Love in the Little Kingdom

Love in the Little Kingdom Part 10

Holly sat in the prow of a beautiful white boat being rowed towards the island in the middle of the lake. Around her several other boats were heading towards the same place, all of them strung with lanterns that made a constellation of lights over the lake's surface. It was the night of the Spring Ball and everywhere Holly looked fairies and elves were smiling, their eyes shining with excitement. Her sisters Daisy and Poppy followed in a boat just behind her and she could hear their lively chatter and giggles even from her position. She scowled to herself. How could everyone be so happy at her expense? She hadn't seen Ben since the night she flew away from his window and she was too angry to ask after him. Let him come to me and apologise for being so cowardly and cruel, she told herself. Even if everything he said had been true, it was too awful of him to admit it, to not even pretend that they could runaway.

Her boat struck the beach and a group of elves hauled her further ashore, bumping over mud and rocks so much that she had to cling on to the sides. Why couldn't they just have flown to the island? She thought with another scowl. The boats might look pretty but they were unnecessary for a fairy. Once the boat was settled on the shore, she ignored the rug that was laid out over the ground to walk upon and flew upwards with her gossamer wings flitting over everyone's heads before coming to land on the grassy mound at the island's centre. The assembled guests greeted her with a bow, covering their surprise at her sudden entrance with smiles. Her mother sidled over to her.

"It's impolite to ignore all the comforts that the elves have laid out for us, you could have walked up the path." She murmured, smiling at the crowd and lifting her tea cup to sip.

"Why? Fairies can fly and I am a fairy, a fact you have been too happy to remind me of just lately. If I am a fairy, then I shall act like one." Queen Thistle replaced the cup on the saucer in her other hand with a clink.

"Then you will smile and behave with grace and elegance, not like some common bug. Put away your pouts and enjoy the ball. Prince Thorn will be arriving soon."

Holly made a face.

"Poo. Just because you won't let me marry Ben it doesn't mean I'm going to marry Prince Thorn!"

"Holly!" the Queen lost her composure and glared at Holly but the princess was already walking away towards the refreshments table. There were cakes iced in rainbow colours, fruits of every kind, pastries both savoury and sweet, cheese on sticks and fresh baked bread piled up high with pats of butter on the side. Holly picked up a cake and bit into it violently, smearing rainbow icing across her upper lip.

"Princess Holly, the Queen has told me to have a word with you, what have you done this time?" Nanny Plum appeared at her side. Holly shrugged and chose not to reply.

"Wipe the icing off your mouth, you're supposed to look elegant and mature."

Holly glanced at Nanny Plum.

"As elegant and mature as you, Nanny Plum?" She asked. Nanny Plum patted her bun and demurred.

"I have endeavoured to dress for the occasion."

"Then you should wipe the powdered sugar off your chin." Holly said and Nanny's hand flew up to cover her face in alarm.

"It was the pastries, I couldn't resist!" She hurried away to clean herself up and Holly walked away from the table smirking and running her tongue around the corners of her mouth to get at all the icing. Nanny didn't really have sugar on her chin but it had been funny to see her reaction. An elf waiter stopped at her side with a tray of bubbly drinks in leaf-shaped glass goblets. She wasn't normally allowed to drink this sort of thing but since she wasn't obeying the rules tonight, she took a glass and enjoyed the thrill of rebellion that it gave her. The waiter moved on and she took a swig from the glass. The fizzy pink liquid was both sweet and refreshing with a sour twang that offset the sweetness. She took another sip, pleasantly surprised by how much she enjoyed it.