Donkeyskin - ON HOLD

Of Challenges

*Of Challenges*

 Autumn bled into winter, and the first snow came and went. Winterwatch, blanketed in icy whiteness, was quiet and still. People stayed inside as much as they could as nasty storms blew in off the ocean.

The dancers worked tirelessly, the movement keeping them warm. At night, Elodie and Fleur pushed their beds together and slept huddled against each other's body. Up in the dormitories, there were no fireplaces, and the cold was merciless. During the days when they didn't rehearse, Elodie wrote lengthy letters to Ninon and tucked them away to send when winter cleared.

She also wrote a letter to Mattie, though she didn't deliver it. She wasn't sure where her cousin was working, so she didn't want to just assume anyone would know where to find her.

The Solstice crept up unnoticed, and Elodie spent an entire day running around to buy last-minute gifts for everyone. For Manon, she bought a paper fan, painted in the style of the Hinode Isles to the east. For Noah, she bought a pair of fur-lined slippers, since he kept complaining about how cold his feet were. She found Fleur a silver necklace with a piece of amethyst set in the pendant.

M. Beaufort was harder. She couldn't think of what he might like. She wandered in and out of the shops for awhile, unable to make up her mind as to what he would actually use. Finally, she found a simple, leather-bound notebook to replace the tattered one he took notes in. Just the other day, half the pages had fallen out of that one, and he had sworn loudly as they spread across the floor. At the last minute, she also bought a little white baby blanket. Manon was nearly six months pregnant, and Elodie thought she might like something for the baby when it came.

The Toy Soldier opened a week before the Solstice. On opening night, Elodie peaked into the audience to see that the royal booth was occupied. King Stefan and Queen Annika sat at the front of the booth, Prince Alexandre beside his mother. Prince Gabriel and the fake Princess Mattelaine sat behind them, the woman frowning as if the entire affair disgusted her.

When the performance was over, the royal family–minus the princess and Prince Gabriel, who was obliged to see her back to the palace–came backstage. Manon, who was seated on a plush sofa, resting her swollen feet, tried to give up her seat for the queen, but Queen Annika refused. "I know what it's like to be pregnant," she explained to her husband and son. "I'd never ask a pregnant woman to give up her seat." Turning on her son, she ordered, "And you'd better not, either."

A few of the dancers tittered at that–especially the women–and the prince went a bit red. He looked up, met Elodie's gaze, a grinned self-deprecatingly. She went pink, then white, and retreated to stand behind Noah.

King Stefan smiled down at his wife. "That's all very well, my love, but we're not here to discuss pregnancy, as entertaining as that could be."

Everyone chuckled, and even Prince Alexandre cracked a smile. Elodie crept out from behind Noah and went to stand behind Manon while everyone was distracted. She felt–she could hardly explain it–all floaty and detached. Was there any way the king and queen might recognize her? Maybe they'd been sent a portrait or something.

Panic was an overwhelming roaring in her ears, in her veins, that threatened to overwhelm her. She clutched at the back of the sofa where Manon sat with white-knuckled hands. Manon reached up and took Elodie's hand in hers. "Great seas!" she exclaimed under her breath. "Your hand is ice. Just breathe, Lune, and stop acting guilty."

Elodie took one shuddering breath, then another. Manon did not release her hand, and for that, Elodie was grateful. It was the only thing anchoring her to reality in this room of panic and fear. The king was talking, and Elodie had missed the beginning of his announcement.