Alomina or The Book of Many Journeys Ch.2
Chapter Two: Percy's Surprise
When they got back, Dricynnia was in the dining room, talking to one of the servants, but when she realized Alomina and Percy were back, she turned and spoke to them:
"Out riding again, Percy?", she asked inattentively.
"And why not?", said Percy, smiling, and kissing her hand to a smiling but chiding look from her.
"And you've been with him, Mina?", she said, turning to Mina.
"Naturally", said Alomina grinningly.
"How was her majesty today, Aunt Cynnia?", inquired Percy after he had finished his little 'gentleman's play' with her.
"Much better, but that little Prince Alfonso", she clicked her tongue. "He's the most troublesome little one I've ever encountered, that's a surety"
"He's a cute little tyke, though", added Percy.
"Yes, I suppose he is that. Oh, but speaking of which, you two, I forgot to tell you, there's a b---", at this Percy frantically gestured for her to stop, and she looked at him questioningly. He mouthed the word 'surprise', and she nodded understandingly.
"Well, I'll be off now then, I'm very busy, but I expect to see both of you two tonight", she said, and Percy cast a cautious look at her.
When she had left, Percy covered Alomina's eyes with his hands and seemed to radiate boyish glee at whatever this silly trick was.
"What's all this for, Percy?", she asked.
"The surprise, Alomina!", Percy said laughingly.
"I see", she said, rolling her yet covered eyes at him, and Percy laughed heartily.
"No you don't", he said mischievously, practically bursting with laughter.
"Very amusing, Percy", she said smilingly as Percy leading her down the corridor.
"Alright, now you can stop", said Percy as though he was expecting something.
"May I look now?", she asked curiously.
"Oh, uh, yes", he said sheepishly, taking his hands away from her eyes. Alomina looked, and saw the most beautifully stunning gown she had ever laid eyes upon! It was a lovely midnight blue, trimmed with a lacey silvery trim, that reminded her of the stars in the sky, laid out on her bed, as if it was hers to have! Oh, how could Percy ever do things like this? It was simply too good to be true (as much as he was, in fact).
She was utterly blown away, standing statue-still in her disbelief and joy. But then as though to complete the delightful, already 'too-good-to-be-true' surprise, Percy hung something small and cold round her neck. She looked down at it. It was a beautiful midnight blue pendant, hanging from a shiny, silver-woven chain that looked as if it were threaded by the hands of fairies and not human craftsmen.
"It's my daisy chain for you, Mina", said Percy, with the tone of someone enjoying themselves immensely.
She stared at it in an overjoyed shock for a moment before she could even think of anything else.
"Can't I get a 'thank you'?", asked Percy smilingly, sitting down on her bed next to the dress.
"Oh, yes! Thank you, Percy! It's beautiful! Is there an occasion?", she asked inquiringly with an idea that he might want something in exchange for this splendorous presentation.
"Do I need one?", he asked nonchalantly.
"Apparently not", she said smilingly, surveying the gown with great interest.
He walked closer to her. "Well there is an occasion... and a repayment" "
What, pray tell?", she said, smiling more.
"There is a ball tonight, to celebrate little Prince Alfonso's first birthday..."
"And the repayment?", Alomina inquired, lifting an eyebrow at him.
"You must accompany me in the first dance, for, I need someone to guide me"
Alomina laughed. Percy was quite possibly one of the best dancers in the country, there was no way he would ever need guidance! Well, if this was the payment he expected, then he was indeed an easy person to trade with. Silly boy, but she loved him for all his little things he liked to have. What a charmed life she had indeed!
"So will you, Mina?", he asked, looking up at her in a wide-eyed and boy-like manner, similar to the way he always did when he requested one of his small favors of her.
"How could I refuse?", she said smilingly.
"Very good! Then, like Aunt Cynnia, I will see you tonight!", he said, clapping his hands together for a moment and departing from the room in almost a skip (well, as close to a skip as Percy really ever got).
Alomina shook her head, smiling. She could not deny him anything, any more than he could her. Oh, what a beautiful thing she had! And an even more beautiful life and brother... She could barely even think of touching it, it was so pretty.
But she took up the dress all the same, held it up to herself, and twirled round the room, only thinking of glorious it would be. How glorious indeed....