{Killian}
I first spotted her from across the ballroom. Every young prince had been transfixed by her beauty for the entirety of the evening. Although each knew she was promised to another, no one knew quite who the lucky man was. Even from several feet away, her glimmering emerald green eyes ensnared my attention. Though she wore a mask, every time her eyes were caught by the light of the glittering chandelier hanging 25 feet above us I couldn't help but stare. The skirt of her elegant ballgown swirled around her ankles as she danced, low heels clicking on the marbled floor. To the naked eye, her placid facade would appear nothing out of the ordinary. Yet, as I watched, I noticed the slight twitch in the corner of her mouth each time inhaled and took a step. Each mannerism revealed just how uncomfortable she was. Perhaps her corset was laced a bit too tightly. Perhaps the small peacock feathers crowning the uppermost tip of her mask were tickling her creased forehead. It glistened with minuscule droplets of perspiration as the woman focused intently on not messing up the carefully choreographed dance steps. Or perhaps she had been forced to attend as I had.
My mother had knocked on the door to my bedroom earlier this afternoon and informed me that I should put on my nicest dress clothes and somehow obtain a mask. My initial reaction was shock and a rush of anger. I despise when social events are sprung on me, because I have no time to formulate an excuse not to go. Upon some reflection, that is probably why Mother chose to wait until the last minute to tell me.
I was startled out of my memories by the woman being twirled around the dance floor by her partner. He wore a white suit and a mask made to look like a fox. It seemed foolish of me to be so distracted by the living embodiment of elegance that was dancing merely a few feet away. I was left swooning at the perfect way her blonde hair was delicately entwined in a silky braid that wound its way across her hairline before ending in an impeccable knot at the top of her head. The flawless bun was stuck with three flamboyant peacock feathers. The way her soft, rosy lips parted to reveal pearl-white teeth overwhelmed my senses. Her dress glided along her form as if it were part of her body. The color was a deep blue that seemed to shimmer when she moved, accented with lines of sharp turquoise, grey, and a shade of green that matched a blade of fresh grass. They wound their way up the skirt and onto the form-fitting bodice where they curled around her chest, coming to a stop when they met with a stunning scarlet pendant that had been sewn into the material. She was redefining my idea of beauty.
The pair whirled around the dance floor for several minutes before finally breaking apart and bowing to each other. No sooner had the woman stepped away when she was swarmed by overly eager princes and other nobility. I stayed back. I had no desire to appear to her as an exited puppy awaiting a treat. I watched as she kindly turned down each man who nearly commanded her to dance with him. She paces to the refreshment table and poured herself a glass of bubbling champagne, waving away the servants offering to fill her glass for her with single motion of her white-gloved hand. The longer I observed her, the greater the curiosity grew inside me to find out more about her.
"Excuse me, my lady," I said, leaning over to a woman wearing an otter mask gossiping with a group of noblewomen, "but, who is that?" I pointed at the woman of my fascination. She had found herself a quiet corner void of pestering young men.
"Her? She's the daughter of the host and hostess, King David the Noble, and Queen Mary the Kind. I can't seem to recall the child's name.... It's a shame really, such a pretty girl gone to waste..." the woman scoffed. A chorus of snickers erupted from the group of ladies.
"Gone to waste?" I inquired.
"From what I've gotten out of the rumors flying around the kingdom, the princess is betrothed. She is to be married a week after her twenty-fourth birthday!"
"If I may ask, when is her birthday?"
"Good heavens, lad! Have you no idea why you're here? Her birthday is today! This ball is the celebration of her being old enough to marry!" the woman exclaimed. "I feel right sorry for the young man promised to her. I've heard she would rather be off shooting arrows than fulfilling the duties of her station!" The group of women sniggered again and resumed their previous conversation as if I had never interrupted.
YOU ARE READING
Ship in a Bottle
Fanfiction~A collection of CaptainSwan One Shots and AU's. ~ I wrote all of these unless otherwise stated. ~Most are split into two parts. These often represent different points of view. ~I wrote these when I was just starting to write, so they're not perfec...
