Carole brushed out her dress and sighed. Being this far from the ocean was uncomfortable, and school starting up soon had her very nervous. She could hear excited chatter pass her room, a high-pitched child's voice cutting through the rest.
She pulled a brush through her white blonde hair and worked on pinning it up, her mind back home with the creatures of the oceans. Soon her hair was piled up her head in a pretty bun, some of the shorter pieces escaping the confinement. She fluffed her bangs so they lay properly on her forehead and sighed, turning to gaze out the window.
There was a knock on her door and a nasally voice whined, "Carole, hurry up!" There was an impatient sigh.
Carole rolled her eyes and stood, "I'll be right out, Clara." She nudged her bag under the wardrobe and slipped on her favorite blue flats. She could just imagine Clara outside the door, arms crossed and foot tapping under her overly decorated skirts and her eyes rolling, emphasized by dramatic makeup. She was probably wearing an inappropriately sized tiara, too.
"Carole! Don't keep your future queen waiting!" The voice yelled. There was a small thud, like someone had stomped their foot. Then Carole could catch the sound of tapping.
Carole yanked the door open, "I'm right here. Calm down." She moved past her oldest sister and started down the hallway. I was totally right. Typical Clara, Carole shook her head and moved faster. She could see her parents and sister just ahead, waiting.
"Oh, there you are. All settled?" Carole's mother asked her as she approached. Carole admired how beautiful she looked in her deep blue gown. Queen Tania's tastes were opposite of her eldest daughter's; she preferred simple designs made of decadent material to make her look her best.
"Yes, Mother," Carole smiled. "I do regret that I'll have to leave before you do." Her mother linked their arms together as they walked, placing her gloved hand on her youngest daughter's elbow.
"Oh that's fine, dear. It was so nice to have you home. We miss you when you're at Alfea. It is too bad that we didn't get to spend much time together, especially in the water, though." Tania let out a small, wistful sigh.
"We were busy, love. She'll be home again for spring break, and we will see her then. I'm sure Carole understands," her father stated. Carole could sense the slight reprimand in his voice, probably for Carole because she didn't immediately reassure her mother. He glanced over at Carole, expecting a response from her.
"Of course I understand, Father. We will spend time together next time," Carole's voice dropped to a whisper as they moved down busier halls. Her father did not like others to hear their business, even trivial bits- like making time for family outings.
King Cy nodded once and looked behind him, checking on Clara and Carole's other sister, Crystal. He probably wanted to make sure they were both standing ramrod straight, with their eyes down and voices lowered.
Knowing Clara, Carole expected her to make some comment about having to wait, or the lack of accommodations or some other spoiled brat notion that she had.
There were other families outside the throne room, standing in quiet groups. Carole stayed close to her mother, her eyes down. She didn't want to give her any reason to be disappointed in her, like her father already was. Her mind wandered, in an effort to preoccupy herself, to the dreams she had had the past few nights.
Starlit looked at her sister in the mirror and made a face, "Why are we doing this? I like my ponytail." She shifted in her seat awkwardly. She wasn't used to people playing with her hair; it spent pretty much all of its time on top of her head, unless it was being washed.
Delphine shook her head, "A ponytail is not elegant, little sister. And we need you to look elegant. We all need to look elegant. So, no ponytail for Starlit." She twisted a section of hair around a curling iron and held it for a moment.
"Not that I have a problem with that," Narcissia stated from her perch on Star's bed. She let out a tinkling laugh and tossed her darkly colored waves. She fell back onto the bed, laughing quietly, "Oh Star."
"Narcissia, hush." Delphine dropped the now curled section of hair and put down the curling iron. She arranged the silky curls she had spent the last hour creating out of Starlit's long, pin straight tresses, pushing part over her left shoulder and the right side behind her shoulder. "Star can't help that her hair is flat." She stuck a couple bejeweled pins in Starlit's hair to hold the right side behind her shoulder and picked up a small mirror so Starlit could see the back. "Do you like it?"
"While I feel more comfortable with my hair up in a simple ponytail, I do like it," She shifted to see her hair better, and Delphine shifted to aid her. "It looks exquisite. Thanks, Del." Starlit shot her sister a small smile and turned her head so she could see the back better.
Delphine put down the hand mirror, "You're welcome. Now, sisters, I do believe the others are waiting for us." She moved closer to the table so she could put her styling tools away quickly.
Narcissia sat up and ran her fingers through her hair, then looked over at Starlit in the mirror and smirked a bit, "Wow, Delphine's magic worked. You actually look good."
Starlit stood from the vanity stool and brushed off her dress before turning to her sister, a look of indifference on her face as she eyed her older sister, "Too bad we don't have time for her to use it on you."
Narcissia's eyes widened in shock and she patted her hair, standing to look in the standing full mirror. "I do not need her magic!"
"Oh, shush. You both look beautiful today. Now, let's go." Delphine put on her high heels and checked herself in the mirror.
Outside, she could hear her other sisters chatting excitedly. Over it all, she could hear her father rallying them together and her mother quietly guiding them down the hall towards Starlit's room.
There was a knock on the door and Andromeda's confident, gentle voice saying it was her. She cracked open the door and slipped in, decked out in the finery she usually wore- semi full skirted gowns of soft colors paired with a cream color of slightly elaborate styles. But Andromeda was careful to never outshine whoever was the most important that day or evening. "We're all ready to head down." She looked over at Starlit and grinned, "Wow, sis! You look absolutely beautiful. Of course, you always do."
Delphine and Narcissia left, joining the others in their excitement outside the room.
Starlit opted for a simple pair of dark blue flats to compliment her golden mermaid gown, trimmed in a lovely navy blue. The colors complimented her tanned skin and golden hair. She accepted Andromeda's hand and the two left the room together, the oldest and youngest of Blue Star Royalty. Delphine and Andromeda are right, Starlit thought to herself, I do look beautiful today.
The constant clamor of preparations made Firla want to hide. The more people and the more things around, the more likely it would be that she'd trip or fall, majorly embarrassing her.
She watched servants run past, toting baskets, trays, and anything else the royal guests might need or want while they were staying for the coronation.
'I don't understand why all these people need to be here,' Firla thought to herself as she ducked into her room.
Being around a lot of people made her nervous- too many chances to trip, bump into someone, spazz out or, more often than not, too many chances of having to talk to strangers. And the strange dreams that she had been having the past several nights had her more on edge.
She thought of her grandmother's advice on being shy, "Imagine they are me- or simply in their underthings." Firla was unsure by being in their undergarments would be helpful, but perhaps the second part, imagining that they were the Queen, would help her. They'd at least help her with being nervous around people, probably not with the nervous energy from the dreams.
She turned her thoughts back to the upcoming events in an effort to avoid bringing the dreams back to her mind's eye; her family was waiting for her so they could greet their guests as a united family.
She changed into a red gown with pink stitching and details on the square neckline, short puffed sleeves, and hemline. She brushed out her hair, tangled from riding with Lil, and put on her tiara. She slipped into comfortable dressy shoes and yanked open the heavy wood doors, slipping into the hall.
The hallway was empty, an upsetting thing compared to the chaos only a little while before.
She hurried down the hallway, not wanting to be late. Bed was unbearable, and it only got worse the longer she was around. She'd take even a moment's tardiness and turn it into a huge ordeal.
Firla arrived at the throne room and entered silently. Everyone was talking, looking less "royal" than they'd ever let anyone else see. She moved through her family until she reached the platform that her grandmother's throne sat upon.
Standing before the throne- her grandmother was not seated yet- she though of the many memories of spending time on this room, perched on the Queen's lap while she conducted the planet's business. Back then she sat there not knowing what anything the adults talked about meant. Now that she was older, she understood a lot more of it.
After today, there would be two thrones on the platform, one for her father and one for her mother. The local town's blacksmiths were constructing a throne identical to the one in front of her.
"Where are you, my dear?"
Firla looked over to find her grandmother next to her, smiling. "Just thinking back on memories of being with you when I was younger."
"Sneaking into meeting and crawling on my last; falling asleep while I tended to royal business; giggling at all the "funny outfits" people wore... You were such a delightful child." Dafne put an arm around her granddaughter and laughed.
"Thanks Grandmother," Firla leaned her head on the older woman's shoulder. "I'll miss seeing you in here all the time."
Dafne smiled, "I'll still be around. You can't get rid of me that easily! If you ever need me, look for me in the gardens; I'll finally have more time for my roses."
Firla nodded, "I'm happy for Mom and Dad. I can tell that they're... excited."
"Your father has been looking forward to this since he was born," Dafne laughed again. "It's what he's been trained for. And maybe with all these people here, you'll find someone."
Firla sighs and shook her head, "Grandma, I don't need anyone. I'm still in school."
Dafne winked, "You're a romantic, Firla dear. For that reason, I don't believe you."
Firla tried not to look at her grandmother, not wanting her to see the truth in her eyes. In all honesty, she did want someone- but only a certain someone. But her family didn't need to know; her brothers would tease her or find and interrogate him, and Bee would never leave it alone.
"You don't need to tell me, I know I'm a little old lady," Dafne chuckled once, "But I know the truth. I know everything, dear, including the greatness coming for you."
Firla didn't get a chance to question her grandmother's statement; at that moment one of the pageboys came over and bowed.
"Your Majesty, your guests have all arrived and are settled."
"Good, good. Then I guess that we should settle ourselves," Dafne moved up onto the platform, sitting in her throne in a cloud of silk and lace. "Come, loves. Let's greet our guests."
Firla admired her grandmother for a moment before moving to her spot next to the platform with her two brothers.
Her parents stepped up onto the platform and moved to be between her and her grandmother. As the doors were opened, her father placed a quick kiss on her head.