The Magic of Love
Legal: See chapter Prologue
The Ball
Princess Alarihandara stood still for a few moments at the top of the balcony stair case, letting the eyes of the court gaze upon her. Judging she had stood up there long enough, Alaria gracefully descended the stair case and made her way over to where her parents were sitting on their thrones. Bowing to each in turn she took up her place between Morian and Rainan. Struggling to stand still and not move about in nervousness, Alaria felt a hand on her shoulder and looked up to see her brother Rainan smiling at her.
"You'll do just fine little sister, you know you will. Just relax a little bit and please, try and look like you're having somewhat of a good time." Rainan spoke trying to calm her down.
"Come on little raven, stay long enough to have a dance with me before you fly off again" Adian asked his little sister, "I'll dance the first dance with you, that way you wont have to show any favoritism."
Smiling at the nickname her favorite brother issued her, Alaria nodded her head in agreement letting him lead her on to the dance floor. Adian nodded at the court musicians who started up a calm waltz. Elegantly dancing to the music the two siblings commented on the gathered guests.
"Do you have any idea who your going to choose tonight little raven?" Adian questioned, smiling as is sister glanced at the gathered men hoping that she would find someone worthy of her attention.
"I'm not quite sure yet. The award is supposed to be for the best costume, but am I correct in assuming that I'm supposed to give the award out to the one I find most suitable, not the most well-designed costume?" she asked, glancing at Adians face. Noticing the flush from her question, she nodded and knew she was right. Looking around the room at all of the costumed men, she could only shudder at the night ahead. Most of the lords were dressed in their typical costumes. Here and there were foxes, wolves, hawks, eagles, all the 'manly' creatures made in to costumes. The Elf Lords that came were clothed in layers upon layers of green and brown silk, looking like the trees they lived in. Some of them were dressed in pastel blue hues of the flowing rivers of the forests as well. Wishing she could spend her time with the elves instead of the men, yet knowing she could not since a human husband she must have, she decided she might as well start the night. Nodding to her father to let him know he could make his announcement, Alaria moved to the corner of the room to watch the lords.
"My Lords and Ladies and others of our realm, we welcome you tonight to the masquerade ball given in honor of our youngest child, the Royal Princess Alarihandara." The king paused as the guests applauded, then continued. "We have decided to award two prizes tonight to the lord and lady with the most remarkable costume. The Princess Alarihandara will award the prize to the men, and our son, Rainan will award the prize to the lady. May the festivities start, and everyone enjoy the night!" Finished with announcement, the king sat back down with his wife and anxiously waited for his youngest child and only daughter to fall in love.
Realizing now that she would have to fulfill her obligation, the princess stepped out on to the dance floor. Instantly she was swapped with lords and dukes, earls and barons asking her for a dance. In a whirlwind, she was passed from arm to arm in a fury of multiple dances. They all blended into one. Bow here, twist here, turn here. The same compliments over and over again. 'You look stunning' 'your eyes are so beautiful' 'you are more beautiful that the sun and the moon' and on and on. Alaria was in the process of dancing a rather slow waltz with a young man in a fox costume asked her an interesting question.
"Your not having very much fun, are you Princess?" The man asked.
Thoroughly surprised, Alaria glanced up in to a pair of startling blue eyes. "Excuse me sir?" She questioned, not quite sure she had heard right.
"Your highness, I asked if you were having any fun, since you don't seem to be. Perhaps you were coerced in to this against your will?" The man smiled.
Not being able to resist smiling back, Alaria answered: "Your very perceptive sir. It's quite interesting for you to notice and actually comment on it, instead of the color of my eyes or hair or skin." Suddenly realizing that she went a little too far, she apologized. "I'm sorry my Lord, I apologize for being quite so outspoken, please except my apology."
"I see nothing to forgive Princess Alarihandara for you have done nothing wrong. I would much rather hear what you think instead of a pretty smile and a flitter of the eyelashes."
Laughing Alaria responded, "You are quite different my lord, very much so. I have not yet met one so, shall I say, conversational and interesting, than others. And please call me Alaria; my given name is much to long to say among friends. Also, may I inquire who you are?" she asked, teasingly.
"Well my Princess Alaria I fully accept the compliments that you have given me, and shall let you know that this is always how I am, and if that makes me interesting, than so be it. As for whom I am, I shall leave that up to you to discover, if you are so inclined to do so." With that, a grin, and a bow, the young man disappeared in to the crowed.
Intrigued with the interesting young lord, she started to follow him but was detained by yet another young man asking for a dance. While she continued to dance with other men, Alaria constantly scanned the crowd. It was difficult for there were many people dressed as a fox and she had not gotten a glimpse of the mystery gentlemen's hair so she could not narrow down her search. She kept thinking she saw him, over by the musicians, by the window, but the servers, everywhere but no where long enough for her to make her way over to him. While she was taking a break looking out a window that viewed a part of the gardens, she felt a hand on her shoulder and a voice in her ear.
"Have you been looking for me Princess Alaria?" the voice questioned. Grinning, for she recognized the voice from before, she spun around to meet him.
"My lord! You are quite allusive." Pausing, she realized that he no longer had his mask on. Enjoying the chance to see his face, she took the time to study him. He was tall, but not really tall, around 5'11 or so. He had dark brown hair, almost black, but still distinctly brown. He was handsome, but not in the heart stopping way. His eyes were blue, but on a closer look, they were rimmed with green along the pupil. They sparkled and shone in the light. He was not hugely muscled but you could see definition in his arms. All in all he was wonderful. Not perfect, but wonderful still the same. Realizing that he was looking at her, she blushed and looked down, realizing she had been staring at him for quite awhile.
"Is something wrong my lady?" he asked, "You seem to be distracted."
"No my lord, I just realized you had your mask off. I thought you were supposed to keep in on till the end of the ball" she said.
"Ah, that is true my lady, but how can you get to know me with a mask on? I do not hide behind a mask that will distort who I really am. I need no mask to be myself."
"Is that so my Lord?" Alaria asked, laughing. "In that case, perhaps you should tell me your name as well, or is that something you do wish to hide?"
"My Lady, of course you shall know my name, how rude of me not to tell you before. I'm sure you have heard of my father, as to me, I am…"
Just as he was about to say his name, there was a huge commotion near the stairs. Turning to look at what was going on, Alaria gasped. There, standing on the third or fourth stair down was a man. Like many others, she could not see his face or his hair. However, what caught her attention was his costume. The man was dressed as a dragon. Red and gold jewels shone as scales and silk patterns covered the wings. Never before had she seen such a costume, but she knew she wanted to wear one just like this. She was drawn towards the stairs. She did not hear the young lord she had left calling her name for she could only see the dragon standing on the stairs. As she approached him, she was able to look up in to his eyes and was startled to see that they were golden red. She started to speak when she was interrupted by the lord in the fox costume who had raced after her. Turning towards him, she momentarily lost sight of the dragon man, when she looked back, he was gone. Looking around frantically, she saw him disappearing through a door. Alaria was about to follow him yet the Lord's hands were still on her arm. Not to be distracted, she tried to follow…
Author's notes: Well, I hope you enjoyed this chapter. It does leave a lot of questions, and yes, they will all be answered. I know that it leaves it at kind of a cliff hanger, but that is the nature of a story! I hope you continue to enjoy…
As for some questions that have been asked: One, the dragon will appear in the next chapter, I promise! Two, Alaria is 19. Her brothers are, from oldest to youngest, Adian (29), Rainan (26) and Morian (23). Adian obviously the royal heir and has an arranged marriage to a princess from a neighboring land. He will be married at age 30, when it is possible for him to take the throne. He has not yet met his bride, but is resigned to the fact that he will have to marry her. Rainan and Morian are not yet engaged or married, although Morian has been see spending time with the daughter of the Elf Lord of Forests Reach. More about the brothers will come up as the story progresses. Three: This will be more similar to the little mermaid, in a way. How I started it out is becoming different from what I thought. The story is evolving on its own, and although there will be some similar aspects it will be more different than similar. Fourth: I have not read the series by Kerner, however, it sounds like a good book. I'll have to get it!
Thank you for all the wonderful reviews! If you have any more questions, please just ask. Email or put them in a review and I will answer as fast as I can!
Till next time…
~Dragonsong
