Dancing
Third Person
Lady Isabella ran up the path to the front doors of the palace. All other guests had arrived almost two hours previously. The sky was dark and clouded but there was no chance of the rain falling. Not yet at least. The guards opened the doors for her, slightly confused as to the mysterious maiden's lateness.
When the heavy doors closed behind her, she took a few deep breaths to catch her breath. Holding her head high, she strolled along the glorious hallway, following the sound of music. She smoothed the skirt of her dress out as she stopped outside the ballroom's doors.
On the other side people danced, spinning round and round the floor. A top the balcony over-looking the giant room sat the royal family. King Carlisle was sat back in his throne, worry etching away at his mind. His health was poor and it was of upmost important for his eldest Son to marry soon. But he knew that he could ever force his Son onto a young maiden. It was the Prince's duty to marry a maiden that would be accepted by the court and their people. However, she would have to provide the Prince with an heir to their family's dynasty.
Queen Esme's thoughts were along the same lines as her husband's. She worried for her Son. He could not marry for love no matter what she wished for him. And with her husband's ailing health, it was necessary for him to claim a bride. 18 years old, he was no longer seen as a boy but a young man. It was his duty to marry and begin a family.
Likewise, the Prince was fretting about his duty. He knew what was expected off him but did not like it. His eyes roamed the ballroom but not one stood out over the others. There were some whom he could tell as Duchesses or Ladies because of their attire. None held any appeal to him.
Her Highness had also been scanning the crowds for the Lady Isabella. She wished to speak with her before the evening came to an end. She was surprised to see both of the dresses she had handcrafted specifically for the Lady Isabella were being worn. But neither the young maidens were Lady Isabella. This perplexed and worried her. Perhaps something had happened to her.
The heavy doors were pulled open to reveal the most beautiful young maiden. No introductions were made so no one knew who the mysterious maiden was. But all saw her. The orchestra playing stopped mid-chord and all dancing froze. At the interruption, the Queen and Prince stood to get a better look.
A trance took over Prince Edward. He only had eyes for the beauty. His eyes went directly to her right arm. A warm happiness filled him at the sight of the green ribbon. The fragile frame of the young maiden stood straight. He had never seen a dress as magnificent as the gold he saw before him. At the attention on her, she blushed bright red and walked forward.
The Prince descended the staircase beside the balcony slowly. Everyone watched enviously as he made his way to the most beautiful maiden in the room. None recognised her; none knew whom it could be. But whispers were circling; rumours of the maiden's royalty in another land.
Bowing down low, the maiden's delicate blush heightened. She curtseyed to the ground to her Prince before rising. He held out his hand to the mystery maiden. At first she considered denying. It would do no good for the Prince to give her his first dance. He would try to pursue her. Her mind panicked. What if he realised who it was and was disappointed?
At her hesitation, Prince Edward worried that she would deny him. Him! This was his ball and the chance for the maiden to marry into his family. Perhaps she did not need to marry into royalty. She looked royal herself. But he could not recall a young maiden as a part of the neighbouring lands royal families.
When she reached her hand out for his, he sighed subtly. He led her to the middle of the ballroom floor where all his guests had moved away from. The orchestra started up. Holding her waist, he held her hand up in his. She slipped her small hand onto his shoulder and took a gentle breath in. They spun around the dance floor, both confident in the waltz they were gliding.
Both stared into the other's eyes. Whilst she knew exactly who she was dancing with, he did not. He could not work out whether he had ever seen this maiden before. He was certain that if he had, he would have remembered her. She was too stunning to forget.
The dance continued on and on, all watching the masterpiece in silence. Some were raging as this maiden had stolen the Prince's attention from them. Others were in awe. The Prince was taken by this hidden maiden. It was clear for all to see.
On the balcony, King Carlisle had risen to his feet, leaning on his cane for support. He watched his eldest Son elegantly gliding along the floor with a maiden that could easily rival his wife's beauty. The gown in which was being worn was familiar to him. From what he could recall, his old friend, Lord Swan's wife had worn a dress much like this one. The king's first mistake was forbidding his Son from spending time with his friend's daughter. He believed it best for his land that his heir did not fraternize with those of the other sex. He had to concentrate on learning his duties.
Content with his Son's choice in maiden, the King felt it time to retire to his chambers. He signalled for his servant before leaving through the doors a top the balcony. He did not want to be noticed as he left as it would take attention away from his Son.
The Queen remained behind but took her seat in her throne. She was happy her Son had finally chosen an eligible maiden. He seemed happy enough too. She gave a subtle gesture to the orchestra to continue playing and not let the music end. It would not do to allow the Prince to part from this maiden yet.
On the floor, Prince Edward was transfixed with the beauty in his arms. He couldn't look away from her. Everyone else in the room melted into the walls. It was just him and her. He didn't notice the music extending on. He just spun her around the large floor, passing everyone in the room.
Finally the music came to an end at the Queen's command. The Prince stepped away from the maiden and bowed low in respect to her. She returned the gesture with a curtsey to him. Light applause surrounded them. Blushing a delicate pink, the Lady Isabella suddenly realised what had happened.
The Prince had chosen her to be his bride. Out of all of the young maidens in this ballroom, he had selected her from all of them. She knew that she could not let this continue past tonight. She would disappear and he would never see the mysterious maiden again. But for the night, she would allow herself to enjoy the time with her friend without people knowing of her identity.
Music began again and the came together in faster dance. Other's joined the dance floor but left a wide berth for the Prince. Dance after dance played out before Prince Edward escorted his maiden up to the royal balcony. He frowned a moment when he noticed the absence of his father. The Queen stood to greet her Son and his maiden.
Both younglings showed their respect to their Queen. She curtseyed to both of them. The Prince offered his maiden his arm, whom slipped her hand through his arm. The Queen observed the young woman upon her Son's arm. She was pleased with what she saw. The maiden held a grace that she had not seen before.
"Perhaps you could enlighten us with your name?"
Lady Isabella froze for a moment. She was not willing to give her real name.
"My name is Clara, your Highness."
"And of what family do you come from?"
"The Carter family, your Highness."
"I have never heard of them."
"We have no title, your Highness."
"And how did you acquire a dress such as this? It is the most exquisite gown I have seen."
The Queen was confused. As was her Son. The dress in which was being worn was most definitely the finest and expensive in the ballroom.
"It was my Mother's gown. She was once a Lady but when she married my father, her family disowned her."
Lady Isabella had become a good liar. She could not allow her identity to be discovered. But the Queen now had her suspicions. Her husband had told her of the Lady Swan's golden gown from many years ago. Whilst she had not been in attendance of that particular ball, she had heard several of her Ladies in waiting, servants and people of the court discussing the beautiful gown. As she looked closer to the maiden in the gown and behind the mask, she could see the resemblance to her late friend, Lady Swan.
"It is a fine gown."
"Thank you, your Highness."
"You have caught the eye of your Prince. He wishes for you to be his bride. We will have to discuss the requirements of your betrothal but for tonight, I hope that you enjoy the evening."
"Thank you, your Highness."
She dismissed her Son and his maiden. They descended the stairs from the balcony and back to the ballroom floor. People had continued to dance, but cleared a path for the Prince to make his way to the centre of the ballroom. He offered his maiden his hand. They began dancing again.
Prince Edward was now happy. His mother was accepting of his choice in maiden. But she was not of a title. Part of the purpose of a masquerade ball was that he would not know of titles. And he felt a sense of joy that he could take this maiden of a peasant family and turn her into his Queen. The people of the land would appreciate his choice in bride.
"Clara, would you join me for a supervised walk through the gardens tomorrow? I would…"
The chapel's bells began to toll loudly. Midnight. The Lady Isabella sucked in a deep breath. Her father would be leaving. She left the arms of the Prince causing all to stop. She spun on her heel and ran. Everyone stepped out of her way, watching her speed past. The doors were opened for her by flustered servants.
The Queen watched the girl fleeing and worried as to what her Son had said. And the Prince was thinking the same thing. Perhaps he was too bold to assume that the young maiden wanted to be in his presence so soon after meeting. He chased after his maiden, calling out for her to stop.
She stumbled for a moment, one of her glass slippers falling from her foot. Turning to retrieve it, she caught sight of the Prince a top the palace steps. Abandoning her slipper, she ran from the palace to the gates where Pete awaited her with his cart.
As he saw her hurry, he raced his horse away from the palace grounds. The tolls of the palace chapel continued to ring. Lady Isabella counted each, praying for her father to remain home when she arrived. Only adding to her fear, the pounding of horses hooves rumbled through the forest.
Soldiers had been sent by the Queen to follow the maiden. If it truly was Lady Isabella, she knew that she would not reveal herself willingly. But she would see to it that her Son's maiden be found. The Soldiers rode hard in attempts to close the gap between the cart and them.
Pete turned onto the concealed road leading to the Swan home. He didn't allow his horse to slow before the house was in sight. Thankfully, the soldiers did not see the cart turning onto the road and continued to follow what was no longer there.
A thank you was thrown out but Isabella did not wait for a response before she was running into her father's home. She was just in time. He was stood at the bottom of the stairs, his form glowing.
"It is time my beautiful daughter."
"Don't go Papa."
"I must my dear. I cannot cheat death. Your Prince has given me this time to speak with you one last time. He is a good man. He will look after you well."
"Papa, I am not the Prince's maiden."
"On the contrary my dear. Follow your heart Isabella. It will bring you happiness."
His hand raised and he ran his fingers through her hair softly. Stepping around her, he opened the door and walked out. A few paces behind she followed him slowly to the forest edge. He continued just past the treeline, the light around him brightening.
"Goodbye my daughter. I am in a better place now."
"Goodbye Papa."
Tears were falling down her cheeks as he disappeared. She would not see her father again. But at least she could say her goodbye this time.
Stumbling back to her home, she returned her mother's dress to its' stand and made sure that there was no trace of the trapdoor in the floor of the entryway. Back in her rags, she began to clear the mess that had been caused when she had fallen earlier in the evening.
When she had finished, she crawled into bed and fell into a deep sleep.