All Around You (Troyler AU)

Chapter 21: The Feast

Troye's P.O.V

I had been staring at my reflection in the mirror for far too long. It seemed no matter how long I stood here, adjusting things on myself; I wouldn't be content with my appearance. Every time I felt satisfied, I'd see some wrinkle on my sleeve or a piece of hair fallen into the wrong place. I couldn't have that, so I quickly smoothed out my top or ran my fingers through my hair, only occasionally getting them stuck in the curls. A few times throughout the evening, a maid or two had tried to come in an assist me, but I sent them all away. They didn't know how I liked to look. I wanted to do this myself.

Tonight had to be perfect. In honor of the war being avoided and all our knights returned home safely, my father had ordered for a big feast in the Great Hall. It was supposedly going to be the grandest feast this kingdom had ever seen. I've only witnessed about two of them in my entire life, and I hadn't done well with them in the past. They're loud, they're colorful, they're bright, they're social; they're everything I hadn't done so well with before. But this time was going to be different. This time, I would be social too. This time, I'd at least try to enjoy myself. This time, I had family and friends to be there with me. This time, I had someone to stand next to awkwardly for hours without them complaining.

There was a knock at the door just as I was considering changing shirts again. I let out a quiet sigh and kept my eyes on my reflection. "I'm fine," I yelled loud enough for who I assumed to be the maid to hear. "Really, I can dress myself for the feast. I'm fine!"

"Well I should hope you could dress yourself by now. You're nineteen!" I heard my sister's teasing voice from the doorway. I smirked and kept my eyes to the mirror, watching her reflection walk up to my own.

"Well, don't you look lovely?" I said, grinning. Sage smiled, rested her head on my shoulder and hugged me from the side.

"You too. Are you trying to look nice for anyone in particular?"

"We've had this conversation before," I said with a small chuckle. I finally turned my head to face her and saw her craning her neck to look up at me.

"The day you met Tyler," She said thoughtfully.

"I'd like him to think I normally look a lot nicer than I actually look," I said. Sage giggled and rubbed my arm.

"You always look nice; don't worry about it so much."

"Well what about you?" I asked. I took her by the shoulders and placed her in front of the mirror smiling proudly at her. "Sage, you look absolutely beautiful tonight. Men are going to fall in love with you." She laughed wistfully and did a small spin in her stunning dress. "And then I'll get Tyde and Steele to help me beat up any man who talks to you."

"Oh shut up!" She laughed as she playfully smacked my arm. "I'm going to head down there now, are you ready?"

"Yes...well, no...In a second, alright? I just want to make sure everything looks perfect!"

"Oh fine, fine," said Sage with a tiny groan. Before I could stop her, she reached up and tousled my hair, making it look like a curly catastrophe on my head. I yelled loudly and went to fix my hair as she ran out my bedroom door, cackling.

~~~~~

The feast was going well. It was going very well, actually.

Every single person in the Great Hall that evening was having the best time. There was the most beautiful, lively music echoing throughout the stone walls, bouncing off every corner and falling gracefully into someone's ears. Every torch was ablaze with light, shining like the sun across the walls and illuminating the carefree smiles spread throughout the room. Then there was the talking. The conversations. Everyone had someone to talk to; everyone had a story to tell or a comment to make. The sound of footsteps stormed across the floors as people happily danced with their loved ones, or even complete strangers. The noise was thunderous in its intensity. And, surprisingly enough, I actually loved it.