"Actually I was enjoying their company. They are quite nice to have around. Who may you be." Meliara said.
"Sir Keledry of Milden. Who are you?" As Kel was talking to her she noticed that the woman did not look her directly in the eyes but stared at a little to Kel's right. Kel quickly glance there to see what she was staring at, but it was only a wall.
"Lady Meliara of Blanth. I have just arrived today. I......" She was cut off by the sound of the palace bells.
"It was nice to meet you but I must leave, I will see you at the ball" and Keldry ran of the room. "That was strange," Kel thought to herself, "None of the men mentioned her. She has looks to rival the Queen. She smiled to herself as thought of staying near Cleon tonight, she didn't want him getting an ideas. There is something strange about her....." Kel sprinted down the hall. Today she would be helping the pages. Who knows what they would think if she arrived this late.
Meliara sat in her room thinking, "A ball tonight. I guess I will not attend. Why go to a ball if you cannot dance.
It was evening when the 5th daughter came to her rooms. "What is this an hour till the ball and you have not even gotten the least bit ready. The other girls have started getting ready hours back. If need be I will help you." said the 5th daughter
"I am not going. How can I go if I cannot dance?
"I thought you were better than that Meliara of Banth. I thought you have determination. I thought you had will I thought you had courage. I guess I was wrong. Bringing you here was just trading one bad place for another bad place.
When she left Meliara put on her gown for the ball. "The 5th Daughter does seem to have a way of getting at people" she thought smiling to herself. A woman walked into her rooms saying she was to be her maid. "Please go tell the 5th Daughter that I will have her escort and accompany me to the ball.
The 5th daughter arrived precisely on time. She stood in shock as she looked at Meliara. She was looking gorgeous in a deep red gown with gold embroidery. Unlike the other Ladies this had a high neckline that gave her a sophistication and air the other ladies didn't have. The gown was a bit out of fashion, but no one would notice, they would be too busy starring at the person in it. The 5th daughter told her that she would be with her the whole time and she wouldn't leave her side. She said "I will always stand in front of you." The 5th Daughter did not want to embarrass her by holding her hand.
Everyone stare at Meliara as she walked past them. How was she to notice, she just held her head high and stayed right behind the 5th Daughter as if they were attached. The training she had received at the convent had paid off. The people whispered of her poise and beauty. Meliara did not hear them because she was so captivated by the music. As she and the 5th Daughter and her sat on the cushions. The gaze of a tall man never left her.
Kel smiled as she watched that Lady Meliara captivate many of her friends. Many of them seemed like they were going to rush and ask her for a dance, but were stopped by the Ladies who smiled, batted their eyelashes and tell them how handsome they looked. Then the Ladies would ask them to dance. The men had to go along, the Rules of Chivalry was very clear that they couldn't refuse. As soon as one man started walking n her directon, a Lady stopped him. It was very amusing actually. "Thank the goddess she had Cleon" she thought as she looked up into his eyes.
The tall man walked over to Meliara. None of the ladies tried stopping him. He was not the kind of person one would want to stop from doing something. He stopped in front of her and said, "My name is Numir Saliman and you are one of the most Gifted people I have seen."