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Chapter 7 - The Midnight Ball

"This is too much," Asteria said as she gazed at the swath of lavender fabric.

"It's simpler than others." Thena reminded Asteria. who'd been washed and primped, her hair braided and pinned in a regal twist with silver chains adorned within the style. "His royal majesty never does this. It should be your honor to be dressed by the King." Thena said.

Asteria frowned. "Then why did you dismiss the maid?" she asked, her eyes wide.

"Because I knew you'd make a fuss," Thena said with a smile. "Come on."

The dress, lavender silk inlaid with a darker shade of lace on top, was a dress fit for a royal. It had been years since Asteria had worn something so fancy, so princess-like. She avoided looking in the mirror as Thena laced her into the gown, instead looking again at yards of black silk that Thena wore. Her blonde hair in an elegant knot, two strands of hair framing her face.

"I'm going to stand out," Asteria said.

"That's basically the point of the Midnight Ball," Thena said with a smile. "I think you're ready," she said admiring the dress.

Together they walked out of the room and into the more elaborate hallways, going in an opposite direction than where Asteria usually went.

Asteria had found herself enjoying the castle even if she stayed around the same places being careful of walking in places that she had no need of venturing towards. She'd been surprised when Aderas had invited her to a ball, of all places. She'd been pleased of course, even when she'd been embarrassed by the beauty and extravagance of the ballgown he had sent to her room.

"Well don't you look elegant," Dion said from the bottom of the stairs. She watched as he glanced at Thena with distaste. "You are passable as well."

"Charming as usual, general," she said walking into the ballroom, leaving Asteria and Dion behind.

"That's wasn't very pleasant of you. Do you treat all the ladies this way?" Asteria questioned, her thoughts going to when they had first met, and how annoyed he had been before he'd started helping her with the Library.

Dion put his arm out, and she took it walking into the elaborately decorated ballroom that had ceiling to floor windows that showed the beauty of the night sky that shone with silver stars, the full moon shining brightly.

"I am not always a pleasant person as you well know," Dion said. "Thena and I have had a history of being on the opposite side of arguments when it comes to the King.

"Why would that be?" Asteria asked as she looked around. The ballroom was as beautiful as the decadent courtiers all dressed in finery, in velvet colors of the night, and bright silvery colors that she supposed resembled the stars in the sky.

"We have different views, it's not that surprising with the kinds of issues that come across a Kingdom, Thena deals with the more political aspects, and the standpoints of the courtiers, while I have more experience in dealing with the more dangerous aspects of the kingdom like it's security and welfare," Dion said.

"Like dealing with thieves?" Asteria smirked.

Dion scoffed, as he led her to the dance floor putting his arm down and leading her into the first couple steps of the intricate ballroom dance. "Never going to let me forget that are you?" he said bowing with a smirk of his own on his face.

Asteria put her hands up as Dion did walking in the stately way that the dance expected, their hand's inches from touching each other. "You can't really blame me for reminding you," she said warmly.

"It isn't as if I haven't forgiven you." she pointed out. He down at her his eyes warm. "You've forgiven me?" He asked his voice quiet.

"Of course I have," she said. "Otherwise why would I spend so much time allowing you to help me in the library?" she said simply.

"Perhaps as a form of punishment?" He asked.

"That's true," she said with a laugh. "I do give you the harsher tasks after all." she mused.

"That is what I should be doing anyway, I can't very well have you climbing up and down the ladder. What if you fell on my watch?" Dion pointed out.

"I don't think it would matter much if I fell," she said somberly.

"I can think of one person who would care," Dion said looking upwards, Asteria glanced where he was watching and felt her heart stutter in her chest.

Aderas stood on a raised podium looking down at the guests his eyes searching. His eyes met hers in the distance, and she felt a flush come on her cheeks slightly. She had always noticed how very handsome he was, but there was something about him now that made him look even more aristocratic. The ivory clothes he wore clung to his muscled frame, and his dark hair and eyes stood out in the color he wore. He gazed down at her and she suddenly felt as bare as if she wore nothing at all.

She looked back at Dion who gave her a look. "What is it with the two of you?" he asked curiously.

"I don't think I know what you mean," she murmured. Dion rolled his eyes slightly grabbing her hand and twirling her slightly letting her go, and she found herself in the arms of Aderas, who spun her out and then danced swayed with her a bit too close than was necessary for the dance.

"I knew you'd look good in that dress," Aderas murmured. Asteria smiled pleased despite her misgivings of the dress to begin with.

"It's more extravagant than I'm used to." she murmured back. She could feel the burn of many courtiers staring at her in Aderas arms. Thankfully the music had changed into a stately waltz no doubt because the King was now on the floor.

"So this is what a ball is like?" She whispered with a raised eyebrow.

Aderas smirked down at her. "Theres dancing, and there's food." he said making a gesture to the tables laden with food that Asteria had refused to look at. She knew that there had been a great many people who suffered with hunger. Her family had nearly been one of them. But she also knew that was the way of the world. She wasn't entirely sure she liked being part of Aderas world, withall the eyes watching his every move.

"But the Midnight Ball also had something quite different in store." Aderas said with a smile, pulling her to follow him. She looked at him questionably as they both turned the corner and found themselves in a hallway lined top and bottom with the silvery flowers that Asteria had so admired in the gated garden. She glanced at Aderas with a smile as she looked on, the buds seeming to tremble as the light of the moon shone brighter as the night turned to the morning of the next day.

As the moon hit the plants Asteria watched in wonder as the silver buds opened up to reveal beautiful red silver petals that shone sparkling pollen flying out in the air as they opened. Asteria looked at the beauty of the plants in wonder as the whole room was filled with a sparkling light she'd never seen before.

As she turned she saw the courtiers walking in admiring the flowers as well as spreading their faces and letting the sparkles coat their hair and faces making them even more decadent. Asteria put her hand out in front of her nad saw how beautiful the pollen was that coated her arms in a sheen of gold. She looked up at Aderas and saw that he was already looking down at her with a look she had seen on his face once before. She stiffened and moved away from him walking into the garden and disappearing from the watchful gazes of the people she knew still watched his every move.

For who was she to dare fall for a King?