Chapter 5 (Integra Takes Initiative) By IWH_master
Disclaimer: I don't own the characters.
Finally, the carriage pulled up in the courtyard.
The footman, again, helped Integra out of the carriage, and Alucard followed her out. Arm in arm, they walked to the doors leading to the ballroom.
"Your names if you please," said a quite older man, with a drawling voice, as though he would have preferred to leave.
"Sir Alucard," replied the vampire.
"Miss Hellsing," said the radiant young lady.
"Right through here," he motioned to the double doors in front of them. The doors were opened by a couple of men, and they could hear their names being echoed throughout the ballroom as they entered.
They right away walked swiftly, and smoothly, up to the throne where her majesty, the Queen of England, was sitting, and bowed to her. Her majesty rose to her feet, and went up to Integra.
"My dear, how you've grown. I can't believe Walter actually got you to wear the dress. I thought for sure that you would have none of it, though it wouldn't be so hard on you. If only your father could see you tonight," she said. The queen deeply cared about Integra Wingates Hellsing, only because she had a history with her family. They protected her, and in return provided a becoming funeral for her father when he had died.
"Why, thank you ever so much your majesty," Integra said, remaining in the position that she knew she had to keep tonight. That role was not to be one that included her being babied by the queen. That could not happen tonight. Especially with such a large crowd of higher-ranking persons, other than her self.
"Well... enjoy yourself Integra, and..." the queen looked at Alucard like she was suspicious of him, "what's your name?" She was looking straight at him.
"Alucard," he said, talking to her as though she were a regular person, and holding his hand out. She was taken aback by his irregular mannerism, but held her hand out anyway. He took it up with his, and gently kissed the top of her hand, which was covered in a white silky material. She had to admit to herself that she rather liked him, and blushed slightly at the gesture.
Integra smiled to herself seeing that he should have no trouble hiding what he was. It's a good thing he's wearing contacts, she thought. Finally they were dismissed to have a little fun at the party.
Alucard led the way, but found Integra to be a bit standoffish. He pulled her a bit closer to him, then stopped.
"Are you alright Integra?" he asked, a hint of concern in his voice.
"I don't mix with crowds too well," she said, in his ear in a small voice.
He looked down at her with ginger eyes. She had never thought that he could ever look at her with such care. It showed, and she smiled at him because she had never known what it would be like to get any sort of sympathy from him.
"Here's what we'll do then," he started, beginning to walk with her again, but slowly so that she could concentrate on his words. "We will wander around together. We won't look for conversation, but if someone comes to us then we will join the conversation. They will start the chat; we won't. Also, we won't stay in this room all night. I heard that they have a beautiful garden and a wonderful view from the veranda. We have plenty of options."
She was happy that he understood, and that he would stick with her the entire evening. "I like that plan." She was comforted now.
Finally, the carriage pulled up in the courtyard.
The footman, again, helped Integra out of the carriage, and Alucard followed her out. Arm in arm, they walked to the doors leading to the ballroom.
"Your names if you please," said a quite older man, with a drawling voice, as though he would have preferred to leave.
"Sir Alucard," replied the vampire.
"Miss Hellsing," said the radiant young lady.
"Right through here," he motioned to the double doors in front of them. The doors were opened by a couple of men, and they could hear their names being echoed throughout the ballroom as they entered.
They right away walked swiftly, and smoothly, up to the throne where her majesty, the Queen of England, was sitting, and bowed to her. Her majesty rose to her feet, and went up to Integra.
"My dear, how you've grown. I can't believe Walter actually got you to wear the dress. I thought for sure that you would have none of it, though it wouldn't be so hard on you. If only your father could see you tonight," she said. The queen deeply cared about Integra Wingates Hellsing, only because she had a history with her family. They protected her, and in return provided a becoming funeral for her father when he had died.
"Why, thank you ever so much your majesty," Integra said, remaining in the position that she knew she had to keep tonight. That role was not to be one that included her being babied by the queen. That could not happen tonight. Especially with such a large crowd of higher-ranking persons, other than her self.
"Well... enjoy yourself Integra, and..." the queen looked at Alucard like she was suspicious of him, "what's your name?" She was looking straight at him.
"Alucard," he said, talking to her as though she were a regular person, and holding his hand out. She was taken aback by his irregular mannerism, but held her hand out anyway. He took it up with his, and gently kissed the top of her hand, which was covered in a white silky material. She had to admit to herself that she rather liked him, and blushed slightly at the gesture.
Integra smiled to herself seeing that he should have no trouble hiding what he was. It's a good thing he's wearing contacts, she thought. Finally they were dismissed to have a little fun at the party.
Alucard led the way, but found Integra to be a bit standoffish. He pulled her a bit closer to him, then stopped.
"Are you alright Integra?" he asked, a hint of concern in his voice.
"I don't mix with crowds too well," she said, in his ear in a small voice.
He looked down at her with ginger eyes. She had never thought that he could ever look at her with such care. It showed, and she smiled at him because she had never known what it would be like to get any sort of sympathy from him.
"Here's what we'll do then," he started, beginning to walk with her again, but slowly so that she could concentrate on his words. "We will wander around together. We won't look for conversation, but if someone comes to us then we will join the conversation. They will start the chat; we won't. Also, we won't stay in this room all night. I heard that they have a beautiful garden and a wonderful view from the veranda. We have plenty of options."
She was happy that he understood, and that he would stick with her the entire evening. "I like that plan." She was comforted now.