The Truth About Lies (An Inheritance Cycle Fanfiction)

Forgetting Him

My head was spinning as I realized that the ball was tomorrow night. In one day's time, I would be revealed to the world as daughter to the king, and my life would never be the same. Wherever I went, I would be treated with either reverence or hate. At least right now I had some anonymity, but not for long. It wouldn't take very much time for word of the princess with violet-colored eyes to spread all over the bloody kingdom.

"Ouch!" I protested indignantly, jumping away from the pin that had just been stuck in my hip. The old woman—Gerta was her name, I think—stared up at me pointedly.

"Well then Highness, stand still," she replied in a gruff voice, going right back to her work. She pricked me a few more times, but I thought better than to complain again. The fabric she was hemming pulled tighter around my waist, showing its curve in stark relief, and I couldn't help but admire the beauty of the gown. When she was finally done, I inspected myself further. The material was a dark green satin with a full skirt and long, flowing sleeves. The bodice was overlaid with gold embroidery, and the tops of the sleeves came to a slight point right at my shoulders. It was somewhat scandalous to my eyes, the way that the sleeves were pulled down over the shoulders and caused the neckline to expose my bosom, but I supposed Galbatorix wanted me to look as beautiful as possible. If his aim was to control me, it only made sense that the easiest way to do that would be to marry me off to one of his staunchest supporters.

"It's beautiful," I said quietly, a twinge of sadness apparent in my voice.

"Now for the finishing touch," the old woman said, pushing up off her creaking knees to walk over to the wardrobe. From one of the drawers, she brought out a glimmering mask of swirling silver with diamonds going down the bridge of the nose, ending in a teardrop. At the sides were silver satin ties and more diamonds along the lower edge. It stole my breath away as Gerta handed the mask over to me. "It belonged to your mother, you know." My head snapped up to look at her.

"How do you know about my mother?" I asked. I knew that Galbatorix had kept her hidden, so it was surprising to me that this woman knew who she was.

"I was her lady's maid," Gerta replied fondly. "I helped to deliver you, child. She was a beautiful woman, inside and out. Just as you are." I gave her a sad smile and then gingerly handed back the mask for her to replace it within the wardrobe. She helped me out of the gown so she could alter it for tomorrow night, and then I was left alone once more. I put on a pink silk robe that I'd found in the wardrobe a few days ago, and then settled in next to the fireplace. Although it was getting close to summer here, the nights were chilly. The crackling of the flames was comforting to me, but there was still a pressure mounting at the back of my head. I couldn't tell if it was Murtagh trying to talk to me again, or perhaps the extreme nervousness that was threatening to overwhelm me.

~*~

Butterflies swarmed in my stomach as I stood shaking behind the red velvet curtain. It was concealing both Léod and me for the time being, until our father deemed it the perfect time to reveal us. I could hear people milling about in the ballroom, chatting and laughing with one another in all their finery. The nobles had been arriving at the palace for the last hour, but I'd only come behind the curtain a few minutes ago. Léod was standing off to my left, brooding to himself silently underneath his ornate gold mask. I glanced over at him hatefully every few moments, but he never paid me any mind and I had resolved myself to ignore him for the rest of the evening. My biggest fear, however, was having to dance and be social with that bastard of a traitor, Murtagh. I could see Thorn's massive tail flicking the curtain impatiently from the other side. He and his Rider stood dutifully behind their king, but my father's own dragon was missing. He was far too large to fit in the ballroom.