The Gifted

Chapter Two: Intruder

fun fact: the picture above is from the movie Anastasia, which is one of my all time favs.  She is also now OFFICIALLY a Disney princess.  That's right, you heard me. Disney bought the company that Anastasia was made under so technically she's a Disney princess which we all knew she would be one day....sorry...ahem...carry on.

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My father escorted me to the ballroom.  There were already plenty of people crowded into the large room.  Just as I had thought, there were more people than when we held previous birthday celebrations at my home.  Granted, the ballroom of the palace could also hold more people than probably our whole estate. 

It was an amazing room; long and rectangular, with a ceiling that had to be at least three stories tall and windows to match.  There were bench seats under each window and if you looked between the drapes you could see a glimpse of the darkening sky and the main garden. A couple sets of french doors led out to a balcony and from there a staircase down to the gardens.  How I wish I could just dart right out of them and not look back. 

Thankfully, the majority of the people didn't seem to notice me as my father led me to the first eligible bachelor of the night.  I inwardly groaned as I knew what was coming, but put on a polite smile nonetheless. 

"Sir Bellamy", he greeted the man we had stopped in front of.  They shook hands, "I would like to introduce to you my daughter, Lady Evelyn Montier." 

The man stiffened slightly, no doubt having heard of me and knows my reputation with the King.    Bellamy quickly recovered and took my hand, "a pleasure to meet you Miss Montier." He turned to my father, probably to make an excuse to leave, but he had already moved on to other groups of people.  

Bellamy was a fairly handsome man.  He was not much taller than me and had light hair and dark eyes.  "You'll have to excuse my father, he can be....persistent, but I promise you I'm not seeking a proposal."  Bellamy slightly relaxed at my words.  My father was an intimidating man.  As the King's right-hand, he was practically the second in power and his intent was clear when he formally introduced me to Bellamy.   

We ended up talking a bit and I found I didn't completely hate his company.   He asked me to dance and, out of politeness, I accepted.  Taking my hand, Bellamy led me to the dance floor.  I moved through the steps with little focus.  My mother had ingrained dancing in my sister and I at a young age so I knew the steps forwards and backwards.  I scanned the room as we danced, trying to find Trystan, but I didn't see him anywhere.  He promised he'd be here, now where was he? 

"You know, you're not nearly as intimidating as the rumors make people believe." Bellamy pulled me out of my thoughts.

Here we go; the true man appears.  I gave a fake laugh, "Do you believe all the rumors you hear?"

"Of course not, but it's a little hard to ignore the rumors about the King's lap dog."

I bit my tongue, literally, so I wouldn't lash out at the man.  

He twirled me and continued, "I mean no offense Miss Montier.  I was actually trying to give you a complement.  You get the traitors in line and help recruit Gifted for the King.  That's honorable."

I suddenly had a metallic taste in my mouth, it was time to leave.  "If you honestly believe that Sir Bellamy, then we are far different than I care for."  With that remark, I faked a stumble in the dance and stepped on his foot, probably too hard for it to pass as an accident.  He yelped, gave me a pointed look, and limped away.  I smiled at him sweetly and then went in the opposite direction.  Now I needed to avoid him and my father, which hopefully shouldn't be too difficult in this crowd.  Trystan was still nowhere to be found and, surprisingly, the King was absent as well.  He never missed a chance to boast and a party was the perfect setting.