Ariadne wearily entered the ball that night. It was the fourth night in a row, and so far no one had passed out, or even fell off a chair. To Ariadne, that was dull, she had at least expected to see some sort of entertainment at court, maybe a jester; but no such luck.
Tonight, Ariadne was garbed in a wonderful full length black gown. The bodice dipped low at the chest, before tapering to points at her shoulders that were held up by thin straps, while it fell into a point at the waist. The skirt was plain and flared over her hips as it touched the ground in soft folds. Her dress would have been unremarkable if it didn't have lace along the seams of the bodice or the row of black feathers stitched at the hips.
A matching feather collar swept over both her shoulders and fanned out behind her neck. Delicate onyx jewellery adorned her neck in a fragile beaded choker and drop earrings.
Her dress was her armour, and she ran her hands across the black pearls that were nestled against the lace. Ariadne forced a small smile to light up her face. It turned genuine when once again, Lord Orin stepped forward to ask her to dance.
Lord Orin wore a navy blue brocade suit, it was ornate and boasted a silver metallic pattern all along his slim cut waistcoat. His shirt was made of cotton and at his throat sat a neatly arranged cravat held together by an obsidian crystal pin. His hair was loose about his shoulders, and he bent over Ariadne's hand as he placed a kiss across her knuckles.
"It's wonderful to see you again. I was beginning to think you had forgotten me," he smiled charmingly.
Ariadne took his elbow and stepped forward with him. She looked up at him through her thick eyelashes and she took a deep breath.
"I'm sorry, Kallen's been making sure I've been preoccupied... But tonight, only you have my full attention, no one else."
Lord Orin smiled and guided her onto the dance floor. The Fae around them parted and let them through.
"Ah. I see. You two are M'anam, then?" Orin's face fell slightly.
Ariadne lightly gripped his hand, while her other was placed on his shoulder. His free hand hung at his side, lost. Ariadne's hand briefly left its perch at his shoulder to guide his hand to her waist. Once it was sat there gently, her hand crept back to his shoulder.
Ariadne looked at the underside of his chin, as his gaze was elsewhere. Ariadne gently lead Orin into a turn and saw why. Kallen was dancing with Elena again, but his eyes followed Ariadne's every move. Ariadne gently nudged Orin's thigh.
"Look at me," Ariadne said softly.
Orin gazed down at her quickly, before his eyes snapped back to watching Kallen. Ariadne paused, and Orin stumbled as they jolted to a stop. Ariadne lightly smacked his chest as her breath caught in her throat. Orin looked at her fully for a fraction of a second before his gaze was back to Kallen. Ariadne pushed against Orin's chest and slipped out of his loose embrace.
"You're ruining everything! Both of you," her voice broke.
"Is everything alright here?" Iyrena's voice came from beside her and was laced with worry.
Ariadne turned and pushed past her step sister's shoulder. Iyrena held her shoulders for a moment and looked into Ariadne's eyes.
"No, everything is not alright," Ariadne shook out of Iyrena's grip and ran from the room.
Everyone around had stopped dancing, they had seen everything, and heard everything. Ariadne lifted her skirt and broke into a light run towards the open doors that lead to the balcony. She angrily swiped at the tears spilling down her cheeks. For some reason Orin's ignorance hurt her more than Kallen's blatant games.
Ariadne stepped out onto the balcony and forced herself to take a deep breath, she hadn't meant to cause a scene but she had to get away. This constant dance between Kallen and Orin was tearing her heart and mind in apart.
Ariadne understand Orin's quiet pain from Kallen's betrayal, but she also understood that Kallen had a duty to his kingdom. A duty that meant he would do whatever it took to protect his kingdom and those in it. Even if it meant betraying a childhood friend. Ariadne understood it more than Kallen had probably realised.
On the other hand, she also saw the pain that Orin was in, and Ariadne could see the strain in his eyes. Maybe others could not, but it was there all the same when you looked. There was a tension taking its toll on Orin's and Kallen's relationship. Something was bound to break, but when.
Quiet footsteps sounded behind her, and Ariadne turned, her back against the cold wall of the balcony.
"Oh. It's you," she sighed.
Kallen stepped forward, his tall figure blocking out the light from the ball room behind him. Ariadne hoped it had hid her brief look of disappointment. She knew better than to tempt fate, but still she hoped.
"Hoping I was him?" Kallen asked perceptively.
Ariadne saw no reason to lie.
"Yes, but not for the reasons you think," Ariadne brushed her hands down the skirt of her dress.
"Oh. Do explain, I cannot wait to hear your reasons," he mocked.
Ariadne stood up straight, her temper roiled beneath her skin, ready to tear him to shreds.
"You expect me to choose, but I can't." Ariadne scanned Kallen's face.
His eyes swept over her, and Kallen took a step forward, drawing closer to Ariadne's chest. Ariadne shook her head and placed her hands on Kallen's chest.
"Don't, please," Ariadne shook her head again.
Kallen paused, the air between them crackling viciously. Their eyes met each others and Ariadne quickly looked away. Pain flashed in Kallen's dark eyes and the stars winked out of them. Only twin abyss' stared back at her. Ariadne side stepped Kallen.
Kallen's hand shot out and brushed the top of her bare arm. His touch seared her skin and her reaction was intense. Her stomach curled in on itself, twisting and the blood coursing through her veins turned to fire. Ariadne's eyes shot to Kallen's. Shadow fire danced there, and Ariadne feared she would burn, so she looked away.
"Do not lie to yourself or me and tell me you do not feel it too," Kallen's voice was quiet and pained.
Ariadne shook her head again.
"Don't make me choose. Please?" Ariadne pleaded with him.
"M'anam is not a choice." Kallen explained.
His hand hung in the air between them, and Ariadne gently pushed it away, it swung limply at his side.
"Everyone has a choice Kallen, you just have to have the strength to choose," Ariadne swallowed and stepped towards the doors.
Kallen stepped aside.
Ariadne looked over her shoulder one last time.
"I can't choose, not yet. Give me the one thing you have plenty of, give me time," she asked.
Kallen nodded once, silently.
Ariadne turned and picked up her skirts.
"Why him?"
Ariadne stopped dead in her tracks. More tears slipped unwanted down her cheeks. Her makeup was ruined, Kendra would be upset about that. Ariadne quietly brushed the tears away, as her skirt slipped out of her hands.
"Because if I had not met you... If you were not M'anam... He would have chosen me."
"That is all?"
"It's more complicated than that. I won't explain myself to you," Ariadne sobbed.
"Ari, I cannot understand this if you do not tell me. I cannot understand you."
"What is there to understand," Ariadne said plaintively.
"Ari, please. Let me try," Kallen begged.
"When I came here, I had spent my whole life living in a world without magic, without troubles. Lord Orin was the first person to greet me without prejudice."
Kallen opened his mouth to speak.
"Let me finish. I will say this only once. Since I've met you, my life has changed, and I am trapped in a foreign world, without any family to help me," Ariadne's voice broke again.
Her throat bobbed and she wiped her cheeks.
Kallen leaned against the wall casually, his arms crossed.
"You can't begin to understand what it's like to have your world ripped out from beneath you. To find yourself trapped in a hostile place." Ariadne spat the words at Kallen.
"If you knew what I went through to become King, you would not speak those words so harshly," Kallen murmured.
"What would you know of hardship. You're a king born in a world where everything is a snap of your fingers away! What would you know!" Ariadne growled.
"I know what it's like to kill a man!" Kallen blurted.
Ariadne began to shake. She shook her head furiously back and forth.
"No."
"No."
"Yes."
"No!" Ariadne turned, picked up her skirts and ran.
Kallen's voice filled her head. Pressure built behind her eyes, and Ariadne gripped both sides of her head as she ran forward. Her skirt tangled between her feet and she fell. Ariadne broke her fall with her hands and sharp pain lanced up her forearms.
The Fae around her stared, some in distaste, some in anger, but most had smiles of wicked amusement plastered on their feral lips. Ariadne pushed herself to her feet and stumbled through the crowds, pushing Fae out of her way.
His words echoed in her head, and Ariadne couldn't run away fast enough.
I too killed my family. I killed my father.
In order to be king.
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