The Iron Princess | The Iron Fey sequel |

Chapter 17: The Big Day

|Hey guys, guess what? I'm not dead. I am so sorry I've gone MIA for so long, but it's my first year of University and this whole time I have been struggling with school but mostly with myself. I didn't feel inspired for months and I thought I would rather write something when I was truly inspired or not write anything. But I've started to pick myself up and I finally feel confident about myself again. So here's the newest chapter, it's also a bit longer than the others but I finally felt inspired so I hope it's decent and remember, Stay weird!!!|

Tomorrow was the banquet and for a change Glitchand I were in the main ballroom seeing that everything went according to our planning. The tables were being set up, every nook and cranny was being cleaned and the kitchen staff was foraging for fruits, vegetables and animals to prepare tomorrow. Glitch and I were checking every little detail until we saw Megan come into the room, Glitch made a bow and I just smiled at her, 'You two outdid yourselves, the palace looks beautiful, the kitchens smell amazing and everything is running smoothly, great job you guys'. 'Thank you, your Highness, I don't think it could have run as smoothly without Serena's help', 'Oh that's not true Glitch, really mom, he did all the work', I said looking around the room to see if everything was going well. After about five seconds I realizedwhat I had said exactly, I turned to her and she had a look of hope in her eyes, 'I'm sorry that just slipped out', 'Don't be sorry sweetheart, I mean it may not feel like it yet but I am your mother and I hope in time you will see me as that'. She said gently putting her hand on my cheek, I gave her a little smile and she went on her way again, 'She really tries to set your bond you know', Glitch said snapping me out of my trance. 'I know that Glitch, it's just, for fifteen years I have had two people I could call family, my adoptive mother on earth and Puck. 'I got thrown into this world without realizing I would probably never see her or my few friends again. 'I guess in a way I'm still trying to cling to the semi-normal life I had in the mortal world, calling Megan my mom and Ash my dad just feels like I leave all those years behind, and I'm not ready to do that yet'. I tried to distract myself by focusing on the feast again, everything seemed to be in order but now it dawned on me that tomorrow would be my very first day as the official princess of our court and my old life seemed so far away. I went back to my room and just sat in my bath for an hour just thinking about how I knew this was going to happen eventually but how unprepared I still was. I may have known who and what I was but it didn't change my feeling about this at all, as I was drying my hair I saw my violin case neglected sitting in the corner. I got it out and went to sit outside on my balcony, a soft summer breeze blew through my hair and as I took in a deep breath I realized how far I was from my old home and from my old self. I played the song that matched my feelings and listened to it echo into the night, when I was done my mind just wandered into the woods, 'Feeling down?', I heard someone say behind me. I jumped off the railing startled, Kierran was standing there leaning against it, 'Jesus Kierran, don't do that to me', I said steadying my heartbeat, 'Sorry little sis but I heard your song, so tell me, what's wrong?'. I went back inside and sat down on my bed, 'Kierran I don't know how to do all this, I thought that helping with the arrangements it could help me get to terms with things but it didn't. 'It just made me realize that the rest of my life is going to be like this, banquets, balls, formal occasions and constantly being watched. 'I know it sounds foolish but I didn't grow up here, you did, you're used to it and even when it's too much for you, you just go away for a while. 'I have been away from here for fifteen years and I was given two weeks to get used to it all, it just feels like from tomorrow on there's going to be this burden on me that I won't be able to escape from, no matter how far I run'. Kierran crouched down in front of me and gently took my hands in his, 'I'm not saying I can relate to what you're going through, what I can relate to is the feeling of wanting to escape. 'Believe me, I've been slapped on the wrist for that more than enough', he said with a smile making me giggle, 'But I can tell you it does get better, eventually you will get used to it and it will get easier in time. 'The only advise I can give you is try not to think about it too much, don't let this feeling of doubt consume you because it will only bring you down. 'Keep your head high and your mind clear', he squeezed my hands giving me courage, I smiled at him and realized something completely different. 'How is it that I could connect with you so easily and with mom and dad I only feel uncomfortable?', he chuckled and sat down beside me, 'I think it's because they can both be a bit intimidating even though they're our parents, they still have status and everyone that they know gives immediate respect'. 'Well except for Puck', he chuckled, 'Yes except for Puck, but no one can blame you for feeling like this, at moments I don't feel connected to them at all and I've known them my whole life. 'As queen and king of a whole realm they sometimes have to disconnect to the people they are closest to, to put their people before all others. 'Even though this is a safe place this is still the Nevernever where they prey on the weak, and by emotionally severing themselves from us they keep them and us safe. 'And of course you haven't been the warmest to them either', I shoved him, 'Hey now you're just being mean', 'I know but it is true though', 'Yeah I know, but to me the woman that looked after me was my mother, she raised me for over 15 years so calling someone that I haven't seen for so long my mother just feels odd. 'And I know they're trying their best but I have to get use to them as well, they can't expect me to call them mom and dad after being back for just two weeks', 'I know that, but what you don't know is that they have been watching over you in every way possible without drawing any attention to you, they have seen you grow up into a beautiful young woman and it pained them they couldn't be a part of your life. 'They have been patient enough to watch someone else love you like their own and now we all finally have you back, so yes they're a little hopeful you'll get used to them enough to call them mom and dad. 'But everything in its own time, now off to sleep you, you have a very important day tomorrow', he said nudging my shoulder, we both giggled and just before he left out the door I said, 'Hey Kierran?', 'Yeah?', 'Thank you for being my big brother', I said giving him a little smile. 'Thank you for letting me be your older brother, and oh try not to step on my toes too much with our dance tomorrow okay?', I giggled and nodded, he closed the door and I let myself fall back on the bed. I thought about everything Kierran had just said, that they have al been watching me for all these years, I did know Puck had to give a rapport on me from time to time but I thought that was it, turned out it wasn't, I knew that calling them my real parents was going to be a challenge and we would all have to get used to but I was willing to try it, because they were after all my family. I fell asleep and what felt like way too early there was an obnocutious knocking on the door, 'Princess, princess, wake up, are we allowed to enter your room?', I groggily sat up, rubbed my eyes and told them they could enter. About 6 wire-fearies came into my room, one holding a big tray of all sorts of foods, they all stood around my bed and gave a courtesy, 'Princess, we were assigned by the queen to come and help you prepare for the banquette. 'For breakfast we have a variety of light dishes so you won't lose your appetite for later, while you eat we will draw your bath and plan you your complete attire'. They were all waiting for me to say something but I was just so struck by this sudden development, I wasn't used to being woken up by people who had breakfast and were going to help me out with literally everything, the wire-feary that had spoken and looked like she was in charge softly cleared her throat to get me out of my thoughts, 'Oh uhm yes very well, thank you', I said starting to get out of bed. 'Would you like to eat in bed princess?', one of them asked, 'Oh no that's alright, I'll just eat at my desk, you can continue with the preperations', as I sat down and started on my breakfast they all scurried around my room doing all sorts of things, I could hear and smell my bath being drawn and a few fearies were going through the drawers of my boudoir finding pins and such and talked about how they were going to do my hair. As soon I was done eating they scurried me to the bath and even helped me out of my clothes and bathe me, they meticulously washed my hair and body and then smeared an assortment of creams and ointments on my body and my hair. They put some robes on me and sat me down in front of the boudoir, combing out my hair and starting on my make-up, to match the dress they gave me silver eye shadow that was darkest at the base and lightened in shade, my lips were painted a soft pink and they applied the lightest bit of blush on my cheeks. Then they started working on my hair, they did it in a what they called, "plaited half-up do", not that I knew what that meant but it looked beautiful, just as they were about to help me into my dress Kierran just burst into the room. 'Morning ladies, how's the preparation going?', he asked already dressed to the finest, he looked like a true knight of the Iron court, 'Prince Kierran I do not wish to be rude but we still have a lot to do so would you be so kind as to leave us to our work?', the feary in charge said polite but stern. I softly chuckled and he reluctantly left leaving the fearies to continue their work, they helped me into my dress and shoes, adjusted a few things and prayed a bit of perfume on me but were also frantically looking for something, 'Didn't anyone take the matching jewels with them?', she asked starting to panic. Just then the door opened and in came my mom holding a big jewelry box, 'Do not worry ladies, I had just them brought to the jeweler to polish them', she said with a smile, they bowed to her and mumbled a soft 'my queen'. 'If you girls could give me a minute with my daughter, I will finish here and you can all get ready for the banquette', they gave her a courtesy and silently left my room, my mom slowly approached me and set the jewelry box down. She opened it and sure enough there were the necklace, earrings and the hairpin, 'Turn around my dear', she said to me and I turned around as she put the necklace on me, she gently put in the hairpin and I turned around again so she could help me with the earrings. She took a few steps back and looked at me, 'Oh give us a twirl would you my dear', I slowly gave a twirl so she could see every side of my outfit, when I faced her again I thought I could see her eyes fog up, 'You look absolutely stunning Serena', 'Thankyou Meghan', I said looking down a bit, I could see her face fall a little but she shook it off, 'I have one more gift for you sweetheart'. She sat down on my bed and patted the spot next to her, she held a smaller jewelry box in her hands and when she opened it there was a delicate green-gold bracelet that looked like twined branches in it, there was a single charm on it that resembled a vine leaf, 'Take of the leaf and hold it out in your hand', she said. I did as she said and when I held the charm I didn't expect what happened next. In a flash of green and silver my very own sword had appeared in my hand, I held it missing the familiar feeling of it, 'But how?', I asked looking at her with durprise, 'I enchanted it so even when you're in an attire like this you will always be able to protect yourself if you need to. 'I thought it would be a good gift, seeing as it would have come in handy at my first Elysium, you can add any weapon you like on it and when you hold the handle of your weapon to the bracelet it will turn back into the charm'. I tried it out and sure enough there was the little leaf, I looked at her with a smile and when I saw the lookin her eyes I could see she was almost waiting for me to say it, 'Thank you mother', I said with a very first genuine smile, her smile grew wider and she pulled me into her arms. 'I know it's still very new to you and trust me, I know exactly what you're going through and I also know I haven't been that forthcoming these last few days but I would like it if you allow me to be your mother like you let Kierran be your brother'. She said in my hair, making my neck tickle, 'You are already my mother, and I know I haven't been the warmest to you or father but for fifteen years long the human that raised me was like a mother to me,but I'm sure that if we all work on it we can finally be the family we were destined to be'. She lovingly stroked my cheek and gave me a kiss on my forehead, 'I think that's a very fair deal, now come, your father has been dying to see you, let's not make him wait any longer', she said taking my hand and helping me up. We walked the hallways arms linked when I saw my father standing outside of two giant doors, when he saw us it was as if he saw angels appear right in front of him, 'Now you two look like an absolute vision, Lady Weaver has outdone herself, you look beautiful my dear'. 'Wait until you see the dress for the Coming of Age Feast father, it's a true masterpiece', he looked shocked about what I had just said and as if she could read his mind my mother said, 'We had a little talk and it seems we now truly have our daughter back', she said with a radiant smile, my father smiled, pulled me into a hug and kissed my head. 'I haven't seen this much sentiment since my little sister was born', Kierran said strutting to us making me laugh, 'Behave yourself today Kierran, today is about your little sister, now come, it's time for our entrance', she said linking arms with our father, Kierran gave me a little sarcastic bow and took my hand in his. 'You look ravishing little sister', 'You look very handsome yourself big brother', I said giving him a little nudge, he chuckled and just looking at the four of us I finally felt like that gaping hole inside of me was filled, I had my brother, my father and my mother at my side and felt like I could take on the world. The doors opened and our arrival was announced, 'Queen Meghan, Consort Ash, Prince Kierran, and after many years I am proud to finally present to you, Princess Serena of the Iron Court', the whole room clapped for us as we ascended the stairs with our mother and father leading, I just prayed to god I wouldn't stumble and fall making a fool of myself on my first day at Court. As if he knew what I was feeling Kierran squeezed my hand, telling me he wasn't going to let me fall.