Painting Trip

[Demeter]

: Rowen was silent, and gave his friend a look. "It just started screaming, I'm unable to get the words of what it's saying. But it's angry and it feels dark. I'll extend my stay here, see if I can find out what the Voice of Nature is saying. Once I find out, I'll alert you, then you can do what you deem fit."

[Sky]

"Thank you," Demetrius said simply. "I don't know what I would do if harm should come to the king and queen." Patting his friend lightly on the back, "But I have faith in you; if there is danger to be found, I know that you will be able to find it." Echoing Rowen's words, Demetrius added quietly, "And then we'll go from there."

[Demeter]

: Rowen gave his friend a weak smile. "I'm more worried about you then the royal family. They can be replaced, you can't." He gave him a grin to let him know that he shouldn't take that too seriously.

"And as for more pleasent topics - any advice on how to deal with pesky suitors? Flora's of age."

[Sky]

Demetrius's eyebrows shot up, "Flora's of age? So soon? Why . . . the last time I saw her, she was just a young girl. Certainly that couldn't have been that long ago . . ." Demetrius shook his head, "Amazing, how quickly time goes by, isn't it? As for how to deal with suitors, I'm not the man to ask - makes me glad I have boys, not girls. But, I suppose if I have to answer, my best guess would be for you to be tough. Firm. You know - scare the poor guys off."

[Demeter]

: "She's seventeen and that's when the courtship can begin," Rowen said. "I know, I wish she wasn't of age. Wystie and I still view her as our little girl, the one prone to wandering off." He gave Demetrius a wry grin. "I'll try but given the fact that I only have one good arm, that might be difficult."

[Sky]

"Seventeen," Demetrius echoed, shaking his head. "Do you remember when we were seventeen? Seems like such a long time ago, don't you think?" Jokingly, he added, "But I still remember those days clearly - even if I am an old-timer now." Flashing Rowen a half-smile, Demetrius continued, "Oh, to be young again - to be able to explore the world, to still have idealistic dreams - to chase girls."

A teasing glint in his eye, Demetrius gave Rowen a playful nudge with his shoulder, "Kind of scary that boys who act the way we acted when we were their age will be chasing after Flora." Mildly worried that Rowen might be offended by his words, Demetrius hastily added, "But I wouldn't worry too much about 'em. Flora's got a level head and she won't let anyone who's not worthy of her court her."

[Demeter]

: "Wystie claims I've never fully grown up," Rowen said with a laugh. "She might be right, since I tend to spend more time flitting about on painting trips then at home."

Rowen shuddered. "I'd be out and out terrified if the boys acted like we did." He sighed. "Although, we do have one suitor that refuses to hear no. I'm sure I've ranted to you about Bryar in my letters..."

[Sky]

Demetrius snorted in disgust. "You mean to tell me that you still haven't gotten rid of that disgusting man - although he certainly doesn't even deserve that title. No real man would act as terribly as the way you've described him to me." Demetrius shuddered, "It's my two cents, take 'em for what they're worth, but I think nearly anybody would be a better suitor for Flora than that lecher."

[Demeter]

: "Believe me, Wystie and I have told him a thousand times that he is not marrying Flora. He doesn't even respect our traditions," Rowen said, knowing that his friend knew exactly what he was talking about as he had vented to Demetrius a countless number of times while he was courting Wysteria.

"But our siblings," he said, looking utterly disgusted with them, "feel that Bryar would make a fine match for Flora since he has a large farm. They ignore the fact that he's been married twice and that both wives died suspicious deaths."

[Sky]

Angered by what he was hearing, Demetrius muttered under his breath, "I ought to show those twits you call relatives a suspicious death of their own. To even think of marrying off someone as good natured as Flora to that man makes me want to strangle them. She needs to marry a good man - a real man." Wagging his finger at Rowen, Demetrius continued, his voice rising, "I better never hear about her getting married to some piece of scum, you hear?"

[Demeter]

: "Wystie thinks my suggestion of putting Flora in a convent is a bit much and bit too overprotective," Rowen said with a laugh. "And you won't. I'd sooner make her a nun then have her marry Bryar."

He gave his friend a wry grin. "Although getting me and Wystie to agree on one man is not very easy. Wystie favors an Athryellian male and I favor Saladin's grandson. The one Wystie likes is slightly older then Flora but Saladin's grandson is about Flora's age. And Flora thinks we're both insane for quarrelling over her future."

[Sky]

Demetrius rubbed his chin in thought. "An Athryellian, you say? They're elven people, if my memory serves me correctly. Aren't the elves kind of . . . strict? Especially about who they marry? Maybe I'm getting the Athryellians mixed up with some other people, but I thought they never married outsiders - meaning that Flora couldn't be a match for one of 'em, right?" Shaking his head, Demetrius grinned, "Again - I'm glad I don't have daughters. Too much work. They're cute, and probably smarter than most boys - but still, they're too much work."

[Demeter]

: "I know. It's why I favor Saladin's grandson. At least he's her age and there's no conflict about marrying between two realms," Rowen said. He glanced over at his friend and grinned. "So, old friend, how many girls have you had to beat away from the princeling?"

[Sky]

Demetrius snorted in disgust, "How many? I'd tell you how many but there's been too many to count! Even when Prince Sky isn't here, whenever the royal family goes anywhere there's always bound to be some silly woman trying to push her daughter our way. They don't seem to believe that Sky can actually be in a relationship with some Earth girl. Sometimes I wonder myself, to be honest. I've seen Prince Sky and his lady friend, Bloom, together and, I don't know - there just isn't anything there. I don't think they'll last long enough to get married, that's for sure."

[Demeter]

: "Is there any girl *you'd* like to see him paired with? Surely the "surrogate" father has some idea as to what kind of lady he wants his prince to marry," Rowen teased lightly.