The Unknown

Chapter 10: Birthday Ball

The day of the ball came and the whole kingdom was hectic. The celebrations would start inside the castle in the ballroom, where only those with an invite could come, then it would be moved outside where anyone could come. Dahlia had one request though: that the children at the orphanages, where she had been helping out, could come and celebrate. She knew they wouldn't miss out on the celebrations but wanted them close so they could get the full feel of the heart of the celebration.

It was four hours before the celebration was due to start at 6pm, and Madame Caivano and Ishra had finally arrived with their dresses. Madame Caivano held Hela's while Ishra held Dahlia's and they opened the zippers which they were concealed in and the dresses were revealed. Hela had a black dress with a tight bodice with thousands of diamonds on, and then it went out at the waist with the diamonds going down in spikes but stopped after half a metre. It gave the dress at the top a silver look, with some hints of blue like Hela's magic. It was strapless and had a low back.

Dahlia's was similar but individual to her, it was strapless but didn't have a low back like her sister's as Madame Caivano was reminded by her adopted daughter that the princess was only a child, only 14. Almost all of her bodice was covered in small purple diamonds, but just below her chest area was a strip of black, the fabric underneath, and then in the centre was a cluster of white diamonds to make a tight rhombus shape. The dress puffed out slightly as it got to the waist, showing off the dark purple fabric underneath but with a thin layer of black over so the purple wasn't too bright with little diamonds appointed in different places after the waist so it wasn't completely plain on the bottom end.

Madame Caivano said, "Made from the finest silk in this realm, and between the two dresses there are more than 120,000 diamonds".

"It's beautiful," Dahlia gasped, smiling whilst reaching out for her dress.

Ishra handed her the dress and said smiling, "I'm glad you like it".

"Like it? I love it".

Hela smiled at Madame Caivano and said, "Madame Caivano, you've outdone yourself once again. Thank you".

"Anything for my Queen and Princess," she curtsied along with her daughter.

"I hope you enjoy yourself at the ball tonight," Hela said as the dress makers were getting ready to leave.

"I am sure we will. Good day, Milady," they then left.

While Dahlia returned to her room, knowing Eva would be there to begin to get her ready soon, Hela went to her office, promising to be ready in time for the ball. Like Dahlia suspected, Eva was in her room, already preparing her bath but what she didn't expect was the little girl, no older than 2, sat in the middle of her floor playing with a couple of dolls. She looked up when the doors closed and Dahlia saw her brunette hair and blue eyes which contrasted well with her blue skin. "Hi," Dahlia said with a little wave.

Eva then came out of the bathroom and said, "I'm sorry, Dahlia. This is my daughter Lucia. Due to all the arrangements today, I have no one to look after her. I hope it's fine I bring her here, she's really quiet".

Dahlia held up her hand to pause Eva from making up excuses and said, "Eva, it's fine, honestly. You know I like children". Dahlia kneeled down and sat in front of Lucia and said, "Hi, Lucia. Your mummy has told me lots about you. These your dolls?"

Lucia nodded and shyly said, "This one, Zarah, she's a warrior and this ones Peta, a prince". Of course, her speech was better than any ordinary two-year-old, she had after all been dead for many years and even though she wouldn't grow, physically, her speech would improve which was a godsend to parents.

"Really. What's the story you made up?"

Lucia glanced to her mother then back to Dahlia and smiled, deciding she liked the Princess. She said, "Zarah rescues the prince and they fall in love but a dark witch tries to tear them apart".