A challenge on livejournal featuring the prompt: " A travelling fair arrives". I had way too much fun with metaphors this time.
It was like a fair had arrived. There were children shrieking in delight and, those who acted like children, as family and friends tried to restrain them. There were entertainers acting like clowns who did not realise that everyone was merely laughing at them. There were those who gloated about how they were talented at every aspect of every stall, but were really inept. Then there were the caged and wild animals that slinked around in search of their prey.
Bellatrix presided over it all.
Seated on the raised dais with the other stars of the show and the co-ordinators of the fair, it was difficult to not display considerable disgust at everything that was happening around her.
Most would expect her to be delighted by the fair.
She was far from it.
She was only attending and participating in the fair because she had to.
Technically no one had forced her to partake. Technically it had been her decision. However, if she refused, she knew there would be consequences. It was expected that a young pureblood woman such as herself would eventually take centre stage in a fair or else questions would be asked. They were all questions she did not want to answer so she sat quietly besides her new partner.
"It is a pleasant night," Rodolphus said softly beside her as he tried to draw her into conversation.
She turned and set her hardest and more ferocious gaze that beat any that could be used by the lions that prowled around the tent. Wisely Rodolphus got the point and turned away from her. Down the end of the table she caught sight of the look of disgust from her mother, but she ignored her.
One positive of participating in this fair was that her mother could no longer scold her. Tradition would state that job would go to Rodolphus now.
The thought was the only thing that made her smile. It was even difficult to not laugh at the notion.
Rodolphus attempt to control her? What a ridiculous notion? Only one man could ever hold a whip over her head and she would never give him any reason to strike her with it.
However, her favourite tamer was not here so she was stuck with Rodolphus.
Letting out a sound that was half a growl and half a sigh, she glared down at the white costume she was forced to wear.
At least she could not be forced to participate in any of the fair's activities now that she had performed the minimum of what was required of her. She would not throw a ball at cans and she would not allow Rodolphus to feed her fairy floss. She was not even sure if she would allow Rodolphus to ride the ferris wheel or to insert a ball into the clown's mouth.
Bellatrix was only sure she wanted this fair to end.
Then she hoped she could go on her life and pretend she had never been to this fair in the first place.
She refused to allow this fair to change anything.
Smirking, she glared at her new husband as she stood and strode out of her wedding reception ignoring the calls for her to return.
She vowed that this marriage would not change anything.