Royal Affairs

Chapter 14

(Ember's POV)

        I woke to light streaming through my window into my eyes. I slowly turned over and stared at the sleeping lump on the sofa next to the door. I smiled slightly, he had stayed with me and took up my offer. I sat up and grabbed a pillow. I giggle when it hit him in the head and he jumped up with his sword drawn. "Good morning Jonathan."

        Jonathan looked at me and when he realized there was no danger he put his sword away and turned around. "Good morning Ember. Happy birthday."

        "Happy what?" I was confused then it hit me. Today was my eighteenth birthday, the ball was tonight. I jumped out of bed. "Oh my God! The ball! I still have things to do!"

        "Like what?"

        "I need to have my dress brought to my room, and make sure that the food is being prepared and that the flowers are arranged properly. Plus I'm going to need to get ready."

        "Ember its all right. Your ladies should be on there way which means I should be leaving. After you get changed we can stop by the kitchen get breakfast and we can make sure the cook is preparing everything for to night. We can then stop by the seamstress's' room and make sure your dress is going to be brought to your room and before you come back here we will check on the flower arrangements. We should be back here in about two hours from now. That gives you plenty of time to get ready being the guests won't be arrive until three hours after that. Before coming back here we might even be able to have lunch."

        I stared at his back. "I...I guess your right." I walked over to my dresser and sat on the stool. I stared at him through the mirror while I brushed out my hair.

        "Yes. It won't take much time at all." He glanced over his shoulder but turned away quickly.

        "What? Whats wrong?"

        "Nothing. Its just that, you are in your night gown."

        I frowned. "Jonathan I don't think after yesterday you should be so bashful. Besides, you have tied my corset before."

        "Ember I wish you would be a little more respectful to yourself. You don't need everyone in the castle to see you in such ways."

        "Excuse me? What do you think I am? You are the only man to see me like this. I may not be shy about it, but I have spent weeks with you, I trust you."

        He stayed silent and I set my brush on the dresser but stayed seated. After another moment he sighed and said, "I'll be waiting outside the door. Your ladies will be here any moment." He opened the door an inch and checked that the coast was clear before he left my chambers and closed the door behind him.

        I stared at my self for a while. I thought of my mother and how she had sat here and looked at herself in this mirror. She had told me that after her face had been scared she covered them all and avoided looking into any that weren't covered. She was ashamed and embarrassed. She was young then she had told me that once she had faced many dangers she wore the wound proudly. It was her prize of survival.

        I imagine what I would have done in her place, and determined that I wouldn't know unless I had been put in that situation.

        I meet my eyes in the mirror. "Today is the ball, lets make it worth remembering." A faint knock sounds on my door. "Come in." I turn around as Martha, Charlotte and Celia enter. "Good morning ladies. Are we prepared for tonight?"

        Celia was the one that answered. "Yes Ember. We will be here to prepare you in three hours."

        "Make it two."