Authors: Maya Shepherd
Heera bowed as any previously before the royal family, but she would not Heera have been if she had not taken out a peculiarity. She cleared her throat loudly, instead of rising to the podium. Lean felt his mother tensed beside him. You already expected the worst.
"Would you tell us something Heera?" Asked King Egeas strictly.
"I want to introduce you to someone," grinned cheekily at him Heera. She sought eye contact with Lean. "You may think you already had the most beautiful girls of Chóraleio seen, but one has escaped you. It is not only the most beautiful but also the wisest of all. I am proud that she's my little sister. "She turned to the little girl who was shy with her parents and waved it to be. The child tore frightened eyes and shook his head frantically. Heera started laughing, went through the crowd and took her little sister by the hand. This followed her with a red face. When she arrived in front of the throne, she bowed humbly at once.
"Prince Lean, may I introduce you to my sister Elena?"
Lean smiled broadly and walked toward Heera and Elena. "You're wrong, Heera, we already know each other." He knelt down and blew a kiss to the hand of the little girl. "It is my great friends to see you again, dear Elena."
They immediately began to giggle and a hinge torn Oh went through the crowd. Even Queen Niobe could Heera forgive their rebelliousness. Elena was sweetly and would be to excel in a few years certainly of beauty hardly.
"I'm sorry to disappoint you, but you cannot marry her," Heera joked about Lean, who began to laugh like all guests. This was one of the many qualities he like about Heera. She did not care for labels. She loosened the whole event on by their natural, unguarded charm. But befitted this behavior for a future queen?
"? Elena, you might want to sit with me to see the other girls," Lean asked politely, adding: ". It would be a great pleasure"
Elena was beaming from ear to ear, but said, "I can watch them like me, but better than my sisters do not you think."
Again all started laughing and Lean realized that he had been mistaken. In Elena put more of Heera than it did seem at first glance. He took her by the hand and let it take place next to the throne, while Heera took her place on the podium. Lean looked like Medea smiled at her older sister. He knew that the b oaths not well understood lately what was probably his fault, the more it pleased him that she now held talks again. He still did not know if he had to leave that day by one of them.
Again playing the trumpets.
"Erina, fourteen, seventh elect."
It was striking that in her neither father nor mother were named. They probably were not known and also passed for a long time, but the speculation died once Erina entered the room in a bright red dress. You shone like a torch in the dark. The dress and the hair accented her pale and flawless skin. Her eyes shone brighter than any diamond. She had the appearance of a petite elf and seemed not to be of this world. She walked with her head held across the carpet and bowed to the royal family. A quick, shy smile she sent in Lean's direction before she entered the podium. Now only missing one. The trumpets announced the arrival of the last candidate.
"Xenia, sixteen, eldest daughter of the miller Balon, twelfth elect."
They entered the hall in a bright yellow dress that went directly to the attention of all guests. Her dark skin was accentuated by the bright fabric and her eyes shone like stars in the sky. Your hair was artfully ambitious and around her slender neck was a glittering necklace. Her whole family was invited to the ceremony and applauded her enthusiastically. It consisted of father, mother and nine children. The younger siblings were no longer tenable and stormed to her sister as playing puppies. It had been several weeks since they had last seen each other. Xenia admonished her siblings to restrain himself. She was the indignant behavior embarrassing and some of the guests were already beginning to whisper. When she bowed to the royal family, it did their identical siblings what everyone laugh. Only Xenia pressed his lips together and grew angry with a forced smile on the podium.
Guests now welcomed all the girls together with a big applause. Lean clapped loudest of all. There were five wonderful young women and none of them deserved it, that he decided against it. Among the five chosen ones, now they came near the six already eliminated candidates: Phoebe, Acelya, Celestia, Jone, Lenya and Selena. About Agnes was silent.
The musicians played the melody of the opening dance and it would have been on Lean to ask one of the girls as a first dance. But he could not decide and he proved this honor his mother, who accepted his election with a smile, but a reproachful look.
Heera crept along with Elena at the buffet. This time the crowd was significantly larger, since not only the nobles, but also the families of the chosen girls were present. These talking even posh back, but at least the food was not so lonely and deserted as the first time. Especially the children could not get enough. Whether soups, salads, pies, roasts, side dishes or desserts, everything was delicious. Elena pushed just a little tart between his teeth and closed his eyes appreciatively. "Taking a vacation," she made and Heera was pleased with their enthusiasm. Of this she had dreamed since the first day at the castle. At last she could at least give a carefree evening her family. All could be tired Sen and her mother would for years to rave from the village of the festival with their girlfriends. But even if Heera v iel laughed and apparently did not worry, it was routed internally. She had chosen the prince and now it was up to him whether he wanted to have them continue in its proximity. They were reluctant to control from, especially not if they themselves did not know what kind of output you should wish for the evening. Lean was important to her: Wichter than any boy before. But they had no future together. Lean had not even left brothers, whom he had the throne. That being said, that he had never been willing to do any more than they would be willing to assume the throne. All his life he grew up with the knowledge that one day he would be king. The people loved him and she had to admit that he would be a very good ruler. What they should wish so? That he decided against it because it would be the most sensible thing he could do or that he continues chose, although they did not know both what should ever become of them?
For a moment, let his eyes wander Heera across the dance floor. Lean had danced only with his mother, then with Daphne, then with Medea, Erina and Xenia, while she hid himself behind the buffet. But now she had lost sight of him. The music played on and other guests were swinging on the dance floor. Suddenly someone tapped her on the shoulder and Heera startled when she saw the prince himself standing next to him. She had not expected him.
He grinned mischievously and she already knew what would follow. He held out his hand invitingly.
"? I know I lost the bet against you and owe you one wish, but would you give me a dance anyway" When he noticed their defensive attitude, he quickly added, "It's just a dance!"
"I could use my desire that I do not have to dance with you," Heera replied cheekily.
"That you could," Lean agreed. "But it would be a very stupid desire!"
He held out his hand and still Heera felt that they were being watched. Previously it would have been not care what others thought of her when she missed the prince a basket. That was still, but he was no longer her care.
"I'm going to step on their feet," Heera warned him, but he just laughed. "You will not. Trust me! "
Once she put her hand in his, she felt a gentle gust of wind slipped under her dress. Her feet followed Lean on the dance floor, without that it would have commanded them. Footed she began to weigh in time. But these movements were not her. Someone most unrtealistic turned her body. Not "be frightened: insecure, she looked around, whispered in his ear as Lean her! Amphion only going to make a good impression helps you. If you want him to stop, you just have to raise your hand. "
They turned in a circle and at this moment caught Heera a look at the young wizard. He murmured softly to himself and winked at her there. She smiled at him gratefully. So she needed at least not to worry that it would hurt the prince or tripped over her own feet. Almost they began something like pleasure to find dancing.
Lean she moved close to him. "Oh Heera, what should I do?"
Surprised, she looked at him. Expected he really a piece of advice from her? "That's your decision."
"And if I decide against you?"
"Then so be it." The neck laced to her and her eyes were moist.
"You're the first girl who kissed me."
"If you look at it closely, Agnes you kissed the first," she teased, so as not to let on their fear.
"Do you remember me?" He grumbled. "Without you I would still be a toad."
"I must say, my dear Prince, our first kiss was very disappointing. Somehow so slippery and slimy, "she giggled and pushed the impending decision.
"Maybe we should try a second time. Otherwise you tell afterwards throughout the empire around the Prince kisses like a toad. "
"Perhaps," smiled Heera.
Amphion ensured that Heera slid smoothly and lightly over the floor. He looked like the prince. Lean looked relaxed in her presence and laughed a lot. Most of the time they challenged each other, but just the most irritated the Prince. He had to fight for Heera and offer Paroli.
He felt someone put close to him. "Are you only in theory or in practice a good dancer?" Asked a sweet voice. Startled, he ran out of time, but Heera seemed nothing to notice. She danced on, as if nothing had happened, absorbed completely in Lean's eyes.
"Probably theo ... in theory, "he stammered embarrassed and glanced at Medea, who stood beside him.
"Thank you for doing this for my sister. I've never seen her so happy. "
Surprised, he dared to look at her more closely. "Are not you jealous?"
"Certainly, but I'd rather lose the prince at her as to any other. Heera would do anything for me and our family. She deserves to be happy. "
Amphion smiled at her lovingly. "You said that nice."
"You dance with me?" She asked suddenly challenging. He felt he was bright red now. "I ... I ... "he started, looking for an excuse, but Medea brooked no argument and words pulled him at the beginning of the next song, laughing on the dance floor.
The evening was coming to an end and thereby also the decision of the Prince. He had tried to delay continues, but now the king put an end to by ordering the musicians to stop playing. At the same time he announced loudly that his honorable son will now announce its choice.
Lean turned on in the middle of the hall, in front of him, the five remaining elect. Rather, he would have something to say, but one of the guests present took a sudden the word. King Aphron from a fellow UK stepped forward. "Forgive me Prince, but before you give your choice known, I'd like to announce something myself."
Lean was glad of any delay. "Power only, you are welcome!"
Aphron searched the crowd for a particular face and when he discovered this, he headed straight toward it. He fell in front of Phoebe, which he had held with him to his knees. "Dearest Phoebe, you've come as a thief in my garden and as a thief, I had let you because you took my heart with you. Since you no longer b with me, I feel as if I were trapped in perpetual darkness. You are my sun and I would therefore ask you if you want to be my wife. "
Phoebe slapped terrified hands over her mouth before she cried out, "Yes!" King Aphron put her under the cheers of the guests a sparkling ring on her finger. Both passionately kissing each other. Even Lean applauded them cheerfully. Although he had already decided against Phoebe, so he was glad for her that her dream one day to be queen, now still fulfilled. King Aphron was a good man who would put their safe heaven at your feet.
The prince cleared his throat. "I congratulate you heartily! Does anyone else want to say something? "
In fact, now also joined King I w to forward. He was just as nervous as Aphron. "Good lord, you've made a good choice and the most beautiful girl of the whole kingdom gathered around you. One is more beautiful than the other. "
The elect were smiling so much praise. "What is, faithful friend to Iw, you want to also stop by the hand of one of the retiring?"
"No, I would be happy if it were that simple. But my fate is much more difficult, because I am in love with one of your elect. Do not think me presumptuous, but I want the girls to express my love, before you decide for or against them. "
A murmur went through the crowd. That had never happened before it and everyone was curious how would react the prince it. "Which girl you speak?" Leans own RZ He knocked frantically, because of Iw to the answer now depended on his own decision.
"The lovely Xenia has captured my heart in the dance", Iw announced on. "It would be a great honor if I could marry her."
Lean felt himself relieved by the answer of his friend was laughing. "That you must Xenia already ask yourself, have my blessing you!"
King Iw at Xenia took in his hands. "Would you give me the knot? I promise, as long as I live, to respect you and to love. "
Xenia appeared to be completely overwhelmed by the situation, but sch Miss finally her arms around Iw to the neck. "Only too happy I marry Euch!"
Again broke out in loud guests congratulations. Xenia's siblings danced merrily around the fresh pair. Iw to Lean had at least taken a decision, but there were still remaining four girls and only three should reach the next round.
When everyone had calmed down a bit, attention turned again to the prince. Lean had now take the floor and make a decision whether he wanted to or not. "Behind us are exciting weeks and I want to thank everyone for this beautiful girl time. I was able to meet many great personalities and each of them would be a worthy bride and future queen. At the time of selection, I have not only learned a lot about the girl, but also a lot about myself. There are many things I want to do better in the future. I need a woman at my side, who knows what she wants. And one of the candidates has convinced me from the outset from the fact that it was the right bride for me. I choose the first the girl who was also my first elect. Daphne! "