A/N: By the way, 'Amena' is pronounced 'uh-mee-nuh'
::Chapter 2: The Ball::
13 years later. . .
I lay in bed, waiting for Mandy to come and give me my tonic. Although Mandy was only the royal cook, Mother, more commonly known as Queen Ella of Frell, had told me that Mandy has been a very close friend of our family for many generations, although I didn't see how that was possible, for a single human cannot live for many generations.
I sighed. The tonic tasted horrible, like a slippery, bitter slime that slithered down my throat, but Mandy insists that I take it every night.
There was a gentle knock on the door.
"Come in," I said.
The door slowly creaked open. A slightly plump woman, with soft gray hair tied up into a large knot on the top of her head, walked in.
"Hello, Mandy," I greeted with a smile.
She smiled back. "Hello, Mena, dearest. You haven't had your tonic yet today, have you?"
"Umm. . ." It was that simple. All I had to say was 'Yes, I have.' "Uhh. . . yy-" I stopped. A sudden dizziness came over me. Although I did not want to say it, I had to. "Nope, I haven't," I replied with a sigh.
"Okay, well I brought some here with me," Mandy said, sitting on the edge of the bed. She twisted open the cap of the glass bottle she was holding. She carefully poured some on to a wooden spoon and held it up close to my face.
"Open." She commanded.
I tightly pressed my lips together.
Mandy sighed. "Sometimes I wish that you were like your mother when she was your age."
I raised an eyebrow questioningly. "What do you mean?"
Mandy sighed again and shook her head. "Nothing. Now please, Mena, it's only one spoonful. After a few seconds the taste will be gone and you can go to bed."
I cringed, but obeyed. I opened my mouth slightly. Mandy gently shoved the spoon in. Immediately I was overwhelmed with the disgusting feeling of something oozing down my throat.
I intentionally made a gagging noise, to emphasize to Mandy how bad the tonic really tasted.
She laughed heartily. "Now, that wasn't so bad was it?"
This time I was glad to tell the truth. "It was horrible."
She smiled. "Well, I better be going now. Remember tomorrow's the big day, the day of the ball. See you in the morning, sweets," She gave me a peck on the forehead and left the room.
I sighed. I don't know why I always told the truth. Actually, mother had told me it had been a gift from a fairy from when I was born. Honesty. I cringed at the word. The Farthest back I realized it was a problem of mine was when Mandy had accidentally shattered a few of Mother's precious crystal vases. When Mother asked who did it, Mandy shrugged saying, "I know I didn't do it. Maybe it was one of the kitchen maids." She had said that so easily, and without any struggle. But when mother confronted me, I had told her everything, the truth. I mean, I really didn't want to get Mandy into trouble, I really didn't. But it all just slipped out on its own.
I yawned and crawled underneath the sheets and blanket. I blew out the candle that was sitting on the desk next to my bed, and fell asleep.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
"Your Highness, it's morning. Please get up," said the familiar voice of my lady in waiting, Annabelle.
I groaned. "Is it morning already?" I asked in a sleepy voice.
"Yes, Princess. We need to get you ready."
"Ready? Ready for what?" I asked sleepily.
"The ball, Your Highness. . . have you forgotten already?"
"Oh!" I said, quickly sitting up. "That's right. And what was the point of this ball again?"
Annabelle smiled. "Today is the day the kingdom of Kyrria was first founded, by your great great great great. . . oh I don't know how far back it goes but it was founded by one of your ancestors this day many years ago. Now, Princess, there's a hot bath waiting for you."
I nodded, as I carefully stepped out of bed.
After taking the bath, I returned to my room. Annabelle, who was actually only a few years older than me, had laid out my outfit on my bed.
I cringed when I saw the dress I was to wear. It was made of dark green velvet, with the lowest collar I had ever seen. There were multiple layers of frill everywhere, from the ends of the sleeves, to the bottom of the skirt. I hate frill.
"You want me to wear this?" I asked, pointing at the dress in disgust.
"Your mother, the queen, picked it out for you. I think it's very beautiful, don't you agree?"
"No! It looks horrible! I can't wear this!" I cried. My hand flew to my mouth. I didn't want to insult the dress, but. . . I mean if I had the choice I would have lied and said I agreed with her.
"Princess! Well, I'm sorry but this is the dress the queen requested. I'm afraid you're just going to have to wear it. It's only for one night, and you have to admit, it isn't all that bad."
I didn't answer to that, afraid that I would insult her and my mother's taste even more.
I unwillingly slipped into the gown.
"See, Princess, you make every piece of clothing beautiful." Annabelle complemented as she beamed at me.
I forced a smile.
"And now for your hair. . ." Annabelle said, reaching for a comb.
"What's wrong with my hair?" I asked, pulling away.
"Nothing, Princess, but you don't really think I'm going to let you leave it down like that, do you?"
"Yes." I replied. "What's wrong with leaving it down?"
Annabelle grabbed my hair and started to brush it up. "I don't know. . . it looks better up. . . less plain."
She stared at my straight, dark brown hair, which I had inherited from my mother.
"There, now that doesn't look so bad, does it?" Annabelle asked, as she handed me a mirror.
I stared at my reflection. She had put my hair up into an elegant bun on the top of my head, with a few loose strands escaping the knot.
I forced a smile. "I-It's so. . ." ugly. I stopped myself before I said it.
"Alright then," I said, sitting up. "I'll be going to breakfast now."
I got up and left the room, trying to get used to wearing something with frill.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
"Mother, do I have to dance?" I asked, staring at the guests in the ballroom. I picked at the frill on the end of my sleeve.
"Only if someone asks you," Mother replied. Mother, on the other hand, was wearing a very beautiful silk white gown. I noticed that it didn't have a trace of frill on it.
I sighed and continued to watch other people enjoying themselves.
I heard someone clear their throat behind me. I turned around, and saw a very tall, and lanky boy, who had a terrible case of bad breath.
The boy bowed. "Will you care to dance, Your Highness?" he asked politely with a bow.
"Umm. . ." I sniffed and cringed. I couldn't say no. I recognized him as the son of the duke of Ayortha. Maybe if I smiled he would take it as a yes.
I forced a smile, and held out my hand.
"Is that a yes?"
What could I say? I couldn't say no to the duke's son! And Mother was standing right beside me.
"She would love to," Mother answered.
Still, the boy stared at me, waiting for an answer.
"I. . ." I stared at Mother.
She shook her head slightly. "You don't have to answer. . . just dance!" she whispered
I gulped, and kept smiling.
"Yes or no, Princess?" he asked again. I could detect slight annoyance in his voice.
"Y. . . Ye. . ." The scene around me started to blur slightly. "No." I plainly replied.
When I saw the horrified expression on his face, I quickly flashed a smile.
"I'm sorry. . . Maybe another time." I said, adding a quick curtsy.
I felt the blood rush to my cheeks. Yes! All I had to say was 'Yes'! I felt tears burning my eyes with embarrassment. I quickly ran towards the exit of the ballroom, when I heard someone say, "Wait! Your Highness! Don't leave! Not before the announcement of the betrothal!"
I stopped. What betrothal?!
A/N: Review!
::Chapter 2: The Ball::
13 years later. . .
I lay in bed, waiting for Mandy to come and give me my tonic. Although Mandy was only the royal cook, Mother, more commonly known as Queen Ella of Frell, had told me that Mandy has been a very close friend of our family for many generations, although I didn't see how that was possible, for a single human cannot live for many generations.
I sighed. The tonic tasted horrible, like a slippery, bitter slime that slithered down my throat, but Mandy insists that I take it every night.
There was a gentle knock on the door.
"Come in," I said.
The door slowly creaked open. A slightly plump woman, with soft gray hair tied up into a large knot on the top of her head, walked in.
"Hello, Mandy," I greeted with a smile.
She smiled back. "Hello, Mena, dearest. You haven't had your tonic yet today, have you?"
"Umm. . ." It was that simple. All I had to say was 'Yes, I have.' "Uhh. . . yy-" I stopped. A sudden dizziness came over me. Although I did not want to say it, I had to. "Nope, I haven't," I replied with a sigh.
"Okay, well I brought some here with me," Mandy said, sitting on the edge of the bed. She twisted open the cap of the glass bottle she was holding. She carefully poured some on to a wooden spoon and held it up close to my face.
"Open." She commanded.
I tightly pressed my lips together.
Mandy sighed. "Sometimes I wish that you were like your mother when she was your age."
I raised an eyebrow questioningly. "What do you mean?"
Mandy sighed again and shook her head. "Nothing. Now please, Mena, it's only one spoonful. After a few seconds the taste will be gone and you can go to bed."
I cringed, but obeyed. I opened my mouth slightly. Mandy gently shoved the spoon in. Immediately I was overwhelmed with the disgusting feeling of something oozing down my throat.
I intentionally made a gagging noise, to emphasize to Mandy how bad the tonic really tasted.
She laughed heartily. "Now, that wasn't so bad was it?"
This time I was glad to tell the truth. "It was horrible."
She smiled. "Well, I better be going now. Remember tomorrow's the big day, the day of the ball. See you in the morning, sweets," She gave me a peck on the forehead and left the room.
I sighed. I don't know why I always told the truth. Actually, mother had told me it had been a gift from a fairy from when I was born. Honesty. I cringed at the word. The Farthest back I realized it was a problem of mine was when Mandy had accidentally shattered a few of Mother's precious crystal vases. When Mother asked who did it, Mandy shrugged saying, "I know I didn't do it. Maybe it was one of the kitchen maids." She had said that so easily, and without any struggle. But when mother confronted me, I had told her everything, the truth. I mean, I really didn't want to get Mandy into trouble, I really didn't. But it all just slipped out on its own.
I yawned and crawled underneath the sheets and blanket. I blew out the candle that was sitting on the desk next to my bed, and fell asleep.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
"Your Highness, it's morning. Please get up," said the familiar voice of my lady in waiting, Annabelle.
I groaned. "Is it morning already?" I asked in a sleepy voice.
"Yes, Princess. We need to get you ready."
"Ready? Ready for what?" I asked sleepily.
"The ball, Your Highness. . . have you forgotten already?"
"Oh!" I said, quickly sitting up. "That's right. And what was the point of this ball again?"
Annabelle smiled. "Today is the day the kingdom of Kyrria was first founded, by your great great great great. . . oh I don't know how far back it goes but it was founded by one of your ancestors this day many years ago. Now, Princess, there's a hot bath waiting for you."
I nodded, as I carefully stepped out of bed.
After taking the bath, I returned to my room. Annabelle, who was actually only a few years older than me, had laid out my outfit on my bed.
I cringed when I saw the dress I was to wear. It was made of dark green velvet, with the lowest collar I had ever seen. There were multiple layers of frill everywhere, from the ends of the sleeves, to the bottom of the skirt. I hate frill.
"You want me to wear this?" I asked, pointing at the dress in disgust.
"Your mother, the queen, picked it out for you. I think it's very beautiful, don't you agree?"
"No! It looks horrible! I can't wear this!" I cried. My hand flew to my mouth. I didn't want to insult the dress, but. . . I mean if I had the choice I would have lied and said I agreed with her.
"Princess! Well, I'm sorry but this is the dress the queen requested. I'm afraid you're just going to have to wear it. It's only for one night, and you have to admit, it isn't all that bad."
I didn't answer to that, afraid that I would insult her and my mother's taste even more.
I unwillingly slipped into the gown.
"See, Princess, you make every piece of clothing beautiful." Annabelle complemented as she beamed at me.
I forced a smile.
"And now for your hair. . ." Annabelle said, reaching for a comb.
"What's wrong with my hair?" I asked, pulling away.
"Nothing, Princess, but you don't really think I'm going to let you leave it down like that, do you?"
"Yes." I replied. "What's wrong with leaving it down?"
Annabelle grabbed my hair and started to brush it up. "I don't know. . . it looks better up. . . less plain."
She stared at my straight, dark brown hair, which I had inherited from my mother.
"There, now that doesn't look so bad, does it?" Annabelle asked, as she handed me a mirror.
I stared at my reflection. She had put my hair up into an elegant bun on the top of my head, with a few loose strands escaping the knot.
I forced a smile. "I-It's so. . ." ugly. I stopped myself before I said it.
"Alright then," I said, sitting up. "I'll be going to breakfast now."
I got up and left the room, trying to get used to wearing something with frill.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
"Mother, do I have to dance?" I asked, staring at the guests in the ballroom. I picked at the frill on the end of my sleeve.
"Only if someone asks you," Mother replied. Mother, on the other hand, was wearing a very beautiful silk white gown. I noticed that it didn't have a trace of frill on it.
I sighed and continued to watch other people enjoying themselves.
I heard someone clear their throat behind me. I turned around, and saw a very tall, and lanky boy, who had a terrible case of bad breath.
The boy bowed. "Will you care to dance, Your Highness?" he asked politely with a bow.
"Umm. . ." I sniffed and cringed. I couldn't say no. I recognized him as the son of the duke of Ayortha. Maybe if I smiled he would take it as a yes.
I forced a smile, and held out my hand.
"Is that a yes?"
What could I say? I couldn't say no to the duke's son! And Mother was standing right beside me.
"She would love to," Mother answered.
Still, the boy stared at me, waiting for an answer.
"I. . ." I stared at Mother.
She shook her head slightly. "You don't have to answer. . . just dance!" she whispered
I gulped, and kept smiling.
"Yes or no, Princess?" he asked again. I could detect slight annoyance in his voice.
"Y. . . Ye. . ." The scene around me started to blur slightly. "No." I plainly replied.
When I saw the horrified expression on his face, I quickly flashed a smile.
"I'm sorry. . . Maybe another time." I said, adding a quick curtsy.
I felt the blood rush to my cheeks. Yes! All I had to say was 'Yes'! I felt tears burning my eyes with embarrassment. I quickly ran towards the exit of the ballroom, when I heard someone say, "Wait! Your Highness! Don't leave! Not before the announcement of the betrothal!"
I stopped. What betrothal?!
A/N: Review!
