Chapter Text

Avalor was a beautiful city. Rich in culture, ready to welcome visitors, and overjoyed to celebrate its citizens as unique individuals. The city had thrived as a trade port under the rule of Shuriki, which had been great for filling the royal treasury. But now that she was no longer in power, Elena was able to give back what rightfully belonged to the city.

One of the things that had kept the city running was it's bustling trade port. Shuriki had been surprisingly open to maintaining relations with other cities and countries. Perhaps it had been a clever ploy to gain trust with their leaders and then use that same trust to conquer their lands in the same way she had Avalor. She had likely intended to be in power long enough to carry out those plans.

The Harbormaster was one Daniel Turner. Up until recently, his daughter Naomi could be found trailing shortly behind her father, or filling in for him when he needed to be two places at once. But now she was on the Royal Council, and her duties often kept her from helping her father. Not only that, but Elena seemed to call on Naomi much more often than the other members of the council. The frequency of these meetings was starting to make Mr. Turner suspicious, and so he decided to approach his daughter about them.

Naomi had arrived home early that day. She began helping her father with tasks around the harbor, all while going on about the day's activities and how well Elena had handled every situation that had come her way. Even when she had meetings or activities with the council, the retelling of her adventures always seemed to focus on the princess. Daniel found it oddly coincidental.

"Is there something you're not telling me, Naomi?" He interrupted.

"What do you mean?" she cocked her head to the side curiously.

"Traveling the city with Princess Elena, accompanying her to take care of royal business when none of the other council is present. Even that hike you two took together. Don't you think you two have been spending a great deal of alone time together?" He asked skeptically.

Naomi shrugged. "Elena requested that I join her on all those errands, dad."

"I don't doubt that she did." Her father replied. "But the princess has plenty of guards to accompany her. Or there are other members of the council. Is there a reason she keeps choosing you?"

"Well, we're friends. Everybody else on the council is related to her so… she could probably use some space from them, I guess." Naomi offered an honest response.

Naomi continued to think about what her dad had said. She hadn't really considered it weird that she had been hanging out with the princess more and more recently. They were both about the same age. Naomi had more experience dealing with the people and business in the city than any of the other council did. She'd been raised right in the thick of it all. Not to mention, her father being a trader, she'd picked up a few skills in negotiations over the years. So it hadn't seemed all that weird to be the one asked to come with the princess. She had figured that her skills were simply the most applicable to each situation the princess requested her for. Although now that her dad had brought it up, traveling without a single guard was a bit strange. Avalor was a safe city, sure, but they had many travelers visit from outside of it.

"Yes, but…" Daniel placed a gentle hand on her shoulder. "Naomi, you know you can talk to me, right? About anything." His tone implied that he thought he knew something that Naomi was refusing to reveal.

"Of course! That's why I always tell you about my day. I'd ask about yours, but I've been living and working down here from the moment I could walk so I kind of already know all about it." she laughed.

"So if there was something going on with you and the princess, you'd tell me?" Her father pressed.

"Something like what?" Naomi asked, confused.

Daniel hesitated. He had never known his daughter to be a liar, and yet she acted as though she had no awareness of his indications. He'd have to try a more direct approach. "Are you courting the princess?"

"What?!" Her eyes went wide "No! Elena and I are just friends." she paused, suddenly becoming very thoughtful. She started to pace as she spoke quietly to herself. "We are, aren't we? She asks Esteban to come with her sometimes too, right?" A blush creeped upon her features as she considered the possibility. "Dad!" she stopped her pacing and turned to him. "Do you think she's been flirting with me?"

"Haven't you been flirting with her?" He responded, as if it had been obvious.

"Not… intentionally." she paused. Had she? She couldn't deny that she did enjoy Elena's company. But the princess was royalty! There was no way she'd ever go for a simple city girl like her. There were loads of princes from other provinces- or princesses, if Elena desired- for her to choose from. No way would she ever feel attraction for a simple village girl.

"So you're not interested in the princess as more than friends?" He grinned, crossing his arms across his chest.

Naomi hesitated for a moment. "I don't know. I'd never really thought about it before. I mean, she's the princess. Even if I was, it's not like I would have a chance."

Daniel chuckled. "Naomi, you are a sweet, wonderful, beautiful girl. The princess chose you for her personal council. And she's also been choosing to spend a lot of personal alone time with you. You may not have noticed her specific attentions to you, but I have. Maybe it's just because you're my daughter that I notice these things. But, I wouldn't be surprised if there were a few rumors starting to circulate around the city involving you two."

Naomi sat down on a nearby crate, putting her face in her hands and groaned. "Do you really think so?"

"Well, I've had my suspicions for a while, but it wasn't until one of the harbor crew asked me about it that I actually took my observations seriously. So I at least know I'm not the only one who's noticed how close you two have become." He joined his daughter, settling down on another box next to her.

"No… No no no no no!" Naomi repeated the word, keeping her head lowered. "They can't be! We're not- She wouldn't-" Her words devolved into meaningless spluttering, as she tried to wrap her head around the realization that the princess might actually have a crush on her. Or if she didn't, that the whole town was talking about it anyway!

Her father placed a gentle hand on her back. "Naomi, it's going to be alright. Elena is the princess. She's always been the talk of the town, ever since her return. She's had a massive presence in the city, much more than her predecessors. It's something everyone is still getting used to. Even just being on her council gives you your own level of fame among the people of Avalor, Naomi. Being invited to be one of Elena's most trusted advisors put a spotlight on you. I thought you knew that when you accepted the offer."

Naomi looked up at her father. "Being on the council is one thing! I can help people there, not just Elena. I thought that's what I was doing all along. Dad, do you think Elena likes me? As more than a friend?"

"You and the princess really haven't talked about this yourselves?" He asked, curiously.

"No!" Naomi exclaimed. "We wouldn't, because there's no way that the princess feels that way about me."

"Are you sure? Have you asked her?" Daniel continued to prod for information.

"Of course not!" His daughter got to her feet, throwing her hands in the air. "Up until today I didn't even know it was a possibility!"

"So how do you feel about Princess Elena?" The other Turner offered up the question.

"I don't know anymore." Naomi looked somber. "I thought we were just friends… but what if we aren't?" As she looked to her father and mentor for answers, they were interrupted by the sound of approaching hoof beats. They looked toward the sound, and saw a messenger from the castle. Of course, there must be some news from Elena for the Harbormaster. This was not an uncommon occurrence.

The messenger dismounted, and Daniel walked over to greet him. "Good afternoon! News from the castle?"

"You must be the Harbormaster! The princess spoke of you." The messenger replied cheerily. He peered over his shoulder at Naomi for a moment, before re-examining the envelope in his hand. "I have a message from Princess Elena for Naomi Turner."

"Naomi?" Daniel repeated, slightly confused, and turned to glance back at his daughter. Usually when the princess needed her, she would come for her herself, or Elena would send a messenger with a horse to fetch her. Her usual methods for retrieving Naomi for tasks were not usually so formal.

"Dad?" she had walked over, noticing his look in her direction.

"Are you Naomi?" The messenger prompted.

"Yeah." she replied, glancing from the messenger to her father.

"Then this is for you!" He bowed, extending the envelope in her direction. Naomi took it hesitantly, and once it was out of his hands, the messenger stood up and gave a salute. "From Princess Elena!" Then he headed back to his horse, his task completed.

Naomi examined the envelope speculatively. On one side was her name, her full name, Naomi Turner, written in very fancy lettering. On the other side, it was sealed, with the official royal seal. The one reserved for sending very important correspondences. Why would Elena give her something so formal?

"Are you going to open it?" Her father broke her from her thoughts.

"I suppose I should." Naomi mused. She broke the seal on the envelope, fishing out the letter inside. She handed the envelope to her father, opening the letter to read the words written in the same handwriting as the one on the accompanying envelope.

Naomi Turner,

Your presence is requested at the Castle of Avalor this evening, for a special private engagement with her royal highness Princess Elena. Dinner will be provided. Attire need not be formal. The princess will send a carriage to transport you to the castle. Should you choose to decline, simply inform the driver when he arrives. Peace and prosperity to all Avalor!

~Princess Elena of Avalor

Although the signature said Elena, the letter had very obviously been written by one of her couriers. Still, the princess had commanded that the letter be written and sent. "It says the princess wants to see me. For some kind of "special private engagement" involving dinner."

"Naomi..." Her father was grinning down at her.

"What?!" she shot back.

"In my experience, a private dinner tends to mean a date." He continued to smile at his daughter.

"Do you REALLY think so?" Naomi scanned the letter again for the hidden meaning that her father was implying.

"What I think isn't important. What you think, and more importantly, what you feel, is what matters in this situation. You, and Elena. This dinner could be a good opportunity to figure out how you feel about each other." He passed the envelope back so Naomi could re-insert the paper that had previously been inside.

"I guess if the town is talking about it, I should figure out if, for some unimaginable reason, the princess- ruler of the ENTIRE KINGDOM- has feelings for me that go beyond friendship." she sighed.

"You'd better get ready then. Something tells me you'll want to look your best for the princess. Even if you are just friends." Her father offered a wink, and then strolled away to get back to work, leaving Naomi alone to re-read the letter and to find something to wear.