I'll be as patient as a gentle stream"

-Two Gentlemen of Verona, Act ii, Sc.6

Chapter 3: Night's Remembrance

The sun had set and night took its toll on the once light-drenched. Now the stars shown at their best like they did every time the King Stag Ball was held. Winter sky's had always been clear and crisp, but Amelia couldn't help but think that there was something special about this one night. Maybe it was the clear stars, the fresh winter air, it could have been anything.

It's almost like the sky I saw with him before he left. Amelia gripped the edge of the balcony and let out a heavy sigh. I can't be sad, this is my favorite night!

"Amelia!" Lina's voice rang out and echoed off the walls. Amelia heard the heavy foots steps go down the stairs and winced her eyes at Lina's next yell. "A-ME-LI-A!"

"Right here, Miss Lina!" Amelia turned around and watched her friend pace over out on the balcony.

"Have you been here the whole time?" She demanded. Amelia slowly nodded and watched Lina put her hand on her hips. "Amelia, you told me this is your favorite night but I have seen you moping around the castle the whole day! That, and I haven't heard you say the word 'Justice' for the entire day!"

Amelia rubbed her foot against the ground and held her hands at her side. "I was just hoping he would come, that's all."

Lina dropped her arms and relaxed. "You talking about Zel?"

"Yeah."

For a moment Lina couldn't find the right words she wanted to say. She knew how much Amelia missed Zelgadiss and had a gut feeling that Amelia would eventually get slightly depressed if the Chimera didn't show. "Well." Lina began. "It's not the end of the night, so lets give him a chance. At least there is a chance, right? Meaning that there is still a possibility he could come."

Amelia smiled and lifted her head to look at Lina's bright and optimistic eyes. "You're right, Miss Lina."

"Don't expect Zel to be the first one here, right?"

Amelia giggled and realized that Lina was right. Zelgadiss, if anything, would prefer to be the last to arrive.

Lina smiled as she watched Amelia lighten up. "Come on, I came to get you. The party is setting up and you are not even in costume."

"Neither are you," Amelia said with a grin.

Lina rolled her eyes and smiled. "Come on lets go get dressed."

*********************************************************

Zelgadiss sat quietly in the cave that the Fae had lit with several glowing floating lights. What are they up to? I bet they want to dress as some sick joke!

"Here we come!" Revyn chirped.

The Fae, back in their human size forms, sat in front of Zelgadiss. Mabala held a pile of neatly folded dark colored clothing and Revyn held a bag.

Zelgadiss naturally felt the urge to ask the most commen question one would in such a situation. "What's in the bag?"

Revyn smiled and dumped the contents of the bag on the ground.

Zelgadiss peered at the contents. "Leaves?"

"Bin-go!"

Mabala and Revyn both placed their hands over the pile of leaves and began to do a mystical soft chant. The leaves glowed with a gold aura and floated in to the air. The Fairies giggled as the leaves twirled and seem to swim through the air. They soon came together and began to put themselves in order as if they were building a puzzle. When all the leaves were laid and finished coming together, Zelgadiss saw that they had formed a mask.

"There!" Revyn took the mask down and handed it to Zelgadiss. "This mask is for you."

Zelgadiss took the mask gently in his hands. It was so light and delicate. Turning one way and another he could see the leaves glowing colors of red and yellow with scattered tints of green. "It's beautiful," he said under his breath.

"Thank you," said Mabala.

Zelgadiss slightly jumped and blushed a bit. They weren't supposed to hear that, he thought.

The two Fae giggled at his expense for a short moment until they continued. "So, this is my mask?" Zelgadiss questioned.

"Yes it is," said Revyn.

"And this," Mabala said, handing him the pile of clothing. "Your costume."

Zelgadiss unfolded and examined the clothes. Looks like they even got my size right.

The Fae watched him look at the clothing and the mask over and over. "You need help getting it on?" Mabala asked.

"Huh? Uh-NO!" Zelgadiss blushed and folded the clothes again while the two fairies giggled. "I'm just fine."

The Fairies got up and went to their smaller forms. "Then we shall let you dress," Revyn sang.

"And meet again we will!" Mabala ended.

Zelgadiss quickly got up and stopped them. "Wait, when does the masked ball start?"

"You must leave as fast as you can," was all Mabala said.

"How am I going to get there? Walk?"

Revyn looked at Mabala and grinned "Your noble steed will await outside."

And the two almost sang together. "Wear the mask! Wear the clothes! Tonight go fourth and meet your Rose!"

******************************************************************

As Amelia and Lina walked back in the castle they listened and watched as maids, chefs and various servants ran back and forth making commotion and working to prepare the ball.

"I can't wait for tonight!" Lina beamed as she clapped her hands together. She looked down at Amelia and sighed. Lina put her arm out and grabbed Amelia in a hug as she proceeded to walk on up the stairs. "Come on, already! I need you help to enjoy this night!"

"Okay, okay," Amelia laughed as she got out of Lina's grip. "Oh wait!"

"What is it?" Lina turned.

"I don't know where my costume is, the two new maids put it somewhere."

A voice came from behind the two girls. "Majesty?"

"AHHH!" Lina jumped and turned around to see the new blond haired maid. L- sama, She scared me! Lina clutched her now heavy beating heart and took deep breaths.

"Mabla. Do you know where my costume is?" Amelia asked.

"Of course, right this way," Mabala said, giving an elegant gesture for them to follow her up the stairs.

The two girls followed the maid up the stairs case to Amelia's room.

"Wonder how Jelly-fish brain is doing?" Lina wondered out loud.

Amelia smiled at her friend's question turned to Lina. "You do care a bout him a whole lot. Seems like more since you and him got engaged."

"Heh, well I won't deny it." They reached Amelia's room and walked in behind the maid. "Took him long enough to propose to me. The guy kept stammering for days and I didn't even know why!"

"Well couldn't you have done it yourself?"

"Wouldn't have been the same," Lina continued, as she was handed her dress by the golden haired maid. "Thanks. Anyway, Amelia, our whole little travels and all together somehow seems to add up to some.strange but unique fairytale."

In less than an hour the ball was decorated and lights shone from palace through out the city. Wagons of actors pulled through the streets and music played behind them along the way. Children came out of the houses and watched the performers come bye and enter the palace to King Stag's Ball. Truly to all it was a night of magic.