~~~~~~~~~~`
"Where are they?" Elesia said, peering around the room, blushing slightly from talking and standing quite near to the young Lord.
Trenel shrugged. "Hiding? That's what he usually does." Gesturing with his head, he smiled and took her hand. "I think I know where, too." Leading her though the dizzying crowd, they slipped through the amethyst curtains.
"Shh," the girl told him. Peeking around, they watched wide-eyed at the couple snuggled on the bench.
"I can't resist," Trenel murmured, and jumped out with a roar.
And as suspected, the couple shrieked and Trenel was in a lot of trouble...
"Selene!" Elesia shook the girl. "Are you there?"
"Huh?"
"You were dazing off into the air..." The girl giggled. "Are you thinking of him again?"
Selene grinned. "Maybe," she said gleefully.
The maids bustled in with the sewing. "And you know," one said to the other, "If he doesn't betroth before 'is birthday, there will be a terrible famine!"
"Do say?" the other said breathlessly. "Will that be true?"
"Of course not!" Elesia interjected, her gentle voice sharp. "It's just a rumor."
"Well, Miss," the maid said sternly, "Tell that to the townsfolk. They all believe thet. Its been generations since the last drought, but- "she lowered her voice confidentially- "my uncle said that the heir that year didn't betroth in time!"
"That's silly."
Stitching the hem, Selene bit her lip before she said anything rash. With less than a month to Corren's birthday, she had so little time before he would be seen on the castle Balcony, holding the hand of a suitable match...she couldn't finish the thought. Smoothing the white cloth with a shaking hand, the girl tried not to think about life without the Prince.
~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Father!" he complained.
The king sighed. "Well, it has to be done now, doesn't it? With your future subjects whining and gossiping as they are...there is only two weeks! The invitations are sent out, for the Ball three days before. You cannot expect to get out of it," he warned Corren. "It must be."
"What if..." his voice faltered. "There is no one I love out of those Mother paraded in front of me already?"
His father glared. "Find someone then! I cannot have anarchy in my City!" Throwing a pouch of gold at Corren, he waved him away. "Go now. And most Princes love spending their father's money, you should do the same for once."
Corren grinned.
"But just this once," the King teased before turning back to his documents.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Nothing happened much in the three weeks that lapsed between the first Ball and the second, grander affair. Selene turned seventeen, though none but Elesia sat with her as she lit the white candle for good luck.
"You're the same age as me, almost," remarked Elesia, who had turned seventeen nearly nine months ago.
"Almost."
"You're still thinking about him, aren't you?" Elesia said softly.
Selene nodded. "He hasn't visited in two weeks, I haven't heard any new rumors...El, what am I going to do?" she wailed. "He's to be married, and... and..."
"Maybe he can marry you."
Sniffling, she shook her head. "A Prince and a servant?" Smiling wryly, Selene wiped her eyes. "That's to happen when Pertia decides to be a kindly old women who sponsors charity events."
Elesia grinned. "That could happen, if she needed to boost her reputation."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~`
Corren stood in the seventh jewelry shop, examining the wares with a careful eye. "Gods, let this be over soon," he muttered.
Sifting through the cases of rings, in all shapes and sizes, he sighed. Emeralds for Selene, to match her eyes? He held up a large, squarish stone set in gold. It would weigh her hand down, confine her.
A glittering light caught his eye. Reaching for the delicate ring, he gasped. A sapphire, not to large or small, the diameter only the length of a watermelon seed, set in gold with two diamonds flanking it left and right. The cut of the stone, unique from the others, shimmered like a star in his hand.
"Shopkeeper?" he said briskly. "I'll take this one."
"Your Highness," the man said, not quite protesting. "It's not the largest stone I have in stock."
Remembering the heavy, inch long diamond his mother wore, Corren shook his head. "I think this will be fine," he said joyfully to the man, who smiled understandingly. As it was wrapped in a wooden box, the only view in his mind was the band of gold and stones encircling Selene's delicate finger...if she would have him as her husband.
A new problem entered his mind at this thought, sending him spinning back into the pit of agony. How would he ask her? What if she refused...
Stumbling off, he locked himself in his room and sat for hours on the balcony, eyes shut, trying desperately to solve his heart's problem.
~~~~~~~~~~~