The Ball - Alexandra

POV: Alexandra

I had the joy of being poked and prodded at by my mother and Dana today. I was in no mood for that since I was unjustly confined to my bed yesterday at my mother’s insistence. It wasn’t like I was just as injured as Mordred or Ronan. I had a small cut on my throat and my arm was sore from pulling on my bow repeatedly. She acted like I had internal bleeding and a concussion. My mother, right on time, came bursting into my room and this time she didn’t knock. I was used to that when she had a mission and her mission today was to give me a marathon dolling up. What would have taken me fifteen minutes, my mother would take four to five hours on. She felt that for these types of occasions, I would need to beautify both my outward appearance and my inward self. This would include what was essentially a spa day complete with massage, facials, and a scented oil bath. I had been sitting at my desk writing in my journal about the activities of yesterday and what I could look forward to today. My mother point Dana in the direction of the bath to start it while she set up all the things she would need to torture me for the next few hours.

I placed my journal back in my desk and sighed as quietly as I could. Unfortunately, my mother has the hearing of a hearbat which must be mixed somewhere in our DNA because she hears everything. She whipped around and shot me the look. I bristled at that look, “I don’t think I will ever understand why I need these marathon-getting-ready sessions.” She walked over to me and stroked the top of my head, “Because, dear, you are one of the Queen candidates and this is something you need to get used to if your name is announced tonight. It’ll be even worse and less privacy.” I looked down at my hands, “And what if it isn’t me?” She sat down on my bed, “Hmm, what indeed? Have you thought about what you would do if you weren’t announced?” I nodded, “Yeah, it’s been occupying my thoughts constantly since they narrowed it down to us three.” She leaned forward and grabbed my hands, “What have you decided?” I shook my head, “I don’t think I will reveal that unless or until it comes down to it. I don’t need anyone talking me out of what I have chosen.” She sighed and leaned back again, “You mean to say you cannot trust anyone with your decision? You think it is something worth being talked out of?” I shrugged, “Who knows? I would like to think everyone here would respect my decision since I am now an adult but you never know who would look at my decision as impulsive. I assure you it isn’t, it is carefully thought out rationally before any emotions could come into play.” She nodded at me, “Yes, I believe it is. You are usually very impulsive when you have emotions involved but your judgment is sound when you have time to think. I can tell you one thing, my sweet girl, that I will respect whatever decision you make should you need to make it.”

A knock sounded at my door and my mother popped up to answer it, “Hello Toby. Did you need something?” I could hear Toby answer, “Well I have official orders from His Majesty for Alexandra. Is she in?” My mother stepped aside and Toby stepped into the room, “She’s at her desk at the moment.” He strode into the room and pulled out an envelope, “I was instructed to see Tyleesh today to see if he would be able to face the public. While it has been good to visit with him, I don’t feel he’s all the way healed from his ordeal. The mind is such a fragile thing, I’m sure you would agree. To be extra sure, I conducted a test on him.” I leaned forward, “Did you find anything?” He nodded, “I think we can safely diagnose him with agoraphobia. His ordeal has made him retreat to where he is most familiar. He can leave his greenhouse but only so far as Blackwood Manor. I’m afraid he won’t be able to uphold His Majesty’s orders. As such, His Majesty has instructed me to appoint you as a proxy to Tyleesh, officially.” With that, he handed me the golden envelope. I opened it and sure enough, Lucien had officially appointed me proxy to Tyleesh. I muttered, “I wonder why he chose me. My father could have dealt with this.” Toby smiled, “I think His Majesty chose wisely. Tyleesh would want one of only two people to represent him. Since His Grace is incapacitated, he would want you to speak for him as a victim.” I let what Toby said roll around in my head and eventually nodded, “Even though I don’t have a right to refuse since these orders are official, I will represent Tyleesh in court.” Toby smiled and hugged me, “Thank you, my friend. I must be going now though. I will relay your affirmation to His Majesty.”

After Toby left, I took a bath and was placed in a robe when another knock sounded at my door. My mother answered again and jumped slightly, “Your Highness?” Blake chuckled, “I’m sorry to have startled you, Your Grace. I have some official business with Alexandra. Is she available to speak with?” My mother nodded, “She is but I hope you won’t mind that we are getting her ready for the ball tonight.” He shook his head, “I understand. It is a big night and she must look her absolute best so as not to draw scrutiny.” My mother’s face lit up, “Someone who understands, yes. Do come in.” She stepped aside and Blake stepped into the room. It was his turn to be startled to see my hair in a cotton towel and a robe on me. He looked at my mother, “I didn’t realize she wasn’t fully decent.” My mother chuckled, “She’s covered. You’re fine.” He cleared his throat and sat at a chair that Dana had pulled up near the vanity. He looked at me through the mirror and I sighed, “Forgive me for not getting up to bow Your Highness.” He laughed, “You can call me Blake, we don’t need honorifics right now.” I narrowed my eyes at him, “You said you were here on official business though, so wouldn’t honorifics be appropriate?” He sighed, “I’d like this to be more relaxed. I realize you are trying to destress before the stressful event. Be that as it may, I have captured the one who helped abduct Tyleesh.” I turned to him, “That woman?” He nodded and I asked, “Who is she?” Blake sighed, “You remember Vanessa’s assistant? Eugenia?” The day I met her flashed through my mind. I had pulled her from her duties of cleaning up after my ceremony to enter Vellum. I hadn’t seen her often enough to put it all together but it dawned on me then that she was the one who took Tyleesh through the portal to The Order. I nodded, “So I’m to decide her punishment?” He shook his head, “You are to help me decide. I thought it would be best if you let me know your thoughts instead of making you stand up there yet.” My mother cut in, “Very prudent, Your Highness. This leaves Alexandra away from scrutiny should she be chosen as Queen.” He winced at the mention of my potential appointment as Queen.

I decided to change the subject back to the task at hand, “So I need to come up with a punishment then?” He nodded, “I had to do the same for Panshad. I wanted to levy something harsh on her but Panshad advocated for her to receive a lighter sentence. So I will give her ten lashes on behalf of Panshad.” I looked up at my mother and then out the window towards the greenhouse. I nodded, “I think that would be appropriate for Tyleesh as well. I can’t imagine him being so vindictive as to want something harsher.” I looked back up at my mother, “What do you think?” She nodded, “I think you are right about that. He’s always been such a gentle boy.” I looked back at Blake, “So let his punishment for her match that of his sister.” Blake nodded and stood up, “Well that is what I came for. Thanks, Alexandra.” He made his way to the door before he stopped and turned back to me, “I don’t know what tonight will bring but just know that if you are named Queen. You will make an excellent ruler alongside my brother. I truly believe that.” I smiled at him, “Thank you, Blake. Please make sure you save a dance for me.” He nodded and silently left the room.

The prodding continued all up until about thirty minutes before we were expected at the castle for Lucien to hold court to get the unpleasant sentencing out of the way. Now came the time to put my dress on. My mother pulled the dress that Grand Pretre had given me from my wardrobe. As she pulled the dress out of the bag, a note fell from the garment. I picked it up and opened the note, it read:

“To a very dear woman,

You don’t know this yet, but you will be the most important person in my life. One of the things I remember reading about you is how beautiful you looked at your very first fall ball in your house color teal and your house color blue sash. It was rather iconic, at least that is what the history books said. I sent this to a mutual friend to give to you. I will one day reveal who I am to you but just know that this is not the last message you will receive from me. Yours ~D”

I turned the note over in my hand wondering what it meant that I WAS iconic. Did this mean the sender of this dress was someone I had never met but they wanted to make themselves known? Was there such a thing as time travelers in Vellum? My mother leaned forward to read the note and I handed it to her and asked, “Are there time travelers here?” She furrowed her brow, “As far as I know, there aren’t.” She shook her head, left the note on the table, and grabbed the dress from Dana, “We have no time to fuss about it either. We have just enough time to slip this on you, place your accessories and drive to the castle. Let’s get a move on, I bet the rest are downstairs waiting for us.” I nodded and allowed the women to help me into the fluffy dress, slip the blue sash on along with the jewelry and shoes. We stepped out of the room and down the stairs where, as my mother had indicated, everyone was waiting on me. We all piled into the two carriages that my father had commissioned from the stables. We finally pulled up to the castle and we were ushered into the throne room. I didn’t really pay attention to the proceedings until it came down to the punishments of Eugenia and Marquis Maigny where my family would play an active role in deciding their punishment. Blake had done an exceptional job of relaying what we had discussed earlier. Finally, the Elders not only disqualified Melody but arrested her and her mother. It was a relief to know that her family would no longer be a hindrance in my life.

We all filtered into the ballroom and we awaited Lucien to come in so that he could make the first dance selection. Unsurprisingly, he chose me to start the ball and I couldn’t pretend not to notice some in the room rolled their eyes as we danced and spoke. Of course, Lucien couldn’t dance with me all night long. So my next dance partner was seemingly Prince Cal and he asked me how my day was going and how I was feeling since I had been injured in the fight a couple of nights ago. I had to assure him it was a superficial wound and that I would heal in no time. He insisted that I come to visit Seely to see the fairy healers, they would fix me quickly like I had done for him with the witches. I assured him it wasn’t at my behest but assured me he thought it was. The next dance was for Derek and after that was for my brother. I got to the night where we were close to midnight when they would announce the next Queen of Vellum but we were told there was enough time for one dance. King Renier asked me for this dance. We started the dance and he immediately asked, “What will you do if you aren’t chosen?” I looked up at him and shook my head, “I don’t think I want to reveal that unless it comes down to it.” He smiled at me, “I think I understand. You don’t want to will anything unpleasant to yourself. I just want to let you know that my offer still stands. You are always welcome in Seely. You need only say the word.” I nodded, “I appreciate your offer, Your Majesty. I ultimately won’t know what I truly will decide unless it comes down to it.” It was as if I spoke the action to truth, Elder Enzo stepped forward to announce the selectee. He spoke of one who would protect the throne as they had done recently. This didn’t sound like anyone in particular. He finally got to the name he promptly said, “Lady Rayla Ligidew.”

A gasp went up in the room and I felt the room spin. I felt my knees begin to buckle but I heard a hand hold me up by the waist and another grab my left hand. I looked over my shoulder to see King Renier was holding me up. He whispered to me, “You don’t want to react this way. Keep your dignity and show them that you are stronger than they give you credit for. Breathe in slowly.” I listened to him and breathed in slowly and he said, “Good. How do you feel now?” I whispered back, “Not so well, I want to leave.” He nodded and waved at my father. He came over and my hand was promptly placed in my father’s hand, “She’s having a tough time taking the news. She wants to leave.” My mother had come along with him and shook her head, “We cannot do that yet. I think we need to take counsel with Grand Pretre.” Her eyes scanned the room and finally found her target. She sent my brother to retrieve her. She came over a short time later, “I know that you are shocked, Xan. I am sorry you had to find out this way. That being said, I would like to take you from prying ears.” She pulled me away from the crowd and out into the hallway. When we finally got there she looked at me and said, “This was destined to happen. Perhaps you can reclaim what is yours when you return.” I looked at her, “Return? What do you mean return?” She smiled and simply said, “I cannot say when but our plans for this particular situation are valid. Go forth and spread your healing nature to fix the dark heart there.”

THE END -----Please stay tuned for book 2 called The Dark Heart.