The Hidden Lands

Chapter 11- The Princess

Jayde

"Lyla?!" Archer was on his feet and next to the girl in a heartbeat. "I mean Princess," he said, sinking into a belated bow. I fought an eye roll, of course, he bowed for his princess, not that I'd expected or wanted him to bow for me. I wasn't princess material; I didn't spend years training to rule a country. This girl was the epitome of royalty, her long dark hair was piled into an elegant updo and she wore a simple but elegant gown in the red and gold of Bronz's flag. Her features were regal and sharp as opposed to my softer pixie-like features. She even brought a crown! A nice crown too, not just the diadem I'd worn on my birthday.

"Good to meet you, princess Lyla," I said, offering to shake my hand. "Jayden of Faellen, or Middle Earth," I told her.

"Nice to meet you," She said with a blinding white smile, she discretely smelled the air "Is something burning?"

"Jayde!" Kai called from the kitchen; smoke billowed out behind him. My eyes widened and I ran into the kitchen, trailed by Lyla and an amused but annoyingly calm Archer.

"Kai what did you do?" I demanded, opening the oven, a piece of cardboard was burning under the pizza. I grabbed hot pads and yanked the pizza out, removed the burning board and replaced the pizza in the oven.

"I should've told you to take that off, it's my fault if dinner is crispy." I said having a hard time not laughing.

I grabbed a stack of dishes from the cabinet and set them on the table. We all sat and waited for dinner.

"So, you really grew up here?" Lyla asked

"In middle earth or this house because it's yes to both."

"Interesting," she said curiously. I had a hard time believing America was that interesting when I was surrounded by people that'd grown up in a land where controlling the elements was normal, or at least not odd, so I said as much.

"You, a princess that can heal people with a thought, think Middle Earth is cool?" I laughed

"Well isn't it?" She said, confused.

"Sort of I guess, it's sort of a mess right now. What I am trying to say is, ninety percent of the population here would give anything to see the hidden lands, everything here is so practical, not to mention the wars." I explained

"I guess that makes some sense, but that's what makes it interesting." I could see her point, I guess. I shook my head and let it drop, you had to be used to something for it to be boring, I guess. Just then the timer beeped, hilariously making all three Euathales jump.

I pulled the pizza out and cut it. You could tell none of them were used to frozen pizza, Lyla was trying to use a fork, but the boys had given up on that and picked up the pizza. When I lifted my slice Lyla copied, seeming to accept it wasn't bad manners.

"This is really good!" Kai said already going for a second piece, honestly the pizza was burnt on the bottom and probably freezer burnt but he didn't have much to compare it with.

We finished off the pizza entirely, royalty or not Lyla was going to fit right in with us.

"Well, I say it's time for bed, there are rooms upstairs, first thing tomorrow I'm going to start training." I announced grabbing Lyla's bag from the entryway and pulling it up the stairs to my room.