ARABELLA

Chapter Nine: The Performance

King Stefan and Queen Glorianna waited outside the door to the Hall. "You look lovely tonight, my Dear," said Stefan to his wife.

"Thank you Darling, you look wonderful yourself," Glorianna replied, a trifle absent-mindedly.

Stefan cast a shrewd look at his wife. "Is anything bothering you, my Dear?"

The Queen sighed. "I'm sorry, Darling, I'm just worried about Arabella. I wonder if I shouldn't have waited to ask her to do this until next year."

King Stefan planted a kiss on her cheek. "You have such wonderful judgment, my Dear, and Arabella is indeed ready to be a Princess. She might not know it yet, but she will get used to the idea in time. Tonight is just what she needs to wet her feet in the world of Royalty."

Glorianna smiled at her husband. "Thank you, Dear, you always know how to make me feel better."

They clasped hands briefly, and listened for their Fanfare. They waited outside the door there until a servant had informed the royal herald that all the guests to the Midsummer Feast had assembled. The herald then signaled to the orchestra conductor to start the royal Fanfare. As the music began, the herald announced their Majesties, and all rose as the King and Queen entered the hall and took their places at the table. The monarchs took their seats, then the rest of the nobles were likewise seated.

One chair beside the Queen was left vacant for Arabella.

Philip had been looking around the room almost feverishly, hoping to catch a glimpse of the young maiden who had captured his heart. He was disappointed to see that she wasn't there.

"Ah well," he said to himself. "Philip, old boy, she's probably nothing more than a servant, or at the least the child of one of these nobles. If she were an important person, she would be here at this Feast."

The herald signaled to the orchestra conductor again, and this time a new fanfare was sounded, less authoritative than that of the King and Queen.

This was Arabella's moment, when she was presented as a young lady, no longer a child. Her name was announced by the herald.

"Her Royal Highness, Daughter of King Stefan and Queen Glorianna, the Princess Arabella."

Arabella stepped gracefully into the room, her green eyes sparkling as brightly as the ruby at her throat.

Philip's heart nearly stopped. There she was. Then his mind, which was somewhat slow to catch on (for some reason, this evening), put the herald's words together.

He very nearly jumped up with joy. "Princess! Arabella, so that is her name." He smiled broadly as he stood with the other nobles, to honor the debut of the Princess. "A beautiful name for a beautiful Princess."

Once everyone was seated again, Arabella began to sing, and all was absolutely still and silent. It was as if the very birds outside the window were quiet, listening to the melodious trills of the young Princess.

King Hubert found himself, for once, speechless. And for Hubert to be rendered speechless was a very rare occurrence indeed. "A remarkable girl," he thought to himself. He dared to steal a look at his son. Philip looked like he was in a trance.

"Uh oh," he thought. "I know that look. I've had it myself, the first time I laid eyes on his mother Philippa, rest her sweet soul, when she was but a debutante Princess."

He needed to have "The Talk" with Philip, as soon as possible after the Feast was over. For now, he said nothing. He didn't want to offend Stefan, after all. Friends were friends, and peace between Kingdoms was a nice thing to have.

When Arabella had finished her bewitching song, the applause was thunderous. She blushed and nodded, then took her seat.

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(A/N: Sorry for the lack of updates! I've got three stories going at once, and one almost ready to post. I will spend more time on this one, I promise. I hate to have a cliffhanger. Consider yourselves lucky…I am uploading a bunch of chapters all at once. That should keep you busy…for about five minutes. Thanks for all the wonderful reviews, you guys are wicked – in the good way.)