They hadn't really needed to take the carriage to the palace, but her father enjoyed the splendor of it all. The Lord Thomas Beauchamp with his daughter on his arm, both in their finest dress, arriving at the palace steps in their grand carriage, personal guests of the Queen herself. He was a good man, his daughter knew this, as well as a loving father. But sometimes she feared he loved his title and position too much.

Ella Beauchamp's fingers fidgeted nervously. She enjoyed attending the balls and the parties at the palace, she truly did, but she was always afraid of something going wrong. Stepping on her dance partner's toe, tripping while descending the stairs after she'd been announced. These were little fears, meaningless ones that never happened. Her father assured her she had too much of her mother in her for that. Her mother... The late Julianna Beauchamp had been a woman of beauty and grace, and Ella often feared she could never live up to that and regretted all of the years they had lost after Julianna's death when she was a child. Perhaps she was nervous every time she attended a ball because her mother was not there to see and guide her.

They had been escorted from the carriage to the door to the hall, and she could hear the merriment already in full swing inside. Her father spoke quickly to the announcer, and Ella smoothed the fine red material of the gown her father had bought for her a few months ago, checked to make sure her brown hair was still swept away from her face and secure in it's up do, and touched the beautiful silver necklack around her neck, the one her father had given her before leaving their home that night. The one that had belonged to her mother.

"Lord Thomas Beauchamp and his daughter, Lady Ella," she heard the man announce, and her father took her arm as they were ushered through the door. They descended the steps, looking around them at the ongoing ball. The dancing, the splendid decorations, the nobles and royals in their best wear. Ella never tripped once, smiling and nodding politely as she passed. Her father swept her across the hall to were the thrones stood, and she briefly caught the eye of Princess Avril and smiled excitedly. The stopped before the King and Queen, and Thomas bowed while Ella curtsied.

"Your Majesties," Thomas addressed them humbly and respectfully.

Ella's head rose slightly so she could meet the Queen's gaze, a gaze she had known and loved her entire life, and her smile became softer. "Hello, Godmother."