Ch. 4: Goodnight

As soon as they were safely out of the door, she breathed a sigh of relief. "Thank the gods that's over... I'm not sure I could've stomached it if Papa had decided we needed a toast for every course, like the time the visitors from Gaf arrived. And I know my mother wanted me to give you the tour TONIGHT, but what does it matter if it's in the morning? You're tired. Let the poor man rest!"

Elissa, too, was tired. She had ridden to meet them and escorted them back. Then she had to be laced into this damned dress. One day she would give her mother a piece of her mind about the way she paraded her around like she was the true dessert on the menu. But that night was not tonight. Tonight, she just had to lead the prince to his room, make sure he was comfortable, and then she could get the damned dress OFF.

Hayward wasn't quite on her heels; he still had the place of mind to thank the king and queen once more for their hospitality. Of course, the queen seemed quite eager to see him leave with her daughter, so he didn't linger. He quickly caught up with the princess, chuckling at her relief. "Well, that was a suitably absurd introduction," he remarked. It was dangerous to drop his guard, but that they were both uncomfortable—or at least unhappy—with the dinner arrangement felt a little freeing. "I'm not sure who your mother insulted more, dressing you up like that, dangling you like a piece of meat in front of a hungry dog. Does she assume I am so blind and dumb as to think you unattractive if you aren't on such display? Or does she not realize you don't need it?"

There was a sly, slightly cocky smile across his lips, a knowing crinkle around the eyes; he knew what he'd just done, expressing a shared frustration from the circumstance, all while weaving a compliment through it at the same time. For the moment, he had left some of his apprehension about the trip behind, and was simply enjoying himself.

"Remember that thing about not letting your mouth get you in trouble?" She returned, eyebrow raised. She didn't need to finish the sentence. He already knew what she meant. "But thank you..." he had complimented her after all.

She realized she was walking rather slowly back to his room, enjoying just being quiet with someone else for a few moments. This was a sort of rarity for her. Usually she was completely alone or swarmed by people needing or wanting something from her. He didn't really need or want anything from her... except to be shown back to his room so he could sleep. It was nice.

The prince grinned. He had pushed it a little, though he didn't think he'd quite crossed the line yet. "This is why I don't drink," he said simply. "Because then I'd say something worse, and then Dantares would win his wager—I think he bet on less than a day—and that smug old shit just gets insufferable when he's right." He was quite content to stroll with her; her company was pleasant, and she still looked fantastic. He mostly kept his eyes up by hers, but they occasionally dropped lower, usually pretending to look at something on the wall as they walked by.

She sighed. "I hope you at least enjoyed the food. Even if the company and pageantry was... absurd..." she knew it was. Everyone knew it was. She wondered why they kept doing it knowing this. The same ridiculous hullabaloo each time someone came to visit. Did anyone enjoy that ridiculous show? Sure, the food was quite good, but it was ridiculous. Everyone was aware it was absolutely ridiculous.

"The food was excellent. The pageantry... a bit excessive. The company..." he looked at her again, the sly grin returning. "Not as bad as it could have been."

She smirked. "You sound like you'd be fun if you drank," she laughed. "And don't worry... I won't tell on you." She made a zipping motion over her mouth and smiled. "I'm glad it wasn't the worst experience of your life or anything..." she continued, her blue eyes really looking him over for the first time. He was different, that was for sure. But not half bad looking.

Oh God, don't let your mother know that. She will never shut up if she knows you don't despise him.

They rounded another corner, just one more long hallway before they were at his room. She actually was a little sad to be parting ways.

God, why do I like him? Did she put something in my drink? Did she have someone cast a spell on me? Because I REALLY don't want to like him, but... I kind of do... Elissa could feel that her cheeks were a little hot. She could chalk it up to the wine. She had drank down that second glass a little fast. Maybe that was the problem. She was just a little tipsy. That had to be it. She refused to believe she could even entertain the idea of liking someone her mother wanted her to like.

"You're... just up ahead..." she said, slowing her pace even more. "I'm up the next hallway. If you need anything...you really can't miss my door...it's the one with the giant Emerald encrusted 'E' on it..." or he could just ring the bell like you told him earlier. Why would he need to come to your personal quarters for anything? Oh well. She'd already said it. She couldn't take it back now.

Hayward didn't mind being looked over; he had been doing the same all night, after all. He wasn't quite sure how to read her, but she at least didn't seem put off by what she saw. That was a plus.

Oh hell no, this is not going in any such direction. I'm just here to survive and avoid provoking a war. I'm not here for a pointy-eared princess.

He looked away for a moment, suddenly quite interested in the opposite wall. He felt some degree of shame for the mere thought, without having even given voice to it. Decades of listening to the elves being talked about like a sinister foe had left their mark, even if he'd done his best to forget most of it as an adult.

And this is why I don't drink. He put on a slight smile again. An inappropriate remark about her dress might have gotten him in trouble. Insulting her for merely being an elf was a different matter, and likely less forgivable. "I suppose I can be fun," he replied. "I can also be crass, crude, vulgar... all things that, in my admittedly limited experience, don't go over well with princesses." He flashed a teasing grin.

"In case you've failed to notice... I'm not much like other princesses," she shot back with a sly smile. Her sisters were far more well behaved and proper. She...wasn't. Not at all what her mother would've picked for an eldest child. It was certainly unusual that she preferred to hunt over dancing, and she did her best to quietly disobey any direct commands given to her. She never wanted to loudly defy anything. She just wanted them to know she made up her own damned mind.

They were getting close to his room. "I've always liked emeralds," the green-eyed prince remarked. "There are precious few things in the desert that stay green all the time." As they reached his room, he turned to look at her curiously. "Do you know what's planned for tomorrow? Aside from the tour in the morning?" As if on cue, the proximity to his bed and the allure of her dress combined to push his thoughts in far less proper directions. But he did his best not to show it.

"I haven't a clue, truthfully..." she responded with a shrug. "I don't even know how long you're supposed to be staying with us. How long are you supposed to be staying?" She questioned, turning to him as they were literally in front of his door by now. Elissa crossed her arms across her chest, not realizing that all it did was further push her boobs up and out for display. She wasn't used to wearing things cut like this.

"Well, I'm... not... sure..." he started to answer before being more thoroughly distracted by her suddenly bulging cleavage. He was rather obviously staring for several seconds before squeezing his eyes shut and swallowing hard. That right there... is a lovely pair. He turned his head to the side, so he was looking down the hall when he opened his eyes again.

Ok, focus. Her eyes. Her pretty blue eyes... oh dammit. He turned to look at her again, deliberately keeping his eyes high. "Ahem. Sorry about that. I... don't know exactly how long I'm supposed to be here. What I was told was rather vague, something like... a week minimum, with the plan to stay longer if things are going well?" He swallowed again. "I wasn't quite sure what that meant, but I think I might have a better idea at this point."

She suddenly realized her arms had basically served her breasts up on a silver platter for ogling, and she quickly put them down by her side. Damn this dress, mother. I'm never wearing it again.

"Right...so...yes..." she said rather awkwardly, looking toward her room. "I'm going that way..." she pointed, biting her lip and swinging her arms in the general direction she should be moving. "I... hope you have a pleasant night..."

She turned on her heel to walk away from him, closing her eyes as she felt her cheeks burn red hot. I'm burning this dress in the fire. I'm going to sacrifice it to whatever God gave me breasts and pray that I never make as much of an ass of myself with them as I just managed to. Smooth, Elissa. You're so smooth...

Aw dammit, the prince thought. Just a little more self-control, and I wouldn't have made her feel so awkward. And I might have gotten to enjoy that view a little longer. "Good night, Elissiana," he said as she set off. He was pretty sure he'd gotten her name right that time. He watched her go only briefly before turning and stepping into his room. "This is why I don't drink," he said to himself, perhaps loudly enough to be heard down the hall by someone with sharp hearing. He shut the door and turned toward the bed.

Instinct and habit were powerful things; even as tired as he was, it took him mere seconds to strip out of his clothes. He hardly even seemed to stop walking to do so. He pulled a pair of silk pajamas out of his bag and climbed into bed. For a moment, he worried his thoughts might keep him awake as they twisted and turned between the princess, her parents, his parents back in Aasleagh, and the 'loyal' men who had been sent with him to Treiaul. His fears were unfounded, however, as exhaustion took him within minutes.

She went back to her room and stripped off the dress, tempted actually to throw it in the fire. She resisted though and threw it on the chaise lounge in her bedroom. "Sasha, feel free to chew that up..." she said over her shoulder. The cat was too well trained though, and she knew it would still be in one piece come morning.

She grabbed a silk nightdress from the dresser and slipped it over her head, ripping the jewelry out of her hair, and ripping parts of her hair out in the process. "Owe.." she complained and unbraided the circlet to finish getting it out without too much damage. Once she was done, she tossed it on her dressing table, braided all the rest of her hair into one huge plait, and fell into bed.

Sasha climbed up on the bed and settled in next to her, purring. She gently stroked the cat's head, then rested her hand atop her fur. The cat nudged her hand, insistent she continued petting. "Goodnight Sasha.." she shouted, leaning over to blow out the lamp on her nightstand. Then she closed her eyes and was asleep in minutes.