Sorry about the wait! I've been so infernally busy with school *shudders* lately...Hopefully, I'll be able to crank out the chapters more quickly, especially now that I've actually formulated some kind of plot for the story! Hooray!!! Alright, finally, the story...I own nothing except Julian, Elise, and the peeps' personalities. ^_^
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In the comfortable chambers outside of the ballroom doors, Lianne paced, unable to take advantage of any comfort they would've yielded. Glancing up at the herald, who observed her rather disapprovingly, she stopped pacing and slid quickly onto the couch. However, too fidgety to sit at all, Lianne ended up carefully inspecting the perfection of her lip color in a large mirror near the door.
"You know what to do?" the herald inquired.
Quite embarrassed, Lianne shook her head. "I'm afraid not."
"Once you are announced, step down the stairs, at the bottom of which is the royal dais. Curtsy, then His Majesty will guide you into the first dance." The herald offered a smile of encouragement. "I'm sure you will be fine."
Another herald stepped through the door Lianne had entered in and nodded at them, then exited again.
"Alright, then," he murmured. Casting open the great door, the herald boomed, "Her Highness, Princess Lianne of Contè!"
As she "glided" down the stunningly huge stairs, all of Lady haMinch's nagging lessons concerning floating down stairs instantly returning, Lianne nervously surveyed the crowd. Catching a glance of certain squires bellowing their approval through their fellow attendees' applause, her thin, forced smile relaxed into a broad grin. Finally at the bottom of the extensive stairs, she approached the royal dais and curtsied her best.
When Lianne found herself presented with the king's hand, she accepted it and rose from the floor. The orchestra struck up a waltz, and they immediately commenced whirling around the ballroom floor. Though she originally attempted to concentrate on the dancing, Lianne realized it was easier to simply let herself be twirled and led through the steps instead. Melting the court audience into mere shadows, the entire world narrowed to one glittering floor and two glittering figures. At last, after what seemed a lifetime of dancing (but not an unpleasant lifetime, Lianne noted), the music wound down and was drowned out by courtiers' clapping. The grandly dressed lords and ladies flooded the dancing floor; the king led his daughter off the floor and to the royal dais.
"Lovely entrance." Queen Thayet rose from her throne and embraced Lianne. "It's so wonderful to finally have you home for good."
"Quite," Roald added. "I hardly know my own sister." Momentarily shedding the usual quiet and solitary nature Lianne had noticed him to possess in the past, he kissed her hand with a dashing air that reminded her of Liam's own charm. Perhaps the royal family shared more bonds than perfection, bonds that she too could join!
Lianne smiled gratefully to both of them, replying, "I'm happy to be home."
The golden-skinned, beautiful Shinkokami stepped forward to greet her sister in law. "It is splendid to see you again," she said in articulate, heavily accented Common, almost smiling. "I hope we may become closer, as sisters."
Lianne had only met Shinkokami twice and even then had spoken less than five sentences to her, but the older girl had been extremely kind. She struggled with something fitting to say in response. "I hope so, also. You are always very gracious, and I will be delighted to know you better." At Lianne's words the crown princess's smile widened slightly.
Nodding, pleased, at the fortuitous actions of his children, Jonathan turned to Thayet. He bowed deeply and inquired beguilingly, "Shall we dance, then?" Thayet laughed and took his offered hand to the ballroom floor. Moments later, the crown heirs followed them.
"Marvelous to see old-timers like our parents still in love, eh?" murmured Liam, who had just sauntered over to where Lianne had stepped down from the dais.
"Yes it is," she concurred. "Though it does a bit depress those of us who still have yet to find that love."
"Oh, lay off the morbid spirit!" her brother protested. "Here, dance with me." Having discovered that she actually enjoyed dancing, Lianne gladly joined the brisk gavotte. Perhaps because she possessed little talent in the area, Lianne had never previously taken pleasure in waltzes or gavottes; suddenly she felt as though she did hold some promise, and as she made spirited progression around the ballroom floor, Lianne resolutely disposed of the rest of her negative dancing preconceptions.
Once the next dance had ended, Lianne and Liam headed toward a secluded corner near the refreshments table in silent yet mutual agreement.
"Absolutely smashing entrance," approved a deep, drawling voice. Lianne turned to see a ridiculously cavalier Julian of Cherell, and she couldn't help laughing at the haughty, saucy, totally uncharacteristic look on his face and the jaunty perch of his stylish feathered cap.
"Why, thank you, good sir," Lianne played along, smoothing her skirts coyly. Somehow, though she had first met him only hours earlier, she felt as if she had known Julian long enough to interact with him as she did her brother: freely and amicably.
"Not `sir' until Midwinter!" Liam contradicted, elbowing Julian out of his act. "You really are--oh, gods." He sighed dreamily, gazing past his companions. "Excuse me, I must leave you two, perhaps for the evening."
While Liam wandered by the refreshments table, Lianne looked confusedly to Julian. "What in the world is he doing?"
"Three words," Julian answered pityingly. He explained, ticking them off on his fingers as he went, "Elise. Of. Fenrigh."
"I know Elise." Lianne recognized both the name and the girl's pretty face. "We were in the same music class at the convent."
"Lovely girl, isn't she?" he commented dryly.
"At least in her looks and singing ability," Lianne said quietly. "Elise has quite a caustic disposition."
"So I've noticed." Pulling off his cap, Julian ran an absent-minded hand through his jet-black hair, obviously living through a painful memory concerning the pert beauty. "You like music, then?"
"Yes, very much," Lianne replied, unable to keep her face from forming a smile at the thought. "I'm partial to the large harp and the lute, and I love to sing. Do you like music, then?"
"Unfortunately for my male squire's ego, yes. Your dear brother delights in giving me a hard time in regards to that venue."
"Why don't I have trouble picturing that?" she laughed. "What's your favorite instrument?"
Julian grinned, responding, "Probably the lyre or the flute. More than instruments, though, I, too, enjoy singing."
"I think you'd have a wonderful deep voice for it," Lianne told him. Suddenly, she was--for no apparent reason that she could see--rather embarrassed by what she had just said. For the next few minutes, she stood in shy silence and watched her brother's amusing flirting misadventures; it seemed Lady Elise was unimpressed by Liam's poetic passion.
"Lianne?" She turned to Julian, to see his absurd, hilarious overly-gentlemanly manner again in place. "I thank you for the compliment, kind lady. Please, permit my humble personage to dance with you."
"Alright," she agreed with an irrepressible smile, "though you're undoubtedly anything but humble."
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Accompanied by Liam and Julian--she was told that the other two squires, Willas and Lawrence, had spent the evening pursuing their own previously-selected female company--Lianne spent a long evening in the Queen's ballroom and returned to her rooms near midnight.
She wasn't sure what to think of her new friendship with Julian. It had been almost eight years since she had made any true men friends, or even acquaintances. Every time she began to simply forget about any misgivings, she would abruptly wonder if there was anything more to her friendly feelings towards the sociable Julian. As long as they were friends, would she always wonder?
Lianne shook her head determinedly, burrowing underneath the bedcovers she had just dived into. It was better to just interact as she had done and to take any complexities from there; after all, she had only arrived at the palace today. Amazingly enough, Lianne had almost forgotten about her original apprehensions for her first day at the palace, and she was thoroughly pleased with how everything had progressed this far.
At last, Lianne drifted off into a long-awaited, contented sleep.
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See, it was actually a long chapter this time! ^_^ Thanks for dropping in! Please review if you think the story is deserving!
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In the comfortable chambers outside of the ballroom doors, Lianne paced, unable to take advantage of any comfort they would've yielded. Glancing up at the herald, who observed her rather disapprovingly, she stopped pacing and slid quickly onto the couch. However, too fidgety to sit at all, Lianne ended up carefully inspecting the perfection of her lip color in a large mirror near the door.
"You know what to do?" the herald inquired.
Quite embarrassed, Lianne shook her head. "I'm afraid not."
"Once you are announced, step down the stairs, at the bottom of which is the royal dais. Curtsy, then His Majesty will guide you into the first dance." The herald offered a smile of encouragement. "I'm sure you will be fine."
Another herald stepped through the door Lianne had entered in and nodded at them, then exited again.
"Alright, then," he murmured. Casting open the great door, the herald boomed, "Her Highness, Princess Lianne of Contè!"
As she "glided" down the stunningly huge stairs, all of Lady haMinch's nagging lessons concerning floating down stairs instantly returning, Lianne nervously surveyed the crowd. Catching a glance of certain squires bellowing their approval through their fellow attendees' applause, her thin, forced smile relaxed into a broad grin. Finally at the bottom of the extensive stairs, she approached the royal dais and curtsied her best.
When Lianne found herself presented with the king's hand, she accepted it and rose from the floor. The orchestra struck up a waltz, and they immediately commenced whirling around the ballroom floor. Though she originally attempted to concentrate on the dancing, Lianne realized it was easier to simply let herself be twirled and led through the steps instead. Melting the court audience into mere shadows, the entire world narrowed to one glittering floor and two glittering figures. At last, after what seemed a lifetime of dancing (but not an unpleasant lifetime, Lianne noted), the music wound down and was drowned out by courtiers' clapping. The grandly dressed lords and ladies flooded the dancing floor; the king led his daughter off the floor and to the royal dais.
"Lovely entrance." Queen Thayet rose from her throne and embraced Lianne. "It's so wonderful to finally have you home for good."
"Quite," Roald added. "I hardly know my own sister." Momentarily shedding the usual quiet and solitary nature Lianne had noticed him to possess in the past, he kissed her hand with a dashing air that reminded her of Liam's own charm. Perhaps the royal family shared more bonds than perfection, bonds that she too could join!
Lianne smiled gratefully to both of them, replying, "I'm happy to be home."
The golden-skinned, beautiful Shinkokami stepped forward to greet her sister in law. "It is splendid to see you again," she said in articulate, heavily accented Common, almost smiling. "I hope we may become closer, as sisters."
Lianne had only met Shinkokami twice and even then had spoken less than five sentences to her, but the older girl had been extremely kind. She struggled with something fitting to say in response. "I hope so, also. You are always very gracious, and I will be delighted to know you better." At Lianne's words the crown princess's smile widened slightly.
Nodding, pleased, at the fortuitous actions of his children, Jonathan turned to Thayet. He bowed deeply and inquired beguilingly, "Shall we dance, then?" Thayet laughed and took his offered hand to the ballroom floor. Moments later, the crown heirs followed them.
"Marvelous to see old-timers like our parents still in love, eh?" murmured Liam, who had just sauntered over to where Lianne had stepped down from the dais.
"Yes it is," she concurred. "Though it does a bit depress those of us who still have yet to find that love."
"Oh, lay off the morbid spirit!" her brother protested. "Here, dance with me." Having discovered that she actually enjoyed dancing, Lianne gladly joined the brisk gavotte. Perhaps because she possessed little talent in the area, Lianne had never previously taken pleasure in waltzes or gavottes; suddenly she felt as though she did hold some promise, and as she made spirited progression around the ballroom floor, Lianne resolutely disposed of the rest of her negative dancing preconceptions.
Once the next dance had ended, Lianne and Liam headed toward a secluded corner near the refreshments table in silent yet mutual agreement.
"Absolutely smashing entrance," approved a deep, drawling voice. Lianne turned to see a ridiculously cavalier Julian of Cherell, and she couldn't help laughing at the haughty, saucy, totally uncharacteristic look on his face and the jaunty perch of his stylish feathered cap.
"Why, thank you, good sir," Lianne played along, smoothing her skirts coyly. Somehow, though she had first met him only hours earlier, she felt as if she had known Julian long enough to interact with him as she did her brother: freely and amicably.
"Not `sir' until Midwinter!" Liam contradicted, elbowing Julian out of his act. "You really are--oh, gods." He sighed dreamily, gazing past his companions. "Excuse me, I must leave you two, perhaps for the evening."
While Liam wandered by the refreshments table, Lianne looked confusedly to Julian. "What in the world is he doing?"
"Three words," Julian answered pityingly. He explained, ticking them off on his fingers as he went, "Elise. Of. Fenrigh."
"I know Elise." Lianne recognized both the name and the girl's pretty face. "We were in the same music class at the convent."
"Lovely girl, isn't she?" he commented dryly.
"At least in her looks and singing ability," Lianne said quietly. "Elise has quite a caustic disposition."
"So I've noticed." Pulling off his cap, Julian ran an absent-minded hand through his jet-black hair, obviously living through a painful memory concerning the pert beauty. "You like music, then?"
"Yes, very much," Lianne replied, unable to keep her face from forming a smile at the thought. "I'm partial to the large harp and the lute, and I love to sing. Do you like music, then?"
"Unfortunately for my male squire's ego, yes. Your dear brother delights in giving me a hard time in regards to that venue."
"Why don't I have trouble picturing that?" she laughed. "What's your favorite instrument?"
Julian grinned, responding, "Probably the lyre or the flute. More than instruments, though, I, too, enjoy singing."
"I think you'd have a wonderful deep voice for it," Lianne told him. Suddenly, she was--for no apparent reason that she could see--rather embarrassed by what she had just said. For the next few minutes, she stood in shy silence and watched her brother's amusing flirting misadventures; it seemed Lady Elise was unimpressed by Liam's poetic passion.
"Lianne?" She turned to Julian, to see his absurd, hilarious overly-gentlemanly manner again in place. "I thank you for the compliment, kind lady. Please, permit my humble personage to dance with you."
"Alright," she agreed with an irrepressible smile, "though you're undoubtedly anything but humble."
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Accompanied by Liam and Julian--she was told that the other two squires, Willas and Lawrence, had spent the evening pursuing their own previously-selected female company--Lianne spent a long evening in the Queen's ballroom and returned to her rooms near midnight.
She wasn't sure what to think of her new friendship with Julian. It had been almost eight years since she had made any true men friends, or even acquaintances. Every time she began to simply forget about any misgivings, she would abruptly wonder if there was anything more to her friendly feelings towards the sociable Julian. As long as they were friends, would she always wonder?
Lianne shook her head determinedly, burrowing underneath the bedcovers she had just dived into. It was better to just interact as she had done and to take any complexities from there; after all, she had only arrived at the palace today. Amazingly enough, Lianne had almost forgotten about her original apprehensions for her first day at the palace, and she was thoroughly pleased with how everything had progressed this far.
At last, Lianne drifted off into a long-awaited, contented sleep.
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See, it was actually a long chapter this time! ^_^ Thanks for dropping in! Please review if you think the story is deserving!