Princess Rivalee (Part 6)

Success!!!

Guys I have a week of FREEDOM! No White Christmas on Monday and Tuesday and then it's Thanksgiving BREAK!!! WOOOO!

Which means I'll be able to write!!! I'm very excited about this because... this post was the last of my reserve. I'd written ahead so that I could keep my word about posting everyday but now I'm out of story! And I'm not exactly sure how to write this next part. Mostly because I haven't plotted it out very specifically. I can't foreshadow what I don't know and I can't make things blatantly obvious. That ruins the story! So I have to plan! I think I'll plot it all out tonight if I can stay awake. I have to make some red herrings and some other sneaky characters and a few good characters. AH HAHAHA!!! I'm so excited!!!

Okay, I... attempted at writing a more romantic scene, we all know I'm very good at awkward, so that's what this is. Fortunately I feel like Glen is able to hold his own and Riva was raised a princess so... ya know. Remember it's only their third date.

Anyway, if you will remember we left our heroine crying because she found out that she wasn't the King's daughter. Please read and please enjoy.

Princess Rivalee (Part 6)

Riva mourned, crying until she didn’t think there were any tears left.

Rumors had plagued her since she was old enough to understand them. When the Queen had become pregnant she started behaving strangely, leaving at odds hours of the night, messages that were to be for her eyes only. Whispers went through the castle that the baby wasn’t the King’s and that she feared his wrath. She was plotting to leave with the real father, but when she died in childbirth there was no way to see if the rumors were true. The Queen had burned all of the letters and messages she had received. There was no evidence either way.

A few years later, after Riva’s first wet-nurse had died, the midwife who had helped the Queen with the birth asked the audience from the King. The two spoke privately behind thick doors, but the King emerged furious screaming, “I knew she was unfaithful! I knew that child couldn’t have been mine! She doesn’t even look like me!”

The midwife was banished, escorted out of the city that night.

Riva had always hoped, hoped that there had been no truth in the gossip. There were signs of course, she truly looked nothing like the King. She was the completely opposite of him in physicality and in behavior. Whoever her real father was, he had had magic and passed it on to her. She could feel the energy that throbbed in her study’s walls and knew that the Magician hadn’t lied.

She was the illegitimate child of the Queen and the only reason she was tolerated was because he had no other heir.

The thought brought on another onslaught of emotion and tears. She cried and sobbed into her brand new pillows, staining the satin with her salty sorrow. (Who’s impressed with that alliteration!!?) The day passed filled with thoughts of self-pity and loathing, she drifted in and out of a restless sleep.

A brisk tap on her paned doors brought her out of a thick sleep. Wearily she threw on a heavy coat and went to the balcony doors. She opened them a crack, not wanting to let in the cold air. “Glen?” She whispered, not knowing who else it could be.

“Hey, you enjoying your punishm-” he took in her appearance and thought better of the remark. “Riva? Are you okay?” He reached for her, but her study kept the barrier firm between them.

Riva snapped, “Oh, let him in. He won’t do me any harm.”

Surprisingly (to Riva at least) the room obliged and Glen hopped into the room, shedding his own heavy coat. He took a quick look around getting his bearings. Riva turned away and went to sit by the fire. He eyes were swollen and red, nose was stuffed up and running at the same time. She did not want Glen to see her like this, but she couldn’t very well leave him in the cold.

She curled up in the soft chair, stuffed full of goose feathers, and sniffled quietly still feeling miserable.

“Riva?” Glen crouched in front of her. “What’s wrong? I thought you liked your study-”

“Oh, it’s not that.” Riva interjected harshly. She was so tired and grumpy. It was very uncomfortable, she never behaved this way with anyone and it was making her say things that she’d rather keep to herself. Taking a deep breath she tried to gain control of her emotions. “I’m sorry, it’s not the study. It’s-” She bit her lip fighting yet more tears. “I found out that I, uh... I um...” She started to sob.

Glen was next to her offering his arms. She curled into him instinctively, allowing him to wrap his arms around her. Thankful rather than aware of the human contact. He rocked her gently, stroking her matted hair.

When she finally had control of herself she pulled back and wiped at her nose, embarrassed. “I’m sorry.” She let out a shuddering breath and looked up at him. He smoothed back her hair and wiped away the rest of the tears.

“There, better?” He asked, cloudy eyes full of concern.

She nodded, relieved that he hadn’t said anything about her runny nose.

Suddenly they were both aware of their proximity to each other. The chair was only meant to hold one person. Riva stood at the same time Glen made a move to slip away.

Riva went to her chest and found a brush and began untangling the knots in her hair. Glen moved to the fire, his face pink and warm (but whether that was from the fire or not was still undetermined).

Riva snuck glances at him and the silence grew.

“It’s snowing.” Glen offered, inviting Riva accept his feeble attempt to break the ice.

Riva smiled, an obvious acceptance, “Did you want to go out in the snow?” she teased.

“Nah, just thought you should know...” he drifted off, muttering under breath and blushing a bright red.

He thinks he’s crossed the line between soldier and royalty. It was one thing to talk innocently outside on the balcony. She sighed inwardly. And he thinks that I’m a princess. But I’m not, I never was

“Glen, thank you.” Their eyes met and she dropped hers quickly. “Thank you for being here. I just... I needed it.”

A question formed in Glen’s eyes.

Haltingly Riva explained the conversation she had had with the Court Magician and what his observations entailed.

“I’m not really a princess, Glen. I never was.”

Glen didn’t respond, his expression was one deep in thought.

“I don’t agree.” His eyes met her and he grinned. “From what I saw, you were more of a queen today than you’ve ever been. I mean-” he realized that she might take offense and tried to explain. “More of a queen than-” he shook his head and started again. “You were amazing. The way you faced your father was impressive, very few of my own men could stand with such dignity.”

Warmth spread through Riva and she pulled her knees tight to her chest.

“Now,” Glen began in a business manner, standing. “lets see if we can teach you some more practical subjects. What would you like to learn first: self-defense, starting a fire, a little cooking, do you know how to ride?”

Riva was more than a little stunned. The sudden change in subject has pulled her from dreamy thoughts. “Why would I need to know any of those?”

“My dear,” he began as if talking to a rather dull person, “the world would be a much happier place if everyone knew how to take care of themselves. Magic will aid you, but knowing the quick and dirty way is always the best. Let’s start with the basics. Your fireplace is magicked to keep your room nice and cozy so we’ll have to do this outside.” Riva shuddered involuntarily and grudgingly followed Glen out into the cold winter evening. She suspected he was tyring to distract her and gladly accepted the distraction.

He grinned at her discomfort. “If you want to be warm, you’d better learn this as fast as you can. First we’ll need some wood.” Riva gladly went back inside to go and find some. Her own fireplace was magically sustained and didn’t need any fuel, but there were some logs in emergency. Once she had a few logs she brought them back to the balcony.

Glen had laid out several tools and showed her how to make fire from scratch. He thanked for for the wood and took a log. Then he showed her how to make a hot coal by rubbing two pieces of wood together. Riva had read about it, but it was the first time she had ever seen in done. He made her set up the many tools by herself and start a coal by herself several times, making sure she could do it herself.

It was exhausting! Riva had to pump her arm over and over until smoke rose from the base of the wood.

When it became clear that she was a klutz in every area. So he showed even more basic skills. How to take care of blades, keep them sharpened and polished.

“Glen, I don’t need to know how to do this. I thought you wanted me to be a good ruler, what does any of this have to do with ruling?” Riva asked as she carefully slid the blade on a wet stone.

Glen was working on his own knife, eyes down. “You won’t always have servants and you won’t always have guards. There are spies in the palace and if they get a shot at you, I want you to be ready.”

Riva smiled sadly to herself. Because you’re leaving and won’t be able to keep an eye on me?