Chapter 34 - Emilia

After a month of frantic planning the ball just a few hours away from commencing. Everyone who was sent an invitation accepted, after the Council released the news of my pregnancy no one was going to miss out on the celebration. Madame Joanna was incredibly busy, happy but busy, with so many ladies wanting new dresses before the ball. It didn't give her much time to work but she still made time to prepare something special for me to wear and she promised to make one of her assistants, if not herself, available to come and alter dresses for me at any time.

Healer Fayeth has estimated that I'm perhaps half way through my second month of pregnancy and already I'm starting to show. She put it down to how small and slight I am but I like being able to tell that my baby is there and growing. Lilas seems to love seeing the small bump as well often resting his hand on it when we're sitting together or lying in bed.

The loose skirt of my dress for tonight doesn't particularly show or hide the bump which is perfect for me. I don't want people staring at me all night but at the same time I don't want to feel like I'm hiding something. Throughout the night people might catch glimpses of the bump, that'll hopefully be enough for them to satisfy their curiosity. And confirm the Council's statement.

Apparently there have been rumours in the city that I'm not pregnant and that it's all a lie developed by the Council. Some people believe that they have only done this to draw attention away from the war which they seem to convinced we're losing. In truth though, by our last reports, the army were perhaps a week away from the border but that was two weeks ago so they should be there by now. Lilas says that we should soon have confirmation of that, dragons are stationed at the border waiting to relay messages.

Lilas is getting ready for the ball in his room leaving me to prepare with Talindra's help in the shared bedroom. We'd had a light dinner before coming upstairs to get ready which for me started with a bath, being careful not to get my hair wet though as it'd take forever to dry. Once I climb out Talindra wraps me up in a towel before going to get my dress while I dry myself off.

Soon I'm being laced up into my dress then guided to sit down so that Talindra can try and tame my hair. As always I'm amazed at how she manages to braid my hair back into an elegant hair style that's completed by the addition of a diamond tiara. Compared to some of my other tiaras and crowns this one is relatively simple because the necklace I'm wearing is attention grabbing enough.

When my dress was finished and delivered a few days ago Lilas had presented the necklace to me. It seems Kor had made it before he left for war and after seeing the dress I'd be wearing Lilas thought that it'd be perfect for tonight. Kor had made a rare pink diamond the centre piece of the necklace and surrounded it with more diamonds suspended from a chain of more diamonds. With the number of diamonds it's a heavy necklace but I'm sure I can put up with it for one night.

With a final check and look in the mirror I'm deemed ready by Talindra for the ball. As the Council is technically hosting the ball they'll likely be at the garden already but I want to be there early too, after all the work and planning that I've done over the last month I don't want to miss anything. My ladies have all said that they'd be there early as well along with their mates and families, if they have any of course. I can't help feeling slightly sorry for Lady Tiana as she's here in the city alone, her father is with the army while her mother died years ago and her brother has stayed at their country estate. She's all alone here and as far as I know has no one to attend the ball with but Maryam told her that she'll have no shortage of people waiting to dance with her, Maryam promised to make sure of it. Tiana even admitted to hoping to meet her Soulmate tonight.

Going into the hallway I'm not surprised to find Lilas dressed and waiting for me there. He's wearing a magnificent set of light blue and silver robes complete with a silver crown, the same style as the one that all three of them have but just a different colour. Seeing me walk out he smiles gently at me walking over to join me.

"You look beautiful my love." He says taking hold of my hand and raising it up to place a kiss to the back of it. I smile back at him.

"And you look very handsome." I reply as we link arms and descend the stairs to the entrance. When we get outside a carriage is waiting for us, we could walk there but now that we're truly in winter now it's too cold for that. Lilas helps me into the carriage first before entering himself, inside the carriage it's warmer thanks to the heating runes he's activated in the carriage. Gods it's strange how used to magic I've become when half a year ago I'd never encountered in more than stories than before.

The ride to the gardens is short and soon I'm being helped out of the carriage once again. Servants are waiting outside the glass house ready to guide guests to the area that the ball is being held in but we wave them off to wait for other guests as we know the way. I've spent many hours in the glass house by now and could likely walk there in my sleep.

Despite the darkness outside the garden is brightly lit thanks to the careful placing of a combination of candles and runes. As Lilas and I enter the area I spot the Council members gathered together talking amongst themselves while a few of my ladies are also present. Maryam is here and currently overseeing the last finishing touches before the other guests arrive.

"Your Majesties." They all greet with bows and curtsies as they notice our arrival. We nod in return before splitting up and heading to each group, Lilas joining the Council's conversation while I make my way over to my ladies. At the moment it's only Zenobia, Holcene, Pyzitt and Maryam here but I'm sure it won't be long until the others arrive. With them are two people I've only met briefly before during the planning of the ball, Holcene's half-orc half-elf son Onvoar and Zenobia's mate Radelia.

Zenobia's many merchant contacts have been a big help in getting the ball organised in time so she soon introduced her mate to all of us. Radelia was more than happy to aid us in getting what we needed for the ball and even helped us with setting up the flowers, just as Zenobia had said she loves flowers and watching her arrange the flowers was amazing. Despite only using three types of flowers Radelia had managed to make each arrangement look slightly different to the one before making each one special and interesting.

I'd only met Onvoar a few days ago as he'd finally returned to Hadlau after spending time in one of the orc cities. Lilas had told me that he often serves the Council as an envoy to the orc cities so he spends his time between here and whatever city he's sent to. He'll be staying here until the end of the war though, unless something truly urgent happens, something that has made Holcene very happy.

"You look lovely your Majesty." Maryam says joining the rest of us having finished the last-minute touch ups of the decorations.

"Thank you, so do you all." I reply smiling at them all, "And thank you all for your hard work in preparing the ball. I hope you enjoy the night."

"I'm sure we will your Majesty. I've already been promised at least two dances with my dear cousin but I'm sure I can convince him of a few more." Pyzitt grins over at Onvoar who puts on a long-suffering expression much to the amusement of the rest of us. Even though he's only been back a short time it's clear that he and Pyzitt are very close.

"Yes cousin. Although I will have to save a few for Mother." Onvoar looks to Holcene clearly seeking help but she just winks at him not giving anything away.

"As you should." She tells him, "Now I need a drink. By your leave your Majesty." With a nod she curtsies and walks over to the refreshment table soon followed by her son who gives a quick bow before rushing after her.

I stay talking with the rest of my ladies until other guests start arriving and among the first to arrive are the remainder of my ladies. Victoria, Erika and Tiana arrive together having shared a carriage and not long after them is Elssitryd with her dwarf Soulmate Lukgrat. The last of my ladies to arrive is Nimel together with her Soulmate Aubron who she rarely talks about with us and it's soon clear why as they approach us and we begin to hear their conversation. Or rather what he's saying to her.

"-made us late. Gods you should be able to get yourself ready on time." He whispers harshly at her before facing us with a pleasant smile on his face. Clearly he hasn't realised that we had been able to hear him scolding our dear friend as though she's a child.

"Your Majesty, may I present my Soulmate Lord Aubron." Nimel greets with a curtsy while next to her Aubron bows.

"Your Majesty an honour to meet you." He says a small smile on his face but what I notice instead is the strained smile on Nimel's face as she tries to appear happy.

"Lord Aubron a pleasure." I greet knowing the importance of being polite despite my personal feelings. Despite not telling us much about her Soulmate after our first meeting, where she admitted he treated her like a child because of their age difference, it's become easy to tell that Nimel is often sad. Especially when she sees or hears of other Soulmate pairings, ones filled with love rather than unreachable expectations.

Luckily he leaves us after that but not before giving Nimel a stern look as though she needs reminding to behave. As soon as he's gone I approach her taking hold of one of her hands trying to provide comfort.

"Is everything alright Nimel?" I ask hoping that she'll open up or at least tell us something. None of us can help if she doesn't tell us what's wrong or even if she doesn't want help then we can listen to her. It can't be good to keep this all to herself.

"Yes, your Majesty, everything is fine." She replies her smile still fake but she squeezes my hand so maybe she's drawing some comfort from the gesture.

"Well, does anyone know when the dancing will start?" Tiana blurts out changing the subject as we all begin discussing dancing instead. We're not talking for long before I feel a hand at my elbow and turning I find Lilas there.

"Almost everyone is here now. The Council want us to make the announcement now." He tells me and with a quick farewell to my ladies I go with him to stand with the Council. My ladies follow after us standing in a line to the side of me as the Council does the same on Lilas's side. Raising a hand Lilas gets the room to quiet down so that he can speak.

"Welcome everyone and thank you for being here. There have been many rumours surrounding the Council's announcement of the Queen's pregnancy but I can confirm that Queen Emilia is pregnant, an estimated two months at the moment. As such we are hosting this ball in celebration although I will ask that you don't bother the Queen about the baby, we would like to enjoy the ball as well." He finishes to loud cheers and shouted congratulations. As it quieted down the music started up and Lilas held out his hand to me. "Dance with me my love?"

"Always." I reply taking his hand and letting him lead me onto the dance floor. Despite not really liking to dance Lilas moves with through the steps with more grace than Bel and Kor combined. The dance is less lively than those I had with Kor and Bel at my last ball most likely because of the baby but it's no less fun dancing with one of my mates.

Once the dance ends Lilas and I are swarmed by well wishers giving personal congratulations about the baby. I can't see through the crowd there are that many people around us and I don't know how we'll get out of this before the end of the ball. At least until some familiar faces appear. Versum, Larek, Khidell and Volethe are standing in front of me and setting to work creating space between the crowd and me and Lilas.

"Care for a dance your Majesty?" Volethe asks holding out a hand which I gratefully take. Somehow I soon find myself out of the crowd and heading to the dance floor with Khidell not far behind us. I dance with the both of them at the same time as they share the song spinning me gently between each other. It's strange but I can't imagine them any other way than working so in sync together the way they are now. Out of my four guards they're definitely my favourites, not that I'd ever tell Versum and Larek that. While they're nice I just find myself getting along better with Volethe and Khidell.

Hours pass as I dance and talk with many different people. I even share a second dance with Lilas although most of my dances are with my guards or Council members. Whenever I need a rest between dances I sit down in the area that my ladies have taken over, a seat is always waiting for me there for whenever I need a rest. A drink or food are always close at hand as well.

I end up having a single awkward dance with Lord Aubron but it's quickly forgotten as Orvoar asks me to dance. But perhaps the highlight of the night is when Tiana and Dragon Councillor Kavarthon meet for the first time and discover their matching Stones. It's the first time I've seen a pairing happen myself and it's beautiful something so special happening right in front of me. At a celebration of my baby as well, almost like another blessing from the Gods.

"Ready to depart?" Lilas asks noticing me stifle yet another yawn. It's now a few hours past midnight so I suppose that it is time that we get some rest, while I can sleep for as long as I need to Lilas still needs to attend the Council meeting in the morning so I nod.

We say our goodbyes to those we need to who have yet to retire although with the ball coming to an end there aren't many people left. Versum, Larek, Khidell and Volethe are all still here although they're leaving with us to escort us back home safely. Getting back to the palace we go straight upstairs to bed, falling asleep quickly as exhaustion from the day takes over.