lina was traveling. Dancing wasn't really something that ever interested her. It seemed like nothing more than a mindless shuffling of feet while two people tried to entrance the other. How a set pattern of steps could ever entrance a person Scout would never know.
"How is your waltz?"
Scout swallowed hard. "I've only waltzed once before and it was a complete disaster."
"Well, you are only fifteen. I doubt you've had much opportunity to waltz properly. We'll have to get you lessons straight away."
"Why?"
"Princesses waltz."
"I hate the waltz."
"Pity. Your mother used to love it."
Scout perked up. She'd heard her mother used to be a great dancer before her injury but couldn't see Lina enjoying the mindless steps of formal occasion frolicking. "She did?"
Kineta nodded. "She was the best at the Academy. And when she danced with your father everyone stopped to watch. Musicians used to speed the tempo every time the two stepped out onto the floor. They were spectacular."
"I can't imagine Mama dancing."
"That is because you have only her with her lame foot in your memory."
Scout hugged her knees to her chest. "I guess."
Kineta shook her head firmly. "Don't sit like that. Princesses don't slouch."
Scout straightened.
"You've got much to learn Scout."
"I really don't think I'm meant to be a princess."
"You don't know what you're meant to be. You are only fifteen."
The three mounted up and rode for Dun Kilty. A man wearing a braided leather headband similar to Kineta's greeted them. Scout held Prince while her mother unlatched the crutches from her saddle.
"Who is that?" Scout asked.
"Your cousin Sean," Lina told her. "He's the king."
"He doesn't look like a king."
"Well, he's no Horace but he's still a king."
After welcoming back his wife Sean went to Lina and embraced her. "Still using those messy Araluen crutches I see," he teased.
"Have to get around somehow," Lina told him as they separated. "It's good to see you."
"And this must be Scout. You've grown up so much."
Scout curtsied the way she'd been taught. Sean just shook his head. "You don't have to do that to me unless we're in a formal setting. A family reunion is hardly formal. Now, everyone come with me. There's a meal waiting for us."
Scout had never felt so unprepared. She'd attended formal meals and been in the presence of countless members of royal families but nerves set her on edge. Kineta and Lina quietly corrected her each time she used the wrong utensil and they shook their heads with disappointment when a few drops of gravy splattered onto her dress. Such minor mishaps were perfectly tolerable for a Ranger's daughter but for a princess? She should have just dumped her whole plate into her lap and eaten with her fingers.
"Tomorrow we'll make the adoption official," Sean said as they finished the meal. He looked straight at Scout. "Know, Princess, that Kineta and I have no intention of taking the place of your parents. This is just a formality."
Scout nodded. She'd been assured of that ever since she agreed to the whole thing but hearing the king voice it was comforting. "Well," Kineta said as she wiped her mouth off. "Perhaps we should all retire early. It has been a very long day and I'm sure we could all use some rest before tomorrow. I would say a servant could show the two of you to Scout's quarters but Lina, I'm sure you remember the way?"
Lina nodded. "Thank you both."
Scout kept with her mother's slow pace as she led them to a door with guards on either side. They both eyed the women as they came near.
"I am Nerilina O'Carrick," Lina said. "This is my daughter, Scout Leaf."
"Proof," the younger of the two demanded. The older one shook his head.
"I know the princess when I see her," he said roughly. Then he smiled at Scout and her mother. Scout felt uneasy with the recognition in his eyes. "Princess Nerilina, you probably don't remember me. I was at the Sunrise Warrior Academy when I was young…was raised up there. You used to tutor me in Nihon-Ja. Name's Ellery."
"Ellery…" Lina repeated. A smile spread across her mother's face. "Ellery, of course I remember you now. How's Ismine? Is she here too?"
"No. She married a baron about six years ago and lives in Limerick. They've got six sons and two daughters if you can believe that."
"I don't believe it. She can't be more than…what? Twenty-seven?"
"I know. She's had both daughters and four of the sons, one each year since her wedding, but adopted two of the middle sons. Has plans to adopt again too once she births the one she's carrying."
"Well, she always did like playing mother to the other children."
"This one is yours?"
Lina nodded. Scout's inadequacy nagged at her as he looked her up and down. "I have two. This is the oldest, Scout. Her sister's name is Caitlyn."
"Odd name, Scout."
"No more odd than Ellery. Have you got a family?"
Ellery shook his head. "No. I'm afraid the Academy ruined me for family."
"You couldn't have been more than twelve when it was done away with."
Ellery shrugged. "Some things just stay with you I guess. Hard for me to get close to people…but enough of that." He opened the door. "Go on in and, Princess Scout, I hope you enjoy your new home."