Always and Forever

Preparations

The General's Ball approached quickly and Edmund's anexiety had never been higher. Hed gone over all the details with Elenna but had still not found a woman to open with.
The day of he met Elenna in the library.
Elenna heard a soft knocking on the door.
"Come in"
Edmund slipped in smiling softly. "You wanted to see me?"
"I have the ceremonial robe and saber for you, for tonight." She gestured to the garments draped across an opposing chaise. "I would have had them delivered to your apartments but tradition dictates that I must give them to you in person. A sort of ceremonial bestowing of confidence from the mother of the nation to the one who will keep her children safe."

He looked at her "this is the Empresses job?"

"Yes but we have no Empress so I will have to do."

"I disagree"

She frowned, "with what"

"Titles aren't what make one the empress, it's the work, the responsibility and the care. We have an empress, wether we call you that or not."

She blushed. " that's very sweet."

"It's nothing less than the truth."

She smiled, "well thank you anyway."

He nodded and kissed her hand, prepared to leave but she called after him.

"By the way, I've been meaning to ask you, who are you opening with?"

"I haven't found anyone yet."

She froze "and were you going to tell me or were you just going to wait to the ball to figure it out?"

He chuckled "it's not a big deal"

"It is a big deal"

"Elenna it's just a dance"

She appraised him quietly. "Have a seat, General."

He raised his brows, wondering what was about to happen but he did as he was told.

"Edmund," she began. " you understand, do you not, that you no longer in the world you lived in a week ago. You are a major, powerful, political player now, in the greatest empire in the known world. Traditions are not to be taken lightly, and image is everything. You may think a dance is stupid or futile, and you might be right. But whether or not the thing has an innate value is no longer the important. Your image is a huge deal. Your image is how you will get things done, it is how you initiate reforms, it is how you get people to listen to you and take you seriously. You cannot demand someone's respect if you make a buffoon of yourself on a world stage. Dinners, parties, balls, these things are trivial, but they are opportunities. You can save lives Edmund, pass laws, make the world a better place. You have that power now. You have sworn an oath to serve my people, always. Any opportunity you get to help them, you take. I do not care how unimportant it may seem. If you neglect your chances, no matter what form they come in, you make a fool of every person who supported you. Every person who declared adamantly that you could do this. You make a fool of Turrent, you make a fool of my father, and frankly, you make a fool of me."

Her voice was soft and quiet but firm. It wasn't until that moment that it hit him, who he was, who she was.

He was silent.

"You hate feelings of self importance." Elenna noted as he sat stilled.

He nodded. "I will get over it."

She smiled. "Good."

"I will find someone to open with I will start working on it right now."

She smiled and nodded.

He walked to the door before turning around to look back at her again, " Elenna?"

"Yes?"

"I'm sorry ... I'm going to get better at this. I promise you. On my life." He was dead serious.

She smiled "I know you will."

"Edmund" she called after him

He turned.

"Do not worry about finding a woman to open with. Open with me."

Surprised he frowned at her. "Is that not beneath you? A princess opening with a solider?"

She shrugged "Your the General, it is not unprecedented, besides, I want to." She smiled at him.

He smiled back and walked toward her taking her hand in his a smiling. "Is that so?"

She reached up and ran her figures along the side of his face up through his dark chocolate waves. "Yes," she leaned a little closer "it may surprise you but there really aren't a lot of humble politicians out there to dance with. It will be a change."

"No," he said in mock surprise, " A prideful noble, wherever could you find such a thing?"

She chuckled before catching his gaze again, his eyes focused on her face his stare seeming to look through her soul, desperately trying to learn something but not quite there. His face was so full of admiration, tenderness, and want. She stared back, neither speaking, just basking in the glow that was the other's presence.

Finally, he raised her hand still nestled in his own and brought it to his lips. He kissed the back of her hand slowly, never breaking eye contact before turning it to kiss her palm. "Well," he whispered softly, " thank you, for the dance, and the lesson."

He leaned in just a little bringing his lips to her face brushing her hair to the side before giving her a light peck on the cheek.

"I will see you tonight, Elenna." He whispered before slipping out of the room.

She stood there smiling after him.