Chapter Seven

When I woke up the next morning long after the sun had risen. The candles I had lit last night, to read, had long since burned down and out. I was sprawled out on the pillows, the uneasiness of using such fancy things having left me some time in the night when I realized just how hard the floor was.

I sat up to stretch and was yawning when Ophelia rushed. "Seraphina!" She exclaimed, "I found you! We have been looking everywhere for you. And everyone's been asking, 'Now where is that Lady Seraphina you met yesterday, the first female adventurer?' And I have to admit that we'd lost you. Though you're not really lost now, cause I found you. And everyone is as so anxious to meet you. They're heard so much about you. Your stories are legendary here. Did you know that? It seems I'm the only one who's never heard about you before. I feel so silly. Oh," She gasped, "You didn't sleep here last night, did you? I did tell Hermia to come to you and tell you I couldn't come and get you a room. Oh, poor Hermia, she's losing her memory, but she is a good nurse. Used to be my nanny when I was little. Oh, well, I see you've been reading." She picked up the book, where it had fallen when I fell asleep, "Oh bother, 'The Histories of the First Royal Family'. Ugh. No wonder you fell asleep. This is such a bore. I'll show you a real good book, after the ball. Oh, I'm so excited. It's suppose to be a welcome back ball, for my brother who's gone hunting and will be back tonight. But it's now a ball in your honor. My brother would never shows up anyway. Oh, everyone will be there. Lady Seraphina, are you ill?"

I had collapsed back onto the pile of pillows. I felt like I had suddenly woken up after a hundred years of sleep. The world had gone on without me. And what were all this about balls and legends and The First Female Adventure.

"You look positively famished. Oh, my, you probably didn't get dinner. Oh, my apologizes. Would you like something now?"

My tongue seemed to have lost all power to move, so I replied with a week nod.

"Of course. We'll go to the dining room and get our noon day meal. No one else will be there because courts in session and the lords and ladies will have noon day there." Ophelia helped me to my feet, "You're not to weak to walk, are you?"

I shock my head and took a couple of strides to prove my point.

"Good." Ophelia commented and ran out of the room.

I have gone hungry before because there have been lean years before. Sometimes weeks would go by when I'd be lucky to have only one meal a day. I'd known hunger and there is a strange thing I have learned about hunger. Two things, actually. First, hunger is not starvation. Hunger is an inconvenience. It can be painful but proper food can make it go away. Starvation is hunger at the extreme, it can kill you and I am thankful that I have never encountered it. Second, often one is hungry and doesn't realize it until they walk into a room full of food and your stomach growls and you have to wait half an' hour to eat.

Ophelia wasn't telling the complete truth about eating alone. We were to be joined by various cousins who were all late. Later, Ophelia told me she meant none important would be joining us. Then we all had to sit quietly and still as the palace priest blessed our food. I didn't talk too much to anyone because I was too busy filling my face. I did try to pace myself but I hadn't eaten since my last supper at Rottingham Inn and the food was so good. Most of the stuff I didn't recognized I passed over, like cold peacock, raven pie and this eel and rice dish, both of which I'd never seen before. Still, there were many things I did recognize. Cold turkey, maize bread and caramel cakes. I'm sure I wasn't very lady like but if the cousins ever told anyone, no one mentioned it later.

After we ate, Ophelia took me to Attoli, with the promise she wouldn't forget about me. Attoli promised she make me up to be the most pleasing face at the ball, with the exception, of course, the princess. Ophelia just giggled and skipped off to do whatever princess' do.

I had never had anyone 'Make me up' before. Yolanda tried once as I recall but I think I bite her or something. Well, serves her right from putting that goo on me.

This time, however, in Ophelia's room, I let her servants fuss on my. I was just too exhausted to bite, after a long walk, a cold swim, Puss stealing my clothes, the horrible carriage ride and sleeping on the floor. I just couldn't find the strength in me.

I sat, obediently, as Attoli covered my dark tan with sickly white powder. I lady, I'm told, does not spend too much time in the sun. A lady is as pale as death. They combed my hair and put in up with fancy barrettes and then covered with this mass of blond wool, a wig. My hair, it seems, was far to thin and straggly. They did my nails, which took an hour, and then covered them up with gloves. I was put into several dresses, layer upon layer. And my feet were squeezed into little shoes, too sizes too small. I'm told I was radiant, but all I could think of was the pain in my feet.

"You look radiant!" Attoli pronounced.

"Thank you." I mumbled and got to my feet.

I hobbled around a bit, moaning under my breath; the ladies-in-waiting all had this surprised and shocked look on their face. I guess they were expecting something more noble. I smiled, embarrassed. I tried to come up with an excuse, "I'm not use to this. It's been a while."

Like never!! I added silently.

I closed my eyes and tried to imagine Yolanda. She would have loved to be in my place right now instead of in the kitchen trying to figure out how to boil water. The thought made me smile. Now, I told myself, pretend you're Yolanda. Walk like your back and neck is strapped to a pole and you're balancing on the fence.

I opened my eyes, straightened my back and walked toward Attola, one dainty step in front of the other. Then I stopped and curtseyed as I'd seen Yolanda do on occasion.

Attoli clapped and the others quickly followed. I let out a sigh of relief. Maybe, just maybe, I could pull this off, maybe.

By the time the ball started, though, I wasn't feeling so cocky.

It was Ophelia who lead me to the ballroom but I lost her within minutes. Not that I minded all that much. Without the presents of the princess, I could skit around the walls. Despite all this I had heard about me being a legend, no one present, except Ophelia, knew what I looked like. Not that I minded not being noticed. It made it so much easier to walk out onto the balcony.

There was only one person out there, a man. At first, I thought I would just turn around but my feet were already sore. "Do you mind?" I asked, gesturing to the empty seat beside the man.

"Not at all. Don't you enjoy balls?"

"Hardly," I replied, sitting next to the handsome sir on the bench, "My feet ache. Mind if I take off these horrible shoes."

"Be my guest." And he watched bemused as I struggled to free my feet from their confinements.

"You don't come to court balls often?"

"I don't come to court balls or court, for that matter."

"You wouldn't be that famous adventurer, would you?"

I sighed. I was beginning to hate that question so much. "I'm Seraphina."

"Then you are the first female adventurer?"

"You said it, not me."

"Not a title you rally for?"

"I rally for no title." I didn't like the way this conversation was going, so I changed the subject, "I don't know your name?"

"It's Larry."

"Larry?" I asked skeptically, Larry sounded like some dirty pig boy, not a handsome noble.

"Yes, Larry. It is my name."

I continued to frown.

"You aren't confident in my court knowledge."

"I didn't mean anything." I replaced my shoes, preparing to return to the dancing crowd.

"Here, I want to show you someone." Larry took my hand and led me off the balcony, to the edge of the ballroom, "You see that lovely woman, across the room?"

"The one in violet velvet?"

"Aye, her. She is Princess Valaresse of Stalia and is to wed our Prince Laetres, to be his queen."

My rival.

"Ah,"

"Is she not lovely?"

"Oh, quite lovely. She reminds me of my sister-in-law, Yolanda."

"Indeed. What is Yolanda like?"

"Married."

"I asked not because I wished to court her."

"Well then, to put it delicately, I would like nothing more to poke out her eyes with her embroidering needles and then slice her head open with a meat cleaver."

Larry laughed and I with him.

"But I'm sure," I added quickly, "The prince's bride is nothing like Yolanda."

"Let us pray so, for my sake."

I nearly sprained my neck, I turned so quickly to face 'Larry' but he'd already slipped back into the crowded, well lit ballroom.

To be continued...