dear. Why don’t you make a handkerchief that she could carry with her to remember you? Every young lady needs a beautiful handkerchief. I would make sure it got to her without your parents knowing. Anna will know, but they would be none the wiser.”
Kaelen smiled, “That’s a perfect idea. I’d better get some gold thread going.”
While Gelasia and Kaelen were upstairs, the others were in the dining hall trying to enjoy their lunch. “It’s so unfair that Kaelen can’t be here with us,” Jacobi said as they were eating.
“I’m sure the fairies have good reason for doing that,” Leticia replied. “After how his family reacted to his transformation, I’m sure it’s for the best that they have him not participating in this.”
“I hadn’t thought of that,” Jacobi admitted. “But you’re probably right.”
They continued to chat until it was time for them to each meet with their parents. Most of the parents had been arriving throughout lunch, including Allegra and Lucian’s. They spent some time sitting together talking before they split to get ready for their individual meetings. Lucian and Lysander continued up the stairs to wait outside Calista’s office while Allegra and Alexandra stopped by Airlia’s office. “How has your semester been going?” Lysander asked as they waited.
“It’s been going fairly well,” Lucian replied.
Calista came out of her office and waved them in. After she’d shut the door, she said, “As usual Lucian, you are doing very well. Many of your teachers have been impressed with your progress. I understand from Lorelei that you are doing incredibly well with learning to speak dragon.”
“Really?”
She laughed, “Yes, and coming from Lorelei that is high praise indeed. Though we both know she has no love of dragons, she is a very picky teacher and expects perfection of her students. She is very impressed with you and asks that over the break you try to find some time to continue practicing your Sea Serpent. She said that’s the one dialect you’re still a bit backwards on. George it seems also struggles with that dialect. Now I realize that he will be very busy over break with his sister’s wedding, but it might be wise for you to attempt to start studying together when school reconvenes in January.”
“Alright,” he said.
“Now, I have your schedule for next semester and a list of supplies as well. King Lysander, do you have any questions for me before we adjourn?” she asked.
Lysander shook his head. “Am I correct in assuming that we will need to stay overnight due to the nature of this evening’s program?”
“Indeed you are. We have arranged for housing at The Glass Slipper in town,” she explained. “I believe you know where that is.”
“Yes, Alexandra and I have stayed there many times,” he replied. “Thank you.”
“It’s the least we can do. Now, if there is nothing further, I’ll meet with you again next spring.”
Lysander and Lucian rejoined the others downstairs. As they began their end of semester feast, Melantha rose to make an announcement. “For those in your fourth year, and for my ladies if your prince is in his fourth year, you will need to stay after supper. There will be one final activity before we part for the year. For the rest of you, we sincerely wish you a pleasant break and a safe journey home.” The fairies spent some time bidding farewell to the younger students who were leaving. As they did that, other fairies were causing the tables and chairs in the dining hall to relocate themselves closest to the walls, leaving a wide open space in the middle. “Oh no,” Jacobi moaned.
“What’s the matter?” Clarissa asked.
“They’re going to make us dance,” he said
“I take it the lessons haven’t been easy for you either?”
“You’ve had a hard time learning to dance?” he asked.
“Well, it certainly hasn’t been the easiest of my classes,” she replied.
Soon Melantha came back into the room. “Tonight, we will be having our Winter Ball.” She waved her wand and the room suddenly was transformed into a magical fairyland with snow encrusted pine trees and softly fluttering, glittering snowflakes that disappeared instantly on touching something. Silver and blue streamers surrounded the tables and ran along the walls of the hall. It was one of the most breathtaking sights any of them had seen.
A small fairy band arranged themselves on the stage where the teachers’ tables normally were. As they began the soft strains of a romantic waltz, slowly the dance floor filled with couples. Even parents were taking part. For a moment, Lucian just watched as his father led his mother in a graceful waltz about the room. He hadn’t really seen his parents dance together and couldn’t help but feel jealous of their grace and the love that was so obvious on each face. Finally he turned to Moira and cleared his throat. “Shall we join them?” he asked with a bow.
For a moment she looked reluctant, then smiled and curtsied. “Yes, I’d like that.”
As Lucian tried to keep the rhythm of steps in his head, he also tried to engage Moira in conversation. While she had been polite throughout the day and even pleasant at moments, there was a reserve in her behavior. Trying to think of a way to broach the subject, he commented, “Your letters have been somewhat shorter recently.”
Moira looked surprised. “Really? I guess I haven’t had much to say.”
“Are you sure that’s it?”
“What else would it be?” she asked, a stubborn tone sneaking into her voice.
“Well, I know I kind of flubbed things at the last meeting,” he said.
“I don’t know what you mean.”
“Oh come on, Moira,” he retorted, trying to keep the edge off his voice, “we both know you left mad. I just wanted to make sure I hadn’t said anything that offended you.”
“You really have no clue, do you?”
“About what?”
Shaking her head, Moira muttered, “Boys really are blind.”
“Then help me see,” Lucian replied, exasperation clear in his voice. “I’m really not trying to be stupid, though obviously I’m succeeding.”
“I did not say that you were stupid,” she said. Though he could tell she was still mad, her tone was gentler. “Look, I was frustrated because I’ve tried a couple of times to tell you something and you seem to think you already know what I’m going to say. You don’t let me finish.”
“Well, why didn’t you write it to me?” he asked. “I can’t interrupt a letter.”
“Lucian, this isn’t the kind of thing I wanted to say in a letter. I needed to say it to your face, where I could see you,” she explained.
He considered this for a moment and then said, “Okay, so what did you want to tell me?”
She hesitated. “I, I want to talk about last winter. And don’t just assume that I’m going to tell you that you’re not doing a good job. You’ve done a fine job of being my friend and I appreciate that.”
“Well, what then?” he asked.
“Oh, Lucian, you really are clueless,” she laughed nervously. “And that’s not making this any easier to say. Lucian, I don’t want to just be friends anymore.”
Lucian was sure he had heard her wrong. “What?”
“I don’t want us to just be friends. I’ve never just wanted to be friends, but I thought that would be the best way to prevent myself from getting heartbroken. But after seeing your parents and then with things that have happened at home with Mother. I mean, she’s actually happy now and she does things with Adrian. With everything that’s happened, I realized that it wouldn’t matter if I tried to just be your friend. I,” she paused. “I already like you. Not just as my friend, but as my prince.”
“So, we don’t have to just be friends anymore?” he asked, hardly allowing himself to believe.
Moira laughed. “No, we don’t have to just be friends.”
Despite the fact that music was still playing, for a moment Lucian and Moira just stood under the soft candlelight. For the first time in his life, Lucian was tempted to kiss a girl; and not just
a kiss on the hand or a kiss on the cheek. He wanted to really kiss her. Moira seemed to sense this and looked away, breaking momentarily the spell that had seemed to hold them captive. They once again heard the music, though it was coming to a close and other couples were already leaving the floor. Blushing, Lucian offered Moira his arm. She took it and he led her back to where Leticia was sitting watching everyone. She had a knowing smile on her face. “Enjoy yourselves?”
“Yes, I believe we did,” Moira replied, smiling at Lucian.
While the Winter Ball was beginning downstairs, Calista was meeting with Kaelen, Gelasia and Maeve in her office. “Before I ask Maeve to tell us what she’s learned, I’d like to speak to you, Kaelen, about this semester. All of your teachers have seen a great deal of growth in you. You have taken an incredibly difficult situation and done the best you can with it. Next semester most of your classes will remain the same. Calypso did say she’d like you to read chapter fourteen about recognizing enchantments over the break. You missed several points that she says are vital to your success.”
“So there is hope?” he asked.
Calista smiled. “There is always hope. In fact, that is why we’ve asked Maeve to join us. Gelasia asked Maeve to consult the star charts once again to see if we can glean a little more about what will be your quest. Maeve?”
She stared out the window at the stars. “Don’t fear, dear, you won’t always be a wallflower.”
“Maeve?” Gelasia said.
“Sorry,”