Valin (Book 3 of the White Lily Trilogy)- first draft

Chapter 12- The ball at the guild

   Isildilia was woken rudely by something constantly prodding her in her right cheek. Twice she swatted her hand, in a feeble attempt to make it stop, but all it did was make the frequency increase. Today was her day off and she wasn't going to start it in an irritated mood.

"Stop it," she drooled into her pillow.

"How charming," Valin mocked. "And you go by the title of Lady." Isildilia grunted, disliking that he was forcing her to move her tongue, but still refusing to move another inch.

"Only because I'm married to someone with a pompous title such as yourself," she grumbled.

"You need to get yourself ready for tonight. Remember the ball." She rolled over, yawning heavily, seeing her eyelids brighten as her head turned in the direction of the window.

"You can't fool me, the ball is tomorrow night." The tap came again, this time on her forehead.

"No, it's tonight," he said seriously. It was as if she swallowed a chunk of ice as the recognition slid down to her stomach. Her eyes snapped open, blinking in red flashes as she was suddenly facing an open window with the sun pouring in. She hissed and shut her eyes, turning over before she opened them once more. She gingerly propped herself up. How did she miss out on a full day?

Then she remembered, what happened the day before; Linna and Monao turning up to collect their finished dresses. The two girls were delirious with joy as Isildilia revealed to them their dresses, paying her a substantial amount, more than what she originally asked for. Not willing to complain she filed it all away without question. Glad that she hadn't just blacked out and missed an entire day, she felt the pit of worry slowly fade.

She wiped the drool off on the back of her hand before sitting up fully. Valin was sat next to her, already dressed for the day, his white shirt lying loose and untucked and his hair clearly un-brushed.

"Hypocrite," she scolded. "You mock me, yet look at you. You call yourself a Lord?" He snorted and pushed against her forehead, causing her to flop onto her back and sink back into the pillows.

"Well now, someone doesn't sound happy to be woken this morning," he chirruped.

"I don't see how you can be happy with this ball; I thought you disliked these things as much as me." He rolled his eyes at her, and shook his head in disappointment.

"What sort of leader would I be if I don't attend the most important event for the entire King's magicians? Would you want my honourable reputation to be ruined? Ah," he exclaimed faking a teary-eyed expression. "And how I will be mocked, if the most famous dressmaker in the country, my lovely wife, leaves me on my own at such an event." Isildilia hefted the pillow from behind her head and threw it at his, he quickly ducked and laughed.

"I didn't say I wasn't coming. You already backed me into that corner; I just said I'm unhappy with it all."

"Well at least try to smile when you are there," he pleaded.

"Maybe if you go and get me breakfast," she decided to bargain. He stood up from the bed.

"Fine, fine, but you better be out and getting ready when I get back." Even after Valin left, she rolled around in the sheets for a bit, just feeling too comfortable to get out for the moment. Eventually, the dread of today gnawed at the back of her mind so much that she forced herself to sit up, her legs dangling over the edge of the bed. Could she really stand in a room full of posh lords and ladies, a lot of them would have their eyes on her, they'd be talking to her as well as about her. But what did she have to worry about? None had a bad word to her name; in fact she was quite popular amongst those of the court. But why did that feel wrong in the back of her mind?