IT HAD taken some time for aurora to agree on a location, namely because her parents had disagreed with every single one. too open. too far. too vulnerable! her mother’s high pitched voice still haunts her days later. they’d only been so picky to prevent the meeting from happening in the first place, of course. their disdain comes as no surprise, so set in their ways they are. the unseelie queen sits at the vanity in her provided guest quarters, lips pursing tightly as she stares at herself in the mirror ----- completely unsatisfied. despite the neutrality of the castle, the nerves have nearly swallowed her whole. she’s redone her hair a few times, finally settling on letting the dark brown waves fall past her shoulders. very rarely does she wear it up & truthfully, she doesn’t know why she’s concerned about it anyway. it’s not like kaia will call off the prospect of an alliance if ro chose the wrong hairstyle.
SHE MOVES to stand, exhaling as she turns to face her ladies. emora rushes to adjust the fabric of her gown, her younger sister giving her an encouraging smile. always so supportive. aurora smiles back, though the nerves are still eating at the thoughts that swirl in her head. she takes one last glance at herself in the mirror that towers at her bedside. the heart shaped cut of her dress fits her figure nicely, the red vibrant and eye catching. it flows gently, loosely to her feet, pleated and soft as velvet. painted fingers move to adjust her laced sleeves and she clears her throat as em places the final piece atop her head ---- a circlet of gold, winding and twisting beautiful flowers of the dark court. the only symbol of their apparent wealth and status.
HER HEART skips a beat as her sister twines their fingers together, her free hand moving to rest at aurora’s elbow. tongue slides out over her lips and she inhales softly as they move to the hall and head to the ballroom. the first blending of their people in centuries, a feat mastered by none other. kaia had the determination of a mighty warrior and it humbled ro. it made her feel out of place here & it certainly made her parents scheming seem worse.
THE DOORS glide open as they reach them, emora’s hands slipping away as the two sisters stand tall. their brothers join them, each offering a hand as they make their way down the steps and into the massive hall. aurora guides her expression, remaining passive to the grandeur. emora and ryuul gasp, running to meet their friends and luca’s steely expression meets hers. a gentle nod and he lets her go, though she wishes he wouldn’t. she feels like a fish out of water, being spied on by her parents from where they sit at their family table. she catches her mother’s eyes, hard & dark. her father’s pout doesn’t go unmissed, though his smirk twists the shape of his mouth as he looks to the other doors and watches kaia make her grand entrance ---
