Disclaimer: I don't own any of the Dragonlance characters, only the story and I made up Suiren and Elros
Angelwing: Hello! Bonjour! Hola! An-yung! Ohayo! Ni-how! Shalom! Whatever your language is, I'm back! And I see fanfiction is also back. Well before I start on my story, I would like to acknowledge Star Wolf Tears (aka Wolven) and Animeanne for their help and support on my story *applause*
Animeanne: *takes the microphone* Thank you, Thank you! Really, it was nothing. I just acted out of my own goodness of heart. I would like to thank my parents for their encouragement, Emily for her quick judgement....
Angelwing: *sweatdrops and steals microphone back* well ANYWAYS... onto the story!
Animeanne: and Natasha for her inspirational voice, and Sarah for her neverending laughter, and....
Angelwing: *shoots Anne and evil look and drags her off stage*
Behind every Mask
Writen by: Angelwing
Darkness... she invited the nothingness sinking into the velvety warmth.
A mirror... in it a beautiful elf clad in brilliant white holding out a soft pink flower radiating with light... Herself...
She felt something brush against her sweaty palms.
A small flower... slowly, the light dies, the petals wither, and the dust seeps through her fingers.
Ice... unbearably cold at first but it numbs the pain...
A new flower... enveloped in ice... protected from the outside world... it's beauty preserved in an icy tomb...
A voice calling... ... ...
"Mistress! Mistress?"
Laurana opened her weary eyes to a new morning in Qualinesti. A servent girl named Suiren had brought her breakfast up to her room and was now waiting for her to receive it. Seeing that she was keeping the girl from her other tasks, she quickly sat up and thanked the girl. The girl smiled kindly and said, "Your father was worried when you didn't arrive in time for breakfast. But I will tell him you only woke late." With that, she left Laurana to finish her meal. "I wonder what my dream was..." Laurana thought to herself and try as she might, she could not remember. Her breakfast consisted of soup and bread along with a cup of dragon's milk. The warm soup warmed her stiff body and the strong milk cleared her mind. She only ate half of the bread, giving the other half to eager birds waiting outside her balcony. It was a beautiful morning and the skies were blue with only a faint wisp of a cloud here and there. Suiren came back soon with a younger and much smaller girl following closely. Suiren told her girl to take Laurana's now empty breakfast plates to the kitchen and scolded her softly when she took too long.
"We have a lot to do today, Mistress. First we have to go meet the dress mistress to get your new dress. I wonder how she made it this year! Then you father wants to go over a few things with you at lunch. He's probably going to lecture you about your behavior last year. Then you and I will see to the preparations of tonights masquerade," Suiren said as she brushed Laurana's long golden hair and tied it efficiently into an elegant half-ponytail.
"I wish Father wouldn't take it so seriously. It was only a small joke when I pushed Roland into the pond," said Laurana as she dressed into a simple forest green dress that hugged her slender figure and complimented her curves. The 3/4 length sleeves ended in a flare and the hem brushed against the floor.
"That 'Roland' was your father's best friend's son. I don't see why you push away your suitors like they were disgusting bugs. If I had that many suiters, I'd be having a good time," Suiren said smiling mischieviously. Laurana gave her a stern look but that dissapeared as a burst of clear laughter filled the room. Suiren was about the same age as Laurana was and as soon as both girls had met about 20 years ago, they had created a strong bond of friendship.
***************
"Legolas! Are you coming to tonights masquerade? Come on, It'll be fun! All the girls want you to dance with them," a tall elf said. He had short black hair that went about in all directions and his dark eyes twinkled with humor.
"You know I don't go to these things Elros. My mother will make me dance with all the girls and flirt so she can find the 'perfect one' for me. And all the girls my mom choses are so shallow and... dumb!" Legolas said as he ate his breakfast of bread and dragon's milk.
"Oh... all right then... Well if you're not going, I guess I'll stick with you," said Elros dejectedly. Immediatly Legolas felt guilty about not going.
'You should go. Your friend wants to go and you know he can't if you don't. Although his family is not that rich, he is still your best friend is he not young prince? Besides, you should have some fun,' his dragon Twilight whispered in his mind. Legolas shot Twilight an I'll-get-you-for-this glare but he half-heartedly agreed with her.
"Hey, Elros, I decided that I'm going to go," Legolas said smiling as his friend suddenly gave a yell of delight and jumped in the air. Then Elros suddenly became quiet as he smiled his sly grin. Legolas knew that expression all too well which meant his friend was concocting an evil plan.
"Hey Legolas, since this is your first dance since... like 5 years now, why don't you dance with one girl. Just one?" Elros said his grin growing wider each second. Legolas raised one eyebrow questioningly.
"Fine. One girl no more and not within the sight of my mother," Legolas said after much thought. Then Elros' eyes brightened as another thought struck his head.
"And another thing. Since you owe me a few picies of gold from that last bet we made, I'll let you pay it off as long as you do this ONE thing," Elros said. Legolas nodded in agreement. "You promise? On your elfs honor? OK!!!"
"I have a friend named Suiren. Her mistress has been swatting away all of her suiters like flies. I dare you to... seduce her!" Elros said with a wicked smile. So this was what he was up to. Legolas laughed at the joke but it quickly died as he looked at Elros' very serious face.
"You're not serious are you?" Legolas said all of a sudden feeling very lightheaded.
"Come on Legolas! You promised! I heard she's a beauty," Elros said feeling very accomplished. Then it was Legolas' turn to grin.
"Very well. On one condition. You do the same with your... "friend"... Suiren was it?" Legolas said impishly. Elros blushed about ten shades of red but agreed.
"We can have a contest! Whoever loses has to give the other a new hunting bow and dragon-saddle!" Elros said pretty confident he would win. Twilight snorted in disgust but said nothing.
***************
"Hold still!" the dress mistress cried out in distress as Laurana fidgeted the whole while. Suiren stifled a giggle as Laurana stuck her tongue out at the dress mistress' back.
"Now, one more touch! and Voila!" said the dress mistress looking very pleased with herself. The dress was made of the softest silver satin which shimmered in the light whenever she turned. The sleeves were made of a transparent material which floated in the gentle breeze. The dress itself reached the floor and was embroidered with small groupings of pearl beads at the hem. As the finishing touch, the dress mistress had added a pair of swan feather wings onto her back which was actually very light to her surprise. Her mask which she would wear at the ball was decorated with soft white feathers imitating the grace of a swan.
"Ah... There, you look like an angel darling," the dress mistress said lovingly. She beckoned to Suiren who came hesitantly until urged by Laurana for it would have above her status to recieve her own dress.
"Suiren, you know my father would hate to see you go to the ball in that!" Laurana said with a laugh. Suiren had become very silent in awe as the dress mistress started measuring and pinning cloths of all colors on her. Soon the measuring was over and the dress master came out with Suiren's very own dress. Her face brightened as she put the lovely dress on and Laurana saw how beautiful Suiren actually was. Her dark hair went down to her waist which matched her eyes that were veiled in long soft lashes. Her skin was milk white from staying indoors. The only thing she could have said against her was her slight figure. She looked so fragile and if a leaf fell on her, one would expect her to get crushed from the weight.
"It's quite a lovely dress! Thank you so much!" Suiren said as she twirled around in it. It was made of soft light white silk with water lilies stitched into it creating an intricate yet seemingly simple design. Her sleeves were very much like Laurana's except the sleeves were held in place with pale pink ribbons. Her mask was very simple. It was completely white with a single rosy pink water lily painted in perfect detail.
"Thank you so much!" both girls said as they dressed into their normal attire again. Laurana counted the amount it would cost for both of their dresses but the kindly dress mistress refused to take it.
"Consider it an early birthday present! Have fun at the ball!" the dress mistress said.
The girls carefully put their dresses into their closets until the time would come to go to the ball. It was nearly lunchtime and Laurana got ready to meet her father. Suiren would be having lunch with a friend she had told her and so Laurana was left to herself. She knew her dream had bothered her. If only she knew what it could be about! The little girl that Suiren had brought to her room earlier this morning came back to call Laurana. She glanced shyly at Laurana as if she wanted to say something. Finally she summed up the courage to speak.
"Suiren said you were in wuve with Tanis! Are you gonna dance with him today?" the little girl chirped with a slight lisp. Laurana gave a little laugh that brought a smile to the girls face. All of a sudden she stopped as visions of her dream came back to her. Normaly the answer would have come carelessly but tonight, she realized she didn't have the same feelings towards Tanis anymore.
"We'll see about that. What is your name?" Laurana said changing the subject. The girl immediatly looked downcast and Laurana regreted the question.
"I... don't have a name. I onwy came here last week when Suiren and Mistuh Ewos found me wost in the woods... but she calls me Wittle sistuh!" she said brightning at the last few words. Laurana had heard of a little girl being found in the woods a few days ago but never knew that she was under Suiren's care. And who was this "Mr. Ewos"?
"Well I think I'll call you Little sister too if you don't mind. I'll see you around! Bye Little Sister!" Laurana called as she stood at the doorway of the dining hall where her father sat waiting. She quickly kissed his cheek and gave him a hug.
"Hello father! I'm sorry I missed breakfast today. I woke late," Laurana said as a greeting. Her father, who was the speaker of suns, returned her kiss and hug and motioned for lunch to be served. Servents brought out plates, silverware, and lay soft napkins on their laps. Soon the cook himself came out and served the father and daughter his finest dish.
"Thank you Cook. Don't overdo yourself tonight. We still need your recipies for years to come," her father said in good humor. The cook smiled and left the two alone to talk.
"Eat as much as you can Laurana dear. Tonight will be a long night. I wish your mother could see you this day. How much you've grown. Now, I don't want the same incident like last year or any of its kind. You understand Laurana?" he said in a stern tone. Laurana looked at her food and nodded. The rest of the meal went smoothly, him talking of recent news of Qualinesti and its borders, Laurana talking of the preparations of the ball. As she ready to leave her father, she remembered Little sister.
"Father, I have one request," after a nod from her father she went on, "There's a small servant girl that just came in last week. Can you give her a name?" Her father looked at her puzzled at her request. Seeing she was not making it up, he gave a nod of approval. Finally content, Laurana retired to her room.
**************
"Hurry up Legolas! We don't want to be late for the ball," said a very excited Elros. Legolas grumbled but sped up his pace anyways.
"YOU don't want to be late for the ball not WE. You must have a drop of human blood in your veins. You're so impatient," he said rolling his eyes. They both wore plain black masks that covered most of their faces giving them a mysterious look. Elros was wearing a midnight blue top with black pants which matched his dark hair and eyes. Earlier in the day, he had bought a new pair of soft nutmeg brown leather boots that almost came up to his knees and a cloak that matched his shirt fastened with a small silver clasp ornately designed.
Legolas stuck with his forest theme and wore a dark green shirt with gold buttons down the front. He also wore boots similar to Elros' only of a lighter brown. He had a warm forest green cloak embroidered with golden leaves which was fastened with the clasp that once upon a time had been a gift from the Lady Gladeriel before the Fellowship had fallen apart. His mother had also given him a fine pair of gloves that fit perfectly.
"We're almost there. Wait till you see who I matched you up with," Elros said excitedly. The masquerade would be held outdoors in a large clearing. There were lights already hung up all in colorful lamps that spread their light all over. There were already many elves at the ball. The women in various costumes and the men in their mysterious masks. The woodshapers of Qualinesti had clevery sculpted the trees around as dancing figures and there was fountain from where water bubbled joyfully out. In the distance Legolas could see his mother and father speaking with the Speaker of the Suns. His mother looked beautiful in her dress of bright red which complimented her full lips and his father was wearing a similar shirt like his but with silver buttons. Nevertheless, both parents looked grand and elegant.
"There, there! Look Legolas, that's her!" Elros said as he nudged his friend urgently.
Notes: Sorry I left off in such a suspensful part of the story ^_^ but i know exactly what to write about in the next chapter so stay tuned!!! btw, sorry i didnt really stick with my original plan with the story. I know it's really wierd that Laurana had this dreadful dream and now she's all happy go lucky. I promise that in the next chapter I'll make it up to ya all k? for now cya!!!
~Angelwing