Human X Goblin, D&D Fanfic

Chapter 13

Hestia smiled wide as she brushed through her thick hair before her boudoir, today was already off to a good start.

Hestia had been awoken by Bran, she normally hated being woken up but his methods were... convincing.

Hestia was smitten as she imagined how he'd react to her in the gown, today was sure to be eventful.

Ever since she was little she'd dreamt of going to a ball in a pretty dress, was it cliche? Yes, did that matter? Not especially to her, at least not today.

She thought back to how she got here, only a little over a month ago she was still a maid at the Owyn Estate.

Now Hestia was mutually and madly in love with a noble who had swept her off her feet, literally, made her pancakes, her favourite, and woke her up with his tongue between her... well you get the picture.

She was living the dream and today was going to be a shining memory in her life forever and ever.

Bran began to button up his vest "no, no vest, just the blazer is fine" nevermind then, Willow's word was law.

"I'm pretty sure I'm the noble here?" Willow just chuckled "yeah, that works on Hestia, not me, speaking of Hest what's in the box?".

"Iiiiii never told you the box was for her..." "because you're so well known for giving out random presents to us" "touche" "so what's in the box?".

Bran walked over to the small black wooden box that rested on the dining table, it was circular with the symbol of a golden laurel wreath painted on top.

"I wanna keep it as a surprise... you'll see soon" "ugh, fine, I'll get Hest to tell me after".

Naal strolled in with Lucan in toe both dressed to the nines with suits, Lucan's seemed a bit more loose probably to make his duties a little easier.

Bran grabbed the circular box and tucked it into a satchel slung around a nearby chair and began on his way.

"Come on guys, let's beat everyone to the square" Bran commanded and swung open the Silverpelin door, stepping into the busiest city they had as of yet arrived in.

Bran was awed as High-elf children played in bustling cobble streets and flamboyantly dressed festival goers flooded in and out of bars, taverns, and restaurants.

Massive balloons of orange and violet covered in candles melted to their tops were carried by magic winds through the air illuminating the city.

A darkened sky was separated from the city by a translucent dome.

A circular barrier was formed, as water cascaded down the side in a circular waterfall, remaining un-penetrated by the tantrumous rain.

The trio of Bran, Naal, and Lucan were buffeted by the crowds but managed to navigate the stampede without losing one another.

"I think this is the first time I've seen the sky without my eyes filling with water in months" Naal awed "Like you spent much time looking at the sky beforehand?" Lucan teased but his voice was washed out by the crowd.

Festival music began to blare, and magical flying dancers tangoed through the sky.

Somehow the ever optimistic Bran in the midst of the most fantastical festival he had ever seen felt a pit grow in his stomach.

He felt dread, worry, reluctance, all because of what would come after this beautiful display of colour and culture.

The ball... it reminded him of home, stuffy socialisation, snarky nobles, questions methodically designed to embarrass him no matter what the answer.