The reflection staring back at Abelia Smith is an eighteen year old girl, pampered and glamorized for the sake of a single event. Her maid tightened the corset to her upper torso, receiving a loud sigh of annoyance from the breathless master. Then she proceeded to straighten the gown to display perfectionism. The light blue gown does the elder Smith daughter justice, displaying her chirpy appearance in accompaniment to her optimistic attitude.
Shuddering at the sight of her own icy blue eyes, Abelia turned from her refection in the mirror. Glancing at herself is just similar to staring down the soon-to-be married woman, no longer a teenage girl who had the freedom to do as she pleases. She doesn't want to think about that. She wants to hold onto her childlike innocence, or the childhood that she shared with her parents and loved ones. Having that part of her prevents her from seeking responsibilities and from growing up.
Marriage is the end to fooling around as young people would. She can no longer make love to Albert Harris whenever she desired. If she is a married woman, she is a property belonging to someone else. She can no longer interact with Albert Harris or the boy that lived next door from his. A man will tell her how she should live her life. That is her fear; being told what to do and to move past her childhood.
"Lady Smith, your father has called for you" a servant appeared at the door to her chambers.
Her maid, Rhonda, made a hand gesture to dismiss the servant. During this time of Lady Smith's life, there is no need for stress and further interruptions. Rhonda is preparing her to meet the man her father decided to hand her over to, her appearance needs to be done before a servant has permission to call her out.
When the servant disappeared from the door, Abelia turned to her maid, anxiety and nervousness coating her features. Her thin, pale fingers fiddled over the crystal necklace around her neck. This is it, her last moment of being a carefree eighteen year old girl. She is going to be a mistress now and she will no longer be referred to as Lady Smith.
"My lady, everything will be fine. Your suitor will take your hand in marriage, just as your father requested of you" Rhonda reassured.
"I will miss being a part of my family" Abelia breathed out.
"You will become a family of your own"
"What if I am not ready?"
"Do you wish to speak to your father over this matter?" Rhonda questioned.
Abelia shook her head immediately, teeth gnawing at her full-red lips. She is aware of where she stands in this society and in this family. Her existence is solely for the family's name, not for her own amusement.
"I mustn't put my family to shame"
"Meet your suitor then, Lady Abelia" the maid gestured for the door.
Lady Abelia lifted up the blue gown and left her chambers with her maid trailing after her. They approached a servant waiting down the hall and the three entered the ball room, where the music has started playing.
The soft violins and unknown guests crowded the ball room, an environment Abelia is all-too familiar with. Her father frequently invites his associates over to a ball, or to seek for suitors for his older daughter. As none were suitable for her, William Smith has eventually stopped searching—until now, that is.
This time around, however, Abelia is aware that her father has made a final decision. She is going to take this man's hand in marriage even if she objects. Her father already has his mindset, meaning that this suitor [i]must[/i] be the one for Abelia.
"Abelia, my daughter!" Rhonda disappeared from her side and she is instantly consoled by her father.
He directed her toward a group, consisting of some strangers and her family. Alesana, her younger sister of two years, stood beside her mother. They are both smiling at her in delight.
"Daughter, I have summoned you to meet you suitor and soon to be husband" William Smith linked his arm with his daughter's.
Abelia brought her head down in form of respect. She inwardly held her breath before looking up at the man her father referred to. He greeted her with a smile, a polite form of an introduction when Abelia secretly hopes to shake his hand and not confront him in such an informal way.
His height towered over many, aside from a boy standing behind him. In his suit, he extended his hand out for her to take. Exchanging one last round of slight smiles, Abelia placed her hand above his and watched as he brought the upside of her hand to his mouth. He kissed it gently before giving her a curt nod.
"I am Elijah Mikaelson, my family recently located here"
Abelia nodded respectively, returning gazes with her younger sister. Her sixteen year old sister winked at her, only to have her turn away instantly.
Her suitor, Elijah stepped aside to reveal three more guests behind him. One is a girl, not much younger than herself. Immediately, she finds comfort in the company of another girl very much alike herself in age. A man, who stood in between took her hand and brought it to his lips, just as Elijah had.
"My brothers and sister" Elijah introduced, "Kol, Niklaus, and Rebekah"
"Please call me Klaus" the man released his hold on her hand.
Abelia brought her hand back to her sides, smiling politely at Elijah's siblings.
"It is a pleasure to meet you" Abelia muttered to no one in particular, eyeing the four guests repeatedly.
The tallest one, a young man looking to be a year or two older than her, approached her. He performed similar actions as his other brothers, lifting the backside of her hand up for his lips to graze over. Abelia smiled at the contact, extracting a feeling of warmth from this experience. The young man released her hand and flashed a charming smile.
"Why don't we let the soon-to-be lovers spend their time alone? I will show you all my wine collection and our family history crests" William Smith interjected, gesturing for everyone else to follow after him.
Everyone followed after, excluding Abelia and her new suitor. Klaus turned to face the two with a mischievous smile on his face before disappearing after the others. The elder Smith daughter closed her eyes shut and let out a deep breath.
She is unable to believe that everything is happening now. After eighteen years of a carefree lifestyle, it is finally time for her to marry and take responsibilities as a woman. She reopened her eyes to find Elijah smiling at her kindly.
He extended a hand out for her.
"Would you care to dance, Lady Abelia?"
Abelia smiled at her suitor, taking his hand. He pulled her towards him and they both advanced toward the center of the ballroom, past the other dancing couples. She grinned at some familiar faces and tried to smile politely at the ones she is not too familiar with.
Elijah wrapped an arm around her waist and the two began their dance.