Tales of Aridia

Robyn's ball

Duelling was hard enough. But to hear that festivities would be thrown for my birthday in my honour was more of a scare than anything Lucy could of put me through. My fathers associates would be arriving and there was the inevitable chance I would have to dance with around a dozen of them. The night was to prove my worthiness for the throne. However, I did not see how dancing proved I was a queen.

It edged nearer to dusk and lights were being strung up decoratively around the palace gates. In the main dining hall tables were arranged around the edges, with linen table sheets laid across them. Cutlery was neatly cast around the room and the room was adorned with golden curtains and white table cloths.  Calm classical music played quietly in the background amongst the clinking of wine glasses and china plates. Only the best champagne was being served alongside a platter of mini sandwiches. Nothing of which would satisfy a persons hunger. Certainly not mine.

Miss Genevieve waddled over, her hair pulled back in a tight pony tail. She wore a long skin tight black dress with white ruffled sleeves. Various scars ran down her leg from being dropped in acid when she was wrongly convicted of being in conspiracy with Abraxas. The scars ran deep and long. The other leg was yet to be dipped when they found evidence that she was innocent, sparing the other limb. I stared down from her stiletto shoes to the little white hat she wore on a bed of hair on top of her triangular shaped head. "Anything the matter?" She asked cheerily. "Oh, nothing miss," I smiled, drawing my attention away from her leg. "When the guests arrive you will walk down the main stairs where you will independently greet your fathers associates. " she explained, gesturing to the grand stairs dressed in a long red carpet. "The designers will fit you into something nice I'm sure." She grinned, pinching my cheeks till they turned red.

"My Lady," a voice said behind me. I turned to see Jayden stood with a bouquet of roses. "Are they for the dining hall?" I asked. "I think they'd look better in your room" he laughed. I hugged him tightly and whispered gently in his ear, "I'm scared."

"You'll be fine, just remember to breathe. You aren't much good as a queen if you're a corpse." He joked. I stepped back and took a deep breath. Tonight was going to be fine. I hoped.

The waiters filed out into the hall, one by one they poured champagne into the glasses and waited in single file. "The guests will be here soon, I will see you to the designers," Miss Genevieve said, dragging me away up the grand stairs without the chance to say my goodbyes to Jayden.

I was pushed into a circular room with a platform in the middle. A man in a light blue suit stood patiently in the corner, flicking through racks of clothing and long silver dresses. I didn't recognise the man. Almost everyone in the palace I had been introduced to in the past as a child. "Come on now dear don't be frightened," miss Genevieve ushered, her hands on my shoulders.

"Mr Cape will be your designer for tonight." She explained. I leaned forward to shake his hand, but when we touched, I was met with a long shiver running up my arm and into my spine, paralysing me for a second. I stood unmoving, I waited for mr Cape to remove his hand so I could breathe. "Don't worry, I get it aswell." He said. His voice was deep and coarse. My hand slipped from his grasp. "What just happened?" I asked.

Miss Genevieve giggled excitedly, her feet dancing on the floor. I looked at her confused, wondering what was so important. "Mr Cape here, well, he's human." She exclaimed. My eyes widened and I looked him up and down. I had never met a human before. All that could be seen was identical. I circled him curiously. He talked and moved like aridians, nothing about him seemed out of the ordinary. Miss Genevieve waved me over subtly. "Sorry am I being rude?" I asked Mr Cape.

He laughed, "Of course not, I had the same reaction when I met all of you lot. However your hospitality here is much better than where I came from before," he said, picking out a long feather dress embezzled with emeralds at the seams. "Now this would Match your eyes perfectly." He said, pushing it up against my body. "Beautiful," he exclaimed. I blushed, unaccustomed to such kindness. Many people were purely polite because of my position in the palace. Everyone except lucy that was.

The dress had a skirt of white fluffy feathers and a black corset so tight I felt my veins squeezing close together. "The festivities will start soon," miss Genevieve said. "Just act natural," she pleaded. I rolled my eyes and nodded.

Nothing could prepare me for that night. Not even Jayden or Max. I was on my own. The clock tower bell chimed three times and the golden gates of the palace opened. As they did a cluster of carriages arrived inside the palace. They parked in circles around the fountain and one by one the special guests made their way to the party. 

I left the room cautiously, smiling at Mr Cape who perfected the edges of my dress.

I crept around the palace unseen, edging towards the grand stairs. I spotted my mother conspiring with some of her old friends. They talked quietly, my mothers face growing concerned. I ignored it and prepared myself to be presented to my dads "associates."

A gentle tune played in the background and the curtains at the top of the stairs opened, I stood there awkwardly my hands placed on either side of my white Gown. Every head in the hall turned to stare at me. One by one they each lifted their glasses. "Princess Robyn Woodlands, heir to Aridia," an unrecognisable voice shouted. Everyone looked very important. No one smiled, I received an array of cold glances and grimaces. I Trembled as I trailed down the steps, cautious of accidentally stepping on the tail of my dress.  When I reached the end my father held out his hand for mine.  I was whisked into the centre of the hall.

Almost immediately the dancing started, I danced with my father first. Round and round in circles, the spinning making me dizzy. "Hold your head high, smile." He whispered. I replicated what he told me to do and displayed the biggest fake smile I could have. Once the torture of that was over it was the brother sister dance. The was not so bad. We mainly messed around and silently joked about the guests appearances.  The guests did not take lightly to our laughing. The sighed and shook their heads as we fumbled around. Sparrow tripped on my dress a few times, which made me laugh uncontrollably. When the song had ended I stood awkwardly in the centre once again.

Luckily, Jayden stepped forward. My heart relaxed and I smiled warmly. The song restarted and I resumed dancing. Surprisingly, Jayden was an excellent dancer. What did shock me however was when he twirled me around delicately In circles. I wondered where he had learnt it. He wrapped his arms around me and we danced closely together.  Unknowingly I had forgotten all about the hundred eyes that where watching us. I was warped into the moment.  Our eyes didn't leave each other. 

Once the music had stopped my eyes diverted to the rest of the hall, the guests clapped loudly and even a few shared smiles. I curtseyed gently, and ran out of the centre, trying to escape the attention.

"Well done Robyn!" Miss Genevieve said creeping up behind me. "That was beautiful," she said.

I hoped that maybe the guests delight with my dance would take their attention away from what an unprepared princess I was. Chances are, I was wrong.

A short stubby man waddled over holding a glass of champagne. "My darling you are a sight," he said, leaning down to kiss my hand. I jerked it away suddenly feeling embarrassed. "I do have some matters to discuss with you about your place on the throne." He said.

I did not have the chance to answer. Coming from the main gates was a loud scream and one of the waiters dropped several glasses of champagne.  Everyone stood motionless. At the front doors stood 10 men in long navy capes. One held a waiter at the throat and strangled her scrawny neck. Silence rolled over the room.

A loud bang sounded in the south of the palace and people screamed. Ash fell from the ceiling and the floor began to crack. Everyone escaped as quickly as possible, the sound of explosions getting nearer.  I was urged out of the building first, followed by numerous guards. My heart pounded and my palms grew sweaty, I looked around for Jayden. I wouldn't leave till I had found him. "He will be with the other troops ready to fight ma'am but please you must leave!" A guard shouted.

I obliged reluctantly. Once I was out of the building we were all gathered in a group, protected by a circle of guards. I saw Jayden at the frontline. They had successfully trapped the men in the palace. And In the blink of an eye the dining hall was blown up in a tower of flames. The heat gushed through the air and hit me hard. I noticed something.  Sparrow was not there.

"Sparrow?!" I screamed. There was no answer. I got nearer the flames and screamed once more. There was no answer. The ash and smoke filled up my lungs and I began to choke. "Sparrow?" I spluttered. There was no answer.