Chapter Ten
All the next day, Amerisia talked unceasingly about the prince's visit. It was 'his Highness this' and 'Prince Brien that'. Apparently, the prince had greatly enjoyed his visit, and the small details that she had fussed over were noticed by him. She went on and on about how he had admired the flowers in the parlor, forgetting that it was Eidyia who put them there. She said that the only downside was when he talked about a girl from Teatra that came to the ball the previous night. "I merely told him that if such a girl came, she was of no importance, for I do not remember her," she said, with an air of fake aristocracy. I almost snorted at her. She was so unladylike once her dear prince was gone. As I laced up her spring green gown and dressed her hair in ringlets and ribbons, she spoke to her sister of her plans.
"I simply am overjoyed that mother is allowing us to have a banquet of our own tomorrow night," she purred. My eyes widened and I listened very carefully to the conversation that followed.
"I am inviting the Duke, of course," Cyala replied. "I just hope I can find something suitable to wear for it. We only had three new dresses made…"
"Silly, Mother is getting new ones made right away!" Amerisia told her sister. "After all, we must look our best, as must this manor." The grin on her face was positively evil.
"I daresay Mother will have some chores for you, Cyn-Dyrela," Cyala sneered. Their spite was so deplorable, but I steeled myself against it. I refused to react like a child when I was so close to my freedom now…
"Don't worry, Cyn-Dyrela, we'll even have you serve at the banquet. That's the closest you'll ever get to going to a ball, after all." Just then, she shrieked as I pulled the curler out of her hair roughly, catching the hair as I did so.
"Terribly sorry, Amerisia," I told her, my voice cool and sarcastic.
"You'll be sorry for that!" she shouted.
"Just be still and let me get you ready for the ball," I snapped back. "Or you might be late? And then the other girls might get to the prince first."
"There are no other girls," Amerisia informed me haughtily, "that could get between me and Prince Brien. Of all of them, it is I who have the most beautiful gems and gowns, I who am the most accomplished, and I who am heir to one of the most desirable lands in the realm. And mark my words: it is I who will be chosen to be the prince's bride. And when I am, you, Cyn-Dyrela, will be made the lowest of slaves in my household."
In my mind, I told myself that this would come to pass when the sun rose in the west. Fortunately Amerisia let our argument go and allowed me to make her ready for the ball. She must have seen my point after all. I knew that she was not unafraid of competition, and was quite eager to be off to the palace. I wondered how jealous she would be of me if she knew that my method of transportation would allow me to get to the ball before her. Then Cyala was calling me to tie the sash on her purple gown. "Don't I look regal?" she bragged, posing in front of the mirror.
"About as regal as a crow with peacock's feathers," I muttered under my breath, and I was lucky that she didn't hear me. It seemed like an eternity before the girls were finally ready to leave. When their carriage was no longer in sight, I tore into the bathroom to clean up, and then up to the attic, where I had set out tonight's ball gown. Although it looked rather old fashioned, Eidyia had assured me that it was timelessly elegant. Looking at it, I had to agree with her.
It was a soft blue, a deeper color than that of the sky. Now that I really looked at it, I thought that it was almost the color of Brien's eyes. The gown had a thin ribbon of golden trim around the edges and very thin, delicate eyelet lace around the bottom of the skirt. The neckline was sweeping, and the sleeves were puffed above the elbow. Below the elbow, the sleeve was narrow and went down across my hand in an elegant triangle shape that was edged with the gold and lace trim.
I was just clasping a string of pearls around my neck when Eidyia walked in to help me. She had dismissed the servants again, and we were alone in the house. My former governess was smiling when she drew back her hood. "It won't be much longer, Chryseis," she whispered intensely. "So soon…" With that, she started to help me get ready, handing me the tiny gold ring with the pearl and diamond baguettes on it. I slipped it onto my right hand and then reached for the matching earrings. As I put on each thing, memories flooded back to me. I could see my mother, putting in her earrings as she spoke to me in her beautiful voice, telling me to be good for my nurse while she was gone.
"The last ball was quite a success," Eidyia mentioned as she helped me arrange my hair in a hairnet. The net was of gold thread, with little pearls every time the threads crossed. It was elegant and would keep my hair away from my face with the intent that my hair wouldn't be mussed as I rode (Eidyia had chosen it for me).
"Let's hope this ball goes as well as the last," I told her. "I plan to talk to the husbands of the women I talked to last night, and maybe find out how deep this dislike for Ariela goes. If I can, I will win them over to my side."
"What of the prince?" Eidyia asked me urgently. "When he visited here, he seemed very friendly to Amerisia." I shook my head.
"Brien can see right through her; I just know it."
"Brien?" Eidyia questioned, her eyebrows rising in surprise. "Since when have you started speaking of the prince by his first name alone?" My cheeks turned bright red, although I knew that I shouldn't have been so embarrassed. I hadn't wanted to tell Eidyia about my ride with Brien. It seemed like a sacred trust between the two of us, a little secret that we both could keep. No one else would understand, even Eidyia.
"Anyway, I don't think we have to worry about the prince," I told her in my formal accent, trying to change the subject. I was just fortunate that my slip had come now and not at the ball when such a remark would have been disastrous. To prepare for tonight, I might as well start practicing my disguised accent now.
"Good," Eidyia commented, and we returned to my preparations. Before long, I was out the door, heading into the stable to ready the horse. I climbed on and rode into the forest, only to find the fairy carriage waiting for me. The footman assisted me into the carriage, as the coachman hitched my horse to the carriage as well. I wondered how I would fare at this ball, and hoped that Prince Brien was as understanding as I thought he was. There wasn't much time to think, however, before the magical carriage arrived at the palace. The fairy footman in a dark green tunic was helping me out, and bidding me good night when I looked up and noticed that Prince Brien was greeting guests as they walked into the palace.
Trying to step as delicately as possible, I slowly and elegantly made my way towards the palace. The prince looked oddly serious as he greeted each guest. His bright blue tunic was almost iridescent in the light, and he now wore a matching cape about his shoulders, fastened with a chain of large sapphire stones. He welcomed me warmly as I went past, and I decided to take action. I greeted him politely and gave him a smile, one that was almost shy in spite of my resolve to stay confident. His serious expression turned into a slight grin, and then I heard a despicable voice behind me.
"Your Highness," came Amerisia's voice. "Such a pleasure to see you again. I do hope you enjoyed your time in Llyr." I had to move on, but I looked over my shoulder to see her curtsy to him. He bowed to her and responded that he had indeed enjoyed his visit. I wondered if it was the visit he had enjoyed or the ride through Llyr's hills. Leaving them behind, I moved into the ballroom. When I looked around for the women I had spoken with last time, I couldn't find all of them. They were not standing all together like the previous night, and I wondered if I should talk to each of them individually.
The place I ended up was among the crowd of young ladies waiting for the prince to come back in so they could beg him to dance with them. From their chatter, I heard a rumor that the king was forcing his son to attend these balls, just as he was forcing him to choose a bride. Apparently, the prince had been too slow for the king's tastes when it came to seeking a bride. King Matthew was eager to make sure his only heir would continue the royal line, and since the prince had shown no signs of finding a bride any time soon, the balls had been arranged.
I felt so sorry for Brien when I heard this. He only had a few days to determine his fate. Whomever he chose in two days time would be the woman he was stuck with for the rest of his life. All the girls around me whispered that they hoped the prince never found out that they were really overweight and just squeezed into tight corsets or wouldn't realize that they weren't very educated or graceful. How could Brien choose when these girls hid their true selves from him? Surely he wouldn't just pick the most beautiful girl here? He was too wise for that. I wondered if he would find a learned lady to marry, or if he would have to settle for one who did not care for knowledge. How boring it would be, to end up with a partner who shared no interests with you, and didn't care for any of the things you cared about!
The king and queen officially welcomed us all to the second ball, and then the prince was led back in, flanked by two of the royal guard. He looked so regal, not at all the young man whose windblown hair had gone every which way and talked of science and horses. He looked like a noble prince, but there was still a glint in his blue eyes. The crowd around me pushed towards him, and I had no choice but to move with them. I was trying to extricate myself from the throng when I suddenly found myself face to face with Prince Brien.
"Welcome back to Calaris, Dyrelle Morrigan," he greeted. The other girls around me were furious at his words, hissing that I was stealing him away from them unfairly. Stealing him hadn't been my intention at all, but at least now I could protect him from these horrid girls. "It is a pleasure to see you again, Prince Brien," I said formally in my accent, curtsying. As I spoke, I prayed that he would not recognize my voice. He showed no sign of recognition, and I knew that if he had recognized me, he would have said something, perhaps in the Ancient Tongue to avoid embarrassing me.
He gave me a short bow, and held out his hand to me. "Perhaps you would care to help me open the dancing tonight? I have been informed that it is time." I accepted, speechless. All I hoped was that Amerisia saw this. Perhaps this would intimidate her into staying away from Brien.
The prince led me out to the dance floor and we opened with a lively dance, one filled with complicated steps and a fast pace that winded me quickly. I could feel everyone's eyes on us until at last, people began to join in. A nervous feeling grew in the bottom of my stomach and I prayed that I wouldn't make a mistake and embarrass myself completely. Soon, everyone was dancing. Letting my feet fly back and forth, I watched Prince Brien. He was intent on the music and the dance, his own feet tapping out a sure and confident pattern, one perfected by hours of practice and lessons. I stepped along with him, my steps a little less confident, but correct. One out, one in, one out, twirl, swing out, and return to the partner. Everything was going well. I had yet to step on my own skirts, even though I made several small mistakes during my dance.
When at last it ended, my partner and I parted. He bowed, I curtsied again. "Thank you for the honor of giving me the first dance," he said politely.
"The honor was mine," I replied, my answer just as formal as his. With that, I stepped away and the girls swarmed around him like bees to honey. I finally saw him emerge with Amerisia to dance again. She was at it again, of all detestable things! That flirtatious behavior of hers irked me to no end, but there was not much I could do.
I sought out the black haired woman I had spoke to the night before. Her husband was a count, and to my surprise, his wife had told him that I was asking for information about Ariela. He welcomed my presence, and even called over another acquaintance of his, a fellow count from a neighboring part of the kingdom. I was thrilled that Morrigan had made such an excellent first impression. The black haired woman, Countess Malena of Dagyn, gave me priceless information. "Duke Aviel has been searching for some way to deal with Ariela for months now," she told me, "He's not here tonight, but I have heard that he plans to be here when the prince announces his engagement. His daughter is already married with children of her own, you know. He is fortunate that she was not so young as to fall victim to this foolishness. I never had a daughter, only sons…" She sighed, and I wondered if this fact pleased or displeased her.
The Count of Dagyn was similarly helpful. "The royal court has been quite a place in recent years," he informed me. "You would be surprised at what that prince is really like. There are times when the king will only believe us if his son convinces him we are right." That told me that the prince had some power to sway his father's opinion. That was just what I needed. I wondered if I would lose their esteem by going and seeking out the prince. Hopefully not. It was a necessary step to the plan, though. The only challenge would be getting him away from Amerisia long enough…
Dinner was announced before I found the prince. When I looked up to the main table, I saw him sitting there next to his parents. At his side was Amerisia, looking very proud of herself. Her emerald pendant glittered in the candlelight, and she did look lovely. There was almost a glow about her, but that was just her pride and arrogance, I thought. She must be enjoying this so much, secretly gloating over it in her nasty mind. Silently, I begged Brien not to be fooled by her. Of all the girls who hid their true self from him, surely there were none worse than her? Amerisia might be able to write perfectly and dance perfectly and play the piano perfectly, and oh… I hated her so fiercely at that moment, seeing her up there where she so loved to be.
It was a struggle to remain impassive when my mind was so afire with anger. I just could let her stay next to his side, poison him with lies so he would choose her for his bride. I couldn't let her ruin my plan. I had waited too long to be stopped by the likes of Amerisia Chemise. After dinner was over and a few more dances had passed, I approached the prince again, using every ounce of my courage. He had just come from dancing with my stepsister and was now making his way over to get something to drink. I positioned myself right next to the bowl on punch that the servants had brought out, and was in the process of getting a glass myself when he walked up.
"Prince Brien," I said softly. "Have you been enjoying the ball tonight?" He nodded politely.
"I have," he replied. He paused for a moment, searching for a proper topic of conversation. "How much longer are you planning on staying in Calaris?" My mind churned, as I sought a way to steer the conversation in the direction it needed to go.
"Perhaps a week or so," I told him, "Just until my business here is settled."
"Your business in Llyr?" he asked, his eyes looking up a little as he tried to recall that fact.
"Yes!" He remembered, and that was perfect. I kept going. "I had hoped to find out what is to become of the barony once Sir Michael's second wife passes on."
"It will pass to her daughter, I imagine," the prince told me. "There has been talk of it being turned over to the duke for rule once she dies, but that's nonsense."
"It certainly is," I agreed. Then, all chance for recovery would be lost. What the prince said next shocked me.
"I just don't understand why so many nobles want that. Dyrelle Amerisia and her sister do not deserve that." My heart almost stopped and it took every ounce of skill I had not to react to that.
"What about them?" I asked cautiously.
"What would happen to them if their mother were to die? They would be left with nothing. I don't see how that is fair to them. They cannot be blamed for their mother's behavior. People should be judged on their conduct, not on the conduct of others. Their mother is so…" We both glanced over at Ariela, who was right next to a man in a grey tunic. The look on her face was sickening, and I wondered if she knew how disgraceful she was.
"How can you trust this Dyrelle Amerisia with Llyr either? How do you know if she is any different from her mother?"
"How indeed unless she is given a fair chance to prove herself?" the prince returned. "You don't seem to like her much, Dyrelle Morrigan."
"She made a bad first impression on me, your Highness," I answered, hoping he didn't find me too judgmental. We started walking through the ballroom. Brien was probably hoping that if he kept moving he would be more difficult to track. I was checking around for any sign on Amerisia. "After the rudeness she showed me when I came to Llyr, I'm afraid I haven't seen her in a positive light since."
"Let's not talk about Dyrelle Amerisia anymore," the prince prompted after that comment. "What about you? Tell me what life is like in Teatra." I began to tell him about Teatra, drawing from my knowledge of all the books I had read about the place. The prince nodded, occasionally telling me things about his visits to Teatra.
"I am curious about Alansia as well," I prompted at last when I was running out of things to say about Teatra. The prince spoke of his home for a while, but stopped abruptly.
"I'm sorry, but this must be terribly boring. The only real way to find out about Alansia is to see it. I suggest that you travel all around it before going back to Teatra. It is a beautiful kingdom." His face betrayed his great pride and love he had for his country. What he said was true: no description could ever describe how beautiful the countryside was.
"If what I have seen so far is any indication, I would have to agree with you," I complimented. The conversation had gone flat, and I knew it as well as he did. How could I ever get it back to the subject of Llyr? Then I thought of something. "But from what I have heard, some places aren't quite like they once were."
"What do you mean by that?" I had his interest. Perfect. By now we had wandered away from most of the others at the ball, and we could speak without being overheard by anyone important.
"Well, the gardens I encountered in Llyr were not as fabulous as I had heard from some of my family who had been there before. Certain plants and flowers had been taken out, replaced with others. It was a shame."
"Yes, there have been changes in Llyr, and not many for the better," he agreed. Now this was what I needed.
"Do you think that Llyr can be restored to its former glory, Your Highness? I would love to see the home of my distant kin as it once was." Oh how I would love to see Llyr as it used to be. I imagined being able to go through and purge the house of Ariela's ridiculous additions. I imagined replanting certain things in the garden. I imagined acquiring new books for the library and starting to sponsor the village schools with the Llyr fortune. That was how things should be…
"I hope it will be, someday," the prince said. Then, he turned to me and gestured towards his parents.
"I must go and speak with my parents now. There's no doubt that they will have some type of duty for me to complete. It has been a pleasure talking with you, Dyrelle Morrigan."
"The pleasure was mine," I replied politely, and let him walk back to the king and queen, who were sitting on a dais at the back of the ballroom. I looked around and spotted Cyala, who was talking to her duke. She was laughing, as was he, looking as if she had never been happier or more nervous. I watched her fix her hair every other minute, wondering why she was worrying so much. The duke was young and looked rather foolish as well. Perhaps they would marry and produce bossy, foolish children. That did make me laugh, and I snickered to myself quietly.
I was in a pleasant mood, and when a young man asked to dance with me, I agreed. We danced for three dances, and I discovered that the poor boy seemed rather enamored. He was a year older than myself, I discovered when we spoke, and was a baron in the north. "I am amazed that you accepted my offer to dance," he confessed at the end of the third dance.
"Why is that?" I asked him, curious as to why people should regard me as so stand-offish. I hadn't been that bad, had I? Then I recalled that I had hardly danced at all during the first ball, and understood some of his comment. It wouldn't be good if I kept up such an appearance. Reminding myself to dance more and speak with others more in the future, I followed him away from the part of the ballroom where people were dancing.
"I would have thought you would be at the prince's side," my partner remarked. That stopped me. Did he see me as yet another prince-chaser?
"Oh," I managed, although my voice must have sounded disappointed. "Well, to be quite honest, I don't see why I should follow him around like a hound follows its master. Your poor prince seems hounded enough as it is."
"Then you are not seeking the prince's hand?" The boy's voice was incredulous. "I would think that you, of all these girls, would…"
"Would what?" My brow furrowed as it always did when I was confused or trying to think.
"Well, you are… very beautiful," the young baron finally stammered, "and the prince seems to think very highly of you." I blushed at this knowledge. Did Brien like me? I had hoped that he would, and that we could speak and make an alliance against Ariela. If he did, then perhaps I could tell him tomorrow about everything. And he would believe me. In my mind, the pieces were coming together. Tomorrow I would do it. I would go to the Count and Countess of Dagyn and have myself introduced to the Duke. I would speak with them and convince them to overthrow Ariela. And then I would ask Brien if he would help me restore the rightful ruler to Llyr.
Brien was fair-minded. As I thought back to our conversation, I remembered his comment that had so angered me. He had wanted to give Amerisia a chance to prove herself, hadn't wanted her unfairly denied everything. Would he give me the same chance? If he did, then I would show him everything, and he would have to help me. He understood me better than anyone, and surely he would see the truth in my story. If anyone would be able to help me, it would be Brien. My hope was growing in my heart, and I smiled as I realized that in two more days, I might be free.
"Thank you," I told my dance partner, and I truly meant it. Excusing myself, I decided that I had best get home and get everything put away before the other servants started to return and so I wouldn't have to rush like last time. I made my way out of the grand ballroom where people were still dancing and talking. The music got softer and softer as I walked away from the royal orchestra, the strains of the waltz they were playing getting quieter and quieter.
I was almost out of the ballroom, just having reached the grand staircase that led up to the corridor. "Leaving so soon, Dyrelle Morrigan?" a voice came from behind me. I didn't turn around as I should have, but did stop.
"I'm terribly sorry, your Highness, but I must be on my way." I could hear his footsteps behind me, his pace increasing steadily until he caught up with me.
"I would like to get a little fresh air anyway," he told me.
"I can understand how such an environment might be rather stifling," I looked back at the girls who seemed to be looking around for him. We made our way up the stairs and out of the hall. All the guards on the way bowed to him as we passed, and we exited the castle into the cool bight air. It may have been summer, but there was a breeze that blew softly as we walked down more steps and towards where my carriage was waiting for me. I loved how it always magically appeared when I needed to leave. My opinion of fairies was slightly redeemed because of this favor.
When we were almost to my carriage, Brien let out a long sigh. "Such a beautiful night, isn't it?"
"Yes, your Highness. It is." I looked over at him, but he was looking up at the sky, at the stars that were scattered above. He didn't want to be here, and I understood the far off look in his eyes. It was a light of hope that he sought in the sky, but couldn't quite find. It was that look that cried for independence amidst what seemed like captivity. When I thought of what I was going to ask of him in two nights, I wondered if there was anything I could do for him in return. I wanted to help him.
"Your Highness…" I began, my voice unusually timid. "Is there anything…"
"No," he answered quickly. "Nothing is wrong, Dyrelle Morrigan. I'm sorry I have been such a bad host." His gaze dropped from the sky and turned to me instead. He smiled, and it did not looked forced as it sometimes did at the ball. "It has been a pleasure having someone to talk to. Good evening." He bowed, and I curtsied. Then, the footman came forth and helped me into my carriage. I stuck my head out of the window and waved to him as my carriage took off down the road. He waved back, but I noticed that soon his eyes turned towards the sky again.
All the next day, Amerisia talked unceasingly about the prince's visit. It was 'his Highness this' and 'Prince Brien that'. Apparently, the prince had greatly enjoyed his visit, and the small details that she had fussed over were noticed by him. She went on and on about how he had admired the flowers in the parlor, forgetting that it was Eidyia who put them there. She said that the only downside was when he talked about a girl from Teatra that came to the ball the previous night. "I merely told him that if such a girl came, she was of no importance, for I do not remember her," she said, with an air of fake aristocracy. I almost snorted at her. She was so unladylike once her dear prince was gone. As I laced up her spring green gown and dressed her hair in ringlets and ribbons, she spoke to her sister of her plans.
"I simply am overjoyed that mother is allowing us to have a banquet of our own tomorrow night," she purred. My eyes widened and I listened very carefully to the conversation that followed.
"I am inviting the Duke, of course," Cyala replied. "I just hope I can find something suitable to wear for it. We only had three new dresses made…"
"Silly, Mother is getting new ones made right away!" Amerisia told her sister. "After all, we must look our best, as must this manor." The grin on her face was positively evil.
"I daresay Mother will have some chores for you, Cyn-Dyrela," Cyala sneered. Their spite was so deplorable, but I steeled myself against it. I refused to react like a child when I was so close to my freedom now…
"Don't worry, Cyn-Dyrela, we'll even have you serve at the banquet. That's the closest you'll ever get to going to a ball, after all." Just then, she shrieked as I pulled the curler out of her hair roughly, catching the hair as I did so.
"Terribly sorry, Amerisia," I told her, my voice cool and sarcastic.
"You'll be sorry for that!" she shouted.
"Just be still and let me get you ready for the ball," I snapped back. "Or you might be late? And then the other girls might get to the prince first."
"There are no other girls," Amerisia informed me haughtily, "that could get between me and Prince Brien. Of all of them, it is I who have the most beautiful gems and gowns, I who am the most accomplished, and I who am heir to one of the most desirable lands in the realm. And mark my words: it is I who will be chosen to be the prince's bride. And when I am, you, Cyn-Dyrela, will be made the lowest of slaves in my household."
In my mind, I told myself that this would come to pass when the sun rose in the west. Fortunately Amerisia let our argument go and allowed me to make her ready for the ball. She must have seen my point after all. I knew that she was not unafraid of competition, and was quite eager to be off to the palace. I wondered how jealous she would be of me if she knew that my method of transportation would allow me to get to the ball before her. Then Cyala was calling me to tie the sash on her purple gown. "Don't I look regal?" she bragged, posing in front of the mirror.
"About as regal as a crow with peacock's feathers," I muttered under my breath, and I was lucky that she didn't hear me. It seemed like an eternity before the girls were finally ready to leave. When their carriage was no longer in sight, I tore into the bathroom to clean up, and then up to the attic, where I had set out tonight's ball gown. Although it looked rather old fashioned, Eidyia had assured me that it was timelessly elegant. Looking at it, I had to agree with her.
It was a soft blue, a deeper color than that of the sky. Now that I really looked at it, I thought that it was almost the color of Brien's eyes. The gown had a thin ribbon of golden trim around the edges and very thin, delicate eyelet lace around the bottom of the skirt. The neckline was sweeping, and the sleeves were puffed above the elbow. Below the elbow, the sleeve was narrow and went down across my hand in an elegant triangle shape that was edged with the gold and lace trim.
I was just clasping a string of pearls around my neck when Eidyia walked in to help me. She had dismissed the servants again, and we were alone in the house. My former governess was smiling when she drew back her hood. "It won't be much longer, Chryseis," she whispered intensely. "So soon…" With that, she started to help me get ready, handing me the tiny gold ring with the pearl and diamond baguettes on it. I slipped it onto my right hand and then reached for the matching earrings. As I put on each thing, memories flooded back to me. I could see my mother, putting in her earrings as she spoke to me in her beautiful voice, telling me to be good for my nurse while she was gone.
"The last ball was quite a success," Eidyia mentioned as she helped me arrange my hair in a hairnet. The net was of gold thread, with little pearls every time the threads crossed. It was elegant and would keep my hair away from my face with the intent that my hair wouldn't be mussed as I rode (Eidyia had chosen it for me).
"Let's hope this ball goes as well as the last," I told her. "I plan to talk to the husbands of the women I talked to last night, and maybe find out how deep this dislike for Ariela goes. If I can, I will win them over to my side."
"What of the prince?" Eidyia asked me urgently. "When he visited here, he seemed very friendly to Amerisia." I shook my head.
"Brien can see right through her; I just know it."
"Brien?" Eidyia questioned, her eyebrows rising in surprise. "Since when have you started speaking of the prince by his first name alone?" My cheeks turned bright red, although I knew that I shouldn't have been so embarrassed. I hadn't wanted to tell Eidyia about my ride with Brien. It seemed like a sacred trust between the two of us, a little secret that we both could keep. No one else would understand, even Eidyia.
"Anyway, I don't think we have to worry about the prince," I told her in my formal accent, trying to change the subject. I was just fortunate that my slip had come now and not at the ball when such a remark would have been disastrous. To prepare for tonight, I might as well start practicing my disguised accent now.
"Good," Eidyia commented, and we returned to my preparations. Before long, I was out the door, heading into the stable to ready the horse. I climbed on and rode into the forest, only to find the fairy carriage waiting for me. The footman assisted me into the carriage, as the coachman hitched my horse to the carriage as well. I wondered how I would fare at this ball, and hoped that Prince Brien was as understanding as I thought he was. There wasn't much time to think, however, before the magical carriage arrived at the palace. The fairy footman in a dark green tunic was helping me out, and bidding me good night when I looked up and noticed that Prince Brien was greeting guests as they walked into the palace.
Trying to step as delicately as possible, I slowly and elegantly made my way towards the palace. The prince looked oddly serious as he greeted each guest. His bright blue tunic was almost iridescent in the light, and he now wore a matching cape about his shoulders, fastened with a chain of large sapphire stones. He welcomed me warmly as I went past, and I decided to take action. I greeted him politely and gave him a smile, one that was almost shy in spite of my resolve to stay confident. His serious expression turned into a slight grin, and then I heard a despicable voice behind me.
"Your Highness," came Amerisia's voice. "Such a pleasure to see you again. I do hope you enjoyed your time in Llyr." I had to move on, but I looked over my shoulder to see her curtsy to him. He bowed to her and responded that he had indeed enjoyed his visit. I wondered if it was the visit he had enjoyed or the ride through Llyr's hills. Leaving them behind, I moved into the ballroom. When I looked around for the women I had spoken with last time, I couldn't find all of them. They were not standing all together like the previous night, and I wondered if I should talk to each of them individually.
The place I ended up was among the crowd of young ladies waiting for the prince to come back in so they could beg him to dance with them. From their chatter, I heard a rumor that the king was forcing his son to attend these balls, just as he was forcing him to choose a bride. Apparently, the prince had been too slow for the king's tastes when it came to seeking a bride. King Matthew was eager to make sure his only heir would continue the royal line, and since the prince had shown no signs of finding a bride any time soon, the balls had been arranged.
I felt so sorry for Brien when I heard this. He only had a few days to determine his fate. Whomever he chose in two days time would be the woman he was stuck with for the rest of his life. All the girls around me whispered that they hoped the prince never found out that they were really overweight and just squeezed into tight corsets or wouldn't realize that they weren't very educated or graceful. How could Brien choose when these girls hid their true selves from him? Surely he wouldn't just pick the most beautiful girl here? He was too wise for that. I wondered if he would find a learned lady to marry, or if he would have to settle for one who did not care for knowledge. How boring it would be, to end up with a partner who shared no interests with you, and didn't care for any of the things you cared about!
The king and queen officially welcomed us all to the second ball, and then the prince was led back in, flanked by two of the royal guard. He looked so regal, not at all the young man whose windblown hair had gone every which way and talked of science and horses. He looked like a noble prince, but there was still a glint in his blue eyes. The crowd around me pushed towards him, and I had no choice but to move with them. I was trying to extricate myself from the throng when I suddenly found myself face to face with Prince Brien.
"Welcome back to Calaris, Dyrelle Morrigan," he greeted. The other girls around me were furious at his words, hissing that I was stealing him away from them unfairly. Stealing him hadn't been my intention at all, but at least now I could protect him from these horrid girls. "It is a pleasure to see you again, Prince Brien," I said formally in my accent, curtsying. As I spoke, I prayed that he would not recognize my voice. He showed no sign of recognition, and I knew that if he had recognized me, he would have said something, perhaps in the Ancient Tongue to avoid embarrassing me.
He gave me a short bow, and held out his hand to me. "Perhaps you would care to help me open the dancing tonight? I have been informed that it is time." I accepted, speechless. All I hoped was that Amerisia saw this. Perhaps this would intimidate her into staying away from Brien.
The prince led me out to the dance floor and we opened with a lively dance, one filled with complicated steps and a fast pace that winded me quickly. I could feel everyone's eyes on us until at last, people began to join in. A nervous feeling grew in the bottom of my stomach and I prayed that I wouldn't make a mistake and embarrass myself completely. Soon, everyone was dancing. Letting my feet fly back and forth, I watched Prince Brien. He was intent on the music and the dance, his own feet tapping out a sure and confident pattern, one perfected by hours of practice and lessons. I stepped along with him, my steps a little less confident, but correct. One out, one in, one out, twirl, swing out, and return to the partner. Everything was going well. I had yet to step on my own skirts, even though I made several small mistakes during my dance.
When at last it ended, my partner and I parted. He bowed, I curtsied again. "Thank you for the honor of giving me the first dance," he said politely.
"The honor was mine," I replied, my answer just as formal as his. With that, I stepped away and the girls swarmed around him like bees to honey. I finally saw him emerge with Amerisia to dance again. She was at it again, of all detestable things! That flirtatious behavior of hers irked me to no end, but there was not much I could do.
I sought out the black haired woman I had spoke to the night before. Her husband was a count, and to my surprise, his wife had told him that I was asking for information about Ariela. He welcomed my presence, and even called over another acquaintance of his, a fellow count from a neighboring part of the kingdom. I was thrilled that Morrigan had made such an excellent first impression. The black haired woman, Countess Malena of Dagyn, gave me priceless information. "Duke Aviel has been searching for some way to deal with Ariela for months now," she told me, "He's not here tonight, but I have heard that he plans to be here when the prince announces his engagement. His daughter is already married with children of her own, you know. He is fortunate that she was not so young as to fall victim to this foolishness. I never had a daughter, only sons…" She sighed, and I wondered if this fact pleased or displeased her.
The Count of Dagyn was similarly helpful. "The royal court has been quite a place in recent years," he informed me. "You would be surprised at what that prince is really like. There are times when the king will only believe us if his son convinces him we are right." That told me that the prince had some power to sway his father's opinion. That was just what I needed. I wondered if I would lose their esteem by going and seeking out the prince. Hopefully not. It was a necessary step to the plan, though. The only challenge would be getting him away from Amerisia long enough…
Dinner was announced before I found the prince. When I looked up to the main table, I saw him sitting there next to his parents. At his side was Amerisia, looking very proud of herself. Her emerald pendant glittered in the candlelight, and she did look lovely. There was almost a glow about her, but that was just her pride and arrogance, I thought. She must be enjoying this so much, secretly gloating over it in her nasty mind. Silently, I begged Brien not to be fooled by her. Of all the girls who hid their true self from him, surely there were none worse than her? Amerisia might be able to write perfectly and dance perfectly and play the piano perfectly, and oh… I hated her so fiercely at that moment, seeing her up there where she so loved to be.
It was a struggle to remain impassive when my mind was so afire with anger. I just could let her stay next to his side, poison him with lies so he would choose her for his bride. I couldn't let her ruin my plan. I had waited too long to be stopped by the likes of Amerisia Chemise. After dinner was over and a few more dances had passed, I approached the prince again, using every ounce of my courage. He had just come from dancing with my stepsister and was now making his way over to get something to drink. I positioned myself right next to the bowl on punch that the servants had brought out, and was in the process of getting a glass myself when he walked up.
"Prince Brien," I said softly. "Have you been enjoying the ball tonight?" He nodded politely.
"I have," he replied. He paused for a moment, searching for a proper topic of conversation. "How much longer are you planning on staying in Calaris?" My mind churned, as I sought a way to steer the conversation in the direction it needed to go.
"Perhaps a week or so," I told him, "Just until my business here is settled."
"Your business in Llyr?" he asked, his eyes looking up a little as he tried to recall that fact.
"Yes!" He remembered, and that was perfect. I kept going. "I had hoped to find out what is to become of the barony once Sir Michael's second wife passes on."
"It will pass to her daughter, I imagine," the prince told me. "There has been talk of it being turned over to the duke for rule once she dies, but that's nonsense."
"It certainly is," I agreed. Then, all chance for recovery would be lost. What the prince said next shocked me.
"I just don't understand why so many nobles want that. Dyrelle Amerisia and her sister do not deserve that." My heart almost stopped and it took every ounce of skill I had not to react to that.
"What about them?" I asked cautiously.
"What would happen to them if their mother were to die? They would be left with nothing. I don't see how that is fair to them. They cannot be blamed for their mother's behavior. People should be judged on their conduct, not on the conduct of others. Their mother is so…" We both glanced over at Ariela, who was right next to a man in a grey tunic. The look on her face was sickening, and I wondered if she knew how disgraceful she was.
"How can you trust this Dyrelle Amerisia with Llyr either? How do you know if she is any different from her mother?"
"How indeed unless she is given a fair chance to prove herself?" the prince returned. "You don't seem to like her much, Dyrelle Morrigan."
"She made a bad first impression on me, your Highness," I answered, hoping he didn't find me too judgmental. We started walking through the ballroom. Brien was probably hoping that if he kept moving he would be more difficult to track. I was checking around for any sign on Amerisia. "After the rudeness she showed me when I came to Llyr, I'm afraid I haven't seen her in a positive light since."
"Let's not talk about Dyrelle Amerisia anymore," the prince prompted after that comment. "What about you? Tell me what life is like in Teatra." I began to tell him about Teatra, drawing from my knowledge of all the books I had read about the place. The prince nodded, occasionally telling me things about his visits to Teatra.
"I am curious about Alansia as well," I prompted at last when I was running out of things to say about Teatra. The prince spoke of his home for a while, but stopped abruptly.
"I'm sorry, but this must be terribly boring. The only real way to find out about Alansia is to see it. I suggest that you travel all around it before going back to Teatra. It is a beautiful kingdom." His face betrayed his great pride and love he had for his country. What he said was true: no description could ever describe how beautiful the countryside was.
"If what I have seen so far is any indication, I would have to agree with you," I complimented. The conversation had gone flat, and I knew it as well as he did. How could I ever get it back to the subject of Llyr? Then I thought of something. "But from what I have heard, some places aren't quite like they once were."
"What do you mean by that?" I had his interest. Perfect. By now we had wandered away from most of the others at the ball, and we could speak without being overheard by anyone important.
"Well, the gardens I encountered in Llyr were not as fabulous as I had heard from some of my family who had been there before. Certain plants and flowers had been taken out, replaced with others. It was a shame."
"Yes, there have been changes in Llyr, and not many for the better," he agreed. Now this was what I needed.
"Do you think that Llyr can be restored to its former glory, Your Highness? I would love to see the home of my distant kin as it once was." Oh how I would love to see Llyr as it used to be. I imagined being able to go through and purge the house of Ariela's ridiculous additions. I imagined replanting certain things in the garden. I imagined acquiring new books for the library and starting to sponsor the village schools with the Llyr fortune. That was how things should be…
"I hope it will be, someday," the prince said. Then, he turned to me and gestured towards his parents.
"I must go and speak with my parents now. There's no doubt that they will have some type of duty for me to complete. It has been a pleasure talking with you, Dyrelle Morrigan."
"The pleasure was mine," I replied politely, and let him walk back to the king and queen, who were sitting on a dais at the back of the ballroom. I looked around and spotted Cyala, who was talking to her duke. She was laughing, as was he, looking as if she had never been happier or more nervous. I watched her fix her hair every other minute, wondering why she was worrying so much. The duke was young and looked rather foolish as well. Perhaps they would marry and produce bossy, foolish children. That did make me laugh, and I snickered to myself quietly.
I was in a pleasant mood, and when a young man asked to dance with me, I agreed. We danced for three dances, and I discovered that the poor boy seemed rather enamored. He was a year older than myself, I discovered when we spoke, and was a baron in the north. "I am amazed that you accepted my offer to dance," he confessed at the end of the third dance.
"Why is that?" I asked him, curious as to why people should regard me as so stand-offish. I hadn't been that bad, had I? Then I recalled that I had hardly danced at all during the first ball, and understood some of his comment. It wouldn't be good if I kept up such an appearance. Reminding myself to dance more and speak with others more in the future, I followed him away from the part of the ballroom where people were dancing.
"I would have thought you would be at the prince's side," my partner remarked. That stopped me. Did he see me as yet another prince-chaser?
"Oh," I managed, although my voice must have sounded disappointed. "Well, to be quite honest, I don't see why I should follow him around like a hound follows its master. Your poor prince seems hounded enough as it is."
"Then you are not seeking the prince's hand?" The boy's voice was incredulous. "I would think that you, of all these girls, would…"
"Would what?" My brow furrowed as it always did when I was confused or trying to think.
"Well, you are… very beautiful," the young baron finally stammered, "and the prince seems to think very highly of you." I blushed at this knowledge. Did Brien like me? I had hoped that he would, and that we could speak and make an alliance against Ariela. If he did, then perhaps I could tell him tomorrow about everything. And he would believe me. In my mind, the pieces were coming together. Tomorrow I would do it. I would go to the Count and Countess of Dagyn and have myself introduced to the Duke. I would speak with them and convince them to overthrow Ariela. And then I would ask Brien if he would help me restore the rightful ruler to Llyr.
Brien was fair-minded. As I thought back to our conversation, I remembered his comment that had so angered me. He had wanted to give Amerisia a chance to prove herself, hadn't wanted her unfairly denied everything. Would he give me the same chance? If he did, then I would show him everything, and he would have to help me. He understood me better than anyone, and surely he would see the truth in my story. If anyone would be able to help me, it would be Brien. My hope was growing in my heart, and I smiled as I realized that in two more days, I might be free.
"Thank you," I told my dance partner, and I truly meant it. Excusing myself, I decided that I had best get home and get everything put away before the other servants started to return and so I wouldn't have to rush like last time. I made my way out of the grand ballroom where people were still dancing and talking. The music got softer and softer as I walked away from the royal orchestra, the strains of the waltz they were playing getting quieter and quieter.
I was almost out of the ballroom, just having reached the grand staircase that led up to the corridor. "Leaving so soon, Dyrelle Morrigan?" a voice came from behind me. I didn't turn around as I should have, but did stop.
"I'm terribly sorry, your Highness, but I must be on my way." I could hear his footsteps behind me, his pace increasing steadily until he caught up with me.
"I would like to get a little fresh air anyway," he told me.
"I can understand how such an environment might be rather stifling," I looked back at the girls who seemed to be looking around for him. We made our way up the stairs and out of the hall. All the guards on the way bowed to him as we passed, and we exited the castle into the cool bight air. It may have been summer, but there was a breeze that blew softly as we walked down more steps and towards where my carriage was waiting for me. I loved how it always magically appeared when I needed to leave. My opinion of fairies was slightly redeemed because of this favor.
When we were almost to my carriage, Brien let out a long sigh. "Such a beautiful night, isn't it?"
"Yes, your Highness. It is." I looked over at him, but he was looking up at the sky, at the stars that were scattered above. He didn't want to be here, and I understood the far off look in his eyes. It was a light of hope that he sought in the sky, but couldn't quite find. It was that look that cried for independence amidst what seemed like captivity. When I thought of what I was going to ask of him in two nights, I wondered if there was anything I could do for him in return. I wanted to help him.
"Your Highness…" I began, my voice unusually timid. "Is there anything…"
"No," he answered quickly. "Nothing is wrong, Dyrelle Morrigan. I'm sorry I have been such a bad host." His gaze dropped from the sky and turned to me instead. He smiled, and it did not looked forced as it sometimes did at the ball. "It has been a pleasure having someone to talk to. Good evening." He bowed, and I curtsied. Then, the footman came forth and helped me into my carriage. I stuck my head out of the window and waved to him as my carriage took off down the road. He waved back, but I noticed that soon his eyes turned towards the sky again.
