His Gift

3

She watched and waited.

Each gift going before her, until she was the last one remaining in the room, her nerves seeming to skyrocket and thoughts began to overwhelm her.

She had even distracted herself in a game, trying to guess which gift Rufus came to collect when he entered; thankful the man had not complained and played along with her.

She did fail many times, and then Rufus explained to her that he saw a glow around their gift. She didn't see it at first but when she focused really hard, she did.

The door opens and Rufus enters for the last time,
"Your turn Lady Lume." She nods, standing to her feet, shifting her veil ever so slightly, fixing it in its proper place.

The effect of her being the last, left her agitated. This only meant it would only be a greater spectacle for her if the King doesn't accept her.

They walk down the silent hallway, the ballroom entrance surprisingly was not a long one, yet it felt long to Lume; or maybe it was simply because she was walking a lot slower than normal.

She couldn't help it. Nervous was the only emotion she felt at this moment, and she was grateful Rufus didn't rush her to walk faster; but she knew she would have to refrain, when they enters the ballroom.

They stop at the closed doors,
"The announcer announces the family first, and then I bring in the gift." She simply nods, not able to find words.

The faint sound of her family's name was called causing her to straighten up even more.
"The best of luck Lady Lume." He tells her just as the doors open.

All attention on them.
"Thank you Rufus." She softly whispered, before they both step forward heading towards her family.

The murmurs and gasps that filled the room as she made her way forward, was almost unbearable. Have they not seen a woman gifted to the King before. She rolls her eyes.

She comes to stand between her father and mother, her sister on his left.
"Remember what I have told you." He tells her and she nods.

No one spoke yet. Shocked, she was sure at her father's bold move, and at her presence.

Her eyes lift to meet the King's finding his already on hers. His attire stood out amongst the rest, showing his wealth and kingship boldly for all to see. His long dark locks, laid neatly on both his shoulders, adding the beauty his face beheld. His entire presence spoke of the power he held, the authority he possessed.

Indeed he was their King.

"The Windward family's gift your majesty!" Rufus loudly announces, over the quiet room.

"He gifts the King a woman?" A man says, and many whispers follow after. Many speaking against her father. Yet he did not lower his head.

From the corner of her eye, she could see it...he was confident. Confident that his Lume would be accepted, even after many have tried and failed.

He looked sure of it.

"You bare guts to gift the King a woman Mr. Windward." The grand Duke speaks mockingly.
"His majesty won't be responsible for the shame that befalls her or your family, because of your foolery."

"It has be wasted effort." The man standing next to the Duke adds, but there was another emotion present. Jeaslousy? Anger?

She felt an intense gaze on her, and brought her gaze back to the King. She wondered what he was thinking, behind those dark eyes. Is he upset? Bemused? Yet he sat confidently, seeming not at all surprised by this.

"I would be a fool to say I don't come with caution...however your majesty, I truly believe none holds beauty as my Lume does." She chuckled to herself as the other family present voice their disagreement with her father's statement.

"You-" The King raises his hand, silencing not only the grand Duke, but the room at large.

"Come." He demands, surprising everyone in the room.

Lume was not only shocked to hear him call unto her, but she was amazed that his voice was as beautiful as he. Low, and slightly rasped.

Her father moved to unveil her, but the King stops him.

"I did not say to unveil her Mr Windward, I told her to come to me." Her father quickly retracts his hand, moving to stand in his previous place.

"Of course your majesty. I apologize." Her mother nudges her slightly forward, by the small of her back, whispering for her to go.

The closer she got to him, the more his beauty became more apparent to her.

She has not seen many men, other than those her father allowed to meet her, and that was only two other individuals aside from him, who had a part to play with her preparation process.

Coming to a halt at the bottom of the stairs, leading to his throne, she hesitates to step up.

"Come to me." He repeats again, firmer this time.