Jarida Drabbles

Masquerade

The lights swirled above the glittering golden ballroom as people in multicolored taffeta flickered across the dance floor like fairies coming out for one special night of celebration. The cold air would often dance in and swirl around the groups of low-cut dresses and dashing gentlemen who were sometimes busy gazing at places they shouldn't be.

Giggling girls of every age mingled here and there, fluttering their eyelashes from behind their masks as the men curled arms around their ladies, guiding them into a dance.

From above, a swirling mass of red hair dripped like blood down the back of a blue dress, woven of the finest silk and trimmed in diamonds and lace. Her dazzling blue eyes matched the color of her dress, and made them stand in breath-taking brilliance. However, she had yet to join the luminous and shimmering crowds below. Her chest rose and fell in a flutter of fear and excitement, below they celebrated her 18th Birthday and they were all waiting for her to make her grand appearance.

A figure sidled up next to her, a woman adorned in a dazzling green gown with a peacock feathered mask hiding her fair features. She glanced sideways at her mother, the woman stood with her hands in front of her, folded against the silk of her dress.

"Will you not go down?" The Queen asked calmly.

She stayed silent for a moment, "I haven't decided yet."

A small sound came from her mother. Whether it was annoyance or amusement, she couldn't say and so remained still.

"Merida, you are a princess and this is your ball. Now, please go down and tend to your guests." Elinor's crisp tone left little room for argument, and Merida bowed her head in resignation. "Very well, mother. I shall be down shortly."

Elinor turned her head to gaze at her daughter, studying those soft, round features before nodding. "Good. Thank you." She took Merida's face and turned her to look at her, "I love you, dear."

Merida smiled and pressed her mother's hand to her face, "I know." They parted, and the Queen graced the silvery-gold steps with her presence before gliding softly across the ballroom floor as everyone bowed, and she sat at her place next to the hefty king, who took her hand and smiled.

Merida's heart clenched, the look of warm love on his face was all she wanted. She didn't want a stranger's love. She wanted a love that would warm her soul like the looks that her father gave her mother and vice-versa. She lowered her head as one crystalline tear slid down her face. "Time to go," she whispered turning to the steps. With one more deep breath, she lifted her skirt gingerly, and took each stair with steady confidence. The room below quieted as she grew closer to them, and suddenly all masked faces were turned to her as she stepped off the last little stair. Her heart pounded heavily in her chest as she took in all the faces. She didn't recognize a single one. An odd feeling churned in her chest as she drifted through them toward her parents and curtsied gracefully before them. Once she straightened, the music resumed and people began to dance.

Many princes came to her, asking her to dance. Some she obliged, others she brushed off. She was starting to recognize the guests, despite their odd dress and masks. Sometimes people would strike up conversations with her, mostly small talk, as they inquired about her birthday and how she was, was she excited? Typical questions. Near eleven o'clock, everything was beginning to blur together.

Suddenly someone appeared next to Merida and held out his hand, "May I?" his voice was beautiful and spoke volumes as she turned to face him. His eyes were a haunting blue behind a mask of black. He watched her intently and she placed her hand, almost if in a trance, into his hand.

Slowly, he guided her out to the golden dance floor with intricate designs criss-crossing. He put his hand on her waist, and they fell into step as the music swirled around them in a sweet melody. Merida studied his face, something was familiar about him.

"Who are you?" She asked in a whisper. "I haven't seen you here for most of the night."

The man smirked, "Patience, princess." He said, his voice velvety smooth. "You will know soon enough." They continued in silence as Merida tried her best to figure out where she knew him from, and why he was at her ball.

"How do you know me?" She finally asked near the end of the dance. The man gave her an infuriating smirk, "If I told you that, it wouldn't be a very good birthday surprise, now would it?"

Merida rolled her eyes, "It's not a very good surprise if you haven't wrapped it."

The man chuckled, "Who says it isn't wrapped?" He whispered, drawing nearer than Merida would have liked. Their masked faces were inches from each other as the crescendo rolled over them and they came to a halt. The room around them came alive with thousands of claps, which startled the princess. She had forgotten there was anyone else there.

The man bowed, "Princess." He turned and walked towards the doors which led to the garden. Merida stood stunned for a long time as girls flocked around her, twittering about who that mysterious man might have been.

Merida didn't hear a word they said and pushed through them, making her way swiftly to the garden and out into the cool night air. Fog rolled over the emerald grass, but the stranger was no where to be seen. He had disappeared. She picked up her skirt and marched into the garden, searching for him. Her motions grew frantic the deeper she went into the garden. Where had he gone?

No matter how she tried, she could not find him in the deep groves of the royal gardens. She returned to the party, but did not enter. She sat on the marbled bench and stared at the moon, wondering once more who the handsome stranger was and if he would ever return.

"Merida?" A high feminine voice interrupted her thoughts and Merida turned.

"Rapunzel." She greeted, looking up at her blonde friend.

"What happened to you? After you danced with that handsome stranger, you vanished." The blonde took a seat next to the princess and took her hand, "Who was that?"

"I don't know…" Merida trailed off with a sigh. "He had the most stunning blue eyes, and strangely, he had white hair - though he was not old."

Rapunzel gasped, "Merida, you… you don't know who that was?"

Merida shook her ringlets, "No. Who was it?"

Rapunzel glanced around, "That was the Phantom of DunBroch Castle! Have you not heard the legends?"

"I have, but I mostly ignored them."

"It is said that he lived here many years ago, and that by some misfortune died before he could marry his loved one. To this day, he remains here, locked forever between life and death. Trying to find the one he loves." Rapunzel dusted off her dress, "At least, that's what they say."

Merida opened her mouth to speak when her mother, the Queen, came out. "Merida, I have someone I'd like you to meet."

Merida stood and so did Rapunzel. "This is Prince Jackson Overland. My lord, this is my daughter, Merida."

A man with brown hair and brown eyes bowed and smiled at her, "It's a pleasure to meet you." He said, and to Merida's ears the voice sounded familiar. She blinked and curtsied gracefully, "The pleasure is all mine."