Chapter 2

The queen was carried in a basket down to the circle. I could not see if the princess was there to. I was dressed in mourning black as everyone else was. It was my favorite. It doesn't have any large underdresses. It is just straight down and very long. It falls past my ankles, covering my shoes but just lightly brushing the ground. It has a simple ribbon to tie it back. Around the collar is a design of a vine. I wear my hair down, tying two braids behind my head. My sunshine-blonde hair falls to bellow my waist, I want it shorter but mother won't let me cut it. I tie the braids with black ribbons. I am considered very pretty, but I do not think I am. The queen steps out of the basket, her right hand in hand with a young child; that must be Serenity. The queen's voice ran out among the crowd, it was heard by everyone but only as a lovely whisper. "It has been three years since the death of the king," she said, "I feel this is a sufficient mourning period." I gasped, she couldn't be saying this, she has become mad! "We have to long lived in fear. The mourning period is over. We must go back to the old ways of happiness. We are going to destroy ourselves with hopelessness and sorrow. To show I mean this, the royal court shall be joining us. There shall be a meeting, and a royal celebration ball," she finished, clearly pained for declaring the period of mourning over. She is a wise queen to do this. But inviting the royal court? A ball? Isn't it a bit soon? The court is the representatives from the kingdoms of the planets in our solar system; Mercury, Mars, Venus, Jupiter, Uranus, Neptune, Pluto, Saturn, and Earth. Earth doesn't associate with us much, something about not wanting mixed marriages. Everyone stood open-mouthed at the queen, she frowned at our disrespect, and Serena giggled. "They will be coming in seven days, the ball will be in eight, I hope that is enough time to get out of this depression," the queen said, almost laughing at our faces. "I will need someone to watch Serenity and the other princesses, and the prince," she said the 'and the prince' quickly after a guard had whispered in her ear. "I will personally appoint someone this evening," the queen said, even the guards looked surprised at the word 'personally', with good reason. I knew I would apply for the job, unlike many other girls I know I like difficult work, and watching 10 screaming 5 year olds is hard. But what would I wear?