Gnomes

Alina stood and for the first time my group saw the extravagance of her ball gown. Lavender thread intertwined with silver lace threaded through a bodice and slowly grew into deeper and deeper hues of purple as it belled out to the floor into a sliver lined train that graced the floor behind her.

She looked royal, but the silver flames that danced in her crown confirmed the declaration like the period on an exclamation point. She took a deep breath and steadied herself by pushing back her shoulders to her full height. The only thing that seemed out of place was her worried eyes and her thin line of a mouth.

I can not recall a time where Alina seemed out of her element. Nervous, yes. Worried, of course. Maybe even anxious. Yet this was the first time she let it show externally that she felt she might not belong. I have every confidence that she is where she needs to be.

"Good evening, Your Highness. Should I lead our group to the council chamber?" Uncle tried to steady the Princess in the best way he knew, by taking control.

"Lead on, good sir." This was just what was needed. Princess Alina smiled welcomingly as if she were about to enter the ballroom as opposed to a meeting.

We all bowed in the direction of the queen before heading into the hallway. I took one final look over my shoulder to see a look of pride on Queen Valerie's face. Alina was growing up.

My uncle seemed very familiar with the castle. How often had he been back in the Royal wing? Maybe if I get far enough in my training, I can request a tour. My uncle stopped short at another massive doorway. He opened the door and let my little group pass with Alina leading the way.

We entered a room. I saw a long table with golden flames lifting the main table top from the floor. The main light fixture hanging above the table was an array of golden wings. The king sat himself at the head of the table. The four swordsmen seated to his left, all stood as the crown princess entered the room.

"Good evening, Darling. Please sit here." King Caderyn motioned to the chair next to him. As the princess made her way to her chair, John followed with the three of us dawdling behind. "I'm sorry we will not have enough seats for all of your advisors as well as our gnome visitors. "

Alina took charge and stepped forward. The rest of us, concerned about decorum, froze where we were. I guess we all would have to stand.

Uncle John pulled out the chair for Alina and elbowed me in the process. I was slow to take the hint. My uncle eyed the chair next to Alina's, then eyed me, shortly followed by Calista.

I hurriedly pulled out the chair next to Alina's. Calista being more perceptive than myself did not need the elbow prodding to know her job. She sat regally, but in contrast to the smile I saw Alina flash to Cali, Cali's face remained an unreadable blank slate. Cali's shoulders squared to the table and she forced a thin smile. It was not believable as an expression of ease.

Carrion and I stood next behind the girls and next to Uncle John, trying to remain close enough for protection, but invisible enough to not interrupt this meeting. Was that proper? Should we be closer to the back wall? How do we provide guidance or protection from this angle?

Looking over at Carrion, he did not seem to know the answer either. He shifted his weight from side to side. I seemed to catch his attention and my gaze was met with a stern expression. Guess he had no idea either.

"Sir John, would you please join the table? We would hate to leave the girls unattended." King Caderyn motioned toward the seat next to Cali. The tone in the King's voice seemed different than the one I heard him use with his daughter. It was also not the tone I had heard in so many royal speeches. It seemed slightly haughty. I think the king assumed that such a command should not have to be stated.

We did not want two young noblewomen next to a foreign delegation. It seemed improper.

"Certainly, my Liege" John took his seat almost reluctantly next to the girls. I think he wanted a better view of the room than his seat provided.

This somehow made me feel more comfortable about my proximity to the table. Surely we should be close to our crown Princess. If Carrion and I were in the wrong place, surely the King would correct us too.

The king motioned away an attendant who was standing near the door we had just come through. I had not even noticed the young man. Shortly after his departure, he came back with the delegation of gnomes.

My heart stopped for a moment at the splendor of these people. The delegation seemed to be all male. It was a patriarchal society so that made sense to me. But then why invite Alina?

Some wore robes that dragged the floor and others were closer to the style of breeches common in Ensis, but all were hues of orange. Some tended toward scarlet; some were more peach, while others yet were almost yellow. One gentleman had on a tunic that was almost a canary yellow.

Together they moved as one unit, completely in step. A fire personified. The flow of the robes mixed with the spark of color could only remind me of a roaring flame.

Somehow their appearance, which should have been unsettling, felt warm and inviting. I wonder if that was part of their magic too.

I was trying to focus on the tone of their skin to see if my books had been correct, when my gaze landed on a familiar face. Alina's professor was a gnome!