Ostus brushed off Kiara's comment with a knowing smirk. "You bet your ass I don't know my place," he said, eyeing the guards. "Now, as she said..."

The two guards sent Ostus scathing glances before exchanging looks and a nod. One of the guards stepped forward. "We will see about this," he said, his voice heavily accented. He eyed Kiara. "Your coloring suggests you're from Astora, but you do not look like any princess." He turned his gaze to Ostus. "Your weapons, give them up."

Ostus didn't like entering unfamiliar territory, especially enemy territory, unarmed. What if all of this was just a ruse to kill the princess or take her hostage? He eyed the man in challenge, unmoving. Both guards placed their hands on the hilts of their swords. One of them glanced up. Ostus flickered his gaze upward along the massive stone wall to see several archers at the top, arrows at the ready. Damn. It seemed he would not have a choice in the matter.

Keeping his smirk, he removed his broadsword from his back, passing it over to the guard, who in turn handed it to his partner.

"Move a muscle and you will die along with your supposed princess," the guard said. "If you are as you say you are, then your weapons will be returned to you." With that, the guard began to disarm Ostus further. Somehow this guard knew all the places where Ostus kept daggers hidden; these men were well-trained. Ostus gritted his teeth throughout it all. Even if he somehow managed to attack this guard and position him as a shield against falling arrows, there would be no way he'd be able to also save Kiara from the archers' line of sight. He swallowed his pride and endured, inwardly reminding himself that there was no reason to attack, that these men would not harm them, that they were supposed to be here. It was difficult; he had been fighting Berinike men for most of his life.

Once finished, the guard stepped in front of Kiara, coal-black eyes studying her with disdain. "You as well. Pass over all of your weapons."

Inside, Kiara was panicking. The guards were right. In her current state, she did not look like a princess. In fact, it was likely that she had even forgotten how to act like one during her weeks away from the palace. Not completely of course, but it was harder to supress who she was this time around. After being able to finally express it... it was as if she were dying. Worse. It was as if she were killing herself.

But, deep down, she knew exactly how she was supposed to act. A princess did not look at Ostus uneasily when he gave up his weapons. She did not voice her surprise or annoyance with him for doing so. She did not mention that she'd noticed the archers or the looks the guards were giving her. What a princess did was act as if no one were on her level. As if she were above anyone and everyone. So of course she said, "No."

Her laughter was cold and not amused in the slightest. "You must be delusional." As she spoke, she adopted a haughty tone that Ostus had probably never heard her speak with. "I will not be insulted. You expect me to walk into enemy territory without a single weapon? Honestly. Do you think me a fool?"

She paused for a moment, staring the guards up and down in a dismissive manner. "If you don't believe I am who I say you could easily kill me for carrying a weapon, correct? But if I am the princess, you will have committed treason against your country as well as my own by destroying a truce we are in the middle of making." Though she was shorter than him, the look Kiara gave the one talking was obviously meant to make him feel small. Her voice was icy as she said her final words. "Now are you really willing to take that chance?"

The guard's expression was iron-hard. He did not bristle in anger nor shrink back in trepidation. Instead, he locked gazes with her, unyielding to her words. "If you truly are the princess of Astora, then you should know that this is your home now; you will have no need for weapons. I am not willing to take the risk of letting you inside this castle fully armed only to have you be an assassin pretending to be the princess."

"If this is Princess Kiara's home, then there is no reason to disarm her," Ostus snapped, "because there would be no reason to harm her new neighbors."

The guard whirled around. "You dare to--"

One of the castle gate doors opened enough for a man to step through. He was tall, stocky, and of a much broader build than Ostus; the man looked like he could knock down three normal-sized men in a single tackle. His was fully armed, the metal a gleaming black with yellow trim, a thick black cloak draped over his shoulders. He was bald, his skin the color of a deep mahogany, with a salt-and-pepper beard that hinted at his age. Dark eyes narrowed, ignoring everyone around him except for the princess, who he stared at intently.

Both guards gasped and immediately dropped to one knee, heads bowed. A faint rustling above indicated that the archers had withdrawn their arrows.

Ostus knew why. This was King Hugo Sidia of Berinike, a man who fought in almost every battle against Astora in this war since the start of his reign. Not only was it common for royalty of Berinike to fight alongside their soldiers, it was expected. It showed in this man's confidant stance, so natural and intimidating, in the scar that ran across his face from his left eyebrow, across his nose, to the bottom of the right side of his jaw, and in the way the others around him reacted; the king was armed and alert, meaning there was no need for further security.

Though Ostus had never faced the king in combat, he had always daydreamed about someday killing him. It was a goal shared by most of his comrades. No one in Astora could understand why the king and five of his six sons would risk their lives and their dynasty in battle. All five of those sons had died by Astorian blades; many called the king mad for allowing his sons to cast away their lives so carelessly. Many strategic attempts were made on his life, but somehow, all attempts on the king's life were thwarted. If only his sons had shown the same skill. Many joked that the man was invincible or immortal. As hated as he was, many respected his talent for battle tactics.

Ostus did not bow. In fact, he stood firmly in place, shoulders thrown back, his gaze hard. He would never submit to this man.

King Sidia, however, ignored Ostus completely as though he wasn't even there. "That is the princess of Astora," he remarked, his voice a deep, rich baritone. "She looks like her mother. Return her footman's weapons. Princess Kiara, follow me."

He turned, his cape fluttering behind him. It bore the yellow crest of the dragon.

Ostus exhaled, not realizing that he had been holding his breath. How did King Sidia know what Kiara's mother looked like? Furthermore, how had he not said something, anything, to the man he wanted to kill for so long? Instead, he had stood there like a dufus, angry at himself for not taking some sort of action. He glanced at Kiara as the guards begrudgingly handed back all of his weapons.

Kiara was about to send a glare towards Ostus for saying words that she could have spoken herself when she was taken by surprise. Before her stood King Sidia of Berinike. Her expression was unchanged despite the fury she felt, the only reaction given by her being a small tilt of the head. She'd never seen the King or any of his sons, at least not in person. All she had were portraits to go off of, but this certainly could be no one else.

His looks were a curiosity to her. She'd seen them before, on her assassin, but never on someone of power. The confidence, his stance, it was what she should have been giving off as well, but Kiara was sure she was nowhere close. It was as if she could feel his presence even if she closed her eyes. Kiara eyed the scar on his face, so like her own, and her anger came back in tidal wave that she could barely keep off of her face.

This was the man who had ordered her death. It was one thing to send someone to kill an adult, but what he had done was unforgivable. It did not matter that she was royal, killing a child was just... it was wrong. He had wanted her dead once, who was to say he would not try again now that she was closer? But wasn't that what she'd signed up for when she had agreed to this treaty? Kiara had known that her death was a possibility, or more probably an inevitability. She'd cheated it once. Didn't that mean she was living on borrowed time?

For just a second, too quickly for someone who was not paying attention to notice, her eyes were glassy. There were very few reasons that this man would know what her mother looked like. Even fewer that he would speak as if he knew her. It was true, that Kiara was the spitting image of her mother. The scarlet hair, the skin that tanned so easily, even their voices were very similar. The only thing that differed between the two were their eyes. While Kiara's were the lightest of grays, her mothers were a chocolatey color. It was something she'd always wondered about, but never questioned. Perhaps it was related to this King in front of her. Or perhaps she was reading too far into things.

Kiara forced all thoughts - the attempted assassination, the King, and her mother - out of her head. After all, if she were walking into the Berinike castle, she would have to be on guard, regardless of what anyone said. There was no way she was following the King of her enemy without being prepared for the possibility of a trap. So, as she walked behind him, she held her bow tightly in her hands. There was no way she could use it, but no one here except Ostus would know that.

Ostus felt better having his weapons back, though seeing Kiara's blatant anger concerned him. He wondered about the intensity of it, but said nothing as he fell in step beside her, tense and ready to draw a weapon at a second's notice. He wished he could comfort her somehow, only imagining what kind of anger and fear she must be experiencing to meet the man that would soon be her father-in-law, a person who had commanded the actions that had killed so many of her people.

It was tempting to kill King Sidia -- he was only two strides ahead, his back turned. It would be too easy. Killing the king would end the war.

However, Ostus wasn't so foolish. Killing the king would simply worsen the war and put Kiara in a far more dangerous situation that she was already in. Still, he wished there was some way he could at least soothe her anger without risk of getting killed.

The throne room was massive, with high, vaulted ceilings and stone pillars. In some ways, it reminded Ostus more of a cathedral than anything else, though the walls were decorated with the Berinike crest and various weapons. "A few trees in here and you'll feel right at home," he joked in a soft voice to Kiara.

Despite the immense space, the room surprisingly felt cozy, almost homely. Perhaps it was the natural lighting combined with the many sconces, or perhaps it was the fact that no one seemed concerned about the king's safety with these two new visitors. This frustrated Ostus. Was he so insignificant that no one should feel concern in his presence? In Astora, he was a hero. Here, he wasn't even acknowledged.

Waiting at the back of the throne room was the queen of Berinike -- Ostus believed her name was Alexis. She remained seated on a chair beside the king's throne, a vision of cold beauty. Her skin was a flawless toffee color, long black hair, smooth as silk, pinned back from her narrow face and spilling gracefully over her shoulders. Chocolate-brown eyes regarded Kiara coldly, no welcoming smile on her full lips. Age lines lingered around the corners of her eyes and mouth, but did not seem to lessen her beauty. Like her husband, she wore no crown. Her dress was a rich maroon color, delicately embroidered and snugly fit over a startlingly-slender frame. Earrings dangled from her ears, several necklaces hung from her neck, and many bracelets decorated her wrists. The woman seemed to like her jewelry.

"Finally, Princess Kiara graces us with her presence," Queen Alexis remarked coldly.

Hugo sighed wearily. "Don't start, my love," he murmured, attempting to be quiet about it, as he settled on his throne beside her. "Remember who she will become."

"I know full well who she will become," Alexis snapped none too quietly, her jaw tightening with anger. She shifted her glare back to the princess and moved forward.

Ostus blinked. She had moved, but did not rise to standing. That's when he noticed the large wheels on either side of her chair. The queen... she was crippled! Was this a natural occurrence or did something happen to her? Ostus knew very little about the queen except that she never participated in battle.

"You look a fright," the queen said haughtily to Kiara, "though I suppose it's typical Astorian custom to love nature so much as to appear to be living in the dirt. Come closer so I can take a good look at you, and explain your tardiness. We had begun to think your family had betrayed us on the deal."

Kiara's eyes narrowed at the queen that was now in front of her. She had known the woman was in a wheelchair, but to see it in person was different. She'd been sheltered all her life, the only wounds she'd ever seen were on her own body. To see something so permanant, so life changing, was a bit overwhelming. She would have felt pity for the queen, if only she were nicer. It was understandable, Kiara supposed. After all, she would be taking Alexis's place. The thought caused a small smirk to grace her lips.

"Aw. I'm sorry. Did I offend? I suppose that you must sit in your chair all day long. When was the last time you went outside? Probably ages. Such a shame." The grip she held on her bow tightened as her anger grew. Yes, Kiara was crazy for being here in a place where no one respected her. Though, she supposed it was worse for Ostus. Not a single person had even acknowledge him. Even the guards had passed him over as if he was no threat. She was sure it had affected his pride, but she could not find it in herself to care. After all, he was the one who had started acting different first.

"As for why I'm late. We ran into some trouble in the mountains. It delayed us, but we're here now." There was no way she was going to let them know she was injured, possibly permanantly. For one, damaged goods weren't something any future king would want. And two, if she needed to defend herself in this place, she really needed some kind of upperhand. "I don't suppose you remember what it's like to fight for you life do you? Because if you did, you'd realize that people do anything to stay alive. Including dressing like a peasant." Her voice was light, as if she were just talking about the weather.

It was easy to play the queen's game. Despite her looks, Kiara was a princess. One day she would be a queen. She'd grown up in court, a place this woman probably married into. So, at least she had more practice in that department. The problem was that Kiara just happened to be nicer, and so it stung a bit to be so rude to a crippled woman. That was the way things were, though, and there was nothing she could do about it.

If she did not play by the queen's rules, she would not be respected. If she did, she would probably be hated. It was a give and take. This was exactly why she had not wanted to live this life. It was why she would have given anything to be normal. In order to be good at her "job", she had to be ruthless. She also had to be wise and kind. It was full of contradictions, and it gave Kiara a really bad headache.

Queen Alexis's expression darkened. She wheeled herself closer to Kiara, seemingly not intimidated by the arrow the girl held so tightly in her grip. "I was not always like this," she remarked coldly. "I once could walk. I could run. I could defend myself. If I hadn't fought for my life, I'd be dead. Instead, I am this."

She wheeled in a circle around the princess, scrutinizing her carefully. "At least you're not a meek mouse of a girl," she remarked. "Your betrothed will need your... spirit. That still doesn't excuse your appearance. It is utterly disrespectful to come tramping in here like--"

"Disrespectful?!" Ostus exploded. "This woman has risked her life to not only bring peace to our country, but to your country as well! You should be thanking the stars that she is even here, you ungrateful bi--"

"ENOUGH!" the king bellowed, though he did not rise from his throne. "Shut your trap, elf. You're lucky I haven't cut you down."

"Kiara will soon be a part of your family!" Ostus retorted, forgetting to refer to the princess by her proper title. After all that they had been through, he was not going to stand by and be treated like garbage. He was not going to leave Kiara knowing she would be treated so disrespectfully. "You should be welcoming her with open arms! You should--"

"This is an affair of politics!" Hugo roared as Alexis wheeled back to her husband's side, "not family! You are grossly out of touch with the way the world works, of the sacrifices that are made every day to ensure you eat, sleep with a roof over your head, and live to swing that pathetic sword of yours around for another day! Do not test my patience or you will not live to know when you have exhausted it!"

Ostus glared, seethed, but said no more. He had fought against armies led by this man long enough to know that he meant every word.

"Princess Kiara, you will be shown to your new living quarters. You will clean up and prepare to meet our son, your betrothed, prince Lamont. As for you, elf, I had considered granting you the choice to stay as a familiar face to help our future daughter grow accustomed to life in Berinike and to serve as a bodyguard for her; our men our stretched thin from this wretched war. Now, I'm not so sure, especially given your loathsome attitude and the impression the princess seems to be implying with her 'spirit' that she doesn't need you."

Kiara was seething. She had completely forgotten that Ostus had not been a figure in court and therefore did not know the rules to the game. Instead, he was embarrassing her and was likely to get himself killed. Not only that, but he'd addressed her by only her first name, showing a familiarity that they should not have. So, before she addressed the king and queen, she turned to her guard.

"Ostus. Watch your tongue. You have obviously forgotten who you are talking to. Now show some respect." Her glare was serious and her voice cold as she spoke. He might not ever understand, but she was trying to keep him safe. People were beheaded for saying far less to the royals. He had been spoiled by Astora, where though they may not have been treated like equals, the people were allowed to say what they wished to their leaders without punishment. It was not the case in most anywhere else. Insulting the king could be considered treason.

"Thank you for considering my comfort by allowing my guard to stay, but I do not think that necessary." Again, each word was said deliberately, in an attempt to keep Ostus out of harm's way. She had wanted him to stay, but had not realized just how little knowledge he had about how to act in court. More importantly, she forgot how much that would put him in danger. "I think that he would be much better off returning to Astora and continuing to fight against Callum."

Something the king had said to Ostus was surprising to Kiara, though. That he had no idea the sacrifices that were made every day for him and the rest of the people to live the way they did. This was exactly what she had been trying to explain to him that night weeks ago by the fire. It was also exactly what he failed to understand no matter how she tried to word it.

There was also something the queen had said. That the prince needed her "spirit". What exactly had she meant by that? It took everything she had not to slump over from exhaustion from both her journey and dealing with these people. "I would indeed love to clean up. Despite how necessary it was to dress like this, I would very much like to go back to normal. I do apologize for the state I'm in. It is not how I wished to meet either of you." Now that she had shown the queen she would not be walked over, Kiara could show a bit of respect as well.

Ostus turned to look at Kiara, complete shock all over his expression. He had defended her honor, tried to protect her from these assholes, but somehow she did not see any of that. Somehow, she saw his loyalty as a nuisance and was treating him no better than a common servant. He gazed at her as though he could find the answers just from looking, trying to understand why Kiara would turn on him like this.

Then she addressed the king and queen, firmly stating her desire to send Ostus away. She did not want him here.

Stunned, he looked away, staring at the ground in disbelief. Those words hurt him more than he ever expected them to, like losing a best friend. Perhaps he had. Perhaps, somewhere along the way, he had started to fall in love with her and he just hadn't realized it until now. He thought of Kiara laughing in his arms, of her dancing just for him. He thought of the kisses they shared; he had believed there was meaning behind the exchange. She had shed tears for him, confided in him... where had he missed the obvious cues that he was never anyone of real importance to her, just someone to be used?

That shock turned to painful anger. She had stated that she hated him several times. She had blamed him before for her problems. He was merely her protector, her provider, the person to get her here, and now that she had arrived safe and sound, she had no more use for him. Her kisses... her dancing... she was lonely, so she used him; that's all it was. Now she had her betrothed to chase away those fears and lonely nights and whoever else was unlucky enough to get to know her.

He did not look at her again as he raised his head, his expression hard, gazing out at nothing in particular but shattered memories. He straightened his posture, clasping his hands behind his back, at military rest. "I'll leave at my earliest convenience, Your Highness," he said, his tone sharp, biting. Since he had gotten to know Kiara, he dreaded leaving her side. Now he wanted nothing more than to leave as soon as possible, to place as much distance between himself and her as he could. Fuck royalty and their pig-headed, narrow-minded selfishness.

The queen wheeled herself forward, stopping in front of Ostus. She peered at his face before shifting her gaze to Kiara, a sharpness to her curious expression. Then she began to circle around him, scrutinizing him as though he were cattle.

This made Ostus feel uncomfortable. He wanted to say something as he followed her movements, but knew he was already in precarious enough of a situation as it was.

"How good are you with that sword?" Queen Alexis asked.

"A master," Ostus declared, sending a glare the king's way. He returned the gaze coolly, looking almost bored.

"What other weapons can you use?"

"Anything designed to kill Beri--people, I am sufficient in." Why was he answering all of these questions? What was this crazy bitch getting at?

"You are not to leave until you meet Lamont," Queen Alexis said firmly.

"What?" both Ostus and the king said aloud.

"Lamont has turned away every other weapon master in the area," King Hugo said with exasperation as Queen Alexis wheeled back to her spot. "He will not tolerate this one."

"Unlike the others, this one is an elf," Alexis proclaimed, "who is not afraid to speak his mind... to anyone."

"I'd rather just return home," Ostus said dryly. "As Princess Kiara says, there is absolutely no use for me here."

"Nonsense. You will meet Lamont."

"Dearest," King Hugo began in a patient voice, "this man has insulted you. He--"

"So I am an ungrateful bitch," she said firmly. "This footman--"

"My name is Ostus Osa--"

"will meet my son, and he will finally train him in the art of combat, and you, my king, may finally feel pride for your youngest."

King Hugo sighed and shook his head.

Queen Alexis smiled at Kiara; Ostus thought a crocodile would look more welcoming. "I understand completely how you feel," she said sweetly. "You've journeyed a very long way indeed. How rude of us to treat you, our future daughter in law and resident at our castle, with such disrespect. You must forgive us; we have been on edge as of late with the war, as you are well-aware. I am grateful that your courage will soon bring peace to both of our kingdoms. Now, a servant girl will escort you to your chambers. There you can enjoy a hot bath, have a change of clothes, get that beautiful hair of yours combed out... Then you will join us for lunch where you can meet Prince Lamont. I would love to get better acquainted with you. All I ask, dear one, is that you command your footman, who so courageously saw to your safety on your travels, to stay just long enough to meet the prince. Because you seem anxious to release your footman from your employ, I will ensure that his time with my son will not interfere with the time the two of you will spend together."

King Hugo rolled his eyes but said nothing. He was used to his wife's antics. He just couldn't understand why she insisted on keeping this wretched elf in the kingdom longer than necessary.

After spending so much time with him, Kiara could see the hurt, the betrayal, and the anger behind Ostus's hard expression. It broke her heart. It didn't matter if he didn't, couldn't understand. If he stayed here, they would kill him. Or worse, they would do what they had done to her. Crush his spirit, ruin everything about him, everything that she... It was not going to be easy to send him away, but it was the best thing she could do for him. Her final act of gratitude, even if he hated her forever.

Her nails dug into her hand as she realized the queen had been watching, much more closely than Kiara had realized. In trying to save him, she'd only made things worse. Apparently, she was out of practice at hiding her emotions. She'd need to work on that quickly if she were to keep anything from this woman. She knew. Kiara could see that Ostus was uncomfortable with the queen's mental poking and prodding, but that was not something she could focus on because the queen knew. Or at least had some inkling that there was something going on between the princess and her guard. So why on earth did she insist he stay? There were very few reasons Kiara could think of, and none ended well for either of them. She would need to be very careful in the weeks to come.

Yes, it was obvious that the queen thought she had something over Kiara when she spoke so sugary sweet to her. After each and every insult, it was clear as day that she was proving a point. It didn't matter. There was nothing Kiara could do about it at the moment, and so she chose to react as any sane person would: Pretend as if it didn't bother her at all. "Of course. Guard, you are to do as Queen Alexis orders. You will meet her son, and you will stay out of my way or you will regret it. Do you understand?" The use of something other than his name caused her to flinch internally, but the more she distanced from him... the easier things would be and the sooner he could go home.

Without another word to king, queen, or soldier, Kiara left. It was a relief to finally be in the presence of a mere servant girl even if she was glaring in a way that only the Berinike's could. They'd been walking a good while before Kiara could take it no more. It was one thing to hide emotions from those she considered enemies, but to lie to someone she considered a friend... It hurt her more than she cared to admit. As such, it was no surprise when she found herself wiping furiously at her watering eyes. The girl looked at her for barely a second before continuing to walk down the hall. Even if it was out of hatred, Kiara was grateful she had not asked what was wrong.

"Your room, miss." The girl said in the same tone that Kiara had recently adopted. Technically, she could punish the servant for using "miss" instead of "Your Highness" or "Princess," but Kiara had always found titles annoying and more than a little superficial. They caused your people to feel very below you which was never what she had wanted them to think.

So, instead, she smiled at the girl and thanked her. Said girl only narrowed her eyes, distrusting, before she took off.

---

It was hours later that Kiara found herself in front of a mirror - the first one she had seen since the day she'd left. It was as if she'd come full circle, her trip here a distant memory. Just like they had that day, her fingers reached out to touch her eyes. They were different than the last time she had looked at them. They were still full of loss, of fear, but there was also a happiness there. It was true that she was in a place she did not want to be, pretending to be someone she was not. However, despite this, Kiara had been able to show someone the real her. Even if it was only for a few weeks, it would last her a lifetime.

A quiet sigh escaped her lips before she made her way to where the royal family was dining. Yes, she had not missed this life, not one bit. The corset she was wearing was laced tight, so that she could barely breath. Luckily, she had gotten to choose her own dress. Likely the queen would comment on it seeing as it was more simple than what Kiara would have been forced to wear at home.

The gown was a forest green, chosen because of Alexis's comment about the trees of Astora, and because it brought out the red in her hair far more than anything else she could have put on. It was not puffy, or lacy, or frilly. In fact, it was very much herself. She had to hide most of her personality beneath a mask of confidence and haughtiness, but sometimes it showed itself in the most peculiar ways.

For example, it could also be seen in the fact that she was wearing no make up. The way Kiara saw it, if she was forced to hide who she was, there was no reason to hide her face as well. And then there were the boots. The gown hid them well, but if anyone caught a glimpse of her shoes they would see that she had not changed them. Pretty heels had never been her style. You could not fight or defend yourself in them. Then there was the dagger hidden in her boot - just in case - and the way she had left her unruly waves down instead of pinning them up in a proper manner.

So, even as she put on that fake smile, stood up straight, and pretended that she could not give a damn that she was here, anyone who knew her - really knew her - would see that she was not giving up any part of herself. Not for the king, queen, or prince. Not for Ostus. Not for her country. No, there was no one in this world that would ever truly break her. The smile became real at the thought, and Kiara pushed open the doors satisfied that she was still herself somewhere inside.

The dining room was full of contrasts; a recurring Berinike theme. The undecorated table was large with sturdy legs, the wood thick. Though there was a healthy variety of food to choose from at the center of the table, most of it consisted of food that seemed a bit heavy for lunch -- steak, turkey legs, and potatoes. King Hugo's plate was heaped with these things as well as plenty of vegetables, a mug of wine nearby. The plates and serving platters, however, were delicate, the silverware pristine. Candles around the room would give the space atmosphere in the evenings, but sunlight bathed the room in afternoons such as this one, the windows yielding to a breathtaking view of the valley below them and the distant mountains beyond. A violinist played soothing songs nearby. Servers stood at the ready for the royal family's beck and call.

Unlike her husband, Queen Alexis primly nibbled on a salad. There were two more places set up for two more people. A servant guided Kiara to one of them, pulling out a chair beside the queen. Wine was poured instantly, soup served, and a waiter waited patiently to bring any food that Kiara deemed out of reach.

The remaining empty plate, across from Kiara, had no one sitting before it, and both parents kept passing glances at that seat as they ate.

Ostus was nowhere to be seen, not since the king escorted him away after Kiara's command. Not since Ostus managed to cast her a scathing glare over his shoulder before looking away in defeat.

"You look lovely; much better than before," the queen murmured, though she had barely glanced at Kiara. "Pick whatever you'd like to eat. It's a bit heavy for a lunch to you, I'm sure, but it is Berinike custom, especially to guests."

It was not lost on Kiara that the one she was supposed to be meeting had not yet shown up. She watched curiously as the king and queen looked at each other over and over again. Obviously, they had expected the prince earlier and he was missing in action. There was also another that was not present at this so called lunch. Her appetite was lost as she simply stared at the empty plate in front of her. The two most important men in her life didn't want to see her. The one who she wanted to spend forever with now hated her. That was likely the reason he had not come. And then there was the one she would spend forever with. He'd likely not arrived because he was feeling the same as she.

What kind of normal person is excited to marry someone they have never met, someone they were raised to hate? Although, Kiara realized, she actually did not know anything about Lamont. It was said that he never left the castle, never fought for Berinike like his brothers had. She did not even know what he looked like. This youngest son was a mystery to her country and to her. From what Alexis had said, he didn't even know how to fight. Normally, that would not be uncommon. No royalty in Astora was trained in weapons, at least none but her. Berinike was different. The children - all children - were taught to use a dagger before they were taught to walk. It was in the blood.

At least he would not be the one to kill her, she thought sarcastically. After all, a man who can not use a sword could not stab her with one. So, she'd have to watch out for Hugo instead. Though, it was still possible that Lamont would be able to kill her when her guard was done. It was not hard to kill a person while they slept whether you were trained or not.

A small sigh, barely audible, escaped her lips and she reached forward to grab some food. Yes, back to eating like a princess. That meant nothing like the king's plate. Instead, she grabbed some potatoes and filled the rest of her plate with a sort of salad. Not once did she ask the servants for help, preferring to stand up and reach for something herself no matter how rude her hosts thought her.

A bout of nerves hit her as she waited for her husband to be. She knew how he was feeling, obviously, but to not show up was rude and a bit hurtful. She'd come all this way to meet him, the least he could do was... sit and stare at her like a normal person. Reaching for her wine, Kiara took a long drink. This was going to be an awkward lunch.

Hugo and Alexis fell into idle chit-chat for at least ten minutes. It was the sort of empty conversation that was had when you knew everything about a person and what they did that day but needed to talk to pass the time for the mere sake of talking.

Finally, Queen Alexis set her fork down. "He's lost track of time again," she snapped, clearly fuming. "I told him this was important. I told him Princess Kiara was here. Still, he does not come!"

"He probably lost track of time at the library again," King Hugo muttered. "I never understood that boy -- why read about something when you can live it?"

"He's a daydreamer and idealist like you."

"Yes, but I only read when necessary."

"Well, I'm getting sick and tired of him--"

"I'll go get him," King Hugo muttered, setting his napkin down. Even the Berinike king knew of matters. He began to rise out of his chair.

"Wait." Queen Alexis shot Kiara a sly grin. "Have Princess Kiara fetch him. Alone."

The king raised an eyebrow, giving his wife a look as though she were daft. "Alone? She doesn't even know where the library is."

"One of the servants will escort her there and will make sure she finds him. Perhaps, after Lamont sees her, she can manage to convince him to join us at the table." She smiled at Kiara, though it was strained with hard expectation. "Go on; if your betrothed won't come to you, you'll simply have to go to him."

Kiara was completely content to just pick at her food and listen to the babbling of the queen to her husband. It was a shame that this was short lived. Soon the arguing began and inwardly she groaned. She'd agreed to marry into this family, that was true, but it didn't mean she wanted to be dragged into their drama. Sure, it was rare for someone in Berinike to spend all day reading, but why should she care? Well. She did care because if she was more adept at combat than her husband well... that was bound to create some problems, but that didn't mean she wanted to go after him. Besides, the looks that Alexis was giving her were disturbing. It was obvious what she meant by "convince him," and Kiara was just not comfortable with that.

It didn't matter though, not really. If she said no, it would just make things worse for her here. So instead, she said, "Yes. Of course." Before standing and pausing a second to give a longing look towards the steak on the table. Damned princes and their damned selfishness. Didn't he know she was trying to eat? Because of this, she was grumpy on her way to the library. Well, because of the food and because she had no idea where she was.

She understood exactly why the queen had sent her. Most Astorans were beautiful, just as she, even when they were not dressed in their best. Alexis expected Kiara to be able to pull her son from the library with good looks and charms. Unfortunately for the queen, Kiara was not in the mood. Not one bit. She was tired of trying to impress people and since the prince was on her level, she didn't feel the need to do so with him. It was his parents she'd needed to like her, not Lamont.

So, as she pushed open the doors to the library, her voice held a barely concealed anger. "Now, I understand you're a prince and have been allowed to do whatever you want since birth, but that does not mean you stand up your parents and I just to read. I could care less why you're here, just that I'm missing the best lunch I've probably had in weeks just to drag your ass to eat with us. Honestly, I'm not in the mood for this, so let's go shall we?"

The library wasn't too far from the dining hall; Kiara only had to enter the castle's next wing. This library was probably considered small by the standards of Astora. It was the size of a large study, every wall covered with shelves stuffed with books and scrolls. A huge bay window overlooked the mountains, as did many of the windows in this castle. Sitting on the platform around the bay window was Prince Lamont Sidia of Berinike. It was clear from first glance that he had taken more of his mother's features. His dusky skin was more of his mother's tone than his father's, and he had the same head of shoulder-length luxurious dark hair, pulled back in a low ponytail. Strands of his hair had come undone to fall over his face, but it didn't bother him. He wore a black jacket with yellow trim over a loose-fitting white shirt tucked into black trousers and soft-soled black boots. The mid-thigh-length jacket sported a high collar, and the back bore the Berinike crest of the yellow dragon. White gloves rested behind him. It was clear he was dressed to represent his country at an important event... such as a lunch... but he had chosen not to go. He was slender in build with a narrow, clean-shaven face and sharp features. Ironically, aside from his skin tone, he looked like he would fit in better in Astora whereas Ostus, aside from being an elf, would look right at home in Berinike.

Chocolate-brown eyes scrolled through the book he was reading, his expression softened to quiet contentment. He was the only one in the room; this place was his sanctuary. If only he could spend the whole day here...

The door burst open. He jumped in surprise and looked up from his book, flustered. He expected his father or one of his brutish guards, prepared to give them a tongue-lashing for pulling him from this chapter, but he blinked, his words caught in his throat, both eyebrows shooting up in surprise. Someone new had decided to barge in here instead... a woman with flaming red hair...

One had to be an idiot not to realize that this was the Princess of Astora. Lamont barely registered her words, too distracted by her appearance. Yes, Berinike women were not the sort to be pushed around, but to barge in on someone's business like this? What sort of proper lady did that? And were those boots beneath the hem of her dress? He squinted; yes, they were. How odd. The dress was plain but the color was fitting. Besides, her hair, creamy skin, and grey eyes made up for the dress's simplicity. He had to admit to himself that he was a bit relieved he wasn't being forced to marry someone he would not be able to stomach looking at. To him she was a wild beauty, someone he had no interest in taming. In fact, he hoped that aside from the marriage ceremony and however long it took to conceive an heir, he would not have to deal with her at all; it was the only way he could stand the idea of marrying a complete stranger.

So, after a moment to recompose himself, Lamont returned his gaze to his book. "I suspect you had many meals just fine throughout your lifetime that didn't involve me being there," he said in a smooth, accented voice, not at all brash and loud like Ostus. He turned the page of the book, never glancing up. "Surely you do not need me to be there to assist you in eating. The food tastes better when it's hot, so I suggest heading back right away. It was a pleasure meeting you."

Just as Lamont was distracted by her appearance, Kiara was taken aback by his. Having never seen even a portrait of the man, she'd expected him to take after his father as many of his brothers did. He was Berinike, so of course she'd been expecting someone large and well built. At least he had the right coloring. Her eyes looked him up and down, judging. He was so... soft. It was as if he'd never had a hard day in his life. She guessed from his thin frame that he had never touched a weapon or worked a day in his life. So strange that it was she that fit in better here than the he considering he was the prince of the damned country.

Ah, that was right. She'd brought a knife because unlike this bookworm, she knew how to use one. Kiara was contemplating the dangers of using it on him when she finally registered his words to her.

"That's cute. That you think I'll be leaving here without you. I'm sure you know that I didn't come here of my own free will. Obviously, I would much rather be sitting at a table ignoring your parents and pretending I was back home. Too bad for the both of us that I am not."

She was quiet as she moved towards him until she was close enough to snatch the book from his hands.

"Like it or not, we are to be wed. Do you know what that means? Sooner or later we'll have to talk. Or meet. Or whatever. Because there is no way you'll be getting any son from me if you will not even bother to look at me. I figure lunch with your parents should be relatively easy compared to the other things I could have us be doing. So I suggest you leave the book here for later and come with me because if you don't I'll just stay and talk through it."

Here she made a point of sitting next to him and batted her eyelashes in the most feminine way she could muster.

"After all, there are just so many things that we haven't talked about. I mean, I'd love to know everything about you! Like your favorite color and whether you prefer the sunrise or sunset. Oh, and let's not forget all the things you like to spend your day doing. I suppose if you'll not talk to me, I could just follow you around to find out my answers." Her tone was sickeningly sweet as she sent a grin his way.

If this didn't work, Kiara would try the knife, but she figured that it would probably be bad if she was beheaded her first day in the city.

Lamont ignored the girl at first, assuming she would return to the dining room and leave him in peace.

Instead, he suddenly found his book snatched away. What was worse, she closed it, meaning he would have to find the page he was reading later. Instantly, he was on his feet; his height was between Kiara's and Ostus's. "How outrageously rude of you!" he shouted. "You don't just take a man's book while he's still reading it! Return it to me this instant!"

His face turned read partly out of anger but primarily out of embarrassment. Of course she wasn't going to return the book, but he wasn't sure what else to do. He didn't want to appear childish by trying to snatch the book back or calling a guard, and he certainly did not want to use physical force against her. Instead, he stood there seething, eyeing the book, angry at himself. He had been walked on his entire life by his brothers, his parents, and citizens. He had hoped, almost prayed, that it would be different with his wife simply because she was not from Berinike, but now he realized that she was just like all the others. What would a normal person do in this situation? If he didn't think of something soon, she would find him completely incompetent.

Lamont blushed in spite of himself when she mentioned sons, and he wished he could crawl into a hole somewhere to hide his apparent weakness from her. Men weren't supposed to blush, especially not over such masculine concepts like conceiving heirs. It annoyed him that she had already brought the subject up.

"I am in no rush to create any sons with you or anyone else," he grumbled as he sat back down, deciding it was better than continuing to stand there like a dumbfounded idiot.

She sat down next to him, casting him a strange look, and he wondered if there was something in her eye.

Lamont frowned when she spoke again, his eyes narrowing the more she rambled on. "You're lying," he snapped. "You wish to know nothing about me, otherwise your first impression wouldn't be like a firestorm bursting through the doors." The smile she carried and the tone of voice she used was just like his mother's; he had a lifetime to know when someone was patronizing him. "Quit pretending you like me; it sickens me."

He rose to his feet and stepped away, moving to gaze out another window. He knew if he was more like his brothers and father, she probably would be genuinely interested in him. HIs brothers seemed to know how to attract a woman's attention. However, he was not like his brothers and they were now all dead, so he had to put up with the situation he was stuck with.

"I suspect my mother sent you here," Lamont said curtly. "This is probably a test for you, isn't it. You worry about how your relationship with my parents will stand if you do not return to the dining room with me." He looked over his shoulder at her. "Am I correct?"

Then he sighed, moving back towards Kiara to retrieve his gloves. "If that is the case and if you would have told me that from the beginning," he grumbled as he slipped them on, "we would already be halfway through this wretched lunch by now."

For a few minutes, Kiara was quiet. Something about how Lamont had reacted made her feel bad. Perhaps it was because he looked so... fragile. All the blushing and the fit he had after she had snatched away his book. Not to mention the reaction he'd had to her saying she wanted to know about him. It was if he truly believed that was a lie. Of course, she'd embellished a bit, but who wanted to marry someone they knew nothing about? And then there was the fact that he was coming to the lunch for her even though he obviously did not want to.

So, as she watched him finally get ready to leave, she felt the need to clear things up. "You're wrong. I would like to talk to you. That part is true. I didn't come all this way just to marry you, pop out babies, and never see you again." She sighed quietly before trying to sound as sincere as she could. "Look. I'm sorry. It's been a long trip here, and an even longer day. I just..."

Here Kiara paused, laying the book beside her and putting her head in her hands. "Please try to remember that this isn't what I wanted either. So can we start over? I'm Kiara. It's nice to meet you. Please come to lunch with me so we can try to get to know each other?"

She stood and brought the book to him an apologetic expression on her face. Yes, she'd been expecting a selfish brute just as Ostus was. The first description may or may not have been true, but this man in front of her was obviously not insensitive. He had real feelings and Kiara had a terrible feeling that she had hurt him without meaning to.

Lamont initially had no interest in getting to know his wife to be, especially not after her grand entrance. To get to know her meant he accepted what his parents had placed on his shoulders, and he did not want to accept. He had accepted what others wanted of him all of his life, whether he liked it or not. As the sixth and youngest son of the royal family, he was never meant to rule a country, let alone two countries. Though he was well-read in politics, he held no passion for it, and he knew nothing of combat. His brothers, all so much more capable than he ever was, had gotten themselves killed one by one either in combat or through assassination attempts. Now the future of Berinike rested on his shoulders. The worst of it was that he could not defy or deny his fate. Marrying Princess Kiara meant peace for two kingdoms, and he was not foolish enough to refuse that. He understood that this option was the best course of action. His union with Kiara would change the course of history. However, how was he to keep himself alive when his brothers could not? Furthermore, how was he going to keep an entire country alive? Two countries? The weight of such a responsibility left him with many sleepless nights, had destroyed his appetite, had dampened his view on life. Books were his only relief through a life he felt he was ill-equipped to face. Though he barely got along with his brothers, he felt he didn't have sufficient time to mourn their deaths. And now it was time to marry the enemy.

Lamont assumed that Kiara had nothing to do with his brothers' murders. In fact, he believed she probably felt as much hatred towards his country and trepidation towards him as he did for her. Yet he found it impossible to smile at her, to greet her warmly, to accept her apology. His Berinike pride would now allow him to yield to his parents' thoughtless decision, to Kiara... not just yet.

So, Lamont studied her carefully with a calculated gaze as he wordlessly took the book from her, then dropped his gaze as he opened it. He flipped through the pages until he found the one he was looking for. Carefully, he folded the corner of the page, closed the book, then moved across the room to carefully return it to its place on one of the shelves. He glanced over his shoulder at Kiara. He felt bad for making her feel bad and was a little touched by her sincere confession that she wanted to get to know him. But she was still the enemy...

He sighed softly and approached her. "Take my arm," he suggested, holding out his elbow to her. "We'll walk together to lunch. When we open the doors to the dining hall, we will pretend that we actually enjoy each other's company. Mother and Father will see right through it, of course, because they know me too well, but Mother will respect our efforts to keep up appearances. She says half of politics is keeping up appearances and swapping masks so-to-speak, so to her, we'll be practicing our new roles." He forced the faintest of smiles. "Shall we?"

Whether Kiara accepted the offer to walk beside him or not, he moved out of the room. As "frail" as he seemed to look, he moved like his father, in steady, confident strides, his head held high, the master of this castle, though inside he longed for nothing more than to return to his quiet, reclusive corner with his books.

Yes, she felt absolutely terrible. Kiara watched him, the way he looked at her, she knew that look. It was the one that you gave to an enemy that you could not trust. She understood, really she did, but it still hurt. It was one thing for her to be distrusting in a kingdom, castle, and country that had tried to kill her more than once. Why should he look at her like that when she was the one in enemy territory. She had decided long ago that she didn't need to prove herself to anyone here, so why on earth did she want him to like her? Perhaps it was just vanity.

How was she going to explain that she knew exactly what he was thinking, feeling? Would he even believe her? Did it even matter? He wanted nothing to do with her despite what she had confessed to him. Because of this, she was quiet as she took Lamont's arm and walked beside him.

Kiara knew better than anyone how to keep up appearances as she had been doing it all of her life. She'd done it earlier, and she was honestly tired of it. Who in their right mind would want this life? She remembered Ostus once saying that people would kill or die to be in her shoes, and more than ever she knew that he was wrong. Pretending to enjoy the company of her betrothed just to impress people who would know it was a lie... being told what to do and what she should enjoy... it was barely a life worth living.

However, she buried this as surely as she had buried every dream she'd ever had. As she had suppressed whatever it was that she felt towards Ostus. As she had been hiding her fury towards the king and what he had done to her.

Like Lamont, she held her head high, put a smile on her lips, and moved with the grace of a queen. After all, just as he had said, appearances were everything.