Fair is Fair (1)

As the afternoon wore on Aliana was growing a bit weary of Alaric's company. He wouldn't stop talking about himself and didn't ask Aliana a single question. Her patience was wearing out.

"I couldn't believe that Lord Lucien got picked as well for the chance to have your hand in marriage," Alaric droned on. "He never seemed like the settling down type, he's such a loose cannon."

Aliana was mostly zoning out at this point and longed to shoot her bow more. However, she snapped out of her daydreaming and narrowed her eyes at Alaric.

"I don't like people who bad-mouth others," Aliana said coldly. "All you have done is talk about yourself and complain, I would like to go back to the castle."

Alaric's eyes widened and his face contorted in anger. "You told me to tell me about myself," he fumed.

"Did you realize I didn't say a word for about two hours?" Aliana shrieked. "I have never seen someone so self-absorbed and unaware of their surroundings."

Alaric looked sheepish and stood up. He offered a hand to Aliana and she didn't take it. She stood up gracefully by herself.

"I'm sorry, Aliana," Alaric muttered. He trailed after her angry steps, too scared to walk next to her. He had never seen a woman hold such fury towards him before.

There was a reason why she was second in command of the largest army on the continent, she could intimidate even the most fearsome of men with just her words and a look.

As she stormed back to the castle her knights quickly caught up to their charge and hung back away. They knew not to get too close when she was angry. They had seen the extent of her fury and at the worst of it heads would roll.

The castle guards at the entryway were startled to see the angry princess on the warpath to her room.

Sir Galien had run ahead and asked Aliana's maids to have a bath ready for her, he knew it was the only way to calm her when she was like this.

Sir Arthurus ran up to Aliana in the hallway as she stalked to her room. "Your Highness," He said timidly. "You have to slow down and take some deep breaths."

She shot a glare at him. "Don't tell me what to do."

He grabbed her arm to try and slow her down but she swung her other arm at him with her fist closed. He grabbed it at the last second and looked at her in surprise.

"Aliana," Arthurus whispered harshly. "Think about who you are and how you are acting, wait until you are alone to show your anger."

Aliana groaned and nodded. She let her knight escort her back to her room. Edith and Janie were scurrying about pouring lavender oil and bath salts into the steaming tub and getting her things ready for dinner.

She loved that the people around her knew her so well and cared deeply for her. Aliana was happy to have her maids, knights, and lady's maids with her on this trip.

Edith helped her undress and she got into the tub. "Can you please thank Galien and Arthurus for being so amazing?" Aliana asked of Edith.

Edith smiled and nodded. "Thank you and Janie as well for knowing how to calm me down."

"It's our job, Princess," Edith beamed. "You are very welcome though."

With that Edith left and Aliana sank deeply into the calming waters. Alaric did not treat her with much respect. Her potential partner had to be someone who knew that she was going to be the ruler of her nation, and that included the king consort. They had to know that she was above them in rank even if she treated them as equals.

Even when Aliana was a small child she got the respect she was due because people knew she was their future queen. She couldn't be with someone who didn't respect who she was.

She sat in the bath until it turned cold and Janie helped her out holding a towel for her.

"Miss, what made you so angry?" Edith asked as she walked into the bathroom.

"Lord Alaric was disrespectful to me," Aliana murmured. "He talked for almost two hours about himself, had the audacity to insult another suitor, and be mad at me for being upset."

Edith's eyes widened and she looked upset. "That man needs to learn his place."

Aliana nodded in agreement. "If he acts up at dinner I shall make sure everyone is aware of what he has done."

The maids got Aliana ready for dinner and Princess Rylia sent her a deep pink dress this time. It wasn't bejeweled but it was embroidered with silver and gold thread in intricate patterns. It settled nicely on Aliana's figure. Her face had been painted dramatically, she had dark kohl lining her eyes and ruby red lips. Her hair was left down with her larger tiara that she didn't like to wear often.

The tiara had large diamonds that were surrounded in a multitude of sapphires, rubies, and emeralds. It was an heirloom passed on to every crown princess of Astaria and was a symbol the power of the feminine side of royalty. Aliana felt like reminding Alaric that she is going to be Queen of Astaria and she wasn't someone to mess with. She wore diamond earrings that dangled down and a simple but large diamond necklace to finish her look.

Someone knocked on the door and Janie opened it to reveal Lord Alaric at the door looking dour. He bowed to Aliana and when he stood up he was shocked at how regal she looked. Aliana looked more like a future queen than she did earlier in pants and a shirt.

"Your highness, you look stunning," Lord Alaric said entraced.

"Thank you, your grace," Aliana said icily. "Shall we go to dinner?"

Lord Alaric held his arm for Aliana and she held on lightly to it. They made their way to dinner in uncomfortable silence.