After Nina scurried out, Ari turned to Arell. "Is there a ball tonight?" she asked with a raised eyebrow.
Arell shrugged as Ronan closed the office door again. "I wasn't aware. I've been in political meetings for the past few hours and the noble women are usually the first to hear of these things." He sat back down with a sigh. "It's probably true, with two engagements to announce to the people now."
"It just seems a bit abrupt," Ari replied as she returned the book to its spot on the shelf.
"My father is not one to delay such things. Not good at waiting, that one."
Ari chuckled. "Our fathers have that in common. I suspect that's why our engagement was so sudden as well."
Arell smiled briefly before his face went stern. "I have to warn you that Nina is mild, comparatively, to most noble women in Otha. They can be truly malicious."
"Are you worried for me, Prince Arellan?" Ari smirked at him and lifted her chin. "I believe I can hold my own in Otha's royal court."
"Just remember that you don't have to hold your own. You're my fiancée, so I'm here for you if you need it." Arell's face gave no emotions away but her heart skipped a beat from just his words.
Ari cleared her throat. "Well, thank you. I should go prepare, then. Apparently I'm going to a ball tonight."
The corner of Arell's lips turned up slightly. "I'll see you later."
When Ari left the office, Ronan was lecturing Vida in the hallway. "You can't scare the nobility! They will be dealt with politically, not by the blade of your sword," Ronan was saying as Vida scoffed at him and rolled her eyes. Ari held in her laughter at Vida's form of protectiveness as they made their way back to the bedroom.
~*~~~*~
Persephone gently touched the forehead of the young woman kneeling in front of her with the tips of her fingers. Her memories came flooding in and the goddess instantly knew that this was to be her vessel. The woman's name was Nadina and she was a young witch that fervently studied plants. Her skin was a beautiful, light mahogany color and her hair was a mess of brown ringlets . When she opened her eyes, she had one chestnut colored eye and one that matched Persephone's greenish-yellow eyes.
"Hello, Nadina," Persephone greeted her vessel with an enchanting smile.
"You're… not Demeter are you?"
Persephone chuckled and shook her head, her wine-colored braid swaying with the movement.
"Oh. You're Persephone. I can feel it somehow. I don't know much about you, though, if I'm being quite honest." Nadina looked away from the goddess sheepishly.
Persephone pushed a curl back from Nadina's face. "You don't have to know all about me. We're connected now. I'll be a part of you, to help you fulfill what you wish to do."
Nadina returned her gaze, searching Persephone's eyes for any hint of untruth before she spoke again. "I've come to a country that's in need. But I don't know how to help it."
"I know, little one. It's time to be confident in yourself. We can do anything now that we're together."
~*~~~*~
Ari could hear the music coming from the closed double doors at the end of the hall. Arell stood waiting for her there in formal Othan clothing. It was very different than what Atranian nobles wore; He had a black vest and long jacket, both trimmed with gold embroidery. From one shoulder hung a short, decorative cape in white and gold with black trimming. He looked incredibly tall and dashing.
Ari was dressed in a white and gold gown with two layers: a white layer that was form-fitting to her knees, then flowed outward and a top layer of sheer gold that cascaded in waves from the front down to the side. The white and gold patterned sleeves ended in a point at the tips of her fingers. She wore a golden chain circlet in her hair that was pinned half-up with small braids woven throughout.
Arell held his arm out for her to loop hers through. "They just announced Marcus and Tatiana's engagement. It'll be our turn in a couple minutes," he informed her. "And you look stunning." Ari bit her lip and he noticed it out of the corner of his eye. "Are you nervous about the announcement?"
She looked over at him. "Not about the announcement, no. But meeting Othan nobility? Slightly terrifying."
Arell blinked, then let out a short laugh at her answer. "You'll meet a lot of people but I doubt you'll really have time to remember them. And we don't have to stay all night. This is really just a formality to get the word out about our marriage and for everyone to see your face. There's no pressure at all and I'll be with you the whole time."
Ari's teal eyes sparkled with thanks and she gave him a small smile. Then, the doors in front of them opened and the music stopped. A man beside the doorway yelled, "Announcing Prince Arellan of Otha and his future bride, Princess Arinja of Atrana!"
Arell led Ari down the left side of the imperial staircase to the half-landing above the large ballroom. There were around two hundred people in the room clapping politely, though most of the women had bitter looks on their faces. Ari noticed that this room was decorated extravagantly, compared to most of the castle. The carpet was a lovely maroon color and actually had a pattern on it. Chandeliers adorned the ceiling, with the largest one hanging just above where Ari and Arell stood. There were floor-to-ceiling windows along the length of the room that let in sparkling moonlight and were embellished with maroon and gold curtains.
After the clapping subsided, the couple proceeded down the rest of the stairs and King Titus was announced into the room. His face was stern as his deep voice boomed out, "Thank you for joining us in celebration tonight. The return of my second son brings wonderful news for Otha. I'd like to give my congratulations to both of the new couples as we commemorate these joyous occasions." Another round of clapping ensued and the music started up again.
"Here we go," Arell mumbled to Ari as a group of nobles enthusiastically walked up to him, quickly shaking his hand.
After a few hours of fake smiles and speedy introductions, Ari overheard a group of flashy noblewomen gossiping close by. "That foreign woman next to the king?" one asked in a low voice. "Yes, I heard she's a mage they hired," another whispered. "A female mage? How strange!"
Ari followed their scrutinizing stares to the woman who was standing silently next to the king. She stood out in the room, with her dark skin tone and tousled curls that fell over one eye and halfway down her back. Not only that but instead of an evening gown like all of the other women in the ballroom wore, she had on flowing slacks and a lovely jacket that was lengthened in the back, almost resembling a shorter dress.
Arell followed Ari's gaze inquisitively. "Would you like to meet her?"