Angelina let her hands fall to her side once they exited the Drawing Room.
She set up a quick pace and rounded the corner. She could hear Alicia
struggling to keep up with her.
"Angelina," she spoke up, "What's the rush?"
"Rush? There's no rush."
Alicia smiled, "Then slow down all right?"
Angelina reluctantly did. They were just about to descend some magnificent marble stairs which broadened at the bottom to spread elegantly across the landing. (Provides a rather stunning entrance, was Angelina's first thought when she saw it), when a blonde woman dressed in a flowing ashen pink gown came hurrying towards them.
"Royal Daughter Thalia!" she hailed them. Alicia groaned, that would be me, she thought.
The woman halted in front of them, breathless, but Alicia's searching eyes noticed no hint of the slightest perspiration. "Oh good," she exclaimed when she caught sight of Alicia, "Her highness Cleopatra Selene is with you too."
The woman bowed stiffly and Alicia felt Angelina fidget uncomfortably beside her.
"Follow me, Queen Hera and Lady Mnemosyne would like to see you."
Mother, that thought resounded in Alicia's head and they descended the stairs after her.
Alicia lingered back with Angelina.
"Servants dress like that?" she whispered.
Angelina threw a bewildered glance her way and attempted to walk with her head held high and feet moving softly, "How does she glide like that?"
They were ushered to the same throne room that Fred and George were just a few moments ago.
Zeus, Hera and Mnemosyne were sitting there, looking cold and impassive. Alcmene smiled slightly, however, she wasn't brought up to be like the others.
They formally greeted the domineering gods.
"Your brother and Horus just arrived a few moments ago." Their mother stated. "Have you seen them?"
They shook their heads politely.
Hera sighed inaudibly, "Well then, Alcmene, if you please-"
Zeus' concubine stood up and walked to the transparent wall and muttered a few words. A room slid into view and two faces appeared- two identical faces.
Alicia and Angelina gasped. Fred and George!
"Your sister is here, Heracles." Hera's voice rang out.
The twins' gaze shifted to the girls at the same time. Alicia caught a quick glimpse of Fred's face as a flicker of recognition and surprise passed. Their faces instantly became neutral, however, and listened politely Hera's speech.
"There will be a ball coming up that will celebrate the union of Greece and Egypt's rulers tonight." Here, she glanced at George before continuing, "Horus, your family shall be arriving soon and will take up lodging in our second palace. You are all required to be ready for the ball."
With that, she sat down again and looked at her husband. Zeus rose from his seat for the first time and lightly kissed his daughter on the forehead. "Now, go and welcome your brother and his friend."
They nodded and were about to exit the room when a thundering clap sounded. The next instant, Alicia and Angelina found themselves staring at the twins' faces.
"Fred!" Angelina cried and jumped into his arms. Alicia and George settled for a quick kiss on the lips.
Alicia whispered, "I missed you, my Egyptian God."
George chuckled and kissed her again, "You developed a sense of humor, I see," he remarked cheekily.
She threw an offended glare his way.
A loud 'oh no' came from Angelina. They turned to her and saw her scrambling off Fred.
"What's wrong?" George asked.
She faced them, her big brown eyes even wider than normal and her mouth set in a grim line. "Isn't it tradition that you can't be with a mortal in that way?" She said, pointing to Fred and herself.
Alicia frowned, "Only in this world."
Her friend's face took on an unreadable expression. It took a few moments before Alicia recognized it - she was about to break down into tears.
"Angie!" She crossed over to her and gave her a hug.
Fred was standing at their side with a confused look.
Angelina's lower lip quivered but she didn't cry....yet. "What if we NEVER get out of here? Then, we'll be stuck forever!" Her voice crack and one pearly tear slid down her cheek.
"So?" George shrugged, insensitively.
Alicia glared and he shut up.
"I'll never be able to kiss Fred again!"
"I don't see why not. My mother is a mortal!" Fred intervened and drew her into his arms.
Angelina frowned, "You will take other wives before me?"
Fred scowled, slightly annoyed at the thought, "Of course not. I hope to be back in the real world before I have to get married."
Alicia nodded along with George. "Besides, you wouldn't want to attend a ball looking a mess would you?" she asked.
That did the trick. Her tears disappeared and her eyes dried completely.
Fred smiled at her, pleased that she panicked at the thought of not being able to be with him, but keeping that thought to himself. She leaned closer into his arms and rested her head in his chest. His smile broadened and he kissed her hair softly. His eyes caught George's and he frowned at his twin when he saw him making gagging motions. Alicia hit him hard in the stomach and he groaned, scowling at her. She smiled sweetly at him and was about to apologize when a knock sounded. Fred quickly released Angelina and they stood in a line expectantly, waiting for the door to open. One of the many maids in the palace entered and handed four ensembles to them, "Your suits for tonight."
Then, she went out. Angelina and Alicia immediately rushed over to have a closer look.
Fred and George exchanged tolerant looks but even they joined the girls in examining the clothes, curiosity having gotten the better of them.
The girls' dresses were, as usual, elaborately decorated. Angelina's gown was a traditional Egyptian costume, the only difference was that the material was finer and apparently much more expensive than average.
Alicia's was sleeveless and tinted with a hint of gold. It appeared to be purely white until the cloth caught the light. The gold seemingly flowed lightly throughout the whole gown in gentle waves.
The twins' sets of clothes were far from similar. George was speechless when he saw his own white suit. Shining and golden fasteners glinted in the sunlight and a handsome red belt streaked around his waist. The whole colour harmonization provided a smart perspective to those around him.
Fred's was a formal black suit which resembled a muggle tuxedo, with a grey shirt beneath. Despite it's simplicity, the weaver of the suit definitely had an artistic touch. It was unexplainably eye-catching and even to a trained eye, would be considered qualified for a king.
A loud chime shook the walls. Fred looked up startled.
"We have an hour left to get ready," he announced.
The girls gasped and rushed out of the twins' room with their gowns clutched tightly in their hands, no doubt in a hurry to get ready.
George chuckled at them, "Well, I suppose we have another 45 minutes to kill. Upgraded chess?" He offered, gesturing to the large table with the chessboard resting on it, the figurines twinkling merrily in the light.
Fred shrugged, "Why not?"
A/N: Thanks to Alicia for beta-ing...and to those who reviewed!
"Angelina," she spoke up, "What's the rush?"
"Rush? There's no rush."
Alicia smiled, "Then slow down all right?"
Angelina reluctantly did. They were just about to descend some magnificent marble stairs which broadened at the bottom to spread elegantly across the landing. (Provides a rather stunning entrance, was Angelina's first thought when she saw it), when a blonde woman dressed in a flowing ashen pink gown came hurrying towards them.
"Royal Daughter Thalia!" she hailed them. Alicia groaned, that would be me, she thought.
The woman halted in front of them, breathless, but Alicia's searching eyes noticed no hint of the slightest perspiration. "Oh good," she exclaimed when she caught sight of Alicia, "Her highness Cleopatra Selene is with you too."
The woman bowed stiffly and Alicia felt Angelina fidget uncomfortably beside her.
"Follow me, Queen Hera and Lady Mnemosyne would like to see you."
Mother, that thought resounded in Alicia's head and they descended the stairs after her.
Alicia lingered back with Angelina.
"Servants dress like that?" she whispered.
Angelina threw a bewildered glance her way and attempted to walk with her head held high and feet moving softly, "How does she glide like that?"
They were ushered to the same throne room that Fred and George were just a few moments ago.
Zeus, Hera and Mnemosyne were sitting there, looking cold and impassive. Alcmene smiled slightly, however, she wasn't brought up to be like the others.
They formally greeted the domineering gods.
"Your brother and Horus just arrived a few moments ago." Their mother stated. "Have you seen them?"
They shook their heads politely.
Hera sighed inaudibly, "Well then, Alcmene, if you please-"
Zeus' concubine stood up and walked to the transparent wall and muttered a few words. A room slid into view and two faces appeared- two identical faces.
Alicia and Angelina gasped. Fred and George!
"Your sister is here, Heracles." Hera's voice rang out.
The twins' gaze shifted to the girls at the same time. Alicia caught a quick glimpse of Fred's face as a flicker of recognition and surprise passed. Their faces instantly became neutral, however, and listened politely Hera's speech.
"There will be a ball coming up that will celebrate the union of Greece and Egypt's rulers tonight." Here, she glanced at George before continuing, "Horus, your family shall be arriving soon and will take up lodging in our second palace. You are all required to be ready for the ball."
With that, she sat down again and looked at her husband. Zeus rose from his seat for the first time and lightly kissed his daughter on the forehead. "Now, go and welcome your brother and his friend."
They nodded and were about to exit the room when a thundering clap sounded. The next instant, Alicia and Angelina found themselves staring at the twins' faces.
"Fred!" Angelina cried and jumped into his arms. Alicia and George settled for a quick kiss on the lips.
Alicia whispered, "I missed you, my Egyptian God."
George chuckled and kissed her again, "You developed a sense of humor, I see," he remarked cheekily.
She threw an offended glare his way.
A loud 'oh no' came from Angelina. They turned to her and saw her scrambling off Fred.
"What's wrong?" George asked.
She faced them, her big brown eyes even wider than normal and her mouth set in a grim line. "Isn't it tradition that you can't be with a mortal in that way?" She said, pointing to Fred and herself.
Alicia frowned, "Only in this world."
Her friend's face took on an unreadable expression. It took a few moments before Alicia recognized it - she was about to break down into tears.
"Angie!" She crossed over to her and gave her a hug.
Fred was standing at their side with a confused look.
Angelina's lower lip quivered but she didn't cry....yet. "What if we NEVER get out of here? Then, we'll be stuck forever!" Her voice crack and one pearly tear slid down her cheek.
"So?" George shrugged, insensitively.
Alicia glared and he shut up.
"I'll never be able to kiss Fred again!"
"I don't see why not. My mother is a mortal!" Fred intervened and drew her into his arms.
Angelina frowned, "You will take other wives before me?"
Fred scowled, slightly annoyed at the thought, "Of course not. I hope to be back in the real world before I have to get married."
Alicia nodded along with George. "Besides, you wouldn't want to attend a ball looking a mess would you?" she asked.
That did the trick. Her tears disappeared and her eyes dried completely.
Fred smiled at her, pleased that she panicked at the thought of not being able to be with him, but keeping that thought to himself. She leaned closer into his arms and rested her head in his chest. His smile broadened and he kissed her hair softly. His eyes caught George's and he frowned at his twin when he saw him making gagging motions. Alicia hit him hard in the stomach and he groaned, scowling at her. She smiled sweetly at him and was about to apologize when a knock sounded. Fred quickly released Angelina and they stood in a line expectantly, waiting for the door to open. One of the many maids in the palace entered and handed four ensembles to them, "Your suits for tonight."
Then, she went out. Angelina and Alicia immediately rushed over to have a closer look.
Fred and George exchanged tolerant looks but even they joined the girls in examining the clothes, curiosity having gotten the better of them.
The girls' dresses were, as usual, elaborately decorated. Angelina's gown was a traditional Egyptian costume, the only difference was that the material was finer and apparently much more expensive than average.
Alicia's was sleeveless and tinted with a hint of gold. It appeared to be purely white until the cloth caught the light. The gold seemingly flowed lightly throughout the whole gown in gentle waves.
The twins' sets of clothes were far from similar. George was speechless when he saw his own white suit. Shining and golden fasteners glinted in the sunlight and a handsome red belt streaked around his waist. The whole colour harmonization provided a smart perspective to those around him.
Fred's was a formal black suit which resembled a muggle tuxedo, with a grey shirt beneath. Despite it's simplicity, the weaver of the suit definitely had an artistic touch. It was unexplainably eye-catching and even to a trained eye, would be considered qualified for a king.
A loud chime shook the walls. Fred looked up startled.
"We have an hour left to get ready," he announced.
The girls gasped and rushed out of the twins' room with their gowns clutched tightly in their hands, no doubt in a hurry to get ready.
George chuckled at them, "Well, I suppose we have another 45 minutes to kill. Upgraded chess?" He offered, gesturing to the large table with the chessboard resting on it, the figurines twinkling merrily in the light.
Fred shrugged, "Why not?"
A/N: Thanks to Alicia for beta-ing...and to those who reviewed!
