The Last Dance (1)

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Hey Guys! So this is my first time writing anything and I would LOVE some feedback or suggestions. I have an idea for how I want the story to turn out but its all in my head right now so I can be pretty flexible. Anyway, hope you enjoy it, cliche love stories never get old right? Let me know what you think! Thanks =) xo.

P.S::: PLEASE DON'T ADVERTISE YOUR STORY IN THE COMMENTS; I HAVE A SPECIAL PAGE FOR THAT SO USE IT AND HAVE SOME COURTESY.

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Chapter 1 -Nostalgic

I opened one of the massive double doors at the back of the castle and slipped in unnoticed. The ballroom was dimly lit and dusty, beautiful, but only a ghost of what it would look like in two months during the High Ball. I'd been coming here a lot lately over the last month leading up to my 19th birthday. I always came in from the ground floor doors, never having the courage to come in from the upper level at the top of the grand staircase. I would have my turn up there soon enough, on May 15 in fact, only two months away; too soon.

It happened every year, girls all over the Kingdom who were 19 came for their chance to be presented to court, or more specifically to be presented to all of the eligible bachelors at court. It was a long standing tradition of Highbourne, giving all the common girls a chance to dress up, get their names announced at the top of the stairs, and float down the grand staircase to join the ranks of adults. All girls expected their dreams to come true that day. The week of celebrations was all about them, the married women even wore delicate masks during the balls so everyone knew who was available. I stopped attending when I was 11, it wasn't for young girls anyway; I usually got to go because of my father's position with the King, but I remember my last one like it was yesterday, it was the day Annabelle had her chance at the top.

*

It was a mix of swirling colors and sparkling champagne; the sound of girls laughing and parents giving each other the once over. Annabelle was presented on the second day of the ball; she stood at the top of those stairs, bravely facing the Kingdom as regal as a Queen. Her smile lit up the hall like the sun, the polite chatter in the hall dimmed to a quiet buzz while everyone waited for the name of the scarlet beauty.

Mother had gone all out for her oldest daughter; her hair was braided down her back and adorned with little pearls. Her scarlet gown showed off her strong nose and delicate brown eyes. "Miss Annabelle, Lucile Rhodes, daughter of Sir Dimitri and Lady Gizelle of Chalot" The herald announced. I wondered why she hadn't begun her descent when I noticed her eyes searching the crowds, looking for someone, me.

I stood high up on my toes until she finally found me, smiled, and started coming down the stairs. Anna broke her eye contact with me to look for another pair of eyes, Charlie's, I'm sure. They had been childhood friends growing up in the castle together and fell in love over the years; they'd spent the whole of yesterday dancing together. He was gazing up at her from the bottom of the stairs, waiting to be her first dance partner of the evening. I knew if he could he'd keep her to himself for the whole night instead of giving her up to the other waiting bachelors.

*

I sighed wistfully, and ran my hands over the banister. I'd grown up at the castle too, but there wasn't anyone special in my life. Unlike my sister, I never aspired to be a lady of the realm; or not in the traditional way at least. I had my friends among the ladies who lived at the castle, and my playmates among the young boys, but only for training. The only one I was forced to see outside the practice courts was the Prince, who'd grown up even more arrogant and condescending than he'd been that day.

*

I looked back at Anna and regretfully down at myself.

"What is it? Wish you had the body to fill out a dress like her?"

I looked over at Prince Johnathan, immediately angry. At the age of 11 I had yet to develop any feminine curves, something John never failed to tease me about knowing it would get a rise out of me, and I always obliged.

"Shut up John!" I hissed "You're just jealous that everyone's too busy watching the girls to notice YOU"

"Their loss" He shrugged and swept his eyes over me, to mock rather than flatter. "Whose bright idea was it to put you in a dress anyway? Anyone with eyes could see you can't handle yourself in that dress, and those shoes" he snickered "What, did you steal them from your sister? I bet you can't even walk in them"

Ohh I hated him, he was only two years older than me but acted like he was already King.

"I can handle myself just fine!" I stood up straight glaring at him, and wobbled in the heels I'd begged my sister for. He smirked at me as my cheeks flushed with color.

"You're absolutely right, you can walk just fine, but be sure you ask for an escort down the stairs when it's your turn or you'll fall all the way down"

"Well that's fine because my true love will be waiting at the bottom to catch me!" I retorted

He rolled his eyes "I pity the poor fool already"

I started to walk towards him ready to tell him off when I stepped on the edge of my hem. I started to pitch forward when strong arms caught me around the waist. I looked up and smiled at King Jeoffrey who was like a second father to me. Speaking of fathers, I looked over at the Prince to see him bent double laughing and felt my face flush. The King looked over at his son with a small frown on his face.

"Hello....Father.... nice of you to come by.... I'm sure Cece appreciates your timing!" He gasped out between laughs

"Don't call me Cece!" I snapped

The King shook his head at his son and turned to me.

"Alright my dear?" He asked

"Yes, fine Uncle, thank you" I flashed him a smile and attempted a courtesy but stumbled again on my shoes. He held onto my elbow to steady me which sent John into a fresh round of laughter. The King smiled at me and winked

"Wearing your sister's old things I presume?"

"Yes Uncle Jeoffrey, but I guess they don't fit yet" I looked down embarrassed. The King wasn't really my Uncle, but my father was his best friend, and the Elder on his council, which made him seem more like family than royalty. He put his finger under my chin and lifted my face up to look into his smiling face.

"Nonsense my dear, you look stunning, and if my son had any manners, he would say the same" He said with a raised eyebrow.

"Uncle, are we talking about the same John?" I said seriously

He laughed and playfully smacked his hand against his son's back almost causing him to pitch forward face first. I covered my smile and the King gave me a conspiratorial wink which made me laugh for real.

"Now my dear, if you'll excuse me, I have guests to attend to, and I'm sure you want to find your sister to congratulate her"

"Oh yes! Anna, I can't wait to see her"

He smiled once more and walked on. If only the saying like father like son were true. John saw me watch his father admiringly and smirked once again

"That's going to be me someday, and everyone will adore me."

I tossed him the haughty look I'd been practicing in the mirror and replied "I feel sorry for the Kingdom already!" I gathered my skirts up and shoved past him hard but my dramatic storm out was ruined when I tripped over my hem again, this time with a distinct ripping sound. I cringed at the sound, hoping no one had noticed. But of course, John was still behind me, and burst out laughing once again. I turned around to see him wiping tears of mirth from his eyes and quickly turned away, tears filling my own eyes from humiliation.

*

My grip tightened on the banister, just thinking about him made me angry, but it didn't matter, things had changed. I loosened my grip and looked at my distorted reflection in a gilded pillar. Pretty, I thought, but no Annabelle. I had her grace, but not her commanding presence. Mother Nature had rushed to endow me when I turned 13, maybe so generously because it came so late. Not that you could really see, I gave up on big gowns that night almost 8 years ago and always wore the loose practice clothes favoured by men. Mine ranged from casual to quite elegant and got me some disgraceful looks from older women with a more refined sense of propriety, but really, they were much more practical for my lifestyle. The Queen helped me design them, even wore them herself on occasion, and their opinion, besides my parents, were all that mattered. I looked back at the staircase. I would be wearing a gown that day, in all its cumbersome glory, but no matter, I'd mastered the art of wearing them years ago and smiled, no way would I be falling down the stairs. I looked to the right, at the doors leading off to a private garden and my smile disappeared. I walked over and inched open the door. It was well cared for, but on the night of the ball, all the trees and bushes would be glowing with white fairy lights, the pathways would be lit up periodically with pink Chinese lanterns. It may sound magical, but brought nothing but sadness to me. It was here, on a bench under the cherry blossom tree that Anna had found me.

*

"Celia, there you are, I've been looking everywhere"

I looked up to see Anna looking at me and saw the concern register when she noticed my tears.

"What is it Cee? Was it John?"

"No.. it.. Oh Anna! I ruined your dress!"

I showed her the ripped hem in anguish.

"Oh that old thing? Cee! It's nothing to cry over, it's just a dress, there's a million more out there."

"But it was YOUR dress, you gave it to me and I.. I wrecked it!"

"It's nothing, I'm not mad, I swear" She smiled at me. I started to smile back but my face crumpled again and I looked down.

"It doesn't matter, I can't walk in it anyway or these shoes, I'll never be a lady, not like you"

"Did John say that?"

"No, he was too busy laughing"

"Well then we'll just have to show him!" I looked up into her determined face confused.

"What?"

"Come on, get up, I'll show you how to walk in that dress, and those shoes"

"Forget it, I'm hopeless"

But there was no arguing with her. She pulled me up to my feet and started strutting down the path, over exaggerating her movements. I giggled.

"Anna, what if someone sees you"

"So? This is an important life lesson in walking and confidence, now you try"

"Annnaaaa"

"Nope, no excuses, come on, let's see it"

I struggled to copy her and we kept at it for a good half hour, me stumbling along laughing and both of us talking in fake stuck-up voices until I'd mastered the walk. Anna sat back on the bench smiling proudly and patting the seat beside her. When I sat down she turned to me with a serious expression, and I knew something bad was coming.

"Cee, I've got something important to tell you... Charlie proposed"

My face lit up at the news "But that's great news Anna! Why would you be sad? Isn't it what you wanted?"

"Yes but... you know what it means don't you?"

"It means you get to live happily ever after in... oh... in Fief Etrian... you're leaving" My eyes filled with tears and I felt Anna's arms go around me.

"It's not that far Cee, just a days horse ride away, and you'll learn to ride a horse in no time, and come see me all the time!"

But it won't be the same, I thought. Still, she was my sister; I knew she'd leave one day. "Do you really love him?"

"Yes, Cee, I really do, and I love you too"

I nodded and tried to hold back the tears, being strong for her, I didn't want it being any harder for her to leave.

"I love you too Anna"

We stayed that way for a while, I don't know how long, and then she kissed me on the forehead and left. She wouldn't leave yet, there were still three days of the festival and she still had to pack, she'd be here for at least another week, but this had been our goodbye.

*

I found myself under the old cherry blossom tree and looked down the path we'd used to practice walking all those years ago. If I closed my eyes and listened hard I could almost hear our laughter while we strutted back and forth and it brought a smile to my face. I looked up at the sun and realized with a jolt more time had passed then I thought. I took one last look around and headed off to the practice courts.