Thunderbolt of Laurels

Chapter 7-The Night of my Dreams

I remember that night. It was the turning point of my life. The start of something so right. . .

It was about three years ago, I was 16 and he was one year older. Our kingdom held our annual ball. It was just like every other ball, people dancing, talking formally, Char not leaving my side. Back then, I was devoted to him. Not because I loved him, but because that's what I was told my entire life; that I had to marry him. I didn't know back then what love was, what it felt like so how could I object? I was a good little girl always doing what my parents told me to. But that particular ball, there was something different. It was a masquerade, which made it easy to slip away, to venture into unknown territory, so that's what I did.

The Fearless 7 were all princes but not heirs to the throne. So they decided to sharpen their skills and one fateful day, they all met and became our islands best protectors. They had been a group for about two years when our ball took place. They were invited this year as they became more popular and known. Of course, they showed up; it would be rude to reject an invitation from a king. I wasn't excited, I didn't care really, until I met him.

~~~

The music was beautiful. The band had been playing loud and upbeat songs, but with a crowd this big, it was making me anxious. I don't do well in large crowds, never have. That's why I always hated parties and balls. Char loved them. He would get all the attention he craved and I always was on his right arm, as his 'betrothed'. Marriage is just business, duty. Take my parents, for example. They were betrothed like me, but they never loved each other. I mean, I guess they did eventually, but they were never in love. It was for the sake of the kingdom they wed, and that's what I have to do as well.

I close my eyes and feel the music swirl around me, giving me a calming sensation. Char went to speak with his friends and my sister is socializing like a butterfly, while my parents are speaking to some officials. I'm alone, and I like it. But I'm at the head of the room, too noticeable, so I start walking through the crowd to get to the side. To blend in, like a wallflower, when suddenly the band starts playing a fast paced song. The crowd around me starts jumping, cheering and dancing, and not in an organized manner. They bump into me, touch me, breathe on me. I'm in utter chaos. I try to squeeze out of the crowd, but they're making it impossible to move. I can't. . .I can't take this anymore. I start to hyperventilate. Breathing rapidly and out of pace. I - I have to get out of-of here. My vision starts to blur and my dress, this awful dress starts to weigh me down. Too-too many layers. I push people out of my way, gasping for air, until I stumble on a boy, bumping into him. I push him out of my way and start looking around for an exit, but everything's spinning. Exit. Where do I get out of this crowd?
"Are you okay?" a voice asks. I turn around looking for the source but I can't find it until his hands take hold of mine. "Are you okay?" he asks again. I shake my head. He puts an arm around my shoulder and takes my weight unto him.
"Okay, we're going to get you out of here," he says. He leads me out of the crowd but all I see are a blur of colours and masks moving so fast I can barely tell individuals from each other. He places me down and I fall on my bottom, softly. He's gentle. I feel his presence beside me, I think he's sitting. I know for a fact I'm away from the crowd now even though my vision is still a blur. I squeeze my eyes shut and take of my mask as I steady my breathing. Inhale. Exhale. Inhale. Exhale. When I open my eyes again, the shapes and colours turn back to normal. I'm looking at the crowd in front of me, dancing to the rhythm. I'm on the side of the room, the place I was trying to make it to before.

"How are you feeling now?" I turn to the boy. I had forgotten about him. If it weren't for him, I'd be an enormous embarrassment right now. Which princess has anxiety? He has his mask off as well and I observe his features. His shaggy chestnut hair falls swiftly diagonally across his forehead, his dark amber eyes scan my icy blue ones, searching for my answer. He has a young face, a boy about my age. And his voice finally registers into my mind. He has an accent, but it suits him. It's like a beautiful melody from a guitar.
"I'm okay," I finally say. "Thank you so much for helping me back there. I really appreciate it."
"Of course, it's what I do. Saving damsels and princesses." He smirks.
"Oh yeah? What are you, part of the F7?" I tease.
"Actually, I am." I look at him in surprise.
"Oh. . ."
"My name's Merlin." The wizard one, ah.
"I'm Eira."
"Princess Eira? As in your father's hosting this ball?"
"It seems so." I shrug.
"Well princess, if you would like to dance or -" I cut him off.
"No. Not here anyways. There's too many people, I never feel good around crowds."
"Ah, I've heard of that before, not to much though. I just think you should take it easy, stay away for now. But if you don't mind, I would like to accompany you." Wow. No one's ever been that nice about my condition before. It's always been, 'get a grip of yourself', 'you're a princess, you can't be doing this', 'crowds are part of your life, get used to it', 'stop being dramatic', 'you're going to embarrass us'. But has anyone ever helped me? Tried to console me. No. Not until now.
"I would love that," I say and smile at him. "But not here."
He looks at me and arches his eyebrow. "What do you mean?"
"If I'm going to stay away, I'm going to stay away. You get what I mean?"
"I'm sorry, I'm not following?"
I grab his arm and get up. "Come with me." We put our masks back on to avoid being recognized and I lead him out the doors and into the hallways. They won't really notice us, and if they figure out we're missing, it'll take them forever to figure out where we are with everyone wearing masks. This is perfect.
"Where are we going?"
"Anywhere but here."