The Rise of The Phoenix

The Ball

When I wake up in the morning, I feel like I haven't slept a wink. The way my father was talking to me so seriously and about it being my responsibility just made it all worse. It leads me to believe he might even have some potential suitors in mind already. I feel as though I'm in a daze as I wash my face, get dressed, and head down to breakfast. I opted to sit alone to eat this morning, I just don't feel like I can talk to my parents yet and I don't know what I'd say to Gypsy and Baron. Although I'm left with little choice as they both see me and bring their plates over to where I'm sitting at the table in the farthest corner of the room.

"Uh-oh, someone got her sad face on! I thought we all agreed to focus on the main event and have fun at all costs!" Gypsy says as she jabs me in the side with her elbow. When I don't respond and just continue to eat, with a glazed-over look on my face, they understand that something is actually wrong.

"What happened, What's going on Rae, you were looking forward to today more than any of us... Did we do something wrong?"

When I look up at Baron and see the worry written all over his face, I can't help but feel bad for making him, or rather for making them both worry.

I sigh, "Sorry, it's nothing, today just got a little more complicated is all."

"Like we'd ever believed that, we're your best friends and we know you way better than that. Now tell us what's going on so we can help!"

"Look Gypsy, this isn't something you can help me with... But if you really must know, my Father called me into his study last night and he sat me down, acting all serious, and told me I need to start the process of finding an eligible suitor."

Gypsy just sat there trying to control her giggles and Baron just looked at me all confused. I looked at them both, perplexed myself. Why don't they understand how awful this is?

"so... Let me make sure I understand, you're upset because you need to start talking to attractive men?" Gypsy could barely say it without laughing.

"No, I'm upset because now I have to spend my evening entertaining pompous, arrogant princes instead of enjoying myself. But not just that, I'm upset because, instead of getting my place in society on placement day as a warrior or a guard or a hunter or a guardian like anyone else, I have to parade around looking for a prince charming to do it all for me. I'm the one who worked for this, I'm the one who knows about our people, I'm the one who put everything I have into training and becoming one of the most promising students in our year. It's not fair that that's all going to be taken away by some spoilt prince who probably doesn't know the first thing about combat or foraging or survival or our people." I have to admit I feel the slightest bit better now that I've put everything into words and I've made sense of everything but it also fills me with so much anger and resentment met for my parents.

Gypsy looks at me with a look of shock on her face. This is probably the first time I have ever seen her speechless. She looks down at her plate as the weight of my words sinks in.

Baron reaches out his hand and places it on mine, "I get it, Rae, that must be horrible to have everything you've ever worked for just ripped away, but why does it all have to end just because you need to find a suitor?"

"Because then I'll be a queen and that will be my place in society. There won't be any room for anything else, it's all been decided for me."

He just squeezed my hand a little tighter, "Rae, if anyone can make this work somehow you can, I'm sure of it. Besides, maybe all of the princes here tonight will be totally inadequate for our tribe. I mean come on, we're the tribe of the phoenix. No one can compare to us."

I smirk, that's true, maybe they will all be inadequate. No. I'll make sure of it. No one can stand against me like this. I won't be told who I am.

"Maybe you're right, I guess we'll just have to meet their royal snootiness and see."

My friends smile at me and, to my surprise, I actually smile back. Everything will always be okay as long as I have them by my side.

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I hear a knock on my door followed by, "Hellooooo, is her highness ready to get this show on the road?"

I laugh, "Come in Gypsy, your already late!"

When she walks in, she is already wearing her dress, a beautiful light blue satin floor-length gown with gorgeous embroidered floral details. I gasp and my hands fly to my face when I see her, " Oh my goodness, you look amazing!" I reach out and hug my friend, she just giggles and hugs me back.

"Okay, now hurry up and go get your dress on! I can't wait any longer. I need to finally see it!"

"Okay, okay, just hold on a second, wait here, and no peaking!"

I go into my huge walk-in closet that doubles as a dressing room and start to get dressed. I put on my corset first, then crinoline and petticoat, and finally comes the dress. It's a huge emerald green floor-length ball gown with a v-cut neckline and glittery swirls of intricate detail on the bodice and on parts of the skirt. The sleeves are thin but not straps and the dress shows my figure perfectly. I look in the mirror and can't help but smile. I think this is the most beautiful dress I've ever worn. I run my hands over the bodice and smooth out my skirt to make sure everything is in place, then I go out to show my friend.

Gypsy gasped even louder than I did when I saw her, "what do you think?" I ask as I pose for her.

Her mouth is still wide open and she is just waving her hand up and down, gesturing to me and nodding before finally saying, "You look absolutely amazing, I never would've never guessed you actually had curves."

I just laugh, "Yeah, I guess I do normally just wear baggy clothes. Well, now you know."

We do our hair and while Gypsy just opts for leaving her long straight black hair loose, but pinned behind her ears, I go for a classic updo to go for a more traditional look. My hair has always been so hard to manage. It took myself, Gypsy, and one of the housekeepers to get my hair done. My mother would always take care of my hair when I was younger. She would always look at it and tell me how much she loved it and how it was one of the most beautiful traits gifted to certain members of the phoenix tribe. My mother was from the tribe gifted with land, but she always admired the Phoenix tribe. I'm sure she would have been the one doing my hair today if she hadn't passed away a few years ago now. She was attacked by wolves when she was riding to the next town and by the time anyone found her, it was too late. That's when our guardians really got serious about securing our borders and protecting the royals at all costs. It was hard on my father but we had each other and we got through it, though I never think we'll fully heal, we can live with it now. Ever since then, my hair has always, in a way, reminded me of her.

Once my hair is finally tamed and looks elegant and ladylike, I pull a couple of curls out from the front to frame my face and the style is complete. We both decide a more natural make-up look would be best, so we do our best to make it look like we're wearing no make-up even though our faces are covered, but where Gypsy goes for a neutral pink shade of lipstick, I chose a deep burgundy lip shade. We're ready for the ball.

We make our way down the giant staircase and see my father waiting for us at the bottom. He looks taken aback and like he might be welling up, "Oh Auraeliah, you look absolutely beautiful my dear." He kisses my forehead. "Thank you father," I say, trying not to get caught up in his emotion.

Then he turns to Gypsy. "Ah Geraldine, looking as well as ever, now if you don't mind, would you please hurry along into the ballroom, it's nearly time to announce the woman of the hour." He says as he gestures to me.

She gives a simple nod and half curtsy in respect and walks off into the ballroom.

"Are you ready, my dear?"

"Ready as I'll ever be."

"Well, okay then, let's go!"

The steward announced my father and I and we glide into the ballroom and stand on the small raised area where the musicians are playing. My father addresses the crowd of royals and nobles, and everyone claps. That's when I lock eyes with him. He is easily the most handsome man I ever laid eyes on and he just turned white as a sheet. What is Koa doing here?