Two Moons, One Earth

Ch11: Appointments and Aching Shoes

This music is very calming and is inspirational for me. It gives off a calm feeling, and I think it goes with the appointments, especially when she meets the king. The picture on the side, shows what Percy has to wear to present herself. Enjoy!

"Alone?....." I say to myself. "That's right." Melva pitches in. "I guess you are right.....Happiness is always tooken away from me..No ones ever there for me." I count up the negatives and compare them to the positives. Negatives over rule by a hundred.

*Knock,knock.* I whisk around at the sound at the door. Melva disappears, as soon as Vlad sticks his head through the door. "His Majesty had accepted your audience and the Head will meet you after. And once that's all done, I'll go take you to meet my friend. You can shop, actually, no, the King can take care of that. I'm off to practice, this girl," He ushers a blond haired girl with greenish hazel eyes.

"She will assist you to your appointments. That will be all. See you later." He waves goodbye, walking off.

Then, I focus my attention to the girl who's suppose to assist me. "Hi, I'm Percy Falestal. Call me Percy. And you?" I ask. She comes in my room and sets a large flat box on the bed. "I am Lily Princeton. I'm 18. I will be assisting you today. This is the dress I was ordered to help you put on, when you are having your audience with His Majesty." She answered and explained.

"Princeton? If I'm not wrong, the Princetons were a noble family, one that was almost with equal to the King." I tell her. She nods then says "Yes, that's my Family. But hard times have fallen, and the Princetons are no more, I'm the only survivor. Because of pity, the Law and Order put me here, working as a maid and such." She told me.

"Oh! I'm sorry. Well Lily! I'll bet you will have a great time with me!" I tell her. Her lips twist up and produce a smile. "Thanks! But nows not the time, you must prepare." She unlids the box, revealing the most greenest and fanciest thing I've ever seen in my life. It was a dress, all green.

"Does His Majesty want to embarrass me?" I ask Lily. She holds it up to me, saying "I'm sure it's not so. Plus, this is the fashion for the year. His mother, former queen, will be there. I'm sure she'll take a liking to you." She hands me the dress, ushering me behind a changing wall, where you change clothes.

"Chop chop. You haven't much time." She chimes. I think of the possibilities for being late before the King. Excution? Exile? 100 days of slavery? Thrown into jail?!

I push the thoughts out of my head and hastily strip off my clothes. I hang each piece of clothes on the rims of the changing wall. I slip into the green dress and slide my hands into the sleeves, leaving me shoulderless.

The dress is heavy and puffy but I think I can manage. I present myself to Lily for opinion. Instead, as soon as I step out, she presents me sleek black heeled boots that are about 4 inches tall.

"You're kidding me right?" I nervously laugh. "Not if you want to be late for your audience with the King. You better hurry. I'll help you get in them." She waves the pair of shoes in front of my face. I groan, but sit on the bed and proceed to slip them on too.

I'm working on the right side of my sleek black 4 in. heeled boots, now tying a knot and bow, while Lily get's the other side. Very soon after she finishes her side of my left leg, I hop off the bed and wait for Lily to show me the way to the King's Hall.

"Follow me. And whatever you do, don't stray off." She instructs me. I nod my head and follow her out the door.

Down a corridor and turning 2 lefts, we finnaly arrived at the King's Hall.

Two guards stand, blocking the entrance to the King's Hall. "State your business and your name." Says one of the guards.

Lily curtsies in front of the too. I do the same, but immediately regret so, because my feet, ache terribly from the boots. "We have an audience with the King. Name, Percy." She tells them my name.

One guard grunts and then goes in the King's Hall, while the other one watches us. Seconds later, the guard comes back, allowing us to pass. Lily curtsies once again, and then nods for me to follow.

Once in, she quietly leads me toward the other end of the big big hall, where the King is. As we come closer, the King comes into view. I get a good look at him, his eyes following our every move. He looks about the same age as me and Lily. A woman, who probably is the King's mother, sits beside of his, but not on a throne or anything special.

Short spiky dirty blond hair, with a crown on top, and mixed green and blue hazel eyes. He sits on his throne, lamely, lazily, and tiredness etched across his face.

Once we reach the tips of the stairs leading up to the throne, Lily curtsy, elegantly, way more than she did to those of the guards. I proceed to curtsy as well, feeling the boots squeeze me everytime I move.

Then, once we curtsy, we both bow are heads until we are given the permission to lift our heads. We stood straight and waited patiently for the King to speak first.

It takes about a minute or so, but when he does speak, it's more like an insult to me than a compliment. "That dress suits you. I didn't really know how it would go with some stranger."

I curtsy for what feels like the one hundredth time and then say, "Thank you, Your Lordship." I fought the urge to say something more, something insulting, but I put bars around that urge and focused.

"Mother, what do you think?" He asks the woman beside him. She nods in approval. "It is of exquisite taste. I like- No, I love it!" She responds. The King crosses his arms in satisfaction.

"Oh yes! I forgot to introduce myself. I am Alan Luis, King of Louienard, 10th generation, King Luis X." He motions us to introduce ourselves as well.

"It is an honor to meet you, my King. I am Percy Falestal. You may call me Percy." I introduce myself and wait patiently for Lily to finish. She doesn't say anything, but just stand there silently. King Luis X cocks his head, confused, waiting for her introduction.

She pulls it together and then looks the King straight in the eye. "I am Lily....Lily Lyle. You may call me Lily. It is an pleasure to meet His Majesty." She finally says. I notice that she lied about her last name and I give her a weird look.

The King doesn't notice, but he's squeezed the arm of the throne. "Alan...Dear, they died. Not one survived. The bishop surveying the area even said so." His Mother was rubbing his arm. He unclenched the arm rest and put his hands in his lap.

"I'm sorry you had to see that." He apologizes. "No need, no need, your Highness." I tell him, politely and carefully picking my words. He nods, and then crosses his legs. "You see, when I was small, I use to play with this girl, who was the same age as me. Her name....Was Lily...Lily Princeton she was. She was warm and nice to me. Always understood me. But 9 years ago, their mansion burned down, the fire taking everything with it. I haven't seen her since." He solemnly explains.

I gave Lily the you-knew-this-person-personally look, she returns a sad look. I understood what she wanted but she couldn't have it. She's been here the whole time for him, he just hasn't realized it yet. But she's hiding away from him because of her status and what he will think of her afterwards. I understand, I understand.

"I understand Sire. If I may, will you allow me to tell you my story?" I ask him. "Very well." He grants me permission and I talk away. I tell him the whole story of Keni and me. I was afraid I might cry but I didn't, the one I sent to tears, was the King's mother.

She was sniffling.

The King makes no comment. Only sad and despair in his eyes tell what he's trying to say.

"Sire, I'm sorry, but if we may, may we excuse ourselves? We have another appointment. We also have shopping to attend to for the ball tomorrow." Lily gracefully says. He nods and goes back to being quiet.

"Ah! No need to go out and buy your clothes. I have plenty that are designed for fashion. I never have worn them, but I'm sure they'll fit you anyways. You too." The King's mother smiles warmly at us.

"Thank you. May grace be upon you." Lily says. I nod and thank her too. "Oh, and yes, Percy?" His mother asks. "Yes?" I politely answer. "After the ball, I would like to see you. Alone and private I shall request." She says. I nod, wondering what it is.

Lily and I proceed to walk out of the castle and find Vlad in the back, practicing, where all the other soldiers and Law and Order are.

As soon as me and Lily step out of the castle, we see Vlad plain as day. He's in fact, the only Law and Order soldier there. So he sticks out. "Sir!" Lily calls out to Vlad in a formal way. Vlad makes his way, weaving in and out of other's way. Lily runs quickly down the stairs and up to him.

I follow her, trying to keep up the same pace, only to have result in me slipping. My boots have a slick padding, causing me to slip and fall forwards. But, I'm saved. Someone, someone strong, pulled my arm behind, and had broken my fall. "Ouch!" It's a guy's voice.

I'm sitting, or really, I fell into someone's lap, causing this person to hit his head against the cobble stairs. "Oh~! I'm sorry!" I quickly jump up and examine the man who had pulled me back. He was also part of the Law and Order association.