<div style="text-align: center;"><a class="postlink" href="http://s300.photobucket.com/user/SociallyToxicBeauty/media/5d741913-5214-4aef-8677-bf3a2c5711a8.jpg.html"></a><a class="postlink" href="http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn24/SociallyToxicBeauty/5d741913-5214-4aef-8677-bf3a2c5711a8.jpg">[ img ]</a><br/><span style="color: #408000"><span style="font-weight: bold"><span style="font-size: 150%; line-height: 116%;">Alida</span></span></span></div><br/><br/>Alida watched with watery, angry eyes at Yehuda as he began to storm away. Zoltan managed to grab his arm, stopping him. He spoke in a hushed town and Yehuda ripped away from him,<span style="color: #0000FF">"Of course your majesty..." </span>The black winged man disappeared through the doorway.<span style="color: #BF0000">"So...Should I not be a fan of that guy?"</span>Izu asked with a slight groan,<span style="color: #BF0000">"I'm gonna blame him for my stiff neck..."</span>he stated jokingly. Alida gave a tired snort,<span style="color: #408000">"Izu silly."</span>Just then the guard who had knocked out Izu came up, apologizing to Izu--the Prince.<br/><br/>Alida's eyes darted to look at Zoltan then looked back at Izu. The man didn't understand her language and she felt a bit of relief for that. She had no idea how he would feel being referred to as a Prince. Though, she imagined ruefully, that it really could go either way--he would either be immensely gleeful and make constant jokes or absolutely horrified. But who really knew? Izu was Izu and he was always full of surprises.<br/><span style="color: #BF0000"><br/>"Yeah...My bad too. I think,"</span>Izu said to the guard as he nudged the stolen spear.<br/><br/>Alida debated on what to do. She had not considered the possibility that Izu would ever be in her world. She had wished for it, certainly, but she had never made any true plans if it were to happen. Now here they were and she was so woefully unprepared. She wondered if Izu had a similar experience when he had helped her and reluctantly took her in.<br/><br/><span style="color: #FF8000">"We can help with the language," </span>Zoltan's voice pierced through Alida's thoughts. She looked at him in surprise, but gave a soft smile. It was her brother and he always knew what she worried over.<span style="color: #408000">"How?" </span>she asked with mild curiosity---though she had a feeling it would deal with some type of enchantment.<br/><br/>Zoltan unwrapped something from his wrist, a necklace that she had not noticed beforehand. It was a silver chain with a simple squarish pendant.<span style="color: #FF8000"> "He can wear this. I had a feeling someone would come with you--so I had this ready,"</span>he explained holding it out to her. She reached out and grasped in with her slender fingers, then pulled it close to her face to inspect the item,<span style="color: #408000">"It will certainly compliment him." </span><br/><br/><span style="color: #408000">"Izu...wear this,"</span>she commanded happily, holding it out to him. When he didn't immediately reach for it, she gave an overly dramatic sigh of exasperation (usually Izu's only warning that Alida was about to jump on his person). She sprung on him, easily putting the necklace over his head. She scrambled away from him quickly, excited to see if the necklace would actually work.<br/><br/>It had not immediately occurred to her when Zoltan had mentioned the necklace that she would finally be able to communicate with Izu without any issue. Ever since Izu had started to teach her his language, she had felt like she only looked like a fool in front of him. He certainly made her feel foolish sometimes when she was trying to learn new words, though she knew he didn't mean to. Not only that, but Izu would finally get to experience Alida at her best.<br/><br/>It was time to try out the necklace as Izu hadn't taken it off.<span style="color: #408000">"Welcome to Euthalia, my home. This is my brother, Prince Zoltan..."</span><span style="color: #FF8000">"Ahem...Uh...Alida..." </span>Alida looked over to her brother, his golden eyes full of regret and sadness,<span style="color: #FF8000">"King Zoltan." </span>Alida felt her chest tighten but she willed herself not to react. Her brother sure knew how to choose his timing.<span style="color: #408000">"Oh...my apologies,"</span>she managed to force out, trying to swallow the lump that had formed inside her throat,<span style="color: #408000">"Izu, this is...K..king Zoltan."</span>She then gestured from Zoltan to Izu,<span style="color: #408000">"Zoltan, this is Izu, my partner...."</span>she stated.<span style="color: #FF8000">"Nice to meet you, Prince Izu,"</span>Zoltan said with a very intentional grin. It was likely an attempt to distract Alida from his poor announcement of their parents' deaths--and it worked.<br/><br/><span style="color: #408000">"WHY CAN YOU NEVER KEEP YOUR MOUTH SHUT!?"</span>Alida exclaimed, swatting at Zoltan in true sibling fashion.