Evermore

The king's ball

Aiden woke to another quiet room, the smell of lemons wafting from the kitchen. Cath was creating again. He smiled and stretched as he was brought back into last nights dream. Soft lips had grazed against his forehead, while roses surrounded them. 

He was shaken from the memory by the sharp poke against the back of his arm. He looked around and cursed quietly when he saw another rose bush had grown. He grumbled incoherently and carefully got out of bed. he dressed swiftly into something casual before heading out of his room. 

He made his way down the many many stairs to the kitchen and took a grateful breath when he had reached the entry to the kitchen. 

He was sadly not so lucky as to step foot in there before he was turned around and shoved back up the stairs, his sister beside him. Their lovely lovely mother was hustling them both up to their rooms. 

Aiden whined in protest, his coffee sitting on the kitchen counter, beckoning to him. He opened his mouth to complain when he saw his mother begrudgingly holding up a steaming cup up to him. He inhaled deeply. Coffee. 

"oh my lovely, beautiful, enchanting flower of a mother, whatever would I do without you!" He kissed her cheek and took a desperate sip of it, sighing contently at the warm feeling filling his whole body. 

"yes yes, now go get ready for the ball! Both of you! We don't wish to be late to the kings ball, now do we?" Neither sibling had the chance to answer before they were brought to their rooms. Aiden didn't have the heart to complain when his coffee was guiltily taken from him. 

Brooks smiled apologetically  and began to undress the young man. 

"you know, I am starting to worry for you, my lord." 

Aiden shot his friend a dirty look. "You know my name, and yet you refuse to use it. Why? Why brooks, must you make me so icky and uncomfortable?" 

Brooks rolled his eyes fondly and ignored the boy's dramatic show. After Aiden was bathed, he dressed himself in a black suit, with black hearts beside his eyes. He ruffled his ebony hair and huffed when it fell in front of his eyes. He picked one of the red roses and clipped it, careful to remove the thorns. Once he was ready he walked to Cath's room and knocked gently on the door, coffee in one hand, rose in the other. 

Mary Ann, Cath's head maid, opened the door and looked just long enough to see who it was before letting it open all the way while she rushed back to her lady, who was currently struggling to pin up her hair. Aiden watched the two attempt it before setting down his coffee and giving the rose to his sister while batting away the hands that tangled in the dark hair. 

He made quick work of it, making a beautiful crown effect out of his little sister's hair. Once he was done, he grumbled about wasted time while taking the still warm cup of coffee and heading down to the main room. He continued to sip his drink, feeling more and more awake with each step. He walked down the stairs just in time to see the servants arrive with the new order of books he had begged his father for. 

He rushed the servants to the sitting room, setting his coffee down clumsily. He clapped his hands excitedly and looked through them. they were absolutely stunning. The whole box smelled of paper and binding glue. 

He brought one of the books into his hand and gently ran his fingers over the cover. It was absolutely perfect. He ordered for the books to be brought up to his room for when he would return later that night. Oh, what a perfect way to start the evening. With a grin stretched across his face, he swallowed the remains of his coffee and walked out the door behind his parents.

The carriage ride to the king's palace was one filled with laughter and mockery. The lovely marchioness had forced Catherine to wear a brilliant red gown. her face almost matched it as Aiden gently teased the 17 year old. Cath ruffled Aiden's hair while he shouted in protest. "Not the hair you withering twat you know how hard it is to get it to stay orderly!"