Jupiter Rising

Chapter Fourteen- The Ball (part one)

Jupiters Ball to announce her arrival and her place in the Royal court was spectacular to witness. Every Royal family bar King Caspian greeted her as she arrived to the Great Hall, and none were stone faced like at my very own ceremony back when the Kingdoms were against one another. Jupiter was met with Queens whom with a slight nod and a smile, welcomed her in.

The stone that had been placed around my neck of a prophecy, it was not my daughter's weight to carry, and it very much had stayed with me. I knew that they still watched me closely, and observed me with great critique, awaiting my ego to come and my magic to lose control. Like I said, one misstep and I was back to enemy 101. For now though, our focus as a people was on the darkness, and the shadows that hid the things we couldn't quite see. Perhaps we shouldn't ever wish to see what lies there, because once we saw, we couldn't look away.

Jupiter was safe as long as the Kingdoms didn't see her magic, nor her power. So much power within such a little Fae, a child no less, oh how she would be feared. Power in the Fae world, and a fairy's abilities, they were a currency, and those with great power held greater places in our Kingdoms. A powerful Fae was either idolised, admired and respected, or feared and taken out. My child was good, and she was nothing to fear, yet she was different, born of two Mothers, and it set her apart and placed her under a microscope the second she was announced. Jupiter would live freely within my walls, but she knew she was not to be so free among outsiders. Willow, Andromeda and I had made sure that she was aware of these restrictions over the last few weeks, not that we needed to remind her, because my daughter foresaw what would come of her actions.

Jupiter foresaw what became of all of our actions, and I hoped beyond hope, that she forgave us, for all the times we got it wrong...and the decisions made in moments of great fear.

The Great Hall was full to the brim, music played, fae danced, drank and sung. The mood was light, and the Kingdoms were peacefully weaving together to unite for Jupiter.

The feast came next, and I looked forward to the sit down part of this Ball, for my feet ached after an hour in these ridiculous heals. Andy had not attempted to dance, most probably a sensible idea with a little Princess about to drop. Jupiter danced at the centre of the dance floor, her uncles taking it in turns to dance with her, flinging her about to her great delight.

"She's a Bonny wee thing" came Merrins voice beside me, her red painted lips rose with a devilish smile as always.

Mirren was her Mothers Youngest child, her second daughter. She had three older brothers, and an older sister, Flora. Unlike the other Kingdoms, Flora didn't attend events as the heir to Thistle. She never left the North. It was said she was sickly, and to have her travel would be to kill her, and so it was accepted that if you wanted to see Flora, you went North, to her. Sorcha wasn't particularly old, and so it was assumed by many that it would eventually be Mirren who took the throne. Flora wasn't expected by many to make it to her coronation day. Mirren had the best of both worlds, she was free to do as she pleased, and playing assassin for the fallen seemed a great distraction for her. Unlike most Princess's she got to leave her role as Royal behind, and enjoy great freedom. I didn't think she would be allowed to run free for too much longer, not now that there was a threat out there who wanted to overthrow the Monarchy. Queens had targets on their heads, and Princesses were in just as much danger, for to defeat a Queen, you first had to eradicate her line. It made it impossible for her Kingdom to survive. Without a Kingdom, what is a Queen?!

I glanced sideways "She's a wonderful distraction right now"

"Ah bet" Mirren replied, standing closer "ye luk Bonny tae" she said with a wink.

I shook my head, glancing at her one more time, amazed how makeup covered her scar so well. She looked like she was made of porcelain, her red freckles not leaving an inch of her skin untouched, she was ever so pale against her bright red hair. She never let you see her as a pretty girl though, even now she destroyed the immaculate image of herself by sticking out her tongue at me and creasing up her nose. "Dont ye luk tae close"