Page 120 of Journey to the Elderoak
She turned around and hugged him.
“Are you ready?” he asked, pulling away and holding out his elbow.
“As ready as I’ll ever be, I suppose.” She placed her hand on his arm and took a deep breath as they left the suite and made their way downstairs.
35
“Stop fidgeting,” Thorne chastised.
They stood outside the entrance to the castle and down the steps, waiting for the guests to arrive. The sky was bursting with glittering stars, adding a magical touch to the ambiance of the ball. At the end the walkway was an arch made of willow branches, lights hanging near the top with a warm glow, welcoming the guests to the castle grounds. As Ava looked at the archway, she was reminded of the first time she passed beneath it. Her very first day in Mosshaven.
How far she had come.
She stood between Raine and Thorne, Casimir across from them with Jorrar. Quinn and Pax monitored the guards in the ballroom and would be joined by the rest of them later.
“I can’t help it,” she said. “The anticipation is killing me.”
“You’re not very sophisticated,” Raine said.
“No. I’m not. Consider yourselves lucky I haven’t already tripped over this dress.”
“Please don’t trip,” said her brother. “You’ll embarrass us all.”
She scoffed. “I’ll try not to. Okay, remind me what I’m supposed to do again?”
“Smile and greet the guests. I’ll introduce them as they come through. You don’t even have to talk other than simple things like ‘nice to meet you’ and so on. Also, when we greet the other royalty, make sure to curtsy.”
“I forgot how to fucking curtsy,” she whispered harshly, scratching her arm.
“And don’t curse,” he scolded. “It’s unbecoming.”
“I’ll show you, Ava,” said Raine, dipping low.
Ava and Casimir snickered.
“Why can’t I have a serious court?” Thorne lamented.
“Because you’d be a boring king with a stick up your ass and everyone would hate you,” said Raine.
Thorne pinched the bridge of his nose as Ava practiced her curtsies and mumbled, “it’s so nice to meet you,” to herself.
“What are you doing?” said Casimir, an incredulous look on his face.
“I’m practicing.”
“You look ridiculous,” he said.
“Oh hush.”
A guard approached from the streets. “Your Majesty. The guests are starting to arrive in town. The first ones should be here within a few minutes.”
“Thank you.”
Ava closed her eyes, trying to calm her racing heart. She wiped her sweaty palms on her dress as she prepared to shake people’s hands.
“Wait,” she said to the group. “Do you shake hands here? Is that a thing? Do I need to hold it out or what do I do? Oh god, I’m going to be sick. My?—”
“Ava,” Raine interrupted. “You’re so anxious you’re makingmeanxious.”
