Plotting and Planning (Lyra)

[Samantha Montgomery]

Sam took Lyra's arm and led her through the foyer up the stairs and into the main ballroom. If the stairs were impressive to Lyra, the ballroom was enough to cause palpitations.

It was daytime and there was staff going through the room dusting and polishing, but nothing could detract from the beautiful and majestic space that they entered. Tall dark marble pillars from floor to a ceiling that was impossibly high. The floor was perfectly polished and had complimentary hues to match the marble pillars. Unlike most castles and estates with ornate paintings and gold intricate carvings, the Montgomery grand ballroom was understated, elegant. It left more options for decorations than relying on traditional opulence.

The two main focal points in the room were the grand staircase that Sam was now leading Lyra down, and the floor to ceiling windows which showcased the gardens outside, but at night the stars were visible.

"... and then if you'd like for fireworks we could have Pierre arrange a show through here..." Sam was saying though the words were more like buzzing in the presence of the room.

[Lyra Newbury]

It was like something out of a fairy tale as they entered the ballroom and moved down the grand staircase. Lyra was instantly 8 years old again and awestruck by the princess and the castle before her. She wanted to run around and dance and spin like she had when her parents held parties at their home when she was young. Those parties were nothing compared to what Samantha was envisioning.

Lyra's parents had deceived her. She grew up thinking she was like the princesses in the stories her nanny read to her each night. She had learned that she was better than most everyone else because of their high station, that everyone fawns over her because of their riches. She didn't need to be exceptionally bright; she had money. Only she didn't have money. Not as much as her parents had led her to believe. Sure, they had a ballroom, but it could easily fit into one of Samantha's bathrooms with room to spare. The room she stood in now was far too grand for Lyra to comprehend. She didn't deserve to be standing in it now.

"Can we go outside? I'm feeling...I need some fresh air." Everyone would know. If she let Samantha plan this party, she would spoil it up somehow and everyone would know she didn't belong there.

[Samantha Montgomery]

Lyra wasn't the only one feeling the effects of the room. Other than the library this was her favorite place in the estate. She sighed looking out the windows, unaware of her friend's state until Lyra spoke.

"Oh, of course." she said leading Lyra to one of the doors that led outside, the view was still breathtaking and overlooked the extensive grounds. There was also a lower inner courtyard that would be available for the party.

[Lyra Newbury]

Lyra inhaled the fresh air and quelled the funny feeling in her stomach. She shut her eyes and breathed deeply as she tried to calm her mind. She opened her eyes and looked around at the beautiful garden that surrounded her.

She was so far out of her league she didn't feel like herself. At Hogwarts she was confident, having the false sense a superiority her parents had instilled upon her. At Enchanted she had gained a sense of self-worth and purpose. But standing in Samantha's shadow, dwarfed by the estate that was simply too grand to comprehend she felt insignificant. If she did manage to find a rich suitor and she did marry up, would this feeling eventually go away or would she be tied to her for the rest of her life?

"How do you manage all of this?" she asked Samantha. "There's so much, and so many rules, and...Aren't these things a bit archaic?" Lyra didn't believe that. She had been looking forward to the party. But faced with the reality she defaulted to regurgitating what everyone around her had been saying.

[Samantha Montgomery]

Sam shrugged an elegant shoulder. She had told Lyra a little about her mother, and insinuated that Marrion was not the warmest of hearts, but the truth was so much worse than she could ever say, or that she would ever say. Samantha knew the rules before she could walk. There was no room for error, no room for mistakes or anything less than perfection.

"With grace and style, and yes they are." she said easily. Part of being who she was and doing what she did involved making it look effortless.

"But yours will top them all."

[Lyra Newbury]

Sam was not to be dissuade, not that Lyra really thought she could ever change the girl's mind. And Lyra didn't really want to change Sam's mind. She wanted the party. She wanted the attention. And she wanted to doting man that could follow as a result. She sighed and smiled.

"Should we discuss the guest list? I'm assuming I'll be meeting most of your extensive family," she said with a smirk.

[Samantha Montgomery]

"If you like. If they're home." she laughed. Her family came together when they needed to, but for the most part were very independent, and all of them busier than mere mortals should be.

"Is there anyone you would like in particular?" she asked giving Lyra a knowing look.

[Lyra Newbury]

Lyra smiled and dragged the toe of her shoe lightly through the earth walkway, drawing little swirls and lines. "I suppose you could invite Mason," she replied with a grin, drawing out the word suppose as if it were some great favor she was acquiescing to. She thought a moment, "and as long as he doesn't try to be funny, Atherton wasn't totally awful. Oh, and the Drakes." Lyra hadn't seen Ethan since they left school.

[Samantha Montgomery]

Sam gave her approval in the form of a laugh, "I think we could manage that very long list." she teased.

"It's going to be lovely Lyra. Trust me. Now for decorations, I was thinking vanilla orchids."

[Lyra Newbury]

Lyra laughed too. "I don't know if they'll all fit in there," she said, gesturing to the incomprehensibly large ballroom. "I guess you can throw a few others on the list. I trust you."

She nodded at Samantha's suggestion. Orchids were Lyra's favorite flower, any kind of orchid really. "That'd be quite lovely," she agreed.

[Samantha Montgomery]

"We'll need to plan a menu and entertainment." she said her mind whirring with the possibilities. While the tradition of a coming out party was archaic it was still great fun to plan events. Sam mostly stayed hands off unless it was the Annual Montgomery Gala or the Christmas event.

[Lyra Newbury]

Lyra walked along the garden path with Sam, discussing all the various key points required of the party planning. She mostly let Sam make suggestions and she would agree, having been told by nearly everyone that Samantha throws the most amazing parties and she didn't want to stand in the way of getting to experience her friend's greatness first hand. But when asked directly Lyra chimed in with a few of her own ideas. The girls talked for a long while and let the time slip away.