The Midnight Ball

18

Note: Ferdinand
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Ismie woke up to find herself tucked into her bed, Elinore holding her hand

Elinore sighed: Thank god. We were so worried

Ismie: What happened?

Elinore: You collapsed just as you entered the room

Ismie: Are the others unharmed?

Elinore: They were mostly fine, just tired and shaken

Ismie sighed

Elinore: How are you feeling?

Ismie tried to get up and winced: Fine, but sore.. How long have I been out of it?

Elinore smiled sympathetically, squeezing her hand: It's been almost a whole day..

Ismie gasped amd tried to get up again

Elinore held her back gently: You don't habe to worry. The entrance is gone, sealed

Ismie: I want to see the others amd talk. It would be much easier to talk of all this once, as I'm sure everyone wants to know what happened

Elinore nodded: We've heard bits and pieces, but we're yet to hear everything. At any rate you're not going anywhere until the physician declares you're well enough to move. I'll go fetch him

Ismie groaned

The physician said she was good enough to sit with the others, but cautioned her not to exert herself yet

She was relieved to hear that

Her friends all wanted to visit her when they learned she was awake, but they were pleaded with to wait till she joined them

She dressed and turned towards the grand hall, accompanied by Elinore

Elinore: You know, each of them took a turn keeping you company while you were recuperating. You've made many friends

Ismie smiled, happily: I was lucky. She squeezed Elinore's hand

She entered and they all bombarded her: How are you feeling?

Ismie: I'm well, and I hope you're all well

They were all surrounding her, except Margarette, who sniffed, Anastasia, who kept tending to her every small need, and Freja, who stood beside them but looked unsure whether to move towards the others or stay put

The first one to hurry towards her was Ferdinanad

He clapsed her hands, and earned a dark look from the other princes. He didn't care

Ferdinand: How are you my dear?

She smiled politely and extracted her hands gently from his: I'm well your highness. Thank you. Now, if you'll excuse me

His smile faltered, but he retreated

She was hugged by the girls one by one, and even Navid gave her a bear hug

They sat together and began discussing what happened

She told them everything that happened from the beginning, everything she could remember

The princes told them about Lady Elinore's cloak

Her husband and father in law looked at her with strained smiles

She'd already told them about her role, but it was still a sore spot. Her husband was slightly hurt she hadn't told him before that, and she did put them in danger

Then the other girls filled in the missing details

Kei: So, the Fey were behind all of this

Ismie nodded: From what the lost princesses told us, it seems so, yet we didn't have much time or opportunity to learn much about it. He only said that their magic was fading, he was using them as magic sources, and there was a ritual to get their power back..

They were all silent for a while

Elinore: Hopefully they will stay diminished for a long time

Santana: Hopefully forever

Elinore: Would your highnesses like to dance?

Santana nodded enthusiastically: It's starting to get too dreary

Adelaide laughed at her

They all nodded

Ismie: You will have to excuse me your highnesses. I would just like to sit down and relax

Elinore patted her hand: Physician's orders. I'll keep you company

Ismie Shook her head: Go dance with your husband and clear the air with him

Elinore looked reluctant but Ismie encouraged her. She excused herself and asked her husband tentatively

Mariko sat down next to Ismie

Ismie looked at the couples on the dance floor

Most of them looked in love already

The couple who were most clearly head over heels were Navid and Ramonda

Ismie looked at them: Has he finally declared his affections?

Mariko smiled: They barely leave each other's sights since we got back. And yes he has declared his intention to court her, and both her and her brother accepted. Not that it would deter her if her brother would have refused him

They both laughed