Shadow Castle by MARIAN COCKRELL

Author:MARIAN COCKRELL [COCKRELL, MARIAN]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781504029728
Publisher: Amanda Cockrell c/o Authors Guild Digital Services
Published: 2013-03-13T16:00:00+00:00

10

ROBIN STIRS UP TROUBLE

Thursday, the day of the Grand Ball, the Princess Bluebell stayed in her rooms all day, trying on gowns for the ball. She said she just couldn’t decide what to wear.

The little purple maid could be seen frequently, all day long, running upstairs and downstairs in a great hurry, on errands for her mistress.

At last the time for the great occasion arrived, and all the guests were assembling in the great ballroom. Mika came in with the guest of honor, Princess Bluebell, on his arm, and Gloria came in with her son Robin.

The Princess’s gown was the blue of the sea, with changing lights in it, and decorated with tiny pearls, and crystals from the Blue Crystal Caves of Blue Elfland.

Gloria was clothed all in clinging white, and her golden hair shone like the sun. A girdle of purple flowers was about her waist, and a circlet of flowers in her hair.

This Grand Ball was a great occasion. It was given once a year at the castle. All the royal families of all the fairy kingdoms were invited, and the people of their courts. The Fire Fairies were there, the Blue Elves, the River Fairies, the Snow Fairies, the Flower Fairies, and many others. The Swamp Fairies were invited, too, although no one wanted them very much. They looked disagreeable and never seemed to be enjoying themselves, but they always came. There were so many guests that the great ballroom could hardly hold them, and the whole first floor of the castle was thrown open.

Intricate dances were performed, with names like the Royal Circle, Stars in Iceland, Twilight Minuet, and many others.

Before the dancing began, however, everyone walked about and watched the new arrivals as they were announced by the heralds with their silver trumpets.

Robin sought out the ambassador to Blue Elfland, whose name was Zeret, and after the usual polite greetings, he said:

“Is the Princess Bluebell your choice of all the princesses in Fairyland?”

“I—er—Your Highness,” Zeret said, looking worried, and then stopped. “She—she doesn’t seem…” He stopped again.

“Doesn’t seem what?”

“She doesn’t seem the same. She looks just the same. I can’t tell how she’s different, but she is.”

“What do you mean?”

“Look at her father and mother,” said Zeret. “Look at all the people from the court of the Blue Elves.”

Robin looked, and saw that the King and Queen of the Blue Elves and all the people from Blue Elfland were standing together, looking in the same direction, just standing there, instead of mingling with the other guests. They were gazing at the Princess Bluebell, who was walking about the room with Mika.

And on the face of every one of them Robin saw the same expression of doubt and puzzlement.

“Her own people,” Zeret was saying. “They notice it. I tell you she’s changed. I don’t know how, but she is.”

“I see,” said Robin. “Don’t worry.” He turned away and wandered through the crowd of guests, trying to behave as he was expected to, and looking toward the door every few minutes.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.