Worlds Collide: Chapter 9 Dinner

I barely sit down on my bed before Juan calls me to go to dinner, somehow already changed into a more formal suit.
“You should always address the king and queen formally and curtsey properly on entering and leaving the room. Do not eat until they have started eating and don’t speak unless spoken to” Juan says seriously.
“Thanks fo the crash course on royal etiquette, but I doubt I will be held to the same standards, considering I’m not from this world. Plus, John said that the king and queen don’t really like the formalities of royalty anyway.” I say nonchalantly.
“Still, if you want to be respected, you should be respectful.” Juan says as we enter the large dining hall.
The king and queen are already seated with Jasmine and the little boy at a large table decorated with gold centre pieces and gold cutlery. Juan bows and I curtsey as we enter.
“Please sit, unfortunately my grandfather can’t join us tonight as he is busy gathering the research you asked for, but I’m sure you have as many questions for us as we do for you.” The queen says and gestures for us to join the table.
I go to sit at the far end, but I’m interrupted “No, dragon lady sit with me” The boy says, so I move to sit beside him instead.
“It would be my honour your majesty” I say and dramatically courtesy to the small prince which earns me a giggle from him.
Food is brought in on gold platters and laid on the table, there are several meats and vegetables that I recognise and everything smells delicious which makes my stomach growl, but, as instructed, I wait for the royal family to eat before I start, which makes Juan give me a nod of approval.
“Do you mind if we call you Rain?” the king asks.
“Not at all, I don’t have any other titles your majesty” I explain.
“Please call me Ash and my wife is just Ava. It makes things easier.” He says with a warm smile.
“Rain is a weather not a name” Prince Ezron says with an adorable confused frown on his face.
“It is a strange name even where I’m from. I never understood it until I found out I was a water dragon, I think my parents called me that as a clue” I explain.
“Water dragon?” Erzon asks.
“Yes, see I can control water like this” I demonstrate making the water in his glass rise up in the form of a horse before lowering it and he claps excitedly.
“Like daddy does” He says.
“I can also control water, but I’m not a dragon” Ash says and demonstrates himself making the water rise and fall.
“What are you then? If you don’t mind me asking? I have only ever met humans and dragons.” I ask.
“I’m a fae, but where most only control one element, I can control all 4. The rest of our family is a little less straight forward.” Ash says.
“We are all crossbreeds with different powers, I have part werewolf, part fae, part vampire in me. You already know that my mother can read minds if she touches you, we don’t fully understand Ezron’s abilities yet and I can grow things” Ava says and demonstrates by making a white flower appear in her hand which she passes to Jasmine who smiles lovingly at her daughter.
“Wow that’s so cool. This world has much more variety than ours, I really didn’t think these things existed.” I confess.
“Well all stories have to start from somewhere and our worlds have been separated for long enough that most people don’t remember the truth. Is your world much different to ours?” The king asks.
“Very much so, even from the small parts I have seen. We don’t rely on magic, but humans have created electricity, technology, the internet and many inventions to help them. Most people think it’s just humans and animals in the world, dragons have been hidden for a long time and we only just exposed our existence.” I explain.
“Can you explain more, what is electricity and the internet?” Ava asks curiously.
I do my best to explain our world and its innovations, but I very quickly realise that I have no idea how most of the things I rely on every day actually work so the internet may as well be magic to me.
“Please help yourself to pudding” Jasmine offers noticing that I have stopped eating.
“I would love to, but this corset is already uncomfortable and I don’t think it will allow me to fit any more food inside me” I explain.
“Mummy hates them too” Ezron says.
Ava blushes “I was not always a queen and while the gowns are much prettier now than I was used to, they lack a practicality when it comes to simple things like breathing and eating.” She says.
“Why wear them then?” I ask
“There are things that are expected of leaders and unfortunately dressing the part is one of them” Ava answers.
“Maybe I could help with that. I love designing outfits, perhaps I could find a compromise of form and function.” I offer.
“If you would like to, our seamstresses are rather stuck in their ways, a new perspective would be welcomed. Juan please can you take Rain to town tomorrow and get her any supplies she would like? That way she will have something to do while we are gathering the information she requested.” Ava says happily.
“Is it safe to take her outside the castle?” Juan challenges.
“Do you not trust my assessment?” Jasmine asks him.
“Its not you that I don’t trust” Juan says quietly, but drops his argument.
“Good, I’m sure you will enjoy a shopping spree Juan” Ash says jokingly.
“Perhaps Ava, you would like to accompany Rain instead? It seems a task more suited to you” Juan asks, clearly trying to be rid of me already.
“I would love to spend more time with our fascinating guest, but it would draw too much attention and I have other things to attend to tomorrow. Besides trying on different appearances is one of your specialities so I’m sure you are more than suited to the task.” Ava says
I look between them quizzically, but the conversation moves on to other matters. We talk until little Ezron’s head starts to droop as he fights to stay awake and our curiosity about each others lives has to be curbed for the night.
I return to my room with Juan shadowing me, high on that happy feeling you get when you think you have made a new friend and feeling more welcome in the castle.
“The walls here are very thin and I am a light sleeper so do not try anything” Juan warns, killing my happy buzz.
Before I can comment on his rudeness, I’m ushered into my room and the door is slammed closed behind me.