*
Norman awoke the next day with her head swimming and her stomach feeling queasy. She got dressed in the dark as the sunshine glaring on the snow outside had made her head throb even more. She gingerly walked downstairs and into the great room where she found her father and the apothecary. “Good morning, Father.” Norman sat down in one of the chairs and leaned her aching head in her hand. “Apothecary, do you have anything for a headache and a stomach that swishes?”
Octavius peered at his daughter through the slits that hid his eyes.” I do believe that I will never drink anymore of that boo-boo juice as long as I live. You do not look good, Daughter.”
Norman smiled half-heartedly at her father. “Thank you, and might I say that you are no vision of health today either…”
“Well, well, well, and what do we have here?” Queen Emmaline walked into the room and stood in front of her family. “Isn’t this something for me to be proud of!”
“Please, my dear, could you p-l-e-a-s-e talk a little softer. We are not feeling well.” Octavius curled a smile on his lips as if it hurt.
“Octavius, you know what day this is, and yet you go and get yourself sick…” Annoyance crept into Emmaline’s voice.
“I am sorry, my dear, but at the moment I seem to have forgotten what day this is. Why is it so important?” Octavius lifted his head up just enough to see anger flare in his wife’s eyes.
“Today we are supposed to sit for our portraits. We have to start today if the artist is to finish the canvas for the ball.” The Queen was upset.
“Thank goodness we can sit for the portrait, Father.” Norman smiled wryly.
“Oh, you are both incorrigible!” Emmaline turned to leave. She spied a huge vase sitting on the mantle, picked it up and dashed it to the floor. Octavius and Norman winced and laughed in pain.
“Apothecary, have you something for these pounding heads of ours?” Octavius looked at him and smiled. He handed the king and princess a yellow liquid. “Drink all of this and your headaches will disappear shortly.”
The king peered into the glass. “This looks absolutely disgusting!” Both he and Norman drank it straight down. “Remind me to thank Gertrude for the boo-boo juice. That was quite a celebration yesterday…”
Norman looked at her father. “Yes, and I was proud of Gertrude. I told him once that he was destined to become a great leader. Half of the premonition has come true.”
A page entered the room and walked over to Octavius. “Sire, this has just arrived for you. I asked the young frog troll if he needed a reply and he said ‘no’, and left.”
Octavius opened the handmade envelope and withdrew a beautifully lettered piece of parchment. “What do we have here?” Octavius read the note to himself.
“Who is it from, Father? Would you please read it to me?” Norman picked up her head and smiled.
“Here... You can read it yourself.” Octavius handed the piece of parchment to Norman.
“ ‘You are invited to a celebration dinner in honor of Gertrude’s election as Grand Frog troll, this coming Saturs-day at seven in the evening. I wish for all three of you to attend. I am looking forward to seeing you. Sincerely, Winifred of Tinker Hollow.’ Oh, Father, are they not some of the nicest trolls that you have ever met?”
“Indeed, child. Winifred sure knows how to cook and bake. I was thinking of asking her if she would consider cooking for a few days before your ball and helping with some of the preparations.”
Emmaline entered the room again and noticed the two sitting upright in their chairs. “I see the apothecary’s elixir is working. Norman, the seamstress will be here in a little while for the final fitting of our gowns. Octavius, you will need to be there also as I had a shirt made for you.” She looked at her husband to see if she would be challenged in her wishes for the fitting. None came and she smiled broadly. “Thank you, Octavius.” Emmaline looked at both of them and chuckled. “Oh, and right after the fitting we will be sitting for the portrait, so please dress appropriately.”
Much to the delight of the queen, the seamstress walked into the great room behind a page. “Good morning, Your Highness. We have a lot of work to do today. May I be so forward to ask you and the princess to come with me?”
“I was hoping you would arrive shortly. Norman, let’s go to get these fittings done.” Emmaline smiled exuberantly at her daughter.
“Yes, Mother.” Norman arose from her chair and winked at her father who was doing a pantomime of himself being hung. Norman actually was looking forward to the fitting. She also found herself intrigued as to what the princes would be like. She kept remembering Prince Helliox and how he had caught her eye. Everything she had been dreading before now seemed like a great adventure.
Together, the three ladies walked to the small anteroom off of the foyer. Gertrude’s Aunt Phoebe was straightening up one of the gowns and sewing iridescent crystals onto the bodice.
“Oh, it is so beautiful!” Norman hurried over to the gown and ran her hands down through the material. “Mother, isn’t it the most beautiful gown that you have ever laid your eyes on? The lace work is remarkable and the stitching is superb! Lady Phoebe, did you do all of this stitching?”
Phoebe was caught off guard by the princess’ praises. They seemed to shock her. “Yes, Your Highness, I have done all of the stitching.” Phoebe turned the gown over to reveal two hems that were not stitched yet. “These are the areas that I must stitch while you are in the dress, Princess.” Phoebe smiled hesitantly.
“Oh, Lady Phoebe, your hands truly work magic with fabric and thread! This is breath-taking!” Norman picked up the gown and held it in front of her, dancing around the room.
Queen Emmaline smiled and walked over to her satiny gown. “This is exquisite! What a beautiful work of art! I dare say that my daughter and I will definitely be turning some heads. Norman, darling, look at the freshwater pearls sewn on my bodice.” Her fingers touched the pearls delicately.
Norman danced over beside her mother. “Mother, I dare say that I may be jealous as I was hoping to be the only beautiful woman at the ball.” She laughed and saw the happy sparkle in her mother’s eyes.
“Thank you, my child.” Emmaline turned to Lady Phoebe. “You have done such marvelous work on these dresses. I insist that you accept an invitation to the ball so I can give you the credit you deserve. I am sure this will give you enough business to hire some employees.” Emmaline picked her gown up and whisked herself around the room. “Anna, this lady deserves your respect and a huge bonus.”
The seamstress smiled and nodded her head in agreement. “She is very, very talented. If it were not for her diligence and expertise, I am sure the gowns would not be ready on time.”
“Mother, let’s try on the gowns now so we can stare enviously at each other.” Norman and her mother disappeared behind dressing screens and, in a few brief minutes, emerged to view each other’s gowns. Both ladies had tears in their eyes as they hugged. “Mother, wait ‘til father sets his eyes upon you…”
“I am sure your father’s eyes will be upon you that evening.” Emmaline choked back more tears. “My baby…!” Both ladies stepped up onto small platforms so that Anna and Phoebe could make the needed adjustments.
Norman noticed how quiet Phoebe was and decided that it was the right time to engage her mother in some dialogue about past events. “Mother, do you think there will be anymore raids before the ball?” Norman quickly glanced at Phoebe to see a slight smile dart across her face.
“I hope we do not have any raids. Why do you ask such a question at this time, daughter?” Emmaline’s face scrunched up with a puzzled look.
“I just do not want anything to happen at the ball.” Norman looked down at Phoebe once again, but saw no reaction to the answer.
Emmaline looked out the window. “It must be close to the hour to sit for our portrait. Anna, are you and Lady Phoebe almost done with your measuring and stitching?”
“I need but only a
few moments more to finish the princess’ gown.” Phoebe said shyly, as she stuck the needle through the delicate material. “Please forgive me for not giving you an answer for the invitation to the ball. I think I would love to come. Thank you.”
“Thank you and Lady Anna for your beautiful work.” Emmaline saw a smile cross Phoebe’s face.
Norman thought Phoebe to be rather an odd frog troll. She had trouble figuring her out. One minute she seemed secretive and suspicious, and now she seemed warm and shy. She smiled down at Phoebe.
Moments later the princess and queen were slipping out of their gowns. King Octavius entered as the two were leaving the room. “Thank you for remembering about your fitting, dear. Please do not forget the portrait sitting shortly.” Emmaline delicately touched her husband’s cheek and whispered something in his ear that made him smile. The two ladies disappeared to their bedchambers to ready for their sitting.
*
Octavius, Emmaline and Norman sat through four long, boring hours of sitting for the portrait. Afterward, they all headed back to their rooms to change, happy to get up and stretch their stiff bodies.