As You Wish, Princess

Polar Opposites

Andersen: 

Tonight was the night of the Christmas Gala at the Palace. The theme for the Gala this year was 'Polar opposites'. So, Alucard was going as Integra's escort and security, I was going with Thorn, and Puritate, or Puri as we've come to call her, was going by herself. I was in a black suit, with a red vest and tie, my hands were gloved, and I was going to pass off my eyes as part of the theme, as per request of Her Majesty. I saw Puri and Thorn come out of the bathroom, helping each other get dressed, and I felt shocked. I had never seen Thorn in a Gala worthy dress, and she looked radiant. The crimson gown was resting on her shoulders, the sleeves were long and felt very Tolkien-esque. The small headpiece and the ornate necklace was just perfect. On the other hand, Puri looked just as pretty, her headpiece was a simple gold halo she wore on her head like a crown, a goldenrod shawl with a plain white gown, a simple matching golden sash around her middle, she was purely simplistic, and it suited her. 

" You ladies look lovely." 

" Thank you, Alex. You don't think it's too plain?" 

" It suits you, Puri." 

" What about me? I think it's too much." 

I kissed her, and nipped her lip, earning a chuckle and a tap on the chest. 

" I think you wearing anything is too much, but for the Gala, no, it's perfect for you, Prințesa mea fără viață." (my lifeless princess)

" Cavalerul meu negru."(my black knight) 

She chastely brushed a kiss to my cheek, and finished getting ready. A knock came from the door. 

" Come in." 

Alucard walked through the door, and he was in a similar ensemble to mine, but with a red cravat and a cape pinned to his shoulders. He saw the girls, and I saw him balk for a moment. 

" Puri, dear, you look angelic. You will most definitely turn heads tonight, mica mea prințesă. And thank someone that Alex has you tied up tight, Prințesa mea fără viață. You are both beautiful." (My little princess) 

" Thank you Tata."  They echoed, and rushed around, while Alucard pulled me aside. I noticed Alucard placed a shadow over us, possibly to speak privately. 

" I want you to look the part of prince tonight. You are the Mate to a Princess, so please, act it, and wear this." 

He handed me a box. It was wooden, and I opened it to find  a signet ring and a plain band similar to the halo crown Puri was wearing. 

" Both are made of the same metal your sword is, so it will withstand your abilities. I had them made, as well as this for Thorn." 

A much smaller velvet box was placed in my pocket, with a rather uncharacteristic wink from Alucard.

" I know you've been looking for an engagement ring for weeks now, so I took the liberty of talking to Thorn and had one made. It is exactly like the one she envisioned, down to the color of the stone and metal used." 

" Thank you, Alucard." 

" Please, you can call me Tata, fiu." (son)

I set the large box down, and let him put the metal band on my head, and I put the ring on, to find it a perfect fit on my middle finger. The signet was the exact same as Alucard's, except for an 'A' where the 'D' had been, and instead of a bat, it was a pair of dragon wings with a small flame in the center of the wings. 

" Alex, you look so handsome. Tata, why with the gifts?"

" Tomorrow is Christmas, consider me in the spirit of it all. You also have a gift, as does Puri." 

He used his shadows to pull out a pair of daggers. One was copper and white, the other darkened steel and red, the sheaths were black and white leather respectively, and I noticed how on Thorn's, it was engraved with roses and thorny vines, while Puri's was all swirling patterns of gold stemming from a lone lily.

" Tata, they're beautiful." 

" Thorn's is battle ready, while Puri's is purely decorative or ceremonial. From pommel to blade tip they are 13 inches, the blade alone is roughly 8 inches. Puri's is pure copper with a pearl handle, while Thorn's is solid blackened steel with a obsidian handle."

" I love it, thank you Tata!" 

Puri hugged him, as did Thorn, and he kissed each on the temple. 

" Now, let's go. We have a Gala to attend, and we don't want to be late, do we?"

The girls pulled on their coats and we all went to the foyer, where we found Sir Integra in a sleeveless white dress with blue trim that hugged her body. You would never know she was very beautiful underneath her suits and stony mask. We walked to the car, and left for the Gala.