Ladies’ Choice

'Hanna! You seriously abandoned me just like that?! I thought we were friends!' Ethyn pressed his hand to his forehead.

He recognized the two women approaching him as his dinner companions from earlier that evening. While he had enjoyed their company at the table, Ethyn had yet to have the opportunity to dance with either one despite their hints during the meal.

He vaguely remembered his polite offer to take a turn about the floor if either of them ended up free during the evening. It seemed they were coming to collect on that promise.

The young man pretended to be engrossed in the punch he was holding, avoiding their expectant gazes. Maybe the ladies would take the hint and leave him alone.

Of course, they didn't.

The taller woman in a pink dress managed to reach his seat first. "Sir Samberg! I saw you sitting alone and thought you might enjoy some company. Anyone with such great promise should be entertained at all times!"

'Did they not see Hanna was with me?' Ethyn wondered. 'And showing great promise might be the worst thing the king could have said. It has been repeated so many times, I will be hearing it in my sleep.'

"I appreciate your kindness," Ethyn began, but the shorter young lady in the vermillion dress interrupted him with an airy voice.

"Mirella is not kind, Sir Samberg! It was my idea to come and check after your well-being," the petit woman argued as she shot a glare at her companion.

"But I spotted him, Augusta! Surely there is some value in that contribution!" Mirella pleaded with the new knight.

"You both get the bla—credit for thinking of me..." Ethyn tried to smooth out the situation, but Augusta and Mirella were already back to subtly giving the other a hint to leave with furtive glares.

Augusta blushed heavily and lowered head, looking coyly at the knight. "I came to claim that dance you offered over dinner, Sir Samberg. As of right now, I am not engaged to anyone for the next song."

"Oh no, I was here first, and I want to claim my dance as well. Please, Sir Samberg, surely you will do the just thing and grant my wish first." Mirella reached forward and clasped the knight's hand.

Augusta was quick to grab the other arm, forcing Ethyn to set down his drink. His plate now lay helplessly in his lap.

Lamenting his fate, Ethyn sighed. 'Can't a man eat in peace?'

"Don't be so selfish, my dear elder cousin. I am sure Sir Samberg, would be happy to dance with you second. He is obviously looking for a more energetic dance partner for this happy tune." Augusta smiled sweetly.

'Cousins! They are cousins?!' It made a little sense now that the green-eyed man thought about it. The two ladies had been speaking quite comfortably with one another and with him, almost like there was a familial bond....because apparently there was.

While he was processing this shocking revelation, the two women were becoming more and more catty at his indecision. They were clamping down more and more firmly on his hand and arm as they not so politely argued with one another about who would dance first.

"You would not deny your elder the honor of being first, would you, Augusta? You are always so kind and gracious." Mirella was still stinging after the other lady had called her old.

"I would be happy to oblige, but even the walk here seems to have made you tired. You rest while I take a turn with Sir Samberg around the room and then you can have your chance...maybe." Augusta pulled on the man's arm.

"Oh no you don't!" Mirella yanked on Ethyn's hand.

To the young knight's horror, both women began to unceremoniously pull him in two different directions. Unprepared for the sudden tug-of-war, Ethyn flew out of his seat, flinging the plate in his lap to the ground.

The porcelain dish crashed to the floor and cracked into dozens of pieces, drawing the attention of many people around him.

Even the princess, who had joined her father and Sir Cyneheard on a raised platform meant for the royals and their most elite guests, took note of this development.

With a look of disdain, she leaned over and whispered into her father's ear. Rhodri and Cyneheard broke off their lively conversation and turned to see the commotion.

"Ladies, please!" Ethyn tried to salvage the situation. "I cannot dance with anyone if you stretch my arms to both walls. Do you mean to dismember me?!"

Shocking the women from their petty feud, Mirella and Augusta released their potential partner like he was made of hot coals.

"Sir Samberg, I would never! It was only..."

"Oh Sir Samberg, we did not mean to..."

The two ladies' voices overlapped so heavily that the young man could not decipher who was saying what. He resisted the urge to cover his ears and instead held up his hands.

The women's bickering stopped, but so did the music.

Looking at the king, Ethyn realized the king also had a hand raised toward the musicians. Everyone fell silent.

Beside the king, Sir Cyneheard had taken a step away and was looking at the redhead with a curious expression.

In his panic, Ethyn could swear that his sponsor was eyeing him with more than a little frustration for not being able to handle himself well at a ball. The knight had brought the entire party to a standstill!

Rhodri smiled warmly to the crowd. "I would like all of the eight honorees to join me please. The rest of you may go back to your dancing!"

Clapping his hands, the king beckoned the music to begin again.

The announcement had been very unexpected and quite different than the reprimand that Ethyn had anticipated. The honoree smoothed his deep blue tunic and gave a short bow.

"Excuse me ladies; His Majesty has summoned me."

Mirella and Augusta curtsied, knowing better than to pick up the conversation as he left. They could already see the judgmental eyes of their fathers and moved slowly away to receive the consequences of their actions.

Ethyn walked briskly toward the platform and, with the permission of Borit, was allowed to approach the king.

Six of the other seven new warriors were already assembled. Somehow Nuall had managed to get uncomfortably close to the princess, much to Ethyn's dismay.

When Sir Ashton finished off the group, the king eyed them as they carefully stood at attention. Ethyn wanted desperately to send his sponsor a questioning glance, but he decided it was not wise.

Rhodri clicked his tongue. "I am disappointed. Most of you have been ignoring the most beautiful woman and the loveliest dancer in the room."

The young men shifted uncomfortably, unsure of what the king could mean.

"Do not worry. I have a remedy. Princess Rose has offered to give you each a dance to commemorate the evening." The king opened his arms wide at the glorious news.

Rose's face contorted into confusion, but only for a moment. Clearly she had made no such agreement, but she also did not want to contradict the king. Rose held her tongue.

"Your Majesty, I would be honored to go first." Nuall stepped forward and bowed deeply.

Rhodri nodded. "Indeed you already have. I saw you with my daughter not so very long ago."

Rose smiled slightly.

Unable to refute the king's claim, Nuall stepped back into the line.

"The next dance shall go to whomever my daughter selects. The rest of you can linger with me until it is your turn. Rose?" Rhodri and the others looked expectantly at the blonde princess.

She tilted her head and looked at Ethyn from below her eyelashes. "The choice is easy…" Rose cooed.

Ethyn felt a glimmer of pride well up in his soul.

"…I choose, Sir Ashton."