First off, I would like to apologize for the delay for posting this chapter. I have been taking many tests and studying pretty constantly. I am sorry that it took so long to post this though.
Clarke examines herself in the long mirror. The mirror is shattered in many pieces, but Clarke can still see her refelction enough to admire the dress Octavia has made for her. The dress is floor length and still somehow manages to flatter Clarke's beastly figure. It is a deep navy blue in color, which Clarke adores. Octavia has added small accents throughout the gown that keeps her mesmerized as she twirls in the mirror.
She takes a deep breath. She's not sure why she thought that this would be a good idea. Actually, that's a lie. Clarke knows that the last petal of the enchanted rose is going to fall any day now. She has to try.
Bellamy is not at all what she expected him to be. He is smart and kind and interesting. He has his own opinions and does not simply follow the norms that are found in this world.
She likes him - loves him, if she's being honest with herself.
Clarke looks into the mirror one last time before defending the stairs.
Octavia is pretty sure that she's about to witness something extremely important in her big brother's life. It's not everyday that one is invited to a ball in an enchanted castle. Sure, Clarke only invited Bellamy and Octavia and her servants, but it's a ball nonetheless.
Octavia waits at the bottom of the stairs for Clarke and Bellamy. She's sure they're going to make some kind of grand entrance, because that's the kind of people that they are.
So when Clarke and Bellamy open the doors at the same time, look directly at each other, and seem to take each step together, Octavia is not surprised. She only wishes that she could capture this moment forever to replay when she wants to embarrass Bellamy and make him flush.
Bellamy looks dashing in all black suit with a dark blue handkerchief in his pocket. The blue matches Clarke's dress exactly, not that Octavia would admit to that. She then glances at Clarke and is pleased to see that the dress fits her well. Octavia was a bit nervous, as she had never made a dress quite like this before. But it looked incredible, much to her delight.
They met in the middle of the stairs, Bellamy offering Clarke his arm. They descended the rest of the staircase together.
"Now there's something I never thought I'd see," Octavia mutters to herself.
Echo and Anya trudge through the thick west wood. For summer, it was uncharacteristically cold. Echo pulled her cloak tighter around her shoulders. She has her bow ready, spotting a large shadow nearly ten feet ahead of her. Looking to the tracks in the mud, Echo can tell she is following a wolf. If there's anything Echo knows about wolves, it's that they don't hunt alone.
She continues stalking the wolf but stops when her boot crunches in thick snow. This is not typical at all. Echo go further into the snow, Anya trailing not far behind her.
After walking for quite some time, Echo spots an iron gate. She is no longer concerned about the wolf.
"There's something wrong here," Echo says. She doesn't quite know what yet, but she vows that she is going to find out.
Bellamy and Clarke are dancing in the ballroom as a piano plays itself. Octavia is fascinated by the surprises that can still occur in this castle. She watches her brother and her friend dance, a smile taking over her features.
She doesn't mind that she isn't doing any dancing. She's content to see her brother looking so happy, in a way she never thought that he would be.
There's a loud knock on the castle door, and the music stops.
