InsaneJournal

The ballroom was set up perfectly to the King's wishes. There were tables along the south and north wall laden with food, drinks, and, as per muggle customs in the 20th and 21st century, bowls of sweets. The eastern wall, of course, is where the King's throne usually sat, but a record player and two pillars topped with jack o' lanterns sat instead. Above that was the balcony where the King would soon speak to his people.

The lights in the hall were bright orbs encased in glass, floating above people's reach along the walls, as well as in twirling chandeliers otherwise. The ceiling was a mass of webbing against a dark sky matching the one outside, faux spiders moving up and down lines from their webs, twittering to any guests near them when they come down. Ghosts floating around the hall, refusing conversation, almost as if they were false decorations.

And, of course, Knights along the walls, their eyes always on the watch, and Lena in her red cloak, and a ruby-studded mask with raven feathers, up at the front of the hall, waiting patiently should her King call for her.

--~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~--

After a time, once the guests had settled into the ball, the King judged that it was indeed time for him to appear to his people.

And so he did appear, coming out from the shadows on the balcony, his hood down on his shoulders. His subjects quieted, looking up at him with curious (or maybe they were outrageous, maybe annoyed, maybe even awed) expressions on their faces.

"My people! I see you all gathered here today, and I am glad with what I see. We have had our difficulties, but they only strengthen us. Our enemies cannot win when they are feeding us our way to victory-"

Mid-speech, a fork flew out of the crowd, bouncing off of the golden energy shield with ease. He didn't even flinch.

"Tsk. I did think that we were over this sort of behavior by now. What a shame." With a wave of his hand, one of the glass orbs opened up, and a single white firelight flew out, heading to the source of the flying fork. It began to poke at it's mark, a stinging sound heard as the person tried to whack it away to no avail.

With that, the King returned to the shadows, Lena hurrying up to the balcony to follow on his heels.