Part Four
Light, airy music wafted through the ballroom. The ball had not officially started yet, but Max always liked to be prepared. That is, he hated to be late and look stupid. That had already happened once at dinner, he didn't want it to happen again. Arriving early always gave him a chance to look around and get himself used to new surroundings. It helped to calm his nerves, it also happened to be his little secret to acting "cool" in new places. Not many people knew the real prince, the nervous, fidgety one inside. He was determined to keep his exterior the perfect example of a perfect prince, even if his interior wasn't.
Max strolled lazily beside the ballroom wall. He tried to keep out of the servants' way; he had already seen what look like the head servant nearly beat a clumsy maid and was almost certain she would do the same to him without thinking twice.
I guess some things never change, he chuckled to himself, but I am still homesick. He knew this had to be done, it was an old tradition. His father had done it before him, his grandfather before that, and so on. And although more-than-helpful people had surrounded him from the moment he left his palace, he felt alone. This place had many beautiful things, yet it was empty to him, barren of everything he loved. He could only hop to find someone to confide in, to talk to like a normal person. However, Max thought that to be very unlikely.
His thoughts drifted towards the princess. I hope this princess isn't like the other noble girls I've met. Silly and stupid, wanting to please everyone. Or devious, using their wiles to manipulate men to get whatever they wished. Or greedy, readying their claws to capture the richest man to walk by-
"Where the hell are the musicians?!?!" roared Madam Knox, "The ball is about to start and there is no music! Wait till I get my hands on them, they'll wish their ma never birthed them!!"
Max started to laugh, but quickly stopped when Madam Knox glared in his direction.
"You got something to laugh about young man?" she inquired hotly.
Max put on his most innocent face, "No m'am."
"Good, move along," she replied.
Max certainly did so. When he was out of harms reach he laughed. "It's good to know that women aren't all unagreeable," he said sarcastically.
He knew most women weren't bad at all, unfortunately he wasn't able to escape from noble girls. They tended to attach themselves to him. They would giggle with fake smiles and listen with false rapture. It made him sick to think he would have to marry one of those silly girls one day. Oh how he wished Princess Liz was like a regular girl, like his friend Elaine at home.
He had known Elaine for a couple years now. She was a maid in the castle and she took no crap from anyone. He remembered when he first met her. It was a snowy winter day and he was extra grouchy. Queen Veralidaine, his mother, wouldn't let him skip his lessons and play in the snow. He was in the middle of his Latin lesson when Elaine came in laughing. "What the hell do you think you are doing?" young Max asked looking angrily at her. She looked right back at him, "Excuse me, Mr. Prince-Boy. I was just coming to tend the fire so you don't freeze your ass off! Just because not everyone is as peevish as you, doesn't mean you can bite my head off!" Max remembered how surprised he was, only his mother and father scolded him like he was a normal kid, not a prince. He admired her spirit, as she stood up to him, all some five feet tall. He apologized meekly. From that moment on, he and Elaine became good friends. He always looked to her for practical advice, she was never afraid to tell him when he was being stupid.
Damn I miss her, I miss ALL my friends back home, Michael, my sister even. If only they were allowed to come with me. They'd probably tell me to stop being a wimp and have fun. Max had barely finished thinking that when a short blonde girl, who oddly reminded him of Elaine, walked up.
"Excuse me sir, are you the Prince Maxwell?" she asked.
Max nodded and turn on the charm, "Please call me Max. What can I do for a pretty maid like you?"
The girl smiled. "Well Max, I'd save that charm for the ball," she winked at him, "I came to tell you that the princess wishes to have her first dance with you."
"Oh really?" Max was intrigued.
"Yes, but she didn't send me here. Liz doesn't even know I'm here. I'm supposed to be getting dressed for the ball," she had a mischievous gleam in her eyes, "Goddess knows I would have been ready sooner if she hadn't taken so long picking out her gown. Don't tell her I said that, or that I talked to you at all."
"Why?"
The girl smiled again, "She'd be furious and we wouldn't want her like that at all. Liz is much more pleasant when she is happy. Do you promise?"
Max returned the smile, "To what?"
"To remain silent of course. To unite with me for the fight against a peevish princess."
My god, she could be Elaine's twin! "Oh of course my dear. You can rest assure I will mention nary one word to 'Liz' about our secret coalition."
"Good, what about that dance?" she asked.
"Don't worry about that either," Max stood straighter and nodded mockly, "I am a stanch supporter of the fight against a peevish princess!"
The girl answered in a pseudo general's voice, "That's the spirit soldier! Back to your duty!" She turned perfectly on her heel and started to march out of the ballroom.
The prince snickered. Then he remembered, "Wait sir, what would your name be?"
She turned her head, "General Maria to you!" and she disappeared.
Maria huh? he thought, well I'm pleased to meet you Maria. I hope we can be friends, I think you could help ease my homesickness. "Now let's see about your friend, the princess . . ." he mumbled.
o+o+o+o+o+o+o+o+o+o+o+o+o+o+o+o+o+o+o+o+o+o+o+o+o+o+o+o+o+o+o
Princess Liz craned her neck into Maria's room from her position in their secret passageway. "Maria," she hissed, "Are you there?" She received no answer. Carefully she stepped out from behind the false bookcase. She had to be careful, anyone could come into her friend's quarters, it wasn't like her own secluded one. Liz came all the way out and saw that Maria was not there. "Where is she?" she asked Bruno, Maria's dog. Liz looked towards the bed, on it lay the dress Maria was going to wear to the ball. It was untouched. "She was supposed to be here changing already-" she didn't finish. Maria was coming down the hall. Carefully, Liz hid behind the door.
Maria hummed a marching tune as she strode through her door. She was congratulating herself on the excellent conversation she had had with Max as she approached her bed.
"BOO!!" screeched Liz as she jumped out from behind her hiding place.
Maria jumped, then she immediately slapped her friend playfully on the shoulder. She looked at Liz, who was laughing, "Do you think that was funny? I didn't."
Liz shrugged, "You never did have a sense of humor."
"I do too, now what are you doing here? We've got to get to the ball before you're mother yells at you again."
"Excuse me? Where were you?" she questioned, "You were supposed to be finishing up dressing. I come in here, find you gone, then five minutes later you come waltzing-marching in!"
"Oh come on, it wasn't five minutes. Anyway, its none of your business where I was," Maria looked towards her bed, "Now go to the ball, quickly. I'll get changed right quick and meet you there in a bit." She looked back at Liz, "I think you'll be busy by the time I get there though."
"What do you mean?" the princess asked.
Maria winked, "You'll see, now GO."
Liz pulled open the false bookcase, "Fine, fine. See you later!"
"Bye," Maria turned towards her dress and thought to herself, I hope she likes my surprise for her, not that she'll know I had anything to do with it.
Liz once again traveled through the secret passageway, this time to the ballroom. She quickened her step, it was almost time for her to be announced at the ball. In fact, she had barely stepped out of the passageway when a page called to her.
"Hurry your majesty, they're calling you in 'bout two seconds!"
She nodded and quickly fixed her hair and straightened her gown. I hope mother doesn't mind my gown too much, she thought with a smile. It was one from the 'This makes me look hot' pile.
Trumpeters blew their horns and the herald bellowed out, "May I present, the most gentle of maids, the most lovely of mistresses, the greatest princess in the realm . . ."
It sounds like he is trying to sell a cow or something, Liz thought to herself as she plastered a noble smile on her face.
"Her royal highness, Princess Elizabeth!"
The noise in the ballroom rose with applause. Liz's stomach filled with butterflies as she walked into the light. She both loved and hated this part of the ball. She hated it when everyone stared at her, but she liked the rush of adrenaline she got with it. She walked cautiously down the staircase; it would be too embarrassing to trip in front of the prince. As she thought of this, she looked up and scanned the crowd. She saw happy faces, dull faces, and some faces that looked like they'd rather be anywhere else.
Then she saw the prince, she saw Max. They locked eyes. Liz's butterflies immediately went away, she felt a calmness wash over her and felt at peace, except for her heart that was doing flip-flops in her chest.
Max couldn't take his eyes away from hers. They had locked onto him and he lost himself in them. Everything felt numb. How could I have forgotten how beautiful she was? God, she is breath taking, he thought. Is it possible to communicate with someone simply by looking at them? He felt as if she had looked into his soul and smiled. Max was reeling, he never thought it was possible to feel this way about a noble girl - a woman actually - before. She amazed him.
Liz lost her fake smile. One of true happiness took its place. She felt a bit dizzy, like it was the first time she met him. She liked the feeling though, it was a rush. She glided down the staircase as though floating on a cloud. Everything was fuzzy and numb except the prince. He was in perfect focus, his eyes dazzling. When she reached the floor, she was still numb and it was habit that took her body to stand in front of the royal thrones. Her father smiled warmly at her, he enjoyed seeing her happy. Her mother looked wrathful as usual, of what Liz didn't know nor did she care. Her eyes were still locked on the prince's. He stood next to her parents, proud and tall. Again, it was habit that made her curtsy, because she was thinking of nothing else but the prince.
Max's mind was also thinking of nothing else but Liz. He too relied on habit to carry him through the courtesies of introduction. He bowed gracefully to Liz, wishing she could feel what he was feeling right now, hoping she felt half of much of him as he did of her.
Music floated through the air into the lover's ears. It was a light, springy waltz. It seemed to reflect off the surface of their deep pool of love.
Max walked slowly towards Liz. Everything seemed to work in slow motion. After what seemed like an eternity, he reached her. "Dance with me?" he asked quietly.
Liz's eyes sparkled, "Yes . . ."
Max reached for her hand, it met his and they clasped. A jolt of pure energy shot up their arms. Warmth spread throughout their bodies. It came from the palms and wherever their skin touched. They stepped out onto the dance floor. Each turned to the other, Max bowed, Liz curtsied. Then they began to dance.
The room went quiet. Everyone was watching the prince and princess dance. It was the most magnificent thing they had ever seen, it was so passionate, so full of feeling. They seemed to dance on air, light emanated from them. It was like a scene from a fairy tale. Beautiful.
Maria sighed. It was indeed a scene for fairy tales. She would have liked to think she set this up, but knew it was bound to happen, they had too much natural chemistry to avoid it. Still, Maria knew she should be here to see this; it was the reason is why she dressed as quickly as a harlot and ran down to the ballroom. She signed again. Goddess, that is SO amazing . . . their electricity is radiating off them and touching everyone in the ballroom. She felt happy, yet there was a part of her that was a bit envious. She wanted love like that.
Light, airy music wafted through the ballroom. The ball had not officially started yet, but Max always liked to be prepared. That is, he hated to be late and look stupid. That had already happened once at dinner, he didn't want it to happen again. Arriving early always gave him a chance to look around and get himself used to new surroundings. It helped to calm his nerves, it also happened to be his little secret to acting "cool" in new places. Not many people knew the real prince, the nervous, fidgety one inside. He was determined to keep his exterior the perfect example of a perfect prince, even if his interior wasn't.
Max strolled lazily beside the ballroom wall. He tried to keep out of the servants' way; he had already seen what look like the head servant nearly beat a clumsy maid and was almost certain she would do the same to him without thinking twice.
I guess some things never change, he chuckled to himself, but I am still homesick. He knew this had to be done, it was an old tradition. His father had done it before him, his grandfather before that, and so on. And although more-than-helpful people had surrounded him from the moment he left his palace, he felt alone. This place had many beautiful things, yet it was empty to him, barren of everything he loved. He could only hop to find someone to confide in, to talk to like a normal person. However, Max thought that to be very unlikely.
His thoughts drifted towards the princess. I hope this princess isn't like the other noble girls I've met. Silly and stupid, wanting to please everyone. Or devious, using their wiles to manipulate men to get whatever they wished. Or greedy, readying their claws to capture the richest man to walk by-
"Where the hell are the musicians?!?!" roared Madam Knox, "The ball is about to start and there is no music! Wait till I get my hands on them, they'll wish their ma never birthed them!!"
Max started to laugh, but quickly stopped when Madam Knox glared in his direction.
"You got something to laugh about young man?" she inquired hotly.
Max put on his most innocent face, "No m'am."
"Good, move along," she replied.
Max certainly did so. When he was out of harms reach he laughed. "It's good to know that women aren't all unagreeable," he said sarcastically.
He knew most women weren't bad at all, unfortunately he wasn't able to escape from noble girls. They tended to attach themselves to him. They would giggle with fake smiles and listen with false rapture. It made him sick to think he would have to marry one of those silly girls one day. Oh how he wished Princess Liz was like a regular girl, like his friend Elaine at home.
He had known Elaine for a couple years now. She was a maid in the castle and she took no crap from anyone. He remembered when he first met her. It was a snowy winter day and he was extra grouchy. Queen Veralidaine, his mother, wouldn't let him skip his lessons and play in the snow. He was in the middle of his Latin lesson when Elaine came in laughing. "What the hell do you think you are doing?" young Max asked looking angrily at her. She looked right back at him, "Excuse me, Mr. Prince-Boy. I was just coming to tend the fire so you don't freeze your ass off! Just because not everyone is as peevish as you, doesn't mean you can bite my head off!" Max remembered how surprised he was, only his mother and father scolded him like he was a normal kid, not a prince. He admired her spirit, as she stood up to him, all some five feet tall. He apologized meekly. From that moment on, he and Elaine became good friends. He always looked to her for practical advice, she was never afraid to tell him when he was being stupid.
Damn I miss her, I miss ALL my friends back home, Michael, my sister even. If only they were allowed to come with me. They'd probably tell me to stop being a wimp and have fun. Max had barely finished thinking that when a short blonde girl, who oddly reminded him of Elaine, walked up.
"Excuse me sir, are you the Prince Maxwell?" she asked.
Max nodded and turn on the charm, "Please call me Max. What can I do for a pretty maid like you?"
The girl smiled. "Well Max, I'd save that charm for the ball," she winked at him, "I came to tell you that the princess wishes to have her first dance with you."
"Oh really?" Max was intrigued.
"Yes, but she didn't send me here. Liz doesn't even know I'm here. I'm supposed to be getting dressed for the ball," she had a mischievous gleam in her eyes, "Goddess knows I would have been ready sooner if she hadn't taken so long picking out her gown. Don't tell her I said that, or that I talked to you at all."
"Why?"
The girl smiled again, "She'd be furious and we wouldn't want her like that at all. Liz is much more pleasant when she is happy. Do you promise?"
Max returned the smile, "To what?"
"To remain silent of course. To unite with me for the fight against a peevish princess."
My god, she could be Elaine's twin! "Oh of course my dear. You can rest assure I will mention nary one word to 'Liz' about our secret coalition."
"Good, what about that dance?" she asked.
"Don't worry about that either," Max stood straighter and nodded mockly, "I am a stanch supporter of the fight against a peevish princess!"
The girl answered in a pseudo general's voice, "That's the spirit soldier! Back to your duty!" She turned perfectly on her heel and started to march out of the ballroom.
The prince snickered. Then he remembered, "Wait sir, what would your name be?"
She turned her head, "General Maria to you!" and she disappeared.
Maria huh? he thought, well I'm pleased to meet you Maria. I hope we can be friends, I think you could help ease my homesickness. "Now let's see about your friend, the princess . . ." he mumbled.
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Princess Liz craned her neck into Maria's room from her position in their secret passageway. "Maria," she hissed, "Are you there?" She received no answer. Carefully she stepped out from behind the false bookcase. She had to be careful, anyone could come into her friend's quarters, it wasn't like her own secluded one. Liz came all the way out and saw that Maria was not there. "Where is she?" she asked Bruno, Maria's dog. Liz looked towards the bed, on it lay the dress Maria was going to wear to the ball. It was untouched. "She was supposed to be here changing already-" she didn't finish. Maria was coming down the hall. Carefully, Liz hid behind the door.
Maria hummed a marching tune as she strode through her door. She was congratulating herself on the excellent conversation she had had with Max as she approached her bed.
"BOO!!" screeched Liz as she jumped out from behind her hiding place.
Maria jumped, then she immediately slapped her friend playfully on the shoulder. She looked at Liz, who was laughing, "Do you think that was funny? I didn't."
Liz shrugged, "You never did have a sense of humor."
"I do too, now what are you doing here? We've got to get to the ball before you're mother yells at you again."
"Excuse me? Where were you?" she questioned, "You were supposed to be finishing up dressing. I come in here, find you gone, then five minutes later you come waltzing-marching in!"
"Oh come on, it wasn't five minutes. Anyway, its none of your business where I was," Maria looked towards her bed, "Now go to the ball, quickly. I'll get changed right quick and meet you there in a bit." She looked back at Liz, "I think you'll be busy by the time I get there though."
"What do you mean?" the princess asked.
Maria winked, "You'll see, now GO."
Liz pulled open the false bookcase, "Fine, fine. See you later!"
"Bye," Maria turned towards her dress and thought to herself, I hope she likes my surprise for her, not that she'll know I had anything to do with it.
Liz once again traveled through the secret passageway, this time to the ballroom. She quickened her step, it was almost time for her to be announced at the ball. In fact, she had barely stepped out of the passageway when a page called to her.
"Hurry your majesty, they're calling you in 'bout two seconds!"
She nodded and quickly fixed her hair and straightened her gown. I hope mother doesn't mind my gown too much, she thought with a smile. It was one from the 'This makes me look hot' pile.
Trumpeters blew their horns and the herald bellowed out, "May I present, the most gentle of maids, the most lovely of mistresses, the greatest princess in the realm . . ."
It sounds like he is trying to sell a cow or something, Liz thought to herself as she plastered a noble smile on her face.
"Her royal highness, Princess Elizabeth!"
The noise in the ballroom rose with applause. Liz's stomach filled with butterflies as she walked into the light. She both loved and hated this part of the ball. She hated it when everyone stared at her, but she liked the rush of adrenaline she got with it. She walked cautiously down the staircase; it would be too embarrassing to trip in front of the prince. As she thought of this, she looked up and scanned the crowd. She saw happy faces, dull faces, and some faces that looked like they'd rather be anywhere else.
Then she saw the prince, she saw Max. They locked eyes. Liz's butterflies immediately went away, she felt a calmness wash over her and felt at peace, except for her heart that was doing flip-flops in her chest.
Max couldn't take his eyes away from hers. They had locked onto him and he lost himself in them. Everything felt numb. How could I have forgotten how beautiful she was? God, she is breath taking, he thought. Is it possible to communicate with someone simply by looking at them? He felt as if she had looked into his soul and smiled. Max was reeling, he never thought it was possible to feel this way about a noble girl - a woman actually - before. She amazed him.
Liz lost her fake smile. One of true happiness took its place. She felt a bit dizzy, like it was the first time she met him. She liked the feeling though, it was a rush. She glided down the staircase as though floating on a cloud. Everything was fuzzy and numb except the prince. He was in perfect focus, his eyes dazzling. When she reached the floor, she was still numb and it was habit that took her body to stand in front of the royal thrones. Her father smiled warmly at her, he enjoyed seeing her happy. Her mother looked wrathful as usual, of what Liz didn't know nor did she care. Her eyes were still locked on the prince's. He stood next to her parents, proud and tall. Again, it was habit that made her curtsy, because she was thinking of nothing else but the prince.
Max's mind was also thinking of nothing else but Liz. He too relied on habit to carry him through the courtesies of introduction. He bowed gracefully to Liz, wishing she could feel what he was feeling right now, hoping she felt half of much of him as he did of her.
Music floated through the air into the lover's ears. It was a light, springy waltz. It seemed to reflect off the surface of their deep pool of love.
Max walked slowly towards Liz. Everything seemed to work in slow motion. After what seemed like an eternity, he reached her. "Dance with me?" he asked quietly.
Liz's eyes sparkled, "Yes . . ."
Max reached for her hand, it met his and they clasped. A jolt of pure energy shot up their arms. Warmth spread throughout their bodies. It came from the palms and wherever their skin touched. They stepped out onto the dance floor. Each turned to the other, Max bowed, Liz curtsied. Then they began to dance.
The room went quiet. Everyone was watching the prince and princess dance. It was the most magnificent thing they had ever seen, it was so passionate, so full of feeling. They seemed to dance on air, light emanated from them. It was like a scene from a fairy tale. Beautiful.
Maria sighed. It was indeed a scene for fairy tales. She would have liked to think she set this up, but knew it was bound to happen, they had too much natural chemistry to avoid it. Still, Maria knew she should be here to see this; it was the reason is why she dressed as quickly as a harlot and ran down to the ballroom. She signed again. Goddess, that is SO amazing . . . their electricity is radiating off them and touching everyone in the ballroom. She felt happy, yet there was a part of her that was a bit envious. She wanted love like that.