Morwenna didn't sleep a wink that night.
She lay in the quiet darkness, the green snake tucked under her arm, Cinder curled in a warm ball at her feet. The fire in the hearth had burned low, and a lingering chill filled the room, yet her mind refused to settle.
Tomorrow. Or rather, today. The sun would rise in only a few hours.
She rolled onto her back and stared up at the ceiling, watching the shadows from the dying embers flicker across the plaster like ghosts. She thought of the ballroom, the crystal chandeliers, and the velvet-draped dais where she would soon have to stand.
She imagined the faces she was about to meet—names she had known as mere fiction in another life, now attached to real people she had never seen.
Fleur filled her thoughts. She couldn't remember the girl, no matter how hard she tried. The twenty letters sat on her nightstand in a neat stack, worry and complaints about a strict tutor and small details of a stray cat pressed into every line.
Someone had written them with affection and waited for a reply that never came. Morwenna turned onto her stomach and buried her face in her pillow, wishing for a memory that stayed out of reach.
At five in the morning, she gave up on the idea of rest. She slid out of bed, feeling the bite of the cold floor against her feet. Cinder lifted his head immediately, his ears swivelling toward her.
"Go back to sleep," she whispered softly. He lowered his head, though his eyes remained open and watchful.
The bathroom was swathed in shadow, so she lit a single candle on the counter. The flame flickered, casting a dancing light as she ran a hot bath. Steam rose in thick clouds, and she undressed before climbing into the water. The heat wrapped around her tired limbs, and she leaned her head back against the cold porcelain, closing her eyes as the water rippled around her.
She didn't know how long she sat there as the candle burned down and the steam began to thin. A soft pop broke the silence, signaling the arrival of a house elf. Bitsy stood by the tub with her large eyes wide and her ears trembling slightly.
"Little miss," Bitsy said, her voice barely above a whisper. "Bitsy didn't mean to startle you. Bitsy heard the water running and thought the little miss might need help."
Bitsy was Jane's personal elf, a quiet figure who stayed in the background. Morwenna opened her eyes and nodded. "You can stay."
Bitsy's ears relaxed. She picked up a cloth from the edge of the tub and dipped it into the warm water. "The little miss is nervous."
Morwenna watched the water drip from the cloth. "Yes, I am."
"Bitsy was nervous before her first ball too," the elf confessed.
Morwenna looked at her in surprise. "You went to a ball?"
Bitsy's ears flushed a bright pink. "Bitsy watched from the kitchens. But Bitsy could hear the music, and Bitsy could see the dresses through the crack in the door."
She wrung out the cloth and began to wash Morwenna's shoulders with practiced care. "The little miss will be beautiful. Bitsy knows it."
Morwenna said nothing. Bitsy washed her hair with soap that smelled of lavender. The water turned a dull grey, washing away the residue of her sleepless night. When the bath was done, Bitsy wrapped her in a thick, warm towel.
"Bitsy will tell the mistress that the little miss is ready."
With another soft pop, she was gone.
Jane entered the room a few minutes later, looking radiant in a gown of deep indigo. Silver embroidery traced the neckline and cuffs, and her vibrant red hair was pinned up with loose curls framing her face. Silver combs caught the candlelight as she moved. She looked at Morwenna, who was still wrapped in a towel with her damp hair.
"Mom," Morwenna said, "you look beautiful."
Jane smiled warmly. "You haven't seen yourself yet." She crossed the room to the wardrobe, which Morwenna had been too anxious to open.
Jane pulled the doors wide to reveal the dress hanging inside.
The fabric was a rich, dark green in the traditional Keith style, but the bodice featured intricate gold and silver embroidery in the shape of phoenixes and serpents. The sleeves were long and fitted, ending in small silver buttons at the wrists, while the skirt fell in shimmering, gossamer layers to her ankles. At the throat was a silver clasp set with a brilliant emerald.
"The Evans emerald," Jane explained. "Your grandmother wore it at her debut, and I wore it as well."
Morwenna touched the cool, smooth stone. "And now I will wear it."
Jane helped her step into the gown, the fabric feeling cool against her skin. She fastened the tiny buttons at the back with steady fingers before gesturing for Morwenna to sit at the dressing table.
She picked up a brush and began to work through Morwenna's hair with long, slow strokes. She braided small sections at the temples and pinned them back, letting the rest fall loose over her shoulders, secured by simple silver clips.
"There," Jane said, looking at the result. She then picked up a small pot of kohl. "Close your eyes."
Morwenna obeyed, feeling the soft touch of the brush. When Jane told her to open them, Morwenna stared at her reflection in the mirror.
The girl looking back wasn't the same one who had woken from the coma months ago. The High Elven fine-tuning had refined her features, sharpening her cheekbones and jawline. Her hair framed her face in a striking blend of black and white, and the kohl made her red and silver eyes seem even larger and more luminous.
She didn't look like the woman who had lived in an apartment with a brick wall outside her window, nor did she look like the child who had died in a bath. She was Nimue—an Olde One, an heir, and someone who truly belonged in the grand ballroom downstairs.
Jane kissed her forehead gently. "Come. Breakfast is waiting."
. . .
The morning room was warm and inviting, with a high fire crackling in the hearth. The table was laden with fresh bread, honey, fruit, and a small cake with six unlit candles at its centre.
The entire family was gathered. Aldric and Seraphina were already seated, while Jack stood by the window and Saoirse sprawled in her usual chair. Luelle, Raphaël, Celestine, and Lucien were all present, along with Elara, Viviane, Roxane, and Nicholas. They all looked up the moment Morwenna entered the room.
Saoirse let out a low whistle. "Look at you."
Morwenna felt her ears grow hot with embarrassment.
"Turn around," Luelle urged, leaning forward. "Let us see the whole thing."
Morwenna turned, and the gossamer skirt swirled around her as it caught the light.
Saoirse grinned, "The noble families won't know what hit them."
Luelle laughed, and Morwenna felt her face go red as she shot a glare at her aunt. Jack crossed the room to pull out her chair. "Sit down and eat. You'll need your strength for what's coming."
Morwenna took her seat, and although her stomach was knotted with nerves, she managed to eat some soft eggs and warm toast.
Saoirse watched her closely and asked, "Are you nervous?"
"No."
"You're lying. Your ears are bright red."
Morwenna instinctively reached for her ear and found it was indeed quite warm.
Luelle laughed, "She gets that from you."
"She gets nothing from me," Jane replied with a raised eyebrow.
Saoirse snorted. "She gets everything from you—the composure, the calculating look, and even the way she eats when she's stressed."
Morwenna glared at her aunt again, her ears redder.
Saoirse's grin widened. "There she is."
.
After breakfast, Saoirse led Morwenna to a quiet sitting room near the ballroom where Cinder was already waiting on the rug.
"The guests will start arriving soon," Saoirse said. "Rest here for a while and play with the fox. Bitsy will come for you when it's time." She paused at the door and added, "You look beautiful, little monster."
Once she was alone, Morwenna sat on the rug and stroked Cinder's fur as he crawled into her lap. Through the walls, she could hear the muffled sounds of the manor coming to life—voices, the shifting of furniture, and the distant clink of glass.
.
Saoirse walked through the corridors toward the morning room, her heels clicking against the stone floors. The receiving room had transformed overnight. Small tables replaced the elegant chairs, silver trays of champagne for the adults and sparkling cider for the children upon them. A tower of pastries rose in tiers near the window, and a chocolate fountain flowed in one corner, strawberries and marshmallows at its base.
Fresh flowers stood everywhere, white roses and purple lilacs brushing the ceiling. Saoirse touched a small silver bell on the mantel. Its clear chime rang through the room.
She moved to the ballroom, where light spilled across the polished floor from the lit chandeliers. The tapestries looked richer in the glow, and at the far end, the green velvet dais and the serpent-carved chair stood waiting. Morwenna would sit there today.
Nearby, a long table held refreshments, including delicate sandwiches and a four-tiered cake with silver edging. An orchestra was already in place, quietly tuning their violins and cellos. Saoirse looked up to see that the ceiling had been enchanted to show a bright blue spring sky with drifting clouds, despite the morning sun outside.
The manor was truly showing off. The stone walls felt warmer, and the very air felt lighter. Even the ancient wards had loosened just enough to welcome the invited guests. Saoirse turned back toward the entrance hall. Even the portraits had dressed for the occasion.
At the centre of the hall, the fountain ran with silver water that caught every flicker of light. The entire manor hummed with anticipation.
The first guests arrived at nine o'clock sharp.
Lord Cyrus Greengrass arrived first with his wife, Lady Selene, and their two daughters. Cyrus was a tall, composed man with dark brown hair and sharp green eyes. His beard was neatly trimmed. Selene was equally elegant, her ash-blonde hair pinned up, her blue-grey eyes cool and assessing. She rested a hand on her husband's arm.
Their eldest daughter, Daphne, walked behind them. She was small for her six years. Her platinum-blonde hair was pulled back neatly, and her cool grey-blue eyes took in the entire hall with a measured, observant gaze. She did not smile.
Behind Daphne, holding her mother's free hand, was Astoria. At four years old, she was smaller than her sister, her features softer, her expression curious rather than guarded. Her hair was the same ash-blonde as her mother's, and her eyes were wide as she looked at the high ceiling and the floating chandeliers.
Jack stepped forward to shake Cyrus's hand. Jane greeted Selene with a kiss on the cheek.
"Lord Greengrass. Lady Greengrass. Welcome," Jane said warmly.
"Thank you for inviting us," Cyrus replied. His voice was measured. He often had conducted business with the Keith family before. He knew the weight of this invitation.
Jane looked at Daphne. "You must be Daphne."
Daphne stepped forward and performed a small, precise curtsy. "Thank you for having me, Lady Keith."
"Jane is fine," Jane said, her eyes softening.
Daphne gave a short nod, her expression remaining perfectly composed as she moved back to stand behind her parents.
Jane looked at the smaller girl. "And you must be Astoria."
Astoria peeked out from behind her mother's skirt. She attempted a curtsy. It was wobbly. "Thank you for having me, Lady Keith."
Jane smiled. "You are welcome."
She gestured toward the ballroom. "This way."
The Malfoys arrived next. Lucius Malfoy entered with measured ease, his silver-topped cane striking the floor with each step. He was a pale, imposing figure with white-blonde hair drawn back at the nape of his neck. Narcissa moved with quiet elegance at his side in a dress as pale as winter light.
Their son, Draco, walked between them. He was six years old and dressed in black velvet, his posture already immaculate. His pale hair was slicked back, and his grey eyes were sharp, though he wore an expression of practiced boredom.
Lucius greeted Jack with a firm handshake. "Keith. Good to see you."
"Malfoy. Thank you for coming," Jack replied.
Narcissa kissed Jane's cheek and remarked, "It has been too long."
"We have been busy," Jane said with a faint smile.
Something flickered in Narcissa's gaze, but she didn't press the matter. Draco remained silent at his mother's side, his eyes moving over the portraits and the grand staircase. He took everything in without fidgeting or speaking, and though he tried to look unimpressed, he never once looked away.
The Longbottoms arrived shortly after. Augusta Longbottom was a formidable woman with an impressive hat and an eagle perched on her shoulder. She arrive with her grandson, young Neville walked behind her. Neville was small and appeared quite overwhelmed by the grandeur, holding tightly to his grandmother's hand.
Augusta shook Jack's hand firmly. "Longbottom. We are honoured."
"The honour is ours," Jack replied.
Neville looked around at the flowers and chandeliers with wide, frightened eyes.
"Stand up straight," Augusta instructed, patting his hand. Neville obeyed, though his eyes remained wide with apprehension.
Soon, the hall was filled with the Parkinsons, the Rosiers, and many other families. The space hummed with the rustle of formal robes and the constant murmur of voices as the elite of the wizarding world gathered together.
= = =
Happy birthday to Morwenna and me! ଘ(੭ˊᵕˋ)੭* ੈ✩‧₊
I honestly didn't expect that the time of the ball, the time I upload this chapter, would land right on April 26. Maybe it's a sign from the universe that this year will be more interesting and fun.
If you want to give a birthday gift to us, you can do so by sending them via Ko-fi and Patreon. Both addresses are under "rikhi":
https://patreon.com/rikhi
https://ko-fi.com/rikhi
Oh right, if you're reading this on AO3, you can't see the full links to my Patreon and Ko-fi. You can go to my carrd and find both there: rikhi.carrd.co
Or you can also leave a review if you're reading this on Webnovel or FFN. That would help boost engagement too, especially on Webnovel where star ratings really matter.
Anyway, thanks for the gifts!
ദ്ദി(˵ •̀ ᴗ - ˵ ) ✧
Also if you didn't know, I have a Discord server. It's basically a ghost town lol. I usually only use it for updates and announcements. It makes things easier for me since my projects are spread across 3 or 4 platforms now.
discord.gg/75sprU6DdD
Because obviously this ball can't be done in one or two chapters, I will try to post and make sure this event is finished before the date ticks over to the 27th, as my gift to you guys.
Thanks for reading and for being with me until this chapter (˶˃ ᵕ ˂˶) .ᐟ.ᐟ