24 Hours With a Prince

The not so nice Prince of Nyse.

For a second, time froze. I could not believe it. How could they do this to me? Call me self- centred? Force me to do something I couldn't bear, spend time with someone I detest? My head spun with anger; why do I have to do this? Why me when my brother was sitting there, undoubtedly now fast asleep, but right there all the same. I couldn't take it, how could my parents be so unfair - I had spent hour after hour planning this ball, only for them to do this to me last minute. In spirt of the moment my heart took control of my legs like It couldn't deal with standing still, and I was out of the room in two seconds flat. They know I hate him; know I have for years, and yet they decide to make me accompany him around; be his tour guide? And their reason why? The same reason they have for this ridiculous ball . Peace. If they were so interested in peace, they could invite Prince Kavan's parents over properly themself, instead of making their daughter deal with their problems. I sighed. What was said is final, I knew that by now, But what I didn't know is how I was going to survive the next 24 hours.

I had known Prince Kavan since I was too small to walk and I doubted he had changed since I last saw him, which was little over two years. Even as a child, I had hated him; and I still did, from his jet black hair, to the thousands of tiny freckles that painted his cheeks. I hated him, and yet he was the one I was to spend the next day with, so I supposed I shouldn't let that get in the way of things. After all, I didn't want anything to ruin this ball I had worked so hard for. I decided that, while pacing the length of my bedroom, that I would just have to deal with it. At least, I supposed I could ditch him as it was time to get ready for the ball. As my parents had told me that he had already arrived, I thought I should better work on finding him, and improvise the rest from there.

Walking through corridor after corridor, room after room I looked for him, in every place imaginable, for so long that the breeze was constantly disrupted by my presence. Just as I was about to give up, a low voice came from behind me.

"Hello there"

I spun around quickly, startled by the sudden noise. There he was. Prince Kavan. He was definitely taller than I remembered, his voice slightly deeper, but apart from that - exactly as I remembered.

"Where have you been?" I sighed in exasperation "I've been looking absolutely everywhere for you - I couldn't find you anywhere."

"What a coincidence" he drawled, his unique cocky tone always visible on his words "I've been looking for you too. For over half an hour." his eyes sparkled with annoyance "Your parents told me to look for you, they didn't say you'd be this hard to find."

He then began to examine the glass window I had been admiring only an hour before I rolled my eyes, my patience for him wearing thin. He was just so obnoxiously him. He annoyed me in every way possible. Each of his traits contrasting with mine. I snapped back to reality; and reminded myself of the standings here. He was a guest.

The only thing I could think to do with that fact was to introduce some polite conversation.

"So.... why are you here?"

He turned to face me, with an air of someone who had never had to explain themselves and looked down on me like I was something so insignificant that didn't even earn his attention. His eyes bore into mine as if searching to see if I was worthy of his answer.

"My parents" he replied simply, returning to stare at the window that was clearly far more interesting than me.

I internally sighed. No matter how much taller he had grown, his mind had certainly not; he was still as self-centred as before, still as impolite, still as arrogant. But. He was a guest. Someone to deal with until they left. Even if that wasn't for hours. I decided I should get it together - I had a ball to prepare for. Even though I was little more than half his height, I was in charge here - this was my home; meaning I had to start acting like it.

"Come on. We should probably- I should tell someone I've found you. They might start to think something had happened"

He said nothing, but followed me from room to room. Like a shadow.

That is, if you hated your shadow wholeheartedly.

Eventually, we found my parents on one of the balconies near their rooms, looking as regal as ever, sitting with such stature, they looked as if they had been born with it. The Prince still hadn't spoken a word. My mother was the first to notice our arrival, looking at me as if she wanted to say 'See, nobody's died yet'.

"Your Majesty. Your Highness. " Prince Kavan accented his words with a small bow; surprising me with his lack of hostility.

"Mom. Dad." I echoed his greeting, looking between them expectantly, willing one of them to say something.

"I see you managed to find each other in the end" my Mom said with a small smile "Now, I know in the past you two haven't particularly got along, but I must stress how much it is necessary for you to be civil tonight. We are trying to promote peace; and having two heirs to kingdoms squabbling will not sell the idea to anyone."

:)