An Enchanted Liaison

Treacherous Evenings

The next morning, as the preparations continued Deidre and I exchanged silent glances now and then showing our growing dread. Sapphire talked of how wonderful the day would turn out and how she was going to dance with Sean.

We approached Aria in the tailors' room to take our dress. Aria met us and curtsied, her jolly nature radiating from every part of her body. She talked about treating the dress and mask with care. I drowned out her voice and kindly accepted the dress. I remembered the dance Aidan had promised and felt my heart start to beat a beat faster.

The girls continued to their chambers and I followed, I was wrapped up in my thoughts and suddenly found Sapphire next to me, her face in a frown.

"You and Deidre have been unusually quiet after the meeting with Queen. Is everything alright?"

"Yes we are fine, I am just nervous about tonight's dance. I am not the most graceful of dancers. As for Deidre, she thinks her dress is the wrong color." I made up the lie at the spot, I was a good dancer and Deidre's dress was the perfect color to go with her eyes. But I knew the lie was needed in order to quiet Sapphire down.

Deidre fell in step with us and walked in a slower pace in order match us.

"Deidre I don't think your dress is the wrong color, it is compliments your eyes perfectly and makes you look so beautiful. And Adelina you dance beautifully, I can never imagine you missing a beat" came out Sapphire's concerned reply directed at Deidre and me. Deidre looked lost for a moment and looked towards me.

"Thank you Sapphire, I won't question the color of the dress anymore. Now I feel it is a perfect color also." The hesitated reply of Deidre sounded more like a question than a statement.

I squeezed Sapphire's shoulder and told her I heard Camilla calling her name.

As I watched her skipping away to the princess walking ahead of us, I felt sorry for lying to one of my closest companions.

"Thanks for covering my lie; I didn't want Sapphire to be concerned about us."

"You did the right thing Addie" Deidre said as walked into our chambers.

We all headed to Camilla's chamber to get ready for the festival. I laid the dress on the bed and started combing my inky hair. The rest assembled in the changing room putting on their dresses, I arranged my hair in wavy curls and let them hang around my oval face. My lavender eyes sparkled in excitement to see a pair of familiar green ones at the festival. My heart kept beating faster and my skin shivered as I let my thoughts drift over to Aidan. His presence had soothed my nerves last night at dinner.

The ladies piled out in their beautiful dresses and I finished combing my tresses and rose to enter the changing room. They chatted happily; even Deidre seemed excited to dance with Gareth. I admitted that excitement was replacing my fear as the festival crept closer.

I closed the door and disconnected myself from my companions. I undressed and slipped the silk green dress over my head. I immediately felt dress connect to my body; the silk bodice held my waist tight, and dress unfolded in beautiful embroidery as it reached my feet. I slipped the green mask over my face, and felt my identity slip away leaving a beautiful and mysterious woman behind.

I opened the door and joined my friends in front of the mirror. We embraced each other.

The bells rang throughout the Kingdom signaling the start of the festival and as we left the chambers holding hands, I knew we could attack anything thrown our way together. It was approaching dusk and the festival loomed ahead of us as we approached the royal hall. The orange light of fire lit every corner of the hall as people danced and everyone chatted happily. The king and Queen resided in their thrones as the merry festival continued.

We approached the gates and were escorted inside by one too many guards, each of them standing close by us for our safety. I approached the other ladies and found Merane; she praised my dress and told me how beautiful I looked tonight. I saw as Edward swept up Camilla and they danced like one on the dance floor. Deidre was talking to Gareth and they seemed engrossed in heavy discussion. Sapphire was dancing with many men as she merrily moved on from one to the next; Sean spotted her and asked for her permission to a dance. I was amazed at how quickly my friends had found their way to there way on the dance floor and marveled at how beautiful their pairs were, as if they belonged to one other.

I left the comfort of the ladies to get water, for my throat seemed unusually dry. My hand roamed the tables as I looked for a glass. I didn't realize when another hand pulled my arm and moved my body to the dance floor. Two strong arms held my waist and I looked up to find those green eyes grinning down upon me. The mouth formed its crooked smile and my heart strummed faster and faster. We moved on the dance floor dancing as if we were one person. His arms secured my body to his, closer to mine as ever.

"You look beautiful tonight. I told you I will be the first escort you."

"I know about the danger that surrounds us Aiden. Is that why wanted to grab the first dance with me?" my voice calm but eyes showing the fear they held. I looked into his shinning eyes and realized I felt right at home.

His eyes got cold and distant while his hands became rigid. I saw as his smile faded away leaving behind nothing. After a moment concern took over his features as a tear slipped my eye. His hand rose to gently wipe it away, and his eyes searched my face.

"Don't be scared Adelina, I won't let anything happen to you." His arms tightened around my waist and his stern voice made me feel secure as ever. His arm twirled me as the dance picked up slow pace.

"I am not scared, but I want to know what this is about. Why are we in danger?" I whispered, afraid to meet his eyes and see them turn cold.

But I was surprised when his fingers tipped my face up to meet his concerned eyes.

"Adelina I can't tell you anything about this right now. You don't have to worry about this; your friends are under protection and safe."

I took his word and looked around the room; my friends were all smiling and laughing with guards at their sides watching their every step. I let myself smile for the first time in the evening.

"Well I must say it seems like I turn out to be a better dancer than you. Why don't you let me lead the next dance?" My mischievous smile triggered his face into disbelief.

We danced and the evening moved on, I switched partners and saw Aiden always lingering by, his playful eyes on me. I approached my friends as they chatted in a corner. Sapphire winked and Camilla linked arms with me as they both stared at me in shock.

"I didn't know you and Aiden were acquainted so well" Camilla whispered and I saw Sapphire nod in agreement.

I blushed, the warmth from my face spreading all over my body. Camilla and Sapphire laughed in response as Deidre joined us. She too was smiling and had a knowing glint in her eye. I broke away from them feeling conscious. The urge to feel the cold breeze of the wind made me move to the patio. I looked back and saw my friends mingling with others and I knew my presence wouldn't be missed. The patio was abandoned and it allowed me a chance to gather my thoughts and breathe a sigh of relief.

Out of the corner of my eye I saw movement. I turned and a hand clamped my throat, the hold was tighter than a snake and the only things I could see were the hard ice blue eyes that glittered in the dark. His arms were covered in strange markings. I struggled, kicked and tried to scream, but everything seemed futile. The iron grip held my body immobile and my voice seemed to have lost its functionality. That moment everything in my life flashed by as the warm green eyes of Aiden changed into the cold eyes of my captor.

The stranger dragged me from the patio to the deserted trees of the shadows. My eyes searched for Aiden but the ballroom grew father away with each staggering step the stranger dragged me. Just before the ballroom became out of sight I saw a familiar figure come into the patio. I realized it was Aiden and for a moment our eyes locked; mine pleading and his alert. I tried to struggle but before I became a nuisance my captor banged my head hard towards the ground, the world sunk into darkness.