Work Text:
Prince Benjamin Organa of Alderaan fiddled with the lace tucked into the cuffs of his suit jacket, trying to get it to fall just right. His father always seemed to be able to get his jacket to look right, so why couldn’t Ben? One of his oldest servants walked up behind the young prince with multiple sapphire encrusted hair pins in hand, ready to be done with dressing him up. Ben looked in the mirror again, trying to fix the lace once more.
“Your Highness, will you please sit still? I swear, you have your father’s hair. These pins won’t put themselves up!” he said, exasperated after three hours of work. It wasn’t that Ben disliked being dolled up by his men, in fact he loved it. It was just that his mother had kept him from most balls growing up, and this was his first masquerade. His anxious energy was being expelled through mindless fidgeting and bothering his servants, adding to the time it took to complete his look.
Finally his hair had been braided and pinned back in just the right way to compliment his outfit. The gold hair pins with inlaid sapphires broke up his raven hair enough to make it look decorated and neat. Just as his servant had stepped back, he stood and turned back to the ornate floor length mirror. Looking over his outfit once more he grinned, knowing that the ladies who made it had outdone themselves. The brilliantly blue jacket and undershirt perfectly fit his broad shoulders and lean build. For a man of 22 he had grown into his body beautifully, and the masterful handiwork of the castle staff had brought his elegance to the forefront. Down the front of the jacket were rows and rows of gold details and buttons, finished with an off white undershirt and lace tucked right where it needed to be.
Sitting next to him on the bureau was a heavy wooden box containing Ben’s mask. He lifted it with shaking hands. Why was he so anxious? Turning it over he admired all the intricate details. The half-butterfly that would be wrapped around the left side of his face was the same color as his suit, a blue that could rival the brightest jewel and touches of cream to accent the highlights. Each twisting branch, each gem set in the light metal and fabric, was worth more than some of his citizens made in a week, some in a month. Alderaan was a prosperous planet, but each successful city had their shadowy corners, tucked away far beneath what the palace could see. But that was an issue for another time, when he wasn’t worrying about who he’d meet or how he’d dance, and if he’d sweep someone off her feet like in the fairytales his mother used to tell him.
A light knock on the door broke his train of thought.
“Come in,” he called.
The servant in the room opened the door to his parents, the queen and prince consort of Alderaan, Leia and Han Organa. His mother had a slender hand tucked into the crook of his father’s arm, and she walked in with a smile. His father looked just as proud.
“Oh Ben, you look every bit the prince your father was. I simply cannot wait to announce you at the masquerade,” his mother said, walking towards him with open arms. Ben gently embraced his mother, careful not to mess up the makeup her handmaidens had put on her.
“Not to mention, all the young noblewomen that will be at the ball tonight looking for a dashing prince to take her breath away,” his father mused, seeing how anxious his son was over the whole ordeal.
“Now Han, that’s no way to go about his first masquerade.”
“Doesn’t make it any less true, my love.”
Han chuckled and walked over to his son and wife. He moved to tie the ribbons on Ben’s mask in a neat bow, nodded at his work, and held his arm out for Leia to take once again. They walked out together to the ballroom, the royal family of Alderaan.
~~~
The solid wood doors of the great hall were thrown open and there wasn’t a single person in the room who didn’t have their eyes on the queen and her prince consort. Ben purposefully stood behind them, in order for his parents to be able to introduce him. His mother stepped forward and smiled to the crowd in her easy, lighthearted way. Everyone else had been introduced as they were coming in, so it was important the royal family came in last.
“I am here with the utmost pleasure to present my son, for the first time, His Royal Highness Benjamin Solo from the House of Organa, Prince of Alderaan and heir to the throne.” The room exploded with thunderous applause. They had all been just as excited for the not-so-young prince to attend his first ball, no matter how confused they were as to why he hadn’t yet. Ben stepped forward, and he felt the same anxiousness in his stomach that had taken root earlier today. At least he was old enough to drink.
Ben walked down the stairs and further into the ballroom, only slightly unaware of how his night should start. His tutors had told him that he needed to pick a woman to dance with, but he couldn’t just dance with anyone in the room. What if he’d choose a woman that came with a partner? What if, and possibly worse than the former, nobody would dance with him on the basis of his lack of experience? He looked down to gather his thoughts.
When he looked up again there was no time to worry about a dance partner, for there was a woman standing a few paces away from him, looking him right in the eye. Her eyes, her inquisitive and penetrating eyes, were like pools of the finest gold in Alderaan hidden behind a mask of flowers, jewels, and feathers. It was as if time had stopped, the way she was staring at him. And he looked her up and down, taking in the masterful work of whoever put together her dress.
The champagne tulle clung to her lithe body, accenting every curve and flaring out at the bottom. She had flowers embroidered on her waist and down the front, drawing his eyes in with every second he looked. The entire room held their breath, waiting to see what the young prince would do. Would the woman in front of him be the one to take his first dance? After all, what butterfly could resist the sweet allure of a desert flower as lovely as she?
The prince started to walk again, more confidently this time, towards the woman who had stunned him in place.
“My lady,” he murmured, for only her to hear, “would you have this dance?” He held out his hand for her and waited with bated breath.
“Of course, your Highness. It would be an honor.”
Prince Han, who had been keeping a watchful eye on the two, gestured to the small orchestra gathered in the back of the ballroom. The music swelled to life, and he winked at his son who had turned back to look at his parents.
The woman in the floral dress put a delicate hand in Ben’s, making him aware of just how much smaller she was compared to him. She barely came up to his shoulders, and his hand covered half her waist. He could feel the tiny embroidered flowers under his hand, just rough enough to make him realize they were there. The woman had to rest her off hand on his arm to make up for the difference in height.
“My lady, I must say you look simply divine tonight. Thank you for gracing me with this dance.” Ben was no stranger to flattery, having to watch every word at fine dinners with diplomats. But he had never been more sincere about someone than now.
“Never in my wildest dreams would I have hoped to be dancing with someone as admirable and—dare I say handsome—as you, your Highness,” she replied with an elegant smile.
The two had to halt conversation to focus on a particularly complex group of moves. The woman did an impeccable job following Ben through the twists and twirls of their waltz. They had the room’s full attention, including that of the queen and prince consort. Once the complicated set of steps was passed, they were able to talk more freely without worrying about tripping each other.
“Now we’ve gotten halfway through the song and I haven’t learned your name,” Ben asked, genuinely curious.
“I am Duchess Rey Kenobi of Mandalore. And I don’t think I’ve quite caught yours?” Her eyes had a mischievous twinkle and her mouth was set in a sly smirk. Before they could get much further in their conversation, the song had finished and other couples had started to fill the center of the room. Ben broke away from Rey, delighted as to how wonderful his first dance had been. She had been the perfect dance partner.
He had many other dance partners for the rest of the night, but none of them could quite hold his attention like the Duchess’ had.