The Gala

by Leigh Walker

  “Ah.” We parked in front of my house. Compared to the castle, the place was positively dingy. Still, I held my head high as the guard opened the door and held out his hand for me. It didn’t matter what my home looked like. What mattered were the people who lived there.

  So close to them, my heart pounded.

  Dallas came to the sidewalk and clasped my hands. “Are you all right with me coming in? I can wait outside.”

  “Oh, no, please come with me. You’re the reason I’m here.” I stared at the front door, dreading what might be inside. “And I would like to have you near.”

  He looked as if he melted a little, but then he released my hands and respectfully stood behind, letting me go first.

  My mouth went completely dry as I climbed the steps and knocked on the door. “Mother? It’s me.” I licked my lips. “Gwyneth.”

  A guard opened the door and bowed. “Miss West. Your Highness. We’ve been expecting you.”

  I hustled past him.

  “Gwyneth? In here,” my mother called from the living room.

  I ran to them.

  I noticed, without really looking, that there were guards stationed around the room. My brother played on the rug, and my mother sat near my sister. The doctor spoke in low tones to a nurse. A fire roared in the fireplace.

  Winnie was on the couch, pale, so pale, with two hectic spots of color in her cheeks. She slept, chest rising and falling, but for some reason, her breathing looked strained. An IV dripped into her forearm.

  Remy sat on the floor with his blocks, his eyes wide. “Gwyny!” He reached up for me, and I swept him into my arms, hugging him and kissing his face until he started to squirm.

  “I missed you, you little bugger.” I gently set him down and turned to my mother, who knelt on the floor beside Winnie. Dark circles bloomed like bruises underneath her eyes. Her hair was pulled back sharply, and her face looked thin.

  “Mother.”

  She hugged me fiercely. “It’s so good of you to come.” She was never one for tears, and her voice was even and steady.

  I turned to my sister and brushed the hair back from her forehead. Her skin was hot to the touch. “Tell me everything.”

  My mother sighed. “It happened at the end of last week. It came on suddenly. She was fine, then she woke up in the middle of the night with a high fever. You know children always start a fever at night. The next morning, she seemed better, but by the end of the day, she was lethargic—didn’t want to eat, didn’t want to drink, didn’t want to play—totally unlike your sister. So I called Dr. Northman, and he diagnosed flu. But there’s nothing he could do about it, and he didn’t have any medicine for her. But then Dr. Cameron showed up.” She motioned to the female doctor across the room. “She started IVs. But Winnie hasn’t woken up, and her fever hasn’t broken. It’s still over a hundred and seven.”

  I winced. “The poor thing.”

  My mother straightened her spine, smoothed her dress, and looked around the room, blinking. Her gaze settled on the prince, and she quickly rose. “Oh, I’ve quite forgotten myself! Your Highness.” She curtsied, and I marveled at her ability to bring it. She likely hadn’t slept for days, and she was still light on her feet. “Thank you so much for sending help and for bringing Gwyneth here. It means so much to all of us.”

  Dallas stepped into the room, looking extremely tall, royal, and out of place. He bowed and took my mother’s hand. “It’s an honor to meet you, my lady. I’m so sorry your daughter’s ill.”

  “Thank you, Your Highness.”

  Remy peered around my mother. He looked up at the prince, a solemn expression on his face.

  Dallas smiled at him. “You must be Remy.”

  “I saw you on the TV,” Remy said without preamble.

  Dallas laughed. “Did you see your sister, too?”

  Remy nodded. “She looked weird.”

  “Remy.” My mother frowned at him.

  Remy ignored her, as usual. He kept staring at Dallas. “You’re tall.”

  “I am quite tall,” Dallas said agreeably.

  “C’mere.” I held out my arms to Remy, and he ran to me. I lifted him up. “Have you been helping Mother?”

  He nodded. Still, I noticed the firewood supply was low. I’d have to speak to them about that, but this wasn’t the time.

  “Do you feel okay?” I asked my brother.

  He nodded. “The doctor gave me the flu test. I don’t have it.”

  I hugged him fiercely. “Good. Good boy. I’m going to visit with Winnie for a minute, but then I’ll come and play with you, okay? I’ve missed you so much.” I kissed him again, and even though he wiped it off, he grinned.

  “Little monster.”

  I set him down, and he immediately returned to his blocks, talking to himself in earnest. Remy’s pretend games lasted for hours. With the cold Settlement 4 winters, it was a blessing he could entertain himself.

  I turned my attention to my sister, grasping her hand in mine.

  “Hello, Winnie. It’s me, Gwyn.” I squeezed her hand. “You’ll never guess who’s here. The prince. He brought me all the way from the castle just to see you.”

  My shoulder was squeezed, and I looked up to see Dallas. He briefly rubbed my back as he made his way to the doctor.

  “Dr. Cameron, Your Highness, please join me in the kitchen for tea.” My mother bustled off, and I wondered if she had any fine cups left to serve them with. This was exactly the sort of thing that would cause her grief, but I couldn’t care less.

  “Gwyneth.” Dallas was the last one to leave the room. “I’m here if you need me.”

  I nodded, touched by his continued kindness. “Thank you.”

  I clutched Winnie’s hand as they left the room. “You’d love the prince,” I told her. “He’s very chivalrous and tall and handsome, of course, just like you said. He took me riding the other day. My horse’s name was Maeve. She was pure white, so sweet and strong. Oh, the horses, Winnie, you would love them…”

  Comforted by the sound of my little brother playing on the rug next to me, and the feel of my sister’s hand in mine, I relaxed at being unexpectedly home. I’d missed my family more than I could say. I intermittently reached over and ruffled Remy’s hair while I prattled on and on, hoping that I could somehow reach my sister, wherever she was.

  Don’t you leave me, Winnie. It’s not your time. Not yet.

  Chapter 11

  Wings Wouldn’t Help You

  “Charge! They’re headed our way!”

  I woke up, stiff and confused, to find Dallas on the carpet with Remy, playing…toy soldiers?

  “I’ve got them now!” Remy manipulated his action figure around the block castle they’d constructed.

  “Good boy. You’ve got them cornered.” Dallas grinned at my brother then raised his eyes to meet mine. “Hello, Gwyneth.”

  I smiled at him. “Hello, Your—Dallas.”

  Remy frowned at us but then looked past me. “Winnie?”

  I turned sharply and found my sister blinking her eyes.

  “Dr. Cameron,” I yelled, “Dr. Cameron!”

  “Your sister is going to be just fine.” Dr. Cameron patted my arm, reassuring me one last time.

  I didn’t want to leave her, to leave them. But we’d stayed all day, and even though he hadn’t said a word, I knew the prince had to get back. His father was likely boiling mad he’d been gone so long, not to mention Tariq. Not to mention the other girls.

  “Thank you, Doctor. I appreciate everything you’ve done.”

  Dr. Cameron tucked one of her tiny braids behind her ear and smiled. “It’s my pleasure. I’m meeting with Dr. Northman before we leave, and I’ll make sure to leave specific follow-up instructions and plenty of medicine. But I don’t think Winnie will need it. She’s strong, and children her age bounce back surprisingly fast, unlike old ladies like me.” She laughed.

  “About the medicine.” Dallas nodded at her. “When we get back to the palace, I’
d like to speak with you about setting up clinics in all the settlements.”

  Dr. Cameron’s eyes shone. “Your Highness, that would be amazing.”

  He nodded. “I’d like you to spearhead it. We’ll talk more when we get back.”

  Dallas knelt down by my sister, who’d been watching him with wide eyes ever since she’d woken up. “Winfred, I’m so glad you’re feeling better.”

  “Your Highness.” She didn’t even blink, as if she were afraid she’d miss something.

  “Would it be acceptable for me to write to you? I’d like to keep in touch, so I know how you’re doing.”

  Winnie’s eyeballs almost popped out of her head. “Yes, Your Highness.”

  I giggled beneath my hand. She couldn’t seem to get enough of saying “Your Highness.”

  He rose and bowed formally to her, then turned to my brother, holding out his hand for a high five. Remy slapped his hand hard.

  “Remy!” I scolded.

  Remy grinned at me. “I taught him how to do it. He likes it when I bring the heat.”

  They next performed some sort of fist bump, ending with each of them shaking their fingers like tambourines.

  Dallas chuckled. “See you around, Remy.”

  Remy beamed at the prince. “Not unless I see you first.”

  “Remy. Don’t be fresh.” I held out my arms for him, and he pulled a face, but he came and gave me a hug. “Behave yourself. I love you.”

  “Love you, too.” His words came out smushed because I was squeezing him so tight.

  I let go of him and squatted down to his level. “One more thing.”

  “I know,” Remy said. “The firewood.”

  “That’s right. You can’t let it get that low again. I don’t want Winnie getting pneumonia. You’re the man of the house now.”

  He nodded solemnly.

  “I love you.” I smooched him and hugged him again. “Now go play, and be a good boy.”

  I turned to my sister, brushing the hair from her face again. “I’m so glad you’re better.”

  “You already said that,” she said, sounding vaguely annoyed and much more like her old self. Her gaze flicked quickly to the prince. “He’s awfully nice,” she whispered.

  I winked at her. “He is rather nice.”

  Her eyebrows quirked up, a thousand unanswered questions clearly running through her mind. But like my mother, she had the knack for the social decorum my brothers and I had always lacked. “Thank you for coming.”

  I squeezed her hand. “Thank you for getting better.”

  I kissed the top of her head, reluctant to leave her. “I’ll write soon, okay?”

  She nodded, smiling, and I felt infinitely relieved. She made it. She was going to be okay.

  I looked up to find Dallas staring at me, a fact Winnie also eagerly took note of.

  “I’m sorry we have to go,” he said.

  I held out my hand for him. “Don’t be sorry. I’m just so glad we got to be here.”

  He waved to the kids as I dragged him into the kitchen to say goodbye to my mother. Her eagle eyes took in our entwined hands, and I dropped his immediately, embarrassed.

  Dallas bowed to her. “Mrs. West, it was a pleasure. Thank you so much for having me in your home and for letting me meet your beautiful family.”

  My mother put a hand over her heart. “Oh, Your Highness, it was our pleasure. Thank you for saving my little girl.”

  Dallas bowed then regarded her when he stood. “I’d like your permission for something, my lady.”

  Her gaze flicked excitedly to me, and my stomach lurched.

  “I’d like to leave the nurse here with you until Winifred is one-hundred percent.”

  My mother’s face softened, even though that wasn’t what she’d been hoping for. “That’s very kind. Thank you.”

  “I’d also like to leave some guards in your service. They will stay at local headquarters, of course, but I’d like you to have security here around the clock. My men can also help with the household chores and the firewood, and they can oversee the extra provisions we’ll be sending you from the palace.”

  My mother, rarely caught off guard, looked confused. “Extra provisions?”

  Dallas nodded stiffly. “I’m sorry that the rations we’ve provided to date haven’t been sufficient. I promise that the government will be more generous going forward. I’ll see to it.”

  “Thank you.” She curtsied, quickly recovering herself. “For everything.”

  I hugged her.

  “I’ll give you two a moment. I’ll be in the car, Gwyneth.” Dallas left us alone.

  I pulled back, smiling at my mother. “You look tired. You should get some rest. She’s going to be okay.”

  My mother blew out a deep breath. “Thank God.”

  I hugged her again, which was unusual for us, but no one loved Winnie like we did.

  “I’ll write soon, I promise. There are only four weeks left. And I’ll be getting a stipend—”

  “Gwyneth.” My mother cut me off, gripping my hands in hers. “You must listen to me. The prince is in love with you.”

  My cheeks heated. “He likes me, I think—”

  “He’s not looking at you with like. It’s more than that, as plain as day. And he brought you here in the middle of the night to see your sister. He genuinely cares for you.”

  She looked me straight in the eye. “Do you know what this could mean for our family?”

  “Of course I do.” I shook my hands free of her, of her pressure and her meddling and her expectations. “Why do you think I agreed to enter the competition in the first place?”

  My mother frowned at me. “Think of what he just did for your sister, for all of us. He accomplished in one morning what we haven’t had in five years: safety, security, the ease and hope that wealth brings to your life. We haven’t had anything close since your father and Balkyn left, and I, for one, am tired of living like a scared pauper.”

  I took a deep breath, trying to calm myself so this didn’t turn into a fight. “I don’t understand your point.”

  “You’re still young, Gwyneth. Young and headstrong. Your temper rules you.”

  “That’s not true.” My cheeks heated, and I felt it—my temper.

  “A girl your age can’t understand that there are things more important in life than your own feelings.”

  I gritted my teeth. “My family’s the most important thing to me.”

  “Then I’m asking you, no matter what happens, think of us. The competition’s going to be intense, but think of your family. And do not let the prince get away.”

  I groaned. “He’s not a fish to be reeled in, Mother.”

  She arched an eyebrow. “But reel you must. And do not let go.”

  Chapter 12

  Take A Chance On Me

  I was still shaking my head when I climbed into the back of the car. No one could push my buttons like my mother. No one.

  “What’s the matter?” Dallas asked.

  I sighed. “It’s just my mother. I love her, but she drives me crazy.”

  He laughed. “I know the feeling.”

  I smiled politely. My mother was overbearing, but his mother was positively petrifying. I quickly changed the subject. “Why are all these people out here?”

  I was surprised to see my neighbors out on their steps, curiously watching our car. More civilians lined the sidewalks. There was no cheering, like in the propaganda videos; it was more the curious stares of strangers.

  “Word’s gotten out that we’re here.” Dallas watched the civilians from behind the dark-tinted windows.

  “If they know it’s us…shouldn’t we wave or something?”

  “Yes. We should.” He sat forward immediately. “I never get out here, so I didn’t even think about it.” He instructed the driver to slow the vehicle, and we both rolled down our windows, waving to the people lining the streets. Now, they began to clap and smile.

  “Gwyneth!” I sa
w my friend Lyra standing near the corner, waving and grinning. “Go, you!”

  “I’ll write you soon!” I leaned out of the window and blew her a kiss.

  Dallas chuckled as a little girl, probably all of three, sitting on her father’s shoulders waved at him madly. He waved back, and she shrieked in delight.

  “Adorable,” he said, but then he did a double take as he looked out the window. “The camera crew’s following us.”

  I looked and saw another large vehicle following us, making its way slowly down the street. A cameraman stuck his head out the back window, filming the crowds.

  We drove further out of town, and the audience thinned. I gave the vehicle behind us another look. “Did you tell them where we were going?”

  He scrubbed a hand across his face. “I told several of my advisors and left a note for my father. I guess they must have alerted the crew.”

  “Hmm.” I twisted the hem of my dress. “I guess we veered a little off the script.” I had a feeling I’d be hearing about it from Tariq.

  “You don’t need to look worried. I’ll deal with it. Besides, I expect that showing us under the circumstances—helping your sick sister—will be considered a PR coup by the team.” He frowned.

  “And that’s bad because…”

  He shrugged. “It’s not bad. But that’s not what this was about, and I get tired of the non-stop posturing.”

  “I bet.”

  He hit a button, and a screen rose up, separating us from the guards. “Privacy screen.” Dallas smiled, and my heart skipped a beat.

  He grabbed my hand. “I liked your family very much. Thank you for letting me meet them.”

  “Thank you for having Dr. Cameron save my sister’s life and for bringing me to see her. That meant everything to me.”

  “See? I keep telling you—I’m not so bad.” His eyes twinkled.

  “My siblings are both obsessed with you, and my mother is obviously beside herself that you came to the house, which is my way of saying no, you’re not so bad at all.”

  Dallas’s face darkened. “Your mother seemed a bit embarrassed, actually, when she made us tea. She kept apologizing for her ‘lacking’ service. I felt terrible.”