Snippet #1815712

Alyxis
I rubbed my temples. Oh, dear, this was going to be quite a confusing time. And I didn't even know how long it would take to get everyone to get along.
I walked out to my mother, who laughed. "Darling, Alyxis. You really did..." I was wearing my informal court clothes: maroon loose breeches that looked like skirts that weren't very full, with a flowing pale creamy shirt, done with crimson trimmings. I wore no shoes, I could not stand them most days. In my loose hair, I had placed a bright red flower from the Summer Kingdom gardens behind my ear. I wore simple pearl earrings.
My mother, Queen Vaeyn, was dressed properly, in a dark green, simple, and yet elegant gown. Her red hair was mostly loose, but for two small braids used to contain the gorgeous, fiery mass. In some of her hair, tied at intervals, were pale green flowers, again from the Summer Kingdom gardens, and she wore a beautiful necklace of pale green, clear stones.
I smile. "But Mama, soon enough they will see me, always dressed like this. Should they not get used to it now?"
Her eyes crinkle up. "Yes, I suppose they should. Let us go." Never mind that it was highly improper, both my mother and I slid down the banisters of the grand staircase of the guest floor of the palace to the main doors. It was here that we would greet the heirs and children of the other Kingdoms. There was at least one delegate from every Kingdom, thank goodness. That was the one thing I had been worried about, as well as Mama, though she tried to hide it.
I look up at her, exceptionally tall, even in these flat soled shoes she wore. "Now we wait."
She laughed again. "Yes. I am sure you are dying of impatience to mediate fights between the rest." My mother was gently teasing me, knowing that I would be irked.
"Mama!" I protested. But I was laughing as well.
We both looked up expectantly at the great doors as they began to open. Which one of the heirs or children had arrived?