I'm Related

Chapter 10

Presented to the Court

Shaye felt pulled and stretched at, mostly because she was. Although she couldn't complain, she looked beautiful. Her hair was pulled into elegant braids wrapped around in her hair. It looked like a black crown perched on her head. Her dress was black as well with a low neckline and sleeves that were tight on her arms until the fabric reached her elbows where the sleeves opened up and flowed down past her thighs. The dress was form fitting and brushed her soft black slippers. The hems all had a light silvery material embroidered delicately on them. She was very comfortable despite the occasion. She realized that she was wearing the dress from her dream, did that mean something?

She gazed into the big mirror and smiled, a knock on her door made her look up. She opened it and smiled at her visitor.

Numair was wearing an elegant ensemble in almost all black, he had his long hair tied back from his face in a horse tail.

"Are you ready Shaye? You look great," he said, eyeing her face paint. She knew why, her face paint was odd, but stunning, silver shimmered on her eyes and lips enhanced by her tan skin. The combination was strange and elegant.

"I am ready, you look good too Numair," Shaye said smiling. He offered her his arm and escorted her to the ballroom. They met up with Daine in the hall outside.

"Hello, Shaye," Daine said. "Goddess, you look beautiful," she exclaimed.

"Thank you Daine, you look beautiful yourself." An indeed Daine wore a lovely blue dress with long see-through sleeves and a more conservative neckline. The blue dress made the blue in her eyes shine. Her face paint to Shaye's disappointment was drastically less then hers, Daine obviously could keep those fashion woman at bay.

"Excuse me Ladies, but I see Lindhall and I was hoping to introduce you to him Shaye," Numair said leaving at their nods.

"Daine, I have something to ask you, has Numair been acting oddly lately?" Shaye asked.

"Well he hasn't been staying up late to experiment, but I expect he's just a little tired," she replied. "Why?"

"Because," Shaye started hoping Daine wouldn't overact or anything "I think that he's being controlled," at Daine's expression Shaye continued faster. "No hear me out, a while ago when Numair was still Arram, a woman took a liking to him, she was… a control freak. I don't really know all the details, but I do know that when she is around him Numair acts… well not himself, he turns into this statue."

"That's crazy, Shaye who would do that? And how?"

"I know it's strange, but why would I lie? And you don't have to believe me just keep him away from Mona of Milieu."

"Okay, I'll do what I can," Daine agreed as Numair returned with a smiling Lindhall Reed.

Shaye greeted him and smiled, he was a good, honest man. Her gift told her that. Shaye could read it in him, like a book. She listened to their conversation politely, but her mind was also working out the dream. Both Numair and Daine were wearing the clothes they wore now in her dream. Did that mean something was happening tonight. If only she had more time!

"Excuse me, it is quite time for us to go into the ball," Lindhall said. "We shall finish this conversation later." He left smiling and went to the curtain, a moment later the announcer said, "Master Lindhall Reed."

"We'll go first," Numair said, taking Daine's arm. "We'll see you down there. Good Luck." Shaye smiled at them as they disappeared behind the curtain. "Master Numair Salmalin and Mistress Verildaine Sarrasi"

'Okay, I'm next, I'm not nervous, I'm just walking down a flight of stairs,' Shaye thought 'in front of a bunch of nobles who are judging the way I look and present myself.'

She stopped at the curtain, took a deep breath and said "Mistress Shaye Draper Salmalin." She smiled, she had asked Numair earlier in the week if he would mind her using his name, he was so happy he picked her up like she was four again.

The announcer said her name and she walked down the stairs. It took forever and everyone was watching her, that was how the room was set up, so that everyone in the hall could watch the person descend the grand staircase. Tables were set up for dinner, and a place for dancing was open near a band of people with instruments.

Shaye had been instructed on what to do after she had finished coming down the stairs, she moved gracefully along to the King and Queen, who were sitting at their table. She curtsied and said "Thank you, Your Majesties, for welcoming me so warmly into your home."

"You are welcome anytime, Mistress Shaye," said the King smiling.

"Enjoy the ball, Mistress Shaye," added the Queen, sharing her husband's smile.

The announcer was already saying another name, one Shaye had never heard before, so Shaye made her way to a table were Numair was seated and grinning broadly.

She sat gratefully and watched as person after person came down the stairs. The didn't look nervous, surely everyone had seen her bite her lip before she remembered to smile, and surely everyone saw the nervous sweet threatening to ruin her face paint.

After awhile she stopped watching the brave court people and watched the pages, she saw Kel, and the big red head named… Cleon, and the ugly little Demis, and the prince… where was Neal?

"Looking for someone?" asked Numair, quietly noticing her watching the pages serving.

"No one in particular," she replied. He smiled, but she still watched the pages.

Suddenly she saw him, he was offering bread to a pretty girl in a light pink dress. A flash of jealousy passed through her, but it passed quickly for she reminded herself that Neal loved her and he was only doing his duty as a page, even if she was flirting with him, and Shaye could tell she was by the way she moved. Neal looked uncomfortable and moved away from her quickly. Shaye watched him.

Numair noticed that Shaye found what, or rather who she was looking for and had been watching him through all of dinner. Numair looked where she looked.

At first he thought she was staring at the prince, but no. Her sharp brown eyes weren't following him, then he thought she was watching a boy with a wicked look on his face. No, her eyes were still moving. Then he saw the object of her affections, Neal of Queenscove!

'What was Shaye thinking?' He thought wide eyed. Neal was so mischievous and troublesome. Numair was ready to kill him for stealing Shaye's heart. He stopped himself, he could talk to Daine about it, and she could probably talk to Shaye about it. It seemed to be a female thing, and he wasn't the one to talk about such things to his young cousin.

'Now would have to be the time,' he thought 'I can't be everywhere at once and what if they find the time to be alone…' he stopped thinking and went to Daine.

"Daine?" he asked "Would you like to dance?" She smiled and excused herself from the conversation she was in.

Numair twirled Daine around the dance floor in smooth practiced gestures. "Do you know who she's looking at?" Numair asked Daine a little upset.

"What? Who's looking at who?" asked Daine confused.

"Shaye has been watching Neal of Queenscove. All night!" he said he seemed angry.

"Good for her Neal's a good kid," Daine said truthfully. Numair stopped in his tracks, almost hitting another couple, Daine forced him to the side avoiding them, narrowly.

"Numair, what is so bad about Neal then, why shouldn't she like him?" Daine said amused at his antics.

"He's um… um…"

"See you have no reasons," Daine said smartly "Shaye's a smart girl, she can handle herself."

"Okay, okay, I know, but I swear if he breaks her heart I'll turn him into a tree."

Daine laughed and said, "I'm sure Shaye would like that." Then Daine hugged him, and placed a teasing kiss on his cheek. Numair smiled and glanced at Shaye who was dancing with some boy she didn't know. Numair frowned and noticed Shaye had an identical frown. She was obviously dancing out of politeness and had other preferences.

Shaye had spent the last hour being spun around by various men, her eyes were a blur of faces and colors. Finally, she seemed to be left alone and took the opportunity to sit down. She felt a touch at her shoulder. She turned ready to dance with yet another male she didn't like. As she turned she met green eyes, familiar green eyes.

"Neal!" she said happily. She got up to hug him. "Are the pages still serving?"

Neal smiled and was about to say something when he looked over Shaye's shoulder, he froze. Shaye turned to see what had made Neal act strangely.

She saw Numair and Daine. Daine was acting oddly, Numair was staring at the staircase. Shaye noticed almost all of the men in the room were staring, Shaye saw her immediately. Mona of Milieu strode down the staircase. Her golden hair cascaded down her back, and her face paint was an lively pink. She was wearing a pale pink dress, and the dress was very revealing. Shaye turned quickly, her brain working very fast.

The verse from the book on the Old Ones, it could be used to stop the spell, everyone would have to hear it though. The music had stopped, she thought dimly, the music could be heard at every corner of the room. Music! A plan had formed in her mind.

"Neal," she hissed "I need you." She grabbed his hand, clutching desperately.

"Uh wha-?" Neal said blinking.

"Don't leave me Neal," she pleaded with her big brown eyes.

"I won't, not anymore," he said.

"I have a plan," she said. Shaye turned and saw Kel walking toward her and Neal.

"What's going on?" Kel asked when she reached them.

"I think I can fix it, but I need both of you to help me," Shaye said. At their nod she grabbed them and pulled them with her to the raised music platform.