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It was Averi's desire that his youngest learn to behave like royalty. He had allowed her to explore, make messes, and act like any other elfling for too long. Eleven years, in fact; though the girl had hit the age where she would not be growing for quite some time. She resembled a five year old, though her eyes spoke volumes.

The princess of Lynwood did not desire to learn such things. She wanted to have adventures! She didn't want to learn how to dance, or sing. She didn't want to learn how to be beautiful.

Whoever her teacher was, the tiny princess was not going to make this easy for them. In fact, she was determined to make this as difficult as possible.

When Thali stepped into the sitting room, a smile quickly replaced the scowl she'd been wearing. Aunt Acacia was to be teaching her? Maybe this wouldn't be so bad after all. Maybe they would read, or tell stories, learn something interesting. She curtsied politely, having perfected this greeting at least. She had once been quite clumsy; though that had been many years ago, when she had first started lessons with Aeto.

"I didn't know you were to be teaching me," she admitted, sitting down and carefully moving her dress out from underneath her. She straightened her tiara and gave the woman a smile. "How is Vate? I haven't seen him today."

It was true the princess liked to take advantage of her baby-like features. She was cute, and she knew it. She was spoiled, and liked it that way.

"Father told me Uncle Aeto would be teaching me," Thali said, with a slight frown. Aeto might have been a hard teacher when he had first started teaching the princess, but now--she felt as if she had the older elf wrapped around her finger. He would have been quite easily convinced, perhaps, to tell her a story.

"Tell me a story about a princess," Thali suggested. "That should help me see what one's like, right?" The little elf frowned slightly as she studied her aunt.

"What is the first lesson?" she asked. She briefly wondered if she would be allowed to play with Vate today.

Thali rose one perfectly arched eyebrow. "You are suggesting I am impolite," she said, sounding offended. Lady Acacia was going to teach her to eat? Babies were taught how to eat. "I eat in the same fashion as does my older sister, as well as my mother. I have learned by example and will keep to it." She frowned at Acacia, and her eyes narrowed into blue slits.

"My father has never mentioned to me that the way I consume things is improper. Certainly he would have said I could do with improvement in that area if it were so?" She crossed her arms and stuck out her lower lip in a pout.

The princess Thali was an expert pouter.

Thali frowned, but nodded in understanding. She was a dainty eater by nature, rarely eating more than a few bites at a time. This might have been the reason for her tiny size and fragile form. "I will do that," she said. If people thought she needed to behave more like princess, fine. She would.

And she would take revenge. Someday. After she was a perfect princess.

"Is there more to this lesson? Or something else you would like to teach me?" Thali asked.

Thali's eyes widened in obvious glee. Vate was to dance with her? That made everything better! Vate was her true love, and she was going to marry him someday. They would be king and queen, and have children, and rule Lynwood forever. It also helped that Vate and she had forged a bond the day they were born; soulmates were often born on the same day, though their birthdays were celebrated seperately.

And as Vate walked in, looking as handsome as an elf who resembled a seven year old could in a silver and gold patterned tunic, he beamed at Thali before bowing and taking her hand. "You are beautiful," he said, before standing up. "It would be an honor to dance with you, princess."

The Lord Averi walked in far more reluctantly than the prince; he wasn't fond of dancing, though he was quite good at it. He did not bow; he smiled and nodded at Acacia.

Thali took Vate's hand, smiling at her prince. "I would love to dance with you," she told him, standing on her tiptoes to place a kiss on his cheek. She moved into position, putting her arms around his neck.

Her dark elf counterpart seemed awkward for a moment, before placing his hands on her almost non-existant waist. Neither of them seemed to realize Averi was watching, and if they did, they didn't seem to care.

The king smirked at his childhood friend, before glancing pointedly at the two children. They made a wonderful couple, didn't they? They just seemed to fit, perfectly. Like puzzle pieces. "They seem to have started without us."