Page 43 of Journey to the Elderoak (Daughter of the Earth #2)

“ S top 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 making me anxious.”

“I’ve never done anything like this before. ”

“We don’t shake hands. The curtsy and bow are in place of that,” said Thorne.

Sighing with relief she said, “Good because my hands are sweaty.”

“Though some of the bolder men may kiss your hand,” he added.

“Ugh, okay.” Casimir’s eyes flashed, as if he was jealous. She smirked at him. “What? You don’t like that idea, general?”

“Not one bit.”

Moments later a group of high fae approached, all dressed in elaborate dresses and gaudy tunics, the colors of green and gold on display. “Not royalty,” Thorne whispered into her ear. “Smile and welcome them.”

Ava did as he instructed. The group bowed and curtsied their greetings before they turned and ascended the stairs, headed inside.

“See?” he whispered. “That wasn’t so bad.”

She nodded, staying quiet as more guests filled in the streets and approached. They spent a while greeting citizens from both their kingdom and others. Orcs, goblins, fae and pixies. Everyone was welcome at the Solstice Ball.

Ava’s heart no longer raced and she was beginning to get the hang of things, smiling at the guests and welcoming them. She could do this.

Thorne leaned in and whispered, “Soren and Astrid have arrived.”

She looked down the line, finding the queens holding hands and smiling at the other guests as they made their way through the crowd. Soren’s red hair was beautiful against the deep blue gown she wore, and Astrid’s purple sequin dress sparkled in the lamplight.

They stopped before them, giving Ava and Thorne a curtsy. “Hello, dear friend. It’s so good to see you,” Soren said, voice low and sensual .

Thorne bowed back and kissed her hand. “It’s good to see you too, Soren.”

Ava curtsied. “It’s good to see you again, Your Majesty.”

Soren smiled warmly. “It’s lovely to see you again too. I am truly sorry about the troubles you faced during your visit,” she added with a hint of sadness in her eyes.

“Thank you,” Ava whispered. Soren stepped away as her wife approached.

Astrid’s dark blue eyes sparkled as she took Ava’s hands in hers and leaned in, whispering, “You’re doing great. I hate these types of things. If you need a companion to escape the monotony, come find me later. I’ll give you all the royal gossip.” She pulled back, winking. “Good to see you again.”

Astrid turned back to Thorne. “I do hope you sat us near you all for dinner. The other courts are so boring.”

Raine grinned. “Of course. I know you already miss my excellent sense of humor.”

Astrid and Soren walked away laughing, hand in hand.

“I really do like them,” whispered Ava.

“I do too,” Thorne whispered back.

After greeting a few more guests, a voice called Ava’s name. A familiar voice. High pitched and scratchy.

“Ava! Princess Ava! Miss Ava!”

Ava scanned the crowd, looking for the source, when she spotted him.

Remy. The hobgoblin who had befriended her when they were both prisoners of Deidamia.

The last time she’d seen him, they’d parted ways as he headed to his home with his brothers and she’d made her way to Mosshaven, saying their goodbyes. That was months ago.

She crouched to address her short friend, her eyes brimming with tears. “Remy!” she exclaimed as he waltzed up to her.

Opening her arms, she pulled him in for a hug and squeezed, a small sob leaving her throat. The two of them held each other for a long while, reveling in their reunion. She felt everyone’s eyes on her, but no one said a word. They broke the hug, and she met his stare.

He looked so much better than when she last saw him. The pallor of his green skin was gone, and he had filled out; no longer bony and starved. A clean tunic and pants replaced the rags he wore in camp and his smile was genuinely happy.

“I can’t believe you’re here,” she whispered through her tears.

He placed a gnarled green hand on her face and looked at her with his globe-like eyes. “You’re a princess now. Yes yes yes. I’m happy to be here. To see you, my friend.”

Three other hobgoblins came up behind him, looking almost the same save for their different statures. Remy’s brothers. They bowed in unison.

The tallest one spoke as he regarded Ava with awe. “You saved our brother. Yes, you did.”

“We are forever grateful,” a short round one said.

Ava wiped her eyes. “He saved me too.”

“Pardon the interruption, but you’re holding up the line,” Thorne said, leaning down.

Ava rose.

“I’m sorry Your Majesty,” Remy said. “Your sister is special. Yes, she is. I was just so excited to see my friend again. She saved my life, you know. I shall go inside now.” He bowed again and trotted off, his brothers in tow.

“Who was that?” Thorne asked.

“The hobgoblin who was imprisoned with me.” Her eyes flicked to Casimir, who was watching her with admiration.

Thorne gave her hand a squeeze and smiled warmly. But moments later, he stiffened. “The astral royalty is here.”

The rest of their group immediately tensed, Casimir going rigid as they waited for the trio to approach.

Ava’s nervousness returned with a vengeance, her pulse racing.

It was obvious who they were by the way they were dressed and the air of self-importance hanging around them.

They barely acknowledged Casimir other than a brief nod.

Though the one she assumed was Jareth sneered at him and said, “Brother.”

Casimir did not look like his father at all except for his golden eyes and his size.

Orion was tall and imposing and instantly made Ava nervous.

He had blonde hair cut above his shoulders, sprinkled with silver.

Very few wrinkles were visible on his otherwise perfect face and he wore an all-white outfit lined in gold.

“Strange customs you must have in the human world,” he said in a deep voice, looking at her with disgust. “A princess kneeling before a hobgoblin? It seems your time here hasn’t cured your obvious disregard for propriety.”

Raine stilled and Casimir trembled with restraint at the insult but remained quiet. Speechless, she curtsied, trying to hide her shaking hands.

“We respect all citizens of our kingdom, Orion,” Thorne interjected. “Something you could learn about, I think.”

He turned to Thorne, now ignoring Ava. “Your Majesty. I hope the members of your court have learned some manners since the last ball,” he said, then strolled away.

The Queen curtsied, remaining silent, her pale blue gown shimmering with the movement. She regarded Ava with intense violet eyes, bright against her pale complexion and golden hair.

As she finished her greeting, Orion barked at her, “Come, Seraphina. We best get inside.”

Bringing up the last of the trio was Casimir’s half-brother, Jareth.

Leaner and shorter than Casimir, he had his mother’s deep purple eyes full of mischief and disdain.

Honey blonde hair brushed his shoulders and his flawless alabaster skin shone in the lamplight.

He was dressed similarly as his father; all-white trimmed in gold.

He stalked toward Ava with a feline grace and reached for her hand. Not knowing what to do, she let him pull it to his mouth, kissing it sensually as his eyes locked with hers. Her skin crawled at the way his gaze moved lower, stopping on her breasts.

“You may be ignorant but at least you’re a sweet morsel to look at,” he said after he let go. All the men around her tensed at his words. He leaned closer, inches from her face. “I wonder what you taste like,” he whispered as his eyes dipped low.

Nausea brewed in her gut as she took a subtle step backwards. Casimir, Raine and Jorrar’s hands had moved to their swords, ready to defend her at a moment’s notice.

“Stand down,” Thorne said, before turning to Jareth. “One more comment like that to my sister and I’ll have you thrown in the dungeons, Jareth.”

Jareth backed away and raised his hands. “Fine, fine. I was just teasing. All in good fun.” He sauntered away, hands in his pockets.

“Are you okay?” Raine whispered.

“Fine.”

Casimir’s hands clenched into fists at his sides, on the brink of losing control. She raised her eyebrows and gave him a slight smile, trying to assure him she was alright.

The rest of the greetings went smoothly.

She met the king and queen of Igneothenia.

Aelerion was huge and tall with brick red skin and bright yellow veins on his hands and neck disappearing below his clothing.

His vivid orange eyes twinkled as he greeted her boisterously, his booming laugh sounding over the crowd.

Thalia was lovely, with the same complexion as her husband, neon yellow eyes, and long gray hair.

They both donned black clothing, Thalia’s ebony gown sprinkled with glimmering crystals .

The guests were almost done filtering in, and relief washed over Ava that this part was over. She hoped to do everything in her power to avoid Orion and Jareth and promised herself she would get through the night unscathed.

Once the guests had finished making their way inside the castle to the ballroom, Casimir approached. “Are you alright?”

“I’m fine,” she replied. “Your family is something else.”

“If he says one more thing like that to you, I’ll have his head on a pike.”

“No, you won’t,” said Thorne. “We must play nice this time.”

“He’s not the one that threatened to throw him in the dungeons,” said Raine.

“I shouldn’t have said that. You two go ahead inside.” He nodded to Raine and Casimir. “We’ll be there shortly.”

The two warriors disappeared with the crowd, leaving Ava with her brother and Jorrar, who would announce their entrance into the ballroom. Heart in her throat and stomach in knots, she readied herself to be presented to the crowd.