Sunset Legend

• 22 •

My jaw was so tight it was causing a headache to form in my forehead. The nothing short of amazing sunset was giving my room a golden glow as the time ticked by, the dinner quickly arriving. I stared at my long, white hair that was wrapped carefully on my head, deep red flowers woven into the braids. I refused to look like I belonged to the snow. My now blue eyes glaring back at me. The deadly black, silk gown slithered down my body. My curves were on display along with my shoulders from the thin straps that kept the dress up. The entirety of my back was open, the silky fabric hanging low down my back. Beautiful rubies connected the two straps and fell down my back, forming a T. I would of looked like a Sunset warrior if my hair was still red.
There was a soft knock on my door that would of gone unnoticed if my room wasn't as silent as it was.
"Come in," I said, walking back into my room.
Sol was dressed in a black tuxedo with a red tie. His beard was neatly cut to look like a thin shadow across his chin. His eyes took in my attire as his mouth opened and moved, no words coming out.
I laughed lightly and pointed to our coordinating outfits. "Are you my date for the night?"
"Abso-freaking-lutely," Sol laughed, bending his arm so I could loop mine through his. With a smile on my face, we headed downstairs.
Beautiful, flickering lights were strung on the high ceiling in the dining room and through to the kitchen. Everyone was dressed in their finest attire and chatting idly throughout the room. My eyes found Jaxon talking with a cook. He wore a deep red suit that would of matched my hair twenty four hours ago. My heart warmed, wondering if he wore that color for me. His eyes flicked to mine before looking back at the cook, then back to me. My palms felt sweaty as he looked over Sol and I, linked by our arms. I excused myself from his side and started to Jaxon. His eyes turned brighter as the dress showed my every movement towards him.
"Solstice!" Aurora blocked my path from her son, her strong yellow gown being the sun in the room. She had grabbed my hand before I could answer, twirling me around to look at my gown. If I ever wore anything like this in the Winter lands, I would of been scolded and sent to change.
Summer at some point in my twirl had joined us, a glass of wine in her hand. "That is stunning. Why aren't my dresses that perfect?" She stomped her foot playfully, in a short dress similar to the one she wore to the party but this one was a light violet.
"She just makes them look magical," Aurora laughed. I found myself blushing as Summer agreed.
"Wine, my good lady," Ray bowed, awkwardly holding the glass level in one hand as he did so. I smiled, returning his bow before taking the glass. I took a long sip, careful not to smudge my red lipstick in the process. This was heavenly.
"Let's begin dinner!" The queen announced. The seating arrangement had not changed since the last time we sat, the queen and prince sitting at the ends of the table. I could hear the hustle of the cooks in the kitchen, putting the finishing touch on everything.
I had to keep myself from drooling as a delicious plate of turkey, mashed potatoes, corn, and bread landed in front of me.
Sol raised his glass next to me, the rest of us following suit. "To my two best friends, I wish that all the strength will be with you as you finish what should of ended a long time ago." Summer's eyes glossed over.
"Cheers," Ray said. We all took a long sip of the wine, a silence falling into the room. I ignored it, ready to dig into the food that almost had my eyes rolling from the smell of it.
"Let's eat, yes?" Aurora said, even though Sol already had half his turkey in his mouth. A comfortable silence fell as we ate in excessive outfits in our home. I smiled at the oddness to it, at the thought of this feeling normal. I could feel the gears turning in everyones head as they tried to think of the right thing to say.
"Hey, remember that time that Ray hit my head off a door," I said, making it very obvious my head wasn't smacked off a doorway. Summer snorted so hard that the water she had been drinking sprayed through her lips and onto her half eaten plate. Ray was cautiously watching Jaxon to see if a swing was coming. When he was certain the smile on Jaxon's face was pure, he turned to me.
"I do something one time and you can't let it go," he groaned. Aurora looked a little lost by the way her smile tilted.
"It can't be as bad as the one time Summer said the wind broke the tv," Jaxon said before bringing a forkful of potatoes to his mouth. I laughed, my hand covering my mouth to muffle it. Summer shot me a look before turning to her mom.
"I was like ten. I didn't want to be grounded for eternity," she huffed.
"One time Sol punched an old lady in the face," Ray added, gladly turning the attention away from him. My laugh was too loud behind my hands as I turned to look at Sol.
"Oh this is my favorite story." Aurora chuckled.
"I have to hear this," I said, finally able to control myself. Sol set his fork down dramatically.
"I accidentally hit her when another man moved. It was not intentional." He glared at everyone before turning to me. "She was just in the wrong place."
"Yes, but why were you going to hit him?" Summer pushed, her eyebrows wiggling. Sol mumbled something as he looked down at his pants.
"What was that?" Ray asked, cupping his ear with his hand.
"I said, because he beat me in a dance off but-" I couldn't hear what he said next as Ray's laughter turned silent, smacking the table as he tried to breathe. Summer was leaning towards her mom as they laughed together. I learned they have a very similar one. Jaxon had his head tilted back, laughing up into the twinkling lights with a hand across his stomach.
"You dance?" I asked after my giggles disappeared.
"When I was younger I did. Thought I was the coolest guy around." Sol rolled his eyes at everyone, but I could see his lip twitching as he fought the smile.
"You punched an old lady over dance," I said, before catching everyones laughter like the cold.
Sol finally broke as he chuckled, shaking his head. "I guess that is super ridiculous."
"We still never get to see his moves. Well, besides the unrhythmic body rolls at parties," Summer said, winking at Sol. He pressed his hands to his chest and made a face like he was greatly offended.
"My party moves are amazing, thank you much."
The rest of the meal was Sol trying to convince us that his party moves really weren't that bad. The cooks appeared a minute after the queen was the last to finish her plate. They removed our empty plates from the table. Then more plates were put down in front of us, but these ones were filled with some sort of chocolate looking mountain.
My stomach pained in protest, having ate everything on the last plate. Summer dove right in though, a chocolate river pouring out at the first stab of the fork.
"Are you not a fan of chocolate?" I looked away from the dessert and at the queen as she continued, "you look disgusted by it."
I laughed lightly. "No, no. I just ate too much of dinner."
"So I can have this?" Sol asked, already sliding the plate towards him. The thought of eating two of those made my stomach turn. I only nodded.
"I know this is supposed to be a happy dinner, but we need to discuss details," Aurora said. The room felt heavier as the lights became dull.
"Do you have a plan of attack?" She asked, looking down the table to her son.
"It's up to Solstice," Jaxon said, looking at me for the first time in almost three days. My mouth felt dry as I looked at the queen.
"I give myself three days. Day one is to return, looking helpless and confused. Day two is to get better, cleaned up and show my regular disgust with Frosts. Day three..." I trailed off, knowing they knew what was planned for day three. Aurora nodded slowly, impressed with the plan.
Summer finished her long sip of wine before saying, "what if he tries to marry you day two?" Jaxon's anger radiated through the room like a shadow.
Ignoring it, I said, "then my trip will be short."
"Maybe I can go with them," Sol said, done with his second dessert. "I can just sneak in-"
"No. I know this is hard for you, all of you, to let them go alone. This is what needs to be done," the queen said, firmly. Sol's shoulders sunk as he stared at his glass.
"May I say something?" I asked.
"Always," Aurora answered.
"I want to thank you for saving my life twice. You did my mother well." Her eyes filled with sadness and hope as she took my hand and kissed my palm.
"You're family to me, darling. I'd save you again if I had to." Summer was crying across from me, full blown heavy sobs. She ran around the table, wrapping her arms around my shoulder.
"You're family to me too. My best friend and soul sister." I laughed into her arms.
"I mean if we're all just going to confess our feelings here, you did kind of complete this void in the castle we didn't know we were missing," Ray said to my surprise. I smiled across the table at him since Summer, now not crying, still clung to me for dear life.
"You already know," Sol said, holding his hand to me in a fist. I chuckled to myself before hitting his fist with my own. I already knew Sol would bring hell upon anyone that messed with me.
Jaxon sat at the end of the table, watching the scene unfold with a smile that didn't quite reach his eyes.
After I had to reassure everyone almost three times that I will be returning, the dinner finally ended. I had offered my assistance to the cooks, but they gave me a nasty look and shooed me away.
I stood outside on the balcony, watching the top of the sun disappear into the world. It's orange glow was persistent as ever, still reaching all the way across the sky. There was a very light breeze that blew the loose pieces of my hair around my face.
"I don't think I've seen Summer cry that hard," Jaxon said, appearing next to me. I looked over as he leaned against the red railing, his elbows bent. The golden glow struck his face, putting every good feature he had on display. His chin looked sharp, as if he was always tense. His tan looked like one of a gods against his beautifully bright hair.
"I didn't want to make anyone cry," I said, turning my back on the sunset as I rest my bottom against the railing.
"You have this power to make everyone fall in love with you." He chuckled, shaking his hair that hasn't been cut in awhile as it started to curl around his ears.
"Little jealous?" I teased. His eyes finally meet mine, the cool gray a false orange from the sunset.
"If I had that power I think you would be a little jealous." I thought about it, if it was actually a power and what would it be like to have girls after him. My blood boiled fast, but just as quick as it came I cooled it. Jaxon noticed with the sly smirk on his face.
"Nice suit," I decided to say instead of anything else that was racing through my mind. Jaxon stood up straight, putting one foot over the other before twirling. I chuckled at his show.
"You look stunning. I mean, I miss the golden eyes. You know how I feel about those." My face was burning hotter than the sun itself as I looked away from his. He took a step towards me before I felt the warmth of his hand on my lower back. "But wow is red your color."  I couldn't keep the giddy smile off my face as I looked up at him.
"I must get it from you," I said. His smile was beautiful.
"I look good in everything."
"You look better without anything," I blurted. His smile turned devilish as I plopped my head onto his chest in horror. The sculpted chest from a few nights ago had slipped into my mind and out of my mouth before I could stop it. I waited for the teasing to begin, but it never came. He took advantage of my defeat, wrapping his arms tightly around my waist before resting his cheek on my braided hair. I wanted to feel his lips on mine again before we started the trek to the Winter lands, but standing like this made me happy enough.