Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter(:
Previously in I Surrender to My King: But I can't see because my vision looks blurred and my heart is beating like a drum. PLEASE LILY! DON'T make A FOOL OF OF YOURSELF INFRONT OF THE KING OF ENGLAND!
I Surrender to My King
Chapter 4: first 'bad' impressions
Anne pulls me to a stop next to her and I literally want to bash her head into a pulp in front of her brother. I glare at her through the corner of my eyes but she only smirks.
She curtsies to her brother and I do the same. I have still not looked up into his face.
"James," Anne says in her honey sweet voice.
"Anne," a very distinctly male voice says happily. Shivers run down my spine.
"this is my friend I was telling you about, Lady Lillian Evans."
I slowly raise my head up to look directly into the kings face. Okay yeah, I'm such an idiot to actually say I thought he looked Godly. His hair is wind swept and dark midnight black. His eyes were a brooding golden hazel brown that melted my insides so I wasn't sure that I could walk. His jaw looked strong and firm. A sword hung at his side and it looked to large and to heavy for him to be able to walk with the grace that he did. There was an air of commandment around him that would surely have intimidated anyone. His body wasn't built like a body builder, he was tall and more lankier. Every inch of him screamed pure muscle. I smile my dazzling smile and curtsy again looking directly into his eyes, "your highness."
He smiles in return revealing a straight sheet of amazing teeth. My heart falls to my feet and bounces back to my throat.
"I'm happy to meet the young lady who has made my Sister so happy today, she never takes to people so quickly," he says.
I swallow and look over at a very amused Anne, "yes, I'm very fond of her as well."
James laughs and the sound rings in my ears a few seconds after its stopped, "you'll sit next to her then won't you Lady Evans."
"Of course." is my simple and kind reply. Inside I'm absolutely jubilant. I get to sit next to Anne and I've just met the King. Anne takes my hand again and leads me away so that the King can talk to a few knights.
We sit down at a long wooden table. It's decorated with a fine silken table cloth. We're at the end of the table, directly next to the head of the table on its right. I look back at the King. He is turned so I can't see his face but only his back and I will not be ashamed to admit I definitely took a peak at his very appealing butt.
"He's very handsome isn't he?" a girl behind me says. I turn to look at her. She has golden yellow locks that shine like the sun and her face is sheet white, like a ghosts. Her lips are painted with blood red cherries. She looks about my age.
I only smile in response. How should I reply to something like that? HE'S NOT HANDSOME! HE'S BLOODY GORGEOUS!
"Brittany," Anne says coldly, "hasn't my brother told you not to sit here over her anymore? I thought you were asked to eat in the maids quarters for a few nights... as punishment."
The girl, apparently named Brittany is stunned for a few moments. Then her light blue eyes turn to slits and she tries to contain her rage.
"i've been asked to help serve today," she says tightly.
"Oh," Anne says holding back a giggle. Brittany turns and scurries into the kitchen.
"What was that about?" I whisper to Anne.
She is still giggling when she replies, "well Brittany is infatuated with the King, as a lover that is. I think she has visited his chambers once," I flush crimson at that, I'm a blushing virgin... how ironic. Anne continues without a comment to my obvious embarrassment. This definitely makes me love her even more! "well she snuck into his room uninvited one night and stole one of his shirts."
"shirt?" I laugh incredulously, "Why on earth would she do that?"
"well my brother hadn't glanced at her again after their 'one night fling' and she was desperate for... him I guess. I don't know it's all really stupid to me. He's not that attractive."
BAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA. I'm in hysterics in my head but only role my eyes. Riigghhhttt, a flying pig with no eyes would know that he was attractive but somehow I don't think Anne will ever agree to that so I just let it drop.
The King walks toward his seat, one seat away from me. I wasn't expecting to be anywhere near him on my FIRST night. Everyone stands and waits for The King to sit. He does and then the hall is filled with screeching chairs against the floor. Everyone is seated and the maids bring the food forward.
Me and Anne talk amongst ourselves because I notice immediately that the King hasn't even looked once at me since we met. He is busy talking to the men at the table and drinking his wine happily. I look down for the spoon that should be next to my soup but see none. I start to stand up but a maid is already next to me holding out a spoon. I laugh and a few men look my way dazzled.
I sit back down and say in a very clear sincere voice, "thank you." For some reason that makes the King turn and look at me. His one eyebrow is raised curiously as he scrutinizes me. What? Did I do something wrong?
"you're welcome Milady," the maid curtsies and walks back to her place against the wall. The king is back to talking with the man next to him. I look at him and see another handsome man. His hair is shaggy and long and his eyes are gray. He is laughing a booming laugh and his eyes are filled with a carefree playful laughter. It makes me smile. His body is wider than the kings but still not huge, once again this man also screams out "MUSCLES."
"Who's that?" I ask Anne.
"Sirius Black," Anne says, "he's James' best friend. We've all known each other since we were children."
"Oh," I whisper. The maids along the side of the wall are very still its starting to unnerve me.
"Why are they standing there?" I question.
Anne laughs, "Lily, don't bring up your silly 'poverty' thing again."
I huff out, "Annie... its not right for them to be treated so unkindly. They've been standing there for about 30 minutes without movement."
"Lil," Anne sighs, "it's their jobs."
"their slaves." I counter angrily.
"we aren't cruel to them," Anne objects.
"but I doubt you're kind either," I shoot back.
"LILY!" Anne cries frustrated.
"I don't agree Anne, thats all," lily says trying to calm down.
"So you don't think I treat the people in my palace well?" a curious voice says. My heart freezes. OH HELL... Lily how do you get yourself into these things?
I look at the king, "no sire, I just.. don't think men and women should be treated as anything less than what they are... human. With rights and privileges like the rest of us."
"but their commoners," lord Snape says, "who cares what they do."
My blood boils and I icily reply, "i happen to think that the only way our kingdom can truly function is with those so called 'commoners' working and making everything we need. I highly doubt you'd be able to cook or make weapons or make houses all day Lord Snape, that takes a considerable amount of skill."
"how dare you-" he starts to proclaim angrily but the King lifts his hand for him to silence.
He is looking at me amused, "so what do you suggest I do then Miss Evans?"
I'm shocked... so I don't respond.
"nothing? I thought you had an opinion?" he inquires without hiding the amusement evident in his eyes.
"I do," I shot back angrily. The stunned silence that follows is enough to hear a pin drop. I am shocked that I just did that my self, I really do need to learn to control my anger!
He chuckles, not angry at my audacity at all and turns to the wall, "you may all get a seat to sit on... against the wall of course." My cheeks go pink and I look down at my soup with a small smile. Our main meals arrive and my half finished soup is taken away.
"fill our glasses," James orders while still talking to Sirius. They seem to be in a very serious discussion. Sirius says something, James chuckles and looks at me. I blush. Brittany, who is busy filling my glass obviously sees the exchange. Without warning I feel the wet wine fall all over my dress.
"oh," I yell startled and fall back.
"oops," britanny says trying to sounds sincere. The room is silent as they watch the king stand and come help me up.
Anne is even shocked by his help. Her eyes are quite wide.
"Are you alright?" he said gently. I fell his large warm hand at the small of my back as he helps me stand. I do and look down at my dress. I sigh sadly and look back up at him, "im fine, thank you sire. I'll just go clean myself up."
Anne starts to stand to come with but I shake my head, "its Ok Annie, I'll see you tomorrow in the gardens OK?"
She nods smiling at me and then glares at Brittany, who seems to realize she might have done something very stupid.
I curtsy to the king without looking at him or anyone else in the hall and leave very embarrassed. I take a deep breathe outside and try to make my face less red.
"Great," I mutter angrily, "wasn't that just fantastic?" I march up to my room in a very unladylike fashion. I'm absolutely furious and ashamed. First, the King thinks I have idiotic opinions, I was rude to him, blatantly so and then a jug of wine is dropped all over me. Could I have come off as more of an idiot? He must absolutely think I'm childish. I sigh and dress into my sleeping gown.
Another thing occurs to me quite suddenly, my father must have seen the spectacle as well. FANTASTIC! I've shamed my entire family in the course of 2 hours. Petunia comes inside and without a word takes my red stained dress to be cleaned. I slip into bed and pull out a book to read. Maybe I can forget about whats happened with a bit of fictional adventuring.
Penelope enters with a large tray and puts it next to my bed, "the king asked me to bring you your dinner Miss. He noticed you never ate."
My mouth falls open in shock. I'm silent and then smile happily, "thank you Penelope, wake me early tomorrow please."
"Yes of course Miss Lily." and she leaves with a smile. I've decided I really do like that girl. I take the food and devour every last scrap of edible deliciousness that is on that plate. I hadn't realized how hungry I was and the food had been amazing. I notice for the first time under the plate, a note. I pull it out and open it. In elegant cursive I read :
Lady Evans,
Anne tells me you like riding? I would be very pleased if you would join my tomorrow for a ride to the river. My usual partner, Sirius Black, is going away for a few days so I'm in desperate need of someone to keep me company. You won't object will you?
Sincerely,
James
He signed it James. It was more personal that way and I literally shot out of bed to accept.
I replied in my own elegant script.
Sire,
I would be honored to go riding with you.
Sincerely yours,
Lily
I wrote about 10 different letters before I decided short and to the point was better. The guard outside my door took the note to my maids who would deliver the message. I fall back onto my bed in pure excitement.
I suppose I didn't make such a bad first impression after all.
Reviews make me :) … If anyone has any background or info on life in a palace I would really appreciate it. I'm coming up with most of this stuff with my knowledge from Movies and some books I've read but really I'm clueless. (: Just stuff about a king and the people in the palace, laws, etc. and even if you've seen something that I've put in the story that doesn't quite fit with what is actually supposed to happen please point it out so I can figure out how to use your info in the coming chapters.
Thanks,
NikiJane