Disclaimer: As much as it may seem to be original fiction, I'm basing this story loosely off of the Twelve Dancing Princesses (anyone heard of it?) Don't steal- it's not nice.
Summary: Elensar is a Princess who has been kidnapped by the dashing King Adrian of Delran, at the behest of her oldest sister, Evadne. Through her wry wit and cynical assessment of her situation, she tells her story, complete with romance, daring escapes, espionage and even a little public humiliation.
Warning: Language and some innuendos
Rating: PG-13 (for the afore mentioned warnings and intense situations.)
Chapter Two: Intriguing Suspicions
I stepped into the hall, cringing as the herald announced my presence.
"Announcing Princess Elensar of Meridian, here to see King Adrian of Delran." The herald bellowed.
"I think he can see me," I grouched to myself, walking down the aisle toward Adrian.
"You really should accord me proper respect in my own court, Elensar," Adrian pointed out.
"Of course," I smiled at him, knowing how fake I sounded. I swept him a low, sardonic curtsey. "Your Majesty."
"Come, now, Elensar, you know also that traveling dignitaries must do more than that," he chided me.
I smiled again, not enjoying being made fun of in front of his entire court. "Oh great King," I said flatly. "I cannot express how honored I am to be called a traveling dignitary when you kidnapped me from my bedroom as you left my homeland."
All Adrian did was extend his hand and raise an eyebrow. "If you would stop embarrassing yourself in front of my court, you might find that your stay will be slightly more enjoyable here."
I rolled my eyes and took his hand in my own, brushing his hand only lightly with my lips. "Are you satisfied now?" I asked him softly.
"No, but it will have to do for now." He trailed his fingertips over the palm of my hand then dropped it unceremoniously, giving me a subtle smile. He stood up then, and smiled at the assembled courtiers who had been intently watching our exchange. "My lords and ladies! Please, let me introduce to you Princess Elensar from Meridian."
They stared at me, watching me, seeing what I would do. I stared right back at them.
"She is residing here until further notice, and within a week's time, there will be a ball in her honor." Adrian glanced at me then, a sadistic smile twisting his lips.
Did he know? I wondered suddenly.
"There will be room for all of you in the Great Room. I will hope to see everyone at seven for a late dinner, and then dancing!" Adrian stepped down from his elevated platform and placed hand on my shoulder. "You are dismissed."
I started to walk forward, but Adrian's hand on my shoulder held me back. "Wait, Elensar."
"What?" I spun around, shivering as I enjoyed the feel of the fine fabric against my legs.
"You will show up at the ball on Saturday, won't you?" He asked, looking straight into my eyes.
"Maybe I will and maybe I won't." I told him with a smile. I turned to leave again, but he grabbed my hand and pulled me back. I tried to twist out of his grasp angrily, but he held fast.
"Let me rephrase that, Elensar," He said softly, seriously. "You will be coming to the ball. It is in your honor you know, and Evadne told me how much you love to dance."
"Did she now?" I asked with a nervous laugh, trying to lighten the mood a little. I could feel my hands growing sweaty in his.
"Yes." It was a simple word, but I wasn't sure if he knew our little secret or not. It proved that he was dangerous.
I was the first to break away from the staring contest that we were holding. "I suppose I'm going back to my lovely little set of apartments now."
"I'll need that dress back then." His fingers started to play with the buttons in the back.
"Can you wait?" I asked, trying to brush his hands away. "Why do you need it so soon? Are you planning on wearing it, then?"
"Oh but of course! I need an outfit for the ball you know." Adrian ignored my hands and protests and unbuttoned the top button, all the while drawing designs on my back with his fingertip.
"Adrian!" I said angrily. "Stop!" His hands moved down to the second button. I tried to shove him away from me, but to no avail. He was taller and stronger than I was, and I had no chance. I shuddered in his grip, trying to take pleasure in his actions, but my breathing accelerated and my heart raced as his hands splayed across my back and drew me close.
A discreet cough from the corner stopped him.
"My liege, I would deem it unadvisable for you to continue as you are." I looked down, my cheeks burning.
"I thought I said that everyone was dismissed, Sir Larne." Adrian deftly slipped the second button out of its hole, freeing the dress to slip off my shoulders slightly.
"Yes, sire." Larne's footsteps retreated.
"Elensar, you will have your own suite of rooms that is above ground, I promise you." Adrian dragged his hand down my spinal cord, and I arched forward, tilting my head up to watch him, a wild terror written on my face. "I should not be doing this," he muttered, straightening the both us with shaking hands.
"Thank you," I whispered, attempting to reach the buttons. "I can't reach!" I stomped a slippered foot angrily.
"Turn around," He sighed. I shivered as his deft fingers quickly put the buttons back in their holes. "Follow me. I'll show you where your new rooms will be."
"Why did you do that?" I asked him as he led the way to my new rooms.
"Because that's the kind of person I am." He said shortly.
"Oh." We walked the rest of the way in silence.
"Your rooms." Adrian held the door open for me, a perfect gentleman.
"Finally, thank you," I said with a small smile. I walked past him, tripping slightly on the hem of my dress. I swore under my breath, wondering where the grace that I had gained from many nights of dancing had gone.
"I will leave you in peace now," He said formally, holding me up by my elbow. Then, he was gone.
I looked happily at my new surroundings. The plush bed was covered with masterfully embroidered sheets and pillows, all in a shade of green. I couldn't resist the urge to run to the giant picture window and open it. It was late spring, so I happily left it open to enjoy the fresh air.
"Milady?" I looked over my shoulder to see a mousy girl standing in the doorway, her head bowed submissively.
"Yes?" I faced her.
"You are to attend dinner tonight, order of his Majesty." She curtseyed to me. "Is there any entertainment that you would like?" She asked me.
"Um…" I had no idea what I could do exactly, and I hesitated before answering. "Is there any paper so that I could sketch?" I inquired hopefully.
"Yes, milady." The girl curtseyed again, letting her mousy brown hair fall in front of her face. She spun around and walked off quickly to go fetch what I had requested.
I started humming a happy little tune in time to the rhythm of the bed springs squeaking as I bounced on the fluffy mattress.
"Milady?" I turned to see the girl standing in the doorway with an armload of paper and pencils.
"Ah, thank you!" I smiled at her, wondering if she would smile back. Wonder of wonders, she didn't. "I'll just take those," I told her, reaching for the paper.
"Here," she said, shoving that at me, "Milady," she hastily added. Then, she left.
"Odd," I mused to myself. Then I set about sketching her face.
I captured the angular protrusions of her cheekbones, the haunted shadows of her eyes. I sketched in the long fingers that clenched, white knuckled, around the paper. Once I was done, it looked quite good for my abilities.
"That's very nice," Adrian said behind me. "It looks just like Ashleigh."
"Ashleigh?" I asked, not comprehending right away. "Oh! The maid, right!" I may have been too hasty to correct myself, but it was inconsequential.
"Yes, that's Ashleigh." I felt the bed sink down as Adrian sat down next to me. I didn't look up, pretending instead to be absorbed in the completed sketch. "Could you draw me?" Adrian ventured after a very cavernous pause.
"…I could try." I looked up at him through my eyelashes. "I don't know if it would be any good, though."
"Try," he smiled at me, "If that's any indication," he gestured to the drawing of Ashleigh, "You'll do fine."
"Right." Suddenly, I who had been so suave and confident was tongue tied and nervous, dreading having to show someone my work.
Adrian sat on my bed, waiting for me to begin moving my pencil. I stared at the bed for a while, and then I raised my gaze to his.
His grey stare captured my own and held it, not letting go. After a time, I didn't bother trying to resist his insistent gaze. I studied it. I concentrated on it, eking out every last bit of emotion. I moved onto the rest of his face, studying it as well. From his strong cheekbones to the little wrinkle between his eyebrows, nothing escaped my scrutiny.
Then I began to sketch.
Somewhere in the timeframe of after I'd started and before I'd ended, a servant, not Ashleigh, had brought in a candle to light the room. I broke three pencils and ripped or smudged two extra pieces of paper. All through out, I endured Adrian's presence and his patronizing smile.
The end result however, was worth it.
"Here," I informed Adrian, shoving the paper at him.
He looked at it and studied it intently. He didn't say anything. Then he left without further ado.
I sat there like a fool on the bed, gaping at the open doorway, shocked at his audacity and nerve.
Of course, that was only for the instant that it took me to reorder my thoughts. Then I screeched like a banshee and leapt after Adrian, following him as he disappeared around a bend in the hallway and sprinting after him, forgetting that I had a dress on while he did not.
I stepped on the hem of the red dress, which had been slightly long to begin with, winced as I heard the sound of fabric tearing and then smack head first into the stonewall. It hurt. A lot.
I don't remember much after that, only a lot of darkness, pain and confusion. Questions too, I remember being asked questions that I couldn't answer. Other than that, there was nothing save for a desire to get that damn portrait back. I wondered what he wanted it for.
Author's Note: I love all of you who reviewed! Thank you so much! I hope you all went back and read my revised first chapter, with Elensar admitting that she did fancy Adrian before he kidnapped her. Review again please!
My responses to Reviews:
MapleRose: Ah…the sad syndrome of writer's block. Bleh. I will continue with them…some day…I hope. The twelve dancing princesses is one of my favorite fairy tales, because I have a beautifully illustrated book of it. Thanks so much for reviewing, and I'm glad you've stuck with me!
Zagato- Thanks! I have written more, with there still being more on the way, too! :o)
One Who Reviews: Thank you for the compliments on my style…many of my teachers have said I have horrible style…its nice to know that someone likes it. I love the Twelve Dancing Princesses as well; it was one of my favorite stories as a little kid. I hope you'll like my spin…
Flummoxed- I'm so glad you like it! :o) I'm very glad that I don't beat readers over the head with my characterizations. You wouldn't be able to read if I did! Lol, but really, I'm glad you liked it. happydance I get to beta your story! :o)
Joel's Bitch-The object of your obsession poem. Right…and yes, I'm still going to post it on LJ; no fears. And I just adore your new name. Can I call you it when I see/talk to you next? Haha.
Mr. Gil-glad you like it (still)
Karli-you think I did it brilliantly? Well, I'm flattered. Thank you very much. :oD read and review again!
Bushyhair- (suspicious) you seem to take a nefarious pleasure in constructive criticism. But, anyway, I thank you for all of your constructive criticism, even if some of it was a little off. For your first point, yeah, I concur, my expositions are never exceedingly long, I prefer to get right into the action and drama. Introductions bore me. I will try to work on that though, for later stories. For you second point: The plot isn't really supposed to be realistic, at least, I hadn't exactly planned it that way. And why should a King (not a Prince, mind you) give a fig about a simple girl? Well, for starters, Elensar is neither a simple girl nor is she of his own country. Maybe if you had read more carefully (and please forgive me if I sound snarky) you would have realized that she was a Princess. As for her father not sending ships, why it should be obvious! Evadne, of course, who sounds so inherently evil and who arranged the whole ordeal for our dear Princess. For your fourth point, again, please read more carefully. Princesses are usually the daughters of Kings and Queens. They aren't always close to one another, either. By chance, did you miss the paragraphs where Elensar talks about her sisters and brother? Others didn't. I thank you though, for you absolutely wonderful compliments though! I love hearing that people love my writing. It makes me feel all warm and fuzzy inside. :o) I loved all the adjectives at the end of your review, too. Quite nice!!
I love y'all; now please, please, please review again!
Evensong
