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The Lord Averi had decreed that his children collectively, needed a lesson. A lesson in kindness to be exact; he wasn't completely oblivious to the cruelty that had started between his daughters. Meaning the cruel behavior his older daughter had been directing towards her younger sister. Something had to be done before it became a bigger issue.

And he had made it so the entire court was in the courtyard to observe. He wanted them to see how Alivia was treating the princess, if she misbehaved. The twenty year old elf was stubborn, and tended to have jealousy issues, for reasons beyond their father.

Aindres, on the other hand, tended to get along with both his siblings. He was training to become a healer, as well as keeping his title of prince. He had tanned arms firmly wrapped around the squirming toddler that was his younger sister. Messy but somehow elegant brown hair cascaded into his face whenever he looked down. He was perhaps one of the only elves who could calm his youngest sister down midtantrum.

Which, of course, was the state she was presently in. One could hardly blame her, this time. Aindres might have been able to; but only because she was kicking him. "I DUN WANNA HAVE LESSNS WITH IVVY!" She was crying. "No! No Ivvy! She mean!" That was an understatement. Alivia did everything in her power to upset the toddler. She had written notes, she had hidden the younger girl's toys, she had attempted to set her pets free. She insulted her on a daily basis. She actively wished her sister would leave the kingdom, and would state this without hesitation.

Today, however, the girl seemed resigned. She had already recieved a talking to from her father; and deep down, very deep down, she did feel a tinge of guilt for doing what she had to a toddler.

Averi nodded at his two friends, bowing in turn. "I thought the outdoors might be good for them," he said, gesturing to the three children. "Perhaps you could help me with the issue?" he asked with a slight smile in Aeto's direction. "She doesn't seem to have listened to me," he added with a sigh, meaning Alivia.

He hoped Livvy would listen to her teachers instead.

Thali had stopped tantruming at the sight of Aeto. She squirmed and escaped her brother's hold before running over to the teacher. "Uncle Aeto!" she called, half bouncing, half stumbling. She wrapped tiny arms around his legs. "Help me," she said. "Take me 'way from here. Ivvy mean. P'ease." There was a plea in her voice, and in her eyes. The toddler princess was afraid.

Clearly used to getting what she wanted, Thali crossed her arms and pouted. "Mean," she said clearly, pointing at her sister. A few of the elves nearby chuckled; Livvy's behavior had not gone unnoticed by those who worked in the palace.

Instead of giving Aeto her full attention like she normally did, she set blue eyes on Aindres. "Adrin," she began, using her favorite mispronounciation of her brother's name, "No make me lessns with Ivvy. P'ease?"

Aindres could have opted out of the lesson, had he desired to. He was by mortal standards a full grown man, though as an elf, he had only begun the stage every parent dreaded. He had started to notice girls. "Sorry doll," he said patiently. He had stopped using her previous nickname when her friend Elani had died. "Perhaps this lesson will--" he paused and stared at Aeto. "You cannot be serious," he complained. "Sharing?"

"I know how share," Thali informed Aeto. Had he forgotten?

As Aindres caught the ball, he smiled. He had noticed the teachers' pointedness, and knew now what the lesson was for. It was about time, too. Livvy had been cruel to their youngest sibling since the baby princess had learned to talk. He threw it to Thali, who was to the right of him.

"Adrin brave and 'mart," Thali said with no hesitation, looking down at the ball. Did she really have to throw it to her sister? She moved to throw it to Aindres, who shook his head and gestured to Livvy. The toddler threw it to her, in hopes her sister would obey the rules of the game and say something nice.

No such luck. Alivia's eyes darkened as she caught the ball. She too, now understood what the teachers were up to. "There's nothing nice to say," she said, quickly tossing the ball to Aindres. As Aeto and Acacia had hoped, Thali was--well, one could call it furious. Her face went red.

"You jealis!" she cried. "Liar! You mean cuz you jealis! I nice to you! You mean!"
Some of the court stared in disbelief. Alivia had been rude, and the baby princess was calling her out on it. How amusing.

Aindres tossed the ball to his youngest (and favorite, if he was forced to confess) sister in hopes of coming her down. "Thali is intelligent and generous," he said, as if Livvy had said nothing. As if this was a game between only the two of them. He had decided to ignore his blood-sister in this game until she could accept their sister.

As he had expected, the toddler beamed at him as she caught the ball. "Adrin nice," she said. "Bery nice." She passed the ball to Alivia without looking at her.

Livvy's eyes narrowed, her jealousy apparent. "I hate her," she said clearly, before tossing the ball to her brother.

"I love her," Aindres said quickly, noticing the look of distress Thali wore. He tossed the ball to her with a smile, again not complimenting Alivia.

The toddler beamed, and some of the nearby elves chuckled. It was clear the princess and her brother had a bond. "Adrin strong," she said. "Bery strong." It was a lie, really. Aindres might have been intelligent, sweet, and a good healer-in-training; but he was anything but strong.

She tossed the ball to Livvy, who glared at Acacia. "I don't want to play this stupid game," she said, throwing the ball at Thali, intentionally harder than she would have normally. "It's for babies." The smack of ball hitting skin made her turn around. Surely the toddler had caught it?

The sight made her wince in spite of herself. She hadn't meant to hurt Thali, not really. Aindres had gone to the toddler's side, naturally; after throwing her his fiercest glare.

The surrounding elves were stunned. The princess was hurt, that much was clear, but no cry had sounded. No signs of a tantrum flared.

The ball had left a ball-shaped red mark on Thali's cheek that was certain to become a bruise if not healed. She wrapped her arms around Acacia and sniffled. "It hurts, Auntie," was her only complaint as she put a hand to her cheek.

Aindres frowned, glaring at his older sister before putting a hand on Thali's head. He seemed to be concentrating. He was still an apprentice healer, but he could heal small things like bruises and cuts. He watched as the developing bruise faded, and smiled. "There," he said. "All better."

Thali seemed to disagree. She sniffled and clung to Acacia's leg. She watched as her father left the courtyard.

Alivia flinched. "Lord Aeto," she started hesitantly. She had never seen Aeto like this. She was scared, and it showed. "She deserves it. She deserves everything she gets!She stole my crown," she said with a sob before running off into the castle. It was clear most of the surrounding elves agreed with Aeto.

"Ivvy sad," Thali observed, making her way over to Aeto and hugging him around the knees. "Poor Ivvy." She paused, and looked up at Aeto. "I luv you."