Fallen

Chapter 3: A Ball

The lights beckoned me, flickering across the hall in front of me, lighting up ancient potraits and dusty carpets. Most of our servants had left during the war, fleeing with their family to the East where the war wouldn't touch them for a while. Even my maids seemed nervous, flicking their eyes around as if looking for an unseen killer to assassinate the king and end the war.

Sometimes I wondered why they stayed with us, perhaps it was the money, or fear of the unknown. I gathered my courage, knowing I was stalling. I hated going to balls, everyone glaring and whispering about me. Internally scolding myself I strode into the ballroom.

The music stopped, screeched to a halt in fact. The dancers stopped and looked at the so called "princess". Some gawked, their mouths hanging open as if waiting for some poor flying insect to get caught in their mouths. Slowly the music started up again and I quietly made my way to my father's side. He grunted as I came close and glared at the twirling dresses and suits. "They are fools, all of them." He grunted. I just nodded my head. Acutely aware of the stray gazes that glanced at me, accusing and calculating.

"You should dance." My father said gruffly, surprising me. "What?!" I said, almost shouting. A few glances turned my way. More quietly I said "That's proposterous, no one would even be willing to dance with me!". My father looked at me quizzically. "My dear you are one of the most beautiful women in this room. Who wouldn't want to dance with you?" He asked. My father was old and was losing his memory, sometimes he forgot things. My mother or I would normally correct him but I didn't have the heart this time to tell him the truth.

"Well for one everyone is busy dancing." I offered. It was a weak excuse and my father saw it. "Go dance" he said firmly, softer he said "enjoy yourself." I sighed, looking around for someone who didn't seem too disgusted by me when I saw a young man with curious eyes looking at me. He quickly turned away, his face flushing. He continued  talking to man who answered his questions with a look of disdain on his face. Curious, I found myself crossing the room to meet this bold young man who dared stand out of normal conformities.