Dark Blue Memories

this is a short story that I wrote

It was a dark night in May, someone knocked on my door, when I opened it, there was a man dressed in a nice black suit.
He didn't say a word, just put out his hand and in it was a letter.
I noticed it was really nice paper, and not something from the villagers, on the front was the royal crest seal, and on top was written,
 "Lian"
my name was on top, it was then when I noticed what it was for, I had gotten invited to a royal ball.
I am a village girl going to such an important event, I had questioned a few times, if maybe they got it wrong, but the messenger had said to me, that this was a special invitation.
He would not tell me who it was from, and I gave up on asking, The messenger had bowed and left into the night Written inside was:

  You have been invited to the Royal Ball

                               by The King and Queen of Cirtue
                           It will take place in the great hall
    on Saturday at 9:00
  Signed The Royal Majesties

When I went to place the letter back in its envelope, something fell out.
It was a small piece of paper and on it were directions, questioning what they were for...

I left not but a few minutes later,  following the directions, they led me to a small pond, I remember it briefly, but hadn't been here for 6 years,
 Not knowing who would know of this place, and why they would send me here, i looked to my left where stood a single tree, under it was a white box.

I walked over to it, on top was my name again, "Lian" now I was beyond shocked, not only did they know my name but they knew about this place...
I opened the box and inside was this Dark blue dress, it was my favorite color ; it had long sleeves, a blue rose on the front, lace covering the top, and an open back, low cut front I couldn't help but blush the thought of wearing this was making me crazy.

It was beautiful, but not me. I pushed myself to take it anyway, I walked home removing the dress from the box, and hanging it up.

I had one day before the ball, and still no idea what I was going to do. Sure I can dance, but I dont do well in public, so I figured I would go ask my neighbor what I should do, I've known her for 14 years, she has been there with me through everything so it was important that she knew.

But I couldn't go tonight, I decided I would go early in the morning...

When the sun had come up that morning, I quickly made myself something to eat, and raced to see Mrs. Mary.
She was out front as she always is, dusting off her rugs and watering her flowers. I had waved towards her to let her know I was there.

"Mrs. Mary I got a invitation to the ball!" I yelled.

"You did that's wonderful, sweetheart." she said smiling at me.

"When is it?"

"tomorrow..."  I had said slowly.

"Well that's not much time, do you have a dress?" she said quickly waiting for answers...

So I had sat inside and explained to her everything that had happened, she seemed excited. I wasn't as thrilled, but she seemed to take a liking to everything that had been said, I explained the dress and the letter. but still had no idea what I was going to do...

"I don't think, I want to go..." I said sadly.

"What! Why?"

"I dont like those kinds of things, and I really don't want to go in the castle, I mean I'm just a village girl nothing more, and nothing less." I said sadly.

"Now you listen here! you may not wear a crown on your head, or own a castle, or have maids and servants. but you have a whole town that loves you, and that you love in return. don't you ever forget the ones who care about you, just because you wear a crown doesn't mean that you have the love of many people, and you have every right to go, just as those other girls." she explained rather angry.

"I'm sorry your right..."

"Besides, don't you want to know who sent you this invitation in the first place?" she asked while she winked at me.

"That is true, okay I shall go, but if anything bad happens I'm blaming you." I said returning a wink.

I had given her a hug, then left for home I wanted to take care of a few things before tomorrow came.

Returning home, I went to hang the clothes on the line in the back yard. Passing by the dress every time I walked in and out of the room, it kept bugging me, who gave it to me? why did they know my name? and the place I left 6 years ago?...

These questions angered me inside, it kept pulling at me, the only thing I could do was wait for tomorrow to come, but at this rate it will be to long. Although, it still made me blush when I thought of wearing the dress, it was so low cut, and not to my taste, but I have no other dresses, so it was going to have to do.

The day had passed by as I did all my chores.

I sat at the table, just as I do every day by myself, staring outside the window. I felt tears running down my cheeks, I then began to quickly whipped them away, but they kept falling I have been alone for 15 years, I got used to this, but it seemed my heart still hurt...

I them started to hear dripping on my window, when I pulled back the curtain, it was raining, I had cried with the rain for an hour.

till I had fallen asleep on the couch not much later, and I then awoke to a knock on the door, jumping from the couch, I rubbed my eyes and walking to the door.

When I opened it there again was the man who said nothing, with his black suit, and a package in his hands. It was a small white box, like the first only not as big, he nodded for me to take it.

On top again was my name,
 "Lian"
I didn't say a thing just sighed to myself. Opening the box inside was a letter and underneath was a cloth covering something when I pulled it back there was a small crown it was beautiful it took my breath away it was gold with sapphires inside I just stood there my mouth in an ah I looked up to the man and down at the crown he smiled and bowed again to leave I tried yelling after him but he did not turn around nor say a word. When I opened the letter inside were but a few words that wrote:
                                              ~Lian~
                             Please wear this tonight
I couldn't help but laugh I walked inside grabbing my shoes and the dress placing it back in its box I ran to Mrs. Mary's place.

"Mrs. Mary!!!" I yelled.

"My dear what is the matter?" she asked.

I put out my hand to show her the crown she stood there shocked like i was only she then got really excited.

"Mrs. Mary can you help me do something with my hair?" I asked kind of shyly.

"Anything for you sweetheart."

"Come on sit here and lets make you a princess." she said excited.

She began to wrap my hair in hot rods this took hours when they were done she began to remove them from each rod all that was left were these long golden curls i looked at myself not knowing what to think all that went through my mind was "Is this really me?"...

"Mrs. Mary... I don't know what to say I mean this is what I look like?" I said taking many breaths.

"Yes it is... "

"Now for the final touch." she put a few pins in the back and placed the crown on top I could help but smile although I wanted to cry I just smiled and stood to hug her.
 
 "Alright now you need your makeup done." she said grabbing me by the arm.

"Wait Mrs. Mary I don't wear make up." I said.

"I know but this is a ball." she replied with a giggle.

"Now, I think your just enjoying yourself." I said sighing.

She grabbed a stick of red lip stick and covered my lips in its red enchanting light. Then she proceeded to put sparkles on my eyelids, blush on my cheeks.

"Lian I want you to wear these." she said pulling out a pair of white earrings.

"Oh Mrs. Mary there beautiful but I can't wear something that important." I said pushing them to her.

"No I want you to it's not everyday you get to go to a royal ball." she said as I returned a reply with a nod.

I returned to look into the mirror she placed the earrings on my ears and she got a necklace from her table it matched the earrings i wore.

"Now for the dress." she said going out of the room and returning with the box.

I slipped off the dress I was wearing and Mrs. Mary helped me into the ball gown tying the strings I felt like a doll the more I stood in the mirror looking at this dress the more I felt not myself. She was getting ready to fix the rose when we heard a knock on the door she left the room. and returned with another white box. this time I laughed so hard I almost cried.
 
This time we both opened the box on top as usual was a letter and under neither was another clothe when we removed it there were a pair of clear heels they had ribbons that tie up the legs, and a single blue rose on each shoe.

Mrs. Mary finished placing all the details on then helped me slip into the shoes there I stood in front of the mirror   
 looking at what was me but looked like another.
                                                     
"You look beautiful like..."

"A princess..." I said sadly.

"No like a queen." She said.

"Thank you so much Mrs. Mary I could not have done this without you I would never be able to do this." I gave her a hug.
 
"Alright dear now the ball is in an hour so you should get on your way." she said walking me to the door.

"But how do I get there?" I asked.

Before any of us could say a word there was a knock on the door.
we didn't even waste a minute we both raced to the door opening it fast there again was the man in a black suit.

"Now what might you be here for?" I asked.

"Lian look!" shouted Mrs. Mary.

I looked to where she was pointing there in the middle of the road was a carriage with two horses I was happy yet not surprised after everything that had come today. I was not as shocked as I was in the beginning I looked at Mrs. Mary and she returned my look back.
 
"Well Lian, what are you waiting for?" she said.

"What?..."

"Get going already you have a ball to get to." she demanded.

"I don't know Mrs. Mary." I said nervously.

"What are you talking about?"

"I mean i know we did all this but I still have doubts."

"Your going no if's, and, or buts about it!" she stated.

She shoved me towards the carriage door the man followed  behind Mrs. Mary he opened the door and helped me inside as he closed the door and getting into his seat.

"Thanks so much for everything Mrs. Mary."

"Have a great time dear..." she said waving after the carriage.

So we rode on for what seemed like forever but it was only 25 minutes the palace was quite far from the village only because it was built on a hill they said it was for war reasons. I had never been to the palace ordinary people are not welcome there we had arrived at the palace gate. I looked out the window there I saw so many lights and people I know now that I am out of place more than anything they looked beautiful so many people wearing gold, gems, and fine cloth's I had none of these things and didn't wish to either.

I didn't really understand why we arrived early.

"Where do I go?" I asked the man in the black suit.

He pointed down the hall to where everyone was walking.
I nodded in thanks to the man and began to walk down the hall it was huge I mean I had never been in a place like this
but something about it was familiar.
When I reached the doors I understood then why everyone arrived early they were calling the names of those who walked in. When I realized that I slipped down the hall me feet somehow knew another way walking down hall after hall there was another door only this time it led straight to the ball room floor.

I didn't want to make a scene coming in so i figured this was a better way happy that I had found this passage it soon wore off when everyone turned to look my way like they had seen something unusual I could feel my face go red as I walked into the room everyone's eyes on me.

I didnt say a word luckly the announcer spoke of the prince's coming in and everyone looked to the top of the steps there stood tree men who were handsome as ever but I took this opportunity to step out side on the balcony.    

 "Leaving the party?" asked a voice from the shadows.

I jumped at the question turning quickly to look behind me there stood a man.

"I just choose not to be the center of there attention." I replied.

"I see my name is Samuel."

"Hi I'm Lian." I replied as he took my hand to kiss it.

 "Its a pleasure to meet you. So what brings you to the ball." he asked.

"Nothing absolutely Nothing. I still don't know why I even came." I said sighing to myself.

I looked over to the man and he had this disappointed look on his face.

"What is wrong?" I asked.

"Then why come?" he asked only this time he sounded angry.

"Well I got an invitation and it had my name I wanted to know who knew my name, why they knew of a place I forgot years ago, and why they asked me to come?" i replied.

"So you don't remember..." Samuel whispered to himself.

Samuel then pulled me to the corner of the balcony and kissed I didn't know what to think but before I knew it I was caught up in the moment. Getting back to my senses
I pushed myself off him.

"What are you doing?" I asked before then everything went black.

When I woke I was laying in a bed still dressed in my ball gown I could hear music playing. I looked to my left there by the window stood Samuel.

"Samuel what is going on?" I asked confused.

"Six years ago I went into the village for the first time I had escaped through a secret hole in the palace wall. When I went into the town I met a girl I wanted to talk to her but she was going some where so I decided to follow her when she finally stopped she was at a small pond. There she sat under a tree with blue roses I then approached her we talked for a long time and began to hang out but one day she fell from the tree in by the pond and I never saw her again." he explained rather sadly.

"Why are you telling me this?" I asked

"Don't you see Lain this is our story..."

"What wait it was you! You know my name and the place by the water and about the roses."

"Yes, this was the only way I could see you again." he said coming to my side.

"You sent me everything. the dress, the crown, and the shoes." i said getting off the bed to walk to the door.

" Lian I just didn't know how to tell you when you fell from the tree you lost your memory of the time we spent together." he explained

"I see I'm sorry for not remembering you I feel horrible about it."

"It's okay your here and I finally get to see you." He said pulling me into his arms once more. He kissed me again and I didn't refuse him this time.

We returned to the dance floor and danced the night away I then realized that he was a prince I kind of figured but  wasn't as sure.     
We spent years together he eventual asked me to marry him and of course I did he was My Prince and I was his Princess...

Author's Note

this was done rather fast so sorry if anything is wrong in it...

Reviews

[thoughts of jade]

actually i found it lovely