Primary_Lake Swan_6

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Chapter six

The Ball

The ballroom in the palace wasvery big. There were hundreds of men and women dancing in the centre.

Along the walls there were longwhite tables. They had candles and all kinds of food on them. At the top of theroom, on a stage, were three large chairs.

The Queen sat in the middle andZigfried sat on her right.

The chair on the left was empty.

It was for the Princess who wouldbe Zigfried’s wife.

‘Which Princess do you like thebest?’

‘The one I will choose is nothere yet.’

‘But you have met them all,surely?’

‘There is another one, mother,and she is a surprise. You will see.’

Every time a new guest arrived,the ballroom doors were opened, and everyone fell silent.

A servant called out the guest’snames as they entered.

Each time this happened, thePrince became very excited. But Odile never arrived.

It was almost twelve o’clock.

Zigfried had promised his motherthat he would choose a bride by midnight.

The two large doors opened.‘Please, let it be her!’

It was a giant cake with 18candles on it. Everyone in the room began to sing.

‘Happy birthday to you, happybirthday to you, Happy Birthday prince Zigfried, Happy Birthday to you!’

Zigfried and his mother walkedtowards the enormous cake.

‘Now, make a wish and blow outall the candles.’

No one heard him, but Zigfriedsaid, ‘I wish Odile would come and be my wife.’

He blew out the candles andeveryone cheered.

The doors opened.

‘Princess Odile.’ It was Odetdressed as Odile.

She wore a long white dress andlong white gloves.

The gold crown was shining on herhead.

She held a bouquet of flowers inher arms.

She smiled as she walked towardsthe Queen and Prince.

She gave the Queen the flowers,then bowed.

‘Mother, this is Odile, thePrincess I met in the forest.’

‘I knew your father. I’m sorry. Ithought everyone had died in the fire. You must be the only one who lived.’

Odet did not know what the wizardhad done to Odile’s parents.

She stopped smiling.

‘Oh Mother, her story is too sadto tell. Let us enjoy this evening together. We are her family now.’

‘Do you mean you wish to choosePrincess Odile as your wife?’

‘Yes, Mother, I do.’

The Queen raised her hand for themen to sound their horns. Everyone was quiet.

‘Ladies and gentlemen, I wouldlike to announce the engagement of my son, Prince Zigfried. After tonight, ehwill be the Kind of this land, and he has chosen Princess Odile to be hiswife.’

Zigfried and Odet dancedtogether.

Everyone around them clappedtheir hands.

‘Odile, I knew you would come.How did you escape from the evil wizrd?’

‘I…I ran away.’ – ‘And he did notsee you?’

The Prince stepped back so hecould look at Odet’s eyes.

His heart sank when he saw thoseeyes.

They looked like Odile’s, butthere was something missing in them. He didn’t love her.

Odet began to lie about herescape from Rocford.

‘I saw a falling star in the sky.I closed my eyes and made a wish. When I opened them, I was in a carriagepulled by horses. That’s how I got here. It must mean we were meant to betogether. Oh Zigfried, tell me you will love me forever.’

He held her close, because he didnot want to look in her eyes.

He knew he had loved Odile whenhe had first seen her. Now he didn’t know.

He thought there must besomething wrong with him.

‘Odile, I promise always to loveyou and never leave you.’