The White Wolf Chapter 31: Busy Busy Busy

Alexia was thrust into a world of ball planning and clothes. The queen mother, Judy, as she insisted on Alexia call her, held her hand through the entire ball planning process.

Shelia, Alexia's mother, arrived during the week to assist in the planning process. Alexia had only recieved short updates from Caspain, assuring her that he was ok but still very busy.

On Wednesday the ladies had taken over Caspian's study. Fabric samples, pictures of flower arrangemnts, and sample menus lay across every surface.

"What do you think of this one?" Shelia asked sitting in an arm chair, holding up a picture of a flower arrangement. Judy looked up from standing over the desk, her glasses at the tip of her nose and her mouth slightly ajar as she squinted to see what shelia was showing her. "We may have trouble finding tulips this time of year." She replied to her friend.

"I prefer the one with red roses" Alexia said adding her imput, and then blushed thinking of her mate. She quickly lowered her eyes to the papers in front of her so the older ladies would not see the reddening of her cheeks.

Judy nodded "Good choice, we grow them specially in the palace greenhouse. What did you think of those pastries?" She said to Alexia who was sitting in Caspian's chair with a plate of sample pastries next to her.

"I like the little tarts with the fruit fillings, they are small and cute." She said holding one with red strawberry filling between her fingers. "And they are delicious." She added.

"Don't fill up on desserts, we still have a lot of hors d'oeuvres to taste." Judy warned with a smile.

"Why are we spending so much time on the seating chart?" Alexia asked looking at the stand that held the table layout with colored tabs all over it.

"To prevent war" Shelia said simply.

"War?" Alexia questioned.

"Oh, yes. Put the wrong alpha next to another by the end of the night war may be declared." Judy told her

"Or if you put an alpha in a less desireable spot, they could throw a tantrum." Shelia said before looking at Judy. "Do you remember years ago when that one alpha -oh what was his name" She paused to think pursing her lips. "Anyway it's not important." She waved her hand dismissively "He stormed out of the ball because he felt he too close to the bathrooms."

"And he tripped and knocked over a vase on his way out!" Shelia said excitedly smiling.

"Yes! What was his name?" Shelia pondered.

"Jack?" Judy through out a name.

"No.. Jason?" Shelia though out a name.

"No, thats the one whose mate ran off with the beta." Judy said taking a drink of tea as she said it.

"Jamel!" Shelia exclaimed rising to her feet.

"Jamel!' Judy agreed pointing at shelia across from her. "How could I forget that name? He would walk around with the FAKEST french accent and acted all pompous!"

"Yes! and he was from a tiny pack!" Shelia added laughing.

Alexia watched the two women interact from her seat. She brought her legs to her chest and took a sip of her coffee. The bun her hair had been in was beginning to slip free. She had barely slept the last few days due to the ball planning.

Shelia and Judy had always been friends, with their mates being very close friends their friendship naturally grew. However they had drifted apart as they grew older, each having their own time consuming duties to attend to.

When Shelia stepped out of the car infront of the palace, Judy immediately grabbed her. They stayed up all night talking just as they had done when they were teenagers. Each telling the other a delicious piece of gossip that they had heard.

The room smelled of Caspian offering her comfort in his absence, she missed him dearly. She pondered about the type of queen she would be. Caspian was a wonderful king, even with the untimely passing of gis father, he filled the position with ease. His firm but empathetic reign keeping peace to the entire kingdom.

Alexia continued to sip her coffee, the smell of the brew engulging her. She revelled in the small break from her duties. The sound of the ladies's voices breaking her trance.

"... Yes we definitely do not want a repeat of last time." Judy said to her old friend but before Alexia could ask what they were reffering to there was a knock at the door.

Alexia sat for a moment waiting before she remenbered yhis was her domain when Caspian was away. "Enter." She stated calmly.

A parade of seamstresses entered in line following a head seamstress carrying a purple dress draped across her arms.

The fabric shinning in the light, Alexia sat in awe.

“Your highness, we have finished the dress to your specifications. If you would be so kind as to try it to make sure it is the right fit.” The head seamstress said as she let end of the dress fall to the floor and held the dress up by a hanger so that Alexia could see the creation.

“Of course.” Alexia said rising suddenly remembering her disheveled state of dress she was currently in.

Making her way into Caspian’s private bathroom adjoining the office, she hung on the dress on a hook and examined herself in the mirror.

She took her hair down and brushed at the tangles before braiding her hair into one long braid down her back. Splashing water on her face, she hoped to brighten her tired eyes but to alas no avail. After some fussing she gave up and shed her clothes before slipping into the dress.

Unable to button up the back she opened the door to ask for help but before the words could escape her lips seamstress hands were coming to her aid.

A full length mirror had been brought in so that she could better examine herself. As she walked toward it Judy and Shelia gasped, awing at her beauty.

Standing in front of the mirror she was able to look at the dress better. It was a royal purple, off the shoulders with an empire shape. Perfect for a queen. The feel of the fabric so soft against her skin.

Caspian walked into his study and paused in utter shock.