Arriving at a Royal Ball

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Drizella

The carriage ride to the castle was a bumpy one, the closer we got the more nervous I became. I tried to recall the sound of my dress before we left home, twirling around with my sister made me giddy and excited.

I closed my eyes and tried to bring that giddy feeling back. I kicked my legs a little to hear the rustling of the fabric but the carriage was too small. I put my hand on my stomach and inhaled deeply. It smelled of fresh rain and newly cut grass, we were no doubt nearing the castle.

I opened my eyes to see and we were coming just around the corner to the castle. I was right; it had rained and the lawn outside the castle was freshly trimmed and gardened with roses of all colors.

I got thinking of the color meanings of roses and then looked at our gowns. 

Mother's gown was a deep red, just the color of the classic red rose symbolizing love and romance.

Ana's dress was green, a rarity among rose colors, then again, Ana was a rare kind as well. 'Thank God for that' I thought to myself and smirked. I looked down before either of them could notice my amusement. 

My own dress was blue, I had never heard of a blue rose before, I could only imagine what it looked like, let alone what it meant. 

My thoughts were cut short when the carriage stopped and the footman came to the door. 

"Ready, my ladies?" he asked with an encouraging smile.

We all looked at each other and nodded before he opened the door and we each exited the carriage carefully, one by one. 'Don't trip, don't trip, don't trip' I kept thinking to myself. 

The footman offered each of us his hand to help us out, I hesitated shyly, then placed my hand in his. 'Is it odd that I wanted him to keep holding my hand?' I thought as I looked back to see him do the same with my mother and sister. 'You're being ridiculous, Driz. It's just nerves' I thought to myself while waiting for Ana and Mother to reach me. I heard Ana stumble and curse under her breath.

As they got closer to me I turned to face the steps to the castle, inhaling once more. Ana grabbed my hand at the base of the steps and we let Mother walk ahead, the Lady of the house should always be presented first before her daughters.

The staircase was grand and made from marble, almost mesmerizing. The marble continued into the main entrance to the castle, I brought my gaze upward to see it stretch all through the hall and into the ballroom where hundreds of people were gathered. 

Mother stopped right before the doorway to tell the guard who we were and how to announce us. We hadn't discussed it with her, and I was unsure if she would use her maiden name or the name that she was given after marrying Ella's father. 

Oh God, Ella, I forgot about her. One of mothers conditions was that she find her own way to the castle. Did she find a way? Could she have possibly walked? Our carriage ride was so bumpy, I could only imagine what walking in such conditions would be like. She could sprain her ankle! 'Stop worrying about her, Driz. You are at the Royal Ball, calm down and enjoy yourself.'

Ana let go of my hand and placed hers together in front of her as Mother had shown us to look like respectable young ladies.

I recalled her little speech to us before leaving, "You cannot hold each other's hand the whole time we are there. This is your debut as Ladies-" Mother put extra emphasis on the word "Ladies" until she continued, "You must show yourselves as independent and respectable young women. Which means no holding your sister's hand in the ballroom; you keep your hands to yourself unless you are asked to dance."

Just then, the herald announced us. His vocal projection made Ana and I jump. 

"Lady Tremaine and her daughters, a Miss Drizella and a Miss Anastasia" 

My heart skipped a beat and my whole body went cold when I heard my name. Ana and I looked at each other and I placed my hands together just as Ana had. We smiled at each other and walked forward into the grand ballroom.