Dinner in the Castle

The parade danced up the hill covered in emerald moss to tall gates made of pearls. The woman on the float waved her right arm in the sky. A warm, gentle wind blew over the party’s heads.

“We have arrived!” the woman announced. “Please let us in! We have the latest guest!” The giant pearl gates rumbled open with trumpets and harps sounding in the air. Two by two the dancers danced up the golden path. When they reached the bright red doors, the woman on the float dropped her arm by her side. A bright white light flew out of her pot and landed on the ground. Naoko tumbled over and landed on his side.

“Ow,” he mumbled.

“You okay?” someone asked over his head. The mouse boy looked up to see a man covered in gold paint and glitter. Naoko slowly nodded.

“Yeah,” he said. The standing man held out his hand. The mouse boy blinked before he took it. He was pulled to his feet with one tug. Naoko managed to catch his balance just in time. Once he dusted himself off, the party proceeded through the opening doors.

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The party was greeted back darkness. Naoko tried to look around. He could hear voices, but he couldn’t see anyone. At least he had a little bit of space to move around in place. There was supposed to be dinner, but it felt like something weird was about to take place. He was to open his mouth when a loud microphone cut on through the air.

“Ladies and gentlemen!” a woman’s voice shouted through the hidden speakers. “I welcome you as guests in my castle! I hope you all are hungry because we have a number of lovely dishes waiting for you!” The lights cut on overhead. Fifty guests and the people in the parade stood in the middle of a room made of rubies. The floor was so polished that everyone could see their reflects in the surface. Above, the chandeliers danced with their own little lights. Naoko wanted to reach up and take a piece for himself. Pictures of men and women dressed in Victorian attire watched the guests below. A clock gently ticked underneath the classical violin music playing in the room.

Suddenly, the bright red doors opened. Women dressed in white robes came up with their arms wide open. The harps changed into trumpets in the air.

“Welcome!” the women in white said. “Come and eat!” The guests walked inside like bees flying towards their beloved honey.

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They could smell the rich smells tickling their noses from the first step into the room alone. Before the fifty male and women was a long table covered in exotic dishes. Crisp irises sat in glass vases looking like beautiful maidens looking for a bachelor to dance with them. The bright colors played up the background of soft colors. The white plates and gold silverware sat in front of black velvet chairs, waiting to be used. The women went around the table lighting long silver candles. Naoko closed his eyes and took in the inviting spices with his sensitive nose. Reminded him of the one dishes Midori tried to cook back when they were dating. The dish turned out too salty, but it sure looked pretty. A little smile came onto the mouse boy’s face.

Once the candles were lit, the women stepped away from the table. The glass doors on the other end up the room opened wide. All eyes fell upon a woman dressed like a Greek goddess in her white and gold toga. She had her black hair pinned up with little gold beads. Her skin looked so smooth until the diamond chandelier’s light. The woman bowed before her guests. Naoko took a quick peek around before joining the other guests in the bow.

“Good evening,” she said.

“Good evening,” the guests said back. The woman held out her arms.

“Welcome to my castle in the City of Ai,” she said. “My name is Princess Hera. You may all take your seats.” The guests all walked around to the chairs and sat down. Naoko took his place in the center on the right. Princess Hera took her seat at the head of the table. She picked up a little silver bell and rang it. Men dressed in black and white suits entered the room. They came around to each guest and placed napkins into their laps and around their necks.

“Thank you,” Naoko whispered to one of them. The man bowed his head and took a step back. He and his fellow manservants started serving them the many exotic dishes. Once all the places were filled up, Hera pressed her hands together.

“Let us all bless the food,” she said.

“Bless!” everyone said. Then, Hera and the guests began to eat. Naoko took a bite of his passion fruit salad. It wasn’t Midori’s cooking. He shrugged his shoulders. Not too bad, he thought.

Maybe he could get the recipes for the dinner later and give it to Midori so they could cook together just like in the old days. He found himself thinking of her voice.