The Appointed: A Selection Fanfiction

Chapter Seven

The sound echoed throughout the area. Everyone looked shocked or unsure of what made the noise.

"Oh I'm sorry about that ladies. It was just an issue with the doors. Everything is all right. Nothing to worry about." June assured "Let's carry on, shall we?"

We all walked into the palace with faces filled with awe. Everything was just so beautiful. The walls were a cream color and the floor was marble. I had never seen anything so nice before. They had vases filled with flowers lining the hallways along with a few pictures. It all looked so nice.

"Wow, this place is amazing." I heard Quinn whisper to me. She sounded like she was in awe, as well.

"It really is beautiful," I replied. "But I would never need this much space."

"I would take it any day." She giggled.

"Everyone, voices low." June scolded. "This is the Women's Room, where you will spend your Saturday's. You may be in here any other time as well, but always on Saturdays."

Everyone looked in and saw a taupe colored room adorned with windows. There was no need for a light with the amount of sunlight streaming through the windows. It looked nice now, but I really didn't want to spend a whole day in there.

She then showed us the Great Room, followed by the dining room. You could hear the 'oohs' and 'ahhs' from everyone.

She told us the third floor was off limits, since that's where the Royal Family sleeps. Our rooms are on the second floor, which we should have slept in last night. We went in the back entrance yesterday, so we wouldn't have seen the other rooms.

June led us back to the dining room so we could eat breakfast. Of course, we couldn't just dive right in. She told us we must curtsy if a member of the Royal Family comes into the room. She made us practice by pretending she was part of the family. She would walk in and everyone would stand up and curtsy, then she would walk back out. I think she enjoyed making us stand up and down.

After about an hour, everyone knew how to curtsy and acknowledge the Royal Family. We then went to work on table etiquette. She told us to work from left to right. You use the salad fork for salad and many other forks for other things. You were to use the tongs and not our hands to pick things up. Your napkin is folded in your lap to ensure no spills.

We finally ate breakfast after our long lesson in etiquette. It was the best thing I had ever tasted. There were pancakes with strawberry syrup. Fresh fruit with cream and orange juice. Everything was just amazing.

"This food is so good." I said to Quinn.

"It is," She agreed. "Best thing I've ever tasted."

We finished breakfast and were brought to the Women's Room. Some chatted quietly while others read books. A few girls even watched the television.

I was talking to Quinn about my home when I heard my name. I whipped my head around to find the source. The Report was replaying everyone's arrival and takeoff.

At my takeoff I looked kind of sad. I was smiling, but you could tell I wasn't ready for this. I looked very excited at the airport, though. I really wanted to ride a plane. Quinn was also so full of positive energy it was hard to keep a frown.

They skipped to my arrival at the palace. I've been told in past years they would let the lady meet some of her fans along the walk in, but this year they didn't allow it due to security measures.

I arrived at the palace looking happy. No frown, but a large grin. I was walking while chatting to Quinn about this card game I used to play.

The Report then changed to the next girl, who happened to be Benli. I decided just to watch the TV, mainly to learn all the girls's names. From the corner of my eye, I saw Quinn turn around to the TV as well. It looks like she was memorizing names too. I could see her lips move to form the shape of each girl's that popped onto the screen.

Only seconds after the Report finished, June burst through the doors telling us all that we needed to head upstairs to our rooms to get ready for dinner with the Royal Family.

"I guess it takes three hours to get ready.' Quinn whispered beside me. 'It's only two o'clock."

"What can I say, certain people need more work than others." I said while pointing to myself.

Quinn and I giggled lightly as we walked up the marble steps to the second floor.

"You're going to look great tonight." I promised.

"Well, duh." She replied. "You'll look even better though. No doubt about it."

"See ya' later."

"We shall meet again," she cried dramatically. "At dinner."

And with that she slammed the door in my face. I laughed lightly as I walked to my room. When I opened the door, I saw my maids scurrying around looking for something.

"What's wrong?" I asked to no one in particular.

"I can't seem to find the necklace I had picked out for your dress, Miss." Kendra lamented.

"I can help you look for it, if you'd like." I offered.

"Oh, but that wouldn't be proper, my Lady." Lucille waved her hands around.

"I'll help anyway."

We looked all around the room, asking one another if they had seen the necklace or if they had put it somewhere. As I was looking through the couch cushions, I get something hard hit my fingertips. I pulled it out and it was a beaded bracelet. We all had a mini celebratory party for finding the bracelet, but we still had to find the necklace.

"There you are!" Kendra squealed once she pulled out a pulled out a gold necklace with little diamonds.

Now that we had everything for the outfit, my maids went to work. They told me to close my eyes while they did my makeup and shoved a dress on my head. At the end, I was allowed to open my eyes.

I looked at myself in the mirror and gasped. They had fixed the horror that had been my makeup, and put me in a beautiful dress. It was a light gold color with little white tendrils of fabric seeping up into the skirt. They put me in nude colored heels and had curled my hair in big, round curls, leaving it down. This was the best my hair had ever looked. Well, this was the best I had ever looked.

They didn't want me to be late, so they rushed me into the hallway and told me to meet everyone at the Dining Room.

I walked out the door without any second thoughts.