Sunset Legend

• 14 •

Ray surprised me when he turned down a different hall that I didn't know was there. This castle had so many twists to it that I have still yet to learn. He helped me down a set of stairs going down. After another short hallway, he pushed open two large doors and the light blinded me.
There was a hallway that wrapped all around the room with a railing. I took a step forward to see the grand staircase that swirled until it hit the floor beneath it. A ballroom. I felt my blood rushing through my body as I leaned against the railing. Instead of pale blues and boring whites, I was staring down into a land of colors. Any color that could be found in the sky was on a dress; blues, oranges, reds, yellows, purples, and pinks. My breath caught in my throat from the pure beauty of it.
"Stunning isn't it?" Summer appeared next to me, taking in the scene below too.
"It's perfect." Was all I could say. Finally after a few minutes, I tore my gaze away from the dancing beauty that was below to look at Summer. She stood in a yellow so bright it almost matched Ray's hair. Her dress was more fitted from the top that had short, yellow laced sleeves to the bottom where it ended right above her knees.
"You look amazing, but now I feel a little overdressed," I blushed. Summer grinned, her smile nothing less beautiful than the dress she wore.
"The guest of honor can look as extravagant as she wants."
"What?" I shrieked. Ray laughed behind me as Summer shook her head at him. "Me?"
"What did you think was going to happen? The queen would just return home and we would all have a nice dinner?" I shrugged because that's exactly what I thought. Summer sighed, wrapping her arms around me in an unexpected hug. Before I could respond she was leaning back, her hands on my shoulders. "I know it's still all new, but here we have fun. It's okay to let loose. She always throws something together when she returns from long trips, but this time it's just a little more special because of you. Surprise!"
I was surprised. I was not expecting anything like this. This wasn't a party that was signaling my new responsibilities to lands that truly did not belong to me or for a future arranged marriage. Tonight I could just have fun, no catch to it.
I watched as Summer grabbed Ray's hand and they headed down the steps together into the party. She was instantly welcomed by anyone down there. She glowed talking to her people as they stopped dancing to talk to her. That was supposed to be me one day with a land I was once so in love with.
"Solstice?" I spun around at his voice. He was standing in the open doors that Ray pushed open, dressed in a navy blue tuxedo that could not have fit his body any better.
I watched as eyes looked over the dress that I wish I could never take off. He took in the open front, eyes flashing at the necklace on my chest.
With a step towards me I saw the soft orange glow in his eyes in the dim light we stood in. He was smiling, looking as happy as I felt when I was twirling in my room just minutes ago.
"You look perfect." He stood in front of me now, hands deep in his pockets. I was leaning on the railing to look up at him.
"Perfect is a pretty strong word," I whispered. His soft eyes were focused on me entirely, like there wasn't a ballroom with hundreds of people below us. I never noticed how sharp is jawline was. His bleach blonde hair was getting longer, enough to be styled up along the top of his head. Not long enough to really be a style, but I saw his effort to try to do something to it. I wanted to run my hands through it and mess it up...
I blinked. Jaxon was watching me with clear amusement on his face in the smile he wore.
"What?" I asked. Did he say something?
"I said, it may be a strong word but it's the right word." I blushed. I was caught and he knew it. He took a step back and held out his hand. "Would you like to dance?"
My mind flashed back to the night of the Winter Solstice when he first asked me this. But now, I stared into his eyes and accepted his hand with no hesitation.
"As long as you don't leave me in the middle of the dance floor again," I teased as we slowly made our way down the steps. Jaxon's laugh ran through the entire room. A few people even stopped dancing and looked up at us. He didn't even notice the looks as he looked at me with a smile on his lips.
"And let someone else sneak in and take my spot?" His smile was contagious.
The first step I took onto the floor, the song ended and a slow one began. What incredible timing. Jaxon wasn't phased as he lead me a few feet away from the stairs. His one hand wrapped onto my waist as the other hovered, not knowing where to go. I answered it for him as I wrapped my arms tightly around his waist and rested my head on his chest. His other hand quickly landed on my hip.
I closed my eyes, swaying to the rhythm and lost myself in his warmth and familiar scent.
"I know you broke a rule," I said after a minute. His swaying didn't falter as I felt his chin rest on my head. "You weren't supposed to talk to me."
"Correct," he answered. I heard his heart beating slowly in his chest.
"Thank you." I opened my eyes and leaned back, moving my arms to hang over his shoulders. His gaze locked on mine. "It was a little less lonely with you there."
His smile seemed sad and it made my heart drop. "I just wish I would of done it sooner. I wish we could of brought you here sooner so you didn't have to deal with Frosts at all." His tone turned dark as his eyes turned yellow. My heart began beating faster, remembering how Sol said he had to be beyond furious to do this.
I cupped his cheek in my hand, moving my thumb just the slightest to comfort him. He leaned into my hand and closed his eyes.
"Don't think like that. You saved me before..." I stopped, shuddering at the thought. His eyes flashed open, burning brighter. I could hear his heart pounding against his chest. I brought my other hand to his cheek, holding his face as he watched me. "You're the knight in shining armor who saved the princess in distress. Well, the non princess?" I questioned, tilting my head. The dangerous glow vanished as he chuckled.
"You'll always be my princess," he said, softly. My legs would of gave out on me if he wasn't holding my waist so tightly. My heart tightened in my chest as I thought about what Sol had said on our walk.
I closed my eyes. "Give me the time that you had so I can fall in love with you too," I blurted out before I could tell myself it was a bad idea.
Because I did already care for him. I will always love him for saving me and giving me the chance to feel alive. I wanted to learn his quirks, like the way he has learned mine.
We stopped swaying to the song. He still hasn't answered. I dared to open my eyes to find him beaming, like he was the sun in the room.
"I have all the time in the world," he answered, leaning on my hand again while watching me like I was the only thing that mattered in this moment. I could of kissed him for that.
A more upbeat song filled the room as couples broke part and began dancing. I was ripped away from Jaxon by strong hands that snuck around my stomach from behind.
"Our turn!" Summer shouted as I was easily carried away. Jaxon just stood there on the floor, a lazy smile on his face. I just shrugged before I was spun away from him and set back down on the floor. Sol stood in front of me in a blinding orange tuxedo that matched my dress. I couldn't help the laughter that escaped.
"I like to stand out," he said simply. Summer rolled her eyes as she threw her hands over head and gracefully swung them around.
"I never took you for the dancing kind," I said, looking at Sol with a smile stuck on my face.
Sol shimmied totally off beat. "There's a lot of things you don't know about me." He winked, moving his body to the song. He wasn't the best, but he didn't seem to care who was watching as he grabbed my hand and gave me a twirl. I found myself laughing as I finally joined them in moving my arms and hips to the beat of the music.
I was free. I was living a life that I never dreamed about. It was better than anything I could of dreamed about. I was nothing but my true self, golden eyes and all. I was home.
"Hellooo, Earth to Solstice! You good, girl?" Summer asked, her hand on my shoulder.
I smiled, grabbing her hand and twirling her around me. Her laughter filled the room as she stopped before me, her hair swinging behind her back.
"Couldn't be better," I finally replied.
A few songs passed as I danced the night away with my friends. Ray joined us, showing off his skill of doing the worm. Sol was not impressed.
During the middle of another song, the room fell in a hushed silence. The music cut completely. I turned around to where all the eyes were looking. On the balcony that wrapped around the room stood two serious men in black tuxedos. In the middle, stood the queen.
She was breathtaking. She stood in a bold red ballgown. Her hair was a deadly black that was curled down her back. The crown on her head was gold. From here I could see the deep maroon that circled her pupils. She was smiling down at everyone, a smile that was flawless.
"Well don't stop the party on my account!" Her voice was soft, but demanding at the same time. Everyone around us erupted with cheers as the music started once again. I didn't return to dancing, I couldn't take my eyes off her.
I watched as Jaxon appeared above. The queen broke into an even larger grin as she said something, wrapping him tightly in her arms. They stood like that for a few minutes, most likely catching up on what she has missed.
I felt my entire body freeze as they both turned to the rail, eyes locking onto me. She leaned toward him, whispering something in his ear. His grin made my heart skip a beat as he nodded. When she looked at me again, all I could think to do was give a small wave, my hand in front of my chest. I could see her shoulders shaking as she laughed.
I stood in horror as she looped an arm through his and started their way to the dance floor. To me.