Princess Nymeria's Arc

Chapter 25 of 32

The herald's voice rang across the hall. The queen's son had returned. Nymeria stood frozen on the stair. She had met one prince days ago, and that prince left her cold and distant in a courtyard. The crowd parted below. A young man walked through in a blue coat stitched with silver. His dark hair curled short around a sharp face. Nymeria caught her breath. She had expected him to look like Lyra, red-haired and teasing. He did not. He was tall and handsome, and he moved like a soldier, not a courtier. Lyra leaned close on the stair. "That's my brother, Valor," she muttered. "Off finding meaning in the world while I get sold off tonight. Lucky him." She rolled her eyes, but her hand found Nymeria's and squeezed. Nymeria walked down to meet him. Her charm pulled hard in her chest. She held it. Valor stopped before her and bowed. "Well, Princess," he said. "Care to join me for a dance." "Of course my Prince," she said. "It would be my honor" "Then let us dance." He straightened and looked at her plainly. " The words landed strange. Nymeria had feared this meeting. She thought he would demand something, or that the he would just leave her the way Prince Tobias did. "My mother hopes I will marry an elf tonight," he went on. "She hopes Lyra will too. She would rather I spend my time home finding a bride to make my queen." He glanced past her, and Nymeria followed his eyes. Queen Celeste watched them from across the hall, her face soft. "Then why are you standing here?" Nymeria asked. “You should go out there and meet some princesses” "I mean you are a princess" Valor said. "I do not know what you search for but I would not mind getting to know you." He spun her around twisted her through the ballroom. Relief moved through her, cool and clean. This prince was not like the last prince she had met.