TrueBloods

Chapter 1: The meeting

I was screaming in my sleep. Lillyana was shaking my shoulder, trying to wake me up. I was sobbing when I finally did. She just held me while I cried my eyes out.

She sighed, "The dreams again?" I nodded. "Lilah, they're just dreams. "

I shook my head and looked at her. "It's too real to just be a dream, Lillyana."

She smiled and gently wiped my face of tears. "I love you, little sister. I promise that they're just dreams. They have to be. Anything else is illegal. We need to get you ready. Mother and Father are expecting us for breakfast. We have guests. I hate to rush you right now, but you need to get dressed."

I nodded. "What kind of guests? What do I need to wear?"

She grinned and I knew it was a marriage prospect. "The queen of the Elfin Kingdom has arrived with her eldest sons."

I smiled at her and pulled out my ocean blue, floor length, flowy gown and held it up for approval. Making her mad was not a good idea, so once she gave the approval, I changed into it and let her brush my hair out, weaving flowers throughout it. The Elfin Kingdom was a patriarchy, whereas we are a matriarchy. Lillyana was going to be the next Queen, so Mother had been looking for someone to marry me off to. There have been many marriage proposals, but I refused all of them. Simply put, none of them were him and I just couldn't get him out of my head. I just couldn't believe that he wasn't real. Those piercing, haunting, crystal, blue eyes were in my mind, awake and asleep. I needed to know that he wasn't real before I could marry anyone, if mother and sister dear ever let me.

"Lilah," my sister said. "Where are your shoes?"

I shrugged. "Out the window." She started to lecture me. "Lillyana, they're just SO confining. No one will even know. My dress covers my feet."

She sighed. "Please just put on some flats. Mother will be severely displeased if you don't have shoes on. "

I groaned and did as asked, following her to the dining hall like the good little princess I had to be. The footman announced us as we arrived, late of course. We entered and immediately curtsied to our mother and father, saying, "Greetings to the Sun and Moon of our kingdom."

Mother and Father replied, "Greetings to the Stars and Earth of our kingdom."

We took our seats just as the Queen of the Elfin Kingdom arrived with her sons on either side of her. The entire Elfin race was tall, both of our kingdoms were, in fact. The Queen was a tall, demure redhead. I assumed the taller one was the eldest. His hair reminded me of a small bird's nest, it was a curly dark brown mess.He had tan skin and dark brown eyes, and he was most definitely not the man from my dreams. The other prince was more like him. He had dark messy hair, golden tan skin, broad shoulders, and he looked to be the right height, but I was unable to see his eyes to tell for certain. The Queen introduced her sons as Robin and Jackson respectively.

All throughout the meal, I felt someone watching me. It was stifling. Finally, we finished eating and I was about to escape when Lillyana voluntold me to escort the princes on a tour. Prince Robin smiled understandingly and said, "Perhaps we could just take a walk around the gardens instead?"

I felt everything loosen in relief and nodded. As the second Princess, I was supposed to be demure like the Elfin Queen was, but that just wasn't who I was. I would prefer to be outside, away from the stifling, watchful eyes of Mother. I softly said, "Right this way, my lords."

As soon as I spoke, I felt something shift in the dynamic of the brothers. I had no clue if I was imagining it, so I continued to lead them into the gardens. We had a small hedge maze in our garden that I led them to. They followed me through the maze to the center of clearing and no sooner than I set foot in the clearing, than two distinct sets of growls echoed through and both princes leapt in front of me.

I giggled and gently slipped around the princes. Crouching down, my wolves came racing over. Sol and Luna nuzzled my hands, begging for pets. I pressed my forehead against Luna's. I'm sorry, girl. Mother refused to let you inside because we have foreign guests. I'm here now.

She rumbled in response and stared at Prince Jackson. I sighed. "Go on. I'll come back out later for you guys, okay?"

They huffed before bounding away. Luna turned and projected one last shocking thought before leaving: Your mate has arrived.

I turned back to the princes and sat gently on the grass, resuming my demure facade. What could she possibly have meant? Mates no longer exist in our country. Prince Jackson spoke in a very strained tone, but in the common tongue, "Princess." I looked up at him. "Please, don't put on this mask in front of us."

Prince Robin turned to his brother and in the Elfin tongue said, "Jackson? Is it-?"

Jackson said something so quietly I couldn't hear and Robin excused himself, saying something about getting some drinks. After he left, Jackson sat down next to me and whispered, "Go. Run. I won't tell anyone."

He smiled softly and I gently took off my shoes before chasing after the wolves. The flowers Lillyana painstakingly wove into my hair flew out one by one as my hair came undone, flowing behind me as I ran. The entire time, I felt Jackson's eyes on me even though I could never see them.

~later that day, around lunch time~

I was in the old wing, making my way towards the banned library when he appeared. Jackson must have been exploring or something. I looked away as I was raised to do and I watched as he stopped right in front of me. I closed my eyes and said, "Greetings, Prince Jackson."

He replied, once again in a strained voice, "Princess." He tucked his finger under my chin, forcing me to look at him. He stared into my eyes for several moments before whispering, "I have finally found you."

He started to kiss me and I felt sparks where our lips met. I shoved him away with all of my strength, forcing him to the other side of the hallway. "Who do you think you are? You may be a prince and all, but that doesn't mean you can do whatever you want to whoever you want!" He sighed and raked his fingers through his hair, pushing it out of his face and revealing the same crystal blue eyes that have been haunting me. I gasped and moved to him, saying, "You're real? How can this be?"