"Thank you, they are lovely."

Fifteen year old Gilraen smiled sweetly as she took hold of a bouquet of flowers from a hopeful young nobleman.

"I saw them and thought of you and your beauty my lady. I … I hope you enjoy them," he grinned nervously.

"Oh I will. I shall place them in my room upon my dresser as soon as I return. Farewell dear sir," she gave him another dazzling smile before heading off again down the cobblestone street.

Her older sisters exchanged a look of amusement and knowing as they trailed behind their little sister. They were use to the uneven amount of attention she received compared to them. She was elegant, beautiful, charismatic, and, apparently, everything men wanted in a woman. And she was only fifteen. Receiving flowers was a daily occurrence for her, as was receiving jewelry, sweets, and love letters. Today most of these presents were currently being carried by their brother and a few by Elboron who was completely bewildered by the whole situation. He knew their youngest sibling was popular, but this was quite ridiculous.

"And this happens all the time?" the Prince of Ithilien asked his friend again. Eldarion chuckled.

"Yes, almost everyday, she is very well liked."

"More than well liked I would say," he commented looking at the packages he held in his arms, "and why am I carrying these things again?"

"Because we are gentlemen," Aragorn's heir retorted.

"Oh, right-"

"What are you two whispering about back there?" inquired Ivorwen as she glanced back with a smile on her face.

"How absolutely lovely you three look today, and how lucky we are to be escorting you instead of going off and doing what we like," Elboron answered jestingly.

Ivorwen and Elwing laughed knowing full well that the two men were very bored and couldn't wait to be freed of their escorting duty.

"Just a few more shops gentlemen, and then we will be done," reassured Elwing.

"Let's go into this one!" piped up Gilraen who sauntered gracefully into the shop her sisters, brother, and his friend in tow.

After a while of browsing, the shopkeeper excited and anxious that the royal family had entered his store, Gilraen spotted a necklace that she simply needed to own.

"Oh, I completely love this necklace," she said aloud catching the owner's attention, "Did you make it dear sir?" she smiled as she looked into the eyes of the man.

"Why yes, actually, I did. It took me a very long time but I must say that I am proud of it," he smiled back.

"And you should be, for it has to be the most beautiful piece of jewelry that I have seen today. It is so very elegant, may I?"

"Of course my lady."

The owner carefully took the necklace from the display and placed it around her neck and then quickly produced a mirror for her. He couldn't help but smile when he saw that his necklace seemed to make the princess even more captivating. Her family watched with amusement while Elboron observed with curiosity.

"I must say, your highness, I think this necklace most becomes you. I should like to give it to you as a gift."

Elboron's eyes grew wide; he glanced at Eldarion who simply shrugged.

"Oh, I couldn't accept such a gift good sir. You worked so hard on this you should receive payment for it," Gilraen tried to argue.

"No, no, you are our Princess and deserve such a gift. It would be my honor and pleasure, please accept it my lady," he bowed humbly before her.

"Thank you so much, you are so very kind, I promise to treasure it," she smiled once more said her goodbye and left, the necklace carefully wrapped and added to the pile of packages.

"How does she do that?" Elboron asked somewhat annoyed, "She practically robbed that poor man!"

He watched her as she continued down the street without them completely oblivious to everyone around her, seemingly only interested in something if it dealt with or was directed at her.

"We don't know what she does, she just has a way of persuading people," Ivorwen shrugged as she answered.

"I never realized how spoiled she is," he commented.

"We do not spoil her, her admires do, the kingdom does!" Elwing uttered, "Apparently the rest of us are as important as rat droppings."

"Elwing!"

"Well it's true, the kingdom loves us of course, but Gil is definitely the favorite. She's the baby, the most beautiful, and named after our grandmother. She is simply the most loved, and now has become the most arrogant if you ask me."

"Well, she is only fifteen, we can only hope that she will grow out of it," Ivorwen offered.

"If everyone stopped giving her what she wanted all the time she's grow out of it quicker," Elboron muttered.

"Come along everyone, there is one more place I would like to go," Gilraen called from over her shoulder.

While in this final shop, Elboron happened to be standing near Gilraen as she admired a lovely bracelet. She tried it on and glanced at Elboron who wasn't paying attention to her.

"Isn't this bracelet just gorgeous?" she smiled brightly and held her arm out towards him.

"Hm? Oh, yes," he nodded uninterested.

"I think it would go perfectly with the necklace I just acquired, don't you think?" she tried again, the smile still on her face.

"Probably," he shrugged.

"I … I would love to own it for myself, but it seems I am out of money for today," she paused, when no reaction came her face fell into confusion, but she continued, "Do you think you could do me a big favor and lend me the money to purchase it? I promise to pay you back."

Elboron was quite stunned and gazed at his friend's little sister for a few moments. Did she honestly think that he would fall at her feet like so many others? Apparently she did.

"I would, but I don't think you need another bracelet Gilraen."

The Princess, now her turn to be stunned, couldn't find her speech for some seconds.

"I beg your pardon?"

"You've collected plenty of gifts today, and I'm sure you have enough jewelry at home to satisfy you."

"W-what are you saying?" she asked still completely confused by his words, men simply didn't refuse her; he was beginning to sound like father.

"I'm saying, I'm not going to buy you that bracelet because too many men spoil you rotten, and I think for once you can refrain from owning something you want but truly do not need," he answered honestly trying to keep his temper.

Gilraen, on the other hand, was totally outraged and perplexed. How dare he speak to her like that! He completely insulted her, in public too! With a searing glare she left the store in a huff her sisters quickly trying to keep up with her not knowing what had just happened. Eldarion was soon by Elboron's side as they also tried to follow the princesses out.

"What happened?" Eldarion asked as they took long strides to catch up with the sisters.

"I think I just insulted your sister by not buying her a bracelet … and well, basically telling her that she is a spoiled brat."

Eldarion couldn't help but laugh a little.

"I see, she certainly doesn't like to be called that. Why did she ask you to buy her something?"

"I have no idea, probably because there was no one else around, and according to her every man obeys her every wish."

"She said that?"

"It was implied."

"You'll probably have to apologize to her you know. Out of the four of us she is the most Gondorian, she's all about propriety. And no doubt she'll say the proper thing for you to do is present a sincere apology."

"And you probably know that this apology will not come easy."

"I never said it would."

Her sisters exchanged a nervous glance as they watched Gilraen pace back and forth in her room, utterly furious.

"Can you believe him? How could he say that to me? The man actually had the audacity to call me spoiled! And here I thought he was a proper young gentleman and a good friend. How dare he insult me!"

"If he is such a good friend then why were you asking him for money for a frivolous bracelet?" raised Ivorwen.

"It wasn't a frivolous bracelet! It would have matched perfectly with my necklace –"

"But still why ask Elboron?" inquired Elwing.

"Well I couldn't ask Eldarion or either of you, and I thought Elboron would be good enough to lend me the money, I was going to pay him back … eventually…"

"Gilraen," Ivorwen began, "Elboron is our friend, not one of your admirers, it is not proper to ask money of him especially when it comes to something like jewelry."

"It is not?" Gilraen's frowned but realized that perhaps it wasn't very proper of her to ask him for money. It would seem they were both in the wrong. With a sigh, she nodded and headed off to find the Ithilien Prince to apologize.

She found him out in the court yard; he seemed to be in deep thought, his eyes locked on the horizon. Gilraen came to stand beside him, after a moment when he didn't acknowledge her presence she spoke.

"'Ron?"

He glanced at her but still said nothing.

"Is there … something you would like to say to me?" she smiled sweetly and hopefully.

"There are many things I would like to say to you Gilraen, none of them proper," came his curt answer.

Gilraen took a deep breath holding in her anger and smiled again.

"Very well, I suppose I will go first then. I am sorry 'Ron, I should not have asked you for money. It was not proper," she stated very professionally.

Elboron raised an eyebrow at her, not expecting an apology. Though still angry at her and her assumptions about him, he knew giving in for the moment was for the best.

"And I am sorry for insulting you, it also was not proper," he smirked the latter having a hint of sarcasm.

"Apology accepted," she smiled then turned on her heels and strolled away.

Though they said their regrets both knew that their relationship was now tainted. Elboron still thought of her as a spoiled child, and Gilraen still thought of him as an improper, callous man who didn't know how to treat a lady. Both felt that they would simply have to wait for the other to mature.