All Is Fair In Love and War (Red Queen Fanfiction)

Part 1 Chapter 3

Mare

I open my eyes sweating and gasping for air as if the silk sheets had been suffocating me. For a moment I pondered why I was sweating, and then I remembered the nightmare that plagued my mind the second my eyes closed. I was falling and Gisa, Bree, and Tramy tried to reach their arms out to me but I couldn't grab them, and then my parents wouldn't stop asking why I had betrayed our blood. I tried to tell them that I didn't choose this but they didn't listen. Then the king and queen appeared replacing Mom and Dad, smiling and laughing maniacally. Then there was a photo with the king, the queen, Cal, Maven, and me. The realization that they will become my new and only family hit me harder than any flying metal spikes, fire, or megalomaniacs rummaging through my brain. As I snap out of the nightmare for the second time, I stumble over to the bathroom and turn on the shower. As the warm water washes away the sticky and grimly sweat, I let it wash away my tears as I finally let my sons out. It almost felt good to let it all out, one tear and hiccup at a time. As I start to wash the soap off my body, I begin to pull myself together, and by the time I turn the shower knob, wrap a fuzzy white towel around my waist, and look into the mirror, you would hardly be able to notice any lasting effects of my outburst. I dress in casual clothes, but sadly maids come scurrying in, no doubt getting ready to prepare me for tonight. "Wait, are we starting now? The ball doesn't start for another few hours," I say confused. The look on their faces say it all. This is going to take that long. I groan as the maids begin the slow, tiring process of making me look suitable for tonight.

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As the maids finish up the little details to my outfit, there is a familiar knock on my door. Polite and swift. Maven. I find ironic how his personality matches he knocks on doors. I start to wonder if there was a specific way to knock between the High Houses and Lady Blonkos just neglected to tell me. One of the maids scurries over and quickly opens the door. As Maven and I look into each other's eyes, we both blush, his silver and mine red. Another reason showing why we are so different, but when I think of him, I think that this engagement won't be so bad after all.