The Youngest Princess (Part 32)

He paced. Down the hall, back again, to his room, around it. He went to the bathing suite right after midday. The staff there looked at him, some unable to hide their smiles when he jumped at almost everything. They had seen nervous young lads before on the eve of the Solstice. Perhaps not this nervous, however. By the time he was done, dressed in a silver-blue tunic and pants that had cobalt blue embroidery on the high color and long sleeves, he thought that his nerves were going to bounce out of his stomach.
Then he paced more, his mind going at more than 90 miles per hour. He couldn't concentrate enough, couldn't even sit still enough to read a book. His hands clenched and unclenched.
He felt like an idiot.
He was going to make dolt of himself, that was for bloody sure. He kept looking at the ceiling, out the windows, needing some sign that told him that it was close to being ready to go.
There were very few people in the hall now, something James was thankful for. His hair probably stood on end from all the times he hand pushed his hands through it out of anxiety.
Finally, finally, he thought he heard something, a soft chiming, like church bells. It got louder and louder, until the whole palace seemed to shake from it.
Fear and excitement rising into a strange ball that leaped in his throat, James turned, and strode towards the throne room as the hall began to fill with people.
***
"By fate, sister, if you do not stop that soon, you may make a hole in the floor."
Aelora shook her head, and continued pacing. "I can not stop, Yumika." She sighed, glancing out of the window to see the soft grey and yellow sunset that sparkled against the mountains. "It is sundown. Why...."
Yumika, her many jewels shimmering when she stood. "Control yourself, Aelora," she said softly. Aelora stopped at that, and Yumika smiled gently at her. "I just know you will enjoy yourself tonight. I just..." she smiled wryly, and put a fist against her own heart. "I just know."
Aelora smiled wryly in return, but the nerves just kept jumping in her. "At least one of us does."
She didn't care about enjoying herself, she thought as she tried to stop herself from pacing. No, it wasn't that, that wasn't the reason for these lunaflies skittering around her heart.
Then her eyes widened, and her head came up. For a moment, a slow smile lit her face.
"And so it begins," she whispered. Yumika watched her, used to this.
"I told you not worry," she told her, but Aelora didn't seem to hear her. Her father entered the room, and his face moved into a warm smile at the sight of them.
"My dear daughters," he said, opening his arms as if he was going to embrace them both. "You do the people proud this night."
Aelora blushed and bowed to Lyokis as Yumika smiled and nodded. "I do hope so," she added wryly.
Then the chimes began. Aelora felt the music seep into her heart, and she smiled, raising her head.
"Into the fray we go," she whispered, making Yumika smile and roll her eyes. She nodded, and for a moment, they stood together, bathed in the glowing light of sundown.