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Snippet #1746300

located in Ballroom, a part of Elphanor: Tipping the Scales of Fate, one of the many universes on RPG.

Ballroom

This is where all the characters first meet not only each other but also their future husbands/wives

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"You sure you don't mind doing this free of charge? I can try and scrounge up something for you."

Akilah looked over her glasses, amber eyes kind as they regarded the elderly woman before her, "Don't worry about it, Mrs. Holmes." She replied softly with as much confidence as she could muster. The truth was that she really did need the money. Her father, though rude and terrible towards her, had been right about at least one thing: she was too softhearted. Everyone in the kingdom knew that if they wanted the best potions, for cheap, they would come to her. Those who had no money, or pretended not to have money, often came with sob stories that broke her heart and convinced her in an instant to make them the potion free of charge. By taking pity on every person who walked through the door she was running out of money quickly and had been forced to eat nothing but stale bread and water all week because she could not afford anything else.

"You're an angel, sweetie. The pain has been so bad that I've hardly been able to move!" Mrs. Holmes croaked, taking a seat in the rickety old wood chair as Akilah began making the potion that would help numb the pain from her old joints.

Akilah smiled at the compliment, "You'll be feeling better in no time." She said before dropping her gaze back to the ingredients on the counter. Narrowing her eyes, Akilah used her hawk-like eyesight to measure the perfect amount of each ingredient into the cauldron in front of her. After all eight of the ingredients had been placed in she removed her glasses and stirred the pot twenty eight times clockwise and thirty six times counterclockwise, waited for it to boil for five minutes, and then carefully poured the potion into a glass bottle. It was dark violet in color and smelt strongly of birch trees and plums.

"Wait an hour for it to cool completely and then you can take a spoonful. Once you run out you can just come back and I'll make you some more, alright?" Akilah said, carefully handing the warm glass vial over to Mrs. Holmes who took it with equal care.

"Thank you so much Miss Valentina. You really are a sweet girl." The old lady said, patting Akilah on the head before hobbling out the door with her cane thumping along beside her.

Akilah sat down in the old chair, running her hand through her thick blonde two-toned hair. The feathers growing between the strands of hair twirled around her finger, making a soft rustling sound as her fingers brushed past them. She was starving to the point that she could barely think and her clothing had begun to feel quite loose around her usually curvacious frame. She dipped her head low, burying her face in her hands in exasperation at herself, when the sound of birds drew her attention.

"Galvin?" She called, her mood shifting dramatically as she sat up from her chair and dashed to the door. Her had found the handle and pulled it open to reveal the tall auburn haired Gavin standing before her with a basket in his arms. She was smiling brilliantly and self consciously fixed her hair despite the fact that she knew his white-blue eyes could not see her.

"Good morning, Aki." Galvin said in his deep charming voice, four sparrows chirping and flitting around him. His long sandy brown wings were folded behind him, the morning light reflecting off the feathers in a mesmerizing way.

"Morning. What's in the basket?" Aki asked, taking his arm and leading him into the shop. He followed her with ease, trusting her completely, and took a seat in the old chair with a grin on his face.

"I brought you breakfast." He said, hand feeling around the edge of the basket until he located the edge of the blanket and pulled it back to reveal fresh bread, juice, eggs, potatoes, and sausages that all looked delicious. Aki hugged him, thanking him endlessly, before taking the basket to begin cooking. She cooked quickly, adding herbs here and there for extra taste, and then set the meal down on the table infront of Galvin and herself.

The pair talked and ate, recalling fond memories, and were nearly done breakfast when Aki heard something odd. There were a number of men, heavy in their footsteps, approaching the shop. Her faaras hearing was strong, but she had managed to block out most insignificant sounds yet she could not block out this. Something about the purposeful way the foot falls were gave her the impression that they meant business. Not wanting to worry Galvin she quickly finished her food and began cleaning the dishes. She was just placing the final plate back in the cupboard when the door to her shop opened to reveal a dark elf and several men who looked to be tauras.

"Miss Valentina?" The dark elf asked, regarding the shop with distaste.

"What's going on?" Galvin asked, standing up unsteadily as he grasped for Akilah's hand.

Aki reached out and grasped his arm, steadying him, and watched the dark elf cautiously, "Y-yes?" She managed, her voice weak and hesitant. The colors on the man's suit suggested he was from Elphanor, but why would anyone from Elphanor come to see her?

"Let me begin by introducing myself, I'm Badic Pharalnup, the assistant to the High King. I am here to let you know that you have been chosen, by the High King himself, to be wed to one of the princes of the great kingdoms. The marriages are to act as a union between kingdoms to help prevent war." Badic said, walking towards her in slow confident steps.

"W-what?" Akilah gasped, eyes wide from shock, "I can't poss...ibly." She said, voice dropping to a whisper as Badic got closer to her. His eyes flickered to her hand which grasped Galvin's, and he frowned tightly.

"Yes, miss Valentina, you are to come with me immediately. The ball is tonight and it is there that your engagement will be announced. You will gather what ever you want to bring with you from your..." He trailed off, wrinkling his nose in dislike as he looked around the room, "home... and then join me outside in ten minutes so that you can make it to the castle in time to change for the ball." He said and made his way to the door, expecting some sort of protest but there was only silence from both Akilah and the winged boy next to her. "You're not going to fight about this? That's a change." He commented dryly.

"No... You said I have to go and that it will help prevent war. I-I have to go." Akilah said, staring at Badic with a mixture of confusion and pure shock. She was going to marry a prince?!

"Hmm... I'm glad you were last on the list. Your cooperation would have made me unrealistically hopeful for the others." He commented before turning and exiting the shop, leaving a stunned Akilah and Galvin behind.

The silence hung between the pair until finally Galvin spoke, turning to face her the best he could, "Are you really going to go and just leave all of this behind?" He asked. He wanted what was best for Akilah and if that meant she would marry a prince, then so be it.

"I have to." Akilah responded, giving his hand a gentle squeeze before leaving his side to gather her things. Within minutes she had gathered her few belongings, tossing them into an old potato sack, and returned to his side to help him out the door, "I will write to you and your mother can read the letters, okay?" She said, leading him down the steps as she relished the feeling of his hand in hers for the few moments they had left, "I'll be back to visit, I'm sure. Please take care of the shop." She added softly as they reached the ground, the carriage with the Elphanor colors emblazoned on the side sitting just down the path.

"I will but you need to promise me that you won't let some prince make you forget who you are, okay?" He said, reaching out to find her body. Once his fingertips had found her frame he pulled her into a tight hug, "Good luck, Aki." Galvin whispered into her gold and feathered hair.

"You too." She said, hugging him tightly back before releasing him and taking off towards the carriage, with tears spilling down her cheeks, without a glance back. Very few memories from Acci were good ones, so she need not look back. The only thing she would really miss would be Galvin, but she knew that one day she would see him again.

----------------------------------------------------

Akilah sat in an elaborate bedroom decorated with fine furniture and brilliantly colored paintings. She had been waiting quietly for nearly half an hour, having been told that someone would bring her a gown to wear for the ball because she would not be allowed to wear the tattered dress she had on at the moment. The ride to Elphanor had been uneventful and lengthy, during which she cried softly and tried to convince herself that she was doing the right thing despite how upset she felt about leaving Galvin. They were not dating and had never confessed any feelings for each other, but she still felt like she was leaving the most important person in her life.

The door flew open suddenly and in walked three meticulously dressed women carrying gowns, shoes, and bags of makeup. They began speaking to Akilah all at once, ordering to bathe at once while they readied their things. Akilah obeyed without protest and quickly dashed into the bathroom, returning a little while later in a bathrobe that was softer than anything she had ever felt before. "Where would you like me to sit?" She asked softly, regarding the pile of cosmetics and heels on the bed as though they were weapons.

"Over here, child! Now hurry up. The ball has already begun and we have a lot of work to do before you will be presentable for a prince!" The blonde woman chirped, pushing her towards a low plush chair. Once seated the blonde woman began fixing her hair while the woman with the pixie cut began her makeup and the brunette held various dresses up and made comments like "Too short for those thighs, I'm afraid." and "My, this is cut so low that if you wear this you'll be giving everyone a free show! Next!"

Akilah sat motionlessly, not making a sound as they tugged and pulled at her hair, painted her face, and critiqued her body in every possible way until she was handed the chosen dress and shoes then told to change quickly. Not wanting to spend any more time with the women she did as she was told, pulling the dress on and doing up the low heels. "Well? Is it alright?" Akilah asked self consciously, unsure if she looked presentable for a ball.

"Darling, you look as cute as a hummingbird!" The woman with the pixie cut chimed, smiling brightly at the transformation.

Akilah wasn't sure what was so cute about a hummingbird but muttered a quiet thankyou before turning to look at herself in the mirror and nearly fell over in shock. Her usually unruly hair hung in perfect curls, the feathers in her hair curling smoothly, and lay shining against her body before stopping at her bust. Her face was dusted in a soft powder that made her skin look flawless, light gold dust highlighted her eyelids, and dark mascara drew attention to her amber eyes. Upon her feet were muted yellow-gold kitten heels with thin straps, which were surprisingly comfortable... yet the most magnificent thing of all was the dress. It was the same muted yellow-gold as her shoes with chiffon fabric that was light as air and moved like smoke around her body. It had sheer billowing partial sleeves that covered her outer arms while leaving her inner arms bare. Finally, there was a deeply cut neckline but the same sheer fabric made a panel in a front to give off the hint of her ample bosom without being indecent.

"Oh my goodness... Thank you." Akilah said, face breaking into a genuine smile at the sight of herself.

"There's just one more thing and then you must hurry to the ball. Just down the hall and on your left." The girl with the pixie cut said, walking towards her as the other two left the room without a word. The girl held our a beautiful gold filigree mask for Akilah to take, "It's a masked ball so you must wear this."

"Of course, alright." Aki said, accepting the mask. By the time she had slipped it on, using the gold ribbon to tie it securely, the girl with the pixie cut was gone.

She looked at herself in the mirror once more, still in disbelief with how she looked, and felt a self boost in confidence before she forced herself to leave her room and head towards the ball. There was no point in prolonging it any longer than possible, so she had better just hurry up and get to the ball. She walked down the halls, following the sound of music and talking, before she finally entered the ball room. It was the largest and most beautiful room she had been in in her entire life, instantly causing her to smile as though she were in a dream.

"Oh wow..." She breathed, taking in everything she could while standing off to the side so as not to bother anyone.