The Queen's Ball

For the noble families of The Courtlands, it is all about the society. And even the offspring of the most noble families are not truly part of the society before they have been formally presented to the Queen. This presentation happens on the year they reach their first full hundred, during the Winter Season and the Queen's Ball. The debudant ball is a highly anticipated occasion, for which many families prepare for more than a year ahead - and that does not include all the years that have been used to educate and teach their young one, so that they are ready to play their part in the great act that is known as the society.

History

The tradition of Queen's Ball has existed as long as the empire of the Courtlands, the first Queen to whom the debudants were presented being also the very first Queen of the High Court. The tradition was originally established to unite the noble families, who originally had served their own sovereigns, under one ruler. It was hoped that this way, young, suitable elves from originally different backgrounds could meet, get married and with time, strengthen the new rule.

Execution

The Queen's Ball takes place every year in the beginning of the Winter Season, which also marks the beginning of the social season. Young noble-born elves are presented on the year they turn 100 years old, and the preparations for the ball are usually started in the beginning of the same year, sometimes even earlier. The family is required to apply for a permission from the High Court to present their offspring, though usually, the permission is granted if there is nothing scandalous in the family's past. A suitable outfit is of course needed for the occasion, and is usually ordered way beforehand, as the first impression is everything. 

At the beginning of the Queen's Ball, the new debudants are announced with their sponsor, usually an older family member of the same gender as the debudant who themself has gone through the debudant ceremony. If no such family member exists, the sponsor can also be a family friend or a person of similar position. After the announcement, the sponsor and the debudant greet the queen, women with a curtsy and men with a bow. The queen might decide to exchange a word or two with them, after which the sponsor and depudant move forward to give space to the next pair.

After all the depudants have been presented, the formal ball starts. This will include music, dancing and socializing, and of course keeping an eye for suitable spouses for the now full members of the society.