The Spell will Break

[Felicity Mason]

By the time Felicity had managed to change out of her ballgown, remove her makeup, and slip under the covers, the sun was already rising. She had no sooner managed to close her eyes and settle into a light sleep that she was startled awake by an order from her Mother.

"Y-yeah," she answered groggily, half falling asleep as she stumbled through her bed room, "I'll be right down..."

The handmaiden did all she could to help her dress, but the half asleep 'princess' wasn't making it easy. She kept putting her skirt on backwards, and mismatching buttons on her bodice. Even her shoes she somehow managed to put on the wrong feet. Twice.

Maybe she was still drunk? Didn't seem likely. But whatever it was, her head was pounding.

After about thirty minutes of struggle, Felicity walked, or.. well, tripped into the throne room. She struggled into a shallow bow, looking up at her mother with half closed eyes.

 

[Feena]

By the time her daughter managed to stumble in, Feena was almost too distracted to notice. She had her face buried in a petition, reading word by careful word.

"No, I don't think this is worded right. Sounds too aggressive. We will have to start over," she said, handing the paper back to her adviser. It was only then that she noticed her daughter standing before her, swaying on the spot.

"Ah! Yes. Felicity. I have a job for you today. An ambassador from Otah Gunga will be joining us today. I need you to-"

The words went dead in her throat. Her eyes widened with shock, then almost immediately narrowed with disgust.

"WHAT IS THAT ON YOUR NECK, YOUNG LADY!?"

She knew that mark. She knew what it meant. Her daughter had either gotten into a fight with a sucker fish and lost, or she was out with a boy last night.

 

[Felicity Mason]

The sudden shift in tone made Felicity snap out of her daze and stand straight and stiff. What was on her neck? She couldn't recall putting anything on her neck. Felicity cautiously reached up to touch her neck, looking for anything. She couldn't see what her mother was seeing. If she could, she might have chosen her next words a little more carefully.

"What in the name of the Force are you talking about mom?"

 

[Feena]

Feena was already off her throne and striding to her daughter. The throne room had gone silent. This was not Feenarah the Queen of Naboo now. This was Mrs. Mason the mother. And she was furious. She reached out, lifting a lock of curly blond hair away from her neck.

"I thought so! A hickey! Who were you out with last night? Who!? Oh, Kark it! It doesn't matter! You are grounded, young lady!One month. You go to the Academy, then you go to your room. No friends. Just you and your body guard. That's it! And you can forget about the job I had for you! I will send Marea in your place."

She dropped the lock of hair, turned her back on the girl and stalked back to the throne.

"You are dismissed!"

As her handmaiden bowed and turned to escort her daughter away, Percy leaned over to whisper.

"Don't you think that was a little harsh, Majesty? I remember when I was her age, I was doing much worse."

"So was I, Percy, so was I," she replied, keeping her voice low, "Why do you think I'm so worried?"

She stood up, looking around at all gathered in her throne room. Servants to the throne, all of them. Thankfully, she had not yet agreed to meet with any outsiders today.

"What you heard and saw today was a family matter," she announced, "And as such, I do not think I need to remind each and every one of you of the code of ethics you all signed when you received your post. I trust that you will all keep this to yourself. Any talk of this event will be cause for immediate termination of your position at the Palace."

There was a silence for a brief moment, then with bowed heads everyone went right back to their job as if nothing had happened. Feena honestly did not need the scandal.

"Find out who he is, Percy," she growled, "When you do, make sure he doesn't get any further than he did last night."

Percival, the ever faithful servant to the Queen, bowed his head with the slightest hint of a smirk on his face. Oh yes. He knew what it was like being a teenager.