A Princess Torn (Alys Book #2)

Chapter 29

The event that was decided on was a late-night ball to be held in a week's time.

Despite the week to prepare, the palace launched into a busy frenzy. Though Endolynn was still unclear of where she stood with Tarkam, Balear, and Dastrehan, she agreed to take on overseeing the planning for the event as much as she could. Esme agreed to help, and even Rose made some brief appearances between her intense healer training with Aldyth, now that they had returned from their trip to Marniac.

Rose chatted excitedly about all of the unique medicines they had been introduced to and been able to bring back with them. Endolynn enjoyed listening to Rose, though what she described sounded like another language.
"-fertility teas, teas that help pain for broken bones much better than the ones we have, herb mixes for infections-"

Endolynn smiled as Rose handed a dark purple swatch of fabric to her to inspect.
"I like this one," Esme said from the other side of Endolynn, talking over Rose, "It is richly coloured, but a light weight. Perfect for summer."

Endolynn nodded and set the fabric gently onto the left of the table they stood at.

"More of this one," she called to a servant nearby. The servant was a woman likely in her 30s. She had long red hair that was coiled into a bun on her head. She reminded Endolynn of Krea, and with the memory of her maid came a sharp sadness. She had no way of knowing if Krea had made it out alive or not.
As she watched the servant exit the ballroom they were in, Endolynn felt her eyes grow misty.

"Alys?"

She blinked her eyes and looked to Rose, "Pardon?"
"Are you okay?"

Endolynn nodded and wiped at her eyes quickly, "Yes. My mind had just wandered to some memories of Balear."

Esme leaned against Endolynn's left for a few moments to comfort her. Rose gave Endolynn a sympathetic frown.

"What were you saying?" Endolynn asked, wanting to move on.

Rose handed her a swatch of gold satin, "I think this could go well with the purple you picked out."
"Yes," Endolynn agreed, fingering the fabric gently. It would be perfect.
After a few minutes, the servant woman returned with a large roll of the purple fabric. Another younger servant helped carry it.
"Here you go, Your Highness," the woman said, though she seemed to purposely avoid Endolynn's eyes when the princess looked towards her.
Endolynn nodded, "And this," she handed the swatch of golden satin to the woman, "Just one roll will do."
The servant nodded, still not bringing up her gaze, and left in a hurry.
Endolynn wondered to herself what unpleasant experience the woman must have had with upper class ladies to make her so nervous as to avoid eye contact.
"-they even have teas that can make women have 2 or 3 babies at once!" Rose was telling a wide-eyed Esme excitedly, "These teas have helped women have children when they were never able to before."

"I wonder if you should try them, Alys?" Esme questioned cautiously.
Endolynn shook her head, unwilling to even consider it.
"Aldyth was clear. I was poisoned, not initially barren. I am not going to get my hopes up over some fruity teas only to have them squashed."
Esme frowned, looking to Rose for back up.

But Rose nodded her agreement solemnly.
"It is quite a different situation. I am sorry I brought it up."

"I appreciate the thought," Endolynn forced a smile in Esme's direction, "Now, we have got the fabrics figured out. Next is the entertainment."

After a full day of planning and organization, Endolynn's head ached. Esme and Rose had gone back to their regular duties, leaving Endolynn to herself in the ballroom. It was nearing time for the evening meal, so she finished her current task and quickly cleaned up her work area.