Natalia stood there as her parents began to chat with other nobles in the hall. They were always the center of attention everywhere they went. Natalia left her parent’s side, beginning to get annoyed as they began to laugh about whatever they were talking about. Natalia couldn’t stand being ignored by the swaggering peacocks that flocked over to her parents anyway. She always thought that some of the aristocratic people of Minslethrate looked like peacocks, embellished birds, with their large and feathery hats and fans, and their bright gowns and tunics, squawking around and pecking at everyone. She thought of how comical it would be if she were to start tossing corn at them.
Natalia strolled along, smiling and making small conversation with people as she passed them. She looked to see if she could find Marrisa anywhere, walking with her future husband or chatting with any of the courtiers. She didn’t see her, not even Lilith, who should’ve been all over the place.
Natalia walked through a great doorway that led into another great hall. There were long tables lined up everywhere, running vertical ways against the length of the great room. The tables were covered with the same decorations as the other hall. At the head of the room was another long table that sat horizontal before the other tables. That table was obviously for the royal family, because the chairs were bigger and more elaborate. The long tables were also covered with plates and silverware and beautiful golden goblets. The goblets on the head table had red jewels adorned all over them. That room was obviously where the grand feast would be held.
She could see servants quickly walking in and out of a doorway that led to the kitchen. She knew it was the kitchen because she remembered running around in the kitchen with Marrisa as a child. Natalia smiled as she remembered how the royal cooks would always get so upset with them.
Natalia walked out of the dining hall, noticing Prince Phillip standing next to King Julpen, without Marrisa. The king was talking with courtiers and lords, introducing them to the prince. The prince had a great smile on his face, chatting with everyone as if he had known them for years. He looked as if enjoyed all of the attention. He noticed Natalia and smiled at her, waving to her without anyone noticing. Natalia just smiled a little and continued to walk. By the way Phillip kept looking at her, she felt like Phillip had more interest in her than onyone else.
She decided that she needed some fresh air and thought it would be a good idea since the harsh rain seemed to stop for a while. The rain was really horrendous earlier that evening and luckily stopped an hour before she arrived. But it still looked as if it was going to rain later on that night. The moon and stars were hiding behind thick black clouds and soft rumbles of thunder could be heard far off in the distance.
As Natalia came closer to the entrance, she passed a young man that seemed to be looking at her; she could see him out of the corner of her eye. She glanced at him quickly and smiled, then stopped in her tracks.
“Tairren?!” Natalia said, astounded, as she came to him.
He was dressed up in a very beautifully sown light-blue tunic and trousers, which brought out the vibrant blue hue of his eyes. He wore a shiny black belt and shiny black boots as well. His black hair was pulled back out of his blue eyes, showing off his handsome face. He looked very dapper and looked like he belonged amongst many of the aristocrats of Minslethrate.
“I hardly recognized you!” she said, giving him a big hug.
She looked around noticing that some other young women who were chatting in a corner, glared at them. She knew they were gossiping about her, it wasn’t lady like to hug a man so boldly like that in public. A kiss on the hand was socially acceptable, but of course Natalia didn’t care what other courtiers thought of her.
“You look very handsome,” she said, smiling. “How did you come about such a beautiful tunic?” Natalia spoke lower this time so that no one could hear their conversation. She didn’t want to expose Tairren.
“My mother made it for me, and she did a wonderful job. Do I look like nobility?” he said with a huge smile.
“Oh yes, I’d say so!” she said as she put her arm around his. “Let’s walk somewhere—we’re being stared at by a pack of ravaging wolves,” Natalia said facetiously. She pulled his arm. “Now you guide me or there will be more for them to gossip about,” she said in a low tone.
They slowly strolled across the great hall to where there weren’t too many people—smiling and nodding as they went.
They walked across a wide open space, which was obviously room for dancing. To the right of the great space, up on a balcony, was a large group of people who were fiddling around with their instruments. They were the royal musicians who played at every royal function.
“This is splendid,” Tairren said as they sat down on some chairs that stood against the wall. “I was really apprehensive about showing up on my way over here. I didn’t want to be recognized by anyone.”
“I don’t think you will,” she giggled, “you look very different.” She smiled at him lovingly.
“And so do you, you look very beautiful,” he said, smiling back. “I’ve never seen you dressed up this way. I mean, you usually do, but tonight you look exquisite.”
Natalia was quite stunning. She had on an emerald colored gown that had gold trimming and embroidery on it. Her hair was up and adorned with small jewels and a small golden hair piece that was in the shape of a butterfly. Right below her chest was a beautiful golden brooch that sparkled with little jewels on it. The brooch was very showy, and would bring anyone’s eyes down in that direction, right below her exposed cleavage. Her light brown skin and her green eyes looked very luscious adjacent to the emerald color of her long gown.
“Thank you.” She smiled her pretty smile again, but this time she looked as if she were becoming shy.
“Have you seen Marrisa? I had to see her one last time; that’s why I risked coming here.”
“Oh?” Natalia said in low tone, disappointed that the conversation was directed away from her and back to Marrisa as it usually did. “Well—I was wondering the same thing earlier. I haven’t seen her yet, and I did see Prince Phillip, but not Marrisa. It’s so strange though, and I haven’t even seen Lilith anywhere either.” She looked around as she spoke.
“I hope she is alright. She’s had a strange day today. I really want to see her, I wanted to surprise her,” Tairren said, also glancing around.
At that moment, a tall, snooty looking servant man walked into the great hall, ringing a bell. Natalia recognized him to be Alexander, one of the head servants who had been working for the royal family ever since she was a young girl. He was in charge of many of the servants and the one who made sure that every royal event in the castle went accordingly. He announced that dinner was served and welcomed everyone into the dining hall.
Everyone began to make their way into the hall, carrying their conversation and laughter with them. Tairren escorted Natalia, nervous as ever as they passed many courtiers and noblemen and women. Everything was so different to him. Everyone was so spectacular looking, and proper. Tairren was worried that he might say or do something that would offend sombody. He watched the other men and their body language, trying to come off the same way as they did.
As they walked to their seats, Natalia gave Tairren a quick whispered overview of everyone around them, telling him who they were and their social status in the kingdom. They spotted Lady Daleasa and Lord Fredrick at another table, mingling with other courtiers the same age as them. Natalia gossiped about them, making fun of the ridiculously showy clothing they were wearing and the immaculate headdresses that adorned their heads. She also talked of her parents and how she didn’t want to sit next to them that evening.
Every seat had a covered plate waiting for them at the table, along with many utensils and goblets. Along the center of the tables were platters and baskets containing a nice selection of cheeses, herbed breads, fruits, different kinds of sauces with roasted meats, crisped fish and all sorts of other different kinds of foods that Tair
ren had never seen before. The goblets were already filled, one with water and the other with Minsleberry wine. Everyone sat, still talking all at once.
King Julpen, Prince Phillip and other important people found their seats at the head table. King Julpen sat in the largest thrown-like chair in the center, and the prince to his left. There was an empty chair to the king’s right, which obviously was meant for Marrisa.
Just then Marrisa walked into the dining hall, being followed by three of her handmaidens. She looked beautiful as ever as she walked to her seat. She wore a long white gown that dragged behind her as she walked. The material was embroidered with small clear crystals, making her gown sparkle as she passed the torches that hung on the brick walls. Her long red hair was made up, showing off her long, elegant neck. She wore a meshed looking elegant headdress on her head that consisted of diamonds, and a diadem that dangled from it and pointed downwards on her forehead. She was absolutely beautiful.
Tairren’s heart-beat began to quicken as he watched her walk to her seat. She looked so sad but beautiful at the same time as she sat down. Tairren wanted to get up out of his seat to go to her, but he knew that would be a ridiculous move.
“She looks so beautiful,” Tairren said softly, still watching her.
Natalia responded to his comment and began to talk about something else, but he didn’t hear anything that she was saying. He didn’t even seem to be hearing any of the loud conversation of anyone in the dining hall at all. He heard no one as he gazed upon Marrisa across the room. He couldn’t help himself; he couldn’t keep his eyes off of her. He noticed how sad she looked, and how she didn’t seem to be making conversation with anyone at her table, not even her father. She just sat there, looking as if she was in deep thought…
Just then, King Julpen stood up, holding his goblet of Minsleberry wine. He got everyone’s attention as they all quieted down. He made a toast to Marrisa and the prince and went off with a long speech about that night and it being a special day for Marrisa. Marrisa seemed not to be paying attention to any of it as she sat there with an emotionless face. After what seemed like an hour of the king ranting on, everyone lifted their goblets in the air as the king said the final words of his toast. The clink of metal could be heard as everyone toasted, tapping their goblets together and then taking a sip of the sweet and tart wine afterwards.
†††
Marrisa sat there, not hearing anything her father was going on about—she didn’t even realize that he was toasting to her and Prince Phillip. She was too lost in her thoughts and emotions. She felt as if her heart was screaming out to everyone, and no one cared to listen. She felt as if she were all alone in the massive dining hall. Everyone in the room had great smiles on their painted faces as her father spoke, except her. She seemed to be the only one in the castle that didn’t care to be there; everyone was celebrating her last night in Minslethrate, and she loathed it.
Marrisa nibbled at her food, and it was quite delicious, but she wasn’t hungry. She stared at her plate as the reddish-brown juices from her roast ran across it, mingling with the bitter herbs and sweet potatoes.
After looking at her colorful meal, she picked up her goblet. She needed something to chase her anxiety away. She didn’t sip on her wine like the ladies in the castle did, but drank it down quickly, not caring when Prince Phillip took a glance over at her. She beckoned to a nearby servant who carried a large decanter of Minsleberry wine around. The servant poured her more, and she downed that one as well.
“One more, kind sir,” she said as she smiled at the stunned looking servant. “Fill it to the rim please.”
King Julpen noticed how absurd his daughter was acting and signaled for the confused looking servant to go away.
“Daughter, pace yourself, the night is young and that is no way for a princess to act.” He glanced around, looking to see if anyone was looking.
“Why father, do you wish to spoil your daughter’s fun on her last night?” she said facetiously. She just smiled at him as she began to sip on her wine now.
Prince Phillip kept looking over at Marrisa as he took large bites of his roast.
She glared at him as she sipped on her goblet, then smiled as she wiped a small drop of wine from her full lips. She hoped that he would think she was disgusting, so un-lady like that he wouldn’t want to have anything to do with her. But instead, he winked at her, following his wink with a bright smile. Marrisa turned away from his gaze quickly, not trying to engage in anymore eye contact.
“Daughter, I know this is the wrong time for this, but I want you to have this. I meant to give this to you earlier but didn’t get the chance,” he said as he took the red jewel necklace from around his neck. He smiled as he put it over her head. It was a long golden necklace that had a deep-red pendant embedded in gold, hanging from it. The pendant was a deep blood-red, and sparkled as the firelight from the tall candles on the table glistened off of it.
“Oh father, your necklace,” she said with a small smile. She looked into the pendant, rubbing the smooth stone with her thumb. “Thank you.” She looked into his dark eyes, then gave him a kiss on the cheek.
“My father, King James, gave it to my mother when she first became queen of Minslethrate… I took it from my mother before she died…” He paused for a moment as his mind seemed to drift off, as if heavy thoughts began to burden him. He had that same look on his face whenever Marrisa would ask him about his childhood. “…I knew my father really wished me to have it… I gave it to your mother long ago, and before she died she made me promise that I would give this to you on your sixteenth birthday, the eve of your wedding.” He became quiet, sipping his wine. His face was serious and sad looking, as if he were giving away a piece of his heart.
Marrisa didn’t know whether it was the sadness of him losing his only daughter and child, or the fact that he gave her the only thing that seemed so dear to him.
“This is truly special to me,” she said with another small smile as her crystal blue eyes became glossy. Her smile was a mixture of sadness and happiness all meshed together. “But, you didn’t want to keep it here, amongst the royal family of Minslethrate?”
“I would rather my only daughter obtain such a precious keepsake—and it was your mother’s request.” He sipped on his wine, gazing off into the large room. “I don’t have an heir to the throne yet, my daughter.” He paused as Marrisa continued to look into his saddened face. “But it’s time I remarried—to continue my legacy. I can’t reign forever you know.” He smiled a little, watching the feasting crowd of courtiers.
Marrisa was quiet, starting to feel the after affects of drinking down her Minsleberry wine too quickly. Her mind drifted off, beginning to think of Tairren, and how she would never see him again and how she was going to hate her soon-to-be sad life. She was startled by the laughter of Prince Phillip, who was chatting with her father now. She looked off into the large room, watching the laughing and cheerful courtiers. They all ate and drank and laughed merrily—which provoked Marrisa.
She took another sip of her wine, then decided to drink her whole goblet of wine down again. She didn’t eat much of the delicious food on her plate, she wasn’t hungry anymore. Her head began to swirl a little as she glanced at her glistening necklace, then back up to the scene of the happy courtiers. The wine didn’t seem to be helping with her anxiety much.
“Excuse me, father,” she said as she slowly stood up.
She grabbed her goblet, signaling to the nearest servant to bring over another decanter of Minsleberry wine. It was a young servant girl this time. She poured it, filling the sparkling goblet until Marrisa signaled for her to stop.
The king acknowledged her and just smiled, looking around to see if anyone had noticed her odd behavior yet. Marrisa left quickly, trying to do so discreetly. She tried her best to not fall over as she rushed along the gray brick wall, carrying her goblet of wine with her. Her handmaidens rushed over to her, following her out of the large dining room.
Marrisa rushed off to her chamber. She couldn’t stand being around the dining hall any longer. She detested how everyone was so happy when she herself hated every waking second of what was taking place. She didn’t care that the ball would begin soon, all she wanted to do was to get out of there. She hurried down the hall and up the stare case into the main hallway that led to her room.
“My Lady, are you ill? The ball in your honor will begin soon,” one of her handmaidens said as they walked up to her door.
“I am not ill,” Marrisa responded irritably as she pushed open the large door. “I think I just need to rest a while,” Marrisa said, bringing her hand up to her head.
“My Lady!” a foreign voice called out from behind her as she began to proceed into her room.
She looked over to see who it was. She recognized the voice right away because it was the voice of her future husband.
“My dear Prince Phillip,” Marrisa said with an annoyed look on her face. “How may I assist you?” she said as she stopped, standing halfway in the threshold.
“My dear Lady, I just need to know that my future queen is well,” Prince Phillip said as he approached her.
“I’m quite well, actually, and why are you approaching me when there is a whole crowd of courtiers waiting to meet you down in the dining hall?” Marrisa demanded as she signaled for her handmaidens to give them some privacy.
“I’m quite annoyed—I only wonder why my future wife runs from me so. When I am king, I want nothing of this matter to take place. I want nothing more than respect from my queen!” Prince Phillip said with a more dangerous look on his face. He appeared more aggressive as he approached Marrisa. He came so close to her that his chest was barely touching hers. He looked into her crystal blue eyes, lifting his hands to her face. “Oh Marrisa, you are truly the most beautiful woman whom I ever laid my eyes upon.” He caressed her face as he said this.
The Last Legend: Awakened Page 12