Chapter 8 - The eyes of oceans

22nd March, Darjeeling's Apartment, 15:02

The low position of St. Gloriana in the tournament league table was depressing to the members of the Sensha-do team, but their thoughts were buoyed up looking forward to the mid-term ball, traditionally known as 'The Leavers' Ball', which was fast approaching. This was a grand party organised as a farewell to the departing senior members of the team and as a welcome to those who would be filling their shoes. Now no one was more excited than the centerpiece of the show Darjeeling, who had insisted that she wanted one of those old styled masquerade balls.

Sarah hobbled back to Darjeeling's flat, trying her best to get back without having to delay Darjeeling more than necessary. Sarah thought going for a walk would be a good idea, fresh air in her lungs would help induce some magical healing process, but alas the air did nothing but make her knee hurt more and also made her arm groan. She got to the bedroom as Darjeeling had said her clothes were where she said they would be, at the end of the wardrobe. Near her Sensha-duo uniform were her dresses. For the masquerade ball she didn't really have anything ballroom-esque, as she never in her wildest dreams thought something like this in her life would happen.

"Do you know what you are going to wear?" a curious Darjeeling asked, kissing the side of her cheek as she finished speaking, which made Sarah's heart swell.

"I really don't know, I should really go shopping. But all the shops would be closed by the time I get there." Sarah just looked down to her leg and shook her head.

"Nothing was said about style. And anyway, this one is very much you." Darjeeling lifted out a relatively plain blue cocktail dress with two cream decorative bows on it. Sarah looked at it; she liked to wear this on days out on special occasions.

"But would it be really appropriate?"

"If not, I'll make sure no one complains." Darjeeling added with a little smile.

"But what do you have?" Sarah asked.

"That's a surprise for you later." She gave Sarah a little wink and headed to the ensuite, throwing off her cardigan which landed on Sarah's head. Sarah took off the cloth blocking her vision, the sweet smell of Darjeeling's perfume oozed from it filling her nostrils. She made her wobbly way to her side of the bed and sat on it, taking off her school jumper and blouse, opening up her bedside cabinet taking out two clear bag things that the doctors had given her so she could shower without getting the plaster casts wet. By the time her preparation was done, and only her undergarments were on, Darjeeling had walked out of the steaming room, with a wet towel wrapped around her body.

"You know I could just give you a scrub. Like the old days." Darjeeling chuckled a little.

Sarah stood and walked over, placing the side of her head on Darjeeling's chest, listening to her heart sing slowly to the beautiful relaxing rhythm.

"Thanks but I'll be fine." She took a firm grip of the towel and yanked it as she laughed like a child while moving as quickly as she was able towards the ensuite.

"Give it back" Darjeeling said rather timidly and playfully, obviously she didn't care much for her stolen garment.

Sarah chucked back the towel and closed the door. She somehow managed to have a long shower without any incidents, grabbed a dry towel from the towel rack and slowly but surely made her way out.

"Someone is happy today," Darjeeling added, sitting on the end of the bed and smiling towards Sarah while wearing a white silk nightgown.

"A little tease wouldn't go a miss," Sarah quipped.

"Sarah, sit there. I want you to look. 'Do not dissect a rainbow'. In other words, do not destroy a beautiful phenomenon by over analyzing it," Darjeeling said, ushering Sarah towards the only chair in the bedroom - a rather exquisite Louis XIV style one.

Sarah sat on the chair facing a mirror. The dresser held a figurative ton of makeup products. Darjeeling walked behind and rested her hands on Sarah's shoulders. "My lovely princess, my canvas for the artist, for with this picture I will paint a thousand awe-struck words."

"That's lovely but just some foundation will be fine" Sarah answered back, resting her head on her left shoulder feeling Darjeeling's hand against her plastered arm.

"For you, it's worth the time and effort," Darjeeling said as she kissed the top of Sarah's head. She took out some straighteners, wrapping a large chunk of her hair and began curling it. She repeated the process until her pin curls were fresh to the eyes.

"Okay, you have to have your eyes closed the whole time. I want this to be a surprise once it's done," Darjeeling instructed. Sarah gave a slight nod, at which Darjeeling commenced her make-up. It was a long and tedious ordeal. Darjeeling was very precise, having every millimetre perfectly covered forehead to chin in the correct product for each area; no area of skin was left untouched.

"You can open your eyes." Sarah did so just praying that Darjeeling hadn't messed this up, as really, she couldn't say anything bad as she had spent nearly an hour or more on her face, and she also didn't want Darjeeling to be upset on this day of all days. There would probably be consequences if she did so! Luckily, the sight reflecting back was a smooth, lightly pale look with a little pink on the cheeks, nothing too over the top but would work great with her dress.

"Thank you - it's perfect! Oh, um, could you help me put the dress on?"

"Well of course. I've been doing it for weeks so it's not like you're hiding anything," Darjeeling replied. She took off the towel and began placing on her underwear, and taking her time when it came to certain areas, then she then began to help Sarah put her dress on.

"Now the only thing to put on is your shoes, or shoe in this case" Darjeeling giggled.

Darjeeling grabbed a pair of cream high heels from one of the wardrobes, separating left and right. She brought the right one over and placed it on the seated Sarah's foot, as if it was a live action version of Cinderella.

"Oh, and it fits perfectly!" Darjeeling added slowly standing and offering her hand to Sarah, who took it in turn to stand. She did so awkwardly as there was a height difference between both legs now due to the high heel. Smiling, Sarah took a timid step forward. The lightning rod of pain shot straight into Sarah's bad leg, especially under her kneecap. Sarah let out a howl of pain.

"Are you OK?!" Darjeeling instantly said, taking her hand. Sarah shook her head.

"My knee! My knee!" she screamed out. She slowly sat back down in the chair with Darjeeling's assistance.

"It's the heels," Sarah said rather ashamedly as her knee throbbed.

"You don't have to wear them," Darjeeling said comfortingly, holding Sarah's slightly moist palm.

"But, I want to… for you."

"Ah, you're so sweet, like an adorable little teacup," Darjeeling fussed over her.

"Please let me try again. It might just be that I stretched myself a bit too much maybe," Sarah proffered.

"No, you will hurt yourself more, I can't have you do this for me my little teacup. Here..." Darjeeling lent over and grabbed one of Sarah's casual flat-soled plimsoll-style shoes. "These will be fine and if people mock you for them... well I will have stern words, no matter who it is, from Katyusha to Miho." She kissed the top of Sarah's hand. "I promise you."

"Thank you. I don't want to sound like a broken record but what are you wearing?"

"Be patient, you'll see the result all in good time. 'Good things come to those who wait', as they say" Once the idioms started it was best just not to answer back, so Sarah just gave her a smile.

"There is a car waiting to take you to the Manor House. I'll see you there, my little teacup," Darjeeling said, giving her a wink and placing Sarah's black and white rather scuffed shoe on Sarah's foot, tying the worn laces for her. She helped Sarah up, giving her a hug once she was sure that Sarah was in no pain.

Sarah now started hobbling her way out to the awaiting car. She knew she would walk more easily and be a lot more steady holding her single crutch with her good arm, but she knew Darjeeling would prefer to see her looking as 'normal' as possible. She also knew she would need her only working hand to hold a drink or something during the evening event. Her cocktail dress swayed with every trudge of the cast as she walked heavy-handedly down the stairs and to the front door.

A black-tinted Jaguar saloon car was there confronting her glance as she opened the front door. A suited chauffeur opened his driver's side door, moving swiftly to her aid opening the car door for her, raising his eyebrow only slightly at the state of his passenger. Sarah, feeling rather embarrassed by this, just moved uncomfortably towards the open door giving the driver a quick smile and a nod, contorting her leg and arm as best as she could to get the easiest access to the car.

In the end the driver had to hold her good arm and slowly lower her into the car at a ninety-degree angle as she swivelled to face forward, this was rather undignified at the best of times. but she knew the worst was to come for when she had to remove herself from the luxury car.

The car moved off slowly, winding down the main roads heading to the St Gloriana Sensha-do Manor House. Where Orange Pekoe deemed would be most acceptable and fitting for such a function. The car slowly wound down in speed as the journey's end came into view. The lovely driver came around and very promptly helped her out of the car making the ordeal look a lot more graceful compared to the beginning. Ahead of her was Orange Pekoe in a light pink dress going all the way down to her feet but her overall look was nothing out of the ordinary. Rukuriri, on the other hand, was vastly different; her normal plaited ponytail was untangled and her brown long hair cascaded below her shoulders and sparkled in the glow of the evening sun. Her dress, being a navy blue slim-fitting number, finished just above her ankle, revealing a pair of black high heels. It was hard to not say Rukuriri did look amazingly beautiful.

"So are you looking forward to this?" Orange Pekoe asked with a small smile.

"Well... to be honest, no. I just want to make people happy with my presence as I can't really do anything more than that. I think dancing will be out of the question," Sarah added with a rather reserved chuckle. "I heard rumours that all the hairdressers had been booked up months in advance for today,"

"Yes it is. I'm lucky I booked mine early in the year," Rukuriri said as she combed her fingers through her hair. "It's so nice a soft," she murmured as if in a little daydream.

"So this is the plan, the other commanders and other invitees will be arriving shortly," Rukuriri explained as she walked towards the closed oak doors inside the manor, the walls still covered in golden framed paintings of famous St Gloriana commanders and banners of past glories. "We have done this sort of party before for departing commanders, so the majority of the work is mostly the same. We will have drinks and light refreshments as the guests arrive. We start the formal part at seven o'clock sharp with a speech from old commander to the new, and then the new commander to the crowd. Then we have toasts to the school, the team, and the old and then the new commander. After that, there will be dancing in the ballroom…" Rukuriri's glance at Sarah seemed to say 'for those that are able'. "Buffet food will be served from eight and then the evening is more informal, although it is customary for the new commander to give a speech of thanks at the end. Got it!?"

Sarah nodded.

The main large oak doors of the manor were wide open with a red carpet with golden trim on the edges rolled down and through inside, between the two split curved staircases, which lead to Darjeeling's old (but Orange Pekoe's new) office. The carpet continued to and under some smaller closed oak doors. The doors opened and Sarah and Rukuriri waltzed into the ballroom. It too was grand in scale and decoration as well, with its large chandelier hanging from the middle of the room, large golden rimmed Georgian style windows up to 20 feet tall, pouring in the beautiful vista beyond. Chairs and tables were dotted around the outside edges of the ballroom. At one end was a long table with one grand looking chair in the middle.

"Darjeeling will sit in that chair, and once the night is over that, the throne will be Orange Pekoe's." Rukuriri added, "Relax us look lovely no need to worry about things. Just don't embarrass or upset Darjeeling."

22nd March, The Manor House, 16:37

The foreign guests still hadn't arrived just yet but Orange Pekoe left to supervise some element of the proceedings, making sure everything went like clockwork. Almost immediately Assam joined Sarah and Rukuriri, which was good as they were standing in the middle of the empty dancing area looking a little lost. Assam was already dressed in her evening gown with her long hair tied up in her trademark bow, but this time one that matched the colour of her ball-esque looking dress. It was just odd seeing Assam wearing a black ball mask covering the top of her face.

"Hey!" she greeted Sarah, giving her a warm but gentle hug. She enquired how Sarah was, as they had not seen each other for some while. Like Darjeeling, Assam had taken a back seat in the Sensha-do team and was presumably concentrating on her exams too.

The conversation between the three girls quickly turned to the Spring Tournament, although no one wanted to mention the match between St. Gloriana and Ooarai.

"Did you see the Pravda - Chi-Ha-Tan match?" Assam asked. "Pravda won convincingly, of course. I noticed the tactics they used were exactly the same as ours!"

"You mean they copied us?" Sarah asked the older girl.

"Oh come on, getting Chi-Ha-Tan to do a stupid charge and then shoot them down at one's leisure isn't exactly an original tactic, is it?!" Rukuriri pointed out.

At this point, the trio was interrupted by Rosehip, who was inexplicably wearing a maid's uniform.

"May I get you any drinks ladies?!" she said in a voice that was just a bit too loud.

"Rosehip… why are you dressed as a maid?! You're supposed to be attending this ball as a member of the team…" Rukuriri started, but was stopped as Assam held up her hand.

"It's alright. Rosehip asked to be one of the serving staff as she gets bored just standing around, and we wouldn't want that. It's been cleared with Darjeeling," she said, with emphasis on the final sentence which ended any further discussion on the matter. Assam, however, wasn't done with Rosehip.

"That's very good Rosehip, but do you think you could try to say it a bit more softly, and in a more lady-like manner. 'Would you care for any drinks, madam?'. See, like that. And when you are carrying a tray of drinks, please remember to SLOW DOWN!" Assam instructed Rosehip in her duties, to Sarah's amusement and Rukuriri's apparent annoyance.

"Also the ball hasn't actually started yet, so there is no need to be serving the drinks just yet. But… since you're here… I'll have a cranberry juice, please. And whatever Miss Rukuriri and Miss English want." Assam continued. Rukuriri declined and excused herself from the group to assist with the last minute preparations. Sarah also said no to a drink for the moment so Rosehip left at top speed to fulfil Assam's request.

"Sweet little thing, isn't she?" Assam said, looking after Rosehip's departing form. "Useful too, depending on the task at hand, of course," she said. "You are aware that Darjeeling requested that there should be alcohol available tonight? Some champagne, wine and beer I believe. Rosehip can get you some if you want it later."

"Not for me thanks; it wouldn't be advisable as I'm still taking painkillers, and besides, I don't need to be any more unstable than I already am!" Sarah said with a humourless laugh.

"A good point," Assam agreed. "I won't be having too much, but Darjeeling probably will. I can't blame her though; it's her special night. Personally, I don't think it's a great idea. Last time Darjeeling requested alcohol at a party we later found her face down in a puddle, wearing a silly hat, and singing a song about goblins!" Sarah was quite surprised by this revelation.

"More importantly..." Assam continued "...I'm just glad we managed to keep her away from the cooking! When she heard that Maginot and BC Freedom Academy were going to be here, she wanted to make a special French dish with Scarlet Pimpernel sauce!"

"What exactly is Scarlet Pimpernel sauce?!" Sarah asked with a mix of curiosity and horror.

"Well…" Assam began to explain Darjeeling's recipe. "Apparently, you take a large, ripe frog. Squeeze it…" Assam moved her hands as if she was wringing out a wet towel to illustrate her point.

"Yes, yes, alright…!" Sarah interrupted; the horror element of her feelings having won.

"I see that Katyusha has kept command of the Pravda team," Assam commented to Sarah, moving the conversation on from vile amphibian recipes. "Honestly, I wonder if anyone will ever prize her loose! I'm rather glad she's not coming tonight."

"Oh, is she not?" Sarah queried. To be honest, she had no real idea who was on the guest list or not.

"No… she made some excuse. Her Vice-Commander Nonna is coming in her stead. Suits me; I never really got on with Katyusha. I don't trust her," Assam concluded.

"Oh?" Sarah asked, hoping Assam might give away some juicy gossip.

"She can be alright, at times," Assam conceded. "But I'm not sure she always fights fairly. That applies to the whole of Pravda, in my view."

"What do you mean?" Sarah queried. She'd never really fought either against or alongside Pravda so had limited experience of them.

"You know, dodgy tactics, unexplained happenings, things like that," Assam said lightly. "The day before a match the opposing team's star gunner is found to have very sadly, accidentally, brutally cut off her head while brushing her hair; that sort of thing" Assam exaggerated.

Sarah gave a little chuckle but she didn't know if Assam was being serious or not. "Who else will be here?" she asked.

"By St. Gloriana tradition the commanders of all the main Sensha-do teams are invited, although I believe the invitation to Jatkosota High got 'lost in the post'. We just can't afford for the silverware to go missing again. Also, the invitation is extended to former commanders, both of St. Gloriana and other schools. So Maho Nishizumi will be here with Erika Itsumi; sadly our own Earl Grey was otherwise engaged and so couldn't attend. I don't think Darjeeling will be too put out by that. Those two had a…" Assam paused and pursed her lips. "... difficult relationship" she concluded.

"Oh?" Sarah said. Sarah was get a little conscious that she'd said 'Oh' a few to many times, and was getting worried that Assam would start to think of her as a bit of an idiot, but she couldn't think of how to politely fish for details.

"Let's just say that Darjeeling under Earl Grey was not the Darjeeling we know today," Assam said, somewhat cryptically. Sarah just nodded in acceptance, as this wasn't really the gossip that she wanted to really know about. Especially on the ex-ex-commander's personal interactions, with the ex-commander.

So Assam continued. "We'll also be hosting Kay from Saunders, Nishi from Chi-Ha-Tan and Miho from Ooarai and many many others."

"Miho will be here?" Sarah asked. Again she felt as if she was asking stupid questions, but her leg was beginning to hurt with all the standing she was doing and it was distracting her. She could, of course, have excused herself and sat down somewhere, but she wanted to keep talking to Assam who showed no signs of moving anywhere.

"Indeed," Assam replied. "Luckily she doesn't blame St. Gloriana for what happened to her; she's far too nice to hold a grudge, anyway."

"Your cranberry juice madam!" Rosehip yelled as she appeared alongside the duo, making Sarah jump.

"Thank you, but… softly… remember?!" Assam lectured Rosehip, taking the glass from the tray.

"Yes, Miss Assam!" Rosehip said, still again she was way too loud before she scooted off. Assam rolled her eyes but said nothing.

"Could we… ah… sit down?" Sarah asked as her leg was really beginning to throb now.

"Of course; how rude of me. I'm terribly sorry for not suggesting it earlier." Assam replied, moving over to some seating on the edges away from the dance floor, as Sarah limped behind. She gratefully although not very gracefully flopped down onto one of the chairs.

"I bet Darjeeling is loving looking after you! Our wounded soldier!" Assam commented.

"Er… yeah," Sarah was keen to change the subject of this conversation. "How do you think Orange Pekoe compares to Darjeeling or Earl Grey as a commander?" She asked Assam.

"I think she's doing really well," Assam replied, sipping her drink. "It is always difficult for a new commander to take over, but the victory over Chi-Ha-Tan really boosted her confidence. It is a shame the match against Ooarai ended on such a sour note. I think Orange Pekoe has handled the situation and the rumours well, however."

"What rumours?" Sarah asked.

"There's one going around that Orange Pekoe herself gave the order to fire the late shot that injured Miho. It's not true, of course."

The sound of heels and chatter of girls grew louder. "It seems the ball will be starting," Assam said looking over her shoulder. "Do you want to know the real reason why we have this ball every year?"

"Why?"

"I'm guessing you know the saying 'keep your friends close... but your enemies closer'," Assam said with a wink, leaving the stranded Sarah in her chair as she went to welcome the guests.

A/N: Thanks GrandadmiralThrawn rules for the review. Sarah is a strong character but lacks in the brain department sometimes. Hopefully she gets her head in the right spot sooner or later but who knows really in these rough times.