Red Queen

Prince and Princess

Mela wasn't going to get to meet her new troop until they settled down back in the kingdom and there she'll have 3 months time to train her troops and get them to listen to her every command. Ashyer and Arvel may not like this sister of their's but they were worried for both her and their general family. The carriages went with the route that Mela suggested and there were no surprise attacks. This brought some acknowledgement towards Mela, but not as much. She didn't mind as she sat in the carriage with her mother. She laid her head back and closed her eyes, so she wouldn't be bothered with talking. "Ma'ma we are almost to the Kingdom. A messenger is here to announce that King Alfred and Queen Jude will be there to welcome us back." "Mmm." Slona gave a simple reply back. She didn't want anything to disturb the sleep of her daughter, thinking that what had recently happened must've given her a fright. "Mela it is time to wake up. We must be prepared when exiting the carriage. You may even get to meet your cousin again." When Mela heard that she opened her eyes and it seemed she showed a slight a smile.

"Announcing the return of the general and his family!" A servant yelled as the carriages entered the castle gates. The father and son duos first got off their horses and greeted the King and Queen. Then Slona got out of the carriage, behind her was young girl wearing a elegant blue dress . Although it was plain the girl wearing it made it coordinate perfectly with her elegant walk. "Greetings to King Alfred and Queen Jude." Slona said and Mela copied exactly the same thing. Everybody was surprised by how the general's daughter acted, because she was known as a wild dog who would do anything for attention. But at the moment she was as elegant as every other young lady, but she also seem to carry an aura like the general or maybe something even more frightening. "We heard there was an attack. How is the young lady doing?" Queen Jude asked out of concern, but was really trying to get Mela to show the King her disgraceful personality so he could see how she is not meant to live in the castle wedded. "I'm perfectly fine. Thank you for worrying Queen Jude." Mela said in a calm non-caring voice. The Queen didn't know what to say so she changed the conversation to bringing the general's family inside for some refreshments.

Just as everybody were engrossed in the conversation an attendant whispered something into the Queen's ear. "Mela the prince and princess has returned from training, since this may not be an interesting conversation, why don't you go and meet them." Her brothers wanted to go with her so she wouldn't humiliate them, but they knew they had to keep the King company with their parents. Mela set her tea down, nodded, and got up walking to the doors without making a noise.

Mela followed a servant to the stables where the prince and princess had just arrived. "Prince Trystan and Princess Renee. The general and his family has arrived, the queen suggested their youngest to come and greet you two. Introducing Lady Mela." The servant bowed and moved to the side so the two siblings could see Mela. So this is the woman whom his sister told him about spreading rumors that she was going to be betrothed to him. Well lets see how she'd handle being the laughing stock in front of everyone. I've heard a little of her and so far she's only a hindrance to the kingdom and is known as a spoiled lady who would get what she wanted because she was the only daughter of the general. Prince Trystan and Princess Renee didn't greet her and went back to tending to their horses, which was seen as the horses held more importance than her. Mela stood there not even putting the two in her eyes, if they knew better they would have realized she hadn't even greeted them. "Mela!"Arvel was seen rushing towards his sister then he stopped and greeted the two siblings. "Prince Trystan. Princess Renee," he bowed. "Arvel haven't I told you a hundred times? We are friends no need to address me so formally." The Prince gave a laugh at Arvel and patted him on the shoulder. "Yes, your high-" Trystan gave him a look and Arvel cleared himself "I mean Trystan." A smile appeared on Trystan's face again. If Mela didn't know better she would've thought of the Prince as the handsomest guy she'd seen, but too bad there was no medicine to fix one's personality. Mela sighed to herself, but that didn't escape the eyes of someone in the tree.

All the young adults, including Ashyer, were in another room. While the guys were discussing their own things Mela and Renee sat across from each other. Renee didn't like Mela, although this was the first time they'd met face to face, she'd never forget those schemes when her cousin and her would try to get on friendly terms with her just to get closer to her brother. Renee kept her eyes narrowed at Mela, but Mela just drunk her tea like she couldn't be bothered, which also annoyed Renee, thinking she was putting an proper lady act in front of her brother. Renee didn't want to create any trouble or else she'd be look down upon so she waited for Mela to make the first move. "Sister why not tell Arvel and Ashyer what you told me on the way here." Trystan suddenly said to her, making her swallow her tea the wrong way and turn a bit red. "I'm planning to take up archery beginning this week." She said a little shy and embarrassed. "Excellent choice princess," Ashyer said. "We will be training some of the new comers soon, if you'd like to train with them you're more than welcome too." Ashyer said with a smile brightening his face.

"Hope to see you at the training grounds Princess." Ashyer and Arvel got on their horses following their father and the carriage that their mother and Mela were in. Throughout the conversation with the Prince they keep taking glances at Mela in case she want to to stir some trouble, which she was known for, but they felt like idiots because nothing happened between the Princess and Mela, they sat in silence and drunk their tea, it was like she wasn't to be bothered by these types of gathering and would much rather be somewhere else. But then a dreaded thought went through the brothers when they would arrive back home and their cousin would be there waiting, then Mela would change back to her mischievous self.