Post by Katty on Dec 9, 2012 19:36:19 GMT 10
Title: Threats and Parties
Rating: G
Prompt: #1 - Homecoming
Summary: Zahir just wants to sleep. Vania needs his help.
- - -
There was a knock at the door.
Zahir remained immobile, stretched out on his bed. He was exhausted after accompanying the King to a week-long summit in Port Caynn, and debated whether to even answer his door. The King had dismissed him for the night, and the bell had already sounded past eleven. He had blown the candles out and the room was dark. If it was anyone important, he reasoned, they would have announced themselves.
The knock sounded again. Zahir closed his eyes and pretended to be asleep. Whoever was there would leave soon.
Zahir heard shuffling outside the door. Smugly, he congratulated himself, assuming he had just avoided an awkward late night errand from some member of the Council.
Suddenly, the knock sounded again. “Squire Zahir,” called a high, girlish voice. “I know you’re awake.” A thud sounded against the door, as if it had been kicked by a child. “You’re not snoring.”
Zahir groaned inwardly. He knew that voice, and the trouble that accompanied it. Quickly, he considered his options, and decided to double down.
He made a slight snoring sound. Deciding it wasn’t convincing enough, he snored a bit louder. He shifted in his bed slightly, crinkling the blankets.
She knocked on the door again. “Squire Zahir,” she called, “come and talk to me.” He could hear her tapping her foot on the ground. “I know how to melt locks now. Jasson taught me.”
Zahir groaned audibly this time, and admitted defeat. “Just a moment, Your Highness,” he replied, hoping he sounded sleepy. He pulled a bedshirt on, and mussed his hair slightly, figuring it made him look as if he had only just awoken. Zahir stalked over to his door and yanked it open.
In front of him stood nine-year-old Princess Vania, looking fantastically petulant in a frilly pink nightdress. She crossed her arms haughtily, and sniffed. “I knew you were awake,” she informed him. “You didn’t fool me.”
“I wasn’t trying to fool anyone, Princess,” Zahir lied.
“Hmph,” replied Vania, narrowing her deep blue eyes at him. “Well, it doesn’t matter. I need your help.”
“You need my help?” Zahir repeated, confused. “With what?”
Vania frowned. “A matter of great importance,” she said. “For the kingdom.”
Zahir stared at the girl, suspicious. “Go on,” he said.
“Mama’s party is tomorrow night.” Vania began. “Everyone will be there. Lianne gets to go this year, because she is ten.” Vania sighed theatrically. “I will be the only one left in the nursery, like a baby.” She fluttered her long black eyelashes at him. “You will be there, with Papa. Help me sneak in.”
“No, thank you, Your Highness” replied Zahir cooly. “Remember what happened when I last tried to help you? You ate the entire batch of toffee and then threw up on the Gallan Ambassador. I ended up mucking stables for a month. So - no thank you, Princess Vania. You’ll have to find someone else to help you. Or wait one more year.”
Vania’s eyes widened in surprise, and her lips curled into a pout. “But, Squire Zahir,” she protested, “I’ll be all alone.” She tugged on one of her black braids as her lips quivered.
Softening slightly, Zahir knelt down to be at her level. “Princess, don’t be sad. Next year you’ll be able to go.” Trying to cheer her up, he added, “The party isn’t even much fun. In fact, it's very stuffy. You aren’t missing much.”
Vania smiled shyly at him. “Will you help me sneak in, then?” she asked softly.
Zahir realized immediately what she was doing. “No,” he said firmly, standing back up. “I already told you, I won’t help.”
Vania stepped back, and stamped her food angrily. “Fine,” she snapped. “I’ll find a way in myself, then.” She paused, and grinned wickedly at him. “But I’m going to tell Mama that you said her party was stuffy.“ With that, she turned and flounced down the hallway.
Zahir stared at her retreating back. She was already a handful; he could only imagine what she’d be like in a few more years.
Rating: G
Prompt: #1 - Homecoming
Summary: Zahir just wants to sleep. Vania needs his help.
- - -
There was a knock at the door.
Zahir remained immobile, stretched out on his bed. He was exhausted after accompanying the King to a week-long summit in Port Caynn, and debated whether to even answer his door. The King had dismissed him for the night, and the bell had already sounded past eleven. He had blown the candles out and the room was dark. If it was anyone important, he reasoned, they would have announced themselves.
The knock sounded again. Zahir closed his eyes and pretended to be asleep. Whoever was there would leave soon.
Zahir heard shuffling outside the door. Smugly, he congratulated himself, assuming he had just avoided an awkward late night errand from some member of the Council.
Suddenly, the knock sounded again. “Squire Zahir,” called a high, girlish voice. “I know you’re awake.” A thud sounded against the door, as if it had been kicked by a child. “You’re not snoring.”
Zahir groaned inwardly. He knew that voice, and the trouble that accompanied it. Quickly, he considered his options, and decided to double down.
He made a slight snoring sound. Deciding it wasn’t convincing enough, he snored a bit louder. He shifted in his bed slightly, crinkling the blankets.
She knocked on the door again. “Squire Zahir,” she called, “come and talk to me.” He could hear her tapping her foot on the ground. “I know how to melt locks now. Jasson taught me.”
Zahir groaned audibly this time, and admitted defeat. “Just a moment, Your Highness,” he replied, hoping he sounded sleepy. He pulled a bedshirt on, and mussed his hair slightly, figuring it made him look as if he had only just awoken. Zahir stalked over to his door and yanked it open.
In front of him stood nine-year-old Princess Vania, looking fantastically petulant in a frilly pink nightdress. She crossed her arms haughtily, and sniffed. “I knew you were awake,” she informed him. “You didn’t fool me.”
“I wasn’t trying to fool anyone, Princess,” Zahir lied.
“Hmph,” replied Vania, narrowing her deep blue eyes at him. “Well, it doesn’t matter. I need your help.”
“You need my help?” Zahir repeated, confused. “With what?”
Vania frowned. “A matter of great importance,” she said. “For the kingdom.”
Zahir stared at the girl, suspicious. “Go on,” he said.
“Mama’s party is tomorrow night.” Vania began. “Everyone will be there. Lianne gets to go this year, because she is ten.” Vania sighed theatrically. “I will be the only one left in the nursery, like a baby.” She fluttered her long black eyelashes at him. “You will be there, with Papa. Help me sneak in.”
“No, thank you, Your Highness” replied Zahir cooly. “Remember what happened when I last tried to help you? You ate the entire batch of toffee and then threw up on the Gallan Ambassador. I ended up mucking stables for a month. So - no thank you, Princess Vania. You’ll have to find someone else to help you. Or wait one more year.”
Vania’s eyes widened in surprise, and her lips curled into a pout. “But, Squire Zahir,” she protested, “I’ll be all alone.” She tugged on one of her black braids as her lips quivered.
Softening slightly, Zahir knelt down to be at her level. “Princess, don’t be sad. Next year you’ll be able to go.” Trying to cheer her up, he added, “The party isn’t even much fun. In fact, it's very stuffy. You aren’t missing much.”
Vania smiled shyly at him. “Will you help me sneak in, then?” she asked softly.
Zahir realized immediately what she was doing. “No,” he said firmly, standing back up. “I already told you, I won’t help.”
Vania stepped back, and stamped her food angrily. “Fine,” she snapped. “I’ll find a way in myself, then.” She paused, and grinned wickedly at him. “But I’m going to tell Mama that you said her party was stuffy.“ With that, she turned and flounced down the hallway.
Zahir stared at her retreating back. She was already a handful; he could only imagine what she’d be like in a few more years.