When the Ellcrys begins to speak to the elvin princess, she quickly realises it is not for a good reason. It tells her of the arrival of a man named Allanon and that she should help him at all costs. But with the end of the world on the horizon will...
The next morning, Athena was awoken by the insistent shakes of Amberle. She groaned and sat up slightly.
"What?" she groaned as Amberle paced nervously in front of her. "It's like half five." Ander stumbled into the room, shirtless, and looking just as groggy as she was. He threw himself onto his sister's bed and buried himself into the pillows.
"Something about disappointing dad and Arion getting pissed..." he groaned. "You know the usual." Athena sighed and looked at the worried princess.
"Alright calm down, Amberle." She said, bringing an end to the girls pacing and incoherent muttering. "Look, honey, if you don't wanna do this, then don't do this." She said.
"But I do wanna do this." Amberle, protested. "I wanna do it so bad, but im the princess and I will embarrass grandfather and Arion and... oh my god what would my father think. And what about... Guys!" she yelled as she noticed the twins having fallen back asleep on top of each other. The both jerked awake with a shout.
"ah Amberle, good to see you've come to a decision." Ander said, lifting the bed covers up and slipping underneath them.
"But I haven't come to a decision." She muttered sadly. Athena sighed and hopped into bed next to her brother, signalling for Amberle to come and sit between them.
"Listen, sweetie." She started as both Ander and Amberle looked at her. "My life motto...our life motto" she said pointing to Ander, "Is that you only live once, so make the most of it. You are gonna go out there today, and you are gonna do your thing. Don't listen to what other people say or think, just be yourself and take a leap of faith." Amberle nodded and Ander chuckled slightly, giving Amberle a hug from behind.
"Ew uncle Ander put a shirt on." She yelled running out the room. Athena laughed loudly and snuggled down in bed next to her brother
"Cheesy ass." He muttered, pulling her into a hug.
"Ew Ander put a shirt on." She mocked, causing him to hit her playfully and pull her closer. The twins soon fell back to sleep, only to be woken once more by their older brother bursting through the doors.
"Bloody hell!" Athena exclaimed. "What is it with our blasted family and their inability to knock?" Ander rolled over and slammed a pillow over his head, groaning loudly into it. Arion raised his eyebrows at the two.
"Did you sleep together last night?" he asked, sitting on the edge of the bed. Athena shook her head and crawled over to him. He wrapped his arms around her and gave her a kiss on the head.
"No. Our bloody niece woke us up at the crack of dawn, stressing about lover boy Lorin, or something like that, I don't know I was asleep." Ander smoothly lied as he too sat up. Arion nodded his head in understanding.
"Well I just came to wake you, we have a meeting with father before the race, so dress smart." He said accusingly, kissing his sister on the cheek and walking out the room. Athena glanced at Ander, who had his head laid back with his eyes closed.
"That's your cue." She said, pointing to the door. The prince nodded and stood, stumbling out of the room. Athena sighed and walked to her wardrobe. She opened the doors and looked inside. To her disappointment, it was empty.
"Catania?" she called and the blonde elf maiden ran into the room.
"Yes milady?" she asked, curtsying low. Athena smiled at the sight of her.
"Two things, one may you go and fetch Eira to help me get dressed and two, may you escort Amberle to the starting point, I'm afraid I have a meeting to attend." Catania smiled
"It would be my pleasure your highness." She said, scuttling out of the room. A few minutes later, Eira ran back in, a beautiful, rich blue lace dress draped across her arm. She ran over to the princess and, without a word placed it on her.
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"Thank you Eira." She said as she spun around gazing at herself in the mirror.
"Yes, thank you Eira, my sister doesn't even look a tiny bit like her usual tramp-like self." Ander's voice, said from the door and Athena turned around and chased him down the hallway, only to be stopped, outside the throne room, by a very angry looking Arion.
"Really?" he asked glaring at Ander. "You look beautiful." He added to his sister, kissing her on the cheek. She turned and smiled at Ander, who was standing there with his mouth hanging open.
"What I get a 'really?' and he gets a 'you look beautiful.' Your sibling favouritism is showing brother." Ander grumbled.
"It most definitely is." Arion replied, not missing a beat. "now close your mouth, unless you are intending to catch flies." He finished pulling his sister into the throne room behind him.
