Name: True to Yourself
Author: Starr Ryder
Genre: AU
Rating: PG
Disclaimer: No, I do not own Sailor Moon and/or any of its characters, but a girl could always wish, can't she?
(-(-(Authors Notes at Bottom)-)-)
"Ahhhh! Mina where did the other shoe go!?" I lifted up the bed covers scrambling my hands frantically over the surface. My head hurt horribly. Unfortunately, I had important things to think about, more important things then say Goddesses and talking black cats. 30 minutes. That's all I had left until I left. What was I going to do now? I still had so much to do!
"It's in the sink!" Mina yelled entering my room with a pair of gloves in her hands.
"In the sink?" I asked confused but, entering the bathroom never-the-less to find my shoe halfway hanging out of the sink. I picked it up before entering the bed chamber again and placing the second shoe in the bag along with all my other clothing for the ball.
"You threw it in there before when you couldn't find the earrings." Mina giggled.
"Oh." I said flatly. "Where are those earrings anyway?"
"On your earlobes!" She said shaking her head. "You've got to calm down! Now put on these gloves." She handed the gloves into my small shaking hands. "They shouldn't be too big. I can get a smaller if you need them, but these should do." She scanned the room looking for the dress we had picked out for the ball the night before. I had already put on the yellow and white day dress I was planning on wearing to the palace. With all the luck in the world, Beryl and Susan had decided to go out and get Beryl's hair fixed back into its red, greasy slick self, and I had a clear getaway. Mina walked over to the wardrobe taking out the long sky blue dress. It was a cotton very low cut dress with no sleeves and a long skirt. The skirt swiveled out lightly sweeping the floor. It fit perfectly and looked even better. Mina lightly placed the dress in the bag with the rest of my apparel for the night.
"Is that all?" She asked looking up at me. I quickly formed a list in my head seeing if we had forgotten anything.
"I think so." I said quietly still adding and subtracting from my list. Mina walked over to me still shaking her head and placed the bag in my hands.
"Relax. Everything is going to be fine. Now take this and wait outside," She said. "I no longer want to hear your moaning." She added with a smile. As if on target we heard the clatter of horse hooves outside. I gave Mina a quick hug and a goodbye before rushing out the door and down the flight of stairs.
"Good Luck!" I heard her wail as I stepped outside the front door. The light breeze swept by me as the dim lights from the twilight glistened onto my face.
The carriage was certainly a very expensive one. The white carriage looked to be made of the finest material in all Mayport, and the wheels made from only the finest pure gold. The carriage had but 3 windows, one on each side and one large one in the back. Light lace curtains draped from each one. It glistened in the slight sunshine that was left. The little bald coachmen opened the carriage door extending a hand, that I took graciously, and lead me inside the fine carriage. The seats were a deep burgundy satin and the walls of the carriage had designs of flowers and fairies. The little man closed the door behind me and proceeded to the front of the carriage. There was a whip crack and the carriage started on its way.
The palace was brighter and more beautiful then I remembered. The great stone building was cladded up more then usual, most likely for the foreigners that now accommodated the palace. The little bald man once again opened the carriage door and held out his hand. I balanced my weight on him as I stepped down from the carriage and onto a long red carpet that I was certain wasn't there before. I continued following the carpet until I got to a row of soldiers in front of the main entrance. All dressed in purple tunics and black pants with short black hats and gold shined boots there wasn't a tint of a smile around them. I casually walked up to one, who was astonishingly still.
"Umm, Excuse me Sir, but I'm looking for the Princess Raye, is there anyway someone can inform her of my arrival?" I said meekly.
"The princess?" He asked gruffly moving for the first time. It was quite odd how he could move his lips and produce sound when the rest of his body was standing still as stone.
"Yes, Princess Raye." I repeated. The soldier looked down on me suspiciously. I stared at him in annoyance. I wasn't going to kill
her or anything!
"Don't worry Raoul, I've got her." I froze as I heard a familiar voice behind me. I turned around slowly meeting the sapphire eyes of Prince Darien. He was dressed in his own purple tunic and black pants but no hat sat upon his head and his boots weren't so big and bulgy. He smiled. "Nice to see you again, Lady Serenity."
"Pleasure." I grumbled as he took my hand and lead me through the line of soldiers who went back to there orderly positions. As we walked through the main doors some servants who had been bustling around with baskets and platters turned to look at their prince and the unknown lady attached to his hand. As I thought of the scenario I was about to pull my hand away when he dropped it suddenly. Was he aware of the stares too?
"Do you know where my sister's room is?" He asked turning to face me. I tried to think. I remembered what it looked like, and the hallway that led to it, but the actual direction was another story.
"I could find it." I said stubbornly not wanting to be around him much longer with the few pairs of eyes still staring at us.
"That's what I thought." He said flatly. He sighed, but then clasped his hand in mine once again and pulled me through a long corridor to our left.
"I could find it by myself, thank you very much." I said still following him and looking for someplace familiar. He just laughed. He had a nice strong laugh, one pleasant to the ear. I tried not to smile at the sound of it.
"I still get lost around here; I somehow doubt you'll find it." He said turning his head and smiling at me. We came to a stairwell that, luckily, I remembered from the first time.
"I know where I am now," I said pulling away from his grasp. I didn't wait for an answer, I just rushed up the stairs, leaving him alone at the bottom. About halfway up the staircase I stopped not remembering this many stairs the last time. I shrugged it off and tiredly walked the rest of the way up. Finally, at the top of the stairs, I looked around looking for the familiar door of the princess's room.
It wasn't there.
Damn! I looked around again. Still not there. I walked a little further down the hall. Nope. Still not there. I cursed softly before heading back down the staircase. Now I was lost! That's just fabulous! And what about the prince? He knew I went the wrong way didn't he? Why didn't he say anything about it? Did he want me to make a fool of myself? My question was answered when I got to the bottom of the stairs. There he was, just standing there with his little mocking smile. I made a face at him.
"Now what would you be doing down here? I thought you knew where you were going?" He said laughing that damn laugh again.
"Yeah, yeah, yeah." I said walking past him and back down the original corridor. Before I was out of arms reach he grabbed my wrist and pulled me closer to him.
"Wouldn't want to get lost again now would you?" He whispered. I didn't shake or nod I just stood there staring at his eyes, once again realizing just how handsome he was, the perfect sapphire eyes, the silky midnight black hair, the fine tan structure of his face. It was then I realized how close he was to my face and that I had stopped breathing. He smiled his perfect smile before motioning me to follow him into another corridor. We walked steadily down that corridor before coming to another staircase that looked exactly like the one I had just climbed up.
"Do you know where you're going now?" He mocked. I made a face and headed up the stairs, I knew it was the right one when I looked back down and saw him heading back down the corridor. I smiled to myself. There was just something about him, I don't know what it was, but I was going to find out.
I walked up the short staircase and looked around for the princess's door. Sure enough on my left, was the familiar door. I walked slowly up to it and knocked twice. A few seconds later, a plump blonde chambermaid I didn't know opened the door a crack. She eyed me suspiciously. I swallowed and cleared my throat.
"Ummm...Is the ah...the princess there?"
"What would you like the princess for?" the chambermaid said gruffly. I tried not to roll my eyes. What? Did I have 'I'm going to kill the princess' written on my forehead or something?
"Well, I..." I started
"Dora! Leave Lady Serenity alone! She's my guest!" Raye called from behind the door crack. She opened the door all the way inviting me in. I smiled at her and the chambermaid, Dora, who still made a face at me.
"Hi, Raye." I said placing my bag on the floor of the main chamber.
"Dora, you can leave now." Raye said to the silent chambermaid.
"Very well, your highness." Dora said quietly. She curtsied before exiting the door I had just come in. After the door had closed behind Dora, Raye came over and plopped herself next to me.
"What took you so long? I've been waiting forever."
I shrugged not wanting to share the tale about Darien. "I had some things to do that's all." I said instead. She seemed to accept the excuse.
"Oh," She said flatly. "Well, we'd better start getting ready. My parents will kill me if I'm late." She motioned me to follow her out the door. My second adventure in the palace had begun.
"I'm going to kill you!" I shrieked at the laughing princess. I wasn't going to wear it. I couldn't. I wouldn't.
"Wear it or go naked!" Raye giggled from behind the changing screen.
"I might as well!" I complained. "This dress doesn't cover much more!" I stood in front of the mirror, glaring at my image. Raye had said it was a waste to use my sister's dress when she had so many. After a small argument I gave in, but I didn't expect this. It was a beautiful dress, no doubt. It was a deep forest green with a flower pattern. The dress reached to about my ankles and was tight on my body except for the skirt which hung loosely around my legs and feet. The top of the dress was what I was mostly afraid of. It was so low! The last dress was revealing but compared to this, that was a priestess gown! My bosom showed up along the low neck line of the dress. It looked exactly like one of those dresses Beryl would wear when she was planning on seducing someone. Seducing and I just don't go together. We just weren't a match. This god-damn dress would suggest otherwise.
"Come out here! At least let me see it!" Raye called stepping in back of the screen to where I stood. She nodded. "Perfect." My jaw dropped open.
"Perfect?! PERFECT!? I LOOK LIKE A ONE WAY TICKET TO A MAN'S BEDCHAMBER!" I yelled to her. She just smiled.
"You do not! Not compared to some other girls anyway." She said making a face. "Besides, If you've got it, show it. And believe me you've got it." She added. I rolled my eyes. "You look great," She said afterwards. "You really do."
"Easy for you to say." I grumbled stepping out from behind the screen with her in tow. "You're not wearing this torture device."
"But you know what really looks ridiculous?" She said making me turn around. She nodded her head in the direction of my head. "Those meatballs on top your head." I patted my hair defensively. I had made the hairdressers put my hair into a rather unusual hairstyle that I had worn as a child. Two buns were placed one on each side of my head, with the extra hair streaming down from them, nearly touching my thighs.
"I like it this way." I said grabbing my shoes off the ground and placing the first one on my right foot.
"Whatever you say, Meatball Head." She said smiling. I cringed at the nick-name. I was not a Meatball Head.
"I am not a Meatball Head." I said boldly placing the second shoe on my left foot.
"Come on," She giggled motioning to the door. She lifted her long orange gown off the floor and opened the squeaky door, and we walked gracefully (at least in her case, I still wasn't us to the heels) down the familiar corridor.
The ballroom looked much grander then it had the first ball. All around there were banners of the foreign country, hanging off the windows, the ceilings, and even the grand staircases. The King and Queen were seated in the same thrones they had been the first time and they looked grander then ever. There were also three new thrones next to those of the King and Queen's, all of which were occupied. A tall broad man sat in the throne next to the King. He had tan skin, short brown hair and cat-like brown eyes. He reminded me much of a cat, tall, graceful, mysterious. The woman who occupied the second throne was busy chattering away with the Queen. The small plump woman had a light pale complexion much different from the skin of other man. Her long blonde curls were long and thick creating clumps that reached to about her elbows. Her eyes were large and bulgy unlike the sort of the man. On the third throne sat a man that looked much like the woman. He had a pale complexion and the same short blonde hair as the woman. He didn't have the same cat-like eyes like the man or the large bulgy type as the woman. They were a unique sort, ones that reminded me of squares, and they were the oddest clear color, that surprisingly looked well with his complexion. I figured they must be the monarchs from the foreign country. They seemed harmless but you could never really tell with monarchs. I felt uneasy about the man with the cat-like eyes, even more so when he looked my way. I looked away as fast as I could, but I think he saw me staring. I could tell he was still staring at me, his eyes burning holes in the back of my head. I shivered. Raye looked up to the source of my uneasiness. She nudged me to the left towards the familiar table we had sat at the time before.
"That's his majesty King Rolf and his Lady, Queen Sabina. The tall quiet one is Prince Jadeite." She said pouring some punch into a cup. "The Queen's as good-hearted as they come," She added quietly so only I could hear. "And the Prince... well I've never been on good terms with him although some say he's nice. But the King is a lion waiting to pounce." She continued still in her quiet tone. Lions, never a good sort. "I bet he's only here to find a weakness so he can declare war and take over Mayport." She added.
"He's that bad?" I asked nervously.
"Oh it gets worse." She said adding a sour look to her face. "He is known for his advancements on young women. It's said that he once had an affair with his chambermaid who was just above thirteen years old!"
"Thirteen years old?" I asked astonished. "That's horrible."
"The poor innocent girl probably didn't even stand a chance." Raye commented sadly.
"But..." I started not sure if I should ask. "What... What about the Queen? Does she know?"
"Well of course she does but she can't do anything about it. Women are just a toy of pleasure for the King. If she dared to say anything I bet she'd be on death row before you could say tapioca."
"That really is horrible." I repeated quietly.
"It makes you think twice about saying you have a bad life, doesn't it?" She asked without really thinking. Sure, this King was horrible but Susan was no better, in her own ways.
"Yeah I guess." I said shrugging. I poured myself a glass of punch as well.
A rowdy group of screams made me nearly drop my glass as I turned to the source of the noise. There, just entering the ballroom was no other then Prince Darien and his stupid fan club of swooning women. He was just smiling his stupid, irresistible smile and walking casually as if being staked by twenty crying girls was normal. I turned around before he could catch my glance.
"You should lock him in a closet." I said to Raye. "No one could find him there."
"Oh, I've tried." Raye said laughing. "One of his fan club members usually finds him though. Such a pity."
"Let's lock him in cellar. No one is going to go in there, they'll be afraid that the rats will eat them alive." I added jokingly.
"Now that's not very nice," A voice said from behind me. Turning around I caught a glimpse of, who'd-a-thought...Darien. "But I think I'd be better off in the kitchen."
"Why is that?" I said making a face.
"Well, If I was locked in the kitchen, No one would find me, and plus I'd have things to eat so I wouldn't die and you wouldn't be charged with murder." He said smiling. Why did he have to smile! I nodded my head stupidly.
"I'll take it into consideration." I said smiling back. 'Don't smile! Just throw yourself at him why don't you!'
"Well I hope my suggestion helps." He said locking eyes with me. Such perfect eyes. The midnight blue of the sky and the depth to get lost in. A loud gong sounded, making me break contact with him. The gong meant dinner was going to be served.
"Come on, Serenity." Raye said pulling me in the opposite direction.
The dinner table was set up in the main dinning hall and was covered with rows beyond rows of chairs. Each chair was cushioned and shined and was set with a gold cup, plate, and more utensils then I could count. The 2 sets of monarchs sat at the head of the table in there thrones.
When I had first entered the main dinning hall, I stayed behind while Raye proceeded to the front of the table. Every brilliantly dressed lady and every rich and formidable gentleman had already been seated somewhere in the thresh-hole of the long table. I just stood there awkwardly not really sure where I'd be fitted in. I figured I'd be somewhere down the end of the table, with the drunk squires and non-sociable soldiers, and I'd sit alone quietly playing with my food with the wrong fork and not having such a wonderful time. I slowly stepped a few paces back to the end of the table. I watched as another big group of people walked into the dinning hall, a few people shoving past me as I watched them fill in the remaining seats.
"You look lost." A voice remarked behind me. Darien walked through the crowds of people and stood next to me. I stood still letting my sight drift to the floor. Why was he always there?
"Well," I shrugged not really sure of what to say. "I'm not really sure where to sit." I finished shyly.
"Oh!" He said looking down to me. "Come," He motioned. "Follow me." I was hesitant at his words. Where had following him led me before? Almost getting lost in the castle, that's what! But what other choice did I have? I couldn't stand here the whole night. I sighed and shuffled around catching up to him. He led the way through the rowdy and loud crowds of the end table with my small body following unnoticeably and silently behind him. He passed the back portion of the table, as I looked up curiously. Where was he taking me? Should I be sitting up this far? Should I ever be walking up this far? I was about to speak up, when he came to a halt. I turned my head slightly seeing we had stopped at the very front of the table where the monarchs, Raye, and Prince Jadeite were already seated. My eyes opened wide as my face turned deep shades of red. Was he trying to embarrass me completely?! Had he forgotten I was behind him?
"Come sit." He said innocently motioning to two empty seats that stood in front of us. I stood curiously a distance away from the table.
"Here?" I said quietly pointing to one of the two chairs in front of us. I knew it sounded stupid but at this point I couldn't get anymore embarrassed. From the other side of the table I could see Raye rolled her eyes.
"Yes, Meatball Head," She said bringing up that stupid nick-name again. I made a face as I placed myself in the chair further to the right. Darien then sat in the chair next to me. I really didn't want him next to me. Now I was obliged to act perfectly and eat delicately. I glanced down at my place setting when I realized my behavior was the least of my worries. There were at least 7 forks and 3 cups! What in the world would I need all these for? The gong rang again as the first dish came out. Hundreds of servants dressed in black and white carried gold dish of some mushy white soup and began to place them in front of people. I smiled thankfully to the man who placed the dish in front of me. I looked down at the silverware once again. Which spoon do I use? Do I even use a spoon? Maybe I use that little fork next to the big knife? I tried to hide my confusion.
"Just go from right to left." Darien whispered quietly from beside me. "Start with that small spoon over there and work your way to the dessert fork."
"Thank you." I said to him graciously. I reached for the small spoon on the corner of my napkin and looked cautiously at the mushy white soup in front of me. It didn't look too pleasant. I looked around to see everyone eating the mush and talking causally to there neighbor. It couldn't be too bad could it?
"It's not so bad." Darien said talking again. "Some foreign dish. Try it. I bet you'll like it." I looked up at him. Suddenly I wasn't so disappointed he was seated next to me. He smiled down to me and nodded invitingly in the direction of the soup.
"Let's hope so." I said quietly as I dipped the small spoon into the mush and slowly guided it to my mouth. I could feel the smile come across my face. It was delicious! "This is wonderful!" I said happily in his direction.
"I'm glad you like it." He laughed taking a spoonful himself. I laughed along with him our eyes locked.
"You mean you've never had rellga?" A new voice chimed as our eyes parted. I shook my head in Prince Jadeite's direction.
"No," I replied to him. "Where I come from we don't have delicacies such as this."
"Really?" He said almost as if it was something everyone had. "Where is it that you live?"
"She lives in Beth." Raye said quickly sneaking a furtive smile my way.
"Beth?" Jadeite asked confused. "Where's that?"
"Up past the Ridge Mountains." Darien answered quickly. I looked over at him to see him smiling stupidly at me. Did he know it wasn't a real place? Did the blockhead figure it out? Gods, I hope not!
"Past the Ridge Mountains eh?" Jadeite said to me. "I can't say I've ever heard of it."
"Not many people can." I answered back before swallowing another spoonful of mush (or rellga as Jadeite stated). I guess he was starting to dislike the topic because he didn't press any further.
The rest of dinner went along just as smoothly. As each dish would come out Darien would add his little side-comments ("Don't eat that! It may look good, but it tastes like brick. Put a forkful in your mouth and pretend to wipe your lips and spit it out into the napkin. No one will ever know.") and instructions on proper etiquette ("Use the fork on the right, with the curved points."). I couldn't say I wasn't enjoying myself. Especially considering I was a lefty and Darien was a rightly so our hands rubbed against each others a countless amount of times. Except for the uncomfortable glances from the cat-like, King Rolf, I was having a perfectly wonderful time. But this was only the beginning and I knew it.
FINALLY! I'm so extremely sorry I got this out so late! I've been so busy and I've had to do so much for Christmas and school that writing came rarely! I'll try to get the next chapter out before the vacation ends, but I can't promise anything.
Anyway! Thanks so much for all your nice reviews and emails! I didn't expect this story to get so much feedback! Keep the reviews coming!!
Send all questions/comments/suggestions ect. to starrryder@email.com. Look out for the next chapter!
-Starr-
Author: Starr Ryder
Genre: AU
Rating: PG
Disclaimer: No, I do not own Sailor Moon and/or any of its characters, but a girl could always wish, can't she?
(-(-(Authors Notes at Bottom)-)-)
"Ahhhh! Mina where did the other shoe go!?" I lifted up the bed covers scrambling my hands frantically over the surface. My head hurt horribly. Unfortunately, I had important things to think about, more important things then say Goddesses and talking black cats. 30 minutes. That's all I had left until I left. What was I going to do now? I still had so much to do!
"It's in the sink!" Mina yelled entering my room with a pair of gloves in her hands.
"In the sink?" I asked confused but, entering the bathroom never-the-less to find my shoe halfway hanging out of the sink. I picked it up before entering the bed chamber again and placing the second shoe in the bag along with all my other clothing for the ball.
"You threw it in there before when you couldn't find the earrings." Mina giggled.
"Oh." I said flatly. "Where are those earrings anyway?"
"On your earlobes!" She said shaking her head. "You've got to calm down! Now put on these gloves." She handed the gloves into my small shaking hands. "They shouldn't be too big. I can get a smaller if you need them, but these should do." She scanned the room looking for the dress we had picked out for the ball the night before. I had already put on the yellow and white day dress I was planning on wearing to the palace. With all the luck in the world, Beryl and Susan had decided to go out and get Beryl's hair fixed back into its red, greasy slick self, and I had a clear getaway. Mina walked over to the wardrobe taking out the long sky blue dress. It was a cotton very low cut dress with no sleeves and a long skirt. The skirt swiveled out lightly sweeping the floor. It fit perfectly and looked even better. Mina lightly placed the dress in the bag with the rest of my apparel for the night.
"Is that all?" She asked looking up at me. I quickly formed a list in my head seeing if we had forgotten anything.
"I think so." I said quietly still adding and subtracting from my list. Mina walked over to me still shaking her head and placed the bag in my hands.
"Relax. Everything is going to be fine. Now take this and wait outside," She said. "I no longer want to hear your moaning." She added with a smile. As if on target we heard the clatter of horse hooves outside. I gave Mina a quick hug and a goodbye before rushing out the door and down the flight of stairs.
"Good Luck!" I heard her wail as I stepped outside the front door. The light breeze swept by me as the dim lights from the twilight glistened onto my face.
The carriage was certainly a very expensive one. The white carriage looked to be made of the finest material in all Mayport, and the wheels made from only the finest pure gold. The carriage had but 3 windows, one on each side and one large one in the back. Light lace curtains draped from each one. It glistened in the slight sunshine that was left. The little bald coachmen opened the carriage door extending a hand, that I took graciously, and lead me inside the fine carriage. The seats were a deep burgundy satin and the walls of the carriage had designs of flowers and fairies. The little man closed the door behind me and proceeded to the front of the carriage. There was a whip crack and the carriage started on its way.
The palace was brighter and more beautiful then I remembered. The great stone building was cladded up more then usual, most likely for the foreigners that now accommodated the palace. The little bald man once again opened the carriage door and held out his hand. I balanced my weight on him as I stepped down from the carriage and onto a long red carpet that I was certain wasn't there before. I continued following the carpet until I got to a row of soldiers in front of the main entrance. All dressed in purple tunics and black pants with short black hats and gold shined boots there wasn't a tint of a smile around them. I casually walked up to one, who was astonishingly still.
"Umm, Excuse me Sir, but I'm looking for the Princess Raye, is there anyway someone can inform her of my arrival?" I said meekly.
"The princess?" He asked gruffly moving for the first time. It was quite odd how he could move his lips and produce sound when the rest of his body was standing still as stone.
"Yes, Princess Raye." I repeated. The soldier looked down on me suspiciously. I stared at him in annoyance. I wasn't going to kill
her or anything!
"Don't worry Raoul, I've got her." I froze as I heard a familiar voice behind me. I turned around slowly meeting the sapphire eyes of Prince Darien. He was dressed in his own purple tunic and black pants but no hat sat upon his head and his boots weren't so big and bulgy. He smiled. "Nice to see you again, Lady Serenity."
"Pleasure." I grumbled as he took my hand and lead me through the line of soldiers who went back to there orderly positions. As we walked through the main doors some servants who had been bustling around with baskets and platters turned to look at their prince and the unknown lady attached to his hand. As I thought of the scenario I was about to pull my hand away when he dropped it suddenly. Was he aware of the stares too?
"Do you know where my sister's room is?" He asked turning to face me. I tried to think. I remembered what it looked like, and the hallway that led to it, but the actual direction was another story.
"I could find it." I said stubbornly not wanting to be around him much longer with the few pairs of eyes still staring at us.
"That's what I thought." He said flatly. He sighed, but then clasped his hand in mine once again and pulled me through a long corridor to our left.
"I could find it by myself, thank you very much." I said still following him and looking for someplace familiar. He just laughed. He had a nice strong laugh, one pleasant to the ear. I tried not to smile at the sound of it.
"I still get lost around here; I somehow doubt you'll find it." He said turning his head and smiling at me. We came to a stairwell that, luckily, I remembered from the first time.
"I know where I am now," I said pulling away from his grasp. I didn't wait for an answer, I just rushed up the stairs, leaving him alone at the bottom. About halfway up the staircase I stopped not remembering this many stairs the last time. I shrugged it off and tiredly walked the rest of the way up. Finally, at the top of the stairs, I looked around looking for the familiar door of the princess's room.
It wasn't there.
Damn! I looked around again. Still not there. I walked a little further down the hall. Nope. Still not there. I cursed softly before heading back down the staircase. Now I was lost! That's just fabulous! And what about the prince? He knew I went the wrong way didn't he? Why didn't he say anything about it? Did he want me to make a fool of myself? My question was answered when I got to the bottom of the stairs. There he was, just standing there with his little mocking smile. I made a face at him.
"Now what would you be doing down here? I thought you knew where you were going?" He said laughing that damn laugh again.
"Yeah, yeah, yeah." I said walking past him and back down the original corridor. Before I was out of arms reach he grabbed my wrist and pulled me closer to him.
"Wouldn't want to get lost again now would you?" He whispered. I didn't shake or nod I just stood there staring at his eyes, once again realizing just how handsome he was, the perfect sapphire eyes, the silky midnight black hair, the fine tan structure of his face. It was then I realized how close he was to my face and that I had stopped breathing. He smiled his perfect smile before motioning me to follow him into another corridor. We walked steadily down that corridor before coming to another staircase that looked exactly like the one I had just climbed up.
"Do you know where you're going now?" He mocked. I made a face and headed up the stairs, I knew it was the right one when I looked back down and saw him heading back down the corridor. I smiled to myself. There was just something about him, I don't know what it was, but I was going to find out.
I walked up the short staircase and looked around for the princess's door. Sure enough on my left, was the familiar door. I walked slowly up to it and knocked twice. A few seconds later, a plump blonde chambermaid I didn't know opened the door a crack. She eyed me suspiciously. I swallowed and cleared my throat.
"Ummm...Is the ah...the princess there?"
"What would you like the princess for?" the chambermaid said gruffly. I tried not to roll my eyes. What? Did I have 'I'm going to kill the princess' written on my forehead or something?
"Well, I..." I started
"Dora! Leave Lady Serenity alone! She's my guest!" Raye called from behind the door crack. She opened the door all the way inviting me in. I smiled at her and the chambermaid, Dora, who still made a face at me.
"Hi, Raye." I said placing my bag on the floor of the main chamber.
"Dora, you can leave now." Raye said to the silent chambermaid.
"Very well, your highness." Dora said quietly. She curtsied before exiting the door I had just come in. After the door had closed behind Dora, Raye came over and plopped herself next to me.
"What took you so long? I've been waiting forever."
I shrugged not wanting to share the tale about Darien. "I had some things to do that's all." I said instead. She seemed to accept the excuse.
"Oh," She said flatly. "Well, we'd better start getting ready. My parents will kill me if I'm late." She motioned me to follow her out the door. My second adventure in the palace had begun.
"I'm going to kill you!" I shrieked at the laughing princess. I wasn't going to wear it. I couldn't. I wouldn't.
"Wear it or go naked!" Raye giggled from behind the changing screen.
"I might as well!" I complained. "This dress doesn't cover much more!" I stood in front of the mirror, glaring at my image. Raye had said it was a waste to use my sister's dress when she had so many. After a small argument I gave in, but I didn't expect this. It was a beautiful dress, no doubt. It was a deep forest green with a flower pattern. The dress reached to about my ankles and was tight on my body except for the skirt which hung loosely around my legs and feet. The top of the dress was what I was mostly afraid of. It was so low! The last dress was revealing but compared to this, that was a priestess gown! My bosom showed up along the low neck line of the dress. It looked exactly like one of those dresses Beryl would wear when she was planning on seducing someone. Seducing and I just don't go together. We just weren't a match. This god-damn dress would suggest otherwise.
"Come out here! At least let me see it!" Raye called stepping in back of the screen to where I stood. She nodded. "Perfect." My jaw dropped open.
"Perfect?! PERFECT!? I LOOK LIKE A ONE WAY TICKET TO A MAN'S BEDCHAMBER!" I yelled to her. She just smiled.
"You do not! Not compared to some other girls anyway." She said making a face. "Besides, If you've got it, show it. And believe me you've got it." She added. I rolled my eyes. "You look great," She said afterwards. "You really do."
"Easy for you to say." I grumbled stepping out from behind the screen with her in tow. "You're not wearing this torture device."
"But you know what really looks ridiculous?" She said making me turn around. She nodded her head in the direction of my head. "Those meatballs on top your head." I patted my hair defensively. I had made the hairdressers put my hair into a rather unusual hairstyle that I had worn as a child. Two buns were placed one on each side of my head, with the extra hair streaming down from them, nearly touching my thighs.
"I like it this way." I said grabbing my shoes off the ground and placing the first one on my right foot.
"Whatever you say, Meatball Head." She said smiling. I cringed at the nick-name. I was not a Meatball Head.
"I am not a Meatball Head." I said boldly placing the second shoe on my left foot.
"Come on," She giggled motioning to the door. She lifted her long orange gown off the floor and opened the squeaky door, and we walked gracefully (at least in her case, I still wasn't us to the heels) down the familiar corridor.
The ballroom looked much grander then it had the first ball. All around there were banners of the foreign country, hanging off the windows, the ceilings, and even the grand staircases. The King and Queen were seated in the same thrones they had been the first time and they looked grander then ever. There were also three new thrones next to those of the King and Queen's, all of which were occupied. A tall broad man sat in the throne next to the King. He had tan skin, short brown hair and cat-like brown eyes. He reminded me much of a cat, tall, graceful, mysterious. The woman who occupied the second throne was busy chattering away with the Queen. The small plump woman had a light pale complexion much different from the skin of other man. Her long blonde curls were long and thick creating clumps that reached to about her elbows. Her eyes were large and bulgy unlike the sort of the man. On the third throne sat a man that looked much like the woman. He had a pale complexion and the same short blonde hair as the woman. He didn't have the same cat-like eyes like the man or the large bulgy type as the woman. They were a unique sort, ones that reminded me of squares, and they were the oddest clear color, that surprisingly looked well with his complexion. I figured they must be the monarchs from the foreign country. They seemed harmless but you could never really tell with monarchs. I felt uneasy about the man with the cat-like eyes, even more so when he looked my way. I looked away as fast as I could, but I think he saw me staring. I could tell he was still staring at me, his eyes burning holes in the back of my head. I shivered. Raye looked up to the source of my uneasiness. She nudged me to the left towards the familiar table we had sat at the time before.
"That's his majesty King Rolf and his Lady, Queen Sabina. The tall quiet one is Prince Jadeite." She said pouring some punch into a cup. "The Queen's as good-hearted as they come," She added quietly so only I could hear. "And the Prince... well I've never been on good terms with him although some say he's nice. But the King is a lion waiting to pounce." She continued still in her quiet tone. Lions, never a good sort. "I bet he's only here to find a weakness so he can declare war and take over Mayport." She added.
"He's that bad?" I asked nervously.
"Oh it gets worse." She said adding a sour look to her face. "He is known for his advancements on young women. It's said that he once had an affair with his chambermaid who was just above thirteen years old!"
"Thirteen years old?" I asked astonished. "That's horrible."
"The poor innocent girl probably didn't even stand a chance." Raye commented sadly.
"But..." I started not sure if I should ask. "What... What about the Queen? Does she know?"
"Well of course she does but she can't do anything about it. Women are just a toy of pleasure for the King. If she dared to say anything I bet she'd be on death row before you could say tapioca."
"That really is horrible." I repeated quietly.
"It makes you think twice about saying you have a bad life, doesn't it?" She asked without really thinking. Sure, this King was horrible but Susan was no better, in her own ways.
"Yeah I guess." I said shrugging. I poured myself a glass of punch as well.
A rowdy group of screams made me nearly drop my glass as I turned to the source of the noise. There, just entering the ballroom was no other then Prince Darien and his stupid fan club of swooning women. He was just smiling his stupid, irresistible smile and walking casually as if being staked by twenty crying girls was normal. I turned around before he could catch my glance.
"You should lock him in a closet." I said to Raye. "No one could find him there."
"Oh, I've tried." Raye said laughing. "One of his fan club members usually finds him though. Such a pity."
"Let's lock him in cellar. No one is going to go in there, they'll be afraid that the rats will eat them alive." I added jokingly.
"Now that's not very nice," A voice said from behind me. Turning around I caught a glimpse of, who'd-a-thought...Darien. "But I think I'd be better off in the kitchen."
"Why is that?" I said making a face.
"Well, If I was locked in the kitchen, No one would find me, and plus I'd have things to eat so I wouldn't die and you wouldn't be charged with murder." He said smiling. Why did he have to smile! I nodded my head stupidly.
"I'll take it into consideration." I said smiling back. 'Don't smile! Just throw yourself at him why don't you!'
"Well I hope my suggestion helps." He said locking eyes with me. Such perfect eyes. The midnight blue of the sky and the depth to get lost in. A loud gong sounded, making me break contact with him. The gong meant dinner was going to be served.
"Come on, Serenity." Raye said pulling me in the opposite direction.
The dinner table was set up in the main dinning hall and was covered with rows beyond rows of chairs. Each chair was cushioned and shined and was set with a gold cup, plate, and more utensils then I could count. The 2 sets of monarchs sat at the head of the table in there thrones.
When I had first entered the main dinning hall, I stayed behind while Raye proceeded to the front of the table. Every brilliantly dressed lady and every rich and formidable gentleman had already been seated somewhere in the thresh-hole of the long table. I just stood there awkwardly not really sure where I'd be fitted in. I figured I'd be somewhere down the end of the table, with the drunk squires and non-sociable soldiers, and I'd sit alone quietly playing with my food with the wrong fork and not having such a wonderful time. I slowly stepped a few paces back to the end of the table. I watched as another big group of people walked into the dinning hall, a few people shoving past me as I watched them fill in the remaining seats.
"You look lost." A voice remarked behind me. Darien walked through the crowds of people and stood next to me. I stood still letting my sight drift to the floor. Why was he always there?
"Well," I shrugged not really sure of what to say. "I'm not really sure where to sit." I finished shyly.
"Oh!" He said looking down to me. "Come," He motioned. "Follow me." I was hesitant at his words. Where had following him led me before? Almost getting lost in the castle, that's what! But what other choice did I have? I couldn't stand here the whole night. I sighed and shuffled around catching up to him. He led the way through the rowdy and loud crowds of the end table with my small body following unnoticeably and silently behind him. He passed the back portion of the table, as I looked up curiously. Where was he taking me? Should I be sitting up this far? Should I ever be walking up this far? I was about to speak up, when he came to a halt. I turned my head slightly seeing we had stopped at the very front of the table where the monarchs, Raye, and Prince Jadeite were already seated. My eyes opened wide as my face turned deep shades of red. Was he trying to embarrass me completely?! Had he forgotten I was behind him?
"Come sit." He said innocently motioning to two empty seats that stood in front of us. I stood curiously a distance away from the table.
"Here?" I said quietly pointing to one of the two chairs in front of us. I knew it sounded stupid but at this point I couldn't get anymore embarrassed. From the other side of the table I could see Raye rolled her eyes.
"Yes, Meatball Head," She said bringing up that stupid nick-name again. I made a face as I placed myself in the chair further to the right. Darien then sat in the chair next to me. I really didn't want him next to me. Now I was obliged to act perfectly and eat delicately. I glanced down at my place setting when I realized my behavior was the least of my worries. There were at least 7 forks and 3 cups! What in the world would I need all these for? The gong rang again as the first dish came out. Hundreds of servants dressed in black and white carried gold dish of some mushy white soup and began to place them in front of people. I smiled thankfully to the man who placed the dish in front of me. I looked down at the silverware once again. Which spoon do I use? Do I even use a spoon? Maybe I use that little fork next to the big knife? I tried to hide my confusion.
"Just go from right to left." Darien whispered quietly from beside me. "Start with that small spoon over there and work your way to the dessert fork."
"Thank you." I said to him graciously. I reached for the small spoon on the corner of my napkin and looked cautiously at the mushy white soup in front of me. It didn't look too pleasant. I looked around to see everyone eating the mush and talking causally to there neighbor. It couldn't be too bad could it?
"It's not so bad." Darien said talking again. "Some foreign dish. Try it. I bet you'll like it." I looked up at him. Suddenly I wasn't so disappointed he was seated next to me. He smiled down to me and nodded invitingly in the direction of the soup.
"Let's hope so." I said quietly as I dipped the small spoon into the mush and slowly guided it to my mouth. I could feel the smile come across my face. It was delicious! "This is wonderful!" I said happily in his direction.
"I'm glad you like it." He laughed taking a spoonful himself. I laughed along with him our eyes locked.
"You mean you've never had rellga?" A new voice chimed as our eyes parted. I shook my head in Prince Jadeite's direction.
"No," I replied to him. "Where I come from we don't have delicacies such as this."
"Really?" He said almost as if it was something everyone had. "Where is it that you live?"
"She lives in Beth." Raye said quickly sneaking a furtive smile my way.
"Beth?" Jadeite asked confused. "Where's that?"
"Up past the Ridge Mountains." Darien answered quickly. I looked over at him to see him smiling stupidly at me. Did he know it wasn't a real place? Did the blockhead figure it out? Gods, I hope not!
"Past the Ridge Mountains eh?" Jadeite said to me. "I can't say I've ever heard of it."
"Not many people can." I answered back before swallowing another spoonful of mush (or rellga as Jadeite stated). I guess he was starting to dislike the topic because he didn't press any further.
The rest of dinner went along just as smoothly. As each dish would come out Darien would add his little side-comments ("Don't eat that! It may look good, but it tastes like brick. Put a forkful in your mouth and pretend to wipe your lips and spit it out into the napkin. No one will ever know.") and instructions on proper etiquette ("Use the fork on the right, with the curved points."). I couldn't say I wasn't enjoying myself. Especially considering I was a lefty and Darien was a rightly so our hands rubbed against each others a countless amount of times. Except for the uncomfortable glances from the cat-like, King Rolf, I was having a perfectly wonderful time. But this was only the beginning and I knew it.
FINALLY! I'm so extremely sorry I got this out so late! I've been so busy and I've had to do so much for Christmas and school that writing came rarely! I'll try to get the next chapter out before the vacation ends, but I can't promise anything.
Anyway! Thanks so much for all your nice reviews and emails! I didn't expect this story to get so much feedback! Keep the reviews coming!!
Send all questions/comments/suggestions ect. to starrryder@email.com. Look out for the next chapter!
-Starr-