The Trials

Chapter 2

"Obedience opens the door to the constant companionship of the Holy Ghost. And the spiritual gifts and abilities activated by the power of the Holy Ghost enable us to avoid deception - and to see, to feel, to know, to understand, and to remember things as they really are."-David A. Bednar
~*~

"T'has been a day since you have heard the warning and 'tis not occurred once more, you need to relax your grace," Ella comforted as she practiced her dancing clumsily with a toss pillow.

Only a day.

'Twas only last night that the warning scarcely awoke Luna from her slumber. 'Twas only last night Sebastian had to stayed holding her in his arms until she fell back asleep.

It t'was the day of the ball, indeed, but 'tis what comes after the ball that strikes terror into Luna's delicate heart. She was expected to dance her heart out. Only to have it ripped from her chest at midnight.

Luna glanced at all her ladies-in-waiting--Eleanor, Sophia, Ella, and Rosemary--all their faces abundant with concern and worry for the grace's health. Glancing at their faces, Luna wished it was not real. This dream of a life she lived. T'was too waxed over--too perfect. At least, that was before Father Time was convicted.

Not one in the kingdom ever caused a disturbance. Never raised their voices above a gentle whisper, or argued. Other than the few cases when it 'twas appropriate.

"You are most certainly correct," she exhaled resigned trying to cover up her fright. "I must not get caught up with my petty delusions."

Standing up, Luna smoothed down her already-wrinkle-free gown with gloved hands as she made her way across her chambers. She slumped to the mirror and looked at the red streaks that slid down from her eyes to the tip of her chin.

'Twas moments like these, moments of pain and solitude, where she wondered why she was chosen so young to be so wise, for ignorance is bliss. There would be no pain. No suffering. No responsibility.

"No you must not your grace, you have got plenty on your mind without maintaining your own obscured transparencies," Eleanor said rising as well.

Luna looked at her Ladies' faces she realized they never felt love either. Never had laughed so hard they cried.

"What was it that the voice said again?" One of them asked in a low voice before being hastingly shushed by the group.

She strung pearls around her neck as to keep her hands from trembling. No matter how hard she tried she could not shake the warning off.
Its voice was so sudden--so horrendously panicked that she did not have the courage to tell them exactly what it said.

"I do not recall," she answered, "only that it was loud and--and pained."

Eleanor walked over to meet Luna at the mirror her gold dress flooded around her as she pranced. She tilted Luna's chin up with the tip of her gold gloves and placed her halo on her gentle, delicate bun.

Luna smiled sadly and turned to face Eleanor tucking a loose strand of Carmel hair behind Eleanor's heart-shaped face.

"Alas, 'tis time we appeared at the ball, we must attend your fathers Departure shall we?" Sophia said to Luna with troubled eyes. Her deep red lips turned into a grimace stretching across her dark complexion at the thought of arriving so late.

Sophia placed her rosy red gloves on her hips, and stood up as well. She casted her black luscious hair over her shoulder as she raised her head up to meet the others eyes.