A/N: And again in the Isles, we have to attend the party, don't we? Cheers!
Chapter Ten
Surprise, Surprise
"You're certain you want to attend, my alskling?" Allowyn asked, looking to the doctor for confirmation as the woman professionally examined the queen's son. "I won't approve if you don't, Helen."
"If it were up to me, he would be in bed," Helen stated flatly, sighing with some annoyance as she smacked Harald lightly on the thigh. "Stay still! You're as bad as you were when you were five years old, restless as a cricket in the hearth." Harald glowered at her, but said nothing as she examined his bound arm and lifted it tentatively, watching his face for reactions. He flinched when she lifted higher and stifled a little choke of pain. She tsked and lowered the bound arm gently to rest on the pillows. "Why do you insist on going to a party the night after you're injured? From what your brothers tell me you despise parties in the first place."
Harald didn't look at her when he quietly responded, face set in resignation. "Because of Lily."
"Oh… sweetheart…" Allowyn slipped her arm around him, savoring the rare opportunity of time alone with her son, her fingers unconsciously tousling through his dark brown hair as she always had in the past. "Does it really mean that much to you?"
"To me? No…" Harald made no move to slink away. "But to her… it means a lot."
"I just don't want you to hurt yourself… and I fear for your safety, with all the strangers inside the castle," Allowyn went on, bringing him closer until he leaned against her shoulder, holding him close. So few of her sons were still seeking her out for comfort, and it gave her a feeling of purpose to be there for them.
"I know, mother." Harald sat up, breaking her hold, but resting his free hand on hers in consolation. "We've taken precautions. There are double the amount of guards at every post. Helm and Harry have triple checked the roster and questioned all new arrivals since last night, and the twins have investigated property aboard each ship. There's not much else we can do at this point but wait and see what happens. Harken has repeatedly interrogated the boy who attacked me and you know as well as I do he has little information to offer."
"What did he say?" Helen asked, who had not been party to the conversations.
"He said someone paid him to do it, but he doesn't know the man. He seems to be truly remorseful of his actions, but we'll be keeping him for a while before releasing him to teach him a lesson," Harald elaborated. He looked to his mother and offered her a slight crack of a smile. "My arm may be aching, but I think I can stomach a few hours of wine, food, and revelry if it will make Lily happy."
"Well…" Allowyn hesitated, looking to the doctor, who she trusted implicitly.
"He seems to be capable," Helen confirmed, "and the wound shows no immediate sign of infection, nor has he torn his stitching so far." She caved in, putting away her medical supplies and clipping her bag shut. "I suppose as long as he rests, and I place emphasis on rests, for most of the party and only sparingly partakes of the offered spirits, he may attend safely with my seal of approval."
Harald's smile persisted, and he leaned in to give his mother a peck on the cheek, something he had not done in years. Allowyn watched him go, her hand floating to her cheek in awe, his smile spreading to her. She turned to look at Helen and murmured, "My, my… Lily is bringing out the best in everyone, it seems."
#
As the hours passed and the ball approached, the castle rhythm grew from a light buzz to a steady hum of activity. The servants followed party procedures which by now were routine to most of the staff. Cooks began heating the stoves and stocking the firewood, wait staff polished the silver and prepared the salad plates, and the royal family began the task of trussing themselves for the occasion. Most of the brothers prepared themselves in a way they'd done so many times before, nonplussed and some bored by the notion. Meanwhile, Lily was a flurry of emotions, wildly pacing around Helena and Heins' room in her underwear among feminine company. "What if I trip and fall during dancing? What if I insult someone terribly? How am I supposed to know who I'm talking to? How will I know when to be on the floor and when to stand to the side?"
"What if you pace so much you wear a hole in my floor?" Helena exclaimed amidst a burst of laughter, finishing pinning her own hair and adjusting the few loose curls. "Would you calm yourself? Gracious, you would think your life is on the line! Now sit down and take a deep breath to relax while I fetch the dress from the closet. You're wearing a corset, you need to breathe or you will pass out from all this worry."
Lily tried to follow her advice, taking a few slow breaths. "Thank you… for helping me with this. I never would have been able to do it without you."
Helena came out of the closet, gingerly handling the dress she'd lovingly labored over the past few weeks. "You're more than welcome. Come here and I'll help you into the gown." Lily lifted her legs as told, stepping into the circle of smooth material and felt it slide along her skin as she put her arms through the sleeves. She held the bodice aloft as Helena worked on buttoning the back, sliding the hook in and out of the holes expertly. "How does it feel so far?" she asked as she worked, admiring her choice of colors.
"It feels like I'm wearing a cloud," Lily replied dreamily, letting go of the bodice and running her hands along the fabric. "I've never worn anything so fancy before, I'm sure of it. I only wish I could see it for myself… can you describe it to me at all?"
Helena smiled compliantly. Her favorite part of working as a seamstress had always been seeing her customer's faces, and that feeling, lost for a while, was revived with her gift to Lily. "Of course I can… let's see. I thought deep blue would be a good base color for you. It goes with your skin tone, and it's a soothing color. Almost the whole pattern of the dress is focused on the dark blue that you have your hand on now, but here…" she drew Lily's hand to the hipline, "… here it's white, where the fabric isn't silk, but fine lace. And here," again she moved Lily's hand, sliding it to her waist, "is a sash my husband had that's just a tad lighter blue with an imprint of the royal family insignia right in the center."
"Do you think they'll mind if I wear it so vividly? I'm not really royalty. I just don't want to seem presumptuous," Lily worried in a timid voice.
"Oh, I'm quite certain they won't mind," Helena replied with a smile. "I think they're starting to see you as family. I know I do."
Lily's hands slid over the fabric slowly, savoring its feel and thinking on what she had said. "I know you worked hard on it, Helena. Thank you so much."
"Oh, it's not just me. Heins had a hand in it, too. He claimed he wanted to 'try something out of the box' and designed a headpiece for you I think is perfect. Come this way, and let me brush through your hair before we unwrap your curls." Helena guided her to one of the vanities and helped her sit, humming a gentle tune while running her brush through Lily's chocolate brown hair, careful to avoid the hiding pins.
Lily fidgeted under the table. "Do you go to a lot of these parties? Was it hard for you when you first…" she trailed off, trying to think of how to phrase it politely.
"You mean when I first became a princess?" Helena asked kindly. "It wasn't as hard as I thought it would be. You don't really think about it, not when you have someone like Heins to focus on, oh, sorry!"
Lily winced as Helena brushed through a stubborn tangle. "It's alright. It's the heat right now. It makes the nape of my neck tangle so easily. Especially when I'm out there training, or like today when Heins was nice enough to take me out riding with the both of you."
"Oh, believe me, he loves to be helpful," Helena remarked, careful as she ran the brush through a few more times for good measure, "and he knows how deeply you care for Harald. It was good to give that man a day of rest before tonight. He'll have you to be sure he doesn't wear himself out." She began to unravel the curling pins Lily had been wearing all day and fluffed the curls at the back, beaming as she set the brush down on the dresser. "Your hair is a natural for this, Lily. You look gorgeous already. Now I just have to find where Heins put the headpiece…" She moved over to the opposite side of the room, which, though organized to Heins, was a mess for anyone else. Her hands picked through some rolls of fabric and waded her way into his closet. "He insists on mingling his work with his personal room, and it drives me crazy sometimes… oh, there it is!" She reached for a shelf in the closet and took down the accessory, bringing it out and admiring her husband's work as she fit it into Lily's hair.
The tiny headband itself was woven throughout Lily's bun with a small, tidy ribbon of dark blue satin. In the center of the piece resting comfortably atop her head was a carefully crafted lily. The petals were composed of pure white silk, and on the edges and insides of the flower there were a few sparsely placed diamonds to resemble newly formed dew drops. Helena found a ribbon choker to match the headband and carefully tied it back around Lily's slender neck, beaming.
"Excuse me, I do hope I'm not interrupting, but can I come in now? Pleeeease?" Heins begged from beyond the doorway as he knocked. "I've been shooed away twice prematurely and I simply must see how the ensemble looks on her or I'll die right here!"
"You won't die," Helena remarked as she dipped a brush into a paint pot, tracing it over Lily's lips to turn them an alluring shade of red. "Besides, we're almost finished! Give us two minutes!"
"Don't use that on me, I invented that line," Heins exclaimed, "you say two minutes but it really means ten!"
"I swear!" Helena dabbed a powder puff around Lily's cheeks, adding a little color to them. She observed her work, considering further coloring but deciding against it. Lily had natural beauty; it would be a pity to spoil it with too much make up. "I think that's enough." She walked to the bedroom door and opened it, allowing her husband inside. "Come in, quickly. If you die in the hall, we'll all have to step over you."
Heins hopped inside the room and put a hand on his heart, falling back on the doorframe for support. "Oh, Miss Lily! Oh! Helena! Do you see? With the dress- she's so- I can't even finish my sentences!"
Helena laughed at his enthusiasm, but she could tell he was utterly pleased by what he saw. Lily, on the other hand, blushed behind her already rosy cheeks and twirled one of her curls absently. "Do you really think it looks good?"
"Good?" Heins repeated, floored. "You look like you stepped right out of a fairytale! It's perfect, don't you see it, my brother the knight in shining armor, you the fearless, beautiful princess!" He took her hand and swept her up to her feet, moving with her in a quick waltz that made Lily stumble a bit to keep up with. "And tonight, you will be the belle of the ball!" He released her hand and looked to his wife, gingerly bringing her close and placing a hand on her slightly swollen belly. "And you, my love, are glowing."
Helena looked over herself to assess his claims. The dark green fabric color was never her favorite, but it matched with the color of her eyes, and the gold lace outlining the bodice would help remove attention from the obviously bigger middle. She adjusted her sleeves. "I wouldn't have thought I'd get bigger this quickly, and I couldn't wear what I planned. I had to alter this dress a little last minute to make sure it had enough room. You don't think I look frumpy?" Helena asked him, kissing his neck for good measure. She leaned against his skin, smelling the scent of his rich cologne. Her hand trailed to his ponytail and she tugged the golden ribbon holding it teasingly.
"You look like my gorgeous, pregnant wife, bearing our first child," Heins replied quietly, bringing her long braid over her shoulder and draping it over her front. He slowly stroked her stomach, speaking as if he were talking to his baby. "And I can't wait until he arrives."
"She," Helena corrected, causing a look of puzzlement to come over her husband's face.
"She?" he repeated, cocking his head.
"It's a little girl. I can tell," Helena murmured, putting her hand over her husband's.
"Now that would be something," Heins replied in the same murmur, more thoughtful than affectionate. "Mother would love to have another little girl close… she has so many things still, here in the castle…"
Lily had been listening in the background, not because she meant to eavesdrop, but because her hearing was so excellent. Her brow wrinkled at Heins' words. What does that mean? Another little girl? But… the royal family… they're all boys.
Helena broke the spell of quiet in the room, taking her husband's hand at her side. "We should start thinking of names, soon, whether boy or girl. I could be wrong, you know."
"I do hope you're not planning on continuing our tradition of H's… there are far too many H names to remember as it is," Heins lamented.
"I'll try not to pick an H then," Helena managed to say between giggles, "but right now your little one is talking to me, and she's saying let's eat."
Heins took one woman on each arm and chattered on like a magpie as they made their way to the ballroom and began the awful process of waiting for the festivities.
#
Lily soon forgot her inquisitions about girls in the royal family and found that once the ball started to take shape, it was immediately agreeable with her. There were musicians playing some sweet melody in the background, with a focus on violin, and the smell of savory food filled the air on her side. A low, constant wave of chatter came from everywhere, so much so that she could not pick out a singular conversation, only bits and pieces. She had taken all day yesterday, when waiting to be allowed to see Harald, to carefully map out the ballroom in her mind based on the pillars surrounding the dance floor. She imagined them as they were described to her by Horatio: towering, silent giants of white marble guarding the ballroom and its inhabitants, looming over the party. To her, they provided sanctuary, a place to hide while observing the thrills before her, which she longed to be a part of and yet felt were taboo for an outsider.
"Ladies and gentlemen!" came a booming voice from across the room. Lily edged out from behind the monument, eager to hear the announcement. "It is my pleasure to introduce our distinguished hosts of tonight's ball: The royal family of the Southern Isles!" Cheers erupted around her as each prince was introduced, and Lily herself clapped especially loudly as she heard Harald's name. "We hold this gala tonight to welcome back the captain of the army! Long live the Southern Isles! Long live Queen Allowyn! Long live King George!" She hung back as the crowds finished cheering and the instruments resumed their playing, fussing with her dress and hairpiece as the princes dispersed into the crowd.
It wasn't long before she was discovered by someone who was also trying to remain in the background. "Are you lost?"
"Hm?" She recognized the gruff voice, but the question seemed genuine. "No, that is, I was just-"
"Oh. It's you." Harken blinked a few times, studying her. He hadn't even recognized Lily at first, but with her fashionable dress and highlighted face she looked entirely different. Usually he didn't spare women second glances, but he found himself looking at her for what seemed a very long time. "You look… nice."
"Thank you," she murmured, her eyes drawn down.
"I like your hat."
"Thank you again." Lily repeated the sentiment, offering a weak laugh. She decided to try and make small talk with him, for practice. After all, she certainly couldn't chat with the ladies of court about the last sparring match she'd won, could she? She cleared her throat to sound a little more confident. "Isn't it fine weather for this time of year?"
"Hot and humid," he replied, watching her fiddling hands with growing amusement. "Are you nervous?"
"Of course not! Don't be ridiculous!" she scolded, before her shoulders slumped a little and she dropped face. "My mind is in a million places; I feel like I'm walking on pins and needles. Is it really that obvious?"
"Yes." Harken took her arm and hooked it through his own, patting her hand. "But don't let it bother you. I can fix it. Just walk with me and you'll be fine." His strides were wide, made with far greater confidence than her own, weaving among people as he led her out onto the floor. He leaned to whisper comments as they passed certain guests. "The voice that lands on your ear with the grace of a screeching cat is the Duchess of Worcestershire, she's a chore to listen to, but she makes a damn fine sauce for her meat and brings it as a gift, so we always invite her to the events." Lily giggled as they continued to walk, temporarily forgetting her worry.
Harken snatched a glass of champagne from a tray with his free hand as they passed by a servant, drinking half of it in swift motion. "If you can catch any of what this girl is saying as we come closer, she's known as Bella the breathless, because she talks too fast for any man to understand her. She likes to think she's in charge of events like these, but it's really a show to try and put Bevoir on the map. Don't let her bully you if you get hooked into a conversation with her. It's a small country."
Lily was feeling more at ease when he came to a halt, and she could hear several female voices clamoring around her.
"Oh my, it looks so painful!"
"And so deep!"
"You're so brave!"
"Beg your pardon, ladies…" Harken interrupted, "but I must regrettably leave Miss Lily Granthson of Arendelle in the company of my brother. Harald?"
Harald didn't hear his brother or the disgruntled murmurs from the ladies around him. He could only hear the pounding of his pulse when he first saw Lily, a beautiful stranger so familiar to his heart. Then gradually sounds swelled back into existence and he stepped forward, taking Lily's hand in his own, bending at the waist and serving her a kiss. "My lady."
Lily felt heat bloom into her cheeks and quickly took advantage of the navy fan imprinted with gold Helena had given her as part of her outfit. She fanned herself lightly, hiding her flushing cheeks while searching her mind for an appropriate response. "My lord."
Harald smiled as he gently pulled her to his side. She was sweating, her hand cool as she enfolded her fingers in the spaces between his.
"Good evening, Prince Harken," purred Bella, lightly fanning herself and stirring her golden curls. "Isn't it a beautiful night for a party?"
"The night itself is standard," Harken declared, still watching Lily. "But I suppose there is beauty still to be found, for those who know where to look."
"Did you discover anything from that awful, awful boy that dared attack poor Harald?" she pressed, going on without waiting for an answer. "We were just saying what a horrible shock it must have been to live through, but the wound makes him ever more vigilant, doesn't it?" She fluttered her eyelashes towards the Captain, who disguised a grimace behind a cough.
Harald did not dislike Bella as much as he had Orion, but she was still annoyingly clingy to whichever prince happened to be popular at the time. Tonight, to his chagrin, the honor belonged to him. "We are always on guard here. Fear not ladies, you are perfectly safe."
"I think I will help myself to some wine," Harken exclaimed, nodding politely to his brother for show and bowing to the ladies as was customary. Though he knew she did not see him, he made direct eye contact with Lily. "I bid you farewell for now. I hope you enjoy yourself."
"Oh, we will," one of the ladies commented.
"Leaving already?" another groaned.
Among other pouts and moans of disappointment, Harken was off. He'd done his duty, delivering Lily to his brother, where he knew she belonged. And though he did allow himself one glance back over his shoulder to look at her, he saw her true smile and knew its radiant joy it would be enough to last him the night.
#
For the next hour, Lily performed excellently as Harald led her among the crowds. She was quiet, but polite as he introduced her, striving to remember the multiple voices she heard and associating them with the guests. Going through the list so far in her mind, she almost jumped out of her skin when Harald interrupted her with a whisper. "How are you doing?"
A high, nervous laugh fluttered from her throat. "Fine. I'm sorry, I'm just trying to remember everybody."
"Don't. I don't." Harald chuckled, trying to ease her. His tone became smoother when he followed with, "you're beautiful tonight."
She leaned a little against his good arm, comforted by his presence enough to tease him. "But not other nights?"
He scoffed softly, lifting her arm and kissing her hand again. "Especially tonight… did Heins help you with your dress?"
"Yes…" she trailed off, a little guiltily. She would have liked to do more with herself, but the fact was she had hardly used any of her own clothes since coming to the Isles. Her whole wardrobe was picked by Helena or Heins from their massive closets, or made by the servants. Harald was aware of discomfort in her voice.
"What's wrong? It's pretty on you. The blue reminds me of the sea on a cloudy day… and the lily on your head is fitting…"
"Nothing, I just wish I had a hand in it, that's all." She changed the subject, curiosity striking her. "You never told me what you're wearing."
She thought she heard him chuckle again when he replied, "why don't you find out?"
She put her hand on his chest, sliding down along the edge of a jacket he wore, a thick one made from what felt like leather, with a braided outer rim leading all the way to his collar. When she reached the bottom of the jacket, it ended in tassels, which she let her fingers toy with for a moment. She patted his chest back up, feeling a lapel of silk along his neck, tucked into a crisp buttoned shirt. Then she slid her fingers to his left side above his heart where she was sure his medals would be. She paused when she felt something silk instead, running her fingers over it curiously until she realized what it was. "What's this?" she asked, though she was certain she knew.
He cupped his hands over hers and leaned in towards her. "A lily. My suit matches yours in color, and in decoration."
"But your medals… don't you always wear them?"
Harald paused before replying, his tone quieter, reserved for her ears. "I used to. But something else took their place."
Her pulse began to pound in her head, her hand sliding up to wrap around his neck, no longer caring about the crowd around them, and she started to lean in towards his lips. She closed her eyes as his hands lifted her at the small of her back.
"Harald!" the king shouted for his son amidst the crowd, eager to introduce him to someone. "Harald, where are you?"
The grunt of obvious annoyance that came from Harald was clear as he straightened, and Lily sighed wistfully, squeezing his hand. "Go on. I'll just wait here. We've a long night ahead, right?"
Harald grumbled amidst his own more palatable sigh, and nodded. "You're right. Sure you'll be fine here?"
"I'm sure," Lily affirmed, sniffing the air. "I'm close to the buffet; I can smell it!"
"Alright. I promise we'll share some dances before the night is through." Harald managed a smile, squeezed her hand, and left to answer his father's call.
After hemming and hawing with a long-winded duchess of something-or-other, Lily cautiously began to make her way towards the array of food. Her nose served as a guide to the sweet aromas of the feast, the air a mix of sweet and savory. She was nearly there when she heard a small, petite clearing of the throat in front of her. She paused, unfamiliar at first with the sound.
"Lily, was it? Of Arendelle?"
Now she recognized it. "Bella the br-Oh! That is, of… Bevoir?"
"See? I told you she'd heard of me," Bella bragged to her two companions. She circled Lily once, her steely blue eyes sparkling like a shark. She dusted something invisible from her own gown and absently twirled one of her long golden curls hanging just above the cut of her prominent bosom. "Your dress is lovely."
Lily sensed some darkness rippling among the compliment, but she disregarded it. "Thank you, you're very kind. I'm sure your dress is lovely, too."
"Oh, yes, that's right…" for a moment, she sounded sympathetic, but it was fleeting as she continued, "you can't see, can you?"
"I'm afraid not, at least, not the way you see," Lily affirmed, her smile a little less genuine. She wondered if they'd found out themselves or through gossip, and from where. She had hoped she would develop a friendship with someone tonight, but Bella was giving her second thoughts.
The princess dressed in golden yellow burst into a peal of giggles, understanding it as a joke. "As if there's any other way to see," she murmured to her companions.
"Are you and Captain Harald very close?" came a high, hesitant new voice. It had a pleasant tonal quality, humble, and with an odd, but distinguishable accent.
"I am talking!" Bella suddenly snapped, so loudly that it caused Lily to falter for a moment. Her syrupy sweetness returned the next moment, however, when she pressed onward, "do answer us, Lily. Are you close with the Captain? How did you manage to come here from Arendelle, surely not on your own?"
Lily found this to be a rather impertinent way of asking her relationship, much more forceful than the accented voice, but she stood strong. "I was invited to stay while I pursue my training."
"Training?" Bella questioned, seemingly oblivious to her impertinence. "What sort of training?"
"I train with the soldiers in the yard," Lily began, somewhat happy to be talking about something she enjoyed with someone new. She was decent with the sword, couldn't she be decent in conversation? She had to try. "It's very hard work, but I've more than doubled my sparring time with a partner since I started, and I can hold my own with a longsword now."
"Oh… how… nice. Sword training," Bella stated, sounding as if Lily had just hiked her skirt up in front of her.
Lily could tell Bella had only been fishing for answers and testing the water to see whether Lily would be accepted into the clique or labeled an outcast. She smiled politely as she indicated with a gesture in front of her, changing the subject. "I was going to see the buffet," she commented, "if you'd like to join me you're certainly welcome."
Bella opened her own fan with a snap, using it as a shield in front of her face, and offhandedly commented in a whisper to one of her peers, who giggled. She stepped forward, her face dropping and feigning disappointment she knew couldn't be seen. "Unfortunately, we are watching our weight and have already eaten earlier. Of course, if you need our help with anything, you only need to ask."
Lily tried to suppress her cheeks from going redder than they were, but managed to give a few flippant flaps of her fan in front of her face instead. "No, I'm sure I can manage. If you'll excuse me, then." She stepped around them, her heart secretly steeping in her defeat. She paused when her fingertips grazed the edge of one of the tables laden with food, unable to serve herself without assistance. She could feel Bella's eyes still watching her, waiting for an opportune moment to serve as a savior for the blind girl, and for the first time in a while, she felt helpless.
"Um, excuse me?" Suddenly the same kind, accented voice spoke up, and Lily heard the rustling of fabric on her left. "Hi, I wanted to introduce myself and say I'm so sorry for Bella. She can be just plain mean sometimes."
"Oh!" Lily exclaimed, starting to curtsey when someone took her hand and shook it up and down, jostling her in the process.
"I'm Millie! Well, my distinguished given name is Milifred, but that always sounded like a boy's name added onto a girl's name to me so everyone just calls me Millie!"
"H-hello," Lily said with a breathy laugh, fixing her headband. "I'm-"
"Lily, right? Gosh, you should hear how much Bella has talked about you. That blind girl this, and that blind girl that, Millie, did you hear about her- hey! Our names rhyme! Lily and Millie, how about that?" She suddenly broke off with a stifled gasp of shock. "Oh, I'm so sorry I said it like that, "the blind girl", I really have to learn when to keep my big mouth shut…"
"It's okay," Lily comforted her, reaching out and taking the wounded girl's hand. "You didn't mean anything by it."
"Thanks," Millie flashed a smile at her, flipping out her little pink fan before speaking to hide her words from the crowd. "So did you really eat yet? Because none of us did. Bella's just lying so she can stuff her face when no one's looking. And I'm starving!"
Lily smiled and shook her head. "I haven't. But would you mind helping me a little?"
"Why, sure!" Millie took two plates, one for each of them. "You just tell me what to grab and I'm at your service! Let's start here, with the meat and cheese portion! Let's see, they have swiss and cheddar, oh, and looks like a whole hunk of goat cheese, too! Have you ever had it? It's so creamy and it goes great with salad. But the best parts of any buffet at the Isles is always the desserts; they have a chocolate fondue here that's to die for!"
As Lily ate with her new friend, she found herself forgetting Bella's comments and laughing as Millie told her stories about parties she'd been to and people she'd met. They were both going to a table filled with dessert when they ran into another familiar face.
"Lily! Enjoying the party?" asked Heins as he approached from the end of the table, a smudge of white buttercream lining the left corner of his mouth as he devoured a pastry painstakingly covered in delicate icing.
"Very much," Lily answered truthfully. She heard a skittering behind her and felt the presence of her friend hiding, wondering what could be wrong. "This is my new friend," she introduced, pulling her by the arm out to her side, "Millie."
"Millie," Heins swallowed the rest of the pastry and bowed, beaming, his eyes scanning her in a swift up and down motion before he took on a pleased expression. "What a well-coordinated ensemble you have… the lace use down the seams is spot on; salmon is such a cheery color for the base, don't you think?"
"Yes!" Millie squeaked, her cheeks blooming into color. "It was a piece from your design a few years ago," she added shyly. "My father heard you made gowns and requested it from you for my eighteenth birthday… you probably don't remember."
"Oh, my dear sweet lady, of course I remember; this is what I do!" He enthused, clasping his hands together. "And what fine care you've shown it! If that's any indication, you can call on my services anytime you feel the need for something new in your collection of apparel."
"Thank you so much," Millie gratefully replied, coming out of her shell. "I've wanted to thank you in person for some time now but every time I come to the parties I'm just too shy."
"Nonsense!" Heins enthused with a flippant toss of his ponytail. "Shy of me? Whatever for? I'm always pleased to meet fans of my work, Millie, and now thanks to Lily, I- hey! Your names rhyme! Isn't that something?" Millie giggled as Helena approached, taking delicate bites of a tea sandwich. "Oh, dear, you must see," Heins snagged his wife by the arm and pointed out Millie's dress, "this is one of my pieces from a few years ago, just before I met you. What do you think?"
Helena looked at the pink ensemble for a moment and smiled patiently at her husband. "The dress is fabulous, but the person wearing it is truly lovely." She gently prodded him with her elbow for an introduction.
"Oh, but of course! I'm so sorry, how rude of me! Millie, this is Helena, my wife," Heins said with a fanciful wave of his hand.
"You're very lucky," Millie remarked to Helena, giving a wistful sigh. "I can't tell you how many of us, that is, my friends and I, were jealous when we heard your love story."
"Wine, your highnesses? Champagne?" inquired a waiter passing by, offering a sparkling tray loaded with glasses of rich red liquor equally dispersed among glasses of bubbling liquid.
"Oh, yes! Thank you!" Millie was quick to accept a glass of champagne, washing down her desert. "Do you want me to get you a glass, Lily?"
Lily considered, wondering how out of place it would be to deny it. She thought she had tasted champagne once, on New Year's Eve, when her father had allowed her a sip of his glass among friends. Not wanting to be rude or seem out of place, she nodded and took the long-stemmed glass from Millie. It felt fizzy as she sipped the cool beverage, strong, but sweet.
Heins stared for a brief moment at the tray, and Millie noticed his throat palpitate with a swallow. "No, thank you," he politely declined, which caused her to look puzzled. Heins watched the tray go after Helena declined and offered an explanation. "I used to drink a little too much," he said with a sheepish smile, "it got me into some trouble a few times. After I married Helena, well, I promised her I wouldn't need to drink with her at my side."
Millie put a hand over her heart as Helena snuggled against her husband's arm. "Why, that is the sweetest thing I've ever heard." She perked as she heard the violins warming up for a dance number and took Lily's arm. "Oh, Lily! Do you hear that? The musicians are getting ready for another round of dancing, and this is the one where anyone can join! Want to come with me?"
"I…" Lily began, immediately feeling nervous and awkward.
"I'm afraid she's spoken for," Harald interrupted, taking Lily's hand as Millie released her. Normally uninterested in meeting new people, Harald had kept a watchful eye on Lily since leaving her and had seen the two enjoying themselves. A rare look of graciousness passed over his features, softening them. "May I ask who you are?"
"Millifred, your highness," she replied quietly with a curtsey.
"But everyone calls her Millie," Heins added, smiling at his brother. "She has been keeping Lily very good company while you've been busy."
Millie blushed and squeezed her folded fan between her fingers. "Oh, it's nothing, really… I'm just happy to make a new friend."
"Thank you for spending time with her as I tend to my duty," Harald replied, threading Lily's arm gently through the crook of his bandaged one and looking back to Millie. "Will you come with us on the floor for a dance? I'm afraid I only have one good arm to offer you…" He extended his other arm to her, and Millie looked as if she were about to faint with glee. She nodded with a little squeal of happiness she barely contained, accepting his arm and following his lead out onto the floor.
Lily was extra careful not to jostle as she walked out among the crowd of people, so much so that she heard Harald chuckle warmly. "I'm not made of glass. You can lean a bit more on me."
"But your arm…" Lily protested.
"My arm is fine," Harald replied. "I can survive for a dance with you. Remember what I told you, stay loose and quick on your feet, anticipate the next movement as you would in a sparring match. Let me control your movement. I'll tell you where to go and what to do. Ready?" The music swelled into a vibrant harmony, and cheers came from around her as they began to move. "Here we go!"
Suddenly she was turning and twirling in circles, her hand clasped firmly by his, and her dark world seemed to flash with movement, becoming bright. At first she struggled with instinctive restraint denying him control, but her body relaxed as the dance went on and the steps became similar, repetitive, but oh how she enjoyed being able to follow them. She was ducking, then felt hands brush her headpiece as she swooped under them, perpetually guided by a touch she trusted implicitly. She turned in place, guided by his hand on her hip, and there were cheers from both men and women around her when the music slowed and ended in a flourish. Triumph filling her to the brim, she leaned against Harald's body, breathing deeply of his fragrance, a scent of sweat mingling with spices which tickled her nose and hastened her pulse. His heartbeat was quick, a steady thumping as if it still wanted to dance, and she let her ear rest on his chest so her own might join it.
"What did you think?" he breathed warmly into her ear.
He saw the grey in her eyes shining as she buried her head into his neck. "Wonderful."
She started to lean forward, kissing his cheek first, then slowly moving in for a real kiss.
"What a fantastic dance, my, but isn't your wife an agile little thing?"
Harald turned towards the unfamiliar voice, irritated from being interrupted twice that night. It took him a second to realize the voice wasn't speaking to him, but to Heins. It came from a man he'd never seen, with long black hair and a polished black suit lined in gold with white stars stitched along the collar. Heins, ever friendly to strangers, smiled at the man and nodded, catching his breath. "Yes, thank you! You're right, she's very agile!"
The man tossed his head just right so his hair fell over his shoulder, glancing to Bella, who had joined the dance and was alluringly looking him over from behind her fan. "Especially in her condition. Of course, this universal truth certainly applies to all the lovely ladies involved. What a sad world this would be without the fairer sex to keep us in balance. Don't you agree?"
Heins paused, as if trying to process what was said, but nodded regardless, a little confused look entering his face. "I agree! I think."
The man laughed, a pleasant, effeminate sound. "I'm sorry, sometimes I forget myself in the presence of so much frivolity." He gracefully swept into a bow before Helena and lifted her hand to his lips for a kiss. "Allow me an introduction. Prince Lukas, of Allorin."
Heins balked, choking on his own spit for a moment as Helena frowned. "A-Allorin? As in P-princess Orion of Allorin?"
Lukas tsked and shook his head, allowing a low sigh of disappointment. "My stepsister, I'm loathe to admit. I understand she has sullied our name in your good land's eyes… allow me to publicly apologize for her foolhardy actions. She seems to be under the guise that she is the greatest beauty out of your kingdom, or any kingdom for that matter." His eyes combed through the group of women around him before they centered on Lily. "I was certain she was wrong, but after attending this ball surrounded by such exceptional beauty, I believe her delusional."
Lily sensed his eyes looking in her direction, accompanied by such a velvety voice, and felt a shudder go down her back. She took Harald's arm for support.
"I've heard many stories about your kingdom, but it is really more vastly impressive up close," Lukas went on, his alluring blue eyes flitting from Lily to Harald, a slowly spreading smile lighting his face and showing off how angular his features were. "Particularly the militia."
"My thanks." Harald stated flatly, unimpressed with how handsome the man was and more so how clearly he seemed to know it.
"I heard about the attack," Lukas continued in a pitying tone, observing Harald's bandaged arm. "What a shame to be injured just before the party."
"A flesh wound," Harald replied simply, challenging the man in so many words, "hardly hurt."
Lukas' teeth seemed to sparkle in the light as his smirk widened. "Really? How resilient The Southern Isles are. Truly an example to follow." His eyes again scanned the ballroom, but this time took a wider scope before his nose wrinkled. "If you'll excuse me, I think I will sit out the next dance and take in he sights."
"I would be honored to join you, if you don't mind the company," Bella offered with a flippant flap of her fan to wave her curls.
"My dear lady…" Lukas extended his hand and ensnared her in his grip, drawing her close to his side and locking her there with his arm, though she hardly seemed to mind. Her followers lined up behind her, sneaking looks at Lukas behind their own fans. "I would be honored by such sweet company." He passed by Harald and served him a hard, firm squeeze on his shoulder. "Get well soon."
As the party dispersed, Millie was the first to speak her mind. "Well! I've seen a snake in the grass before, but now they're sneaking into castles!"
"I don't think I much liked him," Heins said to his brother, "is that very uncouth of me to say?"
"No. I didn't like him either." Harald said, looking after the man as he disappeared into the crowd, followed by a trail of pastel dresses.
"And you know what else?" Heins added, looking at his brother a matter-of-factly, "I don't think he really meant it when you said you should get well soon."
Harald chuckled once at his brother's insulted look. "You're very perceptive."
"And you know what else else?" Heins crossed his arms and frowned in the direction of Lukas, tossing his own ponytail, "his suit was…" he paused, leaned in a little to his brother, and whispered the last word, "… ugly!"
Helena took her husband's arm and bestowed a kiss to his cheek, toying with his ponytail. "Look at the bright side, love… he's gone now, and I'm feeling a little tired. I know how much you enjoy parties, but will you accompany me back to my room first?"
Heins eagerly nodded, instantly looking over his wife as if she were cracked glass. "Is it the baby? Are you alright? You aren't hurt, are you?"
Helena laughed softly. "Not in the least, I promise… and your baby is fine, too. We just need some rest after the excitement."
"Oh." Heins sheepishly scratched the back of his head and took his wife in arm. "Well, if that's all, then I'll be right back."
Harald nodded, looking to Lily at his side, and then clearing his throat. "I… I think I'll take Lily out to the balcony for a breath of fresh air myself."
"Oh, I'll join you!" Millie exclaimed brightly.
Harald paused and lifted an eyebrow in her direction, his eyes glancing to Lily, and back to her, jerking his head and clearing his throat. Millie caught on quickly, looking thrilled.
"Ohhh, I mean, um, yes, I would love to join you but I have to, um, I think I'd better visit the dessert table again; it looks like they're just refilling the chocolate fondue! I'll see you later, Lily!"
"I knew she liked sweets, but I didn't know she liked them that much!" Lily laughed as Harald let her out onto the balcony. He was relieved to find it empty. A cool breeze wafted over Lily's thin dress fabric and she shivered a little, hugging herself. Harald removed his outer jacket slowly, grunting a little to get it around his bandaged arm. Then he hung it around Lily's shoulders. "Here, put this on."
"Thank you," Lily gratefully slipped her arms through, giggling to herself at how large the sleeves were. "It's a little big."
"I suppose you'll be heading back to Arendelle soon, then…" Harald murmured, unable to look at her for fear of making his heart ache further. "There's not much more I can teach you."
Lily was quiet for a long moment, wrapping his jacket tighter around herself and inhaling his scent. She couldn't imagine not smelling it again. "I hadn't planned it."
"Lily…" Harald quickly searched the corner of the balcony and found Horatio had obeyed his instructions. He picked up the book, running his fingers over the bumps on the cover. "I have something for you."
"It's not the jacket, is it," she asked, trying not to think of leaving, "because I already said it's a little big on me."
"No…" Harald swallowed, surprised at how difficult it was to get the words out. "I… it's a book." Being with Lily, in this moment, seemed like an unfamiliar battle, in which he couldn't anticipate where to go or what to do next. She looked understandably confused, and he slipped the cover into her hands, taking one of them and running it over the bumps. "It's called braille. It's a new system being tested for blind people to read… you follow the bumps and they stand for letters." She looked up at him, her eyebrows rising. Harald felt intimidated by being unable to interpret her emotions. "It's just… I know what reading meant to you, and I have a guide. It doesn't look very difficult, and I thought… during your down time after our training exercises… we might learn… together."
Lily let the book slip from her hands with an audible thunk to the cement floor, and Harald stared down at it, bewildered. "I thought you-" He hardly had time to react before she pulled him into a deep kiss, and his arms flailed to the side for a moment in surprise before they swept her against his body where she seemed to fit so perfectly. Their kiss deepened until Harald felt wetness against his face and pulled away to see tears streaking down Lily's face. "Lily… what's wrong? Why are you crying?"
"Oh, you stupid man…" Lily murmured, wiping her tears on his shirt, "I'm crying because I'm happy; I'm just so, so happy…" She tugged him back into a kiss, deepening it, her fingers entangling into his hair. The brown curls wrapped about her nails as she dug into his scalp and kneaded it, her heart hammering inside her chest. She gasped for breath as she parted from him, resting her forehead against his, accepting his kisses along the corners of her lips, his voice deep, husky and a little haggard himself.
"Stay with me… please stay here… I need you."
The words and the sincerity behind them further stoked the warmth she felt for him, spurring it into love.
"Yes… I'll stay with you. I'll stay." Lily kissed at the corner of his lips, her thumbs rubbing through his stubble, studying each divot, each hair, with tender care.
"Harald, you'd better come quickly," Heins interrupted, ducking around the entrance to the balcony, looking loathe to do so. "I'm sorry, but it's important."
Harald reluctantly tore himself away from Lily's sweet lips, brushing his finger over them. "Like you said earlier…" he whispered, "... we have all night." He left his jacket with her as they returned inside, following Heins to several feet from the main podium where the king and queen stood, as well as a couple of his brothers, talking in low whispers. A few soldiers were surrounding an older man wearing a black suit with a red sash. He had slightly unkept brown hair, and as Harald approached, he could smell a strong presence of alcohol on him. "What's going on?" he questioned, noticing his parents did not look threatened, just confused.
The man turned to face him, and smiled, exposing teeth which were yellowed in age, his lips cracked. His face had strong features, blocky, but royal, with a large nose and robust chin. "Well, well… Prince Harald? Captain of the Guard?"
"Yes?" Harald responded, looking to his parents for answers they did not give.
"My… time does change things. Look at me. And then look at you." The man's smile did not differ, but for some reason it made Harald uncomfortable.
"Do I know you?" he asked, trying to sound disconcerted.
The man ignored his question, answering with one of his own. "Did you end up smoking cigars? You used to sneak your father's when you were young, didn't you?" He laughed a harsh laugh. "I seem to remember you being scolded very sternly for it as well."
Harald frowned now, wracking his mind. There was a certain familiarity to him, but it was an uncomfortable familiarity. "I do occasionally enjoy a smoke," he admitted slowly. He turned to his soldiers, among them Will, and nodded to him inquisitively. "Why is he here?"
"He was exploring the castle," Will replied quietly.
"Exploring the castle? What for?" Harald gruffly replied, now facing the man with narrowed eyes.
"Harald…" his mother interrupted gently, extending a hand to try and stall him.
"No, please, Queen Allowyn." The man held his own hand up to stop her. "Allow me to explain myself. After all, he's only performing his duty. It's admirable." He looked to Harald. "I was curious to see the changes come over the Isles in my long absence. I find not much in form of architecture has changed, but much in the royal family." He gave a long, mournful sigh. "Had we become brother-in-laws, I would have been here to see it, but it is good to see the years have been kind to you after our shared tragedy…"
Harald stared harder at the stranger, puzzling over his words. All too suddenly, something clicked in his mind, and his face drained of color. "You're…"
"Prince Albrekt, of Weselton." The man he'd seen so long ago held out his open palm for a handshake, letting it hover in the air.
Harald managed to say something in a weak reply and forced his hand to meet the man's, bobbing up and down as he looked into his eyes. There he saw something behind the warm exterior, a steely cold stare that caused an unfamiliar drop in his gut, a drop he had not felt so strongly in some time. He stopped shaking the man's hand, backing away and drawing Lily close, realizing the feeling he felt was fear. He backed away to Heins and leaned in, murmuring. "Brother meeting after the party. Pass it on."
#
"But what was he doing here?" Harken demanded, slamming his hand on the table, the other brothers shouting in agreements.
"Everyone calm down!" Harald snapped from the head of the table. "We called this meeting so we could discuss it logically, not break down over it."
"He was not just examining the architecture," Heins elaborated, tapping the wood of the table with his fingernails in thought. "He had another reason. Where was he when they found him, did they say?"
"… outside her room." Harald answered, the fire behind him popping.
There was silence among the brothers for a few minutes until Heins spoke again. "He can't do that… b-but he can't do that! That's her room! He's not allowed there!"
"I know… I know." Harald ran a hand through his hair and sighed roughly. "But they examined the contents and reported nothing missing."
"Did he say anything to any of you?" Helm asked, looking to the rest of his brothers.
The twins shrugged in unison, one of them speaking for the other. "Just commented on what we used to look like, on how well the Isles was doing, on hopes for trade with Arendelle again after that business with the duke…"
"I don't trust him. I never liked him," Harken went on, looking more irritated than the rest. "He asked me about you, Harald, and how many soldiers we had. What business is that of his?"
"So what are we going to do about it? Did someone ask father what he thought?" Harry questioned.
"He was confused, much as the rest of us." Harald said, stoking the fire behind him and watching the flames climb higher, grasping at the stone around them. "I think it made us all uncomfortable seeing him again. I've ordered my soldiers to continue with the double post until I give them notice otherwise and father requested he warn us before his next visit… unless we can prove intentions otherwise, it would be unwise to make any kind of accusations, even amongst ourselves…"
The brothers were silent in their agreement, and Harald swept his gaze over them from one end to the other. "We are all princes of the Isles. We are brothers, and together we are strong. Together, we saved Hans from his frozen fate, and together, we continue to help our family prosper. Whatever his reasons for visiting, they are moot. And if he chooses someday to act on a rash decision, we can all agree on one thing… he will live to regret it."
"Hear, hear!" cheered Heins, a bright look lighting up his face.
"Well said," Helm agreed, nodding.
"And with that, I say we go to bed. We've had quite the night, and I have to return to some semblance of my normal duties come morn," Harald replied, standing up from where he had been crouched over the fire and pushing his chair in with a low protesting rumble. One by one, the brothers left the room, talking to one another as they did. Harald was one the last out, passing by Harken. The two met each other's eyes, and Harken lifted his hand, putting it on his brother's shoulder.
"Just to let you know… if we have a fight coming… I have your back."
Harald put his hand over his brother's for a brief moment and sighed through his nose. "Thanks." Then, he went to the wall overlooking the training yard and stood, embracing the darkness, resembling a statue in the black sea of night, ready to protect his kingdom, his family, and his love. His eyes scanned the various people departing the party, unable to identify them from the distance, and his jaw muscle tightened reflexively. I'm not going anywhere. And if you're out there, and you're planning anything, I hope you know that… and I hope you're scared.
"What are you doing out here?" a meek voice asked, his attention sapped away as a hand rested on his good arm and turned him to her.
"I should ask you the same thing," Harald stated to Lily, putting his hand over her cheek.
"Come here… come out of the dark…" her voice whispered as she pulled him with her towards the doorway. "I've spent most of my life there… and I know how much better it is in the light…"
Harald's body reflexively followed her lead, and he was stunned by how easy it was. And when he reached his room and she said goodnight, giving him a last kiss, he silently stood and reflected on how he didn't even look back once.
This chapter was a quick update compared to last. Maybe it's a sign?