Kel knocked on the door to Celia's room.
"Come in." answered Celia.
Kel pushed on the door and walked in to the room. She was stunned at Celia's appearance. She looked absolutely gorgeous in her dark blue satin gown with it's princess lines and full skirt. Lalasa had done her hair in a lose bun with tendrils of her curly red hair hanging down to her shoulders. Celia's make-up was perfect for her personality; her look was both glamorous and understated.
"Well you sure clean up nice." said Kel jokingly. "You look very pretty. I have to get to the kitchen for assignments in about ten minutes. Are you ready to leave?" asked Kel.
"Is there anything else I should know?" inquired Celia. Kel had told her almost everything she needed to know in order to act halfway normal tonight.
"When a guy asks you to dance, talk in a tone that reflects your high breeding, but not too snobbish." said Kel, laughing at some of the snobby girls in court.
"Not too snobbish… got it. Anything else?" asked Celia.
"Stay away from Joren and his gang, the ones I showed you earlier. They'll be serving also, but we get leave to dance after dinner. If any of them should ask you to dance, mention me and I'm positive they'll let you alone." said Kel. "Alright, I think you know everything now… about court functions and behavior that is…" said Kel, Celia laughed.
"Let's go then." said Celia. She was excited and nervous and scared at the same time. What if she slipped and someone found out she was a fraud? She would have to go back – she couldn't let that happen.
"Alright then. Remember, when I go to the kitchen, you go to the fancy doors and find Raoul. I showed him to you today, remember?" asked Kel. Celia nodded her head. "Okay, find Raoul and tell him you're Kel's friend. He'll explain the introduction process to you." Celia nodded. Kel walked over to the door. "Ladies first…" said Kel, inviting Celia to go first, both girls giggled. They walked down a countless number of hallways with Celia always wondering how Kel could remember her way around. They finally got to one slightly wider, ornately decorated hallway with nobility dressed to the nines standing around all over. "This is where I leave you, for now." said Kel. She pointed to the fancy doors and waved goodbye to Celia. Celia walked very self consciously towards the doors. Why was everyone staring and whispering at her?
"… saw her today. She must be new." was one of the only snippets of conversation she could catch.
"… not that pretty, what's the big deal?" was another.
"… haven't seen her before."
"I saw her with that girl page today when…"
"… heard she was a shameless flirt." Why were these people she'd never met before being so judgemental? She'd never seen any of these people in her life! All she could do was keep her head high and walk past them. She found Sir Raoul alright, he stood out from the crowd.
"Hello, Sir Raoul. I'm a friend of …" said Celia before she was cut off by Raoul.
"Hello, Lady Celia! I should know who you are, you're my neice!" said Sir Raoul matter-of-factly, talking loud enough for the people standing around them to hear. Celia was dumbfounded.
"But of course, uncle! I didn't know if you would recognize me or not." said Celia.
"I haven't seen you in such a long time. You look beautiful." said Raoul. He meant it. Celia felt herself blushing again.
"Thank you, uncle." the words felt funny on her tongue. Calling this strange man "uncle" when she had seen him only once before was more than weird. She curtsied and he kissed her hand; a customary greeting. He offered his arm and she took it, as was proper. He led her to a deserted corner.
"Did Kel tell you what to do from here? May I add that I am just as confused about this whole thing as you are? She told me not to ask questions which only confused me more. Imagine me, a grown knight of the realm, taking orders from a second year page…" said Raoul, seeming very confused and baffled.
"It's okay. Thank you for doing this, I really appreciate it… a lot. Kel said that I was to be introduced second to last and you knew what to do." said Celia.
"Aye, that I do. You're more than welcome, it makes me look good when I have "relatives" as lovely as yourself." said Sir Raoul. Celia blushed and looked up. She saw the same group of gossips moving towards her, pointing and whispering. Sir Raoul saw the same thing, put his arm around her and led her to the group.
"What are you doing?" she asked through gritted teeth.
"Just play along." he whispered back. "Hello ladies, I don't believe you have met my neice, Lady Celia of Bolshevik." said Sir Raoul to the group of gossips, very charmingly. "Celia, this is Lady Melanie of Sandalwood, Lady Roseanne of Newbridge, and Lady Priscilla of Newbridge." said Sir Raoul and he introduced the gossips to Celia. None of them were overwhelmingly gorgeous, she didn't know how they found it in themselves to mock her.
"Pleased to meet you, Lady Celia." the three gossips chorused.
"Lady Celia is my neice, and is here by personal invitation of the prince." said Raoul, mock-bragging about his mock-neice. He knew that these three girls were desperately competing with everyone, including themselves, to marry the prince – no matter if he was already engaged. Celia glowed in reaction to the green color the three gossips were turning. She hated it when people talked about others rudely. She simply smiled and watched them turn even greener. "Now, if you'll excuse us, I need to introduce my lovely neice to the rest of the court." said Raoul. Celia was beginning to like this man. He held out his arm and led her away, towards the doors leading to the dining room and ballroom.
"Oh gosh, is it my turn already?" asked Celia, getting anxious.
"Yes, you'll do fine. Did you see their faces?" said Sir Raoul almost boyishly excited.
"Yeah…" said Celia remembering it fondly.
"You're up. Just look like you know what you're doing and nobody says anything." said Raoul, giving her very wise advice. Only one of the two giant doors opened for her since she wasn't royalty. A short man wearing a bright red and gold tunic with white hose proclaimed her name to the elegant company below.
"Lady Celia of Bolshevik, neice of Sir Raoul, knight of the realm of Tortall." She took Sir Raoul's arm and he led her down the stairs into the dining room. She was nervous as anything, but she held her head high and walked as majestically as she could manage. She enjoyed the elegant sigh her dress made as she walked, and the way it trailed behind her down the stairs. She finally reached the bottom after what seemed an eternity, and was led by Raoul to curtsie to the king and queen. She was enchanted by King Johnathan's appearance, he was even more beautiful than was described in her books. She couldn't help staring, but had to tear her eyes away from the most handsome man she'd ever seen. She also couldn't help wondering why he would fall in love with the short, stout, woman whom the Lioness was.
Raoul led her to a long table and pulled out her chair as any gentleman would, inviting her to sit down while sitting in the chair right beside her. From where she was sitting, she could see the three gossips sitting together. They were whispering. She could see Kel and Neal. She resisted the urge to wave, like Kel told her to. She looked at her place setting and was baffled by the number of forks given to her. She knew they were supposed to be used for something. She remembered something about using them from the outside – in. She decided that would be the best thing to do. With everything else, she copied Sir Raoul. The meal went smoothly. She was introduced to the people sitting next to her on both sides, though she didn't remember their names. She was being served by a very hansome page who looked to be about 15, with sandy brown hair and blue eyes. Celia liked the way he looked at her. The meal ended with a scoop of vanilla ice cream for desert. She was lactose intolerant so she gave her ice cream to Raoul, who ate it gladly, wondering how anyone could not like ice cream. The palace musicians began playing, and Celia was picked up with lightning speed by a young man who had been staring at her all through dinner. Celia did not have the faintest clue on what to talk to this person about. Kel had given her a few topics – how long he had been a knight or when he was to be knighted, where he was from, the weather, and current events.
Her admirer's name was Paul of Leistershire. He was a full head and shoulders taller than Celia's five feet, four inches. He had dark brown hair and intelligent looking, hazel eyes. He had been a knight for a year, he was from feif Leistershire, which was along the far borders of Tortall, he liked the weather just fine, and he wasn't too up on current events. Celia was relieved that the song ended at the exact moment her conversation topics did. Other than the fact that he was very hansome and very smart, Celia found him very dull indeed. Celia was very flattered that she was asked to dance almost immediately once she stopped with Paul.
Her new partner was Robert of Lark's Meadow. He was in every way exactly the same as Paul. She was still enjoying herself through Brian of Cold River, Phillip of Riverside, Vincent of Lancaster, and Colin of Pike's Peak. After them, she became very bored indeed. She thought her dance with Patrick of Blarney Forest was going to last forever when the hearald made the announcement of the last dance. Celia was feeling flattered, bored, exhausted, exhilarated, and anxious at the same time. As she was sitting down recapping the day's events and thinking about how much her feet hurt, she was approached by Neal.
"Hello, Lady Celia." he said. "Do you remember me?" he asked with humor in his voice.
"Yes, I remember." said Celia, blushing and muffling a laugh.
"I've been trying to get over to you all night but…" said Neal, trailing off. Celia gave an exasperated sigh.
"You mean the knights of the realm of boredom?" Celia shook her head and sighed again. Neal appeared almost relieved that she didn't fully enjoy their company.
" In that case, may I have this dance?" asked Neal, smiling. Celia was taken aback. She did not expect this at all.
"O-okay." she stuttered, she couldn't think of anything else to say. Neal swept her up in the last dance, which was a slow waltz.
"You're not like all the other girls. I know that sounds really cliché, but it's true! You're different and I can't figure out how and it's been driving me absolutely insane since I've met you." said Neal. Celia was looking around for Kel. She knew for a fact that Kel liked Neal. She didn't want Kel to see that her man was almost hitting on her. Kel was nowhere to be seen. Celia heaved a sigh of relief.
"Um, Neal, I don't know what you mean. Is it a good thing, what you mean?" asked Celia. She was beginning to get unnerved by the way he was looking right into her eyes. The way he was looking… she liked it, but she liked Kel too and didn't want her to be hurt.
"It's a very good thing. I suppose you're aquainted with the gossip clan?" she knew who he meant.
"Yes, we've met." she said tersely, she still didn't like the way they looked at her.
"Ahhh, they do have that effect on a person." said Neal, sensing her anger. "Sadly, they're what the bulk of the noble girls are like." said Neal. "But you… I feel I can talk to you like a friend, an equal. You don't busy yourself with what other girls are wearing and silly things like that. You're…like I said…different."
"Thank you" said Celia, in an almost questionlike manner. She was a bit relieved by the friend part, but the ability of his eyes to pry open a person's soul… she was still uncomforted. The song ended and she said good bye to Neal, who bowed and kissed her hand. She didn't think she would ever get used to the constant kissing of hands that went on in Tortall.
*Hey Guys, this is the last chapter to my story… I'm getting bored. Sorry to leave you with a cliffhanger! I'm really sorry but I really only have two words for you all – april fools!
hehe… I know I'm a bad person! J