Subsistent Lies

I watched as everyone gathered around Gabriella and asked her many questions about today’s festivities. Zaria and I stayed in the shadow as we watched many fawn over her. “She really was good today, wasn’t she?” I asked, looking up at Zaria who hardly seemed to notice the commotion.

“She was.” Zaria sighed.

“What’s wrong?”

“This ball is boring me. I don’t understand how any of these people can enjoy themselves when there’s so much that…” She drifted off and I touched her hand softly.

I knew that she was still upset over the fact that we had to marry. I could understand why too. Ever since I could remember, Zaria had always been there for us. When mother couldn’t attend to any matter Gabby and I had, Zaria would try to be there to comfort and tend to us. I knew she did not like the idea of this marriage. I’m sure her husband would want children in due time, and after taking care of us I’m sure Zaria did not want to even think of babes of her own. “It will be all right, what if your suitor was…” I thought and sighed as I said, “Calib.”

She looked to me and laughed. “Calib?”

“Ah yes.” I turned back to Gabriella and this time Zaria forced me to look at her.

“Why Calib?”

I closed my eyes and finally said, “He loves you.” Zaria snorted and shook her head. “He does. I was there in the den when he spoke of his love for you.”

Zaria raised a brow and smiled. “So it was you that was there.” I blushed and nodded. “I don’t know. I’m quite angry at Calib right now.”

She started to tense and I laughed. “You are talking about what happened at the tournament today, aren’t’ you.”

“It was a dishonorable thing to do. Even I would have attempted to hit Darius if I could.”

I cringed at the thought of a wounded Darius and Zaria smiled. “So you have moved past Calib to Darius then?”

“Oh no,” I sighed. “I don’t know who I want anymore. I would love to have Calib but he is in love with you. I would die to have Darius, but he is of high class and many young ladies like him. Besides, what would he want of someone of my class?”

“Don’t think of it dear sister. I’m most likely to be paired with an ugly thwart of a man then Calib. And you, of course, will get the noblest gentleman to share your bed with.”

“Don’t play.” I laughed, thinking of what she said.

“You know it. My poor children will come out ridiculous why yours will look like the gods themselves.”

I laughed some more and knew that Zaria was trying to find a way to make me feel better, even if it jeopardized the way she felt. “Thank you sister.”

“Tis nothing.” She waved her hand and looked at another part of the ball room. She smiled and looked toward me. “Ah look who comes this way.”

“Who?” I looked about her shoulders and gasped. “It’s him! Please sister, give him a reason to leave.”

Zaria shrugged and shook her head. “Come, from my knowledge you’ve already met with him so you shouldn’t be as terrified as I.”

“Zaria please….” I pleaded with her.

Zaria sighed. “I will do my best, but no promises.”

Just then Darius introduced himself and I blushed as I caught Darius smiling at me as Zaria and me curtsied. Zaria and Darius talked pleasantries for a little while, but it wasn’t long before Darius asked to dance with me. I looked towards Zaria for help, but she seemed to approve of the dance. She didn’t really do her best, but again she did say no promises and for that I thanked her, for I wouldn’t trade the dance I had with Darius for anything. Being in his arms made me forget about my troubles and made me wish for the morrow to never come, but like all good things it came to end when the King asked to dance with me. At least if it had to end I had the pleasure of reveling in the thought that Darius would be at court tomorrow to maybe even offer for me. “I see my lady fancies my Captain of the Guard.” King Arthur said taking the place of Darius.

“Hmm, what?” I said still looking dreamily in Darius’s direction.

“I do not blame you my lady for you are not the only one who has a soft spot for him.” This statement made me come out of my dream state with a look of shock and horror on my face. King Arthur laughed merrily. “Do not fret my child,” Arthur said in a fatherly way, “out of all the ladies he has encountered I must say he has never been quite taken with anyone before you. In fact it would do him some good to settle down with a lady who is beautiful and comes from an honorable family such as yourself.”

I blushed at this. “You flatter me my lord, but I do not think I would make a good wife to someone of Darius Harte’s stature.”

“And why not my child? You would make a fine match for any noble as I have pointed out.”

I thought about what Zaria had said during the tournament. It was true I did not know how many women Darius had taken to bed and I was afraid that I would never amount to their experience. “Tis nothing only that I have gotten the feeling from many that Darius does not fancy women all that much.”

“True, but only because he has suffered much heartache in the past that would surely be cured by the right woman, a woman such as you.” I looked up at the King with hope and self-consciousness. “Now my child I’m afraid our dance must end for their our two other ladies I have to try and dance with this night.” The King said and I curtsied as he took his leave.

Going back to find the company of Zaria I saw that she had finally left her post of guardian and accepted a dance from the Ambassador. Trying to find mama I saw that she was busily talking to a bunch of noble women. I sighed and went to get me some punch thinking over what the King had said. The King had pretty much said I would make the perfect match for Darius. My mood brightened because it was a known fact that the King had an uncanny ability to make perfect matches, it was the reason why no marriage could happen under his rule unless it was blessed by him. My thoughts were rudely interrupted when someone bumped into me and made me spill my punch all over the front of my dress. I turned to the person who had bumped into me and had not yet apologized for their clumsiness. “Well aren’t you going to apologize?” I asked a woman in a turquoise dress.

“For what?” She replied snobbishly.

“For bumping into me.” I said putting my goblet down and trying to dry my dress.

“I did not bump into you. Perhaps your daydreaming about what can never be made you spill your drink all over yourself.”

“No I am quite sure you bumped into me.” I said looking at the woman wondering how she knew I was daydreaming.

“Well if I did, I do not waste apologies on peasants trying to disguise themselves as nobles.” She said waving the matter off.

“I am not a peasant and even if I were I show more class than you. How hard is it to apologize for a mistake?”

“I see no mistake. The only mistake I saw was Darius, Captain of the Guard dancing with a penniless wench who will never amount to anything.” This statement should of made me mad, but her words made my fears come to reality. She snorted, “don’t waste your time with him. Just because your sister has earned glory for her daring deed does not make your family equal with nobility. He will never fall in love with someone of your stature.” As I was about to fall in tears Gabriella and Zaria appeared at my side. “Is there a problem here Isabella?” Zaria asked looking down at me.

Before I could answer and have my voice betray my feelings to this stranger Gabriella pointed out my problem for me. “Why Lady Joan have you come here to torture my sister for stealing the attention of Darius from you? You know, it is a sure sign that if a man does not want to dance with you after dancing for a short while with another, that they don’t want anything to do with you. Of course everyone does say you don’t know the meaning of no.” This made me smile as the rude woman named Joan, looked angrily at Gabriella.

“I do not have to stay here and be insulted by commoners.” Lady Joan turned and stalked off to a gaggle of women.

“Are you okay Izzy?” Zaria asked looking worriedly at me. I nodded and poured me another glass of punch so I could finish my daydream not hearing as once again Zaria gave me her warning. “Izzy you need to watch out. It seems you have already made an enemy because of Darius.”

“Don’t fret Zaria. I have learned a lot about this Joan from many of the gossiping ladies at the court and from what I hear she is no lady. Izzy has nothing to worry about.” I heard Gabby say, but I was too far into my fantasy to really care.