For hours she sat with the maids while they turned her into a living doll. Her mood had not improved and instead gradually grew worse as she watched the time tick down to when people would start to arrive.
Her dress was something she would imagine girls wearing to prom, once again something she had never bothered doing, was long and red. There were roses that looked as if they grew up from the bottom, their thorns black and beautiful. She couldn't help but do a little twirl in front of a mirror causing the skirt to swish around her legs.

She had not seen the dress before today but she assumed it was bought specifically for this occasion. Everyone knew her infatuation with the color red, so it would not be so far a stretch to assume that would be the color she would wear tonight. Her mother had long since given up on trying to force her into any outfit she did not wish to wear.
Sophia had returned to her side a couple of hours before the party was to begin and found herself on the receiving end of Morgiannas glare.
"You knew." Those two words were not a question, simply a statement.
At that moment Sophia would have been happy for anything to get her out of that room. "Well you see... I knew you would be displeased and I just wanted you to be happy if only for a little longer for your birthday..." Her head was tilted to the floor so she did not see the softening of Morgiannas eyes.
....
As she was already ready and there was still an hour until the party Morgianna decided to slip out into the forest for old times sake. It seemed to be a habit of hers to escape the castle walls a few hours before any gathering. There was just something about the freedom of the moment that helped her tolerate the suffocating atmosphere that would follow it.
She knew Fafnir was getting wise to her sneaking out of the secret passage so she decided on the next best thing, flying. She was really good at it now, her air being the easiest of her attributes to control she could probably stop walking completely and just levitate herself everywhere she wanted to go. Except that would draw too much attention and she did not need that.
Watching the ground from her window she saw that Fafnir had indeed up the guards, specifically in the location of the passage. She smirked watching how they all would take glances in the direction she normally would have traveled.
When the coast was as clear as it was going to get she launched out her window and shot across the sky. She had slipped out of her dress and stashed it in her storage for easy access and pulled on black tights and a grey tunic. Red may be her color, but she knew a red dress fluttering across the sky would be a dead giveaway and quite easily spotted.
Not hearing any shouts of alarm she smiled and decided to land just outside of the wall. The walk was part of the process of relaxing herself and she knew tonight more than many of the others would be a taxing experience.
She headed towards the spot she had practically claimed in all her trips out, a spot where she hoped to see a black wolf. As she was nearing the location she felt the presence of another, it felt similar and different at the same time but she could not out her finger on it.
Stepping from behind one of the larger trees she was met with a dilemma. There right next to the river, sitting in the same place she had sat last time she was here was Prince Kieran. She would have tried to sneak away if not for the fact he was gaping at her with open-mouthed shock.
"Hi." One word seemed to be all he could muster as he too seemed to want to run.
Blanking her face Morgianna curtsied. "I greet Your Highness, Prince Caspian. I was not aware that someone would be here, but as you arrived first I will take my leave."
She was ready to flee but was stopped once again by one word. "Wait!" He practically screamed it at her as he scrambled to his feet.
Both were now standing a couple of meters between them. She could see that he was uncomfortable, but could not figure out why he would want her to stay when clearly she was the reason why.
"Your Highness, it is almost time for the party. I will leave first."
This time she made it almost back to the trees before he spoke again. "Be careful, there are dangers that lurk in these woods."
He had meant it to mean his father's men who were "given" as guards to protect him tonight. Unknown to him in Morgianna's mind she could not help but agree, believing the danger was him.
Instead of feeling relaxed she felt even more on edge. The party had not even started and a capture target had already arrived.
Once she had arrived back in her room she rushed to put her dress back on, knowing that any minute a brigade of maids would arrive to make sure she was still presentable. After all her mother would hate it if Morgianna "messed" up her chances to snag one of the Princes.
Nobody but her guards could or would ever know why she tried to distance herself. It was safer that way for everyone. If her parents knew they would refuse the offers of her hand in marriage, and probably start some disagreements between the Kingdoms. If the other guards and maids knew they would act weird around them and probably by showing disrespect also cause problems with the other countries. That is to say that any of them actually believed her. She had long decided to walk this path alone, and to have Fafnir and the others by her side was more than she ever could have hoped for.
As if on cue, the moment her dress looked as presentable as she could get it by herself, the door was thrown open. Not even a knock before at least 10 women filed into her room to once again begin making her the best she could be. Many were disgruntled at the fact that the dress seemed to be creased in some places while others fussed over the lace in the back not being as tight as she remembered tying it.
Overall of their heads she caught Sophia's eyes and was surprised at the small smile playing on her face. Sophia reached up and touched her own hair as if trying to tell Morgianna something an then looked away so that she could buy herself with the papers that were in her hand.
As if self consciously Morgianna reached up and was surprised when her hand met something small and soft that did not match the other hard pins that adorned her hair. Puling the item from her hair she was surprised to see a small red leaf, the size, and color making it almost blend into its surroundings.
Once again Morgianna was impressed with how perceptive her head maid was. She held the leaf in her closed hand thinking of her trip to the forest, he would be there again tonight and she may even have to speak to him again. She crushed the leaf, breaking it into even smaller pieces and let them rain down on the floor. Plastering a smile on her face she pretended that all was well in the world, deciding that no matter what happened tonight she would not let it ruin her night.
.....
It was time.
There she stood in front of the door leading to her Birthday party but felt frozen knowing who was or will be on the other side. The guard that stood at the door was giving her a weird look but did not rush her to enter as if he too felt the weight that was on her shoulders just by looking at her eyes.
Taking a deep breath she pulled a smile on her face that screamed 'I'm not ready for this, but let us get this over with." She nodded to the guard and he promptly opened the door.
Inside was lively. Music played and people sat or stood in various groups around the room in conversation. Morgianna could see her family already on a platform, waiting for her arrival. She had arrived later than she would have if the maids had not had to "fix" her.
As the door opened a young boy stood erect ready to announce the arrival of guests as they arrived. Upon seeing her he cleared his throat. "Now entering, Morgianna Bloodmoon of the Bloodmoon Dukedom."
All eyes turned to her. Some watched in awe at how beautiful she was, and some watched with curiosity having never seen her before, or not seen her since her debut years prior. It is true that she traveled quite often, but never as herself, and when she was home she avoided most social events fearing the capture targets or worse Angeline would be there.
She walked down the few steps in front of her, her head held high as if the hundreds of eyes that currently bored into her every move did not affect her in the slightest. As she neared the platform that seated her family she noticed a person standing in front of her father and felt her steps momentarily falter. Quickly recovering she continued walking, taking the two steps that allowed her to stand upon the platform. The guest turned to look at her and smiled.
Normally guests would not step upon the platform but this was a special case, Prince Alistar turned back to her father and resumed his conversation but Morgianna was not blind to the looks that he occasionally through her way.
She impatiently waited for him to finish his conversation and descend the steps before she turned to everyone in attendance who still watched her in rapt attention. "Thank you all for attending my 12th Birthday celebration. It would please me greatly if you all had plenty of food, drink, and lively conversation to help me celebrate. That would be the best gift I could ever receive." She smiled one of her megawatt smiles and batted her large eyes at the crowd.
With her hearing she heard the praises sung her way for her manners and adorable appearance. There were however a few voices that stuck out to her. As if all the other conversations in the room were muted she found herself listening in on what would have been a hilarious conversation if not for the fact that is was about her.
"My queen sure knows how to rope a crowd in." She knew it was Alistar just from the way he spoke. He sounded oddly proud as if she belonged to him.
"You have not won her heart, Demon. She could be mine in the future and be your nothing." The voice responding however surprised her, it was Gabriel, her brother's friend. Sure he teased her when he was around but she could not imagine him ever just telling someone the words that she had clearly heard him spoke.
"I am hotter than all of you combined, I just gotta get close to her and she would forget all of you even existed." That cocky attitude was Thadeous, she had already grown accustomed to his way of speaking just after their past couple of interactions. Sure she had been dressed in her Mercenary outfit, but he was still the same.
She had turned in her seat slightly so that she could get a better look at the group of Princes as they gossiped like married ladies at a tea party, but saw a new figure walking towards them. His blue hair perfectly styled and a cocky grin on his face. "I hate to break it to you boys, but I think I am farther ahead than all of you in this race to win her heart. After all, she spent her last birthday in my Kingdom and we got quite close during that time.
She wanted to deny everything right then and there, but that would be admitting that she was listening to their conversation even though she should have been too far away. She felt a headache starting to form just listening to the crap that the princes were saying. She did not belong to them and she never would.
A cough sounded from right in front of her and Morgianna found her head snapping up. Her eyes met blue eyes that seemed so familiar to her but were set in a face that she had dreaded seeing. "May I have this dance?" Kieran had red cheeks as he offered her his hand. She had not even realized that people had begun dancing, having been caught up in her eavesdropping.
She looked at her mother and father hoping to be saved but only received their nods of approval. She sighed in her heart knowing they would never save her from something they wanted.
She placed her small white hand in his and allowed him to pull her up, like Alistar him being a Prince had allowed him to be on the platform as the only station above his was a King. He held her hand gently as if in fear of breaking her, his cheeks, neck, and ears all staying that lovely shade of pink.
He did not speak, leading them to an empty space on the floor. Moving their bodies into position, they easily fell into step with all those around them. Morgianna's long red dress swaying as he spun her around. The song was not a particularly short song, but still it felt that within moments it was coming to an end. Just as the last notes were playing he seemed to come out of his silence his mouth opening to speak.
"May I have the next dance?" A voice not belonging to him cut in from the right and Morgianna turned to see Prince Alaric. Even though he was not one of the capture targets she was still wary of him, later he would have the power to take her head, and in the game he had.
Kieran looked like he wanted to oppose but the next song came on and Alaric swiftly swooped in to whisk her away.