(A/N: Thankz to all my faithful reviews who actually
bother to try to give me some encouragement. I'm working as fast as possible on
the chapters. Please hang in there~ Theola)
Nadia stood at the top of the Great Stair; one hand lay daintily in the crook of her Uncle's arm, the other exercising its fingers on the wooden banister. Her uncle, slightly fed up with her straight, unsmiling face, politely took her other arm and pressed it to her side. Sighing audibly, and highly over exaggeratedly, Nadia began to take in her surroundings.
The Great Stair was decorated with a hand rail of intricate wooden carving, and had a rich velvet carpet that Nadia guessed ran all the way to the throne- she couldn't tell quite yet, the doors were closed. Uncle Raoul was clad in his Commander uniform, and if she hadn't been related to him, Nadia probably would have been quite taken with him. But the worst possible ornaments of this room were standing right in front of her.
Nadia had thought that she would be introduced alone- but those thoughts had faded quickly. Apparently two girls- twins- traveling in from the north had journeyed by boat and felt the worst of it; there little bodies had laid in bed for weeks "suffering." Nadia could only snort at them, for even the frailest girls in her family could withstand the strongest of waves while on the sea. Well, now they too were being introduced with Nadia. She was disgusted. They were every impression she had of those giggling adolescent girls, the ones she would have to embroider with every day, waiting for a suitor to ask her if she wanted to go on a walk and give her flowers. The ones she hated. They would turn around every three seconds, look at Sir Raoul, and then fall into fits of giggles.
Sir Raoul lifted an eyebrow and looked at Nadia. "You don't seem very, um, talkative tonight. What's on your mind?"
Nadia glared at him. "Gee, only the fact that I'm about to walk into the biggest trap of my life," she hissed.
"And that would be…..?"
"Marriage."
"Really Nadia," Raoul chided. "You act like this will be the death of you. Marriage really isn't that bad."
"Then why haven't you married?" Nadia asked with one of those overly innocent looks on her face. Raoul's lips thinned and Nadia continued. "I've seen what can go on in a bad marriage. I haven't the mind to do THAT to myself."
"Child you can't.."
Her uncle would have continued had not the doors started to open into the Queen's Ballroom.
* * *
Conan's sigh was a mixer of wistfulness and boredom. Flighty young women all around him waved their lace fans, looking expectedly at the doors to the Great Stair. Some wondered what the new girls would be like, the newest arrival in particular. Something around him was also said about some girl being late. Conan didn't really give a damn. He wanted to get out of here as soon as possible. He thought that he would be able to sneak out once the dances started going, but his mother's face told him otherwise. It was clear by her expression that he would be dancing with several young ladies until the night was through.
Conan was awoken out of his thoughts when the room fell into a hush. The doors to the Great Stair were opening now, and a squire friend of his was calling out names.
"Ladies Sadira and Astra of Starry Peak, presented by Duke Audric of Hamsquire," the young boy announced. The twins, stunning little platinum blondes, glided their way up to the thrones, and it seemed as though they were trying to sashay their hips as much as possible. They curtsied deeply to the King and Queen, who nodded back solemnly. "Lady Nadia of Willowmeadow, presented by Sir Raoul of Golden Lake." Conan sat up a little more, he recognized this girl. She was beautiful, a pert nose, coppery hair and petite figure. He tried to place her face as the girl glided, without so much hip action, up to King Jonathan and Queen Thayet. Both of them nodded to her, then smiled at Raoul, who lead Nadia over to her place along one of the tables holding dozens of maidens. Conan remembered her now! He crashed into her in the hallway, annoying little person. Smiling to himself, he looked around smugly. His eyes settled on his mother's face, and Conan saw death in them. Apparently Lady Lynette had mistaken his scrutinizing looks at Nadia as intense interest and attraction for her. He sighed- he'd have to dance with her now.
King Jonathan rose. "Now it seems as though nearly all of the nobles of the realm grace our court. May will drink to health and happiness," he finished by raising a wine goblet and drinking from it.
And so the night began.
~~I'm leaving you off there and waiting for a few more reviews, as well as some rest. Tell me what you think~~ Theola
