Okay, it's time for an update. I hope I didn't keep anyone waiting too long. Anyway, this chapter is all about the dance. And to let everyone know, in case you weren't sure, Storm is about one month pregnant. I wasn't sure if I put that in there but I wasn't going to go and look for it. Anyway, I hope that you all enjoy this chapter. Also, I'd like to thank Kararu Rinamino for her help with this chapter and everything else she's helped me with. Thanks!
Chapter 9: The Ball
Storm was so nervous, she'd never been to a ball before and was not really used to being surrounded by high class people. Zelos was so used to it, she knew that he would be okay, in fact, most of the people attending the ball knew him personally. She just hoped she wouldn't embarrass him in front of all these ritzy people.
"Are you okay?" Raine asked Storm as she looked over at her while the young girl was finishing her hair.
"Yes, you seem nervous," Presea commented.
"I'm fine it's just...," Storm began, hesitating a little.
"Just what?" Raine urged her to continue.
"I've never been to something like this and I'm worried that I won't fit in. I don't want to embarrass Zelos, he's like one of these people," Storm confessed.
"Storm, I don't think that you can embarrass Zelos. Don you really think he cares what these people think about him? If he did, he wouldn't have acted like a pervert all of those years," Raine assured her.
"I guess you're right," Storm finally gave in.
"Don't worry, you look wonderful," Raine told her.
"Thanks, I hope Zelos thinks so too," Storm replied before the three of them began to make their way to the ballroom.
"Hey Raine, who's your escort tonight. I mean, I have Zelos and Presea has Genis, but what about you?" Storm asked her.
"Regal offered," Raine answered.
"Oh. So, are you dressed to impress?" Storm asked her a smirk appearing on her face.
"We're not dates I just needed an escort and he did too," Raine shot back.
"Uh-huh, sure," Storm muttered under her breath before getting a sharp beating on the back of her head causing her to reel back in pain.
"You'll be catching up to your brother before long if you keep that up," Raine told her before walking in front of her as they came to the end of the hall, leading into the ballroom where the men were waiting.
Raine was first to enter. She walked into the ballroom and was met by Regal who bowed to her. Raine returned his gesture with a curtsey. Raine was wearing a beautiful red gown that suited her figure wonderfully. Her gown was sleeveless and was fitted snugly at the top and flowed below her waist. She was also wearing white gloves and red heels which she was managing to walk in, barely.
Raine's beauty caused Regal to nervously advance as he offered her his arm. She accepted it, stifling a laugh at his nervousness as they walked down the stairs to the ballroom. The three of them were the last to make their entrances at the ball and the rest of the party was down at the bottom of the stairs, waiting for their arrival.
Presea was next to go out. She stepped out to greet Genis who wasn't even attempting to hide his amazement at her radiance. Presea was wearing a long, pink gown that reached the floor, covering her feet. Presea's gown was frilly from her waist down and had slightly puffy sleeves. Her hair was up in a ponytail that was adorned with a few pearls. She also wore a pearl necklace and bracelet that Genis actually bought for her before the ball. She also wore a pair of white gloves like Raine had. She walked up to Genis who was barely watching where he was going, only focusing on Presea. He was lucky he didn't have to say anything to her and was happy to bow to her. She curtsied back to him. Genis stared at her for a few moments, staring at her.
"Genis?" Presea finally asked him.
"Yeah," Genis said as if in a daze.
"Are we going to proceed?" she questioned.
"Oh! Yeah, sorry...," Genis replied as he offered her his arm, his face beat red. She accepted it and they made their way to the party.
Storm was so nervous when her turn arrived. She and Zelos were the last to make their entrance and she hoped that he liked her gown. She had gained a little weight since she'd gotten pregnant, but it was only a little bit. She stepped nervously out to the ballroom. Zelos looked at her as she entered and everyone at the ball had to admit that she was drop dead gorgeous.
Storm was wearing a dark blue strapless gown that seemed to fit her figure perfectly. It was almost as if the gown she was wearing was made specifically for her. Her gown was tighter at the top, flowing after it reached her waist. Her dress also had several silver stars and moons adorning it. She was wearing silver high heels. She'd never worn high heels before but she was able to walk in them, gliding gracefully as she walked in them. She was also wearing the necklace that Kratos had given her, she couldn't bear to part with it even for the night. She was also wearing a pair of diamond earrings that Zelos had given her as a Valentine's Day present, this being the first time she'd worn them. Storm's hair was up in a delicate bun, a few stray pieces on either side if her face.
As Storm walked in she stared down at the ground nervously, scared to see what Zelos' reaction would be. If she would have looked up she would have gained confidence at the look she was receiving from him. Zelos had seen many women in his life, but there was something about Storm that could always stop him in his tracks. He was stunned for a few moments but regained his composure and walked up to her, bowing to her. Storm looked up and curtsied back to him. He then offered his arm to her which she accepted and they made their way down the stairs.
"You look...amazing Storm," Zelos said, emphasizing amazing.
"Thanks, I hoped you'd like it," Storm said.
"It's not just the dress, but everything about you," Zelos told her.
Storm blushed at this comment as they got to the bottom of the stairs. Zelos took Storm over to all the couples in the room and introduced her to all of the other people there. After being introduced to the high society attending the ball, they took their seats and enjoyed an exquisite dinnner.
After dinner, the men all made their way over to the bar to talk. The women all gathered in small clusters to gossip about all the news, most of the gossip concerning Zelos and his wife.
"Did you see Zelos' wife?" one women asked.
"Yes, gorgeous, but she's obviously not one of us," another replied.
"Personally, I think that my daughter would have been a better match," another commented.
"This one was lucky to fall into the lap of luxury. I wonder who her family is?" yet another questioned.
"I heard that Lloyd Irving is her brother," one answered.
"The hero of Symphonia!" someone exclaimed.
"Yes, but he was raised by a dwarf! She was raised by her father! How strange," another explained.
"A dwarf? What does the father do?" the other woman asked.
"I heard that he was a mercenary and that she fights as well," she told the rest.
"A mercenary! And she fights? How barbaric," the other replied.
While this conversation was going on Storm was talking with Raine and Presea.
"See, you had nothing to worry about," Raine told Storm.
"Yeah, but I can't help feeling like I don't belong here," Storm confessed.
"You fit in fine. Besides, you're Zelos' wife now so there's not much they can all do about it," Raine told her.
Suddenly, Storm was called over by the group of women, claiming that they wanted to get to know her better. Storm excused herself from her group and nervously walked over to the group of women who were all looking over her with critical eyes.
"Hello, my dear. And how are you this evening?" one women asked. Storm looked at her. She was a women who was probably in her late fifties who was trying desperately to hang onto her youth with the aid of cosmetics.
"I'm fine," Storm said shyly.
"Well there's no need to be shy here. Let me introduce you to everyone. My name is Lady Catherine Bennet. This is Lady Charlotte Lucas. And over there is Lady Georgiana Bingley," Lady Catherine said as she waved her arm over each as she introduced them, Storm curtsied to each of them.
"So, Ms. Wilder, we were all just curious as to your family," Lady Catherine began.
"Oh, well. There's my brother, Lloyd Irving, the hero of Symphonia. Then, my father, Kratos Aurion. My mother is no longer with us though unfortunately," Storm answered.
"And your father...is it true that he's a mercenary?" Lady Charlotte asked.
"Yes, and I am as well. My father taught me a lot about the way of the sword. I'm actually pretty good with a sword," Storm told them.
"My! I never heard of a woman fighting with a sword. It seems rather dangerous," Lady Catherine exclaimed.
"Well, it is if you don't know what you're doing," Storm replied.
"And what other education have you had?" Lady Georgiana asked.
"Well, I learned history, reading, writing, and math. But most of my time as a child was spent learning to fight," Storm answered.
"Then you're not well educated then. Did you have a governess?" Lady Georgiana asked her.
"No, I never had a governess that taught me to read or write or things like that," Storm told her.
"Hmm, I wonder what made Zelos choose you as a wife. I would have thought that he'd want to marry one our daughters. I would have thought that he'd want to stick close to his own social class," Lady Charlotte commented.
"Well, he didn't he chose me," Storm told her.
"Yes, well how old are you?" Lady Charlotte asked her.
"I'm almost nineteen," Storm told her, beginning to get angry with their interrogation.
"He could have married my oldest daughter, but he married her. She's so much younger than her. A six year difference! He could have had my youngest then if he wanted a young one," Lady Catherine exclaimed.
"Obviously, the only reason he married her was because she was pretty," Lady Georgiana told Lady Catherine.
"Yes, well I think my daughters are much prettier. You really don't belong here dear. Zelos is too good for you. He was the most eligible bachelor and you stole him away from all of our society's finest ladies.
Storm had nothing to say to them. She had always felt that Zelos was too good for her and now she was getting a statement from people who had known him his whole life. She stared down at the ground feeling defeated. Suddenly, Zelos broke through the circle of women looking for her. He saw the look on her face and immediately knew what had happened. He knew how these women thought. He took a hold of Storm's hand, causing her to look up at him.
"Excuse us ladies," Zelos said as he pulled Storm out of the group of women.
Zelos took Storm out of the ballroom and out onto the balcony. They stood out on the balcony and looked out at the moonlit ocean in front of them.
"Storm, don't let anything those women tell you get to you," Zelos finally said.
"I...I didn't let it get to me," Storm lied.
"Don't lie. It's okay to tell me the truth. What did they say?" Zelos asked her.
She knew there was no point in lying to him about it, no matter how much she hated getting sympathy. "They said that they couldn't believe that you'd marry someone like me. They said that you were too good for me and they're right," Storm confessed.
Zelos grabbed Storm by the shoulders and turned her to face him. "How could I be too good for you? I think it's the other way around. You saved me before and you save me everyday. You're my angel, and not just because you have angel wings but because you're my savior. I really don't deserve to have someone like you," Zelos told her as he hugged her tightly.
"You saved me too," Storm told him. "I love you."
"I love you too Storm," Zelos replied.
Storm was so happy in his arms and she began to cry. She was crying thinking about everything that she had done to him. She was pregnant and wasn't even sure if it was his child. She couldn't believe how stupid she'd been and that she'd let her emotions get a hold of her. She knew that she was going to be faithful to Zelos from then on, she was quitting Yuan completely from that moment.
After they hugged, Storm and Zelos looked back into the ballroom and saw that some of the couples were out dancing on the floor. She saw that Genis and Presea were in the group. Genis was dancing as Presea rested her head on his chest in contentment. Storm couldn't help but smile at the sight of the two.
They both looked out over the ocean again and Storm sighed silently. "This is nice," she whispered.
"The party?" Zelos asked.
"No, it's nice being here with you," Storm said as she rested her head against his arm. He reached down and held her hand, squeezing it gently.
Well, that's it for this chapter. I hope that you all liked it. Not too much humor I know, but you can't expect me to be funny ALL the time. Anyway, tell me what you thought. Thanks for reading. Wow! I just realized how long this chapter is.