After All

Chapter 5: Friends

Artemisia was busy recording notes regarding her newest finding on Elan the day her cousins returned from the front lines. Desiree and Nolan had heard about Artemisia's engagement and made sure that she was the first person they visited.

"Arty! Congratulations on your engagement!" Desiree exclaimed, flinging open the door to Artemisia's bedroom. Nolan approached the foot of Artemisia's bed, prepared to give her further congratulations, until something caught his eye.

"Ah. I see he's already begun giving you gifts." Nolan commented, gesturing to the red flower on Artemisia's bed. Artemisia gently picked up the flower and smiled at the memory of where she got the flower from.

"He is generous, isn't he?" Artemisia asked, although Adonis wasn't the man she was referring to.

"You're a lucky girl, Arty. Adonis has never given any other girl so much as a second glance. And now he's giving you flowers!" Desiree teased. This comment made Artemisia pause for a moment before she decided to correct her friends.

"This didn't come from Adonis." Nolan and Desiree gave each other a confused glance before turning back to Artemisia.

"Then... where did you get that from?" Nolan asked.

"More importantly, who did you get that from?" Desiree added. Artemisia hesitated to answer, unsure of what kind of reactions she was going to get. Quietly, she rose to her feet and shut her bedroom door; that way she could tell her friends the truth in secret.

"Can you two keep a secret?" Artemisia asked, turning back towards her friends.

"Not on Desiree's life," Nolan replied. Desiree's gaze snapped towards her brother. She stuck her tongue out at him in an attempt to mock both him and his snide comment.

"No really you two. I need you both to promise me you won't tell anyone." Artemisia insisted, trying to emphasize how important this knowledge was to her.

"We promise," Desiree confirmed. Artemisia took a deep breath and held the carnation close to her chest before divulging further information.

"I... I made a friend. He's the one that gave me this." Desiree and Nolan's eyes widened in surprise upon hearing Artemisia's revelation.

"Your new friend... is a guy... does Adonis know about this?" Nolan asked, approaching Artemisia.

"If he did, he could call off the engagement," Desiree added, feeling a tad worried that her cousin's future could be in jeopardy.

"Oh, I don't think that's going to happen. He's... not from around here." Artemisia added, cautiously, trying not to give away too many details. However, it didn't take her cousins long for them to figure out what she was talking about.

"He's an Elanan?!" Desiree screeched. Nolan quickly rushed to his sister's side, covering her mouth, so the whole castle wouldn't hear her.

"Where did you meet an Elanan?!" Nolan demanded, trying to keep his voice down as Desiree struggled to uncover hers.

"Guys relax. It's not a big deal!" Artemisia insisted, rushing towards her research.

"Every theory I've had about the Elanans is true! The more I've seen, the more I've realized how similar we are!" Artemisia exclaimed, happy that her adventures had led to more breakthroughs.

"Seen?! You mean you've been to Elan?! Nolan exclaimed as Desiree finally pried his hand off of her mouth.

"Artemisia, we've been to Elan! We've seen Elan. There is nothing to offer us there except war and death! What would possess you to-" Desiree rambled, trying to make sense of her cousin's antics.