Chapter Text
I tugged on the sleeves of the dress. I hate the way they were so tight around my upper arm - a little pudge sticking out below the elastic.
‘Hold still,’ mothers voice was stern yet aggravated.
I clenched my jaw, wanting to leave.
The seamstress pinned a little here and a little there, the green dress coming together. I didn’t want to complain - Katherine was gifting me this dress for the ball. And I could tell it would be gorgeous, and I made sure the extra weight on my thighs and stomach would be hidden underneath the layers of petticoats.
‘Oh Meggy!’ Catherine appeared in the mirror. ‘It’s going to look so lovely!’ Her long blonde hair bounced as she did a little hop.
I smiled at her, ‘Thank you, Kath. I love it. I’m so excited to wear it.’ I gave a smile to the seamstress who was busy working around my feet.
My mother stood quietly in the corner, ‘Are you still eating light? The bodice will look much better if your waist is a little slimmer.’
My smile turned down, and I looked at my feet for a moment. ‘Yes, I’ve been cutting dinner portions.’
Katherine got uncomfortable and tried to move the topic along, ‘I have the prettiest little headpiece to match! We’re going to be the center of attention!’
This giant ball was being held by the castle to find her a husband. A new prince for the kingdom. She had two little sisters, so she needed to get married in order to give a male heir to the throne at her side. Although excited in secret, she was nervous. She wasn’t good at talking about herself, and she certainly doesn’t want a ballroom full of people looking at her. But here we are. I know my parents are hoping the same outcome for me. A husband of noble stature to bring some wealth to the family. I really got lucky being Kathrine’s best friend. She was so kind and sweet, and we clicked so well. And quite frankly, it’s very nice to be so well acquainted with her family, but I couldn’t care if she was royal or not.
…
The ball was a few days away. I met Katherine at the fitting room with the seamstress to get my dress. We walked through the gardens in the courtyard.
‘It’s so lovely out,’ I looked up to the sky, squinting at the bright blue sky.
‘Yes! I’m hoping the ball will be warm in the evening.’
‘Katherine!’ A loud booming voice, one could only know as the king reached us. We both jumped a little.
To our right, he came striding across the lawn. A few soldiers not far behind. I gave him a quick curtsey when we reached us.
‘Please, Meggy, nothing formal here,’ he said. ‘How are you girls?’
‘Great, father. We are on our way to gather our dresses from the seamstress. We’re very excited to see them.’
‘Good! We need to get you both husbands, yes?’ He laughed loudly in a way only fathers could.
We both chuckled, and I blushed a little bit, shifting my weight to my other hip.
He continued, ‘We’re going hunting for the evening. I’ll be back tomorrow in the afternoon. Your guards will be different. We have a few new young lads coming with me. Initiation in a sort of way.’
Kath nodded and said something back to him, but I didn’t hear. He was just standing there. Looking at us with a blank stare - lips pursed together, body rigid in his metal uniform. He looked rougher than anyone else I had seen on the King's service. His hair was brushing his eyebrows, dark and beautiful. A beginning of a beard graced his chin. I honestly couldn’t tell his age, he looked like he had seen a lot of bad things that made him older.
‘Meggy!’ Katherine waved her hand in front of my eyes, snapping me out of my short gaze. ‘Dresses!’
‘Yes!’ I nodded to the king, not too formal. Kath grabbed my arm as we continued our walk in the gardens.
‘Who was that?’ I asked. ‘I haven’t seen him before.’
‘Oh, I didn’t notice.’ She didn’t notice a whole lot, a very smart girl, but not observant.
I risked a small look over my shoulder. The soldier was following the king, rigid and cold. But he knew. They turned into the corridor across the lawn, and his eyes met mine. Blue. Something about him wanted me to know more.