A world without you

Aelin sat on her bed, waiting. She had no idea what or who for, but she was waiting.

Staring down at herself, she sighed. She wasn't a huge fan of formal dinners. People usually came up to her, bowed and moved on to her parents. No one ever paid much attention to her except her parents. Oh, and Aedion.

Aedion. He was her cousin and best friend in court as him being there with her usually made formal dinners much more enjoyable. After all, formal dinners weren't the place for magic wielding eight year olds.

Her door creaked open to reveal her cousin. His blond hair poked through the doorway first and a large smile spread out over his face.

"You look nice," he said, smiling. Aelin glanced down at her flowing blue dress. Her parents had told her to wear it. Something about how Adarlan's colour was blue and it was important to please the future King.

"What do you want?" She sighed dramatically, sticking out her tongue at her cousin. Laughing, he threw a pillow from her bed at her.

"That's not a very queen-like way to behave." He said, before getting a pillow thrown squarely in his face.

Aelin laughed at her cousin's feather filled blond hair as her parents walked through the door.

"Aelin!"her mother exclaimed. "What have you done to poor Aedion?"

"Oh. That." Aelin started. "Well, he. I-"

"Alright Fireheart, calm down." Her dad said smiling before picking up his little princess.

"Are you hurt Aedion?" Aelin asked as she hugged her dad.

"I'm fine. I'm fine." Aedion said, picking himself up and ruffling his hair. Feathers rained down around him.

"It's time," Aelin's dad said, putting her down and straightening her dress.

Aelin followed her parents down the staircase with Aedion by her side. She looked up and noticed that he still had a feather in his hair. She ignored it as payback for him throwing a pillow at her. She smiled as she stood next to her parents as different ambassadors came from all over the continent and introduced themselves to her before ignoring her for the rest of the evening. She and Aedion ended up eating with two other guys. Both seemed just as bored as she was, thank the gods. One was sat casually, eating large amounts of the roast boar stew. He seemed slightly older than her and normal enough. He ripped off a large chunk of bread before piling more roast boar stew on his plate.

The other guy was slightly younger than the first. Unlike the first, this boy had a golden crown balanced on his head and he ate carefully with a royal grace Aelin had never yet encountered. His table manners were over the top. He even ate his bread with a knife and fork. Who in Erilea does that?

"You eat like a fine lady," Aelin blurted out before she could stop herself.

The black haired boy looked up from his bread, swallowed and then said "Pardon?"

"You eat like a fine lady," Aelin repeated. Aedion was staring at her and he kicked her shin under the table. She kicked him back. Harder.

The boy's friend turned casually towards her, his face noticing all her movements. She smiled sweetly, relishing the look of irritation on his face.

"You don't need to cut your bread," Aelin said quietly. "Just eat it."

"Leave him alone," the black haired boy's friend said, his eyes narrowing.

"Leave her alone," Aedion said, leaning forwards. The black haired boy's friend looked him up and down, his eyes resting on the feathers in Aedion's hair. A smile slowly spread over his face.

"Dorian may eat like a fine lady," Dorian's friend said, "but at least he doesn't have feathers in his hair." Aedion ruffled his hair quickly and glared at Aelin. Aelin was staring at her plate, her eyes remaining down.

Dorian cleared his throat as the main course plate were finally moved away and were replaced by a large slab of chocolate cake. "Calm down Chaol," he said, lifting his forkful of cake.

Chaol looked Aedion up and down before picking up his fork. His attention switched to the young princess who had eaten at least half of her cake already.

"Maybe you should try eating like a fine lady," Chaol said through a mouthful of cake.

Aelin swallowed before saying, "At least I have the courtesy to finish my mouthful before talking." She looked at Dorian and smiled. He too was wearing blue. It matched his sapphire eyes at least.

Later in the evening, pots of tea were left on the table. Dorian's friend had gone to talk to his father about becoming Lord of Anielle. Aedion had gone upstairs to have a shower. Aelin and Dorian sat at a table, cups of tea placed in front of them.

"I'm tired," Aelin said suddenly, standing up.

"Me too," said Dorian. He picked up his cup and saucer. "Can I take this with me?" Aelin shrugged.

Nodding to Chaol, Dorian followed Aelin out of the room. The cup of tea he held shook as he climbed the stairs behind her. He tripped on the stairs, throwing the cup and saucer out of his hands. A brown stain had formed on the bottom of Aelin's dress. Dorian gasped as she turned and noticed the stain. Her blue eyes narrowed and she said quietly.

"You have just ruined my dress Your Highness."

"I'm so sorry I-" Dorian tried.

"I don't care." Aelin said. "Get out of my sight before I get my cousin to beat you up."

Dorian bowed his head slightly and rushed past her to his room. He wished that Chaol had been with him. Chaol would have handled the situation better.

Aelin sat on her bed. Her pillow had been replaced and she smoothed out the ripples of blue silk around her. A large brown stain covered one area of the dress at the back.

Aelin sighed. She wished that she had thought about the situation. A tea stain isn't that bad. Hopefully tomorrow she could apologise to the Prince.