Althea

Bluebirds and Confessions

Isolde: female ruler
Origin: Teutonic

I escaped to my room only to be ambushed by Elsie and her beauty team again. They insisted that I wear something different to the feast. Honestly, I was happy for the distraction. I was hardly aware of what was happening, I just went through the motions; did what was required of me by Elsie's team. For some reason, I couldn't get Solomon's reaction to the Empress's proposal out of my head. He seemed so nonchalant, and it worried me for reasons I didn't know, it just wasn't what I expected. I didn't really know what I wanted, just that I was unhappy.
After what seemed like an eternity, I was ready again. This ensemble was much more light hearted, less regal than before. They'd put me in a blush gown that was covered in embroidered blue birds perched on branches covered in tiny pink flowers and delicate green leaves. The bodice had a sheer stretch of fabric from the end of the embroidery to the top of my collar bones. The same sheer fabric stretched down my back, leaving it almost open. The sleeves dragged along the floor, and parted at my elbows so I could still use my hands. A long train trailed behind me, and my hair cascaded down my back in long ringlets, hiding the buttons that went from my neck to the small of my back. I turned to Elsie and gave her a long hug.
"Thank you so much for making me feel so pretty Elsie."
"Oh, it's been my honour Lady Althea." She blushed. I laughed.
"Never change Elsie. One question, how do I get to the feast. I've always been escorted by... I've always been escorted." For once, Elsie didn't say anything, she just looked at me with sad eyes.
"Don't worry, Lady Althea, I'll show you the way."
Elsie escorted me through a maze of corridors before pointing me to a huge set of doors covered in painted stars and swirling galaxies. The party had already started, the doors were closed but I could hear the orchestra playing a lively dance number. I pushed open the doors, and everyone stopped to look at me. A murmur went through the crowd. Even the butterflies hanging off Solomon's arms stopped chattering at him to stare.
"Welcome, Lady Althea, to the Festival of Starlight!" The Empress called over the crowd. I bowed, and a tall druid wearing a goat pelt appeared at my side. He inclined his head while offering me his hand. I smiled and accepted, letting him lead me through a two step court dance. Solomon shrugged all the other girls off his arm and led one into the middle of the dance floor, right next to me and my partner. It came time for the dancers to switch ladies, so I ended up on Solomon's arm.
"Althea, are you upset with me?" He murmured as we circled each other.
"No, why would I be mad?" I swung into the arms of a moth knight for a few steps before being passed back to Solomon.
"You ran away from me at the ceremony this afternoon. You seem... standoffish I guess?"
"I'm fine!" I snapped before twirling back into the druid's arms. The dance ended and I curtseyed to the druid before trying to make my way off the dance floor. A slow waltz started up and a ring formed around the dancers. Someone grabbed my waist and whirled me around. I came face to face with Solomon. I huffed, but followed him through the steps.
"Althea, talk to me. Please." He begged, his eyes darting wildly across my face.
"What's there to say?"
"I don't know, anything. Please. I don't like it when you're mad at me." I was quiet for a moment.
"You guys really like to feast and dance don't you?" I said, changing the subject. He sighed.
"Well, our last one got interrupted. We need to make up for lost time." He joked, trying to lighten my mood.
We danced in silence for a few more moments before the tinkling of a knife on glass interrupted the song. The orchestra cut off immediately; everyone's attention was on the Empress.
"Citizens, as you well know this is the Festival of Starlight! Earlier this night, you wrote the name of your lover on a paper star before throwing it into the Stella Brazier to ask the stars to grant you what they granted our goddess Nature and her husband Terra. In the spirit of the festival, I thought it appropriate to share the news of my daughter, Princess Isolde's engagement to the Archduke Solomon!" A cheer went up, Isolde waved to her people, smiling broadly. Solomon's hand tightened on my waist.
"Thank you Empress Philena, and Princess Isolde. This proposed betrothal is truly an honour. But I cannot accept the Princess's hand." Solomon said firmly. At an even louder decibel then the cheer, a gasp came from the attendees.
"Solomon, what are you doing?" I whispered fiercely. He looked at me, his eyes were determined, but his face was soft.
"I want you. Us. This." And then he kissed me in front of everyone, but I didn't care. His hands were on the back of my neck, pulling me in closer. My fingers threaded through his hair, and I kissed him back. Butterflies started to beat their wings wildly in my stomach, and their tickles sent a giddy feeling to every corner of my body. He tasted of fresh mint and summer blackberries, his breath was hot on my skin. When we finally parted he cupped my face in one hand while finding my own hand with the other.
"I want nothing more, nothing less." I looked at the Empress who was smiling widely. She nodded and I looked back at Solomon.
"I want that too." I whispered. He kissed me again, more passionately this time, and the crowd went wild. We broke off and he leaned over to whisper in my ear.
"When we wrote names on the stars for the brazier, I wrote yours on thirty-three of them. One for every day I have had the pleasure of knowing you, Althea." The butterflies in my stomach took on a renewed vigor. I placed his hand on my waist.
"Dance with me, Solomon." The orchestra started to play again, and we danced for the rest of the night, like no one else existed, regardless of the song. For those moments, no one else did exist, it was just the two of us and our heartbeats.