Lost (The Secret World Of Atlantis)

Chapter 7- An Unexpected Gift

As I dismount Silver, the servants take him back to the stables. Father is right by my side immediately, taking my arm and leading me to the gardens. I glance back to see the crowd of people still following us. 

I'm getting more and more nervous, to the point, where I want to just scream and run into the castle, never coming out again. But I know I can't do that. I have duties, as my dear father likes to remind me every day.

As I take in the sight of our beautifully decorated gardens from up close, I can't help but sigh in awe. Our servants outdid themselves. Countless candles, surrounded by peonies and irises are floating in glass jars up in the air, forming a line around the scene. Behind them marble columns with white chiffon curtains are forming a border, that guests aren't supposed to pass.

Father leads me to the first table, covered with a white cloth, like every other one standing in the gardens. The only difference is in the decorations. Our table has a golden vase with only white peonies inside it, while the others have white vases with peonies in white, red and pink. And our plates are golden, while the rest are white.

We sit down, the rest of our family joining us behind the table. The guests are being seated by our servants - the more important they are, the closer to us their table is. In other words - the first six tables next to ours are reserved for the leading people of noble families.

As soon as everyone is settled, the musicians start to play. I notice one of them holding a lyre, an ancient instrument I've learned about while I was schooling on Earth. It feels wonderful to hear its music in person.

Soon after, the servants start to bring the entrees - special pastries with sea urchin meat and scallion, accompanied by tzatziki with lemon zest. The taste is quite unusual. In my opinion, there wouldn't be any difference if we were served sea water, but luckily the tzatziki makes it easier to swallow.

After the first course, my father beckons the herald, standing by the musicians. He shuts the music down and announces that the first noble family may come to meet me. The people sitting by the first table on our left stand up, approaching us confidently. But the former leaders are left behind.

"I present the noble family Europa," the herald speaks loudly. They bow to me, and I quickly tell them to rise. Father eyes me scoldingly. I must have been too hasty.

"It is an honour, my Princess. We come bearing a gift to remind you of us. I don't know how much you know about our family, but Gielelin, our home, is known for supplying the kingdom with cotton and silk threads. This is why we brought you a silk dress in the colour of our emblem," the Archduchess speaks and waves at a servant, who comes bearing a fiery orange dress.

"Thank you, Archduchess Europa. It is truly a sight to behold," I say gratefully and nod to the servant, who leaves with the gift into the palace, to put it away.

"You, my dear, are a sight to behold," the Archduke purrs, before turning to one of his three sons. "Gabriel is my youngest and your age, he will be attending the Academy with you."

"I am looking forward to that," I say politely and smile at the boy with dark blonde hair. He returns the gesture but doesn't seem quite interested. The feeling is quite mutual there.

As the Europas are leaving, the Ganymedes step into the picture. This time the former leading Archduke and Archduchess are coming along. There is something familiar about their features, but I can't make out, what could that be. Then it hits me.

"My dear niece," the Archduke speaks, and I gasp in shock. It must be my mother's brother! His hair is much lighter than mine, but his face is so similar to the one that looks back at me from the mirror every day. How could no one tell me that the other part of my family are the Ganymedes? "I would almost call you Delfina, it is true what they say. You look just like her."

"Uncle? And ... My grandparents?" I say silently, but they still hear me and nod affectionately. "May I come hug you?" I ask hopefully and they all exchange glances, including my aunt and my cousins.

"If your father permits," my grandfather says hopefully and I immediately turn my head to the King. He nods shortly and I am up in a second, wrapping my arms around my aunt and uncle first, then my grandparents and lastly my cousins.

"Emilia, Demitri, it is so nice to meet you. When I was studying the Royal families, I haven't had the slightest idea, that we were related," I tell them.

"It's alright. We couldn't wait to meet you actually. You're our only cousin," Demitri declares in a kind tone, and I smile at him warmly.

"You'll be seeing quite a lot of me from now on." I glance at the other members of my family. "All of you." We smile at each other affectionately.

"Well, you better keep your word, my dear. It's been sixteen years. And they were way too long," my grandmother says, and I can see the pain behind her eyes as I turn to look at her. The pain from losing her daughter too early.

"I will," I tell her reassuringly. She smiles, then jumps a little as she remembers something.

"Oh! I almost forgot. We've brought you a little something." She waves at a servant, who comes immediately to hand me a green velvet box. I open it as soon as I get my hands on it and smile at the beautiful golden necklace. It's shaped like antlers and there's even a pearl, shaped like a deer's head in the middle of it. I caress the cold metal. "It was your mother's. She received it from my sister on her very own blessing day. I hope you love it as much as she did."

"I shall wear it with pride," I tell her, looking up from the gift. She clasps her arms around me tightly once again.

As the Ganymedes retake the seats at their table, I go back to my father, too. Then the herald announces another family. The name that makes my heart jump a little.

Elena and Eros approach me with their parents, all of them already smiling at me widely. I am a bit confused, but I still smile back, even if I don't know what they are so excited about.

"My Princess," the Prince says, all of them bowing deeply and I tell them to rise. "I know you have just sat down but would mind coming back here?" he asks. His attitude screams Eros. Now I know who he's getting it from. My father sighs beside me, but I just look at him, shaking my head.

"Of course, there's no trouble at all," I say, smiling at the family in front of me. The servant pulls out my chair again, even if I've already told him, there's no need for that. In the meantime, another servant approaches Eros and hands him a rather large elongated dark green package with the family's lion crest on it.

You can imagine my surprise as Eros gently takes my hand in his, making my hair stand up on the back of my neck. I can feel my heart rate increasing as he slowly bows, his eyes never breaking contact with mine. Then, he softly presses his lips on my skin. My mind is racing in all sorts of directions, but none of them are helping me think clearly. I hate myself for being so weak around him.

Only when he straightens up and lets go of my hand, do I notice that people are murmuring between themselves. Some are even openly staring at us. I turn my gaze back to Eros.

The box is now resting opened in his hand and inside it lies a delicate silver diadem, decorated with icy blue diamonds. I can't help but notice they are the same shade as his eyes.

“Why thank you,” I say, trying to pull myself together. He just smirks as he takes the gift out of the box and tries to place it on my head, but is stopped by my father, who is suddenly up on his legs, taking the diadem out of his hands.

“What is this, Eugene?!” father growls at the Prince. I am more than confused. Why is a simple tiara such a problem?

“We came asking for her hand, of course. Isn't it obvious?” the Prince answers calmly, even smirking at my father. My chest begins tightening. No. Why is everybody rushing me into a marriage, that I do not want? I'm too young to become someone's wife! Let alone Eros's!

“How dare you do this without any consultation?” the King hisses at him. The Prince is still smirking back at him, while I find myself struggling to get some air into my lungs.

“I hate to burst your bubble, gentlemen … But I think she's about to faint,” Eros speaks up and as I see everyone turning to look at me, my world already darkens.

Princess … Princess, can you hear me? Arya … Breathe Princess, come on … Open your eyes, Arya, please … All those voices … They are so distant. But they are getting so annoyingly loud, that I can't get them out of my head.

I come to my senses suddenly, opening my eyes as I gasp for air. My vision is a bit blurry and there's some sort of buzzing in my ears. I find myself to be in someone's arms. And that person smells like heaven.

“Thank the Gods, she's alright!” I can hear the Prince yell at the guests.

“No thanks to you,” I can hear my father grunt from the right, which makes me wonder, who is holding me. I blink a few times and as my vision clears up, I see Eros looking down at me with a crease between his eyebrows.

I try to put myself on my feet to escape his arms, but my legs fail me terribly, which only makes him grab me a little tighter. Please no, I do not want to be anywhere near him right now, or any other boy for that matter.

“You can pass her to me now, boy,” father says coldly, already standing by my side.

“I will take her back to her seat,” Eros tells him. But I don't want him to do that.

“Let me go, please,” I speak up quietly and glance up at my father, who is looking at Eros victoriously. I can feel him stiffening at my words, but he holds me until my father has his arms safely around me.

“Thank you,” I say, looking at every single one of them. It pains me to see Elena looking so sad. She is a good girl, it's a shame their visit didn't go so well. I've wanted to talk to her, but we didn't even get to exchange as much as a few words. My eyes stop on Eros last, who forces a small smile onto his face. I hope he understands.

As father sits me down, he puts a glass of water in front of me. He doesn't stop looking at me until I gulp it all down. “Are you alright with moving forward with the meetings?” he asks worriedly, but something on his face is telling me, I need to go on. I take a deep breath and nod.

There are only three families left and luckily their visits are quick. The Amaltheas bring me enchanted jasmine, that never stops blooming, because it's on their crest. I like their gift because it's simple and beautiful. Although I also appreciate the present from the Himalias, a barrel, filled with a hundred years old wine. They say it's one of their most appreciated sorts, Merlot.

The last family I meet are the Elaras. I don't talk to them much, however, they bring me a lovely silver bracelet with amethysts. Father thanks them rather quickly, which I'm truly grateful for. I am in need for some proper food.

The main course is served soon after. I must be careful when taking food, I always need to act like a proper lady as father likes to repeat. But that doesn't stop me from helping myself to some moussaka and an octopus, stewed in wine. I also don't say no to some classic salad, tomatoes, cucumbers, bell peppers and feta cheese.

I feel much better after I eat, but then father surprises me as he offers me his hand. “Care to dance? It's tradition for the blessed's parents to open the dance floor, but seeing as your mother isn't here and you're able to walk … Miss Thyone has taught you all of our dances, hasn't she?”

“Yes … She has,” I answer him, but I silently hope I remember all the moves. I take his hand and he smiles at me widely.

All our guests greet us with an applause, which makes me even more nervous. Luckily, my father is a great dancer, as I realize a few measures into the music. He leads me across the floor effortlessly and I actually begin to enjoy myself.

You can imagine my surprise as our first dance is finished and I already have men waiting in line to dance with me. As other couples begin pouring to the dance floor, father practically pushes me into another's arms, telling me to dance with as many boys and men as possible.

I soon realize, he wouldn't need to say anything, because I can't seem to escape the men, wanting to dance with me. Even if there is a one-minute pause between each composition, I am already tired from dancing endlessly. That is why I am overjoyed as we are summoned back to our tables for dessert.

After a serving of baklava, my father goes dancing with my stepmother and I find myself sitting down in peace. It seems that no one is bold enough to come to our table to ask me for a dance. Before I'm even able to finish my thought, I see Eros coming over, his eyes aiming straight at me. Oh, no.

“May I ask for a dance, Princess?” he asks as he offers me his hand.