A Family Reunion

She started at her brother

"What?" she asked, her voice quiet

" Yes, a ball, you know dancing and such." Though his focus was on the sculpture, he didn't seem to notice her growing distress

A ball, a party

Davina could not remember a time when she was allowed to ever attend such things she had always been kept away, she was dangerous, and they knew it, so why.

"No," she said

"What do you mean no, you must father has said so"

"Then he should have come here and said it himself, you are no errand boy."

Her anger was rising then

"Davina..." he said cautiously the way one speaks to a wild animal," you are being difficult. "

"You do not speak to me that way. I am not a bloody horse."

"Then stop acting so mule headed."

He glared at her, and she glared back.

Eventually, he backed down, sighing.

" Am I the only one who still has a function of brain? I can not be around people. I am dangerous."

" I am sure the leader of our realm would be delighted to know he is called brainless by his youngest daughter."

" Lucien..."

" You know I would never let anything happen to you,"

" Yes, but what of everyone else?"

He stands and walks around the table. The kneel in front of her and take bothers her hands

" I trusted you, sister. You have control. I see it in you, and so does Father."

" I'm scared," she whispers

" Then I will lend you my courage. I have been known to be very brave"

she gave an unlady like snort

" They meant stupid."

He flicked her I her forehead, and she laughed

" Okay, get your maid to pack a bag, I'm sure everyone is waiting,"

****************************************************

After hours sitting tense and anxious in a jolting carriage, Davina was properly annoyed.

when they had arrived at the Palace, Lucien hah snuck her in through the servaants entrance, under the pretence of her presence being a surprise, but her annoyance only grew

finally, she was taken up to a room that was hers, but she had only lived in it a handful of times.

Lucien laid down on her chaise and sighed in relief.

"i wish I could just lay here forever," he said tiredly

" You are hiding me," she said accusingly

" No, your presence is to be a surprise,"

" Me presence need not be a surprise this is my home you are my family, I belong her" she said petulantly, the lies she told filled the space between them and his silence agrevated further

" Get out, i need to dress." he turned her back to him

" Davina..." he started, but he had nothing to say

" I said get out." her voice was harsh, and she felt him flinch

" As you wish be out soon though, the family will be waiting," he said and left

As he stepped out of the room, Patrice stood on the other, said, waiting, fidgeting really

" How is she?" she asked

" Be quiet she might hear you," he said, pulling her down the corridor out of their sisters' magical ears shot

" Well..." she prompted

" she is suspicious," he said

" Of course she is she's not an idiot brother"

" This was a bad idea."

" it is done no time for regret now," she said, pushing her long golden curls out of her face. " Did she seem well?"

" You can always go in and speak to her,you know,"

" No, I do not now, she scares me,"

"she is a child, Patrice."

she snorted

" she scares you as well. I can tell."

" This is not fear, sister. It's worry, worry for the kingdom. This plan everything,"

" mostly I worry for the poor sod, who will have to marry the girl"

" Do not speak that way. She is our sister,"

" Yes, our sister with terrible magic and frightened eyes,"

Lucien sighed and rubbed his eyes

"Come on, let's go tell the others she is here."

Down the hall behind the closed door, Davina sat on the floor and cried.

Davina stood in front of the looking glass, tears long gone she was a princess, princesses did not cry and definitely not on the floor, Arden and her other maid had just left after helping her dress.

She looked breathtaking though it was usually so,

Her snow white hair shone in the evening sun, making her dark skin glow against the beautiful dark green ball gown she wore it was embroidered with onyx jewels that looked like her eyes she wore those same jewels in her up pinned hair she looked like an other worldly creature from one of her fathers paintings, but her beauty bored her, people would always look, always want always admire it gets boring after a while, but her status required it, her family required it so he steeled her face and her heart and went in search of them, which she didn't need to as the guards outside her room where there to lead her to them.

they were in the drawing room

she stood outside the door, heart pounding hands swearting into her gloves. She berated herself. They are your family, you need not fear

it did not work, so she took a deep breath and pushed open the door.

Everyone turned to look at her. As the door swung closed behind her, she just stood there and stared she did not know what to say, thsse people were where her family whom she loved but she did not know them nor her, so they all stood staring at one another.

" Davina!"

she flinched

Lucien didn't shout, but his voice pierced the silence so sharply it felt as though he did. He walked to her and threw his arms around her, and she did the same automatically

" You look absolutely breathtaking, I'm so glad you are here." he brought his mouth to her ear and whispered, " Relax, you will be fine. "

And just like that, she did. She smiled at him, grateful as he led her to the others

she hugged her father, who smiled widely at her and squeezed the breath out of her. She laughed as tears gathered in her eyes and hugged him back just as tightly with all her love and ange, then she hugged her mother who kissed her head and whispered many things to her as she hugged her as well, she still smelled the same like coffee and snow

next, she hugged her cacophony of siblings, who made her laugh and passed her around. Everyone wanted her attention she felt special, and it was easily the happiest moment of her life, but somewhere I her mind, she felt a countdown start, but she ignored it, she was with her family She should not have ignored it if she hadn't she would have noticed the little things how her father whispered angrily in the coner with his heir, how Monica snuck glances with Patrice when they let her hold the baby, how the guards in the room seemed tense and there where no knives with the cutlery and all the spoons and forks had been blunted, these are things she should have seen but she did not, for her love her joy had blinded her and she knew they loved her but she was beginning to wonder, was love really enough?