Lord Alaric

Janie and Edith knocked on Aliana's door the next morning and heard their mistress grumble to come in.

Aliana was still in bed when her maids entered to help her get ready for the day. "Miss, you have to get up," Edith said gently. "Your breakfast with Lord Alaric starts in an hour."

She raised her head up from her pillows and looked at her maids with contempt. "Why did you wait to wake me up?"

"We tried, your highness," Janie piped up. "We knocked for about thirty minutes."

Aliana blushed deeply and muttered an apology while stretching her arms above her head. "I had a late night," she mumbled.

"A princess must get enough rest to have the energy to do all her tasks required of her," Edith chided. She had been Aliana's maid since she was a small child and knew what to say to push her buttons.

"Yeah, yeah," Aliana grumbled. "Is my bath ready?"

Edith nodded and led the way into the bathroom. Janie helped Aliana out of her nightgown and into the steaming bath. The initial contact with the hot water made her groan in delight. She closed her eyes as her maids washed her hair. The gentle brushing and scrubbing made her even more sleepy than she was and soon fell asleep.

"Princess?" Edith asked worriedly seeing her mistress asleep in the bath. "Wake up!"

Aliana's eyes snapped open. "W-where am I?"

"The bath," Edith deadpanned. She was already done with Aliana's behavior today.

"Ugh, I need to drink something strong to wake up," Aliana groaned.

"I already have the strongest tea brewed offered in Eddis," Edith informed her.

"I appreciate you, Edith," Aliana murmured as the maid brought her some hot tea. She sipped the tea slowly and sighed at the wonderful taste.

Aliana ended up having over four cups of tea while her maids did her hair and makeup. her hair was done up in a french braid with a simple silver crown with sapphires embedded around diamonds. Her face was powdered and her lips were painted a light pink color. Aliana didn't feel like dressing up very formally today.

Princess Rylia sent her a light blue dress that was slightly less revealing than the previous ones she picked out for Aliana. It had small straps that came off her shoulders and a sweetheart neckline that plunged down deeply.

Lord Alaric was early to escort her to breakfast which made Aliana groan. She was more likely to be late than early. Her maids helped her into her sandals and gave her some perfume oil to rub on her pulse points and she was ready to go.

Edith opened the door and announced Lord Alaric's arrival after about 10 minutes.

"Your highness," Lord Alaric said as he bowed deeply. "You look lovely this morning." His green eyes danced taking in the princess before him. Her blue eyes sparkled intensely from the blue in her dress and she looked tired but beautiful.

"Lord Alaric, sorry for keeping you waiting," Aliana said graciously. She accepted his arm and they were off to breakfast. Aliana studied Lord Alaric and wondered what he had planned for them today. His black hair was tied at the nape of his neck and stood out against the white shirt he was wearing.

"It's not a problem, I was there early," Lord Alaric said with an easy smile. The walk to the smaller dining room was a short one and soon they were taking their places next to each other at the table set with a delicious looking breakfast.

"What do you have planned for us today, Alaric?" Aliana asked curiously. Alaric looked startled at the informal sound of his name but remembered what the princess had said during dessert. She hated formalities.

"I thought we could go to the royal archery range and do some shooting," Alaric grinned. "I hear you are an amazing shot."

Aliana looked at him in amusement, besides the sword Aliana's weapon of choice was a bow. These men had done their research or knew their princess very well.

"I would love to go," Aliana beamed, it had been a minute since she last shot and she didn't want to get rusty.

Alaric looked pleased with himself and contentedly ate his breakfast. Aliana drank teacup after teacup of the strongly caffeinated brew and was soon feeling alive again. The lack of sleep was getting to her. Once they were both done eating Aliana excused herself to go change into something more suitable for archery.

Edith and Janie let Aliana back into her room and told them what she was doing for the day and they got out a pair of dark blue breeches and a flowing white shirt she could easily move around in.

"It's been some time since you last shot a bow so be careful, your highness," Edith warned gently as she helped Aliana into her shooting outfit.

The princess rolled her eyes. "I will be fine, I won't show off too much."

Edith simply shook her head and took in her mistress' appearance staring at her in the mirror. That girl could be so reckless. She undid the crown in Aliana's hair and replaced it with a cloth headband to hold the shorter hair out of her face.

Alaric knocked on the door and was let into the room by Janie. Edith had just finished helping Aliana into her boots and the princess greeted her suitor. He looked stunned at her appearance, he had never seen a woman dressed as a man before.

"Are you ready to go Aliana?" Alaric asked quietly.

Aliana smiled and nodded and took Alaric's arm as he guided her towards the range outside of the castle. Sir Galien and Sir Arthurus were trailing after them at a distance.

"Can I ask you something?" Aliana questioned.

"Of course."

"Are you uncomfortable with me wearing pants?" Aliana gazed up at the man next to her, he looked so nervous.

"It is not something I am used to but you are not just any woman," Alaric confessed. "It doesn't bother me though, I was just shocked, to be honest." He chuckled nervously and Aliana giggled too.

"I wear pants when I train in swordplay and any other form of exercise," Aliana explained. "I wear armor on the battlefield too, dresses can be quite cumbersome and dangerous."

"Makes sense to me," Alaric said with a smile. "I couldn't imagine wearing dresses all the time."

"I had to fight to be able to wear pants as a child, when my father realized I was going to be his only child he had no choice but to let me as I had to train to help command his armies."

Alaric was impressed by the princess's ferocity for being able to do what she wants. He had never met such a powerful and determined woman before, there was no doubt in his mind that she would make an excellent queen.