A/N: Characters belong to Gail Carson Levine.
- - - THE LAST BALL - - -
The day of the third ball dawned bright and clear. As I lay in my bed that morning, I wished with all of my heart that things were different. Bright sunlight from my window streamed in across my bed, promising a beautiful day. I should have felt happy. Instead, I felt only melancholy. Tonight I would have to say goodbye to Lela. Perhaps not forever, because I wanted to remain friends with her. But there was another person I was going to say goodbye to. For good this time. And thinking about it only made my heart ache.
Later, I walked through the gardens on the castle grounds. I tried to clear my head, to breathe the fresh air, to feel the sunshine warm my face. I guess I was preparing myself for my life after the balls. After all, I was eighteen years old. My father wasn't as young as he used to be. I had to prepare for ruling Kyrria. Alone.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
The third and final ball was here. I was standing on the steps to the entrance to the palace, waiting for Lela to arrive. I wanted to spend the entire ball with her. My princely duties could go hang themselves. I was determined to actually enjoy myself.
An orange carriage pulled up, the color of pumpkins in autumn. I chuckled to myself a little bit, imagining what stately lady had insisted her carriage be such a strange color. I raised my eyebrows when I saw that Lela was inside that carriage.
I rushed to help her out before the coachman could beat me to the task. I opened the carriage door, and she emerged, looking quite beautiful, I must say. She was still wearing her mask, but her dress was a shimmering white, and her skin seemed to glow. Her dark hair against the white was the perfect contrast.
"You look splendid," I said, and bowed.
She smiled at me warmly, and took my arm. Together we climbed the steps. She held the hemline of her dress up with her free hand.
"Your carriage is an unusual color."
"Not in Bast," she said.
"May I visit you there?"
"Bast would be honored." She smiled again.
"And you?"
"I'd be honored too."
"If I'm going to visit your family, you should meet mine." Mother would be absolutely delighted with Lela. And Father needed proof that I hadn't been completely aloof during the balls.
"I'll be delighted, someday."
I smiled at her. "Now is a good time. They're nearby; you're nearby."
A slight bit of panic edged her voice. "Now? King Jerrold?"
"That's who my father is." I chuckled. I knew my father was quite intimidating, but only if you didn't know him well.
"But. . . "
"He's kind to everyone except ogres. You needn't worry," I assured her.
When we neared my parents, Father rose from his seat, beaming. Mother's smile was huge.
I noticed that Lela was blushing a little bit. I smiled.
"Mother, Father, may I introduce Lady Lela, my new friend and acquaintance from Bast, where the carriages are orange."
"Lady Lela," Father boomed. He took Lela's hand. "Welcome to Frell."
Mother eagerly embraced Lela in a hug. "Most welcome," she said. "I've waited long to meet the maiden my son loves."
I blushed furiously. This was just like my mother, to embarrass me in her loving way.
"I don't love her Mother," I stammered. "That is, I like her, certainly." Over my mother's shoulder I could see Lela smiling at me, laughing to herself.
Mother held Lela's shoulders with both hands, searching her face.
"I can't tell through the mask, but you remind me of a lady I admired. She had the most playful spirit I ever new."
When my mother said the words "playful spirit", the only maiden who popped into my head was Ella. I shook my head, scattering thoughts of jokes and laughter and a pretty smile.
"Lady Lela is proof that I haven't been polite and distant to everyone," I said.
"Excellent proof," said Father. "Bring along more proof and we'll be convinced." Father raised his eyebrows at me.
"We should return to my guests," I said hurriedly.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -- - - - -
"Save a dance for me a little later, won't you? Just now, I'd better be polite and distant some more." I had promised myself that I would spend the whole of the ball with Lela, but our meeting with Mother and Father had induced guilt in me. Just a little bit of time with guests, and the rest of the ball would be devoted to her.
She nodded, half smiling, and I left her. I decided that I would engage in one dance with a lonely maiden I saw standing by herself, and I would talk with some other courtiers a bit before heading back to Lela.
The maiden looked relieved and surprised when I asked for a dance. We whirled around the floor together, and she laughed a little bit. It was one of the faster dances. When it was over, I decided that I had better find Lela, since time was ticking away. After some searching, I saw her standing amongst some other maidens, watching the dancing. Her shimmering white dress stood out against the blues and pinks of the other maiden's gowns.
"Lela, there you are!" I took her hand. "Now dance with me. Your prince commands you to. I want to spend the rest of the ball with you."
She was smiling at me. I noticed Hattie standing a few feet away from Lela. Was that a look of jealousy I saw on her face? I bowed, and Lela curtsied. I took Lela's hand again, and led her away from Hattie, into the dance.
I pulled Lela closer, as the dance required. "They are all asking about you," I told her. "'Who is this mysterious stranger?' they say."
"The maiden who wears a mask," she replied quietly.
"Why. . ." I stopped. I was about to ask her why she wore it. But it would be too rude. I didn't want to offend her.
I changed the subject quickly, to more comfortable territory.
But then I saw a tear streak down Lela's cheek. Oh, no. Did I offend her with something I said? Was she feeling ill? I hoped she was okay.
"Lela, I'm so sorry!" I said, looking down at her face.
She looked a little startled. "Why? What were you saying? I'm the one to apologize. I wasn't listening. I was thinking how sad I'd be to leave Frell. No more balls every night." Her voice was a little shaky.
"But you can come back, can't you?" Of course she could. Why couldn't she?
"I suppose. But it won't be the same. You can never go back to a moment when you were happy."
"That's true," I said. She looked so sad. I wondered why. I had a feeling the explanation she gave me wasn't the real reason.
The dance ended. I needed to get out of the ballroom. And Lela looked like she needed some air.
"Would you like to go outside? Every time the musicians start up, I'm reminded of all the maidens with whom I should be dancing."
She nodded, looking a little grateful. I led her outside, into the gardens and the fresh air.
- - - - - - - - -- - - - - - - - - - - - -
A/N: Almost there! In the next chapter, Ella is revealed. Stay tuned. . .
- - - THE LAST BALL - - -
The day of the third ball dawned bright and clear. As I lay in my bed that morning, I wished with all of my heart that things were different. Bright sunlight from my window streamed in across my bed, promising a beautiful day. I should have felt happy. Instead, I felt only melancholy. Tonight I would have to say goodbye to Lela. Perhaps not forever, because I wanted to remain friends with her. But there was another person I was going to say goodbye to. For good this time. And thinking about it only made my heart ache.
Later, I walked through the gardens on the castle grounds. I tried to clear my head, to breathe the fresh air, to feel the sunshine warm my face. I guess I was preparing myself for my life after the balls. After all, I was eighteen years old. My father wasn't as young as he used to be. I had to prepare for ruling Kyrria. Alone.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
The third and final ball was here. I was standing on the steps to the entrance to the palace, waiting for Lela to arrive. I wanted to spend the entire ball with her. My princely duties could go hang themselves. I was determined to actually enjoy myself.
An orange carriage pulled up, the color of pumpkins in autumn. I chuckled to myself a little bit, imagining what stately lady had insisted her carriage be such a strange color. I raised my eyebrows when I saw that Lela was inside that carriage.
I rushed to help her out before the coachman could beat me to the task. I opened the carriage door, and she emerged, looking quite beautiful, I must say. She was still wearing her mask, but her dress was a shimmering white, and her skin seemed to glow. Her dark hair against the white was the perfect contrast.
"You look splendid," I said, and bowed.
She smiled at me warmly, and took my arm. Together we climbed the steps. She held the hemline of her dress up with her free hand.
"Your carriage is an unusual color."
"Not in Bast," she said.
"May I visit you there?"
"Bast would be honored." She smiled again.
"And you?"
"I'd be honored too."
"If I'm going to visit your family, you should meet mine." Mother would be absolutely delighted with Lela. And Father needed proof that I hadn't been completely aloof during the balls.
"I'll be delighted, someday."
I smiled at her. "Now is a good time. They're nearby; you're nearby."
A slight bit of panic edged her voice. "Now? King Jerrold?"
"That's who my father is." I chuckled. I knew my father was quite intimidating, but only if you didn't know him well.
"But. . . "
"He's kind to everyone except ogres. You needn't worry," I assured her.
When we neared my parents, Father rose from his seat, beaming. Mother's smile was huge.
I noticed that Lela was blushing a little bit. I smiled.
"Mother, Father, may I introduce Lady Lela, my new friend and acquaintance from Bast, where the carriages are orange."
"Lady Lela," Father boomed. He took Lela's hand. "Welcome to Frell."
Mother eagerly embraced Lela in a hug. "Most welcome," she said. "I've waited long to meet the maiden my son loves."
I blushed furiously. This was just like my mother, to embarrass me in her loving way.
"I don't love her Mother," I stammered. "That is, I like her, certainly." Over my mother's shoulder I could see Lela smiling at me, laughing to herself.
Mother held Lela's shoulders with both hands, searching her face.
"I can't tell through the mask, but you remind me of a lady I admired. She had the most playful spirit I ever new."
When my mother said the words "playful spirit", the only maiden who popped into my head was Ella. I shook my head, scattering thoughts of jokes and laughter and a pretty smile.
"Lady Lela is proof that I haven't been polite and distant to everyone," I said.
"Excellent proof," said Father. "Bring along more proof and we'll be convinced." Father raised his eyebrows at me.
"We should return to my guests," I said hurriedly.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -- - - - -
"Save a dance for me a little later, won't you? Just now, I'd better be polite and distant some more." I had promised myself that I would spend the whole of the ball with Lela, but our meeting with Mother and Father had induced guilt in me. Just a little bit of time with guests, and the rest of the ball would be devoted to her.
She nodded, half smiling, and I left her. I decided that I would engage in one dance with a lonely maiden I saw standing by herself, and I would talk with some other courtiers a bit before heading back to Lela.
The maiden looked relieved and surprised when I asked for a dance. We whirled around the floor together, and she laughed a little bit. It was one of the faster dances. When it was over, I decided that I had better find Lela, since time was ticking away. After some searching, I saw her standing amongst some other maidens, watching the dancing. Her shimmering white dress stood out against the blues and pinks of the other maiden's gowns.
"Lela, there you are!" I took her hand. "Now dance with me. Your prince commands you to. I want to spend the rest of the ball with you."
She was smiling at me. I noticed Hattie standing a few feet away from Lela. Was that a look of jealousy I saw on her face? I bowed, and Lela curtsied. I took Lela's hand again, and led her away from Hattie, into the dance.
I pulled Lela closer, as the dance required. "They are all asking about you," I told her. "'Who is this mysterious stranger?' they say."
"The maiden who wears a mask," she replied quietly.
"Why. . ." I stopped. I was about to ask her why she wore it. But it would be too rude. I didn't want to offend her.
I changed the subject quickly, to more comfortable territory.
But then I saw a tear streak down Lela's cheek. Oh, no. Did I offend her with something I said? Was she feeling ill? I hoped she was okay.
"Lela, I'm so sorry!" I said, looking down at her face.
She looked a little startled. "Why? What were you saying? I'm the one to apologize. I wasn't listening. I was thinking how sad I'd be to leave Frell. No more balls every night." Her voice was a little shaky.
"But you can come back, can't you?" Of course she could. Why couldn't she?
"I suppose. But it won't be the same. You can never go back to a moment when you were happy."
"That's true," I said. She looked so sad. I wondered why. I had a feeling the explanation she gave me wasn't the real reason.
The dance ended. I needed to get out of the ballroom. And Lela looked like she needed some air.
"Would you like to go outside? Every time the musicians start up, I'm reminded of all the maidens with whom I should be dancing."
She nodded, looking a little grateful. I led her outside, into the gardens and the fresh air.
- - - - - - - - -- - - - - - - - - - - - -
A/N: Almost there! In the next chapter, Ella is revealed. Stay tuned. . .