Masked Princesses

[Amaris Rainmayr]

Amaris had been here in her new home for a few months, an adopted ward now of the King and now having a sister. She was still a bit of an unknown here, a woman from a strange land that not many people had been to but now living here. The party though felt like a nod to what she had back home when spring came.

So, she dressed in a Stunning dress, her long hair kept in loose curls that went down her back and just barely hid the gashed scar on the back of her shoulder blade as well as a few others that dotted her back from the attack her home land had received.

With a circlet of dark gemstones around her head, she would search for her friend, Cera Le'Orin and would slip to her side. 

"Princess Cera…you look stunning," she complimented her as she rested her stormy gaze on the other woman's. Amaris was going to be forever indebted to this family and them taking her in, so it was her duty to try and socialize around.

[Cera Le'Orin]

Amaris had been a blessing. Although the circumstances in which she came to be in Teronna was not ideal and she felt for ther other woman, she was the sister she never thought she would have. It made some of the dull days in the castle a little more bearable. In truth, she had been surprised her father agreed to take the foreign princess in, but perhaps he wasn't as horrid as she's been making him out to be lately.

So, in the sea of masked faces, Cera knew which one was Amaris. They had arrived together, escorted by the usual entourage of guards although Lasairdubh appeared to be very safe and secure. She wore that elegant dress of black that faded quickly into a blood red, that same red painting her lips that immediately turned into a smile when her friend appeared.

She pressed a finger to her mouth in gesture. "I'm hoping to lay low." She purposely did not adorn any kind of major jewelry that might give her away. Still, she turned to regard her friend, giving her a quick once over. "But you look absolutely lovely."

[Amaris Rainmayr]

Amaris felt some pink rise to her cheeks at that, she herself hadn't hidden too much of herself since no one really knew who she was. That was a boon in her favor really but that might make her mistaken for their princess; that could be rather funny though to be mistaken as her.

"Apologies...it's been a while since I've been to one of these," she told her apologetically, not wanting to give way who she was. She would look down at herself and then to Cera, "Thank you, as do you. I love your dress," she told her as she looked at the beautiful garment she adorned.

"So...who all was invited here?" she asked her curiously since she was still learning all the nobles in the land and who they were and what they were more interested in.

[Cera Le'Orin]

News might have spread that the Terronian princess was attending which was precisely why she forewent any noticeable tiara or overly glittering jewels. She wanted to lay low, and it would seem that the point of this intriguing party was to do just that. Hide your face, hide your identity if you so desired. And she desperately wanted to blend in with the rest of the crowd.

"Oh, you're fine," she said, waving off the apology. It was true- despite Amaris' different colored eyes (hers were more grey or silver while Cera's tended to lean more towards blue-green) it was quite possible that someone might mistake her for this princess instead. Wouldn't that be fun and interesting! Not that Cera wasn't to subject her friend to the chaos that might bring...but it was tempting.

Casually linking her arm through her friend's, she began to slowly walk the perimeter of the lavishly decorated dance hall. "Seems to be every noble house in Teronna," she replied, those bright eyes wandering around, glancing at all the masked faces. Cera didn't have anyone to search for, but perhaps Amaris did instead. The grin that curled her lips was almost sly. "So, do you have a date for this evening, or are you hoping to be swept off your feet by some dashing stranger?"

If only she had that luxury, too. Being betrothed to a king from another land kind of dampened that fun.

[Amaris Rainmayr]

Amaris could only smile at Cera, she was too kind and really she was grateful for it. It made her feel more welcome and at ease being at her first rather public function in months. It made her feel tense and worried that she might forget some bit of manners that was needed to continue to uphold her family name and the family she was all but adopted into.

If chaos did manage to come her way from it, she'd happily take it for Cera to allow her some freedom from the weight of the crown. Yes it was chaotic life to lead so she understood the desire to be out of the limelight all too well.

Wrapping her arm through her's as she would walk with her confidently as she looked around to the many faces. The question made her smile though, her head shaking, "I haven't met anyone. llyr is here of course but other than you and him no... I would like to meet someone though," she told her with a little pink to her cheeks at that. She remembered her first love, not a high noble nor a prince but a lord. He was dead now though and she ached for his touch once more but couldn't not speak of it. "Do you have any idea of someone that I should look out for?" she'd ask, a curiosity in her tone as she did.

[Cera Le'Orin]

With the impending marriage she so little about, only that she had "no choice" in the matter, Cera was desperate to just...live for a little while. Seeking the freedom that she might manage to get before she was shackled to another a castle, so far from home.

Her own smile spread across her face. Oh, if only she had that freedom to seek out another, for that chance to possibly fall in love. Although Amaris was a princess in her own right, she wasn't weighed down by the same rules here in Teronna. She was so lucky.

And hopefully her father didn't mess that up somehow, too.

Cera leaned in close to whisper, "Well, he's cute-" she said of Llyr. "Or is he...not your type?" She waggled her brows for affect but the gesture was mostly hidden behind her mask. Then she sighed gently but dramatically. "If only I had that freedom, Ris. I hope you don't mind if I live vicariously through you." It seemed all she could do these days. "And I have been unable to...pursue a man in such a way, so I do not know of whom you should look out for." A pause, she was grinning again. "But, do tell me...what kind of man do you look for?"

[Amaris Rainmayr]

Amaris had been engaged to wed but her to-be husband was not there nor tied to her for this so she was not to be alone. At least in her beliefs, she was since she wasn't too sure at who'd want to marry a strange princess from another land.

A little giggle broke out from Amaris at that, "He is but no...he's like a brother to me it would be strange," she told her with a little chuckle as she would lean into her a bit.

"I would switch places with you...I had a love back home and you should be able to find it at least once.“ she told her gently as she would walk with her, looking around curiously before pink crept up in her cheeks. What would she look for now? She had no real type but she was smitten by certain features, ”Tall…dark hair, strong- able and willing to train with sword against me…passionate...quick witted,“ she told her as her head bowed, ”By the goddess, I am losing myself in imagination since I’m not sure if a man like that is around and if he is, he probably is spoken for“ she told her with a little chuckle at that. That would be her luck that such a man she was looking for was claimed by another.

[Cera Le'Orin]

'...he's like a brother to me, it would be strange.'

The smile remained upon her lips, but she didn't sound so convinced, "Uh huh..." But the princess wouldn't push it. She supposed she could kind of understand that. Cera had a personal guard herself, and whereas she thought Sebastian was handsome, that was all. She trusted him completely and could possibly consider him a dear friend, maybe someday a brother in a sense.

At the mention of switching places, Cera's smile faltered a little bit as she patted the other woman's arm. "I appreciate that very much, Ris, but...it's alright." No, it wasn't, but she had to keep telling herself that it was or she would never survive this impending marriage. Her expression fell a little as she regarded the foreign princess. "I am sorry that you lost him, though..." She couldn't even imagine.

Amaris was turning the conversation to something a little more fun and interesting, so Cera forced that grin back onto her lips. "Ooh, that is quite a list!" she said in gentle jest. "But I am sure he exists...somewhere. I haven't exactly been able to, how do you say...let my eyes wander?" And it wasn't as though she could really do that this evening either, considering everyone's faces were covered.

[Amaris Rainmayr]

Amaris felt her cheeks warm as a little giggle left her while her head shook, “I am rather sure he only see’s me as a princess he’s supposed to protect as well. He promised my brother…and I feel I owe your father for taking me in so…I should allow him to marry me off if it is his wish,” she told her. She owed him deeply for taking her in, with not much to offer in return other than her status and her ability to understand politics.

Giving her arm a squeeze, she would nod, “I’m here for you through it all, I promise Cera,” she told her before her head bowed a little, her hand moving to show the simple metal band on her thumb, “I miss him… he taught me that I could love and it didn’t matter who…but I know better than to think that I can without consequences,” she told her softly as she lowered her hand again.

The fun topic was better, not as depressing as the other. “Well…no one knows who we are…I’d say our eyes are allowed to wander- come pick someone out for me and I will pick someone for you,” she would suggest with a bit of an impish smile at that. They were an unknow, masked and hidden from the world to have a little fun.

[Cera Le'Orin]

When Amaris spoke of her father, King Allarick, the amusement from her features flickered away. She should "allow him to marry her off"? Had she heard the young woman correctly? It didn't matter if she owed him anything- the man should have taken the princess in because it was the right thing to do, not because he expected something out of it. However, knowing her father, he probably did.

"No, Amaris...you should not 'allow' anything, because this is your life, and if you have the chance to choose for yourself, to find someone and fall in love again, then do it." Do not get stuck like me, she wanted to say. Cera didn't say anything more, though, because she feared someone might overhear her. And now, she wondered if her father had plans for her friend as well, when Cera wondered if it might be possible to bring Ris along with her to Arcisea...since that was where she was to live for the rest of her life.

Her expression behind her mask saddened a little more when Amaris spoke of her lost love, and the princess eyed that silver band. She wanted to ask more about him, but wondered if her curiosity would be too hurtful so she would play it safe for now.

'I'd say our eyes are allowed to wander...'

"But, not really!" she exclaimed quietly, although it was clear that she was wondering if she could...just for a night. "Would that not be right, since I am technically betrothed to another?" Walking side by side with her fellow royal, those bright eyes watched the sea of masked faces as if she would be able to figure out who they were. Maybe if she looked hard enough, she might be able to figure out a couple of them?

[Amaris Rainmayr]

“I had tried to go against my brother and his desires and all I was left with was the ring I gave him…love hurts,” she told her honestly, a pain in her voice as she spoke that. Her fingers went to her shoulder where the wounds still were but hidden beneath fabric now. She needed to finish healing those and maybe cover up the scars, no one wants a scarred princess.

A little playful tilt of her head was given instead to her. Later they could speak of sad topics but not tonight. She didn’t want to remember her silent pain, she wanted a fun evening among the other nobles.

“But who would know? I won’t breath a word at all,” she told her, her fingers moving over her lips in a sealing motion to protect this little secret. Who needed to know? Amaris wasn’t going to tell anyone and rather let her just enjoy herself as she looked over the masked figures here. "See any mask that catches your eye?" Amaris asked her curiously, wondering if something was catching her attention. 

[Cera Le'Orin]

The way Amaris spoke tugged at her heartstrings, and a part of her wanted to keep asking her about this...yet knew that would be cruel. It was clear that the woman did not wish to continue the conversation, so Cera would not push it. She understood it was a sore subject.

And for right now, they were surrounded by far more interesting things.

'But who would know?'

Who would know? How many people actually knew who she was right now? She attempted to hide herself fairly well, but she was still afraid the most keen of eyes would be able to pick her out of the crowd. Cera bit her lip in nervousness as she thought about her friend's words, then Amaris was asking another question.

Was there anyone? She didn't think so, and yet, her mind bounced quickly to a face in her mind, just for the briefest of seconds.

Arm linked through Amaris', they walked slowly around the ballroom; those bright eyes idly wandering across all of the masked faces. She was good with knowing all of the people that often surrounded her at the castle, but right now? She couldn't tell anyone apart.

"I don't know..." she murmured nervously. "Perhaps, there might be a man with dark red hair...and bright eyes..."