A/N Ok sorry this has taken me so long to update but I had massive writer's block. Well I hope you like this. Mnitr here's a @------ for your review. I hope you keep reading. Golden Goddess I think actually about 15 of those roses are your's. Ivy Dragon, Antitheos is like our India hence the sari; the kimono was a kimono style bathrobe, if you know what I mean. It was just showing that Zira is diversifying her culture as well. Don't worry I'm not offended though. Thanks for the review. Zurizip, thanks for the review. Blue Eyes, I'm sorry if it was a cliffhanger (I didn't realize it), but also how else will I keep you all interested. Alyse thank you for your wonderful review. Blue Lilly I'm glad you like it. Pen Mage, yes Shae was wearing a sari, Antitheos is the India of this world, so it looks the same (I love the way saris look). Daemon yes Zira and Alanna will meet again. Ammarice, Zira doesn't like Alanna because Alanna killed her mother. Alanna doesn't realize this and so she is a little confused why Zira is so mean to her. As to the pierced nose, nose piercings are quite long lasting, if she put a ring in maybe once a month to keep it open it would have stayed. Kitty Kat, thanks for the review. Aer, oh ya that's me (hehe). Zandra I'm glad you like it. Lady Redbird, sorry this took awhile (not quite ASAP) but it is up. Again I'm sorry it took so long. But read, review and enjoy! (Please)
Chapter XVII: The Girl with Turquoise Eyes
Tobit and Falkin wended their way down the hallways towards the royal quarters. Tobit was nervous, Falkin smiled at him. The large door loomed in front of them. Falkin looked at Tobit, and Tobit at Falkin. Then he lifted his hand a knocked. The door opened a sliver and Shae looked out. She grinned and opened it all the way. Tobit and Falkin stared. She was dressed in a combination of both Antithean and Tortallian styles. The skirt of her dress flared out at the bottom covering her feet sweeping over the floor. She wore a separate top, which was burgundy silk, it was extremely thin, but wrapped around her so many times that it gave the impression of ethereal layers of red light, darkening until you reached an endless maroon. She shifted uncomfortably under the stare of the two knights.
"Zira is going to go down the stair case," Shae said. "She told me not to wait but to take both of you to the ball room." Falkin's face fell; Shae smiled at him. "Don't worry she will go, you won't have to dance alone." Tobit offered her his arm, she accepted, and the three of them walked down the hall together. Zira head peered round the door and smiled at their receding forms.
Falkin looked over at Tobit and Shae, "Mithros, she is beautiful," he thought. "Both of them are on cloud nine." They came to the doors to the ballroom, which were thrown open to admit all of the guests into the huge room festooned in blue and silver. The room went quiet as Shae entered, all heads turned towards the young beauty, she blushed and clasped Tobit's hand, he smiled at her. Falkin dissolved into the crowd of people.
"Well this is going to be boring," he muttered as he made his way to the edges of the crowd. He leaned up against the wall next to one of the many curtained alcoves along the border. He hated balls, and now he didn't even have someone to take too. His brown eyes scanned the room; there was the Countess of Anagro near the punch table, she better watch how much she drinks. There was Cornelia of Guilder, laughing with Sir Aubrey, and shyly looking into his eyes. There was Reese with a buxom brunette on his arm, sulking because Liam was going to come down the staircase with the other royals. Tobit and Shae had retreated to a corner of the room and were whispering. The lovely tall dark haired Laurel of Hara was standing with the beautiful blonde Katherine of Galla, surrounded by suitors. Sir Richard entered with Lady Carolyn, a beautiful strawberry blonde. Falkin sighed.
"Bored?" a girl of about seventeen looked up into his eyes, an eyebrow arched questioningly. Falkin appraised her in a glance. She was beautifully exquisite, but showed no depth beneath her strangely alluring turquoise eyes. A girl fresh from the convent trying to make a good match was his diagnosis.
"No," he said shortly and returned to scanning the crowds for either Zira or Neal, but she stayed there, gazing up at him. Long dark lashes slowly blinked over the blue green eyes. His eyes still staring off into the distance he asked, "Do you know why the Gallans and the Carthakis are in such political upheaval, and what steps do you think they could do to change there economic situation?" She opened her mouth, then closed it smiling seductively.
"Aren't you the smart one," she said, white teeth flashing. "I like you." Falkin looked down on her, puzzled. Girls from the convent did not generally flirt so openly.
"Really," he said. "Well I already have a partner for this ball." The girl tapped him with her closed fan.
"And what is she doing apart from a handsome knight like you?" Falkin finally spotted Neal across the room.
"I'm sorry mademoiselle, but would you excuse me," Falkin said with a sigh of relief. He walked past her and over to Neal who was talking animatedly to Laurel. The lady with the turquoise eyes slipped into one of the curtained alcoves where after making sure no one could see her she vanished.
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Jasson was frustrated standing in the anti-chamber before the great doors to the staircase. Here he was taking his sister to the biggest ball of the year. He looked down at his little sister who was dressed stunningly in silver silk. He straightened his dark purple doublet. His father was pacing back and forth dressed in sapphire blue, he started to run his fingers through his salt and pepper hair, then, realizing he was wearing a crown, stopped.
"Why isn't Thayet here yet?" the king finally said.
"I'm here," a voice came from the doorway. Jonathan turned to his wife, and stared. Thayet smiled.
"Whenever I see you I get a shock," Jon said as he walked towards her. "You are the most beautiful woman in the world." Thayet blushed.
"No, I know at least two that out shine me by far." Jonathan shook his head.
"That isn't possible." Liam groaned.
"Can we get on with this, I've got a very beautiful girl waiting for me down there." Roald patted his brother's shoulder with condescending good humor.
"Patience is a virtue." Liam grumbled turning towards the door. He stopped eyes wide. Behind Thayet was Zira. All eyes turned towards the young monarch. She stood tall, used to stares, but these were different stares from the ones she had known before and she knew it. Jasson swallowed, she was more beautiful than he had ever thought, her gown was made in two pieces and in much the same style as Shae's, but Zira's was deep blue. The thin silk wrapped around her torso had silver stars printed on it, so that with each layer there were stars heading into the infinite. Silver moons hung from the edges of the cloth, covering the sliver of stomach that showed between the top and the skirt. From the waist up, she was purely Antithean, but from the waist down she was Tortallian, in a long sweeping skirt. She was the merging of the two countries.
Her beauty pulled at Jasson's heart, he had to have her; she had to love him. Carefully he pulled at his well of orange magic and sent it into the ball room, forming it into a perfect woman, a woman that could make Falkin leave Zira, one that he would follow. Jasson formed her, dressed her into a blue green dress, which matched her mysterious eyes. He gave her milky skin and long dark lashes, and he directed her to Falkin. But Falkin wouldn't have her. He saw through her, without the gift without any magic, he saw her for what she was, an illusion. Jasson lost his chance for just as he made his ghost of beauty disappear the doors opened and his mother and father past through them into the light of the ballroom.
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Falkin watched the King and Queen walk down the staircase, followed by Roald and his wife, Shinkokami. Then Liam descended with his sister Kalasin, Jasson and Lianne were the last of the Contés to reach the ballroom. Then the entire room went silent. What seemed to be a young moon goddess was coming down the staircase. Whispers rushed through the crowds.
"That can't be the Antithean Princess." "Who can it be?" "That isn't Zira!" "Who is it?" Falkin met this vision's eyes and knew that it was Zira. Finally all of his feelings made sense. Zira was no longer the ten-year-old he used to discuss politics and history with. She was grown up, beautiful. No, beyond beautiful, something ethereal. He was in love with her, a feeling he thought he couldn't have for her. She was too young yesterday, a good friend who was upset because she had no one to go with. She was now at this moment perfect in his eyes, as perfect as he was in hers.
Zira walked through the ballroom, up to the King and Queen of Tortall, and taking a breath she spread her arms out wide and with one foot in front of the other bowed her head, her chin touching the base of her throat.
"Your Majesties," she said in a clear voice. The two words echoed in the huge silent space. With those words the spell was broken and the music started up. Zira turned and found herself facing Falkin his brown eyes looking into her amber ones. He lifted one finger and touched her nose button.
"You look beautiful," he said quietly.
A/N I did a sketch of what Zira's dress looks like. If anyone wants to know what I was trying to describe I could scan it and send it to them, just give me your email.