Chapter 25: Let's get the ball rolling
Knock, knock, knock!
"Come in." I shouted, wiping my eyes and cheeks to remove my tears. The King walked in, holding a tray in his hand.
"I thought that I would bring you something to eat."
"Thank you." I stated. "You can just put it there." I pointed to my bed.
"How are you feeling Nicolle?"
"Hah…oh just great." I replied sarcastically, pulling my robe closer to my body. I walked over to the bed as he was leaving and sat down. "How come you did that to me?" I was looking over at him. When he turned to me I did not take my eyes off of him. He stood staring at me. "…I mean…when you…" He walked over to me and sat down beside me.
"It's okay Nicolle. I did it to protect you."
"Yeah wasn't there another way that you could have gone about it?"
"Sadly no."
"Oh I see." I looked down to the floor.
"Why do you ask, Nicolle?" He inquired lowering his head so the he was looking at me from the same height. So I was also not being stared down at.
"Well was that the only reason as to why you did that? Or…did you do it too, because you are…pardon me, but… just sick like that."
"Oh Nicolle what a question" He laughed.
"I do not find it funny your highness." I said looking at him, we were eye level. He just glared at me with a loving but sad expression. And his mismatched eyes were just so over powering. They were so compelling. His head motioned closer to mine, with those compelling eyes sucking my in. He brought his hand to my cheek and caressed it gently. He was about to kiss me so I forced myself to turn my head and look to the tray. I grabbed a few grapes and popped them in my mouth. And he leaned back sitting straight again. He cleared his throat and then got up.
"Would that be all, Nicolle?"
"No."
"What else can I help you with?" He stated a little annoyed.
"Thank you." I replied. And his tone changed as he said thank you, and walked out of the room.
I finished eating my food, and picked the tray up. It was very late and figured that everyone would be in bed. So I left my chamber, to bring the tray to the kitchen and wash it. So walked down the hall, it seemed to have a more magically feel to it when it was dark. Because of all the lit candles that were the light for my path. I got to the kitchen it was dark and surprisingly hot. So I put the tray in the sink and pulled off my robe to reveal my silk lace-hemmed nightgown. And I filled the sink with a little bit of water and washed the tray. I dried it and put it away. I grabbed my robe and walked out of the kitchen. It was cold but not cold enough to put my robe back on. So I proceeded down the hall I turned the corner, and bumped into someone.
"Excuse me." I stated.
"Nicolle?" The Goblin King questioned, holding a crystal in his hand which gave off a bright glow which lit the hall. I bent over to pickup my robe that was dropped when I bumped into him.
"Oh allow me." He declared, bending over too. He grabbed it first and then stood up. "Here you go." I looked up to him dangling my robe in his hand.
I got up and took it from him. The hall was now suddenly freezing, so I started wrapping my robe around me. He had noticed as well as I that my nipples had hardened from the cold and now were clearly visible. I blushed and quickly folded my arms across my chest.
"Nice to, see you too." He laughed. I wrinkled my nose and slapped him across the face,
"How dare you!" I shouted then brushed past him to go to my chamber. I could hear his laugh echo through the halls. That always frightened me.
The next morning I awoke to the bright sun, shining through my window. I sat up in bed and stretched. I was surprised to see that the King was not in my room like usual. I got up and grabbed my robe. I opened the door to my chamber and stopped short to see a red rose resting at the foot of my doorway. I picked it up and lightly took in its scent. Then I walked back into my chamber and rested it on my vanity. I turned around to see the King in the doorway.
"Good morning." I stated and curtseyed.
"Good morning Nicolle. I have decided to let you sleep late so that you would be well rested for the day ahead of you."
"Oh."
"Yes, I have found that there is an awful lot that needs to be done and I need something to keep you busy while I am working. So I have provided a great amount or chores for you to do today, until it is time for the ball." I did not say anything I just nodded my head. "Wonderful then you better get dressed." And he conjured a crystal and it turned into a new work dress. "Here you go. And if there is anything that you need, tell one of the servants and they will come and get me.
"Yes your Highness."
"Good." And he left the room. I got changed and walked out of the room going to the first place that needed to be done.
The Goblin King was working in the throne room, to send out invitations to the ball that was going to occur tonight. And it would be then at the ball that the king would pick fae and humans that would be willing to battle if it ever came to that. Because he could sense that something like that would probably be occurring sometime soon.
At the end of the day I was tired and had still not finished any of the chores that were to be done. But I still worked until he told me it was okay to stop which I feared it would be never.
"Nicolle." I turned and stood up when he called my name.
"Yes you Highness."
"I think that this is good enough, you can continue with this tomorrow. Now you need to go and get ready for the ball." I nodded my head and left the room, heading for my chamber. I got there and looked to my bed. There I saw scatter rose pedals on it which trailed into the wash chamber and into the tub, filled with steaming water. I took at bath and cleaned up the best that I could. I got up and dried off pacing back into the bed chamber. There now with the pedal covered bed was a gown as red as the pedals were. I picked it up and held it to my body. I smiled and dropped my towel on the floor. Then I pulled the gown over my head and walked over to the vanity to see how it looked on me.
"It looks very good on you Nicolle." The Goblin King stated walking into the room. "Allow me to help you with that." He came over and started fastening the buttons to my gown. He caressed my arm and then turned me around. "Oh yes you are a vision." He smiled quite pleased with my appearance.
"Thank you your Highness." I then noticed that he was also wearing a red color, well it was more on the maroon side but it was really nice. I thought that color suited him very well. "And you yourself look incredible." I added.
"Yes well…Shall we go now?"
"Well what about my hair?"
"What about it?" He stated. I turned to face the vanity and it was all done, dry and everything. It was free to cascade over my shoulders. He put his hand out and took mine, escorting me out the door and down the hall. As we walked there were goblins that were leaning up against the walls watching us walk. It felt a little weird but I said nothing. We entered the ball room, and were greeted by several people. All of which I did not know. I was feeling really out of place.
"Come on Shido and Steph you are going to be late you your own friend's ball. You best hurry up, or I am leaving without you." Waldron stated.
"Yeah yeah we're coming just hold your horses." Steph shouted to her brother.
"Well I am."
"What?" And Steph looked over to see Waldron standing on the path holding the reigns to the horses.
"Very funny Waldron, very funny. Okay Shido lets go." She grabbed his arm and pulled him down the stairs to meet up with Waldron. They climbed onto their horses and started riding to the castle.