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*At A Royal Ball, 10 years after the Death of Black Robe Mage Numair Salamin*
The Greater Ballroom was filled with courtiers, expectantly awaiting the arrival of their King and Queen. Tonight was to be a great celebration, and the formal introduction of several youths to the court, two of which were very exciting. The foremost of the two was the first grandchild of the monarchs. The other was the infamous daughter of Verlidaine Sarrasri and the late Numair Salamin. Both were such powerful mages in their own respects that many speculated she would be the most powerful being in the entire world. A hush fell over the room as King Jonathan and Queen Thayet entered.
Once called the most beautiful couple, they were now old, in their fifties. Thankfully, the years had been kind and the pair had aged well. Although younger courtiers found them a bit sluggish, they lead a progressive regime and were quick of mind and kind of heart, therefore commanding by presence, not power.
As the aging couple made an introductory speech, nobody noticed as the curtain at the top of the Great Stair twitched. From behind it peeked two dark blue eyes, and attached to those eyes was a black-haired girl. She wore a fashionable ball gown of a shimmering dark blue-green, and her curls were piled and knotted as dictated by current standards of beauty. She even wore earbobs and traces of rouge. Her expensive clothes were quite pretty, and she was none too bad without them. But alas, the different kinds of pretty that made up her looks and her clothes contrived together to make her look plain.
The sea of people before her was rather scary to a 10-year-old girl. Oh my, so many! She thought, and instinctively reached a hand up to her hair. She tugged a single curl out of the knots and began to twist it around her forefinger. Then the girl paused and looked at the black lock, and out again to the crowd. Oh no, they all look so alike. And I look so different! Ay, Mama never warned me of this! But then her fretting reverie had to be abandoned, because the first girl was being announced. Knowing it would be useless to put back the twisted curl, the girl pulled an identical one from the other side of her hair. With a frown and a sigh, she took her place at the top of the Great Stair and plastered on a false smile. And then the Master of Introductions began to say her name.
"Announcing Naimura Salamin-Sarrasri, daughter of Black Robe Mage Numair Salamin and Wildmage Superior Verlidaine Sarrasri." As soon as the name of her father was mentioned, the room became quieter, but whispers crescendoed as she descended. Is that really she? She looks so much like her father... Naimura, is that what he said? Why, that means... Well, the gods aren't kind all over, with looks that plain she must be powerful... Oh, thank Goddess, she doesn't have her father's nose, at least...
Luckily, none of this was audible to Naimura, if only because her heart was pounding so. But she just kept her mind on her mother's words: Take a deep breath, right foot, left foot, right foot, deep breath, right foot, left foot...when she reached the base of the dais, she remembered them again: Take a deep breath, right foot forward, spread your skirt and bend..bend..Like a lily...hold it, and now come up. Don't forget to smile! And so Naimura swept a graceful curtsy, and dazzled their majesties with a perfect smile. She was favored with a smile from Her Majesty and a nod from His Highness. As she walked to the spot where the other two girls had gone, she had to work to mask her relief. Nobody noticed as Thayet sent a questioning look at Daine, who nodded that she would explain later.
"Announcing Prince Jonathan Ryodan of Conte, son of Crown Prince Roald and Princess Shinkokami." And total hush fell over the room as all present bowed. Naimura, of course, was an impudent little girl, as one of her governesses had said. So while she curtsied, she glanced up through her hair.
The prince had black hair of the darkest shade; hers was brown by comparison. His eyes were undecided, but seemed gray or green, and his tunic, of course, was Conte blue and silver. Not at all bad looking was her general assessment, although his bearing was imperfect. As he walked down the Great Stair in a princely manner, he scanned the crowd. Naimura was fascinated by the boy, who was at once Tortallan familiarity and Yamani exoticism, and didn't notice he had seen her until he caught her gaze and held it, just briefly. And then he winked, and the moment ended. Again, she sought to hide her emotion, and this time it was stark raving embarrassment.
Unlike the others who had been introduced, Prince Jonathan Ryodan joined his grandparents on the dais. He knelt before them and kissed their hands, as custom accorded. "Grandparents, as your kin I vow to uphold the laws of Tortall if ever I am called to succeed you. May the gods punish me if I fail to do so." This was the binding oath taken by all royal children presented to court. Naimura wondered; was it to scare the child or impress the court? It probably hasn't done either for a hundred years. Was the final conclusion of her pondering. As she had been considering the matter, the Queen had announced the official start of the ball. Oh no, here comes the dancing! A flash of hope dissapeared from her face. Ay, and mama made me promise. The curtains are reserved for Sirs Alanna and Raoul. At least the thought of Tortall's old war heroes hiding behind curtains made her laugh.
Naimura had been staring at her fan as she thought, and looked up as the women around her began to curtsy. Instinctively, she curtsied too, and had to work to hide a gasp. The Crown Prince was walking toward them. She could hear the other girls hoping he would ask them, but she could see he was looking right at her. Oh no, he's going to talk to me! What if he asks me to dance? Ay, mama never warned me about this! As the group of girls rose from their curtsies, Daine swept over to her daughter.
"Naimura, come with me for a moment," she said, taking the girl by the hand. "There's an old friend I want you to meet." Naimura thanked every god she could remember the name of for this small bit of grace. Doubtless, the prince would try again, but at least she had some time.
"Ah. So this is Numair's daughter." a female voice said. Naimura's head snapped up. "You were right, Daine. I won't regret having come to at least one ball in my life." Amethyst eyes twinkled, and the girl recognized Sir Alanna of Pirate's Swoop. "Well, aren't you going to say hello to your Auntie Alanna?" The knight laughed. "Oh, you don't have to be a court stiff. Come here!" Naimura found herself in a crippling bear hug, and laughed in spite of all her training.
"All right, all right! You'll crush the girl, Alanna!" Queen Thayet and King Jonathan had waltzed over, and the King spoke jestingly to his champion. "Come on, squire. I must find Raoul and there are too many curtains in this room." he paused and surveyed the new arrival of the court. "Welcome to court, Naimura. I hope you come to feel at home here." There was no trace of insincerity to his words.
"Thank you, Majesty. I beleive I might." No,I will never feel 'at home' in Corus. She thought, crossing her fingers in a fold of her skirt as she curtsied. The girl smiled as she straightened. "With a reception as warm as this, how could I not?" Quite easily. As the King left, a family came over.
"Hello, Daine. This is your daughter, then?" The woman of the family spoke to her mother. She was brown -brown hair, brown eyes, and a lily-yellow and fawn brown gown. Even her skin had the browness of freckles.
"Yes Kel, this is Naimura. Naimura, meet Keladry of Mindelan and **. This is her husband, **" Daine motioned to the man, who was rather nondescript. "And her son, Darion." [A/N: I don't mean that Kel is ugly! Don't flame me! This is just my idea of what an unhappy little girl's first impression of her. Would be. Honestly, between you&me, Kel rocks. And she looks like me.]
"Pleased to meet you," She murmured tritely as she curtsied for the millionth time that night.
"Oh, come now, none of that! Your mother was one of the best teachers I've ever had. I'm sure everyone else has told you this, but we all mean it. Don't be so polite, we're like family. Notice, I haven't even curtsied to the Queen yet, and I've been here for some time now." She then turned and shook her hand. "Yes, yes, I know how impatient you've been. Hello, Thayet. Hm, Alanna and Jonathan aren't here. Are they looking for Raoul and Buri again?" With that, Naimura just had to laugh. Her smile was so sincere that it was like a beacon to the dancing Crown Prince, who began the waltz transversall over to her. Luckily, she didn't notice, or she would've panicked.
Instead, ** nudged his son, who seemed a bit bashful. (He was about half a year younger than Naimura.) "Er...um...I'm sorry, this is my first ball, too, hold on a moment...Would you be so kind as to...erm...uh..." Naimura recognized the formal reqest for a dance, and was about to decline, when she noticed the Crown Prince staring at her. And coming closer. So she finished for him.
"I'd love to dance, Darion." And so she left for the dance floor just as the Crown Prince arrived. so passed the rest of her night, dancing with bumbling young noble boys and being introduced to her mother's friends, who insisted she talk to them as aunts and uncles. And always one step ahead of the prince. He was young, and Naimura sensed something, a blemish... if he changed soon, he'd grow up to be a fine man, but if he didn't...she shuddered at the thought of what his reign would do to the realm.
While she was waltzing with Darion, Thayet spoke quietly to Daine.
"You know it is customary for mages to make a small exhibition when they are introduced at court."
"Yes, I know."
"Then why didn't she?"
Silence.
"She's Numair's daughter and the grandchild of a god. She must be the most powerful mage in history."
Silence.
"Is she too powerful?"
Silence.
"You can't mean..."
"Yes, Thayet, it's true. I couldn't transform while I was pregnant. I thought maybe it was greif over losing Numair, but it started before he died."
"So it is true."
"I'm afraid so. Naimura has no Gift."
