"Someone...help...I'm drowning! ...please! Help me!...HELP!"
"Look, a damsel in distress. It'd be best if we left her. Nothing for us to gain."
"No, no. Take another look. Look at what she's wearing."
"...gold, silver, pearls and jewels. No wonder she's drowning. Maybe there is something to gain. Men! Get off your bums, grab some rope and reel her in! Quickly you dogs!"
"Help!"
*****************************************************
"Lindsay... Not so tight. I can... barely breathe..." The young brunette gasped for air.
"I'm sorry, M'lady." The maid loosened her corsette just enough so she could talk more freely.
"I already told you, you can call me by my name. You may go. I think I can handle all of this on my own."
"Yes...Lady Herenes...If you need my help. I'll just be outside." Lindsay her handmaid walked out closing both doors behind her and stood beside the plant that hung on the wall.
"She still doesn't call me by my first name. Can't be helped I suppose...She would get into trouble. Anyways, a dress couldn't be that hard." As she was about to grab her dress, Lindsay called and asked if she needed any help again. Lady Herenes rejected her offer and put on her dress. She fixed her hair nicely and went to her vanity to put on her jewelry. 4 golden bracelets, a pair of pearl earring with a pearl necklace to match, 3 jewels on her fingers and a gold ring. She stared at the ring that she wore. It was very special to her. Whenever someone would ask, she would never tell. Not even to her mother. There was something different about this ring. It wasn't as beautiful or exotic as normal jewelry, but different. Engraved on it was, "S.E.R.E.N.I.T.Y." She understood what it meant but it felt like a dream to her.
Lady Herenes walked to the stairs and looked down at the guests who were dancing. Most of them were bachelors since the whole ball was set to have her marry one of them. Her 21st birthday had already past and her mother wanted her to marry. Her blue eyes sparkled as it took a glance at the chandelier. Her lips were full and red and there were 2 big curls on the sides of her head with a few smaller curls following up behind. Her gown was a maroon red with patterns all over. Gold linen was used to make it look more stunning. She walked down the steps to talk with her mother about something.
Lady Herenes moved through the crowds as she spotted her mother. "Mother, do I have to dance with them? I don't want to marry. I don't like most of the men in this room anyway."
"If you want to be sucessful early in life you have to. You haven't even met anyone here! Just give this ball a chance. Who knows, which ever man you dance with an adventure might come after. Like...i don't know. You two get married and get bankrupt and survive. Just to let you know, I don't want that to ever happen to you. Just give it a go. It's your ball."
"I'll do it your way. But I will not enjoy any moment of it." Lady Herenes stated as she walked away.
The first man she danced with was a very tall and skinny man. He stepped and tripped on her feet whenever they took a step. The way he talked sounded like mumbling or bumbling of a bee. He was kind but wasn't the one. The next man was very short and stout which felt akward to her since he was the complete opposite of the first man. He was polite, well-mannered, and generous. But there was a big problem about him. His temper. A butler spilled a drop less than a mustard seed on his shoe and he exploded as if he threw a bucket full of water on him. Of course he wasn't the man for her. The 3rd bachelor was young and hansom. He wasn't very good at dancing but had many good qualities. The problem was, he had the manners of a pig. Lady Herenes quickly switched to the next one. Each one she danced with had something she thought was wrong. She had danced with almost everyone. Her feet ached from the horrible dancers. A few hours had past by and no one seemed right for her. Just one last dancer... she thought to herself. Now, the last man was an old man. Not very close to death but at least 30 years older than her. His hat tipped over his face so that no one could see his face.
"Miss...Herenes...you look lovely. You've been putting alot of perfume on."
"Why, thank you...and I haven't been using too much perfume on. The scent is just strong. So..." It was hard for her to imagine herself being with him so she felt alittle akward. All the guests eyes were on them as he spun her around which made her look like a rose from above. Whenever she forgot a step he guided her so that she wouldn't mess up. He was an excelent dancer but she just couldn't picture it.
"Why, Miss, what'd be the matter?" He asked as they were still dancing.
"Nothing is wrong....why do you ask?"
"You seem unbalanced, not like yourself. The last time I checked, you had excellent foot-work in dancing and extra activities..."
"Extra activities? How do you know I'm not always like this? What if I'm always like this?" She questioned.
"I don't recall you always asking questions all the time either. You're always wearing alot of jewelry as usual though."
"Who are you?"
"There sure are alot of bachelors in this room, don't you think? I wonder who you'll pick."
"Tell me the truth. Who are you?"
"Tell ME the truth. I wonder if you remember the feeling you had. Who are you going to pick?" He spun her and brang her back waiting for an answer as they continued waltzing across the floor.
"Not you! I'm sorry but I'm not going to be with you!" She yelled.
"You've gotten me mistaken. I'm not a bachelor Miss Herenes...or shall I say Serenity? Or maybe Serena is more fitting? I'm just a humble man visiting an old friend of mine." He said as he tipped his hat back revealing his face to her.
"Arnson!" She gasped.
"My, hasn't it been awhile since we've seen each other's faces. Sorry it's late but happy late 21st birthday."
"Why have you come? If they see you, you could be killed. Worse yet, if I'm seen talking to you I'll die too."
"Can't I just visit once every...5 or 6 years?"
"Explain."
Arnson came closer and whispered in her ear, "Tommorow very early in the morning. Remember to be there. Oh, and drop the whole "manners thing."
"It'll be alittle tough, but I'll make it." Serena reached into his pocket and pulled out her ring. "And make sure you return the clothes and un-tie the man in the bushes."
"Will do Miss Serena." Captain Arnson tipped his hat and walked away as Serena's mother came to her.
"He's a great dancer but he's way too old for you."
"Trust me. He isn't the one I want to marry." Serena said before she walked into her room.
As soon as she was in her room, she looked out the window to where she was supposed to meet Captain Arnson. The docks. It was risky assosiating with a pirate...or at least being one. She kept wondering about what was so important to come all the way to her home. There was something going on that would probably affect her later on. Her mother came in. Which made her slightly jump since she was staring off into the meeting place.
"Dear, are you okay? I know it's hard meeting other men but Serenity, he's way too old for you."
"Mother! I do not like him! Nor will I feel anything for anyone else. He's just a friend that I have met before." She said defensively.
"Okay, okay. Now that I'm clear on that, why have you been acting alittle...weird?"
"Oh, it's nothing. It's just the ball that's all."
"Well, I'm glad you are fine."
Before her mother closed the door behind her, Selena said, "Whether I'm good or bad. ...will you still consider me your little daughter?"
"...of course." Her mother said softly as she closed the doors quietly.
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