I sat stunned, staring at the blank mirror. She knew! What could I do? I turned to Lasarina who simply shrugged. She wouldn't know anyway, I thought to myself.
I looked at the grandfather clock next to my bed. "Goodness, it is almost time for supper." I exclaimed. I turned to Lasarina. "Inform the cook I shall be eating up here." She nodded and left the room, leaving me to think.
After supper, I pondered about my problem. Perhaps if I…Yes that would work.
I rang the bell for my serving maid. She hurried in to take away my empty tray. I was about to get into bed when I remembered something.
I should not let Lasarina remember the mirror. What if Maeve forced her to tell something?
I ran to the cupboard by the bathroom door. Searching past the bottles of herbs and oils, I found what I was looking for. Essence of Memory. This would do.
Carefully I opened the bottle. I poured a small amount into a chalice that stood on my bed stand. Then I called up Lasarina.
"Bring some wine with you." I ordered. Soon she came up, holding a bottle of red wine in her hand, and two goblets. I took the one goblet and filled it. Then I filled the chalice next to my bed stand and handed it to Lasarina. She looked startled that I offered her wine.
"You are looking a bit pale my child. Drink." She lifted the goblet to her lips carefully and took a sip. "Go ahead. Drink it all." She gulped the rest of the wine and placed the chalice back down. I finished my wine, and sent her to the kitchen with the dishes. "Good night." I called as she closed the door behind her.
The next morning I awoke to Lasarina bustling around my room, tidying up.
"What are you doing?" I asked groggily, as I sat up in bed.
"Tonight is the Princess's 18th birthday. The King had sent out invitations … before her died." She finished slowly. "We must prepare for the ball tonight."
"Tonight!" I sat up quickly. I remembered Fionn speaking lightly of a ball, for the Princess Eirwen, but I had not thought.
"Yes, tonight." Lasarina looked at me strangely. I threw back the quilt, and went over to my wardrobe. I dressed quickly into a blue morning gown, while Lasarina waltzed around the room, humming and dusting.
"The Princess has grown up so fast." She sighed. "She is now as beautiful as her mother. Oh, she will be the fairest maiden at this ball, with her fair skin, and lovely blonde hair. Our Snow White." She continued to hum happily.
Beautiful? The most beautiful at the ball? We will see about that.
Lasarina noticed the stiffening of my features, and turned to be concerned. "Is everything all right my highness?" she asked. I paused a moment.
"Lasarina, what do you remember from last night?" she looked at me strangely before replying.
"I remember doing the laundry, and ordering new gowns for you and the princess, and eating supper here…" she trailed off."Why?"
"I was just wondering." I replied casually. She didn't remember. Excellent!
I left my bedroom, leaving Lasarina to her humming and cleaning.
On the way down the stairs I ran into Maeve. She smiled coldly at me, before continuing on her way. I continued down, and decided to go for a walk in the garden.
The afternoon came and passed, like a blink of an eye. Soon all the servants were hustling about and preparing for the grand ball that evening. I decided this was my time to take action.
I went against the original orders of my stay, and made my way towards Eirwen's wing, the north wing of the fifth floor. It was rather dark, lit by only a few oil lamps. I approached the door that read "Princess" and knocked.
I heard some shuffling around, and a loud shush! Then Eirwen opened the door, and quickly masked a face of horror with a fake smile.
"Hello." She said, her voice oozing with fake sweetness. She was wearing a pale blue dress, which set her sapphire eyes to an advantage, if I must say so. Her long blonde hair was tied back in an elaborate braid, and was fastened by a ribbon studded with sapphires.
"I must speak to you. Alone in the rose garden." I said in a hushed voice. Eirwen looked uneasily over her shoulder before following me.
We hurried down four flights of stairs and into the rose garden. The moon shone silver on the red roses, casting shadows on the cobbled walkway.
"My child." I began, coating my voice with honey. "Tonight is the night of your 18th birthday. And, naturally I have a gift for you." I pulled out a small velvet box and handed it to her.
She looked at me suspiciously. "Go ahead, open it." I urged. She carefully lifted the lid, to reveal a silver necklace. She lifted it out. Dangling from the end was a small apple pendant. In the center of the apple was a ruby, which shimmered in the moonlight.
Eirwen stared at the ruby, entranced. She looked up, the ruby's shimmer still reflecting in her eyes.
"I must go." She said hollowly. Then she ran off into the darkness.
I smiled to myself. She would not return for a while. I returned to my room, where I began to prepare myself for the ball. As I was putting in a pair of diamond earrings that matched my pale blue gown perfectly, Epona's face appeared in the mirror. She seemed to be speaking, but any sound was coming in waves. I caught just a few words.
"You are...don't let…consume…listen to…can you…" The last few words ran out loud and clear, right before the image went black. "Remember my gifts!"
I glanced at the shelf over my bed, where the red apple stood shining. It had been simple really, putting the charm on the necklace.
In the middle of my train of thought, a loud knocking cam e on the door. "We are ready for your entrance!" Lasarina called through the doorway. I slipped into a pair of blue heeled slippers, and opened the door. Lasarina guided me down the stairs and into the beautifully lit ballroom.
Lights were strung above me, illuminating the room with a soft, romantic light. As I stepped down the first few steps of the crimson carpeted stairs, everyone turned to watch. I could feel all eyes on me as I gracefully glided to the floor.
An announcer announced my arrival, and everyone clapped. I waltzed off to the side, and waited.
"Introducing…" the announcer called. Everyone was listening raptly, and watching the stairs. "The lovely maiden as fair as snow. The charming Princess Eirwen!"
Everyone watched, but no one descended the stairs. Still they waited, and yet not a soul came down. This was my cue. I walked to the front of the crowd, and centered myself on the third step up of the stairs.
"It seems the Princess is late. My maids just informed me that Eirwen is not well, and has taken to her bed. However, everyone is welcome to stay and enjoy themselves." I finished my short speech and motioned for the band to continue playing. They struck up a waltz, and a masked young gentleman asked me to dance.
"My majesty, May I have the honour." He said politely, bowing to me. He offered me his hand, which I took gracefully. We did not speak, as I did not know what to say. Behind the hawk mask green eyes twinkled. They seemed strangely familiar to me, but decided it was simply my imagination.
Behind the mask was curly brown hair, which stuck out a bit wildly. The next song was a tango, which was interesting.
As we passed by a couple, I heard a piece of their conversation. "The Queen looks simply marvelous tonight. Though it seems a shame that Eirwen could not join the festivities tonight." That was all I heard as the tangoed past us.
Sadly, the night ended too soon, and I retired to my bed. The gentleman I had danced with for most of the evening had wished me good-night, and kissing my hand said he hoped he would see me again. I was in ecstasy.
Epona stared puzzled at the mirror in front of her. Redynvre had seemed, distant. Epona was also puzzled about the poor connection. The connections had been so clear before, yet she could hear herself breaking up. Epona feared for Eirwen the daughter of the king.
Epona wondered if she had been mistaken in giving such gifts to Redynvre. She was only mortal, and sorceresses seem to be easily tempted into wrongdoing. Sighing, Epona prayed desperately she had made the right choice.
In the hidden chamber, on top of the tallest tower, Maeve sat in a large crimson chair, stroking the raven perched next to her. In front of her, on the wall was the huge mirror. Without warning a face appeared.
Maeve, who had been dozing slightly, gave a start. The face laughed, and she frowned at him. "My master." She exclaimed. The face nodded.
The face was not unattractive, with black curling hair pulled back behind his ears. His eyes were a deep crimson, appearing black in most light, and only red in the glimmering of the candlelight. The mouth curved in a forever smirking grin as Keir stepped through the giant mirror.
Maeve jumped out of her seat, and curtsied, her head down as a figure with a forked tail and a pair of red horns stepped out of the mirror.
'My master." She murmured before lifting her head up.
Keir nodded silently." How is my daughter?" he asked, his voice deep and powerful. Maeve motioned for him to sit down. Muttering to the mirror, she drew up an image of Eirwen running through the dark forest, a pale figure amongst the dark shadows. Maeve gasped and Keir slammed his fist into the arm of the chair, which split under the force. Rising he turned to Maeve.
"The time is now."