The next morning I awoke to the sight of Cecilian bustling around my chambers. She had laid out my day dress on the chaise langue, complete with putting my new matching cloak and gloves next to it. Then my slippers with modest heels that were low enough not to cause discomfort after being wore for many hours were on the floor underneath the chaise langue. My curtains on my windows were pulled back and my window was open, letting in the sounds of the activities of the day being set up below. I sat up and greeted Ceclian.
"You are awake early, My Lady," She commented. I smiled and stood up, going over to the window and sitting on the window seat that was so alike the one i had in my own chambers in Camelot.
"It is our last day here, Cecilian. I intend to make the most of it," I replied. Cecilian smiled and nodded.
"Well...your bath has been made ready and your dress laid out so you are able to get ready whenever you want," She said. I nodded and turned away from the window and into the ante chamber where the basin and bath sat.
After a leisurely bath, I got dressed and then sat down at the dressing table where Cecilian brushed my hair and left it down in the natural curls I possessed. Two decorated clips pulled two parts of my hair back so it would not get in my face during the day. My earrings and necklace were added and then I were ready to go down to breakfast.
King Rodor, Mithian and I were sat watching the Archer competition two hours later. The current competitor reminded me of Lancelot, who was currently milling about in Camelot probably. I smiled honourably as he caught my eye and Mithian noticed and giggled.
"He is trying to impress you, Elvina," She stated. I looked at her for a moment, then giggled.
"Yes, it seems he is," I replied as he approached with a handkerchief for me. I leant forward and took it off of him.
"My Lady," He said.
"Sir Jerren," I replied. "You are a very skilled archer. I wish you luck in winning," Sir Jerren grinned, bowed at Rodor and Mithian, then retreated. I looked down at the handkerchief that held the initials of Sir Jerren. I smiled at it and then looked up.
"He is very handsome is he not?" Mithian asked. I nodded, not looking at her. "One of father's trusted knights also," She added.
"I'm sure he is. Perhaps we will meet again at tonight's ball," I replied. Mithian grinned triumphantly and I shook my head at her. I turned to Cecilian and asked her to bring me an apple and a knife. She nodded and walked away from the throne-like chair I was sat in.
"Elvina, ...I think I would like you to present the award to the winner..." Rodor spoke up as we continued watching the next competitor. I looked over at him and smiled.
"If you are sure?" I asked. Rodor smiled at me.
"Very sure," He replied with no hesitantcy. I looked back at the other Knight who was competing and it fell into silence once more between us
"Announcing the winner of the Archery Competition, Sir Jerren Derward!" Rodor exclaimed. Sir Jerren stepped forward to the applause and I handed him the small trophy in the shape of an arrow. He took it off of me and grinned as the applause carried out. I stepped back and we left the stage of where we were sat to go to luncheon. As we walked to one of the parlours that Nemeth Castle possessed, Mithian and I gossiped about the gowns we had saw being worn by various courtiers.
"Lady Suranna's dress was very vibrant, was it not?" Mithian asked me as we turned a corner in the corridor. I had met Lady Suranna twice at various dinners and events that had took place thoughout the summer. She was the wife of Sir Refuard, who was a lovely gentleman around ten years my senior. Lady Suranna was quite younger than he though, being the age of seven and twenty so. She held a certain attitude to me; clearly because of my magic and powers which I ignored most tolerably and was always polite in snide comments that may had been tossed towards me in conversation. Mithian did not like nor trust her either so we both stuck together when she was around.
"Indeed it was...saffron I believe?" I replied, suppressing a giggle at Mithian's turned up nose. "The dress itself was beautiful though...certainly of the newer fashions...it just clashed with Suranna's hair tone," I added. Mithian this time did giggle and it caught Rodor's attentions. He grinned with a notion of suppressment.
"Girls...it is not in one's nature to discuss various courtiers dress," He started. "But I do agree that Lady Suranna's dress did catch my eye most definitely," At this Mithian and I burst out with happy laughter, the sound of it echoing around the walls of the corridor.
"My ruby necklace, I think Cecilian," I said as I sat at my dressing table, looking at my reflection as I changed my earrings with long ruby encrusted ones instead. Cecilian returned with the necklace that had been a gift from Uther on my seventeenth birthday. It held a gold chain with a ruby in the middle, showing the expensiveness of the necklace, yet also the wealth of the wearer. Many nobles throughout the kingdom would be attending tonight's ball and I felt it in my nature to show little fault as possible.
"There you go My Lady," Cecilian said as she shut the clasp of the necklace at the back of my neck.
"Thank you Cece," I replied. Cecilian smiled at my nickname I rarely used for her. I stood up and she gasped.
"You look most beautiful My Lady... If only your brother old see you now," She complimented as patted down my dress and made sure it looked right. I turned and looked at the reflection in the floor length gilded mirror. It showed not the girl of fourteen I used to be, now it showed a woman of four and twenty, her cheekbones high and her eyes a gentle hazel colouring which would glow gold when the magic ran through my veins freely. My darkened hair that used to be so straight in my childhood now ran in curls that had been pinned up in a formal manner. My dress ran over my bosom and higher torso in a tight manner, then flowed out at my hips into a flowing skirt that trailed slightly onto the floor. My heeled slippers were in a deep red, matching my dress and decorated in three rubies on the top of them. My bare wrists were encased in two bracelets; one of them being the newer one I had bought only yesterday, the other a thin one, baring Camelot's symbol on it. My signet ring remained on my middle finger as always, a sign of my alliance. I smiled slightly and met Ceclian's eyes in the mirror's reflection.
"I look almost magical, don't I?" I said quietly. She nodded.
"Like a true High Priestess My Lady... You do Camelot proud," She replied. My smile grew warm and I turned to her.
"Thank you Cece. For being my friend." I told her, hugging her suddenly. She seemed surprised by my actions but hugged me in return. "Now let us join the celebrations," I added and left the chambers with her following me. I made my way to the Grand Hall and as I reached the staircase, I saw the crowd of people below, dancing and talking. Mithian and Rodor already sat in their allocated seats. The footman by the door held up his trumpet and sounded it, then made my entrance clear.
"The Lady Elvina of Camelot, Nemeth's Royal and Honoured Friend!" He shouted. The hall below turned and looked as I made my way down the staircase. The girls and women whispered at my appearance and the men watched me with clear observing eyes. Rodor and Mithian stood up, Rodor holding out his hand to held me up my seat.
"Ah! Elvina...what a beauty you look!" He exclaimed, kissing my cheek. I moved to Mithian and hugged her gently.
"You look most wonderful," She told me. "You attract all the suitors in the room tonight," I smiled as I sat.
"I'm quite assure you do too," I told her. She grinned mischievously and patted my hand. We watched the dancing re continue and smile at the joyous atmosphere around the room.
Not long later, Sir Jerren approached us, bowing with an open smile.
"Your Majesty, My Ladies," He greeted.
"Sir Jerren! I am hoping you are enjoying this evening?" Rodor asked. Jerren nodded.
"It is a most splendid evening...I was wondering if Lady Elvina would care to dance?" He asked, his hopeful eyes turning to me. I found Mithian's and Rodor's eyes on me as well as I nodded my consent. Jerren held out his hand to me and I stood, taking it. The music stopped for a moment and applause rang out as everyone watched us take our places before the dance started up.
"I do hope you have had a joyous time here in Nemeth, Lady Elvina," Jerrem said as he spun me.
"Please, call me Elvina and I have. I shall miss Nemeth very much," I replied. Jerren smiled.
"Our humble kingdom is most agreeable indeed, but what is it exactly that makes it so agreeable?" He asked. I bowed my head for a second, then looked up as our hands clasped once more.
"My magic is connected to the nature more here," I admitted quietly. I looked down again and I felt a squeeze on my hand, making me looking up into Jerren's eyes.
"Why do you seem so uncertain to talk about your magic? You possess a wonderful power, Elvina...do not be ashamed of it in my company," He told me. I smiled and nodded. The dance ended and we moved to a quieter corner of the hall to converse some more, learning more about each other.
"It has been such a wonderful evening," I said to Jerren as he escorted me to my chambers.
"Indeed it has,' He agreed. We stopped outside my doors and I smiled. "Elvina... May I visit you in Camelot...when I have time?" He asked. I nodded immediately.
"I'd like that very much, Jerren," I replied. He smiled. "And do not hesitate to write to me," I added, then I kissed his cheek and entered my rooms to see Cecilian there with my packed trunks ready to leave tomorrow morning. She smiled.
"He seems charming," she commented. I smiled too.
"He is," I said and left it at that as Cecilian began to help me undress.
"I will miss you so much!" Mithian exclaimed as she hugged me tightly on the steps of Nemeth Castle.
"And I you!" I replied. "Do not forget to write!" I exclaimed.
"You must not forget neither!" Mithian replied. We hugged once more and then I was helped onto my carriage by one of Rodor's footmen. The door closed behind me and then we were moving out of the courtyard, Cecilian sat opposite me, her eyes with slight happiness at the prospect of going home. I laid my head back and closed my eyes, my thoughts going to Camelot and those I loved whom I would see again in just under a day's journey.