Is this your wish, my sister? To have us fight against our own flesh and blood, our own brothers and sisters, our own fathers and mothers, our own sons and daughters? Are we at the place where we slay each other for comfort? You resolved to slay our own brother, and spill his blood on the pure, white clouds. Melilica shall have no part in this, dear sister. Do as you wish, Melilica is already in disappointment. Excerpt from the translated poem 'The Sorrows of Elanara'. Crown or Tiara Chapter 7 By Shinieris

With the blow of trumpets and drumroll from the palace musicians, the palace herald announced, "The arrival of His Royal Highness, Crown Prince Mikhalir Veren Talranic, His Royal Highness , Favoured Prince Alterion Narhas Talranic, His Royal Highness-"

The herald was interrupted by the sudden appearance of a young boy, a palace servant, who pulled at his tunic as if to pull it off. The herald turned to him, probably to scold the boy, when the boy argued with him about something as the drumroll and trumpet were still playing in the background. The princess felt pity for the poor musicians who had turned red in the face from having to blow the trumpet.

The herald raised his right hand and the band stopped playing, much to their relief, though they remained at position. The herald cleared his throat as he announced again, "The arrival of His Royal Highness, Crown Prince Mikhalir Veren Talranic and His Royal Highness, Favored Prince Altherion Narhas Talranic with Lady Seleste of Rummingdal and Lady Myra of Tesledhar."

The crowd gathered near the front entrance as the two most powerful men in the kingdom walked in, with a lady on their left, arms locked. Behind them followed four men in chainmail, security escorts for the two princes. Princess Feska wondered if such escorts were really necessary in their own palace.

The nobles and officials parted to allow the two princes and their escorts passage to their seats at the head table. As the princes and their escorts walked past, the nobles and officials present bowed and curtsied including the princess herself, who wanted to play her game for a little longer. Once they arrived at the head table, the prince spoke to the hall, "Welcome, and thank you for honoring me with all your presence. It is truly wonderful to see all of your faces, some of which I haven't seen for many years. How time has passed. But please, enough with this talk. Enjoy the feast, my honored guests." The favored prince clapped his hands and throngs of servants entered through the side doors, carrying bunches of fruits, plates of roasted meat, tankards of drinks and bowls of dessert.

"This is all very different from home," Prince Melthis remarked to Princess Feska. They were standing at the far corner of the Great Hall, watching as the two princes were served and started feasting.

"How so?" Princess Feska asked, "Because it's crowded? I heard some kingdoms, like Orinia don't normally hold banquets where the Hall is full."

"Not that actually, Feska. In Veggida, we also have banquets where some guests would had to eat outside because the Hall is simply too full."

"Really? Your guests eat outside?"

"I assure you it's not a jest. I myself had to eat outside after my own swearing ceremony."

"I would love to see that," the princess said, her beautiful golden eyes, ones which the prince found unable to take his eyes of, were sparkling with a far-away look about it.

"Hum, yes," the prince said as he continued gazing into the princess's sparkling amber eyes, before he managed to look away from pure will alone, "Don't worry, I'll make it happen soon enough. But we're getting out of topic."

"What was our topic again?" the princess said, still looking at the foreign prince with those beautiful, sparkling golden eyes.

"Nevermind that," the prince said, finding it hard to look away again.

"Come on, remind me," the princess said, still looking at the prince.

The prince didn't know what made him do it, but he almost ended up kissing the princess without realizing what he was doing. Only the princess' palms stood between his lips and its goal.

"I'm flattered that you want to kiss me, Prince Melthis, but really, these lips are for someone I'm going to marry," the princess said, speaking aloud one of the spurn-words that her mother made her memorize when she was younger.

"Ah, I'm sorry. I don't know what came over me," the prince said, apologizing profusely.

"Oh, it's quite alright. I can't blame you for falling for my beauty," the princess said. Her accompanying giggle made the prince had to fight himself from trying to kiss her again.

The prince cleared his throat and looked away. He was finding it harder to control himself in front of this frail-looking princess. This princess may be a child, he looked at the princess' chest, but by the gods, she knows how to play with men. She's going to be a handful for her brothers soon.

"Something on your mind?" the princess said as she bent over slightly, raising her face up to look at the prince again.

"Um, nothing. It's just that the nobles here have no qualms about eating while standing. Your neighbor Orinia wouldn't tolerate sitting on anything other than proper chairs, and servants have to attend to each of the nobles."

"Those Orinians are all uptight idiots, just like my brother Therion."

"As in Prince Altherion?"

"Of course! He's so uptight, so strict, and such a very strict follower of rules and good conduct that I always feel like dropping Noxious Cloud potions into his bedchamber."

The prince grinned, "Never knew you had such a naughty streak in you. Ah, come to think of it, why aren't you sitting at the head table with your brothers?"

"Oh, this and that, but nothing you need to worry about," she said as she pulled on Prince Melthis' hand.

"Feska?"

"Come, let's introduce ourselves to my brother. But please, play along, alright?"

"A prank then, Feska?" he grinned.

She paused, thought about it a little bit and then said, "Oh yes, we can't just let him go through the night without teasing him a bit."

-----

"Cling, cling" the bell rung as Seo pushed open the front door and entered. He proceeded to sit on the bar's stool.

"My dear Seo..." came a voice from the stairs, "Back so early? Weren't you supposed to go to the palace?"

Seo stood and bowed to the lady in a blue and black gown. "I was not permitted entry, my beautiful lady, Madam Messell."

"Oh shush, I am but an old woman. But tell me, why would you be refused access, dear Seo?" Madam Messell said as she sat at one of the tables, gesturing Seo to do the same.

Seo took the seat and said, "It's the crown prince's welcoming feast. I wasn't important enough to enter."

"Do I detect dissatisfaction in your words, dear Seo? You know, if only you didn't-"

"Please, dear Madam," Seo said cutting her off, "I am a new man, and wish not to be known through by stories from my old life."

"I don't understand why, really. You are what, twenty summers?" Madam Messell leaned forward, "What is it you are searching that brings you to a vagabond's life?"

"Because I am young that I need to start searching, Madam. I think I may be closer here."

"Whatever you say then, dear Seo. Ah, will you be busy later?"

"Probably not, Madam, something you need me for?" Seo asked without really thinking about it.

"Write me a story. My girls will be performing next month and I really need a new story. The old ones have been repeated often enough, I can even emphatize on my guests' boredom. And I could use some book balancing."

"I think I can do that. I have a new story in mind anyhow."

-----

"Greetings to the crown prince," Princess Feska said as she curtsied in front of the Head Table.

The crown prince stood and with a smile said, "Greetings to you too, noble lady. Please rise."

"You're most kind, Your Highness," Princess Feska said as she took a brief glance at Prince Altherion, who was pale and sweaty, and shifting on his seat.

"If it is not too much to ask, lady. Would you mind telling me how you are called and where you hail from? I must admit, my long time abroad has had a bad influence on my memories."

"You are not missing anything, Your Highness." she said with hands clasped at her stomache, "I was very young when you left for Les - abroad."

"Is that so? Then how shall I address you, lady?"

"Nefeskaya be my name, Your Highness. Though everyone just calls me Princess Feska, really."

"Ah! Princess Feska! I have heard a lot of you from my brother. I believe you know my brother Altherion?" he said as he gestured to his brother who was looking paler and paler with every second.

"Yes, Your Highness, the favored prince and I are well acquainted," she squinted her eyes, trying to make her favored brother sink even further into his seat, if it was possible, "All good I hope, Your Highness?"

"Sparkling, Princess Feska. And Prince Melthis, it has been a long time since we met."

"I agree, Prince Mikhalir. Quite a long time indeed."

The princess' glance switched from Prince Mikhalir to Prince Melthis and back again. Bewildered, she asked, "You two know each other?"

"Of course!" Prince Mikhalir laughed, "We killed dragons together."

Princess Feska watched him with mouth wide agape.

"Two dragons,"Prince Melthis corrected, "You twisted your ankle just as we were about to go challenge Asteros Three-Horns."

"Come now, there's no need to remember all the tiny little details," Prince Mikhalir laughed again.

"My brother... the dragon slayer?" Princess Feska wondered aloud.

"Oh yes, he's the best, if you don't know yet, Princess. People said that the gods smiled when he was born."

Startled, Prince Melthis said, "Eh? Me? But-"

He was interrupted when one of his foot was kicked by Princess Feska. "Play along," Princess Feska whispered.

*As always, comments and feedbacks are very appreciated. Praises helps speed up my work and constructive criticisms help me improve.